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OPS reacts on CBN’s interest rates reduction

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The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria has reduced the country’s benchmark interest rate to 27.00 per cent, the first cut in 2025 after three consecutive pauses, signaling a shift in policy towards supporting economic recovery.

While welcoming the move, members of the Organised Private Sector argued that the reduction remains marginal and insufficient to ease the credit squeeze on manufacturers and small businesses.

Announcing the decision at a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja after the committee’s 302nd meeting, CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso said all 12 members voted in favour of a 50-basis point cut from 27.5 per cent.

The committee also adjusted the Standing Facilities corridor to +250/-250 basis points, raised the Cash Reserve Requirement for commercial banks to 45 per cent while retaining merchant banks at 16 per cent, and introduced a 75 per cent CRR on non-TSA public sector deposits. The Liquidity Ratio was left unchanged at 30 per cent.

Cardoso explained that the decision was underpinned by “sustained disinflation recorded in the past five months, projections of declining inflation for the rest of 2025, and the need to support economic recovery efforts.”

The MPC noted that headline inflation slowed to 20.12 per cent in August from 21.88 per cent in July. Food inflation fell to 21.87 per cent from 22.74 per cent, while core inflation eased to 20.33 per cent from 21.33 per cent. On a month-to-month basis, inflation dropped sharply to 0.74 per cent in August compared with 1.99 per cent in July.

“This reduction is the first under my leadership and the first in five years,” Cardoso noted. The last time Nigeria cut its policy rate was in September 2020, when it dropped from 12.5 per cent to 11.5 per cent.

Across Africa, a similar trend is unfolding. Just last week, Ghana slashed its policy rate by 350 basis points to 21.5 per cent, while Kenya reduced its benchmark to 9.5 per cent in August. Nigeria’s cut, however, still leaves it with one of the highest rates on the continent.

The MPC also highlighted positive macroeconomic trends, particularly Nigeria’s second-quarter GDP growth of 4.23 per cent, up from 3.13 per cent in the first quarter.

The rebound was largely driven by the oil sector, which expanded by 20.46 per cent compared with just 1.87 per cent in the previous quarter.

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The committee commended the Federal Government for improved security in oil-producing regions, noting that sustained production growth would strengthen external reserves and stabilize the naira.

Foreign reserves rose to $43.05bn as of September 11, 2025, up from $40.51bn at the end of July, providing an import cover of 8.28 months. The current account balance also recorded a surplus of $5.28bn in Q2, up from $2.85bn in Q1.

Cardoso disclosed that 14 banks had already met the new recapitalisation requirements, with the sector remaining resilient and financial soundness indicators within prudential benchmarks.

Looking ahead, the MPC projected continued disinflation, supported by exchange rate stability, declining petrol prices, and the harvest season. The next MPC meeting is scheduled for November 24–25, 2025.

 

 

OPS reacts

While the rate cut was widely acknowledged as a step in the right direction, members of the Organised Private Sector argued that the reduction remains marginal and insufficient to ease the credit squeeze on manufacturers and small businesses.

Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Segun Ajayi-Kadir, described the cut as welcome but inadequate. “Virtually every time the MPC meets, what we anticipate is a reduction in rates. This is welcome, but it has not gotten us anywhere near our expectations. Manufacturers need to borrow at no more than five per cent for that borrowing to be supportive of production,” he said.

Ajayi-Kadir emphasised that no bank would lend at a rate below the MPR, meaning credit costs remain unaffordable. “It signals a rethinking by the CBN, but manufacturers still await a time when rates will be significantly lower,” he added.

Similarly, the Director-General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Adewale Oyerinde, warned that the cut’s impact might be undermined by other restrictive measures such as the high CRR. “If credit costs are lowered, businesses can access affordable financing, expand investments, and create jobs. But the persistently high CRR and liquidity restrictions risk limiting these outcomes,” Oyerinde said.

He pointed out that while inflation moderated in August, food inflation at 21.87 per cent continues to erode disposable incomes. “Macroeconomic stability must translate into tangible relief for Nigerians,” he added, urging the government to complement monetary policy with structural reforms.

The President of the Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria, Dr Femi Egbesola, called the rate cut a “good start” but “insignificant” in the broader context. “Compared to other developing countries, ours still ranks among the highest. Access to finance remains the number one challenge of SMEs. A 0.5 reduction is insignificant compared to the pressure on the real sector,” he said.

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Egbesola called for special credit windows at single-digit rates for small businesses, stressing that alternative funding sources beyond banks must also be explored.

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise echoed similar sentiments, commending the MPC’s move but stressing the need for complementary fiscal reforms.

