Economy
Nigeria’s GDP to Record 2.44% Growth in Q4 2018—FSDH
By Dipo Olowookere
A Lagos-based investment firm, FSDH Research, has projected that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria will increase by 2.44 percent or N19.05 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2018.
In the third quarter of this year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), grew by 1.81 percent.
In its report, FSDH Research said though the Q3 2018 GDP figures showed that the Nigerian economy gathered more momentum than in Q2 2018 and in the corresponding period of Q3 2017, the real GDP growth rate still remains sluggish, lower than the population growth rate in the country of about 2.75 percent (according to the figure from the International Monetary Fund).
It said the three largest sectors of the economy, which account for 56 percent of the total GDP, recorded positive growth rates in Q3 2018, while the other dominant sectors of the economy which contracted during the quarter recorded lower contractions than were recorded in Q2 2018.
‘Financial Institutions and Insurance’ is the only sector among the top ten biggest sectors that moved from growth in Q2 2018 to contraction in Q3 2018. The Q3 GDP numbers show that additional policies are required for the Nigerian economy to achieve and sustain strong growth that could create jobs.
The driver of the GDP growth rate in Q3 was the Non-Oil sector of the economy which expanded by 2.32 percent in Q3, higher than 2.05 percent in Q2 2018.
‘Information and Communication’ was the largest contributor to the GDP growth rate in Q3 2018 and despite the double-digit growth rate recorded in ‘Information and Communication,’ the World Economic Forum (WEF) rates Nigeria low in its Information and Communication Technology adoption in The Global Competitiveness Report 2018.
FSDH Research said it believes this is an indication of huge untapped opportunities within the sector, pointing out that policies are needed that could create an enabling environment for this sector to thrive.
The Oil sector of the Nigerian economy entered a recession in Q3 2018 following two consecutive quarters of contraction. FSDH Research notes, however, that the contraction in the sector moderated in Q3 2018 compared with the contraction recorded in Q2 2018.
Anecdotal evidence shows that Nigeria was not able to sell some of its crude oil in Q3 2018. Subsequently, crude oil production was reduced in addition to other technical challenges the industry faced. Nigerian economic managers need to engage in high-level international negotiations with crude oil buyers on a global scale to guarantee a market for Nigerian crude oil.
The fact that the Real Estate sector is still in economic depression is of concern to FSDH Research. Real Estate is a labour-intensive sector, which provides job opportunities for different categories of labour: unskilled, semi-skilled and highly skilled. Strong economic activities that propel growth in the Real Estate sector could employ many unemployed Nigerians, which would help to address the high unemployment level in the country.
In addition, the sector has a multiplier effect on other sectors of the economy such as manufacturing (cement production) and construction. Improved activities in the Real Estate sector could improve the standard of living through the provision of quality and affordable housing for Nigerians, which in itself should increase labour productivity.
FSDH Research recommends additional measures to stimulate economic activities in Nigeria, including the immediate abolition of additional income taxes that some state governments in Nigeria charge on employees of companies who obtain mortgage loans below market rates; the tax is a major hindrance to the growth of the real estate sector in Nigeria. Government at all levels should provide long-term guarantees for civil servants to access mortgage loans at low interest rates. Longterm funds, specifically for the development of affordable housing units, can be sourced from international development corporations.
It also suggested that government could donate land free of charge for such housing developments and that state governments should also reduce the time and costs involved in property registration.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The Debt Management Office (DMO) on Monday allotted bonds worth N929.3 billion to investors from the N1.7 trillion bids it received from subscribers.
The exercise, which took place on Monday, July 20, 2026, was oversubscribed by market participants, reflecting the confidence investors have in the government’s ability to redeem the debt instrument on maturity.
On offer for sale for the July auction was N1.2 trillion worth of the FGN bonds, but the DMO allotted below this, despite receiving bids above the offer.
The papers were offered in 10-year, 15-year, and 20-year tenors, at N400 billion each.
