…Strengthens growth path on Solid Fundamentals Lagos, Sept. 11, 2025 – Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc has projected gross earnings of N149.27 billion for the fourth quarter ending December 31, 2025. The projection builds on the Group’s performance in the first half of the year, when profit after tax rose by 157 percent, gross earnings climbed 39.7 percent to N212.61 billion, and earnings per share rose to 89 kobo from 56 kobo. Together, these results highlight a strong year-to-date trajectory, reinforcing profitability and boosting investor confidence in the Group’s long-term outlook. According to the …
London, Sept. 11, 2025 – Rachel Reeves admitted the UK economy ‘feels stuck’ today as she vowed to ease business rates pain for small firms. The Chancellor insisted getting growth going is her ‘number one mission’ and promised ‘tax reforms’ as she announced the overhaul. The Treasury is looking at changes to the current system of tax on business properties as part of efforts to cut red tape. It will focus on getting rid of ‘cliff edges’ that can discourage expansion and investment – potentially benefiting some of the firms …
US inflation ticks up in August, complicating Fed’s rate cut path
Washington, Sept, 11, 2025 – Inflation edged higher in August, government data showed Thursday, as investors looked for signs of how much President Trump’s tariffs are filtering into consumer prices and what that means for how aggressively the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates. The latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 2.9% annually in August, s rise from July’s 2.7 % increase and on par with economist expectations. Month over month, prices rose 0.4%, an uptick from July’s 0.2% …
Inflation is Trump’s greatest economic vulnerability – polls
Washington, Sept. 11, 2025 – Recent weeks have featured a curious sort of split screen: Americans have been increasingly clear to pollsters that inflation is their biggest worry about Donald Trump’s economy. Meanwhile, the president doubled down on claims that inflation is an issue of the past. This week was just the latest example. On one front was a new Yahoo News/YouGov survey that asked respondents about Trump and the cost of living. The response — in a mirror of other recent polling — was a rock-bottom approval rating …
FG gazettes new tax reform laws
Abuja, Sept. 10, 2025 – The Federal Government has officially published the new four tax reform laws. The bills were signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on June 26, 2025. Kamorudeen Yusuf, the Personal Assistant on Special Duties to the President, announced this on Wednesday. It said the new tax reform laws had made “a historic overhaul of the country’s fiscal framework.” “These reforms aim to simplify Nigeria’s tax system, support small businesses, attract investment, and strengthen fiscal stability, aligning with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to diversify …
Naira stabilises at N1,535, N1,540 to dollar at black market
Lagos, Sept. 8, 2025 – The Nigerian currency, Naira, is still being traded at between N1,535 and N1,540 at the black market in Lagos. These were the rates ruling the market till Sunday. The currency has been stable within that band in the last few weeks in spite of its appreciation at the official segment of the foreign exchange market. The Naira has appreciated against the dollar at the official market on Thursday, the last trading day in the market, closing at N1,511.5 to the dollar from N1,522 to the …
How illegal financial flows stifle Africa’s growth
By Martina Schwisski Lagos, Sept. 5, 2025 – An estimated $88 billion leaves Africa annually through tax evasion, money laundering, and corruption, the African Union (AU) says. In 2015, that figure was US$50 billion (€43 billion). Analysts say this deprives governments of revenue that could be invested in public services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure. The African Union has warned the continent loses billions in illicit financial flows each year. Analysts say stopping tax evasion and corruption is just the first step to keeping African wealth in the continent. Elites shifting money …
US trade deficit expands more than expected – official
Washington, Sept. 5, 2025 – The US trade deficit expanded more than expected in July, government data showed Thursday, on a surge in imports analysts expect was driven by a rush to beat another wave of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. The overall US trade deficit jumped 32.5 percent to $78.3 billion in July, the Department of Commerce said. This came on the back of a 5.9-percent rise in imports to $358.8 billion, while exports edged up just 0.3 percent to $280.5 billion. A Briefing.com consensus forecast had expected a smaller …
FG generates over N20trn from non-oil sources in 8 months – presidency
Abuja, Sept. 4, 2025 – The federal government generated over N20 trillion revenue from non-oil sources between January and August this year. The presidency disclosed this in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, a presidential spokesman. The statement said total federal government revenue surged to N20.59 trillion between January and August 2025, a 40.5 per cent increase over the N14.6 trillion realized in the sector in the corresponding period in 2024. It described the feat as unprecedented and a watershed in Nigeria’s history. “For the first time in decades, oil …
5% petrol tax is additional burden on the poor- Peter Obi
Abuja, Sept. 4, 2025 – Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of Labour Party in 2023 election, has described the new 5% tax on petrol sales as additional burden on the poor masses. The federal government plans to impose the new 5% tax on petrol sales from January 2026 as part of its new tax reform measures. Obi, while reacting to the development in a post on his official X handle, said government was imposing too much burden on Nigerians instead of easing the current hardship. He said the 5% fuel …