Africa’s Digital Credit Market Moves from Rapid Growth to Regulatory Oversight
29th January 2026 After years of rapid expansion fueled by mobile money, Africa’s digital credit market is entering a regulatory phase. Governments across the continent are formalizing loan apps through licensing and conduct standards, aiming to curb abuses while maintaining access to credit. Bonface Orucho, of Bird Story Agency, observes that regulators are reasserting […]
Zambia Rewires Its Power System to Anchor Southern Africa’s Energy Trade
28th January 2026 Zambia is undertaking a comprehensive reform of its power sector aimed at addressing domestic electricity shortages while positioning the country as a strategic power hub in Southern Africa. This approach combines large-scale generation expansion, diversification of energy sources, grid modernization, and deeper regional power integration. A central element of this strategy is […]
Growing Chinese Exports to Africa Push Trade Gap to Record US$102 Billion Despite U.S. Pressure
27th January 2026 Since its introduction, the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between South Africa and the United Kingdom has delivered measurable trade benefits, enabling South African exporters to avoid tariffs on goods valued at approximately R50 billion in 2024 alone. These savings have supported export-led growth, employment, and the strengthening of bilateral trade relations. […]
Sierra Leone Marks AfCFTA Milestone, President Bio Seeks Investment
27th January 2026 President Julius Maada Bio has positioned Sierra Leone as a leading example of AfCFTA implementation, announcing that the country has become the first to complete and gazette its National AfCFTA Readiness Assessment and Schedule of Commitments. Speaking at the Forum Friends of the AfCFTA Breakfast Meeting during the World Economic Forum […]
European Union and Mercosur Sign Landmark Free Trade Agreement
26th January 2026 After more than 25 years of negotiations, the European Union and the Mercosur bloc of South American countries have formally signed a landmark free trade agreement, marking a major step toward deeper economic integration between the two regions. The agreement, signed in Asunción, Paraguay, still requires ratification by the European Parliament […]
West Africa Industrial Summit to focus on turning trade gains into manufacturing growth
26th January 2026. West Africa’s expanding intra-African trade and renewed emphasis on industrial development are expected to feature prominently at the West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing & Trade Summit and Exhibition (West Africa IMT 2026), scheduled to take place in Lagos from March 3 to 5. The event comes against a backdrop of growing regional […]
AfCFTA SG: Infrastructure, Transport, and Logistics Costs Remain High
26th January 2026 The Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wamkele Mene, has highlighted persistently high costs related to infrastructure, transport, logistics, and trade finance as major constraints to Africa’s ability to benefit from the emerging “new economy.” Speaking at a World Economic Forum session in Davos on unlocking new sources […]
Africa’s Digital Economy Faces $720 Billion Test as AfCFTA Shifts to Execution
23rd January 2026 Africa’s digital economy could reach $720 billion by 2050, offering a major source of growth and employment for a continent with the world’s youngest population African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is shifting focus to execution, with digital trade emerging as a key component in delivering growth at scale. Speaking at the […]
Nigeria-UAE pact to boost Trade, Logistics and Investment Flows
19th January 2026 Nigeria has concluded a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab Emirates, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral economic relations. Signed on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in the presence of President Bola Tinubu and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the agreement establishes a […]
Africa Upgrades Key Corridors As Port Expansion Reshapes Regional Trade
16th January 2026 Major upgrades to Africa’s ports and regional transport corridors are driving efforts to resolve long-standing trade bottlenecks, with governments and private investors aiming to enhance intra-African commerce and strengthen the continent’s role in global supply chains. Across West, East, and Southern Africa, infrastructure projects—including new deep-sea ports, rail lines, and cross-border […]
AfCFTA accelerates implementation amid global trade uncertainty
14th January 2026 The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat concluded the 2nd AfCFTA Business Forum in Marrakech, Morocco, underscoring the urgency of accelerating the implementation of the trade agreement amid rising global tariffs and shifting international trade dynamics. At the forum, Secretary-General Wamkele Mene emphasized the need to remove intra-African trade […]
Digital Payments Drive Africa’s Intra-Trade Ambitions
14th January 2026 African policymakers and market participants are increasingly leveraging digital payment systems to accelerate intra-continental trade, aiming to transform the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) from a legal framework into a fully operational commercial ecosystem. Historically, cross-border trade in Africa has been slowed by multiple currency conversions, reliance on correspondent banks […]
FG takes stock of Nigeria’s AfCFTA performance, affirms progress
14th January 2026 The Federal Government has positioned Nigeria as a leading force in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), citing a series of landmark achievements in 2025 that underscore the country’s commitment to trade-led regional integration. Under the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, […]
2026: FG To Partner Governors On Non-Oil Exports Under AfCFTA
14th January 2026 Nigeria has announced plans to significantly deepen its participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in 2026 by driving export-oriented production at the grassroots level. The Federal Government intends to work with state governors to identify at least one exportable product from each of the country’s 774 local […]
Ghana Proposes Trade Framework with US Amid AGOA Uncertainty
14th January 2026 Ghana and the United States have initiated high-level discussions aimed at establishing a comprehensive trade cooperation framework as both countries prepare for a post-AGOA trade environment. The talks, held in Washington between Ghana’s Trade Minister Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare, Ghana’s Ambassador to the US Victor Emmanuel Smith, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Lee […]
Nigeria’s AfCFTA execution is finally lowering cross-border trade costs
