CBN Urges Banks to Deploy N4.65tn Fresh Capital to Businesses as Recapitalisation Enters New Phase


By Simpson Global Media News Desk

The Central Bank of Nigeria has challenged banks that completed the country's latest recapitalisation programme to turn their stronger capital positions into increased lending to businesses, infrastructure and other productive sectors of the economy.

The call marks a new phase for Nigeria's banking industry after 33 banks met the revised minimum capital requirements and collectively raised N4.65 trillion under the two-year recapitalisation programme announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria in March 2024.

The CBN says the amount of money raised should not be treated as the final measure of the exercise.

Instead, the central bank is shifting attention toward what banks do with their stronger balance sheets: how much productive credit they provide, how effectively they manage risk, how accessible their services become and whether the banking system can support larger financing needs without compromising financial stability.

Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Dr Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, made the position clear at the CBN's 38th Seminar for Finance Correspondents and Business Editors in Abuja.

The seminar was held under the theme, “Towards a Robust and Resilient Financial System in the Post-Banking Sector Recapitalisation Era.” Reports of the event were published on September 29 and 30, 2026.

Abdullahi said agriculture, manufacturing, services and infrastructure require financing that matches their cash flows and investment horizons, while smaller businesses and households require dependable payments, appropriate financial products and fair treatment.

The message places Nigeria's banking sector at a new point in its current reform cycle.

The first challenge was to strengthen banks' capital.

The next is to determine whether that stronger capital can be deployed safely and productively across the economy.

The N4.65 Trillion Recapitalisation

Nigeria's latest banking recapitalisation programme began in March 2024, when the CBN announced new minimum capital requirements for commercial banks.

Under the revised requirements, commercial banks with international authorisation were required to have a minimum capital base of N500 billion.

Banks with national authorisation were required to reach N200 billion, while banks operating with regional authorisation faced a N50 billion minimum.

The CBN says the programme has now produced a combined N4.65 trillion in fresh capital from 33 banks.

The central bank's reforms were designed to strengthen banks' ability to absorb losses, support larger transactions and provide financing for an economy that is seeking to expand its productive capacity.

The recapitalisation exercise also coincided with broader reforms in Nigeria's financial system.

The CBN has been tightening regulatory oversight, strengthening risk-based supervision and implementing measures intended to improve the operation of the foreign-exchange market and other parts of the financial system.

The completion of the recapitalisation programme therefore represents one part of a wider restructuring of the banking environment.

But the latest message from the central bank makes clear that raising capital is only the beginning.

From Raising Capital to Using Capital

The CBN's latest position is essentially a shift in emphasis.

During the recapitalisation period, the central question for individual banks was whether they could meet the new minimum capital requirements.

Now that the programme has been completed, the central bank wants attention to move toward how the additional capacity is used.

Abdullahi said the success of recapitalisation should be assessed not only by the amount of capital raised but also by the quality of banking services and productive lending supported by that capital.

That distinction matters because capital sitting on a bank's balance sheet does not automatically create economic activity.

For businesses, the practical value of a stronger banking system is partly determined by whether credit becomes available on terms that allow viable enterprises to expand.

For infrastructure developers, it depends on whether lenders can provide long-term financing suited to projects whose revenues may take years to materialise.

For manufacturers, access to working capital and investment finance can influence production capacity.

For farmers and agribusinesses, the timing of financing can be critical because agricultural income follows production cycles.

The CBN's argument is therefore that recapitalisation should ultimately support the real economy rather than remain primarily a balance-sheet exercise.

Why Productive Lending Matters

Banks perform a central role in an economy by collecting deposits and transforming part of those funds into credit and other investments.

When credit is directed toward productive activity, it can help businesses purchase machinery, build facilities, finance inventories, expand operations and employ workers.

Infrastructure financing can support transportation, energy, water, telecommunications and other systems required by businesses and households.

Trade finance can help companies import essential equipment or inputs and support exports.

Agricultural finance can assist producers and processors through planting, harvesting, storage and processing cycles.

The CBN has identified agriculture, manufacturing, services and infrastructure as sectors requiring financing suited to their specific economic characteristics.

The challenge is that lending to these sectors carries different forms of risk.

A manufacturer may require a loan for several years before the investment produces its expected returns.

An agricultural borrower faces weather, price and production risks.

