The Business NG - December 11, 2024

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Interbank rates have surged in Nigeria’s money market, highlighting the mounting liquidity pressure within the financial system. The short-term benchmark interest rates have continued on an upward trend as banks strive to meet daily funding requirements amidst tightened liquidity.

The liquidity strain has driven local banks, especially tier-2 lenders, to rely more heavily on the Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN) borrowing window, where interest rates have risen above 32%. This reflects the ongoing challenge for institutions with weaker liquidity buffers.

On Tuesday, liquidity pressures intensified as substantial Open Market Operations (OMO) auction settlements drained the system, overshadowing the ₦101.8 billion inflow from maturing OMO bills. The settlement of ₦1.6 trillion in auctioned OMO bills further exacerbated the liquidity deficit.

Data from Cowry Asset Limited showed that while the Nigerian Interbank Offered Rate (NIBOR) declined across most maturities, overnight rates spiked, signifying acute illiquidity. The FMDQ platform confirmed that the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) climbed by 0.68% to 32.07%, while the Overnight Lending Rate (O/N) increased by 0.82% to 32.82%