Business Brief
By Business Insider Africa
From the Editor
Natural resources have a way of reshaping old friendships.
Niger has cancelled a 58-year French-linked uranium concession at Arlit as part of its growing push to take back control of key industries and reduce France’s influence in the country. Similar moves across the Sahel in recent years have seen military governments cut old Western ties while rewriting mining, security and economic agreements in favour of more local control.
But across Africa, control over natural resources has often changed hands more easily than it has changed people’s living conditions.
 | Victor Inusa, Newsletter Editor. |
✨ Today’s Must Read
How Nigeria’s crude oil sales drove a £7.6bn trade boom with the UK
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
Total trade between Nigeria and the United Kingdom reached £7.6 billion in 2025, marking a 10.8% increase from the previous year.
This trade boom was heavily driven by energy, with the UK importing £719.2 million in Nigerian crude oil, £514.3 million in refined petroleum, and £167.8 million in gas.
Conversely, British exports to Nigeria hit £5.5 billion, led by £1.1 billion worth of refined fuel products.
Overall, the UK maintained a widened trade surplus of £3.3 billion, highlighting Nigeria's ongoing reliance on oil revenues despite its current push to expand non-oil exports. Read more…
The Big 3
(Photo Credit: Dangote)
🇳🇬 Africa's largest pension fund shows deep interest in the Dangote Refinery
Representatives from South Africa's Public Investment Corporation and Government Employees Pension Fund recently visited the Dangote Refinery and Fertilizer Limited.
The visit comes ahead of a planned pan-African initial public offering to list the refinery on multiple African stock exchanges.
Dangote has appointed firms like Stanbic IBTC Capital and Vetiva Advisory Services to advise on the landmark cross-border listing. Read more…
🇰🇪 East Africa’s refinery search expands as Kenya explores alternatives beyond Dangote
Kenya is strengthening energy ties with Azerbaijan to find partners for its proposed East African oil refinery project.
President William Ruto met with Azerbaijani officials and SOCAR executives to discuss investments in oil, gas, and infrastructure. The move allows Kenya to diversify its investment options beyond previous talks with Aliko Dangote as regional refinery competition grows. Read more…
🇷🇼 Rwanda expedites its nuclear ambition via a new agreement with a major nuclear agency
Rwanda and the IAEA have signed an agreement to enhance cooperation on integrating nuclear energy, specifically small modular reactors, into the national grid.
The country successfully completed a Phase 1 infrastructure review and plans to have nuclear energy operational by the early 2030s, targeting nuclear power to comprise over 60% of its energy mix by 2050. Read more…
Quote Of The Day
Quality is not an act, it is a habit.
Listicles
(Photo Credit: Britannica)
5 lessons that can lead to becoming Africa’s richest trader and industrialist - Dangote’s playbook
Aliko Dangote's journey from a modest trader to an industrial powerhouse offers unique insights into building wealth in Africa.
In a recent podcast, he shared core habits like focusing on everyday needs, keeping business separate from pleasure, and prioritizing discipline.
Solve Everyday Problems: The best businesses target necessity over speculation by focusing on commodities that communities must use every single morning, specifically replacing heavy imports with local production.
Discipline Over Ambition: Sustainable wealth requires strict focus, structure, and restraint rather than chasing every exciting idea, meaning you must master a specific trade instead of trying to be a "jack of all trades."
Keep Business and Pleasure Separate: Mixing lifestyle distractions and luxury pleasures with serious enterprise is completely incompatible with long-term success because it dilutes execution and clarity.
Spot Hidden Opportunities: Massive opportunities are usually hiding in plain sight within basic cultural needs, requiring an entrepreneur to simply look at what people consume daily and figure out how to manufacture it locally.
Shift from Wealth to Legacy: True, ultimate success transitions from personal accumulation to societal responsibility, driving a leader to use corporate power to transform regional economies and provide structural leadership.
Source: Dangote’s Playbook
Geopolitics & Power
(Photo Credit: APP)
🇳🇪 Niger revokes 58-year French uranium concession at Arlit in sovereignty push
Niger cancelled a 58-year uranium concession at the strategic Arlit deposit, originally granted to France's Atomic Energy Commission in 1968.
The military government took action after French mining firm Orano allegedly failed to pay surface royalties within required deadlines. The move follows the 2024 revocation of Orano's license at Imouraren as Niger works to reduce French influence. Read more…
Global Trends, African Impact
(Photo Credit: REUTERS)
🌍 African exporters regain duty-free U.S. access as Trump extends AGOA framework
African exporters have regained duty-free access to the United States market after President Donald J. Trump extended the AGOA framework through December 31, 2026.
The program briefly lapsed in late 2025, causing uncertainty for African trade. The new proclamation restores tariff-free privileges for eligible nations and reinstates Gabon as a beneficiary following progress on governance rules. Read more…
Executive Trivia
Which African country has both the Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean along its coastline?
Did You Know?
The smallest country in Africa is Seychelles, covering a tiny land mass of just 452 square kilometers in the Indian Ocean. This tropical nation of 115 islands is smaller than many major international cities and has the continent's lowest population, with just over 100,000 citizens.
Know someone who'd enjoy this briefing?