Nigeria Records 5.01% GDP Growth in Q2 2021

August 26, 2021
GDP growth forecast

By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 5.01 per cent (year-on-year) in real terms in the second quarter of 2021, marking three consecutive quarters of growth.

This is coming after the country, which is Africa’s largest economy, recorded negative growth rates in the second and third quarters of 2020.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in its Gross Domestic Report for Q2 2021 released on Thursday, the growth rate witnessed in the period was higher than the -6.10 per cent recorded in the same quarter of last year and the 0.51 per cent printed in the preceding quarter of the year.

With this growth, it shows that the country is getting back on its feet as businesses return and economic activity near levels seen prior to the nationwide implementation of COVID-19 related restrictions a year ago.

According to the NBS, the steady recovery observed since the end of 2020 was a result of the gradual return of commercial activities as well as local and international travel.

The stats office stated that this accounted for the significant increase in growth performance relative to the second quarter of 2020 when nationwide restrictions took effect.

On a year-to-date basis, the real GDP grew 2.76 per cent in 2021 compared to -2.18 per cent for the first half of 2020, Business Post observed.

However, on a quarter-on-quarter basis, the real GDP grew at -0.79 per cent in Q2 2021 compared to Q1 2021, reflecting slightly slower economic activity than the preceding quarter due largely to seasonality.

In nominal terms, Nigeria aggregate GDP stood at N39.1 trillion, higher than N34.0 trillion achieved in the same period of last year, indicating a year-on-year nominal growth rate of 14.9 per cent.

The nominal GDP growth rate in Q2 2021 was higher than -2.80 per cent growth recorded in the second quarter last year when economic activities slowed sharply at the outset of the pandemic.

The Q2 2021 nominal growth rate was also higher than the 12.25 per cent growth recorded in Q1 2021.

In the report, the NBS said the oil sector, which is one of the two broader Nigerian sectors, saw real growth of –12.65 per cent (year-on-year) in the review period, indicating a decrease of –6.02 per cent compared to the corresponding quarter of 2020.

The report also showed that growth decreased by -10.44 per cent when compared to Q1 2021 which was –2.21 per cent.

On the other end, the non-oil sector witnessed a growth of 6.74 per cent in real terms during the quarter, higher by 12.8 per cent compared to the rate recorded in the same quarter of 2020 and 5.95 per cent higher than the first quarter of 2021.

During the quarter, the sector was driven mainly by growth in Trade, Information and Communication (Telecommunication), Transportation (Road Transport), Electricity, Agriculture (Crop Production) and Manufacturing (Food, Beverage & Tobacco).

Adedapo Adesanya

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

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