Macroeconomic Report & Economic Updates
April 4, 2017
Nigeria Economic Update (Issue 13)
OPEC basket price increased (Week-on-Week) by 1.6 percent to $49.45 per barrel on March 31, 2017- the first increase recorded in three weeks. Also, Bonny light rose by 4.7 percent to $51.92 per barrel. The rise in crude oil prices reflects demand-side expansion, consequent upon a myriad of factors: slower rise in USA crude reserves, huge supply disruptions in Libya, and the prospective extension of OPEC supply cut deals in member countries. The strengthening of crude oil price amid calm in the Niger Delta oil region, presents positive outlook for the Nigerian economy. However, given the adverse implications of sole dependence on crude oil revenue, the government should avoid returning to the norm and make efforts to intensify investments in other key sectors of the economy
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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 37)
OPEC Monthly oil report reveals that Nigeria
recorded the highest month-on-month increase in crude oil production among the
OPEC member countries in August 2017. Specifically, at an increasing rate of 8
percent, domestic oil production rose to pre-2016 level of 1.86 million barrels
per day in August 2017. With ongoing repairs in the sector, oil
production could get to 2.2 million barrels per day in the near term, albeit
the prior voluntary agreement to cap production at 1.8 million barrels per day.
Going forward, there is need to address poor planning and policy
inconsistencies in the sector, in order to ensure the influx of investors who
have channeled their investments to other African countries due to laxity in
policies in the sector.