AGP Executive Report

Uber exit reshapes ride-hailing: Uber has shut down operations in Nigeria effective 2 Sept 2026, citing a business review; its help centre stays open until 23 Sept as competition shifts to Bolt, inDrive and local rivals. Fintech trust under pressure: OPay says it has taken legal action over a viral shutdown rumour, involving DSS and police, and insists it remains fully operational. Forex rules tighten: Nigeria’s SEC proposes new licensing and capital thresholds for online forex and CFDs, including up to N5bn minimum capital and local ownership requirements. Consumer affordability hit: An Ipsos study says nearly 1 in 7 South Africans missed work or studies due to unaffordable transport as fuel costs rise. Telecoms and payments momentum: MTN leads Nigeria’s fibre broadband with 55.2% of FTTX subs, while MTN MoMo reports 70.8m monthly active users and 2.3m daily merchants. Vehicle safety recalls: South Africa’s NCC has been notified of recalls for thousands of Mercedes-Benz and Fuso trucks over axle bearing bracket and fuel-pipe cracking risks. Food systems under El Niño: Coverage highlights drought-resistant crop adoption challenges as El Niño strengthens, raising the stakes for distribution and counterfeit controls. Trade and retail: Kenya launches an e-commerce alliance push for VAT and Significant Economic Presence Tax compliance, while South Africa’s DStv is set for major package changes under Canal+. EVs in the spotlight: South Africa welcomes the new BMW iX3 with up to 805km range, and Nio’s Firefly EV is set for local launch soon.

Healthcare Reform: Kenya sets a 2028 goal to integrate evidence-based traditional medicine into mainstream care, with one national system and new standards for practitioners and products. Aviation & Consumer Impact: Kenya Airways says a three-day aviation disruption cost it over Sh900m in lost revenue and extra customer-related costs, even as normal operations return. Household Costs: Kenyan shoppers report shortages and higher prices for basic foods like milk, vegetables, meat and eggs, with some retailers limiting milk purchases. Insurance Uptick: Kenya’s insurance premiums hit Sh466.6bn in 2025, with penetration rising to 2.63% of GDP as demand grows for household and business protection. Ride-hailing Shake-up: Uber exits Nigeria after 12 years and also shuts down in Uganda, leaving users to scramble for alternatives as competition intensifies. Trade & Food: Egypt’s Egyptian Swiss Group prepares to export pasta and flour to China after completing registrations. Oil Milestone: Uganda names its crude blend “Pearl Sweet” ahead of commercial production, stressing revenues should fund long-term national assets. Digital & Infrastructure: Lagos pushes power and fibre upgrades to support “sovereign AI” and innovation investment. Consumer Safety: Nigeria-focused guides highlight how to choose the right indoor insect spray and mosquito protection during the rainy season. Local Content Push: Kenya orders foreign hawkers and small retailers to close from Sept 7, backed by a Local Content Bill.

FX & Reserves: Nigeria’s naira strengthened to about ₦1,329 per $1 as dollar weakness and higher external reserves boosted liquidity. Trade Snapshot: Ghana’s Q1 2026 external trade hit GH¢174.6bn, with exports at GH¢110.3bn and a nominal surplus of GH¢46.1bn, though real terms were weaker. Retail & Consumer Costs: South Africa’s pharmacies show mixed pricing—Dis-Chem came out cheaper on OTC items in a Clicks vs Dis-Chem comparison—while petrol in Nigeria faces another potential jump as depot rates rose to around N1,290/litre. Payments & Banking Reliability: UBA apologised after mobile app disruptions blocked some customers; FCMB was recognised for digital trust and governance. Digital Infrastructure: WIOCC secured $300m to expand Africa’s open-access fibre and data-centre buildout. Energy Policy: Ghana extended a diesel subsidy cut (GH¢2/litre) for the September window; Nigeria’s NNPC remitted N7.9tn to the Federation Account in seven months. Food & Health: Lagos sachet alcohol sellers protested NAFDAC crackdowns; Nigeria urged stronger research and regulation for traditional medicine. Automotive Safety: Ford recalled 2,275 Ranger Double Cab bakkies in South Africa over airbag deployment risk. Africa Business: Shoprite’s planned buyout of Vida e Caffè could reshape coffee retail pricing and availability.

