Introduction
Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and has abundant human and natural resources. However, economic growth has been suboptimal over the past decades. GDP growth averaged just 2% over the past 10 years, below the population growth rate of 2.6% [1]. Poverty levels remain high with 40% of the population living below the poverty line [2]. Unemployment stands at 33% while social indicators like health and education lag behind peer countries [3].
Accelerating inclusive economic growth and development is thus imperative. The Nigerian government has recognized this and made economic diversification, job creation and poverty reduction the key goals of national planning [4]. This article discusses the major constraints to rapid growth, highlights global best practices and provides actionable recommendations to boost productivity, competitiveness and shared prosperity in Nigeria.
Challenges Hindering Nigeria’s Economic Progress
Nigeria faces several structural challenges that have constrained economic performance:
Overdependence on Oil
Oil accounts for over 83% of exports, 50% of government revenue and 10% of GDP [5]. This dependence on a single volatile commodity renders the economy vulnerable to oil price crashes. It also crowds out development of other sectors.
Infrastructure Deficit
Inadequate and poor quality infrastructure especially power, roads and rail continues to undermine productivity. Nigeria ranks 92 out of 141 countries globally in infrastructure quality [6]. Hourly power outages force firms to rely on expensive diesel generators. High logistics costs also hurt competitiveness.
Low Industrialization
The manufacturing sector contributes just 10% of GDP compared to 18% average in peer emerging markets [7]. Unreliable infrastructure, high production costs, lack of financing and competition with imports undermine industrial development.
Restrictive Trade Policies
Import restrictions, foreign exchange controls and complex customs procedures constrain international trade. Nigeria ranks 116 out of 190 countries in ease of trading across borders [8]. More open trade and investment regimes are beneficial for accessing capital, technology and expertise.
Skills Mismatch
The education curriculum does not provide skills relevant to the job market resulting in poor employability. There are also inadequate linkages between industry and academia to promote technical skills acquisition [9]. This skills mismatch hurts productivity and competitiveness.
Difficult Business Environment
Nigeria ranks 131 out of 190 countries globally in ease of doing business [10]. Key challenges include inefficient bureaucracy, lack of transparency in regulations, multiple taxes, high start-up costs and limited access to credit. This discourages private-sector investments.
Global Best Practices to Spur Economic Growth
Nigeria can draw lessons from strategies applied in fast-growing emerging markets like China, Rwanda and India:
Economic Diversification
Successful economies have diversified into manufacturing, services, agriculture and other sectors to reduce overreliance on primary commodities. Targeted government incentives and increased investments in human capital, technology and infrastructure have enabled this structural transformation [11].
Infrastructure Development
Large public investments in roads, rail, ports, power plants and broadband facilitated rapid industrialization and growth in Asia. Governments leveraged both public financing and private partnerships (PPPs) for infrastructure funding [12]. Maintenance also receives priority in high-performing economies.
Export Promotion
Strategies like special economic zones, simplified export processes, trade agreements and supportive exchange rate policies boosted exports in China and Dubai among top global trading hubs [13]. Export promotion allows tapping into larger foreign markets.
Technology and Innovation
Emerging economies have heavily invested in R&D, digital infrastructure and technology transfers to move up the value chain. Strong intellectual property protections and incentives for startups, R&D centres and technology hubs also foster innovation [14]. This boosts productivity.
Skills Development
Countries like Singapore and South Korea have education systems aligned to economic priorities through extensive technical training programs and industry linkages. Lifelong learning and global partnerships enable the workforce to acquire skills needed for better jobs [15].
Supportive Business Environment
Cutting red tape, easing business registrations, simplifying taxes, strong investor protections and increasing access to finance through development banks were key to growth in UAE, Mauritius and Malaysia [16]. Predictable policies and regulations boost private sector dynamism.
Policy Recommendations for Nigeria
Nigeria should implement comprehensive reforms across the following priority areas to realize its economic potential:
Diversify the Economic Base
- Develop sector-specific strategic plans for boosting productivity and competitiveness in manufacturing, agriculture, services, creative industries and others. Provide tax incentives, credits and grants.
- Increase public investments in R&D, innovation hubs and digital infrastructure to support diversification and structural transformation.
- Deepen linkages between academia and industry. Incentivize universities and polytechnics to align skills training to industrial needs.
Accelerate Infrastructure Development
- Boost infrastructure financing by increasing capital expenditure allocation to at least 5% of GDP. Leverage more PPPs for roads, rail, power plants and ports. Strengthen debt management capacity.
- Remove legal and regulatory constraints to private sector participation in infrastructure through transparent PPP frameworks.
- Prioritize investments in power generation and distribution. Reform utilities for better performance. Expand renewable energy to improve sustainability.
Boost Trade and Exports
- Pursue bilateral and multilateral trade agreements for better market access. Speed up ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
- Set up economic zones and simplified processes for key export industries like processed agricultural goods, textiles, minerals, chemicals and petrochemicals.
