Liberia’s Vice President, Jeremiah Kpan Koung, has said that Nigerians now own about half of Liberia’s commercial banks.
He said this during the 17th Annual Banking & Finance Conference organized by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) in Abuja on Tuesday.
Koung, speaking to an audience of banking professionals and government officials, praised the role Nigerian banks play in Liberia’s economic landscape.
He emphasized that Nigerian investors have been instrumental in increasing market competition, boosting efficiency, and providing credit lines to support private sector growth.
The Liberia’s Vice President said: “We welcome and applaud the expansion of Nigerian-owned banks in Liberia. The presence and increase in Nigerian-owned businesses, especially banks, are helping to increase market competition and improve efficiency.
“These banks continue to play major roles in providing jobs and establishing credit lines to support the development of our private sector. Presently, there are four (4) Nigerian-owned banks operating in Liberia out of a total of eight (cool commercial banks. This is a clear sign that Nigerians remain interested in investing in Liberia, and as a government, our doors remain open to you.”
Liberia’s openness for further investments from Nigeria
He expressed his government’s openness to further investment from Nigerian banks, noting their critical role in job creation and economic development.
Koung also touched on Liberia’s efforts to integrate into the West African Monetary Zone and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with a vision to adopt a single currency regime.
He explained that the Central Bank of Liberia is working on a new monetary policy framework that will align with the region’s economic integration goals. However, Koung warned that achieving this vision will require collective economic responsibility….
Peoplesmind
