Key business events to watch in Nigeria this week

Here’s a roundup of major business stories and events scheduled from March 2 to March 7, 2026.

House of Representatives to hold fintech bill hearing

On Monday, the House of Representatives will hold a public hearing on a bill aimed at establishing a fintech regulatory commission. The hearing is organised by joint committees on digital and electronic banking, banking regulations, science and technology, communications, and capital markets. The commission, once established, will regulate and supervise Nigeria’s growing fintech sector and operate through specialised departments with regional offices across the country’s six geopolitical zones.

West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing & Trade Summit in Lagos

From March 3 to 5, Lagos will host the West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing & Trade (IMT) Summit & Exhibition. Endorsed by the federal ministry of industry, trade, and investment, the summit is themed “Accelerating West Africa’s Sustainable Industrial Revolution for Economic Prosperity.”

The event will bring together policymakers, manufacturers, investors, and development partners to discuss expanding manufacturing capacity, strengthening regional value chains, and unlocking investment in energy, infrastructure, automation, logistics, and technology. Activities include summit sessions, technical seminars, leadership roundtables, and an international exhibition.

$1.3 billion alumina refinery business investment deal

The federal government, through the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), signed an investment agreement with the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) to fund three major mining projects, including a $1.3 billion alumina refinery.

According to the government, the refinery will use a modern Bayer-process flowsheet and include a gas-fired cogeneration plant for on-site steam and power generation. The refinery is expected to process about one million tonnes of bauxite ore annually.

NCC plans telecom fraud prevention platform

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will launch a cross-sector platform, the Telecoms Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS), by the end of March. The portal aims to track recycled SIM numbers and prevent fraud linked to reassigned phone numbers.

NNPC to export new crude grade

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) will begin exporting Cawthorne, a new light, sweet crude grade, in March. With an API gravity of 36.4, it is comparable to Bonny Light, Nigeria’s premium crude known for high gasoline and diesel yields. Cargoes are scheduled for March 24–25.

Dangote refinery to supply 65 million litres of petrol daily

Aliko Dangote announced that the Dangote Refinery will supply up to 65 million litres of petrol daily for domestic consumption, with an additional 20 million litres available for export. A structured offtake agreement with selected marketers ensures nationwide distribution and aims to reduce supply instability.

These developments highlight ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s industrial, financial, and energy sectors while addressing regulatory and infrastructure challenges.

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