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Nigeria’s external reserves’ inflows dip in February despite $1bn capital inflow

Ehime ALEX
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Nigeria’s external reserves’ inflows dip in February despite $1bn capital inflow

INFLOWS into Nigeria’s external reserves were higher in January despite the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) receipt of over $1 billion capital inflow in February.

The apex bank reportedly disclosed that foreign portfolio inflows exceeded $1 billion in February, driven by interest rate hikes.

At the end of its two-day monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting on February 27, the CBN raised the benchmark interest rate by 400 basis points to 22.75 per cent, The ICIR reported.

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According to the CBN spokesperson, Hakama Sidi-Ali, foreign investor demand for Nigerian assets and money sent home by citizens living abroad surged in February as portfolio investor asset purchases exceeded $1 billion, bringing the total receipts so far this year to at least $2.3 billion, compared with $3.9 billion for the whole of 2023, Bloomberg reported on Friday, March 8.

Sidi-Ali said overseas remittances rose more than fourfold to $1.3 billion in February from a month earlier, “driven by increased investor interest in short-term sovereign debt following the recent adjustment to benchmark interest rates.”

However, checks by The ICIR show that Nigeria’s external reserves improved more in January than in February, as the external reserves rose by $441.24 million in January compared to 364.94 million in February.

Data from the CBN shows that at the beginning of the year, Nigeria’s total gross external reserves stood at $32.91 billion and rose to $33.35 billion as of January 30, representing a $441.24 million increase.

In February, the gross external reserves at $33.35 billion at the beginning of the month rose to $33.72 billion at the end of the month, February 29, and represented a $364.94 million increase.

Nigeria’s crude oil production declined in January; however, the increase in external reserves was still higher in January compared to February, according to data from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

It showed that the country’s crude oil production dropped to 1.149 million barrels per day (bpd) in January from 1.422 million bpd in December 2023; the increase in external reserves was higher in January than in February.

The external reserves, which include assets denominated in a foreign currency and held by the CBN central bank, are derived mainly from the proceeds of crude oil production and sales and complemented by diaspora remittances, including foreign direct investment (FDI), foreign portfolio investments (FPI), and other capital inflow.

The gross external reserves, which stood at $35.094 billion as of May 30, 2023, had declined by $1.374 billion to $33.72 billion as of February 29.

Since assuming office on May 29, 2023, President Bola Tinubu has initiated reforms impacting the country’s economy.

Notably, the reform on the unification of foreign exchange has weakened the Naira significantly against the dollar, from about N461 at the beginning of his administration to N1,627.40 per dollar as of yesterday, March 8.

Analysts believe the reform has eroded investors’ confidence as the government takes measures to attract investors back into the economy and support the Naira, which has lost more than 225 per cent of its value since May last year.

The measures include relaxing foreign exchange controls, easing rules on international money transfers and reducing the gap between the central bank’s policy rate and yields on the short-dated paper it sells at auctions.

“All the different measures we have taken to boost reserves and create more liquidity in the markets have started to pay off,” the CBN governor, Olayemi Cardoso, stated.

Meanwhile, since the apex bank’s February MPC meeting, the Naira has lost 2.81 per cent to N1,627.40 per dollar in official trading on Friday, March 8.

The ICIR reports that managing the external reserves is one of the core mandates of the CBN as stipulated in Section 2 (c) of the CBN Act of 2007.

The Act vested the maintenance and management of Nigeria’s external reserves on the CBN to safeguard the Naira’s international value, maintain confidence in its monetary and exchange rate policies, and provide confidence to the international community that the country can meet its external obligations.

‘Don’t be like Buhari,’ Gumi asks Tinubu to negotiate release of kaduna students

Mustapha USMAN
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‘Don’t be like Buhari,’ Gumi asks Tinubu to negotiate release of kaduna students

CONTROVERSIAL Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi has appealed to the federal government to dialogue with the bandits who abducted schoolchildren in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna state as a way of rescuing the students.

Gumi, in a statement on Monday, March 11, also urged Tinubu not to repeat the mistake made by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who refused to dialogue with bandits during the many abductions of Nigerians

The ICIR, on Thursday, March 7, reported how the assailants invaded the schools and reportedly kidnapped over 100 children, alongside some staff of the school.