14th January 2026 For For investors and exporters, trade agreements only become meaningful when they begin to affect costs, timelines, and risk. Until then, they remain largely political commitments. For several years, Nigeria’s engagement with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) largely fell into that category. Although the country signed and ratified the agreement […]
Nigeria Set for Carbon Trading as Tinubu Approves New Framework
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the Carbon Market Framework for Nigeria, a major policy step expected to position the country as an active player in the global climate economy and unlock billions of dollars in green investments. The approval was disclosed by the Director General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Mrs. […]
ANALYSIS AND CALL FOR URGENT ACTION ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS (ON ALLEGED LEAD POISONING) IN OGIJO, OGUN STATE, AND PROPOSED PATHWAYS FOR GOVERNANCE AND REMEDIATION
1.0 INTRODUCTION The largely rural community of Ogijo in Ogun State has recently drawn national attention following reports that suggest possible environmental and public health concerns. It is currently viewed as a location where indications of contamination may exist, although full verification is still underway. Lead is an extremely toxic metal, and the […]
WTO members review five regional trade agreements, discuss transparency issues
At the WTO Committee on Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) meeting held on 2 December, members reviewed five RTAs involving countries including China, Ecuador, Israel, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Türkiye, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The meeting also addressed broader topics under the Transparency Mechanism for RTAs. Ambassador José Valencia of Ecuador, […]
Global financial system must adapt to better serve economy
The UN Trade and Development Agency (UNCTAD) has warned that the global financial system risks undermining international trade if it fails to adapt to evolving economic needs, with developing countries, including African economies, likely to be most affected. The report highlights that financial markets increasingly drive global trade, with credit lines, payment systems, currency markets, […]
SADC shifts focus to digitalising regional trade corridors
SADC is shifting its transport corridor strategy from building new infrastructure to enhancing the management and efficiency of existing corridors. Governments are increasingly focusing on digitalising border posts, sharing customs data, and strengthening corridor management institutions. Transport corridor consultant Lovemore Bingandadi highlights that regional integration is a gradual process, with member states progressing at different speeds. […]
AfCFTA at Five: Nigeria’s services boom leaves small exporters behind
Since ratifying the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in 2020, Nigeria has viewed the agreement as a transformative opportunity to shift from oil dependency toward production, trade, and continental integration. Five years on, the federal government completed its first implementation review, assessing progress under Phase I Protocols covering Trade in Goods, Trade in Services, […]
NUPRC Launches 2025 Oil & Gas Licensing Round, Targets $10 Billion Investment
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has officially commenced the 2025 Oil and Gas Licensing Round, projecting up to $10 billion in new investments. The licensing round, approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, offers 50 oil and gas blocks across onshore, shallow water, frontier basins, and deepwater terrains. The bid process will run for […]
FEC approves IP, talent export, AfCFTA reforms to drive digital economy
The recent approval of three transformative policies by Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) marks a strategic pivot toward a digital and knowledge-based economy. These policies—focused on Intellectual Property (IP) reform, digital trade under AfCFTA, and services export coordination—form an integrated framework for innovation-led growth. National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy (NIPPS) This is Nigeria’s […]
Germany-Nigeria trade volume rises 30% to €3 billion
Germany–Nigeria trade relations have entered a renewed phase of growth and cooperation, with total trade volume rising by 30% to reach €3 billion—cementing Nigeria’s position as Germany’s second-largest trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa. According to Ambassador Annett Gunther, this growth reflects Nigeria’s gradual economic recovery and renewed investor confidence. Over 90 German companies now operate […]
Modern Infrastructure Financing: Bridging Nigeria’s infrastructure gap through innovative and sustainable financing models
Nigeria stands at a pivotal juncture in its development trajectory. As Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy, its growth potential is immense — yet persistently undermined by a severe infrastructure deficit. With infrastructure stock estimated at only 30% of GDP, well below global norms, the nation’s aspirations for prosperity and competitiveness hinge on a […]
Developing countries call for fairer global rules as crises deepen
At the 16th UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD16) in Geneva, government ministers from the Group of 77 and China (G77) reaffirmed their commitment to collective action in addressing the world’s most pressing economic challenges — including rising debt, weak investment, and digital inequality. The conference, held under the theme “Shaping the Future: Driving Economic Transformation for […]
AfCFTA: Africa loses $5bn annually in foreign exchange transactions
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat has disclosed that Africa loses approximately $5 billion annually through foreign exchange (FX) transactions, a challenge that continues to increase the cost of doing business across the continent. This financial drain, according to the Secretariat, poses a serious barrier to Africa’s economic growth and competitiveness, limiting the […]
Martin’s Drift Border Post enhances Regional Trade efficiency
In a significant step toward deepening regional economic integration, the Martin’s Drift border post—linking Botswana and South Africa—was the focus of a comprehensive study The study, carried out from 21 to 23 October 2025 under the leadership of Senior Programme Officer Alcides Monteiro, assessed key operational factors including the implementation of the Coordinated Border […]
Africa’s next chapter will be built, not announced
Africa stands at a pivotal juncture where its long-term aspirations, framed in Agenda 2063 and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, must evolve from planning to tangible implementation. The focus has shifted from drafting strategies to executing finance-ready projects that generate jobs, stimulate industry, and enhance public services. At the heart of this transformation is the […]