Nigeria’s agricultural sector accelerated sharply in the second quarter of 2026, growing 4.39% year-on-year, as the wider economy expanded by 4.43%, according to the latest figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The agricultural growth marks a significant improvement from the 2.82% recorded in Q2 2025, strengthening the sector’s position in Nigeria’s broader economic recovery. Agriculture accounted for 26.15% of real GDP during the quarter, second only to services, which contributed 56.62%.
The improvement was led largely by crop production, but livestock also recorded a notable rebound. Livestock growth accelerated to 6.92% in Q2, providing a significant boost to agricultural output after a much weaker performance in the previous year.
That recovery is particularly significant for Nigeria’s food economy. Livestock contributes across meat, dairy, eggs, animal feed and other connected businesses, meaning stronger production can support activity well beyond the farm gate.
The wider economy also gained momentum during the quarter. Real GDP growth rose from 3.89% in Q1 2026 to 4.23% in Q2 2025. Services grew by 4.60%, while industry expanded by 3.96%. Oil-sector growth reached 7.31%, supported by average crude production of 1.72 million barrels per day, up from 1.55 million bpd in Q1.
The latest figures, however, do not mean the pressures facing Nigerian farmers have disappeared. Insecurity, high input and transport costs, climate-related disruptions, financing constraints and infrastructure gaps continue to affect agricultural production and market access.
There is also a wider question over how much of the improved output is translating into better incomes and more affordable food. Recent GDP growth has occurred alongside persistent pressure on household purchasing power, meaning higher agricultural production does not automatically translate into lower food prices.
For agriculture, the next challenge is therefore to turn stronger output into more productive farms, stronger processing capacity, better market access and higher farmer incomes.
NBF Insight
Nigeria’s 4.39% agricultural growth is encouraging, but the bigger opportunity lies in what happens next. If the momentum in crops and livestock can be matched with investment in storage, processing, logistics, finance and market infrastructure, agriculture can move from simply expanding output to becoming a stronger engine of food-system growth and rural incomes.
