Economy
Sub-Saharan Africa Yet to Return to Robust Growth Rates—Report
By Dipo Olowookere
Latest report from Nielsen Holdings Plc, a global performance management company providing a comprehensive understanding of what consumers Watch and Buy, has revealed that the Sub-Saharan Africa was yet to fully get back on its feet after going low in 2016.
Nielsen, in its 5th Nielsen Africa Prospects Indicator (APi) report, said the region was yet to uplift itself from the two-decade economic low reached last year, bringing a slight easing of pressure but certainly not a return to the robust growth rates previously experienced.
However, despite the turmoil and heavy constraints; it was emphasised that Africa’s ‘heavyweights’ namely Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa, cannot be ignored and remain a long-term priority for any business focused on Sub-Saharan Africa.
The latest report included a comparative ranking of eight African countries, drawn from multiple datasets, collected across the Macro Economic, Business, Consumer and Retail dimensions.
It was observed that manufacturers and retailers seeking to stay one step ahead in Africa’s complex markets needed to move beyond ‘business as usual’ – they simply cannot keep doing the same things and expecting a different result.
Commenting on the report, Nielsen Executive Director Thought Leadership Emerging Markets, Ailsa Wingfield, stated that, “No one size fits all and no total continent, country, city, consumer or channel approach is enough to ensure sustained success in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“Similarly, successful brands, advertising and activation in other developing markets do not provide the passport to growth in Africa’s complex markets and challenging climates.”
Challenging…but impossible to ignore
Considering this, it’s clear that the sub-continent’s two most significant economies, Nigeria and South Africa, are slowly turning around from recent declines to low levels of growth, however, the consolidated prospects for these two powerhouse economies continue to be subdued. Of the countries measured in Nielsen’s 5th Africa Prospects report, South Africa slips two positions to sixth place and Nigeria remains in eighth place.
South African consumers have expressed declining sentiment regarding their job prospects, personal finances and time to buy. With higher average GDP per capita – double that of Nigerians and Angolans and triple that of Kenyans – bigger in-store spend and an openness to new, innovative products, South Africa presents the strongest consumer prospects in SSA.
However, the reality is that a cautionary consumer mindset has led to more risk averse spending behaviour and a heightened focus on saving, especially in the areas of out of home eating, entertainment and fashion, followed by an acute awareness of price for consumer packaged goods. To counter this businesses have been drawn into more promotional activities, eroding brand equity and margins.
Kenya relinquishes top position due to fading macro-economic indicators and a declining business outlook amidst an unsettling election period. Economic growth slowed to 4.7% in the first quarter of 2017 brought about by drought and the credit slowdown. Rapidly rising inflation has driven food prices to five-year highs, which has plagued consumers and retail trading conditions. Consumers are less confident about their personal finances; their spare cash is limited, and their mindset remains cautionary with them opting to save rather than spend.
A continued missed opportunity
Cote d’Ivoire once again leads the APi overall ranking with strong macro-economic and retail prospects, but the country is dealing with deteriorating political stability and declining cocoa prices, which could lead to an economic deficit and pressure on household income, amplifying the already weaker consumer prospects.
Despite the country displaying strong indicators for growth, consumer prospects remain low. This is in part due to product fulfilment issues, with manufacturers failing to meet Ivorian consumers’ needs as they relate to a range of factors including: convenience, tradition, taste, ease of use, portability, scarcity and accessibility.
Cameroon comes into focus
Cameroon has risen to fourth position, is its highest rank to date. With a diversified natural resource base, rapid urbanisation and GDP per capita on par with Kenya, and higher than Uganda and Ethiopia, it is easy to understand its stronger consumer and retail prospects.
These are, however, offset by weaker macro-economic and business prospects. The economy is vulnerable to external impacts due to a reliance on commodities, and this, coupled with low investment in critical infrastructure, frequent power outages, and weak governance, has resulted in elevated costs of doing business. Cameroon has also been identified as one of the most challenging countries in the world to start a new business, limiting potential investors and preventing the economy from growing at its full potential.
