The International Monetary Fund has raised Nigeria’s economic growth forecast for 2026 to 4.4 per cent, up from its earlier projection of 4.2 per cent.
The revised outlook was published in the IMF’s January 2026 update of the World Economic Outlook and unveiled on Monday at the report’s official launch.
The adjustment reflects the Fund’s growing optimism about Nigeria’s medium-term prospects as reforms, fiscal coordination, and macroeconomic stability begin to gain traction, while also placing the country within a broader regional recovery narrative.
The IMF’s latest projections point to a modest but meaningful improvement in Nigeria’s medium-term growth outlook relative to its previous assessment.
Overall, the data suggests that Nigeria’s improved outlook is consistent with gradual but widespread economic strengthening across the region rather than an isolated revision.
Nigeria’s revised forecast builds on a period of significant economic adjustment marked by policy reforms and efforts to restore macroeconomic balance.
The January 2026 revision suggests that the Fund now sees a stronger payoff from these reform efforts over the medium term.
The upward revision to Nigeria’s growth outlook carries important implications for policymakers, investors, and households.
In essence, the IMF’s forecast signals cautious confidence that Nigeria is moving toward a firmer recovery path, even as near-term risks persist.
The IMF’s upgrade to Nigeria’s outlook is part of a wider assessment of global economic conditions, which the Fund expects to remain relatively stable in the coming years.
For Nigeria, these global trends matter because easing inflation and steady global growth can create a more supportive external environment for domestic reforms and economic expansion.