World Bank sees Nigeria growth averaging 4.4% through 2028

Nigeria's economy is expected to ‌grow by an average of 4.4% a year through 2028, with inflation and poverty declining if the government sustains reforms and improves service ​delivery, the World Bank said on Thursday.

In its latest ​Nigeria Development Update, the lender said reforms including ⁠the removal of petrol subsidies and exchange-rate changes had ​boosted revenues available to state governments, creating scope for higher ​spending on infrastructure, education and healthcare.

Nigeria's economy grew 4.2% in the first half of 2026, up from 3.9% in 2025, driven mainly by ​services and agriculture, while inflation is projected to ease ​to around 12% by 2028 from around 15%, the World Bank said.

Taiwo ‌Oyedele, ⁠minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, said at an event where the report was presented that reforms had helped stabilise the economy and put it on ​a path to ​faster growth.

Oyedele ⁠said Nigeria's economy was growing faster than its population, which should help reduce poverty if sustained, ​and added that the government's focus was ​on private ⁠sector-led and job-rich growth.

The World Bank said state revenues rose about 93% in real terms between 2023 and 2025, ⁠but urged ​states to improve spending efficiency ​and invest more in human capital to raise living standards and reduce poverty.

By Camillus Eboh, Reuters

Nigeria looks to ease fuel prices as election looms

Nigeria's finance minister unveiled a raft of measures Thursday aimed at cushioning against energy shocks as the country prepares to go to the polls, including a petrol discount for public transport operators.

Africa's top oil producer hosts the continent's largest refinery, owned by Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote.

But fuel prices have risen to about 1,400 naira ($1.00) per litre from the 830 naira seen before the war in the Middle East, with the government doing little to rein in prices and instead deferring to the market.

Petrol had been even cheaper before President Bola Tinubu, seeking re-election in January, removed costly fuel subsidies at the beginning of his tenure -- turning the price at the pump into a major political hot potato.

Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele said the measures were aimed at easing pressure on households and businesses while avoiding a return to fuel subsidies.

"We are offering a discount on petrol dispensed by NNPC Limited for the next 30 days, in the first instance, with priority for public transporters nationwide," Oyedele told journalists in Abuja.

NNPC, Nigeria's state oil company, runs a vast network of petrol stations across the country.

"It's not a subsidy. The government is just saying we sell to you at cost," he said, without specifying the price.

Tinubu, who is seeking a second term, pushed through sweeping economic reforms when he came into office in 2023, including scrapping a major fuel subsidy and floating the naira.

While economists have broadly backed the measures, they have driven up living costs and deepened hardship in Africa's most populous country.

Cheap petrol -- which in turn had driven down prices of food and goods throughout the country -- had for some been the most important government benefit they received amid decades of poor services and graft.

Tinubu has said the reforms averted an even greater crisis as the subsidy grew fiscally unsustainable.


Opposition criticism

The Nigeria Democratic Congress, fielding presidential contender Peter Obi, criticised Thursday's price relief measures as "attempt to re-introduce petrol subsidy through the backdoor".

Obi told AFP in an interview last month he would bring down consumer prices in part by cracking down on corruption.

Opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar meanwhile took to social media to ask: "What happens on Day 31? Nigerians wake up to the same brutal prices, the same punishing transport fares and the same rising cost of food."

Abubakar has floated a plan for a "targeted" subsidy, described as "capped and budgeted production support tied to fuel refined in Nigeria" to help bring down prices at the pump.

Longer term, Tinubu's government said it would also introduce what the minister called "price modulation" to moderate pump price volatility.

"Pump prices should not have to follow every swing in global crude or the exchange rates," Oyedele said, adding that the government was "negotiating a ceiling of 1,350 naira a litre".

"Where costs rise above the ceiling, refiners and importers will carry the shortfall and recover it later when crude prices or exchange rates allow without breaching the ceiling," he said,

He added that the policy was "neither a subsidy nor a price control" and the ceiling would be reviewed every month.

Nigerians go to the polls on January 16.

AFP

Africa's biggest IPO exposes continent's cross-border investing barriers

The historic stock market debut of Nigeria's Dangote refinery was billed as an opportunity for investors across Africa to own a stake in the continent's largest refining complex and finance its own industrial development.

But the $1.6 billion share sale was not registered as ​a public offering outside Nigeria, the prospectus showed, leaving investors relying on their own country's regulations or finding workarounds using the few eligible online financial platforms.

