Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Category: Economy

  • Nigeria’s FDI jumps to $720m in Q3 as investor appetite rebounds

    Nigeria’s FDI jumps to $720m in Q3 as investor appetite rebounds

    2025-12-31 08:14:00

    In an update published by PUNCH, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s balance-of-payments data shows foreign direct investment rose to about $720 million in Q3 2025—well above the prior quarter—signalling stronger long-term capital flows.

    The report links the uptick to improved long-term equity participation and reinvested earnings, with broader macro indicators providing a friendlier backdrop for foreign investors.

    While portfolio flows can swing fast, FDI is the stickier vote of confidence—typically tied to longer-horizon commitments and real-economy decisions.

    Validation: Radio Now said “Foreign direct investment into Nigeria jumped sharply to $720 million in the third quarter of 2025, up from $90 million in the second quarter.” and The Will reported “jumped to $720m in Q3 2025… marking the highest level this year.”

    Echotitbits take: The headline is strong, but sustainability matters more than a one-quarter spike. Watch Q4/Q1 continuity, sector breakdowns, and whether FX-market stability remains credible enough for long-term investors.

    Source: The Punch — 31 December 2025 (https://punchng.com/nigeria-attracts-720m-fdi-as-foreign-investment-rebounds/)

    The Punch 31 December 2025

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • CBN projects FX reserves could hit $51bn by 2026

    CBN projects FX reserves could hit $51bn by 2026

    2025-12-31 08:21:00

    Figures cited by PUNCH show the Central Bank of Nigeria expects external reserves to climb to about $51.04bn in 2026, up from a projected $45bn in 2025, based on assumptions about FX-market conditions and inflows.

    The forecast is tied to the CBN’s 2026 macro outlook, leaning on expectations of reduced pressure in the FX market, improved export earnings, and higher remittance inflows.

    CBN also points to refining capacity and broader reforms as potential tailwinds that reduce import pressure and support reserve accumulation over time.

    Validation: Channels Television said “The external reserves are projected at $51.04bn in 2026, compared with $45.01bn in 2025.” and The Guardian reported “external reserves… to rise to US$51.04 billion.”

    Echotitbits take: This projection is optimistic—and markets will judge credibility by liquidity and transparency. Watch the drivers: oil receipts, diaspora remittances, and whether FX spreads truly narrow across official and parallel windows.

    Source: The Punch — 31 December 2025 (https://punchng.com/fx-reserves-to-hit-51bn-by-2026-cbn/)

    The Punch 31 December 2025

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  • NNPCL Says Escravos–Lagos Gas Line Restored After December Explosion

    NNPCL Says Escravos–Lagos Gas Line Restored After December Explosion

    2025-12-30 11:00:00

    In an update published by Punch, NNPCL announced the restoration of the Escravos–Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) after the December 10 explosion that disrupted a major gas corridor feeding Lagos and parts of the South-West.

    The company said repairs included containment, pressure testing and safe recommissioning of the affected section, with operations returned to service.

    ELPS is crucial for power generation and industrial gas supply, and downtime often amplifies electricity instability when the grid is already fragile.

    Vanguard quoted NNPCL saying, “Today, the pipeline is fully operational, reaffirming our resilience and commitment to energy security.” Punch also quoted NNPCL stating, “Today, the pipeline is fully operational,” in its confirmation of ELPS restoration.

    Echotitbits take: The headline is restoration; the real test is sustained reliability. Watch for follow-on reporting on pipeline security, surveillance and whether gas delivery volumes normalise for power plants and big industrial users.

    Source: The Punch — December 30, 2025 (https://punchng.com/nnpc-restores-escravos-lagos-gas-pipeline-after-explosion/)

    The Punch 2025-12-30

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  • Port Harcourt Refinery Still Trucking Diesel Despite ‘Shutdown Mode’ Status

    Port Harcourt Refinery Still Trucking Diesel Despite ‘Shutdown Mode’ Status

    2025-12-30 12:30:00

    Figures cited by Punch suggest diesel continued to be evacuated in trucks from Port Harcourt refinery facilities despite the plant being in “shutdown mode,” with the explanation tied to stock produced before the shutdown date.

    The distinction between production and evacuation has become central amid public scrutiny of state refinery performance and rehabilitation claims.

    The development has renewed calls for clearer reporting of refining metrics—what is produced, what is stored and what is trucked out—so consumers and markets can track real progress.

    Africa Business Insider, citing regulator data, said at Port Harcourt “no production activities” were recorded while evacuation continued from existing stock. Punch reported the same framing, quoting the plant remained in “shutdown mode” even as diesel truck-outs persisted.

