AGP Executive Report

Kenya–Ethiopia Corridor Safety: A Kenyan turnboy assisting a truck driver was abducted and shot dead in Ethiopia, underscoring rising attacks on long-distance drivers along the Northern Corridor. Air Cargo Connectivity: DHL Express launched a new weekly direct freighter service between Bahrain and Johannesburg, adding capacity for healthcare, tech, manufacturing and e-commerce. Oil & Refining Investment: Engineers India secured a $450m contract to support Dangote’s 700,000-bpd greenfield refinery and petrochemical plant in Kenya, extending its work from Nigeria’s Lekki complex. LPG Cost Pressure: Kenya is set for higher cooking gas prices as global propane and butane costs rise, linked to Middle East supply disruptions. Bulk Handling in Mining: Martin Engineering expanded in Ghana via a new distributor partnership to boost bulk material handling support for local mining and industry. Medical Supply Logistics: Côte d’Ivoire approved an eight-year Zipline PPP to scale AI-enabled healthcare deliveries from 1 to 10 centres nationwide. Security & Mobility: South Africa’s KwaMakhutha saw a deadly home invasion with 11 killed, a reminder of the wider safety risks affecting transport-linked communities.

Aviation Demand: Nigeria logged 18.8m passengers in 2025, ranking 4th in Africa, as FAAN flags faster airport seat growth and a broader recovery. Logistics & Trade Real Estate: Prime warehouse yields shifted in East Africa, with Kampala and Dar es Salaam outpacing Nairobi in 2026, reflecting changing logistics demand and corridor rebalancing. Rail & Freight Corridors: Etihad Rail and AD Ports launched an integrated Fujairah–Abu Dhabi freight rail service, pushing faster, more reliable cargo movement. Energy & Industrial Projects: Engineers India won a $450m role tied to Dangote’s planned 700,000-bpd Kenya refinery in Lamu, extending Africa’s refining push. Pharma Supply Security: Nigeria’s PWDAN urged stronger traceability and GDP-aligned controls to curb falsified medicines across transport and distribution chains. Policy & Skills: Namibia expands hydrogen and oil-and-gas skills via scholarships, aiming to build local capacity for emerging industries. Regional Stability Watch: WEF warns Middle East and Black Sea shipping risks are the biggest threat to the global economic outlook, with direct knock-ons for African trade and food flows.

Maritime & Trade Finance: Afreximbank and ATDC signed a $500m Global Credit Facility to fund the purchase, aggregation and movement of African commodities, with support for logistics, transportation, warehousing and distribution. Rail Freight Connectivity: Etihad Rail and AD Ports Group launched a direct Fujairah Terminals–Industrial City of Abu Dhabi freight service, running three times weekly and letting containers be booked to ICAD using its AECAD UN LOCODE for customs and cargo release. Road Infrastructure PPP: Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company appointed Dr. Emmanuel Onwodi as COO to drive concession delivery, stakeholder coordination and operational efficiency. Energy & Gas Logistics: Nigeria’s gas push at Gastech 2026 included renewed momentum on the Nigeria–Libya gas pipeline and LNG expansion plans. Digital Revenue for Trade: Liberia Revenue Authority will help Gambia build a revenue collection dashboard to strengthen tax administration and domestic revenue mobilization. Cyber Defence: Darktrace and Fujitsu partnered to boost cyber defence capabilities using self-learning AI for detection and autonomous response. Public Transport Safety: Johannesburg mayor promised tighter coordination with taxi and e-hailing operators to improve safety for women using public transport. Fuel Prices Watch: South Africa faces another petrol/diesel spike forecast for October, with motorists bracing for record levels. Regional Integration Jobs Focus: AfCFTA and COMESA discussions in Zimbabwe stressed that integration must deliver decent jobs, better wages and workable financing for productive sectors.