The disconnect between Dangote's ‌pan-African ambitions and the patchy take-up outside Nigeria shows how the continent's fragmented capital markets continue to constrain cross-border investment.
The IPO was approved by Nigeria's Securities and Exchange Commission, which has no jurisdiction outside of Nigeria, pointing to the regulatory hurdles to a truly pan-African deal.

Aliko Dangote, Africa's richest man and the majority owner of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, told Reuters that dealing with multiple jurisdictions' securities rules was a "teething problem".

The continent has pursued economic integration efforts, including the African Continental Free Trade Area, ​but lacks a framework for jointly regulating capital-market issuance.

"I'm sure with this, a lot of our own capital markets will also try and change their regulations," Dangote said, to make it easier for ​cross-border investments in the future. "We want to make sure that the African capital markets collaborate with each other."

BUILDING AFRICAN CAPITAL MARKETS

Referring to a proposed refinery in Lamu, ⁠Kenya, Dangote said it should be listed on Nairobi's stock market and be accessible to investors across Africa and that, in turn, will help integrate the continent's capital markets.
"That's what we want to do. We ​want to deepen them," Dangote told Reuters.
There was strong demand for the shares across the continent, Dangote said, adding Kenya's and Botswana's capital markets alone could have fully subscribed the offering. An issuer gets regular feedback from ​advisers and brokers as an offering progresses.

Kenya approved a public offering of Global Depositary Receipts linked to the IPO, the market regulator said, with just eight days left in the subscription period.
Dangote has said he is aiming for 10 million shareholders in the refinery, double the retail subscribers attained by Saudi Aramco (2222.SE), opens new tab in its blockbuster listing in 2019.

'EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED'

Markets outside Nigeria wishing to participate in the IPO, such as the Nairobi Securities Exchange, had to seek regulatory approvals, which took weeks to secure.

That left disappointed ​investors unable to subscribe and blaming disparate regulations for the missed opportunity.

"People were extremely disappointed," said Kenyan financial researcher Sultan Mwangi, who had set aside $5,000 to invest.

Africa's capital markets remain among the world's most fragmented, with ​regional integration, like boosting the local saving rate to increase investments, lagging efforts in Latin America and parts of Asia and investors still facing a patchwork of national rules and market infrastructure.

In Rwanda, investors had to register with the ‌market regulator before ⁠applying for shares, adding another hurdle.

"Those eligible will be assisted by authorised intermediaries but registered in Nigeria," said Celestin Rwakumbuka, chief executive of the Rwanda Stock Exchange.

The Dangote refinery offering demonstrates Africa's ability to finance industrial development, said Hannah Ryder of consultancy Development Re-imagined, as past large capital market deals focused on banks and telecoms.

However, she said the IPO is "somewhat less ambitious in reality than it started off."

"Most importantly and conceptually for the continent's manufacturing aspirations, it raises large domestic finance for an industrial asset, which is fairly unique for the continent," she said.

The African Development Bank has been pushing a financing model called the New African Financial Architecture for Development, aimed ​at mobilising large-scale local savings after aid cuts.

With Africa's capital ​markets still shallow and illiquid, the IPO was ⁠expected to demonstrate how regional savings could be channelled into major investment projects.

The AfDB did not respond to a request for comment.

TWO INVESTMENT CHANNELS FOR AFRICA

Only two brokerages, Ecobank and Standard Bank-owned SBG Securities, were listed in the prospectus as channels for African investors.

Ecobank, which operates in 34 African countries, said it was seeing "encouraging ​interest... from investors across East, West and Central Africa." Standard Bank did not respond to a request for comment.

By contrast, Nigerians can use 53 channels, including ​banks, brokerages and trading apps, ⁠to buy shares. Fintech firms say they can help widen access across borders.

"One of the biggest opportunities fintech creates is the ability to remove geographical barriers to investing," said Richmond Bassey, chief executive of retail-focused fintech platform Bamboo.

Bassey said Bamboo provides eligible Africans, including Nigerians outside the continent, access to the Dangote IPO through a licensed nominee in Nigeria.

Dangote has promoted the sale as a way to spread share ownership among ordinary Africans. Investors can buy as ⁠few as 10 ​shares for 5,250 naira ($3.96).

