The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has in the last one and half years, committed over N1.3 trillion to various intervention programmes in order to boost the economy, following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Director of Corporate Communications of the bank, Mr. Osita Nwanisobi, disclosed this at the 16th International Trade Fair organised by Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ACCI, in Abuja yesterday.
According to him, the bank’s critical objective is to restore stability in the economy by providing assistance to individuals, SMEs and large corporates that had been severely impacted by the pandemic, as well as by the lockdown measures during the period.
He said N343.21 billion had so far been released to 726,198 beneficiaries, comprising 602,730 households and 123,468 Small and Medium Enterprises through the Targeted Credit Facility (TCF) .
The CBN spokesman said another N134.57 billion was given to 38,140 beneficiaries under the Agribusiness/Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme, AGSMEIS.
Similarly, he disclosed that over N756 billion to 3.7 million farmers cultivating over 4.6 million hectares of farmland under the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP).
According to him, N98.41 billion was disbursed in loans to support 103 healthcare projects, of which 26 were pharmaceutical companies and 77 healthcare institutions.
Nwanisobi who spoke on the theme: “Exploring the Opportunities of Africa Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA, said that Nigeria and other African countries that were signatories to the Agreement were expected to benefit from the elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers (lowering trade costs and simplifying customs procedures) among member nations.
“AfCFTA also provides Nigeria and other member countries with access to a large market, as movement of capital, people, goods and services would become easier within the free trade area.
“Similarly, it will facilitate increase in trade volumes, competitive prices and technological transfers among member countries; and serve as potential to boost intra-African trade, lift over one hundred (100) million Africans out of poverty while increasing wages including those of women and the unskilled workers if implemented successfully.’
The director expressed optimism that AfCFTA would increase inflow of foreign investments which would strengthen the foreign exchange market.
“At the Central Bank, we continue to take active steps and make policies to encourage growth and sound financial system, which would foster economic development, restore confidence in the economy and effectually conserve the reserves,” he added.
Nwanisobi urged Nigerians to focus on the production of items in which the nation comparative advantage “and also buy Nigerian products to grow Nigeria as a nation that is totally self-sufficient in producing what we consume and creating jobs for our youth will ultimately drive sustainable growth that will make life better for all our citizens.”
The apex bank spokesman assured that the institution, under the leadership of the Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, would “not rest on its oars until Nigeria gets to its destination of inclusive economic growth and sustainable development.”
In his address, the President, ACCI, Dr Al-Mujtaba Abubakar, who was represented by the 2nd Deputy President, ACCI, Prof Adesoji Adesugba, commended the CBN its Programmes and policies toward boosting the economy.
He acknowledged the impact by the CBN programmes on keeping economic activities going despite the ravaging Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
According to him, “We understand the dimension and the depth of issues involved in being a Central banker in times of national economic emergency.
“Having said that, I want to state that only during the Nigerian civil war has any Central banker faces current level of economic complexity occasioned by multiple factors, many of which are beyond the control of CBN.”
