Femi Asu

I thoroughly enjoyed my interview with Yaw Bediako, cofounder and CEO of Ghana’s Yemaachi Biotech, which is working to make a dent in Africa’s cancer research paucity. https://t.co/Y8vHX3gOLE

My latest report puts a spotlight on some Nigerians who travelled abroad many years ago and are doing their home nation proud.  They left Nigeria when they were teenagers, headed to the US — all but one studied at Harvard, and became shining stars on the global stage.

The Africa Report @TheAfricaReport

Long before the current wave of Nigerian professionals fleeing the country — popularly known as japa, the Yoruba word for ‘escape’ — a generation of young citizens from the populous West African nation had already planted roots abroad. ➡️ https://t.co/pgx6vgLp4l They are now https://t.co/XYqSXSjPaN

Some 20 years ago, Africa was home to most of the heavily indebted poor countries that got debt relief. Now, many economies on the continent are grappling with debt load again - four have already defaulted. Economic experts share superb insights in my latest report.

The Africa Report @TheAfricaReport

Africa is once again burdened with debt, with at least 30 economies either at high risk of debt distress or already in distress, according to data from the World Bank. “Africa is facing unsustainable debt burdens. We must come together to find a solution to this crisis,” said https://t.co/P6GBbTjBXA

In this report led by my managing editor @NickNorbrook, we look at Dangote’s standing in Africa’s cement market, where Chinese companies are gaining a foothold.

The Africa Report @TheAfricaReport

Nigeria’s Dangote Cement is only leader in two of its foreign markets – the tiny Sierra Leone market and East African powerhouse Tanzania. But while Dangote continues to grow, Chinese companies are gaining a foothold in Africa’s cement industry – filling gaps left by https://t.co/9lgxi9MzxV

While Trump is fuelling US LNG export boom, Nigeria’s biggest gas exporter NLNG is fighting a severe feedstock shortage at home that has seen its fortunes in the global market decline. Find out what US’s growing dominance in the market would mean for Nigeria in my latest piece

The Africa Report @TheAfricaReport

Since launching its first liquefied natural gas terminal in 2016, the United States has experienced rapid growth in exports, becoming the world’s largest supplier of LNG in 2023. Meanwhile, Nigeria LNG Limited has seen its fortunes in the global market decline owing to https://t.co/E0oQjWmKKA

Nigeria’s Coronation Asset Management is aiming to expand across Africa and grow its assets under management to $4bn. “We have an expansion plan across Africa because we’re building for Africa, not just for Nigeria,” its CEO Aigbovbioise Aig-Imoukhuede told me.

The Africa Report @TheAfricaReport

‘We are building for Africa,’ Coronation CEO says on expanding investment opportunities, writes @asufemi https://t.co/CJIWtpc22g

Global oil price benchmark Brent crude plummeted below the $70 mark today. Is Trump’s push for aggressive drilling in the US contributing to the decline? What fate lies ahead for Africa’s exporters? Below is my latest report.

The Africa Report @TheAfricaReport

President @realDonaldTrump‘s policy of “drill, baby, drill” in the US – which has “the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth”, as he said during his inauguration speech on 20 January – has the potential to shift global oil prices, with huge repercussions for https://t.co/NHfiJQaIfE

Here’s a deep dive into the duel between Dangote and NNPC for dominance in Nigeria’s deregulated fuel market. The price war at the pumps offers Nigerians some relief, but the real battle for control of the country’s refining sector is just getting started.

The Africa Report @TheAfricaReport

As Dangote challenges the Nigerian National Petroleum Company’s dominance, tensions rise over crude allocation and influence… but the real battle is only just getting started. @asufemi and @KanikaSaigal report. 👇 ➡️ https://t.co/Qz0Gu1VZWv https://t.co/xCl1pc9PCf

Nigerian digital bank Sparkle is looking to start lending to small businesses by the second half of 2025. Its founder/CEO Uzoma Dozie tells me “the speed of fintechs and the pricing and governance structure of the traditional banks” are the company’s distinguishing feature.

The Africa Report @TheAfricaReport

The fintech is leveraging technology to enhance credit decision-making and reduce costs, says CEO Uzoma Dozie. https://t.co/HD57x1QGqS By @asufemi

The gas shortage facing Nigeria LNG has worsened, with the three biggest pipelines supplying feedstock to it affected by vandalism. Its CEO says the company can only run two of its six trains. https://t.co/LtNlGKMHqX

NEW: A focus on Mele Kyari, who has become the longest-serving CEO of Nigeria’s national oil company. Under his watch, the firm posted its first profit. His priority was to revamp the NNPC refineries to enable the country to become a net fuel exporter by 2023. Target missed.

The Africa Report @TheAfricaReport

As Kyari’s tenure continues under President Tinubu, the challenge lies in sustaining these gains amid global oil market volatility. https://t.co/QcUe7IFakp

Is Oando staging a comeback?  My latest piece looks at how the Nigerian firm fared in the past year: It snapped up Eni’s NAOC and an Angolan oil block. Its stock went gangbusters. It posted a total comprehensive profit. Debt and negative shareholder equity still sticky issues.

The Africa Report @TheAfricaReport

After years of financial turmoil, asset sales, and mounting debt, Oando is making bold moves — snapping up a $783m oil asset, expanding into Angola, and bidding for a Caribbean refinery. True turnaround, or high-stakes gamble? Report by @asufemi. 👇 ➡️ https://t.co/axC99UTXIc https://t.co/uwKbGPtbSn

Africa’s biggest cement maker Dangote is battling for market share in Ethiopia, with his plan to double its production capacity coming several months after West China Cement and a local firm launched the country’s biggest factory.  Get more info in my latest report.

The Africa Report @TheAfricaReport

Less than five months after Ethiopia’s biggest cement factory, the China-financed Lemi National, opened its doors, Nigerian tycoon Aliko Dangote unveiled plans for a second production line at his Mugher plant. The race is on. Report by @asufemi. 👇 ➡️ https://t.co/VmgLLG9agd https://t.co/uEjmLC9Xdw

“The drastic deceleration in inflation should be cautiously celebrated. The reality of high prices has not changed and remains a major factor in the cost of doing business, cost of living and poverty equation in the country.” — Muda Yusuf, CEO of CPPE

President Bola Tinubu’s inflation target of 15% by year-end is now probable, thanks to the NBS rebasing that produced a price growth of 24.48% for January.

Nigeria’s headline inflation dropped from 34.8% in December to 24.48% last month after the rebasing of the consumer price index, providing some legroom for the central bank to cut its key interest rate on Thursday.

After years of underinvestment, Nigeria’s oil sector seems poised for a renaissance as international oil majors signal fresh interest in its deepwater prospects. https://t.co/bVQ02fFR3x