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Abdullahi, who escaped the abduction along with others, said 25 of the pupils from the primary section had returned, leaving the number of abducted to 287.

“At GSS Kuriga, 187 students are presently missing. In the primary school, 125 pupils were initially missing, but 25 of them escaped and retired home,” Abdullahi told the governor.

While narrating how the assailants invaded the school,  Abdullahi said a member of the Kaduna State Vigilante Service (KADVS) was killed by the bandits during the attack.

Meanwhile, with the Kaduna government refusing to engage in dialogue with the bandits to release the schoolchildren and refuting claims that it had hired a private negotiator to facilitate their release, Gumi condemned the decision, calling on Tinubu to allow him to lead the dialogue.

He also recalled how negotiations were used to rescue victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train kidnap of March 28, 2022, and urged the government to allow the method to be used again.

Gumi said, “The government’s stand of no negotiation with the bandits is an unfortunate position. My advice is that the government should dialogue with the bandits not only for these Kuriga school children abductions but all the cases.

“Also, the government should use the same approach it used in releasing passengers that were abducted on Abuja – Kaduna train in 2022 to release the Kuriga school children and others.

“I am ready to lead a holistic dialogue between the government and bandits. It is a religious duty for me to do so for peace. I hope the present government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will listen by dialoguing with the bandits because the past administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari refused to do”

Previously, Gumi has acted as a negotiator between the Nigerian government and terrorists whose hideouts he had visited in different states.

He had also called for dialogue with the terrorists on several occasions, saying that terrorists had taken up arms due to government neglect, injustice and in self-defence.

Gumi predicted that the country would be peaceful if terrorists were granted free education and basic amenities. He also warned against using the military approach in addressing insecurity in the North, recommending that amnesty be granted to the offenders.

A day after bandits were declared terrorists in Nigeria, Gumi had described it as an exercise in futility as it would have no practical value.

“The decision by the government will not have any practical value because even before the declaration, they had been fought and treated as terrorists. So is just a nomenclature which I believe will not change the dynamics on ground,” he said.

African Games: Nigeria wins nine gold in weightlifting 

Dotun OMISAKIN
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African Games: Nigeria wins nine gold in weightlifting 

NIGERIA has won nine gold medals at the Weightlifting event in the on-going 2023 African Games in Ghana.

The country’s weightlifters continued in their dominance as they hauled all the nine gold medals on display on Monday, March 11 in each category of snatch, clean and jerk and total.

The nine gold were won among Nigeria’s Adijat Olarinoye, Rafiatu Lawal and Edidiong Umoafia at the University of Ghana, Legon.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Adijat Olarinoye, who competed in the 55kg class, won three gold medals in all three categories.

She won the gold medal in snatch with an 80kg lift, in clean and jerk with a 105kg lift and in total with a 185 kg lift.

Also Rufiatu Lawal won all the three gold medals in the 59kg class.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games gold winner won in the snatch 85kg lift, in clean and jerk worth 105kg lift and in total with 190kg lift.

In the male category, Edidiong Umoafia who made his debut in 67kg class amassed all the gold medals in that category.

He won in snatch with 135kg lift, in clean and jerk with 165kg and a total of 300kg.

Since the commencement of weightlifting, Team Nigeria Weightlifting has won a total of 14 medals in Weightlifting events of the 13th Africa Games.

It can be recalled that in the 2019 Africa Games, Nigeria Weightlifters won a total of 50 medals comprising 16 gold, 16 silver and 18 bronze.

Nigeria weightliers Ruth Ayodele and Joy Eze will be competing in 64kg and 71 kg women categories respectively today, Tuesday March 12.

The President, Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, Ibrahim Abdul thanked the team for their commitment at the 2023 Africa Games Weightlifting event.

“The commitment and sacrifices of the players are paying off and also the organisational disposition of the federation. Nigeria is a dominant force in weightlifting and that is what we are targeting in Accra,” he said.

UK bans migrant health workers, others, from bringing family members

Mustapha USMAN
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UK bans migrant health workers, others, from bringing family members

THE United Kingdom (UK) has announced a robust approach to significantly reduce net migration by banning care workers from bringing family members.

