Professor Albert Alos, the founding Dean of Lagos Business School and pioneer Vice Chancellor of Pan-Atlantic University, has passed away. A Spanish engineer who became a Nigerian citizen, Alos arrived in 1967 and dedicated nearly six decades to building Nigeria’s higher education and business management landscape. His legacy includes transformative work at the universities of Ibadan, Lagos, and Ife, as well as his commitment to ethical leadership and professional excellence. He was recently honoured with the launch of the Professor Albert Alos Endowed Chair in Strategic Management at LBS.

Intra-African trade saw a 5.4 percent growth in 2024, reaching 206.6 billion dollars, according to the Afreximbank Africa in Figures 2025 report. To sustain this momentum, the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) remains a pivotal platform for connecting businesses and facilitating cross-border investment. Following the success of the 2025 edition in Algiers, which recorded 50 billion dollars in deals, Lagos has been selected to host IATF 2027. The event aims to further industrialization and bridge market information gaps for African SMEs.

Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has announced a series of economic initiatives aimed at mitigating current hardship and boosting grassroots purchasing power. The strategy focuses on targeted empowerment programmes, large-scale infrastructure development, and localized procurement for school renovations to stimulate community-level economic activity. Additionally, the administration is moving to institutionalize a 13th-month salary for civil servants and is pursuing agricultural investments to enhance local productivity.

Cross River State Governor Bassey Edet Otu has signed three new bills into law, including a 2026 supplementary budget. The legislation comprises the Social Investment and Protection Law, which establishes an agency for vulnerable residents; the Health Quackery Prohibition Law, aimed at regulating medical practice; and the 2026 Supplementary Appropriation Law. The latter increases the state’s total budget to approximately N963.07 billion, up from the original N961.62 billion, to account for unforeseen economic developments and improved revenue allocations.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has dismissed calls for the restoration of fuel subsidies as unpatriotic and detrimental to Nigeria’s fiscal stability. Speaking in Calabar, Idris warned that reversing reform policies would weaken investor confidence and undermine long-term development gains. He emphasized that the government’s focus remains on accelerating the benefits of current reforms rather than dismantling them.

Increased reliance on a narrow set of software components and third-party technology providers is creating systemic cybersecurity risks for Nigerian institutions. When multiple sectors—including government, finance, and telecommunications—depend on the same vendors, a single vulnerability can cause industry-wide disruption. Experts warn that organizations must move beyond viewing vulnerability management as an individual internal task. Instead, leaders are urged to prioritize vendor diversification, maintain rigorous asset inventories, and enhance transparency regarding third-party software dependencies. This shift aligns with global standards like the EU’s Digital Operational Resilience Act, emphasizing that national digital resilience requires proactive mapping of shared infrastructure risks.

Rising insecurity in the Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State is forcing residents to flee across the border into the Republic of Benin, severely disrupting agricultural production and cross-border trade. Murtala Haliru Dantoro, a political representative for the region, reported that persistent kidnappings and attacks have rendered farmland inaccessible and crippled local commerce. He has urged the Federal Government to shift from reactive measures to proactive, permanent security deployments to prevent further humanitarian and economic deterioration in this critical border corridor.

Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has reaffirmed his administration’s focus on inclusive governance as the state begins preparations for the 2027 budget. During a citizens’ engagement forum in Osi, the governor highlighted the state’s recent infrastructure, education, and healthcare projects. Officials confirmed that Kwara achieved a 93.5 percent budget performance in 2025, underscoring the government’s commitment to transparent fiscal planning. Local stakeholders and traditional rulers participated in the consultations, advocating for increased investment in road infrastructure and regional development.

Emmanuel Nnamani, Chairman of the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ESIRS), has urged taxpayers to familiarize themselves with tax laws to minimize disputes as the state intensifies compliance enforcement. The state has reported significant revenue growth, with internally generated revenue rising from N37 billion in 2023 to N406.7 billion in 2025. This surge is attributed to technological reforms, including the diversification of payment gateways, the elimination of cash payments, and the digitalization of informal sector collections. Nnamani emphasized that while enforcement is being prioritized, the goal remains transparency and ease of payment rather than business disruption.

The Akwa Ibom State Government, led by Governor Umo Eno, has defended its fiscal management, dismissing allegations of unauthorized debt accumulation and fiscal deficits. The administration stated that reported temporary quarterly expenditure gaps are covered by accumulated fiscal buffers and treasury savings rather than new borrowing. Officials emphasized that the state maintains a zero-borrowing policy, with all spending aligned with its 1.584 trillion Naira annual budget. To ensure transparency, the government conducts quarterly public financial disclosures and periodic project delivery reviews to allow for scrutiny by stakeholders and the public.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reported the recovery of N1.23 trillion, alongside significant foreign currency amounts, between October 2023 and July 2026. Chairman Ola Olukoyede stated that N661.32 billion has already been returned to rightful owners, including government agencies, businesses, and individuals. Beyond restitution, the commission is redirecting recovered funds into federal programs such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CreditCorp). Additionally, the EFCC is transitioning from reactive enforcement to proactive fraud prevention through digital monitoring, aiming to stabilize the financial system and reinforce Nigeria’s anti-money-laundering framework.

