Ephraim Agbo's Blog

July 03, 2025

🇳🇬🇺🇸 U.S.–Nigeria Trade Hits $13 Billion — But Who’s Really Winning?

By Ephraim Agbo

Let’s not get carried away.

Yes, in 2024, trade between Nigeria and the United States hit $13 billion. Yes, Nigeria is now America’s second-largest trading partner in Africa. And yes, U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills just called it a "thriving commercial partnership."

But here’s the real question:
Is this a win for Nigeria—or just another shiny version of the same old economic trap?

Let’s break this down, with no fluff and no filters.

📦 What Are We Actually Trading?

Here’s how the goods flow:

🇳🇬 Nigeria Exported:

$5.7 billion in goods to the U.S.
Mostly crude oil (60–65%)
Also: LNG, urea (fertilizer), cocoa, sesame, rubber, ginger
In 2025, a game-changer: jet fuel from the Dangote Refinery

🇺🇸 U.S. Exported:

$4.2 billion in goods to Nigeria
Refined grains, machinery, vehicles, pharmaceuticals, and tech

So, Nigeria is still exporting mostly raw materials, while importing value-added goods.
It’s like trading diamonds for drills—and then hiring someone else to use the drill.

🏭 Dangote’s Jet Fuel: A Bright Spot or a Mirage?

Yes, Dangote’s $20 billion refinery started exporting refined jet fuel to the U.S. in 2025. That’s a big deal—it means Nigeria isn’t just shipping crude anymore.

But let’s not oversell it.

It’s one refinery.
Owned by one man.
Producing one refined product.

This isn’t diversification. It’s a spotlight in a sea of shadows.

📉 Tariffs Are Back — And We’re Playing It Cool?

In April 2025, the U.S. slapped a 14% tariff on Nigerian urea exports—a major non-oil product.

Did Nigeria retaliate? Nope.
Did we renegotiate? Not really.

Dangote said he was “comfortable with the impact.” But of course he is. He has scale, margins, and options.

The real problem? Small exporters and mid-sized agro players can’t shrug off tariffs like billionaires can.

🧮 Q1 2025: America Flips the Script

Here’s what the numbers say:

Month	U.S. Exports to Nigeria	U.S. Imports from Nigeria	Balance (U.S.)
Jan	$213.8M	$356.8M	–$143M
Feb	$473.6M	$286.3M	+$187M
Mar	$730.8M	$474.7M	+$256M
Apr	$483.7M	$604.2M	–$120M

By April 2025:

U.S. exports to Nigeria: $1.9B
U.S. imports from Nigeria: $1.72B
Surplus in favor of the U.S.: $180 million

That’s right—America made more off Nigeria than the other way around, reversing a long-held trend.

So, when the ambassador says “mutual prosperity,” you might want to ask: mutual for who?

📉 The Trade Surplus? Slipping Fast.

In 2023, Nigeria had a $3.1B trade surplus with the U.S.
In 2024, that dropped by 51%—to $1.5B.

So yes, we still have a surplus…
But if this trend continues, 2025 could be the year Nigeria loses its trade advantage altogether.

🧠 A Decade of Trade: Same Script, New Branding?

From 2015–2024:

Total U.S.–Nigeria trade: ₦31 trillion (~$70B)
Nigeria’s cumulative surplus: ₦1.6 trillion (~$3.5B)
Top exports? Still oil and gas.

And what did we import?

Processed food
Cars
Tractors
Medicines
Machines
And the software to run it all

Let’s be honest—this isn’t new.
It’s colonial-era economics with modern packaging.

📈 The Good News? Non-Oil Exports Are Rising (Slowly)

In Q1 2025:

Nigeria exported $764 million in non-oil goods to the U.S.
Compare that with $779 million in oil exports.

That’s nearly neck-and-neck—and honestly, that’s progress.

Products include:

Cocoa
Ginger
Sesame
Tech outsourcing

But still, agriculture and digital services need scale—and Nigeria hasn’t built the infrastructure to scale them sustainably yet.

🧨 The Shift from Aid to “Investment” — or Just a Rebrand?

Ambassador Mills made it clear:

“We are transitioning from aid to investment.”

On paper, that sounds empowering. But what it actually means is:

Less U.S. humanitarian spending
More U.S. companies setting up shop in Nigeria
More trade and infrastructure deals, mostly driven by American capital

Is that bad? Not necessarily.
But let’s not pretend it’s altruism.

It’s strategy. It’s about access. It’s about market dominance.
And Nigeria is playing nice—without playing smart.

🚧 What’s Holding Nigeria Back?

Let’s be blunt:

Crude dependency
Forex instability
Customs bottlenecks
Power grid chaos
Policy flip-flops
And yes, lack of local capacity

One Dangote refinery can’t fix that. Neither can a few cocoa containers.

Until Nigeria invests in its own industrial base, we’ll keep exporting raw hope and importing finished solutions.

✅ Final Thought: Trade Isn’t Progress. Control Is.

$13 billion sounds impressive—until you realize that:

The U.S. is quietly gaining the upper hand
Nigeria’s biggest export is still raw, unprocessed oil
One foreign tariff can destabilize an entire export stream
And most Nigerian traders are still price takers, not policy shapers

If Nigeria wants to win this game, it must:

Build more refineries
Push non-oil exports
Set smart tariffs and protections
And negotiate from strength—not from gratitude

Because at the end of the day:

Trade without power is just packaging poverty with diplomacy.

💔 Diogo Jota Is Gone: Football Mourns a Star Lost Too Soon

By Ephraim Agbo

It’s the kind of news that punches you in the gut. One moment, you’re watching the highlights of a gifted forward gliding through defenders — the next, you’re staring blankly at headlines announcing his death.

On July 3rd, the football world was shattered by the devastating loss of Diogo Jota, Liverpool’s brilliant Portuguese forward, in a fatal car accident in Spain. He was just 28.

