Business
‘Non-Payment Of Counterpart Funds Hampers IFAD Programmes’
The non-payment of counterpart funds for the implementation of the Community-Based Natural Resource Management Programme (CBNRMP) has hampered its implementation in Akwa Ibom, the state Programme Officer, Mrs Essien Uwe-Bassey said.
Reports say that the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is financing the implementation of the programme with counterpart funding from the Federal Government.
Our source also reports that the participating state governments, as well as the benefitting communities will also pay their counterpart funds.
The NDDC is also providing financial support for the implementation of the programme in the nine Niger Delta states.
Currently, a joint IFAD/FGN supervision mission is visiting the participating states to assess the implementation of the programme, with a view to identifying the challenges and proffer solutions.
The supervision team is led by Dr Adeoye Adeniyi, an Agricultural Production Specialist and IFAD Consultant.
Uwe-Bassey told the team that the Akwa Ibom Government and the three benefitting local government areas of Ibesikpo/Asutan, Okobo and Oruk-Anam owed a total of N247 million in counterpart fund since 2008.
She, however, said that the benefitting communities had paid their 10 per cent counterpart contribution.
She also lamented that staff of the programme had not received their allowances for the past 20 months and that some activities had been distorted by rainfall.
“The delay in the release of funds for implementation brought about apathy in some communities.
“Also, the difficulty in the transportation of materials due to the terrain of some communities and none buy-in of local government councils has affected the progress of the programme,” Uwe-Bassey said.
The programme officer noted that 31 persons had been trained in various skills in the past seven months, besides those trained when the programme started in 2006.
“The areas of training include record keeping, pegging and planting techniques in plantain and oil palm, snail, fish and vegetable farming, as well as goat keeping, piggery and compost manure making.
“In terms of crop enterprise, a total of 5.7 hectares were cultivated between January and July 2011, as against 47 hectares targeted, representing a 21 per cent achievement.
“Out of 18 targeted livestock enterprises, a total of 15 units representing 83 per cent has been achieved,” Uwe-Bassey said.
She added that 42 targeted operational groups out of 90 were able to define their priorities under the community driven development (CDD) approach of the programme.
The Tide source reports that the programme is meant to improve the quality of life of about 44,444 poor rural Akwa Ibom people out of the estimated 400,000 rural poor people in the Niger Delta.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum, Mr Okon Ibok, the Vice-Chairman of Okobo, one of the benefitting local governments, blamed the state programme officer for not always reminding the council authorities of the funding commitment.
Ibok also requested the state programme office to always involve the local government authorities in the choice of the projects meant for each community.
Responding, Adeniyi, the team leader, explained that the choice of projects was always based on needs assessment and not on political consideration.
Adeniyi said that the essence of the interaction with the direct beneficiaries of the programme was to have first hand information on the challenges in implementation and also proffer solutions to them.
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.
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