    Echotitbits take: Nigeria needs transparent dashboards where ‘production’ isn’t confused with ‘distribution.’ Watch for whether NMDPRA publishes more granular refinery reporting and whether NNPCL clarifies a firm timeline for sustained restart.

    Source: The Punch — December 30, 2025 (https://punchng.com/p-harcourt-refinery-supplies-3150-diesel-trucks-despite-shutdown/)

    The Punch 2025-12-30

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • Grid Restored After Fresh System Disturbance, Operator Says

    Grid Restored After Fresh System Disturbance, Operator Says

    2025-12-29 18:00:00

    According to Punch, Nigeria’s electricity system recovered after a partial national grid collapse triggered by a mid‑afternoon system disturbance that disrupted supply across multiple areas.

    The report said the disturbance occurred around 2:01pm on Monday, December 29, with generation slipping after earlier peaking near the day’s highs. NISO attributed the disruption to tripping events affecting multiple generating units and key 330kV transmission lines.

    Punch added that gas constraints—linked to the earlier Escravos–Lagos gas pipeline vandalism—left the grid more fragile, worsening the impact once the disturbance hit. NISO also pointed to “island mode” interventions that helped keep supply flowing to some substations during the incident.

    Premium Times separately reported that distribution companies issued customer updates during the outage and said restoration would follow once the grid was stabilised, noting work to bring supply back “as soon as the grid is stabilised.” TVC News also reported that the national grid was back online, citing NISO’s account that the disturbance had been addressed.

    Echotitbits take: Nigeria’s grid is behaving like a stressed network—any gas disruption or transmission trip can cascade into wide outages. Watch for (1) clearer post‑incident diagnostics from the system operator, and (2) stronger pipeline security and gas supply stability going into 2026.

    Source: The Punch — December 29, 2025 (https://punchng.com/power-supply-restored-after-national-grid-collapse-niso/)

    The Punch 2025-12-29

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  • Another Grid Crash Renews Worries Over Nigeria’s Power Reliability

    Another Grid Crash Renews Worries Over Nigeria’s Power Reliability

    2025-12-30 08:30:00

    Reporting by Vanguard indicates that Nigeria recorded yet another national grid collapse, plunging many customers into blackout and renewing concerns about system reliability.

    The update noted that restoration efforts were underway as operators moved to stabilise supply after the latest failure. The incident adds to a string of recent collapses that have repeatedly disrupted households and businesses.

    Market watchers say the frequency of failures reflects deeper fragility—tight gas supply, transmission constraints, and limited redundancy—making the system prone to cascading trips.

    Premium Times reported customer advisories issued during the outage, including assurances that stakeholders were working to restore power “fully as soon as the grid is stabilised.” AllAfrica also carried an operator‑attributed account describing a “system disturbance… that led to a partial collapse,” underscoring ongoing grid fragility.

    Echotitbits take: The pattern is shifting from “rare emergency” to “routine disruption.” Watch whether recovery time shortens, and whether 2026 reforms prioritise transmission resilience and gas‑supply security alongside tariff and metering debates.

    Source: Vanguard — December 30, 2025 (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/12/nigerians-in-darkness-as-national-grid-collapses-again/)

    Vanguard 2025-12-30

    Photo Credit: Vanguard

  • World Bank Warns Debt Pressures Rising, Urges Nigeria to Rethink Exports

    World Bank Warns Debt Pressures Rising, Urges Nigeria to Rethink Exports

    2025-12-30 12:00:00

    Figures cited by Punch show the World Bank urging Nigeria and other Sub‑Saharan African economies to diversify exports and tighten fiscal management as debt burdens and servicing costs rise.

    The report, linked to the International Debt Report 2025, argued that the region remains vulnerable as debt crowds out social and infrastructure spending, while higher global rates raise borrowing costs for developing countries.

    Punch also highlighted the renewed pressure on sovereigns returning to Eurobond markets, even as multilateral flows continue to play a stabilising role.

    The World Bank’s own International Debt Report summary describes the publication as providing “factual and timely external debt statistics and analysis” for developing countries. Reuters reporting on the same World Bank findings said debt costs for developing countries “hit a record” in 2024, underlining the impact of elevated interest rates.

    Echotitbits take: The debate is shifting from “how much we borrow” to “what we borrow for, and how we earn FX to service it.” Watch whether Nigeria’s 2026 borrowing plan is matched with export‑earning reforms and tighter deficit discipline.

