AGP Executive Report

Malaria Elimination Push: The Senate has passed for third reading the bill to establish a National Agency for Malaria Elimination, aiming to shift Nigeria from treatment to prevention and eventual eradication, with zonal and state offices planned. Solar Power Rules: NERC’s Net Billing Regulations 2026 now let Nigerians sell excess solar electricity back to the grid, turning households and businesses into “prosumers” for credits. Digital Banking Expansion: Interswitch partners with Temenos to scale digital banking services across Africa, using Temenos tech for core banking, payments, and financial crime tools. Forex Update: The naira strengthened to about N1,357 per dollar as external reserves rose above $49bn, improving liquidity and market confidence. Youth Agribusiness Land Fund: FG and IITA launch the YiALTF to help 500,000 young agripreneurs access land and financing for agribusiness growth. Education & Health Warnings: Experts flag hospital malnutrition as a “silent epidemic” worsening patient outcomes, while UNICEF says only one in four Nigerian children can read and solve basic maths at age 14. Power Infrastructure Hit: TCN reports vandalism-led collapse of six transmission towers on the Apir–Lafia 330kV corridor, taking lines out of service. Security & Mining Crackdown: NSCDC Mining Marshals receive eight operational gun trucks to intensify action against illegal mining.

Oil & Safety Accountability: Leaked Shell emails from 2008 show top executives weighing whether to keep Nigeria’s Nembe Creek Trunk Line running despite concerns it sat outside technical integrity standards and was vulnerable to sabotage, highlighting the tension between commercial pressure and safety. Pipeline Theft Impact: A Shell report attachment says illegal connections have repeatedly made pipelines “red” under safety definitions, with dozens of known taps still active and hundreds removed in 2012—fuel theft with environmental fallout. Public Health Policy: The Senate has passed the Malaria Elimination Agency Bill, aiming to shift Nigeria from mostly curative care to prevention and elimination, with zonal and state offices planned. Digital & Cybersecurity: A new advisory warns Nigeria’s cyber breaches often stem from basic lapses like misconfigured systems, exposed databases and leaked credentials—not only sophisticated attacks. Energy Transition: NERC has started Net Billing Regulations 2026, letting solar “prosumers” sell excess power back to the grid. Education & STEM: NLNG’s 2026 Science Contest ends with Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borikiri, winning the grand finale in Port Harcourt. Health Access: UNICEF says only one in four Nigerian children can read properly and do basic maths by age 14, pushing for digital learning and AI skills. Agritech Innovation: An NGO in Abuja is rolling out an AI farm tool plus biochar to help small farmers improve yields and document practices.

Defence & Tech Showcase: AFRIDEX, Africa’s International Defence Exhibition, unveiled plans for outdoor static displays and live multi-domain demonstrations in Eko Atlantic, Lagos (Oct 26–29, 2026), aiming to boost capability development across land, maritime, air, space and cyber. Energy & Power Reliability: TCN said vandals destroyed six transmission towers on the Apir–Lafia 330kV line in Nasarawa, triggering severe outages and leaving both lines out of service pending reconstruction. Public Health Preparedness: Nigeria intensified readiness against possible Ebola entry, activating border controls with infrared temperature screening and alerting health facilities and rapid response teams. Digital Media Transition: FG set June 17, 2026 for Nigeria’s switch from analogue to digital TV, promising 100+ free channels but requiring set-top boxes. Finance & Inclusion: SEC reported Collective Investment Scheme assets rising to N10trn, while analysts warn inflation and naira depreciation may inflate figures. Energy Education: NNPC Foundation urged youths to lead energy innovation via STEAM, unveiling “Energy on Wheels for Schools” to spread energy awareness and protect infrastructure. Oil & Competition: Dangote Refinery cut ex-depot petrol price to N1,252/litre amid a fresh price war with depot operators. Security & Governance: Senate President Akpabio warned politicians against exploiting insecurity for advantage and pushed for a national security summit.

