If Nigeria is to make up for the infrastructural deficit in the country, the government should consider resorting to bonds rather than loans for infrastructural financing.

Structuring all transactions in a local currency, rather than dollars, would help to drive infrastructural development at a greater speed.

These were some of the suggestions made by Mr. Bolaji Balogun, Chief Executive Officer, Chapel Hill Denham, while speaking on the theme: “Financing Infrastructure Development in Nigeria – Challenges, Opportunities and the Way Forward,” at the virtual Financial System Strategy (FSS) 2020 Pension Sector Second Quarter Forum.

Balogun noted that driving infrastructural development would start by creating an enabling environment and embracing private capital.

“Only if investment in infrastructure grows from 15% to 18% a year, we can reach 8% economic growth,” he said.

He advised that structuring the financing through the capital markets to ensure that the transactions are bankable, and the costs reflect reality.

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Balogun noted that the country would experience a boost in financial inclusion, improvement in the balance of trade, long-term macro, and price stability with a well-developed infrastructure.

Other gains of well-developed infrastructure, according to him, are greater production competitiveness, enhanced housing, significant import substitution, and robust pensions.

Mr. Effiok Ekpenyong, Head, Investment Management Department, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), in his presentation, stated that the capital market apex regulator has existing regulations and guidelines that would help participants in infrastructure development.

He also called for collaboration among the agencies to remove regulatory bottlenecks and build capacity for the country to achieve expected growth and development.

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Crowdfunding for infrastructure

In his presentation, Mr. Chinua Azubuike, Chief Executive Officer, InfraCredit, called for crowdfunding domestic credit and public-private partnerships for infrastructural development.

This was in line with an earlier presentation from Mr. Chidi Izuwah, Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), who stated that the government alone cannot provide the needed infrastructure for economic growth and development.

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Also speaking at the online forum, Mr. Farouk Aminu, Head, Investment Services Department, National Pension Commission, stressed the need for creating infrastructure instruments that would attract Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) to the market.

He opined that the diversification of investment products would boost PFAs participation in infrastructure development, thus hastening Nigeria’s infrastructural development.

The spread of novel Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) in Nigeria continues to rise as the latest statistics provided by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control reveal Nigeria now has 8,915 confirmed cases.

On the 28th of May 2020, 182 new confirmed cases and 5 deaths were recorded in Nigeria.

To date, 8915 cases have been confirmed, 2592 cases have been discharged and 259 deaths have been recorded in 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory having carried out 49,966 tests.

Covid-19 Case Updates- May 28th 2020

• Total Number of Cases – 8,915
• Total Number Discharged – 2,592
• Total Deaths – 259
• Total Tests Carried out – 49,966

The 182 new cases are reported from 16 states- Lagos (111), FCT (16), Akwa Ibom (10), Oyo (8), Kaduna (6), Delta (6), Rivers (5), Ebonyi (4), Ogun (4), Kano (3), Plateau (2), Gombe (2), Kebbi (1), Kwara (2), Bauchi (1), Borno (1).

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Western diplomats warn of disease explosion, poor handling by government

The latest numbers bring Lagos state total confirmed cases to 4123, followed by Kano (939), Abuja at 535, Katsina (358), Oyo (260), Borno (258), Ogun (246), Jigawa (241), Edo (240), Bauchi (234), Kaduna (221),  Rivers (176), Gombe (154), Sokoto (116), Plateau (99).

Kwara State has recorded 87 cases, Zamfara (76), Nasarawa (62), Delta (57), Yobe (47), Akwa Ibom (45), Osun (44), Ebonyi (40), Adamawa (38), Imo (34), Kebbi (33), Niger (30), Ondo (24), Ekiti (20), Taraba and Enugu (18), Bayelsa (12), Anambra (11), Abia (10), Benue (7), while Kogi state has recorded 2 cases.

Lock Down and Curfew

In a move to combat the spread of the pandemic disease, President Muhammadu Buhari directed the cessation of all movements in Lagos and the FCT for an initial period of 14 days, which took effect from 11 pm on Monday, 30th March 2020.

The movement restriction, which was extended by another two-weeks period, has been partially put on hold with some businesses commencing operations from May 4. On April 27th, 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari declared an overnight curfew from 8 pm to 6 am across the country, as part of new measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19. This comes along with the phased and gradual easing of lockdown measures in FCT, Lagos, and Ogun States, which took effect from Saturday, 2nd May 2020, at 9 am.

READ ALSO: Bill Gates says Trump’s WHO funding suspension is dangerous

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reduced the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) from 13.50% to 12.50%.

Governor, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, disclosed this while reading the communique at the end of the MPC meeting on Thursday in Abuja.  Meanwhile, other parameters such as the Cash Reserve Ratio  (CRR) remained at 27.5%, Liquidity ratio at 30%.

READ ALSO: Bankers decry rise in public debt, weak economy

Highlights of the Committee’s decision

• MPC cuts MPR by 100 basis points to 12.50%
• CRR stood at 27.5%
• The Liquidity Ratio was also kept at 30%

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CBN MPC cuts policy rate by 100 basis points to 12.5 %, maintains other parameters constant.

— Central Bank of Nigeria (@cenbank) May 28, 2020

READ ALSO: Nigeria’s total debt to hit N33 trillion – Senate

According to Emefiele, the decision of the MPC to reduce the Monetary Policy Rate  was informed by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy, increased inflationary pressure, restrictions in international trade and more.

He highlighted the decline in the nation’s GDP as well as the decline in the manufacturing and non-manufacturing purchasing index which were attributable to slower growth in production, rate of unemployment, amongst others.

READ MORE: AfDB’s Akinwumi Adesina hits back, denies allegations against him

On reopening of the economy, Emefiele emphasised the need for Government to work towards a gradual reopening in line with recommendations of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) and advice from medical experts, insisting that efforts must be directed at saving not only lives but also livelihoods. He said,

“This is to enable the resumption of economic activities necessary to stimulate growth, accelerate the pace of recovery and restore livelihoods, particularly the vulnerable in our society.

“With respect to output, the Committee urged the Federal Government to continue exploring options of partnership with the private sector to fund investment in infrastructure. This would aid employment generation, support production and boost output growth.”