Presidency assures of measures to address contraction in economy

Federal government said the country’s robust economic measures, including fiscal policies embedded in the Economic Sustainability Programme ESP, were designed to address shocks and cushion the effects of the economic slowdowns arising from the global Coronavirus pandemic

The government had in anticipation of the impending economic slowdown, introduced early responses measures to cushion the economic and social effects of the pandemic and dampen its severity on growth.

These were highlighted in Presidency’s response to the report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) which had on Monday, published the 2nd Quarter (Q2) 2020 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimates, which measures economic growth.

The report indicated that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, 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.

The NBS report also indicated that 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.

But in its response, Presidency said a robust financing mechanism was designed to raise revenue to support humanitarian assistance, in addition to special intervention funds for the health sector, in the fiscal side.

In a statement by Presidential Spokesman, Femi Adesina, Presidency listed the national budget as well as emergency financing from concessional lending windows of development finance institutions, as some of the critical measures to support 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.

“It is equally worth noting that since the start of the third quarter, the phased approach to easing the restrictions being implemented centrally and across States have resulted in a gradual return of economic activity, including the possibility of international travel.

More importantly, Presidency said the anticipated health impacts of the pandemic have been managed without overwhelming the health infrastructure, which would have further compromised the ability to re-open the country to travel, commerce and international trade.

“Indeed, this has provided greater confidence and ability for authorities to initiate the conduct of nationwide terminal examinations and resumption of the next academic year.
“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.

Presidency also noted that “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%).

Presidency also anticipates that while the third and fourth quarters will reflect continued effects of the slowdown, the Fiscal and Monetary Policy initiatives being deployed by government in a phased process will be a robust response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Furthermore, 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, it still remains imperative that all the necessary public health safeguards are adhered to so the country avoids an emergence of a second wave.