Category: Business Day

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has continued operating despite a nationwide strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), which has disrupted logistics and heightened tensions in the oil sector, company and trade sources confirmed on Tuesday.

Initial reports suggested that the entrance to the 650,000-barrel-per-day facility in Lagos was blocked by striking workers, but refinery operations have not been fully halted. The industrial action, which began on Sunday, is already attracting the attention of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), PENGASSAN’s parent body, raising fears of broader solidarity protests that could worsen pressure on the refinery’s operations.

A mediation meeting convened on Monday to resolve the standoff ended in deadlock after more than nine hours of deliberations.

The talks, chaired by labour minister Muhammad Dingyadi, brought together leaders of PENGASSAN, representatives of Dangote Refinery, the finance ministry, and top officials of both the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority. Festus Osifo, PENGASSAN’s president, said negotiations failed because Dangote management refused to reinstate 800 workers whose dismissal sparked the dispute.

He said the union would continue its action until those workers were reinstated.

‘Our position has been very clear; you have to reinstate these people. If you reinstate them tonight, we will call off our action tonight but unfortunately, that reinstatement did not happen. And we were not able to reach conclusions on the subject,’ Osifo told journalists after the meeting. The meeting continues today, according to reports. But for now, Dangote Refinery appears largely unshaken, with operations ongoing despite the union’s threats and the unresolved conflict.

In virtually every nation, the discourse on economic growth often revolves around factors such as industrial output, foreign investment, technology, and human capital development. Yet, one element that is sometimes underexplored but remains fundamental is housing infrastructure.

Housing is more than just shelter; it is an economic commodity, a social stabiliser, and a driver of development. From job creation to stimulating demand in allied industries, and from providing collateral for wealth creation to enabling urban renewal, housing infrastructure plays a central role in catalysing sustainable growth.

At the heart of modern economies, housing represents both a consumption good and an investment asset. For households, a house is the most valuable asset they may ever own; for governments, housing development signifies a visible expression of social contract fulfillment; and for the economy, housing is a critical sector that triggers multiplier effects across industries.

According to World Bank estimates, the real estate and construction sector contributes between 7 percent and 14 percent of global GDP, depending on the region. In advanced economies such as the United States, housing-related activities, construction, real estate, mortgage finance, home improvement, and property services, are significant drivers of employment and wealth accumulation.

Similarly, in emerging economies like Nigeria, housing is estimated to contribute about 3.1 percent of GDP, though with vast untapped potential. The importance of housing infrastructure stems from its ability to integrate multiple aspects of the economy, ranging from financial markets to labour absorption, raw material demand, and even energy consumption patterns.

One of the clearest pathways through which housing drives economic growth is job creation. Housing infrastructure development requires a wide array of skilled and unskilled labour-land surveyors, architects, town planners, engineers, builders, masons, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and labourers. The construction phase alone is highly labour-intensive and generates immediate employment.

Beyond construction, housing stimulates jobs in allied industries such as:

Cement, steel, timber, and glass manufacturers benefit directly from rising demand.

Furniture, interior décor, and home appliance industries experience growth from household spending.

Financial institutions expand their mortgage, insurance, and investment portfolios.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that every housing unit constructed directly and indirectly generates between 5 and 7 jobs, depending on the complexity of the project. In countries struggling with high unemployment rates, especially among youths, housing development represents a low-hanging fruit for labour absorption and poverty alleviation.

Furthermore, housing plays a unique role in wealth accumulation and capital formation. Unlike many consumer goods that depreciate, housing typically appreciates over time, thereby serving as a store of wealth. For many households, owning a home is the first step toward economic security and social mobility.

Moreover, housing assets are often used as collateral to access credit, which fuels entrepreneurial ventures, small businesses, and industrial expansion. In advanced economies, mortgage markets are among the most developed financial sectors, reflecting the centrality of housing to economic dynamism. In contrast, underdeveloped housing finance systems in many developing countries limit credit creation, thereby constraining economic opportunities.

Thus, by expanding housing infrastructure, countries stimulate financial deepening, broaden access to capital, and enhance wealth distribution among citizens.

Urbanisation is one of the defining features of the 21st century. The United Nations projects that by 2050, nearly 70 percent of the world’s population will live in urban areas. For countries like Nigeria, where urbanisation is rapid but poorly managed, housing infrastructure becomes a crucial determinant of whether urban growth leads to prosperity or squalor.

Well-planned housing infrastructure is not just about buildings; it encompasses roads, drainage, power supply, water systems, waste management, schools, and hospitals. When integrated with urban planning, housing infrastructure prevents the growth of slums, enhances liveability, and improves productivity.

