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Higher prices loom as businesses rely more on loans to survive
Nigerians will soon experience another wave of increases in the prices of goods by major manufacturers as most of them now depend more on loans to fund their operations, resulting in higher interest payments and increased cost of production.
Financial Vanguard investigations show that due to scarcity of foreign exchange, general cash flow challenges and other economic headwinds during the period, major manufacturing firms sustained their businesses with bank loans amounting N1.833 trillion in the nine months of the year 2023 , 9M’23.
The amount indicates increased borrowing of about 52.6% higher than the N1.2 trillion in the corresponding period of 9M’22.
Financial experts say the companies may have ended up in a debt trap following the rise in Monetary Policy Rate, MPR regime, sustained by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN throughout the review period in order to tame inflation that rose to 28.92 % as at December 2023, a development that triggered rising lending rates across the banking and finance sector.
This development, according to financial experts, indicates that the companies that borrowed huge in the 9M’23 are now caught in a serious debt situation as cost of operating capital is now rising, a situation that will impact their profit negatively, and also restrict their ability to pay higher dividend.
Financial information from 17 leading manufacturing companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited, NGX, showed that the finance cost (interest on borrowing) rose by a significant 332.3% percent to N589.623billion in 9M’23 from N136.379 billion in 9M’22.
The companies include: Nigerian Breweries, Dangote Cement, Lafarge Africa, Guinness Nigeria, Gsk, Beta Glass, Unilever Nigeria, Dangote Sugar, Okomu Oil.
Others are Nestle Nigeria, BUA Cement, Notore Chemicals, NASCON Allied Industries, Cadbury Nigeria, BUA Foods, Vitafoam Nigeria and International Breweries.
Analysts and investment experts have decried the high cost of borrowing from the banks, saying that the capital market remains the best financing option for manufacturers to run on long term funds.
International Breweries led the borrowing chart in absolute term recording N323.25 billion in 9M’23 from N148.99 billion in 9M’22. It was followed by Nigeria Breweries whose borrowing rose to N307.99 billion from N113.69 billion in the corresponding year 2022.
Dangote Cement occupied the third position posting N267.13 billion from N269.19 billion in 9M’22. It was followed by BUA Cement occupying the fourth position as its borrowings rose to N258.26 billion from N97.46 billion while BUA Foods followed as its borrowings surged to N 237.79 billion as against N211.67 billion in 9M’22.
Analysts’ insight
Victor Chiazor, Analyst and Head of Research & Investment at FSL Securities Limited said: “The manufacturing sector will continue to be negatively impacted by the high finance cost, especially given that the banks all responded to the high MPR. Until the Benchmark interest rate is reduced by the CBN, the banks won’t drop their interest rate and the high interest expense will continue to weaken the profitability of manufacturing companies and even throw some of them into loss positions.
“In the course of the year, if we see inflation taper down, the MPC team may begin to ease its hawkish stance and drop the MPR which should lead to a gradual drop in interest rates. However if rates remain high, the real sector of the economy will continue to struggle as the interest rates would be too expensive for businesses to thrive.
Also, though expensive, the option of raising equity capital remains viable especially for those who have impressive earning forecast, strong business model and a compelling story to tell. In the course of the year we may see one or two manufacturing companies raise equity capital from the capital market to support their businesses.”
Commenting on the cost of borrowing, he said: “The astronomical jump in finance cost relative to a midsize increase in actual borrowings by these public companies in a 9-month period of 2023 could have been due to multiplicity of factors around inflation: depreciation of the Naira; re-pricing of loans and other assets by lenders; high input cost; reduction or non availability of suppliers’ credit; etc.
The result of this is more inflationary pressure, as the affected companies are pressured to re-price their earning assets to recover costs or reduce losses.”
On government rendering support to the manufacturing sector, he said: “The government may not be able to assist every sector, except for a few companies who have benefited from CBN intervention funds and single digit interest rate borrowing, most are exposed to more of bank borrowing which will be highly toxic to business operations if interest rates remain elevated.”
Reacting to the increase in borrowing, David Adonri, analyst and Executive Chairman at Highcap Securities Limited, said: ” The manufacturing industry was first battered by the rising inflation throughout year 2023 which escalated their costs. Due to decline in purchasing power of consumers their cost recovery efforts failed to preserve their working capital. Hence, their resort to higher bank credit to keep them alive. With higher credit, finance cost will escalate.
“The second reason behind the balloon of their finance cost is the collateral damage they suffered from floating of the Naira. Their hard currency liability exposures magnified in multiple folds when the Naira suffered heavy depreciation. As a result, they had to borrow more money locally, to meet outstanding obligations.
This year, the factors that pressured them into excessive borrowing may not be replicated. The economy is expected to readjust to a new price level where prices will be more stable. However, to repair their damaged balance sheets, manufacturers may need to refinance their huge debt through the capital market.”
On how government intervention can aid manufacturers, Adonri, said: “The administrative intervention of government in the credit market through CBN has not been very effective. It continues to distort the market mechanism that ought to efficiently allocate credit in the economy. The interventions have also not been appropriately directed to the foundational sectors of the economy.
Fiscal intervention can be by way of subsidy to manufacturers to enhance production while monetary policy should target low interest rate environment. If manufacturing inputs can be internalized through appropriate fiscal measures, then manufacturing cost can reduce to the point where finance cost will become negligible.”
Commenting on the borrowings by manufacturing companies, an investment expert and CEO, Wyoming Capital and Partners, Tajudeen Olayinka, said: “Companies can borrow to improve production capacity and reduce average cost. Where this is the case, such borrowing is considered positive, and could improve fortunes of shareholders of the company. Where such borrowing does not improve production efficiency, it can become negative to the value of the company and make shareholders worse off. This is what most companies try to consider before borrowing from short-term money market or long-term capital market.”
On the benefits of borrowing by manufacturing companies, he said: “Borrowing that improves operational efficiency would naturally benefit customers and other stakeholders. Borrowing must be done to improve shareholders wealth; and customers must have been given thoughtful consideration before embarking on such borrowing.”
However, he lamented that, “Short-term borrowing from banks could be more expensive at this time, especially if we consider the effect of rising inflation and interest rate hike by Monetary Policy Committee of CBN, which has compelled many banks to re-price loans and other financial instruments, leading to higher borrowing costs for firms and public companies. Borrowing from banks could be more problematic at this time.
Regardless of cost implications to public companies, short-term borrowings from banks might have been provided as bridging facilities for more flexible long-term capital already arranged by those companies, or as a way of obtaining working capital. It could also be a sign of weakness in annexing suppliers’ credit by some of those companies.”
On whether the government can aid manufacturers, Adeyinka said: “That could be another way of asking the government to provide financial subsidy, when they are already enmeshed in a fiscal crisis. I think the best way is to allow the market to function, so that assets are properly priced in the long-term interest of the economy.”
Nigeria and Italy have strengthened collaboration on a campaign to mobilise $5bn for education financing worldwide through the Global Partnership for Education.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the collaboration was highlighted at the “Multiply Possibility: A New Era for Education Financing” high-level event held in New York, United States, on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The statement said President Bola Tinubu, in a video message to the event, noted that the GPE vision aligned with his administration’s agenda of improving educational outcomes by investing in access and capacity building for teachers.
The President also commended stakeholders in the GPE for their efforts towards accelerating education financing globally. Representing the President at the gathering, Vice President Kashim Shettima said education was an investment in Nigeria’s economic future, productivity, prosperity and stability.
He said, “For Nigeria, education is not an expenditure at the margins of our development agenda. It is an investment in our economic future, national productivity, and the prosperity and stability of our people.
“Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office in 2023, our Administration has substantially increased resources devoted to education, while pursuing reforms to strengthen basic education financing, expand foundational learning, and improve access to tertiary and technical education.
“Through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, we are widening access to higher education, while strengthening the link between education, skills, employment and enterprise.”
Shettima said Nigeria was looking beyond traditional budgetary allocations, noting that Tinubu had directed that liquid funds recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, once legally cleared and free from litigation, be channelled to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
The VP said the Federal Executive Council had also recently approved the consideration of unclaimed dividends and dormant funds for the same purpose, subject to relevant legal requirements.
