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Tag: National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)

  • NBS wins 2016 Best Public Institution Award

    NBS wins 2016 Best Public Institution Award

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has been awarded the Best Public Institution Award, 2016 in Nigeria by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

    The NBS stated this in a statement issued by the Statistician- General of the Federation, Dr Yemi Kale on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Kale said that the award presented by the President of LCCI, Dr Nike Akande, was received on behalf of the management of NBS by him.

    According to him, the Best Public Institution Award category is among other categories of awards given at the award ceremony.

    Kale said the award was an outcome of a painstaking selection process from numerous entries received for the award category and backed by feed backs from industry and market intelligence.

    The statistician-general said he was delighted about the award and expressed his appreciation to the entire staff of NBS.
    Kale emphasised that the award was a reward of their tireless efforts in ensuring that quality data were produced.

    He thanked the management of LCCI for carrying out a transparent process which led to the selection of NBS for the award.

    Kale also expressed his appreciation to Nigerians who massively voted for NBS during the selection process of the award and assured them of reliable, timely, comprehensive and accurate data for national development.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NBS had in April emerged as the winner of the Best Public Sector website for the year 2016 and 2017.

    The award was attributed to the manner in which the bureau had communicated and simplified its data to users in recent times.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the bureau had recorded increase in the number and the type of published reports on its website.

  • Nigeria’s inflation drops to 16.10 % in June – NBS

    Nigeria’s inflation drops to 16.10 % in June – NBS

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said that the country’s inflation as measured by Consumer Price Index (CPI) further dropped to 16.10 per cent in June from 16.25 per cent in May.

    The NBS made this known in its CPI June 2017 report released on Monday in Abuja.

    According to the bureau, this is the fifth consecutive decline in the rate of inflation since January.

    This, it stated was 0.15 per cent points lower than the rate recorded in May -16.25 per cent.

    On a month-on-month basis, the bureau stated that the Headline index increased by 1.58 per cent in June 2017, 0.30 per cent points lower than the rate of 1.88 per cent recorded in May 2017.

    It stated that month on Month inflation had cumulatively risen by 9.28 per cent since January 2017.

    The bureau stated that the Food Index increased by 19.91 per cent (year-on-year) in June 2017, down by 0.64 per cent points from the rate recorded in May (19.27 per cent), indicating continued pressure in food prices.

    It stated that Price movements recorded by All Items less farm produce or Core sub-index rose by 12.50 per cent (year-on-year) in June, down by 0.50 per cent points from rate recorded in May (13.00) per cent.

    This, the bureau stated represented the 8th straight month of decline in the core index since November 2016.

    Meanwhile, the Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) Price Watch for June, released by NBS said that an average price paid by consumer for petrol increased by 1.2 per cent year-on-year.

    The bureau stated that the average price paid by consumers for the product decreased by -0.3 per cent month-on-month to N150. 3 in June 2017 from N150.7 in May 2017.

    It stated that states with the highest average price of petrol were Yobe (N168), Gombe (N167.50) and Adamawa (162.50).

    The bureau, however, stated states with the lowest average price of petrol were Abuja, Edo, Ekiti ,Ogun, and Osun which sold for N145 in the month.

    Also, Ondo and Kano sold for N145.3 while Kwara and Oyo sold the product for N145.5.

  • 2017 budget: Association advises FG to come up with independent monitors, assessors

    2017 budget: Association advises FG to come up with independent monitors, assessors

    Dr Olusanya Olubusoye, 2nd Vice President, Nigerian Statistical Association (NSA) has advised the Federal Government to constitute a group of independent monitors and assessors to monitor implementation of the 2017 budget.

    Olubusoye gave the advice while sharing his views on some burning national issues in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He said that the government should come up with a group, consisting of experts from the relevant professional associations including NSA.

    “An objective and independent budget monitoring group will promote transparency and provide the needed checks and balances in the budget implementation.’’

    The official, however, commended the Federal Government for the signing of 2017 Appropriation Budget into law, adding that it was a big relief for Nigerians.

    Olubusoye also urged the government to begin implementation of the budget in earnest in order to bring succour to the citizens.

    “The most important thing is to hit the ground running as far as implementation is concerned.

    “If the thrust of the budget will be achieved, then there must be constant monitoring, continuous evaluation and periodic reporting of progress made, challenges encountered and outstanding tasks,’’ he emphasised.

