Business
Nigeria, Brazil rejig strategic alliance to boost trade, clean energy, agric, others at business forum

VP Shettima: We’re Undergoing Quiet But Bold Transformation Under President Tinubu
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has said Nigeria is currently witnessing a silent but resolute transformation under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This is coming just as Nigeria and the Federative Republic of Brazil have tweaked their strategic alliance to advance economic development in key sectors, including agriculture, food security infrastructure, clean energy, trade and industry, among others.
In a press release signed by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications, (Office of The Vice President), Senator Shettima spoke on Wednesday during the Nigeria–Brazil Business Forum tagged, “Roots to Revenue: The Nigeria–Brazil Corridor”, on day three of the Nigeria–Brazil Strategic Dialogue Mechanism (SDM), in Abuja.
He said: “the renewed strategic alliance with Brazil is grounded in intent, and rich in the potential for mutual growth”.
According to him, Brazil’s journey, especially the strides in agriculture, energy, infrastructure and industrial development, speaks to ongoing transformation in Nigeria, and reflects “what is possible when technical capacity is matched with national determination.
“These are the same areas where Nigeria is making bold moves. Under the leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Nigeria is undergoing a quiet but resolute transformation.
Markets are being opened. Institutions are being rebuilt. Policies are being refocused.
“And what drives these changes is a seriousness of purpose that goes beyond reform for reform’s sake. What we seek are partners who see our direction, who respect our ambition, and who are prepared to walk the path with us,” he stated.
Underscoring the need for the strategic alliance with Brazil, VP Shettima noted that Nigeria is embarking on a journey similar to that of the South American country, particularly in agriculture, as well as the transformation through sustained investment in research, modernisation and support for farmers.
His words: “Our Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones are taking form. Our farmers are ready to operate at scale. But we know the difference between going alone and going far. Brazil can stand with us in this effort, not as a donor, but as a partner in innovation, in training and in investment.
“We are equally attentive to your leadership in clean energy. Nigeria’s energy transition is rooted in what we can control. We are harnessing our gas reserves to power our industries and transportation, while also advancing our renewable energy ambitions.
Brazil’s example provides guidance that is real and tested.
“We are eager to learn from your experience in building an energy economy that creates jobs, supports industries and expands access to rural communities.
Our teams are ready to engage on how to move from policy to practice, from ideas to infrastructure.
“The Nigerian Vice President further disclosed that Nigeria is encouraged by Brazil’s interest in skills development and human capital, saying it aligns perfectly with one of the most pressing national goals, which is to ensure that the youthful country is prepared for future demands.
“We welcome the opportunity for institutional partnerships that promote training, research and the exchange of knowledge in sectors where Brazil has built strength, and in areas where Nigeria is gaining ground,” he added.
Earlier, the Vice President of Brazil, H.E. Geraldo Alckmin, reaffirmed Brazil’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Nigeria through long-term cooperation, shared innovation, and mutual economic growth.VP Alckmin described the moment as “one of the most promising” in the history of Nigeria-Brazil diplomatic and commercial relations.
“This is a necessary complement to deepen our relationship. We want this moment to correspond to the production of sustainable partnerships for our people,” he declared.
Highlighting the potential in key sectors such as agriculture, defence, innovation, and energy, Alckmin acknowledged that despite the strong historic and cultural ties, trade volumes between both countries are still much lower than the potential.
“Our trade is growing, but it can increase tremendously. Brazil is ready to work with Nigeria to build a commercially successful South-South corridor,” he stated.
He also spoke on the Green Imperative Initiative (GPI), a $1.1 billion programme to transfer Brazilian agricultural technology to Nigeria, as a model of transformative South-South cooperation.
“Brazil does not just export products, but solutions and ideas,” Alckmin said, adding that under President Lula’s administration, Brazil has simplified its tax regime and is exploring a direct flight route to Nigeria to ease business travel and trade.
On Nigeria’s side, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, called for a reset in the bilateral trade dynamic, lamenting the current $2 billion trade volume, down from $9 billion a decade ago.
