The financial year 2023 in Nigeria witnessed a dramatic shift in corporate financing strategies, notably marked by an extraordinary surge in the utilization of commercial papers (CPs) by various entities seeking capital.

Data released by the FMDQ Group revealed an astonishing 499% increase in CP issuances compared to the preceding year, reaching a monumental N1.504 trillion.

This unprecedented escalation showcases a paradigm shift in fundraising methodologies amid a challenging financial environment characterized by soaring bank lending rates.

At the forefront of this CP issuance trend were industry giants like MTN Nigeria Plc and Dangote Cement, who raised substantial amounts to meet their financial requisites. MTN Nigeria Plc led the pack, securing a staggering N375 billion across seven issuances as part of its N250 billion CP issuance program. Not far behind, Dangote Cement successfully raised N221.28 billion through six issuances within its N300 billion CP program. Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc and Nigerian Breweries Plc also made significant contributions, raising N150.97 billion and N116.49 billion, respectively, through their CP issuance programs.

Joining these heavyweights, several other prominent entities bolstered the surge in CP issuances. Sterling Bank, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, FSDH Merchant Bank, Julius Berger Nigeria, FBNQuest Merchant Bank, and Mixta Real Estate collectively added substantial amounts to the impressive CP issuance figures witnessed in 2023.

Despite the remarkable dominance of CPs as the preferred debt instrument, corporate bonds also played a role in capital acquisition, albeit experiencing a notable decline of 83.8% in comparison to the previous year. Noteworthy issuers included Aradel Holdings, Lagos Free Zone Company, FCMB Group, and Flour Mills of Nigeria, among others, per NairaMetrics.

The rationale behind this seismic shift towards CPs primarily stems from the punitive lending environment prevailing in the banking sector. Bank lending rates soared to staggering heights, touching 30%, against the backdrop of a monetary policy rate pegged at 18.75%. Faced with this onerous lending scenario, companies pivoted towards debt instruments like CPs, which offered more favorable terms and security.

CPs, renowned for their competitive interest rates compared to traditional bank loans, emerged as an attractive avenue for both borrowers and investors. For instance, CPs issued by MTN Nigeria boasted interest rates ranging from 10.41% to 14.33%, significantly lower than the exorbitant lending rates witnessed in the banking sector.

The allure of CPs, characterized by their ability to provide capital at lower borrowing costs compared to bank loans, motivated companies to embrace these instruments, circumventing the challenges posed by prohibitively high lending rates.

This strategic pivot in capital sourcing signifies the evolving dynamics in Nigeria’s corporate finance sector, accentuating the growing prominence of debt instruments like CPs in meeting the financial needs of businesses amidst stringent lending conditions.

Awa, Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State mourns the end of an era as Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing (JSM) Company, once hailed as the largest syringe manufacturing venture in Africa, closes its doors indefinitely.

The company’s cessation of operations marks another grim milestone in the growing list of businesses shuttering due to the hostile business climate prevailing in Nigeria.

The company, inaugurated in 2017 by former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, faced insurmountable challenges, forcing it to halt production several months ago. Finally, on December 31, 2022, the management declared an end to its operations, citing “unforeseen circumstances affecting our business operations” as the reason for the closure.

In a memo addressed to all employees, the company announced the implementation of temporary redundancy effective January 1, 2024, affecting all positions, including those of the workers. The communication, titled “Temporary Redundancy – Service Not Needed Till Further Notice,” conveyed the heartbreaking decision made in the wake of a challenging business environment.

“We trust this message finds you in good health. With a heavy heart, we write to you today to communicate a challenging decision that Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Company Limited has had to make due to unforeseen circumstances affecting our business operations,” the memo reads partly.

“After careful consideration and a thorough evaluation of our current business situation, we regret to inform you that we must implement temporary measures to ensure the long-term sustainability of the company.

“Unfortunately, this includes placing all positions including yours on temporary redundancy effective January 1, 2024.”

The memo expressed regret over the necessity of taking such drastic measures, clarifying that the move was not a reflection of individual performance but a consequence of the harsh economic realities. Workers were requested to return all company belongings in their possession, marking the end of an era for the once-thriving manufacturing entity.

