By Seyi Akinbodewa | Agora Policy convened a high-level policy dialogue on Thursday, 12th March 2026, bringing together senior policymakers, private sector leaders, civil society representatives, development partners, and researchers to examine the progress and direction of Nigeria’s major economic reforms.

Themed “Sustaining and Deepening Economic Reforms in Nigeria,” the event was held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja. It provided a platform for assessing the macroeconomic impact of recent reforms, including fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate liberalisation, monetary tightening, and electricity tariff adjustments. It also served an avenue for discussing strategies for consolidating gains of the reforms while addressing transitional social and economic pressures.

The dialogue was organised with support from the Nigeria Economic Stability and Transformation (NEST) programme, an initiative of the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Agora Policy also partnered with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) in organising the dialogue. 

Ms. Ojobo Atuluku, Board Chair of Agora Policy, gave the welcome address and set the tone for the event. She emphasized the need for continuous dialogue between those who design reforms, those who implement them, and those who are impacted by them. Her remarks underscored that for reforms to be sustainable, they must be inclusive and their gains well distributed and their "pains minimised" to maintain public trust. Her address was followed by goodwill messages from Mr. Mahesh Mishra of the British High Commission and Mr. Henry Adigun of NEST, both of whom spoke about the importance of regular consultation and the readiness of the UK government to support inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development in Nigeria. 

A central feature of the event was the presentation of findings from the new study by Agora Policy on the economic and social impact of the reforms. The study highlighted significant macroeconomic gains, including strengthened foreign reserves, reduced fiscal pressure from subsidy payments, and greater exchange rate transparency. At the same time, it highlighted significant short-term challenges, particularly rising costs of living, increased business expenses, and heightened pressure on vulnerable households. The highlight was presented by Dr. Mohammed Shuaibu of the University of Abuja.

The panel session featured Dr. Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, Deputy Governor (Economic Policy), Central Bank of Nigeria; Ms. Sanyade Okoli, Special Adviser to the President on Finance and the Economy; Dr. Chinyere Almona, Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Dr. Hussaini Abdu, Country Director, CARE International; and Dr. Samer Matta, Senior Economist for World Bank Nigeria. The session was moderated by Mr. Rotus Oddiri, anchor of “The Global Business Report” on Arise News.

The discussion revolved around the sequencing and management of reforms, the adequacy of social protection mechanisms, the impact on businesses and households, monetary policy priorities, infrastructure and energy reforms, price stability, youth employment, and the broader political economy of sustaining reforms.

Panelists and participants underscored that while the reforms address long-standing structural distortions in Nigeria’s economy, their long-term success will depend on stronger implementation frameworks, expanded and better-targeted social protection systems, improved coordination between federal and state governments, and complementary policies that translate macroeconomic stability into inclusive growth, job creation, and improved livelihoods.

The dialogue concluded with an interactive session that enabled stakeholders from across sectors to engage directly with policymakers, reinforcing the importance of continuous engagement, transparency, and institutional collaboration in sustaining Nigeria’s reform trajectory.

Among the many notable attendees were: Ms. Alice Clarke, Senior Economic Adviser, FCDO; Mr. Chris Okeke, Senior Governance Adviser FCDO; Dr. Fiseha Haile, Lead Economist, World Bank; Mr. Chris Ngwodo, Director General of the Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience; Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, Chairman of ThisDay Editorial Board; Prof. Salamatu Isah of  Ahmadu Bello University (ABU); Prof. Remi Aiyede of University of Ibadan; Prof. Mutaka Usman of ABU; Dr. Henry Asogwa of University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN); Dr. Adamu Jibril of Gombe State University; Prof. Damilola Agbalajobi of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU); Dr. Ismail Sanusi and Dr. Kabir Salihu of ABU; Ms. Glory Eze, Mr Akin-Olusoji Akinyele, Ms. Yetunde Adegoke, Mr. Ajibola Alfred and Ms. Aishatu Abdullaji of NEST; Mr. Amara Nwankpa, Director General, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation; Ms. Tengi George-Ikoli of the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI); Mr. Oluseun Onigbinde of BudgIT; Mr. Eze Onyekpere of the Centre for Social Justice(CSJ); Dr. Umar Yakubu of the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CFTPI); and Mr. Olusegun Elemo, the Executive Director of Paradigm Leadership Supportive Initiative (PLSI). 

Below are some pictures from the event: