Economy

In Six Years, Buhari’s Govt Has Borrowed $2.02bn from China

Published

4 years ago

June 15, 2021

Eric

The Buhari’s administration has borrowed $2.02bn as loans from China from 2015, data obtained from the Debt Management Office on Monday showed, reports The Punch.

According to the statistics obtained from the DMO, Nigeria’s total debt from China as of June 30, 2015 stood at $1.38bn.

However, as of March 31, the country’s debt portfolio from China had risen to $3.40bn.

According to the DMO, loans from China are concessional loans with interest rates of 2.50 per cent per annum, a tenor of 20 years and grace period (moratorium) of seven years.

The debt office said that the terms of the loans were compliant with the provisions of Section 41 (1a) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007.

The loans from China are tied to project. The projects, (eleven in number as at March 31, 2020), include the Nigerian Railway Modernisation Project (Idu-Kaduna section), the Abuja Light Rail Project, Nigerian Four Airport Terminals Expansion Project (Abuja, Kano, Lagos and Port Harcourt), Nigerian Railway Modernisation Project (Lagos-Ibadan section) and the Rehabilitation and Upgrading of Abuja-Keffi-Makurdi Road Project.

However, as of March 31, a total of $719.61m had been made as debt service payment to China since the third quarter of 2015.

Of the amount paid as debt service, 46.15 per cent ($332.03m) was paid to service the interest on the loans.

In the first quarter of 2021, $102.19m was used to service debt to China. This is about 11 per cent of the total $1.0bn used to service external debts within the period.

The DMO recently disclosed that Nigeria had more than $5.83bn foreign loans that had been approved but not yet disbursed as of December 31, 2020.

Out of this amount, $1.25bn is supposed to come from the Export-Import Bank of China. Apart from multilateral agencies, China has remained the nation’s largest creditor.

There had been fears among Nigerians that the country may forfeit some of the projects in case of loan defaults.

“We must learn to pay our debts and we are paying, and once you are paying, nobody will come and take any of your assets,” he had said.

Despite the assurance, fear persists that the Chinese loans contain some obnoxious clauses that could breach the nation’s sovereignty especially as the loan agreements are not available in the public domain.

Amaechi denied knowledge of any clause that hands over a national asset to China in case of any default in an AriseTV interview on Monday.

He disclosed that the administration of Major General Muhammed Buhari had paid $150m out of the $500m borrowed by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan for the Abuja-Kaduna Rail project.

The minister also commented on other issues such as the suspension of Bala-Usman and the impacts of the country’s Deep Blue Project on every Nigerian.

When asked about the plans of the Federal Government to pay back the loans so as to avoid the Zambian experience where some national assets such as the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation and the National Power and Utility Company were reportedly used to settle Zambia’s financial obligations to China, Amaechi said borrowers should meet their obligations.

He said, “When you take loans, you are expected to pay back. Today we are paying back. Under the regime of President Goodluck Jonathan, the loan for Abuja-Kaduna was taken. It was about $500m. Today, we have paid about $150m on that loan.

“Nigeria has never defaulted when it comes to repayment. I do not also expect that we should default on any other loan that we have taken.”

While commenting on the status of the suspension of Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman from the Nigerian Ports Authority, he said, “I am not aware that I suspended Hadiza. I am not the president, and I do not have such powers. That power rests with the president.

“I am not aware that Hadiza was actually suspended. I suspect she was asked to step aside, to enable investigation to be carried out on NPA, not on her. We are investigating NPA.

“At the conclusion of the investigation, all the reports will be sent to the president who will then make a decision on the way forward.”

The minister also said that he was not aware of when the panel would finish and that it was in the hands of the panel.

Responding to how the $195m Deep Blue Project will affect all Nigerians who are not seafarers, he said, “What we have done with the Deep Blue Project is that we will reduce the cost of producing oil in Nigeria.

“By the time we provide security on the waters, the economy would improve because there would be more money coming into the economy. That is the impact it will have.”

He added that the company that handled the project guaranteed to refund of the money spent on the project if there was no improvement in the economy six months after the project.

The Punch

Economy

IMF Scores Tinubu’s Economic Reforms Below Pass Mark

Published

6 days ago

April 20, 2025

Eric

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says that Nigeria faces significant uncertainty in its economic outlook despite wide-ranging reforms.

It, however, noted that the gains are yet to benefit all Nigerians with poverty and food insecurity remaining high.

Concluding its 2025 Article IV Consultations with Nigeria’s public policy executives during the week, IMF’s team, led by Axel Schimmelpfennig, its mission chief for Nigeria, acknowledged that Nigeria has taken important steps to stabilize the economy, enhance resilience, and support growth.

The IMF team had met with Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Yemi Cardoso, senior government and central bank officials, the Ministry of Environment, the private sector, academia, labour unions, and civil society.