With this move, the UK hopes to radically cut net migration and tackle visa abuse while acknowledging clear evidence of care workers being offered visas under false pretences, often travelling thousands of miles for nonexistent jobs or to be paid far below the minimum wage, thereby exploiting them and undercutting British workers

According to a statement by the UK Home Office on Monday, March 11, the care workers are being restricted from bringing dependants after a disproportionate 120,000 dependants accompanied 100,000 workers on the route last year.  

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The UK also emphasised that care providers in England acting as sponsors will need to register with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the industry regulator for Health and Social Care, adding that the measure is aimed at combatting worker exploitation and abuse within the sector.

It’s also noted that the decision was part of a broader package being swiftly implemented, resulting in 300,000 eligible individuals unable to come to the UK last year.

Home Secretary, James Cleverly, was quoted to have said, “Care workers make an incredible contribution to our society, taking care of our loved ones in times of need. But we cannot justify inaction in the face of clear abuse, manipulation of our immigration system and unsustainable migration numbers.

“It is neither right nor fair to allow this unacceptable situation to continue. We promised the British people action, and we will not rest until we have delivered on our commitment to bring numbers down substantially. Our plan is robust but fair – protecting British workers while ensuring the very best international talent can work and study here, to add value to our society and grow the economy

“These changes come into force as the government is set to lay rules in Parliament later this week (14 March) to prevent the continued undercutting of British workers, which includes raising the salary threshold that a skilled worker must meet in order to get a visa and removing the 20% ‘going-rate’ discount for migrant workers in shortage occupations,” he said.

On his part, Minister for Social Care, Helen Whately, underscored the invaluable contribution of international care workers in looking after our loved ones.

She, however, stressed that relying solely on international recruitment and increased immigration is not a sustainable solution for our social care needs, noting that these regulations offer a more ethical and enduring approach.

“We are boosting our homegrown workforce by reforming social care careers. These include the first ever national career path for care workers and a new care qualification. Our reforms will grow the domestic workforce and build on our success over the last year that saw more people working in social care, fewer vacancies and lower staff turnover,” the statement quoted her saying.

Senate sets up committee to probe N30trn loan obtained by Buhari

Bankole ABE
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Senate sets up committee to probe N30trn loan obtained by Buhari

THE Senate has set up an ad-hoc committee to probe the N30 trillion Ways and Means loans of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN obtained under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The probe committee, inaugurated on Monday, March 11, was also tasked with looking into the Anchor Borrowers’ Program that Buhari’s administration ran.

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The president of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, stated during the occasion on Monday in Abuja that the probe panel is important since it is tasked with looking into the methods and means, including the Anchor Borrowers’ Program.

The committee was established in response to a report by joint committees on national planning, appropriations, banking, insurance, and other financial institutions, finance, and agriculture, produced following discussions with the federal government’s economic management team.

The ICIR reported that despite sanctioning the approval, the Senate on Tuesday, February 20, resolved to probe the N30 trillion Ways and Means loan obtained by the administration of Buhari from (CBN).

The upper chamber has, as a result, constituted an ad hoc committee to interrogate disbursement and usage of the loan.

The Senate President, Akpabio, announced the resolution after most senators supported it through voice votes.

Chairman of the joint committee, Abdullahi Abubakar, who presented the report, explained that the violation of the ways and means of debt caused the current economic hardship.

Abubakar, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senator representing Kebbi North, advised the Federal Government to settle the N30 trillion debt.

The lawmaker also urged the CBN to ensure repayment of various intervention programmes and loans to reduce the money supply.

Ways and Means is a loan facility through which the Central Bank of Nigeria finances the Federal Government’s budget shortfalls.

During the plenary, lawmakers blamed the leadership of the immediate past Senate, led by Ahmad Lawan, for approving such tremendous advances by the federal government.

In his defence, the immediate past Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said his leadership approved N23 trillion for the ways and means, not N30 trillion.

He, however, urged his colleagues to investigate the approval and disbursement of funds under the ways and means.

The ICIR reported at different times how the CBN violated lending to the Federal Government by exceeding the threshold stipulated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

There were concerns over failed oversight by the senators who sanctioned the approval without following what the Fiscal Responsibility Act said.

Ways and Means is a loan facility through which the CBN finances the government’s budget shortfalls.

