I wrote about Nigeria’s bungled CPI rebasing in April 2025. Today, I am writing about the corrections the NBS has made. I raise another big issue that is unresolved with big implications in January and February 2026. The NBS Backtracks, by ripples stopsandgaps.substack.com/p/the-nbs-back…

If as a developing country you failed to develop the critical skill of last mile connectivity that allows your country become legible, you can kick the can down the road but the problem never goes away. If you didn’t do it with the post office, emails didn’t ‘leapfrog’ the

Kenya’s new trade agreement with China is reopening key debates about African access to global markets. In this short reflection, Our CEO, Hannah Ryder, Hannah Ryder (芮 婉 洁) explains why the deal matters, how WTO rules shape Africa–China trade, and what duty-free access could mean for

Everywhere you turn in #Nigeria it is one trouble or the other. Has anyone else noticed that call quality, including for WhatsApp calls has dropped significantly of recent? Well, here is the reason...

"Owners of large yachts, high achieving students and a wider range of entrepreneurs may also be invited." bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Caution in order! Before GFC, bankers pleaded for “light touch” regulation; said they exercised due diligence. GFC showed bankers didn’t understand the complexity of the products or leverage built up. Regulators failed, behind or captured. Don’t forget lessons of the GFC.

For some reason I was surprised to read that she's 65. Had her much younger in my head

Tweeted about this a few months ago. This guy got the red carpet treatment from so many governments. The only proof he was going to deliver was this energy deal, which has now collapsed

New essay: tyro continues his series - The Whispering Class 1914reader.com/p/chapter-1-a-…

A lot of the African elite share in the blame for this. When Russia invaded Ukraine, there was so much handwringing over it and all sorts of on the one hand, on the other hand arguments justifying the invasion in all but name. The one that infuriated me the most was hearing

🚨 New Publication Alert... Our latest Policy Memo posits that the co-existence of local self-sufficiency and high prices of cement in Nigeria arises from failure of competition, not cost structure; and is at the expense of consumers and the country. agorapolicy.org/research/polic…

Nigeria once manufactured vaccines (yellow fever et al) for ~50 years in Yaba, Lagos Today, the country is trying again & has been attracting resources My doctoral research asks whether our institutions are ready. My first publication to explore this👇🏿 publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphi…

New essay: tyro and Tobi Lawson are doing a read-along and review of Joe Studwell's new book. How Africa Works [Introduction, Chapters 1 - 2] 1914reader.com/p/how-africa-w…

Probably the most anticipated development economics book in a while. Two chapters every Monday for the next 5-6 weeks. Join us 👇🏽

New Frontier Matters episode: Chude Jideonwo on Success and Contentment open.spotify.com/episode/0U9rCj…

Just a useful reminder that China doesn’t buy much that is actually made in Africa. Just minerals from under the ground. So the zero tariff offers are about helping a China get cheap inputs, at least for now. That can improve as population growth slows and Africa industrialises

Weird electricity-and-development fact of the day: Ethiopia's new GERD dam more than doubled the country's installed generation capacity. Result: a new crypto mining industry now absorbs 30% of national electricity demand.

There are two types of economies...

New essay: the read-along of How Africa Works continues 1914reader.com/p/how-africa-w…

Okay, I'm done with this. Very good review. I will be following this series as much as I can. Thanks for doing this, 1914 Reader.