Nigeria’s long-stalled Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway could gain new momentum through an unconventional financing model that turns roadside infrastructure into a major source of income

A proposal led by British greentech company Conflow Power Group, in partnership with Nigerian infrastructure firm Mora Energy, is being discussed with the Nigerian Government to address the project’s persistent funding challenges. The plan centres on the deployment of thousands of iLamps, solar-powered smart streetlights that also function as nodes in a distributed, AI-driven data centre network.

The iLamps operate entirely off-grid, requiring no external electricity supply. Each unit is equipped with Nvidia AI processors, allowing it to provide computing power that can be rented by global AI companies, including OpenAI, creating a continuous revenue stream alongside its public infrastructure role.

Through a collaboration with UK-based AI Factories Limited, every iLamp would serve as part of a decentralised AI computing network. Each unit is expected to generate up to US$4,500 per year in fees paid by AI service providers

If rolled out along the full 700km highway, the proposed installation of around 28,000 iLamps could generate approximately US$1.26bn annually, potentially covering a significant portion of the highway’s construction and long-term financing needs.

Stanley Chuka-Umeora, founder of Mora Energy, said, “Our government contacts immediately understood the significance of what Conflow was proposing. For 50 years, Nigeria has struggled with this project because we were applying 20th-century solutions to 21st-century problems. iLamp represents genuinely innovative thinking. It is not just infrastructure, it is revenue-generating technology that brings AI capabilities to Nigeria for the first time.

“Government officials were particularly impressed that iLamp solves multiple problems simultaneously. It's not just about financing, it's about security, communications infrastructure, and bringing cutting-edge technology to Nigerian communities.”

Zainu Goba, CEO of iLamp Africa, highlighted the commercial appeal of the model.

“The financial mathematics are compelling. iLamp doesn't just provide lighting and security, it creates a new revenue stream that could contribute more than a billion dollars towards project costs annually. Combined with zero operational costs through solar power, this improves the project's attractiveness to private investors and has the potential to positively transform the lives of millions of Nigerians,” he said.

Under the proposal, revenue generation would begin as soon as completed sections of the highway become operational, reducing dependence on toll revenues and public funding. Beyond lighting, the smart streetlights would deliver a range of services, including surveillance, vehicle recognition, emergency response systems, public connectivity and environmental monitoring, all powered entirely by solar energy.

The initiative would also create one of Africa’s largest distributed AI computing networks, allowing data processing to take place locally rather than abroad. This could support Nigeria’s expanding technology ecosystem and strengthen its position as a regional hub for AI infrastructure.

Discussions between iLamp Africa, Mora Energy, the Nigerian Government and other project stakeholders are ongoing, with the aim of formally integrating the technology into the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway.

Originally conceived in the 1970s, the 700km highway is intended to link nine coastal states and stimulate trade, tourism and economic development across southern Nigeria. Despite its strategic importance, the project has faced repeated delays due to funding gaps, political transitions and economic pressures.

Although construction resumed in 2024, only about US$747mn has been secured so far, representing less than 6% of the estimated US$11–12.5 billion total cost. The remaining shortfall of more than US$10bn continues to raise concerns that progress could once again be stalled without innovative financing solutions.

The Siemon Company, a global leader in high-performance connectivity solutions for data centres and smart buildings, has introduced Smart Building COMPLETE, a fully unified connectivity and cabling ecosystem designed to support the essential technologies driving today’s intelligent workplaces

Covering everything from Wi-Fi and security systems to AV, access control and sensors, Smart Building COMPLETE provides building owners and operators with a comprehensive, field-proven foundation to plan, construct and manage smarter, more efficient buildings and campus environments.

