Anambra State Enterprise Finance Facilitation Bill

Purpose

To create a coordination framework through which government facilitates (without directly providing) improved MSME access to finance.

Problem Statement

Viable local businesses frequently cannot access affordable finance because lenders lack reliable data on them and consider informal microenterprise lending high-risk, while government-run direct-lending schemes elsewhere have often struggled with repayment and politicisation.

Legislative Objectives

• Establish a framework for structured partnerships with commercial banks, development banks, microfinance institutions, cooperatives and fintechs.
• Improve lender access to reliable business data through the Business Census.
• Explore appropriate risk-sharing or guarantee mechanisms consistent with applicable law and fiscal capacity.

Definitions

Enterprise Finance Partner

A bank, development-finance institution, microfinance institution, cooperative or fintech participating in the facilitation framework.

Proposed Provisions

1. 1.Establishment of a statewide Enterprise Finance Platform as a coordination mechanism between Enterprise Finance Partners and local businesses, piloted in Nnewi South I as the Nnewi South Enterprise Finance Platform.
2. 2.A data-sharing protocol, with appropriate safeguards, connecting Business Census data to participating lenders.
3. 3.A framework for evaluating appropriate, fiscally responsible risk-sharing mechanisms, subject to further legal and fiscal review.

Institutional Responsibilities

• Relevant State ministry responsible for finance and investment to convene Enterprise Finance Partners statewide.
• Office of the Member representing Nnewi South I to coordinate local platform participation.
• Development-finance institutions as technical-assistance partners.

Financing Implications

Government's direct fiscal exposure is intended to be limited to coordination and data infrastructure; any risk-sharing or guarantee mechanism would require separate, specific fiscal and legal authorisation before implementation.

Implementation Mechanism

2027–2028: platform design and initial Enterprise Finance Partner agreements. 2028 onward: structured referral and data-sharing pilots.

Monitoring Mechanism

Tracked under the Business category of the Accountability Dashboard: finance facilitated, businesses connected to lenders.

Expected Outcomes

• More local businesses able to access appropriate formal finance.
• Lenders with better data to price and manage MSME lending risk.
• A durable coordination structure that outlasts any single administration.

Legal Considerations

This proposal is intended to operate within the legislative competence of the Anambra State House of Assembly and in conformity with applicable federal law, including the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Land Use Act, the Public Procurement Act and relevant sector legislation. Final drafting will be reviewed by legislative counsel prior to introduction. Any risk-sharing or guarantee mechanism will require distinct legal and fiscal authorisation and will be developed in consultation with the Central Bank of Nigeria's regulatory framework where applicable.

Public Consultation Status

Not yet opened for formal public consultation. This is a pre-legislative policy proposal, published for public comment ahead of introduction to the Anambra State House of Assembly following the 2027 legislative calendar.

Version History

• v0.1 · 2026-08-01: Initial policy proposal published for public comment.