 

Czech Republic gets 2nd win at Miss World

Itoro ETUKUDO
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Czech Republic gets 2nd win at Miss World

A MODEL and contestant at the just concluded Miss World beauty pageant Competition from Czech Republic, Krystyna Pyszkova has won the title, becoming Miss World 2024.

This is the second time Czech Republic is clinching the crown after their first win in 2006 by Tatana Kucharova.

Miss World 2022, Karolina Bielawska passed on the crown to the new winner at the finale of the competition held at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India, on Saturday, March 9.

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Miss World 2022, Karolina Bielawska from Poland crowning her successor, Krystyna Pyszkova
Miss World 2022, Karolina Bielawska from Poland crowning her successor, Krystyna Pyszkova

Despite making it to the top 40 cut, Nigeria’s representative, Ada Eme did not proceed to the next level of the competition.

The new Miss World also earned the title of Miss Europe during the top 4 selection alongside other continental winners including, Yasmin Azaytoun from Lebanon who emerged 1st runner up and Miss Asia and Oceania, Ache Abrahams from Trinidad and Tobago as Miss America and Lesogo Chbo of Botswana as Miss Africa.

Speaking on her victory, Krystyna Pyszkova expressed gratitude stating that it is a dream come true for her.

“Beng crowned Miss World is a dream come true. I am deeply honored to represent my country and the values of ‘beauty with a purpose’ on a global platform,” she said.

Pyszkova’s ‘Beauty With A Purpose’ project centered on quality education for children. After helping over 300 children with education in different countries including Tanzania, she hopes to use the Miss World platform to expand her advocacy.

The event which had contestants from 112 countries of the world was hosted by Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar and Miss World 2013 Megan Young.

IWMF accepts applications for Elizabeth Newffer fellowship

Itoro ETUKUDO
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IWMF accepts applications for Elizabeth Newffer fellowship

THE International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF)  is accepting applications for the Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship, named for the 1998 IWMF Courage in Journalism Award winner and Boston Globe correspondent.

The Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship provides academic and professional opportunities to advance the reporting skills of women and nonbinary journalists who focus on human rights and social justice.

The offer is open to print, broadcast and online women journalists who focus on human rights and social justice. Selected journalists are to spend six months in the programme with access to MIT’s Center for International Studies and media outlets like The Boston and The New York Times.

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Applicants must have a minimum of three years experience in journalism and must also have excellent written and verbal English skills in order to fully participate in and benefit from the programme.

Participants will be provided with stipend and other expenses, including airfare, housing and health insurance. Deadline for application is April 21. Interested persons can apply here.

AIICO, AXA Mansard, Coronation’s contract obligation surge to N308.52bn

Ehime ALEX
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AIICO, AXA Mansard, Coronation’s contract obligation surge to N308.52bn

AIICO Insurance, AXA Mansard Insurance, and Coronation Insurance’s contract liabilities rose by 20.61 per cent to N308.52 billion in 2023 as insurers’ poor attitude towards claims payment remains challenging.

In the unaudited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023, the three companies’ insurance contract liabilities rose by 20.61 per cent to N308.52 billion from N255.79 billion as of December 31, 2022.

The reports show that AXA Mansard reported the highest percentage as its insurance contract liabilities rose by 36.16 per cent to N75.03 billion in 2023 from N55.099 billion in 2022.

Coronation Insurance followed with an increase of 26.76 per cent to N16.25 billion from N12.82 billion, while AIICO Insurance posted a 15.64 per cent rise to N217.24 billion from N187.87 billion.

Insurance contract liabilities represent the estimated risk an insurance company (insurer) accepts from the insured (policyholder). It is the liabilities imposed on the insurer by the contract terms.

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Analysis of the reports by The ICIR indicates that the companies’ insurance contract liabilities of N308.52 represent 78.53 per cent of their overall liabilities of N392.89 billion.

AIICO Insurance’s overall liabilities stood at N269.61 billion, AXA Mansard, N97.16 and Coronation Insurance, N26.12 billion.

Further analysis reveals that of the gross premium (revenue) of N130.05 billion earned in 2023, only N97.78 billion was used in claims settlement.

