The Presidency on Wednesday reacted to the 2nd Quarter (Q2) 2020 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimates recently released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, 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.
Adesina further stated that the figure was also relatively far better than many other countries recorded during the same quarter.
The Presidential spokesman said despite the observed contraction in economic activity during the quarter, it outperformed projections by most domestic and international analysts.
He added that the economic activity appeared 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%).
Adesina said the government’s anticipation of the impending economic slowdown and the various initiatives introduced as early responses to cushion the economic and social effects of the pandemic, through the Economic Sustainability Programme (ESP), contributed immensely to dampening the severity of the pandemic on growth.
He said a robust financing mechanism was designed to raise revenue to support humanitarian assistance, in addition to special intervention funds for the health sector.
Adesina also stated that adjustments to the national budget as well as emergency financing from concessional lending windows of development finance institutions were critical in supporting governments’ capacity to meet its obligations.
He said 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.
Adesina also noted 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.
He 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.
He added that 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 presidential spokesperson said it was anticipated that while the third and fourth quarters would reflect continued effects of the slowdown, the Fiscal and Monetary Policy initiatives being deployed by government in a phased process would be a robust response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He further stated that “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.”
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