Connect with us

Business

Governor Sanwo-Olu Launches N5bn Forward Contracts As Eko Rice Hits Market

Published

on

1 Views

Rice produced from the Lagos State-owned 32-metric tonnes per hour Imota Rice Mill in Ikorodu has now hit the market, with the listing of the commodity for trade in Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange (LCFE) on Tuesday.

This was followed by a formal launch of N5 billion Eko Rice Forward Contract Programme by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the floor of the commodities exchange market, UAC Building in Marina, on Wednesday, marking a significant milestone in the State Government’s efforts to promote agriculture and enhance food security in Lagos.

The Forward Contract, which is a joint initiative of the Government-owned Lagos State Rice Company (LASRICO) and Commodities Tradenet Limited, is the first series of N30 billion Private Commodity Notes Issuance Programme facilitated by Lagos State Government to ensure undisrupted paddy supply, enhance quality management, transaction efficiency and transparency.

Forward Contract for Eko Rice became the first to be listed and traded in Nigeria’s commodities exchange ecosystem.

The private listing of the Lagos rice excited commodity brokers, farmers and investors in the commodities market, as first 5,000 contracts issued on the exchange floor were traded at the value of N195 million.

The offer for 50kg of Eko Rice opened on June 13 at the rate of N33,000 per Note, with the commodity being expected to be traded till next Monday, June 26, 2023. Tenor of the Note is 60 days.

Commodity brokers said the encouraging performance recorded by Eko Rice at first trading in the Commodities Exchange was due to its well-cleaned grains and high-grade texture, which positioned the crop for fair competition with imported rice in the market.

Eko Rice is laboratory-tested to have less than 2 per cent impurity and 14 per cent moisture content.

Sanwo-Olu said the Eko Rice Contract Programme was a game-changer launched with the objective to make Lagos a hub for agricultural production and processing in the country.

The Governor noted that Rice is a regular staple consumed by over 80 per cent of Lagos population, stressing that the Forward Contract was a key goal in the food security plan of the Government to guarantee availability of the commodity at affordable price.

He said: “The N5 billion Series of N30 billion Eko Rice Contracts Programme being launched today is part of our efforts to ensure a sustainable supply of rice paddy for the smooth running of Lagos Rice Mill in Imota. The exchange market is a public-private partnership programme that will provide a platform for farmers, processors, and traders to buy and sell rice contracts at a fair price.

“The programme will also provide a guarantee for the quality and quantity of rice produced, which will enhance the confidence of buyers and sellers in the market. Leveraging the Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange is a critical component of our plan to create a transparent and efficient market for the trading of agricultural commodities and derivatives. The Exchange has the potential to transform the agriculture sector by providing a reliable and efficient market for farmers, processors, and traders.”

To ensure the supply chain is not disrupted, Sanwo-Olu said the State Government embarked on the development of rice value chain through capacity building for farmers, and provision of inputs and infrastructure in rice production centres across Lagos.

This effort, the Governor said, has scaled up local paddy production by 63.5 per cent, while creating over 2,620 direct and indirect jobs. Sanwo-Olu said the intervention had also stimulated economic activities and facilitated improved livelihood in rice producing communities.

He said the Lagos-owned Imota Rice Mill required 200,000 tonnes of paddy yearly, stressing that the Commodities Exchange would create a steady market for the 2.5 million bags of 50kg rice that would be turned out from the mill annually.

“Today’s Bell Ringing is to herald the listing of rice paddy contracts for the Lagos Rice Mill, Imota for open transactions. This highlights the opportunities available in rice processing and other value chains of the Lagos Agricultural sector. It will draw attention of local and foreign investors to the Lagos Rice Mill forwards contract, and project the role of the Capital Market in driving development in Lagos commodities ecosystem. We are committed to expanding the programme to cover other commodities, such as cassava, maize, and vegetables,” Sanwo-Olu said.

LCFE Managing Director, Mr. Akinsola Akeredolu-Ale, said rice was among the 13 crops approved by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for trading at the commodities exchange market, stressing that the listing of Eko Rice was a watershed moment in the capital market.

Akeredolu-Ale said collaboration with the Lagos State Government would drive paddy supply to the Imota Rice Mill, integrate stakeholders in rice value chain across the country and standardise of head rice and paddy rice in Lagos.

He said: “LCFE will provide an opportunity for investment in the rice value chain through the creation, onboarding and listing of commodities instruments for paddy aggregation and trading, while also providing opportunities for rice distributors and stakeholders to trade on the Exchange through capital market operators. There is no credit risk associated with the issuer of the Notes, as the underlying commodity assures return on investment.”

Sanwo-Olu tolled the open bell, signifying the formal commencement of trading of the contracts for the commodity. The Governor was joined by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and other top government functionaries.

Johnvents Industries Limited, an agro-processing firm, became the first investor to procure 5,000 Forward Contracts worth N195 million on the Exchange floor.

LCFE chairman of Board of Directors, Chief Onyenwechukwu Ezeagu, said the partnership complemented the objectives of the Exchange in transforming the commodities market by redefining practice norms and catalysing economic growth in the country.

Business

NNPCL Declares N5.89trn revenue, N748bn PAT for April 2025

The report also states that NNPC’s statutory payments to the federal government for Q1 of 2025 totalled N4.225 trillion.

Published

on

By

8 Views

The Group CEO of NNPC Ltd., Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari in a handshake with Maarten Wetselaar , CEO of Moeve Global, a global leader in sustainable mobility and energy, during his visit to NNPCL management, yesterday in Abuja.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) signalled transparency under new leadership after it posted a whopping N5.89 trillion revenue and N748 billion profit for April.

