{"id":2324,"date":"2025-04-25T10:06:51","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T10:06:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/finance.gov.ng\/?p=2324"},"modified":"2025-04-25T10:06:51","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T10:06:51","slug":"federal-ministry-of-finance-newspaper-review-on-thursday-april-24-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/finance.gov.ng\/ministry\/federal-ministry-of-finance-newspaper-review-on-thursday-april-24-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Federal Ministry of Finance Newspaper Review on Thursday, April 24, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>1. WALE EDUN REVEALS FORENSIC AUDIT OF NNPC ONGOING<\/strong><br \/>\nThisday pages 1&amp; 32, Daily Trust 34<br \/>\nThe paper stated that Nigeria\u2019s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, yesterday revealed that the forensic audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) was underway.<br \/>\nAlso, as the ripple effects of United States\u2019 reciprocal tariffs continue to reverberate across the globe, causing uncertainties, Edun asserted that the cocktail of reforms introduced since President Bola Tinubu assumed office has placed the economy in a stronger position than anticipated to absorb potential shocks.<br \/>\nThis was as the Governor of, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, said the apex bank\u2019s return to orthodox monetary policy was beginning to yield results, citing gains in macroeconomic stability, investor confidence, and improvements in Nigeria\u2019s global credit ratings.<br \/>\nEqually, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) advised Nigeria to consolidate its recent reforms by prioritising efficiency in public spending and committing to prudent fiscal policies.<br \/>\nAlso yesterday, the World Bank Group announced the appointment of the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, into its Private Sector Investment Lab (PSIL), as the multilateral institution transitions into a new phase focused on implementing large-scale, job-generating investments in emerging markets.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>2. NIGERIA \u2018S REVENUE AT RISK AMID GLOBAL TENSION- IMF<\/strong><br \/>\nPunch page 19<br \/>\nThe paper reported that the International Monetary Fund has warned the Federal Government to remain vigilant in the face of mounting global trade tensions and tightening financial conditions, cautioning that Nigeria\u2019s earnings from commodity exports could decline significantly if global demand weakens.<br \/>\nThe warning was issued during the Global Financial Stability Report press briefing held on April 22, 2025, at the ongoing IMF\/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, DC.<br \/>\nThis came as the Federal Government said it would prioritise the payment of salaries, pensions, debt servicing, and national security obligations as Nigeria contends with dwindling revenues and rising fiscal pressure. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, disclosed this.<\/p>\n<p><strong>3. UBA POST N189.8BN PROFIT IN Q1<\/strong><br \/>\nPunch page 21<br \/>\nThe paper disclosed that the United Bank for Africa Plc has announced a growth in its profit for the first quarter of 2025, recording a profit after tax of N189.8bn. This represents a rise from the N142.6bn reported in the same period last year.<br \/>\nIn its Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended 31 March 2025, UBA reported a 36 per cent rise in interest income, which climbed to N599.8bn from N440.8bn in the first quarter of 2024.<br \/>\nInterest income on amortised cost and fair value through other comprehensive income securities contributed a major part of this increase, with a boost of N597.1bn from N440.4bn in the previous year.<br \/>\nIn the period under review, the bank\u2019s interest expense surged to N247.9bn from N140.1bn, resulting in a net interest income of N351.9bn, an increase from N300.7bn in the first quarter of 2024.<\/p>\n<p><strong>4. FG EYES N1.2TN FROM BOND MARKET IN Q2<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Punch page page 21<br \/>\nThe paper reported that the Federal Government plans to raise between N900bn and N1.2tn from the domestic bond market in the second quarter of 2025, a sharp drop from the N1.8tn targeted in the first quarter of the year.<br \/>\nThis is according to the FGN Bond Issuance Calendar for Q2 2025, newly released by the Debt Management Office.<br \/>\nThe reduced target comes as the government faces a tough fiscal environment characterised by weak oil receipts, elevated inflation, and a record N13.08tn budget deficit, representing 3.87 per cent of the country\u2019s Gross Domestic Product.