The Nigerian equities market maintained a positive trend in September 2026, with the NGX All-Share Index rising 2.87% to close at 251,211.67 points. Market capitalisation grew by N5.37 trillion, ending the month at N163.10 trillion.

The rally was largely driven by a strong performance in the Oil & Gas sector, which surged 18.86%, and broader gains in banking and commodity-linked stocks. This positive sentiment was bolstered by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s decision to cut interest rates to 23%, prompting investors to rotate capital into equities.

Significant growth was noted in stocks such as UPDCREIT, which led the market, alongside Seplat Energy and NGX Group, both of which benefited from positive operational updates and robust financial reporting. Despite the overall market gains, sectors such as Insurance and Consumer Goods faced downward pressure, reflecting mixed investor appetite across the exchange.

Nigerian stocks listed on the FTSE Russell Frontier Market Index saw significant activity this week, driven by renewed investor interest following Nigeria’s formal return to the index on September 21. Among the 31 constituents, 16 recorded gains, with NAHCO and Fidelity Bank leading the surge. Fidelity Bank also emerged as the most traded stock, recording 893.69 million shares valued at N18.30 billion. Analysts attribute the positive performance in the financial services sector to the recent 350 basis point MPR cut to 23 percent, which is expected to support credit growth and valuations. While foreign interest is anticipated to rise, market experts caution that the full impact of the index reclassification will unfold gradually as institutional investors strategically deploy capital. Total turnover for the index constituents reached 2.21 billion shares worth N120.31 billion, accounting for nearly half of the total market volume for the week.

The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) maintained its bullish momentum for a tenth consecutive session on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, as investors responded to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) decision to cut the Monetary Policy Rate by 350 basis points to 23 percent. The All-Share Index rose 0.23 percent to 251,191.02 points, bringing the year-to-date return to 61.42 percent. Trading volume surged by nearly 90 percent, reaching 1.59 billion shares, with strong gains in major financial services stocks including Zenith Bank, GTCO, Access Holdings, and First HoldCo. While market breadth was positive with 43 advancers against 20 decliners, performance among FTSE Russell constituents remained mixed.

Nigeria’s listed airport ground handlers, SAHCO and NAHCO, are facing profitability headwinds despite significant revenue growth over the past five years. While combined revenue reached N58.36 billion in 2026, rising operational costs, particularly the cost of sales, have squeezed margins. SAHCO reported a sharp decline in profit after tax—dropping by more than half—as its cost of sales surged 63%. In contrast, NAHCO demonstrated better operational efficiency, growing its profit after tax by 22.2% to N10.85 billion. Industry challenges remain, with high trade receivables and heavy capital investment straining cash flow across both firms.

Retail investors, driven largely by mobile-first platforms like Bamboo, executed roughly 25% of all stock trades on the Nigerian Exchange between January and July 2026. First Securities Brokers Limited led the market with a 13.5% weighted share, while Lambeth Capital, Bamboo’s partner, dominated equity deal volume with 3.8 million transactions. The data highlights a structural shift where retail investors are becoming a major force in domestic market activity.

Separately, Zeenab Foods has raised N25 billion via a Series 3 Commercial Paper issuance, priced to support working capital for its agro-processing operations. Meanwhile, NAHCO reported a 21.8% rise in profit before tax to N14.37 billion for H1 2026, driven by operational efficiencies. In corporate activity, Clinoscope Services acquired 40 million shares of Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals for N312 million, signaling renewed institutional confidence. Additionally, listed companies collectively earned over N200 billion in finance income during the first half of the year, bolstered by high interest rates. Finally, aggressive share accumulation in First HoldCo has made Femi Otedola Africa’s fastest-growing billionaire this year, with his net worth increasing by 46.1% to $1.9 billion.

Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc has reported a strong performance for the first half of 2026, with net profit rising by 22.2% to N10.85 billion. The company’s revenue for the period grew to N35.36 billion, up from N32.33 billion in the first half of 2025. This growth was driven by diversified income streams across aircraft handling, cargo operations, and support for non-oil exports. Management attributed the results to strategic investments in automation, warehousing, and ground handling equipment, which have bolstered operational efficiency and strengthened the outlook for continued shareholder returns.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that no fire occurred at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. The smoke observed by passengers was caused by the automatic discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system. FAAN confirmed that flight and terminal operations have since normalized, though a technical investigation into the cause of the system’s activation is ongoing.

