Economy
16 banks have met new capital requirements, says CBN
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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said the bank recapitalisation exercise is progressing steadily, with 16 banks already meeting the new capital requirements ahead of the March 31, 2026 deadline. Another 27 banks have also raised capital through various channels as the sector moves toward one of the most extensive reforms since 2004.
Governor Olayemi Cardoso disclosed the development on Tuesday in Abuja while briefing journalists at the end of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting. He described the exercise as orderly and consistent with the regulator’s expectations.
“We are monitoring developments, and indications show the process is moving in the right direction,” he said.
As of April 2025, Nigeria had 44 deposit-taking banks, including seven commercial banks with international authorisation, 15 with national authorisation, four with regional authorisation, four non-interest banks, six merchant banks, seven financial holding companies and one representative office.
Under the recapitalization framework issued by the CBN, banks must raise their paid-in share capital to levels proportionate to the scope of their operations. International commercial banks are required to attain N500 billion, national commercial banks must reach N200 billion, and regional commercial banks N50 billion.
For non-interest banks, the minimum is N20 billion for national operations and N10 billion for regional operations, while merchant banks with national authorisation must meet N50 billion. The apex bank has also made clear that only paid-up capital and share premium qualify toward the new thresholds, excluding reserves and retained earnings.
Cardoso said the reforms would reinforce the resilience of Nigerian banks both within the country and across the continent. “We are building a financial system that will be fit for purpose for the years ahead. Many Nigerian banks now operate across Africa and have been innovative across different markets.
These new buffers will better equip them to manage risks in the multiple jurisdictions where they operate,” he said.
He added that the reforms would strengthen the financial sector’s support for households and businesses.
Aw“Ultimately, this benefits Nigerians—our traders, our businesses and our citizens—who operate across those regions. It should give everyone comfort to know that Nigerian banks with deep local understanding are present to support them. Commercial banks are also creating their own buffers through the ongoing recapitalization.”
Cardoso recalled that the CBN had earlier outlined the broader objectives of the programme, noting that the Bank’s Deputy Governor for Financial Systems Stability, Phillip Ikeazor, had restated the significance of the exercise during a stakeholder session at the UK-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce. Ikeazor said the apex bank was committed to building stronger, healthier and more resilient banks capable of supporting the government’s ambition of achieving a US$1 trillion economy by 2030.
According to Ikeazor’s presentation, the recapitalization programme is expected to expand banks’ lending capacity, attract more foreign direct investment, and increase foreign exchange liquidity. He also noted that the reforms would contribute to GDP growth, enhance risk management practices, strengthen credit ratings, broaden ownership structures, improve governance, and boost market value and activity in the equity market.
“With the recapitalisation programme, our goal is to trigger the emergence of stronger, healthier and more resilient banks,” Ikeazor said.
Cardoso added that the apex bank considered several factors in determining the new capital thresholds, including prevailing macroeconomic conditions, stress test results and the need for stronger risk buffers.
He also affirmed the regulator’s commitment to strict oversight as consolidation progresses. “We will rigorously enforce our ‘fit and proper’ criteria for prospective new shareholders, senior management, and board members of banks, and proactively monitor the integrity of financial statements, adequacy of financial resources, and fair valuation of banks’ post-merger balance sheets,” he said.
The governor recalled that eight commercial banks had met the N500 billion capital requirement as of July 22, 2024, rising to 14 by September of the same year. The number has now increased to 16 as the industry continues to race toward full compliance.
Cardoso said the CBN remained confident that the banking system would emerge stronger at the conclusion of the recapitalization exercise, with institutions better prepared to support Nigeria’s economic transformation.
The Naira yesterday appreciated to N1,387 per dollar from N1,390 in the parallel market on Monday.
Similarly, the naira appreciated to N1,322.9 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market, NFEM.
Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, showed that the indicative exchange rate for the naira fell to N1,322.9 per dollar from N1,320 per dollar on Monday, indicating N2.9 appreciation for the local currency.
Consequently, the margin between the parallel and official markets narrowed to N64.1 per dollar from N70 per dollar on Monday. The value of interbank turnover in NFEM declined by 48.07 percent to $55.6 million from $107.07 million on Monday.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced that it will be paying closer attention to how banks and other financial institutions in the country are being used, or misused, to move money that could fund terrorism.
In a statement signed by Hakama Sidi-Ali, Acting Director of the apex bank’s Corporate Communications and Investor Relations Department on Tuesday, the CBN said it has made terrorism financing supervision one of its current priorities. According to the statement, this is part of the bank’s “ongoing commitment to protecting the Nigerian financial system from abuse by illicit actors.”
