Nigeria: Contracts and Commercial Law

Nigeria’s real estate sector has become one of the most valuable and resilient parts of the national economy, with a projected market value above $2.42 trillion by 2026.1 For institutional buyers and high-net-worth Investors, property offers a hedge against inflation and a source of steady returns- and that appetite keeps the deals flowing.

This article explores the comprehensive framework of trade dress and get-up protection in Nigeria, examining how visual elements beyond traditional trademarks can secure brand identity. It delves into the legal mechanisms available for protecting the overall appearance and presentation of products in the Nigerian market.

Nigeria's entertainment industry has evolved into a sophisticated commercial sector, yet high-profile disputes over master recordings, royalty entitlements, and contract terms continue to plague relationships between artists, labels, and managers. This comprehensive legal analysis examines the contractual framework governing Nigeria's creative economy, from recording agreements and publishing deals to endorsement contracts and distribution arrangements, revealing how proper legal structuring can protect sta

For generations, Nigerians have regarded land as the safest store of wealth. The prevailing investment philosophy has been remarkably simple: acquire land, hold it patiently, and allow appreciation to generate wealth over time. Across Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and other commercial centres, countless families have followed precisely that strategy.

When a marriage ends in Nigeria, the absence of a prenuptial agreement can turn asset division into a prolonged legal battle that destroys the very wealth couples fought to protect. While prenups are not illegal under Nigerian law, their enforceability depends on careful drafting and judicial discretion under the "just and equitable" standard of Section 72(2) of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1970.

The CBN's recent circular introducing market structure restrictions within the payments ecosystem may represent one of the most significant regulatory interventions in the sector in recent years. While the circular also introduces data localisation and ultimate beneficial ownership disclosure requirements, among its most consequential features are the provisions restricting the extent to which a participant with significant market share in consumer issuing activities.

Nigeria's 2025 Petroleum Licensing Round offers 50 oil blocks across onshore, shallow-water, frontier, and deep offshore areas. With pre-qualification complete, bidders must now navigate complex regulatory requirements, consortium structuring, and competitive bid strategies to secure acreage in one of Africa's most significant upstream opportunities.

Commercial agreements often contain broadly drafted intellectual property clauses that can inadvertently transfer ownership of proprietary tools, systems...

Nigeria's data protection landscape has fundamentally shifted with the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 and the General Application and Implementation Directive 2025. This article examines the legal architecture governing cross-border data transfers, identifies critical compliance obligations for international technology transactions, and demonstrates how well-structured data compliance can serve as a competitive advantage in one of Africa's most dynamic digital markets.