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“Ways and Means advances of N10trn for FG development finance funds will no longer be granted.”, Says CBN Boss

Published

2 years ago

February 9, 2024

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso on Friday, February 9, said the apex bank will no longer grant Ways and Means Advances to the federal government unless the outstanding balance is settled.

The apex bank also said it has halted “quasi-fiscal measures” of over N10 trillion it pays under the guise of development finance interventions.

Cardoso revealed these when he appeared before the joint Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, Finance, and National Planning to address critical concerns related to exchange rates and inflationary pressures in the economy.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Olawale Edun, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu, and the Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari were also at the interactive session with the lawmakers.

Ways and Means Advances is a loan facility through which the Central Bank of Nigeria finances the federal government’s budget deficits.

Last December, the National Assembly approved the securitization of the outstanding debit balance of N7.3 trillion of the Ways and Means Advances in the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) of the Federal Government.

In March 2022, the Debt Management Office (DMO) announced that the Federal Government had borrowed a total of N18.16 trillion from the Central Bank.

The debt as of then was more than 40 percent of the money supply in the economy.

During the session with the Senate, Cardoso did not state whether the Federal Government had exceeded the allowable threshold of Ways and Means Advances.

But he insisted that the apex bank would not be a part of the Ways and Means agreement with the Federal Government again if it failed to repay all the outstanding debts it incurred through the Ways and Means Advances.

The CBN governor said its position was in line with section (38) of the CBN Act (2007).

Cardoso said that the payment of the outstanding balance of the Ways and Means Advances would help to curtail inflation in the country.

Cardoso said: “I am pleased to note the Fiscal Authorities efforts in discontinuing Ways and Means Advances. This is also in compliance with section (38) of the CBN Act (2007).

“The Bank is no longer at liberty to grant further Ways and Means Advances to the Federal Government until the outstanding balance as of December 31, 2023, is fully settled.

“The Bank must strictly adhere to the law limiting advances under Ways and Means to five percent of the previous year’s revenue.

“We have also halted quasi-fiscal measures of over N10trillion by the Central Bank of Nigeria under the guise of development finance interventions which hitherto contributed to flooding excess Naira and raising prices to the levels of Inflation we are grappling with today.

“The CBN’s adoption of the inflation-targeting framework involves clear communication and collaboration with fiscal authorities to achieve price stability, potentially leading to lowered policy rates, stimulating investment, and creating job opportunities.

“Our MPC (Monetary Policy Committee) meeting on the 26th and 27th of February is also expected to review the situation and take further decisions on these important issues.

Bank chiefs okay CBN’s reforms
“Inflationary pressures are expected to decline in 2024 due to the CBN’s inflation-targeting policy, aiming to rein in inflation to 21.4 percent in the medium term, aided by improved agricultural productivity and easing global supply chain pressures”.

On Foreign Exchange Management, the CBN boss said the nation’s “foreign exchange market is currently facing increased demand pressures, causing a continuous decline in the value of the naira.

“Factors contributing to this situation include speculative forex demand, inadequate forex supply increased capital outflows, and excess liquidity.

“The shift to a market-driven exchange rate was intended to create a stable macroeconomic environment and discourage currency hoarding.

“However, short-term volatilities are attributed to arbitrage and speculation.

“To address exchange rate volatility, a comprehensive strategy has been initiated to enhance liquidity in the FX markets.

“This includes unifying FX market segments, clearing outstanding FX obligations, introducing new operational mechanisms for BDCs and IMTOs, enforcing the Net Open Position limit, Open Market Operations, and adjusting the remunerable Standing Deposit Facility cap among others.

“These measures, aimed at ensuring a more market-oriented mechanism for exchange rate determination, will boost foreign exchange inflows, stabilize the exchange rate, and minimize its pass-through to domestic inflation.”

He insisted that the measures have already started yielding early results with “significant interest from Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) that have already begun to supply the much-needed foreign exchange to the economy.”

