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CRMEDA, CALCCIMA partner tourism bureau

CRMEDA, CALCCIMA partner tourism bureau

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CBN Cuts T-bill Rate Amid N3.63tn Demand Investors are increasingly positioning for longer-term returns in Nigeria’s fixed-income market, with the latest treasury bills auction showing an overwhelming preference for the one-year government security. At the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) primary market auction on Wednesday, investors submitted N3.63tn for the 364-day T-bill, representing 95.9 per cent of the N3.79tn total bids received across the three maturities. The demand came despite the CBN lowering the stop rate on the one-year instrument by 44 basis points to 17.15 per cent, from 17.59 per cent at the previous auction. The auction results point to a significant shift in investor appetite towards longer-dated government securities, even as demand for shorter-tenor instruments remained subdued. The CBN had offered N700bn across the three maturities, comprising N100bn each for the 91-day and 182-day bills and N500bn for the 364-day bill. However, total subscriptions reached approximately N3.79tn, more than five times the amount offered. The 364-day instrument was the clear outlier at the auction, receiving bids equivalent to 7.26 times the amount offered. The CBN ultimately allotted N638.19bn, exceeding the N500bn offer by N138.19bn. Despite the additional allotment, only about 17.6 per cent of total bids submitted for the instrument were accepted. Investors quoted yields between 16.00 per cent and 19.05 per cent, but the CBN settled at 17.15 per cent, suggesting that the level of demand allowed the regulator to reject more expensive bids. The development is significant because the CBN achieved a lower borrowing rate even after receiving exceptionally strong demand for the security. The contrast was stark at the shorter end of the curve. The 91-day bill attracted N103.32bn in subscriptions against N100bn offered. The CBN allotted N89.10bn at an unchanged stop rate of 16.30 per cent. The 182-day bill performed even more weakly, attracting only N52.93bn against N100bn on offer. The CBN allotted N35.59bn, while the stop rate remained at 16.50 per cent. Secondary-market yields for the three instruments stood above their respective auction stop rates, at 17.45 per cent for the 91-day bill, 17.05 per cent for the 182-day bill and 17.24 per cent for the 364-day bill. According to a financial sector analyst, Jimbe Asalor, the concentration of bids in the one-year instrument suggests investors may be placing greater value on locking in relatively attractive yields over a longer period rather than repeatedly rolling over shorter-term securities. He noted that the latest auction also demonstrates “the CBN’s ability to borrow more cheaply when demand is concentrated around a particular maturity.” He added that by accepting N638.19bn on the 364-day bill at 17.15 per cent, the CBN borrowed above its initial offer while simultaneously cutting the rate by 44 basis points. “The nine-basis-point difference between the auction stop rate and the 17.24 per cent secondary-market yield also indicates that the one-year segment is now trading relatively close to market expectations.” A Lagos-based consultant economist, Chukwunonso Iheoma, said if the preference for longer-dated treasury bills persists, the development could provide further support for a gradual decline in government borrowing costs while strengthening expectations of eventual interest-rate cuts.

…list MSME development gains

 

 

By Onwa Ekor

 

 

 

Strategies aimed at injecting more life into the tourism sector have reached advanced stage through a proposed stakeholders engagement between the Cross River Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (CRSMEDA) and the Calabar Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (CALCCIMA).

The event billed for Friday, October 10, will also be channeled towards properly harnessing the tourism sector while offering succour to MSME businesses in the state.


Director General/CEO of CRMEDA, Great Ogban and the Vice President (Tourism) of CALCCIMA, Justina Ovat, to fast-tract the initiative, recently paid a working visit to the MD/CEO of the state tourism Bureau, Prince Ojoi Ekpenyong, at his Calabar office.

Ogban, who briefed newsmen shortly after the visit, informed that the discussions were centered on strategically harnessing the vast potentials of the tourism sector while breathing life into numerous businesses across the 18 local government areas of Cross River.

