Nigeria’s economic activity showed further signs of momentum in December 2025, as the latest Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) indicated sustained expansion across key sectors. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reported that the Composite Index reached 57.6 points last month, marking the strongest growth signal in nearly five years and comfortably above the 50-point threshold that separates contraction from expansion.
According to the bank’s press statement, signed by Acting Director of Corporate Communications Hakama Sidi Ali, the reading reflects widespread improvement in employment-generating industries, underscoring a broad-based recovery in business activity across the economy.
Sector-specific PMI scores illustrated this strength: agriculture led the way with a robust 58.5 points, industry followed at 57.0, while services remained firmly in expansionary territory at 51.9 points. Overall, 32 of the 36 subsectors tracked by the survey recorded growth in key metrics such as production levels, new business orders, and workforce expansion.
The CBN attributed the positive momentum to rising domestic demand and enhanced productive activity, particularly outside the oil sector. Officials highlighted that macroeconomic stabilisation efforts, aimed at improving the business climate and boosting investor confidence, were bearing fruit. Measures to support job creation, operational efficiency, and overall economic optimism have helped sustain the momentum through the final quarter of the year.
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“The December PMI reading reinforces expectations of a stable growth outlook as Nigeria transitions into the new year,” the bank noted.
Analysts suggest that the performance points to a resilient non-oil economy, driven by sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, and services, which continue to generate employment and support household income. Businesses surveyed reported expanding orders and production, signaling continued confidence in the domestic market.
The December PMI data provides a timely boost to policymakers, indicating that the ongoing reforms and interventions are creating a favorable environment for economic growth. As Nigeria moves into 2026, sustained expansion in employment and production will be critical to maintaining momentum and further strengthening the non-oil economy.