LAGOS, Nigeria, Egypt, September 11, 2026/APO Group/ –The Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) is preparing to accelerate adoption and transaction growth across Africa as it enters the next phase of its strategy, following significant expansion of its network and strong growth in payment volumes and values.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos, Mr Mike Ogbalu III, Chief Executive Officer of PAPSS, said the platform now operates in more than 30 African countries across all five regions of the continent. It connects 24 national and regional central banks, more than 200 commercial banks and payments service providers, and 16 switches. Through strategic partnerships, PAPSS also provides a termination footprint covering more than 300 financial institutions.

 




  

During 2026 alone, around 10 additional countries have joined the PAPSS ecosystem, with further expansion expected before the end of the year.

Mr Ogbalu said: “The first phase of PAPSS has been about building, connecting and establishing trust. We have built the infrastructure, expanded our network across Africa and demonstrated that PAPSS can deliver tangible benefits. As we move into our next phase from 2027, our focus will increasingly shift towards activating that network, deepening adoption and taking transaction growth to scale.”

Usage of PAPSS has accelerated significantly. Between comparable periods in 2025 and 2026, transaction volumes across the network increased by approximately 1,000 per cent, while transaction values increased by approximately 120 per cent.

Nigeria remains a significant contributor to that growth, recording an approximately 1,100 per cent increase in transaction volumes and a 125 per cent increase in transaction values over the same period.

PAPSS transactions have also demonstrated cost savings of between 92 and 95 per cent per transaction, a 99.99 per cent reduction in processing time and up to 80 per cent reduction in foreign exchange requirements.

Mr Ogbalu added: “The growth we are seeing demonstrates that the infrastructure is working and that demand is increasing as more institutions and markets participate. The next opportunity is to make these benefits available at much greater scale by working more closely with banks, fintechs, switches and other partners to bring PAPSS into the channels businesses and individuals use every day.”

PAPSS enables cross-border payments through participating financial institutions, including transactions using African currencies, helping connect payment ecosystems that have historically operated within national and regional boundaries.

As part of its next phase, PAPSS will focus on deeper market activation, greater customer awareness, development of priority payment corridors and wider availability of its services through participating financial institutions.

PAPSS currently provides three major solutions: the PAPSS Instant Payment System, the PAPSS African Currency Marketplace and PAPSSCARD. New solutions are also being piloted and are expected to be announced later in 2026.

The next phase of PAPSS’s growth will be discussed further at PAPSS COWRY 2026, its annual payments conference, taking place on 26 and 27 November in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and co-hosted with the National Bank of Ethiopia.

Mr Ogbalu concluded: “We have built the network, we have demonstrated the impact, and we are seeing usage accelerate. Our next phase is about taking all three to scale and ensuring that payments increasingly enable, rather than limit, the ability of African businesses and individuals to participate in opportunities across the continent.”

LUANDA, Angola, September 11, 2026/APO Group/ –Angola’s national concessionaire, the Angolan National Agency for Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels (ANPG), formalized a series of offshore entries, risk-service contracts and other agreements with international oil companies at Angola Oil & Gas 2026 on Wednesday, advancing exploration across the Kwanza and Congo Basins.

 




  

The first signing, overseen by ANPG Director of Negotiations Hélder Iombo, covered Risk Service Contracts for deepwater Blocks 19, 34 and 35 with Shell, Equinor and Sonangol E&P. The contracts establish terms for the exploration, appraisal, development and production of liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons.

Each contract provides for an initial exploration period of up to five years and a 30-year production period for each approved commercial discovery. Work commitments include seismic data reprocessing and the drilling of at least one exploration well.

The agreements build on a November 2025 pact covering 17 deepwater and ultra-deepwater blocks across Angola’s Kwanza and Congo Basins, advancing several concessions into formal exploration.

ANPG also signed Heads of Terms with Shell, QatarEnergy and Sonangol covering Blocks 8 and 22 in the Kwanza Basin. The agreement sets the framework for exploration, appraisal, development and production, including minimum work commitments, exploration periods, bonuses, contributions, penalties and applicable fiscal and contractual terms.

