A forthcoming political thriller by Nigerian writer Chiemelie Kyrian Offor is attracting interest ahead of its scheduled release in Lagos later this month.

Titled Code Name: Phoenix, the novel is expected to be published on 28 February 2026. The story centres on Chioma Obi, a fictional operative of Nigeria’s National Intelligence Agency, who becomes central to international security efforts after an alleged plot to assassinate the President of the United States disrupts cooperation among global intelligence services.

According to pre-publication details, the narrative unfolds against a backdrop of strained intelligence-sharing relationships, where mistrust and fragmented communication complicate efforts to contain the threat. As established Western agencies struggle to trace the source of the conspiracy, Obi is portrayed as navigating diplomatic tension and compromised channels.

The principal antagonist is described as a former KGB strategist who adapts Cold War tactics to contemporary security systems. The plot contrasts traditional espionage methods with today’s digitally driven intelligence frameworks, raising questions about whether analogue tradecraft can still exploit weaknesses in modern surveillance environments.

Spy fiction has historically focused on Western agencies such as the CIA and MI6. By placing a Nigerian intelligence officer at the centre of a global crisis, Offor’s novel reflects a broader trend in African writing that explores international themes through local institutional lenses.

Literary commentators observe that African security institutions have often appeared marginally in mainstream espionage fiction. Code Name: Phoenix appears to challenge that pattern by positioning Nigerian intelligence as an active participant in high-level geopolitical developments.

The book is expected to debut in Lagos at the end of February, adding to the growing body of contemporary Nigerian fiction engaging with global political themes.