Nigeria missing as AfDB projects strong growth for African countries

PUNCH

Nigeria is missing from the list of 11 African countries expected to experience strong growth in 2024.

According to the African Development Bank Group, in its latest Macroeconomic Performance and Outlook of the continent, Africa will account for 11 of the world’s 20 fastest-growing economies in 2024, but Nigeria is not expected to be one of them.

AfDB said the top 11 African countries projected to experience strong economic performance are Niger (11.2 per cent), Senegal (8.2 per cent), Libya (7.9 per cent), Rwanda (7.2 per cent), Cote d’Ivoire (6.8 per cent), Ethiopia (6.7 per cent), Benin (6.4 per cent), Djibouti (6.2 per cent), Tanzania (6.1 per cent), Togo (6 per cent), and Uganda (6 per cent).

The International Monetary Fund reduced its forecast for Nigeria and its economic growth to 3 per cent in 2024, down from a 3.1 per cent projected in October 2023. This is contained in the Washington-based institution’s World Economic Outlook update for January 2024.

Overall, the AfDB report said that the real gross domestic product growth for the continent is expected to average 3.8 per cent and 4.2 per cent in 2024 and 2025, respectively. This is higher than projected global averages of 2.9 per cent and 3.2 per cent, the report said.