Nigeria's businesses are hiring, expanding and eyeing exports — growth hits a four-year high

Nigeria's private sector just had its best month in four years. September's PMI — a survey-based score where anything above 50 means growth — rose to 56.4, a four-year high. The economy is estimated to have grown 4.56% year-on-year in the third quarter, with full-year growth projected at about 4.4% against 3.87% in 2025. Companies told surveyors they're more optimistic about the next 12 months and are planning expansions, new branches and exports. For an economy of over 200 million people, that optimism is not abstract — it's jobs, shelves stocked, and businesses betting on themselves.