Atiku Bagudu says President Tinubu wants Nigeria to become a $2 trillion economy, pointing to the country’s human and material resources.

Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, says President Bola Tinubu is pursuing an ambition to grow the country’s economy to $2 trillion, using Brazil as an example of what Nigeria could achieve.

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Bagudu made the statement on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, in Abuja, during the unveiling of the All Progressives Congress (APC) manifesto for 2027 to 2031, titled From Reforms to Prosperity.

The minister, who chaired the committee responsible for the manifesto’s unveiling, said Tinubu believed Nigeria should not limit its economic ambitions when countries such as Brazil had built economies worth trillions of dollars.

“For Mr President, if Brazil can be a $2 trillion economy, why not Nigeria?” Bagudu said.

He argued that Nigeria possessed the human and material resources needed to reach that level, provided the right policies were implemented.

He also said the President remained determined to confront longstanding economic challenges rather than postpone difficult decisions for political convenience.

Bagudu pointed to the removal of the petrol subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange rates as major policy decisions taken by Tinubu after assuming office in May 2023.

He described the measures as necessary to address structural weaknesses in the economy.

The minister also claimed that Nigeria had recorded 13 consecutive quarters of economic growth, while inflation was declining and conditions in the foreign exchange market were improving.

However, he acknowledged that the government still needed to do more to ensure ordinary Nigerians experienced the benefits of the reforms.

The APC manifesto, according to the government, sets out a broader programme covering national security, living standards, energy, infrastructure, economic growth and accountable governance.

It also outlines plans to expand domestic production, improve food security, increase exports and create employment opportunities.

Bagudu said the document reflected contributions from government officials, private-sector representatives, civil society organisations, policy experts and other stakeholders.

He maintained that the administration was committed to ensuring that economic growth translated into better living conditions for Nigerians.

However, the $2 trillion ambition represents a substantial expansion of Nigeria’s economy.

An International Monetary Fund report published in May 2026 estimated Nigeria’s nominal GDP at about $377 billion in 2025 and projected approximately $388 billion for 2026.

Reaching $2 trillion would therefore require sustained expansion in economic output, alongside conditions that support investment, productivity and currency stability.

Brazil’s economy, meanwhile, was projected by the IMF to reach approximately $2.65 trillion in 2026, providing context for the comparison made by the minister.

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The ambition now places renewed focus on how the administration intends to translate its economic reforms and the APC’s 2027–2031 policy commitments into measurable growth and improved living standards.