Nigeria’s economy maintained measurable momentum in Q3 2025, although overall growth moderated slightly compared with the strong expansion reported in Q2.
Fresh GDP data shows that several key sectors, notably extractive industries, transportation, and financial services, posted robust gains despite persistent inflationary pressures, currency volatility, and other macroeconomic headwinds.
The fastest-growing industries were largely propelled by rising domestic demand, targeted investment in infrastructure and operational efficiencies, and supportive policy interventions across sectors.
While some sectors experienced temporary slowdowns, others (particularly mining, coal, and rail transport) recorded double-digit growth, underscoring pockets of resilience in the economy.
Below, we profile the ten fastest-growing sectors in Nigeria as of Q3 2025, highlighting the drivers and trends shaping their performance.
Q1 2025: 25.20% | Q2 2025: –6.96%
Metal ores emerged as the fastest-growing sector in Q3 2025, rebounding sharply to 59.11% after contracting in Q2. The 2025 performance has been highly volatile, with strong expansion in Q1, a dip into negative territory in Q2, and a remarkable surge in Q3.
This reflects improved export operations, better access to mining inputs, and renewed investor interest in solid minerals due to global demand for metals used in manufacturing and clean-energy technologies. Despite the Q2 headwind, the year has been net positive, showcasing the sector’s growth potential and sensitivity to operational disruptions.
There was a strong rebound from Q3 2024, but part of the growth is due to Q2 2025 contraction (–6.96%), creating a high base effect reversal. Global metal demand and improved exports also contributed.
