Reporting News and opinions
Nigeria sits on vast deposits of limestone—the primary raw material for cement. By the logic of classical economics, that should translate into cheap cement, competitive markets, and a thriving construction sector. Instead, Nigeria has some of the highest cement prices relative to income levels anywhere in the world. This is not a paradox. It is …
Or: A Short Political Typology of the Man Who Mistakes Applause for Destiny Every generation of British politics produces one. A politician of middling seniority and considerable self-regard who delivers a conference speech, receives a standing ovation from six hundred party faithful in an airless hall in Birmingham or Brighton, and concludes, with the calm …
Continue reading "The Portillo Syndrome: On Men Who Peak at Conference by Lawson Akhigbe"
Ransom strategies—demanding payment, prisoners, or concessions in exchange for captives—have been a fixture of conflict for millennia. They blur lines between warfare, crime, and economics, often transforming violence into a sustainable revenue stream. In ideological conflicts, ransom can fund operations; in profit-driven ones, it becomes the core incentive. The “starve the beast” approach—refusing payment to …
Continue reading "Historical Ransom Strategies: From Ancient Leverage to Modern War Economies"
List your top 5 favorite fruits. Apple Banana Mango Orange Grapes
State dinner There is something almost poetic about a government statement (see below) that begins by “debunking misinformation” and proceeds, with admirable stamina, to confirm every underlying concern—just in longer sentences and better punctuation. Let us begin with the ceremonial backdrop: the “historic” visit of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the United Kingdom. In Nigerian political …
Centre for Nigeria Progress 