Afreximbank’s $3 Billion Power Move: Is Africa Ready to Refine Its Future?
Dear Readers, In a bold play to reclaim control of Africa’s energy destiny, the African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank) has pledged $3 billion to finance the purchase of locally refined petroleum products across the continent. This was announced earlier this month by the Executive Vice-President, Kanayo Awani, at an energy conference in Cape Town, South Africa. […]
How the ISA 2025 Reshapes the Nigerian Virtual Asset Market
Introduction In early 2025, Nigeria’s rapidly growing cryptocurrency sector reached a major turning point. After years of regulatory confusion and a well-known banking ban on crypto transactions, a new law changed everything. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the Investments and Securities Act 2025 (ISA 2025) into law, officially recognizing digital assets and cryptocurrencies as securities. […]
Unveiling Nigeria’s Carbon Market: Policies, Progress, and Prospects
INTRODUCTION World leaders gathered in Paris during the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) to endorse the Paris Agreement; an International Energy Treaty grounded in the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Within this pact, they committed to curbing the global rise in temperature to under 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, […]
Deep Sea Mining (Part 1): Challenges, Opportunities and Legal Frameworks
Introduction Deep Sea Mining “DSM” refers to the extraction of valuable mineral resources from the seabed in areas beyond the reach of traditional mining operations. These resources include polymetallic nodules, cobalt-rich crusts, and massive sulfides containing critical minerals such as cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements. The increasing demand for these minerals, driven by the […]
Exploring Surrogacy in Nigeria: A Compassionate Journey to Parenthood
INTRODUCTION In April 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that infertility has become a global health issue affecting millions of people of reproductive age. The WHO estimates that 1 in 6 people will experience infertility in their lifetime, indicating the urgent need to increase access to affordable, high-quality fertility care. The family being the […]
Licenses Issued, But Can Nigeria’s Refineries Survive Without Crude?
Dear Readers, Nigeria’s refining sector is poised for expansion as the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has approved licenses for the construction of three new refineries. These facilities are expected to add 140,000 barrels per day (bpd) to the country’s domestic refining capacity. The newly licensed refineries include: […]
Third-Party Funding in International Arbitration: Disclosure Obligation as an Antidote to Conflicts of Interest in Third-Party Funding Arrangements.
INTRODUCTION The escalating costs associated with international arbitration have emerged as a significant concern, given their potential to reach exorbitant levels. These increasing costs have transformed into a formidable obstacle for the parties involved, fueling concerns that arbitration may only be accessible to “deep-pocket” entities or individuals, thereby potentially denying meritorious claims access to justice […]
Challenges of Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards in Nigeria: Addressing the Inconsistencies in the Nigerian Legislations
Arbitration has become an increasingly preferred mechanism for resolving commercial disputes in Nigeria, offering parties a faster and more flexible alternative to litigation. However, the true effectiveness of arbitration lies in the ability to enforce arbitral awards seamlessly. While Nigeria has made significant strides in aligning its legal framework with international best practices, several challenges […]
Innovating Finance: How IP Insurance Can Transform Nigerian Innovative Startups.
Introduction In the evolving global economy, intellectual property (IP) has emerged as a critical asset for businesses, especially for startups and innovation-driven enterprises. IP assets, including patents, trademarks, and copyrights, represent significant value for many companies, but leveraging them to secure financing has traditionally been fraught with challenges, primarily due to the difficulty in accurately […]
Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards Annulled at the Seat
Introduction Enforcement of arbitral awards against a losing party who refuses to comply voluntarily with the award is consistent with the mutual intention of the parties to resolve their differences through arbitration and be bound by the resulting award. In this respect, judicial assistance ensures the effectiveness of arbitration as a private arrangement supported by […]