Ebola Readiness: Nigeria’s health ministry says it has stepped up surveillance and border health protocols after reports of Bundibugyo ebolavirus in East and Central Africa, stressing there’s no confirmed Ebola case in Nigeria. Fuel Price Watch: Dangote Refinery may cut petrol and diesel again as Lagos depots undercut rates in a widening downstream price war. Digital Payments Push: The CBN unveiled Payments System Vision 2028, targeting 95% financial inclusion and faster digital transactions while cutting fraud losses to under 1%—with “invisible roads” for moving money. Banking Recap Deadline: CBN reportedly granted Union, Polaris and Keystone extra time to complete recapitalisation plans amid legal and regulatory hurdles. Security Tech Debate: Ex-Army chief Tukur Buratai says agencies can track bandits and kidnappers if they can locate citizens and social media influencers, calling for sustained capacity building. Child Labour Action: FG and ILO validated Nigeria’s National Policy and Action Plan 2026–2030 to tackle child labour. Local Industry & Research: UNN VC applauds its Faculty of Agriculture for launching a Hall of Fame to reward scholarship and research. Maritime LNG Build: NLNG affiliate BGT awarded contracts for three new LNG vessels, targeting delivery in 2029 with cleaner propulsion tech.

Ebola Readiness: NCDC DG Jide Idris says Nigeria is only about 59% prepared for a possible Ebola outbreak, citing gaps at points of entry and urging tighter surveillance as cases continue in Uganda and the DRC. Digital Payments Push: CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso launches Payments System Vision 2028, targeting 95% financial inclusion and cutting fraud losses to below 0.001% with stronger identity links and AI fraud detection. Cybersecurity Warning: ISSAN warns that rising cyberattacks—identity theft, mobile fraud, ransomware, phishing and BEC—are now a business and national security threat. Biotech Breakthrough: CorrectSequence Therapeutics reports 15-month follow-up for base-editing therapy CS-206 in a Nigerian sickle cell patient, with VOC-free results and favorable safety. Energy & Grid Disruption: TCN extends maintenance on the Jos–Bauchi–Gombe 330kV line to finish optical ground wire work, risking prolonged outages in affected northern states. Maritime Security: Tinubu commissions three naval vessels and flags a Gulf of Guinea task force at the Navy’s 70th anniversary, vowing stronger maritime security. Education & Research: UNIPORT announces 8,156 graduands for its June convocation, including 120 first-class students. Fintech Consolidation: Brass ends independent operations, migrating customers to Paystack MFB by July 31, 2026.

IP & Innovation Push: Nigeria and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) agreed to deepen collaboration to turn university and creative research into financial assets, with VP Kashim Shettima also welcoming WIPO’s planned Abuja office. EV & Energy Infrastructure: Pan-African e-mobility firm Spiro raised $215m equity to scale battery-swapping and EV infrastructure across markets including Nigeria, aiming to move deeper into local manufacturing. Digital Economy Roadmap: The CBN unveiled the Nigeria Payments System Vision 2028 to boost inclusion, interoperability, cybersecurity, and cross-border payments under AfCFTA. Cyber & Data Protection: NDPC says hackers launched 2,000+ attacks on its portal in a week, as it trains MDAs’ IT administrators and plans to train permanent secretaries. Health Security: NCDC DG Jide Idris puts Nigeria’s Ebola readiness at 59%, stressing surveillance beyond airports and porous land borders. STEM for Kids: Louis Awode Foundation targets 20,000 children nationwide with robotics, coding, AI, and entrepreneurship training. Capital Market Upgrade: CSCS launches Nigeria’s T+1 settlement cycle to speed settlement and improve market efficiency. Food & Nutrition: NBS reports the national average cost of a healthy diet rose to N1,541 in March 2026. Industrial Research Training: PTDF begins training 35 researchers in computational catalysis with ABU to cut reliance on foreign expertise.