Lagos entrepreneur Jide Owolabi said he is investing despite what he perceived as steep valuation of nearly $50 billion ​for the refinery.

"There is enough room for revenue growth as they begin to harness the potential from the petrochemicals and other value-added products, such as plastics and detergents," he said.
Others were sceptical.

"There are other companies that can offer better returns on investment," said Peter Oke, ​a financial literacy advocate in the southwestern city of Ibadan.

By Duncan Miriri, Reuters

Group of 20 graduates rescued after being abducted in Nigeria

A group of 20 young people who were abducted in south-east Nigeria last week have been rescued, police say.

The graduates were kidnapped on 1 October while they were travelling for a national community service programme in the Abia and Akwa Ibom states in the south of the country.

They were rescued by the police with the assistance of other security agencies.

Police spokesman Ani Iniedu said in a statement on Wednesday the group were rescued at Amakohia Ubi in Imo State after a sustained search-and-rescue operation. The group are being looked after and have been taken for medical evaluation.

The police, military and other security agencies conducted intelligence-led searches of forests and suspected hideouts, he said, but he did not say whether any ransom was paid or if any arrests had been made.

But the police spokesman did say they were making efforts to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

The police had previously said they had identified the location where the group was being held but could not rescue them because it was mined with explosives.

The group of young people were participating in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), which is a compulsory one-year community service programme for most Nigerian university graduates, where people are posted to different parts of the country.

The group were travelling in two buses travelling on a major highway from Ibadan in south-western Oyo state to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when gunmen attacked the vehicles.

The incident has reignited concerns over insecurity and kidnapping along roads in the south-east.

Before they were released, the father of one of the people who were abducted, Omotosho Adewale, told the BBC that the kidnappers had demanded a ransom of 50m naira ($37,680; £28,440), which he could not afford.

"There's no peace of mind. I've not eaten in three days," he said in between tears.

Kidnapping for ransom is a major security problem in Nigeria, involving criminal gangs and armed groups. The authorities have not released any information about the identity of the attackers.

The government has outlawed paying ransoms to kidnappers in an attempt to remove the incentive for the gangs but this has had little effect.

By Gabriela Pomeroy, BBC

Related story: Nigeria’s worsening insecurity tests president’s second-term bid

Nigeria identifies livestock feed production as key to sustain dairy sector

The Kaduna State Government has identified year-round production of quality livestock feed as a key strategy to sustain gains in the state’s dairy sector under the five-year Advancing Local Dairy Development in Nigeria (ALDDN) programme.

The government noted that the five-year programme, funded by the Gates Foundation and implemented by Sahel Consulting in partnership with state governments and dairy processors, was designed to promote a vibrant and inclusive local dairy sector

This would ensure continuity beyond the programme’s close-out, with improved pasture development and the revitalisation of grazing reserves expected to strengthen feed availability for livestock producers.

The Managing Director, Kaduna Ranch Development Company Ltd., Dr Ibrahim Yusuf noted that the company was already incorporating lessons from the programme into the state’s sustainability framework, particularly in livestock feed production and dairy productivity.

Yusuf identified the availability of quality feed throughout the year as a major constraint to livestock production, noting that ALDDN had introduced interventions to address the challenge.

He said the state would build on those interventions by revitalising grazing reserves and improving pasture development.

He added that the Kaduna Ranch Development Company was currently developing 110 hectares of the 600-hectare Damau grazing reserve in Kubau Local Government Area to produce high-quality livestock feed.

“Of the 600 hectares grazing reserve, the company has started working on 110 hectares for the production of high-quality feeds for livestock in the state,” he said.

The initiative formed part of the state’s sustainability framework alongside collaboration with stakeholders, including the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) and the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI).

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Murtala Mohammed-Dabo, was represented by the Director of Livestock Services, Mr Amwe Akos.

He said the state government would sustain the key gains recorded under ALDDN by integrating successful interventions into existing and future livestock development programmes.

Akos disclosed that some of the initiatives had already been captured in the state’s proposed 2027 budget, signalling the government’s intention to continue supporting interventions that have strengthened the local dairy sector.

Dairy Business Midde East & Africa

Video - Russia vs Nigeria: Super Eagles Secure a 3-3 Draw

The Super Eagles of Nigeria ended the current international window with a 3-3 draw against Russia in an entertaining friendly match played on Tuesday night. 

Nigeria entered the encounter seeking a positive result after suffering a 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. 

