ActionAid Nigeria Critiques 4.2% GDP Growth for Poverty

ActionAid Nigeria has criticized Nigeria's 4.2% Gross Domestic Product growth in the first half of 2026, stating it is inadequate to reduce poverty. This statement followed the World Bank's October 2026 Nigeria Development Update, which noted the GDP growth increased from 3.9% in the same period of 2025.

The World Bank also reported a 69% rise in federation revenues and a 93% increase in state government revenues between 2023 and 2025. Despite these improvements, ActionAid's Country Director, Dr Andrew Mamedu, emphasized that stabilizing poverty does not equate to reducing it, as many Nigerians face rising living costs and declining purchasing power.

He argued that economic growth should lead to better living conditions rather than just favorable statistics. ActionAid called for a sustainable economic agenda targeting at least 10% GDP growth and highlighted that the current growth rate is insufficient to tackle poverty and unemployment.

The organization also pointed out that inflation stood at 15.39% in August 2026.