Action time for Nigeria's government
Nigeria’s government is pressing on with plans to liberalise key parts of the economy. The downstream is a priority
BY LOOSENING the state's grip on key levers, from the exchange rate to the oil industry, Muhammadu Buhari's administration wants to fire up Nigeria's economy. The economy shrank in real terms by 0.36% in the first quarter of 2016, as over-reliance on oil bit hard. The outlook is slightly better - the African Development Bank forecasts GDP for the year could grow by 3.8% - but neighbours Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Senegal are all doing better. The gravity of the situation has prompted a search for sweeping remedies. State firm Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said in late June that it had signed provisional agreements worth some $80bn with more than 30 Chinese firms to upgrade
Also in this section
1 April 2026
Golden Pass’s startup offers QatarEnergy a timely boost but may also force a difficult choice between honouring disrupted contracts and capitalising on soaring spot LNG prices
1 April 2026
It is not a case of if or when, but the length and magnitude of economic damage from elevated oil prices
1 April 2026
The US-Iran conflict demonstrates the need for diversification in several senses of the word. It also exposes the limits of Washington applying pressure on major oil and gas producers it considers geopolitical adversaries
31 March 2026
Disappointing results in its bidding round are a reality check for Libya, and global exploration generally
