As Nigeria approaches the close of the first quarter of 2026, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s recapitalisation programme has become one of the most consequential developments for the country’s financial sector in decades.
Since its announcement in March 2024, banks across the country have been working to meet new, significantly higher capital thresholds designed to reinforce stability, enhance lending capacity, and attract both domestic and foreign investment. Unlike past initiatives, this programme is comprehensive, setting differentiated capital requirements based on a bank’s operational scope, type, and strategic role within the financial system.
The goal is clear: a stronger, more resilient banking sector that can support economic growth while reducing systemic risk. By late February 2026, 20 Nigerian banks had fully complied with these new thresholds, collectively raising over 4.05 trillion naira, a remarkable demonstration of both local investor confidence and international interest in Nigeria’s financial landscape.
This article breaks down the programme in depth, providing sequences of verified facts, historical context, operational insights, and implications for the wider economy.
The Evolution of CBN Capital Requirements
The Central Bank of Nigeria first introduced the new capital thresholds in March 2024 as part of a targeted recapitalisation drive. This initiative sought to address vulnerabilities in the banking sector exposed during previous periods of financial strain, particularly lessons learned from the 2004–2005 recapitalisation exercise and subsequent regulatory adjustments. The new structure categorises banks according to operational scope and risk exposure, setting minimum paid-up capital for commercial banks with international authorisation at ₦500 billion, national commercial banks at ₦200 billion, regional banks and merchant banks at ₦50 billion, nationwide non-interest banks at ₦20 billion, and regional non-interest banks at ₦10 billion.
By establishing these thresholds, the CBN aimed to create a tiered banking system in which stronger institutions could take leading roles in lending, investment, and economic development while providing buffers to absorb unexpected losses. This approach not only raises the bar for financial stability but also creates incentives for strategic investment, mergers, and disciplined governance across the sector.
Tools and Mechanisms for Raising Capital
In order to comply with the CBN’s requirements, banks were permitted and encouraged to employ a range of capital-raising strategies. Among the most common were rights issues, public offers, and private placements, each offering advantages for different types of banks. Larger commercial banks with significant shareholder bases frequently turned to rights issues, allowing existing investors to increase their stake while generating substantial liquidity. Smaller or more regionally focused institutions leveraged private placements to attract strategic investors without fully opening their capital to public markets. Some banks sought direct capital injections from parent companies or affiliated entities, particularly when they faced tight timelines to meet the regulatory deadline.
Strategic mergers or consolidations also emerged as a practical solution for banks whose individual capital bases fell short of requirements. For example, Providus Bank’s consolidation with Unity Bank created a combined entity with sufficient capital to meet the ₦200 billion threshold for national banks. By late February 2026, these mechanisms had enabled 20 banks to meet the mandated thresholds, a milestone that underscores the effectiveness of combining regulatory guidance with market flexibility.
Early Milestones and First Compliant Banks
The journey toward compliance began in earnest in mid-2025. By that period, a small group of banks had completed preliminary capital-raising initiatives and submitted verification documents to the Central Bank of Nigeria. Access Bank Plc, leveraging both early rights issues and investor confidence, was among the first to surpass the new ₦500 billion threshold. Other tier-one banks, including Zenith Bank Plc and First HoldCo Plc, followed closely, demonstrating the advantage of established market presence and robust investor networks.
By late November 2025, 16 banks had fully complied, marking a significant milestone in the recapitalisation process. This early cohort not only signalled a commitment to financial stability but also provided a benchmark for the remaining banks, highlighting strategies, best practices, and investor appetite. It became evident that those institutions with established capital-raising experience and strong governance structures were able to move more quickly, underscoring the importance of managerial expertise in achieving regulatory milestones.
Achieving Full Compliance — 20 Banks Verified
As the March 31, 2026 deadline approached, the Central Bank of Nigeria confirmed that 20 banks had fully met the new capital requirements. This figure represents a substantial proportion of the country’s 33 licensed deposit money banks, reflecting a combined capital raise of approximately ₦4.05 trillion.
Notably, 71.7% of this total, equating to ₦2.90 trillion, came from domestic investors, demonstrating strong local confidence in the sector, while the remaining 28.3%, roughly ₦1.15 trillion, originated from foreign investors, signalling international interest in Nigeria’s growing financial markets.
Among the compliant institutions were international banks such as Access Bank, Zenith Bank, First HoldCo Plc, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, UBA, and Fidelity Bank Plc, all exceeding the ₦500 billion threshold. National banks like Wema, Citibank Nigeria, Standard Chartered, Ecobank, Globus, Stanbic IBTC, PremiumTrust, and Providus exceeded the ₦200 billion requirement.
Merchant banks including FSDH, Greenwich Merchant, Nova Bank, and Rand Merchant surpassed the ₦50 billion threshold, while non-interest banks Jaiz Bank and Lotus Bank met the ₦20 billion requirement. These banks represent a broad cross-section of the sector, from international giants to specialized niche lenders, highlighting both diversity and stability in Nigeria’s financial landscape.