Coronation Insurance posted a 34.73 per cent increase in gross income to N24.49 billion in 2023, AIICO Insurance 32.19 per cent to N72.42 billion, and AXA Mansard 11.72 per cent to N33.14 billion.

On the total claims settlement, Coronation Insurance reported the highest percentage of 73.34 per cent to N5.78 billion in 2023, followed by AXA Mansard’s 26.33 per cent rise to N39.696 billion, and AIICO Insurance trailed behind with a 12 per cent to N52.30 billion.

Bordered by the issue of unpaid claims, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), the apex regulator, in November last year, mandated the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) to advertise the list of unpaid claims by all insurance companies in prominent Nigerian newspapers.

The issue of claim payment in Nigeria goes back to history before the establishment of the NAICOM in the 1990s, the director of Relics Insurance Brokers Limited, Abu-uwesu Yakubu, told The ICIR.

Since the establishment of NAICOM, claims payment records have improved over the years, and he pointed out that the insurance industry needs a better record of claims settlement in this era, which was misleading even though there is still room for improvement.

“Claims payment, in simple terms, means putting the insured where he was before the loss or damage to the insured item occurred. In other words, it could be called indemnity, achieved through cash payment, repair, replacement or reinstatement,” Yakubu explained.

According to him, the insuring public should be enlightened to take appropriate actions and patronise insurance broking firms for their insurance needs instead of doing so directly.

He said, “Insuring through company marketers has many shortcomings, including that most of them need to be professionally trained before being thrown to the field with humungous production targets to meet.

“More so, such a marketer may have left the company between the time you took a policy and the time the claim occurred, placing you in a disadvantageous position to pursue the claim for payment.”

Also, rather than go through the insurance companies’ marketers, he said policyholders are advised to deal with the brokers – professionals who know the best ways of getting the insured the best-fit policies that would not raise issues at claims.

He noted that it was the broker’s duty to pursue the insured’s claim to a logical conclusion as an intermediary and agent to the insured.

Yakubu, however, urged policyholders to report underwriting companies that default in claim payment to NAICOM and NIA, as both bodies have the responsibility to query any company that defaults on contract liabilities.

He also urged policyholders to report the company’s managing director to the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), which can query the managing director of the defaulting company in a personal capacity.

“If a broker is involved, report him/her and the broking company he/she represents to the Nigeria Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB).”

A management consultant in the insurance sector, Ekerete Gam-Ikon, had said that with the implementation of the “No Premium, No Cover” regime and recapitalisation, most insurance companies in Nigeria had more money to address their needs, including giving priority attention to policyholders that reported claims.

The most recent statistics from the NAICOM shows that the Nigerian insurance sector gross premium rose to N551.4 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2023, as against N369.2 billion at the same time in 2022.

The total premium income comprised income generated from life and non-life insurance businesses. While non-life insurance includes motor insurance, fire, general accident, marine oil and gas, and other insurance coverage, life insurance covers individual, group life, and annuity.

Nigeria’s improved trade volume fails to impact on currency problems

Kehinde OGUNYALE
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Nigeria’s improved trade volume fails to impact on currency problems

Despite Nigeria increasing its total trade value to N71.89 trillion in 2023, the trade balance– which is slightly surplus is not enough to solve Nigeria’s foreign exchange problems, amid high demand for dollars findings have shown.

The trade balance is determined by the value of imports and exports in the country. When a country’s value of exports in a country is higher than imports, it trades surplus. However, when the value of imports is higher than exports, it is regarded as a trade deficit. 

Studies have shown that more exports translate to increasing production, revenue generation, economic growth, currency appreciation, and job creation. On the other hand, importation can affect the gross Domestic Product GDP, inflation, and other economic indicators of a country.

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According to the National Bureau of Statistics data, the total value of imports amounted to ₦35.92 trillion while the total value of exports was recorded at ₦35.96 trillion. With both values being almost corresponding, the country’s economy might struggle to grow in the coming months.

Since the assumption of President Bola Tinubu in May 2023, there have been various concerns depleting the government’s attitude regarding foreign trade. 

During his inaugural address, he said, “Our government shall review all their complaints about multiple taxation and various anti-investment inhibitions. We shall ensure that investors and foreign businesses repatriate their hard-earned dividends and profits home.”

