Analysts, Bank CEOs Foresee Bright Economic Prospects in 2018 Expect big leap in lending Caution against headwinds as politics picks up Obinna Chima Following the country’s exit from the economic recession in 2017, the stability in the foreign exchange (forex)
market, decelerating inflation, bouyant oil prices and stable production from the oil-rich Niger Delta, economic analysts and bank chief executives have predicted brighter economic
prospects and a jump in bank lending in 2018. The bank executives and economic analysts that spoke with THISDAY expressed optimism that the positive
momentum observed in the economy last year, would continue this year, but cautioned that as politics picks up in the second half of the year, this could lead
to economic uncertainty as investors sit on the fence. After snapping five consecutive quarters of contration, the Nigerian economy grew by 0.72 per
cent in the second quarter of 2017 and doubled its output to 1.4 per cent in the third quarter of the year. Continued on page 10
Leaders Felicitate with Nigerians, Pray for Peace, Prosperity in 2018…
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Monday 1 January, 2018 Vol 22. No 8292. Price: N250
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We Thank Our Readers for Their Loyalty in 2017 and Wish Them and All Nigerians a Happy New Year – Editor
In New Year Message, Buhari Unfolds Agenda for Infrastructure Rollout Vows to punish marketers hoarding, diverting fuel On restructuring, blames country’s processes not its structure Insists Boko Haram has been defeated, to tackle kidnapping Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja As Nigerians usher in the New Year, President Muhammadu Buhari this morning unfolded his government’s plan for a comprehensive rollout and investments in roads, rail and power infrastructure in the country.
He equally vowed to ensure that oil marketers who have subjected Nigerians to harrowing experiences during the Christmas and New Year celebrations by hoarding and diverting fuel would not go unpunished. The president who made Continued on page 8
INEC in Dilemma over Anambra Senatorial Re-run Poll
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may have decided to go ahead with the conduct of the rerun election for the vacant Anambra Central senatorial seat but is hesitant to make its position public due to the possibility of a new ruling by the Court of Appeal on the matter. THISDAY gathered from impeccable sources at the commission at the weekend that barring any ruling by the
court, the commission will go ahead to implement the ruling of the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja which had ordered INEC to conduct the re-run within 90 days. “I think that it will be difficult for INEC to obey the Federal High Court order when we have an Appeal Court order pending on the same issue. That is what I believe is going to be the dilemma of the commission under the circumstances. Continued on page 10
Fireworks light the sky over the Opera House and Harbour Bridge during New Year celebrations in Sydney, Australia, AFP early on January 1, 2018