Eric Chelle’s side made a bright start, taking the lead through Kelechi Iheanacho, who marked his return to the national team with an impressive long-range strike. 

Russia, however, responded strongly and turned the game around before half-time, with Lechi Sadulaev and Matvey Kislyak getting on the scoresheet. 

The hosts extended their advantage in the second half when Aleksei Miranchuk scored to make it 3-1. 

The Super Eagles refused to give up and mounted a strong comeback, with Peter Edokpolor reducing the deficit before Akor Adams scored the equaliser. The three-time African champions held on for a 3-3 draw, avoiding another defeat and ending the international window on a positive note.

By David Egbede, Real Broadcasting Network

Video - Nigeria launches tech initiative to tackle youth unemployment

Nigeria is expanding a tech-focused labor initiative to get more young Nigerians hired for global remote work. The program will train thousands of young people through more than 1,200 tech hubs, but experts say high power costs and other business challenges could limit its impact.

CGTN Africa

Video - Nigeria plane crash recovery operation faces difficulties

Search and rescue teams in Nigeria’s Ondo state are continuing in efforts to recover the bodies of victims of Monday’s military aircraft crash which killed all 25 people on board, including civilians.

Rescue operations have been hampered by the fact that the plane crashed into a swampy area that is difficult to access. Local media are reporting the wreckage is submerged. Sources at the scene are saying mangroves and murky water have made operations difficult but divers are working at the site.

As a result, the black boxes, which help determine what led to the crash, are yet to be found and it is unclear if any bodies have been recovered. Local resident, Omotayo Orimisan, who has been assisting in the search and rescue operation, said villagers saw the plane crash. 

"The plane flew from that side of town towards the other side of the creek, then its tail broke off with a loud noise,” he said. “It touched the water, then lifted off again, then nosedived into the forest on the other side of the creek. It was as if a loud thunderstorm had struck.”

Villagers rushed to the scene in their boats to try and rescue the passengers. 

“We tried to find the plane but we didn't see it," said Ormisan. 

“The rescue team have not rested, they have been going about it since yesterday without rest to ensure they can bring the people in the plane out,” said Felisia Michel, another villager. 

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Monday declared three days of national mourning following what is one of the country’s worst air disasters in recent years.

Africannews

Related story: No survivors as Nigeria releases names of crew members, passengers killed in crashed aircraft

No survivors as Nigeria releases names of crew members, passengers killed in crashed aircraft

The Nigerian Air Force has released the names of the crew members and the passengers in the aircraft that crashed on Monday, killing everyone on board.

The NAF, in a statement on Tuesday, said there were 25 people on board, “comprising five crew members and 20 passengers.” Government officials had said on Monday that 32 people were on board the aircraft, which crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State, an indication that the manifest has now been correctly reviewed.

“No survivors have been found,” the air force said.

The air force said the Chief of Air Staff, Sunday Aneke, “has directed a comprehensive investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident.”

PREMIUM TIMES reports that President Bola Tinubu had also on Monday ordered a thorough investigation and condoling with the families of the victims.

Read the full statement by the air force below.

NAF MOURNS 25 LIVES LOST IN NAF 931 AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has expressed profound condolences to the families of the personnel and passengers who lost their lives following the accident involving Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR 42 aircraft, NAF 931, in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State. The CAS described the incident as a deeply painful moment for the Nigerian Air Force and the nation, expressing heartfelt sympathies to the families, loved ones and colleagues of those who lost their lives. He assured the bereaved families of the Service’s full support during this difficult period.

NAF 931 had 25 persons on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers. The aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred. Search-and-rescue procedures were immediately activated, with response efforts conducted in coordination with relevant authorities to locate and account for all persons on board. No survivors have been found. The crew members were:

CREW
1. Squadron Leader MI Aburime (Flight Captain)
2. Squadron Leader AP Man-Ugwueje (Co-pilot)
3. Flight Lieutenant IS Bako (Co-pilot)
4. Warrant Officer Abubakar A (Aircraft Technician)
5. Corporal Uguru HC (Aircraft Technician)

