The Federal Government has dominated out restoring fuel subsidies and multiple exchange rates, reaffirming its dedication to financial reforms because it seeks to translate stabilisation features into funding, financial development and job creation.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said this on Saturday at a information briefing following Nigeria’s participation within the IMF/World Bank Group Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand.
Oyedele clarified that the 30-day retail margin low cost on petrol launched by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) was a time-bound business resolution to cut back margins and assist Nigerians, somewhat than a subsidy funded with public sources.
Nigeria’s financial system grows 4.4% in second quarter
Oyedele reiterated the federal government’s place on the reforms, ruling out a return to the earlier fuel pricing and overseas exchange preparations.
- “Let me be clear: there will be no return to fuel subsidies or multiple exchange rates,” he stated.
He stated Nigeria’s financial system grew by 4.4% within the second quarter of 2026, whereas inflation had declined for 4 consecutive months to lower than half its peak degree recorded about two years earlier.
- He added that the nation’s overseas reserves had risen above $35 billion, whereas its tax-to-GDP ratio elevated from about 7% three years in the past to 12.5% on the finish of 2025, following GDP rebasing.
- The minister additionally stated non-public capital inflows had risen roughly 20-fold, from about $300 million in 2023 to almost $6 billion in 2026.
- He put Nigeria’s debt at about 36% of GDP, describing the debt profile as manageable and noting that the federal government was shifting its borrowing in the direction of cheaper, longer-term and extra reasonably priced financing.
Oyedele stated the precedence was to convert these enhancements into elevated funding, quicker financial development and higher employment alternatives.
Development companions sign continued cooperation
Oyedele stated the World Bank Group had reaffirmed its assist for Nigeria’s energy and infrastructure sectors by way of assure devices and different financing mechanisms.
- He added that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had dedicated to continued technical assist for fiscal coverage implementation, transparency and nationwide statistics.
- The European Union additionally recognized vitality and native pharmaceutical manufacturing as precedence areas for collaboration beneath its Global Gateway programme.
However, Oyedele cautioned in opposition to decoding these engagements as fast monetary disbursements, stressing that the commitments mirrored a willingness to work with Nigeria somewhat than confirmed funding.
- “These are commitments to work along with us, not bulletins of cash.
- “We are playing down visibility and elevating credibility. We will not report progress as agreements until we have signed commitments and results begin to crystallise,” he stated.
Nigeria seeks adjustments to world monetary system
Oyedele stated Nigeria used its place as chair of the Group of 24 (G24) to advocate reforms to the worldwide monetary system, together with a stronger quota-based IMF, extra clear credit-rating methodologies, deeper local-currency markets and reasonably priced local weather finance.
- He cited findings offered by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa on the G24 conferences, indicating that growing nations paid about $500 billion extra yearly to borrow than superior economies.
- The minister described the extra borrowing prices confronted by African nations as a “prejudice premium”, arguing that the danger premium hooked up to the continent usually failed to mirror the financial fundamentals of particular person nations.
He additionally expressed assist for an African credit-rating company, saying nations implementing credible financial insurance policies ought to have entry to cheaper financing.
On the vitality transition, Oyedele stated pure fuel remained Nigeria’s transition fuel and known as for local weather financing preparations that recognised variations in nations’ levels of improvement.
FG unveils $78.5 billion funding pipeline
The minister stated the federal government had unveiled 65 funding initiatives valued at $78.5 billion beneath the Project Nigeria initiative, as previously reported by Nairametrics.
The initiatives cowl vitality, transport, trade and mining, agriculture, healthcare and providers.
According to him, every mission is supported by a feasibility research and structured to accommodate private-sector participation by native and overseas traders.
He added that traders from Asia and Europe had already submitted expressions of curiosity within the initiatives.