🚗 What Really Happened?

In the early hours of Thursday, Jota was driving along the A‑52 highway in Zamora, northwestern Spain. Reports from Spanish authorities and media outlets confirm that his car, a high-performance Lamborghini, suffered a tire blowout while overtaking another vehicle, veered off the road, and burst into flames after impact. Jota and his younger brother, André Silva, who was also a professional footballer, both died at the scene.

There were no other vehicles involved.

“A tragedy beyond comprehension,” said Zamora’s emergency services unit. “We tried everything, but the fire was uncontrollable.”

⚽ Who Was Diogo Jota?

For those who followed football only casually, Diogo Jota might have seemed like just another player on a talented Liverpool squad. But for fans, teammates, and even opponents, he was a relentless force of creativity, hunger, and heart.

He joined Liverpool in 2020 from Wolves in a £45 million transfer.
He scored 65 goals in 182 appearances across all competitions.
He helped Liverpool win the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, and reach a Champions League final.
For Portugal, he scored 14 goals in 49 appearances and was part of their UEFA Nations League–winning squad.
His goal celebrations were joyful, signature fist-pumps — a man who loved scoring for the people, not just the paycheck.

And more importantly, Jota was a family man. He married his longtime partner Rute Cardoso, and together they had three children. He had just returned from a family retreat in Portugal, gearing up for pre-season training.

🇵🇹 Portugal, Liverpool, the World — Shattered

When news broke, it was like the football world held its breath. The Portuguese Football Federation called it an “irreparable loss,” while tributes poured in from across the globe.

Cristiano Ronaldo posted, “We’ve lost a warrior. But heaven’s gained a beautiful soul.”
Jürgen Klopp, in tears during a hastily arranged press conference, said, “I’ve coached legends, but Diogo was special. Always the first to training. Always smiling. Always hungry.”
UEFA, FIFA, and even rival clubs like Manchester United and Chelsea issued heartfelt tributes.
Liverpool announced a minute of silence before every pre-season match, with black armbands to be worn for the entire month.

Even the Prime Minister of Portugal issued a national statement.

“This is not just a loss for football, it is a loss for our nation.”

😢 A Familiar Tragedy in Football

If this all feels hauntingly familiar, it’s because football has been here before. Emiliano Sala. José Antonio Reyes. Davide Astori. All names etched in our memories — lives lost too early, careers unfulfilled, families torn apart.

And now, Diogo Jota.

Once again, we are reminded that athletes are not immortal. They inspire, they compete, they entertain — but they are still human. Vulnerable. Mortal.

💬 A Conversation We Need to Have

There will be questions. Why was he driving such a high-performance vehicle? Was the road safe? Could the tires have been faulty? Did the club have protocols in place for player safety outside the pitch?

Let’s be honest — in football, too often we idolize players without ever safeguarding them. We invest in their boots, not their well-being. We analyze their xG, but not their exhaustion. Diogo was, by all accounts, overworked, balancing club and national duties with little rest.

The conversation must now shift — from just mourning, to also rethinking how we protect our heroes off the pitch.

🕯️ Final Whistle, Final Words

Diogo Jota leaves behind more than goals and medals. He leaves behind a legacy of humility, discipline, and quiet brilliance. He wasn’t the flashiest. He wasn’t the loudest. But he was one of the most reliable.

As Liverpool fans sang:
"Oh when Jota scores, we know we’ll win once more..."

We didn’t expect that chorus to be silenced so soon.

Rest in peace, Diogo Jota.
Rest in power, André Silva.
Your boots may be still — but your impact never will be.

July 02, 2025

🚁 Burnt Metal, Buried Truths: The African Union Helicopter Crash That Says Everything

By Ephraim Agbo

This Morning, Somalia Woke Up to Smoke

A military helicopter belonging to the African Union crash-landed in Mogadishu today, killing at least three Ugandan peacekeepers and injuring several others, including nearby civilians. The aircraft, loaded with live ammunition, burst into flames just as it approached Aden Abdulle International Airport.

Yes, a fully armed helicopter was landing at a civilian airport—right in the heart of a fragile capital. And yes, it exploded.

Let that sink in.

🎥 The Scene: Death, Fire, and Silence

The helicopter was part of the AU’s AUSSOM mission (African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia).
It had just returned from Balli-Doogle, a known military airbase.
It crashed during landing, possibly due to mechanical failure or poor coordination.
Onboard munitions exploded, igniting the wreckage and nearby surroundings.
At least 3 AU personnel died, others were injured, and civilians got caught in the blast zone.
Airport activities paused briefly before quietly resuming.

That’s the official story. But if you're paying attention, you know this isn’t just about a crash.

🚨 This Wasn’t an Accident. It Was a System Failure.

You don’t fly a bomb into a city without planning. You don’t land a military helicopter full of weapons in a commercial airport and act surprised when it blows up.

This tragedy screams one thing louder than anything else:

Africa’s peacekeeping missions are collapsing under the weight of hypocrisy, neglect, and silence.

The African Union has positioned AUSSOM as a stabilizing force in Somalia—but what we’re seeing is underfunded, overstretched troops flying unsafe aircraft into dangerous zones with no backup, no coordination, and no real strategy.

💣 Let’s Talk About the Real Problem

Here’s what they won’t put in the press release:

The AU requested $500 million in funding for AUSSOM. What it got? Loose promises and overdue pledges.
Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, and others have sent troops—many of whom are underpaid (like my dad but that is a story for another day), under-equipped, and operating in territories where al-Shabab still controls vast areas.
No military insurance. No comprehensive evacuation plans. No accountability system when things go wrong.

So, who’s really watching out for the peacekeepers?

Because clearly, the AU isn’t. And neither are the partners smiling at the cameras during annual summits.

🤐 Where’s the Leadership?

Let’s call it what it is: a crisis of leadership.

No press conference from the AU Commission.
No public address from the Uganda military.
No immediate action plan.

