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Abia State Seeks Partnership with AfDB to Transform State into Industrial Hub

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A thriving entrepreneurship industry and agricultural base in Nigeria’s Abia State are the foundation for the creation of a potentially viable industrial hub, its governor Okezie Ikpeazu told the African Development Bank.

Ikpeazu met with African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina at the Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire to discuss investment for Abia to help boost job creation and enhance livelihoods.

“Our vision is to leverage the capacity of our people to become the SME capital of Nigeria.  Our people are industrious and innovative.

“For instance, our people are known as top players in the leather industry. We have a new shoe factory that is producing over 50, 000 shoes. We particularly need the Bank’s help to address the State’s infrastructure deficit,” the governor said.

With a population of over 2.8 million, Abia State is looking to the Bank to help make Enyimba Economic City (EEC), an ambitious economic hub, a reality. The State Government’s goal is to transform the region into a manufacturing and industrial powerhouse and create 700,000 jobs over 5 years.

The project, presented at the Bank’s 2019 Africa Investment Forum, has received significant investor interest, officials said.  Other investment interests include a waste-to-energy project.

The Bank’s support was also sought to facilitate the Abia State Integrated Infrastructural Project which is designed to develop massive infrastructure in the State, especially in the commercial city of Aba and the State capital of Umuahia.

Adesina said Abia State had “huge potential in agro processing and human resources. “The Bank’s role is to support governments like yours to transform their economies and create jobs,” he said.

Ikpeazu also requested the Bank’s support for the development of key agricultural value chains, including palm oil, rice, cocoa, cassava, maize and cashew, that would also create jobs for women and youth.

Accompanying the governor were the Commissioner for Works, Chidozie Bob Ogu, Commissioner for Finance, Aham Uko, Commissioner for Agriculture, Ikechi Mgbeoji and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Inter Governmental Affairs, Chinenye Nwaogu.

“Over the years, Aba has evolved as a centre of entrepreneurship and SMEs.  The city has the potential to be a competitive industrial hub for Nigeria and for Africa. For this reason, the Bank will continue to support your vision,” Adesina concluded.

Since the Bank Group commenced operations in Nigeria in 1971, it has invested about $ 74.5 million in the State, across four critical sectors of power & energy (53%); education (25%); health (15%); and transport (7%). In the years to come, the State will continue to be a key beneficiary of the Bank’s support with the planned Abia State Integrated Infrastructure Development Project and the Enyimba Economic City.


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E-Financial

Union Bank of Nigeria Completes Merger with Titan Trust Bank

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Union Bank of Nigeria, one of the nation’s longest standing financial institutions, today announced the successful completion of its merger with Titan Trust Bank Limited, following final approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Union Bank of Nigeria Completes Merger with Titan Trust Bank

This milestone, according to a statement from Mrs. Olufunmilola Aluko, head, Brand and Marketing Officer, Union Bank concluded a process that began with the signing of a Share Sale Agreement in 2021 and positions.

Union Bank as an even stronger force within Nigeria’s financial services sector. Under the terms of the merger, Union Bank has fully absorbed Titan Trust Bank’s operatons and assets.

The combined institution will continue to operate under the Union Bank brand, while Titan Trust Bank ceases to exist as a separate entity.

With an expanded footprint of over 293 service centres and 937 ATMs nationwide, supported by strengthened digital channels, Union Bank is poised to deliver enhanced value across retail, SME, and corporate segments.

The merger combines Union Bank’s trusted heritage with Titan Trust’s agility and innovation, creating a platform for sustainable growth and broader financial inclusion.

Mrs. Yetunde Oni, managing director and chief executive officer, Union Bank, described the development as “a pivotal moment in our 108-year journey, and a launchpad for delivering greater value to our customers. By blending stability with innovation, we are better positioned to meet the evolving needs of Nigerians and to be their most trusted financial partner.”

Also speaking on the transaction, Mr. Bayo Adeleke, chairman of the Board of Directors,  Union Bank, said: “This is a new era of growth, collaboration, and shared prosperity. By bringing together the strengths of both institutions, we are committed to creating lasting value for our customers, shareholders, and communities while advancing Nigeria’s financial inclusion agenda.” The Bank has assured customers that there will be no disruption to existing services.

Account details remain unchanged, and customers will continue to access a full suite of products and services seamlessly, with an accelerated push towards enhanced digital solutions.

This strategic consolidation strengthens Union Bank’s market position, unlocks operational synergies, and underscores its ambition to deliver a modern, robust, and inclusive banking experience for all.


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AMMBAN Faults CBN’s 60-day Deadline on PoS Geo-Tagging

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The Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria (AMMBAN) has expressed concern over the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN ) 60-day deadline for the mandatory geo-tagging of Point of Sale (PoS) and other payment terminals in the country.

Dr. Obioha Oti, Acting National President of AMMBAN, said that while the association fully supports and had foreknowledge of the apex bank’s plan to ensure that all existing payment terminals in the country are geo-tagged, the 60-day deadline set for the exercise was too short to allow for its effective implementation.

He cited the large number of PoS terminals in the market which, according to him, do not meet the CBN’s new standards as well as the limited capacity of many Mobile Money Operators (MMOs), as some of the factors that may hinder the implementation of the directive.

Speaking on a Channels TV business programme, also disclosed that while about 50 per cent of the estimated 10 million PoS terminals in the market, are active, a significant number of them do not meet the new standards and would either have to be withdrawn or upgraded.

According to him, the process of withdrawing or upgrading such terminals within the 60-day window might cause severe disruption to the financial system especially as the effects of the naira redesign crisis have not worn off.

Dr Oti said: “We, as the players at the grassroots, welcome the directive. It will help to reduce fraud, kidnapping and other criminal activities. The challenge might be with the implementation; I have a problem with the 60-day window. We all remember what happened during the implementation of the naira redesign programme.”

 


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Diaspora Inflows Triple to $600M Monthly, Set to Hit $1B Next Year – CBN

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Nigeria’s economy is receiving a major boost from its diaspora community, with remittance inflows tripling to $600 million monthly over the past two months, according to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso.

Speaking at the Delta State–Brazil Business and Investment Roundtable in São Paulo, Cardoso attributed the surge to a more competitive exchange rate and improved remittance channels, which have made it easier and more attractive for Nigerians abroad to send money home through official platforms.

“Our exchange rate is becoming a lot more competitive. Those who previously sought other channels to send their money back home no longer have to do so,” Cardoso said.

The CBN governor revealed that remittance inflows had previously hovered around $200 million monthly but have now climbed to $600 million—a 200 percent increase.

He projected that the figure could reach $1 billion per month by 2026, positioning diaspora contributions as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s foreign exchange strategy.

Cardoso emphasized that the rising inflows are helping to diversify Nigeria’s foreign exchange portfolio and reduce its dependence on oil revenues, which have long been the backbone of the country’s economy.

“When we started considering diaspora flows as a source of diversifying our foreign exchange earnings, people laughed,” he said.

“But we started at $200 million every month. In the last two months, we have reached $600 million per month, and by next year, we anticipate at least $1 billion from our diaspora community.”

The roundtable event, which brought together Nigerian and Brazilian business leaders, focused on strengthening bilateral trade and investment.

Cardoso’s remarks underscored the growing importance of digital financial infrastructure and policy reforms in unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential.

Experts say the remittance boom could have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s balance of payments, exchange rate stability, and household income levels—especially as more Nigerians abroad opt for formal channels to support families and invest in local ventures.

As the country continues to grapple with inflation and currency volatility, the CBN’s renewed focus on diaspora inflows may offer a lifeline—and a path toward a more resilient economy.


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