Nigeria: International Trade & Investment

APM Terminals has entered exclusive negotiations for Nigeria's $2.5 billion Badagry Deep Seaport project, but what contractual, land, regulatory and financing protections must be established before this proposed investment can move from MoU to commercial close? This analysis examines the legal mechanisms protecting major infrastructure investments in Nigeria, from PPP frameworks and NIPC guarantees to competition law concerns and currency risk management.

The increasing digitalisation of global commerce fundamentally transforms how Trade Finance is deployed and accessed by businesses. The International Chamber of Commerce (“the ICC”) defines Trade Finance as the invisible bridge that makes global trade flow. Trade Finance connects entities across continents, mitigates payment risks and is enzymatic to market progression and economic stability.

Nigeria's maritime sector undergoes a major regulatory transformation with the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency Act, 2026, which establishes a comprehensive framework for economic regulation of ports, introduces stricter tariff controls, enhanced enforcement powers, and transitions the Nigerian Shippers' Council into a dedicated economic regulator with expanded authority over port operations, terminal operators, and shipping services.

As globalization expands commercial footprints across borders, securing a favorable verdict in a UK or US court is often only half the battle. For multinational corporations, financial institutions, and international judgment creditors, the ultimate success of litigation depends on asset recovery. When a judgment debtor's assets are located within Nigeria, creditors must navigate the intricate framework of the Nigerian judicial system to achieve enforcement.

The Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) represents a transformative infrastructure for cross-border payments across Africa, enabling instant transactions in local currencies without relying on intermediary Western currencies. This comprehensive analysis explores how PAPSS operates through its three core processes of instant payment, pre-funding, and net settlement, while examining Nigeria's regulatory framework and the system's critical role in advancing the African Continental Free Trade Area

Nigeria's Free Trade Zone (FTZ) serves as a key mechanism for attracting investment, promoting industrialisation, and enhancing economic growth.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has introduced sweeping changes to the country's import tariff structure and excise regime through the 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures, effective from April and July 2026. These reforms, implemented under Nigeria's commitments to the ECOWAS Common External Tariff and the African Continental Free Trade Area, include a revised schedule of 127 tariff lines affecting food products, industrial inputs, and capital equipment, alongside new excise duties and green tax surcharges design

The recent State visit by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the United Kingdom on March 18, 2026 marks a significant moment in the evolution of Nigeria–UK relations, being the first such visit in nearly four decades.

Nigeria's trade regulatory landscape has recently seen developments aimed at improving trade administration and strengthening import controls.