Agribusiness Diplomacy: Venezuela’s delegation wrapped up participation at Congo’s 2nd Great Agricultural Fair, trading ideas with Congo’s agriculture ministry and spotlighting coffee and cacao as cooperation-ready exports. Trade Remedies: Ferroglobe says the European Commission has opened an interim review of antidumping duties on Chinese silicon metal imports, a move that could reshape pricing for a key industrial input. Shipping & Retail Supply: OOCL launched Asia–East Africa Service 8 (EAX8), linking India’s Nhava Sheva/Mundra with Mombasa and Dar es Salaam from late September. Made-in-Africa Consumer Push: Ghana’s “This Is Ghana” exhibition drew 200+ local businesses across food, fashion, beauty and manufacturing, urging firms to scale via AfCFTA. Energy & Consumer Costs: Nigeria’s electricity subsidy bill hit N1.928tn in 2025 as tariffs stayed frozen below cost-reflective rates, while Eskom flagged surplus power and is hunting new demand, including data centres. Digital & Everyday Services: Starlink’s fibre push is accelerating Zimbabwe’s broadband via rapidly rising VSAT subscriptions, and Kenya’s home water purification market is growing as shortages drive demand for safer drinking water. Food & Health: DR Congo’s Ebola caseload topped 6,000 with deaths at 2,911, as access and insecurity complicate response. Consumer Finance & Policy: Nigeria’s fuel pricing debate intensified after calls to cap or liberalise prices, with stakeholders warning price controls could worsen supply and investment.

Business Continuity: QNB Group renewed its ISO 22301 certification, reinforcing plans to keep critical banking services running during disruptions. Agri-Finance Gap: Youth agroecology leaders in Uganda say limited access to finance is blocking young entrepreneurs from scaling sustainable farming. Energy Affordability: Nigeria’s electricity tariff subsidy obligation hit ₦1.93tn in 2025 as regulators froze end-user tariffs, widening the cost gap. Fuel & Refining Court Move: A Lagos court restrained NMDPRA from shutting down or interfering with Dangote Refinery operations after a directive to suspend loading/truck-out. Digital Commerce Shock: Meta will charge Nigerian businesses N14 per WhatsApp customer-service message from Oct 1, while regular users won’t pay. Retail & Consumer Markets: Shoprite reported profit growth and dividend increase, while expanding via the Vida e Caffè coffee-shop acquisition. Tanzania Seeds Push: Tanzania hit record domestic seed production, reducing reliance on imports and supporting sustainable agriculture growth. Aviation Disruption: Kenya Airways offered free rebooking for passengers affected by an air traffic control strike. Packaging & FMCG Design: Gca Design Studio won Gold at the A’ Design Awards for a “Perfectly Imperfect” sauce bottle concept.

Petrol Price Shock (Nigeria): Dangote refinery’s latest gantry price increases are pushing Premium Motor Spirit to as high as N1,350/litre in parts of Abuja, Enugu and elsewhere, reigniting fears of higher transport and food costs. Fuel Supply & Regulation (Nigeria): A Lagos court has restrained NMDPRA from interfering with Dangote Refinery’s loading and truck-out operations, while Dangote is also considering restricting PMS sales to marketers still importing fuel. Inflation Pressure (Kenya): Kenya’s consumer prices rose to 6.6% in August, driven mainly by food (up 9%) and transport (up 15.7%), squeezing household budgets. Aviation Disruption (Kenya): A Kenya Aviation Workers Union strike left passengers stranded and flights delayed/cancelled at JKIA and other airports. Consumer Protection (Kenya): Stanbic Bank Kenya was ordered to refund Sh511,000 after court findings that weak digital onboarding controls enabled account fraud. Agrifood & Gender (Nigeria): UN says women drive about 70% of Nigeria’s food crop production, but face limits in land, finance, tech and markets—calling for targeted investment. Anti-Corruption (Nigeria): EFCC says it recovered over ₦1.23tn and secured 10,872 convictions in 34 months, with major recoveries in naira and foreign currencies. Trade & Logistics (Nigeria): NPA expects 26 ships at Lagos ports (including aviation fuel and petrol) between Aug 30 and Sept 13. Digital & Cyber (Nigeria): Nigeria’s government at GITEX Nigeria 2026 pushed AI and a national digital cloud push, while Kaspersky warns small businesses are facing the same cyber tactics as larger firms.

