Deposit Money Banks Credit to Economy Rose to N19.33 Trillion in August

The total credit facility to the economy rose to N19.33 trillion in the month of August.

The Central Bank of Nigeria-led monetary committee disclosed on Tuesday after the nation’s monetary policy committee meeting.

The committee attributed the improvement to the 65 percent loan-to-deposit ratio policy implemented to compel the nation’s deposit money banks to join central bank efforts at growing the real sector of the economy.

Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, who spoke during the meeting said “The bank’s policy on Loan to Deposit ratio also resulted in a significant growth in credit to various sectors from N15.57tn to N19.33tn between end-May 2019 and end-August 2020, an increase of N3.77tn.

“This growth in credit was mainly to manufacturing (N866.27bn), consumer credit (N527.65bn), oil and gas (N477.65bn), agriculture (N287.11bn) and construction (N270.97bn).”

On monetary aggregates, broad money supply (M3) rose to 6.93 per cent (year-to-date) in August 2020 from 5.23 per cent in July 2020, reflecting the increase in both Net Foreign Assets and Net Domestic Assets.

He said total domestic credit grew by 6.94 percent in August 2020, lower than the 9.43 percent recorded in July 2020.

The committee reduced the nation’s benchmark interest rate by 100 basis points to 11.5 percent, down from the previous 12.5 percent.