Business
NEXIM Launches N36 Billion Fund To Promote SME Sectors Across Dtates On Nigeria
Published
4 years agoon
By
Editor
The Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) has launched a N 36 billion Export Development Fund to be disbursed to targeted export-oriented projects in the Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) sector across the country.
The Managing Director/ Chief Executive, Mr Abba Bello, who disclosed this at the exporter enlightenment forum for the South West region held in Akure, the Ondo state capital, pointed out that a minimum of N1billion for every state of the Federation to be disbursed to targeted export-oriented projects in the SME sector,
Bello said that “As the nation’s Export Development Bank, the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), is in the vanguard of promoting economic diversification, towards increased jobs creation and foreign exchange earnings for the country.
“In this regard, and in line with the Zero Oil Plan of the federal government, which seeks to develop at least one exportable commodity in every state of the federation, we have launched the State Export Development Fund.
READ ALSO: FG Funds 200 MSMEs Under Payroll Support Programme In Bauchi
“Under this programme, we have earmarked a minimum of N1billion for every state of the federation to be disbursed to targeted export-oriented projects in the SME sector, towards crowding in investment and promoting regional industrialization and economic development.
“This fund is also expected to support the various states to benefit from the opportunities provided by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) to which Nigeria is a signatory.
” As you may all be aware, the AfCFTA, which commenced in January 2021 comes with enormous benefits, including a borderless market of about a 1.2billion people, with a combined GDP of about $3.4trillion.
” It, therefore, offers our SMEs, particularly those engaged in cross-border trade, the opportunity to increase their sales under a more liberal market condition.
“This scheme also seeks to corporatize and onboard our informal exporters into the formal sector, and through this capture the huge volume of informal trade which has been estimated at about four times the value of recorded trade.
“While our intervention under the State Export Development Programme is targeted mainly at export-oriented projects promoted by the private sector, the State governments have a major role to play towards creating an enabling environment for the effective utilization of the fund, particularly in such areas as land allocation, issuance of permits and other necessary support.
“We have already commenced discussions with some state governments on this scheme and we hope to continue the engagements with all the state governments present here at this forum.
“Aside from the State Export Development Programme, NEXIM also offers other intervention schemes, which include the Women and Youth Export Facility (WAYEF), which was recently launched as a financial inclusion strategy for the vulnerable groups.
” We also have the N500bn Non-Oil Export Stimulation Facility, which is targeted at the medium and large-scale exporters.”
Bello lamented that “it is rather a paradox that despite our huge human and natural resource endowments, Nigeria remains a mono-product economy, with the crude oil sector contributing about 70% of government revenue and about 90% of export earnings.
“Nigeria has over 44 solid minerals in commercial quantities, found all over the country, largely unexploited.
“The point of emphasis is that our country is so blessed, and our economy need not be tied to the vagaries of one commodity, which contributes less than 10% of our Gross Domestic Product.”
The Executive Director, NEXIM Business Development, Mrs Stella Okotete said the bank came to Ondo State because of the export potentials available in the state.
She said the bank was ready to partner with the southwest governments to develop the export capacities in the region.
On his part, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu said that Governors in the Southwest are steadily working together in the Agriculture sector through the formation of the Southwest Agric Company (SWAgCo).
READ ALSO: NDE Trains 300 Unemployed Youths In Cosmetology, Other Trades In Bauchi
According to the Governor, SWAGCo is a registered company under the Oodua conglomerate which was created for effective exploration of agricultural resources in the region.
(VANGUARD)
You may like
Business
NNPCL Reduces Fuel Price After Dangote Refinery’s Adjustment
Published
3 days agoon
August 14, 2025By
Editor
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has reduced its premium motor spirit pump price on Thursday, according to DAILY POST.
It was confirmed that NNPCL retail outlets in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have reduced their pump price to N890 per litre from N945.
This new fuel price has been reflected in NNPCL retail outlets such as mega station Danziyal Plaza, Central Area, Wuse Zone 4, Wuse Zone 6, and other of its filling stations in the nation’s capital.
READ ALSO:N5bn Damage: NNPCL Secures Appeal Court Victory Against Ararume
The latest downward review of fuel price in NNPCL outlets represents an N55 reduction in fuel pump price.
“It was reduced to N890 per litre this afternoon, down from N945,” an NNPCL fuel attendant told DAILY POST anonymously on Thursday.
This comes a Nigerian filling station, MRS Empire Energy, on Thursday adjusted their fuel pump price to N885 and N946 per litre, down from N910 and N955 per litre.
The latest fuel price reduction trend is unconnected to Dangote Refinery’s ex-depot petrol price adjustment by N30 to N820 per litre from N850 and the price of crude oil in the international market.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced a reduction in the ex-depot (gantry) price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, commonly known as petrol, by N30, from N850 to N820 per litre, effective from August 12, 2025.
This was disclosed in a statement by the company’s spokesman, Anthony Chijiena, on Tuesday.
