The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has identified some negative impact on Nigerian Businesses in the year 2025, such as persistent power shortages, unclear economic policies, Limited foreign exchange availability. The NESG-Stanbic IBTC Business Confidence Monitor (BCM) recorded a rise in the Current Business Index to +11.50, up from +5.69 in January 2025, showcasing a sustained improvement in business activities.
The primary concern remains the elevated exchange rate of the local currency against major trading currencies, which, alongside rising import costs, continues to erode profitability and disrupt pricing strategies. Limited financing access persisted as a structural barrier, further restricting business growth throughout the month,” the report said partly.
Despite the challenges, the report said maintaining the positive momentum from the start of the year, Nigeria’s business environment showed stronger performance in February 2025.
However, most sectors experienced relative improvements compared to January, except Agriculture, which saw a slowdown.
Structural challenges in Nigeria’s business environment eased slightly, supporting the observed improvements.
The overall business climate strengthened, but a higher exchange rate remained a key driver of operational costs and consumer prices.
