E-Financial
N21trn Illusion: How Banks’ Appetite for Government Debt Chokes Growth
By Blaise Udunze
In a healthy economy, banks serve as the arteries through which capital flows to productive enterprises, creating jobs, stimulating innovation, and driving national prosperity. In Nigeria, however, the reverse has become true as the financial system now thrives not by financing growth, but by funding government deficits. It is an irony where banks grow richer as the economy grows weaker.
Government securities such as FGN Bonds, Treasury Bills, and Open Market Operation (OMO) Bills that were once meant to manage liquidity or finance short-term fiscal gaps have now become the lifeblood of Nigeria’s banking profitability. These instruments are considered risk-free and are backed by the full faith of the federal government. With the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) consistently raising interest rates to attract foreign capital and tame inflation, the yields on these securities have remained highly attractive, making them an irresistible refuge for banks seeking easy profits without the burden of lending risks.
The appeal is understandable with guaranteed returns without the uncertainties of default, collateral disputes, or policy instability. In contrast, lending to the private sector, especially manufacturing, agriculture, and SMEs, comes with high default rates, weak collateral frameworks, and volatile market conditions. Facing these odds, banks have turned away from real-sector lending, preferring to feed off the government’s insatiable appetite for domestic borrowing.
Monetary policy has only deepened this pattern. The CBN’s tightening stance, reflected in elevated Monetary Policy Rates (MPR) and Cash Reserve Ratios (CRR), has made commercial lending less attractive. When interest rates rise, so do returns on T-bills and bonds, prompting banks to reallocate capital toward government securities. Moreover, regulatory provisions permit banks to count government securities as part of their liquidity ratio, making the choice both profitable and compliant.
Macroeconomic instability, exchange rate volatility, inflation, and unpredictable fiscal direction further discourage long-term private lending. At the same time, many small and medium enterprises lack the collateral or formal structures required to access loans. Even when eligible, the prohibitive cost of borrowing, often above 27 percent, makes credit commercially unviable.
According to the CBN’s Financial Stability Report (2023), Nigerian banks held over N21 trillion in government securities, which was more than 40 percent of their total assets. Between 2020 and 2024, the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) observed that banks’ exposure to government instruments grew by 20-25 percent annually, while credit to the real sector expanded by less than 10 percent. The message is clear, revealing that the banking system has become addicted to sovereign debt.
Recent disclosures from the country’s largest banks provide empirical evidence of this troubling trend.
– UBA’s H1 2025 interim report shows gross earnings of N1.61 trillion, with interest income of N1.33 trillion. Remarkably, N1.29 trillion of that interest income, which is nearly the entire figure, came from investment securities (amortised cost and FVOCI). This means the bank’s earnings were driven overwhelmingly by returns from government instruments rather than productive lending.
– Access Holdings, in its FY 2024 report, noted that improved yields were “supported by higher returns from investment securities and fixed-income trading activities,” confirming that the bulk of its profit growth came from government instruments rather than credit expansion.
– GTCO’s FY 2024 and H1 2025 statements similarly highlighted higher yields on fixed-income securities and FX revaluation gains as major profit drivers, again underscoring the dominance of non-lending income sources.
– Zenith Bank’s investor updates for FY 2024 and Q1 2025 openly stated that “deliberate exposure to government securities boosted earnings,” pointing to a strategic shift toward sovereign debt holdings as a core profit engine.
The data reveals a uniform pattern across Nigeria’s banking industry: profits are being driven by government securities and FX-related gains, not by lending that creates jobs or stimulates production. In UBA’s case, interest from securities alone almost matched its total interest income, illustrating how lending has become a marginal activity. Access, Zenith, and GTCO’s disclosures also confirm that 2024 and early 2025 profitability was underpinned by investment securities and trading gains, which is a model that rewards financial inertia rather than developmental impact.
This trend has far-reaching implications. When banks channel funds toward government debt instead of private enterprise, the productive sector suffers chronic credit starvation. Nigeria’s private-sector credit-to-GDP ratio, hovering around 15-18 percent, pales in comparison to over 100 percent in developed economies and 45-60 percent in emerging markets. With limited access to capital, businesses shrink, factories close, and unemployment deepens. The economy becomes trapped in a cycle of low productivity, weak growth, and worsening inequality.
While banks celebrate record profits, those profits are increasingly disconnected from the real economy. This “risk-free banking” model may appear sound, but it is economically corrosive. It fuels short-term gains at the expense of long-term growth and exposes the system to sovereign risk. Should the government’s fiscal position deteriorate or interest rates spike further, the value of these securities could plummet, leaving banks overexposed and vulnerable.