Intra-African Trade Finance: Afreximbank and ATDC signed a $500m global credit facility to fund buying, aggregation, logistics, warehousing and distribution of African goods—aimed at easing AfCFTA implementation and cutting trade friction. Road Safety & Compliance: South Africa’s metro in Mangaung launched a compliance and infrastructure operation around student hotspots, inspecting businesses and warning of enforcement for licence breaches. Transport Security in South Africa: Intercape’s CEO alleged a “culture of violence” tied to taxi-industry interests, with courts granting 16 judgments ordering police and government to protect staff and passengers. Aviation Connectivity: Enugu Air announced direct Enugu–Douala flights starting Sept 23, twice weekly, to strengthen Nigeria–Cameroon business and family travel links. Maritime Risk: A tanker was hit by an “unknown projectile” entering the Strait of Hormuz; crew reported minor injuries and the vessel continued under its own power. Red Sea Tensions: Reports say Houthis are trying to seize Yemen highlands to cut off the Red Sea coast, as US strike plans reportedly shift at the last minute. Tourism Headline: UN Tourism said international tourism growth slowed to 0.4% in H1 2026, with Africa still posting 4% growth.

Road Safety & Costs: Nigerians are counting losses from bad roads and gridlock, with experts saying road haulage carries 90% of goods and passengers while only about 19% of the 194,000-km network is paved—potholes and congestion are driving delays, higher maintenance bills, and supply-chain disruption. Aviation Connectivity: Enugu Air launches direct Enugu–Douala flights from Sept. 23, twice weekly, aiming to make Nigeria–Cameroon travel easier for business and family links. Rail Freight Link: Etihad Rail and AD Ports Group start a direct rail freight service connecting Fujairah Terminals to Abu Dhabi’s Industrial City (ICAD), with customs-enabled inland logistics to move cargo about 200 km by rail. Ports & Trade Security: The Black Sea conflict is again raising fears of a global food shock as attacks disrupt grain shipments, pushing buyers to search for alternatives and adding pressure to already high energy and fuel costs. Policy & Governance: South Africa’s SANRAL is investigating contractor Moriel Infrastructure Group after viral footage of its founder threatening women at a Sandton restaurant, with CIDB probing grading irregularities. Skills & Trade Support: ITC and DHL sign an MoU to help SMEs—especially women-led firms—expand cross-border trade with market intelligence and logistics support.

Rail & Trade Facilitation: Etihad Rail and AD Ports launched a direct rail freight service linking Fujairah Terminals to Abu Dhabi’s Industrial City (ICAD), with customs-enabled inland clearance and a new UN LOCODE to let shippers book ICAD as destination. Logistics Corridor Performance: Sharjah–Oman logistics corridor logged a 66.26% jump in cargo value to about Dhs1.7bn in its first three months, with 34,000+ truck movements and 32,000+ customs declarations. Kenya Connectivity Push: Kenya’s internet growth is being boosted by wireless radio tech and LEO satellite services, with fixed subscriptions up 32.4% year-on-year to June 2026. Roads & Safety Oversight: South Africa’s transport minister ordered SANRAL to investigate a contractor linked to a Zimbabwean businessman accused of threatening women at a Sandton restaurant. Fuel Policy Debate: Nigeria’s political parties trade blows over proposed petrol production subsidies, with legal and funding questions raised under the Petroleum Industry Act. Regional Integration & Energy: EU officials say Ethiopia’s renewable power and cross-border grid links are accelerating regional integration. Security & Disruption: Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area found 10 lions dead in suspected poisoning, prompting a manhunt.

Cross-border trucking electrification: Gotion High-Tech and C&C Trucks (Chery) unveiled at IAA TRANSPORTATION 2026 an “energy-follows-vehicle” charging and battery-swapping system aimed at heavy-duty logistics on the Europe–Africa corridor, tackling the usual bottlenecks of grid upgrades and slow fixed-station rollouts. Energy transition in the wild: Kenya’s Maasai Mara is trialling electric motorcycles for ranger patrols and anti-poaching, using near-silent, solar-charged mobility to cut fuel use and maintenance while reducing noise during peak tourism and migration. Regulatory reform for competitiveness: Zimbabwe is pushing regulatory impact assessment to cut the hidden cost of compliance (estimated at 18% of production costs), with COMESA chairmanship seen as a chance to build a more connected industrial and export gateway for Bulawayo. Landlocked logistics focus: UNDP highlights how Africa’s landlocked economies need multimodal corridors—ocean, road and rail working as one supply chain—to reduce delays at borders and infrastructure gaps. Fuel and transport cost pressure (Nigeria): Analysts warn that wage awards and palliatives won’t fix rising living costs; they call for structural relief, especially on transport and energy costs. Air cargo and ports watch: Maersk ordered 26 LNG dual-fuel container ships, while Tanger Med in Morocco topped regional port performance rankings—both signals for shifting maritime capacity and cleaner shipping.

