World Bank deletes report about Nigeria’s development from its website three days after release

The World Bank has removed its latest Nigeria Development Update (NDU) report from its website just days after publication, with no official explanation for the move.

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The report, titled “Nigeria’s Tomorrow Must Start Today: The Case for Early Childhood Development,” was released on April 7, but attempts to access it now return an error message stating “page not found.”

Despite the removal, the accompanying press statement remains available online, outlining key findings on Nigeria’s economic performance and human capital development.

According to the report, Nigeria’s economy grew by 4 percent in 2025, while inflation eased significantly to 15.1 percent in February 2026 from 26.3 percent a year earlier, driven by tighter monetary policy and improved food supply.

The report also stressed the importance of investing in early childhood development, noting that stronger human capital is essential for translating economic reforms into better living standards and job creation. It highlighted ongoing challenges, stating that more than 110 out of every 1,000 children in Nigeria die before the age of five, while many others fail to meet basic developmental milestones.

The Washington-based institution further noted that Nigeria’s economy has shown resilience due to recent stabilisation reforms, with early 2026 indicators pointing to continued growth across sectors despite some slowdown linked to global tensions.

The Nigeria Development Update is a biannual publication that evaluates economic and social trends and provides policy recommendations for sustainable growth. As of the time of reporting, the World Bank has not issued any official statement explaining why the April 2026 report was taken down.