Business

Why Banks Don’t Give Long Term Loans – Bank MD

Published

9 years ago

September 23, 2016

The inability of commercial
banks to give long-term credit facilities is due to the non-availability of long-term-deposits by Nigerians, a financial expert, Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo has said. Okonkwo, also the Managing Director, Fidelity Bank Plc, made the remark at a conference organised by the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) in Lagos.
The theme of the conference was: “Nigeria beyond Oil, Financing Options for Non-Oil Exports’’.
He said that most depositors who had huge amounts to save, did it on short-term basis because of uncertainties of the economic policies.
Okonkwo wondered why banks were always condemned at every occasion for not lending long-term facilities to businessmen and farmers, whereas they traded mainly with short-term deposits.
The managing director insisted “that commercial banks do not have the kind of huge amount of money to lend out to those in businesses for long-term period’’.
The financial expert also listed lack of the right framework as being responsible for local banks not lending long-term to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs). He said lack of infrastructure, such as power, among others had made the bank to generate private electricity for its operations. According to him, banks paid full interest on all deposits, while 25 per cent was taken as Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), leaving banks with only 75 per cent of the amount to trade with. He said, “If as a bank, I know a secret place where I can get long-term funds to trade with, I will be the number one bank in Nigeria today because I can lend long-term.
“Bring me a depositor that will place N100 million today with me at 10 per cent.
“I will then give a loan at 15 per cent and pay the depositor’s interest on N100 million but I have to trade with N75 million because the Cash Reserve Ratio is deducted from the N100 million.
“For me to get access to five per cent of the money, I have to lend to a cocoa farmer. You have to lend for industrial production,’’ Okonkwo said.
The managing director said that banks paid three per cent as premium to Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) from all deposits.
“Not only that, the bank will also pay three per cent NDIC premium on the same N100 million deposit.
“Remember, I run my own power. In fact if you put together the voltage we produce in 248 branches of Fidelity Bank, it can power the whole of Lagos State,’’ Okonkwo said.
He said that it was difficult to get a Nigerian who will deposit money in the bank for one year, yet, people kept blaming the banks for not lending money for long-term projects. Okonkwo said that a lot of banks collapsed in the past because of assets mismatch. That is people who matched long-term assets with short-term funds.
“When there is a run in the system, the owners of the short-term funds will come for their money and you have to pay them.
“If you pay them, the people you gave long-term loans cannot pay up. Then you begin to have distress in the system”, he said.
The financial expert, however, said that the Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM Bank) and Fidelity Bank Plc were taking measures to enhance non-oil exports and create wealth for Nigerians.
The managing director said the lender was always at the forefront of financial services solutions and lending, adding that supporting SMEs should go beyond funding. “This is what informed the Fidelity SME Radio Forum, a programme designed and sponsored by Fidelity Bank to educate, inform, advise and inspire budding entrepreneurs, that is aired on Inspiration FM Lagos,” he said.
The Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Heritage Bank Ltd., Mr Ifie Sekibo, said Nigeria had export potential in some agricultural commodities like cocoa, cashew, groundnut and fish. Others are: sesame seed, ginger, cassava, snails, tobacco, coffee, cotton lint, rubber, among others. He said Nigeria could export bitter leaf, plantain flour, melon, crayfish and maize.
Sekibo was represented by Mr Olugbenga Awe, Group Head, Agriculture Finance, Project and Development Finance Department of Heritage Bank. He said that the country could also export manufactured goods such as: cocoa cakes, butter, powder and liquor.The managing director said that others include: detergents, malt drinks, palm kernel cakes and oil, baby clothes and confectioneries.
In the category of handicraft, Sekibo said that Nigeria could export talking drums, calabash, wood carvings, raffia products, among others.
He said that the nation’s entertainment industry contents from the Nollywood artists could be exported to neighbouring countries.
Sekibo expressed regret that exporters from Nigeria were not competing enough, adding that some Nigerian exporters went to Cameroun to bring in products and blend them for exports.

Business

Customs Seek Support To Curb Smuggling In Ogun

Published

3 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The Nigeria Customs Service(NCS), Ogun 1 Area Command, has solicited support in fighting smuggling and other economic crimes at the Nations border.

The Area Comptroller, Olukayode Afeni made the appeal in an interview with Newsmen in Idiroko, Ogun.

The comptroller stressed the need for the public to provide timely and reliable information to the Service, saying noting that fighting smuggling is a collective effort

“I urge the general public to join hands with NCS by providing timely and credible information that would help toward suppressing smuggling and other economic crimes.”

“Together, we can build a prosperous nation where compliance is the norm, and criminality has no place,” he said.

Afeni reiterated the command’s commitment to combat smuggling, and facilitating legitimate trade, as well as generate revenue for national development.

Chinedu Wosu

Business

IFAD: Nigeria Leads Global Push For Youth, Women Investment In Agriculture

Published

3 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The 49th Session of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Governing Council has concluded in Rome, with Nigeria taking a prominent leadership role in advancing global agricultural development priorities, particularly strategic investment in youth and women.

The biennial meeting, themed “From Farm to Market: Investing in Young Entrepreneurs,” underscored the growing recognition of young people as critical drivers of job creation, innovation, and inclusive economic growth across global food systems.

The session opened with the election of Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, as Chairperson of the IFAD Governing Council.