Ghanaian Optimism
Ghana maintains fifth position on the APi, but this masks some of the ongoing improvement in the macro-economic, consumer and retail dynamics. It has also been rated as the best business prospect for successive periods. Economic advances in 2017, with growth rising to 6.6%, is spurred on by progress in the oil and non-oil sectors. Food inflation continues to decelerate easing the pressure on consumer wallets, resulting in an increasing number of Ghanaians spending more in store, more willing to try new things and positively influencing the previously weaker retail outlook.
Overall, the APi report shows that Africa continues to offer one of the greatest gifts of untapped growth, but requires bold strategies. Those invested or investing in Africa therefore need to reassess and implement in a more purposeful, precise and persistent manner in pursuit of consumer needs.
“Africa offers marketers one of the final destinations to develop and execute product, marketing and retail solutions from a clean slate perspective, which are differentiated, generate demand and deliver value yet there still seems to be a vacuum within these areas.
“On the plus side this points to significant potential for innovation and growth – what is required now is a steady investment by manufacturers and retailers into making these untapped opportunities work for them,” Wingfield further said.
With vast retail landscapes and widespread, diverse consumers it’s therefore all about precision over mass tactics in Africa coupled with exceptional product, marketing and retail innovation to capitalise on Africa’s prospects.
By Adedapo Adesanya
NASD Plc, which operates Nigeria’s Over-the-Counter (OTC) securities exchange, has reaffirmed its commitment to reinforcing its long-term strategic direction and governance framework.
The exchange recently convened its major shareholders, board members, and executive management at a high-level stakeholder retreat in Lagos.
NASD said, “The retreat held in Lagos brought together key institutional stakeholders for in-depth discussions on NASD’s evolving role within Nigeria’s capital market ecosystem.
“The engagement provided a structured platform for shareholders and management to align on strategic priorities necessary to deepen institutional strength, enhance market relevance, and support sustainable growth.”
The company noted that deliberations focused on the importance of strong shareholder collaboration, disciplined strategy execution, and equitable governance practices to further strengthen investor confidence and long-term value creation.
The statement added that participants exchanged views on navigating market complexity, adapting to regulatory and economic changes, and ensuring that the Exchange continues to operate in line with global best practices while addressing the specific needs of Nigeria’s over-the-counter market.
NASD emphasised that the retreat highlighted the critical role of close alignment among shareholders, the Board, and executive leadership in shaping the Exchange’s next phase of development. By encouraging open dialogue and shared strategic intent, the engagement reaffirmed NASD’s commitment to transparency, institutional resilience, and leadership within the capital market.
The session concluded with a group engagement reflecting the depth of experience, governance oversight, and collective responsibility guiding NASD’s strategic outlook as it continues to enhance its contribution to Nigeria’s financial market architecture.
NASD posted a standout performance in 2025, with its market diversification strategy delivering a surge in listings, deeper market activity, and a sharp expansion in market value across its alternative trading platforms.
Last year, the market capitalisation on the exchange more than doubled to N2.12 trillion, representing a 106 per cent increase from N1.03 trillion in 2024. The number of admitted securities also rose marginally to 47, up from 45 in the prior year, reflecting a 4 per cent growth.
The NASD Securities Index (NSI) rose by 18 per cent to 3,543.74 points, compared with 3,002.68 points in 2024. Similarly, the NASD Pension Index advanced by 21 per cent to 1,032.88 points, up from 954.33 points.
Trading volumes surged significantly during the year. Total volume traded climbed to 14.03 billion units, marking a 377 per cent increase from 2.98 billion units in 2024. However, this sharp rise in volume contrasted with a decline in transaction value, which fell by 43 per cent to N59.29 billion, down from N103.96 billion in 2024.
The total number of deals executed on the platform dropped to 6,456, representing a 26 per cent decline from 8,724 deals recorded the previous year, indicating fewer but larger or more strategic transactions.
The exchange also recorded notable listings in 2025, with Infrastructure Credit Guarantee Company PLC (InfraCredit), Paintcom Investment Nigeria PLC (Paintcom), and MRS PLC admitted to trading.
By Bon Peters
The Area 1 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, surpassed its 2025 revenue target by generating about N288.8 billion.
In the preceding financial year, the command generated N200.8 billion as revenue, indicating a year-on-year growth of 43.83 per cent.
Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt, the Customs Area 1 Controller, Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku, disclosed that the target for the command last year was N216.9 billion, indicating that this was surpassed by N71.8 billion or 33.1 per cent.
She attributed this achievement to the effectiveness of improved compliance monitoring, enhanced cargo examination processes, automation-driven controls, and sustained stakeholder sensitization.
According to her, the monthly revenue performance remained consistently strong throughout the year, with the highest collection recorded in October 2025 at N33.7 billion.
On export trade facilitation, she hinted that in line with the federal government’s economic diversification agenda, the command intensified efforts toward facilitating legitimate export trade, adding that within the year under review, it processed a total export volume of over a million metric tons, comprising both oil and non-oil commodities with a Free on Board (FOB) value of $463.6 million, which she said contributed meaningfully to Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.
In addition, Ms Atuluku stated that N838.02 million was paid as Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) charges for both oil and non-oil exports during the year, noting that this reflected an increased exporter participation, improved documentation compliance, and the command’s deliberate efforts to streamline export procedures while ensuring adherence to extant regulations.
On anti-smuggling and enforcement activities, it was disclosed that the command sustained vigorous enforcement operations throughout 2025, deploying intelligence-led interventions, risk profiling, and routine cargo examinations to curb smuggling and protect national interests, resulting in the interception of undeclared pharmaceutical products at the NACHO shed.
The items intercepted included Progesterone 100mg/2ml, and Isifrane IP 250ml among others, discovered in three packages without the mandatory NAFDAC regulatory certification, contrary to import guidelines governing pharmaceutical products, the Controller stated.
In the year under review, the personnel of the command benefitted from periodic training programs, sensitization sessions, operational briefings, and system-focused engagements, particularly in areas of customs automation, risk management, enforcement procedures, and trade facilitation.
On infrastructural development, the command renovated the Quarter Guard, thereby enhancing access control, security coordination, and command presence at the main entry point, including the Command Staff Clinic which was renovated and upgraded to improve healthcare delivery and working conditions for medical personnel, and beneficiaries.
Also, the command executed a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) intervention on December 11, 2025, at the Model Primary School I and II, Orominike, D-Line, Port Harcourt, with the donation of customs-branded notebooks, school bags, and school uniforms, aimed at supporting basic education and easing the burden on pupils and parents within the host community.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Five securities caused the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange to experience a setback of 0.64 per cent on Monday, February 2.
During the first trading session of February 2026, FrieslandCampinaWamco Nigeria Plc shrank by N4.46 to end at N63.54 per unit versus the previous session’s N68.00 per unit, as Okitipupa Plc depreciated by N3.83 to close at N230.77 per share versus last Friday’s N234.60 per share.
Further, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) dropped 50 Kobo to sell at N40.00 per unit compared with the previous closing price of N40.50 per unit, UBN Property Plc dipped by 21 Kobo to N1.99 per share from N2.20 per share, and Acorn Petroleum Plc lost 3 Kobo to end at N1.35 per unit versus N1.38 per unit.
As a result, the market capitalisation went down by N13.98 billion to settle at N2.158 trillion, in contrast to the previous value of N2.171 trillion, and the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) contracted by 23.35 points to settle at 3,606.76 points compared with last Friday’s closing value of 3,630.11 points.
Amid the loss, Geo-Fluids Plc managed to finish green after it chalked up 9 Kobo to sell at N6.84 per share versus the N5.75 per share it ended in the last trading day.
Yesterday, the volume of securities traded by investors surged by 1,238.5 per cent to 3.9 million units from 287,618 units, the value of securities increased by 1,075.2 per cent to N36.0 million from N3.1 million, and the number of deals soared by 90.5 per cent to 40 deals from 21 deals.
At the close of trades, CSCS Plc remained the most traded stock by value (year-to-date) with 15.4 million units valued at N623.9 million, followed by FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc with 1.7 million units worth N110.2 million, and Geo-Fluids Plc with 10.6 million units sold for N69.9 million.
CSCS Plc was also the most active stock by volume (year-to-date) with 15.4 million units traded for N623.9 million, trailed by Geo-Fluids Plc with 10.6 million units worth N69.9 million, and Mass Telecom Innovation Plc with 10.1 million units transacted for N4.1 million.
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