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IMF Executive Board Concludes 2014 Article IV Consultation with Nigeria
ABUJA – On February 21, 2014, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Nigeria.
Real GDP is projected to grow at 6.4 percent in 2013 owing to continued strong performance in the non-oil sector. Inflation declined to 7.9 percent at year end, supported by lower food price, fiscal consolidation, and a tight monetary policy stance. The external current account surplus fell to 3.1 percent of GDP from 7.8 percent at end-2012, but reserves remained at a comfortable 5.6 months of next year’s imports, despite uncertainties about the timing of the tapering of unconventional monetary policies. The non-oil primary deficit of the consolidated government is projected to narrow from expenditure restraint, but a shortfall in oil revenues resulted in a drawdown of the Excess Crude Account (ECA), a key fiscal buffer. Despite significant job creation, unemployment and poverty are high and social indicators lag those of peers. Continued weaknesses in labor markets, access to electricity, cost of doing business, and small and medium enterprises’ access to finance have prevented a transition to a more robust and inclusive growth path.
Economic growth is expected to improve further in 2014, driven by agriculture, trade, and services. Inflation should continue to decline, with lower food prices from higher rice and wheat production and supported by a tight monetary policy and a budget execution that maintains medium-term consolidation objectives. The current account is also expected to improve. Key risks to be managed include: (i) uncertainty about the pace of global recovery; (ii) unwinding of UMP; (iii) persistently lower oil prices; (iv) persistent oil production losses; (v) continuation of insurgency in the North; and (vi) slow implementation of reforms.
Sound and balanced economic policies over the medium term are critical. Policies should focus on rebuilding external and fiscal buffers, avoiding spending pressures from the political cycle, strengthening the transparency and governance of the oil sector, and enhancing financial stability, while promoting the availability of and access to finance. Over the medium term, it will be vital to ensure the steady implementation of the wide-range of structural reforms necessary to improve competitiveness and productivity, boost growth and job creation, strengthen governance, and build social cohesion.
Executive Board Assessment
Executive Directors welcomed Nigeria’s continued strong macroeconomic performance, underpinned particularly by sustained high growth in the non oil sector. Inflation has continued to decline and the reserves position is adequate. While the economic outlook remains favorable, key risks include continued lower oil revenues from oil production losses and lower oil prices, the impact from the unwinding of unconventional monetary policy in advanced economies, and domestic political and security uncertainties. Directors underscored that steadfast implementation of prudent macroeconomic policies and reforms will be essential to address the risks and vulnerabilities, generate more inclusive and balanced growth, and reduce unemployment.
Directors welcomed the authorities’ continued commitment to fiscal consolidation and noted the improvements made to the fiscal framework. However, to ensure macroeconomic stability, they emphasized the need to rebuild fiscal buffers and to strengthen the framework further. Efforts should be geared towards boosting non oil revenue by broadening the tax base, improving tax administration and curtailing exemptions, and further reducing oil subsidies. Directors underscored that adopting a rule based reference oil price in fiscal projections and further strengthening public financial management should help the authorities achieve their consolidation objectives. They also highlighted the need for improving oil revenue management, including by completing the transition from the Excess Crude Account to the Sovereign Wealth Fund. These measures should be supported by full implementation of the Treasury Single Account and the integrated information management systems. Maintaining fiscal discipline in the run up to the elections is also important.
Directors called for strong action to address oil theft and production losses. They advised the authorities to strengthen the regulatory framework by passing a sound Petroleum Industry Bill with enhanced oversight and transparency provisions. The framework for anti money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism could support these efforts.
Directors commended the authorities for lowering inflation and considered the current tight monetary policy stance to be appropriate, given the risks associated with potential capital flow reversals. To better manage liquidity, they generally encouraged more reliance on open market operations to guide short term interest rates. With regard to exchange rate policy, Directors noted that greater exchange rate flexibility could serve as an important buffer against external shocks.
Directors noted that the financial system is well capitalized with low nonperforming loans. They recommended continued improvements in the supervisory framework, especially with regard to increased exposure from cross border financial activities. Directors encouraged the authorities to build on the progress made in strengthening prudential policies, including by further enhancing the framework for anti money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism, and implementing the remaining Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) recommendations. They welcomed the plan to wind down the operations of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria.
