In the last decade, start-ups have emerged as key drivers of economic growth, job creation, and catalysts for radical innovation, with the technology startups spearheading this development.

Nigeria's non-oil economy demonstrated robust growth of 4.07% in Q4 2025, with agriculture, real estate, construction, and manufacturing leading the expansion. This analysis examines the corporate-commercial implications of this economic momentum and the increasingly structured regulatory environment shaping business operations. The piece explores three key developments from 2025 that are particularly significant for boards, investors, and in-house counsel navigating Nigeria's evolving business landscape.

Cross-border digital fraud, encompassing cryptocurrency theft, business email compromise, wire fraud and romance scams, has evolved into a sophisticated global phenomenon.

Carbon credits have evolved far beyond simple environmental offsets into commercially valuable intangible assets that influence billion-dollar transactions and raise critical questions around commercial law, private property, and taxation. This examination reveals why these instruments deserve attention not merely as environmental tools, but as assets with significant legal, commercial and tax implications in modern commerce.

Before 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), was the principal regulator monitoring and administering regulatory control over mergers in Nigeria.

There are various levels of legal protection for foreign investors.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) recently deported some expatriates for abuse of work permits.

The Corporate Commercial Practice Group at OAL recently hosted a thought-provoking webinar titled "Investing in the African Market: Opportunities under the AfCFTA" on January 31st, 2024.

SPDC had lawfully terminated a contract with a contractor who had significantly misrepresented their technical expertise and capability to fulfill the agreement.

As part of its efforts at ensuring investor protection and encouraging innovation in the conduct of securities business in Nigeria, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC")'s issued Rules on...

Internal Investigations in Nigeria: Emerging Trends and Existing Challenges

The Federal Ministry of Interior recently issued a Public Notice implementing additional guidelines to regulate Expatriate Quota related matters and Business Residency in Nigeria.

Nigeria's Ministry of Interior is launching an e-citibiz portal for online processing of permits including business permits, expatriate quotas, citizenship applications and licenses to officiate marriages.

Parties agreed that their right to rescind or vary the agreement would be subject to the prior written consent of ABC Limited.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) is changing how businesses issue invoices and report Value Added Tax (VAT).

The Deep Offshore Oil and Gas Projects Incentives (Tax Remission) Order, 2026 (the "Order") establishes a production-linked tax remission framework for qualifying deep offshore oil and gas developments in Nigeria.

Nigeria's digital asset ecosystem has evolved rapidly, yet regulation has struggled to keep pace with innovation. The Presidential Executive Order on Virtual Assets Coordination, 2026, seeks to bring greater coordination and clarity to the institutions responsible for regulating the sector, addressing the fragmented regulatory landscape that businesses have faced when establishing or investing in virtual asset operations.

The Court of Appeal in Lagos has ruled on a significant regulatory dispute between the Copyright Society of Nigeria and the Nigerian Copyright Commission, addressing the enforceability of interim relief when underlying regulatory approvals have lapsed. The judgment clarifies the legal boundaries for collective management organisations operating without valid regulatory status and the Commission's authority to take action in such circumstances.