He said this demonstrated Nigeria’s commitment to mobilising every responsible and lawful domestic source to finance education.
Citing Nigeria’s partnership with the World Bank and GPE through HOPE-EDU, Shettima said, “The programme is expected to reach approximately 29 million children and 500,000 teachers across Nigeria.”
He added: “This is precisely why GPE matters. GPE does not replace national investment; it multiplies it. The ambition before us is to mobilise US$5 billion for GPE and, through that investment, unlock additional financing for education in partner countries.
“Domestic resources must remain the anchor, complemented by development assistance, concessional finance, philanthropy and innovative financing.”
The Vice President said Nigeria’s growing population could become one of its greatest economic assets if its “young people have access to quality education, relevant skills and meaningful opportunities.”
He said the response to declining global aid “must therefore be smarter multilateralism: using scarce international resources to leverage much larger investments.”
Shettima urged participants to ensure that the initiative was not merely a fundraising exercise but “a renewed compact for human capital, bringing together national leadership, international partnership and responsible financing so that every child has the opportunity to learn, thrive and contribute to their country’s future.”
He also expressed Nigeria’s appreciation to the Italian government and GPE for joining the campaign, stressing that Nigeria was participating not merely to seek greater international investment but “to demonstrate that we are investing in education ourselves.”
Earlier, Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, praised Tinubu’s leadership and Nigeria’s determination to improve educational outcomes across all levels.
She urged partners in the global alliance to show greater commitment to reversing the trend in developing countries.
The UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, thanked partners for their interest in improving education financing in developing countries.
She called on international financial institutions to support committed countries in finding the fiscal space needed to improve educational outcomes, including capacity building for teachers.
Also speaking, the Chair of the Board of Directors of GPE, Jakaya Kikwete, underscored the need to accelerate education financing, noting that education remained central to human rights, security and peace.
Girls’ education activist, Malala Yousafzai, also called for greater collaboration in ideas and resources, urging governments and multilateral organisations to commit more resources towards gender equality in education.
The statement said governments and donors at the event made contributions towards the education of at least 370 million children globally, while the Italian government pledged €50m for GPE programmes and interventions.
Emmanuel Adeyemi, media aide to the immediate-past Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University, Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, has faulted the misinterpretation of his principal’s remarks on the payment of N1m fees by students of public universities in The PUNCH interview on Tuesday.
A flurry of reactions has trailed excerpts of the interview widely circulated across social media.
In a statement on Wednesday, Adeyemi said Olatunji-Bello did not suggest that students or their parents must pay N1m annually for university education.
He urged the public, media and education stakeholders to consider Olatunji-Bello’s complete remarks rather than isolated portions that, he said, could give a different impression of her position.
He explained that the former VC was speaking about the estimated cost of providing quality undergraduate education, while advocating innovative and diversified funding sources for universities.
According to Adeyemi, Olatunji-Bello’s remarks were made against the backdrop of the desire of Nigerians for university education comparable in quality to what is obtainable in other parts of the world.
He said the former VC had noted that delivering such quality education costs approximately N1m per student annually.
Adeyemi, however, stressed that Olatunji-Bello did not suggest that the entire cost should be transferred to students or their parents.
He said, “The immediate-past Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, has been widely quoted across social media as saying that students must pay N1m in fees for public universities to achieve self-sustainability.
“Distinguished Professor Olatunji-Bello’s remarks were made against the backdrop of Nigerians’ legitimate aspiration for university education that is genuinely comparable in quality to what is obtainable in other parts of the world, a standard that stands in sharp contrast to the comparatively low tuition fees currently charged by public universities in Nigeria.
“Her central argument was that delivering the quality of undergraduate education Nigerians rightly desire costs, on average, approximately N1m per student annually.
“Crucially, however, she did not suggest that this cost must necessarily be transferred wholesale onto students or their parents.”
Adeyemi said the remarks, when read in their entirety, reflected Olatunji-Bello’s call for universities to pursue innovation and develop diversified revenue streams to achieve financial sustainability.
He added, “This is precisely why, in response to the interview question on institutional self-sustainability, she began by stating: ‘Universities can achieve financial self-sustainability. If they can innovate and ensure improvements in the institution, money will come in.