Just the same tired line: “We mourn our heroes and will investigate the matter.”

Really?

Three soldiers died, possibly more. Civilians were injured. Ammunition exploded within city limits. And we’re still playing diplomatic dress-up?

If this had happened to a French soldier in Mali, the world would be holding emergency briefings.

But African lives? They don’t trend.

🧠 Let’s Be Honest—Peacekeeping Isn’t Working

Not like this. Not when:

Troops are flying old aircraft into combat zones.
Ammunition is being moved through civilian airspace.
Missions are handed vague mandates with no clear outcomes.
Deaths are shrugged off with a few lines of PR grief.

This is not peacekeeping. This is African governments sending young men into war zones to die for a mission they don’t control, while the world applauds from a safe distance.

And we? We just move on.

💬 Final Thoughts: If We Don’t Speak, We’re Complicit

This crash wasn’t random. It was inevitable. A result of years of negligence, underfunding, and the dangerous assumption that African peacekeepers are expendable.

And if we don’t start shouting about it, we’re part of the silence that kills.

We owe it to every soldier who dies in these dusty corners of Africa—to ask harder questions, to demand more from our leaders, and to say this plainly:

Our peacekeepers deserve better.

📡 “Data Is the New Oil” – Tinubu’s Big Declaration and Why It’s More Than Just a Catchphrase

By Ephraim Agbo

Let’s talk about something bold President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said recently:

“Data is the new oil.”

Now, you’ve probably heard that phrase before—maybe in tech circles or TED Talks. But when a Nigerian president says it publicly, on the stage of International Civil Service Week 2025, it carries a different kind of weight. It's a national declaration, not just a tech trend.

So what does it actually mean? Why now? And can Nigeria really make data its next big resource—or is this just another ambitious headline that may fade like others before it?

Let’s unpack it.

🚀 What Exactly Happened?

At the Abuja conference celebrating civil service reforms, President Tinubu emphasized that data is no longer just a bureaucratic tool. It’s now a strategic national asset, critical to decision-making, global competitiveness, and public sector efficiency.

He didn’t stop there. He:

Directed all MDAs (Ministries, Departments, and Agencies) to collect verified, reliable, and shareable datasets.
Urged compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (2023)—which lays the groundwork for safeguarding citizens’ digital rights.
Launched the 1Government Cloud Academy, an initiative to train civil servants in cloud computing, cybersecurity, and digital governance.

This is a strong signal that Nigeria wants to digitally modernize the state apparatus. It’s also a recognition that whoever owns and understands their data best, wins.

🧠 Why “Data Is the New Oil” Isn’t Just a Metaphor

Let’s break it down.

Just like oil:

Data must be extracted (from systems, sensors, surveys, interactions).
It must be refined (cleaned, organized, and analyzed).
It must be protected (think of leaks—not just from pipelines, but databases).
And if well managed, it creates enormous value—for governance, businesses, even geopolitics.

In fact, the global data economy is estimated to be worth over $3 trillion, and that number is only growing. From predicting epidemics to mapping poverty or designing smarter cities, data drives it all.

🇳🇬 Nigeria’s Data Challenge: Rich in Potential, Poor in Structure

Here’s the honest truth: Nigeria isn’t short of data—we’re short of organization, access, and accountability.

Think about it:

INEC collects millions of voter records.
NIMC is building a national identity database.
Banks, telcos, customs, immigration, NNPC, WAEC—they all generate data.

But much of it sits in silos, poorly maintained, or trapped in dusty offices. Many government agencies don’t share information. Some don’t even trust each other.

And the result? Policies are made with guesswork. Decisions are delayed. Interventions miss their targets. Corruption thrives where visibility is low.

📉 The Cost of a Data-Weak Nation

Let’s look at real-life implications:

Social intervention programs (like TraderMoni or school feeding) often fail to reach intended beneficiaries due to poor or outdated data.
During COVID-19, Nigeria struggled to identify vulnerable populations because health and population data weren’t readily available or accurate.
The country loses billions of naira annually from inefficiencies caused by fragmented data systems in customs, tax administration, and procurement.

In short: we’re bleeding value every day—not because we don’t have enough data, but because we don’t treat it like the critical infrastructure it is.

💼 What Tinubu’s Plan Gets Right

Let’s give credit where it’s due.

Here are three things the president’s declaration gets absolutely right:

1. Linking Data to Governance

When Tinubu talks about data being the “new oil,” he’s not just talking economics—he’s talking institutional transformation. That’s vital.

2. Emphasizing Civil Service Reform

Training civil servants through the 1Gov Cloud Academy is a smart move. A digital nation can’t be built with an analogue workforce.

3. Anchoring on Legal Frameworks

The 2023 Nigeria Data Protection Act was a landmark achievement. Now, tying executive direction to that law adds credibility and structure.

🧱 But There Are Big Gaps Still

Here’s where things get tricky—and where we need to stay vigilant:

🔌 1. Infrastructure Deficit

As of 2024, Nigeria’s broadband penetration hovers around 45%, with rural areas still largely disconnected.
Many government offices lack stable electricity, reliable internet, or digital tools.

🗃️ 2. Institutional Fragmentation

Agencies hoard data for control.
There’s no national interoperability protocol that compels MDAs to speak to one another.
And where systems exist, they often don't talk to each other (i.e., NIMC and INEC databases aren’t fully integrated).

🔐 3. Public Distrust

Citizens are still wary about how their data is collected and used.
Cases of unauthorized surveillance, SIM card fraud, or poor data breaches have eroded trust.

🛤️ What Should Happen Next?

If Tinubu’s declaration is to translate into real reform, then these must follow:

✅ 1. National Data Infrastructure Policy

There needs to be a clear roadmap that binds all public agencies to a unified, secure, and open (where appropriate) data system.

