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Competition Tribunal Orders Coca – Cola to pay N190 million misleading Fines Within 60 Days

Upholding the FCCPC’s five-year investigation, findings, and imposed penalties, the tribunal ruled that NBC’s conduct constituted misleading practices in violation of Nigerian law.

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The tribunal criticised the FCCPC’s acceptance of the post-judgment settlement, saying it conflicted with the commission’s regulatory obligations.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal ( CCPT) has ordered the Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC), also known as Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited to pay the N190 million administrative penalty imposed on the company for misleading packaging, within 60 days .

This was contrary to the settlement reached between the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the NBC in the case that stemmed from an August 2024 announcement by the FCCPC in which it accused Coca-Cola and NBC of engaging in unfair marketing tactics and misleading consumers.

In a judgment delivered on Monday, April 28, a three-member panel led by presiding judge Thomas Okosun dismissed NBC’s application to adopt the settlement terms as judgment, describing it as an “attempt to arrest judgment.”

NBC’s counsel, O. Ogunride, had informed the tribunal of a settlement agreement reached with the FCCPC, requesting its adoption as a consent judgment.

The FCCPC’s representative, Abimbola Ojenike, confirmed the existence of the settlement, stating that discussions had been finalised with Akoji Achimugu, the commission’s legal director.

However, the tribunal pointed out that the terms of settlement were filed after judgment had been reserved and both parties had submitted their final written arguments.

Okosun ruled that “the notion of arrest of judgment is unknown to Nigerian law,” stressing that entering a settlement at this stage exceeded the FCCPC’s statutory authority and undermined its role as a regulator.

The tribunal criticised the FCCPC’s acceptance of the post-judgment settlement, saying it conflicted with the commission’s regulatory obligations.

The tribunal emphasized its constitutional duty to the public, asserting that it could not engage in private compromises between parties.

The panel also criticized the FCCPC’s sudden shift from its earlier position, noting that the proposed settlement declared “there is no penalty,” directly contradicting the commission’s findings from its investigation.

Consequently, the tribunal rejected the settlement and proceeded to deliver its final judgment.

Upholding the FCCPC’s five-year investigation, findings, and imposed penalties, the tribunal ruled that NBC’s conduct constituted misleading practices in violation of Nigerian law.

It affirmed that the ₦190 million administrative penalty was consistent with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

NBC’s appeal was dismissed for lack of merit, and the company was ordered to pay the fine within 60 days.

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IEA Cushions Global Oil Supply By 290 Million Barrels March -July

Ultimately, a full and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz remains essential to avoid a further deterioration in global energy security.

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Image credit : IEA Oil Market Report

The International Energy Agency (IEA) said that its member countries had so far released 290 million barrels of oil available to the market.

IEA Executive Director, Dr Fatih Birol confirmed,in a statement posted on the website, Monday.

” Since the announcement on 11 March of the IEA collective action to make 400 million barrels of oil available to the market, around 290 million barrels have been released by IEA Member countries, with more continuing to flow to the market.”

Birol said that IEA countries still hold a substantial volume of emergency stocks in reserve, including over 1 billion barrels of government-controlled stocks.

He emphasised that, for the moment, crude oil and gas markets have continued to benefit from several cushioning factors.

These include significant supplies from Gulf producers – notably through major efforts by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – that have continued to reach global markets via various routes. In addition, oil producers in other regions – notably the United States, Brazil, Venezuela and Kazakhstan – have increased exports, helping offset some of the supply losses.

On the demand side, China has played an important role in stabilising markets by reducing its crude oil imports by nearly 50% compared with pre-war levels. is closely monitoring the situation in oil markets following recent developments in the conflict in the Middle East – with the escalation in hostilities affecting the Strait of Hormuz and energy infrastructure in the region increasing security of supply concerns and casting greater uncertainty over the market outlook.

Threats to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, an increasingly important alternative shipping route for bypassing Hormuz, are adding to those concerns.

Dr Birol emphasised that there is no room for complacency on oil security amid the escalation in hostilities and drawing down of available commercial inventories.

Refinery activity and product supplies have not picked up as much as crude deliveries, meaning that markets for refined oil products, including diesel and gasoline, are considerably tighter than those for crude.

Ultimately, a full and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz remains essential to avoid a further deterioration in global energy security.

For natural gas, a large majority of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply lost due to the Hormuz disruptions has been offset by LNG flows from other markets, led by the United States.

But further delays in resuming Gulf exports risk keeping global LNG markets tighter for longer, Dr Birol warned.

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Nigerian Exchange Emerges Top In Africa By Dollar Values

By comparison, Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, trails Nigeria when returns are converted into dollars, underscoring how currency movements can significantly alter relative market standings from a global investment perspective.

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The Nigerian equities market has emerged Africa’s strongest performer in U.S. dollar terms with a 68.2 percent Year- till-Date (YtD) return in the first seven months of 2026.

The bourse performance between January and July 24, 2026 outpaced other continental stock markets helped by investors confidence on the back of reforms by the Nigerian government.

The strong performance in dollar terms highlights the impact of exchange rate dynamics and renewed foreign portfolio participation.

By comparison, Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, trails Nigeria when returns are converted into dollars, underscoring how currency movements can significantly alter relative market standings from a global investment perspective.

Source: ThisDay

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Phillips Consulting Report Ranks Enugu Nigeria’s Fastest Improving State

The report assigned Enugu under Governor Peter Mbah a Momentum Score of +1.15, the highest among the 33 states assessed, placing it ahead of Jigawa, which scored +0.77, and Abia with +0.67 to complete the top three.

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• Governor Peter Mbah

Enugu State has been ranked as Nigeria’s fastest-improving state in the 2026 Phillips Consulting State Performance Momentum Index, outperforming 32 other states in the latest assessment of governance and development across the country.

The report assigned Enugu under Governor Peter Mbah a Momentum Score of +1.15, the highest among the 33 states assessed, placing it ahead of Jigawa, which scored +0.77, and Abia with +0.67 to complete the top three.

According to Phillips Consulting, the Momentum Index measures the rate at which states improved relative to the national average during the review period. Positive scores indicate above-average progress, while negative scores reflect slower-than-average improvement.

The report said Enugu’s emergence as the national leader reflected deliberate governance, strong fiscal discipline, and sustained implementation of reforms, while the South-east recorded the strongest overall regional performance among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones

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