Business news in nigeria 2018
Here are some of the major business news in Nigeria in 2018:
- Economic Recession: Nigeria's economy slipped into recession in 2016, but it exited the recession in 2017. However, the country's economy still faced challenges in 2018, with the GDP growth rate slowing down to 1.9% in the second quarter of the year.
- Fiscal Policy Reforms: The Nigerian government introduced several fiscal policy reforms in 2018, including the introduction of a new minimum wage, a reduction in the cost of governance, and a review of the country's tax system.
- Inflation Rate: Nigeria's inflation rate remained high in 2018, averaging 11.37% for the year. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduced several measures to curb inflation, including a hike in interest rates and a reduction in the amount of cash in circulation.
- Naira Devaluation: The Naira, Nigeria's currency, depreciated against the US dollar in 2018, due to a decline in foreign exchange reserves and a rise in demand for foreign currency.
- Oil Prices: Oil prices remained volatile in 2018, with prices ranging from around $60 to over $80 per barrel. Nigeria is a major oil producer, and the country's economy is heavily dependent on oil exports.
- Investment in Infrastructure: The Nigerian government invested heavily in infrastructure development in 2018, including the construction of new roads, bridges, and power plants.
- Telecoms Sector: The telecoms sector in Nigeria continued to grow in 2018, with the number of mobile phone subscribers reaching over 150 million.
- Banking Sector: The banking sector in Nigeria remained stable in 2018, with the country's banks reporting strong profits and improving asset quality.
- Fintech Industry: The fintech industry in Nigeria continued to grow in 2018, with the number of fintech startups increasing and the sector attracting significant investment.
- Agricultural Sector: The agricultural sector in Nigeria remained a key driver of the country's economy in 2018, with the sector accounting for around 20% of the country's GDP.
Some of the major business news stories in Nigeria in 2018 include:
- Dangote Cement's IPO: Dangote Cement, one of Nigeria's largest cement producers, listed its shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in 2018, raising over N200 billion (around $550 million) in the process.
- MTN Nigeria's IPO: MTN Nigeria, the country's largest mobile phone operator, listed its shares on the NSE in 2018, raising over N110 billion (around $300 million) in the process.
- Airtel Nigeria's Acquisition: Airtel Nigeria, the country's third-largest mobile phone operator, acquired a majority stake in Visafone, a Nigerian telecommunications company, in 2018.
- Nigerian Breweries' Acquisition: Nigerian Breweries, the country's largest brewer, acquired a majority stake in Castle Milk Stout, a Nigerian beer brand, in 2018.
- FBN Holdings' Acquisition: FBN Holdings, one of Nigeria's largest financial services companies, acquired a majority stake in FBNQuest, a Nigerian investment bank, in 2018.
These are just a few examples of the many business news stories that made headlines in Nigeria in 2018.