Directors emphasized that structural reforms remain critical to improve competitiveness and productivity, and reduce poverty and inequality. They encouraged the authorities to persevere with their Transformation Agenda with continued focus on education and health reforms, the improvement of power supply, and broadening agricultural production. Reform efforts should also aim at enhancing the business environment, improving productivity, boosting financial access to small and medium sized enterprises, and strengthening governance and institutional capacity. The upcoming release of re based GDP data and further improvements in statistical data collection should strengthen the basis for policy and private sector decision making in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s economic fortune is benefiting from the Middle East crisis, as the impact of capital inflows from stronger crude oil earnings has seen her foreign reserves climb to record $53.1 billion, beating the $51.04 billion year-end target.
Data available on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) website indicated that the reserves closed at $53.1 billion on August 24, which is the highest level in almost 18 years.
Any analyses of the growth shows that the difference in reserves position places the Nigerian economy in good stead, because it can cover over 12 months import.
It is noteworthy that Nigeria’s external reserves fuel the CBN’s capacity to support the local currency and meet external obligations, have continued to rise steadily, since the face-off between the United States and Iran.
Further analysis of the data displayed by the CBN showed that the liquid portion of the external reserves stood at $52.5 billion.
Biztellers reports that Brent crude traded around $87 per barrel, within the week, well above Nigeria’s 2026 federal budget benchmark of $64.85.
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With the Middle East crisis not showing signs of abating, analysts believe the price rebound would largely bolster Nigeria’s fiscal revenues.
The line of thought is popular among those who know, because as a crude oil exporter, Nigeria will continue to earn more petrodollars, which they argue would support the domestic currency – naira’s stability, while pumping the volume of external reserves.
In its economic projections for 2026, the CBN targeted stronger oil earnings, foreign exchange market reforms and improved external capital inflows to achieve the year-end reserves projection.
According to analysts, the current reserves position reinforces the steady growth in Nigeria’s external buffers.
The founder/Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Public Enterprise (CPPE), Dr Muda Yusuf, earlier hinted at a positive outlook for Nigeria’s external reserves as he does not see anything derailing the forex and fiscal reforms that have brought about stability and improvement in external reserves, as reported by The Nation.
Yusuf said: “Well, the outlook for me is positive because I don’t see anything derailing these forex reforms, fuel subsidy etc. It is these reforms that have brought about stability.”
The CBN data further showed that Nigeria’s external reserves have maintained a steady upward surge in recent months.
The reserves started June at $49.80 billion and crossed the $50 billion mark by June 5, reaching $50.12 billion.
On June 15, reserves had increased further to $50.81 billion before rising to the current position. The reserves stood at $51.9 billion on July 31, and continued.
The sustained increase reflects stronger foreign exchange inflows and improved liquidity conditions in the country’s external sector.
The CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, said: “This strong buffer continues to reinforce investor confidence in the Nigerian economy and support exchange rate stability.”
The CBN’s decision to clear over $7 billion unsettled FX backlogs raised investors’ confidence in the economy, supporting dollar inflows and foreign reserves accretion, Cardoso added.
The CBN boss had explained that although he had no idea where the fund for the backlog clearance would come from, when he assumed office, he believed it was the right thing to do, and gave investors his word.
He said: “Credibility is at the heart of any central bank. If you don’t have credibility, people do not trust you and they do not invest in your economy. When I took office, I made a promise we would pay the backlog, the verifiable backlog of monies that were owed by Nigeria to third parties.
“And it was, at the time, estimated at over $7 billion US dollars. And to be honest with you, I had no idea how I was going to do it, but I just felt it was not something to be negotiated.”
Cardoso explained that Nigeria needed to ensure that its integrity is maintained. Analysts believe the higher reserve level could enhance the CBN’s capacity to support exchange rate stability and meet external obligations.
Up to 30% equity in the upcoming Dangote Refinery in Kenya, has been placed on the table for East African countries, which makes about $1.5 billion worth of the planned project available to regional investors.
