Nigeria needs a new industrial strategy
Seven years after the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan, the goal of making Nigeria the preferred manufacturing hub in West Africa has not produced tangible benefits for the country. Inequality, poverty and unemployment rates remain high and in some regions insecurity has worsened. But if a …
Maiduguri’s economic revival could be a lifeline for Lake Chad Basin
Relative peace provides a chance to boost production and trade, and help prevent communities being recruited by Boko Haram. Maiduguri, Nigeria’s Borno State capital, has always played a key part in the Lake Chad Basin’s economy. For years the city was also a Boko Haram …
No easy answers to Lake Chad Basin’s security dilemmas
As Boko Haram factions grow in strength, solutions to the rapidly evolving crisis will become more complex in 2022. It has been two decades since Mohammed Yusuf founded the group that became known as Boko Haram, and over a decade since its violent attacks reached …
High stakes as Nigeria prepares for elections 2023
Poor electoral outcomes would hurt democratic transitions in a region suffering a spate of coups. On 25 February, Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Electoral Bill into law, paving the way for federal and state elections on 25 February and 11 March 2023. Political parties …
Gains from Africa’s single market must be equitable
AfCFTA’s biggest challenge now may be too little trade, but down the line it could be uneven development. Trading commenced under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement in January. However the journey to increased intra-African trade will be a long one, and some …
Security crisis in Lake Chad Basin erodes women’s livelihoods
Traders in Niger, Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon aren’t asking for water but protection and access to credit. The Boko Haram crisis in the Lake Chad Basin has harmed women’s livelihoods. Extremists and other armed groups have looted and destroyed markets, cutting off many women’s access …
Nigeria needs to find its place in Africa
It is time to retire the ‘giant’ narrative and adopt a more collaborative approach to African affairs. Nigeria’s assumption of a leadership role in Africa has mainly been driven by the size of its population and, more recently, its economy. This aggrandisement informed the part …
Nigeria’s kidnapping crisis unites the north and south
A holistic strategy is needed to decelerate the growth of the kidnapping economy in the country. Schools in north-western Nigeria recently reopened after a months-long shutdown by state governments due to increasing kidnappings. Between December 2020 and March 2021, there were at least five student-related …
An African agenda at the World Trade Organization
Strong leadership from African countries, and not an African head, is key to protecting the continent’s trade interests. Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala takes office as World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General today, on 1 March. As the first female and first African in this position, she joins …
Soldiers for rent in the Boko Haram crisis
A Nigerian governor’s call for mercenaries to support the counter-insurgency revives questions about a controversial practice. Following Boko Haram’s brutal attack on dozens of farmers in Nigeria’s Borno State last November, the state governor called on federal authorities to enlist mercenaries to counter the terror …
