Nigeria: Finance and Banking

Nigeria's Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) is finally disbursing after 23 years, but eligibility alone does not guarantee approval. What separates successful applications from failed ones is whether the underlying business is genuinely bankable, with proper ownership structures, credible feasibility reports, and adequate security packages in place before approaching a Primary Lending Institution.

Equipment leasing has emerged as a vital source of asset finance for Nigerian businesses seeking access to vehicles, machinery, technology and other productive assets without substantial upfront costs. The Equipment Leasing Act 2015 established the Equipment Leasing Registration Authority and introduced a comprehensive statutory framework for regulating equipment leasing activities in Nigeria.

A pattern is emerging, one where private-owned monies are being diverted for public borrowing without the notice or express consent of the legal owners. In August 2026, President Bola Tinubu proposed the use of unclaimed dividends and dormant accounts funds to fund the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (“NELFUND”). Dr. Maruf Alausa, the Minister of Education, informed the public that cross ministerial efforts have commenced between the Ministries of Education, Finance and office of the Attorney-General of the Federation towards removing legal hurdles and operationalising this directive.2