At the core of Smart Building COMPLETE is Siemon’s advanced PowerGUARD+ technology, delivering extended reach of up to 200 metres. This significantly lowers deployment costs and complexity by reducing or eliminating the need for traditional telecommunications rooms, associated equipment, power, cooling and routine maintenance. Engineered to control heat rise and maintain performance at temperatures up to 75°C, Siemon’s patented, independently verified cabling and connectivity offer the reliability required to deliver uninterrupted power and data to a wide range of connected devices.

Smart Building COMPLETE combines trusted technology with a new suite of intuitive planning and design tools that streamline specification and speed up deployment for customers, designers and consultants. The Cabling Reach Calculator assists users in selecting the right cable type based on real installation conditions and required distances, especially crucial for runs extending beyond 100 metres. The Wired for Wi-Fi tool highlights equipment manufacturer requirements and guides users in choosing the correct cabling solutions for each wireless access point. The Backbone Speed Calculator further supports planning by helping determine the fibre backbone needed for Wi-Fi deployments of any scale.

Sustainability remains a central priority for smart building operators, helping decrease energy consumption, cut operational expenses, reduce carbon emissions and enhance occupant comfort. Smart Building COMPLETE supports these goals through energy-optimising technologies and transparent reporting, assisting operators in meeting green building certification requirements. The solution emphasises transparency through Health and Environmental Product Declarations (HPDs and EPDs) and aligns with leading standards such as LEED, BREEAM, LBC and WELL, ensuring cost-effective, healthy and high-performing indoor environments.

“Modern commercial buildings and campuses must deliver more than just space. They are expected to create safe, efficient, and engaging environments that support the people inside them while maximising facility value for those who operate them. Smart Building COMPLETE, through its PowerGUARD+ technology, extensive application support and a commitment to sustainability, helps building owners and operators create dynamic, future-ready workplaces for a more sustainable tomorrow,” commented Prem Rodrigues, vice-president sales and marketing for India, the Middle East and Africa at Siemon.

Meta Global Vision Holdings LLC has reported ongoing development and expansion of Africa Turbo, its automotive and industrial parts platform designed to support mining companies, fleet operators, and automotive repair businesses across African markets

Africa Turbo focuses on the supply of automotive components, heavy-duty engine parts, and tyres, targeting organisations that depend on reliable access to equipment parts to sustain day-to-day operations. The platform is structured to consolidate sourcing from international suppliers, providing customers with a single access point to a broad range of components used across industrial and mobility applications.

The company highlighted that mining operators and repair facilities in many African markets continue to contend with fragmented supply chains, uneven product availability, and lengthy procurement cycles. Africa Turbo was developed to help mitigate these challenges by coordinating supplier engagement and logistics through a centralised platform.

According to Meta Global Vision Holdings LLC, Africa Turbo collaborates with established suppliers to support consistent quality standards and dependable supply for industrial customers operating under varied regional and environmental conditions. The platform is intended to serve both large-scale industrial operations and independent repair workshops seeking predictable access to parts.

“Africa Turbo was developed to respond to recurring supply challenges faced by industrial and automotive operators across the continent,” said Wendtoin Arsene Tonde, Marketing Director at Meta Global Vision Holdings LLC. “The platform focuses on improving access and coordination rather than introducing new consumer-facing products.”

Meta Global Vision Holdings LLC added that Africa Turbo forms part of its wider portfolio of infrastructure-focused platforms. The company continues to assess regional demand and potential operational partnerships as the platform evolves.

Further announcements on platform features and regional reach are expected as Africa Turbo continues to expand its operations.

RITES Ltd. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of the Republic of Botswana, through its Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, to support the development and upgrading of the country’s transport infrastructure

The agreement is focused on advancing Botswana’s railway and broader transport networks by leveraging advanced technologies, international best practices, and targeted capacity-building programmes. The collaboration is intended to strengthen local expertise while improving operational efficiency, safety, and reliability across the transport sector.

Under the MoU, Botswana will utilise RITES Limited’s technical and consultancy expertise to support the development and modernisation of its railway systems. RITES’ role will include assistance with the supply of rolling stock, commissioning services, repair and maintenance support, operational advisory services, and the modernisation of railway workshops.

