E-Financial
MPC Worries over Banks’ Bad Loans, Forex Exposure
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)-led Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has expressed worry over the concentration and high non-performing loans (NPLs) in banks.
The committee decried the persistent risks in the financial system, especially the high foreign exchange (Forex) exposure of banks, particularly to entities that do not earn forex.
Edward Lametek, CBN deputy governor, and a member of the MPC, disclosed this in a statement on the MPC meeting, posted on the CBN’s website.
He reiterated that the concentration and high NPLs were also of concern to the apex bank.
He however, said payment of contractor debts by the Federal Government would go a long way in reducing the pressures in banking, and that improved surveillance and deployment of sanctions against regulatory infractions would engender good governance and stability.
“This is important because financial intermediation, especially provision of credit, is highly dependent on the state of health of financial institutions. At end-February 2019, the stock of deposit money banks’ total credit declined by about 2.5 per cent, year-on-year. This trend needs to be halted in the face of the prevailing sluggish performance of economic activity. In this context, the role of other financial institutions (OFIs) in the credit arena becomes important,” he said.
He explained that these institutions (micro-finance banks, finance companies, mortgage banks, development finance institutions, among others) are expected to play the very important role of closing certain gaps in the financial system, including crucially, financial inclusion.
such, they need to be encouraged to remain mission-focused.
“Overall, the balance of risks continues to be tilted against economic growth. In my January 2019 statement, I emphasised the need to support growth given the weak outlook for economic activity based on indications from the oil sector (especially the volatility in crude prices and production cuts) and sluggish consumption demand. Of course, I noted that more clarity over the next two months (February and March) would be helpful in deciding the direction of monetary policy beyond third quarter of 2019,” he said.
“Clearly, the indications then have been justified by subsequent developments particularly as shown by the CIEA, PMIs, and the outlook for the oil sector. My conviction about the merit of easing the policy stance around this time has been further strengthened by the increased opportunity for doing so. First, all the measures of inflation continued to trend downwards in February with an outlook for achieving single-digit core inflation by August. This means that the real challenge remains food inflation, which may be more effectively addressed through actions aimed at boosting production and easing distribution bottlenecks,” he said.
Lametek explained the CBN’s interventions in agriculture would continue to be relevant; domestic yields had declined with the one year treasury bills rate at about 13 per cent; the monetary policy stance needed to be in sync, especially as inflow of portfolio investments remained high.
He added that the relatively good level of external reserves and growing confidence in the economy offer some guarantee of adequate supply of forex to the market from both the CBN and autonomous sources.
He said a growth-supporting monetary policy orientation can only complement policies in other sectors of the economy to deliver broad based economic prosperity. The structural impediments to growth and job creation, particularly poor infrastructure, low (public) revenue effort and insecurity have to be dealt with and also maintaining a focus on the diversification of the economy.
Flutterwave, an African payments technology company, said yesterday it has received approval from Ghana’s Central Bank to provide inward remittance services.
This development, according to the business, reinforces Flutterwave’s aim to simplify payments across Africa. In announcing the development, Flutterwave stated that Ghana’s financial sector is fast growing, with high mobile phone penetration and a vibrant mobile money ecosystem.
Remarkably, it continued, 60% of foreign exchange is received through mobile money platforms, demonstrating the critical role they play in the financial lives of Ghanaians.
Beyond mobile money, areas such as insurtech, lend-tech, and buy now, pay later are expanding rapidly, creating a vibrant and diverse fintech environment, according to the business.
Furthermore, Flutterwave stated that the Bank of Ghana’s supportive regulatory framework and the Ghana Digital Agenda have created an attractive market for fintech innovation.
According to Flutterwave, the latest approval is consistent with these trends, guaranteeing that Ghanaians can benefit from rapid, secure, and cost-effective remittance services.
Olugbenga Agboola, founder and CEO of Flutterwave, commented on the milestone: “Remittances play a vital role in the Ghanaian economy, and our goal is to make the process as seamless as possible for Ghanaians in the diaspora looking to send money home.”
Oluwabankole Falade, chief regulatory and government affairs officer at Flutterwave, added: “We are grateful to the Bank of Ghana for their support and look forward to expanding our services in the country.”
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has issued a public alert on 58 companies allegedly running illegal Ponzi schemes in Nigeria, warning citizens against investing in them.
In a statement on Tuesday, Dele Oyewale, spokesperson of the anti-graft agency, said the 58 Ponzi operators falsely pose as investment firms, defrauding unsuspecting Nigerians of their money.
Oyewale noted that none of the companies are registered with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) or the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
“The two regulators, in separate correspondences with the EFCC, denied that they are registered with them,” the statement reads.
“The commission has charged many of the companies to court, with five of them convicted, another five pleaded guilty but awaiting review of facts while the rest are pending arraignment.”
The companies listed include Wales Kingdom Capital, Bethseida Group of Companies, AQM Capital Limited, Titan Multibusiness Investment Limited, Brickwall Global Investment Limited, Farmforte Limited & Agro Partnership Tech, Green Eagles Agricbusiness Solution Limited, Richfield Multiconcepts Limited, Forte Asset Management Limited, (Biss Networks Nigeria Limited, S Mobile Netzone Limited, Pristine Mobile Network), Letsfarm Integrated Services, Bara Finance & Investment Limited, Vicampro Farms Limited, Brooks Network Limited, Gas Station Supply Services Limited, Brass & Books Limited, (Annexation Biz Concept & Maitanbuwal Global Venturescrowdyvest Limited,) and Crowdyvest Limited.
Others are Jadek Agro Connect Limited, Adeeva Capital Limited, Oxford International Group and Oxford Gold Integrated, Skapomah Global Limited, MBA Trading & Capital Investment Limited, TRJ Company Limited, Farm4Me Agriculture Limited, Quintessential Investment Company, Adeprinz Global Enterprises, Rockstar Establishment Limited, SU.Global Investment, Citi Trust Funding PLC, Farm Buddy, Eatrich 369 Farms & Food, Globertrot Farmsponsors Nigeria Limited, Farm Sponsors Limited, Cititrust Credit Limited, Farmfunded Agroservices Limited, Adamakin Investment & Works Limited.
The rest include Cititrust Holding PLC, Green Eagles Agribusiness Solutions Limited, Chinmark Homes & Shelters Limited, Emerald Farms & Consultant Limited, Ovaioza Farm Produce Storage Limited, Farm 360 & Agriculture Company, Requid Technologies Limited, West Agro Agriculture & Food Processing Limited, NISL Ventures Limited & Estate of Laolu Martins, XY Connect Investment Limited, River Branch Unique Investment Limited, Hallmark Capital Limited, CJC Markets Limited, Crowd One Investment, Farmkart Foods Limited, KD Likemind Stakeholders Limited, Holibiz Finance Limited, Ifeanyi Okpe Oil & Gas Services, Servapps Nigeria Limited, Barrick Gold Mining Company and 360 Agric Partners Limited.
The commission reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring fraudulent investment schemes and protecting Nigerians from financial exploitation.
House of Representatives has passed a resolution calling for the suspension of the increase in Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transaction charges and the stoppage of free ATM withdrawals for customers from other banks in Nigeria.
This followed a motion of urgent public importance by Marcus Onobun.
Onobun, drew the attention of the House to a circular by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to that effect.
Lawmakers were worried that this would impose additional financial burdens on Nigerians.
The House asked the CBN to suspend the policy pending proper engagement with the relevant committees on banking, finance, and financial institutions.
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