This week on 234Digest Audio Briefs, Nigeria’s reform momentum collides with rising geopolitical scrutiny.

• U.S. President Donald Trump threatens aid cuts and military action over alleged religious violence, testing investor confidence as Nigeria’s dollar bonds post steep losses on Monday.
• Dangote Refinery now outpaces domestic fuel demand and backs a 15% import duty to protect local output.
• NNPC seeks equity partners to revive idle refineries and prepares for a long-awaited IPO.
• Nigeria’s dollar bonds post steep losses amid security concerns.
• Ciara’s Lagos Fashion Week debut draws global attention to Nigeria’s creative economy, as she celebrates local designer Onalaja.

Subscribe for weekly updates and monthly deep dives into Nigeria’s evolving economy.

• Recorded in Abuja
• Produced and hosted by Samuel Okocha

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In this episode of 234Digest Audio Briefs, host Samuel Okocha distills signals shaping Nigeria’s economic trajectory.

• Nigeria exits the FATF grey list, restoring global financial credibility
• Dangote Refinery announces expansion to 1.4 million barrels/day as it sets to become the world’s largest
• Moniepoint raises $90M, bolstering unicorn status and pushing toward pan-African fintech dominance
• FIRS introduces 10% withholding tax on short-term investment interest, ending years of exemptions
• CBN explores stablecoin adoption amid digital finance recalibration
• Nigeria’s entertainment and media sector leads Africa with 11.2% growth
• Financial inclusion rises to 64%

Featuring sound bites from:

• Aliko Dangote on industrial confidence and energy independence
• Ross Strike of Moniepoint on fintech expansion and financial inclusion

Subscribe for weekly updates and monthly deep dives into Nigeria’s evolving economy.

• Recorded in Abuja
• Produced and hosted by Samuel Okocha

Links & Resources:

• Subscribe to 234Digest newsletter
• Send news tips, feedbacks and inquiries on partnerships, or business storytelling collaborations here

In this week’s 234Digest Audio Briefs, we explore Nigeria’s fastest economic growth in four years, driven by a surge in oil production and strong performances in agriculture and industry. Hear about the Central Bank’s first interest rate cut since 2020 amidst easing inflation and a strengthening naira.

We also cover Frigoglass Group’s strategic move to sell its leading Nigerian glass unit amid debt pressures. Dive into the evolving oil sector, where legislative changes and Nigeria’s first refined fuel export to the U.S. mark major developments.

Catch up on Nigeria’s leadership in harmonizing Africa’s oil regulations and the creative pulse of the Lagos International Festival of Illustrations. Finally, learn why inflation cooling could signal a shift in monetary policy.

Stay informed on key trends driving Nigeria’s economy and business landscape with 234Digest Audio Briefs -- your unbiased, fact based and insights driven weekly briefing.

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In this edition of 234Digest Audio Briefs, host Samuel Okocha takes you through the latest milestones shaping Nigeria’s economic and political landscape.

Key stories include:

• The lifting of the six-month emergency rule in Rivers State, restoring Governor Siminalayi Fubara amid political resolution after months of paralysis.
• The Nigerian naira climbs to a near seven-month high against the dollar, buoyed by stronger oil export revenues and increasing global investor demand for Nigeria’s high-yield debt.
• Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s ambitious rollout of a nationwide fuel distribution network using thousands of compressed natural gas-powered trucks aims to reduce distribution costs, cut fuel prices, and create thousands of jobs while improving energy supply across Nigeria.
• South African crypto exchange Luno expands in Nigeria with tokenised stock trading, opening fresh avenues for retail investors to access fractional shares of blue-chip global companies.
• The Nigerian creator economy continues to grow, valued at over $31 million in 2025—but monetisation challenges remain for many digital creators amid this vibrant cultural sector.
• Nigerian sprint star Tobi Amusan secures silver at the Tokyo 2025 World Championships in the women’s 100-meter hurdles.
• Celebrated chef Hilda Baci sets a new Guinness World Record with the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice cooked in Lagos, an iconic moment reflecting Nigeria’s rich culinary traditions.

As Nigeria works toward its ambitious $1 trillion economy goal by 2031, these stories underline the blend of political resolve, financial dynamism, and cultural pride shaping its future.

Subscribe to 234Digest Audio Briefs for concise insights delivered weekly on the top economic, business, and culture stories in Africa's most populous country.

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In this edition of 234Digest Audio Briefs, host Samuel Okocha unpacks some of Nigeria’s latest economic signals, from fresh capital injections and regional banking expansion to trade reforms designed to boost logistics and e-commerce.

Highlights include:

• Koolboks raises $11M to expand solar-powered cooling across Africa
• GTBank injects $238M to meet new capital rules and fuel credit
• growth
• Zenith Bank targets Francophone expansion, starting with Côte d'Ivoire
• Nigeria to host the 2027 Intra-African Trade Fair
• Nigeria Customs introduces duty-free policy for low-value imports

This episode offers curated context for professionals tracking Nigeria’s growth story—from clean-tech and finance to trade and regional influence.

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In this episode of 234Digest Audio Briefs, host Samuel Okocha breaks down Nigeria’s latest strategic moves across agriculture, energy, diplomacy, and private sector growth.

Highlights include:

- Nigeria bans shea butter exports to unlock domestic value and tap into a $9B global market

- Tinubu signs a $1.1B agriculture deal in Brazil to mechanize farming and create 100,000 jobs

- Colombia’s VP visits Abuja to deepen south-south cooperation

- TotalEnergies signs offshore deal to boost upstream exploration in the Niger Delta

- NNPC reports near-elimination of pipeline theft—oil output projected to hit 2.5M barrels/day

- Dangote inks $2.5B fertilizer deal in Ethiopia

- Nigeria’s private sector sentiment rises for the ninth straight month

- Pension reform targets infrastructure and private equity

This episode offers curated context for professionals and watchers of Nigeria tracking the country’s economic pulse, from policy shifts and global partnerships to industry and sectoral momentum.

