Nigeria Unveils $78.5bn Investment Pipeline, Seeks Fairer Global Financial System
Nigeria has unveiled a $78.5 billion investment pipeline comprising 65 bankable projects and called for reforms to the global financial system to improve access to affordable financing for developing economies.
The Federal Government disclosed this at the conclusion of Nigeria’s participation in the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group in Bangkok, Thailand, on Saturday.
The Nigerian delegation, led by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, presented the investment pipeline under the Projects Nigeria initiative, which attracted expressions of interest from Asian and European investors.
According to the Federal Ministry of Finance, the delegation also highlighted the country’s recent macroeconomic indicators, including economic growth of about 4.4 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, four consecutive months of declining inflation, foreign reserves exceeding $55 billion and a tax-to-GDP ratio of 12.5 per cent.
Nigeria’s debt was also reported at 36 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).
The government said the engagements yielded commitments to strengthen support for power and infrastructure development through World Bank Group guarantee instruments, alongside continued technical assistance from the IMF on fiscal governance, transparency and statistics.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the United States Treasury and the European Union also expressed commitments to deepen cooperation with Nigeria.
Nigeria’s participation in the meetings coincided with the conclusion of its chairmanship of the Group of 24 (G-24), during which it advanced calls for a quota-based IMF system, fairer credit-rating practices and lower borrowing costs for developing countries.
Speaking at the meetings, Oyedele warned that the global economy faced the risk of generating economic growth without creating sufficient employment opportunities, particularly as artificial intelligence reshapes labour markets.
He cited World Bank estimates indicating that about 1.2 billion young people would enter the global labour market over the next 10 to 15 years, while only about 400 million jobs were expected to be available.
The minister urged the Bretton Woods institutions to place job creation at the centre of their assessment of economic performance, arguing that macroeconomic stability must translate into tangible employment opportunities and improved livelihoods.
“Stability was the first test. Growth that employs our people is the second,” Oyedele said.
He stressed that Nigeria’s reform programme would remain focused on sustaining economic stability while accelerating growth capable of creating jobs and expanding opportunities for citizens.
The minister also reaffirmed the government’s position against returning to fuel subsidies or multiple exchange rates, signalling its commitment to maintaining the direction of ongoing economic reforms.
Nigeria’s participation in the Bangkok meetings was aimed at attracting investment, strengthening development partnerships and advancing reforms to international financial arrangements that the government considers critical to financing sustainable growth in developing economies.
