Abuja — Rising oil prices and increased production are expected to drive Nigerian economic growth higher, even as inflation is seen remaining in double digits, a Reuters poll showed.

Sub-Saharan Africa's second-biggest economy, which grew 6.66 per cent in 2009, is expected to grow by 7.0 per cent this year and 7.3 per cent next, according to the forecasts from nine analysts who took part in the survey.Nigeria which competes with Angola as Africa's biggest oil producer, has seen its oil output recover since an amnesty deal was reached with militants in the Niger Delta last year.According the report, Nigeria is expected to export an average of 2.1 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil in September, up slightly from an anticipated 2.08 million bpd in August, trade sources said this week."The latest national accounts data from Nigeria reinforce our view that the economy will expand strongly in 2010," said Alan Cameron, sub-Saharan Africa analyst for Business Monitor International (BMI)."Although seasonal factors related to agriculture have historically seen growth dip in the first quarter of the year, a sharp rebound in the oil sector helped lift the overall reading well above the 4.5 per cent recorded in Q1 2009," he said.The survey further showed that inflation was expected to reach 11.5 per cent for 2010, but dip to 9.5 per cent in 2011.Consumer inflation eased to 10.3 per cent year-on-year in June, its lowest level for more than two years.