Thought Leadership
Insights from our Legal Experts
Minimum KYC Requirements for Opening Bank Accounts for Nigerian Entities Offshore
Notwithstanding the removal of Nigeria from the FATF Grey List, foreign banks are still required to conduct full KYC and AML/CFT checks for Nigerian clients, as these obligations remain mandatory under global banking regulations. This article provides some local intel for foreign banks on the minimum requirements for safely and efficiently onboarding Nigerian clients while maintaining compliance with international AML/CFT standards.
New Capital Gains Tax Rules for Nigerian M&A Transactions
While gains on the disposal of shares in Nigerian companies are generally chargeable, the Nigeria Tax Act introduces important exemptions designed to encourage investment and capital market activity.
When Should Liability Caps Be Applied – Before or after Set-Off ?
Technology contracts frequently include liability caps. For example, a technology vendor might agree that “no more than 12 months’ fees” can be claimed. But complications often arise when both parties have contractual claims against each other. Should the parties set off their claims first and then apply the liability cap to the net amount? Or should the cap bite on each party’s liability separately, with set-off only after the cap has reduced one side’s claim?
Cross-Border Data Transfers in Nigeria – U.S. SaaS Companies
For DPOs and privacy counsel of U.S. SaaS companies and Nigerian customers, one big challenge is ensuring lawful cross-border data transfers. This article explains the rules and what NDPA compliance for U.S. SaaS companies requires in practice.
Artificial Intelligence in Nigeria: Key Regulatory Considerations
A recent report by Google titled "Our Life With AI: From Innovation to Application" suggests that generative AI adoption in emerging markets is significantly higher than global averages. Within that context, we examine some regulatory touch points within the emerging legal framework for artificial intelligence services in Nigeria.
Are U.S. Foreign SaaS Corporations Regulated by Nigeria?
We think that the African SaaS market is already significantly larger than commonly cited figures suggest. While some sources estimate it at around $3.5 billion in 2023, we believe this substantially understates actual consumption.
Online Safety Act: Age Verification and Data Reuse
The risk of reuse of age verification data is conceivable
Online Trust & Safety in Nigeria: An Overview
In Nigeria, the regulatory landscape surrounding online trust and safety is anchored primarily in the Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms & Internet Intermediaries (the “Code”). This framework defines the rules that digital platforms must follow, with specific obligations
Bank Corporate Client Acquisitions: Employment Law Considerations
If women were selected, incentivized, or subtly pressured to use charm or appearance to attract business, this may constitute constructive dismissal, if such women feel compelled to resign.
CBN's Open Banking Guidelines: Implications for Non-Bank Entities
It is often assumed that the CBN's Open Banking Guidelines are relevant only to banks and licensed fintech companies. However, a closer reading of the Open Banking Guidelines suggests that its application is significantly broader, extending to any company that shares or consumes financial data through APIs, regardless of sector.
CBN Audits: Key Considerations for Fintechs & Microfinance Banks
A CBN audit is an on-site or off-site examination conducted by the Central Bank of Nigeria to assess a regulated financial institution’s compliance with applicable laws, regulations, guidelines, and prudential requirements
Doing Business with the Nigerian Government: Key Considerations for Private Sector Players
From oil to infrastructure and digital regulation, Nigeria’s Federal Government sits at the center of the nation’s economic activity. For private investors, public partnerships can be transformative, but they’re also uniquely complex. This article distills practical lessons and legal insights for private companies seeking to engage the Nigerian Government effectively.
Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline: Reflections on the WAGP Tariff Methodology
The Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP) represents one of Africa’s most ambitious cross-border infrastructure projects.
Lagos Carbon Exchange: Key Legal & Market Considerations
The Lagos Carbon Exchange introduces a credible local alternative
Off-Plan Property Purchases in Lagos: Key Considerations
Many off-plan real estate developers do not set out to be fraudulent. In reality, many real estate developers are ambitious but undercapitalised and understructured. The result is not necessarily fraud but avoidable failure.
Roads & Highways Financing in Nigeria - Key Legal Considerations
Nigeria has an infrastructure financing gap of over $3 trillion, and it needs to spend at least $100 billion annually for the next 30 years to close this gap
Trump’s 3.5% Tax on Remittances - Some Product Considerations
If President Trump’s proposal to impose a 3.5% excise tax on outbound remittances by non-citizens becomes law, remittance and money transfer companies operating in the cross-border payments space will need to significantly update their compliance strategies.
Managing Residential Estates in Lagos: Estate Dues Issues
In that case, the Residents’ Association requested estate dues covering security, waste management, and other community services, from Megawatts, a new resident.
Buying a House in Lagos
In our view, buying a house in Lagos is in many ways similar to buying a house in NewYork and Silicon Valley combined
Renting Office Space in Lagos
You may need to make medium to significant infrastructure upgrades or aesthetic facelifts before moving in
Cost Efficiency Incentives Order, 2025
The Upstream Petroleum Operations (Cost Efficiency Incentives) Order, 2025
Should VC Funds be Regulated like Mutual Funds?
Delaware should be the bench mark and part of the goal should be to position Nigeria as a magnet for risk capital, attracting tech founders and fund managers.
Data Protection or Data Privacy: What Does Section 37 Really Guarantee?
If we treat every breach of data protection obligations as a breach of constitutional rights, we risk (a) flooding the courts with claims that should be regulatory in nature
Paystack and the Holding Funds Rule: Implications for a PSSP
We analyse the “holding funds” rule as it applies to a PSSP and what this means for the design and structure of fintech products
Data Protection Considerations in Mergers & Acquisitions in Nigeria
Nigeria’s consumer protection agency fined Meta $220 million because it believed that Meta breached data protection laws and that the breach was so egregious as...
Protecting Global Luxury Brands in Nigeria: Key Legal Strategies
Whilst Africa’s luxury market offers immense potential, global luxury brands risk losing revenue and reputation to counterfeiters, without a proactive brand protection strategy.
NNPC Limited: Rethinking the Rationale for an IPO
We are of the view that the Federal Government should continue to retain full ownership and strategic control of NNPC Limited
The FCCPC: A Review of the Scope of its Investigation Powers
The FCCPC can request confidential or proprietary information and trade secrets.
The Nigeria Tax Bill - Revisiting the New Rent Relief Allowance
It would appear that landlords and dependent adults will no longer be entitled to income tax reliefs under the Nigeria Tax Bill.
Series A Financing - What to Expect
In this update, we highlight some key Series A considerations for founders looking to raise a Series A financing
Consortium Agreements: Structuring Considerations in Nigeria
Consortium Agreements remain one of the crucial ways to win and execute public private partnerships and high-stakes public and private contracts.
Can Lagos’ Electricity Market Serve as a Blueprint for Other States?
Our analysis suggests that a tailored approach is essential for designing sustainable electricity markets across the country.