Naija Banks Don Dey Run Fast to Meet Capital Deadline

Omo, the wahala wey dey happen for Naija banks no be small! I no go lie, we don hear say 19 to 22 banks don meet CBN level up for their capital na before March 31, 2026. This na big achievement wey show say dem dey serious for this recapitalization matter.

Na Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) set this tough requirement say if you be international bank, you gats get 500 billion naira for your pocket, and if na national bank, na 200 billion naira. But make I yarn you truth, na cash dem dey want, no be profit wey dey remain for corner.

So, some banks like Access Bank, Zenith Bank, GTBank, UBA, First Bank and Fidelity Bank don cross that finish line, and dem don secure their international licenses. E clear say dem sabi raise capital well well. Other banks wey meet the national benchmark include Citibank Nigeria, Ecobank and others. Na serious level this be o!

Now, make I talk about Fidelity Bank; dem raise around 259 billion naira through private placement, sha! Dem don fit balance their books well plus E fit cover their estimated capital gap wey dey around 194.5 billion naira before wey CBN go come send dem packing.

Naija banks don turn the landscape upside down as some of dem dey merge and buy each other up. E be like say Unity Bank and Providus Bank dey plan to come together to form the 9th largest lender for Naija. And no forget say Nova Bank don downgrade their license to regional level so that dem fit manage dey play smart for this competition.

For those wey still dey in trouble, about 14 banks dey under pressure to meet dem requirements. Standard Chartered, Parallex, SunTrust and some merchant banks dey on the list wey no don meet levels. Dem oga for CBN, Olayemi Cardoso don already confirm say some banks don meet and exceed the capital thresholds, but some still dey ginger to make am.

Omo, no be rumor o! ACAMB don clear say no be 12 banks wey wan close shop, dem dey show strong progress. The president wey sign am, Rasheed Bolarinwa, don make am clear say dem banks dey on top things wey dey structured, and dem dey push for better banking environment.

For the market, the fundraising activity don increase as 27 banks don join the mix, and dem don dey see good oversubscriptions. And analysts dey talk say this recapitalization dey necessary, e go give banks strength for big projects and also help with financial inclusion.

The next 80 days go be critical as this banking war don dey reach the climax. People dey predict say we go see one major activity wey go include mergers and private equity injections. The whole thing wey dey happen now go define Naija banking market for the next decade!