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Obi, Soludo, Uba Shun Anambra Guber Debate …Ngige Says I Will Talk To Kidnappers, Armed Robbers
Three major players in the 2010 governorship race in Anambra State, the incumbent governor, Mr Peter Obi of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Prof Charles Soludo of the People Democratic Party, PDP and Labour Party’s Dr Andy Uba, yesterday shunned public debate organized for all the governorship candidates in the state, by the Nation newspaper in conjunction with Silverbird Television held at Tourist Garden Hotel, Awka, Anambra State.
Our correspondent who covered the event reports that the affected candidates neither put up physical appearance nor sent representatives at the occasion, till the end of the event at about 5.30pm.
Until the time of filing this report no reason was given as to why the candidates could not be physically reached or through their mobile phones by this reporter to explain why they acted the way they did.
However, worried over the present insecurity of lives and property in the state a former governor of the State, Dr Chris Nwabueze Ngige, has promised if reelected as governor come February 6, he would talk to armed robbers and kidnappers in the area to stop their nefarious acts to enable the people of the state sleep with their two eyes closed.
Dr Ngige, who is now contesting the governorship position of the state on the platform of the Action Congress (AC), instead of his former party PDP, made the promise yesterday while speaking on the occasion of the public debate entitled “Anambra Decides: Governorship Debate 2010”.
Describing himself as one of the foundation members of the ruling party PDP, Dr Ngige also promised that if elected, he would build an independent power plant in the state so as to attract more industries to check the high rate of youth unemployment in the area, adding that his government would not toy with youths who are leaders of tomorrow.
He made it clear that during his 33 months in office as governor of the state “ I got out your treasury from the so called God fathers and merchants and gave it back to you. The major thing we have to do for you now is to make you human beings again by restoring security of lives and property back. I did it before and I know the magic with which I did it. The security of the state must be used to maintain the security integrity of that state”, he advised.
Also speaking, chief George Okoye of the NMPP, identified the problem of the people of Anambra state as the imposition of unpopular candidates on the state.
Chief Okoye regretted that Anambra state had never had a master plan , wondering how the state could develop without a blue print, promising that all pensioners in the state would be paid if he wins the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
Candidates from other political parties present at the occasion that attracted hundreds of thousands of Anambrarians equally made promises to the people of the state should they win the February 6, 2010 governorship election in the state which has been described in many quarters as home of champions.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the managing Director of Nation Newspaper, Victor Ifije, said their aim of organizing the debate to ensure that the best candidate was elected as governor of the state next month in the over all interest of the people.
He, therefore, advised the people of the state not to misuse the opportunity offered by the forthcoming election, adding that it is time for them to take their destiny in their own hands.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday said 33 banks have met new minimum capital requirements under its recapitalisation programme, raising a combined N4.65 trillion to strengthen the financial system.
The apex bank disclosed this in a statement marking the end of the exercise, which commenced in March 2024 and drew participation from domestic and foreign investors.
The statement was jointly signed by the Director of Banking Supervision, Olubukola Akinwunmi, and the Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Hakama Sidi-Ali.
The statement said “Over the 24-month period, Nigerian banks raised a total of N4.65tn in new capital, strengthening the resilience of the financial system and enhancing its capacity to support the economy.”
The regulator said local investors accounted for 72.55 per cent of the funds, while international investors contributed 27.45 per cent, reflecting continued confidence in the sector.
Commenting on the outcome, the CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, said in the statement, “The recapitalisation programme has strengthened the capital base of Nigerian banks, reinforcing the resilience of the financial system and ensuring it is well-positioned to support economic growth and withstand domestic and external shocks.”
It added that while 33 banks have complied with the new thresholds, a few others are still undergoing regulatory and legal processes.
The statement noted, “The CBN confirms that 33 banks have met the revised minimum capital requirements established under the programme.
“A limited number of institutions remain subject to ongoing regulatory and judicial processes, which are being addressed through established supervisory and legal frameworks.
