The Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) manufacturing sector in Nigeria operates on rapid turnover and razor-thin margins, making Intellectual Property protection for product differentiation critically important.
The Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2025 has introduced a comprehensive and modern statutory architecture for the Nigerian capital market, with its most transformative provision being the formal inclusion of virtual and digital assets within the definition of “securities.”
In the highly competitive Nigerian fashion sector, where design imitation, or “copycatting,” is rampant, strategic IP protection must go beyond merely registering the brand name and logo as a Trademark.
2025 was a very exciting year and saw significant changes in Nigeria’s legal and regulatory landscape. Series of laws were enacted by the National Assembly and regulatory guidelines were also issued by regulators including the Central Bank of Nigeria, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, the Nigerian Communications Commission, etc. There were also some important judicial decisions from the courts in Nigeria which shaped the legal and regulatory space in the country. This recap is divided into four parts representing the four quarters of the year, highlighting what we think are the most impactful laws and regulations, reforms, and judicial decisions in 2025.
The formal operationalization of the Open Banking framework marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s financial sector, positioning the country as a leader in Africa for adopting this collaborative system. Driven by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the framework establishes the foundational rules and technical standards for secure, consent-based sharing of customer financial data and services through standardized Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).
The Nigerian communications landscape is currently undergoing a significant regulatory shift following the issuance of the draft Internet Code of Practice 2025 by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). This proposed framework introduces substantial new obligations for “Online Platforms,” a broad categorization that encompasses social media networks, digital content streaming services, messaging applications, and any intermediary facilitating user-generated content or digital services.
The Nigerian music industry, globally recognized for its vibrant Afrobeats genre, is currently undergoing a pivotal transformation in its approach to Intellectual Property (IP) following the enactment of the Nigerian Copyright Act, 2022 (the Act). This legislation is explicitly designed to address the persistent economic threat posed by digital piracy and the complexities of online content distribution, providing modern legal tools for securing artists’ remuneration.
The Nigerian House of Representatives successfully passed the Nigerian Fintech Regulatory Commission Bill (HB. 2389) for its second reading on October 28, 2025. This legislative progression is a pivotal step towards restructuring the regulatory framework governing the country’s burgeoning fintech sector. Nigeria’s current fintech ecosystem faces regulatory complexity due to fragmented oversight distributed among various agencies, primarily the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The emergence and continued growth of Financial Technology (FinTech) companies in the Nigerian financial services sector has redefined how financial services are delivered, with technology driven solutions that enable faster payments, lending and wealth management. These innovations often lead to complex collaborations between FinTech startups, traditional banks and third-party service providers. These partnerships may inevitably expose the parties to legal and regulatory risks if not properly managed.
The National Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill 2025 is a pivotal legislative initiative in Nigeria, spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. This proposed legislation is designed to establish a comprehensive and unified legal framework necessary for the nation’s digital transformation.