Business
PREMIUM TIMES, EnergyNet strengthen collaboration ahead of Nigeria NOW! Summit
Nigeria’s long-standing narrative of immense potential constrained by structural challenges may be entering a new phase of tangible economic delivery, as stakeholders prepare for the Nigeria NOW! summit, scheduled to hold in November 2026 in Abuja.
This was made known by Simon Gosling, EnergyNet’s managing director and the convener of the summit, during a consultative visit to PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday.
The visit was part of pre-event engagements to explore collaboration opportunities with the leadership of Nigeria’s foremost newspaper, to discuss media partnerships and the role of journalism in shaping credible narratives around investment, transparency, and governance in Nigeria’s extractive and energy sectors.
The meeting highlighted the role of data-driven storytelling in bridging information gaps between policymakers, investors, and citizens.
Speaking about the summit, Mr Gosling said, for years, investor engagement with Nigeria has been characterised by caution, driven by concerns around foreign exchange volatility, regulatory uncertainty, contract breaches, policy flip-flops, and infrastructure gaps.
He said: “However, recent developments, including reforms in the foreign exchange regime, implementation of the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, and renewed momentum in gas infrastructure such as the AKK pipeline, point to a transition from policy intent to execution”.
He explained that the summit is designed to reframe global investor perception of Nigeria from a high-risk environment to a destination of verified opportunity, noting that the event is engineered to bridge this trust Gap.
“Unlike previous jamborees focused on Memorandums of Understanding, this launch event focuses on Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) and the showcasing of completed projects. The agenda is designed to move the conversation from “what we plan to do” to “what we have done and how you can plug in”, Mr Gosling said.
He said the high-level event will bring together key sectors, including power, petroleum, solid minerals, transport, agriculture, and infrastructure, while convening policymakers, regulators, investors, industry leaders, and development partners to showcase recent reforms and major infrastructure milestones.
Mr Gosling added that partnerships with local institutions remain critical to the success of the initiative, noting that the summit aims not only to attract investment but also to promote accountability, inclusivity, and sustainable development outcomes.
Also speaking on the collaboration, PREMIUM TIMES’ publisher, Dapo Olorunyomi, emphasised the need to build a strong media community of practice capable of amplifying critical issues across the key sectors.
He noted that a lack of technical capacity has historically hindered journalists from reporting on these complex industries with consequential depth.
Mr Olorunyomi stressed the importance of intensive capacity building to ensure that the Nigerian public and the global community are informed by knowledge-driven storytelling rather than anecdotal evidence.
Similarly, representatives of the Nigerian Indigenous Women in Mining and Natural Resources Organisation (NIWIMNRO), at the meeting, expressed appreciation to EnergyNet for its technical support in ensuring that the voices of women artisanal miners are reflected in broader investment conversations.
The organisation’s Executive Director, Felicia Dairo, commended EnergyNet for its commitment to advancing gender inclusion and supporting initiatives that empower women miners across Nigeria, noting that EnergyNet’s support began even at a time when NIWIMNRO was still developing its structure.
Mrs Dairo said NIWIMNRO looks forward to working more closely with the EnergyNet team to ensure the success of what is expected to be one of the biggest events in Nigeria’s history.
About Nigeria NOW!
The Nigeria NOW! summit is being convened against a backdrop of shifting global economic and energy dynamics. As traditional investment destinations experience slower growth, capital is increasingly seeking high-yield frontier markets.
With projected GDP growth of around 4.0 per cent and ongoing structural reforms, Nigeria is positioning itself as a competitive destination for such investments.
The November 2026 event will serve as a precursor to a larger global investors’ summit planned for 2027, where Nigeria aims to further consolidate its position in the global investment landscape.
READ ALSO: EnergyNet partners NIWIMNRO for Africa Energy Forum (AEF) Conference
The Nigeria NOW! platform is also aligned with regional integration efforts under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with stakeholders highlighting Nigeria’s potential as a gateway for institutional capital into West Africa.
As preparations intensify, the organiser says the initiative’s success will depend on the country’s ability to translate reforms into measurable outcomes and sustain investor confidence.
With renewed momentum across policy, infrastructure, and stakeholder engagement, the Nigeria NOW! summit may mark a turning point in how Nigeria is perceived and how it performs on the global economic stage.
BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has received a four-member delegation from Kenya’s Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) for a four-day technical study visit in Abuja, solidifying Nigeria’s position as a leading reference point for pension reform and regulatory innovation across the African continent.
