Nigeria’s economy recorded steady growth in the first quarter of 2026, expanding by 3.89% year-on-year in real terms, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics Nigeria, Peak Newspaper reports
The figure reflects an improvement compared to the 3.13% growth recorded in the preceding quarter, signalling continued but modest economic recovery.
The report showed that the growth was supported by improvements across key sectors, including agriculture, industry, and services.
Agriculture grew by 3.15%, while the industrial sector recorded 3.50% growth. The services sector remained the strongest contributor with a 4.31% expansion during the period under review.
In terms of economic structure, the services sector maintained dominance, contributing 57.73% to Nigeria’s total real GDP in Q1 2026, slightly higher than the 57.50% recorded in the same period of 2025. The NBS noted that this highlights the continued shift of the economy toward service-based activities.
The oil sector also showed mixed performance. Average daily crude production stood at 1.55 million barrels per day, slightly lower than both the 1.62 million barrels per day recorded in Q1 2025 and the 1.58 million barrels per day recorded in Q4 2025. Despite this, the oil sector grew by 2.57% in real terms and contributed 3.92% to total GDP.
Manufacturing posted a real growth rate of 3.29%, improving from the same quarter in 2025 and also exceeding the previous quarter’s performance. The sector contributed 9.57% to real GDP, reflecting gradual strengthening in industrial output despite broader economic challenges.
Overall, nominal GDP stood at N110.79 trillion in Q1 2026, representing a 17.79% increase compared to N94.05 trillion recorded in the same period of 2025. The NBS described the performance as a sign of resilience across major sectors, even as fluctuations in oil output and sectoral contributions continue to shape Nigeria’s economic trajectory.
