Manny Ita
The Presidency has declared that Nigeria is officially on a “healing journey” toward achieving a $1 trillion economy by 2030, signaling a transition from painful stabilization reforms to a period of expansion. Speaking at a media parley in Abuja on Saturday, January 31, 2026, Dr. Nurudeen Zauro, the Technical Adviser to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion, stated that the administration remains firmly on course to reposition the country as Africa’s leading hub for a borderless digital economy. Dr. Zauro emphasized that while the recent policy changes have been difficult, they were necessary “surgery” to restore investor confidence and long-term economic health. “From day one, Mr. President set a target of deepening Nigeria’s economic and financial sector to achieve a $1 trillion economy by 2030. To get there, we must build trust, infrastructure, and inclusion,” he noted, adding that key economic indicators are now beginning to show positive shifts.
As part of this roadmap, the government highlighted upcoming continental technology engagements, most notably the 2026 RegTech Africa Conference and Expo (RACE 2026), scheduled to be held at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja from May 20 to 22. The conference, themed “Building Trust, Infrastructure, Inclusion, and Policy for a Borderless Economy,” is positioned as a strategic platform to align African regulations and leverage technologies like artificial intelligence and interoperable payment systems. Organizers noted that the event will underscore Nigeria’s role as a continental leader in financial innovation, directly supporting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) goals. Dr. Zauro explained that the inclusion agenda has been elevated to the National Economic Council to ensure that sub-national governments are fully aligned with federal policies, asserting that “no one should be left behind” in the pursuit of the $1 trillion milestone.
The administration’s strategy for 2026 focuses on scaling output and attracting long-term capital through the “Renewed Hope Development Plan (2026–2030),” which serves as a bridge to the long-term aspirations of the Nigeria Agenda 2050. Officials maintain that the “ASO Accord on Economic and Financial Inclusion” will continue to drive the partnership between the public and private sectors to reduce regulatory barriers and unlock private capital. “Nigeria has gone through painful reforms, but today we are on a healing journey,” Zauro concluded, reiterating that the administration is proactively engaging global partners to ensure the country’s trajectory remains fixed on its ambitious GDP target.
