Business
IMF Denigrates Nigeria’s Economic Growth

The International Monetary Fund has downgraded Nigeria’s economic growth by 0.3 percentage points to 2.9 per cent for 2023 as a result of lower production in oil and gas.
The IMF disclosed this in its new World Economic Outlook (for October) themed, ‘Navigating Global Divergences,’ released on Tuesday.
Earlier in July, the lending institution predicted that Nigeria’s economy would grow by 3.2 per cent in 2023, adding that the growth would be impacted by security issues in the oil sector.
READ ALSO: IMF Retains Nigeria’s Economic Growth Forecast At 3.2%
Commenting on its new prediction for the country, the IMF said, “Growth in Nigeria is projected to decline from 3.3 per cent in 2022 to 2.9 per cent in 2023 and 3.1 per cent in 2024, with negative effects of high inflation on consumption taking hold.
“The forecast for 2023 is revised downward by 0.3 percentage point, reflecting weaker oil and gas production than expected, partially as a result of maintenance work.”
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s GDP grew by 2.51 per cent in the second quarter of 2023.
Growth in the sub-Saharan African region is expected to decline to 3.3 per cent in 2023 due to worsening weather shocks, the global slowdown, and domestic supply issues, the IMF noted.
READ ALSO: IMF Rates eNaira Performance Low
It, however, stated that this growth will begin to rise by 2024 to 4.0 per cent in 2024, which is still below the region’s historical average of 4.8 per cent.
Overall, global economic growth is projected to slow from 3.5 per cent in 2022 to 3.0 per cent in 2023 and 2.9 per cent in 2024, well below the historical (2000–19) average of 3.8 per cent, the IMF declared.
It added, “Advanced economies are expected to slow from 2.6 per cent in 2022 to 1.5 per cent in 2023 and 1.4 per cent in 2024 as policy tightening starts to bite. Emerging market and developing economies are projected to have a modest decline in growth from 4.1 per cent in 2022 to 4.0 per cent in both 2023 and 2024.”
Inflation, which has been on a global rise, is expected to fall from 8.7 per cent in 2022 to 6.9 per cent in 2023 and 5.8 per cent in 2024, the IMF noted.
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Business
JUST IN: CBN Removes Cash Deposit Limits, Raises Weekly Withdrawal To N500,000

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has removed cash deposit limits and also increased the weekly cash withdrawal limit from N100,000 to N500,000.
The CBN made this known in a circular to all banks and other financial institutions, signed by Dr Rita Sike, Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department.
Sike said that the revisions formed part of ongoing efforts to moderate the rising cost of cash management and address security concerns.
According to her, it will also curb money laundering risks associated with heavy reliance on cash.
She said that the cash-related policies previously issued in response to evolving circumstances were aimed at reducing cash usage and promoting the adoption of electronic payment channels.
READ ALSO:CBN Directs Nigerian Banks To Withdraw Misleading Advertisement
“However, with time, the need to streamline and update these provisions to reflect present-day realities became necessary,” she said.
She said that with effect from Jan. 1, 2026, the cumulative deposit limit would be removed and the fee previously charged on excess deposits would no longer apply.
The director said that the cumulative weekly withdrawal limit across all channels has been reviewed to N500,000 for individuals and five million Naira for corporates.
READ ALSO:CBN Issues Directive Clarifying Holding Companies’ Minimum Capital
“Withdrawals above these thresholds will attract excess withdrawal charges as specified,” she said. “The special monthly authorisation that allowed individuals to withdraw five million Naira and corporates N10 million once a month has been abolished.”
She said that for Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), daily withdrawal remains capped at N100,000 per customer, with a maximum of N500,000 weekly.
She said that this formed part of the overall weekly withdrawal limit applicable to all channels, including point-of-sale (POS) transactions.
Sike said that excess withdrawals above the stipulated limits would attract three per cent for individuals and five per cent for corporate customers.
READ ALSO:Court Convicts Two National Assembly Staff Over CBN, FIRS Job Scam
According to her, this will be shared in the ratio of 40 per cent to the CBN and 60 per cent to the operating bank or financial institution.
She directed banks to load all currency denominations in ATMs, while the existing limit on over-the-counter encashment of third-party cheques remains pegged at N100,000.
Sike said that such withdrawals would be counted as part of the cumulative weekly limit.
The director said that banks were also required to render monthly returns to the relevant supervisory departments.
READ ALSO:CBN Sets POS Maximum Transactions In Fresh Guidelines
She listed the departments to include the Banking Supervision Department, Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department, and the Payments System Supervision Department.
Sike said that revenue-generating accounts of federal, state, and local governments were exempted from the new withdrawal rules.
She said that accounts of microfinance banks and primary mortgage banks held with commercial and non-interest banks are also exempted from the new rules.
She, however, said that the long-standing exemption previously enjoyed by embassies, diplomatic missions, and aid-donor agencies had been removed.
Business
Naira Records Depreciation Against US Dollar Across Official, Black Markets

The naira depreciated against the dollar at the official and parallel foreign exchange markets on Monday to begin the new month on a bearish note.
Central Bank of Nigeria’s data showed that the Naira weakened to N1,448.44 on Monday, down from N1,446.74 traded on Friday last week.
READ ALSO:Naira Records First Depreciation Against US Dollar Across Official, Black FX Markets
This means that the naira dropped by N1.7 against the dollar on Monday when compared to Friday.
Similarly, at the black market, the Naira declined by N5 to N1,475 on Monday from N1,470 at the close of work last week.
The development comes as Nigeria’s foreign reserves stood at $44.61 billion as of November 27th, 2025.
Business
NNPCL Revenue, Profit Soar To N5.08tn, N447bn In October

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has announced a significant revenue increase to N5.078 trillion for October 2025.
The state-owned firm disclosed this in its monthly financial report released on Saturday.
According to the financial report, from N5.078 revenue in October, the company posted a N447 profit after tax.
READ ALSO:N5bn Damage: NNPCL Secures Appeal Court Victory Against Ararume
The figure represents a significant 19.2 percent increase in revenue from N4.26 trillion and a 106 percent rise in PAT from N216 billion in September 2025.
The report stated that from January to September, NNPCL paid N11.150 trillion in statutory payments to the federation.
Four days ago, NNPCL posted a total of N45.1 trillion as total revenue for the 2024 financial year.
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