Nigeria's Economy Grows 4% as Non-Oil Sector Powers Forward

Nigeria just closed out 2025 with its strongest quarterly economic growth in years, and the surprise hero isn't oil.

The National Bureau of Statistics announced Friday that Africa's most populous nation grew its economy by 4.07% in the final three months of 2025. That beats the 3.76% growth from the same period in 2024 and edges past the previous quarter's 3.98%.

What makes this growth remarkable is where it came from. The non-oil sector powered 97% of Nigeria's economic output, while oil contributed less than 3%.

Agriculture led the charge with 4% growth, nearly doubling its 2.54% expansion from the previous year. Farmers and food producers are stepping up to feed a nation of over 200 million people while contributing almost 29% of total economic output.

The services sector, which includes everything from banking to telecommunications to restaurants, remains Nigeria's economic backbone. It grew 4.15% and now makes up 56% of the country's GDP. Industry followed close behind with 3.88% growth, up from just 2.49% a year earlier.

Oil production actually dipped slightly during the quarter, falling from 1.64 million barrels per day to 1.58 million. But unlike previous decades when such a drop would have dragged down the entire economy, Nigeria kept growing anyway.

The Ripple Effect

This shift away from oil dependence carries huge implications for Nigeria's 200 million citizens. For decades, the country rode oil price roller coasters, with boom and bust cycles that made planning nearly impossible for families and businesses alike.

Now farmers in rural areas, tech entrepreneurs in Lagos, and service workers across the country are building a more stable economic foundation. When growth comes from diverse sources rather than a single commodity, entire communities benefit from steadier incomes and more predictable opportunities.

For the full year 2025, Nigeria's economy expanded 3.87%, well ahead of 2024's 3.38% growth. That's real progress for families who have weathered currency challenges and inflation in recent years.

The numbers tell a story of resilience and transformation: a country learning to grow without leaning on the resource that once defined it, building something more sustainable for the next generation.