By Emeka Anaeto & Babajide Komolafe
There are indications that the Federal Government is set for a major shift in its economic policy direction in 2026, focusing more on delivering tangible improvement in livelihood of citizens than in achieving positive macroeconomic figures.
This formed the key content of the speech delivered by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, under the theme: “Consolidating Economic Stabilisation Gains: Pathway to Sustainable Growth in Nigeria”, in his keynote address at the launch of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) 2026 Macroeconomic Outlook Report yesterday in Lagos.
He signaled a definitive shift from “economic stabilization” to “growth and expansion.”
Edun emphasized that the success of the 2026 budget titled the “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity”, will be measured by food availability, electricity supply, and job creation, rather than just GDP and other macroeconomic percentages.
He also said poverty alleviation would be top on the agenda with the “Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme,” aiming to bring 10 million Nigerians into productive economic activity across all 8,809 wards in the country.
He stated: “It is no longer about the stabilization of the economy; we have achieved that, albeit fragilely. 2026 is about scaling output and ensuring the benefits reach the household level.”
According to him, housing and food security were central to the government’s agenda, adding, “We are also supporting farmers to boost productivity, reduce costs, and ensure that food is more affordable for all Nigerians.”
On the government’s reform priorities, Edun said, “Our focus now is on ensuring that ordinary Nigerians feel the benefits of reform — through more affordable food, access to housing, and productive jobs.”
He explained that these reforms were built on measures that eliminated distortions which had previously skewed the economy.
“For too long, access to foreign exchange and subsidised petroleum products created an uneven playing field,” he said, adding, “Those distortions are gone. Today, investors operate in a transparent environment where success is driven by productivity and innovation, not rent-seeking.”
Meanwhile, Edun also said that Nigeria’s exit from the European Union’s high-risk third-country list is a major boost for investor confidence.
He stated: “Exiting the EU high-risk list is a landmark achievement for Nigeria, “It sends a clear signal to investors that Nigeria is serious about maintaining a stable, credible, and transparent business environment.”
Highlighting fiscal and structural reforms, Edun said, “We have digitised revenue collection, deployed real-time treasury monitoring, and strengthened state-level financial positions. Many states now run budget surpluses exceeding three per cent, enabling expanded spending on health, education, and social services.”
He concluded, “2026 is a pivotal year. The challenge now is to consolidate our gains, maintain policy consistency, and ensure that stability translates into inclusive growth, jobs, and shared prosperity. Nigeria must not only stabilise, it must thrive.”
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