Women in Transport: Togo’s Chamber of Commerce (CCI-Togo) launched its Femmes-Actions-CCI-Togo project in Lomé, training an initial cohort of 10 women for transport, logistics and cargo-handling roles, with heavy-truck and equipment operation plus a three-month work placement (targeting up to 250). Fuel & Pricing Logistics: Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery says it will deploy more trucks and subsidise part of petrol transport costs from Lekki to distant markets to cut regional price gaps. Cleaner Mobility Push: Ethiopia’s TradeMark Africa says expanding hydropower can lower transport costs and speed the shift from diesel to electric mobility. CNG Transit Rollout: Nigeria’s Tinubu will accelerate the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme from Oct. 1, using an implementation committee to target priority corridors and reduce commuter fares. Aviation Systems Upgrade: Kenya signed a deal with a Swedish firm to upgrade Nairobi’s JKIA air traffic systems. Port/Shipping Security: Egypt and the US discussed Iran and stressed freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, warning that escalation could disrupt shipping and supply chains. Rail Hub Investment: Kenya’s Nairobi railway hub project is set to include a Rwanda-style sports arena as part of a Sh38bn development.

Red Sea Shipping Shock: Houthis’ grip on Bab el-Mandeb is forcing vessels to detour around Africa, adding thousands of kilometres, days to voyages, and pushing up fuel, insurance and prices worldwide. Road Safety Upgrade: South Africa launched a National Truck Stop Framework to standardise safer rest stops—better parking, lighting, security, ablutions and driver wellness—to cut fatigue-linked crashes. Fuel Subsidy Politics: Nigeria’s Atiku Abubakar alleges Tinubu may stage a temporary fuel subsidy “return” via Lagos transporters ahead of 2027 elections; Tinubu’s camp calls it political stunts. Dangote Refinery IPO Buzz: Nigeria’s Dangote refinery IPO is driving viral “people’s ownership” memes as the company pitches dollar dividends and de-risked listing after completion. Port Competition Watch: Maputo Port CEO says the port is complementing South African ports, citing record 32Mt in 2025 and a push to 43Mt by 2033. Lab Logistics Strain: South Africa’s NHLS is scrambling for new blood-testing providers after pathology funds ran out, risking delays in hospital lab services. Private Capital Push: The World Bank says it mobilised a record $112bn in private capital for developing economies, with Africa’s total rising sharply—key for job creation in places like Kenya. Tourism Cooling: UN Tourism cut 2026 international arrival growth to 1–2% due to Middle East conflict and higher travel costs, with Africa still up 4% in the first half.

East Africa Trade Under Pressure: Shippers Council of Eastern Africa warns that fuel costs, border delays and fragmented corridor logistics are pushing road freight costs up fast, threatening horticulture and wider trade competitiveness. Somalia Peacekeeping Funding: The US will give the UN another year to wind down logistical support for African Union peacekeepers in Somalia, reducing fears of an abrupt cutoff but leaving the mission’s future uncertain. Road Safety & Transport Equity: Tanzania’s ride-hailing sector faces scrutiny after an investigation found some platforms let drivers register without required identity, licensing and vehicle documents—raising safety and tax-collection concerns. Port Performance Watch: A World Bank ranking puts Djibouti, Mogadishu and Dar es Salaam among the top East and Horn of Africa container ports, highlighting shifting performance trends. Fuel Price Politics in Nigeria: Opposition leader Atiku proposes a targeted production subsidy for locally refined petroleum products to lower pump prices, while Lagos transporters plan protest-linked pressure over fuel subsidy relief. Maritime Security & Red Sea Risk: With Yemen’s conflict intensifying near Bab el-Mandeb, shipping lanes face renewed disruption risk—an issue that keeps feeding into oil and freight costs across the region. Urban Mobility & Safety: A UN-Habitat-style focus on women’s safety ties access to transport and public space design to real mobility freedom, not just policing. Trade Growth Signal: EAC trade rose 37% to $52.3bn in Q2 2026, driven by mineral exports—good news, but still commodity-heavy.