The 650,000-barrel-per-day plant said the move is part of its unwavering commitment to national development, assuring the public of a consistent and uninterrupted supply of petroleum products.
READ ALSO:Dangote Refinery Gets New CEO
“In line with our dedication to operational excellence and sustainable energy solutions, Dangote Petroleum Refinery will commence the phased deployment of 4,000 CNG-powered trucks for fuel distribution across Nigeria, effective August 15, 2025,” said Chijiena.
The announcement comes as the refinery prepares to commence direct fuel distribution nationwide. The development is expected to lead petroleum product marketers to reduce their pump prices in the coming days.
In Abuja, the retail fuel price stood between N885 and N970 per litre as of Tuesday evening.
Business
Indian Refiners Abandon Russia For Nigerian Crude, As Dangote Refinery Relies On US
Published
6 days agoon
August 11, 2025By
Editor
India Refineries have abandoned Russian crude for Nigerian crude, while domestic refiner Dangote Refinery relies heavily on West Texas Intermediate crude from the United States of America.
This followed a recent sanction threat by US president Donald Trump on India over continued patronage of Russian crude.
According to Reuters, industry sources said that Indian Oil Corporation recently bought one million barrels of Nigeria’s Agbami crude for September 2025 delivery in a tender awarded to global trader Trafigura.
Also included are one million barrels of Angola Girassol, one million barrels of US Mars, three million barrels of Abu Dhabi Murban, and two million barrels of Nigerian oil, according to Reuters.
READ ALSO:‘My Eyes Dey Your Body’: Drama As Portable Professes Love For Regina Daniels
The report noted that the purchase is part of a broader sourcing spree that has seen Indian refiners secure millions of barrels from non-Russian sources post July 2025.
Meanwhile, Indian refiners secured purchases of Nigerian crude grades; the $20bn Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, is relying on around 60 percent on US and other imoorts to feed its processing units.
Data showed that the refinery imported an average of 10 million barrels in July 2025, saying it was increasingly relying on the US for its feedstock despite the naira-for-crude deal with the Federal Government, which kicked off in October last year.
According to Reuters, the Indian Oil Corp and Bharat Petroleum have bought a million barrels of non-Russian crude billed for delivery in September and October after the US pressured India to halt purchases from Russia.
READ ALSO:
Indian state refiners had been largely absent from the Nigerian crude market spotlight since 2022; they have in the past concentrated on Russian crude amid the Russian-Ukrainian war. However, the Indian refiners paused Russian purchases in late July 2025 after pressure from US President Donald Trump.
On the part of Dangote Refinery, data from commodities analytics firm Kpler showed that in July, US barrels accounted for about 60 percent of Dangote’s 590,000 barrels per day of crude intake, with Nigerian grades making up the remaining 40 percent.
In July, the Dangote refinery’s crude imports surged to a record 590 kbd—driven largely by US barrels overtaking Nigerian supply for the first time—amid ongoing domestic sourcing challenges, Kpler reports.
“While WTI has held a significant share in Dangote’s import slate since March, this is the first time US crude has overtaken Nigerian supply—a shift driven by several factors,” Kpler stated.
- Court Orders Divorce-seeking Woman To Pay Her Husband N120,000
- I Worked Hard Abroad In Order To Pay House Rent, Our Children’s Fees, Even Though My Husband Is Alive —Wife
- My Wife Abandoned Me, Our 3yr-old Son, Moved In With Another Man —Husband
- My Husband Gives Me Only N50 For Food, Woman Tells Court
- FULL LIST: CAC Removes 247 Companies From Database, Urges Public To Disregard Them
- Perplexity AI Makes $34.5bn Surprise Bid For Google’s Chrome Browser
- FG Captures Two Ansaru Terrorist Leaders
- APC Defeats NNPP In Kano Re-run Election
- Google Introduces Initiative To Equip 1,000 Nigerian Developers
- OPINION: You Be Terrorist, I No Be Terrorist!
Trending
- News5 days ago
JUST IN: Ibom Air Passenger Breaks Silence After Release
- News5 days ago
FG Gives KWAM 1 Aviation Appointment, After Airport Incident
- News4 days ago
Okpebholo Announces ‘Massive’ Youth Recruitment Into Edo Civil Service
- Politics4 days ago
JUST IN: Total Loyalty Non-negotiable, PDP Tells Members
- News4 days ago
FG Bans Creation Of New Tertiary Institutions For Seven Years
- News4 days ago
Why FG Named KWAM 1 Aviation Security Ambassador — Keyamo
- News4 days ago
How Terrorist Leader, Abubakar Abba, Was arrested – Niger Govt
- Headline3 days ago
JUST IN: Canadian Court Declares APC, PDP Terrorist Organisations
- Metro5 days ago
Man Dies After Being Accidentally Pinned By Overweight Partner
- Metro4 days ago
OAU Medical Student Kills Self After Failing Exam Twice