Secretary of the Money Market Association of Nigeria (MMAN), Mr Wale Abbe, has disclosed that there has been increasing participation by banks in the inter-bank market.

Mr Abbe who spoke with newsmen recently in Lagos, noted that the increasing participation was an indication of renewed confidence among banks unlike in the recent past when banks were not lending to each other due to the financial crisis.

The secretary attributed the renewed confidence to the N675 billion recently injected into some banks that earlier depended on facilities from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“At the moment, the participation by banks at the inter-bank market is at its highest ebb.

The inter-bank market was not as active as it used to be in the past due to lack of trust among the banks,” he said.

He noted that the banking industry had its own ups and downs just like any other sector, but that the sector had done relatively well in spite of the periodic stress it experienced in the last 49 years.

The MMAN scribe said that for the banking industry to meet the yearnings of Nigerians, government and the private sector must collaborate to develop the country’s infrastructure.

“The economy is a reflection of the development, if the banking industry thrives, so also will the economy,” he said.

Abe revealed that the banking industry was far ahead of the real sector but said that the gap was not due to the failure of banks to assist the real sector.

He maintained that inspite of challenges facing the banking industry, it had remained largest employer of labour and the best in the application of information technology.

He concluded that the sector had been able to bring the under-banked into the banking system through the micro-finance banks.