Business
Abia Tackles Poverty In Rural Areas
Abia State government has pledged to tackle poverty in the rural areas through provision of infrastructure and information and communication technology , especially, internet services.
The new Commissioner for Co-operatives, Poverty Alleviation and Rural Development, Chief Israel Amanze, who made the pledge shortly after taking charge of the ministry’s affairs, also assured that the ministry would evolve rehabilitation programmes for commercial motorcyclists (Okada riders) whose operations government recently banned in the metropolitan local governments.
Beaming with smiles after receiving the handover note from the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ojum Ekeoma Ogwo Amanze said in an interview with The Tide that the ministry was specifically created to find solutions to rural development and empowerment of the ruralites to alleviate poverty in the state.
“We can never neglect the rural areas because over 75 per cent of our people live there. So these are the people we need to touch their lives. It is this ministry that is encumbered with the responsibility of improving their lives by provision of rural infrastructure: rural roads, rural electricity, formation of cooperatives and maintenance of such structures and alleviation of poverty for our vulnerable groups. I feel this is the best time for us to make a mark in this area,” the former Abia State Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) said.
“We will try to do our best to cushion the effects of poverty, using government policies, through this ministry, to touch the lives of our people so that they will be positively influenced and positively motivated,” he said.
“So, having come in as commissioner, I have already challenged the directors, we will find out immediately what we can do to alleviate poverty, to improve rural infrastructure and what we can do to improve the lives of our people in the rural areas. So it is a challenge and with the goodwill of His Excellency, Governor T.A.Orji (Ochendo) who has said he is interested in the people, he wants to move the people forward, we will succeed in doing that,” he assured.
“As the dry season is coming, I want to see how we can galvanise ourselves to go into the field to see how we can improve rural infrastructure. I have also seen what is going on with our people who are Okada riders, we want to see how to alleviate their plight but it is something I want to discuss with His Excellency before I will know how we will go about it. But it is an area I want us to go into” the commissioner added.
On sensitising the populace on the programmes of his ministry, Amanze said that apart from using the media, the ministry “will also explore the possibilities of doing some rural internet services.” He said plans were afoot to get those to install the facilities and link up the various rural communities and make the relevant in the new information age.
The United Nations consultant said he was on a familiar terrain, having been participating in “rural empowerment.” “I have worked in the rural areas in farmers’ emancipation and empowerment of the rural poor.
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.
