Sanyade Okoli, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Finance and the Economy, says Nigeria’s economy is projected to grow 4% in 2025 and 5% in 2026.

Speaking at the Nigeria Investors Forum in Washington, D.C., United States, held on the sidelines of the World Bank–IMF Annual Meetings, Okoli said Nigeria has already achieved a growth rate of 4%, with Q2 2025 showing 4.3% growth.

“We know we need to diversify the economy — and we’re seeing results,” Okoli said.

He explained that in Q2, 13 sectors grew above 7%, compared to 9 sectors in Q1.
According to him, Nigeria’s dependence on oil for total exports has dropped to 57.5% in the first half of 2025 — a decline from previous years — while oil now contributes only about 4% of GDP, down from 8% in 2021.

“The economy is diversifying, and resilience is building,” he added.

Okoli said Nigeria’s oil sector is also improving, with daily crude production expected to reach 2 million barrels per day by 2027, and further growth anticipated by 2030 — supported by better security and management reforms.

The presidential aide also outlined ongoing partnerships with the private sector and development partners to boost infrastructure and drive long-term growth.

“On roads, the Highway Development and Management Initiative has identified over 10 routes for PPPs,” he said.

“On power, we’re partnering with the World Bank and AfDB to mobilise about $32 billion to improve electricity access and reliability.

“On digital infrastructure, we’re laying 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic coverage to future-proof connectivity for our young population.”

Okoli said agriculture remains central to Nigeria’s growth and job creation strategy and is critical to reducing food inflation.

He also noted that the government is investing in human capital, citing programmes such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) for interest-free student loans and the Digital Health Initiative.

On fiscal policy, Okoli reported improvements in Nigeria’s public finances, stating that while expenditures have risen slightly, revenues are increasing and deficits are narrowing.

“The federal government’s deficit-to-GDP ratio is now around 3.6%, down from over 4% previously — trending toward the 3% target,” he said.

He added that non-oil revenue has remained strong, driven by improved tax compliance, automation, and digitisation across the system.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) says Nnamdi Kanu’s health condition does not appear life-threatening.

In a ruling on September 26, Justice James Omotosho, presiding judge, had issued an order directing the president of the NMA to constitute an investigative panel to ascertain the defendant’s health status.

Omotosho gave the directive while ruling on an application seeking to move Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), from the Department of State Services (DSS) custody to the National Hospital in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for treatment.

The IPOB leader had claimed that his health had deteriorated in detention, citing medical reports that revealed liver and pancreatic complications, a lump under his armpit, and dangerously low potassium levels.

However, the prosecution opposed the application, insisting that the federal government had provided Kanu with adequate medical care in detention.

At the court session on Thursday, prosecution counsel Adegboyega Awomolo said the report had been received and filed in court on October 13, and it had also been served on the defence.

Kanu Agabi, counsel to the defendant, confirmed that they had been duly served.

In the report read in open court, the NMA panel concluded that Kanu is fit to stand trial.

Based on the information contained in the report and in the absence of any objection from both parties, Justice Omotosho ruled that the court was satisfied the defendant could proceed with the trial.

The judge said he would give six consecutive dates for the defendant to open and close his defence.

Agabi, however, urged the court to fix a date for the defendant to be brought before it so that the defence team could interview him, expressing concern that the DSS might eavesdrop if the meeting were held at its facility.

Omotosho granted the request, stating that he would set aside a day for the defendant and his lawyers to confer privately in court.

He then fixed Wednesday, October 22, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., for the meeting.

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has claimed that three more governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will soon dump the opposition party.

Fayose made the claim on Wednesday while speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, following the recent resignation of Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri from the PDP.

According to him, the opposition party may soon be left with only five governors as internal crises continue to plague its ranks.

“Let me tell you, there are three more governors that will leave soon. There will be five remaining. The five remaining, one of them will struggle to catch the ticket, and they all know that the ticket is an ordinary tissue paper,” Fayose said.

He accused some PDP governors of contributing to the party’s decline due to their desire to control its structure.

“They are largely killing the party because they want to control it. This is what happened in 2023,” he added.

Fayose dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu has been coercing opposition governors to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He argued that most of the defecting governors are acting out of self-interest and political calculation.

“President Tinubu should not be blamed for PDP’s problems. The PDP is sick and remains perpetually sick without a cure in view,” he stated.

The former governor maintained that the crisis within the PDP is the result of internal sabotage by some of its leaders.

“Those who killed the party know themselves. There is a difference between a former governor and a sitting governor,” Fayose said.

Although still a card-carrying member of the PDP, Fayose said he bears no responsibility for resolving the crisis, insisting that the current leaders must own up to their role in the party’s troubles.