Macroeconomic Report & Economic Updates
May 30, 2017
Africa Economic Update (Issue 4)
International Monetary Fund (IMF) revised down growth forecast for Sub-Saharan Africa by 0.2 percentage points, while retaining growth estimates for Nigeria and South Africa in 2017. Precisely, growth rate forecast for Africa was reduced from 2.8 percent in January 2017 forecast to 2.6 percent in April 2017 forecast while growth estimates were retained at 0.8 percent for both South Africa and Nigeria. In contrast, global economic growth outlook was increased by 0.4 percentage points from 3.1 percent to 3.5 percent within the same period. Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is hampered by adverse cyclical and supply side factors, weak fiscal buffers and rising public debt amongst non-commodity exporters as well as severe drought was experienced in Eastern and Southern Africa
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Nigeria Economic Update (Issue 26)
Power sector statistics indicates a huge decline in power generated in the week under review (June 23, 2017 to June 30, 2017). Power generated, attained a peak of 4,305 MW on June 23, 2017 but fell significantly by 33.1 percent to approximately average of 3,000 MW as at June 30, 2017. The huge decline is attributable to continued poor payment and inability of most GENCOs to pay for gas supply and a system collapse. Consequently, power sector lost huge prospective funds; and daily power supply reduced to 4.5 hours per day7. Going forward, improvement in energy supply is critical to domestic production, job creation, and diversification agenda of the government.
Nigeria Economic Update (Issue 34)
Recent NBS data shows a significant decline in
power generated in 2016Q2. Precisely, power generated declined by 31 percent
(quarter on quarter) from a total quarterly average of 92,352 MWH in 2016Q1 to
63,692.39 MWH in 2016Q2. Remarkably, the reoccurrences of pipeline
vandalism in 2016Q2 prompted the shortage of gas for power generation. Thus,
there were about eight recorded system collapses in the quarter which led to
several days of power outages. However, subsequent quarterly declines in power
generation could be averted if efforts to repair vandalized pipelines and adopt
hydro sources are intensified.