DMO advocates for inclusive investment opportunities with FGN securities
In a bid to demystify the world of government securities, the Debt Management Office (DMO) has made a clarion call to investors across the spectrum, emphasising that Federal Government (FGN) securities are not just for the financial elite but are tailored to cater to the diverse investment appetites of the Nigerian populace.
During a meticulously organised FGN Securities Issuance Awareness Programme in the bustling city of Kaduna, Patience Oniha, the Director-General of the DMO, conveyed a message of inclusivity and security in government investments.
Although Oniha could not grace the event in person, her presence was strongly felt through the words of the Team Leader of the Domestic Debt Unit, Mrs. Jumai Saidu-Ahmed, who stepped in to represent the DMO chief.
FG securities are a bastion of stability in an unpredictable market, carrying no default risk and enjoying the unwavering support of the Federal Government’s full faith and credit.
This assurance is a beacon for both the cautious saver and the ambitious investor, signaling a safe harbor for their financial ventures.
The awareness programme, which is the fruit of a strategic partnership between the DMO and CSL Stockbrokers Limited, the Federal Government’s designated stockbroking entity, serves as a platform to educate potential investors about the benefits and processes involved in investing in FGN securities.
“The programme is designed to create more awareness about the immense benefits of investing in FG securities, “ she said.
She listed the existing FGN securities as FGN Bond, FGN Savings Bond, the Sukuk Bond, the Green Bond and Treasury Bills.
She, particularly, urged retail investors to take advantage of the FGN savings bond, which had a minimum subscription of N5,000.
“It is easily accessible to retail investors and attracts a guaranteed quarterly coupon payment,” she said.
She said that the DMO was a Federal Government agency saddled with the responsibility of managing the country’s public debt portfolio.
“In discharging that responsibility, the DMO also has the responsibility of issuing FGN securities which offer good investments for Nigerians.
“By investing in these securities, citizens are also contributing to nation-building,” she said.
According to Mr Abiodun Fagbulu, the Chief Executive Officer, CSL Stockbrokers Limited, FGN securities help to finance deficits in the federal budget.
Fagbulu, who was represented by Mr Richard Akinmoladun, Head, Property Trading, CSL, said that FGN securities also helped in developing the domestic financial market.
“They are listed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited and FMDQ Securities Exchange Limited, and can be traded at any time.
“They also promote financial inclusion, and attract foreign investment into the domestic financial markets,” he said.
According to him, FGN securities are viable collateral that can be used to access loans from banks.
“They also help in the diversification of investment port to reduce risk and achieve growth in value,” he said.
It was gathered that the awareness programme was innaugurated in Lagos in March, 2022.
It had also been held in Enugu, Ibadan, Kano, Yola, Umuahia, Gombe, Osogbo, Port Harcourt, Benin, Uyo, Asaba, Maiduguri, Abeokuta, and Makurdi.