A city with adequate housing infrastructure attracts investors, boosts tourism, and fosters innovation. On the contrary, inadequate housing leads to overcrowding, insecurity, health hazards, and economic inefficiency.

Therefore, housing infrastructure development must be seen as a strategic tool for urban renewal and sustainable cities, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 11): ‘Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.’

Housing infrastructure has strong backward and forward linkages with the industrial sector. The construction of a single housing estate requires raw materials such as cement, iron rods, paints, ceramics, cables, and roofing sheets-all products of local industries.

This demand stimulates local production, encourages import substitution, and generates foreign exchange savings. In countries with strong housing policies, such as China, the real estate and housing sector has been deliberately leveraged to grow domestic industries.

The Chinese government, for example, integrated housing development with industrial production, thereby transforming its housing sector into a pillar of its economic miracle. For developing countries, expanding housing infrastructure could serve as a stimulus for industrial diversification away from resource dependency, creating a robust value chain of construction-related industries. Economic growth is not just about figures and GDP ratios; it is equally about social cohesion and stability. Adequate housing contributes to societal peace by reducing homelessness, overcrowding, and the tensions that arise from informal settlements.

A family that lives in decent housing experiences improved health, educational performance for children, and higher productivity for adults. Conversely, inadequate housing contributes to poor health outcomes, crime, and urban discontent-all of which erode economic progress. Housing is, therefore, not merely an economic commodity; it is a social stabiliser and a foundation for inclusive development. Countries that invest in housing infrastructure ultimately invest in the well-being and productivity of their citizens.

Despite its enormous potential, several challenges limit the ability of housing infrastructure to fully drive economic growth in many developing economies. These include:

High Construction Costs – Rising prices of cement, steel, and other inputs make housing unaffordable for low- and middle-income earners.

Weak Mortgage Systems – Limited access to long-term financing hampers home ownership and housing investment.

Land Tenure and Titling Issues – Bureaucratic bottlenecks in land administration discourage investment and inflate costs.

Infrastructure Deficits – Poor roads, electricity, and water supply in many areas limit large-scale housing projects.

Policy Inconsistency – Frequent changes in government policies undermine long-term housing sector planning.

These barriers explain why many countries face acute housing deficits. For instance, Nigeria is estimated to have a housing deficit of over 20 million units, requiring trillions of naira in investment to bridge. Without deliberate intervention, housing infrastructure cannot achieve its transformative economic role.

To fully harness housing infrastructure as a driver of economic growth, deliberate strategies must be pursued to:

Expand Affordable Housing Finance – Strengthen mortgage institutions, encourage low-interest housing loans, and promote innovative financing models such as cooperative housing schemes.

Promote Local Building Materials – Support research and development into affordable, locally sourced materials to reduce costs and dependence on imports.

Reform Land Administration – Simplify land titling processes, reduce bureaucratic delays, and digitise land registries to attract investment.

Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) – Governments should partner with private developers to deliver large-scale housing projects while providing enabling infrastructure.

Integrate Housing with Urban Planning – Housing development should be accompanied by roads, schools, hospitals, and utilities to create liveable communities.

Incentivise Green Housing – Encourage eco-friendly housing designs that reduce energy costs and promote sustainability.

By implementing these strategies, housing infrastructure can become a central pillar of economic transformation.

In conclusion, housing infrastructure is more than bricks and mortar-it is the foundation of economic progress and social stability. By stimulating employment, wealth creation, industrial development, and urban renewal, housing plays a catalytic role in shaping the trajectory of national growth.

Countries that have prioritised housing development, such as Singapore, China, and South Korea, have not only witnessed improved living standards but also experienced accelerated economic growth. For nations like Nigeria, where the housing deficit remains alarming, deliberate investment in housing infrastructure represents both a social necessity and an economic opportunity.

In the final analysis, the road to inclusive and sustainable growth is paved not only with factories, highways, and financial markets but also with the homes people live in. If governments and stakeholders recognise housing as a strategic growth driver, they will not only build houses but also build economies, build wealth, and build nations.

The Edo State Executive Council has approved a revised supplementary budget of N799.820 billion for the 2025 fiscal year, up from the initial N675.220 billion, representing an increase of approximately N125 billion, or 18 percent.

The approval which followed an emergency executive meeting presided over by the Chairman-in-Council and Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, on Monday,

Briefing journalists immediately after the meeting, the Commissioner for Finance, Emmanuel Okoebor, explained the rationale behind the adjustment and emphasised the government’s commitment to infrastructure development.

