PwC's 2026 Global CEO Survey: Nigerian perspective

CEOs’ confidence strengthens in Nigeria as leaders focus on reinvention, technology and ESG: PwC’s 2026 Nigerian CEO Survey

• 91% of Nigerian CEOs expect the economy to improve in 2026, up from 64% last year
• 56% are confident in revenue growth over the next 12 months, nearly double the global level (30%)
• Cyber risk and talent availability top threat concerns at 38% each, as macroeconomic pressures ease
• CEOs prioritise reinvention across technology, AI, cybersecurity, sustainability and, innovation execution

Lagos, Nigeria — 3 February 2026 – Nigerian CEOs are entering 2026 with renewed confidence, supported by improving macroeconomic stability, according to PwC’s 29th Annual Global CEO Survey: Nigerian Perspective.

This year’s survey shows a significant rise in optimism: 91% of Nigerian CEOs expect the country’s economy to improve in the next 12 months, compared with 64% in the previous year. This sentiment is reflected at the organisational level, where 56% say they are very or extremely confident in their revenue growth outlook, nearly twice the global average of 30%.

Threat landscape shifts from macroeconomic pressures to firm-level risks

While CEO confidence is rising, the risk landscape facing Nigerian businesses remains evolving and uneven. The share of CEOs highly exposed to inflation fell sharply from 58% to 34%, and concerns about macroeconomic volatility dropped from 39% to 25%.

In place of macro pressures, cybersecurity and talent availability have emerged as the most significant concerns, each cited by 38% of CEOs. Concerns about technological disruption has also risen to 25%, reflecting the increasing integration of digital tools and AI into core operations. Uncertainty relating to tariffs is a new consideration as governments globally recalibrate tax policy to support national interests, secure supply chains, and address fiscal shortfalls. Twenty-two percent of CEOs in Nigeria report being highly concerned about the impact of tariffs on their business, signalling continued sensitivity to global trade policy shifts, border measures, and domestic tax reforms.

The road to reinvention in 2026

The report highlights four priority areas driving CEO action in Nigeria: strategic reinvention; technology, data and AI; cybersecurity and trust; and sustainability and ESG.

Reinvention as a strategic imperative

Nearly half of CEOs (47%) say their companies have expanded into new sectors over the past five years. Technology leads as the most attractive sector for further expansion (28%), followed by power and utilities (25%) and telecommunications (22%). However, geographic expansion remains cautious, with 56% not planning international investment in the next 12 months.

AI adoption grows, but integration remains limited

Nigerian CEOs recognise the transformative potential of AI but adoption remains focused on defined use cases rather than enterprise-wide integration. A quarter of CEOs report applying AI extensively in customer-facing activities such as sales and service, and in products and services. Only 9% apply AI at scale to strategic decision-making.

Cybersecurity and trust rise to the top of CEO priorities

With 38% reporting high exposure to cyber threats, CEOs are taking action. Three in four (75%) plan to strengthen enterprise-wide cybersecurity in the next three years. Trust pressures from stakeholders are also rising: 25% of CEOs report increased demands for transparency, while scrutiny of leadership decisions is up 19%.

Sustainability and ESG integration gather momentum

Talent availability is the most significant ESG-linked risk, with 38% of CEOs reporting high or extreme exposure. Social inequality is also rising as a business concern, cited by 25% of CEOs due to its impact on demand and workforce stability. 

Climate-related risk, while still secondary, is rising quickly, up from 3% in 2025 to 13% in 2026, pointing to growing awareness of climate-related business impacts and the implications of forthcoming sustainability reporting requirements, including the mandatory adoption of ISSB Standards or IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards.

Sustainability considerations are increasingly influencing strategic choices. Climate-risk processes are already shaping operational decisions, with 41% embedding climate criteria in supply chain management and 38% integrating them into capital allocation and mergers and acquisitions decisions.