A construction or infrastructure project can have a long development period before generating revenue.

A small business may lack the collateral traditionally demanded by banks.

The banking system therefore has to balance the need for productive lending with the obligation to protect depositors and maintain financial stability.

Stronger Capital and Risk Absorption

One of the purposes of bank recapitalisation is to increase the financial cushion available to absorb losses.

Banks operate by taking risks.

They lend money to customers who may not repay.

They invest in securities whose values can change.

They conduct foreign-exchange transactions.

They operate payment systems and digital platforms that face operational and cybersecurity risks.

They also face risks from changes in interest rates, economic conditions and asset prices.

A stronger capital base can provide greater capacity to absorb unexpected losses.

The CBN has said stronger capital buffers should improve banks' ability to finance larger needs while also providing increased capacity to withstand economic stress.

However, stronger capital does not eliminate risk.

A bank with more capital can still suffer losses if its lending standards deteriorate or if risk-management systems fail.

That is why the CBN is pairing its call for productive lending with renewed emphasis on governance, risk management and financial resilience.

The CBN's Post-Recapitalisation Priorities

The central bank has indicated that the next phase of supervision will cover several areas.

These include corporate governance, asset quality, liquidity, large exposures, cybersecurity and operational resilience.

Consumer protection and financial inclusion are also expected to remain important parts of the regulatory agenda.

The CBN has also indicated that fintech regulation, crisis preparedness and resolution planning will continue to receive attention.

This reflects the changing nature of banking.

Banks are no longer simply institutions with branches where customers deposit and withdraw cash.

They operate digital banking platforms, mobile applications, payment systems, automated processes and increasingly complex technology infrastructure.

The expansion of digital finance creates opportunities for greater access but also creates new forms of operational and cyber risk.

A major outage can affect millions of customers.

A cybersecurity breach can expose sensitive information.

A failure in payment infrastructure can disrupt commercial activity.

The stronger the financial system becomes, the more important it is that its supporting infrastructure remains reliable.

What the Recapitalisation Means for Businesses

For Nigerian businesses, the most important question is how the new capital affects access to credit.

The CBN's message suggests that banks should expand financing to productive sectors.

But the process will not necessarily mean that every business will automatically receive cheaper or larger loans.

Banks will continue to assess borrowers according to their risk.

Creditworthiness, repayment capacity, business performance, collateral requirements and sector-specific risks will continue to influence lending decisions.

What the stronger capital base can change is the overall capacity of the banking system.

Banks with stronger balance sheets may be better positioned to support larger transactions and longer-term financing.

They may also have greater ability to absorb losses associated with lending.

The World Bank and other international institutions have repeatedly identified access to finance as one of the factors affecting the ability of Nigerian firms to grow.

The CBN's latest position places responsibility on banks to use the additional capacity created by recapitalisation to support economic activity.

Small and Medium-Sized Businesses

Small and medium-sized enterprises are likely to remain an important part of the debate.

Nigeria has a large population of small businesses operating across trade, manufacturing, agriculture, services, transport and other activities.

Many operate with limited working capital.

Some have difficulty meeting traditional bank requirements.

Others have irregular cash flows that make conventional loan structures difficult to manage.

Abdullahi specifically said smaller firms and households need dependable payments, appropriate financial products and fair treatment.

That suggests that the CBN's expectations extend beyond large corporate lending.

A banking system can raise substantial amounts of capital while still leaving some smaller businesses with limited access to formal credit.

The post-recapitalisation challenge will therefore include finding commercially sustainable ways to serve businesses of different sizes.

This may involve better use of transaction data, improved credit assessment, digital lending systems and products designed around business cash flows.

But such innovations will also require appropriate safeguards.

Rapid expansion of digital credit without adequate risk controls can create problems for both lenders and borrowers.

The regulatory challenge is to encourage access while maintaining responsible lending standards.

Agriculture and the Banking System

Agriculture is another sector specifically identified by the CBN.

Agricultural businesses often have financing needs that do not fit conventional monthly repayment structures.

A farmer may borrow before planting and generate most revenue months later.

A processor may need financing to purchase large quantities of crops during harvest periods.

A storage operator may require capital to hold commodities until market conditions become favourable.

Agricultural lending also carries risks linked to weather, pests, commodity prices, logistics and security.

A stronger banking system can potentially provide greater financing capacity for these activities.

