The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised its projection for Nigeria’s economic growth in 2026 upward to 4.4 per cent.

The revised figure represents an increase from the earlier estimate of 4.2 per cent, according to the IMF’s World Economic Outlook (WEO) released on Monday. However, the Fund noted that Nigeria’s growth rate is expected to moderate slightly to 4.1 per cent in 2027.

The IMF also projected that the economy of sub-Saharan Africa will grow by 4.4 per cent in 2026, reflecting improving conditions across the region.

At the global level, the Fund forecast economic growth of 3.3 per cent in 2026, with a marginal slowdown to 3.2 per cent anticipated in 2027. The latest projection marks an upward revision from the IMF’s October 2025 forecast, which had placed global growth at 3.1 per cent for 2026.

According to the IMF, stronger-than-expected technology investment, supportive fiscal and monetary policies, favourable financial conditions, and private sector resilience have helped cushion the impact of shifting trade policies.

The Fund added that global inflation is expected to continue declining, although inflation in the United States is projected to return to target levels more gradually.

Key risks to the outlook, the IMF warned, include changes in expectations around technological advances and rising geopolitical tensions. It urged policymakers worldwide to rebuild fiscal buffers, safeguard price and financial stability, reduce uncertainty, and accelerate structural reforms.

The IMF’s revised outlook comes days after the World Bank also raised its forecast for Nigeria’s 2026 economic growth to 4.4 per cent, up from the 3.7 per cent projected in June 2025.