In this episode of 234Digest Audio Briefs, host Samuel Okocha delivers the latest insights on Nigeria’s energy sector, corporate developments, and sports achievements as of August 5, 2025.

Highlights include data and analysis from GlobalData Energy projecting Nigeria’s dominance in Africa’s refinery capacity growth, with 39 new refineries expected by 2030 propelling Nigeria to lead the continent’s energy transition.

The episode also covers:

• UAC Nigeria’s acquisition of Coca-Cola’s CHI Limited
• Leadership updates at Dangote Group’s refining and cement businesses,
• And the University of Lagos digital skills academy in partnership with Professors Without Borders (PROWIBO).
• Sports fans will appreciate coverage of Nigeria’s women’s basketball team clinching their fifth consecutive Women’s AfroBasket title, along with the Super Falcons’ historic 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) victory.

Subscribe to 234Digest Audio Briefs for clear and factual updates on Nigeria’s evolving economy, business environment, and cultural milestones.

Links & Resources:

• Read the newsletter edition version of this podcast on 234Digest here
• Subscribe to 234Digest newsletter
• Read about Samuel Okocha's article in University World News on the University of Lagos digital skills training with PROWIBO partnership, highlighting efforts to boost AI and innovation skills.
• Send news tips, feedbacks and inquiries on partnerships, or business storytelling collaborations here

Nigeria’s gross domestic product is now estimated to be roughly 30% larger than previously reported after the National Bureau of Statistics updated its base year from 2010 to 2019.

Nigeria’s GDP at current prices rose to ₦372.8 trillion ($243 billion) in 2024 from ₦314 trillion in 2023.

The revision incorporates previously undercounted sectors including real estate and telecommunications, with real estate surpassing oil and gas as a top contributor.

Real GDP grew 3.13 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2025, led by the services sector, while agriculture showed minimal growth. The revised data offers a clearer picture of Nigeria’s economic structure and size, with implications for policy and investment.

This episode covers key fiscal reforms, including a proposed corporate tax cut from 30 to 25 percent, pending relevant approval, and tariff rationalization efforts.

It also highlights President Tinubu’s approval of a South-East regional investment fund with an initial ₦150 billion ($98 million) in capital, aimed at unlocking private capital to drive development in Nigeria’s southeast region, and a $264 million urban renewal project in Abia State focusing on infrastructure and job creation.

On inflation, headline rates eased to 22.22 percent in June as the Central Bank of Nigeria maintained its benchmark interest rate at 27.5 percent for the third consecutive meeting in 2025. The bank cited progress on disinflation but noted global risks including US trade tariffs.

Subscribe to 234Digest Audio Briefs for concise, thoughtfully researched updates on Nigeria’s economy and policy environment, and culture.

Links & Resources:

• Read the newsletter edition version of this podcast on 234Digest here
• Subscribe to 234Digest newsletter
• Send news tips, feedbacks and inquiries on partnerships, or business storytelling collaborations here

In this edition of 234Digest Audio Brief, we reflect on a pivotal moment for Nigeria as the nation mourns former President Muhammadu Buhari and embraces a path toward economic renewal.

Our host, Samuel Okocha, guides listeners through Nigeria’s latest political and business developments, including an ambitious industry transformation plan unveiled by NNPC CEO Bayo Ojulari at the recent OPEC seminar in Vienna.

The episode also covers Aliko Dangote’s bid for a new deep seaport to ease export bottlenecks, a $747 million loan financing a major coastal highway project, and ongoing counterterrorism efforts targeting Boko Haram financing.

Listeners will hear about Nigeria’s diplomatic decisions amid U.S. requests to accept deportees, as well as emerging innovation in fintech sectors, including new crypto payment solutions.

Key Highlights:

• The passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari and national mourning
• NNPC’s strategic reforms and export ambitions
• Infrastructure projects shaping Nigeria’s economic landscape
• Security updates on Boko Haram financing convictions
• Nigeria’s diplomatic stance on deportees

Links & Resources:

• Read the newsletter version of this podcast on 234Digest here
• Subscribe to 234Digest newsletter
• Send news tips, feedbacks and inquiries on partnerships, or business storytelling collaborations here

This week on 234Digest Audio Briefs, we track the signals shaping Nigeria’s business outlook, policy priorities, and regional investments.

• Enugu Air launches service with three Embraer jets. The aviation minister calls for professionalism as the state positions itself ahead of November’s National Festival of Arts and Culture.
• The IMF endorses Nigeria’s reform efforts—including subsidy removal, tighter monetary policy, and FX liberalization—highlighting growth and renewed investor interest, while warning of elevated inflation and fiscal stress.
• President Tinubu attends the BRICS Summit in Rio. His push for African inclusion in global decisions is tempered by a new U.S. tariff on South African imports, signaling growing tension around emerging-market alignments.
• Guaranty Trust Holding Company raises $105 million through its first international share offering, setting the stage for a listing on the London Stock Exchange.
• Nigeria’s unreliable power grid drives small businesses toward solar. Analysts say photovoltaic systems will anchor the country’s clean energy transition as it targets 36 percent renewable electricity by 2030.
• Aliko Dangote signs a $3 billion agreement to build a fertilizer plant in Ethiopia. Located along the Djibouti corridor, the facility will boost food security and reduce import dependency across the Horn of Africa.

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This week on 234Digest Audio Briefs, Samuel Okocha unpacks the headlines shaping Nigeria’s economy, business, and policy landscape—plus a special focus on the West Africa Economic Summit and what it means for the region’s future.

