The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, has described Nigeria’s latest economic growth figures as a sign that the country’s reform programme is beginning to deliver measurable results.
Fresh data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that Nigeria’s economy grew by 4.07 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2025. According to the Minister, this is a significant milestone, as it is one of the few times in the past decade—apart from the short rebound after the COVID-19 slowdown—that quarterly growth has gone above 4 per cent.
Edun said the new figures show a steady upward movement in economic performance. He noted that growth in the fourth quarter builds on the 4.23 per cent recorded in the second quarter of 2025 and represents a clear improvement compared to the 3.76 per cent posted in the third quarter of 2024.
“This performance shows that our reform efforts are strengthening macroeconomic stability and gradually restoring confidence in the Nigerian economy,” he said.
He explained that the improvement was not driven by one sector alone, but by progress across agriculture, industry and services.
In the agricultural sector, output rose strongly compared to the same period last year. Edun said better security in food-producing areas, improved access to farm inputs and targeted government support contributed to the stronger results.
He also pointed to gains in the industrial sector, where growth picked up compared to the previous year. According to him, improved availability of foreign exchange, ongoing energy reforms and renewed investor interest helped boost production activities.
The services sector, which includes banking, telecommunications, trade and technology-related businesses, also recorded solid expansion. Edun said this shows that Nigeria’s service-based industries remain resilient and continue to create value.
“What is encouraging is that growth is becoming more broad-based,” he said. “It is no longer limited to a few isolated areas of the economy.”
The NBS data also revealed that for the whole of 2025, Nigeria’s economy grew by 3.87 per cent, an improvement over the previous year’s figure. As a result, the overall size of the economy increased significantly in nominal terms.
Edun said this reflects stronger economic coordination, better management of public finances and reforms designed to rebuild trust in Nigeria’s fiscal and monetary systems.
He added that the figures send a positive message to investors at home and abroad.
“These numbers show that Nigeria is on a steady reform path. With improved coordination, stronger revenue mobilisation and greater transparency in public finance, we are positioning the country as a stable and competitive destination for long-term investment,” he said.
The Minister assured that the government would continue to focus on disciplined implementation of reforms and close collaboration among economic institutions to sustain the momentum.
For many Nigerians, economic growth figures may seem distant from daily realities. However, analysts say sustained expansion across key sectors can translate into more jobs, increased business opportunities and improved government revenue to fund infrastructure and social services.
With growth now crossing the 4 per cent mark in consecutive quarters, attention will turn to whether the momentum can be maintained while addressing inflationary pressures and cost-of-living concerns. The Finance Ministry insists that maintaining stability and deepening reforms remain central to the government’s economic strategy.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