Okoebor explained: ‘Previously, we had a budget of N675 billion with recurrent expenditure having about 33 percent and capital 67 percent. The new revised budget now has about 70 percent for capital expenditure as against 30 percent for recurrent expenditure. It shows the commitment of Governor Monday Okpebholo in infrastructural development in Edo state.’

He further explained the size and nature of the increment. ‘The increment in the budget is about N125 billion, which signifies about 18 percent of the previous budget. Recurrent increased with about N12 billion, while capital is about N113 billion from the previous one. Given about 25 percent increment in Capital expenditure and just 5 percent increment in recurrent expenditure.

‘It clearly shows that the government is concerned about infrastructural development making Edo people happy. We have done about 254KM of road across the state, and many more construction works are ongoing.

‘Recurrent expenditure has about 5 percent increment as the increase in minimum wage necessitated that increment, including a lot of employment the present administration did in the hospital management board for over 1000, and it needs to be captured.

‘The budget has been increased by N125 billion, which is about 18 percent, and capital expenditure by about 25 percent, from N450 billion to N563 billion.’

According to the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Communication, Paul Ohombamu, the revised budget is expected to be forwarded to the Edo State House of Assembly for legislative consideration and passage.

The Nigeria Customs Service and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria have come to a long-awaited resolution about how to proceed with the four percent charge on imports Free on Board (FOB) that sparked massive outrage across the country.

On Friday in Lagos, Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller General of Customs stood before stakeholders to announce that his agency had met with the Ministry of Finance and come away with new regulations that would provide relief to manufacturers and other businesses.

Based on the conclusions, the following import items will now be exempted from Customs FOB charge.

Raw materials and machines

Raw materials, spare parts, and machines imported by manufacturers who are beneficiaries of concessions contained in Chapters 98 and 99 of the Customs Tariff will not be charged the four percent.

These chapters are special sections of the tariff book that the government uses to grant import concessions or waivers for industries considered important to the economy.

Manufacturers not yet captured under the tariff chapters will also be onboarded in a fast-tracked process, the Service promised, and payments of the charge already made by them will be held as credit and be utilised for future customs-related transactions after their onboarding.

Beneficiaries of this modification are advised to apply for pre-release of the consignment to avoid payment of demurrage.

Government projects

Government projects with Import Duty Exemptions Certificates are exempted from the FOB charge.

When the federal government or its agencies embark on large scale projects like railway lines, hospitals, or road constructions, contractors often need to import heavy machinery, specialised equipment, or materials.

To avoid inflating costs through customs charges, the government issues an Import Duty Exemption Certificate (IDEC) for that project, a certificate that legally exempts the contractor or agency from paying duties and taxes on those specific imports.

Goods imported to save lives

Medicines and pharmaceuticals, x-ray machines, MRI/CT scanners, ventilators, emergency relief items like tents, mattresses, mosquito nets, food aid, firefighting trucks, and any other humanitarian product imported into the country will not be charged

The rule is that if the goods are meant to save lives, provide emergency relief, or support vulnerable populations in crisis situations, they can qualify.

Other beneficiaries include beneficiaries of the Presidential Initiative for unlocking Healthcare value chain, and commercial airlines’ spare parts.

Francis Meshioye, president of MAN, said the agreement reached with Customs aligns with his association’s objectives to ensure that its members thrive despite the condition of the economy.

‘I believe this will really strengthen our relationship; it is going to really make our relationship better off,’ he said, noting that it is a win-win situation for both the Nigerian Customs and manufacturers.

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has condemned in strong terms what it called the abuse of the Cybercrime Act by security agencies in the country.

The Guild in a communique jointly signed by Eze Anaba, president, and Onuoha Ukeh, general secretary, said the police, in particular, have used the Act to harass, intimidate, arrest and illegally detain journalists who are exercising their rights to freedom of the press and thereby undermining the country’s democracy and the rule of law.

‘The Guild will no longer tolerate this abuse and will use all legal means to ensure the protection of the fundamental human rights of journalists, freedom of the press and freedom of expression,’ it stated.

The communique, which was issued at the end of the NGE’s standing committee meeting held in Jos, Plateau State, also expressed concerns over the increasing excesses of political actors, both in government and the opposition.

The Guild, therefore, called on political actors to address national issues and governance instead of personal attacks and name-calling.

‘The conduct of politicians is worrisome, whether in government or the opposition. They should desist from personal attacks and name-calling.

‘They should address issues of governance and proffer solutions. Careless talks heat up the polity, incite people, instigate crisis and are capable of causing breach of peace and security of the nation. This should stop forthwith.’