Although the IMF representatives said these reforms have put Nigeria in a better position to navigate the external environment, the macroeconomic outlook remains marked by significant uncertainty.

They said that the elevated global risk sentiment and lower oil prices would impact the Nigerian economy.

They, therefore, recommended that macroeconomic policies need to further strengthen buffers and resilience, reduce inflation, and support private sector-led growth.

The final report of the consultations stated: “The Nigerian authorities have taken important steps to stabilize the economy, enhance resilience, and support growth.

‘‘The financing of the fiscal deficit by the central bank has ceased, costly fuel subsidies were removed, and the functioning of the foreign exchange market has improved.

‘‘Gains have yet to benefit all Nigerians as poverty and food insecurity remain high.

‘‘The outlook is marked by significant uncertainty. Elevated global risk sentiment and lower oil prices impact the Nigerian economy.

‘‘The reforms since 2023 have put the Nigerian economy in a better position to navigate this external environment. ‘‘Looking ahead, macroeconomic policies need to further strengthen buffers and resilience, while creating enabling conditions for private sector-led growth.

“The authorities communicated to the mission that they will implement the 2025 budget in a manner that is responsive to the decline in international oil prices. A neutral fiscal stance would support monetary policy to bring down inflation.

‘‘To safeguard key spending priorities, it is imperative that fiscal savings from the fuel subsidy removal are channeled to the budget.

‘‘In particular, adjustments should protect critical, growth-enhancing investment, while accelerating and broadening the delivery of cash transfers under the World Bank-supported program to provide relief to those experiencing food insecurity.

“A tight monetary policy stance is required to firmly guide inflation down. The Monetary Policy Committee’s data-dependent approach has served Nigeria well and will help navigate elevated macroeconomic uncertainty.

‘‘Announcing a disinflation path to serve as an intermediate target can help anchor inflation expectations.”

Economy

My Policy on Fuel Subsidy Removal Yielding Results, Says Tinubu

Published

2 months ago

March 11, 2025

Eric

President Bola Tinubu has declared that his fuel subsidy removal policy is yielding the desired results, pointing out that prices are gradually declining.

The President also asserted that investors are increasingly showing interest in the Nigerian economy, a development he attributed to the removal of fuel subsidies, a policy introduced on 29th May 2023.

Tinubu made these remarks on Monday while inaugurating the National Youth Council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Addressing the youths, Tinubu emphasised that while politicians will always be politicians, true leadership is about fostering development that benefits future generations.

He urged Nigerian youths to take advantage of the opportunities being created by the government, particularly in the ICT sector, to contribute to national development.

Tinubu said: “I have listened to you. Today is not for long speeches. I just want to reassure you that you are the hope of this country. Everything rests on your shoulders. Every decision I have taken is about you and the future.

“When we removed the fuel subsidy, we were securing a future for generations yet unborn. Where is the investment? Where is the infrastructure? When you hear many professionals say they want to ‘JAPA’, it is because prosperity is not widespread at home. If we create opportunities and empower our people, they will have no reason to leave.

“This is your country to develop, build, and prosper in. The government is fully committed to you. Take this seriously. You can criticise politicians all you want, but ultimately, politics is about development and securing a future for the next generation.

“At the beginning, it seemed uncertain, difficult, and even hopeless. It felt like drawing water from a dry well. But today, the economy is turning a corner. Prices are falling, confidence in our economy is improving, and investors are showing interest. Technology is advancing, and you have opportunities before you.”

The President reminded the youths that they have a crucial role in advancing the nation’s development.

“It is all in your hands. My role is to help navigate, push, and implement key programmes to clear the path for you. But it is up to you to seize the moment. Look me in the eye and tell me what you think—whether it is right or wrong—and offer suggestions. We will consider them as long as they contribute to the prosperity of this country.

“I assure you that we will do everything possible to make Nigeria a better place for you, but we cannot do it alone. You represent over 60 per cent of our population. You are the heartbeat of our nation, and I hope you take this opportunity very seriously,” he said.

Economy

Naira Gains over Dollar for Three Straight Days in Parallel FX Market

Published

2 months ago

February 15, 2025

Eric

The Naira recorded three consecutive days of appreciation against the dollar in the parallel foreign exchange market, ending the week on a high note on Friday.

According to Abubakar Alhasan, a Bureau de Change operator in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, the Naira strengthened to N1,565 per dollar on Friday, up from N1,570 on Thursday.

On a day-to-day basis, the Naira gained N5 against the dollar compared to the N1,570 traded on Thursday.

In the last three days, the Naira has gained N15 against the dollar in the black market.

In contrast, in the official market, the Naira continued to depreciate as of Thursday, according to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The apex bank’s exchange rate data showed that the Naira fell to N1,507.88 per dollar on Thursday from N1,504.30 on Wednesday.

Overall, exchange rate movements across FX markets showed that the Naira ended the week with mixed sentiments of losses and gains against other foreign currencies.