President Muhammadu Buhari has welcomed second quarter (Q2) 2021 report by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, showing a third consecutive quarter of positive growth of Nigeria’s economy, as well as the highest quarterly growth in GDP since 2014.

Data released by the NBS yesterday, Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew grew by 5.01 per cent (year-on-year) in real terms in the second quarter of 2021, marking three consecutive quarters of growth following the negative growth rates recorded in the second and third quarters of 2020.

The Q2 2021 growth rate was higher than the -6.1 per cent growth rate recorded in Q2 2020 and the 0.51% recorded in Q1 2021 year on year, indicating the return of business and economic activity near levels seen prior to the nationwide implementation of COVID-19 related restrictions.

In a statement by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina , the President commended  managers of the economy for hard work and commitment, urging them to keep at it till the positive development “touches the lives and pockets of the average Nigerian.

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PMB also approved the appointment of Dr Simon B. Harry as the new Statistician-General (SG) of the Federation to head the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Special adviser on media to the minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Yunusa Abdullahi, in a statement said Dr. Harry succeeding the out-going SG, Dr Yemi Kale, whose second term tenure of five years expired on  August, 16, 2021.

In another development, PMB disclosed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), for first time in the 44-year history of the establishment, recorded a profit after tax of N287 Billion