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Naira Records N100 Gain, Now N840/$ In Parallel Market

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The Naira yesterday made a massive gain of N100, closing at N840/$ at the parallel market in Lagos.

It, however, closed lower at N850/$ in Abuja markets, representing a 9.57 per cent appreciation compared with Tuesday’s rate.

At the Investor and Exporter (I&E) window – the official market – the naira closed at N759 to the dollar, creating around N81 premium between the official and parallel markets. There was a $61 million turnover at the I&E window.

According to Bureau De Change operators in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, the naira started the day at N940/$ and gradually increased to the current rate.

One of the traders, Ibrahim Bakori, told our reporter that he was surprised by the naira’s appreciation.

Asked what he thought was responsible, Bakori said it was “the result of the meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the Acting CBN Governor Folashodun Shonubi”.

Another Forex dealer, Nura, expressed shock at what he described as the “big fall” of the dollar at the parallel market.

Just like Bakori, Nura said the meeting between President Tinubu and Shonubi had sent signals of something significant about to happen in the Forex market.

Reacting to the news that the CBN might flood the market dollars in the coming days to check the fall of the Naira, a financial expert, Dr. Victor Adoji, cautioned against the planned release of dollars into the system by the CBN.

He said: “The money outside the Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), supposedly over N2 trillion, will swallow the ‘flood’ especially because of the rational appetite of Nigerians for holding dollar”.

He urged the CBN to “take a look at the outstanding demand portfolio for the dollar” before releasing more.

A Bureaux De Change (BDC) trader based in Marina, central Lagos, Garuba Sarki, said many forex dealers are not ready to buy dollars at present because of fears they might lose money.

“Many speculative dealers are taking the back seat.

“We expect the naira to continue to rebound until convergence between the official and parallel market rates occurs.

“Many traders are being cautious about losing funds in the coming days,” he said.

He said funding for BDCs or getting the banks to sell dollars to retail-end buyers will bring greater mileage to the naira.

President of the Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), Dr. Aminu Gwadabe, advised the Federal Government to enhance financial intelligence by tracking people with proceeds of corruption to sanitise the market.

He said many of the people with proceeds of corruption are the ones putting pressure on the forex market through their manipulative actions.

“The naira is depreciating not by forces of demand and supply, but by the collective action and impact of the people with illicit funds,” he said.

Former Executive Director of Keystone Bank Limited, Richard Obire, said Nigeria’s heavy and skewed outward-oriented consumption of goods and services as seen in decades of substantial bills for food and energy imports remains a hindrance to naira stability.

Another factor, he said, is the massive corruption-driven capital outflows which in turn severely damages Nigeria’s capacity to produce at scale.

On ways to strengthen the naira, he advised that in the short-term, there is a need to find non-market damaging ways to increase the supply of hard currencies and reduce the demand for same.

According to Obire, the right pricing for remittances and frictionless processes for their use by recipients should see the volumes growing again.

He said that insecurity hampering food production needs to be tackled with a sense of urgency and effectiveness.

“Priority should be given through deploying pragmatic incentive programmes to drive up the volume of food products for domestic consumption and industrial use to reduce our food import bill.

“All government consumption expenditures requiring the use of hard currencies should be suspended indefinitely, starting now,” he advised.

Obire said the turnaround maintenance (TAM) status of refineries in Port Harcourt and Warri should be appraised immediately.

“Effort should be focused on the one which can begin producing quicker. The other one should be made to be up and running, not long after. This should reduce the required forex for fuel imports.

“In the long term, only a strong economy will produce a stable currency. To achieve this will require addressing the fundamental structural defects in our political economy hampering an accelerated transition from an outward consumption-oriented economy into a mainly balanced production-driven one,” he said.

The CBN had in June unified the exchange rate and abolished multiple exchange rates.

The exercise led to a 40 per cent drop in the naira rate at the official market.

Dollar supply has remained a challenge, making it difficult for official and parallel market rates to converge.

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Oyo 2027: Adelabu Quits As Power Minister To Focus On Guber Race

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The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has formally resigned from his position in the Federal Government to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to the President, Adelabu stated that his resignation will take effect on April 30, 2026, to enable him to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

The letter, routed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated that he was stepping down with “a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude.”

He wrote, “I write with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude to formally tender my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This resignation is to take effect on 30th April 2026, in order to allow sufficient time for a smooth and orderly handover of responsibilities.”

Adelabu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege.

He said, “Your Excellency, I remain sincerely grateful for the privilege and confidence you reposed in me by appointing me to serve our great nation in this capacity.

