By Peter Egwuatu 

HBM Nigeria Plc, formerly Lafarge Africa Plc, has declared a Profit After Tax (PAT) of N208billion representing a 57% growth for the first half of 2026, H1’26, against N132.677 billion in the corresponding period of last year, H1’25.

According to the result released on the Nigerian Exchange Limited, NGX, the company’s net sales grew by 31% in H1’26, driven by an 11% volume growth, enhanced operational stability and improvement in distribution efficiency.

Operating profit during the period grew by 51% to close at N291billion from N192.270 billion in H1’25 and was supported by sustained efficiency gains across the business while operating margin soared to 43% from 37% in H1’25.

In his remarks on the result, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, HBM Nigeria Plc, Lolu Alade-Akinyemi said: “Our H1 2026 performance demonstrates the continued strength of our business and the successful execution of our strategic priorities. These results reflect disciplined cost management, operational excellence, and prudent financial stewardship. We are focused on further improving supply reliability, advancing our cost leadership agenda, driving innovation, accelerating our sustainability initiatives, and maintaining the highest standards of health and safety.’ 

He further stated that HBM Nigeria will remain focused on building on a strong operational momentum by leveraging the industrial and technical expertise of Huaxin Building Materials Ltd to drive operational excellence and improve efficiency across the business. In light of this on HBM Nigeria’s business outlook for the rest of the year, Alade-Akinyemi continued: ”Nigeria’s demand outlook for cement remains positive, supported by ongoing infrastructure development, urbanization, and resilient activity across the construction sector, despite a dynamic global operating environment”.

By Elizabeth Adegbesan

Nigeria’s food inflation rate rose significantly by 2.79 percentage points to 20.31 percent in July from 17.52 percent in June, representing the fifth consecutive month’s rise since March 2026.

The 20 percent threshold in food inflation rate was last recorded in February 2021.

The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, disclosed this yesterday in its Consumer Price Index (CPI) Report for July 2026.

The report stated: “The Food inflation rate in July 2026 was 20.31 percent on a year-on-year basis and stood at 26.2 percent in the same month of the preceding year (July 2025).

“On a month-on-month basis, the Food inflation rate in July 2026 was 5.56 percent, up by 1.82 percent points from June 2026 (3.75 percent).”

The bureau noted that the increase in food inflation rate was due to change in the average prices crayfish, pepper (fresh), onions (fresh), carrots (fresh), rice, water yam, tomatoes (fresh), garri, plantain, beef, egg, guinea corn, ginger, plantain flour, etc.

The bureau added: “In July 2026, food inflation on a Year-on-Year basis was highest in Adamawa (51.36 percent), Katsina (30.84 percent), and Zamfara (30.65 percent), while Borno (-0.31 percent), Nasarawa (6.88 percent) and Kebbi (12.50 percent) recorded the slowest rise in food inflation on a Year-on-Year basis.

“On a Month-on-Month basis, however, July 2026 Food inflation was highest in Adamawa (17.02 percent), Lagos (13.48 percent) and Borno (13.26 percent), while Jigawa (-3.68 percent), Kebbi (-3.67%), and Bauchi (-1.85 percent) recorded the slowest rise in Food inflation on a Month-on-Month basis.”

However, the headline inflation rate fell for the second consecutive month by 0.48 percentage point to 15.43 percent in July from 15.91 percent in June driven primarily by a deceleration in core inflation to 14.97 percent in July from 15.92 percent in June.

Likewise, MoM inflation moderated to 1.57 percent  in July, compared with 1.66 percent in June.

This means that in July 2026, the rate of increase in the average price level was lower than the rate of increase in the average price level in June 2026.

By Rosemary Iwunze

emPLE Nigeria has strengthened its capital position following the publication of her name on the list of approved companies on the official website of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), indicating that the company has met the applicable recapitalisation requirements, thereby reinforcing its financial strength and capacity to deliver sustainable value to customers and stakeholders across its Life and General Insurance businesses.

This marks a significant milestone in emPLE’s growth journey, reinforcing the company’s financial capacity to meet its obligations, pursue strategic growth opportunities and remain a long-term partner to individuals, families and businesses. The company’s ability to deliver on this commitment was further demonstrated by the payment of over N7 billion in claims by emPLE Life Assurance Limited and emPLE General Insurance Limited in 2025, providing critical financial support to customers and beneficiaries and underscoring emPLE’s track record of standing by its customers when it matters most.

Speaking about the development, Olalekan Oyinlade, Managing Director, emPLE General Insurance Limited, said, “Meeting the recapitalisation requirement is important, but what matters most to us is what that strength enables us to do for our customers. Insurance is built on confidence. The confidence that when an unexpected event occurs, your insurer has both the capacity and the commitment to respond. Our strengthened capital position affirms that promise and gives us an even stronger foundation from which to serve our customers.”

He added, “The continued confidence of our shareholders and investors also reflects the strength of the business we are building, the quality of our leadership and the long-term opportunities we see in the Nigerian insurance market. We remain focused on building an institution that customers, partners and other stakeholders can rely on for many years to come.”

Commenting on the development, Jolaolu Fakoya, Managing Director, emPLE Life Assurance Limited, said, “Our business has always been centered on the people and the responsibility we carry when they entrust their families, businesses, assets and aspirations to us. A stronger capital position gives us greater capacity to fulfill that responsibility, deepen customer confidence and continue developing solutions that meet the real protection needs of Nigerians.”

He added, “As we look towards the next decade, our ambition goes beyond becoming a financially stronger insurer. We want to make insurance simpler, more accessible and more relevant to everyday Nigerians. That means investing in customer experience, embracing digital innovation, strengthening our partnerships and developing products that empower more people to protect what matters to them.”

For emPLE, this milestone highlights key fundamentals such as financial strength, the ability to pay claims, customer confidence and long-term trust on which insurance is built. With a stronger foundation in place, the company remains focused on building a people-centred insurance business that protects and empowers Nigerians today and into the future.

About emPLE

emPLE is a Nigerian insurance brand operating through emPLE General Insurance Limited and emPLE Life Assurance Limited, focused on delivering accessible protection solutions grounded in governance, operational excellence, and sustainability.