He added: “For example, upwards of $1 billion in the last few days came in to subscribe to the Nigeria Treasury Bill auction of N1trillion which saw an oversubscription earlier this week.

“Our measures aimed at improving USD supply into the Nigerian economy have significant potential in taming the volatility of the exchange rates.

“However, for these measures to be sustainable, we must as a country, moderate our demand for FX.”

He told the lawmakers that what has negatively impacted the exchange rate was the simultaneous decrease in the supply of, and increase in the demand for, US Dollars.

“It is also clear that the task of stabilizing the exchange rate, while an official mandate of the CBN, would necessitate efforts beyond the Bank itself.

“It will also include actions by corporations and individuals to reduce our frequent demand for the dollar for business and personal needs.

“I would like to underscore the importance of the ongoing collaboration between the Fiscal and Monetary authorities and particularly progress made with the Minister of Finance, Minister of Budget and National Planning, and the Minister of Agriculture on tackling a number of the issues challenging our economy today,” Cardoso said.

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HabariPay Launches Maiden “HabariPay Impact Report 2025”, Showcasing Its Journey, Business Evolution, and Contributions to Digital Payments

Published

4 days ago

June 11, 2026

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HabariPay Limited, the fintech subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (“GTCO” or the “Group”), has unveiled its maiden HabariPay Impact Report 2025, providing stakeholders with a comprehensive account of the company’s evolution, innovation journey, business performance, and impact on the digital payments landscape.The report captures HabariPay’s transformation from a newly established fintech venture into one of Nigeria’s leading payment infrastructure providers, highlighting the milestones, strategic decisions, and investments that have shaped its growth. It showcases the company’s contributions to enabling digital commerce, supporting businesses, strengthening payment infrastructure, and expanding financial access through technology-driven solutions.The HabariPay Impact Report 2025 also highlights the company’s strong financial and operational performance, the growth of the Squad platform, and the development of infrastructure that powers payment acceptance, switching, transfers, merchant services, and value-added solutions. The publication further explores the role of innovation, talent development, and ecosystem partnerships in driving the company’s success.Speaking on the launch of the report, the Managing Director of HabariPay, Eduofon Japhet, said: “As a technology-driven company, we believe that impact extends beyond financial performance. It is reflected in the businesses we enable, the merchants we support, the infrastructure we build, and the opportunities we create for the next generation of innovators. The HabariPay Impact Report 2025 captures this journey and demonstrates our commitment to creating sustainable value for customers, partners, and the broader economy.”She further added: “The HabariPay Impact Report 2025 represents more than a reflection on our achievements; it is a testament to the deliberate investments we have made in building sustainable payment infrastructure, empowering businesses, fostering innovation, and creating long-term value for our stakeholders. As we look ahead, we remain committed to expanding our capabilities, deepening our impact, and shaping the future of digital payments through technology-driven solutions that are secure, scalable, and inclusive.”The report also showcases HabariPay’s investments in innovation through initiatives such as the Take on Squad Hackathon and the Squad Hackademy, both of which are helping to develop future technology talent and accelerate the creation of practical solutions to real-world challenges.Looking ahead, the publication outlines HabariPay’s vision for the future, including continued investment in payment infrastructure, merchant solutions, digital innovation, and intelligent technologies that will shape the future of financial services.
To access the HabariPay Impact Report 2025, please click the below: https://squadco.com/impact-report/About HabariPayHabariPay Ltd is the fintech subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO), one of the largest financial services institutions in Africa with direct and indirect investments in a network of operating entities located in 10 countries across Africa and the United Kingdom.Licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), our goal is to support SMEs, micro merchants, large corporations, and other fintechs (Tech Stars) with the tools they need to thrive in an evolving digital economy and expand beyond their current market reach. HabariPay’s solutions include Squad, a full-scale digital payments toolkit to make in-person and online payments simpler, HabariPay Storefront, an e-commerce website to facilitate online purchases, Value-Added Services to help merchants access cost-effective and flexible airtime and data bundles to run their businesses, as well as a switching infrastructure that enables tech-focused businesses to optimise cost and make transactions more efficient.HabariPay’s contributions to Accelerating Digital Acceptance in Africa have not gone unnoticed–it received Mastercard’s Innovative Mobile Payment Solution Award at TIA 2022 for its innovative payment solution, SquadPOS.

