Recapitalisation: Banks in Race to Scale CBN’s Hurdle Apex bank upbeat
Nume Ekeghe
With exactly 296 days to the March 31, 2026, deadline set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for commercial banks to raise their capital, operators in the industry are entering a critical
phase of what has been described as the most consequential regulatory shakeup in over a decade. The ambitious exercise has set the financial sector on edge, triggering a flurry of boardroom strategy sessions that have seen some financial
institutions completely raise the required amount for their banks, engage in business combination talks, and share sales in the capital market. As the countdown intensifies, banks face a stark choice: bulk up
or risk being pushed to the margins of a fast-evolving financial landscape. Under the new framework, the CBN mandates banks with international licences to beef up their capital base to a minimum of N500 billion, from N50 billion, previously;
national banks to have a minimum of N200 billion, from the N25 billion it used to be, and regional banks to maintain minimum capital base of N50 billion, from N10 billion. While some institutions have already met the threshold, others
Tributes Pour in as Former CJN, Uwais Dies at 88...
are advancing to the second phase of capital raising, with a few still weighing their options. For instance, among the Tier 1 banks, Zenith Bank Plc successfully Continued on page 5 Page 5
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Despite Pushback, Governor Eno Finally Defects to APC Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Okon Bassey in Uyo
L-R: Former Minister of Works, Raji Fashola; Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammed Matawalle; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Kadri Hamzat; President Bola Tinubu; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru Abubakar; Minister of Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola and Prof. Shaffideen Adeniyi Amuwo, during the Eid-el-Kabir prayer at the Dodan Barracks prayer ground Lagos…yesterday
After weeks of speculations and mounting political pressure, Governor Continued on page 5
Tinubu Urges Support, Prayers for Brave Soldiers Defending Nigeria Calls for unity, sacrifice as Muslims celebrate Eid-el-Kabir Governors preach peace See story on page 5 Army, NAF chiefs boost troops’ morale
WELCOME TO THE APC...
L-R: Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu; Deputy Governor, Akwa Ibom State, Akon Eyakenyi; Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State; Chairman Progressives Governors' Forum, Hope Uzodimma; President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun and Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, at the Uyo residence of the Senate President, shortly after the official defection of Governor Eno from the PDP to the APC…yesterday