Nigeria, Oct. 22 -- Nigeria's economy is expanding. Why, then, do so many Nigerians feel that they are making little progress? This question arises amid a week of encouraging forecasts. The International Monetary Fund has raised its projection for Nigeria's growth in 2026 to 4.2 per cent and expects growth of 4.3 per cent in 2027. In its latest Nigeria Development Update, the World Bank projects growth of 4.3 per cent this year, rising to an average of 4.4 per cent in 2027 and 2028.

Official data indicate that the economy expanded by 4.43 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, up from 3.89 per cent in the first quarter. These are the strongest figures in years. Nevertheless, public service workers recently staged a three-day warning str...