CBN Mandates Dedicated Naira Accounts for IMTOs

The Central Bank of Nigeria has directed all International Money Transfer Operators in the country to open and maintain dedicated naira settlement accounts with authorised dealer banks, in a move designed to tighten regulatory oversight of diaspora remittances and improve transparency across the foreign exchange market. The directive was contained in a circular dated March…

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Oil Jumps 10% After Iran Hits Qatar LNG Hub

  Global oil prices surged by 10 percent on Thursday following confirmation from Qatar that Iranian strikes had caused extensive damage to the Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas facility, the world’s largest LNG hub, intensifying concerns over the security of energy supplies in an already volatile Middle East. European gas prices recorded a steeper climb…

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Naira Holds Steady as Reserves Hit 13-Year High

  The Nigerian Naira sustained a stable performance against the United States Dollar on Thursday, maintaining its position within a narrow trading band as the foreign exchange market continues to benefit from surging global crude oil prices and a historic accumulation of external reserves that has reached levels unseen in over a decade. Data from…

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Nigeria’s MSME Sector Under Pressure

A comprehensive policy review has exposed critical structural barriers undermining the growth and sustainability of micro, small and medium enterprises in Nigeria, despite the sector’s strategic importance to the national economy and employment generation. The report, titled ‘Reassessment of Nigeria’s National Policy on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), 2021–2025 and Strategic Directions for 2026–2030’,…

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Japan Begins Release of Strategic Oil Reserves 

  Japan has commenced the release of its strategic petroleum reserves in response to a coordinated global effort by International Energy Agency member states to stabilize oil markets following price surges triggered by escalating conflict in the Middle East. The Japanese government confirmed the drawdown on Monday through an official notice published in the government…

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NUPRC Enforces Drill-or-Drop Rule in 2025 Bid Round

NUPRC Enforces Drill-or-Drop Rule

Nigeria has ended the era of “paper oil” by enforcing strict relinquishment rules for exploration licences. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) confirmed that operators must now develop assets or lose them. This “drill-or-drop” provision, enshrined in Section 94 of the Petroleum Industry Act, targets companies that previously held blocks for decades without investment….

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