The CBN has tried to correct course through its Loan-to-Deposit Ratio (LDR) directive, mandating that at least 65 percent of deposits be lent to the real sector. But compliance has been inconsistent and often artificial. Some banks engage in creative accounting or short-term consumer loans to meet the benchmark, without truly supporting productive sectors. The real challenge lies in policy incoherence when a government is too dependent on domestic borrowing and a regulatory environment that fails to reward productive risk-taking.
Nigeria’s financial system urgently needs to return to its primary role: fueling enterprise, not feeding bureaucracy. The government must reduce its borrowing appetite through fiscal discipline and tax reforms. The CBN should create a balanced incentive framework that rewards real-sector lending through credit guarantees, differentiated reserve requirements, and stable macroeconomic policies.
For banks, the call is moral, strategic, and patriotic. True banking is not merely about profit maximization but about building the foundation of national prosperity. The health of the sector depends on the strength of the economy it serves.
Nigeria cannot continue banking on the wrong side of growth. Every Treasury Bill purchased instead of a manufacturing loan and every bond bought in place of agricultural credit widens the gulf between financial success and economic failure. It is time for a reset to make banking once again the engine of real growth, not a spectator profiting from decline.
Blaise, a journalist and PR professional writes from Lagos, can be reached via: [email protected]
National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has declared that it has no plans to extend the 31 July 2026, deadline for the ongoing insurance industry recapitalisation exercise, asserting that the date is firmly rooted in the new Insurance Act.
Speaking at the investiture of Mr Akinjide Oluwarotimi-Orimolade as the 53rd president of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) in Lagos, Olusegun Omosehin, commissioner for Insurance, emphasised that the exercise remained central to building a resilient market.
With less than two weeks left before the window closes, the regulator commended operators making steady progress but stressed that the timeline must be treated with absolute urgency.
Omosehin said, “A stronger capital base must translate into stronger service delivery, prompt claims settlement, improved consumer protection, and a market that Nigerians can trust.
“The industry’s future will be determined by the quality of leadership, depth of competence, and discipline in serving the public interest.”
The ongoing exercise follows the historic signing of the Nigeria Insurance Industry Reform Act by President Bola Tinubu, which effectively repealed the outdated 2003 Insurance Act. Under the new framework, the sector is transitioning from a static baseline model to a dynamic risk-based capital structure. This regulatory shift aims to fortify operators against systemic economic shocks and better position the industry to contribute significantly to the Federal Government’s target of a $1tn economy.
Consequently, the exercise requires a massive capital lift across the board, pushing life underwriters from N2bn to N10bn, non-life operators from N3bn to N15bn, and reinsurers from N10bn to N35bn.
The push comes amid strong legislative alignment, with the National Assembly pledging its full backing to ensure these reforms translate into deeper market penetration.
Also speaking at the event, Ahmadu Jaha, chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Insurance and Actuarial Matters, reaffirmed the parliament’s dedication to providing the necessary legal frameworks to drive sector growth.
Jaha said, “As Chairman of the House Committee on Insurance and Actuarial Matters, I wish to reaffirm the unwavering commitment of the House of Representatives to supporting legislative initiatives that will strengthen the insurance industry, improve regulatory effectiveness, enhance consumer protection and promote wider insurance penetration across Nigeria.
“The National Assembly recognises the critical role of the insurance industry in mobilising long-term capital, financing infrastructure development, protecting businesses and households against unforeseen risks, promoting financial stability and driving sustainable economic growth.”
Responding to the charge, the newly inaugurated Orimolade, president, CIIN, stated that his administration would aggressively protect the public interest by advancing the core mandates of the institute.
Orimolade promised “to build on the programmes of my predecessors while evolving new ideas that can further increase insurance education, awareness and acceptance across the country.”
Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has resumed implementation of the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025 (DEON Regulations).
This follows the judgment delivered yesterday by Justice A.L. Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/760/2026 instituted by the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria Ltd/Gte (WASPAN).
In the ruling, the Court dismissed the Plaintiff’s Originating Summons in its entirety, declined all the reliefs sought, and upheld the validity of the DEON Regulations, holding that they were made pursuant to the FCCPC’s statutory and constitutional powers and are therefore intra vires the Commission.
The Court also upheld the validity of the specific provisions of the Regulations challenged in the suit and consequently discharged the interim ex parte order that had restrained implementation and enforcement of the Regulations.
Accordingly, the legal impediment that had necessitated the Commission’s temporary suspension of implementation and enforcement of the DEON Regulations has been removed, and the Regulations are once again fully operational and enforceable.