South Africa Xenophobia Spillover: Nigeria and Ghana stayed away from South Africa’s Africa Day events after deadly xenophobic violence tied to “Operation Dudula” and related groups, raising fresh regional security and tech-driven outrage concerns. Power Crisis Costs: AfDB says Nigeria’s electricity outages cut business sales by about 3% annually, with 70%+ of firms relying on generators—while TCN also plans maintenance outages affecting northern states and even neighbouring Niger. DigitalSENSE Forum Backed by Telcos: MTN, ALTON, Upperlink and NiRA support the June 11 Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum on internet governance for development, pushing multistakeholder synergy for Nigeria’s digital public infrastructure. Fintech for SMEs: Reports highlight how OPay and other payment rails are turning digital payments into “infrastructure” for small businesses, improving certainty and reducing transaction frictions. Petrol Prices Push Up Costs: Stanbic IBTC PMI links May purchasing price rises to higher petroleum product costs, even as inflation eased. Education Underfunding: Analysis warns Nigeria spends only 2.14% of GDP on education, calling it a national emergency. Maritime Training Milestone: Nigeria’s first IHO-certified nautical cartography programme earns global recognition, boosting hydrographic capacity. Policy Watch: Communications Minister Sam George says NITA Bill reviews are ongoing with law firms, pushing back on fears of blanket licensing for tech startups.

National Library Upgrade: Young Nigerian librarians back President Tinubu’s renewal of Prof. Chinwe Veronica Anunobi as CEO of the National Library of Nigeria, saying it will sustain digital library reforms and the Abuja headquarters project. Health Tech R&D: Traws Pharma advances a preclinical oral antiviral “dual-strike” combo targeting hantavirus and Ebola, with plans for additional activity against Lassa fever in high-biosafety labs. Payment Systems Regulation: CBN eases PoS geo-fencing by expanding the operating radius from 10m to 70m and pushing the compliance deadline to August 1, 2026, aiming to reduce friction for Nigeria’s agent network. Energy Costs: Dangote Refinery and depot operators raise LPG/cooking gas prices again, with analysts linking the hike to global crude volatility and geopolitical supply risks. Public Health Warning: World No Tobacco Day spotlights how tobacco and nicotine firms keep targeting youths through new products like vapes and pouches. Agriculture & Jobs: FG targets 37,000 women and youths for dairy value-chain empowerment, including skills, enterprise support, finance access, and cold-chain investment. Security & Extremism: Reports say a key ISWAP leader, Abakar Minuki, was killed in a joint US-Nigeria operation, but analysts warn the threat may persist. Education & Skills: Nigeria-Korea Friendship Institute begins 2026/2027 Post-UTME screening and short-term vocational admissions. Digital Governance: Nigeria’s payment ecosystem also faces pressure as processors threaten action over Verve card transaction disputes.

ICT & Education: First Lady Oluremi Tinubu inaugurated a TETFund/Renewed Hope ICT Experience Centre at EKSU, awarding top graduates and pushing AI-driven learning. Election Integrity & Data Security: INEC faces an uproar after a leaked screenshot allegedly showed access to a restricted voter database, raising fears of manipulation of millions of voters. 2027 Election Prep: INEC chair Joash Amupitan led a delegation to South Korea to study local election best practices. Party Politics (2027): Peter Obi accepted the NDC presidential ticket, while Labour Party delegates presented Dr Chibuzo Okereke as its 2027 candidate. AI & Media Capacity: UDUS will host its first international media conference on AI and national development. Tech for Security & Phones: AMCODET praised NCC’s Device Management System to curb stolen and counterfeit phones via IMEI tracking. Energy & Clean Transport: Tinubu commissioned major CNG infrastructure projects across Lagos, Abuja and Owerri to cut transport costs and emissions. Health Infrastructure: Tinubu commissioned new federal health facilities and emergency medical transport upgrades. Education Under Threat: FUTO protests followed the reported death of a student allegedly tortured in custody by Man O’ War. Public Health Concern: A study warns tobacco marketing is increasingly targeting women and girls through flavoured products and social media.

