Vol 44 No 21 | NIGERIA Roll out the barrel 24th October 2003 Raising domestic oil prices is essential but seems impossible The government's latest bid to liberalise (and inevitably raise) fuel prices has united traders, trades unionists and state governors against President Olusegun Obasanjo's new economic team. The team...
Vol 44 No 21 | NIGERIA No end to the affair 24th October 2003 Allegations by Federal Capital Territory Minister Nassir el-Rufai that two senators had solicited a 54 million naira (US$420,000) bribe for approving his appointment are set to cause more...
Vol 44 No 20 | NIGERIA So, farewell then 10th October 2003 Rilwanu Lukman's sudden resignation on 7 October as Special Advisor on Oil to Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo is likely to trigger other high-level departures as the crisis in...
Vol 44 No 19 | NIGERIA Saharan desserts 26th September 2003 President Olusegun Obasanjo's commitment to fighting oil sector corruption (AC Vol 44 No 18) is being severely tested on the one hand by a Federal Government probe of...
Vol 44 No 18 | NIGERIA Delta force 12th September 2003 The military's plans for the Niger Delta are unclear. The army launched 'Operation Restore Hope' in July, with the stated aims of enforcing peace and protecting oilfields. Troops...
Vol 44 No 17 | NIGERIA Mob rule 29th August 2003 Mafia-style politics in the south-east raise more doubts about President Obasanjo's election victory The kidnapping of Anambra State Governor Chris Ngige and the subsequent impunity of those involved have dealt another blow to the credibility of President Olusegun Obasanjo's post-election government...
Vol 44 No 13 | NIGERIA Atlantic crossing 27th June 2003 Promising that his second-term government would be based on merit not party allegiance, President Olusegun Obasanjo said the focus would be on economic growth and job creation as...
Vol 44 No 13 | NIGERIA Security blanket 27th June 2003 A new security team is emerging to take on rising crime, threats of terrorism and political unrest in the Niger Delta as President Olusegun Obasanjo consolidates power. Here,...
Vol 44 No 12 | NIGERIA Leaky and unlucky 13th June 2003 Revelations by Royal Dutch/Shell that thefts of crude oil from its operations in the Niger Delta could amount to as much as 100,000 barrels a day have been...
Vol 44 No 9 | NIGERIA The naira republic wins again 2nd May 2003 Money-politics and vote-rigging will undermine President Obasanjo's second term without a full investigation of the poll 'Don't give me any more of those Florida results!' bellowed a Nigerian journalist at a computer screen in the Election Commission's media centre. The machine was spewing out...