The Nigerian equities market faced a mid-week downturn on Wednesday as profit-taking across the banking, consumer goods, and industrial sectors wiped 648 billion naira from total market capitalization. The NGX All-Share Index fell 0.41% to 246,980.17 points, reflecting a broad-based decline with 45 losers outpacing 23 gainers. Despite the overall negative sentiment, the insurance sector remained resilient, with stocks like Lasaco Assurance, NEM Insurance, and SUNU Assurances posting significant gains. Notable laggards included NREIT, which hit a 52-week low, alongside declines in Dangote Sugar, Oando, and major banking names. Trading activity remained high, with total volume rising by 12.11%.

The Nigerian equities market closed lower on Monday, July 27, as the All-Share Index declined by 0.05% to 247,238.74 points. This shift erased approximately N76.56 billion in market capitalisation, bringing it to N159.51 trillion. The downturn was primarily driven by profit-taking across insurance, consumer goods, and industrial sectors, while banking stocks bucked the trend to close as the day’s sole sectoral gainer. Despite the decline, market activity intensified, with a 73.6% surge in total value traded to N57.20 billion. Aradel Holdings led value contributions, accounting for 48.2% of the total turnover. Market breadth was negative, with 32 stocks declining against 28 advancers.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is set to modernize cargo operations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, with the deployment of non-intrusive scanning technology. The project, which involves the installation of CX180 180DH pallet scanners at the SAHCO and NAHCO warehouses, is currently awaiting final regulatory approval.

The initiative aims to replace manual physical inspections with automated scanning, significantly reducing cargo processing times and enhancing border security. Customs officers have completed specialized training in image analysis, and infrastructure upgrades—including the installation of CCTV and the deployment of traffic management officers—are planned to ensure seamless operations once the system goes live. This move is part of the NCS’s broader strategy to digitize trade processes and improve logistics efficiency at Nigeria’s major cargo hubs.

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, has stated that the regulator will maintain heightened supervision of the banking sector despite the successful conclusion of the recent recapitalisation exercise.

Speaking at the BusinessDay 14th Annual CEO Forum, Cardoso noted that while the industry raised between N4 trillion and N5 trillion in fresh capital to build resilience against economic shocks, continuous oversight remains essential. He emphasized that the stronger capital base is intended to support eventual increased lending to the private sector once inflation and interest rates moderate. Cardoso also warned banks against indiscriminate lending, urging them to prioritize sophisticated risk management and proper analysis, especially when navigating complex sectors like oil and gas. The CBN plans to collaborate with financial institutions to enhance their internal risk assessment capabilities.

The Nigerian equities market recorded a significant downturn on Monday, with the All-Share Index falling 0.84% to 241,749.11 points. Market capitalization shrunk by approximately N1.32 trillion, dropping to N155.13 trillion as profit-taking triggered widespread sell pressure across 46 stocks.

The industrial goods sector was the hardest hit, led by a 9.99% decline in BUA Cement. Other significant laggards included PZ Cussons, which fell 10%, along with notable losses in major banking stocks like FCMB Group, FBN Holdings, Zenith Bank, and GTCO. Despite the negative price movement, market activity increased, with trade volume rising 18.66% and total value traded jumping 33.39% to N22.28 billion. The market’s year-to-date return currently stands at 55.35%, with analysts attributing the sell-off to investor portfolio rebalancing.

The Nigerian equities market recorded a significant decline on Monday, with investors shedding N1.32 trillion in market capitalization as profit-taking swept through the industrial goods, banking, and consumer goods sectors. The NGX All-Share Index fell by 0.84% to close at 241,749.11 points, bringing the market capitalization to N155.13 trillion.

The session was marked by intense sell pressure, with 46 stocks recording losses against 19 gainers. BUA Cement led the industrial retreat with a 9.99% decline, while PZ Cussons emerged as the day’s biggest loser, dropping 10%. Banking heavyweights, including FCMB and First HoldCo, also faced notable declines. Despite the negative price movement, market activity intensified, with trade volume rising by 18.66% and total value surging by 14.81% to N22.28 billion. Year-to-date returns now stand at 55.35%.