The total amount of non-performing loans (NPL) of Nigerian banks declined for the year 2018, relative to 2017. At N1.79 trillion, the stock of NPL fell by 24.2 percent from N2.36 trillion in 20171. Also, gross loans as of the end of 2018 stood at N15.35 trillion, as against N15.96 trillion as at the end of 2017. The reduction in NPL shows that debtors may have relieved more of their indebtedness in 2018 compared to 2017; this may have been complemented by the Asset Management Company of Nigeria’s (AMCON) resolve to achieve its recovery mandate against erring debtors2. AMCON is saddled with the statutory responsibility, among others, of recovering the NPL hitherto disbursed by eligible banks to their customers. The decline in non-performing loans is expected to continue as the overconcentration of banking sector loans to the unpredictable and volatile oil and gas sector has been reduced to a great length. Monetary authorities should tighten mechanisms to ensure that commercial banks strictly adheres to the macroprudential guidelines that stipulate a 5 percent NPL benchmark.
Macroeconomic Report & Economic Updates
March 15, 2019
Nigeria Economic Update (Issue 8)
The total amount of non-performing loans (NPL) of Nigerian banks declined for the year 2018, relative to 2017. At N1.79 trillion, the stock of NPL fell by 24.2 percent from N2.36 trillion in 20171. Also, gross loans as of the end of 2018 stood at N15.35 trillion, as against N15.96 trillion as at the end […]
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Nigeria Economic Update (Issue 51)
Recently released data by the National
Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that there was significant increase in Nigerias
total merchandise trade for 2016Q3. Basically, the total merchandise trade
increased (quarter-on-quarter) by 16.29 percent to N4, 722 billion in 2016Q3;owing to 29.1 percent increase in exports and 6.2 percent rise in imports. Oil
exports increased by 31 percent to N1, 943 billion, while non-oil exports
increased by 20.5 percent to N440 billion. However, on the aggregate, Nigeria
recorded yet another trade deficit of N104 billion, indicating continuous
higher imports relative to exports. Overall, though there is improvement in the
performance of non-oil sector, however, this is insufficient to effectively
complement the loss in oil trade sustained since the beginning of oil price
crash. This suggests that diversification into non-oil sector may not be able
to rescue the economy in the short term. However, while the diversification
efforts should be sustained, eliminating hurdles in oil production may be
instrumental to higher exports, especially as oil price increase is gaining
momentum.