How to accelerate the growth of Nigerian economy
10 March 2022 |
2:52 am
In the year 2021, the Nigerian economy recorded the highest growth of its GDP since 2014, beating the expectations of economists and the projections of the International Monetary Fund
[FILES] A man prepares traditional remedies at a market in Katsina on December 14, 2021. – Africa’s most populous country is struggling with double-digit inflation, especially high food prices, and many Nigerians are looking for ways to save on basic expenses. (Photo by Aminu ABUBAKAR / AFP)
In the year 2021, the Nigerian economy recorded the highest growth of its GDP since 2014, beating the expectations of economists and the projections of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
The economy grew by 3.4 per cent in full-year 2021 compared to a contraction of 1.94 per cent in full-year 2020, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
International financial institutions like the World Bank and the IMF had predicted the economy would record a GDP growth rate of 2.6 per cent for its full-year 2021.
The Federal Ministry of Finance had estimated a growth of 2.5 per cent while the projection of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was 3.1 per cent.
After two recessions induced by the pandemic, Africa’s biggest economy came out of its worst recession in 33 years growing by 0.11 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2020.
According to the full year 2021 report, the non-oil sector grew by 4.4 per cent compared to a contraction of 1.25 per cent in 2020. However, the oil sector contracted 8.06 per cent in 2021 compared to a contraction of 1.25 per cent in 2020.
Nigeria’s oil production declined to 1.50 million barrels a day in the fourth quarter of 2021 from 1.57 million barrels a day in the third quarter. Nigeria has not benefited from rising oil prices as it is battling to increase its oil production.
Economic sectors such as rail transportation, solid minerals, electricity and gas grew 36.9 per cent, 34 per cent and 27 per cent respectively. The laggards were oil refining -47.9 per cent, crude petroleum and natural gas -8.3 per cent and mining and quarrying-7.7 per cent. The World Bank expects the economy to expand by 4.2 per cent in 2022; the IMF 2.7 per cent, the CBN 2.86 per cent and the Federal Government projects a growth of 4.2 per cent.
But the President of the World Economic Forum Dr Borge Brende argues that the world needs an equitable, sustainable and resilient post-pandemic global economy. He says opportunity now exists to lay the foundations of a resilient and sustainable world economy. Truly, at this moment the world economy faces strong headwinds, there is an opportunity for world leaders not only to accelerate growth in the near term but to lay the foundations for a sustainable economy for the years to come.
In January this year, the IMF released projections indicating that global growth will slow from 5.9 per cent in 2021 to 4.4 per cent in 2022. This is half a percentage point lower than what had been forecast last October. Alongside this acceleration, economists believe persistent inflation will partially erase economic gains; with the expectation of rising interest rates slowing investment. On top of this, 60 per cent of low-income countries are in debt distress or at risk of debt interest. There comes the Russia- Ukraine war which at the moment of writing threatens the nuclear annihilation of the United Kingdom.
These are momentous times, with no doubt great challenges. But there are opportunities for gains ahead. However, these depend if leaders put in place policies to revitalise economies and also address shared priorities in the near, medium and long terms; there is a chance to fuel confidence and build resilience –the key ingredients for economic growth now and in the future. One, we need inclusive growth. To achieve this in Nigeria, there is a need to bring on more unbanked transactions via Small and Medium Enterprises growth through interest-free and collateral-free SME loans. Most immediately, Nigeria must ensure economic growth is more inclusive. Many advanced economies have promising forecasts, such as China which saw its exports jump by over $675 billion last year—a 26 per cent increase on the year before.
But there remains the recovery that will take years in the emerging and developing economies. If inclusive growth is left unaddressed, the divergence will foster not just dire global economic consequences, but humanitarian ones as well. One way to advance a more equitable recovery is by committing to delivering sustainable investment to underfinanced economies. Here, however, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is showing signs of growth, as flows of finance were up 77 per cent in 2021, surpassing their pre-pandemic level.