WASPAN had challenged the Commission’s authority to issue and implement the DEON Regulations. Upon being served with the Court’s interim order in April 2026, the FCCPC immediately suspended implementation and enforcement of the Regulations in full compliance with the Court’s directive, consistent with its commitment to the rule of law and respect for judicial authority.
Meanwhile, the FCCPC has welcomed the judgement.
Reacting, Ondaje ljagwu, director of Corporate Affairs, FCCPC, said: “The Commission has always maintained that the rule of law is fundamental to effective regulation and good governance. When the Court issued its interim order, we immediately suspended implementation of the Regulations in full compliance with the Court’s directive. Now that the Court has affirmed the validity of the DEON Regulations and delivered judgment in favour of the Commission, we will continue to discharge our statutory responsibilities faithfully, professionally and in accordance with the law.
“The DEON Regulations are designed to promote responsible lending, improve regulatory accountability, curb unfair and exploitative practices, and strengthen consumer protection in Nigeria’s digital lending market. Our objective has always been to ensure that innovation and financial inclusion flourish within a transparent, fair and accountable regulatory framework that inspires confidence among consumers, investors and responsible operators alike.
Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has urged youths to shun investment scams and embrace the habit of saving.
NDIC said that for a nation to be prosperous, its citizens must learn to build legitimate wealth through savings and then advance to investment.
Mr Adegbenga Fagbuyi, assistant director, Communication and Corporate Affairs, NDIC, made the remarks while addressing students of Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan, during the 2026 Financial Literacy Day.
Delivering his speech on “Smart Money,” Fagbuyi highlighted the importance of having basic knowledge of the financial system, making sound financial decisions, understanding the benefits of saving in banks, setting financial goals, maintaining financial discipline, and avoiding Ponzi schemes that promise high returns.
Fagbuyi said youths are among the major targets of the government’s financial inclusion drive, adding that the Financial Literacy Day formed part of activities marking Global Money Week, adopted by the Bankers’ Committee in Nigeria as a platform for mentoring youths on savings and investment.
He said, “The government wants everybody to be participants in the financial sector. But how can you be a participant if you don’t know how to save? How can you be a participant if you cannot convert your savings into an investment? So, most importantly, youths are one of the major targets of the financial inclusion drive of the government.”
Fagbuyi described financial inclusion as bringing everybody into the financial safety net by encouraging participation in banking, insurance, pensions, and the capital market.
He stressed that the government does not want youths to become adults who lack knowledge of safe banking practices, insurance, and the capital market.
“Government does not want them to grow old, to become adults who do not know about savings, safe banking habits, insurance, and the capital market. That is why we go to schools to sensitise students to all these basic financial matters, particularly savings, so that our students can begin to learn to save, learn credible investment habits through which they can be making legitimate income.
“We also educate them about the deposit insurance system administered by NDIC. When you save in banks, the banks are supervised and regulated. And if eventually they fail, you will not lose your money. That is what NDIC does,” Fagbuyi said.
He revealed that the sensitisation programme, which started about 10 years ago and is organised by the Bankers’ Committee, comprising the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, and all the deposit money banks in Nigeria, has been held across states nationwide.
He said, “Minimum, every year, we go to 10 states. And we normally sensitise 200 students in each school. So this year, that means we are targeting 2,000 students.”
Fagbuyi, however, said the objective of the programme is not to cover all schools across the country but to set a standard for state governments and schools to replicate.
“But I must emphasise that the objective is not to cover all schools. It is to set a standard for state governments and for schools to replicate. You agree with me that we cannot be everywhere.
“But as a partner, as a key stakeholder in the financial inclusion drive of the federal government, we go to states to showcase what the government’s intention, so that states and schools can replicate. So it is on this note that we always urge states’ Ministries of Education, Science and Technology to replicate and expand these programmes across their respective states.”
In his address, Olusegun Olayiwola, Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, represented by Alhaji Lukuman Kareem, permanent secretary, Education Inspectorate, Ibadan North, commended the NDIC for selecting a school in Ibadan for the financial literacy sensitisation programme.
He noted that such initiatives must go beyond the classroom to shape young minds, adding that children cannot achieve expected outcomes unless they are properly guided.
“That’s why we significantly appreciate the efforts of the Bankers’ Committee, NDIC, the Central Bank of Nigeria, and all other members for this,” he said.
The commissioner charged the students to take the lessons seriously, noting that opportunities lost may not be easily regained. He also advised the NDIC to expand the programme to include students from neighbouring schools in future editions to maximise its impact without additional transportation costs.
Additionally, Olayiwola urged teachers to cascade the training to other students, who should in turn enlighten their siblings at home.
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