FG switches to capital de-risking for 2026 growth

The Federal Government has announced a shift from direct economic intervention to a capital de-risking and private sector–led growth model as part of its 2026 Growth Acceleration and Investment Mobilisation Strategy.

The new direction was disclosed in a statement by the Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, who said the strategy is aimed at unlocking large-scale domestic and foreign private capital by lowering investment risks, removing policy distortions and strengthening execution discipline across key sectors of the economy.

According to Uzoka-Anite, the government is seeking to move from macroeconomic stabilisation to sustained economic expansion driven largely by private investment rather than public spending.

“Our focus is to move decisively from stabilisation to growth. The reforms underway are designed to lower risk, unlock private capital, and ensure that Nigeria delivers sustainable returns for investors while expanding opportunity for our citizens. Going forward, the government’s focus will be to scale output, deepen domestic value creation, and place the economy on a credible path toward a $1tn GDP by mobilising private capital rather than relying on direct intervention,” she said.

The Ministry of Finance noted that the strategy builds on reforms implemented over the past 24 months, including exchange rate unification, energy market restructuring and fiscal consolidation, and marks Nigeria’s transition from economic stabilisation to expansion.

It explained that government intervention going forward would focus on creating a predictable macroeconomic environment, dismantling regulatory and price-control barriers, and deploying blended finance, guarantees and credit enhancements to crowd in private investment rather than relying on direct public spending.

Under the plan, the Federal Government will adopt a sector-led growth strategy anchored on a “willing buyer, willing seller” framework, with price controls and market access restrictions to be removed in order to enable capital inflows and entrepreneurial activity.

Priority sectors identified include energy and gas-based industrialisation, agribusiness, manufacturing, housing and urban infrastructure, healthcare, digital services, creative industries, logistics and solid minerals.

The ministry also stated that Development Finance Institutions would play a central role in de-risking investments, mobilising long-term capital and anchoring investor confidence. Domestic DFIs such as the Bank of Industry and the Nigerian Export-Import Bank are expected to support financing and risk-sharing frameworks across the priority sectors.