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Nigeria’s Borrowing From China Surges by Over 200% Under Buhari Administration

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Nigeria’s borrowing from China jumped a whopping 209.15 percent under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

This startling revelation was disclosed by the Debt Management Office (DMO) which revealed that total bilateral loans rose by 219.91 percent from $1.58bn as of June 2015 to $5.07bn as of December 2022.

The data also revealed that Chinese loans make up a whopping 84.73 percent of the total amount Nigeria owes to other countries of the world, with the remaining 15.27 percent being spread across France, Japan, India, and Germany.

According to the DMO, loans from China are concessional loans with interest rates of 2.50 percent per annum, a tenor of 20 years, and a grace period (moratorium) of seven years.

These loans have been used to fund various projects across the country, including the Nigerian 40 Parboiled Rice Processing Plants Project, the Nigerian Railway Modernisation Project (Lagos – Ibadan section), the Nigeria Rehabilitation and Upgrading of Abuja – Keffi – Makurdi Road Project, the Nigeria Supply of Rolling Stocks and Depot Equipment for Abuja Light Rail Project, and the Nigeria Greater Abuja Water Supply Project.

Despite the recent hiccup in loan approval, China loaned Nigeria $658.72m in 2022. However, China-Exim Bank recently declined an earlier agreement to grant Nigeria a loan of $22.79bn, which had been approved under the 2016–2018 Federal Government External Borrowing (Rolling) Plan by the Senate and the House of Representatives on March 5, 2020, and June 2, 2020, respectively.

This may impact the Nigerian Railway Modernisation Project (Kaduna–Kano segment), with the contractor (CCECC Nigeria Limited) and the Federal Ministry of Transportation engaging China Development Bank for a loan of $973.48m.

In 2021, the immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, alleged that China was becoming sceptical of lending Nigeria money because of a National Assembly probe of the Federal Government’s ability to pay back its loan.

Amaechi also alleged that the probe prevented China from granting more loans to Nigeria. However, the combined effort of the Senate President and Speaker helped stop the probe, which has assisted Nigeria in securing further loans from China.

Recently, the President of the World Bank, David Malpass, expressed concern about some of China’s loans to developing economies in Africa.

He said, “What I encourage strongly is that they be transparent in their contracts. That’s been one of the problems; if you write a contract and say ‘but don’t show it to anybody else’, that’s a minus. So, get away from that.”

He warned, “For governments in Africa, they shouldn’t be offering collateral as an inducement to make a loan, because it locks it up for generations. That’s been happening with China.”

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

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Nigeria in Talks with World Bank for $1bn Loans to Aid Displaced Persons and Rural Development

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In a bid to tackle the challenges confronting internally displaced persons (IDPs) and bolster rural development initiatives, the Nigerian government has entered negotiations with the World Bank for loans totaling $1 billion.

This financial infusion aims to address the pressing needs of IDPs and uplift rural communities across the nation.

The proposed loans, detailed in World Bank documents titled ‘Solutions for the Internally Displaced and Host Communities Project’ and ‘Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project – Scale Up,’ signify a concerted effort by the government to provide comprehensive support to vulnerable populations and enhance economic opportunities in rural areas.

With an allocation of $500 million earmarked for IDP assistance and an additional $550 million dedicated to rural access and agricultural marketing, these loans underscore the government’s commitment to fostering inclusive growth and resilience within communities grappling with displacement and economic challenges.

The World Bank’s involvement underscores the global community’s recognition of Nigeria’s efforts to address humanitarian crises and promote sustainable development.

The loans are poised to fund initiatives aimed at improving access to basic services, fostering social cohesion, and enhancing livelihood opportunities for IDPs and their host communities, particularly in conflict-affected regions of the country.

Furthermore, the infusion of funds into rural access and agricultural marketing endeavors is poised to unlock new pathways for economic growth, empower local farmers, and bridge the gap between rural communities and broader markets.

As negotiations progress, stakeholders anticipate transformative impacts that will propel Nigeria towards a more prosperous and inclusive future for all its citizens.

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Senate Initiates Probe into N30tn Ways and Means Loans under Buhari Administration

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Muhammadu Buhari

The Nigerian Senate has embarked on a comprehensive investigation into the disbursement and utilization of the N30 trillion Ways and Means loans obtained by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Ways and Means facility allows the CBN to provide financial support to the government to cover budget shortfalls.

The decision to probe the massive loans comes amid concerns about the transparency and accountability surrounding the utilization of these funds, particularly as the country grapples with economic challenges, food crises, rising inflation, and worsening insecurity.

The Senate’s investigation aims to shed light on how the substantial overdrafts from the CBN were acquired and expended under the leadership of former President Buhari.

There is growing apprehension that the indiscriminate spending of the overdrafts, particularly during Godwin Emefiele’s tenure as CBN governor, may have contributed significantly to the current economic predicament facing the nation.

The probe will delve into the details of the N30 trillion overdrafts, with a specific focus on examining the purpose for which the funds were allocated and how they were utilized.

Also, the Senate will scrutinize the N10 trillion disbursed under the Anchor Borrowers Scheme, as well as the utilization of $2.4 billion out of the $7 billion earmarked for forex transactions.

The initiative underscores the Senate’s commitment to ensuring transparency, fiscal responsibility, and prudent financial management in the country’s economic affairs.

It is anticipated that the probe will unearth vital insights into the financial transactions of the past administration, enabling corrective measures to be taken to address any mismanagement or discrepancies discovered.

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Foreign Loans Dominate Nigeria’s 2023 Capital Importation, Hits $2.31bn – NBS Report

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In 2023, foreign loans dominated Nigeria’s capital importation, according to the latest report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The report reveals that out of the total $3.91 billion foreign investment inflow, foreign loans accounted for $2.31 billion, representing 59.1% of the total capital importation.

The NBS data indicates a substantial increase in foreign capital inflow compared to previous quarters.

The final quarter of 2023 saw a notable surge, with foreign capital importation rising from $654.65 million in the third quarter to $1.09 billion.

This surge reflects increased investor confidence and interest in Nigeria’s economic prospects.

However, the dominance of foreign loans in the capital importation landscape raises concerns about Nigeria’s debt profile and sustainability.

While foreign loans can provide crucial funding for development projects and infrastructure, excessive reliance on borrowing poses risks to the country’s fiscal health and economic stability.

It underscores the urgent need for prudent debt management and strategies to diversify funding sources.

The breakdown of the capital importation further reveals that Nigeria received $433.87 million in the first quarter, $771.53 million in the second quarter, $507.71 million in the third quarter, and $594.75 million in the fourth quarter as foreign loans.

The report underscores the importance of addressing structural challenges and creating an enabling environment to attract diverse forms of foreign investment beyond loans.

It emphasizes the need for policies that promote sustainable economic growth, attract foreign direct investment, and reduce reliance on external borrowing.

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