Business

Plateau Govt Procures 500 Truckloads of Fertilizer, Subsidises 50kg Bags at ₦20,000

Published

2 months ago

July 7, 2026

Preport

The Plateau State Government has procured about 500 truckloads of fertiliser for distribution to farmers across the state’s 17 local government areas ahead of the 2026 farming season.

Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang approved the intervention as part of efforts to support agricultural production, reduce the cost of farming inputs and improve food security across the state.

Under the subsidy programme, a 50kg bag of fertiliser will be sold to farmers at ₦20,000, significantly lower than the current market price of between ₦50,000 and ₦53,000.

The governor said the subsidy would take immediate effect to enable farmers to access the inputs without delay as the planting season progresses.

According to him, the fertiliser procurement is aimed at reducing production costs, improving crop yields and increasing profit margins for farmers across Plateau State.

Mutfwang described agriculture as a major pillar of his administration’s development agenda, noting that the sector remains critical to economic growth, job creation and rural development.

He said the intervention was a direct response to concerns raised by farmers over the rising cost of agricultural inputs, adding that the government was determined to make farming more productive, profitable and sustainable.

The governor also said the programme aligns with the agricultural development objectives of the Federal Government under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

While the official flag-off of the 2026 Fertiliser Subsidy Programme is scheduled for Friday, July 10, 2026, Governor Mutfwang has directed that sales of the subsidised fertiliser should commence immediately.

He urged farmers across the state to take advantage of the programme, assuring them of his administration’s continued commitment to policies and interventions that would strengthen agricultural productivity, improve rural livelihoods and position Plateau State as a leading hub for agriculture and agribusiness in Nigeria.

The development was contained in a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Governor, Dr Gyang Bere, on July 6, 2026.

Related Topics:Plateau Govt Procures 500 Truckloads of Fertilizer

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Dangote Launches N2.15tn IPO, Targets 10 Million Retail Investors

Published

5 hours ago

September 8, 2026

Preport

Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has launched a N2.15 trillion Initial Public Offer (IPO), targeting about 10 million retail investors, offering Nigerians and other Africans the opportunity to acquire shares in its 700,000-barrel-per-day refinery.

The offer, is made up of 4.1 billion ordinary shares priced at N525 each, with a minimum subscription of 10 shares valued at N5,250.

Chief Executive of the company, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who spoke at the launch yesterday, said the offer was designed to raise additional capital for the refinery’s expansion while broadening public ownership of the business.

“This is the IPO for the people. There is no segregation on who can own the shares,” Dangote said.

He disclosed that the company plans to double the refinery’s capacity from 700,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day, saying the expansion would increase production and strengthen the facility’s capacity to serve both domestic and international markets.

“The offer represents the refinery’s first public offer since its inauguration in 2023 and is the biggest IPO in Africa.”

He noted that the transaction would provide millions of Nigerians and other Africans with an opportunity to participate in the growth of the refinery.
While the Group Managing Director of Vetiva Capital Management Ltd., Mr Chuka Eseka, said the transaction had been structured to promote transparency, accountability and broad participation.

He explained that retail investors would be able to subscribe electronically through bank applications, internet platforms and stockbrokers, while institutional investors could subscribe electronically or through application forms submitted to receiving agents.

IPO Targets 10m Retail Investors
The Managing Director of FirstCap, Mr Ukandu Ukandu, disclosed that the offer is targeting about 10 million retail investors.

He said the target would significantly surpass the current Nigerian capital market record of about 181,000 retail participants in a single transaction.

Ukandu said the broad retail participation being targeted reflected the company’s desire to make ownership of the refinery accessible to ordinary Nigerians.

The Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Petroleum and Petrochemicals, Mr David Bird, said the refinery’s strategic location within the Lekki Free Zone positioned it to serve Nigeria, West Africa and the wider international market.
“This is not just a refinery or petrochemical complex. This is truly a pan-African energy platform,” Bird said.