But banks will still need suitable risk-management systems and products designed around agricultural cash flows.

The CBN's call for financing suited to cash flows and investment horizons is therefore particularly relevant to agriculture.

The same principle applies to other sectors whose revenue cycles differ from conventional retail or salary-based lending.

Manufacturing and Industrial Expansion

Manufacturing is another major area of interest.

Industrial businesses often require substantial capital expenditure.

A manufacturer expanding production may need to acquire machinery, construct facilities, install power systems or purchase additional equipment.

Those investments may not generate immediate returns.

Longer-term financing can therefore be important.

The CBN has said stronger bank capital should enable lenders to finance long-term infrastructure and industrial expansion.

If banks are able to provide such financing prudently, businesses could potentially increase production capacity and reduce some constraints caused by inadequate capital.

But the availability of finance is only one part of industrial competitiveness.

Manufacturers also face energy costs, transportation expenses, exchange-rate exposure, taxation, infrastructure constraints and access to markets.

Bank credit can address some financing constraints but cannot by itself resolve all structural challenges facing Nigerian industry.

Infrastructure Financing

Infrastructure presents another major opportunity and challenge for the banking sector.

Large infrastructure projects frequently require substantial amounts of capital and long repayment periods.

Banks can participate through direct lending, project finance, syndicated loans and other structures.

Stronger capital positions can increase the ability of banks to participate in such transactions.

The CBN has specifically linked stronger bank capital with the capacity to finance long-term infrastructure.

Infrastructure investment can also generate demand across other parts of the economy.

A new transport project may require construction companies, equipment suppliers, engineers and service providers.

An energy project can support industrial activity.

Improved logistics infrastructure can reduce transportation costs.

The economic impact therefore extends beyond the original project.

However, infrastructure finance requires careful assessment because projects can face construction delays, regulatory changes, foreign-exchange risks and uncertainty over future revenues.

Strong capital must therefore be accompanied by strong project appraisal and risk management.

Financing International Trade

The CBN has also connected the stronger banking system with international trade.

Nigeria's businesses engage in imports and exports across multiple sectors.

Importers may require trade finance to purchase machinery, raw materials or other inputs.

Exporters may require financing while waiting for payment from overseas buyers.

Banks can provide letters of credit, guarantees, foreign-exchange services and other trade-related products.

The CBN has said stronger capital should improve banks' ability to support international trade and compete more effectively in regional and global markets.

This is particularly relevant as Nigerian businesses seek to increase participation in African markets.

The African Continental Free Trade Area has created a framework for greater intra-African trade, although businesses still face practical barriers involving logistics, payment systems, standards, customs procedures and financing.

A banking system capable of supporting cross-border transactions can help address part of that infrastructure.

The Foreign-Exchange Dimension

Bank lending cannot be considered separately from foreign-exchange conditions.

Businesses that import equipment or raw materials can be affected significantly by exchange-rate movements.

Banks that provide foreign-exchange services therefore need adequate liquidity and risk-management systems.

The CBN has been implementing reforms aimed at improving the functioning of Nigeria's foreign-exchange market.

At its September 21–22, 2026 Monetary Policy Committee meeting, the CBN reset the Monetary Policy Rate at 23 per cent and retained the Cash Reserve Requirement for deposit money banks at 45 per cent.

The monetary-policy environment affects banks' funding costs, lending conditions and the broader demand for credit.

Interest rates influence the cost at which businesses borrow.

They also affect the incentives for households and companies to save or invest.

Consequently, the impact of recapitalisation will develop alongside other monetary and economic conditions.

Interest Rates and Credit Demand

One of the questions facing banks is whether stronger capital will translate into significantly higher loan demand.

Businesses may want credit, but borrowing decisions depend heavily on the cost of finance.

If lending rates remain high, some companies may postpone expansion plans.

Others may rely on internal funds or alternative financing sources.

The CBN's monetary-policy decisions therefore interact with the banking recapitalisation programme.

A stronger capital base can increase a bank's lending capacity, but the final amount of credit provided will also depend on borrower demand, risk assessments, liquidity conditions and the prevailing cost of funds.

The central bank's challenge is consequently two-sided.

It wants banks to lend more to productive sectors while ensuring that the banking system remains stable.

Rapid credit expansion without adequate risk controls could create new problems.

Very weak credit growth, on the other hand, could limit the economic benefits expected from stronger bank balance sheets.

