Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria
(CBN), says the financial regulator will direct banks to increase their capital
base.
Cardoso made this known at the 58th annual bankers’ dinner
and grand finale of the 60th anniversary of the Chartered Institute of Bankers
of Nigeria (CIBN).
He said Nigerian banks are not liquid enough to service the
$1 trillion economy President Bola Tinubu is aiming for in the near future.
“Esteemed guests, considering the policy imperatives and the
projected economic growth, it is crucial for us to evaluate the adequacy of our
banking industry to serve the envisioned larger economy,” Cardoso said.
“It is not just about the stability of the financial system
in the present moment, as we have already established that the current
assessment shows stability.
“However, we need to ask ourselves: Will Nigerian banks have
sufficient capital relative to the financial system’s needs in servicing a $1.0
trillion economy in the near future? In my opinion, the answer is “No!” unless
we take action.
“Therefore, we must make difficult decisions regarding
capital adequacy. As a first step, we will be directing banks to increase their
capital.”
In 2023, some Nigerian banks have been raising funds to
increase their capital base and also requesting approval from shareholders for
fundraising.
Access Bank secured $300 million from its parent company,
Access Holdings, in April.
In March, Wema Bank informed its shareholders of its plan to
issue bonds worth N25 billion.
Also, FCMB announced plans to borrow N20.68 billion and
Fidelity Bank sought shareholders’ approval to trade 13.2 billion shares for
capital through a public offer and rights issue.
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