PASSENGERS
6. Flight Lieutenant TL Lazarus
7. Flight Lieutenant M Akinloye
8. Flying Officer IM Adeshina
9. Master Warrant Officer Onwuka F
10. Master Warrant Officer Matini BA
11. Warrant Officer Nuhu FS
12. Flight Sergeant James RB
13. Flight Sergeant Mohammed AI
14. Sergeant Ani AE
15. Sergeant Izibenikien SI
16. Sergeant Alafuka C
17. Sergeant Mbadugha AN
18. Lance Corporal Ugwuba FC
19. Lance Corporal Eledan GE
20. Mrs Ezeh Nneka
21. Godstmine Tarabina
22. Joy Micheal
23. Sunday Micheal
24. Ukeme David
25. Gideon Omotola

The CAS has directed a comprehensive investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident. The Nigerian Air Force will continue to provide timely and verified updates as the investigation progresses and urges the public to refrain from speculation and the circulation of unverified information, while respecting the privacy and dignity of the affected families. A condolence register has also been opened at Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Abuja, for senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, heads of security agencies, and other well-wishers who may wish to pay their respects and convey messages of sympathy to the families of the deceased and the Nigerian Air Force.

Ehimen Ejodame
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force

Premium Times

Nigeria's Dangote refinery targets 10 million retail investors for planned IPO, CEO says

 

Nigeria's Dangote ​Petroleum Refinery ‌is targeting 10 million ​retail investors ​for its planned ⁠initial public ​offering, Chief ​Executive David Bird said on ​Tuesday.

Bird said ​the refinery was ‌using ⁠Saudi Aramco's listing as a benchmark ​for ​the ⁠IPO and expected ​to "smash ​that" ⁠target.

Reuters

Tinubu declare three-day mourning for victims of Nigeria military aircraft crash

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has declared three days of national mourning following a military aircraft crash in southern Ondo State that claimed 32 lives, while expressing deep sorrow over the tragedy.

Authorities stated that the aircraft was on a routine flight from Benin City to Lagos when it went down near a naval base on Monday morning.

President Tinubu extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the 25 passengers and seven crew members on board, while ordering a thorough investigation into the incident.

According to an official statement issued by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu described the crash as deeply painful and offered prayers for the victims and their grieving families.

The President also directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast across the country as a mark of respect for those who died.

"This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation," Tinubu said. "Our Air Force personnel put their lives on the line every day to secure Nigeria. We will never forget their sacrifice."

'Aircraft Submerged' – Ondo Search and Rescue Team

The Ondo State Government has launched a search and rescue operation for the downed aircraft.

The response team includes representatives of the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, led by Wellington Oriade Adebawo, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Emergency Response and Safety Enforcement.

They visited the reported crash site on Monday, October 5, 2026, to assess conditions and support efforts to locate the personnel on board.

Other members of the delegation include officials from the Ondo State Emergency Management Agency (ODSEMA), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), representatives of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, and other responders.

Nigerian Navy personnel initiated initial assessment and search efforts. Reports indicate that the aircraft was found submerged in water, severely hindering access to the wreckage and the occupants inside.

"The state government has consequently intensified coordination with relevant federal agencies and other stakeholders involved in the operation, with efforts focused on locating the aircraft and recovering the occupants," the state government announced, noting that search and rescue operations would resume on Tuesday.

In an official statement, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, expressed regret in notifying the public: "Air Traffic Controllers have informed me of the disappearance of a military aircraft with tail number NGR 931, which departed Benin for Lagos at 0913 hours earlier today. All efforts to establish radio contact with the aircraft proved abortive."

He noted that confirmation of the crash followed the breakdown in radio communication.

"Subsequent information, however, confirmed that the military aircraft crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State. The wreckage has been located, and search and rescue operations are ongoing."

According to the minister, preliminary records indicate that 25 passengers and 7 crew members were on board.

He added that while the oversight and regulation of military aviation lie entirely outside the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Aviation and the Civil Aviation Authority, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, pledged complete cooperation and resources to support the ongoing search and rescue efforts.

'We Heard a Deafening Roar Like Thunder' – Eyewitness Accounts

Earlier, local resident Olorunlola Oluwafemi told the BBC that rain was falling when residents suddenly heard "a deafening sound like thunder."

Realizing the sound was not weather-related, he said: "We came outside and discovered what looked like a jet."

He observed plumes of smoke billowing from the impact site.

According to Mr. Oluwafemi, the aircraft went down near a forested area adjacent to the naval Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Igbokoda.