Embedded Power in Lagos: Elektron Energy says its 40MW Victoria Island Power project will be completed in Q1 2027, backed by private capital and a generation-plus-distribution model with EKEDP. Cooking Gas Affordability: Nigeria’s LPG price has eased to about N1,250–N1,650/kg, but consumers still complain about costly 5kg and 12.5kg refills; NMDPRA points to supply disruptions and weak local output. Petrol Price Pressure: NNPC raised pump prices in Abuja and Lagos, while Dangote’s gantry price jumps are feeding retail increases, with the refinery defending the hikes on crude timing and logistics. Downstream Refining Worries: CPPE and CPPE-linked commentary warn that rising petrol imports and “indiscriminate” licensing could choke domestic refining investment. Vehicle Safety Recall: South Africa’s NCC recalls 2,275 Ford Ranger Double Cabs over side curtain airbag deployment risk, with free repairs offered. Trade Strategy Debate: Business Leadership South Africa says the SA–Brazil “strategic partnership” looks political, not trade-led, and could worsen SA’s Brazil deficit. Cold-Chain Boost in Kenya: Kenya’s medical research gets a lift as dry-ice access and specialised cold-chain services expand beyond Nairobi. Plastics Policy in Ghana: Ghana’s styrofoam ban starts the first phase of a broader single-use plastics crackdown, with traders shifting to alternatives. Energy Theft Probe (Nigeria): Nigeria targets N120bn annual losses on the Ikorodu–Sagamu industrial corridor after unaccounted power losses hit 100MW. Solar Supply Shift: A report says Africa’s solar additions may hit 17GW in 2026, but most panels are still imported from China, with only a small share made locally.

Dangote Fuel Crackdown: Dangote Refinery says it may restrict PMS sales to major Nigerian marketers that keep importing petrol, alleging some blend substandard imports with Dangote supply, risking quality and brand integrity. Fuel Price Pressure: The refinery’s ex-depot petrol gantry price was raised to ₦1,265/litre, with Abuja pump prices reportedly moving up again after the latest ₦65 increase. Power Sector Capacity: Nigeria’s power experts are urging TCN and DisCos to boost transmission and distribution capacity to match GenCos and stabilise supply after recent transformer upgrades. Cross-Border Finance: A new push is emerging beyond remittances—building financial infrastructure to connect African households and businesses across borders. Cold Chain Voice: GCCA Africa will convene logistics leaders in Johannesburg (2–3 Sept) to strengthen temperature-controlled supply chains and industry advocacy. Plastic & Food Packaging: Ghana’s EPA says the styrofoam ban is the first phase of a broader single-use plastics crackdown. Sugar Tariff Update: South Africa raised its dollar-based reference price for sugar imports to US$785/tonne, but growers warn it may still not stop import displacement. Digital Inclusion: Nigeria’s NCC Hackathon Live Show 2026 crowned SORA with a job-matching platform for persons with disabilities. MoMo Leadership: MoMo PSB appoints Bode Abifarin as CEO from Sept 1, as MTN Nigeria restructures fintech operations. Counterfeit Sugar Probe: Zimbabwe’s anti-corruption investigators arrested a woman over alleged repackaging of sugar with fake Tongaat Hulett labels. Kenya Potato Value-Add: Kenya’s KALRO is promoting potato processing, including potato soap, to cut post-harvest losses and create income.

New Product Launch (South Africa): Nestlé Purina’s FELIX® wet cat food range has landed in SA with 85g Singles pouches for cats and kittens, pushing variety and “complete and balanced” daily feeding. Quick-Service Expansion (Nigeria): Food Concepts Plc opened Chicken Republic and PieXpress outlets in Jos, Plateau State, bringing signature meals and freshly baked pies to more customers. Regulatory Crackdown (Nigeria): NAFDAC sealed multiple shops at Lagos’ Trade Fair Complex over suspected unregistered cosmetics, locking premises and collecting samples for further action. Energy & Cost Pressure (Nigeria): Nigeria’s petrol pump prices jumped again after Dangote Refinery raised its depot price, with Lagos-area retail rates reported around N1,310/litre and above. Power Reliability (Kenya): Kenya Power blamed a fault on main lines for overnight Nairobi outages affecting areas like Kasarani, South C and Lang’ata. Consumer Safety/Health (Eswatini): Eswatini’s King Mswati III urged urgent expansion of the Eswatini International Trade Fair venue after exhibitor growth pushed some businesses into temporary marquees. Food Trends (Africa-linked): Sardines are trending as a “health food” globally, with social media driving demand as supply tightens.

