Goldsmiths Solicitors

Highlight of the Key Provisions of Executive Order No. 9

On 13 February 2026, the Nigerian President signed the Presidential Executive Order to Safeguard Federation Oil and Gas Revenues and Provide Regulatory Clarity, 2026 (“Executive Order No. 9 of 2026”), aimed at preventing revenue losses and unconstitutional deductions to ensure more funds are available for the federal, state, and local governments. The Executive Order restores the constitutional revenue entitlements that were altered by the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021.

A Review of the NRS February 2026 Notice

On 3 February 2026, the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) issued an official notice clarifying the implementation and effective dates of the newly enacted tax laws, following public questions and debate regarding how and when the reforms would take effect. The notice provided guidance on the practical application of the 2025 Tax Reform Laws and reaffirmed the statutory commencement dates. For businesses and individuals, the clarification effectively signals the conclusion of the transition phase and it confirms that full compliance under the new tax regime is now expected.

The 2025 CBN Fintech Report: Shaping the Future of Fintech in Nigeria

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has released its inaugural fintech assessment report, detailing the strategic trajectory of the nation’s digital financial ecosystem. The data highlights a significant expansion in transaction infrastructure, with the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) processing approximately 11 billion transactions in 2024. This figure represents a 100% increase in volume compared to 2022, cementing Nigeria’s position as a global leader in real-time payments.

Expansion of Indirect Share Transfer Taxation in Nigeria

The Nigerian tax landscape has expanded to include stricter enforcement on offshore disposals of Nigerian assets.

The Transition to Cloud-Broadcasting and Local Infrastructure Mandates

The Nigerian broadcasting industry is currently navigating the “Cloud Broadcasting Summit Africa 2026” milestone, which focuses on the transition from hardware-heavy production to cloud-based content creation and archival.

The Rise of Environmental Sustainability in IP Policy

Environmental sustainability has increasingly become a pivotal influence on intellectual property (IP) policy across the globe. This shift is largely driven by initiatives like the WIPO GREEN platform, which facilitates connections between providers of green technologies and those seeking sustainable solutions. In Nigeria, this global movement has been embodied through the IP for Green Innovation Program.

Governance and Liability in AI-Driven Financial Services

Global regulatory bodies are increasingly focusing on the “agentic AI” era, where autonomous systems
handle credit decisioning, fraud detection, and transaction reconciliation without real-time human intervention.

Digital Assets and the VASP Regulatory Regime.

The regulatory landscape for digital assets has evolved beyond its initial uncertainty with the
implementation of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Digital Assets Rules.

Understanding The National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy (NIPPS) 2025

In a groundbreaking decision for Nigeria’s innovation landscape, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved
the National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy (NIPPS) in November 2025. This policy signifies a major
transformation aimed at modernizing Nigeria’s intellectual property framework. It seeks to incorporate intellectual
property into the larger digital transformation agenda and align with the Startup Act of 2022.

Institutional Integration of Tokenized Assets and DeFi

The maturation of Decentralized Finance (DeFi) is moving beyond speculative crypto-assets toward the tokenization of real-world assets (RWA) and institutional-grade infrastructure.