How Nigeria can sustain economic growth —Osinbajo, Emefiele, Sanwo-Olu, Zulum, Salami, Rewane, Akabueze, others at Banks’ CEO Summit – www.cliptvonline.com ~

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, Governors of Lagos State, Ekiti, Bauchi States alongside eminent economists yesterday at the Banks’ Chief Executive Officers (CEOs)  Summit outlined  policy measures needed to sustain  the nation’s  economic growth.

Whilst warning against the temptation to be  carried away by the exit from recession, they called on banks’ CEOs to join government efforts to make maximum use of the opportunity offered by the  COVID-19 recession to reset the nation’s economy for sustainable growth.

The event which was organised by Vanguard Newspaper, in collaboration with CBN and the Bankers Committee, was attended by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Governor Babagana Zulum, who was represented by Senator Aba Aji, Secretary, North East Governors’  Forum   while  Governor Kayode Fayemi participated virtually.

In attendance were also the Deputy Governors of the CBN namely: Mrs. Aishah N, Ahmad, Deputy Governor, Financial Systems Stability Directorate; Mr. Edward L. Adamu, Deputy Governor, Corporate Services Directorate;  Mr. Folash Adebisi Shonubi, Deputy Governor, Operations Directorate; and Dr. Kingsley Obiora,  Deputy Governor, Economic Policy Directorate

Banks’ CEOs in attendance were:  UBA’s Kennedy Uzoka, Segun Agbaje  of GTBank;  Ebenezar Onyeagwu, Zenith Bank;  Herbert Wigwe of Access Bank;  Patrick Akinwuntan of Ecobank;  Ifie Sekibo of Heritage Bank;  Adesola Adeduntan of First Bank;  Tomi Somefun  of Unity Bank and  Nneka Oyeayi-Ikpe of Fidelity Bank. Others were Lamin Manjang of Standard Chartered Bank, Kayode Pitan, Bank of Industry;  Hamda Ambah, FSDH Merchant Bank;  Yemisi Edun, FCMB;  Wole Adeniyi, Stanbic IBTC;  Nat Ude, Nova Merchant Bank;  Benson Ogundeji, Greenwitch Merchant Bank;  Kayode Akinkugbe, FBNQuest Merchant Bank;  Hassan Usman, Jaiz Bank.

Others are Olaniran Olayinka, Keystone Bank;  Innocent Ike, Polaris Bank;  Walter Akpani, Providus Bank;  Emeka Emuwa, Union Bank; Ademola Adebise, Wema Bank and George Oki, National Microfinance

The summit was also attended by top economic experts including Mr. Ben Akabueze, Director of Budgets in the Presidency, Dr. Doyin Salami, Chairman, Nigeria’s Economic Advisory Council, Mr Bismarck Rewane, MD/CEO, Financial Derivatives Limited, Dr Biodun Adedipe.

Speaking,  Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, hinted that the Federal Government was considering a zero tax policy on machinery to enhance manufacturing productivity in the country.

Osinbajo stated: “Moving beyond the pandemic induced crisis, the first step in achieving sustained growth is to focus on productivity and value addition in every sector of our economy.

For instance, in agriculture, our focus must be on processing of raw produce. Adding values means more jobs and the value chains make more money.

“Manufacturing is also key. We can be the factory for the continent. We’ve been discussing the prospects of zero taxes for machinery generally because machines mean production.

“In fact, the thinking of government generally is to make Nigeria a value-adding economy, especially in our areas of comparative advantage.

And talking about comparative advantage, Nigeria must leverage its trading talents. We have some of the greatest traders and entrepreneurs in the world, such that we can become a global trading hub.”

The Vice President also called for improved support especially from the private sector in the operationalization of the proposed N15 trillion Infrastructure Company (InfraCo).

He said: “The President has now approved the establishment of InfraCo which will be a public-private partnership chaired by the CBN Governor to overcome our infrastructural deficits.

“I expect that this is a project that will excite the interest of financiers and bankers and I encourage you all to lend support to make it a success.”

