Nigeria

The contributions of Nigeria’s film industry, the second-largest in the world in terms of number of films produced, to the national economy have become clearer after the rebasing of the country’s GDP last year. 

Investment in production and the rollout of higher-yield strains are helping put Nigeria on track for self-sufficiency in rice, potentially opening the possibility for exports further down the line.

Falling oil prices and increased instability in the north impacted Nigeria’s economic growth in 2014, though a rebasing of GDP means that whoever wins the forthcoming presidential elections in 2015 will take the helm of Africa’s largest economy. 

Nigeria is looking to improve and expand the supply of gas used by its power sector, as part of a comprehensive overhaul of electricity generation.  

Continuing the shift away from state dominance in infrastructure development that began with the power privatisation initiative, a drive to boost the private sector role in several of Nigeria’s big-ticket transport projects looks set to open doors for investors.

With a huge consumer market, growing economy and increasingly urbanised population base, Nigeria represents one of the biggest opportunities for the retail sector in Africa. However lingering concerns over select risk factors, including tariffs imposed on the industry, may affect investment in the near to medium term.