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Ekeh, Zinox Boss Votes against Naira Devaluation

Leo Stan Ekeh, chairman of Zinox Group, Nigeria’s foremost integrated Information and Communication Technology (ICT) conglomerate, has said that the prevailing circumstances in the nation’s fiscal and monetary framework aligned to developments in the global oil market makes devaluation a needless venture at this material time.
He was lending his voice to the on-going debate over the calls for the devaluation of the local currency.
Since the turn of the year, the country has had to contend with reduced government earnings from the sale of crude oil, with the current administration especially hard-hit by the dwindling prices of the commodity in the global market, prompting the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to impose strict forex rules to save its reserves while battling the pressure from various quarters to devalue the naira.
Speaking at a reception organized in honour of his 60th birthday by a select group of ICT Media entrepreneurs at the Sheraton Hotel – Ikeja, Ekeh noted that it was too late to devalue the naira as the move will only serve to further impoverish the masses and plunge the country into a state of hyper-inflation.
“What do you think would happen to already stretched wage earners? Would their salaries be linked to rate of inflation as is the standard globally? As I speak a lot of states cannot pay the minimum monthly salary.
“If devaluation happened mid-last year it would have made sense and encouraged in-flows from investors but devaluing now would compound our already difficult situation and investors will only wait in anticipation of a further devaluation. It will rubbish our currency forever and strengthen the purchasing power of our trading partners,” he said.
Ekeh, who claimed that his company is one of the casualties of the current forex scarcity with increasing difficulty to meet overseas business obligations, believes Nigerians and Nigerian corporates have reasonably adjusted to the realities of the hard times with pains as most people are now prioritizing critical needs which should be the case most times. In his view, the dire situation has most importantly impacted common sense which is not too common in many Nigerians.
“It’s too late to devalue the naira at this point in time. I can see reason behind the refusal of the President to consider devaluation as it is a move that will certainly erode the buying power of the middle class and push millions of Nigeria already living below the poverty line into abject penury,” surmised Ekeh, who is also a renowned Third World Economist.
“The country is hugely dependent on imports as it were and with the status quo ante, any attempt to devalue the currency will only usher in inflation and leave the country at the mercy of the vested interests in the global economic set-up who have been voluble in their calls for devaluation.”
Rather than consider devaluing the currency, Ekeh counselled the government to explore other options which will shore up the value of the naira and make the country less dependent on imports as it used to be in the past.
“We should rather focus our collective energies on workable ideas and a sound framework on which to base the diversification of our present mono-economy to re-ignite the country’s hitherto-forgotten status as a continental exporter.
“This is the time to refurbish our school system and save from remittance of fees for the millions of Nigerians who do not have option than to school abroad. This is the time to create knowledge incubators around the country which does not cost much to empower Nigerians to create digital wealth which has near zero-incubation period. It is the time for us develop industrial clusters in major productive zones to supply the needs of Nigeria and reduce importation,” he posited.
Ekeh also predicted that if oil prices rebound to at least $50 per barrel, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari will be one of the best placed in the history of the country to positively impact the lives of Nigerians.
“Trust me, at $50 per barrel the quality of life of today’s Nigerians may be better than when oil prices reached record highs of $115 per barrel because Nigerians now have a new mind-set to live real and well which wasn’t the case until few months ago. If the prices inches to at least $50 per barrel, I am confident that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari will be in a better position from a financial stand-point to positively impact the lives of Nigerians and guarantee rapid infrastructural development.
“This belief is down to the new-found air of accountability and probity in the polity coupled with the conscious effort to block leakages in the system which has strengthened the country’s capacity and empowered most of our critical institutions,” he affirmed.
Ekeh, whose 60th birthday coincided with the announcement of the Zinox Group’s investment in Xputer – a 21st century digital software company – disclosed that the investment was timely and in line with the ambition of building the single largest 360 degrees ICT conglomerate in Africa out of Nigeria and creating platforms for current and future Nigerian whiz-kids to alter their destinies.
News
Guinness Rolls Out Nationwide Consumer Rewards Promotion

Guinness Nigeria has launched a nationwide National Consumer Promotion (NCP) tagged ‘Open For More’. This is a consumer rewards initiative that will see more than ₦400 million in cash and prizes won by consumers across the country.

