Business

Nigerian Economy Shrinks By N63bn, 28 Sectors Struggle

Published

3 years ago

August 30, 2022

Twenty-eight sectors of the economy declined in the second quarter of 2022 as real Gross Domestic Product shrunk by N63.49bn quarter-on-quarter.

While real GDP grew by 3.54 per cent year-on-year in Q2 2022, it declined by 0.37 per cent from the N17.35tn that was recorded in the first quarter of 2021 to N17.29tn in Q2, 2022, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS.

The NBS blamed this decline on lower economic activity that was witnessed in Q1 2021. The analysis of real GDP data revealed that only 18 of the 46 NBS captured economic activity sectors experienced growth in the quarter under review.

According to the data from the statistics body, the agriculture sector witnessed mixed positives, with two sub-sectors witnessing growth and the other two recording a decline. Crop production grew from N3.39tn to N3.59tn; livestock declined from N318.49bn to N282.02bn; forestry grew from N44.14bn to N51.28bn; while fishing declined from N125.46bn to N88.3bn.

In the mining and quarrying sector, crude petroleum and natural gas declined from N1.15tn to N1.09tn; coal mining grew from N1.61bn to N4.79bn; metal ores declined from N4.87bn to N1.26bn; and quarrying other minerals grew from N363.29m to N25.51bn.

The 2022 has been a tough year for the manufacturing sector with inflation and foreign exchange scarcity negatively impacting growth. Only three of the 13 subsectors in the manufacturing sector recorded any growth in the quarter under review.

Oil refining grew from N1.66bn to N2.82bn; cement declined from N188.81bn to N143.74bn; food, beverage and tobacco declined from N875.94bn to N760.08bn; textile, apparel, and footwear declined from N342.48bn to N283.34bn; wood and wood products declined from N53.81bn to N44.41bn; whereas pulp, paper, and paper products declined from N13.38bn to N9.70bn.

Chemical and pharmaceutical products grew from N42.75bn to N47.37bn; non-metallic products declined from N63.52bn to N49.24bn; plastic and rubber products declined from N60.12bn to N53.01bn; electrical and electronics increased from N839.34m to N921.50m; basic metal, iron and steel declined from N39.93bn to N37.31bn; motor vehicles and assembly declined from N9.53bn to N7.63bn; and other manufacturing declined from N76.07bn to N55.55bn

The electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply sector grew from N32.72bn to N118.79bn. The water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation sector grew from N39.06bn to N61.12bn. Construction declined from N725.99bn to N554.11bn. The trade sector grew from N2.79tn to N2.91tn.

Accommodation and food services also recorded a decline from N173.41bn to N68.17bn. Under the transportation and storage sector, road transport grew from N151.97bn to N293.85bn; rail transport and pipelines declined from N40.96m to 19.92m; water transport increased from N802.77m to N1.04bn; air transport declined from N25.26bn to N9.69bn; transport services grew from N7.11bn to N11.14bn; and post and courier services declined from N6.26bn to N2.42bn.

Seen as one of the bright spots of the economy, telecommunications and information services under the information and communication sector grew from N2.25tn to N2.59tn; publishing declined from N5.45bn to N4.66bn; motion pictures, sound recording and music production declined from N229.67bn to N157.57bn; and broadcasting grew from N330.47bn to N433.43bn.

The arts, entertainment and recreation sector declined from N35.69bn to N51.85bn. In the financial and insurance sector, the financial institutions subsector declined and insurance declined from N85.11bn to N80.18bn.

The real estate sector was one of the sectors that shrunk, declining from N927.32bn to N920.49bn. The professional, scientific and technical services sector fell from N560.47bn to N525.94bn; administrative and support services grew from N3.39bn to N3.54bn; public administration also grew from N283.59bn to N375.59bn, but education fell from N333.06bn to N231.85bn.

While the other services sector declined from N702.74bn to N473.72bn, the human health and social services sector increased from N126.01bn to N131.28bn.

According to Associate Professor of Economics at the Pan Atlantic University, Olalekan Aworinde, real GDP was the true reflection of the economic status of a country.

He said, “Nominal GDP is the market value of goods and services produced at a particular period. Real GDP is when you have the nominal GDP, and inflation factored in. It is the nominal GDP indexed with inflation.”

In a statement addressing the general GDP, the Founder /Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf, disclosed that productivity and competitiveness issues had continued to negatively impact performance across sectors of the economy.

He stated that the general operating environment of the nation was also very challenging for most investors, with SMEs particularly more vulnerable to prevailing macroeconomic shocks, resulting in high mortality rate for small businesses.

He said, “Many businesses are struggling to cope with the numerous challenges and shocks to the economy. On the welfare front, the citizens are also experiencing serious economic hardship as a result of the galloping inflation and the impact on purchasing power.”

PUNCH

Business

NNPCL Raises Fuel Price

Published

2 weeks ago

October 13, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has increased the pump price of petrol from ₦865 to ₦992 per litre, marking a fresh hike that has sparked widespread concern among motorists and consumers .

As of the time of filing this report, the company has not released any official statement explaining the reason for the sudden adjustment.

During visits to several NNPC retail outlets, The Nation observed fuel attendants recalibrating their pumps to reflect the new price.

