Nigeria’s economy continued its gradual rebound in the third quarter of 2025, recording a 3.98% year-on-year growth, slightly higher than the 3.86% posted in the same period of 2024, according to newly released GDP data.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) figures show that growth was largely driven by the non-oil sector, with agriculture, industry and services maintaining strong momentum. Agriculture grew by 3.79%, industry by 3.77%, and services by 4.15%, reflecting resilience despite inflationary pressures, insecurity and FX volatility.
Below are the top 10 fastest-growing sectors that powered Nigeria’s Q3 performance:
ICT Remains Nigeria’s Fastest-Growing Sector
The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector maintained its position as Nigeria’s top growth engine. Analysts attribute this to increased broadband penetration, fresh investments in data centres, and the rapid expansion of digital services including fintech, software adoption by SMEs and mobile-driven consumer services.
The sector continues to act as the backbone of the digital economy, supporting payments, e-commerce and entertainment.
Telecommunications Sustains Strong Momentum
Closely tied to ICT, the telecommunications sector recorded significant gains as network operators added new subscribers and expanded 4G and 5G infrastructure into underserved areas.
Growing data consumption, driven by video streaming, social media, remote work and online learning, kept telecoms among the biggest contributors to GDP.
Agriculture and Agro-Processing Show Renewed Strength
Agriculture posted measurable gains on the back of favourable weather conditions, improved farmer support programmes and increased state-level interventions for smallholders.
A key shift is the rise of agro-processing—rice milling, cassava processing and poultry value-addition—creating new value chains and jobs.
Manufacturing Records Modest Recovery
Manufacturing saw a modest but notable rebound supported by better electricity supply in some industrial hubs, import substitution policies and higher demand for made-in-Nigeria goods.
Food and beverage, pharmaceuticals and household goods produced stronger results, partly due to the high cost of imports caused by naira depreciation.
Transportation and Logistics Boosted by E-commerce
The transport and logistics sector expanded as rising trade, port improvements and growing e-commerce activities increased cargo movement nationwide.
Private investments in trucking, warehousing and last-mile delivery strengthened the sector’s performance.
Financial Services Benefit from Digital Adoption
Banks and other financial institutions experienced higher transaction volumes through instant payments, mobile wallets, POS networks and agency banking.
Corporate lending to manufacturing, trade and services also supported sector earnings despite FX-related challenges.
Construction and Real Estate Gain From Public Projects
Construction activity increased due to ongoing federal and state infrastructure projects, including roads, bridges and urban renewal efforts.
Real estate showed slow but steady recovery, with mid-income housing demand rising in major cities.
Energy and Power Services Record Gradual Growth
Growth in this segment was supported by increased gas supply to power plants and improvements in generation capacity. Interest in modular power solutions and renewable energy systems—especially solar—continued to rise among commercial and industrial users.
Trade and Retail Strengthen as Supply Chains Improve
Wholesale and retail trade benefited from improved inventory flow, stronger coordination between manufacturers and distributors, and a slight improvement in consumer spending.
Both modern retail outlets and informal markets contributed to the growth.
Mining and Solid Minerals See Rising Investor Interest
Mining remained a small but fast-evolving sector, with increased exploration in limestone, gold, lithium and other strategic minerals.
Government reforms targeting illegal mining and sector formalisation began to reshape operations as investors entered the market.
