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Nigeria Increases Financial Inclusion But Still Far from Goal

  • 64% adults have formal financial service vs 95% target by 2024
  • Poverty is main reason for financial exclusion, EFInA says
The percentage of adult Nigerians with formal financial services rose to 64% in 2023.
The percentage of adult Nigerians with formal financial services rose to 64% in 2023.Photographer: Benson Ibeabuchi/Bloomberg

By Emele Onu

Nigeria has brought more of its citizens into the financial system but remains far from its goal of getting 95% of the population fully banked by 2024, according to a new report.

The percentage of adult Nigerians with formal financial services — including bank accounts, insurance and mobile money — rose to 64% in 2023 from 56% in 2020, according to EFInA, a UK government-backed firm working to deepen financial inclusion in the West African country. But just 52% have a bank account, and more comprehensive adoption is hampered by widespread

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