“The Nigeria-Brazil corridor is not a nostalgic idea; it is realistic and achievable. Let us walk the talk and ensure our deliberations yield results,” she urged.
Dr Oduwole outlined Nigeria’s priority sectors for investment, including agro-industrial value chains, digital trade, the creative economy, and pharmaceuticals.
She also revealed efforts by the Nigerian government to streamline investor engagement through a digital portal tracking live project pipelines.
“We are serious about institutional delivery. Our agencies—NEPC, NIPC, PEBEC, NASENI—are working as one team,” she noted.
Also speaking, Director General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Princess Zarah Mustapha, emphasised state-level reforms as critical to unlocking sub-national investments.
At the same time, NIPC’s representative, Mrs Victoria Aigbedion, reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to creating a regulatory climate attractive to investors, especially in mining, infrastructure, creative industries, and logistics.
Members of the Brazilian business delegation who spoke at the forum expressed enthusiasm about Nigeria’s investment landscape and long-term investment possibilities.
Business
“Nigeria Is Bigger Than PENGASSAN, Any Trade Union – Shettima
Shettima stated this in Abuja on Monday during the Nigerian Economic Summit (NES31), themed: “The Reform Imperative: Building a Prosperous and Inclusive Nigeria by 2030”.

•Vice President Kashim Shettima
Vice President Kashim Shettima says that Nigeria is bigger than any trade union.
Shettima stated this in Abuja on Monday during the Nigerian Economic Summit (NES31), themed: “The Reform Imperative: Building a Prosperous and Inclusive Nigeria by 2030”.
Shettima’s comment comes on the heels of the industrial action by oil workers under the aegis of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) over a dispute with the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Refinery.
While stating that Dangote Refinery must be protected at all costs, he added that the $20 billion facility is a national asset that must be supported to function.
He said, “Aliko Dangote is not an individual, he’s an institution, and he’s a leading light in Nigeria’s economic parliament.
And how we treat this gentleman will determine how outsiders will judge us. If he had invested $10 billion in Microsoft, Amazon, or Google, he probably might be worth $70 to $80 billion by now.
“But he opted to invest in his country, and we owe it to future generations to jealously protect, promote, preserve, and protect the interests of this great Nigeria.
Business
Where Will the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road Pass? Land Speculators Alert!By Dennis Isong
Spanning approximately 700 kilometers, the road is designed to stretch from Lagos, Nigeria’s beating commercial heart, all the way to Calabar in Cross River State.

The morning sun had barely pushed through the Lagos skyline when Emeka received the phone call that shook his world.
His uncle, who owned a modest piece of land near Eleko, was practically yelling on the phone:”Emeka! They’re building a massive highway right through our area! The government men came yesterday with their measuring tapes and equipment.
This thing is real, oh!”For Emeka, and many like him, that single call wasn’t just gist—it was a wake-up call to the kind of transformation that only infrastructure of historic scale can bring.
In a country where road projects often drag or die midway, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a different beast entirely. It is not just a road. It is a symbol. A promise. And, depending on how you position yourself, it can either make or break fortunes.
This kind of scene is playing out across Nigeria’s southern coast—small landowners scrambling to understand what is happening, speculators eyeing quick gains, investors calculating their next moves, and everyday Nigerians wondering if this project will truly deliver on its promise.
So, where exactly will this superhighway pass, and what does it mean for those who own or plan to own land in its path? Let’s dive deeper.
The Grand Vision: A 700-Kilometer Journey Along Nigeria’s Coast
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway represents one of the boldest infrastructure projects Nigeria has seen in decades.
Spanning approximately 700 kilometers, the road is designed to stretch from Lagos, Nigeria’s beating commercial heart, all the way to Calabar in Cross River State, hugging the coastline and connecting seven states along its path.
This is not a mere patchwork road; it is planned as a modern superhighway with ten lanes in total—five on each side—built to international standards.Why does this matter?
Because this isn’t just transportation. This is economic transformation laid out in asphalt and concrete.
