Agribusiness Gets Lion’s Share as BoI Disburses Record ₦636bn to Drive $1 Trillion GDP Goal

The Bank of Industry (BoI) has achieved a historic milestone in its mission to industrialize Nigeria, announcing a record-breaking total fund disbursement of ₦636 billion to businesses in 2025. This achievement, hailed by President Bola Tinubu on February 12, 2026, marks the highest annual financing volume in the bank’s history and serves as a critical move toward closing the “liquidity gap” in the real sector.

Agribusiness emerged as the primary beneficiary of this credit push, capturing ₦202 billion roughly 32% of the total funds. This strategic capital injection is designed to address the “logistics bottlenecks” that have historically hindered food security. By prioritizing the agricultural value chain, the BoI is enhancing the “infrastructure of distribution,” exemplified by the upgrade of a tomato processing facility from 3.1 to 10 metric tonnes per hour and the linking of 47,508 smallholder farmers to formal processing value chains.

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From a macroeconomic perspective, the surge in funding acts as a “macro-stabilizer,” reducing the nation’s dependence on food imports. The ₦636 billion total outlay was supported by a €2 billion syndicated facility secured in late 2024 and an additional €210 million mobilized from international partners in 2025. This “financing rethink” provides the “liquidity of opportunity” for over 7,000 enterprises nationwide to modernize operations.

Sectoral Breakdown of the ₦636 Billion Disbursement:  Agro-allied Enterprises |₦202 Billion, Critical Infrastructure (Power, Broadband, etc.) ₦100 Billion, Manufacturing ₦79 Billion, Extractive Industries ₦77 Billion, Services ₦55 Billion,  Managed/Matching Funds ₦73 Billion.

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The fiscal implications are deeply rooted in the “Renewed Hope” agenda, focusing on “human capital” and job creation. BoI’s 2025 activities led to the creation and retention of approximately 1.6 million jobs. The bank’s inclusion strategy was reflected in its suppot for different business sizes: large enterprises accounted for ₦375 billion, while ₦178 billion went to SMEs. Notably, nano and micro businesses accessed ₦51 billion and ₦32 billion, respectively.

Historically, high-risk perceptions have limited lending to agriculture. However, the BoI’s “operational realism” is evidenced by its strong asset quality, maintaining a non-performing loan (NPL) ratio below 1.5%. The bank also expanded its “technological sovereignty” by supporting the deployment of 100 mini-grids, connecting 11,777 new customers to electricity and reducing carbon emissions by over 20,000 tonnes annually.

As the 2026 fiscal cycle progresses, the focus remains on the “sustainability of the credit” and the expansion of inclusive finance. Initiatives like the ₦10 billion Guaranteed Loans for Women (GLOW) and the ₦12 billion youth-focused fund are ensuring that the “security of the mandate” reaches all demographics. Ultimately, this record disbursement is a vital indicator of Nigeria’s intent to manage its complex economic transition by betting on its most resilient and productive sectors.