Other - 10 JUL 2024

Macro Data Bulletin: Ghana’s headline inflation rate declines to 22.8%

We analyse Ghana’s  latest inflation data, providing the implications and near-term outlook

Other - 10 JUL 2024

Macro Data Bulletin: Egypt’s inflation rate slows to 27.50% in June 2024

We analyse Egypt’s latest inflation data, providing the implications and near-term outlook

Other - 01 JUL 2024

Macro Data Bulletin: Kenya’s inflation decelerates to 4.6% in June 2024

We analyse Kenya’s latest inflation data, providing the implications and near-term outlook

Other - 05 MAR 2024

Stears Methodology Note: Pan-African Exchange Rate Forecasts

Stears’ FX forecast model helps Africans make better informed investment and policy decisions.

Buhari’s legacy: Leaving Nigeria on autopilot

Buhari became Nigeria's president on the narrative of change and anti-corruption, but things still feel the same, if not worse.

Pound getting pounded: What can Nigeria learn from the UK?

The UK’s story highlights how markets respond to irresponsible fiscal policies. A path Nigeria’s current government has been going down.

How today’s bad decisions are harming the next generation

The government and the public have a role to play in ensuring that our decisions today don’t worsen the future.

2023 Elections: things to ignore from Nigerian Presidential candidates

We highlight what Nigerians must look out for while choosing their next President.

Two things the Nigerian government must focus on

The Nigerian government has two jobs it needs to focus on to get the economy moving

Why did the CBN launch a non-disruptive digital currency?

A look into why Nigeria's CBN launched the eNaira.

Nigeria's Central Bank needs to get out of politics

The strong political influence on the CBN raises questions around the bank's identity crisis.

Why Nigerians normalise a struggling economy

The Nigerian economy is stuck in a rut of bad decisions, here's how to fix it

It’s time to call out Nigeria’s finance minister

Nigeria’s finance ministry hardly helps with economic growth.

Building the national cake: a policy guide to driving economic growth

How Nigeria can stop misusing policies that should make it grow.

What data says about Nigerians and their wellbeing

What’s the economic pulse of Nigerians?

Mind the gap: gender equality in Nigeria is still a long way off

The gender gap in Nigeria is huge, here are five shocking stats to show you how.

The secret to making Nigerians rich is outside our borders

Are exports the engine to economic growth?

Four shocking Nigerian statistics

A look into 4 surprising numbers on the Nigerian economy.

Foreign investors are leaving Nigeria

Nigeria's important businesses are packing their bags.

Why the CBN banned FX sales to BDCs again

What the Central Bank of Nigeria's recent FX sales ban means.

When markets fail, should the government intervene?

Why governments are necessary for a successful economy.

Finance - 20 JUL 2021

Five recommended reads on making smart money

Different ways Nigerians are making money: Five must-reads.

A vivid picture: Nigeria’s debt story in 9 charts

An in-depth look into Nigeria's debt situation.

How the CBN is Nigeria’s superman

Fixing Nigeria: The CBN and its "superman" mandate.

2021 mid-year review: Nigeria’s economy in 8 numbers

These eight numbers show an update of Nigeria’s economic health status.

Nigeria’s digital naira: How would it work?

How Nigeria’s naira can be saved by a digital sister

Nigeria’s worsening insecurity in seven charts

These seven charts show Nigeria's insecurity problem.

Why is the naira always falling?

What we can do about the falling naira.

What are Nigerians saying about the economy?

A look into how everyday Nigerians feel about the economy.

Cryptocurrency markets in the red: The story of a rookie trader

A sequel on "my journey as a crypto trader."

How to create more jobs in Nigeria

Solutions to Nigeria's unemployment.

Why Nigeria's government spending has little impact

A significant impact of government spending eludes Nigerians. Here's why.

Why insecurity has increased in Nigeria

A deep explainer on the economic causes of Nigeria’s insecurity.

Why Nigerian states are broke

How Nigerian states make money and why they are broke.

How 18-year-olds are becoming millionaires with cryptocurrencies

With cryptocurrencies, there is a lot more than meets the eye.

Dollarisation: Will Nigerians ever stop chasing dollars?

Nigeria’s dollar obsession.

Two things that are good about Nigeria

Not everything in Nigeria is terrible.

Two stories on the pandemic: The death of African leaders and vaccines

African leaders are taking more hits to Covid than their citizens, and it would take the continent much longer to achieve herd immunity.

The story of a central bank without credibility

Why the Central Bank of Nigeria is "working hard but hardly working".

Understanding Nigerian households with Stears Data

Nigerian households explained: A Stears Data leverage.

The power of communication and the CBN’s Naira 4 Dollar policy

The words written via central banks circulars have taken an interesting turn over the years, but have they elicited the expected reaction?

The economic components for a digital economy

A new equation for the digital economy: Breaking down what really matters for economies to thrive today.

Problem, problem, another problem

Nigeria and its hydra-headed problems.

Why Nigeria always has inflation

What causes high inflation in Nigeria?

Analysing the CBN's cryptocurrency exchange restriction

The full story: Why the CBN restricted activities of crypto trading exchanges.

