Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Yemi Cardoso, has said that Nigeria will naturally attract investors if it maintains strong and stable macroeconomic fundamentals. Speaking at the bank’s 2025 Executive Seminar, Cardoso stressed that economic stability and policy predictability are the real magnets for investment, not persuasion.
“Stability is at the heart of our policy direction through inflation targeting,” he stated. “A credible inflation-targeting regime builds confidence, enhances predictability, and attracts long-term investors. You don’t have to beg anyone to invest.”
Cardoso reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability, declaring that the era of influence and personal connections in securing approvals at the CBN is over. “No one needs to know the governor or any director to get things done. The system will work on merit,” he said.
The CBN boss also cautioned against a return to excessive government borrowing through the Ways and Means facility, describing it as dangerous to economic stability. “The frightening Ways and Means-to-GDP ratios we once saw must never happen again. We must protect the stability we’ve achieved over the past two and a half years,” he warned.
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He emphasized the need to sustain reforms that strengthen investor confidence, stabilize financial markets, and encourage capital inflows. “Every stakeholder must take ownership of these reforms and work collectively for the benefit of all Nigerians,” he urged.
Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, who also spoke at the seminar, commended the ongoing collaboration between fiscal and monetary authorities. She said the government was focused on improving productivity by reducing energy costs and simplifying business registration processes. “Our goal is to make Nigeria more competitive by cutting energy expenses, accelerating business registration, and improving government efficiency,” she noted.
Uzoka-Anite explained that Nigeria’s economic challenges are structural rather than cyclical, requiring close coordination between monetary and fiscal policies. She highlighted the joint creation of the Dis-Inflation and Growth Acceleration Strategy (DGAS) by the Ministry of Finance and the CBN as a comprehensive plan to restore economic stability and drive growth.
“DGAS is a strategic framework to ensure non-inflationary growth, enhance productivity, and make Nigeria a preferred destination for investors,” she said.