The Guild, through its communique, urged the federal government and the security agencies to be proactive and effective in tackling the increasing rate of insecurity, for the purposes of saving lives, boosting food security and creating a more conducive environment across the country.

The NGE also called on journalists to go about their job with a high level of professionalism by adhering to the Code of Ethics approved by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO) and not to engage in any form of blackmail and defamation whatsoever.

The Guild also reminded the security agencies that the Ombudsman process instituted by the Nigerian Press Organisation is capable of addressing infractions to the code of Journalism ethics as has been proven in the past.

‘Security agencies should respect this process by encouraging those who write petitions and making them the arbiter to approach the Ombudsman or seek legal redress instead of making security agencies tool of oppression, intimidation and harassment,’ the NGE said.

Similarly, the NGE also thanked the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Muftwang, for hosting the editors, and reminded the three tiers of government to address fundamental issues of governance rather than the ongoing campaign on future elections, even when they have failed to fulfil their social contract in the subsisting term of office.

The Innovation and Startup Festival (ISF), formerly called Ibadan StartUp Fest, Southwest Nigeria’s largest gathering of innovators, founders, investors, policymakers, and future-forward talent, returns on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at the University of Ibadan International Conference Centre.

Building on the remarkable success of the past edition, which hosted 3,000+ participants, 50+ speakers, and notable public and private partners, including Google, SeedFi, KPMG, Unified Payments, Capital Sage, Alternative Bank, and a long list of others, ISF 2025 is set to welcome 5,000+ attendees, 50+ global speakers, and 50+ exhibitors.

This year’s edition, themed ‘Tech Excellence and Regional Innovation,’ will spotlight:

Tech Excellence Awards Gala honouring achievements across 13+ sectors, including fintech, healthtech, agritech, cybersecurity, hardware, and renewable energy.

Breakout panels, masterclasses, and workshopshosted across all five halls of the University of Ibadan International Conference Centre.

The ISF Deal Room, designed for investor-founder connections and corporate matchmaking.

Ecosystem activation week, featuring tech hub conversations and a Cocktail Friday for tech professionals.

High-level participation is expected from government leaders, private sector executives, and development partners. Dignitaries already expected include the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), with invitations extended to Southwest State Governors and international ecosystem leaders.

A key highlight is the launch of the Southwest Innovation and Startup Grant (SISG), powered by ISF and the DAWN Commission. The grant will provide ?1m-?2m Idea Grants and ?2m-?5m Go-to-Market Grants, reinforcing ISF’s commitment to supporting early-stage founders and driving regional growth.

‘ISF 2025 will not just be another conference; it will be a defining convergence for regional innovation, where ideas meet execution, and where the Southwest shows its capacity to lead Africa’s technology renaissance,’ said Tosin Kolawole, Team Lead of ISF.

With sponsorship and partnership opportunities now open (?1m-?25m packages), ISF 2025 offers brands, governments, and development organisations an unparalleled platform for visibility, engagement, and impact.

Stablecoins could power $100 trillion in transactions as it is set for explosive growth, a new report from the Citi Institute stated.

Like ChatGPT transformed the trajectory of artificial intelligence, stablecoins are poised to become a breakthrough force in global finance, the study shows.

According to the study, Stablecoins 2030: Web3 to Wall Street, it is projected that there will be rapid adoption of stablecoins as corporations, banks, and payment systems accelerate their shift to digital money.

The report estimates that stablecoins could reach a market size of $1.9 trillion by 2030 under its base case, with a bullish scenario pushing that figure to $4 trillion.

A growth which could underpin up to $100 trillion in transactions, powered by digitally native companies, e-commerce platforms, and rising global demand for the U.S. dollar.

Yet, Citi warns that non-bank-issued stablecoins will not be the only players in the digital currency race.

Bank-issued tokens, including tokenised deposits and deposit tokens, are expected to play an even larger role in liquidity management, payments, and corporate treasury operations.

The report projects bank tokens could handle between $100 trillion and $140 trillion in transactions by 2030, eclipsing the scale of stablecoins.

‘Stablecoins will not operate in isolation. They will share the stage with bank tokens, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and other emerging formats, each competing on trust, privacy, and regulatory alignment,’ the report added.

Privacy concerns, evolving regulatory frameworks, and user caution around new digital formats remain hurdles for adoption.

Citi highlights that programmability, which is the ability to embed real-time reconciliation and compliance directly into money, could be the key feature that drives mainstream utility.

