Nigeria has unveiled an investment pipeline of 65 bankable projects requiring a combined $78.5 billion in private-sector investment, as the Federal Government seeks to accelerate economic growth towards a 7 per cent target by 2027/2028 and generate hundreds of thousands of jobs. The projects were presented by Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Olayemi Cardoso at the Nigeria Investors Forum on the sidelines of the 2026 International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand.
Key Highlights
- Nigeria unveils 65 investment-ready projects requiring $78.5 billion in private capital.
- The Federal Government targets 7 per cent economic growth by 2027/2028.
- Energy and transport account for approximately $61.4 billion of the proposed investment pipeline.
- The government estimates that implementing all 65 projects could generate about 366,763 jobs.
- Flagship opportunities include the Lagos Greenline Railway, crude oil evacuation infrastructure, fertiliser production and steel manufacturing.
- The Nigeria Deal Room and Projects Nigeria portal are intended to connect investors with project sponsors and financing opportunities.
- The government says reforms in taxation, foreign exchange and the banking sector are intended to strengthen investor confidence.
Nigeria Presents $78.5bn Investment Plan at IMF-World Bank Meetings
The investment portfolio was presented at a forum designed to connect international investors with projects seeking private financing in Nigeria.
Oyedele said the government wanted to move beyond macroeconomic stabilisation towards faster growth, investment expansion and job creation. The initiative is intended to convert improving economic indicators and investor interest into projects that can reach financial close and begin implementation.
The 65 projects cover energy, transport, industry, mining, agriculture, technology, healthcare and urban services. Their combined funding requirement is estimated at $78.5 billion, with the government seeking investment through private capital, project finance, equity and debt arrangements, public-private partnerships and climate finance.
The success of the initiative will depend on whether the proposed projects can attract financing, secure necessary approvals and overcome implementation challenges.
Energy and Transport Account for Nearly 78% of Investment Needs
Energy and transport infrastructure dominate the investment pipeline, accounting for approximately $61.4 billion of the total funding requirement.
The sectoral breakdown provided in reports is as follows:
| Sector | Number of projects | Estimated investment |
|---|---|---|
| Oil, gas and power | 25 | $36.4bn |
| Transport and maritime infrastructure | 8 | $25bn |
| Industry, manufacturing and mining | 17 | $6.6bn |
| Agriculture and agro-processing | 6 | $9.8bn |
| Technology, healthcare and urban services | 9 | $700m |
| Total | 65 | $78.5bn |
Source: Investment pipeline figures reported from the Nigeria Investors Forum. Figures are rounded.
The distribution highlights the scale of capital required to expand Nigeria’s energy supply, improve transport connections and strengthen industrial production.
However, the large concentration of funding in energy and transport also means that attracting investment into these sectors will be particularly important to the overall plan.
Flagship Projects Seeking Private Investment
The proposed portfolio includes several major projects across Nigeria’s economy.
Among the opportunities highlighted are:
- Project Reliaxx: A crude oil evacuation and midstream infrastructure platform requiring approximately $1.7 billion.
- Lagos Greenline Railway: A proposed urban rail project with an estimated cost of $1.29 billion.
- Multipurpose Industrial Platforms Limited: An ammonia and phosphate fertiliser project requiring about $2.69 billion.
- Premium Steel and Mines: An integrated steel production upgrade estimated at approximately $1.25 billion.
- New Port City: A proposed development requiring around $1.6 billion.
- PELIA Flare-Gas AI Data Centre: A project valued at approximately $355.6 million.
The pipeline also includes larger investments such as the Ondo Modular Refinery and strategic deep-sea port projects.
According to figures cited in reports, 17 projects each require at least $1 billion and collectively account for more than $72 billion of the pipeline. This concentration indicates that securing a relatively small number of large transactions could be central to mobilising most of the proposed investment.
Government Targets 366,763 Jobs From the Projects
The Federal Government estimates that full implementation of the 65 projects could generate approximately 366,763 jobs.
The expected employment opportunities would span construction, energy production, transport, manufacturing, agriculture, technology and supporting services.
Agriculture and agro-processing projects could support farming communities and local supply chains, while industrial investments could expand domestic production and create demand for skilled and semi-skilled workers.
However, the projected jobs depend on the projects securing financing and progressing to implementation. The estimate should therefore be treated as a government projection rather than a count of jobs already created.
The number of permanent jobs, temporary construction positions and indirect employment opportunities will also depend on the structure and scale of each investment.
