Centre for Nigeria Progress

In 1977, as Nigeria prepared its cautious return to civil rule, a constitutional conference convened to midwife a new political order. What emerged in its aftermath, particularly in the transition to the Second Republic, bore the unmistakable imprint of history. Political formations were not conjured from thin air; they were, in large measure, reincarnations. Birds …

Continue reading "Political Parties Without a Soul: From Organic Roots to Hollow Vehicles by Lawson Akhigbe"

There is a comforting lie societies tell themselves during war: that conflict is about ideals—territory, sovereignty, justice, survival. It sounds noble. It reads well in communiqués. It justifies sacrifice. But beneath the speeches and slogans lies a far less flattering reality: war is also an economy. And if you want to understand how that economy …

Continue reading "When War Becomes Business: From Biafra to Boko Haram by Lawson Akhigbe"

Nigeria Army Nigeria’s security crisis has become one of the most expensive in its history, yet the results remain painfully limited. Over the past decade, defence and security spending has expanded dramatically. In recent budgets, the sector has consistently received one of the largest shares of government expenditure. For example, Nigeria allocated roughly ₦3.1 trillion …

Continue reading "The Billions Spent on Security — and the Missing Results by Lawson Akhigbe"