African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has terminated its credit rating relationship with Fitch Ratings.

In an announcement on its website, Afreximbank explained that it’s decision follows a review of the relationship, and its firm belief that the credit rating exercise no longer reflects a good understanding of the Bank’s Establishment Agreement, its mission and its mandate.

The bank maintained that it’s business profile remains robust, underpinned by strong shareholder relationships and the legal protections embedded in its Establishment Agreement, signed and ratified by its member states.

Reuters, in an additional report , said that Afreximbank has been in a battle over whether it must take losses on loans to debt-defaulted countries, including Ghana and Zambia, which turns on whether it enjoys so-called “preferred creditor status”.

Fitch cut Afreximbank’s credit rating to one notch above “junk” status last year, citing high credit risks and weak risk-management policies, and put it on a “negative outlook” – rating agency terminology for another downgrade warning.

It has also said that any ‌weakening of preferred creditor status at institutions like Afreximbank “could lead to negative rating action.”

Image credit : Unctad

UN Trade and Development has reported that out of $1.6 trillion global foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2025, data centres attracted more than one fifth of global greenfield projects, with announced investment exceeding $270 billion.

In the report published this week on its website, Unctad, said that the demand for data centers investment was driven by AI infrastructure and digital networks.

The report reads:

” France, the United States and the Republic of Korea led as host countries, while emerging markets such as Brazil, India, Thailand and Malaysia also attracted major projects.

Similarly, the value of newly announced semiconductor projects rose by 35%.

By contrast, project numbers fell sharply by 25% in tariff-exposed, global value chain-intensive sectors.

Textiles, electronics and machinery were particularly affected.

While investment in technology-driven, capital-intensive projects lifts overall FDI figures, flows remain highly concentrated and generate limited spillovers.

Policies should aim to link digital infrastructure investment more closely to skills development, innovation systems and local value creation.

Seplat Energy Plc has appointed Tony O. Elumelu, the renowned Nigerian businessman and chairman of Heirs Holdings and United Bank for Africa (UBA), as a Non-Executive Director on its board with effect from January 22, 2026.

The appointment comes shortly after Elumelu’s investment entities, Heirs Holdings Limited and Heirs Energies Limited, acquired a 20.07% stake in Seplat Energy from French oil company Maurel & Prom (M&P) in a December 2025 transaction valued at approximately $500 million.

The deal positioned Heirs as the company’s largest single shareholder.In a related board change, Seplat announced the resignation of Mr. Olivier Cleret De Langavant, who had represented M&P as a Non-Executive Director since January 2020.

Both the appointment and resignation were disclosed in a filing to the Nigerian Exchange Limited.

Elumelu brings deep expertise in energy, banking, power generation, and pan-African investments.

His entry to the board is widely seen as a strategic move to support Seplat’s long-term growth ambitions and further strengthen indigenous participation in Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas industry.

The leadership transition underscores Seplat Energy’s evolving ownership structure and its continued focus on operational excellence and value creation in Africa’s energy sector.