Nigeria's Private Sector Credit Drops 2.8% to N75.24trn

As of January 2026, private sector credit in Nigeria has declined by 2.8% year-on-year, amounting to N75.24 trillion, according to the latest monetary credit statistics released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). This decline from N77.38 trillion in January 2025 represents a drop of N2.14 trillion over the 12-month period.

Month-on-month, private sector credit fell by 0.8% from N75.83 trillion in December 2025, indicating a contraction of approximately N593 billion. The peak of private sector credit was recorded at N78.07 trillion in April 2025, followed by a gradual downward trend, reaching its lowest level of N72.53 trillion in September 2025.

In contrast, government credit stood at N34.19 trillion in January 2026, slightly lower than N34.22 trillion in December 2025, but reflecting a significant increase of N25.03 trillion or 36.6% year-on-year. Overall, net domestic credit decreased to N109.43 trillion in January 2026 from N110.06 trillion in December 2025, indicating moderate lending within the financial system.