High T-Bill returns pose threat to productive activities – Muda Yusuf

The high returns on treasury bills and Federal Government of Nigeria bonds are having negative effects on productive activities in the country.

Muda Yusuf, Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said this while assessing President Muhammadu Buhari’s two years administration at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Lagos on Sunday.

Returns on treasury bills have ranged from 15 per cent to 18 per cent depending on their tenor.

Yusuf said the high returns were discouraging investors from putting their money in productive activities considering the risks and challenges of the business environment.

The director general said that many investors preferred investing in treasury bills and bonds because they are riskless, tax-free, and come with high returns.

According to him, commercial banks that are supposed to be lending to the manufacturers are also investing in treasury bills.

He, however, advised promoters of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to make their businesses more attractive to secure bank loans.

Yusuf said only few SME operators could access bank loans because of the stringent collateral requirements, adding that even the N220 billion intervention fund from the central bank was also inaccessible because of the requirements.

He said that there was the need for the country to look inward by patronising said locally made products and stop importing foreign consumables to stimulate economic growth.

The LCCI boss said that the CBN should be keener about taming inflation and bank lending rates.