Economy
AfCFTA: Nigeria Launches Trade Intelligence Tool, Air Cargo Corridor
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria has launched a cutting-edge Market Intelligence Tool and a dedicated East/Southern Africa Air Cargo Corridor, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Uganda Airlines as part of efforts to cement its leadership in African trade under the $3.4 trillion African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The twin initiatives, unveiled at the Bank of Industry (BoI) headquarters in Abuja by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, are designed to drastically cut logistics costs and empower Nigerian exporters, particularly women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises, MSMEs, with real-time trade data across 13 African markets.
The Nigeria-East/Southern Africa Market Intelligence Tool provides granular data on tariffs, trade flows, product demand, regulatory requirements, and buyer profiles, enabling Nigerian exporters to target high-growth sectors such as agribusiness, cosmetics, and textiles with surgical precision.
Speaking, Mr Jumoke Oduwole, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, said “With this launch, Nigeria is moving from ambition to execution. The success of this initiative will not be measured by applause, but by increased exports, expanded businesses, and transformed lives.
“This tool empowers Nigerian businesses to trade smarter. Exporters can now make data-driven decisions that reduce risk and increase profit. And with a fast, affordable air cargo route in place, we’re removing the physical barriers to market entry.” Oduwole said.
The cargo corridor, established in collaboration with Uganda Airlines and UND, offers exporters up to 75 per cent savings in freight costs, along with guaranteed delivery timelines to key logistics hubs in Nairobi, Entebbe, and Johannesburg.
Scheduled flights and dedicated cargo support will allow Nigerian goods to reach regional markets faster and more reliably than ever.
“This is not just a flight path, it’s a fast lane for Nigerian enterprise,” said Mr. Patrick Ziwa, Cargo Manager for Uganda Airlines, adding that the corridor was created “to meet the rising demand for seamless intra-African trade.”
The launch comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to operationalise its AfCFTA strategy, following a five-year review by the AfCFTA National Coordination Office, which called for more coherence in trade facilitation, productive capacity, and policy reforms.
“Nigeria is ready to lead Africa’s trade renaissance. By linking data with delivery, this initiative transforms raw trade statistics into real economic opportunities,” said Mr Nura Abba Rimi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment,
Also, Mrs Ify Ogo, UNDP Trade Expert, described the intelligence platform as a critical tool to expand Nigeria’s services trade schedule under AfCFTA. “This is about connecting ambition with infrastructure, both digital and physical.”
Women-led MSMEs, long marginalised in trade policy, stand to benefit significantly as Mrs Weyinmi Eribo, representing the West and Central African Women in Mining and Manufacturing Association, WCCIMMA, said the tool will give “visibility, dignity, and profitability” to female entrepreneurs.
“This marks a turning point for African women in trade. We now have access, insights, and logistics, all in one ecosystem,” Mrs Eribo said.
For her part, Mrs Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), highlighted that Nigeria’s non-oil exports are on the rise and will be further accelerated by these interventions.
“From potential to performance, that is the story we’re writing,” she said.
UNDP Nigeria Resident Representative Ms Elsie Attafuah, called the market tool a “game-changer,” adding that the combination of digital intelligence and logistics coordination represents a new model for inclusive, sustainable growth.
“Nigeria is demonstrating what AfCFTA-ready looks like: data-driven, gender-conscious, and logistics-empowered,” Ms Attafuah said.
Economy
NGX RegCo Cautions Investors on Recent Price Movements
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The investing public has been advised to exercise due diligence before trading stocks on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.
This caution was given by the NGX Regulation Limited (NGX RegCo), the independent regulatory arm of the NGX Group Plc.
The advisory became necessary in response to notable price movements observed in the shares of certain listed companies over recent trading sessions.
On Monday, the bourse suspended trading in the shares of newly-listed Zichis Agro-allied Industries Plc. The company’s stocks gained almost 900 per cent within a month of its listing on Customs Street.
In a statement today, NGX RegCo urged investors to avoid speculative trading based on unverified information and to consult licensed intermediaries such as stockbrokers or investment advisers when needed.
It explained that its advisory is part of its standard market surveillance functions, as it serves as a measured reminder for investors to prioritise informed and disciplined decision-making.
The notice emphasised that the Exchange will continue to monitor market activities closely in line with its mandate to ensure a fair, orderly, and transparent market.
“NGX RegCo encourages all investors to base their decisions on publicly available information, including a thorough assessment of company fundamentals, financial performance, and risk profile,” a part of the disclosure said.
