Nigeria enters 2026 standing at a crossroads. Over the past two years, the country has embarked on some of the most significant and audacious economic reforms seen in decades. Fuel subsidies were removed, the foreign exchange market was liberalised, and difficult decisions were made to address long-standing structural distortions. These reforms were never going to be painless. For millions of Nigerians, the cost of living has risen sharply. Food prices remain high, businesses continue to struggle with operating costs, and households are feeling the pressure of rising inflation. Yet many economists argue that these reforms, while painful, were necessary to prevent deeper economic challenges in the future.