Business
Nigeria formally Accepts WTO’s Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies
Nigeria has deposited its instrument of acceptance for the World Trade Organisation’s ((WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.
The Agreement prohibits support for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, bans support for fishing overfished stocks, and ends subsidies for fishing on the unregulated high seas.
Ambassador Adamu Mohammed Abdulhamid presented Nigeria’s instrument of acceptance to WTO Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in Geneva, Switzerland, yesterday.
Ambassador Abdulhamid said: “The Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies presents a unique opportunity for Nigeria to promote sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth and the improvement of livelihoods while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem, believing that the Agreement shall put a stop to all harmful fisheries subsidies such as illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities by all WTO members.”
“By this instrument of acceptance, Nigeria reassures its commitment to a rule-based multilateral trading system by guaranteeing its compliance with the Agreement as well as refraining from introducing any new subsidies that harm the marine environment while recognizing the need for appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries which can be achieved through adequate policy space to develop its fisheries sector and technical assistance and capacity building in order to implement the discipline.
Nigeria calls on other WTO members who are yet to ratify this agreement to do so as soon as possible so as to contribute to our global effort of preservation of the global fish stocks,” he said.
DG Okonjo-Iweala said: “I am profoundly grateful to Nigeria for formally accepting the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.
I am proud to see the country’s continued commitment to sustainable development and its vote of confidence in the work of the WTO.
Nigeria’s acceptance adds to our growing tally of members that have accepted the Agreement — we have received about one-third of the total that we need for the Agreement to enter into force.
I hope that Nigeria’s action serves as an inspiration to other governments in Africa and the rest of the world to move swiftly to implement the Agreement and foster global cooperation for the benefit of our shared future.”
Nigeria is the fifth-largest African fishing nation and is estimated to lose about USD70 million each year to illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
The sector accounts for as much as 5 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP and supports the livelihood of about 24 million people.
Nigeria has recorded a significant milestone in its oil sector, surpassing its OPEC production quota by 4% and achieving its highest crude oil output in nearly six years, according to recent industry data.
The country’s average crude oil production reached approximately 1.53 million barrels per day (bpd) in the latest reported period, exceeding the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) allocated quota of 1.5 million bpd. This performance marks a strong recovery driven by improved pipeline security, reduced vandalism, and enhanced operational stability across key facilities in the Niger Delta.
Combined with condensates, total output climbed to around 1.7 million bpd, representing the highest level in months and underscoring Nigeria’s position as Africa’s leading oil producer. Industry reports highlight peak daily production hitting as high as 1.86 million bpd during the period, reflecting robust performance with minimal major disruptions.
This achievement ends a prolonged period of underperformance relative to the quota and signals positive momentum in the sector. Month-on-month, production increased by roughly 2.7–2.8%, building on steady gains over recent months. In crude-only terms, the figures represent one of the strongest showings since early 2025.
Stakeholders, including the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and operators like Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), attribute the gains to better collaboration with host communities, enhanced surveillance of critical infrastructure such as the Trans Niger Pipeline, and government reforms aimed at curbing oil theft.
Experts view the development as a boost for government revenues, foreign exchange earnings, and broader economic stability amid ongoing efforts to attract investment and ramp up capacity toward higher targets. Nigeria has historically produced well above 2 million bpd, and officials remain optimistic about further growth.
The news comes as OPEC+ continues phased adjustments to production levels, with Nigeria demonstrating resilience and compliance-plus performance even as the cartel manages global supply dynamics.
Analysts caution that sustaining this trajectory will require continued investment in infrastructure, security, and upstream activities to fully realize the sector’s potential.
Business
CBN Urges Public, Businesses Not To Reject N100 Bank Note
The CBN strongly cautions individuals, businesses, financial institutions, and other economic agents against rejecting the standard N100 banknote. Such rejection constitutes a violation of the provisions of the CBN Act and undermines confidence in the national currency.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has stated that the Standard N100 note is still a legal tender and must be accepted for all transactions.
The apex bank made the appeal in a statement by its Ag. Director, Corporate Communications, Mrs. Hakama Sidi-Ali, clarifying that it became necessary, following reports that some members of the public were rejecting the note.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the CBN hereby reiterates that both the commemorative N100 banknote and the standard N100 banknote remain legal tender in Nigeria and must be accepted for all transactions nationwide,” she said.
“The commemorative N100 banknote, which was introduced to mark Nigeria’s centenary, did not replace the existing standard N100 banknote.
The CBN strongly cautions individuals, businesses, financial institutions, and other economic agents against rejecting the standard N100 banknote. Such rejection constitutes a violation of the provisions of the CBN Act and undermines confidence in the national currency.
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