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NOVA Merchant Bank Attracts $65.12m FDI in 2023

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NOVA Merchant Bank, a leading merchant bank in Nigeria, has firmly established its presence in Nigeria’s banking landscape and beyond as it has achieved a remarkable 76.1% increase in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for the year 2023.

\ NOVA Merchant Bank Attracts $65.12m FDI in 2023

Surpassing market expectations, this achievement positions NOVA as a key player in attracting international capital, showcasing its prowess in navigating global financial markets.

In a recent report titled “Top 10 Banks with the highest capital inflows facilitation Q4 2023,” by analysts from Nairametrics, NOVA not only secured a coveted spot in the top 10 list of banks attracting foreign investment but also demonstrated a substantial surge in FDI from $36 million in 2022 to an impressive $65.12 million in 2023.

This significant growth underscores the bank’s ability to foster global confidence and highlights its strategic vision in capitalizing on opportunities in the ever-evolving financial landscape.

The analysis showed that while Stanbic IBTC led banks with the highest capital inflow, recording $99.4 million; NOVA Bank secured its position as one of the top 10 banks, with a substantial inflow of $33.5 million – 8.2 percent below Access Bank and ahead of Standard Chartered and Union Bank, which each recorded $14.4 million and $10 million respectively within the top 10 list.

Corroborating this, a report by the Bureau of Statistics showed that NOVA not only secured a place among the top 10 list of banks attracting foreign investment but also recorded a remarkable 76.1% increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) year on year. This surge is evident, with FDI inflow catapulting from $36 million in 2022 to an impressive $65.12 million in 2023. With half a decade in operation, NOVA has proven to be a force in the Nigerian banking scene.

Interestingly, since its inception in 2018, NOVA has consistently posted profits, reflecting its sound financial strategies and operational efficiency.

Moreover, the Bank’s non-performing loan ratio consistently maintains an enviable 0.2%, a remarkable achievement by industry standards. This low ratio speaks volumes about NOVA’s prudent lending practices. Such meticulous attention to asset quality underscores the Bank’s best-in-class governance and management discipline, setting a benchmark for industry peers.

It is also noteworthy that NOVA remains in the forefront of foreign investment attraction given its relatively young presence in the banking industry, spanning just over five years and solidifying its position as a leading financial institution both domestically and globally.

Just recently, NOVAmbl Asset Management’s Dollar Fixed Income Fund was named as the best-performing Dollar Fund in 2023 based on data from the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC). NOVAmbl Asset Management is a subsidiary of NOVA Merchant Bank.

In this dynamic and stiff competitive landscape, NOVA Bank’s growing performance reaffirms its status as a “player to watch” in Nigeria’s banking sector. The Bank’s ability to not only attract substantial capital inflows but also significantly boost foreign direct investment reflects its resilience and strategic foresight.

As the bank gears up for transition to full scale commercial banking operation, having received the approval in principle from CBN, there are espectations of higher levels of customer confidence and trust. This strategic evolution might position the Bank as a formidable entity, poised to set new standards and redefine banking landscape in Nigeria.


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E-Financial

NAICOM Signs MoU with BPP to Deepen Insurance Compliance in Public Procurement

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The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) for collaboration and strengthening of the insurance industry, in the area of public procurement processes.

The Commissioner for Insurance, Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, welcoming the Director-General of BPP, Adebowale Adedokun, and his delegation to NAICOM for a working visit, during which the agreement was signed, highlighted the role of NAICOM as the statutory regulator charged with supervising, regulating and promoting the growth of Nigeria’s insurance industry.

He further stated that NAICOM’s current reform priorities include policyholder protection, regulatory capacity building, legal modernisation, recapitalisation, and increasing insurance penetration.

He emphasised that the collaboration would reinforce the principles of public procurement and insurance practice in Nigeria. He noted that achieving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of transforming Nigeria’s economy into a one-trillion-dollar economy required strong inter-agency cooperation.

He stressed that the commission’s reform objectives could not be fully realised without strategic collaboration with agencies such as BPP. The Commissioner further disclosed plans to establish a platform to monitor and verify insurance coverage for public procurement items and assured that insurance operators would strictly adhere to established rules and standards.

In his remarks, the Director-General of BPP, Adedokun, commended the ongoing transformation in the insurance industry, describing the Commission’s environment as serene and reflective of its readiness to support the Federal Government’s economic growth agenda.

Adedokun, welcomed the partnership and highlighted implementation as the critical next phase: “Signing MoU is only the beginning — what matters is delivery. BPP has moved to a fully digital submission model to speed approvals and reduce opportunities for corruption”, he stated.


