Business

Governor Mutfwang Inaugurate Council to Boost Business Environment in Plateau

Published

3 years ago

October 20, 2023

vicky

In a decisive move to enhance the business climate in Plateau State, Governor Caleb Mutfwang has officially instituted the Council on Ease of Doing Business.

Mutfwang, while inaugurating the Council on Thursday in Jos, explained that the primary objective of this council is to help eradicate obstacles residents and investors encounter in their efforts to set up and grow their businesses in the state.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Josephine Piyo, the governor said his administration is introducing new measures and initiatives to promote the ease of doing business and attract more genuine investors and foreign direct investments into the state.

He noted that fostering a conducive business environment is paramount to economic growth and development.

“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that businesses thrive and flourish, leading to increased in job opportunities and a higher quality of life for our citizens.

“Plateau is blessed with abundant resources and untapped potential, we have a strong foundation to build upon by working together to unlock our true potentials.

“Small and medium businesses is the backbone of our country, businesses benefit the community by creating job growth and providing locals with job opportunities, an overall positive in terms of a healthy economy and a happy society,” he said.

Related Topics:Governor Mutfwang Inaugurate Council to Boost Business Environment in Plateau plateau

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Business

Nigeria Records 65,000 Suspected Cholera Cases, Over 10,000 Diphtheria Cases

Published

3 hours ago

August 28, 2026

Preport

Nigeria is facing significant outbreaks of cholera and diphtheria, with more than 65,000 suspected cholera cases recorded across 35 states and about 195 Local Government Areas. More than 10,000 confirmed diphtheria cases have also been reported in 2026.

The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris, disclosed the figures in Abuja while providing an update on the country’s response to both outbreaks.

The NCDC has intensified disease surveillance and deployed National Rapid Response Teams to affected states, including Borno, which has recorded the highest number of cholera cases. Teams are investigating transmission sources and assessing water, sanitation and chlorination gaps.

To control cholera, authorities are bringing treatment closer to affected communities while expanding oral rehydration points, strengthening treatment centres, improving water chlorination and conducting oral cholera vaccination in high-burden areas.

The response to diphtheria is focused on reactive vaccination, early detection and treatment, particularly in Kano, Borno and Bauchi, where cases remain concentrated. Healthcare workers have also been urged to quickly identify, report and manage suspected cases.

The NCDC stressed that federal intervention alone cannot end the outbreaks. States and Local Governments must strengthen immunisation, improve access to safe water and sanitation, repair critical infrastructure and ensure communities have adequate treatment and rapid-response services.

Although declining cholera cases and improved survival rates are encouraging, the NCDC warned against complacency. Communities are advised to use safe water, practise good hygiene, prepare food safely and seek medical attention early. Anyone with frequent watery diarrhoea should begin oral rehydration immediately and visit a health facility, while parents and caregivers should ensure children are fully vaccinated against diphtheria.

The post Nigeria Records 65,000 Suspected Cholera Cases, Over 10,000 Diphtheria Cases appeared first on Business Today NG.

Business

FTSE Russell to reclassify Nigeria into Frontier Market status

Published

11 hours ago

August 28, 2026

Preport

FTSE Russell has confirmed, in a market notice published on Thursday, that Nigeria’s reclassification from Unclassified to Frontier Market status will proceed effective from the open of trading on 21 September.

The decision marks Nigeria’s return to the global Frontier Market universe and represents an important milestone for the country’s capital market.

The announcement follows a process that began in October 2025, when FTSE Russell placed Nigeria on its Watch List for potential reclassification, following improvements in foreign exchange liquidity, capital repatriation and market accessibility.

In April 2026, FTSE Russell subsequently announced Nigeria’s return to Frontier Market status, with an effective date of 21 September.

Following Nigeria’s transition from a T+2 to T+1 settlement cycle on 1 June, FTSE Russell undertook an additional assessment after market participants raised concerns that the new settlement framework could effectively result in a de facto prefunding requirement for international institutional investors.

The review led to an extensive period of engagement between NGX Group, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), FTSE Russell and international market participants.

In its reaction, NGX Group said its delegation engaged directly with global custodians and institutional investors in July. The discussions provided an opportunity for NGX Group to present evidence on the operation of the T+1 settlement cycle, address questions raised by international investors and custodians, and outline ongoing efforts to ensure that Nigeria’s market infrastructure remains aligned with evolving international best practice.

Following the assessment, FTSE Russell, supported by feedback from the FTSE Equity Country Classification Advisory Committee, confirmed that “no material settlement, operational or funding issues had been observed since the implementation of the T+1 settlement cycle”. On this basis, the FTSE Russell Index Governance Board confirmed that Nigeria’s reclassification will proceed as scheduled from the market open on Monday, 21 September 2026.

The announcement comes amid broader efforts to strengthen the Nigerian capital market and position it as an increasingly important engine of investment and economic growth.

On 6 August, the NGX Group Board met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja to brief him on developments and reforms across the Nigerian capital market and discuss the market’s role in mobilising long-term capital to support Nigeria’s economic transformation agenda.

The engagement underscored the importance of continued collaboration between government and the capital-market ecosystem in creating an enabling environment for investment, capital formation and sustainable economic growth.

Nigeria’s return to Frontier Market status provides further international recognition of the progress being made across the market and creates a platform for the next phase of its development.

Commenting on the development, Temi Popoola, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NGX Group, said, “This is an important moment for Nigeria’s capital market. But the real significance of returning to Frontier Market status is the opportunity it creates for the next phase of our market’s development.

We have to turn greater international visibility into broader participation, deeper liquidity and more capital for Nigerian businesses. Our ambition is to build a market that is increasingly competitive globally and more relevant to Nigeria’s economic growth. We are encouraged by the continued support of the Federal Government and the commitment of stakeholders across the market as we work towards that ambition.”

The next milestone will be the publication of the FTSE Frontier Index Series annual indicative review files for September 2026, which will reflect Nigeria’s reclassification and are scheduled to begin publication on Wednesday, 2 September 2026. The reclassification will take effect from the market open on Monday, 21 September 2026.

Nigeria’s return to Frontier Market status is expected to enhance the visibility of Nigerian equities within the global investment community and create further opportunities to broaden engagement with international institutional investors and deepen participation in the Nigerian market.

The development follows S&P Dow Jones Indices’ placement of Nigeria on its Watch List for potential reclassification to Frontier Market status as part of its 2027 Country Classification Annual Review, providing a further indication of growing international attention to improvements in Nigeria’s market accessibility.

NGX Group reaffirms its commitment to continued collaboration with the Federal Government, SEC, market operators, investors, global index providers and other stakeholders to strengthen Nigeria’s position within the international financial ecosystem and ensure that the capital market plays an increasingly important role in sustainable economic growth and capital formation.