Macroeconomic Report & Economic Updates
February 3, 2016
Nigeria Economic Update (Issue 6)
Latest figures of FDI flows to Nigeria show
a decline of 27 per cent from $4.7 billion in 2014 to $3.4 billion in 20152,
representing its lowest value since 2005. This decline is largely attributed to
the oil price slump, which has generally increased uncertainty in the economy,
with adverse effects on investors confidence. The fall in FDI flows was
witnessed in most resource based economies in Africa, as FDI flows to the
continent fell by 31 percent in 2015. The forex controls in place in Nigeria
has also exacerbated the uncertainty in economy, and created obstacles for both
domestic and foreign investors. Thus a review of the forex restrictions could
send positive signals to investors.
Related
Nigeria Economic Update (Issue 25)
Crude oil price continued to increase in the
period under review, reaching its 2016 peak at $50.30 on June 2, 2016.
Specifically, OPEC weekly basket price increased by 1.43 percent from $44.65 on
May 27, 2016 to $45.29 on June 3, 2016. Brent was sold for $49.96
on June 3, 2016. The present rise in crude oil price can be
attributed to oil production shocks in several oil-exporting countries, and the
general expectation of a further cut in output following the OPEC meeting in
Vienna on June 2, 2016. However, the OPEC meeting ended with no agreement on
production quotas. In Nigeria, oil production level increased in the period
under review, following repairs on some of the damaged oil and gas facilities. Precisely,
Nigerias output increased by 200,000 barrels on June 3, 2016 to 1.6 million
barrels.