Business News
CBN Plans to Recapitalize the Banking Sector Soon – Emefiele
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele, says there are plans to carry out a recapitalization exercise for deposit money banks in the country.
Emefiele who made this known while unveiling the Bank’s five-year policy direction in Abuja on Monday, 24th June, 2019 noted that the banks’ capital base which was last recapitalised in 2004 “has been weakened”.
Bank recapitalization is the act of changing the capital structure of a bank to provide more equity funds to meet the bank’s long-term financing needs to ensure the security of shareholders fund.
In July 2004, the CBN announced the recapitalization of the banking sector from N2 billion to N25 billion with effect from December 31, 2004.
This led to the reduction in the number of banks to 24 from 89.He commended his predecessor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo for raising the capital base from N2 billion to N25 billion in 2004 adding now is the time to recapitalise.
“You will all agree with me that it was governor Soludo in 2004 that did the last recapitalization moving the capitalization from N2 billion to N25 billion.
“I must commend those efforts because it resulted in positioning Nigerian banks not only in Africa but also being among the top banks in the world in terms of capitalization and also helped to increase and strengthen the banks’ capacity to take on large ticket transactions and those are some of the things we badly need today.
“If you relate it N25 billion in 2004 exchange rate which was about N100/$ N25 billion is almost about $200 million today if you relate N25 billion at 360, you can see that it is substantially lower than $75 million so what we are trying to say is that the capitalization has weakened quite substantially, and there is a need for us to say that is time to recapitalize Nigerian banks
again.
“It is a policy trust, which will be discussed, at the Committee of Governors meeting and of course, the framework for recapitalization of Nigerian banks will be unfolded for the whole world to know.
“We will continue to improve our on-site and off-site supervision of all financial institutions while leveraging on data analytics and our in-house experts across different sectors to improve our ability to identify potential risks to the financial system as well as risks to individual banks.
“In the next five years, we intend to pursue a programme of recapitalising the Nigerian banking industry so as to position Nigerian banks among the top 500 in the world.“
“Banks will, therefore, be required to maintain a high level of capital as well as liquid assets in order to reduce the impact of an economic crisis on the financial system. With a rise in digital payment and cybersecurity threats”, Emefiele stated.
On the power sector, the Governor said, “our intervention in the power sector is continuing, we had done some interventions; the N213 billion which was meant to settle some of those obligations and also the N700 billion. I must confess that we are not too happy with the way the whole power sector arrangement is unfolding, but in the course of time, provide our advice as to the best ways to really tame this power issue.
“But I want to say that yes, part of the challenges that businesses face is power but what I am saying is that we should try to harness the innate strengths in us not to allow not accessing power to derail us from our own shared objectives that we must work hard, create jobs and improve supply and stabilize prices in Nigeria.
“Don’t get me wrong, we would continue to intervene in that sector but it should not be an excuse to let down our guards to result in a situation where there will be unemployment and hopelessness in our country”, the Governor stressed.
On whether the policy would lead to mergers and acquisition, the CIBN boss said there was no need to preempt the CBN or banks but that the system will in itself unfold when the guidelines are released.
It is the view of other economic experts, that the present N25 billion recapitalisation introduced in 2004 “does not have the same value as what obtains in 2019 coupled with the differentials in exchange rate over a 15-year period”.
Going forward, the Apex Bank is expected in next five years to leverage on Emefiele’s achievements which had convinced the Buhari Administration to renew his tenure despite opposition from some quarters.
And in readiness for the tasks ahead, the governor disclosed that he has held consultations with some banks and business leaders in the Private sector.
“We intend to sustain the pace of those consultations as this would act as barometer for measuring the progress being made in the implementation of our policies. Our assessment of the outcome of that deliberation shows that with concerted efforts, the challenges facing the country are easily surmountable”, he posited.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Chinese company to create employment opportunities for over 50,000 indigenes of the state.
Ooni signed the MoU with China Overseas Energy Development Technology Ltd on Tuesday in Ile-Ife under Community and Private Partnership arrangement.
He said that the company would invest in agriculture, green energy, gold, lithium and other mineral resources in Ile-Ife and the state at large.
According to him, the Chinese company will also focus on the development of agriculture; mechanised farming and the production of cocoa in large quantity.
