West Africa: Nigeria Daily - How Far Has Nigeria's Economy and Infrastructure Come From 1999 to Now?

14 January 2026

Nigeria began its Fourth Republic in 1999 with a fragile economy and severely weakened infrastructure after years of military rule.

Power supply was unreliable, roads and railways were in poor condition, and the country depended largely on crude oil exports for revenue.

More than two decades later, Nigeria's economy is larger, new infrastructure projects have emerged, and sectors such as telecommunications and digital services have expanded.

Yet, high inflation, unemployment, poverty, and infrastructure gaps continue to affect millions of citizens.

On this episode of Nigeria Daily, we examine the state of Nigeria's economy and infrastructure in 1999 compared with today, the indicators of progress, the challenges that remain, and what the future may hold for Africa's most populous nation.

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