Nigeria’s banking sector has become highly concentrated over the past 10 years, with the biggest five lenders now dominating market share. But executives at smaller firms are not worried. They insist that innovation and nimbleness, not to mention the huge scope for growth in Nigeria, will see them make up for their lack of size.
Eurobond issuance from sub-Saharan Africa is still dwarfed by that from elsewhere in the world. But more and more African sovereigns are tapping the market as investors clamour for exposure to the rapidly growing region, where local bond markets are also developing quickly.
Analysts are predicting a strong showing from Nigeria’s banks as they announce their 2012 results, perhaps demonstrating once and for all that they are over their 2009 crisis. They cannot rest on their laurels, however, as 2013 could be far tougher for them.
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Nigeria’s central bank governor, says critics of his tight monetary policy forget how unstable the country’s financial system was just three years ago. He also tells The Banker that he will not stand for a second term, saying the job he was tasked with is almost done.
Given the size of its economy and the rapid pace at which it is growing, Nigeria has a good chance of establishing an international financial centre to rival Johannesburg – Africa's only IFC. The west African country is already close to creating the legal framework necessary, but overcoming the negative perceptions of many international banks will prove a tricky obstacle to overcome.
Competition among Nigeria’s biggest banks will become even fiercer in the coming few years thanks to the creation of two new top-tier lenders in the wake of the country’s financial crisis. But the head of First Bank, the largest lender in Nigeria, is undaunted by the emergence of these rivals.
Nigeria’s capital markets have yet to recover fully after crashing in 2008. But thanks to extensive reforms by its regulators and a strengthening of investor sentiment amid rapid economic growth, the country's stock exchange is expected to take off in the next few years, and some bankers think its capitalisation can reach $1000bn by as soon as 2016.
Africa’s poor infrastructure has caused it to lag behind other emerging markets over the past few decades. And while better infrastructure is crucial for the continent’s economic development, it can also boost democracy and good governance.
Nigeria has revitalised its banks following their crisis two years ago. They are now far healthier and are once again making strong profits. But the shake up of the industry will continue for a while yet, as the affects of recent consolidation – including the creation of two new top tier banks – begin to be felt.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s recent appointment as Nigeria’s economic tsar has led to high expectations that the country can finally start to fulfil its vast potential. But, despite her intellect, boundless energy and standing among investors, the task is a daunting one.
Nobody knows how many billions of dollars have been squandered by Nigerian officials since the country’s independence in 1960. By even the most conservative estimates, however, the scale of graft and bad governance has been staggering, meaning that Nigeria is still far from fulfilling its great economic potential.
Mismanagement and corruption have stifled Nigeria's economy for decades. But this year’s elections have given hope that its leaders will finally embark on the deep reforms needed to modernise the resource-rich country and enable it to finally fulfil its vast potential.
By taking on their non-performing loans, Nigeria’s state-owned bank, Amcon, has played a pivotal role in ensuring that the country’s banks are up and running again just two years after their crisis. However, its chief executive is keen to stress that its work is far from over.