<br \/>\nAccording to the calendar, three auctions will be held on April 28, May 26, and June 23, with two bonds to be offered per month.<\/p>\n<p><strong>5. IMF TO FG: DON\u2019T SIDELINE POOR NIGERIANS IN ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORMS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Daily sun page1&amp; 25<br \/>\nThe\u00a0International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged the federal government to ensure that energy subsidy reforms are inclusive and do not disproportionately burden poor and vulnerable Nigerians.<br \/>\nThe caution comes as President Bola Tinubu officially unveiled Nigeria\u2019s energy transition plan yesterday, saying the move reaffirms his administration\u2019s commitment to cleaner energy while balancing fiscal sustainability with social equity.<br \/>\nAt the launch of its April 2025 Fiscal Monitor, Deputy Director, of IMF\u2019s Fiscal Affairs Department, Era Dabla-Norris, noted that energy subsidies remain a significant fiscal drain on many developing economies, including Nigeria, adding that reforms must be carefully designed to ensure they do not deepen inequality or undermine livelihoods.<br \/>\n\u201cEnergy subsidy reforms are politically challenging because they immediately affect the pockets of citizens and small firms.<\/p>\n<p><strong>6. CARDOSO\u2019S GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT TO BOOST INVESTORS\u2019 CONFIDENCE, BOLSTER ECONOMY<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Daily sun<br \/>\nThe\u00a02025 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank in Washington DC, wear a different colour.<br \/>\nThe paper reported that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Dr Yemi Cardoso, is flaunting Nigeria\u2019s bold economic vision with clarity and conviction, and reaffirming the country\u2019s place as a key player in shaping global financial discourse before global financial leaders, policymakers and investors.<br \/>\nSimply put, the apex bank is asserting itself in the international spotlight as the governor launched a bold diplomatic and economic engagement campaign, most notably with the recent Nigeria Investment Forum held at the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York, in collaboration with J.P. Morgan and the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX).<br \/>\nThis forum, themed \u201cThe Nigeria Investment Agenda: Pathways for Growth &amp; Global Partnerships,\u201d was more than a ceremonial gathering; it marked a pivotal moment in Nigeria\u2019s economic narrative. It signalled the CBN\u2019s intent to reintroduce Nigeria to the global investment community as a credible, reform-oriented economy, and was a deliberate step in reshaping perceptions, fostering investor confidence, and reinforcing the country\u2019s financial credibility.<br \/>\npage 23<\/p>\n<p><strong>7. TRUMP\u2019S TRADE WAR. $90 BILLION LOSS LOOMS AS US TRAVEL CRISIS DEEPENS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Thisday page 8<br \/>\nThe paper stated that travel and tourism sector in the United States currently faces a significant downturn as mounting trade tensions under President Donald Trump\u2019s administration trigger global backlash, potentially cutting revenues by as much as $90 billion.<br \/>\nThe impact on the US economy is particularly coming from the nation\u2019s key allied nations like Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany. These countries, once major sources of inbound tourism, have responded to escalating tariffs and inflammatory rhetoric with reduced travel and widespread boycotts of American goods.<br \/>\nTourism from Canada has seen the biggest drop after Trump targeted the country directly through trade restrictions and indirectly by suggesting that the northern neighbour and close ally could become the \u201c51st state.\u201d<br \/>\nTraveler data from US Customs and Border Protection showed that visitors coming across the northern border were down 12.5 per cent in February year over year, and off 18 per cent for March, an NBC News report said.<br \/>\nVisitors from Western Europe, another traditional allied region, have also pulled back, according to the National Travel and Tourism Office, a division of the US Commerce Department.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8. STOCK MARKET APPRECIATES BY N342BN TO SUSTAIN POSITIVE MOMENTUM<br \/>\n<\/strong><br \/>\nThisday page 27<br \/>\nThe paper reported that the Nigerian stock market yesterday maintained its upward momentum as the overall capitalisation rose by N342 billion on investors\u2019 demand for\u00a0First Holdco which gained 5.9 per cent.<br \/>\nThe Nigerian Exchange Limited All Share Index (NGX ASI) gained by 544.06 basis points or 0.52 per cent to close at 105,283.67 basis points.