Beyond railways, the partnership also extends to a wide range of transport infrastructure projects, including highways, bridges, airports, and buildings, supporting Botswana’s long-term infrastructure development goals.

In addition, RITES will deliver capacity-building initiatives and technical training programmes, promote structured knowledge exchange, and provide quality assurance services such as third-party inspections, pre-shipment inspections, and final acceptance testing. The collaboration also includes the deployment of advanced digital solutions, including integrated train operations systems and passenger management platforms.

Arrel has introduced a new suite of DAPL (Digital Asset Platform) APIs aimed at remittance operators, offering a modular approach to building and scaling cross-border payment infrastructure

The APIs enable operators to activate individual infrastructure modules, deploy them as needed, and scale capacity in line with transaction volumes rather than committing to fixed, bundled platforms.

The offering is targeted at regulated or regulation-ready remittance startups, as well as established operators looking to open new corridors, improve existing flows, or modernise cross-border payment systems without locking into inflexible, enterprise-style infrastructure solutions.

Remittance services typically depend on a mix of liquidity access, compliance frameworks, treasury management, and settlement mechanisms. As transaction volumes grow and new corridors are added, each of these elements introduces additional operational complexity and cost. DAPL has been designed to support operators that require multiple infrastructure components operating across currencies, jurisdictions, and volumes.

Within DAPL, remittance infrastructure is broken down into core building blocks that are generally required from the outset of any remittance operation. These include multi-currency liquidity access, connectivity to exchanges and liquidity providers, transaction monitoring and compliance tools, treasury controls, settlement logic, and local payout rails for each corridor. The platform also includes a routing layer capable of executing across multiple liquidity venues through a single integration, without the need for an internal order management system. In addition, remittance operations often rely on pre-funded accounts across currencies and corridors, which ties up working capital and increases exposure to FX and liquidity risk as activity expands.

Traditionally, these components are sourced from multiple providers, each with its own commercial terms, technical integrations, regulatory reviews, and operational processes. In many cases, they are delivered as bundled platforms with fixed pricing, minimum volume thresholds, and long-term contracts that apply regardless of actual transaction activity. Maintaining pre-funded balances across markets further compounds capital allocation challenges.

DAPL addresses this by acting as a digital asset orchestration layer that separates infrastructure components and makes them available through standardised APIs. Arrel, which was established in Mauritius, developed the platform to give remittance operators an alternative to single-stack, bundled infrastructure models.

The APIs are grouped into four main functional areas.

The first focuses on liquidity and currency access. These APIs provide programmatic access to liquidity across multiple exchanges and providers through a single integration. Operators can access settlement currencies including USD, EUR, ZAR, XAF and XOF, along with corridor-specific currencies where available. Stablecoins are supported as a settlement option, supported by reconciliation and reporting tools.

Liquidity and venue integrations include Binance, Bitfinex, Bitstamp, CEX.IO, LMAX, Deribit, Gate.io, HTX, Indodax, Kraken, KuCoin, Luno, OKX, Poloniex, VALR and Xago. Settlement is supported on blockchains such as Arbitrum One, BNB Chain, Ethereum, Optimism, Polygon, Bitcoin, Stellar and Tron. Custody options include Fireblocks and native MPC wallets, while compliance tooling is integrated through Chainalysis for KYT and Sumsub for KYC and KYB.

The second functional area covers compliance and transaction monitoring. These APIs embed compliance checks directly into remittance flows, exposing KYT, AML, and KYC or KYB processes. Screening results, risk signals, and audit records are available programmatically, and compliance rules can be applied at the transaction level across supported corridors.

The third area addresses treasury and settlement orchestration. These APIs allow operators to configure treasury wallets, approval workflows, and settlement rules across connected venues. Capabilities include real-time balance visibility, automated fund movements, FX exposure monitoring, and policy-driven approvals, all managed through a central orchestration layer.