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ZENITHBANKPARTNERSLAWMA,LASWATOCOMMEMORATEWORLDENVIRONMENT DAY 2026 WITH TWO-PHASE LAGOS CLEAN-UP

Published

1 week ago

June 5, 2026

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Inlinewithitscommitmenttoenvironmentalsustainabilityandresponsiblebusinesspractices,

ZenithBankPlchascommemoratedthe2026WorldEnvironmentDaywithatwo-phase

environmental clean-up initiative in LagosState, held under theglobal theme “Inspired by Nature.

For Climate. For Our Future.”

The first phase was a morning clean-upconducted by staff of the Bank on Wednesday,3 June

2026, along Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. The exercise mobilised employees to

clear waste, sensitise residents on proper disposal practices, and reinforce the Bank’s culture of

community service and environmental stewardship.

Thesecondphase,onThursday,4June2026,featuredawaterwaysclean-upattheFalomo

Waterways, Ikoyi, Lagos, executed in collaboration with the Lagos Waste Management Authority

(LAWMA)andtheLagosStateWaterwaysAuthority(LASWA).Thejointeffortfocusedon

removingmarinedebris,promotingcleanerwaterways,andsupportingtheState’sbroader

climate-resilience agenda.

Speakingontheinitiative,DameDr.AdaoraUmeoji,OON,GroupManagingDirector/CEOof

Zenith Bank Plc, said: “At Zenith Bank, sustainability is integral to how we operate. Clearing our

streetsandourwaterwaysisapracticalreminderthatprotectingtheenvironmentisashared

responsibility – and one we are proud to take up alongside LAWMA and LASWA. Through these

exercises, we aretaking deliberate action topreserve our communities,support climate action,

andinspireotherstoact.Ouroperationswillcontinuetoalignwithglobalenvironmental

standards as we build a more sustainable future for Nigeria and Africa.”

ZenithBankremainscommittedtoembeddingEnvironmental,SocialandGovernance(ESG)

principles across its operations, investing in green initiatives, energy efficiency, and community-

focused programmes. These efforts advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

–particularlySDG7(AffordableandCleanEnergy),SDG11(SustainableCitiesand

Communities)andSDG13(ClimateAction).Sustainabilityremainsanoperationalimperative

across the Bank’s Nigerian base and its broader African, UK and European footprints

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ZENITH BANK RENEWS COMMITMENT TO CHILDREN WITH EDUCATION, INCLUSION & OPPORTUNITY AT THE CORE

Published

3 weeks ago

May 26, 2026

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Much more than commemorating the annual Children’s Day marked every May 27, Zenith Bank Plc is championing the

narrativethatchildrenarethetrueleadersoftomorrow.TheBankhasdeepeneditsinvestmentincarefullycurated

initiativesthatelevatechildrenacrosseducation,financialliteracy,health,digitalinclusion,andsocialprotection,

building a generation equipped to thrive and lead. For Zenith Bank, every child matters, and the Bank’s footprint reflects

a deliberate, pan-African strategy to nurture potential from the earliest age.

Zenith Bank has been the financial institution partner to Kiddies Corner on Inspiration 92.3FM Lagos for over three

years, anchoring the Tuesday edition and Zenith Financial Literacy Friday show. The programme blends spelling bee

contestswithfinancialliteracyquestions,creatingawarenessandonboardingchildrenintotheZenithChildren’s

Account (ZECA). This partnership came alive at the Inspiration FM Children’s Day Carnival on Saturday, May 23, 2026,

whereZenithBankhostedover1,000childrenandtheirparents,celebratingZECAwinnerswithgames,skits,and

Zenith Bank branded gifts.

