Nigeria, April 9 -- The World Bank has warned Nigeria about increased pre-election spending, saying it could undermine gains from recent fiscal reforms and higher oil revenues.

The bank issued the advice in its recently released Nigeria Development Update, cautioning the country to be prudent with its reforms gains to withstand external shocks.

In the report, the bank acknowledged that Nigeria's economy strengthened in early 2026, driven by gains from recent stabilisation reforms, but insisted that poverty has yet to decline in the country.

It further advised that Nigeria's fiscal policy must treat increased oil revenues as a temporary surge and avoid overspending on elections.

"Preserving recent stabilization gains will require a dis...