The traditional ruler stated that the MoU would help the indigenes of the state to enjoy unprecedented investment flow, while assuring that the company would not disappoint in the area of funds.
“The partnership we are signing today with China Overseas Technology Development Company Ltd is going to create over 50,000 employment opportunities to Osun indigenes.
“The company would first invest in agriculture and would set up a cocoa processing plant in Ife-ife, which will serve as its agricultural hub.
“The company will farm on over 20,000 hectares of land, generate green energy using solar which is starting from this palace.
“This palace will be powered by solar 100 per cent within the next 30 to 60 days when it is completed,” Ooni stated.
Continuing, Oba Ogunwusi said the future of Nigeria oil and gas lies in lithium, noting that soonest lithium would be the only means to power battery, electric cars among others.
He added that partnership with the Chinese company would be Community and Private Partnership driven which would help to grow the economy at the community level.
Ooni, who emphasised that the investment would be on a large scale both for Osun and the Federal Government, called for the support of all and sundry.
“In Dubai alone, the Chinese company has investment more than 10 billion U.S. dollars. In South Sudan right now, they are investing over 4 billion dollars. They are now ready to invest double of such investment in Nigeria,” he stated.
Speaking at the occasion, Gov. Ademola Adeleke lauded Ooni for the initiative and the management of the Chinese company for agreeing to invest in the state.
Adeleke restated his commitment to promote culture, tourism and entertainment in the state to improve the wellbeing of residents.
In his remarks, Mr Zhang Xiaolin, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, China Oversea Energy Development Ltd, congratulated Ooni on the celebration of Olojo 2023.
Xiaolin also applauded the traditional ruler for partnering with the company and pledged that the company would adhere to the agreement terms.
The Director-General (DG), Kaduna Bureau of Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (KADBUSA), Joseph Ike, said, Kaduna State Government has reiterated its commitment to enhance the capability of KADBUSA.
The DG stated this on Tuesday at the Capacity-Building Training for operatives of KADBUSA in Kaduna.
He said the training which is in alignment with Gov.
Uba Sani’s administration’s agenda, emphasizes Human Capital Development and Citizens’ Engagement.“It is also important in diligently carrying out the important mandate of the Bureau.
“This collaborative initiative between KADBUSA, the Kaduna State Ministry of Health, and the United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime ( UNODC), underscores the commitment to address the pressing issue of substance abuse within the state.
He said by enhancing the capabilities of KADBUSA’s operations staff, the programme aims to make a tangible difference in the lives of those affected by drug abuse and addiction.
“This two-day, Capacity-Building Training is a significant step towards a healthier, more secured, and prosperous Kaduna State,” he said.
On his part, Project Officer, UNODC, Dr. Akanidomo Ibanga, called for development of policies that will address the prevalence of drugs abuse in the country.
He said people with drug disorder who come in contact with the criminal justice system, should be treated rather than sent to prison.
According to Dr. Ibanga, 14.3 per cent of Nigerians have used drugs within the past years, “that is 14.4 million people. Now, that is three times more than the global average. We have a serious drugs problem on our hands.
“The Nigerian situation is peculiar because it has the drugs problem but doesn’t have enough treatment facilities to handle the issues of people that have drugs disorder.
“This is even a 2018 data. From that time till date, the number of people using drugs have probably increased.
“From projections from WHO and UNODC, there would be 40 per cent increase in drug use by 2030 in Africa, and Nigeria, being the most populous country in Africa, will have most of the number.
“So, we are saying that, we are sitting on s time bomb, because come 2030, we are talking about 20 per cent prevalence, that is, one in every five people you meet on the street.
“There are certain things we can do to avert this. UNODC has evolved certain responses and developed certain models, which can be run by both National and state governments,” Dr. Ibanga added.
The naira on Tuesday appreciated against the dollar as it exchanged at N745.19 at the Investors and Exporters window.
The local currency gained by 1.38 per cent compared to the N755.27 it exchanged for the dollar on Sept. 29.
The open indicative rate closed at N767.24 to the dollar on Tuesday.
A spot exchange rate of N819.
90 to the dollar was the highest rate recorded within the day’s trading before it settled at N745. 19The naira sold for as low as N700 to the dollar within the day’s trading.
A total of 81.12 million dollars was traded at the investors and exporters window on Tuesday.
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