Nigerian banks remain resilient despite elevated credit risks -Moody

Nigerian banks are expected to remain resilient despite elevated credit risks from deteriorating operating environment, Moody rating agency has said. 

Adesola, CEO SCB

The global rating agency said it expects Nigerian banks' nonperforming loans to rise in 2016, driven by the deteriorating repayment capacity of borrowers in the oil and gas sector, although their profitability will remain sufficient to absorb related provisioning needs. 

The report, "Banking System Overview: Nigeria", noted that as a reflection of lower oil prices that will continue to constrain fiscal revenue and public expenditure, it expects Nigeria's real GDP growth to decelerate to 3.5 percent in 2015 before recovering to 4.9 percent next year, from over 6 percent in 2014. 

"Over the next two years, we expect Nigerian banking system problem loans to rise above 5 percent, but remain below 10 percent, owing to the disproportionate exposure to the oil and gas sector, the high level of unseasoned loan stock as a result of strong loan growth in recent years, and the high level of foreign currency denominated loans," says Akintunde Majekodunmi, a Vice President -- Senior Analyst at Moody's and a co-author of the report.

 "These loan portfolio characteristics are being pressured by Nigeria's challenging macroeconomic environment," Majekodunmi further stated.

The report noted however, that despite pressures on profitability over this period, stemming from slower loan growth, Moody's still expects that bank earnings will be sufficient to absorb increased credit costs. Moreover, Moody's also expects banks to maintain their solid capital and liquidity buffers over this challenging period.
The resilience of the Nigerian banking system also stems from continued improvements to the regulatory and supervisory environment, as well as its predominantly deposit funded liability structures and low loan to deposit ratios.
"In the long-term, we also expect that retail lending will create enormous opportunities for Nigerian banks, given the population size and low penetration in the segment," said Peter Mushangwe, a Moody's Associate Analyst and co-author of the report.