Bankers’ development intervention fund takes off January 1

N30 billion take off capital to be ready April
A new development intervention fund would be added into the financial system come January 1, 2017, courtesy of Nigerian banks and at a single digit interest rate.

Nigerian banks, under the aegis of the Bankers Committee, chaired by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, reached the deal at the end of a two-day yearly retreat in Lagos, on Saturday.

The intervention scheme, tagged Agriculture/SME Fund (AGSME Fund), is a deliberate strategy to support the funding and access to finance for small businesses and primary agriculture.

Meanwhile the initial take off capital has been estimated at about N30 billion or more, which would be disbursed to successful applicants between March and April 2017.

The move, which serves as banking industry contributions, aside from apex bank’s intervention, would however, have the pooled resources domiciled at CBN, to ensure that it is readily available for disbursement.

“Whatever projects that people present to the Bankers Committee through its sub-committee will also go through checks to determine they are viable. Then the agreement is signed to disburse the fund.

“This is different from SMEEIS. Under it, banks will set aside money through a provision in their balance sheet. But the money stays with them. This time, once the profit is ascertained, the money provided as agreed will be wired to the CBN immediately,” he said.

While the framework for the operation of the scheme, which is modeled after an Equity Fund, will be worked out by the committee soon, the contributions to the pool are a portion of banks’ profit after taxes.

Emefiele, while addressing newsmen at the end of the retreat, described the theme of the retreat “Economic Recovery: The Role of the Banking Sector,” as timely, given the nation’s critical situation in history.

“The banking system recognises its critical role as agent for economic development and obligation to contribute to the nation’s recovery. There is a need for innovative solutions that will enable the finance sector play a key role in driving Nigeria’s growth and development.

“The committee also recognizes the potential impact of agriculture and manufacturing by small and medium enterprises, as catalysts for rapid growth, job creation and poverty reduction. We reaffirm the commitment of the financial system to the segments in 2017.

“We reaffirm commitment to financial deepening of the economy, by making finance work, enabling viable SMEs participate in the diversification agenda, as well as reverse the disturbing monolithic dependence on oil,” he said.

The bankers however, pledged a renewed focus on capacity building and providing industry related financial skills curriculum for small businesses; promote use of payments system; and shared structures for basic financial records.

It also pledged the promotion of new and existing financial infrastructure for access to credit like the Biometric Verification Number, collateral registry and the credit registry.