Business News, Updates and highlights April 1-10 2026

 

Money Market Funds hit N5.46 Trillion as STL Tops YTD Returns at 20.24% 

Money market funds are open-ended, low-risk investment vehicles that invest in premium short-term securities to preserve capital and generate consistent income.

YTD yields for the best-performing mutual funds ranged from 17% to 20%. This is a reflection of the yield performance of the underlying assets, which declined. Commercial papers are as high as 20–22%, while OMO bills have stabilized around 19% and the Nigerian Treasury bill has moderated at 16%.

In March, 147 unitholders and N1.77 billion were added to a new fund called Alpha10 Money Market Fund, which is run by Alpha10 Fund Management Limited and recently registered with the SEC.

Zenith Bank Subsidiaries Post N331.7 billion Profit as Deposits hit N6.7 Trillion 

Pre-tax profit increased to N331.7 billion in 2025, accounting for 26.3% of the group's overall profit, according to Zenith Bank Plc's improved earnings from its overseas activities.

From N179 billion in 2024, when they made up 13.5% of the group's pre-tax profit, these subsidiaries in Ghana, the UK, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia have improved.

Their bank sheets also demonstrated this rise, as total customer deposits increased to N6.7 trillion in 2025, accounting for 27.8% of total deposits and demonstrating increased customer confidence.

Okomu Oil Records N90.6 billion FY2025 Profit, Sets Dividend Date 

The Okomu Oil Palm Company reported a pretax profit of N90.6 billion in its audited 2025 results, up from N53.5 billion in 2024.

Strong top-line earnings, which saw sales increase 52.18% year over year to N198.1 billion from N130.2 billion the year before, were the main driver of this achievement.

A closer examination reveals that N25.5 billion came from sales outside of Nigeria, 

The corporation announced a final dividend of N15 per 50 kobo share, which would be paid to shareholders listed as of the qualifying date of April 27, 2026, on May 26, 2026.

GTCO’s HabariPay Records N9.7bn Profit in 2025, Jump 155%

In 2025, HabariPay, the fintech division of Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), had a profit after tax (PAT) of N9.7 billion.

The corporation recently issued its full-year 2025 financial results, which included this information.

GTCO Declares Final Dividend of N11.76 for 2025 Financial Year.

GTCO has been consistent in dividend payments.  In 2024, it paid the highest dividend per share of N8.03 among the banks.

NGX All-Share Index rises 0.28% to 202,585 as Volume Tops 1 billion shares.

Trading sentiment remained bullish on April , 2026, with the Nigerian market’s year-to-date return standing strong at 30.19%.

A total of N40.5 billion worth of trades was recorded across 52,723 deals, with Zenith Bank and Access Holdings each accounting for over N6 billion in transactions.

₦3.3 Trillion Power Reset: Can Tinubu’s Bold Gamble Finally Stabilize Nigeria’s Grid?

Generation companies have not been fully paid. Gas suppliers, owed billions, have reduced supply.

Distribution companies, plagued by inefficiencies and weak revenue collection, have failed to remit adequately. 

The result is a broken chain, one where power cannot reliably move from production to consumption. Tinubu’s intervention seeks to break that cycle.

By settling legacy debts owed to power generation companies and gas suppliers, the government aims to restore liquidity, rebuild trust, and ultimately stabilize electricity supply. It is, without question, a bold and expensive move. But the real issue is not whether it is bold it is whether it is sustainable.

In the short term, the logic is sound. Clearing these debts could immediately unlock gas supply, allowing power plants to operate closer to capacity.

It sends a strong signal to investors that the government is willing to honor obligations, a critical factor in attracting new capital into a sector long viewed as high-risk.

If effectively implemented, Nigerians could see modest improvements in grid stability and electricity availability. However, this intervention addresses symptoms more than causes.

Nigeria’s electricity crisis is not purely financial: it is deeply structural. The national grid remains fragile, with outdated transmission infrastructure that struggles to evacuate even the limited power currently generated.

Electricity tariffs in Nigeria have historically been politically sensitive and often set below cost-reflective levels. This means distribution companies are unable to recover the true cost of power supplied. When revenues fall short, the burden shifts back to the government in the form of subsidies and accumulated debts.

Compounding this is the persistent inefficiency in the distribution segment. Energy theft, poor metering, and weak billing systems continue to erode revenues. In many cases, power is consumed but not paid for, creating a financial vacuum that ripples across the entire value chain. Until distribution companies are reformed through stricter regulation, better technology, or structural overhaul any financial injection into the sector may ultimately leak out.

There is also the question of fiscal sustainability. At a time when Nigeria faces significant budgetary pressures and rising debt obligations, committing ₦3.3 trillion to a single sector is no small undertaking. It raises a critical concern: if the system fails again, will the government have the capacity or the political will to repeat such a bailout?

Accountability will always be mentioned in Nigerian Institutions. Those in charge are they responsible enough in putting revenue to good use. Are funds appropriately channelled and used efficiently. Regulatory bodies need to perform routine checks and audit in financial operations of this sector.

It requires aggressive metering to eliminate estimated billing and reduce revenue losses.

It demands strict enforcement of market rules, where payment discipline is non-negotiable across the value chain.
Equally important is the need to rethink the structure of power delivery itself.

A heavily centralized grid has proven too fragile for a country of Nigeria’s size and complexity. Decentralizing power through state-level electricity markets, embedded generation, and renewable mini-grids can reduce pressure on the national grid and improve reliability at the local level.

Renewable forms of energy such as solar should be embraced, with the rising costs of petroleum products most Nigerians can’t afford natural gas energy billings, the debt cycle could begin immediately if affordable energy sources are not embraced.

Investment in transmission infrastructure must also be prioritized. Without the capacity to efficiently move electricity from generation points to end users, even the most well-funded generation sector will fall short.

The lights may come on brighter in the months ahead. The real challenge is ensuring they stay on.