Nigeria's Economy Not Threatened, Says Presidency

From right, President Goodluck Jonathan; the National Security Adviser, Alh. Seriki Mukhtar while the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Danbazau (l) watched at security meeting., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Nigeria’s economy not threatened, says Presidency

TUESDAY, 25 JUNE 2013 00:00 FROM AZIMAZI MOMOH JIMOH, ABUJA
Nigerian Guardian

THE Presidency Tuesday debunked the fears being expressed that the discovery of Shale oil by the United States (U.S.) may have negative effects on crude oil.

“Fears are being expressed in many quarters on the state of the Nigerian economy especially about the discovery of shale oil by U.S. and its likely effect on our crude oil production.

‘‘We wish to assert that the degree of transparency and forthrightness which this administration has displayed in the management of the economy in the last two years as well as the various fiscal policies, reforms and programmes adopted by the Jonathan administration since its inception do not give room for fears that the economy might in any way be endangered.

The truth is that contrary to this thinking, Nigeria’s total National crude oil production is 2.06 million barrels per day.”

He said that market for Nigeria’s crude oil had since shifted from the U.S. to Europe.

“Europe has become a major destination for Nigerian crude oil cargoes, with the volume of Nigerian crude oil grades going to Europe increasing from 28 per cent in 2011 to about 38 per cent in 2012. A major factor for the growing demand of Nigerian crudes in Europe has been the Free Trade Agreement between Europe and South Korea,” Okupe said.

According to him, “Already, the Federal Government is adopting appropriate strategies to effectively mitigate the impact of decline in the U.S. markets. The number and volume of term contracts with Asian refiners is gradually being increased. Current term volumes to Asian refiners stand at 120,000 barrels per day. In both the short and medium-term, a combination of market openings in Europe and Asia will effectively compensate the loss of U.S. market and offer needed support for Nigerian crude oil exports.

“Every discerning observer will notice that socio-economic challenges which had existed for several decades and which the current Transformation Agenda is effectively tackling are clearly spelt out in the Mid-term report presented to Nigerians by President Goodluck Jonathan a few weeks ago. These challenges include, among others, dependence on oil exports, high recurrent expenditure, high food importation, poor infrastructure, high inflation, falling reserve and rising domestic debt.”

He added: “While the Nigerian economy, like other oil dependent ones globally, often suffer from drop in sales and fluctuation in international pricing, the Jonathan administration has implemented key reforms to reduce dependence on oil and these reforms have resulted in the Agricultural sector alone contributing over 40 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product in two years. Oil exports are now 69 per cent of our total exports as against 91 per cent in 2008.”

On reports of increasing cost of governance, Okupe stated: “It is noteworthy that under the administration of President Jonathan, Nigeria’s recurrent expenditure dropped from 74 per cent in 2011 to 68 per cent in 2013 and will further go down in the next fiscal year.

“Just three weeks ago, government began the implementation of reforms suggested by the Orosanye committee to further reduce recurrent expenditure by about N1 trillion in the next three years through the rationalisation of Agencies and Departments of Government with similar functions,” he disclosed.