✅ 2. Open Data Framework

Let’s make non-sensitive datasets publicly available—for startups, researchers, and civic innovators. Transparency drives progress.

✅ 3. Digital Literacy Across Government

We can’t automate systems for officials who barely use email. Training must go beyond elite MDAs and reach every local government.

✅ 4. Private Sector Partnerships

The likes of Flutterwave, Paystack, and Andela built billion-dollar solutions on data. Government should engage tech players—not compete with them—to accelerate innovation.

🧭 Final Thought: Can We Avoid Another “Oil Curse”?

Here’s the core of the conversation: Nigeria didn’t fail because we lacked oil. We failed because we didn’t manage it well.

The same danger exists with data.

If managed right, data can make governance smarter, spending more efficient, and public services more equitable.
If mismanaged—hoarded, politicized, or left unsecured—it becomes another lost opportunity.

Tinubu’s statement is the right one at the right time. But the future of this new “oil” will be decided not by slogans, but by execution.

💬 What Do You Think?

Is Nigeria ready for a true data revolution?
Do you trust the current system to use your data responsibly?
What should citizens and tech communities demand next?

Drop a comment. Let’s build the conversation.

The Ceasefire That Feels Like a Lie: Iran, Israel, and the Global Crisis of Trust

By Ephraim Agbo

Sometimes, silence is more terrifying than war.

The bombs have stopped falling. The headlines have quieted. But across the Middle East—and in diplomatic circles around the world—no one is breathing easy. Not really.

Because when Iran and Israel ended their 12-day missile exchange with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, it didn’t feel like the beginning of peace. It felt like a pause in something far from over.

The Anatomy of a Broken Process

Let’s start with what we know.

On June 13, Israel launched a surprise airstrike on Iranian nuclear sites, claiming Iran was dangerously close to building a bomb. Iran responded with missile barrages. Hundreds died—soldiers, scientists, civilians. The U.S. stepped in, bombed three more Iranian sites, then called for peace.

The irony is hard to ignore: you can’t set the fire and then pose as the fireman.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, didn’t mince words in an interview days later:

“We were preparing to talk. Two days before negotiations, they bombed us. That’s not diplomacy. That’s betrayal.”

If true, the betrayal wasn’t just strategic—it was deeply personal. A slap to a nation that had already faced sanctions, sabotage, and assassinations, yet still agreed to sit at the table.

Diplomacy with a Loaded Gun

This is where the emotional weight meets cold strategy.

Israel’s strikes weren’t random. They were about survival—or so they believe. For decades, Israeli foreign policy has been anchored in one brutal lesson from history: Never wait until it’s too late.

So when uranium levels in Iran reached 60%, the alarm bells went off. And Israel responded in the only language it believes Iran understands—force.

From their perspective, it wasn’t aggression. It was insurance. A desperate act to prevent an existential threat.

But here’s the twist: Iran says it was enriching uranium for peaceful reasons—medical research, power generation, and its own sense of sovereignty. And while skeptics scoff at this, one has to ask: Why talk peace with a country you're trying to bomb into compliance?

The U.S. Caught Between Peace and Power

Then there’s the United States—the supposed mediator, the dominant power, the architect of both destruction and diplomacy.

Washington’s role in this crisis is perhaps the most complex—and the most controversial.

The U.S. has long claimed to be a defender of global peace. But in this case, it played all sides:

It supported Israel’s right to self-defense,
Launched its own strikes on Iran, and
Brokered the ceasefire.

It’s a dizzying contradiction.

And for Tehran, it’s more than confusing—it’s enraging.

“They betrayed dialogue, diplomacy, and even basic decency,” Takht-Ravanchi said, his voice not just angry, but weary. “Now they want us to trust them again?”

Beyond Blame: The Real Crisis Is Trust

This isn’t just about missiles or uranium. It’s about something far more fragile—and far more powerful: trust.

Without trust, diplomacy dies.

And right now, there’s very little of it left:

Iran doesn’t trust the U.S. to negotiate in good faith.
Israel doesn’t trust Iran to stop short of a nuclear bomb.
And the U.S.? It’s trying to lead a process that it may have already sabotaged.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world watches—some in outrage, some in silence, some in quiet I-told-you-sos.

Inside Iran: Fear and Defiance on the Home Front

Back in Tehran, fear runs parallel to fury.

The government is tightening security. Arrests are rising. Parliament wants to suspend nuclear inspections and even pull out of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Some say it’s just posturing. Others say it’s the beginning of a real turn inward.

There’s also a growing sense of pride—of defiance. That even if the world turns its back on Iran, Iran will not beg for peace. Not anymore.

But here’s the tragedy: ordinary people are paying the price. The scientists. The students. The shopkeepers who just want to live normal lives without sanctions, sirens, or surveillance.

And Still—No Easy Answers

It’s tempting to take sides. But this isn’t a Hollywood script. There are no clean heroes or villains here. Only nations acting out of fear, memory, ambition, and necessity.

Still, some questions beg for answers:

Can peace talks resume after missile strikes?
Can any country claim moral high ground when it bombs first and negotiates later?
And will the world continue to justify aggression when it comes from its allies, but condemn it when it comes from its rivals?

If diplomacy is to mean anything, it must apply consistently—not selectively. Otherwise, the very idea of international law becomes a farce.

Final Word: A Ceasefire Without Confidence

So, is the ceasefire real?

Technically, yes. But emotionally? Politically? Strategically? Not yet.

Iran has said it will respect the truce as long as no one attacks them again. But the tone is clear: Try us again, and we won’t hold back.

Israel is quiet but on alert. The U.S. says it wants peace, but hasn’t said what it's willing to give for it. And across the Middle East, people are bracing for the next headline. Because it’s not over.

Not by a long shot.

July 01, 2025

The Wicked Economics of Debt: How the Global System Strangles the Poor to Enrich the Powerful

By Ephraim Agbo

💣 A Broken System Built to Break the Weak

Stop pretending.