\u00a0Accordingly, the NGX ASI in its month-to-date and year-to-date returns settled at -0.4 per cent and +2.3per per cent, respectively.<br \/>\nAlso, market capitalisation rose N342 billion to close at N66.159 trillion. Market breadth was positive, with 34 stocks advancing against 17 decliners. ABC Transports recorded the highest price gain of 9.86 per cent to close at N1.56, per share. VFD Group followed with a gain of 9.62 per cent to close at N17.10, while Learn Africa was up by 9.54 per cent to close at N3.56, per share.<br \/>\nRegency Alliance Insurance appreciated by 9.43 per cent to close at 58 kobo, while Africa Prudential rose by 8.63 per cent to close at N15.10, per share.<br \/>\nOn the other hand, Tripple Gee &amp; Company led the losers\u2019 chart by 10 per cent to close at N1.98, per share. MRS Oil Nigeria followed with a decline of 9.95 per cent to close at N157.50, while Abbey Mortgage Bank declined by 9.94 per cent to close at N8.79, per share.<br \/>\nJohn Holt depreciated by 9.68 per cent to close at N7.00, while Austin Laz &amp; Company declined by 9.57 per cent to close at N1.89, per share.<\/p>\n<p><strong>9. FG SPEAK ON $2.4B SHELL DIVESTMENT, INSISTS ON INCREASED OIL PRODUCTION<br \/>\n<\/strong><br \/>\nGuardian page 2<br \/>\nThe paper reported that the Federal Government yesterday in Abuja officially addressed the long-anticipated $2.4 billion divestment of Shell\u2019s onshore assets in Nigeria, stressing that local ownership must translate to increased oil production and economic value for the nation.<br \/>\nSpeaking at a meeting with the leadership of Renaissance Africa Energy Company, the new owners of Shell\u2019s onshore portfolio, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, described the divestment as a landmark development for Nigeria\u2019s energy sector.<br \/>\n\u201cA few months ago, many doubted the possibility of divestments in Nigeria\u2019s oil sector. But divestment is global best practice. Under President Bola Tinubu&#8217;s leadership, we cleared bottlenecks that had stalled these deals for years. Nigeria is now open for business,\u201d Lokpobiri said.<br \/>\n\u201cThe minister, addressing the Renaissance team led by the Chief Executive Officer, Tony Attah, emphasised that Nigerian firms must demonstrate capacity beyond acquisition.<br \/>\nLokpobiri said: \u201cShell and others had slowed investments before divestment. We expect to see production ramp up. Nigerians are watching, and we\u2019re ready to support you to achieve higher output.<\/p>\n<p><strong>10. FG RELEASE N50B TO OFFSET EARNED ALLOWANCE OF UNIVERSITY WORKERS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>GUARDIAN PAGE 4<br \/>\nThe paper reported that the Federal Government has announced the release of N50 billion to academic and non-academic staff unions of federal universities for settlement of earned allowances.<br \/>\nA statement yesterday by the Director of press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, said the development was another \u201ctestament to President Tinubu\u2019s unwavering commitment to fundamentally transform Nigeria\u2019s education sector.\u201d<br \/>\nEarned allowances are monetary benefits specifically for academic and non-academic staff in universities, stemming from the 2009 ASUU\/FGN agreement. They are designed to motivate and support staff and are a key component of industrial harmony in the country\u2019s university system.<\/p>\n<p><strong>11. FG TARGETS N350 BILLION FROM APRIL BOND AUCTION<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>GUARDIAN PAGE 15<br \/>\nThe paper stated that the Debt Management\u00a0Office (DMO) said it will re-open two Federal Government Bonds, FGB, valued at N350 billion for auction, at a subscription rate of N1,000 per unit.DMO disclosed this yesterday in a statement noting that the offers will be auctioned on April 28 and have their settlement date by April 30.DMO also said that it is authorised to receive applications for bonds in two tranches, with the first being N200 billion for a five-year savings bond due to mature in April 2029, at 19.3 per cent per annum.<br \/>\nAccording to the Office, the second tranche is N150 billion for a nine-year savings bond due to mature in May 2033, at an interest rate of 19.89 per cent per annum.<br \/>\nIt noted that transactions will be at N1,000 per unit, subject to a minimum subscription of N50,001,000 and in multiples of N1,000 thereafter.<br \/>\nDMO added: \u201cFor Re-openings of previously issued bonds, (where the coupon is already set), successful bidders will pay a price corresponding to the yield-to-maturity bid that clears the volume being auctioned, plus any accrued interest on the instrument\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>12. BACK ECONOMIC RECOMMENDATION WITH EMPIRICAL DATA,JIMOH IBRAHIM TELLS IMF<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>GUARDIAN PAGE 15<br \/>\nThe paper reported the senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District and Chairman\/Chief Executive Officer of Global Fleet Group, Jimoh Ibrahim, has tasked African economies, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the positive impact of data utilisation in driving Africa\u2019s development agenda.