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In this week’s episode of 234Digest Audio Briefs, we dig into Nigeria’s ambitious economic growth plan under President Bola Tinubu, who targets 7% annual growth by 2027 to quadruple the economy by 2030. Hear the latest on inflation easing amid tough reforms, and a $2.6 billion power sector refinancing plan designed to tackle chronic outages.

We explore new governance measures in telecom, the construction industry’s forecasted 3.1% growth in 2025 backed by rising credit and government spending (source: Research and Markets and Central Bank of Nigeria), and Presco Plc’s major $171.6 million expansion in West Africa to address food security and reduce palm oil imports.

Other highlights include promising startup growth with Lagos-based Chowdeck's $9 million funding round, Nigeria’s forex reserves climbing to $41 billion (source: Central Bank of Nigeria), and intensified cybercrime crackdowns with recent deportations by EFCC.

Finally, discover Nigeria’s first National Digital Museum, now online at museum.ng, preserving cultural heritage with over 200 3D-scanned artifacts.

Subscribe to 234Digest Audio Briefs for concise weekly insights, unbiased and non-partisan, delivered with respect for the listener.

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In this episode of 234Digest Audio Briefs, host Samuel Okocha delivers the latest insights on Nigeria’s energy sector, corporate developments, and sports achievements as of August 5, 2025.

Highlights include data and analysis from GlobalData Energy projecting Nigeria’s dominance in Africa’s refinery capacity growth, with 39 new refineries expected by 2030 propelling Nigeria to lead the continent’s energy transition.

The episode also covers:

• UAC Nigeria’s acquisition of Coca-Cola’s CHI Limited
• Leadership updates at Dangote Group’s refining and cement businesses,
• And the University of Lagos digital skills academy in partnership with Professors Without Borders (PROWIBO).
• Sports fans will appreciate coverage of Nigeria’s women’s basketball team clinching their fifth consecutive Women’s AfroBasket title, along with the Super Falcons’ historic 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) victory.

Subscribe to 234Digest Audio Briefs for clear and factual updates on Nigeria’s evolving economy, business environment, and cultural milestones.

Links & Resources:

• Read the newsletter edition version of this podcast on 234Digest here
• Subscribe to 234Digest newsletter
• Read about Samuel Okocha's article in University World News on the University of Lagos digital skills training with PROWIBO partnership, highlighting efforts to boost AI and innovation skills.
• Send news tips, feedbacks and inquiries on partnerships, or business storytelling collaborations here

Nigeria’s gross domestic product is now estimated to be roughly 30% larger than previously reported after the National Bureau of Statistics updated its base year from 2010 to 2019.

Nigeria’s GDP at current prices rose to ₦372.8 trillion ($243 billion) in 2024 from ₦314 trillion in 2023.

The revision incorporates previously undercounted sectors including real estate and telecommunications, with real estate surpassing oil and gas as a top contributor.

Real GDP grew 3.13 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2025, led by the services sector, while agriculture showed minimal growth. The revised data offers a clearer picture of Nigeria’s economic structure and size, with implications for policy and investment.

This episode covers key fiscal reforms, including a proposed corporate tax cut from 30 to 25 percent, pending relevant approval, and tariff rationalization efforts.

It also highlights President Tinubu’s approval of a South-East regional investment fund with an initial ₦150 billion ($98 million) in capital, aimed at unlocking private capital to drive development in Nigeria’s southeast region, and a $264 million urban renewal project in Abia State focusing on infrastructure and job creation.

On inflation, headline rates eased to 22.22 percent in June as the Central Bank of Nigeria maintained its benchmark interest rate at 27.5 percent for the third consecutive meeting in 2025. The bank cited progress on disinflation but noted global risks including US trade tariffs.

Subscribe to 234Digest Audio Briefs for concise, thoughtfully researched updates on Nigeria’s economy and policy environment, and culture.

Links & Resources:

• Read the newsletter edition version of this podcast on 234Digest here
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• Send news tips, feedbacks and inquiries on partnerships, or business storytelling collaborations here

In this edition of 234Digest Audio Brief, we reflect on a pivotal moment for Nigeria as the nation mourns former President Muhammadu Buhari and embraces a path toward economic renewal.

Our host, Samuel Okocha, guides listeners through Nigeria’s latest political and business developments, including an ambitious industry transformation plan unveiled by NNPC CEO Bayo Ojulari at the recent OPEC seminar in Vienna.

The episode also covers Aliko Dangote’s bid for a new deep seaport to ease export bottlenecks, a $747 million loan financing a major coastal highway project, and ongoing counterterrorism efforts targeting Boko Haram financing.

Listeners will hear about Nigeria’s diplomatic decisions amid U.S. requests to accept deportees, as well as emerging innovation in fintech sectors, including new crypto payment solutions.

Key Highlights:

• The passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari and national mourning
• NNPC’s strategic reforms and export ambitions
• Infrastructure projects shaping Nigeria’s economic landscape
• Security updates on Boko Haram financing convictions
• Nigeria’s diplomatic stance on deportees

Links & Resources:

• Read the newsletter version of this podcast on 234Digest here
• Subscribe to 234Digest newsletter
• Send news tips, feedbacks and inquiries on partnerships, or business storytelling collaborations here