If you want to know where Nigeria’s next wave of growth will be unlocked, or stalled, watch the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE). Created by the Public Enterprises (Privatisation and Commercialisation) Act of 1999 as the Secretariat to the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), the BPE’s mandate is simple but vital: move state assets from political control to productive use. When it works, capital flows and services improve.

The leadership reset in mid-2024, with Ayodeji Gbeleyi appointed Director-General, was an opportunity to rebuild credibility. But seizing it requires confronting structural weaknesses that keep the Bureau reactive, under-resourced and vulnerable to policy swings. Four issues stand out: mandate confusion, costly legacy disputes, weak institutional capacity, and policy inconsistency.

‘BPE should be the transaction authority and reform secretariat, responsible for designing, running and closing divestments and concessions while monitoring covenants post-close.’

In 2024, the BPE clashed with the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) over who speaks for government equity in electricity distribution companies (DisCos). BPE leaned on its statutory role under the PE Act and the Electric Power Sector Reform Act; MOFI relied on its custodial mandate. This power tussle unsettled investors in a sector where clarity is oxygen. An MOU between BPE and MOFI has calmed tensions, but the episode underscored the need for explicit legal demarcation.

Protracted disputes like the ALSCON saga highlight the price of weak contract management and poor post-transaction monitoring. Such cases freeze assets, deter serious bidders, and force investors to price legal risk into offers-or exit altogether. Fortunately, there are already signs of a stronger project structuring and post-transaction monitoring regime in the BPE.

BPE’s remit spans dozens of sectors and hundreds of assets, but its resources often lag behind its mandate. In an era when bidders arrive with blue-chip advisors, the state must be equally well advised. Encouragingly, BPE has begun engaging top-tier local and international advisers across transactions. Yet pipelines are only as strong as the people, systems and data rooms behind them.

And of course, Nigeria’s volatile macroeconomy and episodic fiscal crises often trigger ’emergency’ decisions that undermine a coherent asset strategy. Investors notice-and discount valuations accordingly.

But in truth, Nigeria is hardly unique. Kenya replaced its 2005 privatisation law with a new act in 2023, only for the High Court to strike it down in September 2024 on constitutional grounds-paralysing the pipeline. The lesson is clear: build bulletproof processes and transparent stakeholder management from day one. India offers a more encouraging example. Through the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), New Delhi runs a rolling, transparent pipeline for disinvestment and asset monetisation. Processes and governance are standardised, and progress is publicly tracked under the National Monetisation Pipeline.

Closer to home, Ghana consolidated oversight of state assets through the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA). Beyond transactions, SIGA issues State Ownership Reports, signs performance compacts, and has documented reductions in state-owned enterprise losses, showing that governance, not just sales, drives credibility. South Africa’s approach, unbundling Eskom, shifting shareholder responsibilities to line ministries, and opening space for private participation in transmission and logistics, demonstrates the value of sequencing reform before equity sales.

So, what should Nigeria do? It is crucial that mandates are clarified. MOFI should be the professional shareholder of record, managing residual equity, dividends and board nominations. BPE should be the transaction authority and reform secretariat, responsible for designing, running and closing divestments and concessions while monitoring covenants post-close. Amending the PE Act to reflect this split would end recurring turf wars.

Secondly, we must move from episodic projects to a three-year Privatisation and Concessions Pipeline, refreshed quarterly. For each asset, publish the route to market, milestones and timelines. Standardise data-room checklists, transaction templates and decision logs recording NCP approvals. Then we need to court-proof transactions by protecting deals through early stakeholder mapping, conflict-of-interest screening, and legally standardised agreements. Kenya’s limbo should be a warning; better to vaccinate than litigate.

BPE’s credibility will rise or fall with electricity, so we must prioritise power by recapitalising weak DisCos, streamlining the Federal Government’s voice (MOFI for ownership, BPE for transactions and enforcement), and acting decisively. Reliable power is the clearest proof that reform works, and private capital is safe.

It is very important to institutionalise accountability, perhaps borrowing from Ghana by publishing an annual State Ownership and Privatisation Report. It should list all federal holdings, board nominations, dividend flows, covenant compliance and transaction outcomes. This would give the NCP and BPE an authoritative accountability platform. And since privatisation is not an end in itself, post-privatisation commitments ought to be carefully tracked. A covenant tracker, with semi-annual scorecards, would allow the state to exercise step-in or claw-back rights where needed, avoiding ALSCON-style drift and showing Nigeria can be a tough, predictable counterparty.