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Stanbic IBTC Capital, Oladele Sotubo, said the offer had been structured to enable ordinary Nigerians to acquire shares in the refinery.
SEC Approves Offer

The IPO, which has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is expected to open on September 14 and close on October 13, subject to applicable regulatory approvals and the conditions contained in the offer documents.

Vetiva Advisory Services Ltd. is the Lead Issuing House and Lead Adviser, while Stanbic IBTC Capital and FirstCap are Joint Managers.

The company plans to list the shares on the Main Board of the Nigerian Exchange Group.
Under the offer’s incentive structure, eligible retail investors may receive up to two additional shares, subject to applicable conditions.

The IPO represents a major development in Nigeria’s capital market and could significantly broaden retail participation while providing Dangote Refinery with additional capital to support its planned expansion.

The post Dangote Launches N2.15tn IPO, Targets 10 Million Retail Investors appeared first on Business Today NG.

Business

Otedola speaks on FirstHoldCo’s inclusion in FTSE Frontier 50 Index

Published

13 hours ago

September 8, 2026

Preport

The Chairman of First HoldCo Plc, Femi Otedola, has described the company’s inclusion in the FTSE Frontier 50 Index as a “defining milestone” in the evolution of the financial services group.

FirstHoldCo is scheduled to join the FTSE Frontier 50 Index, a benchmark tracking leading and investable companies across frontier markets, effective 21 September 2026.

The inclusion places FirstHoldCo among six Nigerian companies represented in the index. It is expected to strengthen its visibility among global institutional investors seeking exposure to Nigeria and other frontier markets.

Mr Otedola, in a statement issued on Monday, said the development affirmed the transformation the company is undertaking and the confidence investors continue to place in the institution.

“Our inclusion in the FTSE Frontier 50 Index is a defining milestone in FirstHoldCo’s evolution.

“It affirms the transformation we are driving, the confidence investors continue to place in our institution, and the strength of our governance and business model.

“We remain focused on building a stronger, more profitable and globally competitive financial services group, while delivering superior and sustainable value to shareholders,” he said.

The FTSE Frontier 50 Index comprises companies that meet stringent requirements relating to market capitalisation, liquidity, free float, governance and investability.

FirstHoldCo said its inclusion followed a period of strong market performance and sustained investor interest, supported by improved financial results, strategic execution, enhanced governance and its focus on long-term shareholder value.

The company said the development was more than an index listing, describing it as an independent recognition of its scale, governance standards, market depth and long-term value proposition.

It said the inclusion could also lead to deeper liquidity, increased participation by institutional investors and greater access to global capital.

Asset managers, exchange-traded funds, pension funds, and other investors that track frontier-market opportunities are expected to take a greater interest in the company as a result of its inclusion in the index.

The development comes after FirstHoldCo said it had met the Central Bank of Nigeria’s minimum capital requirement.

The group said it remained focused on strengthening its capital base, improving financial resilience and creating capacity for accelerated growth.

Its strengthened balance sheet, expanding shareholder base and focus on disciplined execution, it said, would enable it to compete at a greater scale across its businesses.

The Group Managing Director of FirstHoldCo, Wale Oyedeji, said the achievement reflected the commitment and execution of the company’s board, management and employees.

READ ALSO: FirstHoldco, Dangote, four other Nigerian companies admitted to FTSE’s 50 most liquid frontier market stocks

“This achievement reflects the discipline, commitment and execution focus of our Board, Management and employees.

“It validates the progress we have made in strengthening performance, enhancing operations and positioning FirstHoldCo for sustainable growth,” Mr Oyedeji said.

According to him, the inclusion would elevate the company’s visibility among global institutional investors and reinforce its ambition to become a leading African financial services provider.

FirstHoldCo said it would continue to invest in digital transformation, customer experience, innovation and responsible business practices while maintaining its focus on sustainable growth and stakeholder value.

The company also said its emphasis on environmental, social and governance principles, workplace excellence and operational efficiency would further strengthen institutional confidence in the group.

With global investors becoming increasingly selective in allocating capital to frontier markets, FirstHoldCo said its inclusion in the index represented a significant recognition of its fundamentals, governance credentials, liquidity and growth trajectory.