Projects Nigeria Portal to Connect Investors With Opportunities
To support the investment drive, the government has established a dedicated Nigeria Deal Room and the Projects Nigeria portal.
The platforms are intended to provide project information, outline financing structures and connect prospective investors with project sponsors and relevant government authorities.
Available financing options are expected to include public-private partnerships, project finance, equity and debt funding, as well as climate finance where appropriate.
The government says the platforms will help investors examine opportunities and resolve obstacles that could delay viable transactions.
For the initiative to deliver results, investors will need access to reliable project documentation, clear commercial terms, transparent procurement processes and predictable regulatory arrangements.
Oyedele Targets 7% Growth, Challenges IMF Projection
Oyedele said Nigeria was targeting economic growth of 7 per cent by 2027/2028, describing the IMF’s reported 4.3 per cent growth projection for 2027 as conservative.
He argued that the next stage of the government’s economic programme should focus on expanding productive activity and translating reforms into jobs and investment.
The Nigerian delegation cited several economic indicators in support of its position, including second-quarter 2026 growth of approximately 4.4 per cent, four consecutive months of declining inflation and foreign reserves exceeding $55 billion.
Inflation was reported at 14.63 per cent in September 2026, while the government cited a tax-to-GDP ratio of 12.5 per cent and public debt of approximately 36 per cent of GDP.
These figures represent the indicators presented by officials in support of the growth ambition. Achieving the target will depend on sustained economic expansion, investment execution, productivity improvements and the management of inflation and other macroeconomic risks.
Cardoso Highlights Oil Production, Banking Reforms and Infrastructure
CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso also backed the 7 per cent growth ambition, linking it to higher oil production, improved financial intermediation and increased infrastructure investment.
Cardoso said Nigeria aimed to raise oil production towards three million barrels per day and increase its infrastructure stock to 75 per cent of GDP.
He also highlighted banking-sector recapitalisation, reporting that banks had raised approximately ₦4.6 trillion, largely from the domestic market.
According to the officials, foreign-exchange market stability had improved, the gap between official and parallel-market rates had narrowed substantially, and formal remittance inflows had increased.
Oyedele and Cardoso also reiterated the government’s position against returning to fuel subsidies or multiple exchange rates, arguing that consistency in economic policy was important to maintaining investor confidence.
The investment drive is therefore being presented as part of a broader effort to turn macroeconomic reforms into higher production, infrastructure expansion and employment.
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Nigeria Outlines Investor Protection Measures and Incentives
The government also highlighted incentives intended to attract foreign and domestic investors.
These include the possibility of 100 per cent foreign ownership in most sectors, repatriation of capital and profits subject to applicable requirements, and access to investment protections under relevant agreements.
Officials cited 17 double-taxation agreements, 13 bilateral investment treaties and a five-year tax credit of 5 per cent annually on qualifying capital expenditure under the Economic Development Incentive.
The measures are intended to reduce investment barriers and improve the predictability of doing business in Nigeria.
However, prospective investors will need to confirm the eligibility conditions, sector-specific restrictions and applicable legal requirements before relying on any incentive.
World Bank and International Partners Signal Support
President Bola Tinubu welcomed a parallel World Bank Group effort to mobilise up to $5.79 billion in private financing for Nigeria through policy reforms, investment platforms, risk mitigation and commercial financing.
The World Bank also reaffirmed support for power and infrastructure through guarantee instruments designed to help reduce risks for investors.
The IMF pledged continued technical assistance in areas including fiscal governance, transparency and statistics. Other cooperation commitments were reported from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the United States Treasury and the European Union.
Such support could help strengthen project preparation and financing structures, although the amount mobilised will depend on the terms of individual transactions and the completion of relevant approvals.
Can Nigeria Turn the $78.5bn Pipeline Into Actual Investment?
Nigeria’s 65-project investment pipeline represents an effort to connect its economic growth ambitions with specific opportunities for private capital.
The proposed projects span critical sectors, particularly energy and transport, while the government expects the portfolio to generate more than 366,000 jobs if fully implemented.
However, announcing a project pipeline is only the first step. Turning the proposals into completed investments will require bankable feasibility studies, transparent procurement, credible financing arrangements, effective regulation and timely execution.
For Nigeria, the key test will be whether investor interest translates into signed financing agreements, construction activity, operational projects and sustainable employment.
The government has invited prospective investors to examine opportunities through the Projects Nigeria platform and pledged to help address obstacles facing viable deals. The outcome will determine how much of the $78.5 billion pipeline can be converted into productive investment and contribute to the country’s 7 per cent growth ambition.
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