AI Governance Warning: South Africa’s withdrawn AI policy is being flagged as a caution for businesses adopting AI without strong oversight, after the draft included fictitious AI references and triggered official suspensions and a full rewrite. Clean Transport & Energy: President Tinubu marked his third anniversary by commissioning major CNG projects across Lagos, Abuja and Owerri, pushing a gas-led energy transition after subsidy removal. Health Infrastructure Push: Tinubu also inaugurated upgraded healthcare facilities nationwide, including a specialist complex in Abuja and a large emergency ambulance deployment with digital tools for faster response. Research Power Upgrade: Nigeria’s NIMR unveiled a N300m, 100KVA solar system to stabilise electricity for labs and diagnostics. EV Industry Support: FG reiterated plans to grow Nigeria’s electric vehicle sector through local content, technology transfer and industrial development. Security Tech Debate: Omoyele Sowore said he’d use drones for defence, arguing Nigeria needs a tech-led security overhaul. Media Freedom Watch: CPJ renewed claims of media repression, mapping 91 journalist attacks/arrests since Tinubu took office. Food Imports Data: CBN data shows Nigeria spent $2.34bn on food imports in 2025. Agriculture Expansion: Akwa Ibom launched its Oil Palm Revolution, distributing 620,000 seedlings to farmers.

Fuel Subsidy Removal: Tinubu says removing fuel subsidy “saved” Nigeria from imminent bankruptcy and is laying the base for gradual recovery, as he hosted governors to mark Sallah and his third anniversary. Political Pushback: Atiku counters that Nigerians face worsening hunger, poverty and insecurity, while ADC claims a nationwide poll puts Tinubu’s approval at 30.2% and disapproval at 47.5%. Healthcare Upgrade: Tinubu commissions an infertility and assisted reproductive centre in Bauchi, highlighting CASA sperm analysis and ICSI for advanced fertility care. Emergency Care Boost: FG unveils 145 tricycle ambulances, six boat ambulances and dispatch equipment to strengthen Nigeria’s emergency medical service and reach rural communities faster. AI in Payments: Paystack launches a rebuilt merchant dashboard with an AI “command centre” to help African businesses understand transactions, revenue trends and settlements. Security & Tech Risks: Reports allege deepfake-style manipulation attempts in detention linked to ex-Gov El-Rufai, raising alarms over AI misuse. Science/Innovation: Plateau launches its maiden science and technology festival to drive innovation growth.

Health Security: Experts at NAIP warn Nigeria’s heavy reliance on imported medicines (about 70%) is a growing health insecurity risk, urging stronger policy and investment in local pharma capacity. Ebola Preparedness: WHO recommends Bundibugyo Ebola candidate treatments and vaccines be used only in clinical trials, as DRC and Uganda report cases. Security & Kidnapping: Tinubu says many communities and highways are becoming safer as security agencies intensify operations, while civil society groups renew pressure over 81 abducted schoolchildren still held by terrorists. Tech & Reputation: A new AI PR platform, AGENTPR™, is launched to detect reputational threats before crises escalate. Digital Skills for Youth: Tinubu tells youths reforms will expand opportunities across tech, manufacturing, agriculture, sports, creative industries and entrepreneurship. Cybercrime Education: Kogi launches an anti-internet fraud campaign and calls for anti-fraud clubs in schools. Energy Tech: Huawei unveils an intelligent substation solution for Sub-Saharan Africa at Enlit Africa 2026, pushing digital transformation in power systems. Governance & Reform: Tinubu marks his third anniversary defending subsidy and exchange-rate reforms as necessary to prevent fiscal collapse. Public Health Infrastructure: MTN Foundation begins the 6th phase of “What Can We Do Together,” targeting upgrades for primary healthcare centres and science labs.

