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Power Needs N1.260tr to Maintain 4,000MW

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Electricity - Investors King
  • Power Sector Needs N1.260tr to Maintain 4,000MW in 2017

The Federal Government has concluded plans to raise $3.5 billion (N1.260 trillion) from the sale of government owned power plants, borrowing from banks and other multilateral financial institutions to maintain electricity generation of 4,000 MegaWatts (MW).

The Federal Ministry of Power said an estimated $3.5 billion budget appropriations will be required as part of the funding plan needed to revive Nigeria’s power sector. This is expected to ensure that a minimum baseline power generation of 4,000MW is guaranteed and distributed daily from 2017, to ensure stability of the grid.

Nigeria has 13,400MW of installed power generation capacity of which 8,000 MW is mechanically available. Less than 4,000MW is dispatched on the average over the last two years due to constraints in gas supply, electricity transmission, and, distribution. As a result, the lack of constant electricity supply has discouraged consumers’.

According to the country’s Power Sector’s Recovery Programme, obtained by The Guardian at the weekend, the financial shortfall in the power sector will be funded from the sale of government owned power plants, borrowing from the World Bank and other multilateral financial institutions and from the national budget.

It noted that work was ongoing to elaborate in detail the mechanism for funding the shortfall, taking into account fiscal space considerations as well as the detailed mechanisms on how the funding will be provided to market participants in tandem with regulator, governance and institutional reforms under the recovery programme to enforce market discipline.

The recovery programme stated: “The difference between cost recovery tariff and allowed effective average tariff –will be covered by the government through the Electricity Market Support mechanism, subject to annual amount allocated in the budget.”

The actual government contribution will be calculated monthly, based on information provided by licensees (energy billed and amount billed, to calculate actual average tariff of each DisCo), and reviewed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

Speaking with The Guardian on the issue, Director/CEO at Electronics Development Institute, Awka, Nigeria, Ndinechi Michael, emphasised the need for Federal Government to protect the consumers to an extent by insisting that consumers that are not provided with prepaid meters within a stipulated period of time, should stop paying electricity bill or better still peg it at N3,000 a month.

Ndinechi said this will force Dicos to provide consumers with prepaid meters, saying, “an average consumer consumes more than N3,000 worth of electricity a month. With increasingly difficulty in sourcing foreign exchange for importation, Discos will not have any alternative than to look inwards.”

The Chief Executive Officer, Genesis Energy Group, Akinwale Omoboriowo II, said that bureaucracy and burdensome processes associated with securing investment licences and permits must be simplified in order to remove the unwelcoming encumbrances that scare intending investors.

He said rather, investor-friendly policies and concessions should be put in place with transparent laws and an autonomous regulator with measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

“Again, continuity mechanisms and the sanctity of contracts must be guaranteed regardless of change in governments. It is imperative to encourage the emergence of mini and micro grids, which can co-exist with large grids. Alternative funding from the Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility (CSR) Departments of Multinational Companies and big corporate organisations are also necessary,” he added.

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

Agricultural Sector’s Contribution to GDP Decreases in Q1 2024

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Agriculture - Investors King

Nigeria’s agricultural sector declined in its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to recent data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The sector, which encompasses crop production, livestock, forestry, and fishing, experienced a decrease in its nominal growth rate compared to the same period in 2023.

The data reveals that the agricultural sector grew by 0.77% year-on-year in nominal terms in Q1 2024, a decrease of 4.47% points from the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

This decline is significant, especially when compared to the growth rate of 14.94% recorded in the preceding quarter, showcasing a downturn of 14.17% points.

Crop production emerged as the primary driver of the sector, constituting 87.98% of the overall nominal value of the sector in Q1 2024.

However, despite its dominance, the sector’s contribution to nominal GDP stood at 17.22%, reflecting a decrease from the rates recorded in both the first quarter and fourth quarter of 2023, which were 19.63% and 24.65%, respectively.

In real terms, the agricultural sector experienced a modest growth rate of 0.18% year-on-year in Q1 2024, indicating an increase of 1.08% points from the same period in 2023.

Nevertheless, this growth rate represents a decline of 1.92% points from the preceding quarter, which recorded a growth rate of 2.10%. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the sector’s growth rate stood at -32.25% in the first quarter of 2024.

Despite these challenges, the agricultural sector remains a vital component of Nigeria’s economy, contributing significantly to employment, food security, and overall economic development.

As the nation navigates through economic fluctuations, policymakers and stakeholders may need to explore strategies to revitalize and strengthen the agricultural sector to ensure its sustained growth and resilience in the face of future uncertainties.

