Business

MAN, LCCI, Economists Counter Buhari’s Claim On Economy

Published

2 years ago

June 23, 2022

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry and economists on Wednesday countered the claim made by President Muhammadu Buhari, that the economy under him is better than it was in 2015.

The Chairman of the Gas Group, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Mr Ola Adebayo, said Buhari’s regime’s policies have not translated into positive economy growth and real sector development.

He faulted the regime’s implementation of policies under Buhari, stressing that his regime would not score a pass mark.

Adebayo said, “One thing I have observed is that policy formulation is different from implementation. With the recent events, I don’t think the government has passed. We only have very good policies on paper, but the implementation has been lacking. Once there is no implementation, it becomes just an idea.”

Also, the Deputy-President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Gabriel Idahosa, said the reality was at variance with the claims of the President.

He said the current regime has not been able to attract the private sector to invest in critical infrastructures like railways and airports, saying that the government’s economic model is counterproductive and not in the best interest of the economy.

“The business community has been consistent in saying so. It’s not a matter of disagreeing with him. It’s a matter of looking at the facts at the table.”

Idahosa further said, “We don’t really need any complicated analysis to see whether the policies are addressing the issues of the business community. Whether it is power supply, the foreign exchange market, whether it’s a model that enables the private sector to invest in infrastructure in a manner that enables business to thrive, it is clear for all to see.”

On his part, Director-General, the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce, Mr Sola Obadimu, said Buhari’s assessment of his administration’s economic policies did not reflect the realities on ground.

According to him, his regime had failed in all economic indices and should be humble to admit it.

He said, “In the past seven years, we have witnessed the most volatile phases in our industrial life. For instance, if we pick the naira valuation as at when he came in and now, you will see the difference. That has been unfriendly to industry.”

He said the benchmark interest rate has been high at 13 per cent, making access to capital difficult.

Obadimu further stated that with the disparity between exchange rate at the official and parallel markets, it was obvious that the government had created certain opportunities for round tripping in the system and consequently put a strain on business entities who needed foreign exchange for business.

An economist and Chief Executive Officer, Center for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf, said that between 2015 and now, the nation’s economy has recorded over 200 percent currency depreciation.

He said that the investors’ confidence has worsened within the period under review and major indicators show that the economy is lagging behind .

“I don’t agree with that. Let us look at all the major indicators in the economy. Look at inflation, look at how bad things are and you know the implication of inflation for investments and for welfare. The current situation now is almost unprecedented and, of course, you can’t compare that now to what the situation was in 2015. Look at our currency. What was the exchange rate even at the parallel market in 2015 and what is it now?

“We are talking of a depreciation of over 200 per cent or even more and that also has a very serious implication. Even the poverty situation in the land is much and the business confidence. Investors’ confidence has worsened between 2015 and now. So, I don’t agree with that assertion.”

Also speaking, the founder of Cowry Assets Management Limited, Mr Johnson Chukwu, said, “I will be belittling myself to comment on issues like that. Let me ask you, what is your take on it? If I were a journalist, I wouldnn’t even write about it. That’s how I feel about that comment. Because it just doesn’t make sense for me to be wasting my time talking about it. I need to initiate conversations higher than that level. Because even a daft and a person who didn’t go to school will discuss it. It doesn’t make sense. Somebody said I’ve done well and you want me to discuss it. I guess you understand how I feel about that. It doesn’t make sense for anybody to discuss it.

“It’s not a matter of feeling, it’s how you are living. How much do you buy bread? How much do you pay for transport? How good is light in your area? So, if you want me to comment and speak about the economy, the way forward and what to expect from the new president, I will, not this,” he said.

A scholar and an Associate Professor at Pan-Atlantic University, Dr Olalekan Aworinde, said that the only sector that is doing well is the oil and gas.

“We cannot say that the economy has fared well because we still have so many indices that tell us that the total values of goods and services produced in Nigeria are nosediving. The only sector that is doing well is the oil sector. It makes about 80 per cent of the revenue in Nigeria. If you take a look at the manufacturing and agricultural sectors, they are not at the level we expect.

