Fitch Affirms Nigeria at ‘B+’ with negative outlook

 

FITCH Ratings has affirmed Nigeria’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘B+’ with a negative outlook.
The implication of the latest Fitch rating in Nigeria economy is that, there would be less participation of foreign investors in Nigeria.

KEY RATING DRIVERS
Nigeria’s ratings are supported by its large and diversified economy, significant oil reserves, its net external creditor position, low external debt service ratio and large domestic debt market. These are balanced against relatively low per capita GDP, an exceptionally narrow fiscal revenue base and a weak business environment. The Negative Outlook reflects the downside risks from rising government indebtedness, and the possibility of a reversal of recent improvements in foreign currency (FX) liquidity and a faltering of the still fragile economic recovery.
Fitch forecasts growth of 1.5 percent in 2017 and 2.6 percent in 2018, following Nigeria’s first contraction in 25 years in 2016. GDP growth continued to contract in 1Q17, but by less than in the previous four quarters. The recovery will be driven mainly by increased FX availability to the non-oil economy and fiscal stimulus, as higher oil revenue and various funding initiatives have raised the government’s ability to execute on capital spending plans. However, the FX market remains far from fully transparent, domestic liquidity has also become a constraint, and the growth forecast is subject to downside risks. Inflation remains high at 16.1 percent in July 2017, but Fitch projects it to decline to 11 percent in 2019.
Crude oil production rose to 1.8 million barrels per day (mbpd) in July 2017, from 1.5 mbpd in December 2016; the increase was driven by the lifting of force majeure at the Forcados export terminal and the completion of maintenance at both Forcados and the Bonga oil field. Fitch has revised down its expectation of full-year average production to 1.8 mbpd, which is about equal to 2016 production. Separately, Fitch notes that the imposition of an OPEC quota may cap Nigeria’s crude production at 1.8mbpd, which could limit the oil sector’s upside potential. However, as it excludes condensate production, the quota should not affect Nigeria’s near-term production potential.
In April 2017, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduced the Investors & Exporters (I&E) currency window and gradually introduced further measures to improve the liquidity of this instrument. It also intervenes actively to support the currency while keeping domestic liquidity conditions tight. In addition, higher oil prices and increased portfolio and FDI inflows have enabled the CBN to increase its provision of FX liquidity to the market. As a result, the parallel exchange rate began to converge towards the I&E rate, currently at around NGN360 per USD, and foreign currency liquidity shortages eased. Most activity now occurs on the I&E window, and Fitch believes that the I&E rate should now be considered the relevant exchange rate.
Fitch forecasts the general government fiscal deficit to rise slightly to 4.5 percent of GDP in 2017 from 4.4 percent in 2016. Tax revenue in the first five months of 2017 underperformed budget expectations, as in 2015-16. The current Medium Term Expenditure Framework envisages a combined NGN3.5 trillion of capital expenditures in 2017 and 2018. In 2016, with a budget year that ran to May 2017 the government executed approximately N1.2 trillion of the NGN1.6 trillion forecast in the 2016 budget. Improved financing will see a stronger execution of capital expenditure plans in 2017 and subsequent years. As oil production rises and the overall economy recovers, Fitch expects that higher revenues will drive a narrowing of the general government deficit to 3.4 percent in 2018.
Nigeria’s general government debt stock is low at 17 percent of GDP at end-2016, well below the ‘B’ median of 56 percent of GDP, and Fitch expects only a moderate increase to 20 percent of GDP at end-2017. However, low revenues present a risk to public debt sustainability. General government debt to revenue, at 297 percent at end-2016, is already above the ‘B’ category median of 227 percent and Fitch forecasts it to increase to 325 percent in 2017. The ratio is even higher at the federal government level.
Nigeria’s current account surplus is expected to widen slightly to 1.0 percent of GDP in 2017, from 0.7 percent in 2016. Fitch expects exports to increase by about 30 percent in 2017 and an additional 10 percent in 2018, as oil production and prices increase. However, imports, which fell by over 30 percent in 2016, will also rise as dollar availability increases and the non-oil economy recovers. The international reserves position has increased to $30.8 billion as of end-July 2017 and it will be bolstered by expected external financing flows. Part of the reserves may be encumbered in forward contracts.
The economic contraction in 2016 and tight FX and naira liquidity weakened asset quality in the Nigerian banking sector. Non-performing loans rose to 12.8 percent at end-2016, up from 5.3 percent at end-2015. Rising impairment charges from bad loans have in turn led to capital adequacy ratios falling to 14.8 percent in 2016, from 16.1 percent at end-2015. The new FX window has aided FX liquidity for banks in 2017, but credit to the private sector (adjusted for FX valuation effects) is declining.
Nigeria’s ratings are constrained by weak governance indicators, as measured by the World Bank, as well as low human development and business environment indicators and per capita income.

RATING SENSITIVITIES
The main factors that could lead to a downgrade are:
– Failure to realise an improvement in economic growth, for example caused by continued tight FX liquidity.
– Failure to narrow the fiscal deficit leading to a marked increase in public debt.
– A loss of foreign exchange reserves that increases vulnerability to external shocks.
– Worsening of political and security environment that reduces oil production for a prolonged period.

The current Outlook is Negative. Consequently, Fitch does not currently anticipate developments with a material likelihood of leading to an upgrade. However, the following factors could lead to positive rating action:
– A revival of economic growth supported by the sustained implementation of coherent macroeconomic policies.
– A reduction of the fiscal deficit and the maintenance of a manageable debt burden.
– Increased confidence in the FX market or an increase in foreign exchange reserves to a level that reduces vulnerability to external shocks.
– Successful implementation of structural reforms, for instance raising non-oil revenues, and significant reforms in the petroleum sector.

KEY ASSUMPTIONS
Fitch’s forecasts are for Brent crude to average USD52.5/b in 2017 and USD55/b in 2018 and USD60/b in 2019, based on the Global Economic Update published in August 2017.

The full list of rating actions is as follows:

Long-Term Foreign-Currency IDR affirmed at ‘B+’; Outlook Negative
Long-Term Local-Currency IDR affirmed at ‘B+’; Outlook Negative
Short-Term Foreign-Currency IDR affirmed at ‘B’
Short-Term Local-Currency IDR affirmed at ‘B’
Country Ceiling affirmed at ‘B+’
Issue ratings on long-term senior-unsecured foreign-currency bonds affirmed at ‘B+’