West Africa

Chevron's sale of Angolan offshore blocks to Energean marks the latest portfolio shift by a major as regional producers pursue supply security amid tightening market conditions.

President Bola Tinubu's scheduled visit to Windsor Castle and the appointment of Ibrahim Mopelola as ambassador to Benin signal Nigeria's renewed focus on strategic bilateral relationships in West Africa and with traditional partners.

Nigerian opposition parties unite to question democratic processes while regional political developments highlight governance challenges across West and Southern Africa.

The Independent National Electoral Commission will conduct its first elections under the Electoral Act 2026 this Saturday, as the National Assembly defends the law's credibility amid criticism of the reform process.

Nigerian authorities in Plateau State have detained a bar owner and an accomplice on charges of trafficking three girls to Ghana, highlighting the persistent challenge of cross-border human trafficking networks operating across West Africa.

Coordinated bandit attacks, terrorist raids, and communal violence have struck Zamfara, Kwara, and Plateau states within 48 hours, exposing persistent gaps in Nigeria's counter-insurgency strategy and prompting emergency security meetings.

Nigerian stakeholders are pushing for urgent reforms to capture more of the global shea butter market worth $6.5 billion, while regional competitor Ivory Coast prepares to set mid-crop cocoa prices amid tightening commodity markets.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has committed Ondo State to two major infrastructure projects through memoranda of understanding covering a deep seaport facility and a $4 billion petrochemical fertiliser plant, positioning the Nigerian state as a regional investment destination.

The Platform for Concerned Citizens argues that Nigeria's decade-long political and economic malaise demands systemic reforms beyond electoral cycles, pointing to the entrenched nexus between political power and corruption as the fundamental obstacle to national development.

Civil society organizations warn that electronic transmission of election results cannot eliminate electoral fraud on its own, while concerns mount over amendments to the Electoral Act potentially exacerbating voter apathy ahead of 2027 polls.

Monetary authorities have refuted viral claims suggesting Nigeria will abandon the naira for the proposed West African Eco currency by 2027, emphasizing that the country's national currency remains secure pending regional economic convergence.

Nigeria has announced plans to become a full member of an international palm oil producing bloc, with its observer status set to expire in November 2026, marking a strategic shift for Africa's most populous nation in the global edible oils market.

Nigeria's Ondo State has initiated a strategic economic repositioning program targeting international capital, seeking to leverage natural resources and infrastructure improvements to attract foreign direct investment amid national fiscal pressures.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the controversial 2026 Electoral Act into law, drawing mixed reactions from political observers, civil society leaders, and opposition figures who question its implications for Nigeria's electoral integrity.

Nigeria has been selected as the pilot country for implementing a Regional Record of Authorised Fishing Vessels in West Africa, marking a significant step toward coordinated maritime governance and fisheries management across the region.