Red Sea Shipping Security: Italy says it will escort merchant vessels through Bab el-Mandeb without waiting for an EU mission, as Yemen conflict keeps pressure on global trade lanes. Arctic Logistics & Trade: Russia’s Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor and the Northern Sea Route are gaining momentum as a shorter Europe-Asia shipping alternative, with container services expanding. Kenya Transport & Imports: Kenya moves to tighten scrutiny of medical equipment imports after concerns that costly devices sit idle due to spare parts, power and maintenance gaps. Road Safety & Flooding: KwaZulu-Natal traffic updates warn of flooded roads and crashes affecting the N3 and N2, with motorists urged to drive cautiously. Public Transport Affordability: South Africa’s National Taxi Alliance warns of national protests over rising operating costs, pushing for fuel rebates and cheaper financing. Electric Mobility Infrastructure: Africa’s electric mobility shift is moving from pilots to commercial adoption, driving demand for charging, battery-swapping and fleet power systems. Nigeria Energy Transition Funding: Nigeria’s $400bn net-zero energy transition plan faces a major funding test, with stakeholders pointing to capital and deployment risks. Dangote Refinery IPO: Kano’s Emir Sanusi urges retail investors to buy into Dangote’s “people’s IPO,” running until Oct 13. Trade Facilitation: DHL and ITC renew partnership to help SMEs—especially women-led firms—trade across borders with logistics support. Port/Shipping Capacity: CU Lines orders two 14,000 teu container ships, signaling fleet expansion for East Africa and wider routes.

Red Sea Shipping Shock: Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis seized Mokha and advanced toward Bab el-Mandeb, threatening Saudi oil exports and pushing global fuel prices higher, with attacks also hitting Saudi’s east-west pipeline as Aramco works to bypass damage and restore capacity. Nigeria Capital Markets & Transport Finance: Dangote Refinery’s $1.6bn “people’s IPO” triggered outages on Nigerian digital investment platforms as retail demand surged, stressing fintech and payments infrastructure. Rail Revival Funding: Zimbabwe’s NRZ is negotiating a $115m Afreximbank facility to buy locomotives and wagons and repair rail infrastructure, aiming to lift freight haulage after years of underinvestment. Aviation & Ground Handling: Menzies Aviation eyes Bangladesh’s third-terminal ground-handling licence at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, promising major job creation if approved. Cross-Border Digital Identity: DotCooperation and Forus Digital Cooperative partnered to roll out trusted .coop digital identities for African co-operatives, supporting smoother participation in trade and services under AfCFTA. Road Safety Watch: South Africa continues to face deadly multi-vehicle crashes, with authorities warning of ongoing risks as investigations and public concern grow.

Aviation Safety & Comms: Zimbabwe praised the SADC VSAT network for improving aeronautical voice/data links between Air Traffic Service units, supporting safer airspace management across the region. Rail Security: South Africa’s Transport Minister said theft and stone-throwing drove nearly 64% of PRASA security incidents in 2025/26, flagging a major safety risk for rail services. Maritime Policy: Nigeria’s NIMASA renewed its push for Cabotage implementation and automating the ship registry to boost more Nigerian-flag vessels. Road Safety & Justice: Liberia’s Bong County attorney urged stronger police investigations and possible homicide charges in fatal crash cases tied to reckless or negligent driving. Energy & Logistics Costs: Nigeria saw cooking gas jump to about N1,500/kg and diesel rise above N2,000/litre, threatening transport and business operating costs. Regional Minerals Strategy: UNIDO urged SADC to build cross-border critical mineral value chains based on complementarity, not isolated national extraction. Geopolitics & Trade Rules: Coverage of BRICS’ New Delhi declaration highlighted calls for resilient supply chains and expanded cross-border payments, without forming a unified military bloc.

