Economy
Ecobank, NIRSAL Give Farmers Single Digit Interest Loans
By Dipo Olowookere
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Ecobank Nigeria Limited and Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk-Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL).
This signals the beginning of a collaboration between both institutions on agri-business financing and the development of products that will support lending to actors in the agricultural value chain in conformity with Ecobank’s risk acceptance criteria and credit process.
Under the arrangement, Ecobank has committed a portfolio of N70 billion in series that has the bank immediately releasing a lump sum of N15 billion take off funding.
Ecobank and NIRSAL would jointly select and develop projects that will meet the financing needs of actors in NIRSAL’s focal commodity value chains. These include maize, soybean, wheat, cassava and cotton for industrial commodities.
The list also includes consumer commodities such as hibiscus, sesame, ginger and shea, rice; controlled environment agriculture commodities including sweet potato and beans, fresh fruits and vegetables and agriculture and integrated livestock commodity. The intent of the partnership is to ensure farmers get single digit interest rates to make agriculture attractive to both the elderly and the young population.
In his comment at the MoU signing ceremony in Lagos, Managing Director of Ecobank Nigeria Limited, Mr Patrick Akinwuntan, said the bank was actively promoting agriculture as a strategic initiative to support national development which is critical to the wellbeing of Nigerians.
According to Mr Akinwuntan, Ecobank is committed to working with NIRSAL to open up the vast opportunities that abound in agriculture and to ensure citizens benefit ultimately.
“This is a collaboration and the federal government had made it clear that investing in the agriculture sector is very critical for Nigeria to succeed, especially taking into consideration the natural endowment God granted us in terms of population, land and weather.
“We have the opportunity to make agriculture the economic spinner for Nigeria. What we are doing is to fulfil this policy direction of the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),” he noted.
Further, Mr Akinwuntan reiterated that “in Nigeria, Ecobank hopes to contribute positively to move the economy forward, creating employment for the teeming population through agriculture. We found a natural partner in NIRSAL, as they have the requisite intellectual and technical capacity to act as meeting point for the stakeholders in the sector.
“The de-risking participation of NIRSAL gives us the will to provide these facilities at single digit rates at a maximum of 9 percent to ensure that the users are able to make profit. When our customers make profit, we are also able to make profit. So it is a win – win business for everyone”.
Also speaking, Managing Director of NIRSAL, Mr Aliyu Abdulhameed, revealed that under the agreement, and in line with its Mapping to Markets (M2M) strategy, NIRSAL will identify and refer structured projects to Ecobank to support the bank’s deal origination and financing operations in agribusiness.
On its part, Ecobank will finance the projects leveraging NIRSAL’s Credit Risk Guarantee (CRG) which is a further comfort for lenders to agriculture and agribusiness.
Shedding more light on the M2M, Mr Abdulhameed noted that the strategy is “a closed loop financing system that mandatorily operates via one bank or a consortium of banks.
He added that NIRSAL will refer input and service providers under the M2M to Ecobank for account opening, hence, driving the growth of the bank’s business.
In addition to growing the bank’s business, Abdulhameed said that NIRSAL will develop a program for training Ecobank staff on Agribusiness Finance, with emphasis on how to channel customer applications and requests for effective and streamlined agribusiness lending.
The MoU ceremony had in attendance top executives of both institutions including Akintayo Dada, Executive Director, Corporate & Investment Banking, Biyi Olagbami, Executive Director / Chief Risk Officer and Carol Oyedeji, Executive Director, Commercial Bank, all of Ecobank Nigeria and Babajide Arowosafe, Executive Director, Technical, Eze Nwakanma, Assistant General Manager, Agricultural Value Chain Finance & Investment Services, Ernest Ihedigbo, Head, Balance Sheet Financing & Portfolio Management and Michael Adeoye, Head, Credit Risk Guarantee Operations and Portfolio Management, from NIRSAL Plc
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The national scale long-term issuer rating of Fidson Healthcare Plc has been upgraded to A+(NG) from A(NG), with its short-term issuer ratings of A1(NG) affirmed.
This action was taken by GCR Ratings, which also accorded the leading healthcare organisation in Nigeria with a stable outlook in a statement obtained by Business Post.
It was explained that the company achieved this latest development amid its strong competitive position and improved financial profile.
GCR said Fidson Healthcare’s debt metrics remain moderate, bolstered by a successful N21 billion rights issue expected in Q2 2026 and robust cash flows that support strong liquidity, though large expansionary investments and heightened working capital requirements slightly constrain the rating.
Fidson is a prominent pharmaceutical manufacturer in Nigeria, with over 350 products registered with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Its product portfolio encompasses a wide range of therapeutic categories, including antibiotics, infusion products, over-the-counter products, and lifestyle healthcare solutions.
The company is enhancing its market position through ongoing investments in manufacturing capacity, product innovation, automation, and operational efficiency.