“There might be some improvement in agriculture but the kind of farming practiced in Nigeria is still at the subsistence level. In the manufacturing sector, we have more firms folding up probably because of these infrastructures that we expect. There’s no stability in power. The rate at which the Gross Domestic Profit is growing in Nigeria is not at the fast rate. It’s increasing at a decreasing rate.”

He also said that the government has pushed a lot of Nigerians into poverty than it has taken people out of poverty.

“Let me talk about price stability, it is worrisome. I don’t know how this government is able to come out without looking at the statistics at the price level. The last figure that was released by the National Bureau of Statistics a few weeks ago tells us that inflation is close to about 18 per cent. So, before they were in government, what was the statistics?

“So, this government has brought a lot of people more into poverty, absolute poverty than they have taken people out of poverty. I’m not going to agree with President Buhari’s statement. Yes, price stability is the responsibility of the CBN so in an attempt to maintain this price stability, you would discover, particularly this year, that it has been worrisome. It has been on the increase”

“I do not know what the yardstick that he used. Look at the level of unemployment. If you say you want to reduce the level of unemployment, that means that the level of inflation will be on the increase.

“But despite the fact that there’s an increase in inflation, the level of unemployment is still increasing. It is very clear, this is not unconnected with the manufacturing sector that is not doing well. The manufacturing sector is not doing well, so which sector will be used to employ the teeming youths that are not employed in Nigeria?

“The unemployment figure in Nigeria is about 33 per cent. So before they assumed office, what was the percentage and presently what is it? This government has taken a lot of loans and the future generations will have to pay for these loans.

“I do not know where the statistics and the indices that this present government is using to better the lot of Nigerians because as at the last count, the World Bank told us that the present government has made so many Nigerians to fall into abject poverty.”

Director of Research and Strategy, Chapel Hill Denham, Mr Tajudeen Ibrahim, also said, “I think we should look at the major metrics to know if really the economy is doing better now than in 2015 and one major metric is the exchange rate. And for the exchange rate, the Naira has lost tremendous value in the past 7years. And that has led to several other factors such as higher consumer price index over the period. It has also led to great uncertainty for foreign investors in terms of investing in the country,” he concluded

What the numbers say

Under Buhari, Nigeria experienced two recessions – one in 2016 and another in 2020 fuelled by COVID-19.

As at the fourth quarter of 2014, Nigeria’s unemployment rate was 6.2 per cent, according to data by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS. As at the fourth quarter of 2021, the NBS disclosed that the rate in the economy had risen to 33.3 per cent, making it one of the worst in the world and signifying a 437 per cent increase over the seven-year period.

As at May 2015, Naira exchanged for dollars at N197/$ at the interbank market and N217/$ at the parallel market. Naira is N415-N420 to a dollar at the Importers and Exporters Window and nearly N603-N610 at the parallel market. Subsidy has since risen from N100 million in 2015 to N4 trillion in 2022.

Inflation is not spared as prices have risen by over 70 per cent since Buhari came to power. Inflation has since 2015 risen from 9.01 per cent (average number in 2015) to over 17 per cent in May 2022.

The Misery Index in 2015 was 47.7 points but it has risen to 50.48 points, meaning that more Nigerians are now more miserable than they were in 2015.

Similarly, in 2018, Nigeria was adjudged by the World Poverty Clock as the world’s poverty capital.

According to the World Bank, the poverty rate was 33.1 per cent by the end of 2014/ beginning of 2015, but poverty rate will likely sit at 42.6 per cent in 2022.

PUNCH

Business

Tinubu Okays Payment Of N3.3tn Power Sector Debts, Gencos, Gas Producers To Get N1.3tn, $1.3bn

Published

10 hours ago

May 17, 2024

Editor

As part of the measures to tackle incessant power outages in the country, President Bola Tinubu has approved the gradual payments of power sector debts estimated at over N3.3tn.

Consequently, about N1.3tn owed power generating companies by the Federal Government will be paid via cash injections and promissory notes, while about $1.3bn (N1.994tn using the current official closing rate) owed to gas companies will be paid via cash and future royalties.

