Nigeria needs significantly higher levels of investment in businesses, industries and human capital to generate enough jobs and productivity gains for its growing population, the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has said.
The organisation said Nigeria’s current investment levels remain below what is required to deliver broad-based economic growth and shared prosperity. The comments were made ahead of the NESG’s upcoming summit, scheduled to hold in Abuja in October under the theme, “Growth that Works: Delivering Jobs, Productivity and Shared Prosperity.”
According to the NESG, increasing investment is important not only for expanding businesses but also for improving productivity and creating employment opportunities for Nigerians.
The group’s position comes as Nigeria continues to attract renewed interest from investors following improvements in some macroeconomic indicators, including foreign-exchange stability and stronger external reserves.
However, analysts and business groups continue to highlight challenges such as high financing costs, infrastructure gaps and limited access to long-term capital as constraints on private-sector expansion.
Recent developments in the financial markets have also increased investor activity. Nigeria returned to the FTSE Russell Frontier Market Index in September, with Nigerian stocks recording increased trading activity among global and domestic investors.
The NESG said the focus should now be on converting investment interest into productive economic activity capable of generating jobs and improving living standards.
The organisation’s call comes at a time when the Nigerian economy is recording stronger growth. The Central Bank of Nigeria reported that real GDP expanded by 4.43 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, up from 3.89 per cent in the first quarter.
The challenge, however, remains ensuring that economic growth translates into wider opportunities for households, businesses and workers across the country.
