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World Bank delivers verdict on Nigeria’s economy

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World Bank

The World Bank says Nigeria’s economy is showing strong signs of improvement, thanks to the country’s commitment to far-reaching economic reforms.

Taimur Samad, the Bank’s Acting Country Director for Nigeria, made the remark on Monday in Abuja while presenting the latest Nigeria Development Update (NDU) report titled “Building Momentum for Inclusive Growth.”

He said key indicators—such as a stabilised exchange rate, rising foreign reserves, and strengthened fiscal conditions—signal positive progress.

According to Samad, improved fiscal conditions were largely driven by a sharp rise in federation revenues, contributing to a brighter economic outlook.

He noted that Nigeria’s economy grew by 4.6% year-on-year in the last quarter of 2024, bringing full-year growth to 3.4%—the highest since 2014, excluding the 2021–2022 post-pandemic rebound.

“Also, the fiscal deficit narrowed significantly, from 5.4% of GDP in 2023 to 3.0% in 2024,” he said.

“Federation revenues nearly doubled, rising from N16.8 trillion (7.2% of GDP) in 2023 to an estimated N31.9 trillion (11.5% of GDP) in 2024.”

However, Samad acknowledged that challenges remain, particularly the persistence of high inflation. He underscored the importance of the Central Bank of Nigeria maintaining tight monetary policies to stabilise the economy.

 

He projected that, if current efforts are sustained, inflation could ease to just over 22% on average by 2025—a significant step forward.

The report also stressed that sustaining macro-fiscal reforms will be key to unlocking private sector growth and job creation.

“Nevertheless, it is clear that continued momentum and deeper reforms are essential to drive inclusive growth and expand economic opportunities,” Samad added.

Alex Sienaert, the World Bank’s Lead Economist for Nigeria, called for prudent management of revenue gains from fuel subsidy removal and warned against overly optimistic budget assumptions for 2025.

He urged an expansion of the targeted cash transfer programme to support vulnerable Nigerians.

Sienaert outlined further steps for macroeconomic stability: reducing the cost of governance, accelerating growth, and prioritising a private sector-led, public sector-supported development model.

He emphasised the need to close infrastructure gaps—particularly in electricity and transportation—create a more competitive business environment, improve access to finance, and boost productivity in key sectors.

The Nigeria Development Update (NDU) is a biannual World Bank publication that analyses Nigeria’s economic and social trends and outlines key medium-term development challenges. (NAN)

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Fuel price reduction: ‘Joy’s coming’ – Manufacturers

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Director General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Segun Ajayi-Kadiri, sees the price of fuel coming down to N800.

Ekwutosblog reported recently that Dangote Petroleum Refinery slashed its ex-depot price for Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol, to N840 per litre.

The reduction represents a N40 decrease from the previous rate of N880 per litre.

This happened a few days after the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, increased the pump price of petrolto N925 per litre in Lagos.

This decrease is also coming a week after Dangote Refinery increased the ex-depot petrol price to N880 per litre

Speaking in an interview with Channels Television, Ajayi-Kadiri said that it was a welcome development, adding that price of the product would further decrease to N800 with the modalities being put in place by Dangote Refineries.

“You cannot blame anyone for producing and ensuring effective delivery,” he said.

When asked to share his thoughts from a manufacturer’s point of view on what he sees about the long term effect, he added, “So if I may use what the Gen Z is called ‘Joy is coming’, that’s what I see.

“The long term is going to be better. I see the price coming down to 800 and that’s what manufacturers want.

“I just told you now that last year, we spent as much as 1.1 trillion in terms of providing alternatives, apart from the fact that even the quality of the products is not guaranteed.

“So in the near future, I continue to see continued reduction in the price of diesel.

“I also see a situation where other players will be encouraged to come into the field, because that is what it takes. I don’t think that we should use sentiment to dissuade any investor from improving the life and well being of the people.

 

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Nigeria projected among top-five world’s biggest economies

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Nigeria has been projected to be among the top five biggest economies in the world by 2075.

The Spectator Index disclosed in a post on Friday, quoting a Goldman Sachs’ document titled ‘The Path to 2075—Slower global growth, but convergence remains intact’.

According to the news platform, Nigeria’s economy is estimated to reach $13.1 trillion by 2075.

The report showed that Nigeria followed China ($57 trillion), India ($52.5 trillion), the United States of America ($51.5 trillion), and Indonesia ($13.7 trillion) in projected world’s biggest economies by 2075.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product grew by 3.84 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024. The country’s GDP is estimated to be $568 billion at the end of 2024 in real GDP terms.

Africa’s most populous nation is expected to reach a GDP estimate that could be $585.9 billion.

The development comes as the President Bola Tinubu administration projects a $1 trillion economy by 2030.

Meanwhile, financial analysts had expressed doubts over the possibility of Nigeria achieving a $1 trillion economy by 2030 when the country’s projected GDP growth rate is 3.2 percent.

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Dangote Sugar, Oando, other stocks push NGX to N1.185tn gains

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Oando, Dangote Sugar and other stocks have propelled Nigerian Exchange Limited, known as the Nigerian Stock Market, to a significant N1.185 trillion single-day gain.

Accordingly, NGX market capitalisation increased by 1.57 percent to reach N76.761 trillion, up from N75.576 trillion recorded on Tuesday.

Similarly, the All-Share Index (ASI) rose by 1,466.87 points, or 1.22 percent, settling at 121,257.69 from its previous close of 119,790.82.

Other stocks that fueled the bullish run on Wednesday are Cileasing, Champion Breweries, and 59 other stocks.

Consequently, Ekwutosblog reports that market breadth closed positive, with 63 gainers and 17 losers.

On the gainers’ table, Dangote Sugar rose by 10 percent, closing at N48.40, while Oando Plc also increased by 10 percent, settling at N68.75 per share. Then, Cileasing grew by 9.98 percent, finishing at N5.18, and Champion Breweries soared by 9.98 percent, ending the session at N10.91 per share.

 

Also, Computer Warehouse Group gained by 9.95 percent, closing at N11.60 per share.

Meanwhile, conversely, University Press dropped by 6.25 percent, finishing at N6.00, while RT Briscoe fell by 6.12 percent, closing at N2.30 per share.

Multiverse Mining declined by 4.89 percent, settling at N8.75, and Meyer shed 4.69 percent, ending the session at N9.15 per share.

In another level of analysis, a total of 861.67 million shares worth N26.18 billion were exchanged across 22,896 transactions.

This is compared to 868.68 million shares worth N23.71 billion that were traded across 22,207 transactions earlier.

Market data showed that transactions in the shares of Fidelity Bank topped the activity chart with 82.98 million shares worth N1.66 billion. Accordingly, Caverton Offshore Support Group followed with 64.18 million shares valued at N319.69 million, while Zenith Bank transacted 60.62 million shares worth N3.45 billion.

Also, Ja Paul Gold traded 56.26 million shares valued at N115.35 million, and Access Corporation sold 48.59 million shares worth N1.12 billion.

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