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Playing ostrich? Nigeria plans to spend $2.2 billion Eurobond on fuel subsidy

Published

2 years ago

March 16, 2022

Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed, has revealed that the country plans to tap 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion) this month or next of the money it raised in a Eurobond sale last year and target more local borrowing in 2022 to help fund its costly petrol subsidies as oil prices rise.

“Rising oil prices has put us in a very precarious position because we import refined products … and it means that our subsidy cost is really increasing,” she said on the side-lines of an Arab-African conference in Cairo.

In February, Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari in a letter sent to the National Assembly requested for consideration and approval to accommodate the additional fuel subsidy funding. The request was for an additional provision of N2.557 trillion for petrol subsidy payments in 2022 noting that country’s budget deficit would rise to 4% of GDP as the government eyes new domestic borrowing. The deficit was originally set at 3.42% of GDP.

Despite her increasing debt profile, Nigeria’s government in January postponed its planned removal of subsidy on petroleum products till further notice. Petrol subsidy payments reportedly gulped overN1.15 trillion 2021 alone, resulting in low revenue for federal, state and local governments to cater for developmental projects.

But the price of oil has soared. The West African country depends almost entirely on imports to meet its domestic gasoline needs, even though it is a crude oil exporter. It is also facing shortages after taking delivery of some unusable substandard gasoline.

While it remains unclear by how much the commencement of active local refining will reduce the landing cost of petrol, the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, recently disclosed that its refinery would begin operations in Q3 2022, starting with a capacity of 540,000bpd.

Nigeria’s daily demand for refined crude oil was estimated at 442,000bpd, as of 2018, which still comes below the proposed initial capacity of 540,000bpd. Many other modular refineries are also expected to come on stream. Beyond a possible reduction in the landing cost of petrol, achieving self-sufficiency in refining petrol will help conserve the country’s scarce FX.

Ahmed said that the government was working with lawmakers to boost revenues and that the rise in oil prices means that borrowings will increase more than planned.

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Nigeria’s Bola Tinubu presents N27.5 trillion 2024 budget of ‘Renewed Hope’

Published

12 hours ago

November 29, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

Exactly six months after his inauguration, Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, presented the N27.5 trillion 2024 budget proposal to a joint session of the 10th National Assembly in Abuja.

The president said, “The 2024 Appropriation has been themed the Budget of Renewed Hope” with intentions to achieve job-rich economic growth, macro-economic stability, a better investment environment, enhanced human capital development, as well as poverty reduction and greater access to social security.

“Defence and internal security are accorded top priority. The internal security architecture will be overhauled to enhance law enforcement capabilities and safeguard lives, property, and investments across the country,” he said in his presentation on Wednesday.

The budget also prioritizes human development, with particular attention to children, whom he called “the foundation of our nation”.

The Nigerian government under Tinubu has sought to stabilize the country’s economy with two major policy actions: the removal of petrol subsidies to address fiscal wastage, and the unification of the exchange rate. Although the policies have yet to positively impact standard of living, Tinubu insisted that the Nigerian economy had performed well in 2023 despite the challenges, and the government continued to meet its obligations.

According to him, “an aggregate revenue of 11.045 trillion naira was projected to fund the 2023 Budget of 24.82 trillion naira with a deficit of about 6.1% of GDP. However, as of September 30, the Federal Government’s actual aggregate revenue inflow was 8.65 trillion naira, approximately 96% of the targeted 8.28 trillion naira”.

Tinubu commended the legislature for its swift consideration and passage of the 2023 Supplementary Appropriation Bill and the 2024–2026 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper last week. He noted that their “prompt action underscores your devotion to economic development and to the greater welfare of our people.”

Nigeria’s main revenue source is oil, but earnings have been affected by its industrial-scale theft, and dwindling global oil prices. However, it produced 1.49 million barrels of oil per day last month, the most in nearly two years, after increasing its output by 60,000 barrels per day.

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Nigeria’s Tinubu to present N27.5trn budget on Wednesday

Published

2 days ago

November 28, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

The Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu, will present the 2024 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the country’s bicameral legislature, the National Assembly, on Wednesday.

The bill is an increase from the N26.01tn earlier considered by the council, according to the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, who confirmed the approval to State House correspondents after the close of FEC’s weekly meeting presided over by President Tinubu.

In addition, the minister disclosed that the government had projected N18 trillion in revenue for the fiscal year 2024. Bagudu stated that more information regarding the appropriation bill would be made public on Wednesday when the president brought it before a joint session of the National Assembly.

The minister stated that the Council was currently reviewing the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, which was approved by the National Assembly.

Bagudu said, “Equally, the Federal Executive Council approved the 2024 Appropriation Bill and the presentation of such to the National Assembly by His Excellency, Mr. President.

“The bill has an aggregate expenditure of N27.5tn which is an increase of over N1.5tn from the previously estimated, using the old reference prices.”

He added, “The forecast revenue is now N18.32tn which is higher than the 2023 revenues, including that provided in the two supplementary budgets. Equally and commendably, the deficit is lower than that of 2023. Details of the Renewed Hope Budget will be announced by Mr. President when he makes the presentation to the National Assembly”.

With two key policy initiatives—halting the fiscal bleeding caused by petrol subsidies, and unifying the exchange rate—the Nigerian government, led by Bola Tinubu, has attempted to stabilise the economy of the nation. With its currency value declining even further and the cost of living rising sharply, the results have not been favourable.