Nigeria: M&A/Private Equity

Joint ventures have become essential structuring tools in Nigeria's commercial landscape, yet they remain among the most litigated arrangements due to inadequate legal frameworks.

Share Purchase Agreements (SPAs) serve as critical risk allocation tools in corporate transactions, governing the transfer of company shares between buyers and sellers. This article examines the key legal risks inherent in SPAs and explores the protective mechanisms—including representations and warranties, indemnities, conditions precedent, and escrow arrangements—that parties employ to safeguard their interests throughout the transaction lifecycle.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has issued new Decommissioning and Abandonment Regulations 2026, fundamentally reshaping Nigeria's upstream petroleum decommissioning framework.

The CBN in its March 28, 2024 circular announced an upward review of the minimum capital requirements for banks in Nigeria, mandating banks to raise their minimum paid-up capital by March 31, 2026 as follows...

On 16 January 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") issued Circular No. 26-1 (the "Circular"), introducing a revised and tiered framework for minimum capital requirements applicable to fund and portfolio...

The Securities and Exchange Commission has issued Circular No. 26-1 dated 16th January 2026, revising the minimum capital requirements applicable to regulated capital market entities in Nigeria.

Private M&A Comparative Guide for the jurisdiction of Nigeria, check out our comparative guides section to compare across multiple countries

At its core, acquiring a share means buying or otherwise obtaining an ownership stake in a company. Shares (also called "stock" or "equity") are pieces of ownership. When you acquire shares, you gain rights to the company's profits and a say in its affairs (like voting at meetings).

In the dynamic landscape of modern corporate finance, leveraged buyouts ("LBOs") have emerged as a powerful tool for corporate restructuring and value creation.