The Kenyan delegation, led by John Keah, Director of Market Conduct and Industry Development at the RBA, is visiting Nigeria from June 8 to 11, 2026, to understudy PenCom’s regulatory and supervisory frameworks.
Keah noted that the engagement highlights the critical role of cross-border learning among African regulators aiming to optimize retirement systems and improve pension outcomes for citizens. He added that structural similarities between the two nations’ pension landscapes make Nigeria’s journey highly relevant to Kenya’s ongoing domestic reforms.
The RBA delegation is focusing its study on PenCom’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives, its risk-based supervision framework, and its strategies for expanding pension coverage to both the informal sector and the diaspora.
Keah particularly lauded the governance safeguards within Nigeria’s pension system and described the Diaspora Pension Arrangement as an innovative milestone capable of reducing old-age poverty and enhancing long-term retirement security.
Welcoming the delegation, the Director General of PenCom, Ms. Omolola Oloworaran, reiterated Nigeria’s dedication to regional collaboration and knowledge exchange. Represented by the Director of the Surveillance Department, Abdulrahaman Muhammad Saleem, the Director General revealed that pension assets under management in Nigeria have grown to over ₦32 trillion, representing approximately 10.4 percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
This growth, she noted, stems from continuous regulatory reforms, heightened governance standards, and rigorous supervisory mechanisms established since the inception of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) in 2004.
Ms. Oloworaran also highlighted the Federal Government’s recent settlement of outstanding accrued pension rights liabilities as a historic turning point for the CPS.
The intervention, executed through the issuance of a Federal Government bond, effectively resolved a prolonged funding backlog that had previously delayed retirement benefits for public sector employees within Treasury-Funded Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
Under the new framework, accrued rights are transferred directly into retirees’ Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs), granting immediate access to investment returns and eliminating lengthy waiting periods.
The technical visit, anchored on the theme “Risk-Based Supervision and ESG Integration in Pension Funds,” includes interactive departmental presentations, study tours to selected Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), and collaborative sessions on emerging risks.
Both regulatory bodies expect the engagement to deepen bilateral cooperation and foster resilient, inclusive, and sustainable pension architectures across East and West Africa.
The post Nigeria’s Pension Assets Top ₦32tn as Kenyan Regulator Understudies Reforms appeared first on Business Today NG.
Business
Aviation ground handlers lift suspension on Max Air after debt negotiations, partial payment
The Aviation Ground Handlers Association of Nigeria (AGHAN) has lifted its suspension on services to Max Air, less than 24 hours after halting operations over unpaid debts.
The association said the decision followed progress in discussions with the airline, including the payment of a “substantial amount” of money out of its outstanding obligations to handling companies.
In a statement issued on Friday, AGHAN said the suspension was lifted after Max Air re-engaged with its members and committed to resolving its debt profile.
“We have to lift the handling suspension on Max Air after it commenced negotiations with our members and paid a substantial amount of money out of its debts,” the association said.
Ground handling companies provide critical airport services, including aircraft marshalling, baggage handling and ramp operations, which are essential to airline turnaround and safety compliance.
The development is coming just a day after the group withdrew handling services to the airline, citing prolonged unpaid debts it said have reached unsustainable levels and strained operations within the aviation support sector.
PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that AGHAN withdrew its services from Max Air on Thursday over the debts estimated at N1 billion.
The association had accused the airline of failing to engage meaningfully in repayment discussions at the time, while other indebted carriers were said to be making settlement plans.
AGHAN noted that the action was necessary after repeated efforts to recover the debt failed, warning that the issue, if not addressed, could undermine safety and operational efficiency at airports.
Despite lifting the suspension, the association said the underlying financial pressure facing ground handling companies remains unresolved.
ALSO READ: Aviation Ground Handlers withdraw services from Max Air over alleged N1 billion debt
AGHAN said its members continue to operate under rising costs arising from equipment procurement, foreign exchange exposure and operational overheads, while awaiting payments from airlines.
“We agree that the operating environment is tough for all operators, but we are not equally exempted from the challenge,” the statement disclosed.
It added that aviation services operate as an interconnected chain, warning that financial distress affecting any segment could have wider implications for safety and service delivery.
“The aviation industry is a chain and not about the airlines alone. Others too play major roles in the ecosystem and they need to survive,” the association said.
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