WhatsApp Business Costs: Meta says it will start charging businesses for customer messages from October 1, a change that could hit Nigerian banks, fintechs, e-commerce, telcos, logistics and major retailers—while regular users won’t pay. Fuel Pricing Shock: Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery raised petrol gantry prices by N65/litre to N1,265 and lifted coastal PMS too, warning that rising imports could force more surplus exports. Food Security Accountability: Nigeria’s VP Shettima pushed for stronger accountability in food-systems spending, urging interventions that translate into measurable results for farmers, markets and households. Cancer Drug Safety in Malawi: A PIJ–ZBS investigation flags widespread substandard, falsified and expired cancer medicines in Malawi, with limited local testing capacity. Electricity Debt: Nigeria’s NERC reports Togo, Benin and Niger owe about $11.16m for 2025 power supply, with payment performance below full recovery. Local Retail Push (South Africa): Woolworths opened its first Gauteng Food Emporium in Fourways, expanding premium fresh counters and in-store experiences. Standards for Trade: Kenya and others are pushing harmonised standards under AfCFTA, warning that delayed adoption keeps intra-Africa trade costly and slow. Ethiopia Beeswax Boom: Ethiopia is turning beeswax into a bigger income stream as domestic demand grows for soap, cosmetics and pharma.

Port Expansion: ICTSI signed an agreement to buy TLG Acquisition Holdings, a port and cargo operator spanning Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa, as it deepens Africa logistics reach. Consumer Health & Supply: Kenya pushes for “sin tax” (health tax) money to be ring-fenced for measurable health outcomes and referral hospitals under Universal Health Coverage. Medicine Availability: Ethiopia’s EPSS says medicine supplier shortages fell from 27% to 16% after expanding and registering suppliers with the EFDA. Power & Reliability: Lagos/Ogun residents face another blackout as Eko Disco and TCN trade blame over grid constraints and feeder incidents. Finance & Markets: Moody’s turned Nigeria’s sovereign outlook positive, citing stronger reserves and improved growth, while Nigeria’s NGX shares rallied on FTSE Frontier reclassification. Digital Payments & Telecom: Meta plans to charge businesses for WhatsApp service messages from October; Nigeria also sees continued telecom growth and data-consumption complaints against MTN. Sustainability & Packaging: Kenya’s water-hyacinth-based, decomposable plastic alternative (HyaPak) gains attention as a potential grocery packaging material. Sports Media: DAZN secured rights to broadcast LaLiga EA SPORTS across Sub-Saharan Africa through 2028/29. Retail & Consumer Choice: South Africans are warned not to always buy the cheapest items, especially where quality affects long-term costs.

Banking Recapitalisation Scrutiny: Nigeria’s N4.65trn recapitalisation is back in the spotlight, with fresh questions on whether banks are truly financing the economy or just boosting profits. Digital Sovereignty: Nigeria pushes ahead with a National Sovereign Cloud Initiative to keep control over critical digital infrastructure, not just where data sits. WhatsApp Business Fees: Meta will start charging businesses per message from Oct 1, 2026, affecting banks, fintechs, telecoms, retailers and logistics using the platform for customer service. Power Disruptions & Payments: TCN declares force majeure after three towers collapse on the Birnin Kebbi–Niamey line, while NERC says Togo, Niger and Benin owe Nigeria $11.16m for 2025 electricity services. Consumer Costs & Hygiene: Parents in Nasarawa decry rising sanitary pad prices, and Western Cape supports menstrual dignity for sportswomen with thousands of pads and underwear. Trade & Retail Signals: FTSE Russell restores Nigeria to frontier status, lifting equities sentiment; Nestlé trains MYOWBU operators to grow mobile beverage businesses and manage waste. Health Emergency: DRC begins Ervebo Ebola vaccination for frontline workers in affected provinces. Regional Business Links: Lagos and Thailand pledge deeper ties across consumer goods, logistics and digital tech. Fashion & Exports: Northshore Apparel Ghana draws pre-production buyer interest from the US and South Africa.

Electricity Expansion & Reliability: Nigeria’s TCN says it secured over $1.4bn from multilateral lenders to expand the national grid, commissioning 89 transformers and adding 8,700MVA transformation capacity, while warning vandalism is draining funds. Township Retail Push: South Africa’s Clicks launches KwaMakhi, a smaller-format store for cash-constrained township shoppers, starting in Tembisa and aiming for 10 outlets by year-end. Power Access in Mozambique: EDM plans at least 420,000 new electricity connections by end-2026 under its Energy for All programme, targeting about two million people. Medication Recall Watch: South Africa’s SAHPRA flags a quality recall of four Enalapril 10mg Arya batches over potency shortfalls, reassuring that the issue is batch-specific. Food Safety Reassurance: South Africa’s regulators say canned sardines remain safe despite pilchard herpesvirus detected in wild populations, noting canning processes and approved facilities. Fuel Price Pressure in Nigeria: Marketers report pump prices rising after Dangote Refinery lifted gantry prices to N1,200/litre, with frequent adjustments squeezing planning and adding inflation risk. Trade & Standards: Kenya welcomes a proposed AGOA extension to 2028 and also pledged land for ARSO’s permanent headquarters in Nairobi to boost AfCFTA trade. Consumer Finance & Jobs: FCMB backs a 1,000-NYSC youth leadership summit, while Nigeria’s NGX sees a modest rebound as bargain-hunting returns.