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Binance Cuts Illicit Activity Exposure by 96%, Leads Global Crypto Compliance Push

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Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, has reported a 96 per cent drop in direct exposure to illicit activities between January 2023 and June 2025, underscoring its commitment to regulatory excellence and user safety amid Nigeria’s growing digital finance sector.

Binance Cuts Illicit Activity Exposure by 96%, Leads Global Crypto Compliance Push

Binance

The exchange highlighted investments in a robust compliance framework, including over 580 global compliance professionals and 970 staff in related roles, advanced transaction monitoring, stringent Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols, and anti-money laundering (AML) systems.

These measures align with evolving regulations across key markets, including Nigeria, where crypto adoption surges despite Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) guidelines.

Binance’s Chief Compliance Officer, Noah Perlman, said: “At Binance we’ve built a system that doesn’t just react to threats, it anticipates them. A 96% reduction in illicit exposure is a testament to our infrastructure and the 1,500+ professionals working behind the scenes to protect our 300M users.”

Key achievements include a 96.8 per cent plunge in sanctions-related exposure—from 0.284 per cent in January 2024 to 0.009 per cent in July 2025.

In 2025 alone, Binance responded to over 71,000 law enforcement requests, helping seize more than $130 million (over ₦200 billion) in illicit funds.

Collaborations with agencies like Europol, DEA, UK’s NCA, and national cybercrime units have dismantled ransomware groups, darknet markets, and trafficking networks.

Binance co-CEO Richard Teng added: “Our mission has always been to increase the freedom of money, but that freedom is only sustainable if it is built on a foundation of trust. By integrating compliance into our product DNA, we are proving that the world’s largest exchange can also be the most secure.”

The platform engages regulators and policymakers to shape balanced rules supporting innovation while prioritising transparency and financial integrity. Since 2017, Binance has served over 300 million users, publishing regular compliance updates to build trust.

Industry watchers note Binance’s efforts resonate in Nigeria, where crypto trading volumes exceed $50 billion annually, but challenges like fraud and regulatory scrutiny persist. The exchange’s progress could bolster confidence as the CBN refines fintech policies.

Binance reaffirmed its dedication to a safer crypto ecosystem through ongoing investments and partnerships.


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Nigeria’s VAT Jumps 34%, CIT Soars 48% to ₦14trn in 9M’25 – NBS

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Nigeria’s non-oil tax collections posted robust growth in the first nine months of 2025, with Value Added Tax (VAT) rising 34 per cent to ₦6.4 trillion and Company Income Tax (CIT) jumping 48 per cent to ₦7.72 trillion, bolstering federal revenue amid oil price volatility.

Nigeria's VAT Jumps 34%, CIT Soars 48% to ₦14trn in 9M'25 – NBS

NBS

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed VAT climbing from ₦4.77 trillion in 9M’24, reflecting stronger domestic consumption and imports. Quarterly trends indicated a slight 1.4 per cent dip to ₦2.03 trillion in Q2’25 from ₦2.06 trillion in Q1’25, followed by a 10.66 per cent rebound to ₦2.28 trillion in Q3’25—a 28.1 per cent year-on-year gain.

In Q3’25, local VAT hit ₦1.12 trillion, foreign VAT ₦680.23 billion, and import VAT ₦479.79 billion. Sectorally, Administrative and Support Services led with 89.28 per cent quarter-on-quarter growth, trailed by Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (82.49 per cent) and Human Health (32.4 per cent). Real Estate contracted sharply by 51.33 per cent. Manufacturing dominated contributions at 25.89 per cent, followed by Information and Communication (18.77 per cent) and Mining/Quarrying (14.85 per cent).

CIT followed suit, surging from ₦5.22 trillion in 9M’24. It stood at ₦1.98 trillion in Q1’25, leaped 40 per cent to ₦2.78 trillion in Q2’25, and grew 5.7 per cent to ₦2.96 trillion in Q3’25—a 67.19 per cent year-on-year rise. Domestic CIT reached ₦1.21 trillion in Q3, while foreign CIT hit ₦1.75 trillion, underscoring multinational firms’ role.

Economists attribute the uptick to improved tax administration, digital tracking, and post-reform consumption, though sectoral disparities signal real estate headwinds. The gains support President Tinubu’s revenue diversification drive, reducing oil dependency as global crude fluctuates.

NBS data highlights non-oil taxes’ potential to fund infrastructure and social programmes, with analysts eyeing sustained momentum into 2026.


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