SMEs in Nigeria Struggle for Credit Amid High Rates

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria are struggling to access credit amid high interest rates and tight monetary policies. A report by Moniepoint highlights that 51% of respondents who took loans did not intend to, reflecting a decline in credit appetite.

The report indicates that Nigeria's SMEs face a $236 billion funding gap, with only 4% of the country's 40 million SMEs having access to formal bank loans. Muda Yusuf, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Promoting Private Enterprise, emphasized that the financial gap reflects deeper systemic issues within Nigeria's credit architecture, particularly for small businesses.

He called for special financing windows to provide lower interest rates and longer-term funding. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has maintained a tight monetary stance, raising the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) multiple times, which has resulted in a significant increase in borrowing costs.

The current lending environment is perceived as unsustainable, with commercial banks viewing SMEs as high-risk borrowers due to weak credit histories and lack of formal documentation.