By Gbenga Abulude
The presidency, on Wednesday, said its quick response to the pandemic and gradual easing of restrictions across the states has paid off, bringing a return of economic activity in the country.
The government is hopeful that the country’s economy will bounce back with the decisions it has taken and approach to save it from recession.
Mr Femi Adesina, Special Assistant to the President, media and publicity said this in a statement issued in response to the 2nd Quarter (Q2) 2020 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday August 24, 2020.
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Adesina said the health impacts of the pandemic had been managed without putting undue stress on the health infrastructure as this would have further compromised the ability to re-open the country to commerce, travel and international trade.
The statement said it was necessary that we all adhere to directives in keeping the pandemic lower in order to avoid an emergence of a second wave as the country begins the gradual loosening up of restrictions, and levels of commercial activity increase by people returning to their various livelihoods and payrolls expand.
The presidency looking at the figures, added that the economy which was on a path of recovery though threatened by a recession, was also relatively far better than many other countries recorded during the same quarter.
The statement titled “Our Response to Quarter 2, 2020 NBS Figures, By Presidency” read: “Nigeria’s GDP declined by –6.10% (year-on-year) in real terms in the second quarter of 2020, ending the 3-year trend of low but consistently improving positive real growth rates recorded since the 2016/17 recession.
“Consequently, for the first half of 2020, real GDP declined by –2.18% year-on-year, compared with 2.11% recorded in the first half of 2019.
“The overall decline of -6.1% (for Q2 2020) and -2.18 per cent (for H1 2020) was better than the projected forecast of -7.24% as estimated by the National Bureau of Statistics.
“The figure was also relatively far better than many other countries recorded during the same quarter.
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“Furthermore, despite the observed contraction in economic activity during the quarter, it outperformed projections by most domestic and international analysts.
“It also appears muted compared to the outcomes in several other countries, including large economies such as the US (-33%), UK (-20%), France (-14%), Germany (-10%), Italy (-12.4%), Canada (-12.0%), Israel (-29%), Japan (-8%), South Africa (projection -20% to -50%), with the notable exception of only China (+3%).
“The government’s anticipation of the impending economic slowdown and the various initiatives introduced as early responses to cushion the economic and social effects of the pandemic, through the Economic Sustainability Programme (ESP), contributed immensely to dampening the severity of the pandemic on growth.
“On the fiscal side, a robust financing mechanism was designed to raise revenue to support humanitarian assistance, in addition to special intervention funds for the health sector.
“Adjustments to the national budget as well as emergency financing from concessional lending windows of development finance institutions were critical in supporting governments’ capacity to meet its obligations.
“On the monetary side, moratorium on loans, credit support to households and industries, regulatory forbearance and targeted lending and guarantee programs through NIRSAL were some of the measures implemented in response to the pandemic during the second quarter.”
