Oil & Gas Investment Push: Nigeria’s President Tinubu signed a 2026 order offering tax remissions for deep offshore oil and gas projects, aiming to unlock up to $50bn in investment and kick-start work such as the $10bn Bonga South West project. Jobs & SME Pressure: South Africa’s unemployment jumped to 33.6% in Q2 2026, with youth unemployment rising to 47.4%, a tough backdrop for hiring and small business demand. Automotive Localisation: Chery’s purchase of Nissan’s Rosslyn plant near Pretoria signals a shift from exporting to building in Africa, with potential jobs and supply-chain growth—though infrastructure and policy uncertainty remain risks. Digital Finance & Inclusion: OPay’s CTO/COO says technology is the engine for scaling financial inclusion in Nigeria, focusing on reliability, security and fast payments. Green Innovation for Entrepreneurs: MTN Nigeria, WWF/NCF, UNDP and Deloitte launched the 2026 Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge for 18–35-year-old innovators and SME founders to solve local environmental problems. Tax Compliance for Online Sellers: Tanzania requires social media business accounts to display tax IDs or clearance details, tightening oversight of the digital economy. Trade & Business Costs: Zimbabwe is moving to cut Zimbabwe Stock Exchange listing costs to curb delistings and competition with VFEX. Local Supply Chains in Kenya: Kenya is finalising a $100m palm oil processing push in Lamu to reduce imports and create about 3,000 jobs. Consumer Protection: Victoria’s watchdog seeks a court injunction to stop Panda Mart trading over product safety and labelling concerns. SME Credit Access: Mathesis Analytics highlights how AI-powered credit infrastructure and fintech-bank collaboration can expand lending in Nigeria.