What this means in plain terms is that the CBN will be looking more closely at how banks identify and manage the risk of their platforms being used to fund terrorism, how well they monitor suspicious transactions linked to terrorism financing, how they carry out sanctions ordered against specific individuals or groups, and how promptly they report suspicious activity connected to terrorism financing.
The statement explained that this new push covers four broad areas: how financial institutions manage terrorism financing risk, how they monitor transactions for signs of terrorism financing, how they carry out targeted financial sanctions, and how they report suspicious transactions linked to terrorism.
The apex bank said it will not be sitting back and waiting for problems to surface on their own. Instead, it plans to use a risk-based approach, which means banks and institutions seen as more exposed to this kind of risk will attract closer attention.
This will involve both on-site inspections, where CBN officials visit institutions directly, and off-site checks, where the bank reviews reports and data from a distance.
The goal, the statement said, is to support “effective Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Countering Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/CPF) controls across the financial sector,” referring to the fight against money laundering, terrorism financing, and the financing of weapons proliferation, all of which are governed by existing Nigerian laws and regulations.
The CBN also linked this move to Nigeria’s wider efforts, both at home and internationally, to fight terrorism financing and the financing of weapons proliferation, and to protect the integrity of the country’s financial system.
The apex Bank did not name any specific institution under investigation or give a timeline for these actions, but noted that “further supervisory engagement will be undertaken as appropriate,” suggesting that more steps could follow depending on what its checks turn up.
For the ordinary Nigerian, the announcement signals that the CBN wants banks to be more careful and more accountable in how they track the movement of money through the financial system, particularly where there is any possible link to terrorism or the funding of violent groups.
It is also a reminder that financial institutions operating in Nigeria are expected to follow strict rules designed to keep the banking system safe from being used for illegal purposes.
The Federal Government has approved a new pensionable salary structure for personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The new structure affects personnel in the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force and took effect from September 1, 2026.
The approval was contained in a circular issued on September 3 by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.
Under the new arrangement, Generals, Admirals and Air Chief Marshals occupy the highest level, with their annual pensionable salaries ranging from ₦21.9 million to ₦29.75 million, depending on their salary steps.
The highest figure works out to roughly ₦2.48 million per month when divided by 12.
Lieutenant Generals, Vice Admirals and Air Marshals will have annual pensionable salaries between ₦16.99 million and ₦25.91 million.
Major Generals, Rear Admirals and Air Vice Marshals will receive pensionable salaries ranging from about ₦14.98 million to ₦23.9 million annually.
For Brigadier Generals, Commodores and Air Commodores, the approved annual pensionable figures range from ₦13.86 million to ₦16.39 million.
Colonels, Captains and Group Captains will have annual pensionable salaries between ₦8.31 million and ₦9.49 million, while Lieutenant Colonels, Commanders and Wing Commanders will fall between ₦7.55 million and ₦8.74 million.
Majors, Lieutenant Commanders and Squadron Leaders will have pensionable salaries ranging from ₦5.99 million to ₦7.01 million annually.
Captains, Lieutenants and Flight Lieutenants will receive between ₦5.28 million and ₦6.42 million.
At the junior officer level, Second Lieutenants, Midshipmen and Pilot Officers will have annual pensionable salaries ranging from ₦4.92 million to ₦5.59 million.
The new structure also covers non-commissioned personnel.
Warrant Officers across the three services will have annual pensionable salaries between ₦4.53 million and ₦5.17 million, while Master Warrant Officers will receive between ₦3.94 million and ₦4.93 million.
Warrant Officers will have annual pensionable salaries ranging from ₦3.46 million to ₦4.35 million. Staff Sergeants, Petty Officers and Flight Sergeants will have figures between ₦2.98 million and ₦3.76 million.
Sergeants and Leading Seamen will have annual pensionable salaries ranging from ₦2.81 million to ₦3.16 million, while Corporals and Able Seamen will receive between ₦2.48 million and ₦2.73 million.
Lance Corporals and Seamen will have pensionable salaries between ₦2.32 million and ₦2.58 million annually.
Privates, Ordinary Seamen and Aircraftmen will have figures ranging from ₦2.28 million to ₦2.49 million.
The government clarified that the amounts contained in the new schedule are meant for calculating pension benefits.
They should not be treated as the actual monthly salaries or take-home pay of serving military personnel.
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