Its Director, Dr Muda Yusuf, described the rate cut as “a welcome and timely intervention,” adding that the lower MPR combined with a reduced CRR should expand banks’ capacity to create credit and lower lending rates. This will support business expansion, stimulate output growth, and create jobs,” Yusuf said.

He, however, stressed that monetary easing alone is not enough. “Fiscal authorities must prioritise infrastructure to reduce production costs, strengthen the regulatory framework, and sustain fiscal consolidation to ensure macroeconomic stability and investor confidence,” he said.

Yusuf further urged the government to address insecurity, which continues to threaten private investment and rural productivity.

Observers agree that the CBN’s decision marks a significant shift in monetary policy, moving from stabilisation towards growth acceleration. Analysts note that while inflation remains elevated, the trend of disinflation provides room for cautious easing to support recovery.

For manufacturers, small businesses, and employers, the cut is a signal of intent but falls short of delivering immediate relief. The consensus across the OPS is that credit costs must drop significantly further, ideally into single digits, to unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s productive sectors.

As Yusuf summed it up: “If sustained and backed by fiscal and structural reforms, the new stance could stimulate growth, improve private sector performance, boost revenues, and moderate inflation sustainably in the medium to long term.”

On its part, the Nigeria Labour Congress described the CBN’s reduction of the Monetary Policy Rate from 27.50 per cent to 27 per cent as a step in the right direction, but cautioned that borrowing costs remain prohibitively high for businesses.

The Assistant Secretary-General of the NLC, Onyekachi Christopher, told The PUNCH that while it is encouraging that policymakers are considering rate reductions, the current level of 27 per cent remains very high.

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“As an organisation advocating for the welfare of workers, we hope to see manufacturers gain better access to financing, produce more goods, hire additional employees, and contribute more meaningfully to the economy,” Onyekachi said. “Easier access to bank loans would support these goals, creating long-term benefits for both businesses and workers.”

Professor of Economics and former Vice-Chancellor of Crescent University, Abeokuta, Sheriffdeen Tella, said while interest rate theory is more applicable in advanced economies, it remains relevant for Nigeria.

“The CBN likely felt it could reduce rates now that inflation is coming down. High interest rates increase borrowing costs, which in turn raise production costs for businesses. At current levels, borrowing is still unattractive because profits rarely exceed 20–30 per cent annually, making loans hard to justify. Although the reduction is a positive start, rates remain relatively high,” he said.

Former Zenith Bank Chief Economist Marcel Okeke said the rate cut signals the beginning of a loosening in the CBN’s tight monetary stance. “The Monetary Policy Rate is largely indicative. It signals to commercial banks that they may start easing their lending rates rather than keeping them high continuously. Essentially, it shows that the CBN is beginning to loosen its tight monetary stance,” he said.

Okeke noted that historically, high lending rates were driven by the CBN’s tight policy, which pushed the MPR to around 27.5 per cent. “This reduction is the start of reversing that trend. Even if banks only reduce rates by 1–2 per cent, it is symbolic but meaningful. In the next CBN meeting in November, further reductions could follow if inflation continues to decline,” the economist added.

He highlighted that inflation has fallen from almost 35 per cent in December 2024 to about 20.13 per cent in August 2025. “If it continues to fall to around 17–18 per cent, the CBN is likely to reduce the NPR further.

“Lower interest rates make loans more affordable, increasing access to credit and stimulating economic activity. However, the effect isn’t immediate; there is a time lag between policy implementation and visible impact. Further cuts will also depend on exchange rate stability and inflation trends,” Okeke said.

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NNPC serviced $3bn loan with N991bn crude – Report

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December 6, 2025

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has serviced part of its $3bn forward-sale loan from the African Export-Import Bank with crude oil worth N991bn in 2024, according to its 2024 financial statement report. The repayment was tied to Project Gazelle, a forward crude oil supply agreement signed in 2023.

On August 17, 2023, The PUNCH reported that the NNPC announced it had secured a $3.3bn emergency loan to repay crude oil obligations from Afreximbank. It explained that the loan would be used by the oil company to support the Federal Government in stabilising Nigeria’s exchange rate.

“The NNPC Ltd. and AFREXIM bank have jointly signed a commitment letter and Termsheet for an emergency $3bn crude oil repayment loan,” NNPC said in a statement.

“The signing, which took place today at the bank’s headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, will provide some immediate disbursement that will enable the NNPC Ltd. to support the Federal Government in its ongoing fiscal and monetary policy reforms aimed at stabilising the exchange rate market,” it added.

Under the deal, NNPC committed to deliver 90,000 barrels of crude oil per day from Production Sharing Contract assets to back a funding facility. According to the 2023 financial statement, a drawdown of $2.25bn had already been achieved by 31st December 2023, with principal repayment scheduled to begin in June 2024.

