If anything, energy, like roads and other infrastructure, could become a bargaining chip, a political carrot, and a reward for voting patterns at the state level.
With a coastline measuring nearly 853 km and 25% of Nigerian states located on the banks of the Atlantic, a dedicated blue economy strategy is long overdue
The rapid rise of the Wagner Group in Africa has in turn spurred a moment of truth for regional blocs and the regional powers on whom these groups are anchored. These include Nigeria with ECOWAS, South Africa with SADC, Kenya with the EAC…
In the absence of significant reversals, the world might again be forced to rely on the US as the globe’s leading economic driver; a role it might be unwilling to play, depending on who ends up in the White House.
The successful conduct of the 2023 elections in Nigeria is arguably one of the key highlights of 2023 in Africa. While the election was the subject of multiple controversies, the absence of nationwide post-electoral violence or large-scale instability is a plus.
There are multiple entry points into the catastrophe bonds market. The most obvious is the investment route. Institutional investors, both local and international, can take advantage of the above-average returns in the market.
In the aftermath of the 2022 floods, Nigeria counted a staggering loss estimated at $7 billion. But the damage itself is one part of the story. The provision for insurance (or lack thereof) was another.
With the latest events in Niger Republic, exactly one-third of ECOWAS member countries are currently under military dictatorship
“The new government could unlock opportunities in key sectors of the economy, from energy, through manufacturing, to technology and more. However, it would require thorough reforms, well-designed palliatives to forestall a social breakdown, and the ability to come through a bruising elections appeals process unscathed.”
“At a lower cost, investors could be sure of a faster return on investments as well as less pressure on ticket price hikes associated with the more expensive regular rail project.”
“Regardless of the outcome of the Sudan conflict in the coming weeks/months, the military and logistical support offered by the Wagner group will not be lost on state and non-state actors”
Nigerians have resorted to other means of generating electricity, with diesel generators supplying electricity to nearly 70% of Nigerian firms. These firms spend over $14 billion on diesel-powered electricity annually.
“While investor confidence might vary across the three leading candidates, the country’s pivotal position on the continent, its wealth of potential opportunities, and the government’s increasingly desperate need for economic growth is likely to nudge the new president along the path of pro-investment policies.”
The aviation industry produced a total of 915 million tonnes of CO2 in 2019, accounting for 2.1% of all human-induced C02 emissions and 12% of emissions from the transportation sector. Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) could come to the rescue, and Nigeria could benefit from its rise.
If conditions in 2023 remain similar to 2022, more African countries might face the unpalatable choice between defaulting on their debt and going hat-in-hand to the IMF with its stringent conditions.
70.5% of healthcare expenditure in Nigeria is funded out of pocket, more than twice the average for sub-Saharan Africa.
The sub-Saharan African region accounts for 33% of global cervical cancer deaths, even though the region accounts for only 14% of the global female population.
Africa has the potential to produce 5,000 megatonnes of hydrogen per year at less than $2/kg-equivalent to the global total energy supply today. –International Energy Agency