He added that the meeting among other things reviewed the ongoing state government efforts to supporting local businesses, while fostering a robust collaboration between CRSMEDA, CALCCIMA, and the Tourism Bureau.

Ogban said the synergy would consolidate on the existing gains while expanding the current administration’s achievements in the tourism sector through the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) development.

On his part, the Tourism Bureau Chief, Prince Ojoi Ekpenyong, lauded the gains of the synergy, which he viewed as a “solutions strategy.”

Highlighting the state government’s commitment, he explained that Fifty Million Naira (₦50,000,000) has already been disbursed as grants to businesses within the hospitality sector, as a crucial stimulus package.

Ekpenyong further informed of plans to annually elevate 50 hotels and restaurants, a development that would propel the state back to its position as the leading tourism destination in Nigeria.

He intimated that in a bid to strengthen community-led conservation, a Community Tourism Association comprising local hunters, will be created, to provide grassroots protection for the state’s green areas which accounts for 45% of Nigeria’s total tree cover.

The tourism Bureau helmsman added that the initiative will also berth a comprehensive state’s tourism database, underscoring Cross River’s advanced readiness for strategic partnerships and growth.

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CBN Cuts T-bill Rate Amid N3.63tn Demand Investors are increasingly positioning for longer-term returns in Nigeria’s fixed-income market, with the latest treasury bills auction showing an overwhelming preference for the one-year government security. At the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) primary market auction on Wednesday, investors submitted N3.63tn for the 364-day T-bill, representing 95.9 per cent of the N3.79tn total bids received across the three maturities. The demand came despite the CBN lowering the stop rate on the one-year instrument by 44 basis points to 17.15 per cent, from 17.59 per cent at the previous auction. The auction results point to a significant shift in investor appetite towards longer-dated government securities, even as demand for shorter-tenor instruments remained subdued. The CBN had offered N700bn across the three maturities, comprising N100bn each for the 91-day and 182-day bills and N500bn for the 364-day bill. However, total subscriptions reached approximately N3.79tn, more than five times the amount offered. The 364-day instrument was the clear outlier at the auction, receiving bids equivalent to 7.26 times the amount offered. The CBN ultimately allotted N638.19bn, exceeding the N500bn offer by N138.19bn. Despite the additional allotment, only about 17.6 per cent of total bids submitted for the instrument were accepted. Investors quoted yields between 16.00 per cent and 19.05 per cent, but the CBN settled at 17.15 per cent, suggesting that the level of demand allowed the regulator to reject more expensive bids. The development is significant because the CBN achieved a lower borrowing rate even after receiving exceptionally strong demand for the security. The contrast was stark at the shorter end of the curve. The 91-day bill attracted N103.32bn in subscriptions against N100bn offered. The CBN allotted N89.10bn at an unchanged stop rate of 16.30 per cent. The 182-day bill performed even more weakly, attracting only N52.93bn against N100bn on offer. The CBN allotted N35.59bn, while the stop rate remained at 16.50 per cent. Secondary-market yields for the three instruments stood above their respective auction stop rates, at 17.45 per cent for the 91-day bill, 17.05 per cent for the 182-day bill and 17.24 per cent for the 364-day bill. According to a financial sector analyst, Jimbe Asalor, the concentration of bids in the one-year instrument suggests investors may be placing greater value on locking in relatively attractive yields over a longer period rather than repeatedly rolling over shorter-term securities. He noted that the latest auction also demonstrates “the CBN’s ability to borrow more cheaply when demand is concentrated around a particular maturity.” He added that by accepting N638.19bn on the 364-day bill at 17.15 per cent, the CBN borrowed above its initial offer while simultaneously cutting the rate by 44 basis points. “The nine-basis-point difference between the auction stop rate and the 17.24 per cent secondary-market yield also indicates that the one-year segment is now trading relatively close to market expectations.” A Lagos-based consultant economist, Chukwunonso Iheoma, said if the preference for longer-dated treasury bills persists, the development could provide further support for a gradual decline in government borrowing costs while strengthening expectations of eventual interest-rate cuts.

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