The Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed in its latest report published on Monday that Nigeria’s economy recorded 3.11% growth in the first quarter of 2022.
According to the figures published by the bureau, there’s sustained positive growth for the sixth consecutive quarter since the recession witnessed in 2020, when negative growth rates were recorded in quarters two and three of that year.
“The first quarter 2022 growth rate further represents an improvement in economic performance,” the report said. “The observed trend since Q4 2020 is an indication of gradual economic stability.
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“The Q1 2022 growth rate was higher than the 0.51% growth rate recorded in Q1 2021 by 2.60 per cent points and lower than 3.98% recorded in Q4 2021 by 0.88% points. Nevertheless, quarter-on-quarter, real GDP grew at -14.66% in Q1 2022 compared to Q4 2021, reflecting a lower economic activity than the preceding quarter.”
The agency explained that in the quarter under review, the aggregate GDP stood at N45,317,823.33 million in nominal terms – a performance that was higher when compared to the Q1 2021 which recorded an aggregate GDP of N40,014,482.74 million, indicating a year-on-year nominal growth rate of 13.25%.
It added that the nominal GDP growth rate in Q1 2022 was higher relative to the 12.25% growth recorded in Q1 2021, and higher compared to the 13.11% growth recorded in the preceding quarter.
While broadly classifying the Nigerian economy into the oil and non-oil sectors, the NBS revealed that the nation recorded an average daily oil production of 1.49 million barrels per day (mbpd) in Q1 2022.
This value, it stated, was lower than the daily average production of 1.72mbpd recorded in the same quarter of 2021 by 0.23mbpd, and lower than the Q4 2021 production volume of 1.50mbpd by 0.01mbpd.
“Real growth of the oil sector was –26.04% (year-on-year) in Q1 2022, indicating a decrease of 23.83% points relative to the rate recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2021,” the report said. “Growth decreased by 17.99% points when compared to Q4 2021 which was –8.06%.
“Quarter-on-Quarter, the oil sector recorded a growth rate of 9.11% in Q1 2022. The oil sector contributed 6.63 per cent to the total real GDP in Q1 2022, down from the figures recorded in the corresponding period of 2021 and up compared to the preceding quarter, where it contributed 9.25% and 5.19% respectively.”
According to the data agency, the non-oil sector grew by 6.08% in real terms during the reference quarter (Q1 2022).
It explained that the rate was higher by 5.28% points compared to the rate recorded same quarter of 2021 and 1.34% points higher than the fourth quarter of 2021.
“This sector was driven in the first quarter of 2022 mainly by information and communication (telecommunication); trade; financial and insurance (financial institutions); agriculture (crop production); and manufacturing (food, beverage, and tobacco), accounting for positive GDP growth.
“In real terms, the non-oil sector contributed 93.37% to the nation’s GDP in the first quarter of 2022, higher than the share recorded in the first quarter of 2021 which was 90.75%, and lower than the fourth quarter of 2021 recorded as 94.81%.”