    In addition, he urged the government to create jobs for unemployed Nigerians as it would go a long way in addressing the high level of unemployment in the country.

    The latest unemployment reports released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that the country’s unemployment rate rose from 13.9 per cent in the third quarter to 14.2 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2016.

    “The production of labour market statistics by NBS is a major positive development in Nigeria.

    “The increase from 13.3 per cent to 14.2 per cent reported in the unemployment rate could easily be attributed to the fact that the unemployed population is increasing.

    “It means the unemployed population (those within the working age population willing, able and actively looking for work but without work) is increasing faster than the labour force population.

    “The only way to halt this phenomenon is to create more jobs for those who are within the working age population that are willing, able and actively looking for work.’’

    The official said that the challenge before NBS was to put emphasis on the production of timely statistics on job creation and for the government to create enabling environment for job creation to thrive.

    “How many jobs are created and how many are entering the labour force population monthly?

    “Providing answer to these questions is the starting point to reducing unemployment rate in Nigeria,’’ he said.

  • Nigeria’s unemployment rate rises to 14.2 % in Q4 of 2016 – NBS

    Nigeria’s unemployment rate rises to 14.2 % in Q4 of 2016 – NBS

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said the unemployment rate in the country rose from 13.9 per cent in the 3rd quarter to 14.2 per cent in the 4th quarter of 2016.

    The NBS made this known in the “Unemployment/Under-employment Report for 4th Quarter of 2016’’ made available on the bureau’s website on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The report said that the period under review showed that population, unemployed was 27.12 million in 3rd quarter, compared to 28.58 million persons in the 4th quarter.

    It said that this showed an increase in the number of unemployed labour force by 351,015 persons.

    According to the bureau, the percentage increase in both the 2nd  and 1stquarter of 2016 were slightly lower at 13.4 per cent and 12.1 per cent, respectively.

    It showed that 26.06 million persons were unemployed in 2nd quarter and while 24.5 million were unemployed in the 1st quarter in the year under review.

    The report however showed that the underemployed in the labour force in 2016 in the 3rd quarter was 15.9 million persons or 19.7 per cent, while the 4thquarter was 17.03 million or 21.0 per cent.

    The report said that it therefore showed an increase of 1.3 percentage points between the 3rd and the 4th quarters of 2016, a steady rise in the rate since 3rd quarter of the year.

    The bureau said that keeping with the recent trend in the labour market, unemployment and underemployment continued to be highest for persons aged between ages of 15 to 34.

    According to the bureau, the age bracket represents the youth population in the country.

    It said that a breakdown into age groups showed that unemployment rate was highest for those within the ages of 15 to 24, while the underemployment rate for the same age group increased to 36.5 per cent in 4th quarter of 2016.

    In addition, the bureau stated that unemployment and underemployment were higher for women than men in the 4th quarter of 2016.

    It said that during the 4th quarter, 16.3 per cent of women in the labour force were those between 15 and 65 – willing, able and actively working or searching for work were unemployed.

    According to the report, 24.2 per cent of women in the labour force were underemployed in the quarter under review.

    The bureau said on the other hand, 12.3 per cent of males were unemployed in 4th quarter of 2016, while 17.9 per cent of males in the labour force were underemployed during the same period.

  • Budget: Stakeholders urge FG to allocate 10% to Agriculture

    Budget: Stakeholders urge FG to allocate 10% to Agriculture

    Participants of the Stakeholders Consultative Meeting on 2018 Agriculture Budget have urged the Federal Government to allocate 10 per cent of the nation’s annual budgets to finance the agricultural sector.

    They made the call in a communique issued at the end of their meeting in Kaduna; a copy of which was e-mailed to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.

    The stakeholders said that the budgetary allocation, which was in line with the Maputo and Malabo Declarations on agriculture and food security, would boost the realisation of the benchmarks of the two Declarations for agricultural investment.

    They also said that buffer funds from sources such as Natural Resource Funds and Climate Resource Funds might also be considered, given the strategic importance of the agricultural sector.

    They called on federal and state ministries of agriculture as well as National Assembly Committees on Agriculture to monitor the execution of agricultural projects itemised in national budgets, using an adapted Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) results measurement framework.

