The most recent GDP figures from the statistics office cover October to December 2021. They show that the ICT sector’s contribution to real GDP was 15.21%.
It seems Abdullahi had referred to the sector’s contribution in the second quarter, April to June 2021, which was 17.92%.
The increase in ICT’s contribution to Nigeria’s economy is due to the global rise in digital technology, Sheriffdeen Tella, a professor of economics at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, south-west Nigeria told Africa Check.
“Nigeria’s ICT sector has been growing significantly in the past two decades. The use of mobile phones to access the internet and perform many tasks is on the increase globally, not just in Nigeria. But that is the main driver of the growth in the country’s ICT sector,” he said.
Pandemic accelerated sector’s growth
Both Njiforti and Tella said that expansion in Nigeria’s ICT sector is part of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the growth in the ICT sector. Due to restrictions on movement and gathering, people resorted to virtual communication and transactions,” Tella said.
“In fact, I believe the contribution of ICT to Nigeria’s GDP is underestimated. Apart from the direct contribution of the sector, there are indirect contributions such as trade facilitation. Virtually every other sector uses ICT.”