The Debt Management Office (DMO) announced on Thursday a reopening of three federal government savings bonds worth N450 billion for subscription by auction.

Announcing the offer in Abuja, the DMO said the bonds were offered at N1,000 per unit subject to a minimum subscription of N50 million and in multiples of N1,000 after that.

The first offer, as announced by the DMO, is an April 2029 FGN bond valued at N150 billion at an interest rate of 19.30 per cent per annum (five-year reopening).

The second offer is a February 2031 FGN bond worth N150 billion at a 19.50 per cent interest rate per annum (seven-year reopening).

The May 2033 FGN bond is worth N150 billion and has an interest rate of 19.89 per cent per annum (nine-year reopening).

According to the DMO, the auction date is June 14, while the settlement date is June 26. It said interest was payable semi-annually, while bullet repayment (principal sum) would be made on maturity.

“For reopenings of previously issued bonds, successful bidders will pay a price corresponding to the yield-to-maturity bid that clears the volume being auctioned, plus any accrued interest on the instrument,” it said.

The debt office said that FGN bonds were backed by the full faith and credit of the federal government and charged upon Nigeria’s general assets.

“They qualify as securities in which trustees can invest under the Trustees Investment Act. They qualify as government securities within the meaning of the Company Income Tax Act and Personal Income Tax Act for tax exemption for pension funds, amongst other investors.

“They are listed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited and FMDQ ODC Securities Exchange,” the DMO said.

It also said that FGN bonds qualified as liquid assets for banks to calculate liquidity ratios.

The N450 billion FGN bond offer constitutes the local component of the government borrowing plan to bridge the N9 trillion deficit in the 2024 budget.

(NAN)