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Mauritius ranks 15th globally, securing the number-one spot in Africa on the economic freedom index
  • Mauritius is the continent’s strongest performer by a wide margin, leading with a score of 75, and ranking 15th globally.
  • Botswana and Cape Verde are the only other African countries with a score close to 70, placing them within the global top 40.
  • Most of Africa’s top 15 countries score between 56 and 60, indicating moderate levels of economic freedom.
  • Even Africa’s highest performers trail global leaders, showing persistent gaps in rule of law, regulatory efficiency, and open-market conditions.

Presidential air fleet budget falls 15% after 2024 peak
  • Allocation declined by ₦290 m from ₦6.16bn in 2025 to a proposed ₦5.87bn in 2026.
  • The change represents a 4.7% year-on-year reduction in funding.
  • Despite the decline, allocations remain broadly flat, with no major expansion in 2026.
  • The 2026 figure is still a proposal, and actual funding figures may change after legislative review.

97% of businesses in Kogi are aware of Nigeria's 2025 tax reform, while 99% in Abia are not
  • Kogi entrepreneurs have the highest tax policy awareness in Nigeria (96.8%) in 2025.
  • Abia has the lowest awareness nationwide at just 1.4%.
  • Fewer than one-third of Nigerian states have awareness levels above 60%.
  • Major economic hubs like Lagos and Rivers have awareness below 50%.
  • Northern states dominate the top awareness rankings more than southern states.
  • Several states cluster around the 40–50% range, indicating partial reach.
  • States with low awareness risk lower compliance and higher friction during enforcement.
  • The gap between the highest and lowest states exceeds 95 percentage points, showing extreme disparity.

10 Nigerian states and the FCT cut their external debt by a combined $227.19 million in H1 2025
  • Ten states and the FCT collectively reduced their external debt by $227.19 million in H1 2025.
  • Lagos, Edo, and Rivers accounted for most of the reductions, making up more than three-quarters of the total.
  • Several smaller states also trimmed their balances, but by relatively modest amounts.
  • These reductions significantly offset the increases recorded by 26 other states, helping keep nationwide net external debt growth low.

26 Nigerian states added a combined $239m to their external debt in H1 2025
  • 26 states increased their external debt by a combined $239 million in H1 2025.
  • Imo, Oyo, Kaduna, Enugu, and Ogun recorded the biggest increases.
  • 11 states, including the FCT, reduced their debt through higher repayments.
  • Lagos, Edo, Rivers, and Bauchi accounted for most of the $227 million in reductions.
  • Total state external debt rose only slightly, from $4.8 billion to $4.812 billion.

Debt Management Office (DMO) Nigeria received a whopping 92.23% of the $15.5tn allocation for the Federal Ministry of Finance’s MDAs
  • The Debt Management Office (DMO) Nigeria took the lion’s share, with ₦14.3 trillion (92.23%) of the Ministry of Finance's total allocation.
  • The Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc. received ₦858.7 billion (5.53%), making it the second-highest allocation.
  • The Federal Ministry of Finance (Headquarters) got ₦289.4 billion (1.86%).
  • The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation was allocated ₦50.7 billion (0.33%).
  • The figures reveal how debt servicing priorities overshadow operational and policy-related financial allocations.

From 45% to 2%: How Nigeria lost its global palm oil production share to Asia
  • Indonesia dominated with 46.8M tonnes in 2022, up from 145.7 ktonnes in 1961
  • Malaysia was the second-largest producer in 2022 with 18.5M tonnes
  • Global production has increased from under 2M tonnes (1961) to over 75M tonnes (2022)
  • Thailand, Colombia, and Guatemala have emerged as major producers in recent decades
  • Nigeria was historically significant, but has been overtaken by Asian producers

Over one-fourth of Asia’s forests were in legally established protected areas as of 2024
  • Asia leads globally with 26% of its forests in legally protected areas.
  • The global average stands at 20%, meaning that one-fifth of all forests are under some form of legal protection.
  • Africa and Europe are tied at 23%, both above the global average.
  • South America has only 17% of its forests protected, despite being home to the Amazon rainforest.

Russia has the world's largest forest area at 832.6 Mha, accounting for a dominant 20.1% global share
  • Global forest cover is 4.1 Bha, according to the latest FAO assessment.
  • At 832.6 Mha, 20.1% of the global total, Russia has the world’s largest forest area.
  • Brazil (486.1 Mha; 11.7%) and Canada (368.8 Mha; 8.9%) rank second and third, respectively.
  • The United States (7.5%) and China (5.5%) complete the global top five.
  • Africa’s top contributor is the Democratic Republic of Congo, with 139.2 Mha, 3.4% of the global total.
  • Other African countries in the top 20 include Angola, Zambia, Tanzania, and the Central African Republic, each accounting for approximately 1% of the global forest area.
  • Together, the top ten countries account for over 78% of the world’s total forest area, highlighting the global concentration of forest resources.

Egypt and Nigeria led Africa’s industrial output in 2024, with $145.5bn and $89bn, respectively
  • Egypt led with an estimated $145.5 billion, accounting for about 25% of Africa's total industrial output among its top 15 economies.
  • Nigeria followed with $89 billion, while South Africa, Algeria, and Morocco made up the rest of the top five.
  • The top five economies accounted for more than 70% of Africa’s total industrial value added.
  • Notable mid-tier performers, Ethiopia and DR Congo, reflected rapid industrial investment.
  • Using constant 2015 USD reveals real production strength, not nominal currency shifts.

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