Successful privatisation hinges on credible public-private partnerships. But Nigeria’s PPP framework is convoluted. Statutorily, BPE has overseen concessions, while the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) regulates PPPs. A recent policy twist suggesting ICRC could assume transaction management responsibilities risks plunging the system into global best-practice misalignment. The government must clarify roles before investor confidence erodes further.

None of these reforms are glamorous, and many are politically tough. But the dividend is tangible: a trusted process that attracts stronger bidders, covenants that survive elections, and a pipeline that finances itself over time. With clear mandates, a published pipeline, stronger post-transaction monitoring and a credible power-sector strategy, the Nigerian privatisation landscape will truly thrive. Done right, it will quietly unlock capital and service delivery-the very engine of growth Nigeria urgently needs. From all indications, the BPE today is on a positive trajectory of agility and professionalism, with a clear intent to deliver on its mandate.

In northern Nigeria, the hum of diesel generators that long defined everyday life at Katsina General Hospital has begun to fade. In its place, a quiet transformation is underway. A newly commissioned 250-kilowatt solar system with a 300-kilowatt-hour battery capacity now powers wards and operating rooms, reducing reliance on costly, polluting fuels while ensuring uninterrupted electricity for critical care.

The shift is emblematic of a broader trend sweeping across Africa: clean energy projects that are less flashy than billion-dollar mega dams or grand national grids, but far more immediate in their impact. At the centre of this movement stands Genesis Energy Group, a Lagos-based developer that is reimagining how power is delivered to the continent’s most underserved communities.

Founded in 2005, Genesis has spent two decades quietly building one of Africa’s most diverse portfolios of clean energy projects.

Its guiding mantra, ‘lighting up Africa one community at a time’, is proving more than just corporate rhetoric.

By working directly with state governments, hospitals, schools, and local industries, the company is making the case that access to affordable, reliable power is as much about health, education, and economic resilience as it is about kilowatt hours.

A growing crisis in energy access

Despite abundant natural resources, Africa’s power challenge remains stark. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), over 600 million people on the continent live without access to electricity, and nearly 1 billion still cook with traditional fuels like wood, charcoal, or coal. The consequences are profound: respiratory illnesses from indoor air pollution, millions of hours lost each year to fuel collection, and stagnant productivity in communities cut off from reliable power.

Nowhere are these challenges more acute than in Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy. The World Bank estimates that only 55% of Nigerians have access to electricity. Rural electrification rates are even bleaker, dropping to just 24%, compared to more than 80% in urban areas. Kerosene lamps, diesel generators, and firewood remain the default solutions, entrenching a cycle of high costs, pollution, and inequality.

The urgency is underscored by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7): ensuring universal access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy by 2030. Meeting that target requires bold action across the board-government reforms, international financing, and private-sector innovation. Increasingly, it is companies like Genesis Energy that are showing what that future can look like on the ground.

Genesis Energy’s state-level bet

In early 2025, Genesis signed a $500 million Memorandum of Understanding with the Katsina State Government to roll out decentralised clean energy infrastructure across the northern state. The initiative targets hospitals, schools, and government facilities as a first step in building what executives describe as ‘replicable models’ for state-led electrification.

The first phase includes a 1,000-kilowatt solar system with matching battery storage at the Katsina Government House and smaller installations at public health facilities, including Katsina General Hospital. Together, these projects form part of a broader 10-megawatt pipeline that Genesis aims to complete in the state.

‘This is not about building a single showcase project,’ said one Genesis executive familiar with the plans. ‘It’s about demonstrating that decentralised, clean power can be deployed quickly, affordably, and in ways that directly improve lives. Once proven, the model can be replicated across Nigeria’s 36 states.’

The strategy reflects a broader shift in Africa’s energy landscape: away from a singular focus on national grids, and toward distributed systems that can bypass the chronic bottlenecks of state utilities.

Financing the transition

Genesis is no stranger to the complexities of financing clean energy in emerging markets. In 2019, it issued West Africa’s largest clean energy bond at the time, worth $36.1 million, unconditionally guaranteed by InfraCredit and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). The raise gave the company both credibility and flexibility to scale projects across the region.

Since then, Genesis has invested over $150 million into clean energy ventures, from solar and battery storage to gas-to-power facilities. Among its more notable undertakings is an 84-megawatt private off-grid gas-to-power plant that supplies electricity to critical national infrastructure in Nigeria, reducing reliance on diesel and heavy fuel oil.

With a development pipeline of 4.5 gigawatts and nearly 458 megawatts already in operation or under construction, Genesis has positioned itself as a key intermediary between global financiers and Africa’s fragmented energy markets. Its access to equity risk capital and large-scale funding sets it apart from smaller players often constrained by capital scarcity.