<br \/>\nSpeaking at the sidelines of the ongoing IMF\/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington DC, Ibrahim said that data is a critical element in economic and political development. He explained that data serves as the foundation on which new African economic development will be established.<br \/>\n\u201cWithout data, no one can effectively reduce crime or operate a government aimed at achieving poverty reduction. Population data and individual details suggest that citizens should have an identity passport to capture pertinent information about who they are and what they do,\u201d he said.<br \/>\nCurrency data, he said, indicates that central banks in Africa must understand how much currency exists within and outside the banking sector for effective planning.<br \/>\n\u201cElectoral data is necessary to comprehend the level of public participation and why others are not involved in the political process. Every sector of the economy requires data, and if action is not taken now, in five years, it will be impossible to run any government without data, Ibrahim posited,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n<p><strong>13. RISING DEBT; NIGERIA NEEDS GREATER EFFICIENCY IN GOVT SPENDING &#8211; IMF<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Vanguard page 4<br \/>\n\u2026Projects reduction in Debt-to-GDP to 4.5%<br \/>\nBy Babajide Komolafe &amp; Emma Ujah, Washington DC<br \/>\nThe International Monetary Fund IMF has called for greater efficiency in government spending in Nigeria to minimise the impact of increased global uncertainties on government borrowing and public debt.<br \/>\nThis call was given by Deputy Division Chief of the Development Macroeconomic Division in the IMF Research Department, Davide Furceri, at the press briefing on the April 2025 IMF Fiscal Monitor report released on the sidelines of the ongoing Spring Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank.<br \/>\nMeanwhile, the IMF in its April 2025 Fiscal Monitor report has projected a steady decline in Nigeria\u2019s debt-to-GDP to 45.4 per cent by 2030 from 52.9 per cent last year.<br \/>\nAmong other things, the report noted that rising uncertainty triggered by the ongoing tariff war can cause a large increase in public debts, which are already high and rising across the world<br \/>\nConsequently, the IMF projected that global public debt will increase by 2.8 percentage points this year and hence push debt levels above 95 per cent of global GDP.<\/p>\n<p><strong>14.CBN \u2018\u2019II STRENGTHEN PROCESSES TO SUSTAIN CONFIDENCE IN NIGERIA<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Vanguard page 4<br \/>\nThe paper reported that the Governor of, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr Olayemi Cardoso yesterday assured the global investment community that the apex bank will strengthen its processes to sustain gains from recent reforms and confidence in the economy peaking at a meeting at a meeting of a Nigerian government delegation led by the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun and international investors on the sidelines of the ongoing Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Washington DC,\u00a0Cardoso stated that the \u201cdifficult reforms that have been undertaken have begun to bear fruit,\u201d adding that\u00a0 \u201cthe numbers speak for themselves\u201d, indicating positive developments in the Nigerian economy.<\/p>\n<p><strong>15, DMO TO AUCTION N350BN FG BONDS AT N1,000\/ UNIT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Vanguard page 19, Nation page 7<br \/>\nThe paper reported that the Debt Management Office (DMO) said it will re-open two federal government bonds for auction, valued at N350 billion, for subscriptions of N1,000 per unit.DMO disclosed this today in a statement noting that the offers will be auctioned on April 28 and have their settlement date by April 30.DMO also said that it is authorised to receive applications for bonds in two tranches, with the first being N200 billion for a five-year savings bond due to mature in April 2029, at 19.3 per cent per annum.<br \/>\nAccording to the Office, the second tranche is N150 billion for a nine-year savings bond due to mature in May 2033, at an interest rate of 19.89 per cent per annum.<br \/>\nIt noted that transactions will be at N1,000 per unit, subject to a minimum subscription of N50,001,000 and in multiples of N1,000 thereafter.