Energy Security & Geopolitics: Europe has cut Russia’s gas share in imports from 45% to 13%, but the search for replacement supply is pushing new pressure onto Africa—where Russia is trying to make alternatives less viable. Trade & Food Standards: The EU is moving toward stricter pesticide rules that could sharply restrict agricultural exports, with Brazil flagged as a major potential target under a “zero-tolerance” approach. Digital Economy & Governance: Edo State’s newly appointed Communication and Digital Economy Commissioner, Andrew Momodu, assumed office pledging to deepen the state’s digital transformation and improve service delivery. Regional Mobility: Ghana’s visa-fee removal and Togo’s visa-free 30-day entry are making West African travel easier, with cross-border logistics still the key practical challenge. Infrastructure Oversight: In Edo, a civic group MonITNG alleges early structural failure on the Ekpoma–Esan West LGA expressway and calls for accountability and tighter supervision. Oil & Refining Investment: Niger signed a US$1.9bn deal with Canada’s Zimar to build a 100,000-bpd refinery and petrochemical complex in Dosso under a build-operate-transfer structure. Aviation Fuel Competition: Sonatrach has started supplying Jet A1 aviation fuel to Niger, potentially intensifying competition with Dangote’s refined-products push. Public Works Contracting: Nigeria’s Works Ministry and David Umahi defended the Benin–Onitsha road’s slow pace, citing a 25-year concession limiting government options. Cooperatives Digitisation: Seamfix, Nigeria’s agriculture ministry and the Cooperative Federation signed an MoU to launch a National Cooperative Smart Registry for digital identity and verification of cooperative members. Drug Trade Crackdown: NDLEA arrested a Lagos marble dealer with 1.55kg of cocaine concealed in luggage en route to India and also reported major codeine-syrup seizures worth billions of naira. Healthcare Capacity: Nigeria plans to procure 35 more linear accelerators from 2026–2028 to expand radiotherapy access. Benin-Linked Regional Context: Coverage highlights West Africa’s growing coastal economic corridor—linking Benin, Togo and Nigeria through ports and logistics—as a key driver for trade and jobs.