Business
ONICCIMA Decries Rising Poverty Level
The Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ONICCIMA) has decried what it termed the poor state of the national economy and the rising poverty level in the country.
The President of ONICCIMA, Mr Uchenna Apakama, said this in his valedictory address during the chamber’s 29th Annual General Meeting in Onitsha.
Apakama said that a situation where 67.1 per cent of the population live below a dollar per day was worrisome.
According to him, power generation is still a nightmare, adding that electricity tariff is soaring with distribution companies across the country unable to provide customers pre-paid meters.
He said that the current economic recession in the country, coupled other macro-economic challenges, had continued to pose a threat to the Organized Private Sector (OPS).
“The monetary policy rate is still pegged at a higher rate of 14 per cent since July 2016, with lending rate of between 20 per cent and 30 per cent remaining unattractive to the OPS, while the rate of inflation is almost 18 per cent.”
According to him, 130 million Nigerians lack adequate sanitation, with 57 million lacking access to safe drinking water, leading to the death of some 45,000 children annually due to diarrhoea.
“Unemployment rate across the land is threateningly high, hovering at 42.24 per cent in 2016, with thousands of graduates joining the labour market every year.
“Corruption, insecurity and crime, including armed robbery, kidnapping, Boko Haram, and the herdsmen attacks are assuming pervasive with horrendous dimensions now than ever before.”
Apakama, therefore, urged governments at all levels to take proactive measures in order to reduce the high incidence of poverty in the land.
The outgoing president welcomed Federal Government initiative in establishing the ‘Ease of Doing Business Commission’ headed by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.
He also commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for issuing a licence for the establishment of the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), saying that it would bring succour to the industrial and other strategic sectors of the economy.
While also lauding the decision to establish the South-East Economic Integration, he urged the governors of the zone to show political will and commitment to the project.
Furthermore, Apakama, whose tenure ends in August, urged the Federal Government to address critical issues such as cases of human rights abuses, lack of equity and justice in appointments and the abuse of political power, among others.
Earlier, Mrs Alaba Lawson, the President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), commended the efforts of ONICCIMA to grow the economy of the country.
Lawson, who was represented by Mr Humphery Ngonadi, urged the Federal Government to involve the OPS in the annual budget preparations and allocations.
She also urged the OPS to identify with the chamber in the South-East, rather than clustering around Abuja and Lagos chambers.
According to her, most of those who made Abuja and Lagos chambers to bubble are mainly from the South-East.
“It is important for ONICCIMA to continue to build upon the achievement of NACCIMA in developing the nation’s economy,” Lawson added.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr Mark Okoye, urged ONICCIMA to enlist into the Anambra State government’s three-year development planning process for the state.
Okoye gave an assurance that the state government would continue to support the chamber’s activities and provide adequate security for businesses to thrive.
The Tide correspondent reports that the highlight of the occasion was the presentation of awards to some captains of industry who had distinguished themselves in the various businesses.
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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