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FG deducts N256bn for gas infrastructure fund

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The Federal Government, through the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee, has deducted a total of N256.52bn from revenue allocations to fund gas infrastructure projects in the first half of 2025, official figures seen by Sunday PUNCH have shown.

This comes amidst the government’s latest plan to review deductions and revenue retention practices.

The deductions, which are made for the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund, fluctuated significantly month-to-month.

Sunday PUNCH gathered that the projects, spread across the six geopolitical zones of the country form part of efforts to bridge critical infrastructure gaps in the gas value chain.

In 2023, President Bola Tinubu appointed a governing council to lead the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund.

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority manages the MDGIF, while the governing council is chaired by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, who oversees the fund’s activities.

The aim of the MDGIF includes attracting more than $575bn in investments to develop Nigeria’s gas sector; expanding the midstream and downstream gas infrastructure to create a more robust gas market in Nigeria, among others.

But the fund, originally designed to attract investments and get its money from a small levy on the wholesale price of petroleum products and natural gas sold in the country, now relies on allocations from the government.

A breakdown of the figures analysed from the monthly FAAC report between January and June 2025 revealed that a total of N256.52bn from oil revenue allocations to finance gas infrastructure projects in the first half of 2025, with June recording the sharpest month-on-month rise of 60.38 per cent.

Figures obtained by Sunday PUNCH show that N35.07bn was deducted in January, followed by a 9.24 per cent drop to N31.83bn in February.

In March, allocations surged by 66.49 per cent to N52.99bn before plunging by 44.91 per cent in April to N29.19bn.

However, the government increased deductions by 41.38 per cent in May to N41.27bn, and by a further 60.38 per cent in June to reach N66.18bn, the highest monthly figure in the period.

The lowest monthly release of the period came in April at N29.19bn.

The June spike came on the heels of the Federal Government’s signing of more than N165bn in equity investment agreements with 10 companies to deliver gas processing plants, CNG refuelling stations, and LPG storage facilities nationwide.

The deals are central to Nigeria’s “Decade of Gas” agenda, aimed at boosting domestic gas supply, cutting flaring, and supporting clean energy adoption.

The projects, announced on June 2, include six gas processing plants, two of which will harness flare gas, three compressed natural gas stations, and a bulk liquefied petroleum gas storage facility.

Speaking at the inauguration meeting of the council, Ekpo pointed out that the establishment of the MDGIF came at a critical juncture in Nigeria’s energy landscape, as the country strives for economic diversification and sustainable development.

He said the MDGIF represented not just a financial instrument, but a symbol of the government’s dedication to fostering an environment conducive to private sector participation and international collaboration.

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National Pension Commission (PenCom) changes price disclosure rule

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National Pension Commission (PenCom) has directed Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) to discontinue the publication of daily unit prices for Retirement Savings Account (RSA) and Retiree Funds on their websites, replacing the requirement with a six-month disclosure of returns based on a three-year rolling average.

The directive was contained in a circular issued by the commission.

Under the new guideline, PFAs must stop implementing Section 2.0 (iv) of the Commission’s March 23, 2013 circular, which required them to display daily unit prices for the last seven days.

Instead, they are to publish on their websites the last six months’ rate of return — calculated as a 36-month compounded rolling average in line with the Circular for the Calculation and Reporting of Rate of Returns by Licensed Pension Fund Operators (LPFOs).

According to the commission, the rate of return must be clearly displayed on the homepage of each PFA’s website.

For instance, the six-month disclosure covering April to September 2025 would reflect the 36-month compounded returns ending in each of those months.

This has however raised transparency concerns in the pension industry.

The 2013 circular on Minimum Information to be displayed on PFA Websites formed part of PenCom’s transparency framework for the Contributory Pension Scheme.

The latest addendum modifies that requirement but does not remove PFAs’ obligation to disclose performance information.

Industry watchers say the development may reignite debate over the balance between long-term investment reporting and real-time transparency in Nigeria’s pension industry.

All enquiries on the addendum, the Commission said, should be directed to its Surveillance Department.

An industry analyst who does not want her name mentioned said the move could reduce contributors’ access to real-time performance data.

She said: “Daily unit prices allowed RSA holders to independently track short-term movements and detect fluctuations in fund valuation.

“With only a three-year rolling average now required, contributors will no longer see recent performance in isolation”, she noted.

The analyst added that while pension funds are long-term vehicles, removing daily disclosure raises concerns about information asymmetry.

“PFAs will still compute daily valuations internally. The issue is whether contributors should be denied access to data that already exists,” the analyst said.

However, another pension expert defended the directive, noting that pensions are structured for long-term accumulation and should be assessed over extended periods.

“A 36-month rolling average smooth’s out short-term volatility and provides a more accurate reflection of sustained performance,” the expert said, warning that excessive focus on daily fluctuations could encourage reactionary fund switching.

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Dollar rises in black market on Monday, traders quote new exchange rate

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Dollar edges higher against the naira in black market trading Dollar edges higher against the naira in black market trading

The United States dollar at the parallel market increased in value on Monday, Febuary 23 with traders quote at N1,375/$ as the new selling exchange rate.

The new rate is a slight depreciation for the naira when compared to N1,343 a dollar market closed on Friday, February 20, 2026.

Abdulahhi, a forex dealer, told Legit.ng that the new exchange rate follows renew demand in the market.

“I am currently selling dollars at N1,375/$1 and buying at N1,355/$1. The pound is trading at N1,845 to sell and N1,805 to buy, while the euro is also moving steadily in the market.

“It seems this week the dollar will return to over N1,400. I have been getting a lot of request.”

The fall of the naira comes as BDC operators continue to face difficulties in accessing dollars from commercial banks.

BDCs can get dollar

The apex bank had previously issued a circular allowing licensed BDCs to access foreign exchange through authorised dealers at the prevailing market rate.

Under the directive, each BDC is permitted to purchase up to $150,000 weekly, subject to Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements and due diligence checks, Punch reports.

Leadership reported that despite a policy announcement, some operators disclosed that no transactions have been completed under the new arrangement.

A BDC operator, who requested anonymity, said the directive remains largely unimplemented. According to him, the circular provides that disbursements will be made through settlement accounts, a provision that has raised operational concerns.

He questioned the feasibility of seamless, real-time transfers between domiciliary accounts across different banks, noting that such infrastructure may not yet be fully in place.

The operator added that while commercial banks appear supportive of the policy, many are still developing internal processes to align with the CBN’s directive.

He explained that BDCs are required to submit bid orders through their banks, which would then access the market on their behalf.

Naira in the official market

Meanwhile, in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM), the naira closed against the US dollar on Friday, February 20 at N1,346.32/$1 from N1,341.35/$1 a day earlier.

At the GTBank FX desk, the naira weakened by N7 against the dollar to quote N1,356/$1.

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