By Our Correspondents
The Federal government has blamed the economic hardship Nigerians are currently facing on global economic meltdown despite, a neighbouring country, Ghana recording a positive economic growth, according to data accessed by Nigerian NewsDirect.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had said the increase in prices of foodstuff, petrol, diesel and other items was a global trend, and not limited to any country.
He added that presenting the situation as a Nigerian problem was mischievous, disingenuous and a clear act of misinformation.
However, according to data available on Macrotrends which was obtained by Nigerian NewsDirect, it was discovered that despite Lai Mohammed’s claims, Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) fared far better in 2020 indices compared to Nigeria’s.
According to Macrotrends, in 2020 Ghana’s GDP grew by 0.41% rising to $72.35 Billion from $67.23 Billion, the figures the West African country recorded in 2019.
In the year before, the country had a whopping 6.51% with her Per Capita Income increasing from $2.210 recorded in 2019 to $2.329 in 2020.
Nigeria on the other hand was on the negative end of the economy as her Gross Domestic Product (GDP) declined by -1.79% from $448.12 Billion recorded in 2019.
Nigeria’s Per Capita Income also dropped from $2.230 recorded in 2019 to $2.097 in 2020.
Reacting to Lai Mohammed’s claim, the Lead Strategist of Nigerian Workforce Strategic and Enlightenment Centre (NIWOSEC), Dr David Kayode Ehindero chided the minister’s comment, noting that the economic hardship Nigerians are facing was the hardiwork of the current government in power.
He said, “The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed lacks moral right to describe the ordeals Nigerians are facing in APC failed Government as a global phenomenon.
“This hardship is caused by the negligence of the government in power to address the menace of insecurity, banditry in the country affecting inflation as farmers can no longer bring in produce into the markets.
“Another germain issue is the ongoing energy crisis which the Government has failed to fix our refinery thereby inflating the price of refined crude oil.
“Governmemt has hiked transport fares across the four walls of this country. The Minister should keep mum if he cannot offer Nigerians anything.”
Recall that during a Press Conference yesterday in Abuja, the Minister of Information and Culture, said the figures being bandied around by the opposition and a section of the press, comparing the prices of some foodstuffs, petrol, diesel, pre-2015 and presently, was a mischief.
According to him, “This misuse of statistics is clear mischief. Those who bandy around these figures without putting them in context are being clever by half.
“Let’s take the price of foodstuff and petrol. Google the price of foodstuffs in other countries, especially the UK and the US, and you will discover a steep rise. Ditto for the price of gas or petrol,” he said.
Mohammed believes that the stifling fuel shortage witnessed in the country has begun easing, as the measures put in place by the government have started taking effect.
He affirmed that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari recorded massive achievements in all sectors, in spite of the challenges it faced.
While admonishing Nigeria, Mohammed, therefore, cautioned Nigerians to be suspicious of the lies and misinformation by the opposition.
“Nigerians remain traumatised by their 16-year misrule, and will not return to ‘Egypt’ by allowing the ‘demolition gang’ back to office,” the Minister said.