Those upbraiding her say it amounts to vainglory for Nigeria to lay claim to having an economy that is bigger than South Africa’s when all indices point to the contrary. They argued that the reality on ground is that Nigeria cannot generate up 4,000 megawatts of electricity whereas South Africa generates close to 40,000 megawatts, there is high rate of unemployment in Nigeria, many factories have shut down, Nigeria’s refineries are not functioning at full capacity and the country has to rely on imported petroleum products, the nation’s roads are death traps, and Nigeria is ranked as one of the poorest nations by the World Bank and other global agencies.
On social network site, Twitter, more Nigerians lambasted Okonjo-Iweala. They reckon that the calculations were only theoretical. To some economists, the rebasing was a vainglorious exercise.
“In one week, Nigeria moved from one of the poorest, globally, to largest African economy, did a miracle happen?” asked NewsBytes.
“Well, I hope our minister, Okonjo-Iweala’s humble enough to admit the new GDP numbers won’t magically improve our lives. Only means government has better data to work with,” said Gbenga Olorunpomi.
According to Ife Adebayo, Okonjo-Iweala should quit her position as Finance Minister. “Maybe Iweala should return to her World Bank/International Monetary Fund jobs and let someone who knows that cost of food, shelter and healthcare are what matter, take charge,” he said.
Just Jude thinks it was a media stunt by the government. “Nigeria has over 100 million poor persons. Dear Iweala, your media campaign won’t change that.”
Adelaja King believes there is nothing to rejoice about just yet. “What is worth celebrating in a house where the active youths are rendered vegetables labour wise? What is the sense in this concocted GDP propaganda?” he asked.
Miz Cazorla wrote: “GEJ, I personally can’t celebrate until we all can feel the positive impact of our growth. There are still too many of our citizens living in poverty.”
Loads of responses have also poured in on our website and the NigerianEYE Facebook page: www.nigerianeye.com
How does this affect the poor man? We are still one of the poorest country. All we see is figures being exagerated. Rubbish. I run my own business on generator day in day out. Stop lying to us. Worried Nigerian asked
Anonymous said
Does this reduce poverty, joblessness etc?
Anonymous said
Please, can somebody tell me the bases of the Nigerian economy which has just been claimed the biggest in Africa by the F.G and juster-posing it with the realities on ground.Such as looking at the economy as an import based,per-capital income of an average Nigerian less than 1 dollar,high level of cost of production,high level of insecurity,etc. I beg who is fooling who ?
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There is positive change in our economi, take it or leave it. Most of u behave as fools,u don't appreciate things. God have mercy !
ReplyDeleteI don't really see what the big deal is or why people should be complaining about it. The fact that Nigeria has the biggest economy in Africa really is not a surprise. We have always been either 3rd or 2nd behind South Africa and Egypt. I don't see why this new statistic would be a lie. Besides, only the GDP is mentioned here, the per capita income is still very low (about $3000/person) because of the large population compared to the other countries.
ReplyDeleteNigerians sometimes, we just can't seem to appreciate anything. When it's good news we complain, when it's bad news we complain, at what point are we going to stop complaining, get off our butts and start doing something?!
Thanks for that forthright and an unbiased comment
DeleteWhat if our number 2 and 3 position was a lie?
Deletekept wandering, if dis woman is truely a graduate of econs as claim
ReplyDeleteAbeg leave the woman alone is not her fault the pillar and the scructure of this country is affected since the creation of this nation and the fault is frm our past leader when the eye has never open
ReplyDeleteThose Nigerians are insane.
ReplyDeleteThe person that wrote at 5:13am was right.
ReplyDeleteIweala even though ur both parents are professors,we also gone 2 skul @ our own.Enough of dis media propagada,humble GEJ stooge
ReplyDelete@4.47am it's not about theory, it's about realitu, what you can see on ground. Go to any part of the country and walk round a community by 10am, what do you see? Young people sitting around doing nothing. GDP or whatever you call it is just theory. Let the people feel the impact of the growth that is all we are asking for.
