Nigeria’s economy recorded a 3.89 per cent growth in real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2026, with the non-oil sector contributing the largest share of economic activities, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The NBS disclosed this in its Q1 2026 GDP report released on Monday, showing an improvement from the 3.13 per cent growth recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
According to the report, Nigeria’s nominal GDP stood at N110.79 trillion during the quarter, while real GDP was valued at N51.26 trillion.
The bureau stated that the services sector remained the biggest driver of the economy, contributing 57.73 per cent to the country’s aggregate GDP in the period under review.
Despite the year-on-year improvement, the report indicated that economic growth slowed slightly when compared with the fourth quarter of 2025, declining by 0.10 per cent on a quarter-on-quarter basis.
“Gross Domestic Product grew by 3.89 percent (YoY) in real terms in Q1 2026, higher than the 3.13 percent recorded in Q1 2025,” the NBS said in the report.
The statistics agency further revealed that the oil sector contributed 3.92 per cent to the nation’s GDP, while the non-oil sector accounted for a dominant 96.08 per cent share, highlighting the continued importance of sectors outside crude oil production in driving economic performance.
Analysts say the latest GDP figures reflect gradual economic resilience amid ongoing reforms and efforts to diversify the Nigerian economy away from dependence on oil revenue.
The report also underscores the growing role of services, trade, agriculture, telecommunications, and other non-oil activities in sustaining economic expansion across the country.
