Nigeria's Private Sector Credit Drops to N75.24 Trillion

According to the latest monetary credit statistics released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), credit to the private sector fell to N75.24 trillion in January 2026, a decrease from N75.83 trillion recorded in December 2025. This decline suggests that lending conditions remain tight, despite recent adjustments in monetary policy aimed at balancing inflation control with economic growth.

The data indicates that the overall lending environment is still volatile, with private sector credit remaining below the peak levels recorded in 2025. The CBN's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has been working to incentivize lending to the real sector rather than risk-free placements, but the contraction in money supply has further underscored the tightening liquidity conditions.

This situation reflects a broader slowdown in domestic credit expansion across the economy, highlighting the challenges faced by financial institutions in maintaining lending activities.