Risk management and the financial performance of banks in Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined "risk management and financial performance of banks in Nigeria" with focus on commercial banks. The broad objective of the study was to ascertain the effect of risk asset management on the optimal financial performance of commercial banks in Nigeria. The study is a longitudinal survey, so the ex-post facto research design was applied. Research data were analysed using generalized method of moments (GMM) and vector Error Correction Model, after testing and adjusting the data for stationarity and Cointegration. The research findings were: Banks' profitability is significantly influenced in the short run by liquidity risk and in the long-run by credit risk, capital adequacy risk, leverage risk and liquidity risk. Furthermore, profitability measured by ROaA was found to be positively related to liquidity risk but negatively related credit risk. Arising from the findings, there is the need for effective risk management, especially credit, capital adequacy, leverage and liquidity risks, to enhance the profitability of banks. By helping to enhance the going concern of banks, risk management will help to reduce retrenchment and unemployment and hence help to forestall the attendant social vices.