ReplyDelete@9ja guy I don't think you are a Nigerian, if you are then I ask you what has this good news of yours about biggbiggest economy in Africa by your over rated Harvard trained sister got to do a common man on the street all this is for ego boosting and cheap political points, one day the children of the less privileged will take up arms against the children of okonjo, Allison and there likes ijn
ReplyDeleteWhat else can we say abt dis Iweala of a woman. Is she now givg a kudos 2 Nigeria while as citizens re ashamed of d structure of dis country. Is she a mother at all? Was dis d same Nigeria back in d 60's while at schl a public holiday durg our indepence, free meal where given 2 studients even as at wen there wan't oil boom? Iweala I beg u, if dis's d best u wish 4 dis country, so it shall remain wth u! Nigeria's lost must return nd her economy shall re-bounce again because dis's God's will nd not of any man. Why re u makg such a baseless comparism? Nigeria's far behind South Africa in every capacity because dis's just nothg but truth. Pls Nigerians, take it or leave it's time 4 us 2 shine again!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, there's no lie in what the woman said as everybody is jumping and screaming lies. Nigeria has been African second biggest economy after South Africa, then Egypt, according to CIA world fact. So, there is possibility that we have surpassed south Africa. However, Nigeria as big economy (in terms of GDP) has nothing to do with per capita income, which is why we have high percentage of poor people. High population density, mismanagement, and crooked people led to having high percentage of poverty in Nigeria. So people, should understand difference between having high GDP and having more people living in poverty.
ReplyDelete@ Ibrahim & Rosemary, pls b wise a bid just keep sentiment apart n face reality, Nigeria economy is goin to shock d world like it or not. our population is an advantage to us now dat d govt hav decided to be focus. pls dis country was death is being resurrected by GOD own son GEJ. TKS god Nigerians.
ReplyDeletehow does this benfit poor man on the street ?
ReplyDeleteNgozi is a big disgrace to herself, ndigbo and Nigeria. Why is she making a big fool of herself on national and international media? Shredding her already damaged reputation? Nigerians are not stupid. All those plundering this great country will pay dearly for their acts of recklessness
ReplyDeleteWhen politicians are controlling all our money, that is high GDP. The land is smelling with poverty but the politicians and few people are smiling home with billions of naira. In Abia State for instance, the Local Govt. system has been killed and is waiting to be buried. The Local Govt. staff are being impoverished to death because of the joint allocation system.Yet what is being published in the media is opposite of what is on the ground. So it is on all aspects of life. That is exactly what Nigeria is. No truth but window dressing.
ReplyDeleteRome was not built in a day .any one that says he will turn Nigeria age long woes into bliss oveenight will be a joker but this points to the fact that we shall rise again and this time wiser consodering what we have gone throigh .let me emphasize that any economy plan that does not include comprehensive population control will be a waste of time .a situation where one man will have four wives and twenty children and without any meaningful spurce of income is a seroous issue .ley us stope passing blame to iweala pr GEJ .we are holdinh ourself down
ReplyDeleteCongrats for having highest GDP but at the same time those at helm of affairs need to work on Per Capita Income. I could remember when we were young, your parents do not need to be rich before you can eat sardine, geisher, condesed milk, carnation milk and so on.
ReplyDeleteBut nigeria of today, wealth is not evenly distributed among the citizen. It concentrated with say 20% (if up to) and the rest 80% are suffering.
Then, yam peels were being given to goats to eat unlike now that we use it as yam flour (Elubo). We give cassava to goats but now our main food (Garri, Fufu, Elubo lafun).
Good health care service was easily accessible then by the common man and so many other good things.
All these were achieved simply because we had good leaders who fear God and have the love of the nation. I am always impressed whenever i read Tafawa Balewa history and some other leaders.
