Nigerian economy decreases by N63bn amid sectorial struggle

Significant decline by 28 sectors of the economy saw the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) shrinking by N63.49bn quarter-on-quarter in second quarter of 2022.

According data from the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, while real GDP grew by 3.54 per cent year-on-year in Q2 2022, it declined by 0.37 per cent from the N17.35tn that was recorded in the first quarter of 2021 to N17.29tn in Q2, 2022,

The NBS blamed this decline on lower economic activity that was witnessed in Q1 2021. The analysis of real GDP data revealed that only 18 of the 46 NBS captured economic activity sectors experienced growth in the quarter under review.

According to the data from the statistics body, the agriculture sector witnessed mixed positives, with two sub-sectors witnessing growth and the other two recording a decline.  Crop production grew from N3.39tn to N3.59tn; livestock declined from N318.49bn to N282.02bn; forestry grew from N44.14bn to N51.28bn; while fishing declined from N125.46bn to N88.3bn.

In the mining and quarrying sector, crude petroleum and natural gas declined from N1.15tn to N1.09tn; coal mining grew from N1.61bn to N4.79bn; metal ores declined from N4.87bn to N1.26bn; and quarrying other minerals grew from N363.29m to N25.51bn.

The 2022 has been a tough year for the manufacturing sector with inflation and foreign exchange scarcity negatively impacting growth. Only three of the 13 subsectors in the manufacturing sector recorded any growth in the quarter under review.

Oil refining grew from N1.66bn to N2.82bn; cement declined from N188.81bn to N143.74bn; food, beverage and tobacco declined from N875.94bn to N760.08bn; textile, apparel, and footwear declined from N342.48bn to N283.34bn; wood and wood products declined from N53.81bn to N44.41bn; whereas pulp, paper, and paper products declined from N13.38bn to N9.70bn.

Chemical and pharmaceutical products grew from N42.75bn to N47.37bn; non-metallic products declined from N63.52bn to N49.24bn; plastic and rubber products declined from N60.12bn to N53.01bn; electrical and electronics increased from N839.34m to N921.50m; basic metal, iron and steel declined from N39.93bn to N37.31bn; motor vehicles and  assembly declined from N9.53bn to N7.63bn; and other manufacturing declined from N76.07bn to N55.55bn

The electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply sector grew from N32.72bn to N118.79bn. The water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation sector grew from N39.06bn to N61.12bn. Construction declined from N725.99bn to N554.11bn.  The trade sector grew from N2.79tn to N2.91tn.

Accommodation and food services also recorded a decline from N173.41bn to N68.17bn. Under the transportation and storage sector, road transport grew from N151.97bn to N293.85bn; rail transport and pipelines declined from N40.96m to 19.92m; water transport increased from N802.77m to N1.04bn; air transport declined from N25.26bn to N9.69bn; transport services grew from N7.11bn to N11.14bn; and post and courier services declined from N6.26bn to N2.42bn.

According to Associate Professor of Economics at the Pan Atlantic University, Olalekan Aworinde, real GDP was the true reflection of the economic status of a country.

He said, “Nominal GDP is the market value of goods and services produced at a particular period. Real GDP is when you have the nominal GDP, and inflation factored in. It is the nominal GDP indexed with inflation.”

In a statement addressing the general GDP, the Founder /Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf, disclosed that productivity and competitiveness issues had continued to negatively impact performance across sectors of the economy.

He stated that the general operating environment of the nation was also very challenging for most investors, with SMEs particularly more vulnerable to prevailing macroeconomic shocks, resulting in high mortality rate for small businesses.

He said, “Many businesses are struggling to cope with the numerous challenges and shocks to the economy. On the welfare front, the citizens are also experiencing serious economic hardship as a result of the galloping inflation and the impact on purchasing power.(

Punch)