{
  "id": 1374979,
  "title": "CIBN tasks banks on deeper MSME lending as yields decline",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/cibn-tasks-banks-on-deeper-msme-lending-as-yields-decline",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-16T23:48:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/cibn-tasks-banks-on-deeper-msme-lending-as-yields-decline/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dele Alabi, has urged Nigerian banks to expand their lending to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) amid declining interest rates and government securities yields. Speaking at the 2026 Lagos Bankers’ Night, Alabi emphasized that banks cannot solely focus on government securities and large corporate borrowers to sustain profitability and support economic growth. The recent recapitalization of the banking sector, which raised N4.7tn, has strengthened the banks, but Alabi stressed that they must now deploy the funds strategically. He encouraged banks to step away from conventional practices and lend to MSMEs in a secure and profitable manner by implementing appropriate risk-control measures and infrastructure.",
  "summary": "The CIBN tasks Nigerian banks to deepen MSME lending as government securities yields decline, ensuring sustained profitability and economic growth. Read More: https://punchng.com/cibn-tasks-banks-on-deeper-msme-lending-as-yields-decline/",
  "key_points": [
    "CIBN urges Nigerian banks to lend more to MSMEs",
    "Declining interest rates and government yields prompt action",
    "Banks encouraged to deploy recapitalized funds strategically"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Banks must now deploy recent recapitalization funds strategically to lend more to MSMEs, shifting from reliance on government securities and large corporate borrowers to sustain profitability and support economic growth.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}