- Make customs and port procedures more transparent and efficient by leveraging technology. Reduce inspections and documentation for trusted traders.
- Provide export financing through the Export-Import Bank and other dedicated credit schemes. Offer guarantees and insurance products to mitigate trade risks.
Develop Workforce Skills
- Expand technical and vocational education programs. Strengthen apprenticeships and work-based learning opportunities.
- Introduce coding, digital and critical thinking skills in school and university curricula. Upgrade facilities and teacher skills, especially in STEM fields.
- Develop a comprehensive National Qualifications Framework to define skills standards across industries and enhance certification.
- Offer tax incentives for companies investing in workforce skills upgrades, internships and R&D. Subsidize fees for priority technical skills and fields of study.
Improve Competitiveness and the Business Climate
- Codify and simplify business regulations and licencing procedures into a one-stop online portal to reduce red tape.
- Broaden the tax base and reduce individual and corporate tax rates. Harmonize taxes across states and automate collection to ease compliance.
- Increase financing for SMEs through expanded loan guarantee schemes, development bank funding and partial risk-sharing programs.
- Privatize or reform underperforming state-owned enterprises. Enforce stronger corporate governance and fiscal responsibility.
- Increase spending efficiency and reduce corruption through comprehensive procurement reforms, digitization and results-based performance management.
Promote Innovation and Technology Adoption
- Provide tax deductions, grants and subsidized loans for R&D and technology upgrades by companies.
- Establish more digital and innovation hubs. Support university-industry research collaborations. Provide seed funding for technology startups.
- Develop nationwide broadband infrastructure through public-private partnerships. Expand digital literacy programs.
- Institute stronger intellectual property protections and special economic zones to attract multinational R&D centres.
Conclusion
Nigeria has immense economic potential given its large market, resource wealth and entrepreneurial human capital. Implementing the strategies outlined focused on diversification, competitiveness, infrastructure, skills, technology and governance reforms can accelerate inclusive growth to above 7%. With bold action today, Nigeria can achieve its development ambitions and emerge as Africa’s next great economic success story. The time for action is now.
References
- World Bank. (2022). Nigeria Economic Update: The Continuing Urgency of Business Unusual. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/37416
- World Poverty Clock. (2021). Nigeria. https://worldpoverty.io/map
- National Bureau of Statistics. (2020). Labor Force Statistics: Unemployment and Underemployment Report. https://nigerianstat.gov.ng/
- Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning. (2021). National Development Plan 2021-2025. https://nationalplanning.gov.ng/2021/09/national-development-plan-2021-2025/
- OPEC. (2022). Nigeria: Facts and Figures. https://www.opec.org/opec_web/en/about_us/167.htm
- World Economic Forum. (2019). The Global Competitiveness Report 2019. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_TheGlobalCompetitivenessReport2019.pdf
- Brookings Institution. (2021). Foresight Africa: Top Priorities for the Continent 2021. https://brook.gs/3zLMER2
- World Bank. (2020). Doing Business 2020. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/32436/9781464814402.pdf
- Oyelere, R. (2010). Africa’s Education Enigma: The Nigerian Story. Journal of Development Societies, 26(1), 101-125. https://doi.org/10.1177/0169796X0902600105
- World Bank (2020).
- Stiglitz, J. E. (1996). Some Lessons from the East Asian Miracle. The World Bank Research Observer, 11(2), 151-177. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3986437
- Gurara, D., Klyuev, V., Mwase, N., Presbitero, A., Xu, X., Bannister, G. (2017). Trends and Challenges in Infrastructure Investment in Low-Income Developing Countries. IMF Working Paper. https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WP/Issues/2017/07/10/Trends-and-Challenges-in-Infrastructure-Investment-in-Low-Income-Developing-Countries-45017
- Zeng, D. Z. (Ed.). (2010). Building Engines for Growth and Competitiveness in China: Experience with Special Economic Zones and Industrial Clusters. World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/2599
- Cornell University, INSEAD, and WIPO (2020). The Global Innovation Index 2020: Who Will Finance Innovation? https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/wipo_pub_gii_2020.pdf
- Ng, P. T. (2008). The Learning School, the Learning Nation and the Learning Society: Educational Policies and Practices from the Late 1970s to the Turn of the Century. In J. Tan, S. Gopinathan, & W. K. Ho (Eds.), Challenges Facing the Singapore Education System Today (pp. 1-17). Prentice Hall.
- Sahay, R., Cihak, M., N’Diaye, P., Barajas, A., Bi, R., Ayala, D., Gao, Y., Kyobe, A., Nguyen, L., Saborowski, C., Svirydzenka, K., Yousefi, S. R. (2015). Rethinking Financial Deepening: Stability and Growth in Emerging Markets. IMF Staff Discussion Note. https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/sdn/2015/sdn1508.pdf