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Oyedele confirms Nigeria has drawn first $1.5 billion under $5 billion Abu Dhabi financing deal

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The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has confirmed that Nigeria has accessed the first $1.5 billion from its $5 billion financing arrangement with First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB).

Mr Oyedele disclosed this while speaking to journalists after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday.

He said the financing facility, which had earlier received approval from the National Assembly, is intended to refinance expensive debt, fund infrastructure projects and support budget implementation.

“The approval for that loan went to the National Assembly, so everybody is aware of it. It’s for refinancing of expensive debts, financing of infrastructure, as well as budgets,” he said.

He added that, “So, we don’t want to start making press releases each time we do a drawdown. It is not different from any other loan.”

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The minister’s comments provide the first official confirmation that the government has begun drawing on the financing package.

Last week, Bloomberg reported that Nigeria had accessed about $1.5 billion through a Total Return Swap with First Abu Dhabi Bank, marking the first utilisation of the broader $5 billion facility.

Mr Oyedele said the government deliberately structured the financing arrangement to allow funds to be accessed in tranches rather than all at once.

READ ALSO: FEC approves N215bn for CNG buses, $900 million agriculture financing – Minister

According to him, the approach is intended to reduce borrowing costs by ensuring Nigeria only pays interest on funds that have been drawn.

“The loan is meant to be a drawdown in tranches, and one of the advantages of that is, if you need $5 billion and you take everything at once, you start paying interest, even though you’re not spending all of it now. So, this has been structured in a way that makes us even more efficient in the cost of borrowing by taking what we need part time,” he explained.

Mr Oyedele said the phased approach forms part of the government’s broader debt management strategy aimed at lowering financing costs while meeting critical funding needs.

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Mutual Benefits Assurance Reaffirms Commitment to Workforce Wellbeing with “Sweat It Out!” Event

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Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc in partnership with Hallmark Health Services Limited (Hallmark HMO), has reaffirmed its commitment to employee wellbeing by hosting the Retail Aerobic Dance & Wellness Day 2026, a vibrant initiative designed to promote healthy living, preventive healthcare and workplace wellness among its Retail Team.

Held under the theme “Sweat It Out!”, the event brought together Retail Managers across Mutual Benefits for an engaging day of fitness, health education and preventive medical screening.

The programme featured an enlightening health talk on Cardiovascular Health delivered by medical professionals from Hallmark HMO, alongside complimentary health screenings, including blood pressure and other vital health checks. Participants also took part in an energetic aerobic dance session aimed at encouraging active lifestyles while fostering teamwork, camaraderie, and employee engagement.

Speaking at the event, Alexander Lawal, Chief Retail Officer, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, emphasised that employee wellbeing remains fundamental to the company’s long-term success.

“Our people are our greatest asset. As an organisation that exists to provide security and peace of mind to millions of Nigerians, we recognise that this responsibility begins with caring for our own employees. The Retail Aerobic Dance & Wellness Day reflects our commitment to creating a workplace where our people are healthy, motivated, resilient and equipped to deliver exceptional service to our customers.”

Lawal added that promoting healthy lifestyles among employees contributes to higher productivity, stronger collaboration and a culture of excellence across the organisation.

Also speaking on the significance of the event, Dr. (Mrs.) Dotun Adeogun, Chief Executive Officer of Hallmark HMO, noted that preventive healthcare and daily healthy habits are essential for avoiding lifestyle-related illnesses like heart disease. Mutual Benefits is commended for leading by example in prioritizing employee well-being and building a healthier workplace culture.

The event concluded with an exciting aerobic fitness session, interactive wellness activities and prize presentations, reinforcing the message that healthy employees are happier, more engaged and better positioned to drive organisational success.

The Retail Aerobic Dance & Wellness Day forms part of Mutual Benefits’ broader employee engagement and wellness initiatives aimed at fostering a high-performing workforce, while encouraging healthier lifestyles across the organisation.

Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc is one of Nigeria’s leading insurance companies, with over 30 years of experience in providing reliable and innovative Life and General Insurance solutions to individuals, families and businesses. With a customer-centric approach built on trust, reliability and service excellence, the company remains committed to protecting lives, preserving assets and creating lasting value for its stakeholders through accessible insurance solutions and responsible corporate citizenship.

The post Mutual Benefits Assurance Reaffirms Commitment to Workforce Wellbeing with “Sweat It Out!” Event appeared first on Business Today NG.

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Elon Musk Says AI Could End Traditional Jobs, Predicts Era of ‘Universal High Income’

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Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has predicted that artificial intelligence and humanoid robots will eventually perform most jobs currently done by humans, ushering in an era where governments may have to provide citizens with a universal income.

Speaking during a discussion with XPRIZE founder Peter Diamandis at the Abundance Summit, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO said the rapid advancement of AI and robotics would dramatically increase global productivity, making goods and services more abundant than ever before.

According to Musk, technological progress will reach a point where machines become capable of meeting nearly all human needs, leaving fewer employment opportunities for people.

“AI and robots are going to make so much stuff and provide so many services that they will actually run out of things to do for humans,” he said.

Musk explained that once artificial intelligence begins producing goods and services on a massive scale, economic output could expand far beyond current levels while human demand remains relatively limited.

He argued that such a shift would require a new approach to wealth distribution, suggesting that governments may eventually adopt what he described as a “universal high income” model.

“We’re basically just issuing money to people,” Musk said, adding that future economies could sustain such a system because the supply of goods and services would grow much faster than the money supply.

The tech billionaire maintained that this imbalance would create deflationary pressures, making products and services cheaper over time rather than triggering inflation.

Musk’s latest comments come amid growing global discussions about the impact of artificial intelligence on employment, with experts divided over whether AI will replace existing jobs or create new economic opportunities.

His remarks add to the broader debate over how governments, businesses and workers should prepare for a future increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and automation.

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