By deliberately tracing the coastline, the government has chosen a route that will connect Nigeria’s key ports, industrial zones, and tourism hubs, while simultaneously opening up communities that have long been ignored in national development.
For land speculators and investors, this positioning is everything.
Places that once looked like sleepy fishing communities will suddenly find themselves positioned as gateways to Nigeria’s next economic corridor.
Phase One: Lagos to Eleko Junction – The Reality on Ground
When it comes to massive projects like this, talk can be cheap. But the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is already moving from blueprint to bulldozers.
The first section of the highway, measuring roughly 47.47 kilometers, runs from Ahmadu Bello Way in Victoria Island to Eleko Junction in Lagos State.
This stretch—already commissioned—provides the clearest picture of where land opportunities currently exist.
Works began in March 2024, with the government promising to complete this section by May 29, 2025. That timeline matters, because for investors and speculators, time is money.
The earlier you position yourself in areas adjacent to the development, the greater the potential upside when the project fully matures.
And let’s not miss the strategic brilliance here: this Lagos stretch links directly to the Lekki Deep Seaport, which is a multi billion-dollar game changer.
Think about it—Nigeria’s busiest commercial hub, Lagos, directly tied to a world-class seaport by a brand-new highway.
The result? A logistics, trade, and industrial hub unlike anything the country has seen before.No wonder places like Ibeju-Lekki, Eleko, and the Lekki Free Trade Zone are buzzing with activity. Property inquiries have shot up.
Land values are rising. Developers are circling. And communities that once felt like far-flung outposts now find themselves in the glare of investor attention.
Works began in March 2024, with the government promising to complete this section by May 29, 2025. That timeline matters, because for investors and speculators, time is money.
The Wider Corridor: What Each State Stands to Gain
To truly understand the impact of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, you must look beyond Lagos. The real story lies in how each state it passes through will be reshaped.
Ogun State: Sitting right next to Lagos, Ogun is already known for its industrial clusters. The highway will only accelerate this by making Ogun’s coastal communities prime for both residential and commercial expansion. Lagos is bursting at the seams; Ogun will absorb much of that overflow.
Ondo State: With rich natural resources and agricultural potential, Ondo’s coastal areas have been relatively cut off. Improved access will turn sleepy fishing villages and farmlands into investment hotspots.
Delta State: Already an oil-rich state, Delta could diversify its economy with better access. Expect agriculture, trade, and services to grow once the coastal road improves logistics.
Bayelsa State: Known for oil but underserved in infrastructure, Bayelsa’s coastal communities could finally open up to tourism and commerce.
Rivers State: With Port Harcourt already a major commercial hub, the coastal highway provides an alternative to inland congestion, positioning more coastal towns for growth.
Akwa Ibom & Cross River: Tourism and trade could boom here. Imagine smooth access to Calabar Carnival, Tinapa, or Akwa Ibom’s beaches, making these states magnets for local and foreign investors, and thus, .making these states magnets for local and foreign investors.
The Demolition Dilemma: Right-of-Way Challenges
Projects rarely happen without pain. And for many small land and property owners, the highway has already been a bulldozer nightmare.In April 2024, bulldozers rolled into Oniru waterfront in Lagos, clearing kiosks, restaurants, and beachside businesses.
By December, 750 structures across different stretches of the coastal states had been affected.
This highlights a key reality: if your land sits directly on the highway’s path, you may lose it. But if your property lies slightly off the road—still close enough to benefit from its presence—you might be sitting on a goldmine.
The government, to its credit, has announced compensation programs. For example, in Section 1 alone, the federal government paid ₦2.75 billion in compensation for affected properties within the first 3 kilometers.
That not only shows seriousness but also gives speculators a benchmark for property values in these zones.Investment Hotspots: Where Smart Money Is FlowingSo, where should the alert investor look?
Lekki Free Trade Zone: This is the no-brainer. With direct ties to the seaport and highway, it’s a magnet for industry and logistics.
