By Janefrances Chibuzor
The United Kingdom and Nigeria have launched two flagship economic reform programmes aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s macroeconomic stability, improving fiscal resilience, and accelerating private-sector growth. Unveiled on Thursday by the British High Commission in Abuja, the Nigeria Economic Stability & Transformation (NEST) programme and the Nigeria Public Finance Facility (NPFF) represent a £12.4 million UK investment and form a central pillar of the UK-Nigeria mutual growth partnership.
Speaking at the launch, Cynthia Rowe, Head of Development Cooperation at the British High Commission, said the programmes embody the shared commitment of both nations to reinforcing the fundamentals that drive long-term economic confidence and growth.
The unveiling followed the inaugural meeting of the Joint UK-Nigeria Steering Committee, which endorsed the programmes and highlighted strong alignment on priority reform areas.
Special Adviser to the President on Finance and the Economy, Sanyade Okoli, who represented the Nigerian government, described the collaboration as timely support for Nigeria’s ongoing reform agenda. According to her, the programmes will provide vital technical assistance as the country works to strengthen fiscal resilience, enhance macroeconomic stability, and unlock inclusive growth.
British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Jonny Baxter, noted that NEST and NPFF are central to the shared strategy for long-term prosperity under the UK-Nigeria mutual growth partnership.
The launch event drew senior officials from the Ministry of Finance, Central Bank of Nigeria, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Debt Management Office, Budget Office of the Federation, as well as international development partners.
