The institution, whose membership comprises nine mostly West African states including Nigeria and Ghana, is owned 42.5percent by Nigeria's central bank, 47.6 percent by other African financial institutions and 9.8 percent by several industrial and corporate shareholders, according to its website.

It has mandated Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Citibank, Emirates NBD, JP Morgan and Standard Chartered to arrange the loan, the sources said on condition of anonymity as the information is private.

Asked to comment, AFC told Reuters that it would use the proceeds of the loan for general corporate purposes in accordance with its charter. It did not confirm details of the loan.

--reuters--