Having previously served as Vice Chair, his emergence as Chairperson reflects the strong confidence reposed in Nigeria by Member States, recognising the country’s constructive engagement and leadership in promoting global food security.

In his acceptance remarks, Senator Kyari expressed deep appreciation to Member States for the trust placed in him, pledging to serve with humility, diligence, and a strong commitment to improving the livelihoods of rural women and men across the world.

Addressing delegates during the session, the Chairperson emphasised that prioritising youth and women in agriculture is key to unlocking economic opportunities, accelerating innovation, and driving inclusive growth.

He noted that such investments would ultimately strengthen global food systems while helping to reduce hunger and poverty.

Senator Kyari also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for placing food security at the centre of Nigeria’s national priorities.

He noted that Nigeria’s leadership role at IFAD aligns with the President’s directive to boost agricultural productivity, expand economic opportunities for youth and women, and build resilient food systems capable of withstanding climate and market shocks.

The Minister further praised the IFAD Nigeria Country Office, led by Country Director Ms Dede Ekoue, for translating global development commitments into measurable outcomes for rural communities.

He highlighted the office’s role in strengthening agricultural value chains, empowering youth and women, and improving resilience among smallholder farmers nationwide.

Business

Expert Tasks FG On Food Imports To Protect Farmers

Published

3 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government has been urged to balance consumer protection with farmers’ sustainability by ensuring timely food imports, input subsidies expansion and price stabilisation mechanisms to secure investments across the agricultural value chain.

An agriculture expert, Dr Fatai Afolabi, gave the advice at a forum organised by the Plantation Owners’ Forum of Nigeria (POFON), in collaboration with the Oil Palm and Other Oil Seeds Value Chain, themed ‘Current Government Food Strategy, the Concomitant Effects and Implications for Food Security in Nigeria’, and held in Lagos, Wednesday.

Afolabi cautioned that the recent food import policies, while easing consumer prices, could undermine local farmers and long-term food security if not carefully managed.

He noted that Nigeria’s food system was navigating an exceptionally difficult period, marked by inflationary pressures, climate variability, insecurity in major food-producing regions, and rising energy and logistics costs.

He said the Federal Government’s decision to temporarily relax restrictions on selected food imports was understandable, noting that the market had responded swiftly with a reduction in prices of major staples.

However, the convener observed that while the policy had brought much-needed relief to consumers, it posed significant challenges for local farmers and agriculture value chain investors.

“While output prices have fallen, the cost of producing food in Nigeria remains stubbornly high.

“Farmers continue to contend with expensive fertilisers, rising transport costs, costly improved seeds and agrochemicals, limited access to affordable credit, poor electricity supply, weak road infrastructure, and inadequate storage and processing facilities, which result in significant post-harvest losses.

“This situation, where farmers sell produce at declining prices while production costs remain elevated, has created widespread distress across agricultural ecosystems,” he said.

Afolabi said the effects were being felt across all segments of agriculture, with rice farmers among the hardest hit.

He said reports from producing states indicated that about 3,500 rice farmers were considering exiting rice cultivation after incurring estimated losses of over N93 billion.

He added that cassava farmers were selling produce at prices that barely covered harvesting costs, leaving them unable to recover their investments.

According to him, vegetable and edible oil producers are also under pressure as imported vegetable oil brands reduce demand for locally processed alternatives.

He added that cocoa farmers continue to battle price volatility in international markets amid rising domestic labour and maintenance costs.

Afolabi noted that tree crops such as oil palm and cocoa, which require long gestation periods, were particularly vulnerable to sudden market disruptions that undermine investor confidence and discourage new investment.

He said the effects extended downstream to agro-processing and value addition, with soybean farmers supplying vegetable oil processors experiencing reduced demand and lower prices.

He said the development threatened not only farm incomes but also rural employment and agro-industrial growth, raising concerns about national food security.

According to him, sustained losses could force farmers out of production, increasing Nigeria’s dependence on food imports and exposing the country to global supply shocks, foreign exchange pressures and long-term vulnerabilities.

Afolabi cited India and the Netherlands as countries offering useful lessons in balancing consumer protection with farmer sustainability.

He said India deploys food imports strategically during shortages, while complementing them with strong domestic support systems.

He added that the Netherlands, despite being one of the world’s leading agricultural exporters, supports farmers through input subsidies, tax incentives, affordable energy, strong cooperatives, and close integration with research and extension services.

He said agricultural students in both countries also benefit from subsidised tuition, transportation and meals, as well as grants and start-up support for farm enterprises.

“This approach ensures generational continuity and innovation in the agricultural sector,” he said.

Afolabi said Nigeria’s current food import policy could play a stabilising role if complemented by deliberate measures to protect local producers.

He recommended carefully timed imports to avoid peak harvest periods, strengthened price stabilisation mechanisms, aggressive subsidies for critical farm inputs, and support for agro-processors to remain competitive.

He also called for clear communication of policy intentions to reassure farmers that import measures were strategic and temporary.

“Food imports should function as a strategic shock absorber rather than a permanent market feature.

“Government should develop and publish a national crop production and harvest calendar for major staples and align import decisions with documented supply gaps.

“Affordable food and profitable farming are not mutually exclusive goals. With thoughtful coordination and sustained support for farmers, Nigeria can achieve both,” he said.