Eleko: Once a quiet community, it now marks the endpoint of the first phase. Land values here are rising sharply.Ibeju-Lekki: Already touted as “the new Lagos,” the highway cements its place as a hotspot for both residential estates and industrial projects.Beyond Lagos, expect hotspots to emerge in Ogun’s border communities, Ondo’s coastal villages, and eventually in Akwa Ibom and Cross River when the highway nears completion.
Timeline & Tolling: The Next 10 Years
According to Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, the first Lagos section will be ready by May 2025. But the plan isn’t just to build and abandon—the road will be tolled for 5 to 10 years to recover costs and ensure maintenance.
This matters because tolled roads generally receive better upkeep than free ones.
For investors, this means areas along the road are less likely to fall into disrepair, protecting land and property values.Interestingly, the government isn’t just building from Lagos outward.
Construction has also begun on Sections 3 and 4 from Calabar, meaning both ends are being tackled simultaneously. This could shorten the overall timeline and bring benefits faster than expected.
Beyond Transport: The Ripple Effects
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway isn’t just a road—it’s an economic multiplier.Tourism: Beach towns, cultural centers, and resorts will become more accessible, boosting hospitality investments.Agriculture: Farmers along the coast will move goods to major markets more efficiently, making agribusiness attractive.Industry: Manufacturing and processing plants will spring up near the road, cutting transportation costs.Services: Retail, banking, telecoms, and education services will follow population growth along the corridor.In short, entire towns could spring up where there was once only bush.
Risks: What Investors Must Watch
Not every land along the road is a jackpot. Risks abound.Environmental concerns may slow or alter parts of the route.
Funding risks exist, though current progress looks promising.Land title disputes—always a Nigerian headache—could derail your investment.
Speculative oversupply may flood some markets, depressing values.Competing infrastructure projects could draw attention away from certain stretches. Due diligence is non-negotiable. Verify titles. Study local government plans.
Don’t just buy because everyone else is rushing in.
The Decade Ahead: What to Expect in Fast 10 years Ahead.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is fully operational. What will Nigeria’s coast look like?Coastal towns from Lagos to Calabar will likely become bustling hubs.
Migration patterns will shift as people move to newly accessible areas.
International investors will look more favorably at Nigeria’s coastline.
Government will likely designate new special economic zones along the route.
The highway may even link into wider West African trade routes, cementing Nigeria’s position as a regional hub.
For the alert investor, the message is clear: this road is not just geography, it is opportunity.
Final Word: Land Speculators, Be Alert!
So, wlhere will the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road pass? Through Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River.
But more importantly, it will pass through the heart of Nigeria’s economic future.From Lagos Island to Calabar, this project is about more than concrete—it’s about reshaping communities, economies, and lives.If you are a land speculator or investor, your success won’t just depend on knowing where the road physically runs, but on understanding how it will transform everything around it.
Some will lose their land to bulldozers. Others will turn bush plots into multimillion-naira estates.
History is being built on Nigeria’s coastline.
The question is: will you just watch, or will you position yourself to ride the wave?
Business
Beer manufacturers reject tax stamps rollout by govt
Executive Director of the Beer Sectoral Group (BSG), Abiola Laseinde noted that the measure could trigger production disruptions and worsen the country’s inflation crisis.

Nigeria’s brewing sector has appealed to the Federal Government to abandon plans to introduce tax stamps on excisable goods.
Executive Director of the Beer Sectoral Group (BSG), Abiola Laseinde noted that the measure could trigger production disruptions and worsen the country’s inflation crisis.
She urged government to sustain existing home-grown digital excise systems rather than introducing tax stamps also known as track-and-trace identifiers, which she described as counterproductive.
The industry’s concerns echo recent warnings from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), which cautioned that the proposed tax stamp system could compound economic pressures and fuel consumer price increases.
Laseinde stressed that the application of tax stamps in the beer sector would not address illicit trade, as counterfeiting is virtually non-existent due to the complexity of the brewing process, the bulkiness of beer products and their low resale value.
She added that the industry already maintains strict compliance with excise rules, backed by digital counters, on-site Customs officers and auditable records.
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