The funding carried an interest rate of 3-month LIBOR plus 6.5 per cent, with a 6 per cent margin and 0.5 per cent liquidity premium.

According to the 2024 financial statement, the drawdown on the facility had reached N4.9tn out of a total available N5.1tn, while N991bn worth of crude oil had been lifted in repayment, leaving an outstanding balance of N3.8tn at the end of 2024.

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The report read, “In December 2023, NNPC Limited entered into a forward sale agreement with Project Gazelle Funding Limited to supply 90,000 bbl. of crude oil per day from Production Sharing Contract Assets for the settlement of a 5-year N2.7tn funding.

“The funding was utilised by the company to finance an advance payment of future taxes and royalty obligations due to the federation on PSC assets managed by the Company on behalf of the Federation.

“As at 31st December 2024, a drawdown of N4.9tn has been achieved from the initial facility of N5.1tn. The interest rate for the facility is 3-month SOFA plus 6.5 per cent while the margin and Liquidity Premium of 0.5 per cent respectively. A total value of Crude Oil worth N991bn has been lifted with a balance of N3.8tn as at 31st December 2024.”

The repayment was made between June and December 2024. However, NNPC did not disclose the identity of the offtakers or exact delivery volumes fulfilled in 2024.

The Project Gazelle arrangement has become one of NNPC’s most significant forward-sale financing vehicles, following a trend of oil-backed loans designed to shore up government revenues, refinance legacy debts, and meet budgetary obligations amid limited fiscal buffers.

The PUNCH earlier reported that the NNPC Ltd is burdened with crude-backed loan obligations estimated at N8.07tn.

The liabilities stretch across multiple forward-sale and project-financing arrangements that are expected to be serviced through substantial crude oil and gas deliveries. The commitments have become a major pillar of NNPCL’s funding structure following years of fiscal pressure, volatile crude production, and declining upstream investment.

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Several of the facilities were used to refinance older debts, fund refinery rehabilitation, support cash flow, and meet government revenue obligations.

When assessed together, the company’s major crude-for-loan facilities—Eagle Export Funding (21,000 bpd), Project Yield (67,000 bpd), Project Leopard (35,000 bpd), and Project Gazelle (90,000 bpd)—represent a combined commitment of 213,000 barrels per day, in addition to separate gas-delivery obligations under the NLNG arrangement.

The volume equates to a sizeable share of Nigeria’s daily crude output, underscoring the long-term implications of these arrangements for government revenue, export allocation, and operational flexibility.

The PUNCH also reported that Nigeria’s gross profit from crude oil and gas sales plunged by N824.66bn in 2024 despite a rebound in oil production, according to figures from the Budget Implementation Report for the fourth quarter of 2024 released by the Budget Office of the Federation.

Data from the report revealed that gross profit from crude and gas sales fell to N1.08tn during the year, from N1.90tn in 2023, representing a 43.32 per cent decline.

The Chief Executive Officer of AHA Strategies and oil and gas expert, Mr Ademola Adigun, earlier linked Nigeria’s declining oil earnings to opaque crude-for-cash agreements and undisclosed loan repayments that have tied up part of the country’s crude output.

He said some of the government’s oil barrels were already committed to debt settlements and forward-sale contracts, reducing the actual volume that brought fresh revenue into the Federation Account.

Adigun said, “Some of our crude is already tied up in loan agreements. The problem is that Nigeria doesn’t know the full details of these transactions because there’s little transparency around them.”

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He explained that several crude-backed projects, such as Project Gazelle, were carried out without proper public disclosure or parliamentary scrutiny.

He added that the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative should strengthen its audits to determine how much of the country’s crude is being used for debt repayment or swap transactions.

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Yuletide: Dangote assures Nigerians of stable fuel supply

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December 6, 2025

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Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, on Friday said Nigerians will no longer experience fuel queues during the Christmas and New Year seasons.

Briefing State House correspondents after meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, Dangote said his refinery has formally notified the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority of its readiness to deliver 50 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit daily, far above national consumption.

He said, “Historically, Nigeria has battled fuel queues since 1972. For the first time, we are eliminating those queues, not through imports but by producing locally.

“Even when we were servicing the refinery, there were no queues. I can assure you that queues are now history.”

Dangote stated that the refinery will soon produce surplus volumes, adding that by February, it will supply 15–20 million litres more than Nigeria needs.

This, he argued, will allow exports to neighbouring countries, reducing the incidence of fuel scarcity across West Africa.