Ebola Preparedness: NCDC placed Lagos, FCT and eight other states on high Ebola alert over renewed spread risk of the Bundibugyo strain, warning Nigeria could face importation despite no confirmed cases yet. Education Accountability: TrackaNG alleges Niger State paid N400m for Government Day Secondary School, Diko, but the school still lies in ruins, with students learning on bare floors and a collapsing roof. School Safety Crisis: Leah Sharibu’s long-missing story is resurfacing amid fresh reports of coordinated school kidnappings in Oyo, renewing calls for urgent rescue and stronger protection for children. Digital Tax Push: Nigeria’s e-invoicing and tax automation drive is testing SMEs’ readiness, with many small businesses still relying on manual records and cash-heavy sales. EV Industry Move: FG reiterated support for electric vehicles and clean transportation, stressing public-private collaboration and local content to grow Nigeria’s EV ecosystem. Research Connectivity: Sparkle and GÉANT expanded research and education network links, including a new Lagos–Cape Town corridor for African scientific collaboration. Tech Market Growth: Yaba Stores officially launched nationwide as a new Nigerian e-commerce marketplace aimed at simplifying online shopping and boosting local digital commerce.

ADC Presidential Primary: Atiku Abubakar has been declared winner of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket for 2027 after polling 1,846,379 votes, setting up a fresh showdown with President Tinubu and Peter Obi. Tech Talent Pipeline: Moniepoint says it will invest N3bn in innovation hubs across OAU, UNN and ABU Zaria to grow homegrown software, AI, data science and robotics skills. Transport Infrastructure: Julius Berger is rehabilitating major Lagos bridges including Third Mainland, Carter and Iddo bridges to fix marine corrosion and ageing damage. Energy & FX: EIU reports the ramp-up of the Dangote 650,000 bpd refinery is cutting fuel imports and easing foreign exchange pressure as local petrol supply rises. Clean Energy & Agro-Industry: REA signs MoUs to deepen Nigeria’s clean energy transition, link renewable power to agro-industrial clusters, and support innovation-led growth. Security & Information Space: A new piece argues Nigeria’s military is shifting toward information integrity and strategic communication ahead of 2027. Education & Culture: A decolonial lens for reading southern African literature is introduced in a new Routledge book by Prof. Muchativugwa Liberty Hove.

Digital Governance & Partnerships: NITDA deepened ties with Benin’s digital agency to boost digital public infrastructure and innovation-driven governance. Public Health & Safety: NCDC warned Nigerians against using bitter kola, salt water and herbs as Ebola remedies, stressing no approved home cure and urging early care. Sports Tech Upgrade: FG approved VAR and an anti-doping lab for MKO Abiola Stadium, alongside broader stadium and athlete facility upgrades. Food Security Alarm: Capital Market Academics’ Uwaleke urged urgent agricultural reforms after UN warnings that up to 35 million Nigerians may face acute hunger in the June–August lean period. Cybersecurity & Education: Ebonyi Education Ministry’s website reportedly exposed visitors’ data to hackers, raising concerns about weak digital safeguards. Digital Finance Reliability: Fresh disruptions to NIBSS-linked transfers reignited fears about the resilience of Nigeria’s digital payments infrastructure. Elections & Media Integrity: INEC urged journalists to protect electoral integrity with factual reporting ahead of Ekiti’s governorship poll. Trade & Diplomacy: NACC proposed a “Lagos Legacy Project” to host a permanent US–Nigeria commercial diplomacy centre in Lagos.

Digital Sovereignty Push: Nigeria’s cloud dependence is back in the spotlight as Kasi Cloud Datacenters commissions a West Africa “hyperscale-ready” AI-capable campus in Lekki, while NiRA rallies stakeholders on .ng adoption, cybersecurity and digital identity—amid claims Nigeria spends about $850m yearly on foreign cloud. E-voting Debate: Controversial party primaries have reignited calls for electronic voting in internal party processes after chaotic queue-counting clips sparked outrage and deeper distrust in democracy. Security & Drugs: Nigeria’s insecurity narrative also turns darker as a major meth lab was dismantled in Ogun, and India’s Gujarat ATS seized 118kg of cocaine from a Brazil-linked route—showing how global trafficking keeps intersecting with Nigeria. Child Online Safety: Pressure is mounting on the Senate to pass the Child Online Protection Bill as reports say 9 in 10 Nigerian children face online risks. Sports & Economy: FRSC credits Dangote Cement’s safety reforms with big reductions in crashes, while EIU says Dangote Refinery’s ramp-up is cutting fuel import dependence.