“She went on to add: ‘I enjoin parents to ensure their children are well-educated by prioritising their fees. Good quality education needs money.’”
Adeyemi said the ex-VC’s position reflected a broader call for universities to pursue innovation and diversified revenue streams as the primary pathway to financial sustainability, while also reminding parents of the genuine cost implications of quality education and encouraging shared responsibility rather than assigning that burden to any single party.
He said the former VC sought to remind parents of the cost implications of quality education and encourage shared responsibility for funding university education.
“We urge members of the public, the media, and stakeholders in the education sector to engage with Distinguished Professor Olatunji-Bello’s complete remarks in their proper context, rather than isolated soundbites that do not accurately reflect the full weight and intent of her position,” he added.
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has directed the commencement of payment of outstanding gratuity to retired civil servants from 2012 to 2016.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Auwal Jatau, announced this on Wednesday, saying the exercise would commence with the first batch of beneficiaries, while subsequent payments would be made until all eligible retirees had received their entitlements.
Mohammed said the state government had committed N10bn towards addressing the accumulated gratuity obligations owed to retirees.
He explained that the validated historical records showed that the total outstanding obligations for the period amounted to N11.71bn, comprising liabilities owed to state and local government retirees.
According to him, the state component involves 3,570 beneficiaries with obligations amounting to N6.13bn, while the local government component covers 2,262 beneficiaries with outstanding obligations of N5.58bn.
The governor said the payment would be implemented progressively based on the chronology of outstanding obligations, completeness of supporting records, validation and reconciliation processes, as well as the resources approved for each phase.
He said, “No eligible pensioner should interpret this first phase as an exclusion. We are beginning from defined historical brackets so that government can process systematically and transparently.
“We are starting here, but we are not stopping here. The validated historical records before government cover the accumulated obligations.”
Mohammed noted that many retired workers had waited for more than a decade to receive their gratuity, describing the backlog as one of the most challenging issues inherited by his administration.
He said, “Today, we say to you, your wait is finally coming to an end. Acknowledging the plight of our senior citizens, when we talk about monthly living, there should be dignity.
“It is a systemic injustice when, after finishing years of service, you are unable to receive your hard-earned entitlement. Sadly, we have lost some of our colleagues along the way without them tasting the fruit of their labour.”
The governor said the government recognised the contributions of retirees who spent decades building the state’s infrastructure, schools, healthcare system and administrative machinery.
He added that the government had established the Bauchi State Contributory Pension Scheme to strengthen the management of pension-related matters, including data validation, verification and reconciliation.
Mohammed directed the relevant committee and officials overseeing the exercise to ensure transparency, speed and fairness in the disbursement.
He said there should be no bureaucratic bottlenecks during the verification process and directed that senior citizens should be given priority and treated with dignity.
The governor said the payment was not merely a financial intervention but a demonstration of the government’s commitment to addressing inherited obligations and improving the welfare of retirees.
He urged beneficiaries to provide the necessary documentation, cooperate with the verification process and use the payments prudently to support themselves and their families.
The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Abubakar Sulaiman, said the legislature unanimously approved the release of funds for the payment of the outstanding gratuity.
Sulaiman said the House had remained concerned about the hardship faced by retirees as a result of the accumulated backlog.
He said, “The commencement of this month’s payment of gratuity is an important step towards addressing a long-standing obligation to the men and women who devoted their productive years to the service and development of our dear state.
“The House has demonstrated its commitment through concrete legislative action by approving the request of the government to secure the necessary financing for the settlement of outstanding gratuity.”
The Speaker said the House approved the measure because gratuity was an entitlement earned through years of dedicated service and should not be regarded as a favour to retired workers.
He commended Governor Bala Mohammed for responding to the resolutions of the House and demonstrating political will towards addressing the longstanding liability.
Sulaiman said the exercise was expected to commence with about 1,700 retirees across the state.
He assured retirees that the House would continue to provide legislative support and oversight to ensure that the welfare and legitimate entitlements of workers and pensioners received adequate attention.
Nigeria, Italy lead $5bn global education financing campaign
Ex-LASU VC’s N1m fee remark misinterpreted – Spokesperson
Bauchi begins N10bn gratuity backlog payment
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