Economy
Stocks Sustain Free Fall as Pressure Mounts on NSE
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Market sentiments remained weak on Wednesday as pressure continued to mount on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).
Stock market analysts believed news of an alleged attempt by the Senate to install the Senate President, Mr Bukola Saraki, as the Acting President yesterday sent a wrong signal to investors, who held back to observe latest political happenings in the country, especially with the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari in nearly two months now.
Nigerians have continued to react to the development, with many heavily criticising the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly for the alleged attempt, which was quickly foiled by Mr Saraki on Tuesday.
At the resumption of trading activities on the floor of the NSE on Wednesday, the bearish trend was maintained, leaving the market to decline further by 0.33 percent.
The All-Share Index (ASI) depreciated today by 107.88 points to settle at 32,302.32 points, while the market capitalisation depleted by N36.7 billion to finish at N11.13 trillion.
Furthermore, the market breadth still remained negative today with 33 decliners in contrast to 12 advancers.
In addition, the year-to-date return trimmed further to 20.20 percent.
Business Post however reports that the volume and value of shares transacted at the market today finished higher.
A total of 312 million shares exchanged hands on Wednesday in 4,312 deals worth N3 billion, versus 206.2 shares traded yesterday in 4,294 deals valued at N1.7 billion.
Niger Insurance was the most active stock on Wednesday, trading a total of 62.9 million shares valued at N31.5 million.
First Bank followed with a total of 30.5 million units traded at N183.7 million, while Transcorp sold 30.2 million shares worth N38.8 million.
Zenith Bank exchanged a total of 28.5 million shares today valued at N575 million, and UBA transacted 24 million units worth N197.7 million.
On the price movement chart, Flour Mills led the losers’ table after dropping N2.49k to close at N23.14k per share, and was trailed by Unilever, which shed N1.84k to end at N35.3k per share.
Julius Berger lost N1.69k to finish at N32.14k per share, Guinness declined by N1.54k to settle at N63 per share, while PZ Cussons depreciated by N1.21k to close at N23.14k per share.
The gainers’ chart was led today by Nestle, which grew by 50k to finish at N901.50k per share, and was followed by Berger Paints, which advanced by 31k to end at N7.15k per share.
Nigerian Breweries added 30k to its share value on Wednesday to close at N158.35k per share, UBA gained 18k to settle at N8.38k per share, and First Bank increased by 14k to wrap the day at N6.5k per share.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The embargo earlier placed in the trading of Thomas Wyatt Nigeria shares has been lifted by the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Regulation Limited.
The regulatory subsidiary of NGX Group lifted the suspension on Monday, July 6, 2026, via a notice signed by Bonaventure Onwuji on behalf of the Head of the Issuer Regulation Department of NGX RegCo.
Investors were earlier prevented from buying and selling equities of the organisation after it failed to submit its relevant financial statements as required by the listing rules.
The embargo was placed on October 31, 2025, in line with the provisions of Rule 3.1: Rules for Filing of Accounts and Treatment of Default Filing, which provides that if an issuer fails to file the relevant accounts by the expiration of the cure period, the exchange will: a) send to the issuer a second filing deficiency notification within two business days after the end of the cure period, b) suspend trading in the issuer’s securities, and c) notify the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the market within 24 hours of the suspension.
After filing the results with NGX Limited, and pursuant to Rule 3.3 of the Default Filing Rules, which states that the suspension of trading in the issuer’s securities shall be lifted upon submission of the relevant accounts provided the exchange is satisfied that the accounts comply with all applicable rules of the exchange. The exchange shall thereafter also announce through the medium by which the public and the SEC was initially notified of the suspension, that the suspension has been lifted, the suspension was lifted.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigerian domestic oil producer Renaissance Energy has recorded its first major oil discovery since taking over Oil Mining Lease (OML) 74 last year, following the successful drilling of an exploration well offshore Nigeria in a development that could support the country’s efforts to boost crude oil production and replenish reserves.
Preliminary results showed about 1,000 feet (305 metres) of crude oil-bearing reservoirs across seven zones, with data and fluid tests confirming light oil in high-quality reservoirs, Renaissance said in a statement, without providing further details.
OML 74 is a large shallow-water block in the eastern Niger Delta off Nigeria’s coast and holds at least eight previously undeveloped discoveries.
Renaissance, which now owns Shell’s former onshore and shallow-water assets, operates Nigeria’s largest upstream joint venture with 18 oil leases, two export terminals and a FPSO vessel in the oil-rich delta.
Commenting on Tuesday, Mr Tony Attah, the managing director/chief executive of Renaissance, said the discovery reflects the company’s renewed focus on exploration and its commitment to boosting Nigeria’s long-term oil production.
“The success of JK-004, just over one year after assuming operatorship of these assets, demonstrates the strength of our exploration programme,” he said.
He lauded the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), adding that the exploration performance reflected the collaboration with the company’s joint venture partners comprising the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), TotalEnergies Limited and Agip Energy and Natural Resources.
He added that the NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Bayo Ojulari, and the Executive Vice President, Upstream, Mr Udobong Ntia, provided the needed strategic guidance with commitment for value delivery across the joint venture assets.
On his part, the Vice President of Exploration and Chief Explorer at Renaissance, Mr Johnbosco Uche, said the exploration success was due to the company’s subsurface excellence, technical rigour, and disciplined approach to reserve replacement.
“The JK-004 well provides a strong foundation for accelerated maturation with clear pathways to early development and value realisation,” the Chief Explorer said, adding that the strategic location of JK-004 near an existing field would enable rapid commercialisation.
The chief executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, described the feat as a perfect alignment with the commission’s vision of growing the nation’s reserves “to future-proof sustainable national growth,” and pledged to continue building the enabling regulatory environment required to support the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The mandatory takeover bid of about 1.63 per cent shares held by minority shareholders of Premier Paints Plc by Xenergi has been launched.
Business Post learned that the exercise will open at 8 am on Monday, July 13, 2026, and close on Friday, August 7, 2026, and it concerns shareholders of Premier Paint, excluding Xenergi Plc, whose names appear in the register of members of Premier Paint on the qualification date, which was Monday, July 6, 2026.
Xenergi is looking to acquire a total of 2 million shares of Premier Paints at N38 per unit, amounting to N76 million.
The reason for this offer is to enable Xenergi comply with Section 142(4) of the ISA Act 2025 and Rules 445 – 448 of the SEC New Rules and Amendment dated August 30, 2021, following its acquisition of a 49.60 per cent majority equity stake in Premier Paint.
On June 8, 2026, Xenergi Plc acquired 61,003,350 ordinary shares in Premier Paint, representing a 49.60 per cent equity stake.
Xenergi Plc and Premier Paint Plc executed a Share Sale and Purchase Agreement detailing the terms and conditions of the acquisition. The acquisition was concluded following receipt of the required regulatory approvals from the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.
In accordance with Section 142(4) of the ISA Act 2025, Xenergi is required to make a takeover bid to all the other shareholders of Premier Paint.
Consequently, on May 25, 2026, the board of Xenergi granted approval for a Takeover to be made to all qualifying shareholders, for the acquisition of the offer shares.
