Nigeria Economic Update (Issue 14)

Nigerias Bonny light price declined by 7.1 percent from $40.19 per barrel on March 24, 2016 to $37.32 per barrel on April 1, 20162. OPEC weekly basket price also decreased by 3 percent from $35.81 per barrel to $34.74 per barrel within the same period3. The remerged downward trend in crude oil price is traceable to concerns over the likely failure of the oil production freeze deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran4. The outcome of the oil production freeze meeting which is scheduled to hold on April 17, 2016, will give further direction for oil supply regulation.

Recent report in the media highlights that Nigerias GDP has dropped to $296 billion in 2016, in contrast to the $481 billion recorded in 20151 and Nigeria has lost its position as Africas largest economy to South Africa. This conclusion was based on the computation of GDP with current naira-dollar exchange rate. However, while the naira has significantly lost its official value since the adoption of a flexible exchange rate, estimating GDP merely with a single exchange rate figure (rather than its yearly average) cannot be regarded as an appropriate method to conclude on Africas largest economy.

Power sector analysis shows a decline in power generated by 15.07 percent from a peak of 3,424 mw to 2,908 mw between May 8, 2016 and May 15, 20169. The declining power supply is attributable to vandalism of pipelines and gas shortages, which has a debilitating effect on power generation. As part of the efforts by the Federal Government to improve power supply in the country, the Bank of Industry (BoI) is currently funding intervention projects to provide alternative source of energy (solar) in rural areas across the country10. Since the major problem facing power generation in the country is gas shortages, the government should make concerted efforts to combat vandalism.