Nigeria Economic Update (Issue 3)

According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), a 0.28% month-on-month increase in the average price of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) was recorded as the price in December 2020 increased to N224.37 from N223.74 in November 2020¹. Similarly, the average price for the refilling of a 5kg cylinder for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Cooking Gas) has increased by 0.12% month-on-month to N1949.75 in December 2020 from N1947.47 in the previous month². The results were similar regarding the refilling of a 12.5kg cylinder with a 1.75% month-on-month increase. Contrarily, the average price paid by consumers for premium motor spirit (petrol) decreased month-on-month by -0.94% to N165.70 from N167.27 in the previous month³. Overall, in month of December 2020, gas prices rose most likely as a result of rising crude oil prices in the international market. Low-income households are less likely to be affected given that their consumption of these products is relatively lower than middle- and high-income households. However, the general decline in income due to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic makes the increment nonetheless an economic burden.

Nigeria Economic Update (Issue 51)

Recently released data by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that there was significant increase in Nigerias total merchandise trade for 2016Q3. Basically, the total merchandise trade increased (quarter-on-quarter) by 16.29 percent to N4, 722 billion in 2016Q3;owing to 29.1 percent increase in exports and 6.2 percent rise in imports. Oil exports increased by 31 percent to N1, 943 billion, while non-oil exports increased by 20.5 percent to N440 billion. However, on the aggregate, Nigeria recorded yet another trade deficit of N104 billion, indicating continuous higher imports relative to exports. Overall, though there is improvement in the performance of non-oil sector, however, this is insufficient to effectively complement the loss in oil trade sustained since the beginning of oil price crash. This suggests that diversification into non-oil sector may not be able to rescue the economy in the short term. However, while the diversification efforts should be sustained, eliminating hurdles in oil production may be instrumental to higher exports, especially as oil price increase is gaining momentum.

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