ActionAid Nigeria has called on the Federal Government and state governments to pursue faster economic growth, reduce inflation, ensure affordable energy, improve workers’ wages and strengthen accountability for public spending, saying Nigeria’s 4.2 per cent GDP growth is insufficient to address widespread poverty.

The organisation made the call in a statement issued on Monday, October 12, 2026, in response to the World Bank’s October 2026 Nigeria Development Update.

It acknowledged improvements in the country’s economic indicators but expressed concern that the gains had yet to translate into better living conditions for millions of Nigerians.

According to the report, Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.2 per cent in the first half of 2026, compared with 3.9 per cent in the corresponding period of 2025.

Federation revenues reportedly increased by 69 per cent in real terms between 2023 and 2025, while state government revenues rose by about 93 per cent. External reserves also exceeded $54 billion in September 2026.

‎ActionAid Nigeria’s Country Director, Dr Andrew Mamedu, said economic progress should be measured by its impact on poverty, employment, inequality and household purchasing power, rather than macroeconomic indicators alone.

He stressed that increased government revenue would have limited significance for citizens if families remained unable to afford food, transportation, healthcare and education.

The organisation urged the government to pursue sustainable double-digit economic growth of at least 10 per cent in the medium term and reduce inflation to single digits.

It noted that headline inflation stood at 15.39 per cent in August 2026, while an estimated 63 per cent of Nigerians lived below the national poverty line, according to the World Bank.

‎It also raised concerns about public spending, citing World Bank figures showing that education’s share of aggregate state expenditure declined from 14.9 per cent in 2021 to 12.1 per cent in 2025, while health spending remained at about seven per cent.

The organisation called on federal and state governments to publish accessible expenditure reports showing how increased revenues are being invested in essential services and poverty reduction.

‎On fuel prices, ActionAid Nigeria welcomed the Federal Government’s 30-day petrol price relief initiative through NNPC Retail but described it as inadequate to address the prolonged rise in living costs.

It said petrol prices had increased from an average of ₦900 per litre in February 2026 to about ₦1,400 at some retail outlets in October, worsening transportation costs, food prices and business expenses.

The organisation expressed particular concern about the impact of rising fuel prices on workers earning the ₦70,000 monthly minimum wage, noting that the amount would purchase only 50 litres of petrol at ₦1,400 per litre.

It called for a review of workers’ purchasing power, progress towards a living wage and sustained, targeted support for low-income households and vulnerable communities.

To stimulate inclusive growth, ActionAid Nigeria urged the government to prioritise reliable and affordable electricity, address insecurity affecting farming and commercial activities, expand access to affordable financing for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and attract productive foreign direct investment into sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, technology and renewable energy.

It also called for increased investment in education, healthcare and social protection, alongside measurable poverty-reduction targets.

‎Mamedu reiterated that economic reforms should be judged by their impact on ordinary Nigerians, particularly women, young people and marginalised communities.

He said rising government revenues should translate into better public services, decent jobs, improved household incomes and greater economic opportunities, urging authorities to demonstrate how their policies are reducing poverty rather than relying solely on improved economic indicators.