Already, the Federal Government has commenced payment of the cash part of the N1.3tn debt owed Gencos and concluded plans to settle the second part via promissory notes within a timeframe ranging from two to five years.

The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, disclosed this at the 8th Africa Energy Marketplace held on Thursday in Abuja.

The event was themed, “Towards Nigeria ‘s Sustainable Energy Future: Policy, Regulation and Investment – A Policy Dialogue for the National Integrated Electricity Policy and Strategic Implementation Plan.”

The government is subsidising electricity by shouldering the gas payment component for power generation.

But over the years this payment has not been steady, leading to humongous gas debts as well as indebtedness to power generation companies.

Disclosing the solution to the issue, Adelabu stated that Tinubu had directed the Minister of Finance to make immediate payment of N130bn from the Gas Stabilisation Fund, being part of the N1.3tn owed Gencos. The rest will be spread over some time.

The power minister further explained that the payment of $1.3bn legacy debts owed gas producers would be sourced from future royalties and income streams in the gas sub-sector, a solution deemed satisfactory by the gas-supplying companies.

He said, “It is true that I mentioned that Mr President has approved the submission of the Hon. Minister of State Petroleum (Gas) to defray the outstanding debts owed to the gas supplying companies to the power sector operators.

“The payments will be in parts. We have the legacy debt and we have the current debt. For the current debt, approval has been given for a cash payment of about N130bn from the Gas Stabilisation Fund, which the Federal Ministry of Finance will pay, if not already paid.

“The payment for the legacy debts is going to be made from future royalties and streams of income in the gas sub-sector which is quite satisfactory to the gas supply companies. The last amount that was being quoted was $1.3bn, which we believe will go a long way to encourage these gas companies to enter into firm supplying contracts with the power generating companies.”

He further explained, “The situation we are in now is on a best endeavour model, which means there is no firm contract between the gas companies and the majority of the power generating companies. The day they can supply gas, they will, the day they cannot supply gas, there is no penalty. But once there is a firm contract they will be under contractual obligations to supply gas to these power-generating companies so that we can have a consistent power generation.

“So, that is the situation and the model we want to adopt for the gas segment of the power sector value chain.”

Continuing, the minister voiced concerns about the lack of policy coordination in the power sector, assuring the sector however that the current administration was committed to eliminating all bottlenecks in the industry.

Adelabu also justified the Band A tariff hike, saying that only 15 per cent of Nigerians were affected.

He disclosed that without proper billing, the power reform agenda of the present administration might not be achieved.

The minister also revealed that with the generation of 700MW from the Zungeru hydroelectric power plant, the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry has recorded a new feat of 5,000MW.

Regarding the power-generating companies, he noted that the president had approved cash injections and promissory notes, providing significant encouragement to the companies and incentivising them to further invest in generation capacity.

The minister explained, “For the power generating companies, the debt is put at N1.3tn. I can also tell you that we have the consent of Mr. President to pay on the condition of settling the reconciliation of these debts between the government and the power-generating companies.

“And this, we have successfully done, and it is being signed off by both parties now. The majority have signed off, and we are engaging others to ensure we have a 100 per cent sign-off from the power-generating companies. And the modalities for paying this will be in two ways. Of course, there will be a cash injection, immediate cash injection.”

He added, “Government is not buoyant enough to pay down N1.3tn once and for all in terms of cash. But there is a fraction of it that will be paid in cash while the remaining fraction will be settled through a guaranteed debt instrument, preferably a promissory note. That is more like a comfort to these companies that in the next two, three to five years, the government is ready to defray this debt finally. This will go a long way to encourage the power generating companies to incentivise them to even invest more in generation so that you can know our generating output from the level it is now to a higher level because as I mentioned, there is an opportunity for demand locally and across the border. And that is a source of foreign exchange earnings for the country.”

Adelabu, who said the supply of electricity had increased due to the implementation of the Electricity Act 2023 and the Band A tariff, added that the Discos were requesting more load for onward distribution to their customers.

