Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, SSAP-SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, OFR, has reacted to the World Bank Nigeria Development Update and the Federal Government’s Economic Update presented on Wednesday in Abuja, saying Nigeria is on a steady path to recovery despite current hardships.
In a personal statement titled “We Are Not There Yet, We Are Not Stagnant, We Keep Moving Till We Get There” and signed on Thursday, October 9, 2026, the Presidential aide said the report reflects what government itself has acknowledged.
Orelope-Adefulire noted that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, together with the World Bank, had admitted that Nigeria’s economic recovery is gaining strength but improved revenues and macroeconomic indicators have yet to fully translate into stronger social outcomes for citizens.
Citing the World Bank report titled _Beyond the Federal Purse: How Higher Revenues Reshaped State Priorities_, she listed the key highlights:
– Real GDP grew by 4.2 percent in the first half of 2026, compared with 3.9 percent in the same period of 2025 and 3.5 percent in 2024, with a projected average growth of 4.4 percent between 2026 and 2028.
– Current account surplus rose from $8.6 billion (6.7 percent of GDP) in first half of 2025 to about $12 billion (7.1 percent) in first half of 2026.
– Headline inflation fell from 27.6 percent in January 2025 to 15.2 percent in December 2025, though food inflation still stood at 19.6 percent in August 2026 due to fuel and seasonal pressures.
– Target is single-digit inflation, with World Bank projecting 12 percent by 2028.
She said Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, also acknowledged on Politics Today that reforms caused initial discomfort and pushed more people into poverty, but that marked progress has been made since then.
*Macroeconomic stability is foundation, not destination*
Reacting, Orelope-Adefulire, who is also the Apex Leader of Alimosho, said the position of the Finance Minister that “the fact that the economy is growing does not mean that we have arrived” is correct and aligns with SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth.
“Growth for sake of GDP means nothing if Alimosho trader, Kano farmer, Aba tailor does not feel it. PBAT has laid foundation — fuel subsidy removal saved N400 billion monthly leakage, forex unification stopped arbitrage by few. Revenue to Federation Account doubled, states now receive more. But foundation is not house. We have laid foundation, we are now building house,” she said.
*Revenue must become lives*
According to her, the World Bank’s observation that improved revenues have yet to translate into stronger social outcomes is precisely why President Tinubu continues to fund the SDGs Office.
She listed ongoing interventions aimed at turning revenue into social impact to include 8,300 PHCs rehabilitation, NELFUND covering 1.5 million students, clearance of 17 years pension backlog, payment of SSANU arrears, deployment of CNG buses, distribution of 12 million bags of rice as palliative, wage award and cash transfers.
“This is Beyond Federal Purse — turning naira into lives,” she noted.
*On food inflation*
The SSAP-SDGs admitted that while headline inflation drop from 27.6 to 15.2 percent is progress, food inflation at 19.6 percent remains painful.
“I am a market woman leader, I go to Alade Market, Ipaja, I know price of rice, beans, garri. When food inflation is 19.6 percent, the mother feels it,” she said.
She, however, noted that without reforms, inflation was heading to 40 percent, adding that global factors such as Middle East oil price shock and seasonal pressures contributed to the 2026 uptick. She said the World Bank projection of 12 percent by 2028 shows a downward trajectory, adding that the SDGs Office is working with the Ministry of Agriculture to drive dry season farming and food security programmes in line with SDG 2 – Zero Hunger.
On external resilience, she said the rise in current account surplus from $8.6bn to $12bn shows Nigeria now exports more than it imports due to local refining by Dangote Refinery, increased non-oil exports and CNG investments, which builds reserves and stabilizes the naira in line with SDG 17.
*Message to Nigerians*
Orelope-Adefulire commended the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, for acknowledging the honesty in government communication, stating that no reform is sweet at the start.
“Do we stay in old sick economy where subsidy was paying for few rich to import fuel while pensioner died unpaid, or do we endure temporary pain to build new economy where pension is paid, PHC works, airport works, surplus grows? PBAT chose courage. And courage is paying off,” she said.
She concluded with a message to her constituents in Alimosho and Nigerians at large:
“We are not there yet — food still costly, transport still high, job still need more. We are not stagnant — GDP 3.5 to 3.9 to 4.2 percent, inflation 27.6 to 15.2, reserves up, pension cleared, airport being rebuilt, SSANU paid, birth registration up, eye care restored. We keep moving till we get there — till inflation is single digit, till food is affordable, till every youth has job, till every child is in school, till we achieve SDGs 2030.”
“Leave No One Behind. No child without identity. No retiree without pension. No student without school. No patient without PHC. No Nigerian without hope,” she added.
