Agriculture. Improvements on several fronts can help raise both the volume and value of Nigerian agricultural production in the next 15 years. The sector, which is now the largest at 22% of GDP, could more than double from $112bn per year in 2013 to $263bn by 2030. This would require raising yields through greater use of fertiliser, seeds, and mechanised implements; shifting the crop mix to more valuable crops; increasing the amount of land under cultivation; reducing post-harvest losses; and raising more livestock and increasing the output of forestry and fisheries.

Infrastructure. On average, the value of a nation’s core infrastructure – roads, railways, ports, airports, the electrical system – is about 70% of GDP; in Nigeria, core infrastructure is estimated to be about 35%-40% of GDP. It has one-seventh the roads per kilometre as India. On a per capita basis, Nigeria has one-third the residential buildings of Indonesia and one-sixth of the commercial space. Between core infrastructure and real estate, total infrastructure investments in Nigeria could reach $1.5tr between 2014 and 2030. This would not only make infrastructure building a major contributor to GDP, but also an enabler of growth across the economy.

Manufacturing. Manufacturing in Nigeria remains at a relatively early stage of development, contributing $35bn, or about 7% of GDP, in 2013. It has, however, achieved strong growth recently, with output rising by 13% per year from 2010 to 2013. Based on current trends, this could yield a four-fold increase in manufacturing output by 2030, to $144bn per year (an annual growth rate of 8.7%). Local processing (packaged foods, for example) and commodities would continue to be the largest manufacturing industries in Nigeria.

Oil and gas. While the oil and gas sector is expected to grow by 2.3% per year at best, its success is still vital to the Nigerian economy. With the right reforms, liquids production could increase from 2.35m barrels a day on average to a new high of 3.13m barrels a day by 2030, contributing $22bn to GDP by 2030. Natural gas output could grow by as much as 6% per year, adding $13bn to GDP by 2030. In total, the oil and gas sector has the potential to contribute $108bn per year by 2030, up from $73bn in 2013. However, this assumes that the sector is successful in dealing with current obstacles such as security and can attract fresh investment.

If Nigeria can better link growth to poverty reduction, 70m citizens could be lifted out of poverty and 120m could have the resources to reach the Empowerment Line. We estimate that, under the most favourable circumstances, for each percent of GDP growth, poverty would be reduced by 0.20%, a rate that is between the ratios of Brazil (0.15) and Ghana (0.25). Tying growth to rising living standards across the economy will depend on raising farm incomes and creating more formal urban jobs. It will also require actions by the government – including reconsidering tariffs that raise the cost of imported food and re-prioritising government spending needed to programmes that lead to economic empowerment.

While government has put in place clear strategies and plans for various sectors, the most important step that government can take now is to improve its ability to deliver its programmes and services. These range from “safety-net” support payments to the poor, to healthcare, education and infrastructure. Nigeria trails peer economies on metrics such as child mortality and literacy. Basic literacy among 15- to 24-year-olds – a crucial indicator for potential economic success – is just 66%, compared with 99% in South Africa, for example. A critical initiative for Nigeria, then, will be to adopt the best practices that have been well established around the world for improving delivery of government services. These include selecting strong, empowered leadership, raising pressure for government departments and agencies to perform, using “delivery units” (dedicated multi-disciplinary teams that can work across bureaucracies), and collaborating with the private sector and other stakeholders.

Nigeria can also capitalise on several favourable trends such as rising demand from emerging economies, growing global demand for resources, and the spread of the digital economy. Nigeria also has a young and rapidly-growing population and an advantageous geographic location in West Africa, which enables trade within the continent and with Europe and North and South America.

“By capitalising on its strengths and positioning itself to take advantage of emerging global trends, Nigeria could potentially triple its GDP by 2030,” says Acha Leke, a director in McKinsey’s Nigeria office. “This adds up to a huge opportunity for inclusive growth that should not be missed.”