Perspectives
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Which is truly dodgy? Nigeria’s ports upgrade loan or Ezekwesili’s judgment call? — by Olabode Opeseitan
Public debate thrives on disagreement, but it falters when those who understand global development finance choose sentiment over process. Dr Obiageli Oby Ezekwesili, a former Vice President at the World Bank, knows precisely how sovereign credit facilities are structured, vetted and guaranteed. That is why her description of Nigeria’s £746 million ports upgrade as “dodgy” is so disheartening. The facility…
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Atiku’s Anti-Subsidy U-Turn: A joke taken too far – by Seye Oladejo
There is a point at which political criticism ceases to be constructive opposition and becomes a comedy of contradictions. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar may have crossed that line with his latest position on fuel subsidy. Atiku has reportedly declared that if elected President, he would restore the petrol subsidy and ensure that whoever allegedly stole the money saved from…
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$40 trillion debt: Has America crossed the point of no easy return? — by Victor Oladokun
As a young student in 1981, I vividly recall the news announcement, during the early months of President #RonaldReagan’s first term, that US debt had hit $1 Trillion. It was an unheard of and mind-boggling number, in terms of any country’s national debt. Over the years, with successive US administrations, Republican and Democrat, the debt has ballooned. This week, the…
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Bassey Udo and the relentless campaign to discredit Nigeria’s progress — by Olabode Opeseitan
Nigeria is moving forward, but some voices are working overtime to drag her backwards. NELFUND is helping millions of students, yet a few commentators are determined to kill public confidence. It is time to call them out. Public discourse in Nigeria is being distorted by a growing cohort of commentators who have turned cynicism into a vocation. Their reflex is…
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Subsidy politics and the burden of history: A rejoinder to Atiku Abubakar
Why Nigerians should demand more than promises from a former Vice President seeking the presidency Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s declaration that he would restore Nigeria’s petrol subsidy if elected President in 2027 deserves more than partisan applause or condemnation. It deserves rigorous scrutiny. Atiku has argued that Nigerians have not benefited sufficiently from the removal of the subsidy and…
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Reuben, Tony, Jide and the clash of cultures — by Gani Balogun
A few years ago, a young reporter on TV network either forgot he was working in Nigeria or was fantasizing he was on an American network by calling the presenter, a man that was a few years away from his 60th birthday, by his first name. The middle aged man, let us call him Reuben, was obviously not one to…
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The ‘Tony’ Incident: Critical lessons for Gen Z — by Akin Olaniyan
It’s difficult to determine the exact age of the young woman in that now-viral video with the Tony Elumelu, who retires today as the Chairman of the UBA Group. Regardless, the audacity and a general lack of proper understanding of her environment suggests she is probably in that ‘interesting’ demographic. As usual, the online reactions have been too emotive and…
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Of LG autonomy and allocation boom: Let grassroots feel the impact – by Seye Oladejo
There is a new and important reality unfolding in Nigeria’s governance landscape: local governments are gaining greater fiscal autonomy at precisely the time when the federation’s revenue picture has improved significantly. This convergence presents both an opportunity and a test. For decades, local governments have complained that their responsibilities at the grassroots were not matched by adequate financial resources or…
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Oyetola: When temperament and political office collide — by Babafemi Ojudu
I have read, watched and listened to several diatribes against Gboyega Oyetola following the recent political developments in Osun State. Interestingly, many of the harshest attacks have come not from members of the opposition—Accord or the ADC—but from within his own party, my party. I know Gboyega Oyetola very well. I have studied him both from a distance and at…
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Atiku: When political convenience rewrites economic conviction — by Kayode Adebiyi
There are moments in politics when a politician changes his position because circumstances have changed. That is understandable. Serious leadership sometimes requires the courage to revise an earlier position when evidence proves it wrong. But there is another kind of political reversal: the kind that appears to be driven less by new economic evidence than by the search for votes.…
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