Financial Stability Remains Central

The CBN has emphasised that recapitalisation is part of a broader financial-stability agenda.

The banking sector's ability to withstand economic shocks depends on more than capital.

Liquidity matters.

Asset quality matters.

Governance matters.

Risk controls matter.

Cybersecurity matters.

Operational resilience matters.

The central bank therefore expects banks to strengthen these areas as they move into the post-recapitalisation period.

This approach reflects lessons from banking crises in Nigeria and other countries.

When banks expand aggressively without adequate controls, losses can accumulate before they become visible.

Strong supervision is designed to identify vulnerabilities earlier.

The CBN has indicated that risk-based supervision, macroprudential surveillance and stress testing will remain part of its approach.

Stress testing is particularly relevant because banks need to understand how their balance sheets might perform under difficult scenarios.

Those scenarios can include sharp currency movements, higher defaults, economic contraction, liquidity pressure or major operational disruptions.

The Digital Banking Challenge

Nigeria's financial system has become increasingly digital.

Customers use mobile applications, internet banking, cards, payment platforms and other electronic channels for everyday transactions.

This has expanded financial access but also increased the importance of technology infrastructure.

Banks must protect customer information and payment systems from cyber threats.

They must maintain backup systems and business continuity plans.

They must also manage third-party technology providers and other operational dependencies.

The CBN has identified cybersecurity and operational resilience among the areas that will continue receiving supervisory attention in the post-recapitalisation era.

For businesses, reliable digital banking is now part of basic commercial infrastructure.

A company may rely on electronic transfers to pay suppliers and workers.

Retailers may depend on card and mobile payments.

Online businesses may rely entirely on digital transactions.

Any prolonged disruption can therefore have real economic consequences.

Financial Inclusion

Another priority highlighted by the CBN is financial inclusion.

Nigeria has made significant progress in expanding access to formal financial services, but gaps remain.

Some households and businesses still operate largely outside conventional banking systems.

Digital financial services have created new channels for reaching people who may not live close to bank branches.

However, access is only one measure of inclusion.

Customers must also have products that are appropriate for their needs.

They need transparent charges.

They need reliable payment services.

They need mechanisms for resolving complaints.

They need protection from fraud and abusive practices.

The CBN has said consumer protection and financial inclusion will remain part of its post-recapitalisation priorities.

That means the banking reform is not solely about large corporate balance sheets.

It also concerns the quality of financial services available to ordinary customers.

What N4.65 Trillion Could Mean for the Economy

The N4.65 trillion raised by 33 banks represents a significant increase in the capital base available within Nigeria's banking industry.

But the figure should not be interpreted as N4.65 trillion that can simply be distributed as new loans.

Bank capital and bank lending are not the same thing.

Banks must maintain regulatory capital against their assets and risks.

They must manage liquidity.

They must maintain reserves.

They must assess borrowers.

They must comply with prudential requirements.

They also need to retain sufficient buffers against unexpected losses.

The CBN's message is therefore about using the increased financial capacity responsibly rather than simply converting every naira of new capital into credit.

The central bank wants the stronger capital base to support a larger and more resilient financing system.

The Importance of Governance

Governance has become a major part of the CBN's post-recapitalisation message.

As banks become larger and take on larger transactions, the quality of decision-making becomes increasingly important.

Boards and management teams must understand the risks associated with expansion.

Internal controls must operate effectively.

Related-party transactions require appropriate oversight.

Large exposures must be monitored.

Risk committees must have sufficient independence and expertise.

A bank can have substantial capital and still experience serious problems if governance fails.

The CBN has therefore emphasised governance alongside capital and lending.

Asset Quality

Asset quality will also be critical.

A loan becomes an asset on a bank's balance sheet, but it can become a problem if the borrower fails to repay.

As banks increase lending, supervisors will need to monitor whether new credit is performing.

A surge in lending accompanied by rapidly rising non-performing loans would undermine some of the benefits of recapitalisation.

Banks must therefore balance growth with prudent credit assessment.

The CBN's emphasis on risk management reflects this requirement.

The goal is not simply to increase the amount of money lent.

It is to increase productive lending without creating an unsustainable build-up of bad loans.

Large Exposures

Stronger capital may also encourage banks to participate in larger transactions.

That can support major infrastructure and industrial projects.

