E-Financial
Standard Chartered $200m Facility with Afreximbank for AU COVID-19 Vaccination Acquisition Programme
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and Standard Chartered have announced an agreement for Standard Chartered to provide USD 200m of not-for-profit funding towards Afreximbank’s structured framework to help finance the acquisition of COVID-19 vaccines for African nations.
The collaboration between Standard Chartered and Afreximbank will help ensure that 55 countries across Africa have access to COVID-19 vaccines. This facility will play a part in ensuring that Africa can achieve its COVID-19 strategy, which targets vaccinating a minimum of 60 per cent of Africa’s population.
This facility is part of the Advance Procurement Commitment (APC) framework structured by Afreximbank in collaboration with the African Vaccines Acquisition Task Team (AVATT), under which Afreximbank provided a guarantee of USD 2bn to vaccine manufacturers to secure access to COVID-19 vaccines for African countries.
Over the last year, Afreximbank has also launched a number of facilities to support its Member Countries. These include the Pandemic Trade Impact Mitigation facility (PATIMFA), under which the Bank has disbursed over USD 6.5bn to mitigate and manage the financial, economic and health impacts of the pandemic.
In addition, Afreximbank put in place a USD 1.5bn Collaborative Covid-19 Pandemic Response Facility (COPREFA), working with partners to support African economies during the pandemic.
The funding is part of the Standard Chartered’s USD 1bn financing commitment that was launched in March 2020, which aims to tackle the pandemic by financing vital equipment such as personal protective equipment, ventilators and now vaccines. To date, USD 900m of this have been allocated and over USD 700m disbursed to clients.
Prof. Benedict Oramah, President of Afreximbank, said: “We are delighted that Standard Chartered has committed USD 200m to support the ongoing work of Afreximbank and AVATT in helping African countries secure access to COVID-19 vaccines.
Having an effective financing solution for vaccine procurement in place for Africa is of paramount importance to ensure we are not left further behind in the ongoing race. This agreement demonstrates the unwavering commitment of Afreximbank and Standard Chartered to helping Africa overcome the challenges of the pandemic.”
Simon Cooper, Chief Executive, Corporate, Commercial, and Institutional Banking at Standard Chartered, said: “The speed of vaccine rollout is not only a healthcare issue but is increasingly a differentiator of near-term, post pandemic economic recovery for African nations. We are acutely aware that Africa accounts for under 2 per cent of vaccines administered worldwide; we welcome Afreximbank’s efforts to tackle this and we want to use our USD 1bn facility to help.”
Using financing provided by Standard Chartered, Afreximbank is helping to ensure Africa’s access to COVID-19 vaccines by ensuring payment to identified vaccine manufacturers that have vaccine orders placed by African nations through the African Medical Supplies Platform.
Independent revenue remittance by the Government-Owned Enterprises (GOEs) moved from ₦200 billion in 2013 to over ₦2 trillion in 2024, Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) confirmed the updated figure, on Wednesday.
FRC attributed the surge to collaboration between it and House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Speaking at 2025 National Conference on Public Accounts and Fiscal Governance, held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, Executive Chairman of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), Victor Muruako, Esq however notes with concern persistent challenge despite achievements. He cited weak enforcement mechanisms, limited public awareness, and the slow domestication of the FRA at the subnational level as according to him, only 26 out of 36 states have adopted similar laws.
He advocated for the establishment of a National Fiscal Governance Framework to improve coordination and strengthen audit and oversight structures.
Muruako further underscored the need for strict adherence to constitutional provisions, particularly regarding public debt and borrowing, which remain under the exclusive legislative list. He urged federal and sub-national actors to align their fiscal policies under the renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu’s administration.
Muruako called on state and local government operators across Nigeria to adopt and fully implement fiscal responsibility laws in line with the federal framework.
The event organized by House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC), brought together key financial stakeholders to discuss strategies for promoting transparency and sustainable development in Nigeria’s public financial management.
He lauded administration’s of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu commitment to strengthening financial policies aimed at driving economic growth. He emphasized that states and local governments must “key into” the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) to ensure fiscal discipline and alignment with federal financial standards.