For the decade-old note, investors staked N444.47 billion, but the debt office sold N245.73 billion at an 18.34 per cent coupon rate. For the one and a half-decade-old paper, bids valued at N518.00 billion were received by the DMO, with a non-competitive bid of N50.00 billion, with N302.13 billion allotted to investors at 18.40 per cent, and for the two-decade paper, the DMO got competitive bids of N665.19 billion and N381.46 billion was sold to bondholders at 18.35 per cent.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Yemi Cardoso, disclosed that Nigeria’s external reserves had risen to $52.5 billion, enough to finance about nine months of imports.
He disclosed this on Tuesday at the end of the 306th meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) held in Abuja, where the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) retained the benchmark interest rate at 26.50 per cent as well as the standing facilities corridor at +50/-450 basis points around the MPR.
Similarly, the Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) was maintained at 45 per cent for Deposit Money Banks, 16 per cent for Merchant Banks, and 75 per cent for non-Treasury Single Account (TSA) public sector deposits.
Speaking on FX developments, the central banker said at the $52 billion level, the country’s external reserves were significantly above the internationally recommended threshold of three months of import cover.
On the Naira exchange rate, Mr Cardoso said the foreign exchange market had deepened and was now operating on a transparent willing-buyer, willing-seller basis.
He said the apex bank remained committed to maintaining a liquid and functional foreign exchange market, adding that daily market turnover sometimes exceeded $1 billion.
According to him, the long-term stability of the naira would depend on key economic fundamentals, including increased oil exports, foreign direct investment, and improved domestic productivity to reduce dependence on imports.
He also added that the MPC welcomed the federal government’s renewed commitment to stronger policy coordination, particularly collaboration between fiscal and monetary authorities, which he said had helped reduce the impact of the Middle East crisis on the Nigerian economy.
Mr Cardoso said members of the committee also commended efforts to improve crude oil production and urged relevant agencies to intensify reforms in other sectors, including solid minerals, to boost government revenue.
On the regulatory forbearance granted to banks during the COVID-19 period, he reiterated that this had been discontinued because it had served its purpose.
According to him, the policy had “outlived its time” and was no longer necessary in assessing the health of the banking sector.
“Forbearance, we felt, had outlived its time. Many of you will recall this is something that came as a result of COVID. And now we are in 2026; we did not see the reason why that should continue to form part of the analysis of the banking system,” he said.
Mr Cardoso explained that banks had begun recalibrating their portfolios following the end of the policy, leading to a temporary reduction in outstanding risk assets.
He, however, assured that the development was part of a transition towards a stronger and more sustainable credit environment.
“It reflects a transition to a more sustainable and better quality credit environment, which is what we all want. We don’t want unanticipated shocks that come in a boom-and-bust fashion,” he said.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange extended its recent positive run by 1.17 per cent on Tuesday, July 21, triggered by appreciation seen in four bellwethers.
Leading the pack was FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc, which added N12.00 to its value to close at N153.15 per share compared with the previous day’s N141.15 per share. NASD Plc appreciated by N1.90 to N36.00 per unit from N34.10 per unit, Food Concepts Plc improved by 23 Kobo to N2.48 per share from N2.25 per share, and Afriland Properties Plc grew by a marginal 1 Kobo to N15.01 per unit from N15.00 per unit.
As a result, the market capitalisation of the bourse increased by N30.40 billion to N2.637 trillion from Monday’s N2.606 trillion, and the NASD Security Index (NSI) gained 50.70 points to finish at 4,393.97 points, in contrast to the 4,343.27 points it ended a day earlier.
The unlisted securities exchange recorded a price loser yesterday, and it was Geo-Fluids Plc, which shed 1 Kobo to settle at N2.30 per share versus N2.31 per share.
During the trading day, the volume of securities traded by market participants on Tuesday dropped 99.4 per cent to 322,147 units from the previous day’s 52.6 million units, the value of securities dipped by 89.8 per cent to N19.4 million from the preceding session’s N191.2 million, and the number of deals contracted by 3.6 per cent to 27 deals from 28 deals.
Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc ended the day as the most traded stock by value on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units traded for N8.4 billion, followed by Infrastructure Credit Guarantee (Infracredit) Plc with 2.3 billion units transacted for N6.5 billion, and Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc with 75.4 million units exchanged for N5.3 billion.
GNI Plc also closed the day as the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units worth N8.4 billion, followed by Infracredit Plc with 2.3 billion units valued at N6.5 billion, and Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units sold for N415.7 million.