We pray that God should change them (if they refuse to change for good) and give us the leaders who will fear HIM and have love for their citizen so that Nigerians of today can enjoy more than that of yesterday that we are praising.
All the theory and jubilation of government is not enough to make the people happy, it is only government that the GDP or what ever will favor, more money to share in the Aso Rock. Reduce the pump price of fuel to 24 Naira per litter, reduce electricity tariff which people never use but they kept giving bills, remove the new plate number being forced on people and the cost of driving licence, then people will be happy about the rise in GDP or what is called. Let private people build refineries all over the country both for domestic and exportation, people will authomatically get jobs, then the so called GDP is touching the people not just fake analysis you people are doing and saying you (Okonjo-Iweala) are a professor, professor my foot, me too go school in the western world to a high level.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder OBJ dismissed Okonjo Iweala, Wold Bank is even aware of her and that was the single reason why she was disposed of the World bank presidential job. Honestly, I don't even have adjective to qualify her.
ReplyDeleteNaira depreciates daily, no employment, crime rate increases in style and sophistication on daily bais.
What is per capital income in 9ja? Per-capital income in 9ja is less than a dollar per day and 9jaguy says $3,000 yeparipa.
Nigerians must be ready to get this country liberated from the hands of these rogues otherwise the next generation would inherit this trash from us.
I don't blame you for lying because that is what you being paid to do. At your level l am sorry for you and your generation and you corrupt leaders need to note that you are siting at the mount of gun powder that will soon explode. Note that over half of the population are jobless
ReplyDeleteIts high time we tell our self the truth creating Jobs is not an exclusive reserve of govt .onlu Atiku is employing over 50000 persons in his various companies then chek Dangote .if all the contractors.senators politicians can look inward and put at least 30% pf all the money they stole back into the productive sector we will not be talking like this.you know we have cpme tp the level where everyvbody is looking ipto govt .yet when govt provide money even for HIV project our own bros and sis will embezzle it and of course we shear in it bevause at time of election we collect money and vote for the higest bidder.Iwill find only a very few in Nig who are not currupt even the so called poor are more currupt because if theyvdupe you .you will be shorked.Do you know that most Nig are not ready to work and also check our spending habit.check the type of phone the person you said is poor is having. Check our life style check yourself are you totally clean.pls let's look for solition and stop the useless sentiment .look at the Almajiris in the north.Jonathan biilt schools withvfeeding prog for them .but theyvrefused to gp .they prefer begging and being used as tugs.only one gun used by GH can pay the entire school fees of a university student .yet they have the moneybtp buybit and kill innocent Nig.Our mentality is sick .
DeleteNgozi has done well my dear stop being hatefull .she was already rich before being minister of all of them Adamu Ciroma.Kalu Idika Kalu .etc non has helped the finance like her .check the port clearing process .check debt profile .check prompt payment of salaries.check the readiness of budget for senate delibration .so so many areas have improved .all querries on her did not find her wanting .she still enter coach class flight.wears her native attire and is never pompous .she is rear gem for Nigeria .
ReplyDeletewe are largely uneducated in this part of the world. GDP is a growth phenomenon while living standard is a development phenomenon. An economy can grow with no considerable development. the GDP surge has nothing to do with OKONJO IWEALA.
ReplyDeleteWhat is GDP - Grand Deceptive Propaganda? What is per capita income? How much is the per capita income of all the millions of unemployed Nigerian youth, most of whom are well educated graduates? Professor Iweala, abi na Doctor Iweala? Tell me their per capita income and how they factor into your GDP. Tell Nigerians how the over 10.5 million out-of-school children factor into your GDP mathematics? How does GDP or per capita income translate to jobs? How does it translate to food on the table of the common Nigerian? Way you talk this your GDP-percapita propaganda hows how clueless you are as to the realities on ground. Just return to your World Bank/IMF as Adebayo has said before! We dey manage before GDP; we fit manage again.
ReplyDelete