In 2014, following the country’s revision of its Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) measures, Nigeria emerged the largest economy in Africa
and the 26th largest in the world with about US$510 billion in GDP and
about US$3000 per capita income as at December 2013.
This is a culmination of the economic progress made since the turn of
the century and the economic policies, programmes and reforms of the
last few years under President Goodluck Jonathan that helped consolidate
that progress.
This is the economic background leading to what many consider will be
one of the most keenly contested elections in the history of Nigeria
as we go to the polls this week.
Come this Saturday, March 28, Nigerians will have their say on who becomes their president for the next four years.
Though there are 12 other presidential candidates, the choice is
between the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the People’s
Democratic Party (PDP) and General Muhammadu Buhari of the All
Progressives Congress (APC).
In the last few months, the focus of many Nigerians has been the
divisions and polarisations generated by this political rivalry.
Our focus in this report is different.
We have carefully juxtaposed what we consider the long-term economic priority areas with the achievements of the President Jonathan in the last four years.
We have carefully juxtaposed what we consider the long-term economic priority areas with the achievements of the President Jonathan in the last four years.
Essentially, we have sought, not only to understand the
underlying economic philosophy of President Jonathan’s administration,
but situate that understanding in the economic achievements of his
administration.
In 2010, there were at least three critical economic challenges facing President Jonathan.
First, the economic uncertainty was palpable, as Nigeria was still
grappling the unsavoury direct and indirect implications of the global
economic crisis of 2008/09.
These effects culminated and reflected mainly in sharp declines in
the value of oil exports, significant fall in public sector revenue,
fall in remittances of Nigerians from abroad, rapid depreciation of
exchange rates, and weak outlook for Nigeria’s medium-term economic
expansion as GDP growth fell year on year in the period.
Second, though the Nigerian economy was recording relative above
average growth rate of over 5 percent, the economic reforms that
kick-started
the growth in 2003 had stalled.
the growth in 2003 had stalled.
The most comprehensive power sector reform Act, which is the Electric
Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act 2005, had been stalled and the sale of
Nigeria’s refineries carried out at the twilight of President Olusegun
Obasanjo’s government had been reversed, signalling the return of a
largely government-in-business approach.
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