Methods Used to Meet Capital Targets
The successful banks employed multiple complementary strategies to achieve compliance. Rights issues and public offers allowed large banks to raise substantial funds quickly from both existing shareholders and new investors, often resulting in oversubscription, which further boosted paid-up capital. Private placements attracted strategic investors who provided large injections without requiring full public participation, a particularly useful approach for smaller institutions or merchant banks.
Mergers and consolidations proved instrumental for some banks, allowing them to combine assets and meet thresholds while maintaining operational continuity. Additionally, parent company injections played a role, particularly for banks with strong corporate ownership structures that could mobilize capital efficiently. By combining these strategies, the 20 compliant banks not only met the CBN’s requirements but in many cases exceeded them, creating a buffer for future growth, investment, and risk management.
Banks Yet to Comply and Strategic Options
Despite the strong performance of the 20 compliant banks, as of late February 2026, 13 banks were still working to meet the CBN’s recapitalisation thresholds. These banks were in various stages of compliance, with some having completed partial capital raises and others actively negotiating strategic mergers or seeking foreign investment. The Central Bank of Nigeria maintained close supervision, providing guidance and structured deadlines to ensure orderly completion of the programme.
Several banks explored raising additional equity through rights issues, private placements, or partnerships with domestic and international investors to bridge remaining capital gaps. In some cases, banks with weaker capital bases considered mergers or acquisitions with more robust peers, a move that could strengthen both governance and operational capacity.
Implications for Lending, Economic Growth, and Financial Inclusion
Meeting the new capital thresholds carries profound implications beyond regulatory compliance. Banks that successfully raised capital are now better positioned to expand lending portfolios, particularly in key economic sectors such as infrastructure, manufacturing, agriculture, and technology. With stronger capital buffers, these institutions can absorb potential loan losses while offering larger loans at competitive rates, thereby stimulating economic activity. Financial inclusion also benefits, as regional and merchant banks gain additional capacity to extend credit to underbanked populations, including small and medium enterprises and rural communities.
The programme also encourages disciplined risk management and corporate governance, reducing systemic vulnerabilities that have previously affected investor confidence. For Nigeria’s economy, the recapitalisation represents both a stabilization measure and a growth catalyst, signalling to local and international stakeholders that the financial sector is robust, resilient, and capable of supporting strategic development priorities over the medium and long term.
The Role of Foreign Investment and Investor Confidence
A notable feature of the recapitalisation programme is the substantial participation of foreign investors, who contributed approximately ₦1.15 trillion, or 28.3% of the total capital raised. This level of engagement demonstrates strong international confidence in Nigeria’s banking sector and suggests that global investors see both stability and growth potential in the market. Foreign involvement was particularly evident in rights issues and private placements, where strategic investors provided large-scale injections that complemented domestic capital. The presence of international capital serves multiple functions: it not only increases liquidity for participating banks but also introduces global best practices in governance, risk management, and compliance.
Moreover, the participation of reputable foreign investors sends a positive signal to markets, reinforcing trust and encouraging additional capital inflows from other institutional investors. For domestic stakeholders, this partnership between local and international funding sources reflects a maturing banking ecosystem capable of attracting cross-border investment while maintaining regulatory oversight and national economic priorities.
Lessons from Historical Recapitalisation Exercises
The 2026 recapitalisation builds on decades of experience, with lessons drawn from earlier regulatory reforms and sectoral consolidations. The 2004–2005 recapitalisation, for example, led to a smaller number of stronger banks with enhanced capacity to lend and manage risks but also created concerns over concentration and market dominance. Subsequent interventions highlighted the importance of transparency, timely communication, and investor confidence in ensuring successful compliance. The current programme, with differentiated thresholds and multiple pathways for capital mobilisation, reflects these lessons.
It also demonstrates an evolution in regulatory thinking, combining firm oversight with flexible market tools that allow banks to meet requirements through innovative strategies. Analysts note that the 2026 programme is likely to produce a banking sector that is not only more capitalised but also more competitive, resilient, and capable of supporting sustained economic growth without repeating the vulnerabilities of past decades.
Market Consolidation, Strategic Mergers, and Future Outlook
Looking ahead, the recapitalisation programme may trigger additional consolidation within the Nigerian banking sector. Banks that struggle to meet thresholds are likely to pursue mergers or acquisitions, creating fewer but stronger institutions capable of competing regionally and internationally. This process will likely reshape the banking landscape, reinforcing market discipline while strengthening risk management and governance standards.
The final compliance deadline of March 31, 2026, represents a critical inflection point, after which the CBN will evaluate remaining gaps and enforce regulatory measures as necessary. Beyond regulatory compliance, the recapitalisation is expected to enhance financial stability, attract further domestic and foreign investment, and expand lending to underserved sectors.
For the Nigerian economy, these developments signal a new era in banking, one characterized by robust capitalisation, improved governance, and greater alignment with both global standards and national economic priorities. As the sector transitions into this strengthened phase, both investors and policymakers will monitor outcomes closely, anticipating the ripple effects across economic growth, employment, and social development initiatives.
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