Two reasons why Nigeria doesn’t work (Part I)

We assess reasons that are hindering improved livelihood in Nigeria.

Diary of a crypto trader: The rise, fall, and rise again

The lessons I learnt from trading cryptocurrencies.

Can Nigeria print money to solve its problems?

Understanding the money printing trick.

Eight numbers to worry about in 2021

…and one not to worry about.

How Abuja illustrates Nigeria’s deep inequality

A look into Nigeria's inequality problem

Six shocking moments of 2020: and the awards go to…

Here are six events that shocked us in 2020.

A new way to think about Nigeria’s growth

How to think about Nigeria’s options for growth.

The coronavirus vaccine is here: Was it made too quickly?

We analyse factors responsible for the development of the Covid-19 vaccine and discuss their implications.

Emefiele vs the parallel market

The parallel market: A reply from analysts to Emefiele

Nigeria’s sachet economy: little big problems

We discuss why Nigeria has a sachet economy and its implications on the poor and the environment.

Will the AfCFTA be worth it for Nigeria?

What does signing the AfCFTA really mean?

Bitcoin explained: Nigerians move beyond fiat currency

Is Bitcoin money? And what are its main uses in Nigeria?

The WTO Okonjo Iweala might inherit

What the next DG of the WTO is walking into

The constitutional route to a state police force

How viable is the state policing option in Nigeria?

Economy - 16 OCT 2020

The impact of bad policing and insecurity on the economy

Bad policing has been unfair to Nigeria’s economy

Playing god in Nigeria's foreign exchange market

In trying to control both the demand and supply of dollars, the CBN plays god in Nigeria's forex market, and scares off investors.

Nigeria’s future depends on international trade

A story on Nigeria's trade

The shape of things: Nigeria’s economic recovery

What will Nigeria’s economic recovery look like?

The story behind Nigeria's low COVID-19 numbers

Why Nigeria's Covid-19 test and infected numbers are low

What news headlines don't tell you about GDP

A look under the hood of our GDP statistics

Lagos state vs businesses: One tax too many?

A look into how Lagos state works and its relationship with businesses

The new CAMA and what it means for Nigeria’s businesses

A look into Nigeria's new business laws

The fundamentals behind Shoprite's exit

We look into why Nigeria has lost its investment appeal

Barely chugging along: An economy without rail transport

A guide to understanding the importance of trains and railways in Nigeria.

Governance - 19 JUN 2019

What Nigerian politics can learn from Pizza

We discuss Nigerian monopolistic political parties and assess how more competition can improve policy making

Governance - 11 MAR 2019

INEC Can Improve Elections, But Will Nigeria Allow It?

Nigeria's recent elections issues could be attributed to both INEC and other external factors

Economy - 29 MAY 2018

Your Money Where Your Vote Is

As part of our Democracy Day 2018 series, we look at the connection between voting and the budget

Economy - 26 FEB 2018

Nigeria does not have 180 million people

All population numbers are inaccurate, but Nigeria's population numbers go beyond realism.

Economy - 21 JAN 2018

Four charts that show how Nigeria's economy has improved

After riding a wave of recession through most of 2016 and 2017, green shoots show the economy is picking up

Economy - 03 DEC 2017

Why the Inflation rate is always wrong

We explain why Nigeria's inflation says little about the prices you experience – and why that doesn't matter.

Economy - 06 NOV 2017

Nigerian Central Bank Signals Lower Interest Rates

We explore the possibility of lower interest rates as CBN gives reasons to expect cheaper borrowing.

Economy - 23 OCT 2017

Earning Peanuts in Nigeria

Low salaries in Nigeria are caused by a range of factors, but bargaining power remains a prominent issue.

Economy - 18 SEP 2017

Is Agriculture For Feeding Or Earning Dollars?

Is agriculture an avenue for higher forex earnings against the backdrop of high food prices at home?

Economy - 18 JUL 2017

Is a Fixed Exchange Rate Best for Nigeria?

With the CBN determined to keep the naira fixed, we look at the pros and cons of this exchange rate regime.

Economy - 14 JUN 2017

What Market Women Teach Us About Prices

We don't all pay the same price for the items we buy and economics says that's ok.

Economy - 24 APR 2017

Government Spending: More Harm Than Good?

How cost-effective is government intervention?

Economy - 27 MAR 2017

Animal Spirits: Restoring Confidence in Nigeria

Rebuilding confidence in Nigeria's economy is an underappreciated element of the desired recovery.

Economy - 27 FEB 2017

Farming for Monetary Policy

Why has the CBN resorted to farming as a key element of monetary policy?

Economy - 06 FEB 2017

The ₦1=$1 Fallacy

Making the naira equal to the dollar sounds like a dream but could really be a nightmare for many.

Economy - 31 JAN 2017

Naira out, Eco in: II

The Naira has been a pain recently, is it time to jump ship for the Eco?

Economy - 30 JAN 2017

Naira out, Eco in: I

An in depth economic analysis of the proposed ECOWAS currency union.

Economy - 06 JAN 2017

Between Inflation and a Hard Place

Analysing the CBN decision to tighten monetary policy to combat high inflation.