A portfolio beyond solar

While solar remains central to Genesis’s identity, the company has deliberately built a multi-technology portfolio. Its projects leverage solar photovoltaics, battery energy storage systems (BESS), hydro, wind, and hybrid gas-to-power systems, depending on the specific needs of communities and industries.

One flagship example is the Banana Island Local Grid in Lagos, a distributed energy system serving more than 2,000 residents with up to 98% power availability. By replacing noisy diesel generators with a hybrid clean energy solution, Genesis has not only improved quality of life but also demonstrated the commercial viability of decentralised urban grids.

This flexibility is key in markets where one-size-fits-all solutions rarely succeed. ‘Africa’s energy future will not be defined by a single technology,’ Genesis executives argue. ‘It will be a mosaic of solutions tailored to local contexts.’

From clinics to classrooms

The social ripple effects of these projects are hard to overstate. With reliable power, clinics can refrigerate vaccines, students can study after dark, and farmers can store perishable produce in solar-powered cold rooms.

The World Health Organisation estimates that nearly 60 percent of health facilities in sub-Saharan Africa lack reliable electricity. Genesis’s installations at hospitals like Katsina General represent a step toward closing that gap, enabling better maternal care, emergency surgery, and disease response.

Similarly, electrification projects in schools and community centers extend opportunities for education and digital inclusion, while small businesses benefit from lower energy costs and improved productivity.

A voice in global forums

Genesis’s influence extends beyond project sites. At forums such as the Africa Energy Forum 2025 and the Youth Energy Forum 2025, the company has emerged as a leading voice on Africa’s clean energy transition.

At the Africa Energy Forum, Genesis executives participated in a panel on ‘Financing Gas: Is 2025 the Year Financing Is Unleashed?’-arguing that transitional fuels like natural gas remain critical for Africa’s near-term stability, even as renewables scale.

At the Youth Energy Forum, the company emphasised workforce development, offering guidance to students and young professionals seeking careers in clean energy. It also showcased how it tracks CO2 displacement across its solar and hybrid projects, underscoring a commitment to measurable impact.

This dual role-as both project developer and policy advocate-has helped Genesis influence the broader narrative around Africa’s decarbonization, balancing pragmatism with ambition.

Balancing legacy fuels with renewables

The tension between Africa’s fossil fuel wealth and the urgency of decarbonization looms large over every clean energy conversation. Nigeria, for example, is among the world’s top oil producers, and natural gas accounts for a significant share of its domestic energy use.

Genesis has sought to bridge that divide by positioning gas-to-power as a transitional tool. While critics argue that gas risks locking Africa into carbon-intensive pathways, Genesis insists that hybrid solutions are essential for maintaining reliability in regions where renewable intermittency remains a barrier.

‘We cannot leapfrog into a 100% renewable future overnight,’ a company spokesperson noted at a recent panel. ‘But we can chart a path that reduces emissions, displaces diesel, and builds the infrastructure for a sustainable energy mix.’

Measuring Impact

For Genesis, impact is measured not just in megawatts, but in lives improved. The company tracks outcomes such as reduced diesel consumption, CO2 displacement, and cost savings for clients. It also emphasises community engagement, working with local governments and residents to ensure projects are aligned with social and economic priorities.

This emphasis reflects a broader shift in how investors and policymakers assess energy projects. Beyond financial returns, stakeholders increasingly demand evidence of social dividends-health, education, and gender equity among them. Genesis’s model, by targeting schools, hospitals, and underserved communities, is designed to deliver on that mandate.

Next steps

With less than five years until the 2030 SDG 7 deadline, the scale of Africa’s energy challenge remains daunting. Achieving universal access will require not just billions in new investment but also regulatory reforms, cross-border cooperation, and a willingness to embrace decentralised solutions.

Genesis Energy is betting that its state-level partnerships, diversified portfolio, and proven financing record will allow it to scale faster than many peers. The Katsina initiative, if successful, could serve as a template for other Nigerian states-and potentially across Africa.

For now, the quiet hum of solar panels and battery systems in Katsina may seem like a small step. But for patients at the hospital who no longer face blackouts during surgery, or students who can now study after sunset, the change is nothing short of transformative.

And for Genesis Energy, it is proof that a clean power boom doesn’t always arrive with fanfare. Sometimes, it begins with the lights staying on.

