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19 Banks Meet New Capital Requirements Ahead Of March 31 Deadline

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With less than 90 days to the recapitalisation deadline for banks in the country, 19 banks have now met the new capital requirements ahead of the March 31, 2026 deadline given by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as First Bank Nigeria, Fidelity Bank and FSDH Merchant Bank join the league of recapitalised banks.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

This is as analysts say they expect more banks to conclude their recapitalisation plans between next week and the end of this month.

LEADERSHIP had earlier reported that 16 banks met the new capital requirements for their respective licence categories last year.

These included Access Holdings, Zenith Bank, GTBank, Ecobank, Stanbic IBTC, Wema Bank, Jaiz Bank, Lotus Bank, Providus Bank, Greenwich Merchant Bank and PremiumTrust Bank, alongside Globus Bank, Citibank Nigeria, United Bank for Africa, Nova Bank and Sterling Bank.

More recently, First Bank, Fidelity Bank and FSDH Merchant Bank also joined the list.

Fidelity Bank Plc has raised approximately N250 billion through a private placement. This offer opened and closed on December 31, 2025, driven by substantial investor demand fuelled by the bank’s impressive financial performance and solid track record.

A source close to the lender stated that this swift completion is a notable achievement for Nigeria’s stock market.

NGX regulations typically allow up to 10 days for such private placements.

Fidelity Bank aims to meet the Central Bank of Nigeria’s N500 billion minimum capital requirement for banks with international authorisation by the March 31, 2026 deadline.

Reportedly, participation was limited to a small circle of pre-qualified institutional investors, many with global investment footprints.

Market intelligence estimates the proceeds at roughly N250 billion, comfortably exceeding the bank’s estimated capital gap of N194.5 billion. This fully subscribed offer places Fidelity Bank among the more strongly capitalised Nigerian banks with international operations.

While the CBN is yet to ratify the new capital base of some of these banks, they seem to have scaled the hurdle, with some others set to scale it soon.

A player in the industry who craved anonymity noted that many of the banks yet to clear the hurdle are expected to do so before the end of the month, with announcements expected from next week.

CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso had late last year confirmed the progress of banks in their race to meet the deadline.

Cardoso had stated that “several banks have already met the new capital thresholds, while others are advancing steadily and are well positioned to comfortably meet the March 31, 2026 deadline.”

He disclosed that 27 banks had accessed the capital market through public offers and rights issues, with 16 already meeting or exceeding the new benchmarks, adding that beyond headline figures, stress tests conducted in 2025 showed that the banking system remained fundamentally robust, with key financial soundness indicators meeting prudential standards across the board.

Despite the progress, several lenders are still fine-tuning their capital plans.

The First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Group is among those in advanced stages of capital raising and regulatory verification.

Shareholders of FCMB Group Plc at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) recently approved an increase in capital raise of up to N400 billion to enable it to retain its international banking licence ahead of the March 2026 deadline.

Group chief executive officer of the bank, Ladi Balogun, noted that “the additional capital will be deployed to strengthen our capital adequacy ratio and accelerate growth.”

Analysts say mergers and acquisitions remain limited for now, but ownership changes are becoming increasingly likely as banks court new investors.

Head of Financial Institutions Ratings at Agusto and Co, Ayokunle Olubunmi, said only a few institutions remain under real pressure.

“Nothing dramatic has happened yet on the mergers front, but by January or February, we could see clearer outcomes. Capital raising through private placements and rights issues will inevitably lead to dilution for shareholders who do not participate,” he said.

The race for capital has also triggered a wave of strategic realignments.

Nova Bank opted to downgrade its licence to a regional banking status, significantly lowering its requirement to N50 billion to beat the deadline.

Meanwhile, consolidation is picking up steam; Union Bank has merged with Titan Trust Bank, and Providus Bank is set to merge with Unity Bank, a move that would create Nigeria’s ninth-largest lender by assets.

Left in the race with the option of either meeting up, merging or closing shop are Keystone Bank, Parallex Bank, Polaris Bank, Signature Bank, TAJBank, Citibank Nigeria and Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria.

Others are FBN Quest Merchant Bank, Coronation Merchant Bank and Rand Merchant Bank.

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Federal Government of Nigeria Finally Commissions CNG Station to Boost Domestic Supply

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The Federal Government has commissioned an integrated Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, refueling station at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, as part of efforts to strengthen domestic gas supply and promote cleaner energy alternatives.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

Speaking at the inauguration, the Executive Director of the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund, Oluwole Adama, described the move as a major step toward advancing Nigeria’s gas-powered energy transition.

He noted that the facility goes beyond being just a refueling station, adding that it reflects progress, collaboration, and commitment to expanding domestic gas utilization in line with national energy goals.

“This project represents more than the commissioning of a refueling station. It symbolizes progress, partnership, and purpose in advancing Nigeria’s energy transition, promoting cleaner fuels, and deepening domestic gas utilization in line with national energy objectives,” Adama stated.

On his part, the Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire, praised the initiative, saying the facility will serve both the university community and residents of the surrounding area.

