Nigeria: Contracts and Commercial Law

Nigeria's entertainment industry has evolved into a sophisticated commercial sector, yet high-profile disputes over master recordings, royalty entitlements, and contract terms continue to plague relationships between artists, labels, and managers. This comprehensive legal analysis examines the contractual framework governing Nigeria's creative economy, from recording agreements and publishing deals to endorsement contracts and distribution arrangements, revealing how proper legal structuring can protect sta

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.

The Nigeria Revenue Service has issued a compliance reminder to large taxpayers regarding mandatory e-invoicing requirements under the National E-Invoicing and Electronic Fiscal System regime. Large taxpayers must complete onboarding and begin compliant invoice transmission by 31 July 2026 or face potential regulatory enforcement measures. The notice follows the phased implementation timeline published in February 2026 for different taxpayer categories.

The CBN's recent circular introducing market structure restrictions within the payments ecosystem may represent one of the most significant regulatory interventions in the sector in recent years. While the circular also introduces data localisation and ultimate beneficial ownership disclosure requirements, among its most consequential features are the provisions restricting the extent to which a participant with significant market share in consumer issuing activities.

The issuance of the General Transition Guidelines for the Tax Acts 2025 provides long-awaited clarity on one of the most significant tax reforms in Nigeria's recent history. This Client Alert examines the practical implications for businesses navigating the transition to the new tax regime, including treatment of accounting periods, transaction taxes, ongoing contracts, tax incentives, disputes, and compliance obligations.

Nigeria remains one of the most strategically significant M&A markets on the African continent. With Africa’s largest economy, a population exceeding 220 million, and sectors ranging from upstream petroleum to high-growth fintech, the country consistently draws foreign acquirers looking for scale and first-mover advantage.

Nigeria's data protection landscape has fundamentally shifted with the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 and the General Application and Implementation Directive 2025. This article examines the legal architecture governing cross-border data transfers, identifies critical compliance obligations for international technology transactions, and demonstrates how well-structured data compliance can serve as a competitive advantage in one of Africa's most dynamic digital markets.

A viral football wager involving a Mercedes-Benz between Nigerian content creators has ignited a crucial conversation about contract law fundamentals. When does a casual promise transform into a legally enforceable obligation...

The Nigerian Communications Commission has published Draft Business Rules establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework for Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), introducing structured onboarding processes, commercial agreement requirements, and dispute resolution mechanisms.