The industrialist also disclosed that domestic manufacturers, especially in the plastics industry, will now enjoy reliable access to locally produced feedstock, ending years of reliance on imports estimated at $400m annually.

Dangote also announced an expansion programme that will raise refinery capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day by 2028, surpassing India’s Reliance refinery, the world’s largest, at 1.25 million barrels per day.

“We have already signed the necessary agreements.

“Construction piling begins before the end of January, and we will deliver on schedule,” he announced.

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He revealed plans to scale up the company’s urea production to 12 million tonnes annually, positioning Nigeria to overtake Russia and Qatar as the world’s leading producer.

“Our goal is to use our fertilizer company to supply the entire African continent,” Dangote said.

Dangote attributed the recent drop in petrol and diesel prices to increased competition and reduced smuggling.

“Prices are going down because we must compete with imports.

“Luckily, smuggling has dropped significantly, though not completely,” he explained.

He noted that the refinery business is a long-term national investment, saying, “We’re not here to recover $20 billion overnight.

“The legacy I want to leave is that whatever Nigerians need, fuel, fertiliser, power, we will be part of delivering it.”

Dangote further highlighted logistics constraints affecting Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, particularly the congestion of major ports.

“Apapa is full. Tin Can is full. Lekki is mainly for containers.

“You cannot export coal or copper if you have nowhere to ship from,” he noted.

To curb this, he explained that the Group is developing what would become West Africa’s largest deep-sea port at Olokola, expected to be completed in two to two-and-a-half years.

The Kano-born businessman expressed support for the Tinubu administration’s naira-for-crude initiative, describing it as a patriotic move to strengthen the economy, although he acknowledged pushback from international oil companies.

According to him, “It’s a teething problem, but it will be resolved, either through legislation or administrative action.”

On concerns about global competition, Dangote maintained that the refinery will thrive.

He said, “What we want is to make Nigeria the refining hub of Africa. All African countries import fuel. We want what we consume to be produced here.”

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He also endorsed the government’s Nigeria-first industrial policy and urged wealthy Nigerians to channel resources into productive investment rather than luxury spending.

“If you have money for a private jet, invest in industries and create jobs,” he stated, adding that domestic investors must drive industrialisation to attract foreign capital.

Dangote acknowledged past hurdles, policy instability, smuggling, and factory closures, but expressed optimism that the country is now on a stable path toward sustainable industrial growth.

“Domestic investors must lead the way. Once they do, foreign investors will follow.

“Nobody advertises a good restaurant; when the food is good, word spreads,” he explained.

He described his meeting with President Tinubu as a routine consultation on the economy and business environment, noting that it was “a very fruitful meeting.”

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OPay secures double honours at Tech Innovation Awards

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2 days ago

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December 5, 2025

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Nigeria’s premier financial technology company, OPay, has been named Fintech Company of the Year and Best Fintech in Cybersecurity at the ninth Tech Innovation Awards.

In a statement on Thursday, OPay said the award was in recognition of its innovation and security leadership.

The awards ceremony, held on 29 November 2025, in Lagos, convened top organisations and industry leaders who shape the country’s digital landscape.

Speaking after receiving the honours, Chief Compliance Officer at OPay, Chukwudinma Okafor, said, “These awards are a testament to our relentless pursuit of excellence in fintech and our unwavering commitment to user security. Every innovation we introduce, from secure payments to advanced compliance measures, is designed to give millions of Nigerians the confidence to transact safely. This recognition belongs as much to our dedicated team as it does to the users who inspire us to continually raise the bar for excellence in fintech and cybersecurity.”

Highlighting OPay’s proactive approach to security, Chief Commercial Officer Elizabeth Wang said, “We are incredibly proud to receive both Fintech Company of the Year and Best Fintech in Cybersecurity at the 9th Tech Innovation Awards, two recognitions that highlight our dedication to security and user protection. At OPay, we believe that equipping users with the knowledge and advanced tools is essential to building trust and promoting financial inclusion. This was demonstrated through our OPay Security Vote Campaign some months ago, a dynamic social media initiative that educated users on our in-app security features. The campaign has helped millions of Nigerians understand how to protect their accounts and transact safely, reinforcing that security is central to everything we do. Hence, these awards recognise not only our leadership in fintech but also our commitment to keeping every transaction secure and our customers confident in their financial journey.”

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OPay was established in 2018 as a leading financial institution in Nigeria with the mission to make financial services more inclusive through technology. The company offers a wide range of payment services, including money transfer, bill payment, card service, airtime and data purchase, and merchant payments, among others. Renowned for its fast and reliable network and strong security features that protect customers’ funds, OPay is licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria and insured by the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation with the same insurance coverage as commercial banks.

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