It reassured all stakeholders that the NGX remains stable, well-regulated, and resilient, saying the platform continues to foster an environment where investors can participate with confidence, supported by robust oversight and transparent market operations.
“Our primary responsibility is to maintain a level playing field where market participants can trade with confidence, backed by timely and accurate information.
“This advisory is a routine communication, reinforcing that sound fundamentals, not speculation, remain the foundation for sustainable investment outcomes. We are fully committed to preserving the integrity and stability of our market,” the chief executive of NGX RegCo, Mr Olufemi Shobanjo, stated.
Economy
Stronger Taxpayer Confidence, Others Should Determine Tax Reform Success—Tegbe
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The chairman of the National Tax Policy Implementation Committee (NTPIC), Mr Joseph Tegbe, has tasked the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) to measure the success of the new tax laws by higher voluntary compliance rates, lower administrative costs, fewer disputes, faster resolution cycles, and stronger taxpayer confidence.
Speaking at the 2026 Leadership Retreat of the agency, Mr Tegbe said, “Sustainable revenue performance is built on trust and efficiency, not enforcement intensity,” emphasising that the legitimacy and predictability of the system are more critical than punitive measures.
He underscored that the country’s tax reform journey is at a critical juncture where effective implementation will determine long-term fiscal outcomes.
The NTPIC chief stressed that tax policy must serve as an enabler of governance, and should embody simplicity, equity, predictability, and administrability at scale.
These principles, he explained, foster voluntary compliance, reduce operational friction, and strengthen investor confidence. He warned that ad-hoc adjustments or policy drift could undermine reform momentum, unsettle businesses, and deter investment, which thrives on predictable rules rather than shifting announcements. Structured sequencing, clear transition mechanisms, and continuous feedback between policymakers and administrators are therefore critical to sustaining reform credibility.
Mr Tegbe further argued that revenue reform cannot succeed in isolation. Achieving sustainable gains requires a whole-of-government approach, leveraging robust taxpayer identification systems, integrated financial data, efficient dispute resolution, and harmonised coordination across federal and sub-national levels. This approach, he said, reduces leakages, eliminates multiple taxation, and reinforces confidence in the system.
He noted that the passage of four new tax laws marks only the beginning of a broader reform agenda, describing the initiative as a systemic recalibration of Nigeria’s fiscal architecture, rather than a routine policy update.
He further asserted that the true measure of success will be the credibility of implementation, not the design of the laws themselves.
The NRS, he noted, functions as the nation’s “Revenue System Integrator,” with outcomes reflecting the strength of an interconnected ecosystem that encompasses policy clarity, enforcement consistency, digital infrastructure, dispute resolution efficiency, and intergovernmental coordination.
Economy
NUPENG Seeks Clarity on New Oil, Gas Executive Order
By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Union of Natural and Gas Workers (NUPENG) has expressed deep concern over the Executive Order by President Bola Tinubu mandating the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to remit directly to the federation account.
In a statement signed by its president, Mr William Akporeha, over the weekend in Lagos, the union noted that the absence of detailed public engagement had naturally generated tension within the sector and heightened restiveness among workers, who are anxious to know how the new directive may affect their employment, welfare and job security, especially as it affects NNPC and other major operations in the oil and gas sector.
It pointed out that the industry remained the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, contributing significantly to national revenue, foreign exchange earnings, and employment.
The NUPENG president affirmed that any policy shift, particularly one introduced through an Executive Order, has far-reaching consequences for regulatory frameworks, Investment decisions, operational standards, and labour relations within the sector.
According to him, “there is an urgent need for clarity on the scope and objectives of the Executive Order -What precise reforms or adjustments does it introduce? “Its implications for the Petroleum Industry Act -Does the Order amend, interpret, or expand existing provisions under PIA?
“Impact on workers and existing labour agreements-Will it affect job security, conditions of service, Collective Bargaining agreements or ongoing restructuring processes within the industry? “Effects on indigenous participation and local content development -How will it affect Nigerian companies and employment opportunities for citizens?”
He warned that without proper consultation and explanation, misinterpretations of the Executive Order may spread across the industry, potentially destabilising operations and undermining industrial harmony that stakeholders have worked hard to sustain.
“Though our union remains committed to constructive engagement, national development and stability of the oil and gas sector, however, we are duty-bound and constitutionally bound to protect the rights and welfare and job security of our members whose livelihoods depend on a clear, fair and predictable policy framework,” Mr Akporeha further stated.
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