Business
Abia Secures $125m Loan To Implement 2024 Budget
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, says the state government plans to secure loans to implement the 2024 Budget, adding that already, the Islamic Development Bank has approved $125 million for the state.
Otti disclosed this Monday during a chat with journalists in Umuahia, the state capital.
He added that the African Development Bank has also approved some funds for the state.
The governor said, “Two days ago, the Islamic Development Bank approved the sum of $125m for us under AB Seed, as well as the African Development Bank, AfDB. All is yet to be drawn until after perfection.
READ ALSO: Otti Clears Air On N1.5billion For Two Hilux Vehicles In Abia Budget
“We have received offers of loan from commercial banks, but we have not drawn on any of them. We do not want to draw loans until we need them and will repay when we have liquidity, and we will pay later.”
On wage awards or salary increase, the governor assured workers that his administration had not withdrawn its promise on that, stating that there is already a committee in place on the matter.
“We had promised that by the end of this month, we will resolve the lingering pension issues. In our executive council meeting today, we had some resolutions, and soon, pensioners will be settled,” he said.
According to him, the local government accounts are not tampered with, stating, “Mayors are grading roads and building health centres. I don’t know where else they are getting the money from.”
READ ALSO: Appeal Court Affirms Otti’s Election As Abia Governor; PDP Calls For Calm
On infrastructure, the governor said, “Abia will continue with our massive road rehabilitation, light up Abia, improvement in the health system and the resolve to retrieve education system that has been going down”, adding that 170 primary schools and 51 secondary schools have been earmarked to be rehabilitated so that at the end of the year, all schools will be fully rehabilitated.
He said the state government has designed the best models for Abia schools so that “the Abia standard schools will look a certain way.”
He added that trained teachers will teach students what is relevant in the 21st century, including the internet, renewable energy, and digital technology, among others to make Abia students competitive in line with global practices.
However, the state government, he said, would ensure the quality and skills necessary to teach the students by ensuring the right training for the teachers, stating “We have received lots of support from multilateral agencies. We are not alone. ”
On health, he said, “We will continue to improve healthcare delivery in the state”, stating also that in terms of food security, the state has a lot of initiatives to deal with hunger and is working round the clock to ensure that all lands in Abia will be cultivated this planting season.
Business
Naira Records Massive Appreciation Against US Dollar Into Christmas Holidays
The Naira gained massively against the United States dollar in the last three days at the official foreign exchange as trading ended for the Christmas holidays.
Central Bank of Nigeria data showed that the Naira strengthened further on Wednesday to N1,443.37 per dollar, up from N1,449.99 on Tuesday.
This means that since Monday this week, the Naira has recorded a significant N13.18 gain against the dollar, according to the apex bank data.
READ ALSO:Naira Records Depreciation Against US Dollar Across Official, Black Markets
Similarly, at the black market, the Naira traded on Wednesday at N1,490 per dollar, an appreciation from the N1,500 exchanged on Monday but the same rate as on Tuesday.
The uptrend comes amid the rise in the country’s external reserves to $45.24 as of December 23rd, 2025.
DAILY POST reports that the Naira gained against the dollar at the official market on Monday and Tuesday.
Business
Report Any MRS Filling Stations Selling Fuel Above N739 Per Liter — Dangote Refinery To Nigerians
Dangote Refinery has urged Nigerians to report any MRS filling station outlets nationwide selling fuel above the N739 per liter announced price.
The company disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
The refinery insisted that its petrol being at retail outlets remain N739 per liter while the gantry price is N699.
It further called on other filling station owners to patronize its refined petroleum products at the N699 rate.
“We also call on other petrol station operators to patronize our products so that the benefits of this price reduction can be passed on to Nigerians across all outlets, ensuring broad-based relief and a more stable downstream market.”
READ ALSO:Dangote Sugar Announces South New CEO
Recall that Aliko Dangote, the president of Dangote Refinery, had pegged the retail price of his petrol at a maximum of N740.
DAILY POST reports that MRS filling and other filling stations had reduced fuel prices to between N739 and N912 per liter in Abuja.
However, reports emerged that some MRS filling stations were selling above the N739 per liter announced price benchmark.
Business
Naira Records Significant Appreciation Against US Dollar
The Naira recorded significant appreciation against the United States dollar on Monday at the official foreign exchange market to begin the week ahead of Yuletide on a good note.
The Central Bank of Nigeria’s data showed that the Naira strengthened to N1,456.56 per dollar on Monday, up from N1,464.49 traded on Friday last week, 19th December 2025.
This means that the Naira gained N7.93 against the dollar when compared with the N1,464.49 was exchanged as of Friday, December 19, 2025. DAILY POST reports that Monday’s gain at the official FX market is the first since December 15th.
READ ALSO:
Meanwhile, at the black market, the Naira remained stable at N1500 per dollar on Monday, according to multiple Bureau De Change operators in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
The development comes as the country’s external reserves stood at $44.66 billion as of last week Friday.
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