– The Presidency says Nigeria’s economy maintained path to recovery after analysing the statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics
– The Presidency also said that agricultural growth remained in positive territory although growing at a slower rate of about 3.4 per cent due to seasonal factors
The Presidential Adviser on Economic Matters, Dr Adeyemi Dipeolu, has analysed the statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) saying it showed the economy maintained path to recovery.
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According to Dipeolu, it is an encouraging indication of a steady, even if slow, progressive pace.
The Presidency says Nigeria’s economy maintained path to recovery after analysing the statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics
He said by the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), figure the Nigerian economy was emerging out of recession.
“The 2017 Q1 GDP figures released early Tuesday depicts an overall picture showing the economy is emerging slowly out of recession,’’ he said.
Dipeolu noted that growth had continued in agriculture and a notable positive turnaround had also been recorded in manufacturing and non-oil sectors.
He, however, observed that slow down in negative growth rates was noticed in several more sectors.
“The latest figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed that the economy shrank by 0.52 per cent in the first quarter of 2017 (Q1 2017).
“Although the economy remains in recession, this is the strongest performance in five quarters and shows a significant turnaround from the low of -2.34 per cent reached in the third quarter of 2016 (Q3 2016).
“This is nearly two percentage point improvement.
“It also reflects the fact that the number of sub-sectors that experienced negative growth has almost halved falling from 29 sub-sectors for the whole of 2016 to 16 sub-sectors in Q1 2017,’’ the presidential aide said.
He observed that agricultural growth remained in positive territory although growing at a slower rate of about 3.4 per cent due to seasonal factors.
He also said that growth in manufacturing on the other hand returned to positive territory after five quarters of negative growth.
It grew by 1.36 per cent in Q1 2017 after falling to a nadir of -7.0 per cent in Q1 2016.
Dipeolu hinted that the solid mineral sector continued to justify the priority given to it by the Federal Government with high double digit growth for metal ores at 40.79 per cent and quarrying at 52.54 per cent.
He
“More significantly, the non-oil sector which accounts for about 90 per cent of GDP returned to positive growth although at a marginal level of 0.72 per cent in Q1 2017.
“This is the first positive growth in the non-oil sector since the last quarter of 2015.
“Headline inflation fell for the third month in a row to 17.24 per cent with core inflation also declining quite rapidly,’’ Dipeolu noted.
He, however, said that food inflation remained of concern as it continued to trend upwards.
“This is mainly due to rising transport costs and other structural impediments to the movement of foods in the domestic market.
“The trade balance remained positive reflecting import contraction and relatively higher export revenues which grew year-on-year by up to 80.5 per cent.
“The overall picture that the figures show is that the economy is emerging slowly out of recession,’’ he concluded.
Dipeolu further explained that the outlook was reinforced by positive trends in other indicators such as improved oil prices and increasing production, in addition to rising foreign exchange reserves.
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He added that increased capital spending by the Federal Government as well as improved perceptions reflected in various purchasing and sales managers indices also assisted in the growth.
“Barring major economic shocks, it should still be possible to restore growth this year as projected in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan,” he said.
Meanwhile, ZENITHBLOG.com had reported that Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, urged Nigerians to ignore the media reports on Coup plot, saying it should not be stretched beyond what the military authorities had said.
Adesina stated this at a media chat with State House correspondents to mark two years of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to him, what the Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Tukur Burutai, said about the issue was a “routine warning that goes to military officers.’’
Femi Fani-Kayode in an exclusive interview with ZENITHBLOG.com revealed what President Muhammadu Buhari told him when they met.
Watch the video:
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