The power minister had stated in February that Nigeria must begin to move towards a cost-effective tariff model, as he revealed that the country was indebted to the tune of N1.3tn to electricity generating companies, while the debt to gas companies was $1.3bn at the time.

On March 1, 2024, The PUNCH reported that the Federal Government had paid $120m out of the $1.3bn indebtedness to gas companies for the supply of gas to run gas-fired power plants across the country.

Nigeria is currently suffering from low power supply because gas supply has been reduced after some operators stopped supplying the commodity to power-generating companies due to the indebtedness of the Gencos to gas-producing firms.

Adelabu recently revealed that the crash in power generation and attendant poor supply in January was because gas suppliers stopped supplying gas for the generation of electricity due to the indebtedness of the sector to gas producers.

Nigeria gets more than 70 per cent of its electricity from thermal power plants that run on gas. The remaining amount of electricity comes from hydropower-generating plants.

Speaking at the 7th Nigeria International Energy Summit in Abuja in March, the Director, Decade of Gas Secretariat, Ed Ubong, expressed excitement that the Federal Government had cleared $120m out of the $1.3bn gas debts.

The Decade of Gas Secretariat is under the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas). The Federal Government is subsidising electricity by paying for the gas used in generating power, as Nigerian power users are currently not paying the exact amount for electricity.

“As of last year, that (gas debts) was about $1.3bn, depending on how you add up the numbers. But I am pleased that between October and the end of January, the government has paid over $120m to offset some of that money,” Ubong stated.

Meanwhile, the African Development Bank is set to seek board approval for a $1bn policy-based operation with a significant energy component to support the reforms initiated by the new Electricity Act, of 2023. This funding aims to actualise the outcomes expected from the NIEP-SIP and attract sustainable investments.

The Vice President, Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth Complex at the AfDB, Dr. Kevin K. Kariuki, disclosed this at the African Energy Market Place held in Abuja on Thursday.

The AEMP special edition focuses on the “National Integrated Electricity Policy and Strategic Implementation Plan,” reflecting the Federal Government of Nigeria’s ongoing reforms to enhance the power sector’s effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity.

Kariuki emphasised the alignment of the event with the bank’s “Light Up and Power Africa” initiative, which is part of its High 5 development strategy for the continent.

With Nigeria holding the highest electricity access deficit globally, the success of the reforms, including tariff adjustments and regulatory improvements, is crucial.

Kariuki highlighted the need to utilise over 13,000,000MW of installed capacity, improve transmission, reduce supply interruptions, and achieve financial viability across the power sector.

The VP noted that the success of the Electricity Act would hinge on its ability to rapidly provide quality electricity access to all Nigerians, thereby addressing the country’s status as having the world’s highest electricity access deficit.

“With 90m Nigerians lacking electricity, the reforms are poised to utilize over 13 Gigawatt of installed capacity, improve transmission, reduce supply interruptions, and enhance the financial viability of the power sector.

“No economy can grow in the dark,” the VP stated, emphasising the critical role of reliable power in economic growth, industrialisation, and competitiveness.

The AfDB’s investments include the $256.2m Nigeria Transmission Expansion Project and the $200m Nigeria Electrification Project, which will construct transmission lines, substations, and mini-grids.

Furthermore, the AfDB is financing a study to explore the deployment of Battery Energy Storage Systems to stabilise the grid and promote renewable energy.

Nigeria’s participation in the $20bn Desert to Power initiative to generate 10,000MW of solar power in the Sahel region, was also mentioned as a key step toward increasing renewable energy in the country.

The AfDB boss expressed confidence that the AfDB’s multi-faceted approach, including policy support, infrastructure financing, and capacity building, would ensure a viable and sustainable power sector in Nigeria.

He called for a collaborative spirit among governments, the private sector, and partners to craft policy recommendations that would lead Nigeria to universal access by 2030 and zero carbon emissions by 2060.

Obi, Nnaji speak

Meanwhile, a former Minister of Power, Barth Nnaji, and the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, have advised the Federal Government to declare an emergency in the power sector.

The duo spoke at the inaugural Dele Momodu Leadership Lecture held Thursday at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Lagos.

Nnaji also called a super grid to end the incessant collapse of the national power grid.

