Accra, April 3, GNA – Nigeria has completed a landmark banking sector recapitalisation exercise, with 33 banks raising a combined ₦4.65 trillion in fresh capital over a 24-month period, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced.
The programme, described by analysts as a major structural reinforcement of Nigeria’s banking system, was completed on April 1, 2026, with all participating banks remaining operational.
Capital adequacy ratios across the sector now exceed international Basel benchmarks, with minimum thresholds of 10 per cent for regional and national banks and 15 per cent for internationally authorised banks.
Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, said the exercise had strengthened the sector’s resilience and capacity to support economic growth.
“The recapitalisation programme has strengthened the capital base of Nigerian banks, reinforcing the resilience of the financial system and ensuring it is well-positioned to support economic growth and withstand domestic and external shocks,” he said.
Of the ₦4.65 trillion mobilised, 72.55 per cent was sourced from domestic investors, while 27.45 per cent came from international markets, reflecting strong local participation in capital formation.
The recapitalisation programme, launched in March 2024, was implemented alongside an orderly exit from regulatory forbearance to improve asset quality and enhance balance sheet transparency.
An analyst said the transition signalled a shift by the CBN from a compliance-oriented model towards a forward-looking, resilience-focused approach, adding that the development was being closely watched across West Africa as a benchmark for post-stabilisation financial governance.
The completion of the exercise marks the transition to a strengthened risk-based supervisory framework, requiring banks to undertake regular stress testing and maintain adequate capital buffers under evolving prudential guidelines.
The exercise was carried out without disruption to banking services, with customers maintaining uninterrupted access throughout the period.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