Another eyewitness, Asogbon Alexander, told the BBC: "We initially thought it was thunder, but we later learned it was a plane crash. We mobilized canoes and set out to search. We searched for over two hours until we located it inside the swampy forest. We couldn't recover anything or bring anyone out; we saw shoes, clothing, and scattered human remains."

He added: "We noticed the engine had sunk into the water, and we couldn't pull it out. We found no intact bodies, dead or alive, and we could not determine who was inside the aircraft."

The Nigerian Navy alongside other security agencies have deployed operatives to the perimeter, where recovery operations remain underway.

Recent Timeline of Military and Charter Aircraft Crashes in Nigeria

While aviation disasters remain relatively infrequent in Nigeria, several notable accidents have occurred in recent years:

• On October 24, 2024, a Sikorsky SK76 helicopter operated by Eastwind Aviation and chartered by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Bonny Finima, near Port Harcourt, killing eight personnel en route to an offshore oil rig.

• On December 1, 2023, a Nigerian Air Force helicopter crashed in Port Harcourt during an anti-crude oil theft operation in Rivers State, leaving all crew members with varying injuries.

• In August 2023, a Nigerian Air Force aircraft en route from Kaduna to Minna crashed in a rural village within Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

• In July 2023, an FT-7NI trainer aircraft belonging to the Nigerian Air Force crashed during a routine training mission in Makurdi, Benue State; both pilots survived after ejecting and were hospitalized, prompting an official board of inquiry.

• On February 6, 2023, a maritime patrol aircraft conducted an emergency crash-landing at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos after experiencing a landing-gear failure during a routine flight.

BBC

Nigerian military aircraft crashes, killing 32

A Nigerian ​military plane flying from Benin City ‌to Lagos crashed on Monday in southwestern Ondo state, killing 25 passengers and seven crew ​members.

President Bola Tinubu, confirming that ​there were no survivors, expressed "profound sadness" and ⁠extended condolences to the families of ​those aboard.

"The Chief of Air Staff has ​briefed me, and I have directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation ​into the cause of the crash ​to prevent future occurrences," Tinubu said in a ‌statement.

The ⁠Air Force ATR-42 aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos when air traffic controllers lost contact ​with it ​at 0813 ⁠GMT on Monday, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo said. The accident was one ​of the deadliest air disasters ​in ⁠Nigeria in recent years.

The wreckage was later located near the coastal town of Igbokoda, ⁠where ​search and rescue teams ​were deployed.

By Camillus Eboh and Macdonald Dzirutwe, Reuters

China dominates Nigeria's economy through trade and infrastructure

Walk through a Nigerian electronics market, a building-materials outlet or a motorcycle-parts shop, and China’s presence is hard to miss. The products may be inexpensive chargers, solar equipment, machinery or household goods, but the relationship now reaches well beyond what consumers can pick up and carry home.

According to the figures reported by Fellow Press, Chinese goods made up roughly 39 percent of Nigeria’s total imports in the first half of 2026. That means China isn’t simply one supplier among many. It’s a major pipeline for the products Nigerian businesses and households rely on every day.

The shift is especially important because Chinese firms are increasingly involved in the systems behind those products, from logistics and ports to communications equipment and industrial machinery. China’s role is becoming less about a label on a package and more about the infrastructure that keeps commerce moving.

A booming trade relationship, with a lopsided balance

Trade between the two countries has expanded quickly. Vanguard reported that bilateral trade rose by 35 percent in the first half of 2026, reaching roughly $17.4 billion, according to figures cited by China’s ambassador to Nigeria.

But the headline growth hides a stubborn imbalance. Nigeria sells China commodities such as sesame, rubber, leather, tin and other raw materials, while importing machinery, telecommunications equipment, motorcycles, PVC products, solar technology and a wide range of manufactured goods.

That pattern matters because it leaves Nigeria exposed to shipping delays, currency pressure and changes in Chinese production. If costs rise at the factory gate in China, or vessels are disrupted, Nigerian importers and consumers can feel the impact quickly. It’s a trade relationship with plenty of motion, but not yet enough value flowing in both directions.

Chinese companies are helping build the country’s backbone

China’s influence is also set in concrete and steel. Chinese contractors have participated in major road, rail and port developments, including the Lagos-Ibadan railway, the Kaduna-Kano railway and the Lekki Deep Sea Port.