But large exposures create concentration risk.

If a bank has too much exposure to a single borrower, sector or project, a failure can have a disproportionately large effect on the bank.

Regulators therefore monitor large exposures to ensure that banks do not become excessively dependent on a small number of customers.

This is another reason the CBN is emphasising risk management as banks move into the post-recapitalisation phase.

The Road Toward a Larger Economy

The CBN has linked stronger banks with Nigeria's ambition to build a $1 trillion economy by 2030.

Abdullahi said stronger capital buffers should improve banks' capacity to support long-term infrastructure, industrial expansion and international trade.

A larger economy requires financing.

Companies need capital to expand.

Infrastructure requires investment.

Trade requires working capital.

Housing and construction require long-term finance.

Agriculture needs seasonal credit.

Technology businesses need investment capital.

Banks are therefore an important part of the financing system required for economic expansion.

But the relationship works in both directions.

Banks depend on a healthy economy for borrowers who can repay loans.

If businesses grow, banks can expand.

If businesses struggle, bank asset quality can deteriorate.

A stronger banking system and a stronger productive economy therefore need to develop together.

What Businesses Will Be Watching

Businesses are likely to monitor several aspects of the post-recapitalisation period.

The first is whether credit availability improves.

The second is the cost of borrowing.

The third is whether banks develop more products suited to different business sectors.

The fourth is how banks manage foreign-exchange-related financing.

The fifth is the treatment of smaller businesses.

The sixth is the reliability of digital banking and payment infrastructure.

The seventh is whether stronger bank balance sheets translate into greater appetite for long-term financing.

These factors will determine how the recapitalisation programme is experienced outside the financial sector.

Banks Face a Different Test Now

The completion of the recapitalisation programme changes the nature of the test facing Nigerian banks.

Before the programme ended, meeting the new minimum capital requirement was a major regulatory objective.

Now the question is how banks operate with their stronger capital bases.

The CBN has made clear that it will continue monitoring banks' financial and operational resilience.

That means banks will have to demonstrate that they can grow while maintaining appropriate controls.

They will also be expected to support productive activity.

The balance between those objectives will shape the next stage of Nigeria's banking-sector reform.

The Broader Business Environment

The banking reform is taking place while Nigeria's wider economy is undergoing significant changes.

The National Bureau of Statistics reported that real GDP grew by 4.43 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, compared with 4.23 per cent in the second quarter of 2025. Oil-sector growth was 7.31 per cent year-on-year, while the non-oil sector expanded by 4.33 per cent.

Those figures provide part of the economic context in which banks are being asked to expand financing.

A growing economy creates potential demand for credit.

But businesses and households still face challenges involving costs, income, infrastructure and financing conditions.

The banking system therefore operates in an environment where opportunities and risks coexist.

A More Demanding Regulatory Phase

The CBN's post-recapitalisation approach suggests that banks will face more than a capital test.

They will be judged through multiple dimensions of financial resilience and service delivery.

The central bank wants stronger governance.

It wants better risk management.

It wants productive lending.

It wants reliable financial services.

It wants stronger consumer protection.

It also wants banks to maintain resilience against emerging risks.

This broader supervisory framework means the completion of recapitalisation is not the end of banking reform.

It is a transition point.

Implications for Investors

For investors, stronger bank capital can change the financial capacity of individual institutions.

However, investors will also need to examine how that capital is deployed.

Capital raising can strengthen a bank's balance sheet, but returns ultimately depend on how effectively assets are managed.

If banks expand lending successfully while maintaining asset quality and controlling operating costs, the additional capital can support business growth.

If lending expands too quickly or credit quality deteriorates, the additional capital may instead be absorbed by losses.

The CBN's emphasis on risk management reflects the importance of that distinction.

What Happens Next

The next stage will be closely watched by the central bank, financial institutions, businesses and investors.

Banks are expected to deploy their stronger capital positions toward productive sectors while maintaining adequate risk controls.

The CBN will continue supervisory monitoring.

It has said stronger capital buffers must be accompanied by sound governance, risk management and resilience.

Businesses, meanwhile, will be watching whether credit becomes more available and whether financing products better match their needs.

Small businesses will remain an important test because access to formal finance has historically been uneven.

Agriculture and manufacturing will also provide important indicators of whether banks are increasing lending to sectors capable of generating production and employment.