Furthermore, Prof. Osinbajo called on the CBN  to explore the opportunities inherent in block chain technology, noting that traditional banking must gear up for the challenges cryptocurrency will pose in the coming years.

Prof. Osinbajo stated: “On the very topical issue of blockchain technology, digital assets, and cryptocurrencies, let me say two things.

First is that there is no question that blockchain technology generally and cryptocurrencies, in particular, will in the coming years challenge traditional banking, including reserve banking, in ways that we cannot yet imagine so we need to be prepared for that seismic shift.

“And it may come sooner than later. Already remittance systems are being challenged. Blockchain technology will provide far cheaper options for the kind of fees being paid today for cross-border transfers.

“Some reserve banks are already issuing their own digital currencies. Clearly, the future of money and finance, especially for traditional banking, must be as exciting as it is frightening.

But as we have seen in many other sectors disruption makes room for efficiency and progress.

“Secondly, I fully appreciate the strong position of the CBN, SEC, and some of the anti-corruption agencies on the possible abuses of cryptocurrencies and their other well-articulated concerns. but I believe that their position should be the subject of further reflection.

“There is a role for regulation here. And it is in the place of both our monetary authorities and SEC to provide a robust regulatory regime that addresses these serious concerns without killing the goose that might lay the golden eggs.

“So, it should be thoughtful and knowledge-based regulation, not prohibition.”

CBN will fight smugglers to protect the economy—Emefiele

…Says weekly diaspora remittance up 500%

Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefie yesterday said that the apex bank is committed to fighting smugglers in its bid to protect the growth of the economy and ensure  job creation.

Emefiele also announced that weekly  Diaspora remittance has increased by 500 per cent to $30 million from $5 million, following the new policy of the apex bank on remittance inflow.

The Governor stated this,  noting that the nation’s recovery from recession is very fragile and Nigeria must not be left out of the economic recovery projected to happen across the global economy in  2021.

To further enhance and sustain the nation’s economic recovery Emefiele said there is need for broad actions in four policy areas, including protection of the local economy from activities of smugglers.

He said: “ While the indicators  provide positive signs that the economy is on a recovery path, GDP growth at 0.11 percent indicates that the economy still remains on a fragile recovery path.

“It is therefore imperative that we do all we can in 2021 to ensure that we build on the positive momentum and strengthen our efforts at stimulating growth. Let me repeat, with the 18 discovery and deployment of vaccines, 2021 will be a year of massive global recovery and Nigeria MUST not be left out. In order to drive and sustain this recovery therefore, we need to engage in the following broad actions including:

Sustain the accommodative fiscal and monetary policy measures aimed at improving access to finance to households and businesses.

“Prevent a resurgence in COVID-19 related cases;  Ensure that a significant number of our population is properly vaccinated; Improving Foreign Exchange inflows into the country.”

Speaking in the need to check activities of smuggling, Emefiele said: “We say this and let me use this opportunity to say this, the CBN has never said that the closure of the borders should be in perpetuity, yes the CBN advocated the closure of the borders because of some of the unfortunate incidence of smuggling of goods into our economy that were undermining the  growth of our own local industries.

“We have started to see it. Yes we advocated and we support  the opening of the borders. Yes we support it but we will continue to insist that the activities of smugglers must do something about it.

“The CBN will remain at the forefront to smugglers in this country. We will not allow smugglers of goods that are banned, goods that are not allowed, goods that are restricted, goods that can be produced in the country, we will not allow those goods into the country.

“We will collaborate with any security agency willing to work with us because we must protect our own local industry.

“It is only by protecting our own local industries that we can create badly needed jobs for our economy. It is only by protecting our own local industries and then making it easy for people to accept low priced products that we can see growth for our economy.

“Whether you are a Nigerian or foreigner but we all have a shared stake  in the Nigerian economy. We all must work together, to see to it that Nigeria’s economy joins others particularly beginning from 2021 when we are beginning to see an opportunity to reset again, that we cannot be left out in the race. And anybody who thinks he can do anything to undermine economic growth and stability, we all must join hands to fight against this.”

