Business
Firm Hails Tinubu Over DICON Act Signing
….Says Nigeria Capable of Attaining Self-Sufficiency in Military Hardware
A Nigerian firm, DICON Gray Insignia, has commended President Bola Tinubu for signing the amended Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Act, which allows for the local manufacturing and storage of military hardware.
The firm also praised the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), and other relevant government agencies in the security and defense sector for their efforts to develop the local market for security equipment manufacturing and reduce dependence on imported military hardware, which comes at a huge cost.
In a statement over the weekend, the MD/CEO of DICON Gray Insignia, Mr. Bem Ibrahim Garba, said President Tinubu has demonstrated bold leadership by ensuring that the vast foreign exchange spent on importing weapons is redirected toward initiatives that enhance the livelihood of Nigerians.
He stated that DICON Gray Insignia is ready to offer its technical expertise to ensure that, as the giant of Africa, Nigeria no longer remains at the mercy of countries that profit from exporting weapons to the highest bidders.
Garba described the amendment of the DICON Act by the National Assembly and its signing by President Tinubu as a game changer that will have significant security and economic benefits for the country.
Highlighting the far-reaching impact of the Act, he emphasized that local manufacturing of defense equipment will strengthen the naira, as transactions will be conducted in local currency rather than in foreign exchange.
Furthermore, he noted that the usual delays in military procurement—where orders can take up to a year before delivery—will be eliminated.
He stated: “This is a huge win for our country. We will no longer need to export massive amounts of foreign exchange to international markets, nor will we have to endure long waiting periods to supply our military and security forces.
The order and delivery gap will now be closed.”
“Our young people will be exposed to new technical skills, empowering them with meaningful employment opportunities and reducing pressure on the labor market.
Training them to manufacture these tools is in the best interest of our nation.
”Garba also expressed profound gratitude to the Honourable Minister of Defence, Alhaji Abubakar Badaru; the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle; and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for their visionary leadership in prioritizing Nigeria’s defense capabilities.
He further highlighted that local manufacturing will not only serve Nigeria but also benefit neighboring West African countries, many of which rely on imported military hardware to combat insecurity.
Experts have applauded the DICON Gray Insignia partnership, viewing it as a strategic shift in Nigeria’s defense procurement policy—one that prioritizes technology transfer and local production over foreign dependency.
President Tinubu’s administration has made local manufacturing of defense equipment a key policy focus, leveraging strategic collaborations with both foreign and local partners through DICON as the central platform.
Business
NAICOM Revokes Nigeria Reinsurance’s Licence, Freezes Operations Over Capital Shortfall
Banire directed banks, financial institutions, policyholders and members of the public not to honour any instruction relating to the company except those issued by him or persons expressly authorised by him.
The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has revoked the operating licence of Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation for failing to meet the statutory Minimum Capital Requirement (MCR) and appointed Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Muiz Banire, SAN, as Receiver/Provisional Liquidator to wind up the company’s affairs.
The appointment took effect on August 3, 2026, following the cancellation of the company’s certificate of registration by the insurance regulator.
In a public notice dated August 4, 2026, Banire said NAICOM appointed him, in exercise of its statutory powers, to oversee the receivership and liquidation of Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation (RR-002).
In the notice, the company’s licence was revoked after it failed to comply with the prescribed Minimum Capital Requirement applicable to its category of licence within the stipulated compliance period, in accordance with the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025 and other extant laws, regulations and guidelines.
Banire said his appointment authorises him to immediately trace, recover, secure and take possession of the company’s assets, collate and settle its liabilities in line with the NIIRA 2025, liaise with NAICOM on matters relating to the liquidation, and submit periodic reports to the Commission.
Banire directed banks, financial institutions, policyholders and members of the public not to honour any instruction relating to the company except those issued by him or persons expressly authorised by him.
Source: ThisDay
Business
NDIC begins paying depositors of 46 closed microfinance banks
NDIC Managing Director and Chief Executive Oludare Sunday confirmed the development at a retreat for members of the House of Representatives Committee on Insurance and Actuarial Matters in Lagos on Wednesday.
The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has started reimbursing depositors affected by the closure of 46 microfinance banks nationwide.
NDIC Managing Director and Chief Executive Oludare Sunday confirmed the development at a retreat for members of the House of Representatives Committee on Insurance and Actuarial Matters in Lagos on Wednesday.
” Payments are ongoing, and over 700,000 Heritage Bank customers have already received their insured funds through BVN-linked accounts.
“We have started paying depositors of those banks, and gradually we intend to cover all the insured depositors,” he said,” he said.
Following the revocation of the 46 MFB operating licences, the CBN subsequently appointed the NDIC as provisional liquidator of the failed financial institutions.
Business
Naira Exchange Rates Thursday, August 5
BLACK MARKET RATES
US DOLLAR (USD) Buy ₦1,420 Sell ₦1,425
GREAT BRITISH POUND (GBP) Buy ₦1,900 Sell: ₦1,915
EURO (EUR) Buy ₦1,585 Sell ₦1,600
CANADIAN DOLLAR (CAD) Buy ₦1,020 Sell ₦1,080
SOUTH AFRICAN RAND (ZAR) Buy ₦75 Sell ₦90
UAE DIRHAM Buy ₦350 Sell ₦370
CHINESE YUAN Buy ₦190 Sell ₦205
GHANA CEDI (GHS) Buy ₦95 Sell ₦110
WEST AFRICAN CFA Buy ₦2, 300 Sell ₦2, 400
CENTRAL AFRICAN CFA Buy ₦2,150 Sell 2,250
AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR Buy ₦800 Sell ₦900
Commercial Bank Exchange Rates
Access Bank
Currency Sell
USD / NGN ₦1378.00
Fidelity Bank
Currency Sell
USD / NGN ₦1370.00
GBP / NGN ₦1869.78
EUR / NGN ₦1604.54
Sterling Bank
Currency Buy Sell
USD / NGN ₦1350.00 ₦1385.00
GBP / NGN ₦1795.89 ₦1884.00
EUR / NGN ₦1536.93 ₦1618.33
ZAR / NGN ₦82.34 ₦86.99
Official CBN Exchange Rates
US DOLLAR (USD) ₦1,363.85
GREAT BRITISH POUND (GBP) ₦1,837.38
EURO (EUR) ₦1,575.25
SWISS FRANC (CHF) ₦1,686.26
JAPANESE YEN (JPN) ₦8.65
CHINESE YUAN (CNY) ₦202.05
WEST AFRICAN CFA (XOF) ₦2. 39
WEST AFRICAN UNIT ACCOUNT (WAUA) ₦1,859.53
SAUDI RIYAL (SAR) ₦363.12
SOUTH AFRICAN RAND (ZAR) ₦83.35
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