The Federal Government will tomorrow unveil the Equipment Leasing Registration Authority (ELRA) as part of its current reform initiatives aimed at improving the performance of the nation’s economy.
The authority’s Executive Chairman, Engr. Saidu Njidda, stated that the unveiling ceremony to be performed by Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, would enable it to play the role of a key driver and facilitator of two of the 8-point Agenda of the government.
He maintained that the implementation of the Equipment Leasing Act, a viable alternative to loan, would usher in a new are of enhanced revenue generation given that the industry is capable of generating an estimated $1.5 trillion from across the world, accounting for 20% of total investment in equipment and contributing about 1.5% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Njidda also notes that Equipment Leasing as an alternative and significant source of finance to loans has been immensely contributing to capital formation in the global Economy with its wide usage in many countries for the acquisition of capital assets.
He listed the major players in the leasing industry in Africa as including South Africa, Morocco and Nigeria who are ranked among the top 50 leasing countries globally with Ghana, Rwanda, Egypt, Kenya, Tunisia and Angola, playing significant roles.
The ELRA Boss further observed that in Nigeria, particularly over the last 10 years, Leasing has contributed over N14.3 trillion to the country’s GDP and continues to be more relevant especially under the prevailing situation where access to finance is difficult, especially for Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (MSMES).
“The whole essence of Leasing is to enhance the planning, improvement and development of any economy, by building and supporting productive ventures, through capital formation, generating employment and creating wealth”.
He stressed that despite the importance of leasing as a financing option to Nigeria’s industry sector players and the economy, the penetration rate in Nigeria is still very low which currently stands at less than 1 percent when compared to the potential of the Nigeria economy, and in other developed economies like Europe and America where the penetration is as high as 28 percent.
The Chairman further explains that the major players in the Leasing industry comprised the lessor, who provides the asset to be leased and sometimes with other auxiliary services, the lessee who is the user of the equipment and has possession of the equipment or asset but not the title, the supplier who sells and assures the performance and suitability of the asset, the financier, who gives out money as raw material of leasing, the lease broker who sometimes facilitates the lease as intermediary with manufacturer and financier, the lease professionals who structure and manage the lease, and the Government who plays a vital role in the industry in terms of policy formulations, the legal framework, Tax, accounting and other regulatory policies.
Njidda further clarified that the conduct and roles of the players remained crucial to stabilizing and supporting a healthier leasing industry Ecosystem which the Authority seeks to regulate with support from Government.
He listed the major challenges of lease penetration as the poor inflow of Direct Foreign Investment (DFI) in the lease industry, lessor’s apathy to some category of leasing among others which he attributed to the absence of government support through regulatory environment and financial intervention in order to grow the sector and enhance its contribution to Nigeria (GDP).
Njidda expressed optimism that with the passage of the ELRA Act and the full take off of the Authority, fraudulent and unscrupulous practice of transacting parties including the manufacturer will be identified and handled accordingly adding that this will no doubt fill the gap and bring out a comparative advantage in driving the Equipment leasing sector to a developed status, from the existing scenario of developing status through the introduction of appropriate policies, guidelines and standing orders that will shape up and sanitize the industry.
It would be recalled that the ELRA Board was inaugurated in May 2022 by Zainab Ahmed, the former Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning (HMFBNP) following the establishment of the authority which is in accordance with Section 8 of the Equipment Leasing Act, 2015.
The inaugurated board comprised 11 members, namely Saidu Njidda, Executive Chairman, Barr. Bassey Imoh, Registrar/Secretary, one representative each from the CBN, SMEDAN, NACCIMA, Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Ministry of Justice, Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, and three representatives from the Equipment Leasing Association of Nigeria, the umbrella body of lessors, which sponsored the bill.
