With Projected GDP of $334bn in 2026, IMF Tips Nigeria as Africa’s Third-largest Economy Ahead of Algeria Attributes economic rise to ongoing reforms, including fuel subsidy removal, exchange-rate liberalisation, fiscal adjustments
James Emejo in Abuja International Monetary Fund (IMF)
has said Nigeria may emerge as Africa’s third-largest economy, with its Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
projected to hit $334 billion in 2026, displacing Algeria. With GDP of about $285
billion at current prices, Nigeria emerged fourth in Africa, trailing South Africa, Egypt and Algeria
in 2025, according to the fund’s World Economic Outlook (October 2025).
IMF linked Nigeria’s anticipated Continued on page 9
AbdulRazaq: Terrorists’ Attacks Claimed 75 for Refusing to Give in to Strange Doctrines... Page 33 Thursday 5 February, 2026 Vol 31. No 11260. Price: N400
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FG: US Troops in Nigeria Restricted to Training, Intelligence Support Linus Aleke in Abuja
L-R: Managing Director, South East Development Commission (SEDC), Mr. Mark Okoye; Board Chairman, SEDC, Dr. Emeka Wogu; Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Soludo; Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah; Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima; Governor of Ebonyi State, Hon. Francis Nwifuru; Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti; and the Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Chike Olemgbe, during the formal opening of the South East Vision 2025 Stakeholder Forum in Enugu, Wednesday
The federal government has clarified reports surrounding the presence of United States troops in Nigeria, Continued on page 9
Setback for Electoral Reforms: Senate Rejects Mandatory Real-time Results Upload Retains much criticised provision of old law which gives INEC discretion on mode of transition Slashes election notice deadline from 360 to 180 days Discards proposed 10-year ban from politics over vote-buying PDP: Lawmakers’ action shameful, harmful to democratic consolidation
Chuks Okocha and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja Nigeria’s Senate, yesterday, came under blistering fire for what many Nigerians described as a grave betrayal of public trust, after lawmakers disappointed widespread expectations by passing an amended Electoral Act that rejected mandatory real-time electronic upload of election results from polling units, a reform widely seen as critical to restoring confidence in the nation’s troubled electoral process. In October 2023, the Supreme Court of Nigeria ruled that the electronic transmission of election results was not mandatory under the Electoral Act 2022. The Court affirmed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had the legal authority and discretion to determine the specific mode for transmitting and collating election results. Continued on page 9
WORTHY HONOUR FOR OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE...
L-R: Commission Chief Executive (CCE), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan; General Manager, Corporate Communications Division, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Dr. Obinna Ezeobi; Managing Director/CEO, Global Process & Pipeline Services Limited (GPPSL), Engr. Obidike Uzu (receiving the award); and Executive Director, Global Operations, GPPSL, Engr. Chamberlain Duruike, during the handing over of the Local Oil Services Company of the Year / Operational Performance Excellence Award to GPPSL, at the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES 2026) Industry Awards & Gala Night held at State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday