Nigeria has unveiled an investment pipeline worth $78.5 billion, comprising 65 bankable projects, as the Federal Government seeks to attract foreign capital and accelerate job creation following recent economic reforms.
The investment initiative, unveiled at the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group in Bangkok, Thailand, attracted expressions of interest from investors in Asia and Europe.
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, also secured fresh commitments for cooperation on power, infrastructure, fiscal governance and economic development.
At the meetings, the delegation presented key economic indicators, including growth of about 4.4 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, four consecutive months of declining inflation, foreign reserves above $55 billion, a tax-to-GDP ratio of 12.5 per cent and public debt equivalent to 36 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The government said the next phase of its economic agenda would focus on converting these gains into faster growth, more productive investments and employment opportunities for Nigerians.
Speaking at the meetings, Oyedele stressed that economic stability must translate into tangible improvements in people’s lives, particularly through the creation of sustainable jobs.
“Stability was the first test. Growth that employs our people is the second,” he said.
The minister warned that advances in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies could produce economic growth without sufficient employment opportunities if governments failed to prioritise job creation.
He cited projections that about 1.2 billion young people would enter the global labour market over the next 10 to 15 years, while approximately 400 million jobs would be available, according to the World Bank.
Oyedele urged the Bretton Woods institutions to place employment generation at the centre of their assessment of economic performance, arguing that growth figures alone would not adequately measure the success of reforms.
He also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s position against returning to fuel subsidies and multiple exchange rates, signalling its commitment to maintaining the direction of current economic policies.
The investment initiative, known as Projects Nigeria, was among the major outcomes of the meetings. It is designed to present viable projects to prospective investors and mobilise capital for development across key sectors of the economy.
Nigeria also secured World Bank Group support for power and infrastructure development through guarantee instruments intended to help unlock investment.
On economic management, the IMF agreed to continue providing technical assistance in fiscal governance, transparency and statistics, while the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the United States Treasury and the European Union made commitments to deepen cooperation with Nigeria.
Another major outcome was the conclusion of Nigeria’s chairmanship of the Group of 24 (G-24), during which the country advanced calls for a quota-based IMF system, fairer credit ratings and more affordable financing for developing economies.
The Federal Government said the outcomes of the meetings reinforced its efforts to attract long-term investment, strengthen economic institutions and expand opportunities for businesses and workers.
With the $78.5 billion investment pipeline, the government is seeking to position Nigeria as an attractive destination for international capital while shifting its economic priorities towards growth that generates jobs and improves livelihoods.
