Business
Nigeria’s Chinese Debt Skyrockets By $800 Million In One-Year Span
Nigeria’s debt to China rose by $800 million in the span of one year, increasing from $3.93 billion as of June 30, 2022, to $4.73 billion as of June 30, 2023.
This marks a 20.36% surge from the second quarter of 2022 to Q2 2023, according to analysis based on data from the Debt Management Office.
Despite the Federal Government maintaining secrecy about the terms of the China loans, the DMO has previously made some statements regarding them.
Recall that in a statement in June 2020, the DMO said, “The total borrowings from China of $3.121bn as of March 31, 2020, are concessional loans with interest rates of 2.5 per cent per annum, tenor of 20 years and grace period (moratorium) of seven years.”
As per the Debt Management Office (DMO), the terms of the loans from China align with Section 41 (1a) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007.
The loans feature a low interest rate, minimizing the government’s interest costs, and a prolonged tenor, facilitating the repayment of the principal sum over an extended period.
In a document titled ‘Status of Chinese loans as at September 30, 2021,’ the DMO revealed that 15 projects, spanning water supply, power generation, railways, airport terminals, communication, and agricultural processing, were funded by these loans.
The initial loan project, the Nigerian Communications Satellite project, involved $200 million and was agreed upon on January 12, 2006.
This five-year loan matured on June 29, 2018, and Nigeria successfully paid it off. The interest rate was three percent per annum, resulting in a payment of $40.02 million in interest.
The second loan, for the Nigerian national public security communication system project, amounted to $399.50 million and was agreed upon on December 20, 2010, with disbursement.
The third loan supported the Nigerian railway modernization project (Wu-Kaduna section) with $500 million, agreed upon on December 20, 2010, and disbursed.
The fourth loan, directed at the Abuja light rail project, amounted to $500 million and was agreed upon on November 7, 2012, with subsequent disbursement.
The fifth loan targeted the Nigerian Information and Communication Technology infrastructure backbone project, involving $100 million and an agreement reached on January 5, 2013, with disbursement.
The sixth loan was allocated for the expansion of four airport terminals (Abuja, Kano, Lagos, and Port Harcourt) with $500 million agreed on July 10, 2013. However, only $455.28 million, equivalent to 91.06 percent of the agreed amount, was disbursed.
The seventh loan, designated for the Nigerian Zungeru hydroelectric power project, amounted to $984.32 million, agreed upon on September 28, 2013. However, only $518.24 million, representing 52.65 percent of the agreed amount, was disbursed.
The eighth loan, allocated for the Nigerian 40-parboiled rice processing plants project under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, amounted to $325.67 million. This agreement was reached on April 26, 2016, but no disbursement occurred.
The ninth loan, dedicated to the Nigerian railway modernization project (Lagos – Ibadan section), amounted to $1.27 billion, agreed upon on August 18, 2017. However, only $759.84 million, equivalent to 17.50 percent of the agreed amount, was disbursed.
The tenth loan aimed at the rehabilitation and upgrading of the Abuja-Keffi-Markurdi road project with $460.82 million, agreed on August 18, 2017. However, only $80.64 million, representing 59.96 percent of the agreed amount, was disbursed.
The eleventh loan, intended for the Nigeria supply of rolling stocks and depot equipment for the Abuja light rail project, amounted to $157 million, agreed upon on May 29, 2018. Nevertheless, no disbursement occurred.
The twelfth loan, allocated for the Nigeria Greater Abuja water supply project, involved $381.09 million, agreed upon on May 29, 2018. However, no disbursement took place.
The thirteenth loan, designated for the Nigerian Four Airport Terminal Expansion Ancillary Project, amounted to $183.62 million, agreed upon on December 27, 2019. Yet, no disbursement was made.
The fourteenth loan, intended for the Nigerian Four Airport Terminal Expansion Incremental Project, amounted to $208.90 million, agreed upon on December 27, 2019. However, no disbursement occurred.
The fifteenth loan, allocated for the Nigerian ICT Infrastructure Backbone Phase II Project, involved ¥2.3 billion and was agreed upon on September 5, 2018. However, only ¥480.40 million, equivalent to a partial disbursement, was executed.
The document reveals that only the 15th loan project was denominated in Chinese Renminbi Yuan.
Additionally, it contradicts the DMO’s claim in June 2020, showing varying interest rates ranging from 2.5 percent to three percent, not exclusively fixed at 2.5 percent.
During the reviewed period, Nigeria serviced Chinese loans with $263.14 million, as observed by The PUNCH.
Data from external debt service reports indicates that Nigeria may not be obligated to make any payments in Q2, as no debt service payment for Chinese loans was recorded in both Q2 of 2022 and 2023.
Addressing concerns about potential asset forfeiture due to loan default, the Director-General of the DMO, Patience Oniha, reassured Nigerians in 2021 that the loans were predominantly concessional, and no national asset was designated as collateral.
Savannah Energy has shared a trading update on its Nigerian operations and other markets in Africa, including up-to-date cash collections in its Nigerian business.
