Business
Body Urges SIP’s Implementation, Sustenance
The Buhari Youth Organisation (BYO) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to intensify efforts to fully implement and sustain the Social Investment Programme (SIP) on Enterprise Promotion, to reduce unemployment and poverty.
BYO Coordinator, Lagos State, Mr Waheed Odunuga, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Lagos, Monday
Reports that SIP, a special intervention programme of the Federal Government, has four parts, including “Homegrown school feeding Programme” and Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP).
According to him, the government needs to ensure disbursement of funds to expectant beneficiaries and further simplify loan collection and refund.
“This is the very first time people are benefiting from such project without the need of any politician to access loan. All the people need is a formidable registered association.
“The problem is the number of beneficiaries; the targeted beneficiaries is said to be one million people, but as at now, I don’t think the government has done enough.
“To me, the government needs to do more because right now, a lot of applicants are yet to access the loan. It will help to give hope to the hopeless in this recession period.”
Odunuga said that one of BYO’s roles, as an organisation, was to promote government policies, adding that the group had promoted the policy through its chapters across states and local governments.
According to him, efforts should be redoubled to ensure that the project does not fail, as in the last four weeks, money has not been disbursed to expected beneficiaries.
“We told them that within a month, they would get the loan; while some got it within two weeks, many could not get even after a month.
“Some people got the money credited into their accounts, but withdrawing the money becomes difficult, which makes them spend weeks in the banks before getting the money due to monopoly.
“Meanwhile, the government gave two weeks grace to start refund but lots of people, even after two weeks, have not accessed the money, and their accounts would be debited for money not yet collected.
“I think the government needs to do more on turn-around time of banking by removing the monopoly of Sterling Bank and engaging other banks in the programme.”
Odunuga urged the government to strengthen processes of getting the loan back from the beneficiaries, to foster sustenance of the programme, adding that many organisations had not benefited.
Mr Adekunle Aderibigbe, the Secretary of BYO, said: “There is a need to review and simplify the structure and the system of this programme.
“We need to bring more people into the net. In this recession, having access to this fund will go a long way to help the people.”
Aderibigbe said that BYO registered a lot of business-oriented members through its Greenland Multipurpose Cooperative Society to benefit from the scheme under GEEP.
According to him, Mr Olufemi Orioke, the Managing Director of D2RS Finance and Investment Ltd, a major aggregator in implementation of GEEP, has been urging the applicants to be patient with government.
The Tide gathered that in GEEP, the government provides no-interest loan, which range from N10,000 to N100,000 for applicants, and refund is spread over 24 weeks.
Members of accredited market associations, cooperative or trade groups, who have BVN and whose business location can be verified, can apply for the GEEP loan.
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.
-
News4 days ago
Decentralizing Pipeline Surveillance Poses Greater Dangers To Niger Delta …. Group Warns
-
Politics4 days agoAPC Resumes Electronic Membership Registration Nationwide
-
Rivers4 days agoCourt Rules Out Interim Administration In Jumbo House, Bonny
-
Business4 days ago
33 Banks Raise N4.65tn As Recapitalisation Ends
-
Politics4 days agoAlleged Coup: Protests Rock N’Assembly As Detained Officers’ Children, Wives Demand Justice
-
Nation4 days agoNile University Hosts ICA Nigeria First National Confab On Global Communication
-
Sports4 days ago
Lewandowski Leads Top Stars Missing From W/Cup Roll Call
-
Sports4 days agoPara Games: Team Rivers Wins 53 Medals On Day 5 … Director Praise Athletes