The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says it has disbursed N3.5 trillion to various sectors of the economy to assist in cushioning the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Apex bank says it will also contribute N1.8 trillion into the N2.30 trillion Federal Government’s one-year Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) through its Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs).
CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele who stated this on Tuesday after the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in Abuja also gave a breakdown of how the funds were disbursed.
The breakdown is as follows: Real Sector (N216.87 billion); COVID-19 Targeted Credit Facility (N73.69 billion); Agri-Business/Small and Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme (N54.66 billion); Pharmaceutical and Health Care Support (N44.47 billion); and Creative Industry Financing (N2.93 billion).
For the Real Sector Funds, Emefiele said: “a total of 87 projects that include 53 manufacturing, 21 agriculture and 13 service projects were funded.
He added: “In the health care sector, 41 projects which include 16 pharmaceuticals and 25 hospital and health care services were funded.”
The Apex bank boss also said: “Under the Targeted Credit Facility, 120,074 applicants received financial support for investment capital.
“The AGSMEIS intervention has been extended to a total of 14,638 applicants, while 250 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), predominantly the youth, have benefited from the Creative Industry Financing Initiative.”