…warns banks over rising exposure to government debt
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged Nigeria to strengthen banking sector risk controls following its recapitalisation exercise, warning that adequate capital and liquidity requirements, timely recognition of bad loans and closer monitoring of banks’ exposure to government debt are critical to sustaining financial stability.
Jason Wu, assistant director, Monetary and Capital Markets Department at the IMF, gave the recommendation during a Financial Stability Report press briefing at the ongoing annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Bangkok, Thailand.
Wu said emerging economies often needed to introduce appropriate regulations after recapitalisation to prevent risks from building up in the banking system.
He identified adequate capital and liquidity requirements, timely recognition of credit losses and non-performing loans, as well as monitoring banks’ exposure to sovereign risks, as critical measures for strengthening resilience.
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In Africa, he said, the relationship between sovereign debt and banking sector stability was particularly important, making it necessary for regulators to understand the extent of banks’ exposure to government risks.
The recommendations come as Nigeria continues to consolidate the gains from its banking sector recapitalisation exercise, which was designed to strengthen lenders’ capital base and improve their capacity to support economic growth.
Beyond raising capital, the IMF’s position highlights the importance of effective supervision and risk management in ensuring that stronger balance sheets translate into a more resilient banking system.
Wu also stressed the importance of maintaining sound regulatory standards to prevent the accumulation of vulnerabilities that could undermine the stability of financial institutions.
Separately, Athanasios Vamvakidis, deputy director, Monetary and Capital Markets Department at the IMF, warned that emerging markets could face renewed financial pressure if global borrowing costs rise, despite their recent resilience and relatively favourable market conditions.
He said emerging markets had benefited from historically low risk spreads and resilience supported by strong domestic policies and economic fundamentals.
However, he described the combination of high yields and narrow spreads as unusual, warning that developments in advanced economies and fresh energy price shocks could push borrowing costs higher and widen spreads.
According to him, even emerging markets with sound policies and strong fundamentals need to strengthen their resilience to prepare for less favourable global financial conditions.
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Vamvakidis said external shocks beyond the control of emerging economies could make access to international capital markets more expensive, increasing the importance of sound domestic policies and stronger financial safeguards.
He also highlighted debt transparency as an important factor in maintaining investor confidence and keeping international capital markets open to emerging economies, including African countries that need to borrow in foreign currencies.
He said making outstanding debt obligations clear to investors could help reassure markets and sustain access to financing.
The IMF’s concerns underscore the importance of strengthening Nigeria’s financial sector safeguards at a time when global financial conditions remain vulnerable to energy shocks and developments in advanced economies.
For Nigeria, maintaining adequate bank capital, strengthening liquidity management, recognising bad loans promptly and monitoring sovereign exposures will be important to protecting financial stability against domestic and external pressures.
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Hope Moses-Ashike is an Associate Editor, Banking and Finance, with more than a decade of experience reporting on Nigeria’s financial system and broader economy. She closely tracks market movements, monetary policy decisions, company disclosures, regulatory actions, economic indicators, and global developments, and interprets what they mean for businesses, investors, policymakers, and households. Her reporting helps readers understand complex issues such as inflation trends, foreign exchange market dynamics, interest rate decisions, bank performance, and investment risks. She also covers major international events and periodically travels to Washington, D.C., to report on the World Bank/IMF Spring and Annual Meetings. Her dedication to financial journalism has earned her multiple recognitions and invitations to high-level professional development programmes. She is an alumna of the International Visitors Leadership Programme (IVLP) in the United States and holds an Advanced Financial Journalism Certificate from the Press Association Training in London, UK. Her other notable achievements include completing the Lagos Business School CMC Programme, the Bloomberg Media Africa Initiative Programme, and a Master Class in Journalism at Rhodes University in South Africa.
