Experts rate economy as weak despite exit from recession

Published February 19, 2021

Nigeria exited recession after the country ’ s Gross Domestic Product recorded a slight growth of 0 .11 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2020 , the latest figures from the National Bureau of Statistics revealed on Thursday .The NBS also stated in its report on ‘ Nigeria’ s Gross Domestic Product for Q 4 and full-year 2020 ’ that the GDP contracted by 1 . 92 per cent in 2020 .However, experts have said that despite the fact that the Q 4 result presented a positive figure, Nigerians were still grappling with the challenges that were prevalent in the economy during the recession period.Part of the NBS report read, “ Nigeria ’s Gross Domestic Product grew by 0 .11 per cent ( year -on -year ) in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2020 , representing the first positive quarterly growth in the last three quarters.“ Though weak, the positive growth reflects the gradual return of economic activities following the easing of restricted movements and limited local and international commercial activities in the preceding quarters .“ As a result , while the Q4 2020 growth rate was lower than growth rate recorded the previous year by 2. 44 per cent points , it was higher by 3 .74 per cent points compared to Q 3 2020 .“ On a quarter on quarter basis , real GDP growth was 9 .68 per cent indicating a second positive consecutive quarter on quarter real growth rate in 2020 after two negative quarters .“ Overall , in 2020 , the annual growth of real GDP was estimated at -1 .92 per cent , a decline of 4 .2 per cent points when compared to the 2 .27 per cent recorded in 2019 . ”The Director -General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry , Dr Muda Yusuf, said, “ Despite improved output performance in Q 4 -2020 , we note that the economy faced multitude of challenges in the final quarter including subdued business activities across various sectors ( evident in PMI data trend) , foreign exchange pressures ( evident in widened parallel market -NAFEX premium ) .“ Relatively lower oil prices and production , subdued global demand , spiralling consumer prices, repressed purchasing power, heightened unemployment levels , weak investor confidence , worsened insecurity and social tensions ( EndSARS protest ) .”He said output contraction recorded in 2020 further highlighted the country ’ s weak macroeconomic fundamentals and the persistent , structural , policy and regulatory issues in the economy.He said, “ Apart from declining growth , the economy is currently confronted with several challenges , including rising consumer prices ( inflation now at 45 – month high of 16 .47 per cent in January 2021 ) , weak employment level , persisting liquidity concerns in the foreign exchange market , high poverty incidence, weak investor confidence and insecurity, among others .“ These challenges which had been part of the country ’s economic narrative prior to the pandemic were amplified by the COVID – 19 induced disruptions . ”A professor of Economics at the Olabisi Onabanjo University , Sherrifdeen Tella , said, “ I don ’ t think NBS is right because you don’ t judge ending of recession based on one economic factor or variable .“ Other factors like inflation must be coming down , exchange rates must be improving and then unemployment should also be going down . The country is still in recession. ”He added, “ So the economy is still in recession up till now because we still have high level of unemployment , inflation is still rising , exchange rate is still depreciating and even the GDP that they said has gone up just did after the report of this month when the price of oil has gone up . That ’s not the actual growth that ’s even required . ”The Fiscal Policy Partner and West Africa Tax Leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers , Mr Taiwo Oyedele , said nobody saw the positive growth of the GDP coming but the impact was yet to be felt by ordinary Nigerians .He said, “ On one hand , the GDP figures for the fourth quarter of 2020 turned out better than anybody had predicted including the Ministry of Finance and International Monetary Fund. Nobody saw a positive GDP for Q4 of last year .“ It turned out to be positive at 0. 11 per cent . It is positive technically and therefore we are out of recession. But if we consider that and how it translates to Nigerians and business , Nigerians still think we are in a recession .”Oyedele noted that despite the positive growth , Nigerians still suffered from poor purchasing power, rising inflation and unemployment .The Chairman of Foundation for Economic Research and Training , Prof . Akpan Ekpo , described the marginal economic growth in Q 4 as shocking.Ekpo , who is a former director – general of the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management , said, “ It is a very fragile , sluggish growth – for the fourth quarter , 0 .11 per cent , and for the whole year , it is still a recession ( -1 .92 ) . It is below the population growth rate .“ When you put that growth together with the rising inflation rate and rising unemployment , then there is nothing to celebrate about. ”Ekpo said the government should intensify spending on infrastructure and implementation of its investment policies by encouraging the private sector to invest so as to improve on the growth trajectory .“ Even if the growth was not fragile , growth is not development, ” he added.Analysts at the Financial Derivatives Company , a renowned firm in the financial services sector , stated that the recession in Nigeria was over as the country ’ s economy surprisingly recorded positive growth in the fourth quarter of 2020 .In an analysis of the latest GDP report released by the NBS, FDC analysts said , “ Contrary to market expectations, the Nigerian economy recorded its first positive growth of 0 .11 per cent year -on -year in Q 4 2020 after two consecutive quarters of negative growth .“ Full year growth for 2020 is – 1 .92 per cent and implies that the recession is over . This came in against the trend and means that the # EndSARS effect was exaggerated and had only a muted impact. ”They noted that of the 46 activities , 29 expanded as against 21 in Q 3 , adding that this had positive implications for the policy trajectory in 2021 .They expressed hopes that the policy thrust would become more focused on ensuring price and exchange rate stability .“ Compared to 2016 / 17 , this recession lasted only for six months , ” they said.The FDC team added , “ Also, the expanding sectors are job elastic and are likely to have a positive impact on the unemployment level in the economy. ”