Vol 66 No 21 | NIGERIA The Tinubu-Shell trade-off behind a $7.5 billion investment 24th October 2025 UN experts warn that international oil companies’ opaque sales to local consortia flout environmental and human rights laws The tortuous bargaining between international oil companies – Shell, TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil – and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government over new investments has hit a succession of legal...
Vol 66 No 21 | NIGERIA Coup plot or not 24th October 2025 Mobile phones started buzzing on 17 October about a thwarted coup plot, fired up by a story on Sahara Reporters on the arrest of 16 officers ‘over issues...
Vol 66 No 18 | NIGERIA Tinubu moves to rein in the NNPC, slashing funds for northern states 9th September 2025 The president’s plan would double the central government share of the state oil company’s profits to over 80% As tensions deepen between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the managing director of the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Bashir Bayo Ojulari, the government plans to claw...
Vol 66 No 17 | NIGERIA Escalating violence could reshape Tinubu’s plan for 2027 vote 29th August 2025 Northern states have been hit hardest by jihadist insurgents together with banditry and kidnapping alongside murderous herder-farmer clashes When Nigeria’s National Security Advisor, Nuhu Ribadu, announced the arrest of two senior fighters affiliated with Al Qaida on 17 August, officials cited it as another success for...
Vol 66 No 16 | NIGERIA Tinubu’s biggest challenge - ructions in the ruling party 8th August 2025 The country’s shrewdest political strategist has to contend with multiple schisms in the 36 states On most measures, President Bola Tinubu has emphatically improved the position of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Nigeria – despite the unpopularity of many of its economic... READ FOR FREE
Vol 66 No 15 | NIGERIA Buhari’s legacy and opposition alliance slow Tinubu’s bandwagon 25th July 2025 Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar sense a new chance but the odds are still stacked against them Strategists in the ruling All Progressives Congress and sundry opposition parties are scurrying to adapt to the changing political conditions after the demise of Muhammadu Buhari at 82...
DISPATCHES Vol 66 No 12 | NIGERIA Fortress Nigeria promises to buy local 9th June 2025 The government wants to build a border fence to keep out insurgents Defence chiefs are preparing the ground for major changes on border security and domestic procurement. At a security conference in Abuja in the week-ending 7 June, Chief of... READ FOR FREE
Vol 66 No 11 | NIGERIA Tinubu wants to borrow $24 billion ahead of 2027 elections 30th May 2025 After two years of harsh reforms, the government aims to win back support with the country’s biggest ever public spending programme As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was preparing to mark two years in power on 29 May, his allies in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) declared the 73-year-old...
Vol 66 No 10 | NIGERIA Tinubu’s tax revolution tightens his grip 16th May 2025 These radical reforms will generate more revenue and help the president’s business allies but may weaken several state governors With the passing of four tax bills this month – described as the most radical revenue reforms in Nigeria’s history – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has won some...
Vol 66 No 9 | NIGERIA Tinubu exudes confidence as opposition starts to fold 2nd May 2025 After failing to capitalise on deepening hardships and insecurity, opposition governors and lawmakers are defecting to the ruling party As a political boss, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has run rings around his rivals. They lack his skills and tactical acuity but most of all they are just...