Updates

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.

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.

Satellite Broadband and the Transition to Direct-to-Cell Connectivity.

The Nigerian telecommunications industry is undergoing a substantial transformation
as satellite-based internet services shift from being niche enterprise solutions to becoming
mainstream consumer options. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) plays a
pivotal role in this evolution by actively licensing Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) providers,
which is steering the market towards the implementation of “Direct-to-Cell” (D2C) technology.

Global Protection for Genetic Resources & Traditional Knowledge

A Significant Milestone in May 2024: The Adoption of the WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources, and Associated Traditional Knowledge (GRATK).

Mandatory Tax ID Validation and Digital Reporting in Nigeria

Effective January 1, 2026, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA) heralds a transformative era of compliance for financial institutions. Pursuant to this legislation, banks and fintech companies are henceforth mandated to validate Tax Identification Numbers (TIN) for all individuals and corporate entities during the onboarding process, as well as for any subsequent account-related activities.

Enforcement of Critical National Information Infrastructure Protections

The governance of digital infrastructure in Nigeria has evolved from a reactive security stance
to a proactive legal protection model through the “Designation and Protection of Critical National
Information Infrastructure (CNII) Order.”

The Economic Value of Geographical Indications (GIs) in IP

Following a global trend where regions protect the unique identity of their products, exemplified by Ghana officially granting Geographical Indication (GI) status to Kente cloth in September 2025; there is an intensifying policy push for a dedicated GI framework in Nigeria.

Nigerian Capital Market Transitions to T+2 Settlement Cycle

The Nigerian capital market has achieved a significant milestone by transitioning its securities trading from a T+3 settlement cycle to a T+2 settlement cycle. To understand the importance of this change, it is helpful to first define these terms, which refer to the time it takes for a trade to be finalized.

Protecting Product Formulation and Packaging Identity

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.

Investments & Securities Act 2025 Regulates Digital Assets

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.”