    The stakeholders, however, recommended that in the 2018 agriculture budget, the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme should be retained, while the budget should be increased to address the inputs gaps experienced by small-scale farmers, especially women.

    They said that for agriculture budgeting and other policymaking processes in 2018 and subsequent years, a strategy should be developed to involve and mainstream the concerns of small-scale farmers.

    “For example, leaders of women farmers’ organisations and other smallholder farmers, vulnerable groups such as farmers living with disabilities, and civil society organisations (CSOs) should be invited to budget preparatory meetings before the release of Budget Call Circulars.’’

    The stakeholders stressed that agriculture budget for 2018 and subsequent years should be gender-sensitive and responsive by providing line items that addressed specific challenges which affected women farmers different from men, while avoiding the fusion of the budget for women farmers and other groups such as youths.

    They, nonetheless, underscored the need for the government to review all the unclear budget lines in the capital and recurrent aspects of the budget for clarity, appropriate size, efficiency and economy; adding that all inappropriate line items should be expunged or amended.

    As regards farming machines, the stakeholders said that instead of importing large machines, tangible efforts should be made to invest more in locally fabricated simple farming machines, which small-scale farmers could easily access and manage.

    They also underscored the need for the 2018 budget for agriculture and rural development to conform to the goals of the Agricultural Production Policy (APP) and the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of the Federal Government.

    “The existing Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework should be improved upon to align the APP monitoring, in line with the CAADP Results Framework and National Agricultural Investment Plan (NAIP),’’ they said.

    They urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the state Ministries of Agriculture and other MDAs should create a budget line to sustain the organisation of the stakeholders consultative meeting annually.

    “The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development should work closely with National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to generate disaggregated agricultural data for sector planning,’’ they  added.

    NAN reports that the just-concluded stakeholders’ consultative meeting was aimed at generating discourse on the themes of the government’s agricultural policy, while facilitating citizens’ inputs into the proposed 2018 Agriculture Budget.

  • Nigerian economy maintains recovery path – Presidency

    Nigerian economy maintains recovery path – Presidency

    The Presidential Adviser on Economic Matters, Dr Adeyemi Dipeolu, has analysed the statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) saying it showed the economy maintained path to recovery.

    According to Dipeolu, it is an encouraging indication of a steady, even if slow, progressive pace.

    He said by the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), figure the Nigerian economy was emerging out of recession.

    “The 2017 Q1 GDP figures released early Tuesday depicts an overall picture showing the economy is emerging slowly out of recession’’, he said.

    Dipeolu noted that growth had continued in agriculture and a notable positive turnaround had also been recorded in manufacturing and non-oil sectors.

    He, however, observed that slow down in negative growth rates was noticed in several more sectors.

    “The latest figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed that the economy shrank by 0.52 per cent in the first quarter of 2017 (Q1 2017).  

    “Although the economy remains in recession, this is the strongest performance in five quarters and shows a significant turnaround from the low of -2.34 per cent reached in the third quarter of 2016 (Q3 2016). 

    “This is nearly two percentage point improvement.

    “It also reflects the fact that the number of sub-sectors that experienced negative growth has almost halved falling from 29 sub-sectors for the whole of 2016 to 16 sub-sectors in Q1 2017’’, the presidential aide said.

    He observed that agricultural growth remained in positive territory although growing at a slower rate of about 3.4 per cent due to seasonal factors.  

    He also said that growth in manufacturing on the other hand returned to positive territory after five quarters of negative growth.  

    It grew by 1.36 per cent in Q1 2017 after falling to a nadir of -7.0 per cent in Q1 2016.  

    Dipeolu hinted that the solid mineral sector continued to justify the priority given to it by the Federal Government with high double digit growth for metal ores at 40.79 per cent and quarrying at 52.54 per cent.

    He said growth in the oil sector remained negative at -11.64 per cent although with over six percentage point improvement in its fortunes from the previous quarter. 

    “More significantly, the non-oil sector which accounts for about 90 per cent of GDP returned to positive growth although at a marginal level of 0.72 per cent in Q1 2017.  

    “This is the first positive growth in the non-oil sector since the last quarter of 2015.

    “Headline inflation fell for the third month in a row to 17.24 per cent with core inflation also declining quite rapidly’’, Dipeolu noted. 

    He, however, said that food inflation remained of concern as it continued to trend upwards.  

