Finance Friday- Nigeria Bets on Infrastructure and Exports While Global Markets Navigate Uncertainty
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Market Overview
Good evening and welcome to today’s market briefing, where Nigeria’s drive to deepen non-oil exports, expand digital infrastructure, and strengthen local value chains takes center stage. Key updates across aviation logistics, energy transition, agribusiness, and telecoms signal a steady push toward long-term economic diversification. Globally, central bank politics, commodity supply decisions, and selective reopening of mining sectors are shaping risk sentiment.
Nigerian News & Market Update
NAHCO, NACCIMA partner to drive Nigeria’s SME exports:
The National Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Aviance, in partnership with the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), is supporting Nigerian SMEs to boost non-oil exports by providing logistics, packaging, and export processing guidance. - TheSun
Atlas Core Energy signs 20-year deal with Oyo to promote CNG-powered transport system:
Atlas Core Energy signs a 20-year partnership with Oyo State to expand CNG-powered transport, promote sustainability, and reduce commuter costs. - TheSun
Cavista Holdings Acquires Matna Foods To Strengthen Cassava Value Chain:
Cavista Holdings has acquired Matna Foods through Agbeyewa Industries to strengthen Nigeria’s cassava value chain and expand local processing capacity. - Leadership
Telcos plan ₦1.4 trillion investment on network expansion – NCC:
Nigerian telecom operators plan to invest over ₦1.4 trillion in 2026 to expand network infrastructure, improve coverage, and meet rising data demand, according to the NCC. - Punch
Nigeria Sectoral Indices Performance
The table below shows that the NGX Insurance and Oil/Gas indices led gains year to date. Most indices showed slight daily and weekly losses, except for Insurance, Oil/Gas, Industrial Goods, and Lotus indices. All indices remain in positive territory for MTD, QTD, and YTD, with NGX Oil/Gas up the most at 13.8%.
Fixed Income (FGN Bonds)
Global News & Market Update
Trump picks former Fed official Warsh to run US central bank:
Trump has nominated former Fed governor Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell as Fed chair, rattling markets amid concerns over rate cuts and central bank independence. - Reuters
Mozambique’s president opens Chinese-owned graphite processing plant:
Mozambique has opened a Chinese-owned graphite processing plant to boost battery mineral production and move from raw material exports to local processing and exports. - Reuters
German inflation rises slightly in January:
German inflation edged up to 2.1% in January, slightly above expectations, according to preliminary official data. - Reuters
Madagascar lifts 16-year ban on new mining permits, excludes gold:
Madagascar has lifted a 16-year ban on new mining permits for most minerals to attract investment, while keeping the moratorium on gold due to regulatory challenges. - Reuters
OPEC+ set to keep oil production pause for March as prices jump:
OPEC+ is expected to maintain its March oil production pause as prices rise amid Iran tensions and Kazakhstan supply disruptions. - Reuters
Hong Kong Q4 GDP expands 3.8% y/y, 2025 GDP up 3.5%:
Hong Kong's economy grew 3.8% year-on-year in Q4 2025, with full-year GDP up 3.5%, surpassing government forecasts. Strong trade, tourism, and financial services, along with AI-driven export demand, are expected to sustain momentum in 2026. - Reuters
Indices, Commodities & Currencies
The table below shows that the Global markets were mixed, with US equities broadly lower (S&P 500, Nasdaq, Russell 2000 down) while European and Japanese indices advanced, signaling regional divergence in risk appetite. Energy prices firmed modestly led by crude oil and natural gas, but most commodities weakened, with notable declines across metals (gold, silver, platinum) and softs, reflecting cautious global demand sentiment. In FX, the US dollar strengthened against most majors, pressuring the euro, sterling, and commodity-linked currencies, while volatility remained contained despite equity weakness.
Fixed Income (USA Bonds)
Event
Conclusion
For Nigerian investors, sustained telco capex, CNG transport initiatives, and agro-processing acquisitions point to medium-term opportunities in infrastructure, energy transition, and industrials, while fixed income remains sensitive to policy signals. Globally, uncertainty around US monetary leadership, OPEC+ supply discipline, and improving Asian growth could keep markets volatile but selective. Investors may see near-term instability, with positioning likely to favor earnings visibility, inflation hedges, and markets aligned to structural growth themes.
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