Highlighting a critical legislative gap, Muruako noted that the FRA 2007 currently outlines 54 offenses but does not prescribe punishments for offenders. He called for the urgent amendment of the Act to include stronger penalties, thereby enhancing compliance and service delivery.
“The Act must be amended speedily for efficiency and to deliver real value to Nigerians,” he stressed.
He congratulated the PAC, led by Hon. Bamidele Salam, for hosting the conference, which he described as a pivotal step toward strengthening accountability in the public sector.
He advocated for the establishment of a National Fiscal Governance Framework to improve coordination and strengthen audit and oversight structures.
Muruako further underscored the need for strict adherence to constitutional provisions, particularly regarding public debt and borrowing, which remain under the Exclusive Legislative List. He urged federal and subnational actors to align their fiscal policies under the Renewed Hope agenda of President Tinubu’s administration.
Reaffirming the FRC’s commitment to advancing transparency and reducing financial leakages, Muruako pledged continued support to the PAC in institutionalizing sound public financial management practices.
He also congratulated the committee for securing Nigeria’s hosting rights for the 2025 West African Association of Public Accounts Committees (WAPAC) Annual Conference, describing it as a testament to Nigeria’s leadership in regional fiscal governance.
Union Bank of Nigeria has reacted to the recent judgment delivered by Justice Abike Fadipe of the Ikeja High Court involving Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, NICON Investment Limited, Global Fleet, and the bank.
The bank expressed strong disagreement with the ruling and confirmed that its legal team has been directed to file an appeal immediately. It said the court’s position on issues such as debt consolidation, locus standi, and third-party liability contradicts existing legal principles and the bank’s understanding of the facts.
In a statement released by Mrs. Olufunmilola Aluko, Chief Brand and Marketing Officer, Union Bank reiterated that the relevant debt obligations had been transferred to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), adding that all actions taken were in line with the law and standard banking procedures.
Union Bank assured stakeholders, customers, and the general public of its continued commitment to ethical practices, legal compliance, and professional conduct. It said it remains dedicated to protecting stakeholder interests and upholding the integrity that has defined its operations for more than a century.
The bank concluded by thanking all stakeholders for their trust and support as it navigates the ongoing legal process.
PalmPay, a leading digital banking platform in Africa has announced the launch of strategic partnerships with top-tier insurance providers to offer accessible, affordable and simplified insurance products directly within the PalmPay app.
This initiative reflects the brand’s continued commitment to deepening financial inclusion and underscores its mission to improve the wellbeing of everyday Nigerians.
With only about 8.9% of Nigerians currently covered by any form of health insurance, the country remains one of the least insured populations in Africa. Barriers such as low awareness, affordability challenges, and trust issues continue to hinder broader adoption of insurance products.
PalmPay’s new insurance offering directly addresses these challenges by simplifying the purchase and management of insurance policies within the app. The PalmPay insurance feature is designed to make essential coverage, from health to device, and life insurance easily accessible at affordable prices, eliminating the traditional complexities often associated with insurance.
“Insurance is often perceived as complex or inaccessible, especially among underserved communities.” said Habib Kowontan, Head of Wealth Product at PalmPay. “Through these partnerships, we aim to break down those barriers by offering simple, reliable and affordable insurance options that are easily accessible within the PalmPay app.”
With over 35 million users across Nigeria, PalmPay continues to evolve as a smart, consumer-first digital banking platform. The integration of insurance services complements its growing suite of offerings, which includes transfers, bill payments, high-interest savings, and debit card services, making PalmPay one of the most comprehensive digital banking platforms in the African market.
“Our goal at PalmPay is to remove barriers and make essential services easily accessible to everyone,” said Mr Chika Nwosu, Managing Director of PalmPay. “Through these strategic partnerships, we’re expanding our services to be more inclusive and empowering our users with products that will positively impact their lives and finances.”
This rollout marks a significant milestone in PalmPay’s broader strategy to empower users with tools that enhance their daily lives. Building not just a payments app, but a smart and trusted financial partner for millions of Nigerians.
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