Unclear economic reform plans stall Nigeria’s $5bn loan request

By Odunewu Segun

Nigeria’s delay in submitting the required economic reform plans have stalled the country’s effort in securing about $5bn from international lenders to tackle the lingering recession facing the country, National Daily gas gathered.

Investigation showed that for about a year now, Nigeria has been in talk with the World Bank, promising to present its proposed reform plans before the end of last December, 2016 but failed to do so.

Similarly, the African Development Bank (AfDB), is also holding back the second tranche of a $1 billion loan for Nigeria, its President Akinwumi Adesina told Reuters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

“We are waiting for the economic policy recovery program and the policy framework for that, “Adesina said, without specifying when the AfDB had expected to receive the reform plans.

Nigeria has said it is seeking to borrow $4 billion in total from the World Bank and other foreign institutions and $1 billion through Eurobonds to plug a yawning budget deficit and fund badly needed infrastructure projects.

The country, which relies on oil revenue for most of its income, has been hit hard by the sharp fall in crude prices since 2014 and is struggling to drag itself out of its first recession in 25 years.

It is unclear why the government has not submitted reform plans to the international lenders. The funding deadlock could throw into doubt badly needed infrastructure projects planned for this year, including new roads and improvements to power infrastructure.

The failure to secure the funds, and to present a reform programme, could also deter some investors from Nigeria’s planned $1 billion Eurobonds sale in March.

A Nigerian financial source said the government was working with a consultancy on putting together a package of proposed reforms. The source, who declined to be named as the matter is confidential, did not elaborate.

Nigeria needs money to help plug a budget deficit of 2.2 trillion naira ($7 billion) for 2016 and to help fund a record budget of N7.3 trillion  for 2017 which is aimed at stimulating the economy.

It has been holding talks with various institutions and China over the last year to borrow funds but apart from a $1 billion loan from the AfDB, at a rate of 1.2 per cent, nothing has been made public.

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The Abidjan-based AfDB has paid out an initial $600 million in November but is awaiting the economic reform proposals before it disburses the rest of the money.

Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun and the World Bank declined to comment.