Nigeria’s Economy Growing Faster Than US, UK – Daniel Bwala

The International Monetary Fund has projected Nigeria’s economy to expand by 4.1 per cent in 2026, a rate higher than those of the United States at 2.3 per cent, the United Kingdom at 0.8 per cent, Germany at 0.8 per cent and South Africa at 1.0 per cent.

The latest World Economic Outlook released by the IMF on April 14, 2026, also forecasts Nigeria’s growth at 4.3 per cent for 2027, placing the country among the stronger performers in Sub-Saharan Africa where the regional average stands at 4.3 per cent for 2026. Global growth is expected to hit 3.1 per cent in 2026.

The Presidency, through Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has welcomed the figures as evidence of the impact of ongoing economic reforms. In a post on X on April 14, 2026, Bwala stated: “Nigeria, under the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is turning the corner. Latest projections by the International Monetary Fund show our economy growing at 4.1% in 2026, faster than the US, UK, Germany, and even South Africa.”

He added that the reforms, though challenging in the short term, are “slowly but steadily showing tangible fruits. President Tinubu is not joking; he is seriously fixing the economy.”

The IMF report highlights that while advanced economies are expected to record modest growth—with the United States at 2.3 per cent, the Euro Area at 1.1 per cent and Japan at 0.7 per cent in 2026—emerging and developing economies, including Nigeria, will drive global growth. Nigeria’s projected 4.1 per cent growth in 2026 sits above the Sub-Saharan Africa average and significantly outstrips South Africa’s 1.0 per cent.

NaijaChoice News notes that the Presidency expressed confidence that sustained implementation of reforms in fiscal management, energy sector revitalisation and ease of doing business will further strengthen Nigeria’s growth trajectory.

Economists, however, have cautioned that while the IMF projections are encouraging, sustaining the momentum will require urgent attention to critical challenges such as inflation, insecurity and infrastructure deficits. The IMF itself projects Nigeria’s consumer price inflation at around 16 per cent in 2026, underscoring the need for continued macroeconomic stability.

The full IMF World Economic Outlook report also shows emerging markets and developing economies growing at 3.9 per cent globally in 2026.

The development comes as the Tinubu administration continues to push key initiatives aimed at repositioning the economy for long-term resilience, with analysts monitoring how these projections translate into improved living standards for Nigerians.