Business
President Tinubu’s reform initiative will grow economy- CIBN
The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN)has commended the reform initiatives of President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, saying it will help grow the economy.
The President of CIBN, Ken Opara, said this during the16th Annual Banking and Finance Conference of the institute on Tuesday in Abuja.
Opara expressed hope that the reforms if followed through would not only unlock the full potentials of our economy but place the nation on a recovery trajectory to drive the prosperity of the continent.
The theme of the Conference is “Nigeria’s Economic Growth and Empowerment: The Role of the Financial Services Industry”.
According to Opara, the event is the largest gathering of banking and finance professionals in Africa.
`’It is a platform for stakeholders in the banking and finance ecosystem to come together to drive conversation on topical issues critical to the growth and stability of the country.
With a view to providing insightful solutions that will impact the entire system and the economy at large. According to the President, theme is very apt as it resonates with the context of our current realities in the country.
It amplifies the fact that agenda setting for the country must be a continuous exercise, especially now that we have a new government in place.
The topic also resonates with the current administration’s reforms agenda. He said the CIBN would continue to be a vanguard for capacity and skills development in the financial services industry. He also urged for more collaboration of critical stakeholders to drive the sector. The Chairman, Senate Committee on Capital Market, Sen. Osita Izunaso, pledged the continued support of the National Assembly to the CIBN and the country's financial sector. Izunaso, called for collaboration of critical stakeholders in the sector to help resolve the challenges before us which according to him is enormous. He also urged companies enjoying Nigeria patronage to ensure to be listed in the country's capital market. The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Bagudu decried the low contribution of the sector to the GDP and challenged the financial sector to make wfforts to move from 3.6 to about nine per cent growth contribution to the GDP. Bagudu said to achieving this was possible as the financial sector was indeed well placed to contribute to economic growth. The minister then reiterated the present administration's commitment to ensure its renewed hope agenda for Nigerians was achieved.
The reforms are intended among others to give the private sector all the necessary confidence to mobilise and invest more resources in the economy.
We appreciate the contribution of the financial sector but expect more.
We appreciate that the challenges we are experiencing are those that other countries have experienced and surpassed.
We are in no doubt that the vision and boldness of our leaders, the renewed Hope Agenda will be pursued with vigor and Nigeria will have positive remarkable growth in the years ahead,"he said. The Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN), Folashodun Shonubi, said when we look at our economic contribution, we are fighting below our weight.
Can we promise them that instead of 3.6 per cent, we will be contributing a lot more than that. And we will sit down and find what the drivers are that we can influence and do.
I dont want to put a number infront of us but it is what I will like to see at the end of the conference.
I don’t think we contribute a lot of ourselves , we as bankers need to be more conscious, a bit more active on advocacies that are actionable,”Shonubi said.
Also, the Chairman, Body of Banks CEO, Mr Ebenezer Onyeagwu, also urged for a deliberate effort by stakeholders towards growing the country’s economy.
On balance of payment, he said we are importing more than we are exporting and to change the narrative we need to grow what we consumes and export what we consume.
We have enormous potential, the biggest potential we have is in our market. Our market is depleted by the number of people we have.
The time has come for our growth to focus on effectively realising the huge potential of our endowment.
“It is imperative therefore for us to encourage growth in our endeavours. Banks also have to be deliberate, determined to execute the mandate of growth in our economy,”Onyeagwu said.
The Director-General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Segun Ajayi-Kadir, has described the rift between Dangote Refinery and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) as unfortunate, and a needless attack on private enterprise.
He noted that the strike had far-reaching implications on residents and businesses, as factories suffered cuts in production schedules, with a hike in transportation fare.
Fielding questions from reporters at MAN House, yesterday, while announcing the association’s coming Annual General Meeting (AGM), he revealed that imported products, which were not suffering disruption, were likely to fill the gap and if the rift rears its head again, it would affect daily workers and people in the logistics value chain that rely on the products made in those factories.
Meanwhile, PENGASSAN has said it decided to suspend its two-day strike to protect the jobs of its members in Dangote Refinery.The President, Festus Osifo, explained that the union was unsatisfied with the posting of about 800 sacked staff to Dangote’s subsidiaries to prevent job loss.
Business
FG Spends $2.86bn on External Debts Servicing – CBN
By August 2025, debt service climbed to $302.3m, which was $22.35m or 8 per cent higher than the $279.95m of August 2024.
The Federal Government spent a total of $2.86 billion to service external debt in the first eight months of 2025.
This was disclosed in the international payment data from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The figure shows that external debts accounted for 69.1 percent of the country’s total foreign payments of $4.14 billion in the period.
In the same eight-month stretch of 2024, debt service stood at $3.06 billion, representing 70.7 percent of total foreign payments of $4.33 billion.
The figures show that while the absolute value of debt service fell by $198m between 2024 and 2025.
The share of debt in overall foreign payments has remained persistently high, with about seven out of every ten dollars leaving the country used to meet debt obligations.
The monthly breakdown highlights the volatility of Nigeria’s repayment schedule:
In January 2025, $540.67m was spent compared with $560.52m in January 2024, a fall of $19.85m or 3.5 per cent.
February 2025 recorded $276.73m, slightly below the $283.22m in February 2024, down by $6.49m or 2.3 per cent.March 2025 surged to $632.36m against $276.17m in March 2024, an increase of $356.19m or 129 per cent.
In April 2025, payments reached $557.79m, which was $342.59m or 159 per cent higher than the $215.20m of April 2024.
May 2025 stood at $230.92m, sharply lower than the $854.37m in May 2024, a drop of $623.45m or 73 per cent.
June 2025 rose to $143.39m compared with $50.82m in June 2024, a rise of $92.57m or 182 per cent.
July 2025 fell to $179.95m, down by $362.55m or 66.8 per cent from $542.5m in July 2024.
By August 2025, debt service climbed to $302.3m, which was $22.35m or 8 per cent higher than the $279.95m of August 2024.
Business
ECOWAS Bank okays $308.63m for Nigeria, Guinea
The bank gave the approval during its 93rd Ordinary Session convened at the it’s headquarters in Lomé, the Togolese capital.
ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), has approved $308.631 million for the implementation of various projects in Taraba State, Nigeria, and a $40 million credit line for Vista Bank, Guinea, to bolster trade-related activities, including import-export operations and commercial value chains.
The bank gave the approval during its 93rd Ordinary Session convened at the it’s headquarters in Lomé, the Togolese capital.
President and Chairman of Board of Directors of the bank, Dr. George Agyekum Donkor, said the newly approved financing would advance strategic public and private sector initiatives, aligned with EBID’s mandate to promote sustainable development throughout the Economic Community of West African States by strengthening regional integration and fostering economic diversification.
The approved facilities include the $98.18 for a 50 MW Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant in Taraba State, Nigeria, , which will augment the supply of reliable, clean electricity to spur inclusive economic development, alleviate energy poverty, and improve environmental sustainability.
Anticipated benefits include direct electricity access for roughly 390,000 individuals, enhanced power reliability for at least 200 public institutions, the creation of 400 direct jobs during construction, and approximately 50 permanent operational roles.
The bank noted that an estimated 1,200–1,500 indirect jobs were expected to emerge across supply chains, maintenance services,and small businesses.
Another facility is the $79.219 million modern rice processing complex and 10,000-hectare irrigated rice production unit also in Taraba State.
Also included is the $91.232 million facility for Taraba State Industrial Park, an initiative conceived to accelerate local industrialisation and economic diversification through the establishment of a modern, integrated industrial ecosystem.
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