IslamicFinance.de

Africa has big potential for Islamic finance. Nigerian Jaiz Bank for example aims to expand outside northern Nigeria and open 100 branches by 2017. Local conventional banks are getting ready to move into Islamic finance too, including Sterling Bank, which recently gained a licence to open an Islamic window. Despite Kenya’s smaller Muslim population compared to Nigeria, the country’s Islamic finance sector is also emerging. Gulf African Bank for example enjoyed over 154% net profit growth to $2.8 million. Other countries like Zambia are eager to catch up. However, the lack of competition might be a challenge, as well as conventional banking laws dictating Islamic finance.

Nigerian Jaiz Bank has entered into a partnership with Teasy Mobile Money, a CBN-licensed Mobile Payment Operator, to provide financial services to Nigerians, through Mobile Phone. This is part of their efforts to implement financial services inclusion of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to everyone in the society. Jaiz bank will collaborate with Teasy Mobile Money in developing programs, projects and other activities that are targeted at providing a robust mobile payment and deposit platform capable of delivering end-to-end mobile banking solutions. The service will allow customers to have access to their money beyond banking hours, anywhere. Additionally, Teasy Mobile Money customers will now be able to use Jaiz Bank offices nationwide as Service Points.

Nigerian Islamic bank Jaiz Bank has announced its commencement of Foreign Exchange trading which now makes it eligible to carry out transactions for eligible Bureau de Change operators at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). It will commence bidding for its BDC customers from all branches by the first week of September 2013. The bank has also commenced over the counter transactions of Basic Travel Allowance BTA sales at all its branches. Jaiz Bank began full operations as the first Non-Interest Bank in Nigeria in January, 2012 and has since expanded its branch network to 10. The capital base of the Bank has also grown from N5 billion when it started operations last year to about N10billion. This level of capitalisation enables the Bank to apply for National Banking license from the Central Bank of Nigerian if it chooses and thus position it to operate in all the States of the Federation.

Nigeria is trying to establish itself as the African hub for Islamic finance. In recent months, a string of regulatory initiatives have set the groundwork for products such as Islamic bonds (sukuk), insurance (takaful) and interbank lending products, although there is still only a small number of local market participants. Islamic banking is currently offered by the Islamic window of Stanbic IBTC, a unit of South Africa’s Standard Bank, and Jaiz Bank, a full-fledged Islamic lender which has operated since 2012. Sterling Bank has been granted approval in principle for an Islamic window, while two more lenders have expressed interest in obtaining licences to operate Islamic Windows. However, Nigeria’s banking sector remains underdeveloped, with the majority of adults being unbanked.

Jaiz Bank is now targeting a national license from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) after having grown its capital base from N5 billion when it started operations last year to about N10 billion. The capital increase will enable the bank to apply for National Banking license from the CBN and thus position it to operate in all the States of the Federation. Besides, Jaiz bank has joined other commercial banks in the country in the processing of foreign exchange transactions. The bank will commence bidding for its BDC customers from all branches by the first week of September 2013. Moreover, it also commenced over the counter transactions of PTA and BTA sales at all its 10 branches.

Jaiz Bank Plc has joined other commercial banks in processing of foreign exchange transactions. This allows the bank to process forex transactions for eligible bureau de change (BDC) operators at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The bank will reportedly commence bidding for its BDC customers from all branches by the first week of September. Furthermore, the bank has also commenced over the counter transactions of PTA and BTA sales at all its branches. Jaiz Bank has 10 branches in several regions of Nigeria. Its capital base had also grown from N5 billion when it started operations last year to about N10 billion.

Dr. Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has received Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Ali, President of the IDB Group in Makkah Guest Palace. The discussion covered arrangements made for the implementation of number of projects approved by the Bank for Nigeria and the on-going efforts that aim at establishing a representation office in Nigeria. Discussion also touched on issues related to the IDB’s role in supporting the Transformation Agenda Progamme in Nigeria. The Programme pursues growth in a number of sectors that include projects such as electricity transmission lines, regional and national road network, partnership between private and public sector in energy and supporting exports. The IDB President has offered to organize an investment conference in Nigeria early in 2014 similar to a conference organized by the IDB last year in Abuja. The Vice president of Nigeria welcomed this initiative.

