You can’t make mama proud

Nigeria’s inflation is expected to spike significantly in 2026

Apr 24, 2025

Good morning, Big Brains. Yesterday, I told my friend about how I seemed to have more savings when I earned less. That realisation makes me wonder where we are going as a country.

- Margaret

Word count: ~ 1,000
Reading time ~ 5 mins

Let’s get into today’s edition:

Nigeria’s inflation is expected to spike significantly in 2026
Lagos State wants PWDs to start driving in style

The Big Deal

Nigeria’s inflation is expected to spike significantly in 2026

If 2026 is the year you plan to make Mama proud, we have news for you, and you’ll probably hate it.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted that Nigeria's inflation might drop to 26.5% in 2025, but that’s not a big W because it’s expected to shoot back up to 37% in 2026. Even though Nigeria's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recently changed how it calculates inflation, it still doesn’t look like we’re escaping the trenches.

On top of that, the country’s economic growth is declining. The IMF has cut its growth forecast to 3.0% in 2025 and 2.7% in 2026. The simple translation is that the economy might grow, but your pocket won’t feel it. Real income per person will only increase by 0.6% in 2025 and a tiny 0.3% in 2026, which is lower than in other sub-Saharan African countries. So even if the economy is moving, many Nigerians will still be stuck in the same financial spot.

Prices may drop briefly, but financial growth is not guaranteed, and the average Nigerian is still not going to catch a break.

Why is this a big deal?

Typically, we hope for better years, but the IMF is already telling us that 2026 might not be that year.

When inflation is high, your money buys less. So even if your salary stays the same or goes up a little, it still feels like you’re stuck in the same old spot or even worse. That ₦400,000 that could sponsor your vacation to the Benin Republic would probably not even be enough to buy a 32-inch television anymore.

Even though the country is technically "growing," the average Nigerian isn’t seeing any benefits. It’s like being on a moving train, but somehow, never making it to the next bus stop.

If the IMF’s predictions are correct we might be looking at another year in which the cost of living rises really high while income remains at the same spot, and better days is still more of a slogan than a reality.

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Lagos State wants PWDs to start driving in style

Nigeria has been sprinkling inclusivity into everything for a while, but plate numbers are the latest addition to the list.

The Lagos State Number Plate Production Authority (LSNPPA) just announced plans to introduce special number plates specifically for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).

The Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the move is part of the current administration’s THEMES Plus agenda, which is basically their master plan for a more inclusive, people-centred Lagos.

According to Osiyemi, these new number plates are part of a broader effort to recognise and support PWDs by making them more visible on the roads. This could potentially give them easier access to parking and road privileges in a state where driving can feel like combat.

The plate number production agency has also been busy being eco-friendly, teaming up with the Federal Road Safety Corps to develop sustainable plates.

We’re still not sure how these plate numbers will make driving in Lagos better for people with disabilities, but hey, we love the effort.

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