    “This is mainly due to rising transport costs and other structural impediments to the movement of foods in the domestic market.  

    “The trade balance remained positive reflecting import contraction and relatively higher export revenues which grew year-on-year by up to 80.5 per cent.

    “The overall picture that the figures show is that the economy is emerging slowly out of recession,’’ he concluded.  

    Dipeolu further explained that theoutlook was reinforced by positive trends in other indicators such as improved oil prices and increasing production, in addition to rising foreign exchange reserves.

    He added that increased capital spending by the Federal Government as well as improved perceptions reflected in various purchasing and sales managers indices also assisted in the growth.  

    “Barring major economic shocks, it should still be possible to restore growth this year as projected in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan”, he said.

  • Ex-CBN official advises FG to invest in infrastructure

    A former Deputy Governor of CBN, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, has advised the Federal Government to invest massively in infrastructure as a way of providing jobs to tackle unemployment in the country.

    Malarial gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

    He said that the government should expand the economy of the country to enhance productivity and growth.

    “We need to enhance productivity because that will generate opportunities and expand the capital base of the economy.

    “Also, in our technology choices, we should invest in pattern that will enhance job creation instead of rely on capital intensive technology, let us invest in labour intensive technology

    “For example railway; what will it take to recruit over a million youth and train them to lay down rail track throughout the country?

    “I can tell you, it will work a massive miracle because it will create job opportunities and it will boost aggregate demand.

    “It will also promote and lead to the growth of the economy; so we need to do those kinds of projects,’’ he said.

    Mailafia quoting the latest statistics by National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), said that unemployment was at 13.9 per cent, saying “that is the average unemployment in Nigeria for everybody.’’

    The expert said that bureau stated that underemployment was almost 20 per cent for the youth while unemployment was put at 45.65 per cent.

    “The 45.65 per cent unemployment figures is for people from ages of 16-35, this is almost half of the population because the youth are the majority in this country.

    “Anybody over 40 years in Nigeria is a minority because the country has a very youthful population and nobody is planning for these youth,’’ he said.

    He expressed concern over the unemployment figures, noting that they “are frightening and it is a time bomb; we have to be able to create job opportunities for them.

    “Otherwise, they are going to use the energy they have in a destructive manner and that is not good enough.’’

    He said one of the blind spoilt in the country’s National Development was that the government don’t have programme for the young people.

    Mailafiya emphasised on the need to include the age group in the development plan and come up with programmes that would gainfully engage them.

    “I have always had big burden, there are young people with 1st Class Honours who are wondering around without employment.

    “The available job in the country is not distributed according to merit. Merit has been thrown to the dust bin.

    “We cannot ignore these people, the Arab spring started in Tunisia because the young people were fed up – no job after four or five years – so they became very discouraged.

    “Psychologists will tell you that if you don’t use that knowledge after three or four years, the little you know before, you begin to lose it.

    He, however, expressed faith that the country would come out of its present economic challenges.

    “I believe this country has a rendezvous with destiny. We are meant to be a city set on a hill, a light unto the nations.

    “We need a new generation of leaders who understand Nigeria manifesto and inspire our youths to higher calling to believe the mission of the country; we must not fail our God,’’ the expert said.

     

  • Prices of rice drops

    Prices of rice drops

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said the average price of imported rice decreased by 7.22 per cent, as one kilogramme (1kg) was sold for N250.30 in April from N418.71 in March.

    The NBS stated this in its“Selected Food Price watch data for April 2017” released on Tuesday in Abuja.

    It, however, stated that the average price of 1kg of rice (imported high quality sold loose) increased year-on-year by 29.98 per cent in the month under review.

    According to the report, an average price of 1 dozen of Agric. eggs medium size increased year-on-year by 41.04 per cent and decreased month-on-month by 1.71 per cent to N518.66 in April 2017 from N527.69 in March.

    “The average price of piece of Agric. eggs medium size (price of one) increased year-on-year by 28.74 per cent and month-on-month by 5.21 per cent to N46.22 in April from N43.93 in March.

    It further stated that the average price of 1kg of tomato increased year-on-year by 15.32 per cent and month-on-month by 6.36 per cent to N285.72 in April from N268.64 in March.

    Similarly, the average price of 1kg of yam tuber increased year-on-year by 42.45 per cent and decreased month-on- month by 2.17 per cent to N250.30 in April from N255.86 in March.