The Kaduna-Kano line is a useful example of how deep the connection can become. Chinese financing, engineering expertise and construction companies are all tied to the project, creating a relationship that goes well beyond selling equipment. As Vanguard’s reporting on the wider trade relationship suggests, these projects link commercial interests with long-term infrastructure development.

Ports add another layer. The Lekki project is designed to handle larger container vessels and improve Nigeria’s maritime capacity, while Chinese engineering involvement connects the country’s import market to the routes through which those goods arrive. Ideally, the same infrastructure should also make it easier for Nigerian producers to reach overseas customers.

Ogun is becoming a test case for local manufacturing

The most promising change may be the move from importing finished goods to producing more items inside Nigeria. Ogun State, particularly the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone, has become a visible hub for Chinese-linked industrial activity.

The zone has attracted manufacturers and industrial companies, offering a platform for production, logistics and regional distribution. That could mean jobs, supplier opportunities, technical skills and a gradual reduction in import dependence. For Nigeria, this is the more attractive version of the relationship: Chinese capital and know-how helping create Nigerian production capacity.

Still, a factory’s presence alone doesn’t guarantee broad economic benefits. Local firms need access to contracts, workers need meaningful training and manufacturers need reliable power, roads and finance. The best results will come when Nigerian companies become active partners rather than spectators beside an imported production model.

Affordable goods bring benefits, but local producers feel the squeeze

Chinese products remain popular partly because they’re affordable. For households managing high living costs, a lower-priced phone accessory, solar panel or appliance can make a real difference. Price is a powerful argument, especially when budgets are tight.

The problem is that local manufacturers must compete with huge Chinese production networks and established supply chains. That can make it difficult for Nigerian businesses to scale, particularly when they also face expensive electricity, transport bottlenecks and limited access to credit.

So Nigeria faces a delicate balancing act. Protectionist policies could give local producers breathing room, but excessive restrictions might push up the price of everyday goods. The practical answer is likely to involve smarter local-content rules, stronger industrial infrastructure and incentives that reward companies for manufacturing and training inside Nigeria.

The next phase will depend on what Nigeria negotiates

Chinese financing is important, but it shouldn’t be mistaken for ownership of Nigeria’s economy. Debt data cited in the wider reporting shows that Chinese lenders are significant creditors, though multilateral and commercial lenders account for larger portions of Nigeria’s external debt.

The more revealing question is what Nigeria receives in exchange for Chinese capital and access. Are projects creating local suppliers? Are workers gaining transferable skills? Are factories producing goods for export? And are Nigerian businesses moving up the value chain instead of remaining import agents?

China needs Nigeria too. The country offers a huge consumer market, access to West Africa and supplies of agricultural and mineral commodities. That gives Nigerian policymakers room to seek stronger trade terms, better technology transfer and more local production.

For now, China is neither simply a helpful trading partner nor an all-powerful controller. It’s a deeply embedded economic partner whose influence is growing across shops, factories, railways, ports and digital networks. What happens next will depend largely on whether Nigeria turns that relationship into industrial strength.

Disclaimer: This article may have been created with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team. It is provided for general informational purposes only. Readers should verify information independently before relying on this content.

Global Sources

WAEC appoints new Registrar, Head of Nigeria office

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has appointed Amos Dangut as its new Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, while Suleiman Kum has been named Head of the Nigeria National Office.

Mr Dangut, who previously headed WAEC’s Nigeria National Office, assumed office as Registrar in October 2026, while Mr Kum succeeded him as Head of the Nigeria office.

The appointments were announced in separate statements by WAEC spokesperson, Moyosola Adesina.

According to the council, Mr Dangut succeeds Pateh Bah of The Gambia and will serve a five-year term until September 2031.

WAEC said its International Governing Board ratified Mr Dangut’s appointment at its 74th Annual Meeting held in Accra, Ghana, in March.

As Registrar, he will oversee the council’s operations across its member countries.

Mr Kum, who served in the office of the Head of National Office before his appointment, takes over the Nigeria office following Mr Dangut’s elevation.

About Amos Dangut

Mr Dangut was born on 2 October 1967.

He obtained a Bachelor of Agriculture in Animal Production in 1991, a Master of Science in Animal Science in 1994, a Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Science in 2017 and a Master of Education in Administration and Planning in 2020.

He began his career in education at St Louis College, Jos, in 1994, where he also served as a WAEC examiner before joining the council in 1998.

