E-Financial
CBN to Sanction Banks over Power Fund
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has threatened to sanction any of the participating deposit money banks that contravenes the terms and conditions of the Nigerian Electricity Market Stabilisation Facility (NEMSF).
Kevin Amugo, director, Financial Policy and Regulation, CBN in a circular, said it would impose monetary sanctions as well as terminate the participating mandate of any bank that violates the terms and conditions of the CBN/NEMSF.
The CBN Nigeria Electricity Market Stabilisation Fund (CBN-NEMSF) is aimed at settling outstanding payment obligations due to market participants under the IRP Debts as well as legacy gas debts of the PHCN generation companies owed to gas suppliers and the Nigeria Gas Company, which was transferred to the Nigeria Electricity Liability Company Ltd with the objective of putting the NESI on the route to economic viability and sustainability.
The CBN pointed out that sanctions that may be imposed are not limited to those listed as it may impose additional sanctions, and in such form as it may deem fit, to include regulatory action against officials of defaulting banks.
It noted further that any “penalties imposed as a result of sanctions may be directly offset against any fees payable to a Deposit Money Bank under the CBN-NEMSF.”
The apex bank in the sanctions grid, said the closure of a Transaction Account by a DMB without the prior written consent of the refinancer will attract a fine of N2 million for the first infraction and termination of its mandate at further infractions.
Also, the apex bank said any bank that opens additional bank accounts for a beneficiary distribution company, whether or not for the purpose of receiving payments, fines and fees for electricity consumed by its customers, without the prior written consent of the refinancer, “shall pay a penalty of N2 million on each account opened and shall be instructed by the refinancer to close the account and transfer all funds in the account into the Principal Collection Account (PCA) within 24hours.”
“If the infraction is not remedied after the expiration of the 24 hours, the bank will be liable to a penalty of N2 million per day for the number of days the account remains open,” the CBN said, adding that any further infraction will result in the “termination of the DMB’s participation as a Mandate Bank under the CBN-NEMSF.”
It would be recalled that one year into the programme, the CBN disbursed the sum of N64 billion or 30 per cent of the facility to 18 participants. Five distribution companies received N41.06 billion; seven generating companies received N18.4 billion while six gas companies received N5.24 billion.
Also, the apex bank had in March 2015, just before the general elections, disbursed the total sum of N18.26 billion to the first batch of beneficiaries of the N213 billion NEMSF, which comprised of two electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) and three electricity Generation Companies (GENCOs).
The CBN in June this year, also disbursed the fourth batch of the fund, giving out N55.456 billion to 24 industry participants; three DISCOS, 14 GENCOS-NIPP inclusive, one service provider; and six GASCOS to further address the challenges of the sector.
E-Financial
First Securities Brokers Empowers Nigerians to Trade in the Stock Market with the Launch of FirstInvest App
First Securities Brokers, one of Nigeria’s leading stockbroking firms and a subsidiary of FirstHoldCo Plc, is pleased to announce the official launch of the FirstInvest App, an innovative mobile investment platform designed to make stock market investing simpler, faster, and more accessible for Nigerians.
The FirstInvest App offers investors a seamless digital experience, enabling them to open and manage their investment accounts, monitor their portfolios, and trade equities listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) directly from their mobile devices.
Designed with both new and experienced investors in mind, the platform combines convenience, security, and ease of use to help users make informed investment decisions anytime and anywhere.
As Nigeria continues to embrace digital financial services, the FirstInvest App reinforces First Securities Brokers’ commitment to driving financial inclusion and expanding access to wealth creation opportunities through technology.
Speaking on the launch, Fiona Ahmed Ahimie, Managing Director of First Securities Brokers, said: “The launch of the FirstInvest App represents another significant milestone in our digital transformation journey and our commitment to delivering innovative investment solutions to our clients.
“We understand that today’s investors value convenience, speed, and accessibility. FirstInvest has been developed to provide exactly that: a secure and intuitive platform that empowers individuals to participate confidently in the capital market from wherever they are.”
She added: “Our goal is to remove the traditional barriers associated with investing by placing the power of timely investment and decision making in the stock market directly in the hands of Nigerians. Whether you are taking your first investment step, actively managing your portfolio or just evaluating your investment, FirstInvest provides the tools and flexibility needed to support your financial aspirations.”