The promotion, which runs nationwide, offers consumers the opportunity to win ₦1 million every day, ₦100,000 cash rewards for 1,000 winners, and a brand-new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado as the grand prize. The campaign is designed to reward loyal consumers while creating more opportunities for everyday Nigerians to celebrate life’s meaningful moments.
To participate, consumers are required to purchase specially marked bottles of Guinness Foreign Extra Stout or Guinness Smooth, check for the unique code beneath the crown cork, and enter the code at www.guinnessng.com/1759 for a chance to win.
Speaking on the launch, Ramanathan Solayappan, Marketing and Innovations Director, Guinness Nigeria, said the promotion reflects the brand’s longstanding relationship with consumers and its commitment to creating memorable experiences beyond the product itself.
“Nigerians have made Guinness part of their celebrations, milestones, and everyday moments for over seven decades. The ‘Open For More’ promotion is our way of rewarding that loyalty by giving consumers genuine opportunities to win prizes that can make a meaningful difference in their lives.”
Solayappan added that the promotion was deliberately designed to make participation simple and accessible to consumers across the country.
“We believe, at Guinness, that there is always room for more possibilities, more progress, and more reasons to celebrate. Through this campaign, we are inviting consumers and beloved Nigerians over the age of 18 years to take part in an experience that goes beyond enjoying a Guinness. Every eligible purchase could open the door to something more.”
Beyond rewarding consumers, the promotion comes at a time when many Nigerians are placing greater value on opportunities that offer tangible returns. By putting more than ₦400 million in cash and prizes directly into the hands of consumers, Guinness Nigeria is creating a campaign that celebrates loyalty and delivers meaningful rewards that can support personal aspirations, family needs, and everyday goals.
As part of the campaign, winners will emerge weekly throughout the promotion period, with regular winner announcements and prize presentations aimed at ensuring transparency and public confidence in the process.
The Open For More National Consumer Promotion strengthens Guinness Nigeria’s commitment to rewarding consumers while creating excitement around the brand through meaningful and impactful experiences. Consumers are encouraged to look out for specially marked promotional packs and follow Guinness Nigeria’s official communication channels for updates, winner announcements, and further information on participation mechanics.
News
Nigeria Lost N34 Trillion to Import Waivers in 2025, Customs Tells Senate

Bashir Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has disclosed that the value of Import Duty Exemption Certificate (IDEC) approvals granted by the Federal Government rose to about N34 trillion in 2025.

Adeniyi made the disclosure on Monday during an investigative hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance in Abuja.
He said the import duty exemptions had significantly affected the service’s revenue generation, although many of the waivers were introduced to support critical national priorities.
According to him, about 60 per cent of the approved waivers were granted for the importation of military hardware in response to the country’s security challenges.
He said other beneficiaries included importers of compressed natural gas (CNG), electric and hybrid vehicles, healthcare equipment and medical supplies, industrial machinery, manufacturing inputs and food intervention programmes.
“IDEC approvals reached about N34 trillion in 2025, about 60 per cent of which was rightly granted for military hardware procurements due to Nigeria’s prevailing security challenges,” Adeniyi said.
The Comptroller-General noted that the introduction of the IDEC scheme in March 2020 had remained one of the major fiscal policies affecting Customs revenue.
He said the service would have generated significantly higher revenue over the years if not for government fiscal measures and other external factors that reduced its revenue base.
Adeniyi, however, maintained that fiscal policy should not be evaluated solely on the basis of revenue generation.
He said government interventions through duty waivers were intended to stimulate economic growth, improve healthcare delivery, encourage industrial production and address national security concerns.
He urged the Federal Government to strengthen monitoring mechanisms to ensure that beneficiaries of import duty waivers achieved the intended objectives, including reducing prices, increasing production and improving access to essential goods and services.
The Customs boss also disclosed that the service generated N7.28 trillion in revenue in 2025.
He added that out of the N11.04 trillion revenue target for 2026, the service had realised N4.5 trillion as of June 30.
Adeniyi expressed optimism that the service would continue implementing measures aimed at improving revenue collection while supporting government fiscal policies.
News
DataPro Upgrades Dangote Cement’s Credit Rating to AA+

DataPro Rating Agency has upgraded the long-term credit rating of Dangote Cement Plc to AA+ from AA, citing the company’s strong financial performance, market leadership and ability to meet its financial obligations despite Nigeria’s challenging economic environment.

In its latest rating report, the technology-driven credit rating agency also affirmed Dangote Cement’s short-term rating at A1, with a Stable Outlook. The ratings are valid until June 16, 2027.
DataPro said the upgrade reflects the cement maker’s sustained financial strength, resilient operating performance and dominant position in Nigeria and across Africa.
According to the agency, the assessment followed a comprehensive review of the company’s capital base, earnings, liquidity, corporate governance, regulatory compliance and the sustainability of its financial performance over the medium to long term.
It noted that Dangote Cement’s strong brand, leading market share, solid earnings, robust asset base and experienced management continue to strengthen its ability to meet financial commitments on time.
The agency also highlighted the company’s outstanding financial performance in 2025.
According to the report, Dangote Cement posted N4.31 trillion in revenue during the year, representing a 20 per cent increase from the previous year. Profit before tax more than doubled, rising 109 per cent to N1.53 trillion, driven by higher sales, improved operating efficiency, lower finance costs and a stronger capital structure.
DataPro said the AA+ long-term rating indicates low credit risk and reflects excellent financial strength, business profile and operating performance relative to its rating benchmarks.
It added that the A1 short-term rating signifies good credit quality and shows that the company has a strong capacity to meet its short-term financial obligations as they fall due.
The rating agency, however, noted that the credit rating has a maximum shelf life of 12 calendar months in line with international best practice and should be used only as a reference, not as an offer to trade in securities or as a substitute for investors’ independent judgement.
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