Nigerias external reserves improved in 2017. The reserve stood at approximately $39 billion as at the end of December 2017, up by about 50 percent from the $26 billion at the beginning of the year 20172. The surge in reserve was particularly boosted by increased capital importation, and crude revenue earnings prompted by a relatively higher crude oil price and improved domestic production. Given that the recent uptick in external reserves is still largely associated with improved crude oil price, efforts should be geared towards conserving current reserve gain so as to cushion future external shock. In the medium term, there is need to diversify export earning away from oil so as to mitigate the effects of volatility in crude oil prices.

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.

Crude oil price decreased in the review week. OPEC weekly basket price reduced by 3.5 percent to $42.06per barrel from November 4, 2016 to November 11, 2016, while Nigerias bonny light price decreased by 1.1 percent to $44.36per barrel in the same period. Global oil market refocused on oversupply, as indicated in the OPECs October crude data figures (global OPEC and Non-OPEC oil supply grew by 0.97mb/day to average 96.32mb/day and outpaced demand by 1.92mb/day).