Nigeria’s manufacturing investment plunges 46% in 2025
Nigeria’s manufacturing sector is facing a steep drop in foreign capital inflows, as new data highlights a sharp deterioration in investor confidence and the broader business climate in 2025. Capital importation into the sector fell by 46 percent to $773 million, down from $1.43 billion recorded in 2024, reflecting growing concerns over macroeconomic instability, policy uncertainty, and operational challenges confronting manufacturers.
Figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) underscore the scale of the decline, pointing to weakened foreign investor appetite for Nigeria’s industrial base. Analysts say the downturn signals mounting pressure on a sector already grappling with high production costs, foreign exchange volatility, and infrastructure deficits, raising fresh concerns about the country’s ability to sustain industrial growth and economic diversification.
Transcorp, Egbin, Geregu, five others sign N3.3trn power debt bailout
Eight of Nigeria’s largest power generation companies, including Transcorp Power, Egbin Power, and Geregu Power Plc, have signed onto President Bola Tinubu’s N3.3 trillion debt settlement programme, marking a major push to revive liquidity in the country’s crisis-ridden electricity sector. The deal, which spans 15 power plants operated by six private firms and two state-owned entities, targets a backlog of unpaid obligations that has stifled operations and weakened investor confidence for years.
The settlement is widely seen as the most ambitious effort yet to stabilise Nigeria’s power industry, where chronic debt has hampered maintenance, discouraged fresh investment, and contributed to persistent outages affecting millions of households and businesses. By addressing these liabilities, the government aims to reset the sector’s financial health and pave the way for improved generation capacity and more reliable electricity supply.
Bakare Reveals secret push behind Alamieyeseigha Pardon Amid Niger Delta Unrest
A prominent Nigerian cleric, Tunde Bakare, has revealed that he played a role in influencing the presidential pardon granted to the late former Bayelsa State governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, linking the decision to efforts aimed at calming rising tensions in the Niger Delta at the time. Bakare said the intervention was part of broader consultations surrounding the controversial move, which has remained a subject of national debate years after it was taken.
He made the disclosure in Lagos during the second edition of the Citadel School of Governance Dialogue Series themed “The Rough Road to Reforms: The Risks, the Resistance, the Reprisals, and the Resilient Leader.” According to him, the account sheds light on the behind-the-scenes deliberations and political considerations that informed the pardon, offering a rare perspective on how security concerns and regional unrest influenced high-level executive decisions.
Customs agents say NSW will ensure faster, efficient trade at ports
Freight forwarders in Nigeria’s Eastern zone have expressed optimism that the recently launched National Single Window (NSW) will significantly improve trade efficiency and reduce delays at the nation’s ports. They say the platform, designed to streamline and centralise trade-related processes, has the potential to enhance transparency, cut down bureaucratic bottlenecks, and accelerate cargo clearance.
The development comes as area commands of the Nigeria Customs Service in the region align with the system’s objectives, targeting improved revenue generation through smoother and more coordinated trade facilitation. Stakeholders believe the integration of the NSW will not only boost operational efficiency but also strengthen compliance and accountability across port operations.
Kaduna Church attack: Police confirm seven rescued, counter army’s figure
The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed that only seven persons abducted during the April 5 terrorist attack on churches in Ariko Village near Gurara Dam in Kaduna State have been rescued, contradicting earlier claims by the Nigerian Army that 31 hostages had regained freedom. The police position aligns with community leaders’ accounts that only a handful of victims had been freed following the assault.
Gunmen suspected to be bandits had stormed ECWA and Catholic churches in Ariko community during worship, opening fire on congregants, killing at least five people and abducting about 14 others. The incident has heightened concerns over persistent insecurity in rural parts of Kaduna State, particularly around communities near the Gurara Dam axis.
Nigeria unlocks N3.3trn to rescue power sector from decade of debt
President Bola Tinubu has approved a N3.3 trillion settlement plan to clear longstanding debts in Nigeria’s power sector, marking a major policy push aimed at stabilising electricity supply and easing financial pressures on operators. The intervention targets obligations that have accumulated over more than a decade, in a sector widely viewed as a major constraint on economic growth and industrial productivity.
The payment framework covers legacy debts incurred between February 2015 and March 2025, spanning three administrations and reflecting years of underinvestment, tariff disputes, and unpaid obligations across the power value chain. Officials say the plan is designed to restore liquidity to electricity generators, gas suppliers, and distribution companies, while addressing structural bottlenecks that have contributed to persistent grid instability and limited power delivery nationwide.
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