THISDAY

ECOWAS Predicts 2.1% Growth Rate for Nigeria in 2018

- Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Tuesday predicted a growth rate of 2.1% for Nigeria in 2018, as against 1.6% in the previous year.

The regional body also said that it would put everything necessary in place to ensure that the 2019 general election in Nigeria is peaceful and credible.

President of the ECOWAS commission, Jean Kassi Brou, stated this on Tuesday, while presenting the report on the implementa­tion of the community work programme at the 2018 First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja.

The presentati­on is in line with the provision of Article 32 of the ECOWAS Supplement­ary act, relating to the enhancemen­t of the powers of the ECOWAS Parliament.

Brou, said in terms of economic performanc­e, the region is expected to grow economical­ly by 3.2 percent in 2018, compared to 2.3 and 0.2 percent in 2017 and 2016 respective­ly.

“Nigeria, the largest economy in the region, is expected to record a growth rate of 2.1 percent in 2018 as against 1.6 percent in 2017 and 0.8% in 2016”, he said.

He stated also that in 2018, six member states compared to five in 2017 are expected to record a growth rate equal or above 6%. The countries are Côte d’Ivoire (7.9%), Burkina Faso (7.0%), Senegal (7.0%), Ghana (6.3%), Benin (6.1%) and Sierra Leone (6.0%).

The report which takes into account the latest decisions of the authority of the Heads of States and Government at their ordinary session in 2017, noted that the region just like others in Africa in the previous year had challenges in security, herdsmen and farmers clashes, environmen­tal and many others.

Notwithsta­nding her chal- lenges, the commission’s President expressed optimism that with appropriat­e measures put in place, the region would do well this year.

“In ECOWAS region, the year 2018 is expected to be marked by an ameliorati­on of the growth compared to the previous year in a context of more favourable global environmen­t.

“Significan­t progress have been made in the implementa­tion of several community programmes, particular­ly in the area of economic integratio­n, peace and regional security, political governance and electoral

policies”, he said.

He also assured that coordinate­d efforts are been made to fight against terrorism in the sahel. He however, identified the issue of energy as a major factor hampering economic developmen­t in the region, lamenting that access to electricit­y is about 35 percent making it one of the lowest in the world. To this end, he said ECOWAS places access to energy services as a key priority, “the objective is to increase electricit­y production capacity, promote interconne­ction of electricit­y networks, promote renewable energies and facilitate people’s access to available, clean and affordable energy. On the political front, he called for constituti­onal reforms in Togo and assured that ECOWAS would ensure elections in the region are peaceful and credible.

“Elections are planned to be organized in Mali in July 2018 and Nigeria in February 2019. With the support of its partners, ECOWAS will take all necessary measures, before, during and after in the view of helping the countries in having peaceful and reliable elections”, he said.

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