The fourth functional area focuses on local rails and corridor execution. Through integrations with regulated local partners such as Xago, the APIs enable payouts and settlement into domestic banking and payment systems without requiring operators to establish bilateral banking relationships in every corridor. Additional payout integrations can be added while maintaining a consistent orchestration, monitoring, and audit framework.

Looking ahead, Arrel plans to expand the platform to include integrations with telecom operators and mobile money aggregators. This would allow remittance workflows to connect with mobile-based payment systems, particularly in peri-urban and remote regions where traditional banking access is limited.

Alongside individual APIs, Arrel also offers modular infrastructure bundles built on these functional areas. Operators can deploy a Core Remittance Bundle covering liquidity routing, compliance monitoring, and treasury orchestration, and then add Corridor Bundles linked to specific payout rails and local requirements. These bundles are designed for usage-based deployment rather than fixed platform commitments.

Under this approach, expanding into new corridors is handled incrementally. Each new corridor typically requires adding a payout integration and applying local rules, while the underlying liquidity, compliance, and treasury infrastructure remains unchanged.

Arrel is a member of the Circle Alliance, signalling alignment with institutional stablecoin infrastructure standards. Working with regulated partners such as Xago, the APIs are intended to operate within established financial and supervisory frameworks.

By offering modular APIs and configurable infrastructure bundles, Arrel presents an alternative model for deploying cross-border remittance infrastructure. Operators can align infrastructure usage and capital allocation with actual transaction activity, supporting corridor-by-corridor expansion while maintaining a consistent orchestration and monitoring layer. This approach is particularly relevant in African markets, where remittance corridors and payout mechanisms differ widely across countries and regions.

Caracol, a global leader in robotic large-format additive manufacturing, and RusselSmith, an ISO-certified provider of innovative asset integrity and advanced manufacturing solutions for critical industries in Africa, have announced a Strategic Partnership to deploy, develop, and commercialise Caracol’s Vipra AM platforms – its robotic Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) technology – in West Africa

This collaboration aims to establish a world-class advanced manufacturing hub in the region, supporting the growth of local industrial capabilities and enabling the adoption of innovative and sustainable production solutions.

Under the exclusive partnership, Caracol and RusselSmith will:

• Deploy Caracol’s robotic large-format Vipra AM technology across key West African markets.

• Develop local expertise and capacity in advanced manufacturing.

• Support commercialisation opportunities across diverse industrial sectors.

• Advance regional industrialisation by providing innovative, scalable, and sustainable manufacturing solutions.

By combining Caracol’s global leadership in robotic WAAM technology with RusselSmith’s regional presence and industry expertise, the partnership aims to accelerate the transformation of West Africa’s manufacturing landscape, enhancing its role as a hub for innovation, efficiency, and industrial growth.

Riccardo Nicastro, global chief commercial officer and managing director of Middle East and Africa for Caracol, said, "The partnership between RusselSmith and Caracol is a testament of commitment towards Africa and its technology and manufacturing independence, agnostically from industries, together we are pursuing the creation of value for the whole Continent."

This initiative marks the start of a long-term collaboration that will bring two Caracol Vipra AM advanced technology platforms to the region, while also fostering talent development, promoting sustainability, and creating new economic opportunities.

Kayode Adeleke, CEO of RusselSmith, stated, "Our exclusive partnership with Caracol represents another bold stride in shaping the future of advanced manufacturing in West Africa. By introducing robotic WAAM technology through Caracol’s Vipra AM platform, we are unlocking new possibilities for industrialisation across the region. This collaboration allows us to build local expertise, accelerate the development of scalable manufacturing solutions, and create opportunities that strengthen Africa’s ability to compete globally. Together with Caracol, we are laying the foundation for a world-class hub that drives innovation, nurtures talent, and delivers sustainable growth for the industries we serve."