What we have today is not an economic system. It’s a debt trap designed to keep poor countries poor.

Across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, nations are drowning in debt—not because they were irresponsible—but because the global financial system is wired against them. A system where the rules are written in Washington, enforced in London, and the profits end up in the pockets of a few faceless creditors in New York.

If this was a movie, we’d call it evil.
In real life, we call it “policy.”

🩸 While Nations Bleed, the Creditors Feast

Right now:

Over 3.3 billion people live in countries where more money goes to debt than to health and education combined.
Poor countries spent $406 billion in interest in 2023 alone — just interest.
In Kenya, 75% of all tax revenue goes to debt payments. That means every school, every hospital, every emergency is fighting for the scraps left behind.

And for what?

Most of this debt isn’t even funding development anymore. It’s flowing right back out to the hedge funds, investment firms, and bondholders who have mastered the game of profiting from suffering.

🧠 Professor Joseph Stiglitz Says It Plainly

“This is a default on development,” says Nobel economist Joseph Stiglitz.
“The poorest countries—those least able to bear risk—are the ones being forced to shoulder it.”

He’s right.

Multilateral lenders like the IMF and World Bank offer loans to countries in crisis, but instead of rebuilding lives, those funds are redirected to pay off private creditors.

So, the institutions meant to help are feeding the cycle of exploitation. They’re not bailing out countries — they’re bailing out the rich, using poor countries as pipelines.

⚖️ A Legal System That Protects Vultures

Here's what makes it even more sinister:

Most sovereign debts are governed by New York or London law, allowing vulture funds—private entities that buy distressed debt for pennies—to sue entire countries for full repayment.

These vulture funds:

Wait until a country is desperate.
Buy its debt dirt cheap.
Then sue for the full amount—plus interest.

They’re legally sanctioned economic predators. And the law protects them, not the people in the countries they bleed.

💀 IMF Surcharges: Kicking the Dying

As if that weren’t enough, the IMF adds “surcharges”—penalty interest on top of regular interest—to countries that are already deep in crisis.

“It’s like charging a dying man extra for staying too long in the hospital,” says Indian economist Jayati Ghosh.

This is what wickedness looks like when it's dressed in policy language and presented at international conferences.

✝️ A Moral Reckoning: Jubilee 2025

Now, a new movement is rising.

Jubilee 2025, backed by the Vatican and led by Stiglitz, demands:

✂️ Total debt cancellation for nations in distress
⚖️ A new legal system to stop vulture funds
💳 Redistribution of Special Drawing Rights sitting unused in wealthy nations
🌱 Debt-for-climate swaps to protect both people and the planet
📜 A global sovereign debt court—a fair place for countries to renegotiate, not get punished

The message is clear: This isn’t charity. This is justice.

🧭 Seville Summit: Will the World Finally Listen?

At the upcoming Finance for Development Summit in Seville, activists, economists, and even some governments (like Spain and Norway) are pushing for real reform.

But the United States—the so-called “G1”—is already watering down summit language, backing away from terms like “sustainable development,” and protecting creditor interests.

The same country that prints trillions for war and bailouts is unwilling to cancel even a dollar of debt for countries with collapsing hospitals and starving children.

💬 A Global South That Refuses to Stay Silent

Economists and leaders from the Global South have had enough:

Carlos Lopes: “We borrow at 10%. The West borrows at 1%. That’s not risk. That’s bias.”
Ndongo Samba Sylla: “When our currencies fall, our debt triples. It’s financial violence.”
Latin American networks are calling this a new form of colonialism—dressed up in finance and law.

They’re not just demanding change. They’re exposing the rot.

❤️ The Human Cost

This isn’t theoretical. This is personal.

A pregnant woman in Zambia can’t find medicine because her country is sending its last dollar to London.
A 12-year-old girl in Haiti misses school because her teachers haven’t been paid in months.
A Nigerian community drowns in floodwater while the budget for climate resilience is sent to bondholders in Frankfurt.

That is the real face of this system.

✊ The Time to Choose Is Now

There comes a moment in every system’s life where it reveals what it truly stands for.

This is that moment for global finance.

Will it stand with billion-dollar hedge funds, or with the billions who live with empty stomachs, broken schools, and dying clinics?

“If we want a stable world, we must build a just one,” says Stiglitz.
“That starts with fixing this broken debt system.”

📝 Final Word

It’s not just about economics anymore.
It’s about dignity, justice, and the kind of world we want to leave behind.

Debt is not just a financial term. It is a weapon.
And the poor have been bleeding for far too long.

It’s time we put an end to this wickedness.

📢 Let’s Talk

Do you believe in debt justice?
Should poor countries keep paying the rich while their children starve?

Share your thoughts. Spread the word. Demand better.

💣 Aid or Excuses? Nigeria at the UN Climate Finance Summit Raises More Questions Than Answers

By Ephraim Agbo

As world leaders gathered in Seville, Spain, this week for a major UN summit on climate finance, the stakes couldn’t be higher — especially for countries like Nigeria. The summit’s goal is clear: help developing countries access the funds they need to tackle climate change without piling on more debt.

But as Nigeria’s delegation made its case on the global stage, many observers were left asking: Is Nigeria here for solutions — or sympathy?

🇳🇬 Nigeria’s Pitch: We Need Funding — Just Not Debt

Representing Nigeria at the summit is Finance Minister Wale Edun, who laid out a familiar narrative:

“Nigeria is here to explore new financing tools to support our macroeconomic reforms and development priorities — particularly in agriculture, health, and infrastructure.”

He warned of shrinking aid flows, and pointed to the alarming reality that many poor countries are now repaying more in debt than they receive in aid — a claim backed by the OECD and UNCTAD, which estimate a $4 trillion shortfall in funding needed to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Edun's tone was both urgent and pragmatic. Nigeria isn’t begging, he insisted — it’s seeking partnerships and smarter financing options, like:

Green bonds
Climate-linked concessional loans
Blended finance mechanisms

💰 The USAID Cuts: Real Crisis or Convenient Scapegoat?

