Nigeria’s economy expanded by 3.89% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2026, easing slightly from the 4.07% annual growth recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025. The latest figure, updated on 25 May 2026, signals a modest loss of momentum in output growth at the start of the year.
On a year-over-year comparison basis, the current reading measures the change in GDP in the first quarter of 2026 versus the same quarter a year earlier, while the previous figure reflected the fourth quarter of 2025 against its corresponding period a year before. The marginal slowdown suggests that, although Nigeria continues to post solid positive growth, the pace of expansion has moderated compared with the end of last year. Investors and policymakers will be watching subsequent quarters closely to gauge whether this is the start of a broader cooling trend or a temporary soft patch in the country’s growth trajectory.
