The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria has called for stronger collaboration among banks, government, regulators, development finance institutions and private investors to ensure that N4.65 trillion raised through Nigeria's banking sector recapitalisation translates into productive investment, industrial expansion and business growth. The institute made the call at its 2026 Fellowship Investiture on 31 October in Lagos, where its President and Chairman of Council, Dr Dele Alabi, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Dr Tayo Aduloju, examined how to deploy stronger bank capital to drive Nigeria's industrial transformation.
Dr Alabi emphasised that recapitalisation's success must be measured by its impact on the real economy, not merely by the strength of banks' balance sheets. The banking industry mobilised N4.65 trillion in fresh capital, with 33 banks meeting the new capital requirements, providing a stronger foundation for financing economic growth. However, the critical task ahead was to translate this enhanced capacity into new industries, expanded businesses, improved infrastructure, thriving micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and sustainable employment.
Dr Aduloju highlighted structural constraints limiting credit flow to productive businesses, drawing on data from the Central Bank of Nigeria. These included high lending costs, liquidity constraints, credit risks, short financing tenors and increasing competition between government borrowing and private-sector financing. Private-sector credit in Nigeria stood at 13 per cent of GDP in 2025, compared with 38.1 per cent in lower-middle-income economies, the material showed.
Dr Aduloju advocated for an integrated industrial financing framework bringing together commercial banks, pension funds, insurance companies, development finance institutions, capital markets and credit guarantee institutions. Other recommendations included developing specialist industrial lending capabilities by banks, longer-tenor financing, risk-sharing arrangements, credit guarantees, improved use of digital cash-flow data and movable assets in credit assessment, and stronger financing partnerships across industrial value chains.
Governor Sanwo-Olu identified investment opportunities around the Lekki Deep Sea Port, industrial activities along the Lekki corridor, rail and road infrastructure, and opportunities created by the Lagos State Electricity Law. He stressed that stronger bank capital must be accompanied by sound corporate governance, responsible lending, transparency and professional competence, and called for closer collaboration among government, financial institutions and private investors.
In a demonstration of its commitment to practical action, CIBN announced plans to host its MSME Forum on 1 December 2026. According to Dr Alabi, the forum will advance practical solutions for expanding access to finance and accelerating enterprise growth. The Institute is also advocating the establishment of MSME Hubs across Nigeria to provide entrepreneurs with access to financing, business support services, capacity development, digital tools and market opportunities.