A bitter ownership and control dispute between Ossiomo Power and its former Chinese partner, Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology Company (CCETC), has crippled electricity supply in Edo State. Since September 2025, the 95MW independent power plant has been shut down, leaving government institutions and businesses without reliable power. CCETC alleges a breach of their joint venture agreement, while Ossiomo Power contends that the Chinese firm was merely a contractor. The conflict has further escalated into the Ologbo community, with allegations of vandalism and illegal interference by local youths, prompting legal intervention at the Edo State High Court and international arbitration in Singapore.

The South African Consulate General in Lagos has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening bilateral trade, investment, and cultural ties with Nigeria. Amid concerns regarding recent social tensions, Consul General Bobby Moroe stated that South Africa remains safe and open for Nigerian tourists, students, and business travelers. The mission emphasized that incidents of violence do not reflect government policy and confirmed that visa processing remains ongoing. Furthermore, officials highlighted tourism as a key driver of economic diplomacy and requested a direct channel for fact-checking with the media to counter misinformation.

The Federal Government has launched the second cohort of its Student Venture Capital Grant, aiming to provide up to 2.5 billion naira in equity-free funding to student-led businesses. Through this initiative, 50 selected ventures will receive up to 50 million naira each to scale their innovative projects. The programme targets students in STEMM-related fields across Nigerian tertiary institutions, offering mentorship, industry connections, and business support. Applications remain open until September 30, 2026.

Nigeria’s real GDP grew by 4.43 percent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, up from 3.89 percent in the first quarter, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. While the federal government cites this expansion as evidence of successful reforms toward a 1 trillion dollar economy, the figures contrast sharply with persistent household hardship. Despite growth across key sectors including oil, agriculture, and manufacturing, rising inflation and the high cost of living have significantly eroded the purchasing power of the average citizen. Labour leaders, including those from the Association of Senior Civil Servants, note that recent wage adjustments are insufficient to offset the impact of fuel prices and general market inflation. Analysts highlight a paradox where economic indicators show progress, but industrial growth is slowing and essential utility supply has contracted, leaving many families feeling squeezed despite the headline expansion.

Nigeria’s real GDP grew by 4.43 percent in the second quarter of 2026, supported by a 7.3 percent rebound in the oil sector and a 4.3 percent increase in non-oil activities. Average daily oil production reached 1.72 million barrels, aided by improved surveillance and pipeline security. Analysts and institutions, including the IMF and PwC, maintain a positive outlook for the remainder of the year, though they emphasize that sustaining this growth momentum requires continued protection of critical oil infrastructure and further structural reforms to boost production toward a 2.5 million barrels per day target.

The Anambra State Ministry of Lands has issued a December 31, 2026, deadline for all landowners to recertify their old Certificates of Occupancy. Following this date, the old land administration system will be permanently decommissioned. Failure to integrate documents into the Anambra State Geographic Information System (ANAMGIS) will prevent owners from executing essential transactions, including mortgages, deeds of assignment, and power of attorney registrations. The initiative aims to modernize land records and integrate them into a unified digital database.

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) is integrating artificial intelligence into its registry operations to significantly improve the ease of doing business in Nigeria. According to Board Chairman Ibrahim Ida, the move aims to reduce company registration times from days to minutes, automate document verification, and assist in detecting fraudulent entities. During the Commission’s 2026 annual retreat in Bauchi State, the board emphasised that AI-powered multilingual chatbots will help informal businesses register directly from their phones. Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed commended the Commission’s digital transformation, noting that accurate and transparent corporate data is essential for attracting domestic and foreign investment. The board is currently establishing a policy framework to ensure these AI initiatives remain ethical and compliant with the Nigerian Data Protection Act.

Wema Bank has sustained strong growth momentum, closing at N29.60 per share on September 4, 2026, with a market capitalization of N1.19 trillion. The stock, which joined the SWOOT club earlier this year, currently trades at a valuation of 3.93 times trailing earnings, supported by a 44.4% return on equity.

While the bank’s core banking business remains robust, with net interest income rising 51% in the first half of 2026, analysts point to the need for sustained deposit growth to balance a 22% increase in its loan book. Following a credit rating upgrade to A by Agusto and Company, management aims to leverage its recent N200 billion capital raise to transition into a tier-one banking institution by expanding into sectors like power and the blue economy. Analysts suggest that continued earnings growth and digital expansion through ALAT remain the primary catalysts for further share price appreciation.