Nigeria’s economy recorded stronger growth in the second quarter of 2026, expanding by 4.43 per cent in real terms as agriculture, services and the non-oil economy posted improved performances, according to the latest data released by the National Bureau of Statistics.
The growth rate was higher than the 4.23 per cent recorded in the corresponding period of 2025 and also represented an improvement over the 3.89 per cent expansion recorded in the first quarter of 2026.
The figures were contained in the National Bureau of Statistics’ Nigerian Gross Domestic Product Report for the second quarter of 2026, based on rebased GDP estimates calculated at constant 2019 prices.
“Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.43 per cent (year-on-year) in real terms in the second quarter of 2026, higher than the 4.23 per cent recorded in the second quarter of 2025,” the bureau said.
At current basic prices, aggregate GDP rose to N119.29tn during the quarter, compared with N100.73tn recorded in the same period of 2025, reflecting nominal growth of 18.43 per cent.
The improved overall performance was supported largely by stronger growth in agriculture and services, although the industrial sector recorded a slower pace of expansion than it did a year earlier.
Agriculture expanded by 4.39 per cent in real terms, a significant improvement from the 2.82 per cent recorded in the second quarter of 2025. The services sector also strengthened, growing by 4.60 per cent compared with 3.94 per cent in the corresponding period of the previous year.
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Industry, however, grew by 3.96 per cent, considerably slower than the 7.46 per cent expansion recorded in the second quarter of 2025.
Services retained its position as Nigeria’s largest broad economic sector, accounting for 56.62 per cent of real GDP, slightly higher than its 56.53 per cent contribution a year earlier.
Agriculture contributed 26.15 per cent to real GDP, marginally below the 26.17 per cent recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2025 but substantially higher than the 23.16 per cent contribution recorded in the first quarter of 2026.
Crop production remained the major force driving agricultural output during the period.
The oil sector also posted improved growth compared with the preceding quarter, expanding by 7.31 per cent year-on-year. Although the figure was below the 20.46 per cent growth recorded in the second quarter of 2025, it represented a sharp improvement over the 2.57 per cent recorded in the first quarter of 2026.
Average crude oil production rose to 1.72 million barrels per day, compared with 1.68 million barrels per day in the second quarter of 2025 and 1.55 million barrels per day in the first quarter of 2026.
The sector’s contribution to real GDP consequently increased to 4.16 per cent, from 4.05 per cent in the corresponding quarter of the previous year and 3.92 per cent in the first quarter of 2026.
The non-oil economy continued to dominate national output, growing by 4.31 per cent during the quarter, compared with 3.64 per cent in the second quarter of 2025 and 3.94 per cent in the preceding quarter.
The NBS identified several sectors as the major drivers of non-oil growth, including “Agriculture (Crop production); Information and Communication (Telecommunications); Real Estate; Trade; Financial & Insurance (Financial Institutions); Manufacturing (Cement); and Construction.”
Despite the strong expansion, the non-oil sector’s share of real GDP slipped marginally to 95.84 per cent from 95.95 per cent recorded a year earlier.
The Information and Communication sector was among the strongest performers, growing by 9.62 per cent and increasing its contribution to real GDP to 11.74 per cent, compared with 11.18 per cent in the second quarter of 2025.
Manufacturing expanded by 3.24 per cent, although its contribution to real GDP declined slightly to 7.72 per cent from 7.81 per cent a year earlier.
Construction also recorded robust growth of 6.75 per cent and accounted for 3.68 per cent of the economy.
Trade, one of Nigeria’s largest sectors with a 17.93 per cent contribution to real GDP, grew by 2.40 per cent, improving on the 1.29 per cent expansion recorded during the corresponding period of 2025.
Other sectors that contributed to the positive performance included mining and quarrying, which grew by 6.37 per cent, and water supply, sewerage and waste management, which expanded by 11.24 per cent.
Accommodation and food services grew by 6.96 per cent, while transportation and storage expanded by 5.70 per cent.
Arts, entertainment and recreation emerged as one of the fastest-growing sectors, recording real growth of 11.93 per cent. Finance and insurance also performed strongly, expanding by 9.29 per cent, while real estate grew by 3.76 per cent.
Administrative and support services recorded growth of 3.27 per cent, while public administration expanded by 1.94 per cent. Education grew by 2.76 per cent, with human health and social services posting growth of 2.64 per cent.
However, the report showed that not every sector participated in the economic expansion.
Electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply contracted by 10.63 per cent, marking a major reversal from the 11.47 per cent growth recorded in the same quarter of 2025 and making the sector one of the biggest drags on the economy.
Other services also recorded a contraction of 0.70 per cent, although the decline represented an improvement compared with the contractions posted in both the corresponding quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026.
The latest GDP figures indicate that Nigeria’s economy maintained an upward growth trajectory in the second quarter, driven principally by agriculture, telecommunications, finance, construction and other non-oil activities, even as weaknesses in electricity supply and slower industrial growth continued to pose challenges to broader economic expansion.
