The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has concluded a six-day engagement at the 2026 IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings, where Nigeria's economic reform agenda received broad international endorsement.
Across more than 60 diplomatic and investor-focused sessions, the delegation presented what Oyedele described as three core elements: the domestic macroeconomic progress achieved before the summit, the global validation secured during it, and the implementation priorities that now lie ahead.
Nigeria entered the meetings with verifiable indicators showing that structural adjustments are stabilising the economy. Oyedele told international stakeholders that the economy expanded by 4.4% in the second quarter of 2026, external reserves have crossed $55 billion, and inflation has fallen for four consecutive months to below 15%. The delegation also highlighted a historic surge in private capital inflows, which climbed from roughly $300 million in 2023 to nearly $6 billion in 2026, representing a twentyfold increase.
On the global stage, Nigeria strengthened its influence as Oyedele chaired the Group of 24 (G-24) Board of Governors meeting, earning direct praise from IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and senior World Bank leadership. Under his chairmanship, the G-24 pressed for an urgent realignment of IMF quotas to protect emerging markets and called for more affordable development financing. The delegation also worked to stimulate international markets by launching a curated deal room featuring 65 bankable national projects valued at $78.5 billion.
On domestic policy, Oyedele firmly ruled out any reversal of the decisions on fuel subsidies and multiple exchange rates. He stated that global financial markets have already fully priced in the continuation of these economic reforms. Going forward, the administration will pivot from macroeconomic stabilisation toward aggressive, job-creating growth, channelling newly secured capital into critical power infrastructure, digital networks, and human capital development.
