Summary
A recent visit to Gwangiwan Primary School in Meduguri, Nigeria, highlights the dire educational and economic challenges faced by the region. With nearly 5,000 students enrolled, the school is set to lose its funding within a year due to global financial cuts affecting organizations like Save the Children. Parents express concern over food shortages impacting their children's ability to attend school, illustrating the broader economic struggles in Borno State, which has been plagued by jihadist violence and a deteriorating security situation.
Despite these challenges, President Bola Tinubu appears confident as Nigeria approaches its January elections. His campaign focuses on economic reforms, including the removal of a costly fuel subsidy and stabilization of exchange rates, which have garnered some praise from investors. However, many citizens, particularly in regions like Borno, have yet to feel the benefits of these policies, with rising food prices and inflation exacerbating the existing hunger crisis. Political analysts note that while Tinubu's popularity is waning, factors such as incumbency, religious affiliations, and voter apathy may still secure his re-election.
In Europe, there is growing concern over reliance on American technology for military and intelligence capabilities, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. European leaders are racing to develop their own satellite internet services and surveillance systems to reduce dependency on U.S. assets like Starlink. While some progress has been made with companies like OneWeb and innovative startups, Europe still lags significantly behind the U.S. in terms of satellite deployment and launch capacity. The urgency to enhance European capabilities is underscored by fears of future conflicts and the need for self-sufficiency in defense technologies.
Show Notes
Nigeria is suffering a worsening security crisis, compounded by a lean harvest, global aid cuts and rising energy prices. So why is President Bola Tinubu likely to win January’s election? Europe is struggling to develop a rival to Starlink and reduce reliance on American satellites. And our obituaries editor recalls the improbable career of author and conman Jeffrey Archer. Watch extended clips from Insider here. Guests and host: Ore Ogunbiyi, Africa correspondent Jonathan Rosenthal, international correspondent Ann Wroe, obituaries editor Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered: Nigeria, Bola Tinubu Starlink, Ukraine, Musk, OneWeb, Eutelsat Jeffrey Archer, Kane and Abel, perjury Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.
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