Nigerian Jaiz Bank PLC has reiterated a firm commitment to the provision of ethical banking services to its customers. The bank has unveiled its array of value adding products and services which it said are available to all irrespective of race or religion. Key amongst the areas being financed by the bank are the Agricultural Sector, Small and Medium Scale Industries and Home Finance. Other products offered by the bank are Jaiz Home Finance, Jaiz Auto Finance, Jaiz Home Appliances Finance, Lease Finance as well as Working Capital and Asset Acquisition Finance. Jaiz Bank has branches in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, Maiduguri and Gombe with additional 10 branches to be opened across the northern part of the country before the end of this quarter.

Nigeria is gradually opening up to Islamic finance, a move that could develop one of Africa's fastest-growing consumer and corporate banking sectors and establish the country as the African hub for Islamic finance. In recent months, a string of regulatory initiatives have set the groundwork for products such as Islamic bonds (sukuk), insurance (takaful) and interbank lending products, although there is still only a small number of local market participants. Islamic banking is currently offered by the Islamic window of Stanbic IBTC, a unit of South Africa's Standard Bank, and Jaiz Bank, a full-fledged Islamic lender which has operated since 2012. Sterling Bank has been granted approval in principle for an Islamic window, while two more lenders have expressed interest in obtaining licences to operate Islamic Windows.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has sought the support of the Islamic Development Bank for the provision of about $450m to expand the power transmission system to wheel up to 20,000 megawatts of electricity. According to Vice-President Namadi Sambo, more funds need to be injected in the transmission component. Sambo also called on the bank to consider the construction of a road linking Lagos to Abidjan, the capital of Côte d’Ivoire. Moreover, he requested the IDB to extend its support to the Nigerian private sector in the areas of education, aviation and agriculture. IDB has already approved the construction of four new science secondary schools in Kaduna State worth $17,9m; construction of a 300-bed specialist hospital in Kaduna State at $43.15m; and the Zaria water supply project worth $81.0m. Furthermore, the$32.40m Jigawa State rural development project and the bilingual education programme for Borno, Gombe and Niger states worth $30.53m are under consideration.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reportedly has partnered with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to form a new initiative called “Geospatial Mapping of Financial Institutions” that aims to increase the financial inclusion of low-income Nigerians. The new service will map all financial access points in Nigeria, including every microfinance institution and off-site ATMs, that Nigerians will be able to see online or on their mobile phones. The program reportedly will also enable the government and banks to determine whether certain regions of the country lack access to an appropriate number of financial services. BMGF will provide a monetary grant of an unspecified amount in order to pursue this goal. This new project is part of CBN’s initiative, the Nigeria Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS). The amount of monetary support that CBN has contributed to NFIS is unavailable.

Jaiz Bank yesterday donated relief materials to the Governor of Borno State for onward distribution to victims of the Boko Haram insurgency. While presenting the items, Dr. Abdulmutallab expressed his sympathy with the people of the state over their travails and donated rice, spaghetti and textile materials to cushion their sufferings. In his remarks, governor Shettima thanked the bank for the donation and pledged to judiciously utilise the items. The governor promised to partner with the bank towards harnessing the full potentials of the state. In order to to further demonstrate his support, the governor also promised to open a personal savings account with the bank.

The Osun State government in southwestern Nigeria is planning to raise a sukuk bond worth 10 billion Nigerian nairas (some $62 million) from the capital market to fund infrastructural development. The state is awaiting final approval from the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC). The seven-year bond would be issued through a book-building process, which would earn returns for sukuk holders through a semi-annually paid rent structure called the Ijara. A local credit ratings agency, Agusto and Co, has given the note – to be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange – an A rating. The move as part of a 60 billion naira debt-raising program by Osun State, which started last year. The funds will be used to finance construction of education projects, among other development initiatives.