However, several policies enacted by the president have stiffened transactions within Nigeria’s economy. The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, said, last year October, that Nigeria must increase production, and lessen importation to solve its currency problems.

Quartlay breakdown Import Export Total trade
Q1 N6.47 trillion N6.49 trillion N12.96 trillion
Q2 N6.30 trillion N6.44 trillion N12.74 trillion
Q3 N9.04 trillion N10.35 trillion N19.39 trillion
Q4 N14.11 trillion N12.69 trillion N26.80 trillion
Total N35.92 trillion N35.97 trillion N71.89 trillion

Quarterly growth in Foreign trade 

The total trade is 37.21 percent higher than the N52.39 trillion record at the end of the year in 2022. In 2022, the import value stood at N25.59 trillion, and total exports were recorded at N26. 80 trillion.

In the first quarter of 2023, Nigeria’s total trade stood at N12.05 trillion of which total exports stood at N6.49 trillion and total imports amounted to N6.49 trillion resulting in a surplus in the trade balance. 

Nigeria’s total trade stood at N12.74 trillion for the second quarter of the year, with total exports of N6.44 trillion and total imports amounting to N6.30 trillion. The trade balance was surplus. 

For the third and fourth quarters, the total trade stood at N19.39 trillion and N26.80 trillion respectively.

Summary of Nigeria import and export 2019-2023
Summary of Nigeria import and export 2019-2023

This means that N9.04 trillion was generated from imports while N10.35 was generated from exports in Q3 resulting in a surplus trade balance. Meanwhile, the trade balance for Q4 was in deficit with an import of N14.11 trillion and an export of N12.69 trillion. 

Some of the countries Nigeria traded with are China, Netherlands, Spain, France, Singapore, India, Belgium, and the United States of America.

The ICIR has reported that Nigeria generated $3.91 billion as foreign direct investment in 2023, but this was only attracted by 11 of the country’s 36 states.

Sporting Lagos 4-1 victory pushes Remo stars out of NPFL top 4 bracket 

Dotun OMISAKIN
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0
Sporting Lagos 4-1 victory pushes Remo stars out of NPFL top 4 bracket 

SPORTING Lagos walloped Remo Stars 4-1 in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) matchday 24 fixtures played on Sunday March 10 at the Johnson Mobolaji stadium, Onikan, Lagos.

The match described as South West derby lived below expectations as Remo stars did not perform at their best, giving the host the opportunity to dominate possessions.

Five minutes after the kickoff, Sporting Lagos took the lead through Junior Lokosa who converted from the spot kick, igniting wild jubilation from fans.

The visitors displayed confidence and attempted to return the goal in the 15 minutes but Sporting Lagos goalkeeper rushed out to curl away the ball from on rushing Remo stars player Dayo Ojo.

The aborted attempt was Remo Star deployed more attacks after completing string of pass from the midfielders, mounting pressure on their host defence.

Remo stars also came near to register a goal in the 18th minute as their player Ossy Martin outran Sporting Lagos goalkeeper and then slotted in the ball but the host’s captain ran to save the ball slowly rolling into the nest.

Remo stars who were on the rampage to restore parity had more of their players on the attack but the tactics did not favor them as Sporting Lagos had a counter attack in the 27nd minutes when Paschal Onyekachi doubled the lead after benefitting a long cross which left him past the last defender and goalkeeper.

Eleven minutes later, Remo star persistence paved way as they halved the deficit after Sporting Lagos defender Salawudeen tapped the ball into his net a low cross from flank.

The match ended 2-1 in favour of Sporting Lagos at the break.

The resumption was the humiliation of Remo stars as Sporting Lagos players Philip Kehinde and Philip Odubia in the 54th and 60th minutes secured the victory of their club.

The result dropped Remo Stars from the top 4 range to the fifth position with 39 points as Enyimba 1-0 victory against Doma United pushed them from the fifth to the second position with 42 points.

Meanwhile, Lobi Star forced an away draw against Abia Warriors to maintain at the top of the table with 43 points.

It was an unfavourable result for Plateau United who lost 1-3 against Sunshine Stars as they dropped to the third position with 41 points while Enugu Rangers’ goalless draw againt Kwara United kept them in the third position with 41 points.

 

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