David Ndii, Kenyan President William Ruto’s economic adviser, disclosed this on Thursday at a capital markets forum in Nairobi, where he said Kenya would take a 10% stake while Ethiopia and Rwanda had also expressed interest.
Dangote’s planned refinery is expected to be developed in Lamu, a coastal town in southeastern Kenya, though the project was initially proposed for Tanga in Tanzania.
According to the billionaire industrialist, the decision to move the proposed location to Kenya was informed by commercial and technical considerations.
Ndii disclosed that Kenya’s proposed 10% participation would be worth approximately $500 million.
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He said the combined regional participation could amount to about $1.5 billion, with Dangote prepared to support the project if some participating countries are unable to commit as crude off-takers.
“The total for the region is about $1.5 billion,” he said. “I don’t actually see a challenge in doing that, and if some of them are not off-taking we will backstop.”
The proposed regional participation would give East African countries a direct equity interest in a major energy infrastructure project while potentially securing access to refined petroleum products for participating markets.
The United Nations Geoscheme (UNG) for Africa defines Eastern Africa as comprising 18 sovereign countries, alongside two French overseas territories, meaning the proposed 30% allocation could potentially involve a broader regional investor base beyond Kenya, Ethiopia and Rwanda.
The Nigerian authorities have been called upon to focus on strengthening domestic refining capacity.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) made the call in a communiqué issued at the end of the three-day PENGASSAN Energy and Labour Summit (PEALS 2026).
It stressed the need for adequate protection for refineries operating in the country.
The PENGASSAN said Nigeria must reduce the economic inefficiency of exporting crude oil while importing significant volumes of refined petroleum products by creating an environment that supports domestic refining and other value‑adding activities.
The communiqué, signed by the union President, Festus Osifo, and General Secretary, Jerry Amah, stressed the need to protect refineries, including Dangote Refinery and Waltersmith Refinery.
The association said the expansion would enable Nigeria to retain a greater share of the value generated from its petroleum resources while creating jobs, conserving foreign exchange and stimulating industrial development. PENGASSAN linked the growth to wider opportunities in petrochemicals, gas processing and other downstream activities.
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The communiqué reads in part: “The summit called for sustained policies and investments to expand Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity and reduce the economic inefficiency of exporting crude oil while importing significant volumes of refined petroleum products. The need to protect refineries (such as Dangote Refinery, Waltersmith Refinery, etc.) within Nigeria’s jurisdiction was emphasised.
“Nigeria must progressively retain more value from its petroleum resources through domestic refining, petrochemicals, gas processing and other value‑adding activities capable of generating employment, conserving foreign exchange and stimulating industrial growth.
“Ultimately, the strength of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry will not be measured merely by the resources beneath the ground, but by the projects delivered, the value created, the Nigerian capabilities developed, the decent jobs sustained and the prosperity generated for the Nigerian people.”
The association also warned that abrupt policy changes, overlapping mandates, repetitive approvals and conflicting directives increase the cost of doing business and weaken Nigeria’s competitiveness for global energy capital.
The PENGASSAN called for faster regulatory approvals, digitalised processes and clearer timelines, arguing that the effectiveness of regulation should be measured by its impact on investment, production, government revenue, job creation and national value rather than simply by the number of licences or approvals issued.
On gas, the PENGASSAN advocated an integrated approach to developing Nigeria’s more than 215 trillion cubic feet of proven reserves, including investments in processing facilities, pipelines, storage, LNG, LPG and CNG infrastructure. It said gas should be deployed more aggressively for power generation, manufacturing, transportation, fertiliser and petrochemical production.
The association also urged stronger protection of workers’ rights, occupational safety and employment during mergers, acquisitions, divestments and asset transfers, saying sustainable investment requires skilled and fairly treated workers and that increased production must not come at the expense of workers’ lives and wellbeing.
In addition, the PENGASSAN said the next phase of Nigeria’s petroleum industry must focus on execution with measurable targets and clearly assigned responsibilities to ensure policies translate into projects, production, investment and sustainable employment.
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