The app delivers a range of features designed to enhance your investing experience, including: Secure digital account opening and onboarding, Real-time access to investment portfolios, Buy and sell Nigerian equities with ease, User-friendly trading interface, Secure transaction processing, Convenient access to market information and investment opportunities.
The launch of FirstInvest aligns with First Securities Brokers’ broader strategy of leveraging technology to improve customer experience while supporting the growth of retail participation in Nigeria’s capital market.
First Securities Brokers remains committed to providing trusted investment advisory services, innovative financial solutions, and exceptional customer service, helping clients build and preserve wealth across generations. The FirstInvest App is now available for download on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
The next currency crisis could accelerate the shift of the roughly $315 billion global stablecoin market into a digital-dollar alternative for citizens in emerging economies, notably in regions like sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.
As local fiat currencies face devaluation and high inflation, citizens and businesses are increasingly utilizing smartphone-based stablecoins (such as USDT and USDC) as hedges and primary mediums of exchange.
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the rapid adoption of dollar-linked digital assets—particularly in countries heavily affected by inflation like Nigeria—poses significant risks to monetary sovereignty.
With up to 95% of surveyed individuals in some African markets preferring to receive payments in stablecoins over local fiat, the rising volume of these decentralized, cross-border channels weakens domestic currency demand and dilutes the effectiveness of local monetary policy.
IMF observed in a report titled “Stablecoins in Nigeria: A Growing Cross-Border Channel” noted that the widespread use of stablecoins poses risks to monetary sovereignty, particularly as more individuals and businesses turn to digital dollar-linked assets for savings and transactions.
Nodding in agreement is Future Investment Initiative Institute (FII Institute), a non-profit organisation run by the Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia’s main sovereign wealth fund.
FII Institute said that central banks face structural challenges.
And according to the institute, when citizens move savings out of national banks and into private digital wallets, conventional capital controls lose their grip.
Institutions like the Bank for International Settlements warn that interest-bearing stablecoins compete directly with domestic-currency deposits, complicating financial oversight and making smartphone-based transfers incredibly difficult for authorities to monitor.
In Nigeria, Naira depreciation has pushed users toward dollar-stablecoins, according to report by Gino Matos in cryptoslate.com.
A stablecoin is a type of cryptocurrency designed to maintain a steady value by pegging its price to a reserve asset, such as a fiat currency (e.g., the U.S. dollar) or a commodity (e.g., gold).
They act as a bridge between traditional money and the digital asset world, providing the speed of crypto without the extreme price swings of assets like Bitcoin.
Federal government has reopened three federal government of Nigeria (FGN) bond issues valued at N1.2 trillion for subscription as part of efforts to raise long-term funds from the domestic debt market.
The Debt Management Office (DMO), which announced the offer on Tuesday, said the three reopened bond issues are each valued at N400 billion.
According to the DMO, the first offer is the January 2035 FGN Bond, a 10-year reopening, carrying an interest rate of 22.60 per cent per annum.
The second is the May 2028 FGN Bond, a 15-year reopening, with a coupon rate of 15.45 per cent per annum, while the third is the June 2037 FGN Bond, a 20-year reopening, also valued at N400 billion.
The office said the bond auction is scheduled for July 20, while successful subscriptions will be settled on July 22.
It explained that the bonds are offered at N1,000 per unit, with a minimum subscription of N50 million and additional investments in multiples of N1,000.
For the reopened bonds, the DMO said successful bidders would pay a price based on the yield-to-maturity that clears the auction, in addition to any accrued interest on the instruments.
Interest on the bonds will be paid every six months, while the principal will be repaid in full on the respective maturity dates.
The DMO reaffirmed that FGN bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of the Federal Government and constitute obligations chargeable on the general assets of the federation.
It added that the bonds qualify as trustee investment securities under the Trustee Investment Act and enjoy tax exemptions for eligible investors, including pension funds, under the Company Income Tax Act and Personal Income Tax Act.
The bonds are listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) and FMDQ Securities Exchange and also qualify as liquid assets for banks in computing their liquidity ratios.
FGN bonds are long-term debt instruments through which investors lend money to the Federal Government in exchange for periodic interest payments and repayment of the principal at maturity.
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