The Federal Government has drawn down $1.5bn from a $5bn financing facility arranged with the United Arab Emirates’ largest lender, First Abu Dhabi Bank, despite growing concerns from global financial institutions over the increasing use of complex derivative financing by African sovereigns.
Bloomberg reported on Friday that the latest drawdown represents the first tranche of a $5bn Total Return Swap facility approved by the National Assembly on March 31, 2026, and is expected to support the 2026 budget, finance infrastructure projects, and refinance existing debt obligations.
The report quoted people familiar with the transaction, who asked not to be identified because they were not authorised to speak to the media.
The report read, “Nigeria has accessed the first tranche of a $5bn derivatives deal with the United Arab Emirates’ largest lender, pressing ahead with a transaction that has been scrutinised for being opaque.
“The West African nation drew about $1.5bn in the last couple of weeks from a total return swap transaction with First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC, according to people familiar with the transaction, who asked not to be identified because they were not authorised to speak to the media.”
The transaction comes at a time when Nigeria is facing higher borrowing costs in international capital markets, forcing the government to seek alternative financing arrangements to shore up its fiscal position and improve access to foreign exchange liquidity.
Under the arrangement, Nigeria is required to pledge Federal Government securities worth about 133 per cent of any amount drawn under the facility. This means that for the full $5bn facility, the government would have to post approximately $6.65bn worth of naira-denominated bonds as collateral.