Akin Oyediran, the managing director of Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Company, had expressed optimism about the company’s prospects in an interview in April of the previous year. At that time, he highlighted the company’s success in securing a credit facility of $1 million, attributing it to the conducive environment facilitated by the state government for the manufacturing sector’s growth.

Oyediran had spoken highly of the state government’s support, noting the level playing field and advantages that had attracted investments, enabling the company to expand its operations beyond syringe manufacturing to include gloves, masks, and infusion sets.

Despite these optimistic remarks, the company’s closure denotes the harsh realities of the Nigerian business environment, where even ventures with promising prospects have succumbed to challenges beyond their control.

Economic experts said the growing number of businesses shutting down in the country serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for structural reforms and a more favorable business environment to prevent further economic setbacks and preserve the livelihoods of workers across various industries in the country.

The Nigerian federal government has made a startling disclosure that the country’s electricity companies are grappling with a staggering capital deficit of N2 trillion ($2.5 billion), a substantial barrier hindering the revival of the industry and the provision of a stable power supply across the nation.

Olu Verheijen, an adviser to President Bola Tinubu on energy, disclosed these challenges in an interview with Bloomberg, emphasizing the urgent need for policy adjustments and recapitalization.

Verheijen shed light on the financial predicament of Nigerian electricity firms, citing excessive debt and inadequate capital as primary obstacles to investing in the expansion of household electricity distribution. She advocated for policies facilitating reorganization and the infusion of new capital through strategic partnerships.

“We need to set policies that facilitate reorganization and recapitalization and bring in new partners with new capital,” she said.

The adviser further highlighted the deficiencies in the national grid, pointing to factors such as inadequate pricing, inconsistent revenue collection, and the dilapidated state of the grid, which have collectively resulted in a scenario where a significant portion of Nigeria’s population resorts to generating their own power using noisy generators.

She said there is a stark comparison between the power supply in Lagos, where the grid delivers only 1,000 megawatts to a city of 25 million people, and Shanghai, which provides more than 30,000 megawatts at peak demand with a comparable population. This disparity underlines the critical need for comprehensive reforms in the Nigerian power sector.

One proposed solution put forth by Verheijen is a cost-reflective tariff review, coupled with the much-needed recapitalization. According to her, this dual approach aims to improve the liquidity and sustainability of the power sector.

She cautioned that without implementing tariff adjustments, the weakened Naira, which experienced a 50% drop against the dollar last year, coupled with escalating inflation, could lead to energy subsidies skyrocketing to N1.6 trillion in 2024.

“With the current tight fiscal space, the government’s ability to cover this shortfall is challenged. These issues have exacerbated the financial liquidity challenges in the sector,” she said.

Skepticism surrounds the idea of fresh investments

However, some analysts have expressed skepticism about injecting fresh funds into the power sector without addressing the fundamental shortcomings that have impeded its growth. Despite the federal government’s claim of spending N7 trillion in direct interventions since 2013, even after privatizing the generation and distribution arms of the industry, tangible progress remains elusive.

Nigeria currently possesses a total installed capacity for electricity generation of 13,000 megawatts, yet only 4,000 megawatts effectively reach homes and businesses. This substantial gap emphasizes the urgent need for improvements and investments in the distribution system to efficiently channel the country’s potential power generation to meet the energy needs of its population.

In comparison, South Africa, with a population a third the size of Nigeria’s, boasts a capacity of about 52,000 megawatts, three-quarters of which comes from a state-owned utility running aged plants.

Moreover, the historical data on grid collapses and power outages in Nigeria paint a concerning picture. In 2010, there were 42 instances of total and partial collapses, followed by 19 in 2011, 24 in 2012, and a consistent pattern of system failures in the subsequent years. In 2022 and 2023 alone, the grid collapsed eight and approximately 24 times, respectively.

The economic repercussions of these persistent challenges are significant, with the estimated cost of power outages in Nigeria standing at around $28 billion, equivalent to 2% of the country’s GDP.

Analysts believe that the revelation of a N2 trillion shortfall in Nigeria’s electricity sector, among other impediments, underscores the urgency for strategic reforms, investment, and policy restructuring to address systemic challenges and bridge the gap between potential power generation and actual delivery. Failure to tackle these issues, they say, could perpetuate the nation’s energy crisis, adversely impacting economic growth.