World Bank deletes Nigeria development report from website — three days after release

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The World Bank has removed its Nigeria Development Update (NDU) report from its official website, just three days after its initial publication.

The report, titled “Nigeria’s Tomorrow Must Start Today: The Case for Early Childhood Development,” was released on April 7, 2026, but is no longer accessible online.

Attempts to download the document on Friday returned a “page not found” error, raising questions about the sudden removal.

Despite this, the press statement accompanying the report remains available, highlighting key insights into Nigeria’s economic outlook and human capital development.

Before its removal, the report indicated that Nigeria’s economy recorded a 4 percent growth in 2025, while inflation dropped to 15.1 percent in February 2026 from 26.3 percent recorded a year earlier. The improvement was attributed to tighter monetary policies and better food supply.

The report also stressed the urgent need for increased investment in early childhood development, noting that stronger human capital is essential for translating macroeconomic reforms into improved living standards and job creation.

It further revealed that Nigeria continues to face serious child development challenges, with more than 110 out of every 1,000 children dying before the age of five, while many others fail to meet basic developmental milestones.

The Washington-based institution also noted that Nigeria’s economy has shown signs of strengthening due to stabilisation reforms, with steady growth and improved macroeconomic indicators.

According to the report, early 2026 data suggested continued expansion across various sectors, although global tensions have slightly slowed momentum.

The Nigeria Development Update is a biannual publication that evaluates the country’s economic and social performance and offers policy recommendations for sustainable growth.

As of the time of filing this report, the World Bank has not issued any official explanation for the removal of the April 2026 edition from its website.