In a detailed release of its activities for April on Thursday, the Bayo Ojulari- led national oil company witnessed a sharp increase in its monthly total revenue, barely two months in office, unlike in the past when the state-owned firm halted the release of the monthly report years ago without any explanation.

In the report, Profit After Tax hit N748 billion, while petrol availability in its retail stations nationwide was 54 per cent.

NNPC is pleased to announce that in the month under consideration, the total revenue of the company reached N5.89 trillion.

The report also states that NNPC’s statutory payments to the federal government for Q1 of 2025 totalled N4.225 trillion, while plans are underway to make significant investment commitments this year, with four major Final Investment Decisions, FIDs, expected before the end of 2025.

The new NNPC leadership was given a $60 billion investment target by 2030, an oil production goal of 2 million barrels daily by 2027 and 3 million daily by 2030, by President Tinubu.

Besides, the monthly report highlights the company’s operational performance, financial results, and strategic initiatives aimed at boosting Nigeria’s oil and gas production and proving its record of transparency.

The four projects slated for FID by the fourth quarter, Q4, OML 102, Crude Oil Production Expansion Project, OML 29, Gas Development Projects, OMLs 30 and 42, and Brass Fertiliser Project, 2025, include the Ntokon Development Project in the oil mining lease.

Continue Reading

Business

Sterling Bank launches N2bn private university scholarships for Nigerian youth

Published

on

6 Views

…..Unveiled on Democracy Day, the initiative titled Beyond Education, represents a decisive step towards building the country’s future leaders by dismantling the barriers that keep millions of Nigerians from accessing quality, future-focused learning.

Sterling Bank, has announced an over two billion naira (N2 billion) commitment for fully-funded private university scholarships for young Nigerians.

Unveiled on Democracy Day, the initiative titled Beyond Education, represents a decisive step towards building the country’s future leaders by dismantling the barriers that keep millions of Nigerians from accessing quality, future-focused learning.

This is one of the largest private sector investments ever made in a single Nigerian tertiary institution.

It extends Sterling’s longstanding commitment to the HEART sectors: Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Transportation.

The bank has deployed over half a trillion naira in financing and development programmes across these critical areas.

“Progress is not a spectator sport,” said Abubakar Suleiman, Chief Executive of Sterling Bank.

“While others talk about Nigeria’s potential, we are actively investing in it. These scholarships are direct investments in the architects of our future.

We are funding the education of future leaders who will build the companies, systems, institutions and solutions Nigeria needs to thrive.

”The Sterling Beyond Education programme will fully sponsor 600 students to study high-impact fields such as Technology, Finance, Sales, and Public Health.

It is open to young Nigerians from all 36 states and the FCT, with a merit-based and inclusive admissions process.

Candidates can nominate themselves or be nominated by others, and final selection will be determined through a public voting process open exclusively to Sterling account holders.

“This is what inclusive investment looks like,” said Obinna Ukachukwu, Growth Executive leading the Retail & Consumer Banking Directorate at Sterling Bank.

“This initiative goes beyond access to education, it’s access to a future. Education remains the most valuable asset anyone can have, and we’re proud to stand behind young Nigerians as they claim it.

”The pilot programme is in partnership with Miva University, founded by renowned tech entrepreneur Sim Shagaya.

Fully accredited by the National Universities Commission, Miva is redefining higher education in Africa with scalable, affordable, and flexible programs tailored to the demands of the digital economy.

The programme also reflects Sterling’s advocacy for organisations to shift from short-term philanthropy to long-term ecosystem development.

With deep investments in digitised healthcare, school financing, agricultural cooperatives, solar energy, and low-cost transport systems, Sterling is building pathways to inclusive prosperity.

“We’re moving beyond charity,” Mr Suleiman said. “This is about building systems that last and it is much bigger than hundreds of scholarships. It’s about the future those brilliant young minds will build for our country.”

Nominations are now open at www.sterling.ng/FUTURE. As Africa’s youth population continues to grow, initiatives like Beyond Education may point to a new blueprint for private sector leadership, one where impact is measured not just in profit, but in people empowered.

Continue Reading

Business

Court Battles Stalling Huaxin Takeover of Lafarge Cement

The suit was instituted by Strategic Consultancy Ltd, a Nigerian firm and shareholder in Lafarge Africa, seeking to halt what it called the “surreptitious” divestment of Lafarge’s 83.81 percent stake by the Holcim Group—a Swiss multinational and Lafarge’s parent company.

Published

on

By

7 Views

Justice Lewis Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered parties in the ongoing legal dispute over the sale of Lafarge Africa Plc to Chinese firm Huaxin Cement Ltd to maintain the status quo pending the outcome of an appeal.

The order followed the filing of a Notice of Appeal by Lafarge Africa, challenging the court’s earlier decision that dismissed its objection to jurisdiction.

The suit was instituted by Strategic Consultancy Ltd, a Nigerian firm and shareholder in Lafarge Africa, seeking to halt what it called the “surreptitious” divestment of Lafarge’s 83.81 percent stake by the Holcim Group—a Swiss multinational and Lafarge’s parent company.

Strategic Consultancy is asking the court to determine whether the transaction violates Nigerian corporate and investment laws, including the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Act, and the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) Act—particularly in relation to minority shareholder rights and foreign ownership regulations.

During the proceedings, Lafarge Africa’s counsel, Mr. Babatunde Fagbohunlu, SAN, informed the court that the appeal had already been filed, and that records of proceedings had been transmitted to the Court of Appeal, along with an application for a stay of proceedings.

(ThisDay)

Continue Reading

Trending