Edun didn’t ignore the elephant in the room — the $800 million USAID cut to Nigeria’s health sector. But he played it down:

“With greater efficiency, better procurement, and cutting overheads, we can replace that $800 million with just $200 million from our budget.”

That sounds impressive — but critics say it sounds a little too convenient.

Dr. Bina Okeyo, an East African development economist, questions the math:

“How does a country that consistently underfunds its health sector suddenly promise to triple efficiency — overnight? That’s not reform; that’s spin.”

👀 Other Perspectives: Aid Isn't the Problem — Corruption Is

This is where the controversy heats up. While Nigerian officials talk about debt, climate change, and innovation, many experts and citizens are asking why the same urgency isn't being applied to corruption and accountability.

Roy, a listener from Uganda, bluntly put it:

“The Finance Minister talks reforms but avoids naming Nigeria’s real disease: corruption. No tech tool or AI will fix that.”

Dr. Abdul Kareem Dam, a Nigerian governance expert, echoed that sentiment:

“Nigeria’s funding problems are not rooted in a lack of aid or tax reforms. They’re rooted in elite looting, opaque budgets, and political impunity.”

And the numbers support their view. Nigeria ranked 145 out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (2023) — worse than war-torn Syria and barely above Myanmar.

🔍 A Closer Look: Are These “Reforms” Real or Cosmetic?

To his credit, Minister Edun pointed to recent moves:

Fuel subsidy removal, expected to save over ₦4 trillion annually
Efforts to expand the tax-to-GDP ratio (currently at a low 10.8%)
Digitizing government processes
Courting the private sector to invest in Nigeria’s recovery

But again, critics say the execution is half-baked.

“Subsidy removal without safety nets is a ticking time bomb,” said public policy analyst Alex Akande. “You don’t fight poverty by making fuel and food more expensive with no social protection.”

🌍 The Global Angle: The West Isn’t Innocent Either

Now, let’s be fair. Nigeria’s challenges are serious, but the global financial system is also stacked against developing countries.

According to UNCTAD, low-income countries spend more on debt servicing than climate adaptation.
A report by Oxfam accuses rich countries of using “climate finance” as a smokescreen — repackaging old aid as new commitments, and giving loans instead of grants.
Multinational corporations dodge taxes worth over $90 billion in Africa each year, while countries like Nigeria are told to “increase tax collection.”

So yes, Nigeria has work to do. But the global hypocrisy is real too.

🎯 Final Thought: Is Nigeria a Victim — or Its Own Villain?

Nigeria’s presence in Seville is important. The country deserves fair financing, and the world should support its climate and development goals.

But let’s not pretend:

Aid isn’t the core problem — corruption is
Debt relief without fiscal discipline just resets the cycle
Reform must be more than buzzwords in global forums

If Nigeria wants to be taken seriously on the global stage, it must do more than talk. It must prove it can govern transparently, spend wisely, and protect its people — with or without foreign aid.

Until then, summits like Seville will feel less like solutions — and more like a stage for political theater.

June 30, 2025

Cassava: The Undervalued Goldmine of Nigeria

By Ephraim Agbo

In a world where food security and industrial innovation are top global priorities, cassava — a humble root crop — stands out as a quietly powerful resource. It’s resilient, adaptable, and used in everything from meals to manufacturing. Yet, despite Nigeria being the largest producer of cassava globally, its contribution to the $3.5 billion global cassava export market remains shockingly minimal — hovering around just $1 million.

The paradox is hard to ignore: a crop with massive potential, a country with unmatched output, yet returns that barely scratch the surface.

🥘 Cassava’s Role at Home and Abroad

From the bustling food stalls in Peckham, South East London — fondly known as “Little Lagos” — to the kitchens of Brazil and Thailand, cassava is everywhere. In diaspora hubs like London, shops brim with cassava-based products:

Garri (fermented grain)
Fufu (elastic dough)
Cassava flour (a gluten-free baking option)
Starch and tapioca pearls
Even ethanol, biodegradable packaging, and industrial glue

Globally, demand for cassava is rising — driven by both food and non-food industries (textile, biofuels, pharmaceuticals). In fact, cassava is increasingly being recognized as a climate-resilient crop, capable of thriving in marginal soils and unpredictable weather.

Yet, for millions of Nigerian farmers, cassava remains an underperforming asset.

🌱 The Farmer’s Struggle

“Sometimes we can’t even complete our planting,”
says Mrs. Kemi, a smallholder cassava farmer in Ogun State.
“The work is hard, and we have no machinery to help us.”

Like her, millions of cassava farmers in Nigeria still rely on machetes and hoes. They plant, harvest, peel, and process manually — a backbreaking routine that limits yields and income. In a nation with abundant land and ideal growing conditions, productivity should be sky-high. Instead, the supply chain is fragmented, disorganized, and lacking in infrastructure.

Mechanization, access to credit, processing facilities — these remain out of reach for the average farmer.

💸 The Missed Market Opportunity

While Thailand, the world’s second-largest producer, earns billions exporting cassava starch and value-added products, Nigeria — the largest grower — remains trapped in subsistence farming and low-margin sales.

❝ Nigeria produces over 59 million metric tons of cassava annually, but contributes less than 1% to the global trade. ❞
— Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

The gap is not one of potential, but of planning, policy, and support systems.

🛠️ A New Plan to Unlock Cassava’s Value

Enter Dr. Mustafa Bakani, President of the Nigerian Cassava Growers Association. For years, he has been pushing for a coordinated national strategy:

“We must organize farmers into clusters,” he says.
“Give them access to bank loans, introduce processing machinery, and build a pipeline that links them to buyers — both local and international.”