“All banks remain fully operational, ensuring continued access to banking services for customers.”
The apex bank stressed that the exercise was executed without disrupting banking operations, ensuring uninterrupted access to services nationwide.
It further stated that key prudential indicators have improved, particularly capital adequacy ratios, which remain above global Basel benchmarks.
The minimum ratios were set at 10 per cent for regional and national banks and 15 per cent for banks with international licences.
The bank also said the recapitalisation coincided with a gradual exit from regulatory forbearance, a move it said improved asset quality, strengthened balance sheet transparency, and enhanced overall stability.
To preserve these gains, the CBN said it has reinforced its risk-based supervision framework, mandating periodic stress tests and adequate capital buffers for banks.
It added that supervisory and prudential guidelines would be reviewed regularly to strengthen governance, risk management, and resilience across the sector.
“The successful completion of the programme establishes a stronger and more resilient banking system, better positioned to support lending, mobilise savings, and withstand domestic and global shocks,” the statement said.
The Tide learnt that foreign capital inflows into Nigeria’s banking sector rose by 93.25 per cent year-on-year to $13.53bn in 2025, up from $7.00bn recorded in 2024, amid the ongoing recapitalisation drive by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics capital importation report showed that the banking sector remained the dominant destination for foreign capital, accounting for $13.53bn of the total $23.22bn recorded in 2025, representing 58.26 per cent of total inflows, up from 56.81 per cent in 2024.
The surge reflects heightened investor interest in Nigerian banks as they raised fresh capital to meet new regulatory thresholds introduced by the apex bank, with industry-wide recapitalisation activities driving large-scale inflows across all quarters of the year.
However, the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) recently raised concerns over weak credit flows to small businesses despite recent banking sector reforms.
The CPPE, led by a renowned economist, Dr Muda Yusuf, acknowledged that the ongoing bank recapitalisation exercise by the CBN has strengthened the financial system, but warned that the benefits have yet to translate into meaningful support for the real economy.
The facility will be disbursed through participating Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), which will in turn extend the loans to their customers, particularly SMEs, as they directly interface with businesses at the grassroots level.
The Executive Director of COMCIN, Mr. Micheal Ogbaa who represented the Chairman, Dr. Iredele Oyedele (FCA, FCCA), said the initiative is designed to strengthen micro-lending institutions and expand access to finance for grassroots entrepreneurs, particularly women and youths in the informal sector.
Ogbaa explained that COMCIN does not lend directly to individuals but works through its network of microfinance and cooperative institutions, which in turn provide loans to end users.
“We came together to advocate for the microfinance ecosystem. Commercial banks often exclude people at the grassroots, but our members are positioned to reach them. This facility will empower them to do more,” he said.
He noted that the loan scheme offers low interest rates and flexible repayment plans, making it more accessible to small business owners.
According to him, about 90 percent of beneficiaries are expected to be women, who play a key role in sustaining families and driving economic activities at the local level.
“Our focus is on traders, service providers, and players in the informal sector. These are the real movers of the economy. By supporting them, we are strengthening families and contributing to national development,” he added.
Ogbaa disclosed that eligible SMEs with proven integrity and business track records could access up to N5 million each through participating micro-lending institutions. The rollout has commenced in Lagos and will extend to Abuja, Enugu, and other regions, including the South-West, South-East, and North-East.
He said 12 micro-lending institutions have already benefited from the scheme, while 85 applications are currently being processed under the pilot phase.
“Our target is to reach at least 100,000 SMEs nationwide. We are building a platform that connects funding partners with credible micro-lending institutions, creating a reliable channel for financial inclusion,” Ogbaa said.
He added that COMCIN is also working to attract larger funding pools from development finance institutions and private investors, noting that successful implementation of the pilot phase would boost confidence and unlock more capital for SMEs.
“We have seen encouraging testimonies from early beneficiaries. As we demonstrate transparency and efficiency, more institutions will be willing to channel funds through us,” he said.
