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Nigeria’s Trade Value Declines 7.8 Percent in Q3

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General Economy In Nigeria's Capital

The report released by National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Thursday, shows that the total value of Nigeria’s merchandise trade at the end of Q3, 2015 was ₦4,021.4 billion. This was ₦338.1 billion or 7.8% less than the value (₦4,359.5 billion, Revised) recorded in the preceding quarter.

This development arose from a decrease of ₦320.6 billion or 12.1%, in the value of exports combined with a marginal decline of ₦17.4 billion or 1.0%, in the value of imports against the levels recorded in the preceding quarter.

However, when compared with the corresponding quarter of 2014, the value of the total merchandise trade decreased by ₦2,497.1 billion or 38.3%. This was as a result of a ₦132.4 billion or 7.3% and ₦2,364.6 billion or 50.3% decline in imports and exports respectively relative to the corresponding quarter in 2014. Quarter on Quarter, the sharp decline in exports and slight decrease in imports contributed to continued fall in the Country’s trade balance, by 32.0% or ₦303.1 billion during the quarter.

Imports

The value of Nigeria’s imports stood at ₦1,688.2 billion, at the end of Q3, 2015, a decrease of 1.0% from the value (₦1,705.7 billion, Revised) recorded in the preceding quarter. Meanwhile, year-on-year analysis showed that the Country’s imports decreased by ₦132.4 billion or 7.3%.

The structure of Nigeria’s imports by Section was dominated by the imports of “Boilers, machinery and appliances; parts thereof” which accounted for 24.0% of the total value of imports in Q3, 2015 (Table 2). Other commodities which contributed noticeably to the value of imports in the review period were “Mineral products” (15.3%), “Vehicles, aircraft and parts thereof; vessels etc.” (8.8%), “Products of the chemical and allied industries” (8.6%), and “Base metals and articles of base metals” (8.4%).

Exports

The value of the nation’s merchandise exports totalled ₦2,333.2billion in Q3, 2015 a decrease of ₦320.6billion or 12.1%, over the value (₦2,653.8billion, Revised) recorded in the preceding quarter.

This decline was attributed to a fall in crude oil exports by ₦372.8b or 18.8% over the preceding quarter. Nevertheless the structure of exports is still dominated by crude oil, which contributed ₦1,611.5 billion or 69.1% to the value of total domestic exports in 2015. Natural liquefied gas recorded ₦265.2 billion of the total export value during the period under review.

Further analysis of Nigeria’s imports by Continent, revealed that the country consumed goods largely from Asia with imports valued at ₦764.5 billion or 45.3% of total imports.

The Country also imported goods valued at ₦596.4 billion or 35.3% from Europe and ₦241.3 billion or 14.3% from The Americas. Import trade from Africa stood at ₦65.4 billion or 3.9% while imports from the region of ECOWAS amounted to ₦16.3 billion.

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

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Economy

Nigeria’s Plan to Review Oil Companies’ Gas Flaring Strategies

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Oil

Nigeria is ramping up its efforts to address environmental concerns in the oil and gas sector with a comprehensive plan to review gas flaring strategies of international and indigenous oil companies.

The Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako, announced this initiative during a national stakeholders engagement meeting on methane mitigation and reduction held in Abuja, Investors King reports.

Gas flaring, a common practice in the oil industry, releases methane—a potent greenhouse gas—into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change and posing health risks to communities near oil facilities.

Nigeria aims to end routine gas flaring by 2030, aligning with global climate goals and commitments.

Dr. Salako explained the importance of reducing methane emissions and highlighted the detrimental effects on public health, food security, and economic development.

He outlined practical steps being taken to tackle methane emissions, including the development of methane guidelines and the engagement of government institutions.

The ministry, through the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, will conduct periodic reviews of oil companies’ plans to ensure compliance with the gas flaring deadline.

Deloitte management consultants will assist in conducting comprehensive forensic audits to scrutinize the legitimacy of forward-contracted transactions.

President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to environmental sustainability underscores the government’s dedication to addressing climate change and fulfilling its multilateral environmental agreements.

The engagement event served as a platform for stakeholders to discuss methane mitigation strategies, existing policies, and implementation challenges.

Collaboration and dialogue among diverse sectors are crucial in charting a unified course towards sustainable methane reduction in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

As the country navigates its environmental agenda, ensuring accountability and transparency in gas flaring practices remains paramount for achieving a greener and healthier future.

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Economy

Interest Rate Jumps to 24.75% as CBN Takes Aggressive Stance Against Inflation

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Dr. Olayemi Michael Cardoso

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a significant increase in the monetary policy rate, known as the interest rate, to 24.75%.

This move disclosed by CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso during the 294th Meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee press briefing in Abuja, represents a bold step by the apex bank to address the mounting inflationary pressures faced by the country.

With inflation soaring to 31.70% in February, the CBN aims to moderate this upward trend by tightening its monetary policy stance.

This decision follows the previous hike in the interest rate to 22.75% in February, showcasing the CBN’s commitment to combatting inflationary forces.

While the bank opted to maintain the Cash Reserve Ratio at 45%, the significant increase in the interest rate underscores the urgency of the situation and the need for decisive action.

Governor Cardoso emphasized that these measures are essential to stabilize the economy and safeguard the purchasing power of the Nigerian currency.

The 294th MPC marks the second meeting under Governor Cardoso’s leadership, indicating a proactive approach to addressing economic challenges.

The next MPC meeting is scheduled for May 20th and 21st, 2024, highlighting the ongoing commitment of the CBN to navigate Nigeria’s economic landscape amidst inflationary pressures.

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Economy

Nigeria Braces for 10th Consecutive Interest Rate Hike by Central Bank

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Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

As Nigeria grapples with persistently high inflation, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is gearing up to implement its tenth consecutive interest rate hike in a bid to curb the soaring prices and attract investment.

Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg are anticipating a substantial 125 basis-point increase in the key rate to 24%, marking one of the most significant adjustments in the current tightening cycle.

The decision, expected to be announced by Governor Olayemi Cardoso on Tuesday at 2 p.m. in Abuja, comes on the heels of inflation accelerating to 31.7% in February, far surpassing the central bank’s target range of 9%.

This surge has been primarily attributed to the sharp depreciation of the naira, prompting authorities to devalue the currency twice since June to narrow the gap with the unofficial market rate and encourage investor confidence.

While these measures have seen the naira strengthen in recent days and bolstered investment inflows, including a fourfold increase in overseas remittances and significant foreign investor portfolio asset purchases, there remains a palpable need for more decisive action.

Giulia Pellegrini, a senior portfolio manager at Allianz Global Investors, emphasized the necessity for the CBN to intensify its tightening efforts to regain foreign investors’ confidence in the local bond market.

While acknowledging the positive strides made by the central bank, Pellegrini stressed the importance of a more assertive approach to prevent the diversion of investor attention to other frontier markets.

As the Nigerian economy navigates through these challenging times, the impending interest rate hike signals the CBN’s determination to address inflation head-on and foster a more stable economic environment.

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