Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 4.43 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, up from 4.23 per cent recorded in the corresponding period of 2025 and 3.89 per cent in the first quarter of 2026.

The Federal Ministry of Finance disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, saying the latest figures indicated sustained growth and strengthening across the economy.

According to the ministry, the Q2 performance raised Nigeria’s real GDP growth for the first half of 2026 to 4.16 per cent, compared with 3.68 per cent in the first half of 2025.

It added that economic expansion had become more broad-based, with 27 subsectors recording real growth of more than three per cent in Q2 2026, compared with 23 subsectors in the same period of 2025.

The productive sectors recorded notable improvements during the period.

Manufacturing grew by 3.24 per cent, more than double the 1.60 per cent recorded in Q2 2025, while agriculture expanded by 4.39 per cent, compared with 2.82 per cent in the corresponding period.

The services sector, described as the largest driver of growth, also expanded by 4.60 per cent, up from 3.94 per cent in Q2 2025.

The ministry attributed part of the improvement in the economy’s dollar value to the relative stability and appreciation of the naira.

It said the naira appreciated by more than 12 per cent between the first half of 2025 and the first half of 2026, contributing to an approximately 17 per cent expansion of the economy in U.S. dollar terms over the period.

The ministry said the development, if sustained alongside government social programmes, could strengthen dollar incomes, improve purchasing power and lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.

It further said the current growth momentum placed Nigeria in a stronger position to consolidate its status among Africa’s largest economies and move towards the Federal Government’s target of a $1 trillion economy by 2030.

The ministry also cited the International Monetary Fund’s projection that Nigeria would rank among the top 10 contributors to global real GDP growth in 2026, accounting for about 1.5 per cent of global growth.

It said continued macroeconomic stability, sustained growth in productive sectors and improved investor confidence could accelerate Nigeria’s emergence as Africa’s largest economy by 2028.

The ministry stressed the need to sustain economic reforms and policy consistency, adding that the government remained focused on achieving inclusive growth and translating economic gains into improved living standards for Nigerians.