Nigeria Is Heading Towards Recession – Minister Of Finance, Zainab Ahmed Says

Zainab Ahmed, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, has said that the coronavirus pandemic and falling oil prices are set to force Nigeria’s economy into recession.

The Minister made this known today May 21, while speaking to state house correspondents shortly after attending the National Economic Summit meeting in Abuja.

“On the economy, COVID-19 has resulted in the collapse in oil prices. This will impact negatively, and the impact has already started showing on the federation’s revenues and on the foreign exchange earnings.

Net oil and gas revenue and influx to the federation account in the first quarter of 2020 amounted to N940.91billion.  This represented a shortfall of N125. 52billion or 31% of the prorated amount that is supposed to have been realized by the end of that first quarter.” she said

Speaking further, the Minister said the economic contraction will ultimately increase the misery of poor Nigerians.

“The crisis will only multiply this misery. The economic growth in Nigeria, that is the GDP, could in the worst case scenario, contract by  as much as –8.94% in 2020.  But in the best case,   which is the case we are working on, it could be a contraction of –4.4%, if there is no fiscal stimulus.  But with the fiscal stimulus plan that we are working on, this contraction can be mitigated and we might end up with a negative –0.59%.” she said