Nigeria’s central bank concerned about rising non-performing loans in banks

08 Apr 2016
Financial Nigeria

Summary

NPLs in the banking system rose sharply by 78 percent year-on-year to N649.63 billion in 2015.

Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele

The Central Bank of Nigeria has advised banks to retain more earnings to mitigate the risk of non-performing loans which the apex has observed are now rising in the banking system.

According to the CBN’s Director of Banking Supervision, Tokunbo Martins, the CBN has issued a circular to banks to mitigate against the risk of high NPLs to their balance sheets.

“We all know that there have been an economic downturn and things are hard at the moment,” Martins said at end of the 326th Bankers’ Committee meeting held in Lagos on Thursday. “If people are finding it difficult to get paid their salaries and are not able to pay their loans, it is not unexpected. If corporates are not doing well as they used to do and they are not able to pay their loans, it is not something unusual to see the NPLs rising. The average figure of five per cent NPL is not out of this world.”

Nigerian banks, which have a total loan portfolio of about N13 trillion, have been reporting higher levels of NPLs in their 2015 results, citing weak economic conditions precipitated by the slump in oil prices. NPLs in the banking system rose sharply by 78 percent year-on-year to N649.63 billion in 2015, according to a CBN report.

Ratings agencies, including Fitch and Moody’s, have downgraded the credit ratings of several large Nigerian banks because of rising NPLs.

Yet, Martins said Nigerian banks are suitably capitalized to withstand the economic shocks because the CBN has consistently increased their capital adequacy ratios.

“The banks have adequate capital to absorb the shocks that we are experiencing today,” Martins said. “But even beyond absorbing the risks, it is also important that they continue to support the real sector. The CBN has issued guidelines that in view of the risks that we face right now, the banks need to be proactive and prudent.”


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