NIGERIA’S Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew to 7.69 per cent in the second quarter of  2010 from the 7.45 per cent recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2009, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has announced.

Head of Accounts Division of the bureau, Mr Emeka Ofili, stated this in Abuja, on Thursday, in a paper he presented at a workshop on statistics for economic, financial and business desk editors.

He said the growth was as a result of increase in production, as well as wholesale and retail trade activities in the economy.

“The nominal GDP for the second quarter of 2010 was estimated at N6,824,477.43, as against the N5,872,694.58 during the corresponding quarter of 2009,” he said.

Ofili said oil and non-oil sectors had witnessed increased output in the second quarter of  2010.

“The non-oil sector growth was driven by growth in activities recorded in the wholesale and retail trade sector, while the oil sector output increased as a result of the Federal Government’s amnesty programme in  the Niger Delta,” he said.

Mr Ofili said the growth was recorded in spite of unprecedented levels of disruptions due to militancy, vandalism and facility shutdowns in previous quarters.