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InfraCredit Targets N1trn to Unlock Infrastructure Funding
By Adedapo Adesanya
Infrastructure Credit Guarantee Company (InfraCredit) is targeting about N1 trillion over the next four years to unlock long-term funding for infrastructure projects in Nigeria.
According to the Lagos-based credit-guarantee company’s chief executive, Mr Chinua Azubike, it expects to execute the target transactions from its existing pipeline.
He said the pipeline comprises contracted clients that have completed initial screening, signed mandate letters and entered due diligence, with loan approvals and financial close expected over the next four years, he said.
“We have seen moderation in interest rates and stability in the foreign-exchange environment, and so we see opportunities to actually do more in the capital market in Nigeria,” Azubike said, as per Bloomberg.
Infracredit will be betting on looser leverage rules and easing borrowing costs that has been carried out by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
SEC last year proposed rules permitting such firms to maintain leverage of as much as 10 times capital while the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the central bank cut rates by 50 basis points to 27 per cent in September, easing for the first time in five years.
Although the CBN held the interest rate at 27 per cent in November 2025, there are expectations that there will be further reductions as inflation continues to ease.
Bloomberg reported that InfraCredit has used its roughly N328 billion capital base to provide credit guarantees for 27 projects spanning roads, housing and renewable energy.
Last week, it provided credit enhancement for a local currency debt issuance by First Electric Power and Automation Services Limited, backing a clean energy project under a co-financing arrangement with the Climate Finance Blending Facility. The transaction marks the facility’s first mesh-grid clean energy project and its sixth deal overall.
The firm is now seeking to capitalize on President Bola Tinubu’s push to expand public works, as Nigeria faces an infrastructure funding gap estimated at more than $3 trillion over the next three decades.
“The guarantees we issue are designed to derisk projects” and enable “infrastructure companies to issue long-term debt that pension funds and insurance companies can lend to,” Mr Azubike said.
The InfraCredit CEO said the company plans to accelerate credit mobilization by tapping its over-the-counter listing and taking advantage of the new regulations that allow credit-guarantee firms to assume more risk to back additional lending.
“Our leverage now is roughly close to one time, so there is still room to stretch the company’s balance sheet by issuing more guarantees against its capital,” Mr Azubike said.
Launched in 2017 and backed at inception by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and the UK’s Private Infrastructure Development Group, InfraCredit now counts domestic institutional investors, mainly pension funds, among its largest shareholders, which hold about 40 per cent of the company.
By Dipo Olowookere
Nigeria’s Vice President, Mr Kashim Shettima, will run as the vice-presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential election.
President Bola Tinubu retained Mr Shettima as his running mate for re-election next year, according to the National Chairman of the APC, Mr Nentawe Yilwatda.
In a post on Friday on X, the ruling party chairman described this as “another significant milestone in the journey of our great party.”
He also said it reaffirms the party’s collective resolve to sustain the Renewed Hope Agenda and deepen the progress already being recorded across the country.
It was gathered that Mr Tinubu submitted his presidential nomination forms today through his Special Adviser on Political and Other Matters, Mr Ibrahim Masari.
The submission was done ceremony at the Continental Hotel, Abuja, attended by several party chieftains, including The event brought together an impressive array of leaders of our great party, including the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, Mr Hope Uzodimma; Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, as well as other governors, party executives and critical stakeholders from across the federation.
“The All Progressives Congress remains focused on strengthening its grassroots support, consolidating the achievements of the Renewed Hope Agenda and working together to build a more prosperous, secure and inclusive Nigeria for all,” the party leader stated.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have regained their freedom after 56 days in captivity.
The development was disclosed on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, on X. He revealed that eight of the kidnappers have been arrested and are now in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), while some others were neutralised during the operation.
“Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Oriire, Oyo have been rescued by our security agencies,” he wrote.
He said no concession was made to the terrorists to secure the freedom of the abducted pupils and teachers.
Mr Onanuga explained that the kingpin whose release the kidnappers had demanded was neither freed nor spared, as he remains under prosecution for offences linked to his terrorist activities.
The abductions occurred on May 15, 2026, when armed men attacked three schools: Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School, in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area.
No fewer than 39 pupils and seven teachers, including a principal, were taken during the attacks. During the attack, a teacher, Mr Joel Adesiyan, was killed while attempting to escape.
Another teacher, Mr Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly beheaded in the kidnappers’ den.
The terrorists holding the victims had reportedly made a four-point demand before agreeing to free the captives, including the release of detained terrorist commanders, payment of ransom, two Hilux vehicles and the implementation of Sharia-related law.
The Oyo State Government had consistently maintained that no ransom would be paid to secure the release of any victims.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) embarked on a month-long strike in the state to press for the victims’ rescue before suspending the action in July.
It also drew federal intervention, with military and police authorities repeatedly assuring Nigerians that operations to secure the victims’ freedom were ongoing.
The President’s spokesperson said that security agencies would soon provide a comprehensive account of the operation.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The board of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) has approved a $260 million financing package for the construction of a 123-kilometre section of the Trans-Saharan Highway in Nigeria as part of more than $417 million earmarked for strategic projects across West Africa.
The approval was granted during the bank’s 99th Ordinary Session, chaired by its President, Mr George Donkor, according to a statement issued after the meeting. It was noted that the total financing will support five public and private sector projects spanning infrastructure, healthcare, housing, mining, financial resilience and regional connectivity.
EBID said the approved investments underscore its commitment to funding high-impact projects that drive economic growth, create jobs and improve living standards across the sub-region.
“The projects approved during this 99th Board Session demonstrate EBID’s unwavering commitment to financing development solutions that directly improve the lives of West African citizens.
“From clean energy and transport infrastructure to healthcare, housing and financial sector resilience, these investments will strengthen regional competitiveness and support sustainable and inclusive growth across our community,” said Mr Donkor.
That of Nigeria is to improve connectivity, facilitate trade, reduce logistics costs and support economic integration; West African CFA franc (XOF) 10 billion in a line of credit to Banque de l’Habitat de Côte d’Ivoire (BHCI) to expand housing finance and support SMEs operating across the housing and construction value chain; €80 million for the design, construction, equipment and maintenance of the 150-bed Regional Hospital of Ferkessédougou in Côte d’Ivoire under a public-private partnership;
XOF 12.82 billion (West African CFA Franc) for the renovation, operation and maintenance of the Symphonie Building in Abidjan under a public-private partnership and $47.4 million for Azumah Resources Ghana Limited to finance the procurement of long-lead process plant equipment and critical early-stage development activities for the Black Volta Gold Project.
“These approvals advance EBID’s Growth, Resilience and Optimisation (GRO) Strategy, which prioritises transformative infrastructure, human capital development, private sector growth and regional integration. Through these investments, the Bank continues to promote sustainable development and shared prosperity across West Africa,” the statement said.