Nnaji, who was the Guest Speaker at the event, said the current national grid kept collapsing because it was not well structured.

Recall that the national grid collapsed more than two times in the first quarter of 2024, plunging Nigerians into darkness.

Touching on the theme, ‘Politics of Energy: The Way Forward’, Nnaji stated that the power ministry under his watch had years ago sought the approval of the Federal Executive Council to build what he called a super grid, a 765KV network that would rise above the existing 330 KV.

According to him, the 765KV is large enough to take power from high-capacity plants like the Manbilla Power Plant.

He revealed that the country has yet to have a transmission network that could wheel power from Manbilla when completed.

Nnaji explained, “Another critical area in Nigeria’s power sector is the transmission network. I believe that having the national grid the way we have it still going to be a problem. First, it is not robust, and it is not well structured. My advocacy is for multiple grids, autonomous but connected to the national grid. So that the national grid still operates, and will be more robust. It will begin to cure the regular incident of the failure of the national grid.

“When I was in government, we asked the Federal Executive Council to approve what we called a super grid, a 765KV network that will kind of rise above the existing 330KV network. Right now, Nigeria has 330KV and 132KV, but none of them is robust. But the 765KV network will be very important to take power from power plants such as the Manbilla that has been on for a while. Over 10,000 megawatts of power will come from Manbilla. So, the question is, which transmission infrastructure will take that power suppose that we finish it now? We need a super grid to take that power so that Nigeria can take power from various plants and transmit it to wherever we want it.”

The Chairman of Geometric Power commended Adelabu for reviving the super grid project.

“I am happy that the current Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu is reviving this super grid, and I think we have to spot him on that because it is a very important project. Our conception was that it would be done in sections by various companies so that it would not be one of these white elephant projects,” he said.

Nnaji expressed concern that still suffers gas shortages in the power sector despite its abundant natural gas reserves.

He wondered why the nation keeps exporting gas that is not yet enough for domestic use, calling for a state of emergency in the gas sector.

“A state of emergency needs to be declared in the gas sector. The declaration will save the power sector and allow the government and other stakeholders to address fundamental issues in the gas sector in a robust manner. The issue will include how to strike a healthy balance between producing gas for export and gas for domestic consumption,” he noted.

The former minister regretted that the Federal Government has not executed a power project since almost nine years ago, adding that some ongoing ones were abandoned by successive administrations.

“The development of the power sector has also been stalled for years because of the suspension of what we developed that time called partial risk guarantee to support power purchase agreement. A government that is buying power has to issue a power purchase agreement to the producer of power, and the agreement must be guaranteed.

“We were able to do this but only one project was completed, that is the Azura-Edo project, a 461MW power plant; and then it was stopped nine years ago. The outcome is that for this period, Nigeria has not commissioned a government-sponsored power project. And the former President of Ghana said you need to be adding over 12 per cent of energy to your country yearly. If you want to grow the economy, that’s what you need. If in nine years, we have not added anything, you can imagine. I want to tell you that because of that partial risk guarantee, four or five major projects had been fully developed but stopped. I encourage the government to reawaken those projects. They are very critical,” Nnaji added.

Earlier in his speech, former Ghanaian President, John Mahama, disclosed that Ghana had been able to power generation capacity to 5454MW, saying the country had been exporting electricity to other neighbouring countries in the West of Africa like Togo, Benin Republic and others.

Mahama remarked that Nigeria could achieve energy security for itself and other African countries, adding that a nation must plan because the energy demand will keep rising by 10 per cent yearly.

On energy transition, Mahama urged African leaders to decide their modalities with Nigeria showing leadership.

Speaking, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, posited, “When the former president of Ghana said they are generating and distributing 5,000MW, I was wondering; Ghana with one-seventh of our population generates and distributes more than us. We must declare an emergency in power. The way to go is very simple, we need embedded power, with gas supply. We have gas all over the place. Yes, we need the dollars, but I think making Nigeria more productive and pulling our people out of poverty, especially in the north, will give us far more value and dollars than focusing on exports. I think it is time to declare an emergency. We should encourage an embedded power”.

