Will Nigeria’s youth decide who wins the next elections?
Nigerians regard just four of their 16 presidential candidates as serious contenders in the 2023 general elections. These are Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the Labour …
Nigeria’s petrol subsidy is a climate issue
Nigeria’s government has said it will re-evaluate its position on petrol subsidies this month. Global economic developments and domestic challenges such as oil theft have led to a revenue crisis that makes the subsidies debilitating for the country. Higher oil prices due to the Russia-Ukraine war have …
Rebuilding local economies can help defeat Boko Haram — ISS Africa
The devastation caused by Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin is not limited to deaths and displacements. It includes severe disruptions to economic activities. And it’s not just the violent extremists who are making it difficult for communities to sustain their livelihoods — but …
Nigeria’s north needs jobs, not oil
It’s all good for the beginning of the year, but these aren’t so much “goals” as they are lifestyle changes that I’m wanting to make for the long haul. So, with that in mind, this is kind of a letter to myself that I can …
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 …