In the Congo Basin, ANPG signed a Risk Service Contract for Block 33/24 with Chevron, Shell and Sonangol. The agreement provides for a five-year exploration period and a 30-year production period for each commercial discovery. The work program includes reprocessing 2,000 square-kilometers of additional 3D seismic data, followed by at least one exploration well if the project advances to the next phase.

Separately, ANPG signed Risk Service Agreements for Blocks 17, 27, 32 and 21 in the Congo Basin with TotalEnergies as operator alongside ExxonMobil and Sonangol. ANPG and TotalEnergies also signed an agreement setting the terms and conditions for Block 32, supporting an extension of the existing operation and further investment.

Alongside the upstream agreements, ANPG and TotalEnergies signed a Memorandum of Understanding focused on reducing emissions from oil and gas production, improving methane measurement and exploring opportunities to monetize emissions.

The initiative builds on Sonangol and TotalEnergies joining the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter in 2023. Under the MoU, the companies will share technical experience and assess technologies including TotalEnergies’ AUSEA drones, which were deployed in 2022 to detect, measure and monitor methane emissions at a Block 3 field. The companies will also work to develop national expertise in greenhouse-gas management and assess international climate funds that could support decarbonization projects.

The initiative also aligns with Sonangol’s recent decision to join the UN-backed Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0, of which TotalEnergies is already a member.

In a separate agreement, ANPG, the Moxico Provincial Government, Chevron and the Instituto Nacional de Gestão Ambiental (INGA) established indicative terms for assessing, structuring and preparing land access for a project in Moxico Province.

The initiative will begin with a 20-hectare pilot phase lasting two to three years, with potential expansion to 20,000 hectares based on its results. The project is intended to link emissions reduction with job creation, economic development and sustainable land use.

ABUJA, Nigeria, September 11, 2026/APO Group/ –The Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), organiser of Nigeria Mining Week, and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) have signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement aimed at deepening collaboration between Nigeria’s mining industry and the organised private sector ahead of Nigeria Mining Week 2026, taking place from 12–14 October 2026 at the Abuja Continental Hotel in Abuja.

 




  

The partnership marks an important step towards strengthening engagement among Nigeria’s business community, policymakers, investors and mining stakeholders as the country works to unlock the economic potential of its mineral resources sector. Through the agreement, NACCIMA will serve as a Strategic Partner of Nigeria Mining Week and leverage its national network of chambers and business associations to encourage strong private sector participation.

A central component of the collaboration will see NACCIMA rally its members from across Nigeria to participate in Nigeria Mining Week and coordinate a dedicated NACCIMA Pavilion. The pavilion will provide member companies with a platform to showcase their businesses, products, services, projects and innovations, while connecting with mining industry decision-makers, government representatives, investors and prospective partners.

The partnership will also support wider business participation in discussions on mining-sector development, investment promotion, value-chain opportunities and economic diversification. NACCIMA will promote Nigeria Mining Week through its communication channels and affiliated chamber network, broadening engagement between the mining industry and Nigeria’s organised private sector.

Leadership perspectives

“The growth of Nigeria’s mining sector requires strong collaboration among industry, government, investors and the wider business community. Our partnership with NACCIMA creates an important bridge to Nigerian enterprises across the mining value chain. We look forward to welcoming NACCIMA and its members to Nigeria Mining Week 2026 and to seeing the NACCIMA Pavilion become a platform for meaningful business connections and investment.” ‘Dele Ayanleke, National President, Miners Association of Nigeria

“Nigeria’s mining sector presents significant opportunities for enterprise development, value addition, job creation and economic diversification. NACCIMA will rally its members and affiliated chambers to participate in Nigeria Mining Week and contribute to a strong NACCIMA Pavilion that showcases the capability, diversity and investment potential of Nigerian businesses.” Engr. (Dr.) Jani Ibrahim, mni, OON, National President, NACCIMA

The agreement underscores the shared commitment of MAN and NACCIMA to supporting sustainable sector growth, encouraging investment and strengthening linkages between mining and the broader Nigerian economy.