ABUJA — Nigeria’s economy is growing at a faster pace. New figures show the country’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, rose by 4.43 per cent in the second quarter of 2026. That is higher than the 4.23 per cent recorded in the same period last year, and 3.89 per cent in the first quarter of this year.

For the first half of 2026, the economy grew by 4.16 per cent. In 2025, it was 3.68 per cent within the same period. This shows that growth is not only faster, but also steady across the year.

The growth is also spreading to more areas. In Q2 this year, 27 sectors of the economy grew by more than 3 per cent. Last year, only 23 sectors did. This means the economy is no longer relying on just a few industries.

The productive sectors led the way. Manufacturing grew by 3.24 per cent, up from 1.60 per cent last year. Agriculture also did well, rising to 4.39 per cent from 2.82 per cent. The services sector, which is the biggest part of the economy, grew by 4.60 per cent compared to 3.94 per cent last year.

A stronger naira also helped. The currency gained more than 12 per cent between the first half of 2025 and the first half of 2026. Because of this, the economy grew by about 17 per cent in US dollar terms. If this continues, it could increase incomes in dollars, improve buying power, and lift more Nigerians out of poverty.

With this progress, Nigeria is on track to meet the government’s goal of a 1 trillion dollar economy by 2030. The International Monetary Fund says Nigeria is now among the top 10 countries driving world growth in 2026. The country is expected to contribute about 1.5 per cent to global growth this year.

Experts say if stability continues, and investment keeps rising, Nigeria could become Africa’s largest economy by 2028. The government says it will stay focused on reforms and consistent policies.

In summary, the latest GDP figures show real progress. The government says the next step is to make sure these gains reach ordinary households across the country and bring shared prosperity to every Nigerian family.