The country’s Gross Domestic Product released by the National Bureau of Statistics for the second quarter of 2013 shows that the economy increased by 6.18 per cent on an aggregate basis.

CEOAFRICA news gathered according to the report which was signed by the Statistician General of the Federation that the 6.18 percent growth for the second quarter was slower than the 6.56 percent recorded in the first quarter of 2013 and 6.39 percent recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2012.

It explained that while the oil sector experienced production challenges, the non-oil sector output increased in the second quarter of 2013, adding that the non-oil sector growth was driven by growth in activities recorded in the agriculture, airlines, hotels and restaurants, as well as building and construction sectors.

It also revealed that oil sector contributed approximately 12.9 per cent to real GDP in the second quarter of 2013, lower than the 14.75 per cent contribution in the first quarter of 2013, and the 13.86 per cent recorded during the second quarter of 2012.

It further established that the non-oil sector has continued to sustain the Nigerian economy, despite the persistent challenges facing the oil sector.

“Moreover, the second quarter of 2013, the non-oil sector recorded 7.36 per cent growth in real terms compared to 7.63 per cent at the corresponding period in 2012, and 7.89 per cent in the first quarter of 2013”, the report said

However, this relative decline has partly been attributed to lower electricity generation during the period, which had ripple effects on other manufacturing, telecommunications as well as wholesale and retail trade.

The real agricultural GDP growth in terms of output during the second quarter of 2013 stood at 4.52 per cent, up from the 4.21 per cent recorded in the corresponding period of 2012 and also higher than the 4.14 percent recorded during the first quarter of 2013.

This, the report noted, represented the highest growth rate in the sector in the last seven quarters.

The report also established that the manufacturing sector, during the second quarter of 2013, recorded relative decrease in output the same as in 2012, in that the Real GDP growth in the sector was recorded at 6.81 per cent, down from 8.41 per cent recorded in the first quarter of 2013, and 7.59 per cent recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2012

In the telecoms sector, the report said it recorded a real GDP growth of 22.12 per cent in the second quarter of 2013, down from 24.53 per cent recorded in the first quarter of the year, and 29.38 per cent recorded in the second quarter of 2012.