The state of Kaduna was founded in 1912 by British colonial ruler Lord Frederick Lugard. Throughout its colonial history, it served as the political, administrative and economic centre of the north of Nigeria. As an academic centre with many tertiary educational institutions, Kaduna earned the nickname “the Centre of Learning”. In recent years state authorities have worked to develop Kaduna’s…
While Nigeria has made notable progress on several major wellness indicators in recent years, the country is grappling with health and social consequences stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic, in addition to structural challenges related to its public health system and the rollout of universal health care (UHC). However, with Nigeria’s large and young population, the longer-term prospects for investment…
Although transport networks have historically been underfunded, the government is prioritising their development, as enhanced connectivity is key to supporting growth in non-oil sectors. Demand for transport is set to rebound in the second half of 2021 as the economy reopens and the African Continental Free Trade Area is in force. The most significant gains in the coming years are expected in the road…
Construction in Nigeria has recently been constrained by relatively low public investment and high operating costs. Moreover, its real estate sector experienced a challenging 2020, characterised by a drop in demand, movement restrictions and global supply chain disruptions. However, renewed prioritisation of infrastructure projects – particularly in energy, housing and transport – is expected to…
The Nigerian retail market remains fragmented and dependent on informal sales channels such as neighbourhood markets and kiosks, which account for 90% of retail activity. As in most emerging markets, the bulk of household expenditure in Nigeria is directed towards food. But with traditional in-person shopping limited by lockdowns, and many households facing tighter budgets, the sector contracted by…
Nigeria is one of Africa’s largest ICT markets in terms of its share of telecoms subscribers and internet users, and this sector is set to grow in 2021, even as other areas of the economy remain constrained by the pandemic. ICT is being prioritised as part of the country’s longer-term goal of developing a digital economy supported by its large, youthful population. Indeed, the government has made…
In recent years focus has returned to agriculture as an important source of revenue for a diversified Nigerian economy. But despite the sector’s robust performance, the country remains vulnerable to food insecurity and is unable to meet domestic demand. This is explained by low levels of irrigation and an outdated land tenure system which have kept agricultural productivity low and caused post-harvest…
Nigeria has a varied industrial sector, and although the pandemic disrupted international supply chains and local operations, the performance of some industrial segments in Nigeria bucked the trend. Major projects continue to push ahead, such as Nigeria’s first privately owned oil refinery and new cement plants, while government plans to add greater value to agricultural output kicked off with external…
Nigeria is Africa’s top oil producer and possesses the largest proven gas reserves on the continent, making it a key player in the global energy market. However, despite its wealth of resources, the country has been unable to meet domestic demand and has one of the lowest net electricity generation rates per capita in the world. The pandemic aggravated this trend, as 2020 saw a steady decline in…
Both Nigeria’s banking system and capital markets have seen significant changes over the course of recent years. Indeed, measures implemented in 2020 to restructure loans, enhance oversight and boost accountability are expected to create stronger sector players in the longer term. Meanwhile, an ongoing focus on financial inclusion has led to the emergence of new segments, including non-interest…
