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Why Soaring Diesel Prices Will Affect Fuel Hike – Experts

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Analysts at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise have said that the soaring cost of diesel is expected to accelerate inflationary pressure on the economy to the extent that the recent increase in the price of petrol may not be immediately felt.

Report had it earlier that Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, would now be sold between N170/litre and N190/litre in filling stations across the country, following what is believed to be a subtle agreement between Federal Government officials and oil marketers.

The increase follows weeks of scarcity which have led to fare hikes across major cities in the country. During this time, fuel marketers had insisted that it was no longer sustainable to distribute the product at its N165/Litre benchmark and only a price review would fix the supply chain crisis.

Speaking on how the hike would affect organised businesses, the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf, described the decision by the oil marketers and the Federal Government as a necessary compromise that would prevent a complete collapse of the supply chain.

Asked if the new pump price might trigger higher prices in the marketplace, Yusuf said, “Not necessarily, because, before now, the disruption that had been created by the inability of the marketers to distribute at N165 had already pushed the price above N200. Outside Lagos and Abuja, I can tell you that people are buying fuel for N190, N200 plus. If you compare that to the N180 that is now the benchmark, people are still better off. In terms of the impact on price, I don’t see any considerable adverse effect that this will have compared to when you allow the system to collapse completely.”

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READ ALSO: Marketers Threaten To Halt Fuel Supply In North-West States Over N40bn Debt

Also speaking, the Deputy-President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Gabriel Idahosa, said the inflation that was already being created by the significant increase in prices of diesel and kerosene would naturally eclipse the marginal increase in the price of PMS.

He said, “Because the diesel price has gone so high already, the fuel price increase from N165 to N180 may only reflect in some movements in the general public transportation who use petrol for their vehicles, but in terms of any significant impact on inflation, it will not be there.”

 

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JUST IN: CBN Increases Interest Rate To 24.75%

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The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria has today concluded its two-day meeting for March 2024.

This meeting marks the second MPC meeting for the year 2024 and also the 294th meeting of the CBN.

The MPC at the end of today’s meeting elected to hike the MPR by 200 basis points.

The Committee voted as follows: Raise the MPR by 200bps to 24.75 from 22.75 per cent
Increase the asymmetric corridor to +100bps/-300 basic points.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: CBN Sells Forex To BDCs At N1,251/$1

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Retain the Cash Reserve Ratio of Deposit Money Banks at 45 per cent and Adjust the CRR of Merchant banks from 10 per cent to 14 per cent.

The CBN retains a liquidity ratio of 13 per cent.

Details later…

 

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JUST IN: CBN Sells Forex To BDCs At N1,251/$1

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a circular to Bureau De Change (BDC) operators informing them that they sold $10,000 to each BDC at a rate of N1,251 per US dollar.

Nairametrics reports that the CBN, in a circular, instructed each BDC to sell the dollars to eligible customers at a rate not exceeding 1.5% above the purchase price.

READ ALSO:Tips For Online Registration Of Prospective Corps Members

It reads: “We refer to our letter to you referenced TED/DIR/CON/GOM/001/071 in respect of the above subject wherein the CB approved a second tranche of sale of FX to eligible BDCs.

“We write to inform you of the sale of $10,000 to each BDC at the rate of N1,251/$1. The BDCs are to sell to eligible end users at a spread of NOT MORE THAN 1.5 per cent above the purchase price.”

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Financial Institution Launches Indigenous Micro Insurance Software To Boost Customers Confidence

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The acting Managing Director, Prudent Choice Micro Insurance, Mrs. Gloria Onosolease, has said that the launch of its indigenous micro insurance software, named Insuretech, will help boost customers confidence and ensure accountability in the sector.

She disclosed this during the official launch of its Insuretech software in Benin.

Mrs. Onosolease said the achievement will significantly shape the nascent micro insurance landscape in Nigeria and indeed, across the African continent.

Onosolease said the newly developed software heralds a pivotal advancement in enhancing customer interaction and satisfaction, while concurrently optimizing their internal operations to foster efficiency.

She added that in a fiercely competitive industry such as insurance, embracing technology is indispensable to their continuous success and sustainability.

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READ ALSO: Tips For Online Registration Of Prospective Corps Members

She said that the micro insurance sector in Nigeria, particularly in Edo State, is undergoing a phase of unprecedented growth with a population exceeding five million people where a substantial portion of which is engaged in low income and medium sized enterprises spanning rural, urban and semi-urban areas.

She said due to this, there exists an urgent demand for accessible and inclusive insurance solutions but regrettably, this demographic has long been underserved and marginalized in terms of insurance protection.

She further said that with the launch of Insuretech, it will help mitigate the financial risks encountered by low income earners and small to medium scale enterprises.

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