    Source: The Punch — December 30, 2025 (https://punchng.com/debt-wbank-urges-nigeria-others-to-rethink-exports/)

    The Punch 2025-12-30

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • NIRSAL says 2025 credit guarantees crossed ₦100bn as banks expand agribusiness lending

    NIRSAL says 2025 credit guarantees crossed ₦100bn as banks expand agribusiness lending

    2025-12-29 09:00:00
    According to Punch, NIRSAL Plc says it is closing out 2025 with more than ₦100bn in approved credit guarantees for agriculture and agribusiness loans, positioning the guarantees as a de-risking tool that helps banks back projects they would normally avoid.

    The milestone is framed as part of a broader push to widen formal credit into farming, processing, logistics and market access—areas often constrained by price volatility, climate risk and weak collateral structures.

    The claim lands amid persistent concerns about food inflation and supply disruptions, where policymakers and lenders are searching for instruments that can crowd-in private capital rather than rely solely on direct public spending.

    The core message is that credit can scale faster when the risk is shared—especially for value-chain activities that are commercially viable but too risky for traditional underwriting.

    BusinessDay also reported the milestone, noting that NIRSAL “approved credit guarantees covering more than ₦100 billion… in 2025,” while The Guardian similarly wrote that NIRSAL “has closed 2025 with over ₦100 billion in approved credit guarantees.”

    Echotitbits take: If the guarantee pipeline is real and transparent, the next question is where the credit actually landed—by crop, region and borrower type—and what default ratios look like. Watch for independent portfolio data and sector-by-sector breakdowns.

    Source: BusinessDay — https://businessday.ng/news/article/nirsal-guarantees-record-%E2%82%A6100bn-in-agriculture-lending/#:~:text=The%20Nigeria%20Incentive%2DBased%20Risk,risk%2Dsharing%20tools%20to%20expand – December 29, 2025
    BusinessDay 2025-12-29

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  • NIRSAL highlights wider 2013–2025 impact: ₦290bn+ finance facilitated and jobs claims

    NIRSAL highlights wider 2013–2025 impact: ₦290bn+ finance facilitated and jobs claims

    2025-12-28 09:00:00
    Figures cited by The Nation show NIRSAL says it facilitated over ₦290bn in finance between 2013 and 2025 across production, processing, logistics, market development and exports, alongside job and beneficiary impact claims.

    NIRSAL positions its role as facilitation rather than direct lending—using risk-sharing, guarantees and technical assistance to help banks and partners extend credit to agribusiness segments seen as too risky.

    The narrative is reinforced in NIRSAL’s communications, where it frames credit guarantees as a mechanism that expands partner financial institutions’ appetite for agriculture lending.

    Set against Nigeria’s food-security pressures, the big question is whether the cumulative numbers translate to measurable productivity gains or mainly reflect credit intermediation and programme counting.

    The Nation reported NIRSAL “has facilitated more than N290 billion” in finance, while NIRSAL communications said it was “closing 2025… with… credit guarantees for over N100 billion” in agriculture and agribusiness.

    Echotitbits take: Impact claims need independent verification. Watch for audited portfolio outcomes, borrower performance data and state-by-state breakdowns—especially default rates and whether credit reached smallholders or stayed concentrated in large firms.

    Source: The Nation — https://thenationonlineng.net/nirsal-facilitates-over-n100bn-in-2025-drives-159-jobs/ — December 28, 2025
    The Nation 2025-12-28

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  • FX reserves climb by $4.39bn in 12 months, CBN data shows

    FX reserves climb by $4.39bn in 12 months, CBN data shows

    2025-12-29 09:00:00
    Figures published by Punch indicate Nigeria’s external reserves rose by $4.39bn between December 23, 2024 and December 23, 2025, reaching about $45.24bn over the period, based on data sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

    The rise adds to a late-2025 picture of stronger buffers, with other market trackers also placing Nigeria’s gross reserves above $45bn in December and describing it as a multi-year high.

    Beyond the headline number, the key question for businesses and households is whether the reserve build-up translates to steadier FX supply and narrower spreads across official and parallel channels.

    MoneyCentral reports that “Gross dollar reserves stood at $45.04 billion as at December 4, 2025,” citing CBN data, while TELL notes reserves “hit $45bn” in early December 2025.

    Echotitbits take: Reserves are a confidence barometer—but they can rise and still feel “tight” if FX demand stays hot. Watch whether the trend holds into Q1 2026 and whether gaps between rates meaningfully narrow.

    Source: The Punch — December 29, 2025 (https://punchng.com/fx-reserves-add-4-39bn-in-one-year/)
    The Punch 2025-12-29

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