The Great Nigerian Magic Trick: More Revenue, More Debt, Less Breath by Lawson Akhigbe

There is an old saying in Nigerian governance that has practically become an article of faith: "We don’t have a money problem; we have a spending problem."

The Presidential Echo Chamber: From Buhari’s Attack Dogs to Tinubu’s Spin Doctors By Lawson Akhigbe

Daniel Bwala One of the easiest ways to understand a President is not to listen to his speeches. Listen to his spokesmen. A President’s spokesman is like a family portrait hanging in the living room. It may not be the President himself, but it tells you everything about the owner of the house. Spokesmen do …

The EFCC’s Selective Deafness: When ‘Naira Abuse’ Meets Political Convenience by Lawson Akhigbe

Of course not. Tompolo did not fly to Abuja; Abuja knows better than to disturb the peace of Oporoza. In Tompolo's case, the EFCC suddenly discovered a highly sophisticated, deeply sensitive legal tool known as prosecutorial discretion. This is the common-sense power of law enforcement to say: "Yes, technically a rule was broken, but pursuing this would be silly, counterproductive, or trivial."

Tinubu, the Sahel and Nigeria’s Most Dangerous Foreign Policy Failure

There was a time when Nigeria did not wait for foreign capitals to define West African security. From the anti-apartheid struggle in Southern Africa to military interventions in Liberia and Sierra Leone, Nigeria projected power, influence and diplomatic leadership. Whether one agreed with its methods or not, nobody doubted who was leading.