ABSTRACT

This study examined the impact of commercial banks credit on industrial growth in Nigeria using time series data from 1986-2017. The data for the study were sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s statistical bulletin. Manufacturing GDP (MGDP) Agricultural GDP (AGDP) and building and construction GDP (BCGDP) were used as proxies for industrial while commercial banks credit to manufacturing industries (BCMA), commercial banks credit to mining (BCMI), commercial banks credit to agriculture (BCA), commercial banks credit to estate and reconstruction (BCER) and lending interest rate (LINR) were proxies for commercial banks credit. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the data. The study found that commercial banks credit to manufacturing industries has positive and significant impact on industrial growth in Nigeria within the study period. The study recommends that commercial banks should provide more credit to manufacturing industries and lower interest rates in Nigeria so as to encourage emerging firms to demand for credit while existing will increase productivity.