confidentially speaking
The Africa Confidential Blog
Nigeria: what price Fund finance?
Blue Lines
Reports that Nigeria's
economy shrank by 2% in the second quarter of
the year and is officially in recession – its worst performance for 25
years – has fuelled speculation about negotiations between the
government and the International Monetary Fund. Until now, President
Muhammadu Buhari's government
has insisted that while it will listen to
policy advice from the IMF, it does not need to accept loans replete
with a raft of macro-economic conditions.
In fact, by dropping fuel subsidies and floating the naira (which
has depreciated to about N320=$1 on the foreign exchange market managed
by the Central Bank), the government has met the two most onerous of
the IMF's conditions. What would be the benefit of a loan? One is a
massive and much needed cash injection. Egypt, whose economy is
substantially smaller, has just secured a $12 billion loan from the
Fund at well below commercial interest rates.
Nigeria seeks to raise almost a third of its 2016/17 budget –
over $6 bn. – borrowing on the international and local money markets.
It was planning to float a $1bn. eurobond in the coming weeks. Several
banks are lining up to raise finance for what is still considered an
under-borrowed economy. Discussions about pricing such a bond are well
advanced. Almost certainly, Nigeria could get a better price and reduce
its borrowing needs through an IMF deal. The big question is: is such a
deal still politically unacceptable to the President and his top
advisors?