In this episode:

• Nigeria and Germany’s €20 Million Renewable Energy Deal: What the new partnership means for jobs, rural electrification, and the country’s energy transition.
• New Oil Export Controls: How tighter regulations aim to curb theft and boost government revenue.
• Banking Sector Update: The Central Bank’s push for stricter provisions on bad loans.
• Global Access to Naira Debt: BNY Mellon and Standard Bank open new channels for international investors.
• Dangote’s First Gasoline Export to Asia: Why this milestone matters for Nigeria’s refining ambitions.
• Sabi’s Pivot to Commodity Exports: What’s behind the layoffs and new strategy in African B2B e-commerce.
• PZ Cussons’ Exit from Palm Oil: The story behind the strategic sale and what it signals for multinationals in Nigeria.
• Codix Bio’s Local Test Kit Expansion: Filling the gap left by US aid cuts in healthcare.
• CNG Rollout Challenges: Why infrastructure bottlenecks threaten Nigeria’s clean fuel ambitions.
• Benin Bronzes Repatriation: The cultural and historical significance of the largest return yet.
• Nigeria and Benin’s Regional Integration Pact: What’s next for West African cooperation.
• West Africa Economic Summit Highlights:
• Engineer Michael Oluwagbemi, Chief Executive of Nigeria’s Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, on building human capital through university-based CNG training and the urgent need to break down Africa’s “54 walls of poverty.”
• Matthew Stephenson. Head, Investment and Services, World Economic Forum on a new partnership to streamline trade regulations and support the African Continental Free Trade Area protocol.

Listen for:

Concise, insightful reporting with context and clarity—crafted for business leaders, investors, policymakers, and anyone interested in Nigeria’s evolving landscape.

Links & Resources:

• Subscribe to 234Digest newsletter
• Read our deep dive on Nigeria & Germany’s renewable energy deal with €20 million grant
• Inquire about sponsorships, or business storytelling collaborations here

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Welcome to 234Digest Audio Briefs with Samuel Okocha—your essential weekly update on Nigeria’s economy, business environment, and cultural trends.

In this episode:

• The Central Bank’s new rules for banks under regulatory forbearance
• Inflation slows for a second month, offering hope for consumers
• Dangote Refinery’s nationwide fuel distribution and credit push
• Security challenges in Benue and the impact on food supply
• Real estate’s surge, driven by diaspora investment and urban growth
• MultiChoice’s betting boom as pay-TV subscriptions slide
• Major B2B e-commerce and clean energy investment stories
• United Capital’s expansion into Francophone West Africa
• Abuja’s new arts arena and what it means for Nigeria’s creative economy

Listen for:

Concise, insightful reporting with context and clarity—crafted for business leaders, investors, policymakers, and anyone interested in Nigeria’s evolving landscape.

Links & Mentions:

Subscribe to 234Digest newsletter

Read our deep dive on Nigeria's real estate sector

Contact Samuel Okocha for sponsorship, collaborations, or branded content collaborations.

Nigeria’s business landscape is back in motion after the Eid al-Adha holiday. In this episode of 234Digest Audio Briefs, we break down the latest economic shifts shaping the country—from local oil firms expanding their share of crude output to PalmPay’s search for fresh capital and the government’s renewed push for Ajaokuta Steel revival.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

- How local oil companies are reshaping Nigeria’s energy sector—and the challenges they face.

- Why PalmPay is seeking up to $100 million for expansion into Africa and Asia.

- What the government’s new steel industry push means for economic diversification.

- How Nigeria is doubling down on dairy production to cut import dependency.

- Why the National Talent Export Programme aims to create one million direct jobs in five years.

Stay ahead with expert insights, quick analysis, and a clear view of Nigeria’s evolving economy.

Subscribe for weekly intelligence on Nigeria's economy, business environment, and culture, delivered every Sunday. Plus a deep dive into key topics once during the week for added insight. every week straight to your inbox every Sunday. Signup here

As this podcast evolves, we're exploring collaborations and sponsorships with those who share in the vision. If you'd like to be part of the journey, reach out and contact the host here.

Welcome to 234Digest Audio Briefs, your weekly intelligence-driven news briefing on Nigeria’s economy, business landscape, and culture.

Each episode aims to deliver sharp insights, compelling context, and essential updates for independent thinkers who value clarity, depth, and engaging audio storytelling.

What to expect:

- Expert breakdowns of major market shifts, deals, and policies

- Deep dives on Nigeria’s evolving economic landscape (coming soon)

- Engaging narratives connecting the dots behind the headlines

- Sharp analysis on business trends and cultural movements

This week’s episode covers:

- Moody’s upgrade of Nigeria’s credit rating and its impact on investor confidence

- Lagos’ €410M water transport project and how it could transform urban mobility

- Shell expanding deepwater investments as TotalEnergies exits Bonga oilfield

- Dangote refinery reshaping Africa’s fuel trade, cutting Nigeria’s imports

- Deadly Niger State floods highlighting Nigeria’s growing climate vulnerability

- Enugu hosting the 2025 National Festival of Arts and Culture, featuring insights from Obi Asika

- Tinubu’s two-year mark and the debate between economic reforms and ongoing challenges

Join the conversation. What story do you think will have the biggest impact on Nigeria’s economy? Drop your insights.

Subscribe to 234Digest newsletter to get deep dives once a week and a full round-up every Sunday. Sign up here.

For sponsorship inquiries or collaboration opportunities, contact the host and producer. Send a message here.