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| Dr. Olisa Agbakoba |
Renowned Legal Practitioner and Human
Rights Activist, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba has said that Nigeria’s economy is facing
a recession in the face of dwindling oil revenue, and a challenged manufacturing
sector plagued by funding gaps.
Rights Activist, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba has said that Nigeria’s economy is facing
a recession in the face of dwindling oil revenue, and a challenged manufacturing
sector plagued by funding gaps.
Agbakoba stated this at an
interactive forum convened by the Olisa Agbakoba Legal in Lagos.
He told newsmen that although the
anti-corruption crusade and the Treasury Single Account initiative had saved
over 3 trillion Naira, the benefit must translate into using the milestones to
stimulate the economy.
anti-corruption crusade and the Treasury Single Account initiative had saved
over 3 trillion Naira, the benefit must translate into using the milestones to
stimulate the economy.
As a solution, he advised that the
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) played a significant role of ‘’creating money by
buying securities such as government bonds from banks, with electronic cash
that did not exist before.
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) played a significant role of ‘’creating money by
buying securities such as government bonds from banks, with electronic cash
that did not exist before.
He said the “new money swells the
size of bank reserves in the economy by the quantity of assets purchased—hence
“Quantitative” Easing.
size of bank reserves in the economy by the quantity of assets purchased—hence
“Quantitative” Easing.
“Like lowering interest rates, QE is
supposed to stimulate the economy by encouraging banks to make more loans.
supposed to stimulate the economy by encouraging banks to make more loans.
“The idea is that banks take the new
money and buy assets to replace the ones they have sold to the CBN.
money and buy assets to replace the ones they have sold to the CBN.
“That raises stock prices and lowers interest
rates, which in turn boosts investment,” Agbakoba said.
rates, which in turn boosts investment,” Agbakoba said.
He
blamed the non-achievement of a diversified economy on dearth of infrastructure
to support economic activities in various sectors.
blamed the non-achievement of a diversified economy on dearth of infrastructure
to support economic activities in various sectors.
He,
however, advised that Nigeria should revisit the option of receivable
financing.
however, advised that Nigeria should revisit the option of receivable
financing.
“The proposal that Nigeria pledges
her oil to receive loan from countries like China, should be revisited.
her oil to receive loan from countries like China, should be revisited.
“We need to fill our huge deficit gap
by receivable financing. It is only such huge receipt of funds that could plug
the serious infrastructural deficit that impede diversification in Nigeria.”
by receivable financing. It is only such huge receipt of funds that could plug
the serious infrastructural deficit that impede diversification in Nigeria.”
According
to him, the ‘’comatose state’ of the
manufacturing sector resulting from high cost of doing business had made job
creation difficult, even as small businesses are staved of capital.
to him, the ‘’comatose state’ of the
manufacturing sector resulting from high cost of doing business had made job
creation difficult, even as small businesses are staved of capital.
“Jobs can only be created when we
have a vibrant manufacturing and real sector.
have a vibrant manufacturing and real sector.
“Currently, the manufacturing sector is
in a comatose state with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria constantly
complaining of the need to reduce the cost of doing business.
in a comatose state with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria constantly
complaining of the need to reduce the cost of doing business.
“Small Businesses are hindered
because of absence of capital: they cannot easily access loans from banks.
Interest rates are high and banks are shy to lend because of the problem of bad
debts, exacerbated by inefficient regulatory environment,” Agbakoba said.
because of absence of capital: they cannot easily access loans from banks.
Interest rates are high and banks are shy to lend because of the problem of bad
debts, exacerbated by inefficient regulatory environment,” Agbakoba said.
As a key point, Agbakoba advised on
the importance of getting the Financial Services Sector right, which he said
should include having the CBN focus on lending, interest rate and exchange and
not being overburdened.
the importance of getting the Financial Services Sector right, which he said
should include having the CBN focus on lending, interest rate and exchange and
not being overburdened.
He spoke in favour of deregulation,
advising that market forces be allowed to determine the exchange value, while
the CBN should not restrict the flow of foreign exchange, an act that restricts
critical stakeholder’s participation.
advising that market forces be allowed to determine the exchange value, while
the CBN should not restrict the flow of foreign exchange, an act that restricts
critical stakeholder’s participation.
“The problem with Forex is that CBN
does not have enough, but if we expand the space, we would be surprised that
many Nigerians can participate and increase the stock.
does not have enough, but if we expand the space, we would be surprised that
many Nigerians can participate and increase the stock.
“All that is needed is to create a
legal framework to encourage this participation, subject to Money laundering
Rules.”
legal framework to encourage this participation, subject to Money laundering
Rules.”
Agbakoba bemoaned the conditions of
Nigeria’s State-owned Public Enterprises, saying that the privatization model
had not been successful in Nigeria’s case, compared to a country like China.
Nigeria’s State-owned Public Enterprises, saying that the privatization model
had not been successful in Nigeria’s case, compared to a country like China.
“In fact, none of the privatized
entities in Nigeria could serve as a model. It is urgent therefore, that
Nigeria reviews her Public/Private Economy.
entities in Nigeria could serve as a model. It is urgent therefore, that
Nigeria reviews her Public/Private Economy.
“Government must control the
overarching sectors of the Economy. There is need for a strong Public/Private
Sector Framework.”
overarching sectors of the Economy. There is need for a strong Public/Private
Sector Framework.”
He, however, applauded Nigeria’s
rating as the 20th largest economy in the world, noting that
reviewing the nation’s public/private economy would go a long a way to turning potentials
into reality and moving the economy forward.
rating as the 20th largest economy in the world, noting that
reviewing the nation’s public/private economy would go a long a way to turning potentials
into reality and moving the economy forward.