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Economy

Nigeria’s GDP Grows by 2.98% in Q1 2024, Driven by Services Sector

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Banana Island

Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 2.98% in the first quarter of 2024 as the services sector sustained growth, the latest National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report has shown.

This growth was higher when compared to the 2.31% recorded in the corresponding period of 2023, but lower than the 3.46% growth observed in the fourth quarter of 2023.

The report indicates that the services sector spearheaded this expansion as it grew by 4.32% in the period under review and contributed 58.04% of the aggregate GDP

Contrary to previous quarters, where the agriculture sector faced challenges, it rebounded modestly to post a 0.18% growth rate.

This positive performance marks a notable turnaround from the decline of -0.90% recorded in the first quarter of 2023.

Also, the industry sector recorded a growth rate of 2.19%, compared to the marginal 0.31% growth in the same period last year.

The aggregate GDP in nominal terms stood at N58,855,142.27 million for the first quarter of 2024.

Oil Sector First Quarter 2024

Delving into sectoral specifics, the oil sector posted a real growth rate of 5.70% year-on-year in Q1 2024.

Although this growth rate represents a decline from the previous quarter where it stood at 12.11%, the oil sector still contributed 6.38% of the total real GDP.

This performance revealed the sector’s continued importance despite ongoing global economic shifts and fluctuations in oil prices.

Non-oil Sector First Quarter

On the other hand, the non-oil sector expanded by 2.80% in real terms during the reference quarter.

This growth was predominantly driven by key sectors such as Financial and Insurance, Information and Communication, Agriculture, Trade, and Manufacturing.

In real terms, the non-oil sector contributed 93.62% to the nation’s GDP in the first quarter of 2024, lower than the share recorded in the first quarter of 2023 which was 93.79% and lower than the fourth quarter of 2023 recorded as 95.30%.

Despite the challenges posed by the global economic landscape and domestic factors, Nigeria’s GDP growth in the first quarter of 2024 shows resilience and potential for further expansion.

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Economy

Federal Government Disburses N260bn to Revitalize Primary Health Centres Nationwide

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Africa health startup

The federal government has disbursed N260 billion to the 36 states to revitalise primary health centres (PHCs).

This initiative, announced by Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, will improve healthcare accessibility and quality for all citizens.

During a ministerial sectoral update organized by the Ministry of Information and National Orientation on Friday, Pate emphasized the urgency and importance of this investment.

“N260 billion is sitting right now at the state level for the revitalization of their primary healthcare centres,” he stated, highlighting the immediate availability of funds for this crucial sector.

The fund, part of which is sourced from the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, is intended to upgrade and equip up to 17,000 primary healthcare centres nationwide.

This ambitious target aims to significantly improve the quality of healthcare services available to Nigerians, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

Pate noted the government’s strategic focus on primary healthcare as the foundation of a robust health system.

“Our goal is to ensure that every Nigerian, regardless of their location, has access to quality healthcare services. By revitalizing these primary health centres, we can provide essential health services closer to the people, thereby reducing the burden on tertiary healthcare facilities.”

The minister also pointed out that this financial injection would address several challenges faced by the PHCs, including inadequate infrastructure, lack of essential medical supplies, and insufficient staffing.

“This funding will enable states to renovate existing facilities, procure necessary medical equipment, and employ additional healthcare workers to meet the increasing demand for healthcare services,” Pate explained.

The disbursement of these funds is part of a broader strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s health system, which has faced numerous challenges in recent years, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The revitalization of PHCs is seen as a critical step in achieving universal health coverage and improving health outcomes for all Nigerians.

Stakeholders in the healthcare sector have welcomed the government’s initiative, calling it a timely intervention that could transform the country’s healthcare landscape.

“This is a significant milestone for Nigeria’s healthcare system. The revitalization of primary health centres is essential for achieving sustainable health improvements and ensuring that every Nigerian has access to basic healthcare services,” said Dr. Adeyemi Adeniran, a public health expert.

The successful implementation of this initiative will require close collaboration between the federal and state governments, as well as active participation from local communities.

The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has pledged to monitor the utilization of the funds to ensure transparency and accountability.

As the government embarks on this ambitious project, the hope is that it will not only enhance healthcare delivery but also build a resilient health system capable of addressing current and future health challenges.

With the N260 billion disbursement, the federal government has taken a significant step towards achieving this goal, reaffirming its commitment to the health and well-being of all Nigerians.

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