He added that the project would create opportunities for research, hands-on learning, and innovation in alternative energy solutions.

DAILY POST gathered that the federal government-backed initiative forms part of broader efforts to drive renewable energy adoption and support Nigeria’s transition to cleaner fuel sources.

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BREAKING NEWS: MTN Nigeria invests N1trillion on fibre rollout, network upgrade

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MTN Nigeria said it invested N1tn in 2025 to expand fibre infrastructure, roll out additional base stations and strengthen network capacity nationwide, as the country’s biggest telco returned to profitability after a choking financial year marked by foreign exchange pressures and negative equity.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

The capital expenditure, more than double the prior year’s spending, formed part of a broader recovery that saw the company post a profit after tax of N1.1tn for the year ended December 31, 2025. The rebound followed a difficult 2024 in which MTN suspended dividend payments and grappled with balance sheet strain.

Chief Executive Officer Dr Karl Toriola described 2025 as a defining year for the company, linking the improved earnings position to renewed long-term infrastructure investment.

“During the year, we invested N1tn in network expansion and modernisation, more than double the prior year’s capital expenditure. This investment translates to additional base stations, deeper fibre rollout, expanded capacity and improved network resilience across the country because sustaining critical digital infrastructure requires disciplined capital allocation and a deliberate long-term approach,” the executive said.

The telcos’ total subscriber base increased to 87.3 million, up 7.9 per cent, while active data subscribers rose to 53.2 million. Data traffic grew by 34 per cent during the year. These figures reflect sustained demand for digital services across the country and underscore the need for continued investment in network capacity and resilience.

“We are mindful that in a period of economic pressure, expectations from customers are heightened. When Nigerians purchase data or rely on our network for work, education, financial services or daily communication, they expect reliability, fairness and continuous improvement. That expectation is both legitimate and central to our responsibility, Toriola noted.

MTN’s service revenue rose 55.1 per cent to N5.2tn in 2025, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation more than doubled to N2.7tn. Earnings per share improved to N53.07 from a negative N19.05 a year earlier, reflecting the sharp turnaround in operational performance.

Chief Financial Officer Modupe Kadiri said the company’s financial recovery was built on deliberate balance sheet repair, disciplined capital allocation and reduced foreign exchange exposure.

“A year ago, MTN Nigeria was in negative equity. Today, we are declaring a N20 total dividend for the 2025 financial year,” Kadiri stated.

The board approved a final dividend of N15 per share, subject to shareholder approval at the annual general meeting, bringing the total dividend for the year to N20 per share, including an interim dividend of N5 already paid in the fourth quarter.

According to its report, MTN generated N1.2tn in free cash flow during the year and rebuilt shareholders’ equity to N548.7bn, with retained earnings standing at N400.4bn at year-end, signalling restored financial stability after the previous year’s market volatility.

Toriola said profitability would continue to underpin infrastructure expansion, noting that profit enables sustained reinvestment in network quality and broader coverage rather than serving as an end in itself.

“Profit, in our context, is not an end in itself. It is the mechanism that enables continued investment in network quality, broader coverage and enhanced customer experience. As Nigeria’s digital ecosystem continues to expand across fintech, small businesses, education and public services, resilient and future-ready telecommunications infrastructure remains foundational to national development,” he added.

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Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA orders airline to refund passengers charged VAT before January 1

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The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has directed Overland Airways to refund passengers who were wrongly charged Value Added Tax on flight tickets purchased before January 1, 2026.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

The directive followed clarification issued by the Nigeria Revenue Service on the implementation of the new tax regime affecting airline tickets.

Passengers had complained to the regulators after an elderly woman was forced to pay the new tax in 2025, a fee that was expected to take effect on January 1, 2026.

The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, in a statement on Saturday, disclosed that the matter had been resolved after regulatory engagement with the airline and the Nigeria Revenue Service.

“As directed by the NCAA, the operator, Overland Airways, has reverted with clarification from the Nigeria Revenue Service,” Achimugu said.

He clarified that passengers who bought tickets before the new tax laws came into force should never have been subjected to additional charges.

“Tickets purchased before January 1, 2026 were not affected by the new tax laws,” he said, adding that passengers who bought tickets in 2025 but were later made to pay VAT at check-in in 2026 were not supposed to have been charged.

According to the NCAA, the airline had initially implemented the VAT requirement based on its interpretation of the new fiscal policy, prompting complaints from affected travellers.

Achimugu explained that regulatory clarification became necessary to determine the correct application of the tax.

“The onus was on the NRS to clarify, which they have now done,” he said, noting that the aviation regulator had earlier communicated its position to the airline.

Following the clarification, Overland Airways agreed to correct the situation.

“The airline has committed to redress the situation by initiating a refund for affected passengers,” Achimugu added.

The controversy arose after several passengers complained that they were compelled to pay additional VAT charges at airport counters despite purchasing their tickets months before the tax provisions took effect.

Travellers described the development as unexpected and financially burdensome, especially during peak travel periods in December.

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