Nigeria can only achieve investment grade status by 2030 if it boosts government revenue, lowers debt servicing costs and sustains fast economic growth, credit rating agency DataPro said on Monday.

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‎The view was contained in DataPro’s Monthly Rating Brief for November 2026, following remarks by Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning Doris Uzoka-Anite at the agency’s 2026 International Credit Rating Webinar.

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‎The webinar was themed “Achieving Investment Grade Rating By 2030: The Roadmap for Nigeria”.

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‎According to the brief, the proposed National Development Plan (NDP) for 2026 to 2030 sets ambitious targets that will require consistent reforms and gains in economic fundamentals.

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‎DataPro said the plan projects government revenue will rise to 18.70 percent of gross domestic product by 2030, from 11.15 percent in 2025.

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‎It said meeting the target will depend on improved tax compliance, more efficient revenue collection and reduced reliance on volatile oil receipts.

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‎The agency also flagged debt servicing as a key challenge. It cited an International Monetary Fund estimate that Nigeria’s consolidated fiscal deficit was 4.4 percent of GDP in 2025.

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‎The NDP projects the federal government’s debt service-to-revenue ratio will fall to 21.01 percent in 2030, from 62.93 percent in 2025.

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‎DataPro said the improvement will depend on sustained revenue growth, prudent borrowing and effective debt management.

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‎Uzoka-Anite said borrowing should expand productive capacity rather than prolong fiscal pressure. She named Sukuk, Green Bonds and public-private partnerships as financing options, provided fiscal risks are assessed.

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‎She identified agriculture, manufacturing, refining, solid minerals, digital services, energy and logistics as sectors that could drive diversification, but said infrastructure gaps, unreliable power and limited access to finance remain constraints.

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‎The NDP projects average real GDP growth of 7.79 percent between 2026 and 2030, rising to 10.34 percent in the final year, with the private sector expected to provide about 72 percent of cumulative investment.

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‎DataPro said this would require a predictable policy environment and better conditions for businesses to invest and expand.

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‎It added that investor confidence depends on policy consistency, institutional effectiveness, transparency and reliable data.

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‎Uzoka-Anite said the government was working to strengthen public financial management, improve project monitoring and align the NDP with annual budgets and sectoral plans.

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‎DataPro said the plan’s credibility will rest on execution, adding that higher revenue, lower debt costs and stronger productivity must translate into measurable outcomes.

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‎Nigeria aims to become a diversified, resilient and globally competitive $1 trillion economy by 2030, the brief said.

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‎Investment grade status should be the result of stronger fundamentals, sustainable public finances and credible institutions, not an end in itself, Uzoka-Anite said.