From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

Nigeria's interbank lending rates fell this week to an average of 14.41 percent, down from 15.33 percent last week, as matured treasury bill funds boosted liquidity and helped ease pressure on the cost of borrowing, traders said.

Diamond Bank Plc, the 10th-largest Nigerian lender by market value, wants to expand its branch network in Africa's biggest oil producer by more than 50 percent over two years, and may make acquisitions to spur growth.