“It has been a rare honour to contribute to national development under your leadership and to play a role in advancing reforms in the power sector—one of the most critical foundations of Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic transformation.”

The former minister said his resignation was to enable him focus fully on his governorship ambition in Oyo State, citing provisions of the amended electoral law.

He added, “My decision to step down is informed by my intention to focus fully on my gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State. This aspiration, which dates back to 2016 during my service as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, ultimately led to my voluntary resignation from the Central Bank in 2018 in order to pursue the same goal.”

“In line with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which preclude political office holders from contesting elections, I consider it both appropriate and necessary to resign at this time.”

Adelabu’s exit marks a major political development ahead of the next electoral cycle, particularly in Oyo State, where he is expected to contest the governorship election.

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Wale Edun, Musa Dangiwa Resigned Voluntarily, Not Sacked – Presidency

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The Presidency has clarified that Wale Edun (former Finance Minister) and Ahmed Musa Dangiwa (former Housing Minister) voluntarily resigned from their positions and were not sacked by President Tinubu.

In a statement released this evening April 22, presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said that contrary to public opinions, Wale Edun resigned on health grounds while Dangiwa also tendered his resignation and thanked the President for the opportunity given him to serve in the Federal Executive Council.

Onanuga stated that Edun, who clocked 70 on Monday and has battled recent ill health, fittingly submitted his resignation letter on his birthday, thanking the President for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.

“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda, Under your leadership, Nigeria has emerged stronger, more resilient and more internationally respected. I wish you and the administration every success in the future” he wrote

Onanuga stated that on Tuesday, before the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation announced his departure from the Cabinet, Edun paid a valedictory visit to the President at the Villa and held an hour-long discussion with the president and then left to focus on his private businesses.

The presidential aide stated that President Tinubu has expressed deep appreciation to Edun and Dangiwa for their dedicated service and significant contributions to the administration’s economic reform programme and wished them continued success in their future endeavours.

‘’In the same vein, the President has urged the new Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, to consolidate ongoing reforms and advance the administration’s fiscal and economic objectives with renewed focus, discipline, and innovation.

President Tinubu will shortly send the ministerial nominee for housing, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, also from Katsina, like Dangiwa, to the Senate for confirmation” the statement concluded

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Unity Bank, Experts Advocate Green Investment, Climate Innovation To Drive Economic Resilience

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Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc, alongside leading climate innovation experts, has called for increased investment in the green economy and the adoption of frontier technologies as critical pathways to driving economic resilience and reducing the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations across Africa.

The call was made during a thought-provoking webinar hosted by the Bank to commemorate this year’s Earth Day, themed “The True Cost of Climate Change and Who Pays?”. Climate experts and stakeholders convened to examine the human, economic, and institutional costs of climate change, while spotlighting practical solutions to address its growing impact.

In his opening remarks, Unity Bank’s Head of Strategy and Innovation, Ibukun Coker, emphasised the urgency of addressing climate risks from both a societal and business perspective.

He said: “Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract challenge. It is an existential threat with direct consequences for individuals, businesses, and economies. At Unity Bank, we recognise the role institutions must play in incorporating sustainability in project financing, supporting businesses and promoting solutions that build resilience in communities where we operate.”

The webinar featured Chinwe Udo-Davis, Founder and CEO of Instollar, and Oluwatosin Ajide, Programme Manager at the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre, both of whom provided insights into the drivers of climate change and the pathways to mitigation and adaptation.

Speaking during the session, Udo-Davis highlighted the disproportionate burden which climate change places on underserved communities and the need for inclusive solutions.

“The true cost of climate change is not evenly distributed. Communities with the least resources are often the most affected, whether through energy poverty, environmental degradation, or limited access to sustainable alternatives. Addressing this imbalance requires intentional investment in clean energy solutions that are both accessible and scalable.”

Ajide underscored the importance of coordinated, system-wide approaches in tackling climate challenges, particularly through innovation and policy alignment.

“Climate change is fundamentally a structural problem, and its solution requires a paradigm shift: from innovation and policy to financing and implementation. Stakeholders must work collaboratively to drive solutions that are sustainable and inclusive.”

The session also explored emerging opportunities in climate technology, renewable energy, and ecosystem financing, reinforcing the role of innovation and cross-sector collaboration in building long-term resilience.

By hosting the webinar, Unity Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing sustainability-focused dialogue and supporting initiatives that promote responsible growth and environmental stewardship.

The initiative underscores the Bank’s broader strategic focus on environmental sustainability as well as its commitment to financial inclusion.

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