<br \/>\nDMO added: \u201cFor Re-openings of previously issued bonds, (where the coupon is already set), successful bidders will pay a price corresponding to the yield-to-maturity bid that clears the volume being auctioned, plus any accrued interest on the instrument\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>16. FG SET TO INAUGURATE PORTS, CUSTOMS EFFICIENCY COMMITTEE<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Vanguard page 19<\/p>\n<p>The paper reports that Determined to sustainably\u00a0improve efficiencies in port operations and service delivery, the Federal Government (FG) through the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) is set to inaugurate the Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee (PCEC).<br \/>\nThe inauguration which is scheduled to take place at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) headquarters in Lagos is to be chaired by the Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Ibrahim Kashim Shettima and comprises over 50 heads of Government agencies and private sector captains of industries cutting across the entire gamut of value chains that contribute significantly to Nigeria\u2019s economic growth.<\/p>\n<p><strong>17. YOUR REFORMS INFLICT HUNGER, POVERTY ON MASSES, NLC TELLS IMF DELEGATION<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Vanguard page 29<br \/>\nAccording to the paper report a few days ago, the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, received a two-man delegation from the International Monetary Fund, IMF, comprising the IMF Resident Representative for Nigeria, Christian H. Ebeke, and, Axel Schimmelpfennig from Washington, D.C.The purpose of the visit was to assess how Nigerian workers and the general populace are being affected by the current socioeconomic environment and the hardship resulting from government policies.<\/p>\n<p><strong>18. FG TASKS COUNCIL O DEEPEN SAFETY AWARENESS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Vanguard page 29<\/p>\n<p>The Federal\u00a0Government has charged the new executive of the National Industrial Safety Council of Nigeria, NISCN, to identify and coordinate the various advocacy platforms for effective management of Occupational Safety and Health, OSH, awareness creation in both public and private sectors by critical stakeholders.\u00a0\u00a0The Director of, Occupational Safety and Health Department of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mrs. Lauretta Adogu, gave the charge in her opening speech at the Annual General Meeting\/Executive Committee Election of the National Industrial Safety Council of Nigeria, NISCN).<\/p>\n<p><strong>19. NIGERIA \u2018S CLIMATE PLAN WILL UNLOCK $2.5BN IN CARBON CREDITS- TINUBU<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Leadership page 4<\/p>\n<p>The paper reported that President Bola Tinubu has urged world leaders to demonstrate unity, courage, and sustained commitment in addressing the worsening global climate crisis. Speaking on Wednesday during a high-level virtual dialogue on climate and the just transition, President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria\u2019s dedication to forging a paradigm shift in which climate action and economic growth advance together, not in opposition.<br \/>\n\u201cThe global climate emergency demands our collective, courageous, and sustained leadership. For Nigeria, the urgency of this moment is clear: we view climate action not as a cost to development, but as a strategic imperative,\u201d he stated.<br \/>\nAccording to a statement by Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the meeting, co-hosted by United Nations Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres and Brazilian President Luiz Inacia Lula da Silva, aimed to accelerate global climate ambition ahead of COP30, which Brazil will host.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>20. HOW NIGERIA\u2019S REFORMS ARE FARING BY EDUN, CARDOSO<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>NATION PAGE 5<\/p>\n<p>The paper stated that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, has said that strong financial backing should come in the form of innovative support instruments to reform-minded economies as they implement bold economic transformation agenda.<br \/>\nHe spoke at the G-24 Ministerial Meeting, on the sidelines of the IMF\/World Bank meetings.<br \/>\nHe urged the Bretton Woods institutions to extend stronger financial backing to reform-minded economies, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.