Speaking on the upsurge in remittance inflow, Emefiele said: “The CBN has already taken several measures to increase the flow of diaspora remittances into the country using formal channels. In December 2020, we instructed all international money transfer operators (IMTOs) to provide remitters with the option of sending foreign exchange to beneficiaries in Nigeria.

“This new measure has helped to reduce the diversion of forex  by some International Money  Transfer Operators (IMTOs), who had thrived from forex arbitrage arrangements, rather than on improving transactions volumes to Nigeria. Indeed, we have already seen remittances improve from a weekly average of about $5 million before this policy, to over $30 million per week. We believe this measure will help to significantly  boost inflows of forex and create much more liquidity in that space.”

FG needs banks, others to fund critical infrastructure, others – Finance Minister

The Federal Government  appealed for the support of banks and other financial institutions to fund critical infrastructure in the country.

The Minister of Finance, National Planning and Budget, Zainab Ahmed made this  appeal in a goodwill address at the Banks’ CEO Summit saying that support of the  financial institutions has become necessary, given the challenge of revenue generation confronting the government.

The Minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary Special Duties of the Ministry of Finance, Aliyu Ahmed Shinkafi said: “Banks have a critical role to play in economic development. However, the impact of the banking system on the rest of the economy depends on how it mobilizes savings, allocates the savings, monitors the use of the funds by firms and individuals, pools and diversifies risk, including liquidity risk, and eases the exchange of goods and services.

When the banking system performs well, it tends to promote growth and expand economic opportunities. Economic growth is about enhancing the productive capacity of an economy by using available resources to reduce risks, remove impediments which otherwise could increase costs of doing business and hinder investment.”

To this extent, she said:  “The country needs more revenue to finance its obligations to the citizens in the areas of critical infrastructure, and other socioeconomic programmes. There is no doubt that the country can no longer rely on oil as the major source of revenue generation. Hence, there is an urgent need to focus more attention on non-oil revenue sources.

“As managers of the economy, we have a collective responsibility to come up with strategies on how to steadily grow the nation’s revenue base amidst the current global challenges orchestrated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Maintaining a safe and sound banking sector is essential, given the key role that banks play in facilitating economic growth and financing developmental projects, particularly infrastructure, agriculture and other sectors. Most emerging market economies have been known to use the domestic financial institutions to execute real sector big ticket projects and financial institutions in Nigeria should not be an exception if we hope to achieve our developmental objectives.”

Lagos to leverage InfraCo to fast-track  rail, ports development — Sanwo-Olu

…Lekki Port to take off 2023

Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-olu   said that the state will partner with the newly formed Infrastructure Company of Nigeria (InfraCo) to facilitate development of mega infrastructures like rail and new ports in its bid to become a model city in Africa.

Sanwo-Olu disclosed this at the Banks’ CEO Summit, adding that the new Lekki Port will take off in the third quarter of 2023

Sanwo-Olu said: “Our vision for Lagos now is to be Africa’s model city, a safe, secure, functional and productive state and it’s a vision that we have taught out very carefully.”

“Our mission is to eliminate poverty, promote economic growth through infrastructure renewal and development.”

Speaking on the infrastructure development of the state, especially new ports, Sanwo-Olu said: “The good news is that Lagos is building another port in Lekki and another in Badagry. The Lekki port should be on stream by the third quarter of 2023. The contractor is on track, they have done about 40 to 45 per cent of the work.

“Lagos has the capacity to take the two ports given the size of wealth that is coming to the city. So we need to decongest Apapa port.”

According to Sanwo-Olu, metropolitan Lagos accounts for 63 per cent of manufacturing firms in the country, hence should be classified as a global city.

He said: “Lagos sees itself as a global city so it needs to be competitive because when you are comparing cities of the size of Lagos, you don’t really compare it with cities in Nigeria but advanced cities globally.

We are setting up a very strong agenda for ourselves and the drivers to meet our targets are human capital as well as education. Infrastructure is also critical.

“Lagos has got appetite to take part of the N15 trillion of the infraco company. In 24 months we should see rail being moved to Lagos. There are other five rail projects that we are going to be shipping out and InfraCo fund will be very viable for us to see how we can develop infrastructure.