According to the update, made available on Thursday in Lagos, its gross production in Nigeria averaged 23.1 Kboepd for FY 2024, broadly in line with the prior year’s 23.6 Kboepd, of which 88% was gas (FY 2023: 91%).
On the update, CEO of Savannah Energy, Andrew Knott, said, “I am pleased to provide a FY trading update which demonstrates the continued progress we have made in 2024, a year which saw the highest level of cash collections ever recorded by our Nigerian business. 2025 is expected to be an exciting year for our Company: we have a large planned operational programme in Nigeria which is anticipated to enhance both our oil and gas production levels and capacity; we intend to progress our R3 East oil development project in Niger; we continue to pursue key acquisitions in the upstream oil and gas space; and we continue to seek to build our power business.
“Fundamentally, Savannah remains unequivocally an “AND” company, seeking to deliver strong performance both for the short AND long term across multiple fronts, and pursuing growth opportunities in both the hydrocarbon AND power sectors.”
The update It also shows that it generated a Total Income of US$393.6 million in 2024, compared to FY 2023’s US$289.8 million. This consists of Total Revenues of US$258.7 million and Other operating income of US$134.9 million.
The report also shows that Savannah’s FY 2024 Total Revenues were ahead of the previously issued financial guidance of greater than US$245 million, while FY 2024 financial guidance is reiterated for Operating expenses plus administrative expenses at ‘up to US$75 million’. The company expects its FY 2024 capital expenditure to come in lower than planned (previously guided at ‘up to US$50 million’) due to the phasing of spend.
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According to the update, Savannah’s cash collections in 2024 amounted to US$248.5 million, a slight increase from the US$206 million it received in 2023. The report further shows that its cash balances as at 31 December 2024 stood at US$32.6 million, compared to the 31 December 2023 figure of US$107.0 million.
The report shows that the company’s midstream subsidiary, Accugas Limited, had as at 31 December 2024 drawn down on its NGN332 billion of the NGN Transitional Facility, with the resulting funds being converted to US$, which, along with cash held, was used to partially prepay the existing Accugas US$ Facility, leaving a balance as at 31 December 2024 of approximately US$212.3 million.
The report also provided new updates on Accugas’ US$45 million Uquo Central Processing Facility (“Uquo CPF”) compression project in Nigeria, noting that its commissioning which will enable the expansion of gas production in the medium term is well underway.
The report highlighted the progress being made in the procurement process of long lead equipment in Nigeria for a potential two-well drilling campaign on the Uquo Field in H2 2025, with an additional gas development well expected to add up to 80 MMscfpd of supplemental production capacity and a potential exploration well targeting an Unrisked Gross gas initially in place (“GIIP”) of 154 Bscf (25.7 MMboe) of incremental gas resources.
The update shows that progress is also being made in the planned Savannah acquisition of Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Nigeria Limited, whose principal asset is a 49% non-operated interest in the Stubb Creek oil and gas field (“Stubb Creek”), with regulatory approval and completion being targeted in Q1 2025. Following the completion of the acquisition, Savannah intends to commence an expansion programme which is anticipated to increase Stubb Creek gross production from an average of 2.7 Kbopd in 2024 to approximately 4.7 Kbopd.
In Niger, Savannah continues to seek to progress its 35 MMstb (Gross 2C Resources) R3 East oil development in South-East Niger, while it continues to push for a potential alternative transaction structure to acquire a material stake in producing oil and gas assets in South Sudan as previously announced on 20 December 2024.
On the renewable energy front, the update shows that Savannah has up to 696 MW of renewable energy projects currently in motion, including the up to 250 MW Parc Eolien de la Tarka wind farm project in Niger and the up to 95 MW Bini a Warak hybrid hydroelectric and solar project in Cameroon. A firm believer in Africa’s transition to renewable energy, Savannah continues to target a portfolio of up to 2 GW+ of power projects in motion by the end of 2026.
The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has projected that the country has the potential to achieve a 5.5% growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) if critical policy reforms are sustained.
This was disclosed on Thursday during the launch of the NESG’s 2025 Macroeconomic Outlook report.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Economist and Director of Research & Development at NESG, Dr. Olusegun Omisakin, highlighted the need for more efficient policy implementation to unlock Nigeria’s economic potential.
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“We believe at the optimal level, if we embark on more efficient policy reforms, the Nigerian economy has the potential, the GDP to end up at 5.5 per cent, and we believe that this is achievable,” Omisakin stated.
More to follow……….
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced the release of the Nigerian Foreign Exchange (FX) Code, a set of guidelines designed to promote ethical conduct among authorized dealers in the country’s FX market.
In a statement, the apex bank disclosed that the official launch of the Code would take place on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at the CBN Head Office Auditorium in Abuja.
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“The Central Bank of Nigeria has approved the release of the Nigerian Foreign Exchange (FX) Code as a guideline to the banking industry to promote the ethical conduct of authorised dealers in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market,” the statement read.
The introduction of the FX Code is expected to enhance transparency, accountability, and professionalism within Nigeria’s foreign exchange ecosystem, aligning it with global best practices.
The event is anticipated to attract key stakeholders in the financial and banking sectors, as well as representatives from authorized FX-dealing institutions across the country.
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