Nigerian Jaiz Bank has increased its branch network to ten, with the commissioning of its Katsina branch. The bank commenced operations with three branches in Abuja, Kaduna and Kano states on January 6, 2012, after it received licence from the Central Bank of Nigeria on November 11, 2011, to operate as a non-interest bank. The bank now has branches in Gombe, Maiduguri, Katsina, and two branches in Kano. The bank has also added two branches in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. The branches are located at the National Assembly and Wuse District. According to the chairman, board of directors of Jaiz Bank, Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, there are plans to open additional branches in Bauchi, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and Jigawa states and at the Bayero University Kano, Federal Secretariat Abuja and Zaria, before the end of year 2013.

The "International Islamic Microfinance Seminar" was held in Abuja, Nigeria on July 1-2, 2013. This event focused on Nigeria’s Islamic microfinance and banking industry including topics relating developing and facilitating business models; poverty alleviation; financial inclusion; accounting and auditing standards; the regulatory and supervisory framework; technology; and opportunities in agriculture, livestock, renewable energy, microenterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises. Green Oasis Associates Limited (GOAL), a Nigeria-based international consulting firm, organized the seminar.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has announced that an Islamic screening exercise has been carried out on the 15 companies in the NSE Lotus Islamic Index (NSE LII) and other Shari'ah compliant companies using the 2012 year-end financial statements. The result saw some stocks likely to fail the screening exercise. The NSE said possible replacements will be made to the stocks that are due to exit the index. Some of the stocks being watched for replacement are Japaul Oil & Maritime Service Plc, Honeywell Flourmills Plc and Dangote Flour Plc. The 15 companies that will make the NSE LII list and market capitalizations will be made public before the end of the month, and before the index rebasing date of July 1, 2013.

Barring any unforeseen circumstance, Osun State will issue Nigeria's first Sukuk bond of N10 billion before the end of July. The planned 7-year paper would be part of a N60 billion debt raising programme of the state which started last year. The Osun bond will be issued through a book-building process which will earn a return for sukuk holders via a semi-annually paid rent structure called the Ijara. The government is targeting local pension funds and international investors on the bond. Local credit rating agency Agusto & Co has assigned an A rating to the note, which will be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Osun is waiting for the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC’s) approval to start marketing the bond. The funds will be used to finance the construction of education projects.

Nigeria and other African countries need to tap into opportunities provided by Islamic financing to fund infrastructure development on the continent, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria has said. He stated this yesterday in Abuja at a conference on “Infrastructure Development through Alternative Funding (Islamic Finance) in Africa”. He said Sukuk, if well developed, could serve as a financing option for governments as is already evident in countries like Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. The acting managing director of Jaiz Bank, Usman Hassan, urged the federal government to conclude the development of the framework for the issuance of Sukuk in the country. This is necessary because with Sukuk you cannot have failed projects and funds cannot be diverted.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reviewed the Anti Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Regulation to align with international best practise as well as other anti laundering and terrorism acts of the country. The CBN said it aims to ensure that with the cooperation of operators and stakeholders in the Nigerian financial sector, the reviewed Regulations meet international best practice and FATF requirements. In view of this, it called for contributions and comments from relevant stakeholders on the draft review prior to gazetting and release of the document to the industry. CBN has commenced full implementation of its gazetted Anti Money Laundering and Combating Financing Terrorism (AML/CFT) Risk Based Supervision (RBS) framework enunciated in 2011.

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) said yesterday that it has assessed the deposit liabilities of Jaiz Bank Plc, and that in a couple of weeks, the bank will start paying premium as insurance cover for its depositors. NDIC Managing Director/CEO Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim said the premium collected from the bank would be invested in non-interest bearing instruments. A sensitisation workshop for NDIC solicitors was organized to educate the legal team because excessive litigations remained a major challenge to developing formidable deposit insurance system in the country. According to him, other challenges are the lack of proper understanding of the distinction in the legal status of NDIC as liquidator and deposit insurer by legal practitioners, the court and the public at large.