Indeed, China experienced a record $179 billion of investment flowing into the country, amounting to a 20 per cent year-over-year increase. Yet, global FDI is still fragile, as factors like the COVID-19 variants and the Russia-Ukraine war and the rising energy prices can create obstacles to capital flows. Two, in the medium term, we need to empower digital transformation, because the global economy is undergoing rapid technological advancement which the World Economic Forum termed the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The coming ten years will require each and every company to ensure technology and innovation are part of its DNA. Indeed, an estimated 70 per cent of new value over this decade will be based on business models that rely on digital applications. The recent shortage in semiconductors, and the resulting focus in the USA, European Union and China on manufacturing chips, is just one indication of the rapid digital transformation taking place.
The digitisation of the world economy is why China’s 14th Five Year Plan has called for the core industries of the digital economy to account for 10 per cent of the country’s GDP by 2025, up from 7.8 per cent in 2020. Yet, despite the growing importance of the digital, an estimated 2.9 billion people—over a third of the world population—have never used the internet. This is why last year the World Economic Forum brought together leading technology and financial companies, along with government entities, to launch the Edison Alliance, which is working to foster affordable digital access for everyone by 2025.
Three, over the long term, we must commit to going green because climate change is the most important challenge of our lifetime. By some estimates, the global economy could face unprecedented consequences, shrinking up to 18 per cent in the next 30 years, if decarbonisation efforts are not taken. This does not include the devastation planet Earth would face in terms of biodiversity loss and the loss of human lives.
Reaching net zero climate emissions by 2050 will require fundamentally transforming our economy, as companies and countries change their energy mixes, increase efficiency and invest in new zero-carbon solutions. But a green transition will add millions of jobs and trillions of dollars to the global economy. The First Movers Coalition—a group of 30 leading companies that was launched at COP26 by the WEF and the US Climate envoy John Kerry—is helping to deliver a green economy by boosting demand signals for new low carbon technologies.
Thus, our priority should be a more equitable, digital and green economy. This forces us to rely on greater global cooperation because they are too large, too complex and too interconnected for one company or country to address alone. This is why we must move away from a zero-sum mindset, in which global actors believe prosperity can only come at the expense of others. As China’s President Xi Jinping said at the WEF Davos Agenda in January: “The right way forward for humanity is peaceful development and win-win cooperation.”
Related
Latest
4 mins ago
The WHO announced Friday it had approved a new, simpler version of an existing oral cholera vaccine, which should help increase the number of available doses as global cases surge.
6 mins ago
The Registrar, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede has monitored the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) exercise in Abuja. Prof. Oloyede who monitored the exercise at the Kogo Computer Based Tests (CBT) Centre in Bwari Area Council of Abuja, expressed satisfaction with the process. He reiterated the examination body's earlier order…
6 mins ago
The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has warned newly-registered companies against paying certain fees to obtain tax identification number (TIN) amongst others. The management of CAC gave this warning in a statement on its X handle on Friday. CAC said it noticed email messages sent to directors of newly-registered companies. READ ALSO: CAC targets registration of…
10 mins ago
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that NATO must choose whether it really is an ally of Ukraine by accelerating weapons supplies to help his struggling forces.
49 mins ago
Sansani town, the headquarters of Sansani chiefdom in Gassol local government area of Taraba state, has been thrown into a state of mourning as unidentified gunmen carried out a brazen attack, claiming the life of monarch Abdulmutalib Jankada. Sources close to the matter said the attack occurred on Thursday inside the monarch's palace at about…
57 mins ago
Zamfara State government has stated that all political office holders and heads of agencies must get permission before conducting interviews, issuing statements, or airing programmes on television, radio, and social media. Also, the state government warned media organisations to desist from conducting or airing any radio or television programme without the approval of the Ministry…
1 hour ago
Ohanaeze Ndigbo has raised concern over "orchestrated internal and external conspiracies malicious aero-politics, imperialistic intrigues, and discrimination" to frustrate Air Peace operations internationally. In a statement on Friday signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Alex Ogbonnia, Ohanaeze Ndigbo noted at the plenary of their National Executive Committee (NEC), that such a plot was not healthy…
1 hour ago
A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed money laundering charges against former Attorney-General Mohammed Adoke. Justice Inyang Ekwo ruled on Friday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) failed to present a strong enough case (prima facie case) against Adoke. EFCC alleged that Adoke sometime in August 2013 in Abuja accepted a cash…
×
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
0 Comments
We will review and take appropriate action.