Infrastructure finance will be another area to monitor because long-term projects require financial institutions with sufficient capacity and appropriate risk-management systems.

The Consumer Perspective

For ordinary Nigerians, the impact of recapitalisation may not initially be visible.

A customer does not necessarily see a bank's capital position when making a transfer or withdrawing money.

But the effects can become visible through the quality and availability of services.

A stronger bank may have greater capacity to invest in technology and branch infrastructure.

It may be better positioned to provide loans.

It may have greater capacity to withstand financial shocks.

But customers will also expect dependable service, transparent charges, protection from fraud and effective complaint resolution.

The CBN's inclusion of consumer protection in its post-recapitalisation priorities therefore connects the banking reform directly to everyday financial activity.

The Test of Productive Credit

Ultimately, the most important question raised by the CBN's latest message is whether additional banking capital produces additional economic activity.

That cannot be measured by the N4.65 trillion figure alone.

It will require tracking the destination and performance of lending.

How much goes to agriculture?

How much supports manufacturing?

How much finances infrastructure?

How much reaches smaller enterprises?

How much supports trade?

How much is used for household consumption rather than productive investment?

And, critically, how well do those loans perform?

These questions will become increasingly relevant as Nigeria moves further into the post-recapitalisation era.

Beyond the Numbers

The N4.65 trillion raised by the 33 banks is a headline figure.

But the deeper significance of the recapitalisation programme lies in what it enables the financial system to do.

A well-capitalised bank should be better positioned to absorb losses.

It should have greater capacity to finance larger transactions.

It can potentially support longer-term economic activity.

But capital must be combined with effective management.

The CBN's latest intervention is therefore as much about the quality of banking as it is about the quantity of capital.

The regulator is asking banks to demonstrate that the stronger balance sheets created by recapitalisation can support businesses and economic growth without creating new financial-stability risks.

Conclusion

Nigeria's banking sector has entered a new phase following the completion of the two-year recapitalisation programme that saw 33 banks meet revised minimum capital requirements and collectively raise N4.65 trillion.

The Central Bank of Nigeria is now making clear that the next measure of success will be what banks do with their stronger financial positions.

At its 38th Seminar for Finance Correspondents and Business Editors in Abuja, the CBN called for increased productive lending and better banking services, with agriculture, manufacturing, services and infrastructure identified among the sectors requiring financing suited to their economic characteristics.

The central bank also stressed that stronger capital must be accompanied by sound governance, effective risk management, asset-quality monitoring, liquidity management, cybersecurity and operational resilience.

The distinction is important.

Recapitalisation has strengthened the financial capacity of the participating banks, but it does not by itself guarantee that businesses will receive more credit, that borrowing costs will fall or that economic growth will accelerate.

Those outcomes depend on how banks deploy their capital, how businesses respond to available financing, how monetary and economic conditions evolve and how effectively regulators manage risks.

For businesses, the coming period will therefore be closely watched.

Manufacturers will be looking for investment and working-capital finance.

Agricultural enterprises will need products aligned with production cycles.

Infrastructure developers will require longer-term funding.

Small and medium-sized businesses will continue to seek financing that reflects their actual cash flows rather than only traditional collateral requirements.

Exporters and importers will need reliable trade and foreign-exchange services.

Households will continue to demand dependable payments and accessible financial products.

For banks, the challenge is to meet those needs while preserving the resilience that the recapitalisation programme was designed to create.

The CBN's latest intervention makes the direction clear: the banking reform is moving from the question of how much capital banks have to how effectively and safely that capital is used.

The N4.65 trillion raised during the recapitalisation exercise has increased the financial capacity of Nigeria's banking system.

The next chapter will be measured through lending, investment, financial services, risk management and the extent to which businesses can access the capital required to expand.

That makes the post-recapitalisation period an important test for the relationship between Nigeria's financial sector and its wider economy.

If stronger bank balance sheets are accompanied by responsible productive lending, better services and disciplined risk management, the banking system will have a larger role to play in financing businesses and infrastructure.

If capital accumulation is not matched by effective deployment, the headline size of the recapitalisation will tell only part of the story.

For now, the CBN is signalling that the capital-raising phase is over and the deployment phase has begun.

The focus has shifted from meeting a regulatory number to demonstrating what stronger banks can contribute to Nigeria's businesses, households and broader economic activity.

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