The Week Ahead
SBM Intelligence's take on Nigeria and Africa brought to you every week.
Episodes
20 episodes since 2024
Episodes of Struggle
Today we discuss the arrest of Joe Ajaero, the leader of the Nigeria Labour Congress. What are the implications of Mr Ajaero's detention for the country's unions and the broader political terrain of the country?Next, a notorious terrori...
September 13, 2024
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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36:55
Exhausted
In today's episode, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has hiked the fuel pump price—from ₦617 to ₦897 per litre. This price surge comes just days after the NNPC admitted to owing suppliers over $6 billion. How will this affect Nigeria...
September 06, 2024
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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37:37
Devil in the details
Before diving into this week’s topics, we will take a quick look at SBM’s report on kidnap in Nigeria. Then, we'll exa...
August 30, 2024
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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33:48
Who needs sanity?
In our first story, we dive into Nigeria’s oil sector, where the Nigerian National Petroleum Company has declared a net profit of ₦3.297 trillion for 2023, its largest ever Naira profit. Is this a cause for celebration? Next, we ex...
August 23, 2024
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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34:20
A wicked wicket
The MTN Group is facing a financial storm as it predicts a half-year loss due to the devaluation of the Nigerian naira and operational hurdles in Sudan. With earnings per share plummeting and business activity in Nigeria hitting an eight-month ...
August 17, 2024
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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37:01
Swoon
Today we explore the Nigerian National Petroleum Company’s ambitious move to secure a $2 billion loan in Europe. With soaring petrol prices and liquidity issues at Dangote Industries, what does this mean for Nigeria's economy?Next, we e...
August 10, 2024
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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30:48
Protest season is back
First, apologies for the less than 100% quality of this recording. Nigeria has been experiencing poor network connectivity for some days now, allegedly to prevent protestors from communicating and organising, and it is to the protests we turn t...
August 03, 2024
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37:02
To the brim
Uganda is on edge as security forces clamp down on opposition protests even as President Yoweri Museveni faces mounting discontent. We’ll unpack the latest developments.Next, West African criminal networks are feeling the heat. Interpol...
July 26, 2024
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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34:08
Sword of Damocles
Today we discuss the recent landmark rulings of the ECOWAS Court of Justice against Nigeria and Ghana and the significance of both rulings for human rights in the region. Then, both Ghana and Nigeria are facing a cost-of-living cri...
July 19, 2024
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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33:57
A mixed bag
First, we consider Nigeria's debt burden, which has ballooned to a staggering ₦121 trillion, raising concerns about the country's ability to service its loans and invest in vital areas. Next, we look at a potential source of conflic...
July 12, 2024
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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38:41
Minecraft
Governors from Nigeria's southern region are advocating for state-by-state negotiations for the new minimum wage based on individual financial capabilities. What are the implications of this move on the ongoing debate surrounding worker compens...
July 05, 2024
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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37:08
Spanner in the works
Nigeria's oil production has declined by 30,000 barrels per day. What factors are driving this reduction, and how might it affect the country's economy and its standing in the global oil market?Next, Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indig...
June 29, 2024
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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35:36
Break Out
Nigeria has just sealed a groundbreaking $3.5 billion agreement with Afreximbank. What does this mean for Nigeria's textile industry and the adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles? Next, clashes between supporters of Riv...
June 21, 2024
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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26:01
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood
In today's episode, Nigeria's state governors are sounding the alarm over a proposed ₦60,000 minimum wage, calling it unsustainable. We'll examine why these governors believe the wage hike is economically untenable.Next, we'll focus on ...
June 14, 2024
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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27:06
High wire act
In this week's episode, we turn our attention to Sudan's forgotten conflict. Next, we examine a troubling report from Nigeria's Southeast region, where the Eastern Security Network (ESN) is said to have launched an attack on soldie...
June 08, 2024
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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21:29
...we hail thee
In a week where we got an old-new anthem, Nigeria’s GDP has taken a hit. Despite showing higher growth than the same period last year, Nigeria's GDP growth has dipped compared to the previous quarter. What’s behind this fluctuation? We’ll also ...
June 01, 2024
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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42:04
Quagmire
Conflicting reports emerged about Nigeria's Federal Government's financial status in the first quarter of 2024. We will examine what a massive budget deficit means for an already inflation-burdened country. Then, Nigeria's Central ...
May 26, 2024
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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13:15
Feeling the heat
One of Nigeria's most reliable businesses, Okomu Oil Palm Plc, is facing a crisis. Recent attacks by criminal gangs have left three employees dead, raising questions about investor safety and government intervention. We explore the complexities...
May 17, 2024
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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20:08
Rising Tide
This week Nigeria's central bank asked banks in the country to charge a 0.5% cyber-security level on most transactions. Still on hitting the pockets of Nigerians, Ikeja Electric announced a reduction of its electricity tariff. Finally, we discu...
May 11, 2024
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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39:08