BlockDAG has raised over $410 million in its presale, selling more than 26.4 billion coins. The current batch 30 price is $0.03, yet allocations remain available at $0.0013, highlighting why many buyers view it as one of the best crypto to buy now. Beyond presale momentum, BlockDAG (BDAG) is adopting a strategy that integrates sponsorship and cultural visibility, becoming the exclusive blockchain partner of the BWT Alpine F1 team.

This positions the protocol alongside global sports audiences while reinforcing its technical narrative of speed and scalability. Compared to privacy-focused Monero and institution-aligned Algorand, BlockDAG’s BWT Alpine F1® partnership highlights how brand integration could be a differentiator in the race for top crypto coins 2025.

BlockDAG: Sponsorship as a Growth Engine

BlockDAG’s multi-year sponsorship of the BWT Alpine F1® team is more than a marketing decision. It ensures that the brand is featured during race weekends, through fan simulators, on-track interactive experiences, and curated digital activations. This brings Web3 exposure into the same cultural conversations as motorsport, where performance and precision define the narrative.

For buyers wondering what crypto to invest in, this integration matters. It translates blockchain from abstract code to a tangible, high-visibility experience. The timing is also critical, with the Grand Prix ensuring maximum overlap between crypto audiences and mainstream sports fans.

Numbers back BlockDAG’s positioning. With more than $410 million raised and 26.4 billion coins sold, the project has already demonstrated market demand. The opportunity to buy at $0.0013 despite the batch 30 price of $0.03 highlights the current entry advantage.

While Monero and Algorand rely on price levels and institutional thresholds, BlockDAG is combining strong presale economics with cultural sponsorships. This dual foundation strengthens its argument as one of the top crypto coins 2025, particularly for those seeking both visibility and adoption potential.

Monero: Privacy as a Niche Advantage

Monero remains one of the most resilient privacy-focused assets in the crypto sector. Trading between $280 and $300 in September 2025, it has gained roughly 45% year-to-date. Analysts see potential upside toward $350 by the end of 2025, driven by demand for anonymity and upgrades like Seraphis. For buyers who prioritize what crypto to invest in for privacy, Monero offers long-term relevance.

Yet the asset’s appeal is concentrated among users seeking financial confidentiality, and its growth is limited by regulatory pressure and lack of mainstream brand exposure. In contrast, BlockDAG’s sponsorship strategy brings it into wider cultural visibility, something Monero does not prioritize.

Algorand: Stability with Institutional Leanings

Algorand trades near $0.25, a critical level for both technical and psychological reasons. Analysts note that if ALGO breaks above this threshold, bullish targets between $0.33 and $0.57 become realistic. Institutional interest has been encouraged by the launch of governance initiatives like the xGov Council, as well as by on-chain activity metrics such as NVT and whale flows. This underlines Algorand’s attempt to secure credibility with larger buyers.

However, regulatory concerns and competition from other Layer-1s remain obstacles. For those comparing what crypto to invest in, Algorand’s institutional path offers stability but lacks the cultural spark of BlockDAG’s BWT Alpine alignment.

Sponsorship vs Privacy vs Institutional Support

When considering top crypto coins 2025, the different strategies become clear. BlockDAG’s BWT Alpine sponsorship integrates blockchain into mainstream culture, using sports and media visibility to attract both institutional attention and grassroots adoption. Monero continues to specialize in privacy, offering strong resilience but limited reach.

Algorand focuses on institutional support and governance mechanisms, but remains vulnerable to regulatory challenges and slower ecosystem traction. BlockDAG’s model of combining technical reliability with cultural positioning offers a broader pathway, balancing presale traction with global exposure.

What makes BlockDAG unique is its ability to merge financial performance with physical presence. By leveraging Formula 1® partnerships, race-weekend fan experiences, and presale momentum, it provides buyers with both quantifiable ROI and qualitative adoption signals.

While Monero may reach $350 and Algorand may break higher thresholds, neither project offers the same blend of lifestyle integration and technical scalability. For buyers evaluating the best crypto to buy now, BlockDAG offers a multi-layered opportunity, positioned between retail visibility and institutional legitimacy.

The Bottom Line

The question of what crypto to invest in is not answered by price charts alone. BlockDAG’s over $410 million presale and partnership with the BWT Alpine F1 team create a unique blend of adoption strategy and brand visibility. Monero continues to excel in privacy with steady price growth toward $350, while Algorand builds institutional credibility around its $0.25 support level. Yet among these three, BlockDAG stands out by combining infrastructure strength with global cultural activation.

For buyers evaluating top crypto coins 2025 and identifying the best crypto to buy now, BlockDAG’s sponsorship strategy offers a broader, more compelling path to long-term adoption and value creation.