World Bank Deletes Nigeria Development Update Report Days After Release

World Bank Deletes Nigeria Development Update Report Days After Release

The World Bank has removed its latest Nigeria Development Update (NDU) report from its official website, just three days after its publication, raising concerns over the reasons behind the sudden action.

The report, titled “Nigeria’s Tomorrow Must Start Today: The Case for Early Childhood Development,” was released on April 7, 2026, but the document link is no longer accessible, returning a “page not found” error when users attempt to download it.

Despite the removal, the accompanying press statement remains available, outlining key findings on Nigeria’s economic performance and policy outlook.

In the now-withdrawn report, the World Bank said Nigeria’s economy recorded 4 percent growth in 2025, with inflation dropping significantly to 15.1 percent in February 2026 from 26.3 percent recorded in the same period a year earlier. The improvement was attributed to tighter monetary policies and better food supply conditions.

The report also highlighted that Nigeria’s macroeconomic environment has strengthened following recent stabilisation reforms, noting improvements in key indicators and steady expansion across major sectors of the economy.

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Early data for 2026, according to the report, suggested that growth momentum had been sustained, although global tensions posed a mild drag on economic activity.

A major focus of the publication was early childhood development, which the World Bank described as critical to Nigeria’s long-term growth. It stressed that stronger investment in human capital is essential for translating macroeconomic gains into job creation, poverty reduction, and improved living standards.

The report painted a worrying picture of child welfare in the country, revealing that more than 110 out of every 1,000 children die before the age of five, while many others fail to meet basic developmental milestones due to poor nutrition, limited access to healthcare, and inadequate early education.

It warned that without urgent intervention, Nigeria risks missing out on the demographic dividend expected from its young population.

In addition, the report reportedly addressed ongoing structural reforms, including exchange rate unification, fiscal adjustments, and subsidy removals, noting that while these measures have helped stabilise the economy, their full benefits will depend on sustained implementation and targeted social support for vulnerable households.

However, parts of the report—particularly policy recommendations around the downstream petroleum sector—have drawn attention. The World Bank was said to have advised that Nigeria may need to continue importing petrol (PMS) in the short term to ensure supply stability while transitioning to a fully liberalised and competitive market.

The recommendation comes amid ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and has been viewed by some analysts as sensitive, given the country’s push for domestic refining capacity.

In a subsequent clarification following reactions, the World Bank emphasised that its recommendations should be seen within the broader context of energy security, market stability, and global supply uncertainties, rather than as a fixed policy directive.

The NDU is a bi-annual flagship report that evaluates Nigeria’s economic and social developments and provides policy guidance for sustainable growth.

As of the time of filing this report, the World Bank has not issued an official explanation for the removal of the April 2026 edition, fuelling speculation that the document may be undergoing revisions or internal review.

Economists say the development highlights the sensitivity of reform-related recommendations in Nigeria’s current economic climate, particularly those touching on fuel policy and social welfare, as the country navigates a delicate recovery path.

World Bank Deletes Nigeria Development Update Report Days After Release