<\/p>\n<p><strong>21. RESTORING HOPE TO THE ECONOMY WITH NAIRA FOR CRUDE POLICY<\/strong><br \/>\nNation page 2<\/p>\n<p>The paper reported that the Naira-for-Crude policy was designed to support the domestic consumption of petroleum products. According to the government\u2019s vision, the policy aimed to ensure a stable supply and optimise the use of local refining capacity. Additionally, it sought to eliminate the challenges associated with sourcing foreign exchange for petroleum imports. Proponents believed that the policy could enhance economic sovereignty and strengthen the local currency. Launched in October 2024, the policy was initially set to run for six months, with the final day scheduled for March 31.<br \/>\nHowever, just two weeks before the policy\u2019s expiration, a major beneficiary\u2014Dangote Refinery\u2014announced that it would cease selling petrol in naira to the domestic market. This shift was due to the refinery no longer receiving crude oil in naira, but instead being left to refine oil that it imported using dollars. In response, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited acted quickly, stating that it was in talks with Dangote and other local refiners. NNPC reaffirmed that the agreement was for an initial six-month period and subject to review.<\/p>\n<p><strong>22. IMF PROJECTS 45.4% DEBT TO GDP FOR NIGERIA BY 2030<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>LEADERSHIP PAGE 26<\/p>\n<p>The paper reports that the Nigeria\u2019s public debt burden is projected to decline steadily over the next six years, falling from 52.9 per cent of GDP in 2024 to 45.4 per cent by 2030, according to the International Monetary Fund(IMF) in its newly released Fiscal Monitor report. This is even as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said, there is a need for Nigeria to spend wisely after it made difficult reforms that would help it save more, stating that, there is an urgent need for fiscal authorities and governments to build buffers.<br \/>\nThe improvement, marks a gradual shift toward debt sustainability following years of pandemic-induced fiscal strain. According to the report, the decline in Nigeria\u2019s debt-to-GDP ratio in 2024, from 53.7 per cent the previous year, was driven by higher economic growth that boosted revenue collection.<br \/>\n\u201cIn 2024, low-income developing countries experienced an improvement in their primary deficit from 1.8 to 1.2 per cent of GDP. Revenue-to-GDP ratios increased because of higher economic growth, but this was partially offset by rising primary expenditures on average. Notable examples of such offsetting are Nigeria and Somalia,\u201d he said.<br \/>\nNigeria\u2019s overall fiscal deficit also improved in 2024, narrowing to -3.4 per cent of GDP from -4.2 per cent in 2023. However, the medium-term outlook points to fluctuating deficits, with projections showing a temporary widening to -4.5 per cent in both 2025 and 2026 before moderating again<\/p>\n<p>Illoh- Orage Adaeze Mary<br \/>\nPrincipal Information officer<br \/>\nPublic &amp;Press unit<br \/>\nApril\u00a024,\u00a02025<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>1. WALE EDUN REVEALS FORENSIC AUDIT OF NNPC ONGOING Thisday pages 1&amp; 32, Daily Trust 34 The paper stated that Nigeria\u2019s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, yesterday revealed that the forensic audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) was underway. Also, as the ripple effects of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1219,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[25,29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2324","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-catchup","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/finance.gov.ng\/ministry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2324","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/finance.gov.ng\/ministry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/finance.gov.ng\/ministry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finance.gov.ng\/ministry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finance.gov.ng\/ministry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2324"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/finance.gov.ng\/ministry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2324\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2326,"href":"https:\/\/finance.gov.ng\/ministry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2324\/revisions\/2326"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finance.gov.ng\/ministry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1219"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/finance.gov.ng\/ministry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2324"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finance.gov.ng\/ministry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2324"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finance.gov.ng\/ministry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2324"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}