Bakani’s strategy includes:
✅ Creating regional cassava processing hubs
✅ Establishing aggregator cooperatives
✅ Facilitating off-take agreements with large-scale buyers
✅ Working with banks to create soft loan packages for mechanization

Already, pilot clusters are forming across the South-West and North-Central zones, grouping thousands of farmers into production cooperatives that share equipment, storage, and knowledge.

📈 A Potential Economic Engine

“If we all work together — farmers, processors, marketers — cassava could help transform the Nigerian economy,”
says Professor Latif Sanni, a leading global cassava researcher.

The potential is massive:

Food security: Cassava feeds over 800 million people globally.
Jobs: Mechanization and processing can create thousands of rural jobs.
Exports: Starch, flour, ethanol, and industrial derivatives offer lucrative trade opportunities.
Industrialization: Cassava is a critical raw material in textiles, paper, and adhesives.

According to the National Root Crops Research Institute, Nigeria could multiply its cassava export earnings by 10 within a decade — if it fully embraces value-chain development.

🧩 What’s Missing?

Despite this promise, bottlenecks remain:

Inconsistent government support
Poor roads and logistics
Lack of reliable market data
Middlemen exploiting price gaps

Still, the tide may be turning. Global attention on food system resilience, plus the rising costs of wheat and maize, are putting cassava back in focus — as an affordable, climate-resilient substitute.

✊🏾 The Road Ahead

Nigeria doesn't need to grow more cassava — it needs to do more with what it already grows.

From Lagos to London, the world is already consuming Nigeria’s cassava. It’s time the country stepped up to control, scale, and profit from its own value chain. With smart policy, private sector investment, and farmer empowerment, cassava could be Nigeria’s next crude oil — but cleaner, greener, and rooted in local prosperity.

📌 Final Thought

Nigeria’s cassava sector is like an untapped oil field. The resource is abundant. The world is thirsty. But until we build the rigs — infrastructure, financing, policy — it will remain just potential. And in a country battling inflation, youth unemployment, and import dependence, that’s a potential we can’t afford to waste.

🌍 Desperate Measures or Disguised Discrimination? The U.S. Visa Controversy That's Put Nigeria and 35 Countries on Edge

By Ephraim Agbo

Let’s be honest—when the U.S. speaks, the world listens. And when it starts talking about visa bans and travel restrictions, countries scramble to get their houses in order. That’s exactly what’s happening right now.

In early June 2025, the United States took a bold step: it issued a new travel proclamation, slapped entry bans on 12 countries, placed restrictions on 7 others, and then—without skipping a beat—threatened 36 additional nations (yes, including Nigeria) with possible travel sanctions unless they meet specific immigration and security requirements.

It’s not just a policy update. It’s a diplomatic shake-up. And it’s raised more questions than answers—especially in Africa.

So let’s break this down.

—

🔍 What Really Happened?

On June 9, 2025, President Trump signed Proclamation 10949—marking a significant expansion of the U.S. travel restriction policy.

Here’s the immediate breakdown:

12 countries, including Afghanistan, Somalia, Iran, and Libya, were hit with full entry bans.
7 countries—like Cuba, Laos, and Togo—faced targeted restrictions (mostly on tourist, student, and exchange visas).
But then came the real bombshell: the U.S. quietly released an internal State Department memo listing 36 other countries, giving them 60 days to submit a plan on how they’ll clean up their immigration systems—or risk being added to the ban list.

And yes, Nigeria is one of those 36.

—

🧾 What’s the U.S. Asking For?

The message from Washington is: “Meet our standards, or watch your citizens get shut out.”

The U.S. is demanding that these 36 countries prove they can:

Issue secure, biometrically verifiable passports
Share identity and immigration data in real time
Cut down on visa overstays (a huge sore point for the U.S.)
Cooperate fully with deportation and repatriation efforts

Failure to comply could mean visa bans, slowdowns in processing, or outright suspensions for entire categories of travelers.

Countries were told to submit action plans by mid-June and must show "measurable progress" before the mid-August deadline. After that, decisions will be made.

—

🌍 Nigeria in the Hot Seat

Nigeria’s inclusion isn’t exactly surprising—but it still stings. In 2020, Nigeria was partially banned during Trump’s first term due to “information-sharing deficiencies.” That restriction was eventually lifted in 2021 after reforms. Now, here we are again.

Why is Nigeria under scrutiny?

It’s one of the top five countries for U.S. visa overstays, particularly among B1/B2 (tourist/business) visitors.
U.S. officials have long expressed frustration with Nigeria’s lack of cooperation in accepting deported nationals.
Concerns over passport fraud and weak national ID systems also play a role.

But critics argue that this paints a one-sided picture.

Nigeria sends thousands of students, medical professionals, and tech talent to the U.S. every year. In 2024 alone, over 17,000 Nigerian students were enrolled in U.S. universities—making Nigeria one of the top African contributors to the U.S. higher education system.

In short, Nigeria is not just a migration source—it’s a key partner. And that’s why this “review” feels so controversial.

—

🎙️ What Did the U.S. Clarify?

After massive blowback—especially across African media—the U.S. State Department issued a clarification.

At a June 17 press briefing, spokesperson Tammy Bruce reassured the public:

“This is not a ban. It’s a review process… We’re working with governments to improve cooperation and transparency. Entry into the U.S. isn’t being revoked from any of these 36 countries at this time.”

Translation? The door’s not closed—yet. But the lock is being tested.

This clarification helped calm some fears. Visa appointments are still being booked. Airlines are still flying. No active travel bans have been imposed on Nigeria or the other 35 countries under review.

But the review is real. And if Nigeria doesn’t deliver results by August, consequences will follow.

—

👁️ Looking Beyond the Headlines

It’s easy to say this is about security—and to some extent, that’s true. The U.S. wants to protect its borders and make sure every person entering is traceable, documented, and returnable if necessary.

But here’s the tricky part: Of the 36 countries currently under review, 25 are African.

That’s 70%.