The firm operates through an extensive network of over 120 distributors across Nigeria, ensuring strong retail visibility and market penetration.
To further strengthen its competitive position, the company is investing in a greenfield automated manufacturing facility, additional infusion lines, and expanded tablet lines, all expected to become operational in the near term. This capital expenditure will significantly increase productive capacity, improve operational efficiency, and enhance export competitiveness in the medium term.
In terms of its liquidity assessment, its 12-month sources versus uses coverage at 1.6x and 24-month coverage at 1.4x, supported by access to diverse funding sources.
Estimated liquidity sources include forecasted operating cash flow of N15.1 billion, cash holdings of N4.7 billion, inventory valued at approximately N17.5 billion, and cash of N21 billion from the equity raise. These resources are sufficient to cover anticipated near-maturing debt obligations of N23.4 billion and forecast medium-term capital spending of around N20 billion, as well as a dividend payout of N3.7 billion in 2026.
By Bon Peters
The new acting Comptroller of the Eastern Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mr Esien Etim Esiet, a Deputy Comptroller of Customs, has promised to maintain an open-door policy with stakeholders, including licensed agents and partners.
He gave this assurance when he officially assumed leadership of the command on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, according to a statement issued by the command’s spokesman, Mr Joshua Iliya, a Deputy Superintendent of Customs (DSC), in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
In a proactive move to strengthen maritime security and trade facilitation, he immediately initiated an extensive tour of operational facilities and high-level engagements across the region, including Rivers (Abonnema and Onne Outstations), Akwa Ibom (Oron Outstation), and Cross River (Calabar Outstation) States.
During the visitations, Mr Esiet conducted rigorous inspections of equipment and personnel readiness, emphasising that the success of the command relied on a united front, adding that a “sustained synergy is our greatest weapon in combating smuggling and maritime crimes,” insisting that a united front was non-negotiable for national security.
On the inter-agency level to foster a one-service approach, DC Esiet held strategic meetings with the Customs Area Controllers of Port Harcourt II (Onne), the Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone, and the Cross River/Calabar Free Trade Zone/Akwa Ibom Area Command.
To further reinforce maritime safety, he equally paid courtesy visits to top maritime security brass, including the Commander, NNS Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, the Commanding Officer, Navy Forward Operation Base (FOB), Ibaka, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Eastern Naval Command, and the Cross River State Commissioner of Police.
On community and private sector partnership and in recognition of the vital role of grassroots support, DC Esiet visited monarchs in the region, underscoring commitment to maintaining deep-rooted ties with host communities, among others.
On fiscal policy compliance, he reiterated his administration’s resolve to strictly align with the policy direction of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, emphasising that his leadership would focus on streamlining maritime enforcement protocols, ensuring officers were motivated and equipped while maintaining an open-door policy with licensed agents and partners.
The Eastern Marine Command, which is a specialised wing of customs, is dedicated to patrolling the nation’s Eastern Waterways, preventing smuggling, and ensuring the security of maritime trade.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange recorded a marginal loss of 0.02 per cent on Tuesday, May 26, due to selling pressure, as investors cut down their exposure to unlisted stocks.
During the session, the volume of securities traded by investors jumped by 45.6 per cent to 2.2 million units from the previous day’s 1.5 million units, the value of securities increased by 119.5 per cent to N129.9 million from the N59.2 million recorded a day earlier, and the number of deals soared by 92.6 per cent to 52 deals from the preceding day’s 27 deals.
At the close of business, Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc remained the most traded stock by value on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units worth N8.4 billion, trailed by Infrastructure Credit Guarantee (Infracredit) Plc with 2.3 billion units sold for N6.5 billion, and Central Securities and Clearing System (CSCS) Plc with 61.2 million units exchanged for N4.1 billion.
GNI Plc was also the most active stock by volume on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units valued at N8.4 billion, followed by Infracredit Plc with 2.3 billion units valued at N6.5 billion, and Resourcery Plc followed with 1.1 billion units traded for N415.7 million.
Five securities recorded various movements yesterday at the OTC securities exchange, with three price gainers and two price losers.
For the advancers, they were led by 11 Plc, which added N22.11 to its share price to close at N243.11 per unit versus N221.10 per unit, CSCS Plc grew by N2.95 to N77.80 per share from N74.85 per share, and IPWA Plc expanded by 80 Kobo to N8.83 per unit from N8.03 per unit.
On the flip side, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc shrank by N12.11 to N167.89 per share from N180.00 per share, and Geo-Fluids Plc lost 2 Kobo to sell at N2.98 per unit versus Monday’s N3.00 per unit.
As a result, the market capitalisation dropped N600 million to close at N2.571 trillion compared with the previous day’s N2.571 trillion, and the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) fell by 1.00 points to 4,297.17 points from 4,298.17 points.
The market will be closed on Wednesday (May 27) and Thursday (May 28) for the Eid al-Kabir holidays.
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