At NNPC filling station on Ogunusi road, Ojodu Berger, petrol attendants at the station said they were instructed to change the price to reflect the new rate N992 per litre.

However, checks at Ibafo along the Lagos /Ibadan expressway showed that NNPC outlets still displayed the old price of N875 per litre, although they were not selling to commuters.

Most of the NNPC stations were not dispensing fuel.

Business

CBN Directs Banks To Refund Failed ATM Transactions Within 48hrs

Published

2 weeks ago

October 11, 2025

Editor

The Central Bank of Nigeria has directed Deposit Money Banks and other financial institutions to refund customers for failed Automated Teller Machine transactions within 48 hours, in a sweeping reform aimed at protecting consumers and restoring confidence in the banking system.

The directive is contained in a draft guideline released by the apex bank on Saturday, titled “Exposure of the Draft Guidelines on the Operations of Automated Teller Machines in Nigeria.”

The document, signed by Musa I. Jimoh, Director of Payments System Policy Department, was circulated to banks, payment service providers, card schemes, and independent ATM deployers, with a call for stakeholder feedback by October 31, 2025.

Under the draft, failed “on-us” transactions, where customers use their own bank’s ATM, must be reversed instantly. If technical glitches prevent immediate reversal, the bank is required to manually refund the customer within 24 hours.

For “not-on-us” transactions, involving other banks’ ATMs, refunds must be processed within 48 hours.

“Customers must not be made to suffer for failed transactions caused by system errors or network failures,” the circular stressed.

In a significant shift, the CBN mandated banks and ATM acquirers to deploy technology that automatically reverses failed or partial transactions, removing the need for customers to lodge complaints.

Institutions holding customer funds due to failed disbursements must reconcile and return balances immediately.

According to the apex bank, these measures respond to widespread frustration over delayed refunds and poor customer service and form part of a broader effort to enhance consumer protection, improve reliability, and modernise Nigeria’s payment infrastructure in line with global standards.

The guidelines will also overhaul ATM operations nationwide. Banks and card issuers are now required to deploy at least one ATM for every 5,000 active cards, with phased targets of 30% compliance in 2026, 60% in 2027, and full compliance by 2028. Any future deployment, relocation, or decommissioning of ATMs must receive prior approval from the CBN.

To ensure safety, ATMs must be fitted with anti-skimming devices, CCTV cameras, and placed in enclosed or well-lit areas.

Machines are expected to comply with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards, maintain audit logs, and display functional helpdesk contacts. At least 2% of all ATMs must feature tactile symbols for visually impaired customers.

ATMs are also required to dispense cash before returning cards, allow free PIN changes, issue receipts for all transactions except balance inquiries, display clear transaction fees, dispense only clean banknotes, and provide backup power to reduce downtime.

Downtime must not exceed 72 consecutive hours, after which operators must inform the public of the cause and expected restoration time.

The CBN will enforce compliance through regular audits, on-site inspections, and monthly reports from ATM operators detailing deployments and locations. Defaulting institutions risk sanctions, though fines were not specified.

The apex bank explained that the overhaul was necessary due to rising complaints about failed transactions, cyber fraud, and declining service quality, noting that “the goal is to build a payments system that works seamlessly for everyone, urban and rural users alike.”

Nigeria’s electronic payments landscape has grown rapidly in recent years, with 200 million cardholders and rising reliance on digital banking, but network failures, poor infrastructure, and delayed reversals have continued to undermine confidence.

The fresh guidelines, coming eight months after a revision of ATM fees, are expected to streamline service delivery, enhance transaction security, and hold banks accountable. Stakeholders are invited to submit feedback ahead of the final policy adoption, which could take effect before the end of the year.

Business

Nigerian Stock Market Hits 10th Consecutive Uptrend As investors Gain N308bn

Published

2 weeks ago

October 10, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Stock Market recorded its 10th consecutive uptrend as investors raked in N308 billion gain on Thursday.

This comes as the Nigerian Exchange Limited, NGX, market capitalisation, which opened at N92.490 trillion, appreciated by 0.33 per cent to close at N92.798 trillion on Thursday.

Also, the All-Share Index added 0.33 per cent, or 485.25 points, to close at 146,204.34, compared with 145,719.09 recorded on Wednesday.

Increased trading in Eunisell Interlinked, Caverton Offshore Support Group, Sunu Assurances, Industrial and Medical Gases, Mecure, and 27 other advancing stocks boosted market performance on Thursday.

To this end, the market breadth also closed positive with 32 gainers and 21 losers.

Further analysis showed that Eunisell Interlinked and Caverton Offshore Support Group led the gainers’ chart by 10 per cent each, closing at N44 and N6.93 per share, respectively, while FTN Cocoa Processors led the losers’ table by 6.67 per cent, closing at N5.60 per share.

Market activity showed a decline in the number of deals and volume traded but an improvement in trade value.

Accordingly, a total of 346.99 million shares worth N27.43 billion were traded in 24,691 deals, compared with 525.72 million shares worth N13.61 billion exchanged in 25,597 deals on Wednesday.

Fidelity Bank topped the activity chart with 42.01 million shares valued at N861.54 million.

According to DAILY POST, NGX has continued its bullish run from last month’s end to date.