    On methodology of reporting the food prices, NBS stated that over 700 staff was sent to all the states of the federation for the field work and were supervised by experts.

    Prices were collected across all the 774 local governments across all states and the FCT from over 10,000 respondents, locations and analysed.

  • Kerosene price decreases by 11.59 % in March

    Kerosene price decreases by 11.59 % in March

    The average price per litre of household kerosene in March was lower by 11.59 per cent at N311.56k compared with N352.42k in February, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), said.

    The “National Household Kerosene Price Watch (March 2017)’’ in the Consumer Price Index for the month, released in Abuja on Thursday, indicates, however, that the rate was higher by 39.50 per cent year-on-year.

    It listed the states with the highest average price per litre of kerosene as Taraba (N347.22), Plateau (N340.48) and Cross River  (N399.71).

    The states with the lowest average price per litre of the product during the month were Gombe (N273.81), Zamfara (N271.57) and Oyo (N267.54), the bureau added.

    Similarly, the report indicates that average price per gallon paid by consumers for Kerosene decreased by 14.15 per cent month-on-month.

    It adds that the gallon price increased by 53.84 per cent year-on-year to N1,172.78.

    “States with the highest average price per gallon were Kebbi N1,376.92, Sokoto N1,350 and Borno N1,338.89.

    “States with the lowest average per litre include Oyo N99.67 and Ebonyi N967.80.’’

  • Nigeria’s inflation declines by 0.52 % in March

    Nigeria’s inflation declines by 0.52 % in March

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Thursday said that inflation dropped by 0.52 per cent in March, the second decline recorded on the year- on- year basis.

    The first decline was recorded in February when inflation dropped by 0.94 per cent.

    In its latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) for March released in Abuja, the bureau stated that the index, which measured inflation increased by 17.26 per cent year-on-year.

    It, however, stated that the increase was a slower pace in March when compared to February consumer activities, which was 17.78 per cent.

    “This is the second consecutive month of a decline in the headline CPI on a year-on-year basis.

    “It represents the effects of stabilising prices in already high food and non-food prices as well as favourable base effects over 2016 prices.

    “It is also indicative of early effects of a strengthened Naira in the foreign exchange market.’’

    According to the report, price increases have been recorded in all Classification of Individual Consumption by Purpose (COICOP) divisions that yield the Headline Index.

    It, however, stated that the major divisions responsible for accelerating the pace of the increase in the headline index were Housing, Water, Electricity and Gas.

    Others it said were Education, Food and Alcoholic Beverages, Clothing and Footware and Transportation Services.

    On a month-on-month basis, the report stated that the Headline index increased by 1.72 per cent in March, 0.23 per cent points higher from the rate recorded in February.

    The Food Index increased by 18.44 per cent (year-on-year) in March, slightly down 0.09 per cent points from the rate recorded in February, which was 18.53 per cent.

    It stated that the index was driven by increases in the prices of bread, cereals, meat, fish, potatoes, yams and other tubers and wine.

    It also stated that the slowest increase in food prices year-on-year was recorded by Soft Drinks, Fruits, Coffee, Tea and Cocoa.

    In addition, the report stated price movements recorded by All Items less farm produce or Core sub-index rose by 15.40 per cent (year-on-year) in March.

    It stated that it was down by 0.60 per cent points from the rate recorded in February (16.00) per cent.

    “During the month, the highest increases were seen in miscellaneous services relating to dwelling, electricity, solid fuels, clothing materials.

    “Increases were also seen in other articles of clothing, Liquid fuel, Spirits as well as Fuels and lubricants for personal transport equipment.

    “The Urban index rose by 18.27 per cent (year-on-year) in March from 18.57 per cent recorded in February, and the Rural index increased by 16.47 per cent in March from 16.98 per cent in February.’’

    On month-on-month basis, the report stated the urban index rose by 1.76 per cent in March from 1.52 per cent recorded in February.

    It further stated that the rural index rose by 1.69 per cent in March from 1.47 per cent in February.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that CPI measures the average changeover time in prices of goods and services consumed by people for day to-day living.

    The construction of the CPI combines economic theory, sampling and other statistical techniques using data from other surveys to produce a weighted measure of average price changes in the Nigerian economy.