IMF REVISE NIGERIA’S ECONOMIC GROWTH FORECAST FOR 2026 FROM 4.2 PERCENT TO 4.4 PERCENT.

BY SANDRA KENNETH

The International Monetary Fund has revised Nigeria’s economic growth forecast for 2026, raising it to 4.4 per cent from 4.2 per cent projected in October 2025.

The revised outlook was published in the IMF’s January 2026 update of the World Economic Outlook and unveiled on Monday.

The Fund’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.

Overall, the data suggest 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.

Recall that in its October 2025 World Economic Outlook, the IMF had projected Nigeria’s 2026 growth at 4.2 per cent, reflecting lingering concerns around inflation, fiscal pressures, and structural constraints.

 The IMF has repeatedly emphasised the importance of structural reforms in driving sustainable growth across emerging and developing economies, including Nigeria.