The Bank’s Zenith Financial Literacy Week, held quarterly, takes this mission into select schools across all 36 states

andtheFCT.Studentsaretrainedonsavings,budgeting,basicinvestments,anditsretailproducts,withthetop

performer in each school awarded N50,000. Complementing this is the Bank’s nationwide Financial Literacy Program

undertheCBN-mandatedGlobalMoneyWeek,whichin2025alonereached3,622studentsacross22LGAs,

deploying 137 bank employee volunteers as educators.

In alignment with the United Nation’s (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 on Quality Education, Zenith Bank

hasdonatedstate-of-the-artICTcentresandcomputersystemstoschoolsanduniversitiesnationwide,includinga

ComputerCentretoBamainaAcademy,Dutse,JigawaState.Itstransformativeinterventionsincludefullyequipped

libraries,vocationalfacilities,andlarge-scaleschoolrenovations,fromOjotaSecondarySchoolandVictoriaIsland

Secondary School in Lagos to Hugallawa Primary School in Jigawa. Targeted financial support further breaks barriers

with N1 million cash donation to Louisville Girls High School, Ijebu-Itele, supporting girl-child education; infrastructure

upgrades at Maryland Comprehensive Secondary School; a N1 million scholarship endowment for St. Francis Catholic

Secondary School; and support for the North-East Children’s Fund to aid education in conflict-affected communities.

Through its Primary Healthcare Centre Initiative across all 774 LGAs, Zenith Bank educates parents on early childhood

savings during routine visits, linking health and financial well-being. The “PAD-A-QUEEN” Initiative commemorates the

International Day of the Girl Child, reaching5,000 girls in 10 schools withsanitary pads, hygiene kits, and menstrual

health education to keep girls in school and promote SDGs 3, 4, and 5.

The Bank’s compassion extends to the most vulnerable. At Bethesda Home and School for the Blind, Idi Oro, Lagos,

Zenith donatedbraille materials,food, and toiletries.For the2026 InternationalDay forStreet Children,it partneredwith

Bosco Child Protection Centre on medical check-ups, food, clothing, and counseling. Annual Christmas Charity Visits to

orphanagesdelivercash,toys,andessentialsupplies,whilesupportfortheSmileandShineChildrenFoundation’s

Strive Conference empowers over 2,000 adolescents with life skills and leadership training.

Commenting on the Bank’s intentionality towards the development of children, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, Group

Managing Director/CEO, ZenithBank Plc, said, “AtZenith Bank, weare deliberate about initiativesthat elevate children

becausetheyarenotjustourfuture,theyareourpresentresponsibility.AsWhitneyHoustonsopoignantlysang,‘I

believethechildrenarethefuture,teachthemwellandletthemleadtheway.’Thatisthephilosophydrivingour

investmentsineducation,financialliteracy,health,anddigitalinclusion.FromKiddiesCornertoICTcentres,from

PHCs to orphanages, we are teaching them well, equipping them early, and giving them the tools to lead. Zenith Bank

renews its commitment to every Nigerian child, to nurture their dreams, protect their dignity, and secure their tomorrow.”

Championing youth expression, the Zenith Annual Youth Parade, hosted by the Bank for 19 years, stands as a flagship

Corporate Social Responsibilityinitiative. Bringing togetherthousands of childrenand teenagers in avibrant showcase

of unity and discipline, the parade has remained dedicated since inception to the vital mission of supporting, nurturing,
andempoweringtheNigerianchild,reinforcingtheBank’sbeliefthatleadershipislearnedearlythroughteamwork,

confidence, and celebration of young Nigerian identity.

ForZenithBank,Children’sDayismorethanadateonthecalendar.Itisadailypledgetoempower,protect,and

prepareNigeria’schildrenforleadership.Fromclassroomstocommunities, the Bank’s initiatives are teaching them well

and letting them lead the way because the future belongs to children who are equipped today.