The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has confirmed the completion of its banking sector recapitalisation programme, reporting that 33 commercial banks successfully met the revised minimum capital requirements. The initiative raised a combined ₦4.65 trillion, reinforcing the financial sector’s capacity to expand lending and withstand economic fluctuations.
According to a joint statement issued on Wednesday by CBN Director of Banking Supervision Olubukola Akinwunmi and Acting Director of Corporate Communications Hakama Sidi Ali, the programme ran for 24 months following its launch in March 2024. Domestic investors accounted for 72.55 per cent of the capital raised, while international markets supplied the remaining 27.45 per cent. The funding mix indicates continued institutional confidence in Nigeria’s banking framework amid broader macroeconomic adjustments.
The recapitalisation has lifted the industry’s average capital adequacy ratios above international Basel benchmarks. Under current regulations, banks holding regional and national licences must maintain a minimum capitalisation threshold of 10 per cent, while institutions with international operating licences are required to hold 15 per cent. The CBN clarified that a small number of banks remain in ongoing regulatory and judicial procedures, but confirmed that all licensed institutions are fully operational and providing continuous customer services.
CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso noted that the strengthened balance sheets improve the sector’s ability to absorb external shocks and support national economic activity. To preserve these gains, the central bank has implemented a risk-based supervision framework that requires routine stress testing and the maintenance of capital buffers across varying economic conditions. Prudential guidelines will undergo periodic reviews to reinforce corporate governance, asset quality transparency, and institutional stability.
The conclusion of the recapitalisation exercise follows a gradual exit from temporary regulatory forbearance measures previously introduced to ease sector-wide liquidity pressures. By aligning domestic capital standards with international benchmarks, the CBN aims to sustain a banking system that reliably mobilises deposits and extends commercial credit. The institution reaffirmed its focus on transparent oversight and continuous regulatory monitoring to maintain public trust and long-term financial resilience.