Aviation Leadership: Kenya Airways named Habil Waswani as acting CEO, tasking him with operational efficiency, customer experience and balance-sheet repair as the airline continues Project Kifaro. Freight & Road Infrastructure: South Africa’s Transport Minister Barbara Creecy will launch a National Truck Stop Framework on 17 Sept, setting out how provinces and private developers plan, classify and standardise truck stops for safer, better-aligned freight corridors. Air Connectivity Expansion: Proflight Zambia added three BAE Jetstream 41 aircraft (boosting its fleet to 13) to raise domestic frequencies and improve schedule reliability, with potential new routes next year. Emergency Response Capacity: Ethiopia became the first civilian Emergency Medical Team in WHO’s African Region to receive international classification after a verification process covering governance, clinical services, logistics and readiness. Defence & Local Industry: Burkina Faso received its first locally manufactured armoured vehicles, part of a push to cut import dependence and build a sovereign defence industrial base. Red Sea Shipping Risk: Saudi Arabia accused the Houthis of a drone attack toward Mecca and warned it will respond; separate reporting says Riyadh cancelled some oil shipments to Europe after pipeline damage, underscoring how Yemen conflict is tightening pressure on energy and shipping routes. Wildlife Tracking (GPS): A study tracked African wild dogs dispersing over more than 4,100 km across Zambia, highlighting both conservation value and the risks from human expansion.

Green Hydrogen Momentum: South Africa is pushing ahead with green hydrogen execution, publishing a “deal book” to spotlight bankable projects and speed up moves from ideas to gigawatts. Maritime Security & Shipping Risk: The Houthis’ capture of Zuqar and pressure around Bab el-Mandeb raise the odds of more Red Sea disruption, with knock-on effects for ports and shipping costs. Port & Corridor Efficiency: Kenya Ports Authority flags a busy two-week schedule with 51 vessels due at Mombasa and Lamu, while Kenya Revenue Authority opens its GPS-based Regional Electronic Cargo Monitoring System (RECTS) to private vendors to cut transit delays. NIMASA Cabotage Push: Nigeria’s maritime regulator reiterates cabotage priorities and backs automation of the ship registry to attract more Nigerian-flag vessels. Fuel & Trade Pressure: Nigeria’s ADC warns petrol price hikes are choking households as crude costs climb; traders also back KRA’s multi-vendor cargo tracking push. Open Skies for Tourism: Zimbabwe puts “open skies” and aviation connectivity at the center of tourism investment plans. Africa Critical Minerals: Zambia reports 93.6% completion of a national geophysical survey to unlock new exploration opportunities. Medical Oxygen Training: RIX Industries and Build Health International launch factory-equivalent compressor training in Kigali to strengthen oxygen equipment upkeep across sub-Saharan Africa.

Red Sea Shipping Shock: Houthi advances and renewed strikes around Bab-el-Mandeb are pushing up war-risk insurance and raising costs for oil and fertiliser shipments, with analysts warning the disruption could deepen as routes stay under threat. Corridor Boost: The US-backed Lobito Corridor is set to double cargo volumes to 800,000 tons in 2027 after a $300m drawdown, as critical minerals demand intensifies. Energy Route Pressure: Saudi Arabia is said to be running out of export options as pipeline outages and maritime risks limit Red Sea and Hormuz-linked trade. Gulf Connectivity Risk: Iran’s threat to cut undersea cables in the Strait of Hormuz highlights a major vulnerability for Gulf data and finance links. Nigeria Trade Politics: Atiku accuses Tinubu of exporting raw materials while factories sit on unsold stock, arguing purchasing power is collapsing. Election Logistics: Nigeria’s INEC says it will deploy 1.41m ad hoc staff for 2027 polls, while an AU pre-election assessment mission begins in Abuja. Road Safety: South Africa faces renewed scrutiny after a multi-vehicle crash killed at least 21 people. Public Safety & Security: South Africa’s president vows justice as more women’s bodies are found near Johannesburg, with police investigating links. Transport Finance: Kenya’s NSE investor wealth fell by Sh158bn in a week amid Red Sea-driven oil jitters and profit-taking.