NIRSAL MFB Denies ₦215bn Anchor Borrowers Disbursement Claim

By Oluwakemi Kindness

NIRSAL Microfinance Bank (NMFB) has denied recent reports alleging that it disbursed ₦215 billion under the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP), describing them as misleading and factually incorrect.

According to the bank, the actual amount disbursed through its verified ABP loan interventions stands at ₦51 billion, a figure it has consistently presented in public disclosures.

This clarification corrects what NMFB describes as a “significant discrepancy” in media reports that risk misleading stakeholders and the general public.

“For the avoidance of doubt, our verified Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) intervention loan disbursements stand at ₦51 billion, not ₦215 billion,” the bank reiterated in a statement.

The Bank in a statement on Thursday urges journalists and media outlets to verify financial figures before publication, emphasizing the importance of accuracy in public financial reporting.

The bank also addresses ongoing confusion between NIRSAL Microfinance Bank and NIRSAL Plc., clarifying that the two are separate entities with distinct roles and operations.

“Media professionals must exercise due diligence to avoid misleading the public,” it states.

This public clarification, NMFB notes, is part of its ongoing commitment to transparency and accountability in the management of Nigeria’s financial intervention programmes.