Counterfeit Alcohol Crackdown: Kenya’s KEBS faces mounting scrutiny as illicit alcohol is estimated at 60% of drinks consumed, with industry figures putting the illegal alcohol economy at Sh71bn a year and consumer advocates calling it a public health crisis. Telecom Finance & Towers: MTN is seeking Nigerian investors to buy up to a 30% stake in IHS Nigeria (deal value up to $1.1bn), tied to FCCPC’s conditional approval and aimed at reducing IHS-related debt. Cooking Gas Affordability Push: President Tinubu tells NLNG to boost domestic gas use, cut flaring and make cooking gas cheaper for Nigerians, with Train 7 expected to lift supply. Airport E-hailing Restart: FAAN clears Bolt to resume operations at Nigerian airports after passenger outcry over disruptions and higher transport costs. WhatsApp Business Costs: Meta will charge Kenyan businesses per delivered WhatsApp customer-service message from Oct 1, raising operating costs for firms using WhatsApp Business. Energy Reliability Investments: Sahara Power breaks ground on a $12m, 12MW Lagos gas IPP for cleaner, more reliable power, while Elektron readies a 40MW embedded power project in Victoria Island. Alcohol Policy Rollout: Nigeria launches a 2026–2030 alcohol policy with multisector enforcement plans led by health and regulators. Payments Infrastructure: NIBSS launches NIBSS Digest, a pan-industry publication focused on the future of payments and digital financial services. Food & Safety: South Africa says canned sardines remain safe despite pilchard herpesvirus detection in wild stocks, urging people not to handle sick fish.

Fuel & household costs (Nigeria): Dangote Petroleum Refinery lifted its PMS ex-depot price from N1,185 to N1,200 per litre, triggering fresh pump hikes in Abuja, Lagos and Kano, as marketers adjust to the new gantry and coastal pricing. Supply pressure (South Africa): The meat importers’ body says oxtail prices nearly doubled after Argentine import restrictions tightened supply, with imports still crucial because local production can’t meet demand. Power & utilities (Nigeria): Nigeria says it has metered about 60% of active electricity customers under the World Bank-backed DISREP, aiming to cut estimated billing. Water enforcement (Kenya): Nairobi Water announced mass disconnections in Utawala for customers with outstanding bills ahead of Friday’s exercise. Digital payments & consumer tech: QNB Group completed Syria’s first end-to-end international Mastercard card payment; Meta plans to charge Nigerian businesses for certain WhatsApp messages from Oct 1. Trade & standards (Africa): ARSO urged a harmonised product standards and certification system to reduce repeated testing and unlock AfCFTA trade. Security & identity (Africa): Integrity360 acquired South Africa’s CyberIAM to expand identity-managed security services for sectors including retail and healthcare.

Fuel Subsidy Debate: Nigeria’s Presidency hits back at Atiku Abubakar over petrol subsidy plans, calling his messaging confused and inconsistent, while student group NANS and other voices warn a return would be unsustainable and politically driven. Electricity Security: Kenya’s power reserve margin has fallen to about 3.3%, raising fears of rationing and blackouts as demand climbs and generation flexibility lags. Food Prices & Supply: South Africa faces a sharp jump in oxtail prices as import restrictions tied to Argentina’s veterinary certification dispute tighten supply. Agriculture & Health: Kenya moves to ban pesticides prohibited abroad, with regulators saying smuggled, non-compliant imports have dropped sharply after tougher border enforcement. Trade & Export Finance: Ghana and partners propose a dedicated Ghana–China zero-tariff fund to help SMEs finance the full export value chain into China. Meat Production Push: Kenya’s KALRO is improving Boran cattle breeds to tackle the country’s meat deficit ahead of the Kenya Meat Expo. Fintech Updates: Lesaka schedules its Q4 and year-end 2026 results call, while VFD Microfinance Bank appoints a new managing director to drive digital growth. EV Leapfrogging: A new report argues Africa’s next tech leap could be electric vehicles and solar, with local assembly and faster uptake in East Africa.