At WAEC, he served in several capacities, including Assistant Registrar/Subject Officer in the Test Development Division, Head of Examinations Security, Deputy Branch Controller in Uyo and Bauchi, Branch Controller in Yola, Controller of the Post Examinations Department and Zonal Coordinator of the Ikeja Zonal Office.

He served as Deputy Registrar in the office of the Head of National Office between August and October 2023 before becoming Head of the Nigeria National Office on 2 October 2023.

He remained in that position until he was appointed the 14th Registrar of WAEC.

The examination body described Mr Dangut as an experienced test developer and administrator with expertise in test development and administration, branch and zonal office management.

The council said that for more than two decades, he had used information and communications technology to improve processes in test development, post-test activities and test administration.

His career also includes recognition from the Nigeria Examinations Committee for his handling of examination matters between 2000 and 2006. He also received an award for meritorious service from the Ondo State government and Akoko South Local Government during his NYSC service.

About Suleiman Kum

Mr Kum was born on 16 October 1970 in Minna, Niger State, and hails from Langtang North LGA of Plateau State.

He attended Baptist High School, Jos, where he obtained his General Certificate of Education in 1986/1987. He subsequently studied at the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, where he obtained a Bachelor of Agriculture in Animal Production with Second Class Honours, Upper Division, in 1992.

He later obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in 2025 and is currently completing a Master of Education in Educational Administration and Planning at the university.

Mr Kum began his professional career in 1993 during his National Youth Service Corps deployment at the Division of Agricultural Colleges, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he served as Head of the Animal Production Unit.

Between 1995 and 1998, he worked at Baptist High School, Jos, where he served in various capacities, including Form Master, Labour Master, classroom teacher and Health Master.

He received the Light and Life Staff Merit Award in 1998.

He joined WAEC on 17 July 1998 as Assistant Registrar II and rose through the ranks to become Senior Deputy Registrar in 2024.

His roles at WAEC have included Head of Examinations Security in Awka, Yola and Makurdi; Branch Controller in Gusau and Kano; Head of the Security Printing Department; Zonal Coordinator in Port Harcourt and Ikeja; Director of Administration; and Senior Deputy Registrar/Test Administration.

Before his latest appointment, he served in the office of the Head of the Nigeria National Office.

WAEC described Mr Kum as an experienced test developer and administrator with expertise in examination security, test administration and branch and zonal office management.

The council said he led several administrative and technological initiatives, including enhanced security features in its printing operations, the introduction of facial-recognition biometric attendance systems and the delivery of achievement tests through computer-based examinations.

By Qosim Suleiman, Premium Times

CNN’s Christiane Amanpour mislabels Uganda as Nigeria and fails to correct it

 

CNN’s Christiane Amanpour wrongfully identified Nigeria as the country where Edward Kijanangoma was crowned King of the Tooro Kingdom.

The coronation took place in Uganda, where the Tooro Kingdom is located.

The journalist made this incorrect claim on X in a post accompanied by a recording of her reporting on the event.

“The TV anchor who would be king. In Nigeria this week, a new king was coronated with pomp and circumstance — but his resume is what’s really standing out,” the post read.

Many of her followers, including Nigerians and Ugandans, have since pointed out this error in the comments.

However, five hours after the post was published, Ms Amanpour has yet to correct the error.

The new traditional ruler, also a famous journalist in Uganda, was crowned last Tuesday in Fort Portal, a remote town in Western Uganda. His coronation ceremony triggered a succession dispute.

The journalist, who is a prince, was known in the country as a broadcaster and editor with Uganda Broadcasting Corp. His selection to replace the former king, Oyo Rukidi IV, who died at 34 and without an heir, triggered widespread controversy.

Mr Nyabongo wasn’t particularly high in the line of succession, but elders within the kingdom’s ruling clan, known as the Babiito, selected him from a pool of eligible princes.

Traditional leaders don’t wield any formal authority in this East African country and are legally barred from engaging in partisan politics.

However, they wield immense authority among their people as guardians of traditional culture.

At his coronation, the new king pledged to be a unifying figure for all his people.

Ms Amanpour reported that the new king will serve as a symbol of identity and heritage

She stated that he said heritage must be matched by discipline and hard work.

Some followers have attributed her error to the Western assumption that Africa is a country rather than a continent made up of 54 countries.

Others called it a “sloppy blunder.”

By Beloved John, Premium Times

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