The organiser of the lecture and publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu, maintained that Nigerians pay for electricity without getting the same being delivered to their homes.

In his welcome address, the veteran journalist wondered why the electricity challenges in Nigeria have defied all solutions.

“Why can’t we stop this endless energy crisis in Nigeria? We pay for electricity, but it can’t be delivered. The more we pay, the less we get,” he said.

Momodu lamented that the humongous money invested in the power sector over the years has not yielded any result.

This, he stated, informed his decision to organise the public lecture in commemoration of his 64th birthday.

Others at the lecture were Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State; former Governor Rabiu Kwankwanso of Kano State; former Governor Donald Duke of Cross River; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and others.
PUNCH

Business

Naira Slumps, Exchanges At Over N1,500 Against Dollar

Published

4 days ago

May 13, 2024

Editor

The naira continued its depreciation against the US dollar in the foreign exchange market.

Data from the parallel market section and FMDQ showed further depreciation against the dollar on Monday.

At the parallel market, a Bureau De Change operator in Wuse Zone 4, Mistila Dayyabu, told DAILY POST that the naira was sold as high as N1,517 per dollar on Monday before settling at N1,500 per dollar.

“On Monday morning, the dollar was sold at N1,517 per dollar. However, on hearing the information about the coming of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission operatives, we started selling at N1,500 this evening, ” he said.

The figure increased from the N1, 450 per dollar it traded at the weekend.

Similarly, at the official market, FMDQ data showed that they dipped to N1478.11 per dollar on Monday from N1466.31 last Friday.

This represents an N11.8 drop from the N1466.31 recorded last Friday.

Earlier, the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, said the apex bank’s Monetary Policy Committee will do everything to bring down soaring Nigeria’s inflation, which stood at 33.22 per cent in March 2024.

Business

CAC Opens Centre For Registration Of PoS Operators

Published

1 week ago

May 9, 2024

Editor

The Corporate Affairs Commission has inaugurated a centre for bulk registration of Point of Sale operators in its database.

The CAC Registrar-General, Hussaini Magaji, said this while inaugurating the centre stationed at its Federal Capital Territory Office in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to Magaji, the importance of registering the PoS operators in the commission’s database cannot be over emphasised.

He said the centre was well equipped with all the necessary facilities to operate 24 hours a day and ensure the commission’s achievement of its purpose.

“What we did was accommodate the request from the Fintechs.

“We have allowed them to integrate with the Corporate Affairs Commission; they have developed their structure, and we gave them access.

“Once they supply the necessary details for registration on their platform, the certificate is generally generated and transmitted directly to their platform without them having to contact anyone.

“We have done this to ensure that everyone gets it easy without hitches, but if they choose to apply manually, we have a secretariat open for them to do so,” he stated.

Recall that the Federal Government through the CAC on Tuesday issued a two-month registration deadline to Point of Sales companies, to register their agents, merchants, and individuals with the commission in line with legal requirements and the directives of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, at the event, the registrar-general reiterated that the centre would be opened to all operators in the fintech industry who voluntarily submitted their agents and merchants for regularisation with the CAC.

Magaji said that the registration was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s desire to ensure financial inclusion for the youth and strengthen the fight against fraud, finance and other crimes in the country.

He further expressed his resolve to ensure compliance with the provisions of Section 863 (1) of the Companies and Allied Matters, CAMA 2020, and the CBN guidelines for Agent Banking, 2013.

On security, the CAC boss said that if a crime were committed using the PoS, the government would easily trace the perpetrators to the CAC data platform if such machines were registered.

“If an incident happens and they report it to CAC, if we do not have the operator’s details, we cannot respond, and that is the essence of this registration.

“The registration ensures that every detail of the person is provided, including NIN, passport photograph and all other useful documents.

“And it is an opportunity for more people to be captured into the formal sector,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Special Adviser to the President on ICT Development and Innovation, Tokoni Peter attended the event.

The event was attended by Dr Salihu Dasuki, the Special Adviser to the President on ICT Policy Office, the PoS operators, and other stakeholders.

(NAN)