And it raises uncomfortable questions.

Why are wealthier nations with known cybercrime or espionage histories not on the list? Why is there such a heavy focus on Africa, the Caribbean, and parts of Southeast Asia?

Some see this as a subtle form of global profiling—where weaker systems and poorer nations bear the brunt of heavy-handed immigration policies.

One Nigerian commentator wrote,

“We send our best minds to your schools, our families to your hospitals, and now we have to prove we’re worthy of a visa?”

—

💬 The People It Affects

Behind all the diplomatic jargon and policy memos are real people with real plans. Students with admission letters. Entrepreneurs heading to pitch meetings. Families reuniting. Musicians touring. Churches attending conferences.

For many Nigerians, this feels like déjà vu.

“I’ve already paid my school fees and received my I-20,” said Chidi, a student bound for Ohio this fall. “Now I’m hearing my country could be banned. It’s stressful.”

—

📌 What Happens Next?

Nigeria has until mid-August to meet U.S. demands.
Reform plans must show not just promises but actual implementation.
The U.S. will then decide which countries get removed from the list—and which get added to the ban.

Until then, it’s a tense waiting game.

—

✍️ Final Thoughts: Cooperation or Coercion?

Let’s call it what it is: this is pressure diplomacy. The U.S. is using access to its borders as leverage. And while some of the demands are reasonable—like better passports or cooperation on deportation—the way this policy is being rolled out feels one-sided.

Yes, security matters. But so does balance. So does dignity.

Nigeria and its citizens deserve policies based on fairness—not fear.

Let’s hope common sense prevails—and that doors stay open, not just for travel, but for trust.

Desperate Nations Make Desperate Choices: Inside the Iran-Israel Ceasefire, Trump’s Gamble, and the Human Cost No One’s Talking About

By Ephraim Agbo

Let’s call it what it is: this isn’t peace—it’s just a silence soaked in smoke and loss. A ceasefire that came too late for the families who lost everything in Tehran… and came too soon for those who needed justice, clarity, or even just one more breath before their home collapsed.

More than a week after U.S. and Israeli fighter jets rained fire on Iran’s key nuclear sites, a so-called ceasefire is barely holding. Politicians are trading claims of victory. But on the ground? There are craters where homes once stood, funerals with no bodies, and a trail of Afghans trudging across dusty borders, clutching their children and whatever they could carry.

🔥 What Really Happened?

The joint operation—code-named "Midnight Hammer"—was meant to cripple Iran’s nuclear program. Sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan were hit hard. The world braced for a full-on war.

But it didn’t come. Not because diplomacy won—but because everyone realized what war would really cost.

President Trump claimed the strikes had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. But international experts tell a different story: the enrichment facilities were damaged, yes—but Iran still has the knowledge, the materials, and likely hidden centrifuges ready to spin again.

“They may have small secret installations—1,000 or 2,000 centrifuges—that could be restarted within months,” warned Olli Heinonen, former deputy head of the UN nuclear watchdog.

So… the clock is still ticking.

🧠 Behind the Curtain: Trump’s Double Game

One day Trump tweeted that he wanted to “meet Iran.” Days later, after being insulted by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, he lashed out on social media:

“Ungrateful! I saved you from being assassinated!”

That emotional outburst shows just how personal and volatile the situation has become. But while the war of words dominated headlines, diplomats kept working quietly behind the scenes.

We now know that Gulf states—Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE—were frantically calling both Washington and Tehran, begging for calm. These nations see a war with Iran not just as dangerous, but as existential. It’s a bomb in their backyard.

And even though Iran says it won’t talk unless the U.S. guarantees no more attacks, contacts are still happening through intermediaries.

🇮🇷 Iran’s Side: Wounded but Defiant

In an interview with the BBC, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Ravanchi didn’t hold back:

“We paid a high price for enriching uranium. But to say we must stop, or be bombed? That’s the law of the jungle.”

He insisted Iran’s 60% enrichment is for peaceful purposes—and that while the level and capacity could be discussed, Iran won’t accept being bullied into surrender.

Behind his words lies a proud nation—battered, isolated, but not broken. In Tehran, there’s grief… but also defiance.

👨‍👩‍👧 The Forgotten Crisis: Afghan Lives Shattered

While politicians talk enrichment levels and missiles, hundreds of thousands of lives hang in the balance.

In June alone, over 250,000 Afghans were forced to leave Iran, many deported with no notice, no money, and no future. Some walked for days to reach the Islam Qala border, where UNICEF and aid workers try to give them food, water, and a sliver of hope.

On June 26, 36,000 people were pushed out in one day. Entire families—mothers carrying babies, girls who may never go to school again—crossed into a country they no longer recognize.

“We’ve seen children arriving barefoot. Women collapsed from exhaustion. Girls too afraid to speak,” says a UNICEF field officer.

Afghanistan, already struggling, is now overwhelmed. And with Pakistan also expelling undocumented Afghans, over 1.2 million people have returned this year alone.

These are not numbers. These are souls, dreams, and entire childhoods lost between wars they never asked for.

🌍 What the World Is Saying

Across Europe, analysts worry that the bombings may have backfired—pushing Iran closer to actually pursuing nuclear weapons as a deterrent, not a threat.

French and German diplomats privately expressed fears that the strikes “gutted the remaining trust” needed to resume talks. China and Russia, meanwhile, are drawing closer to Iran, offering trade and arms in exchange for loyalty.

“The West may have pushed Iran into a tighter corner than ever,” one EU official told Le Monde. “And desperate nations make desperate choices.”

🕊️ A Ceasefire, Not a Solution

Everyone claims to have won.

Trump says he prevented a bigger war.
Israel says it sent a clear message.
Iran says it stood its ground and forced a ceasefire.

But here’s what was really won: nothing.

Iran still has the tools.
The region is more unstable.
Afghans are homeless.
And a new generation grows up knowing bombs better than books.

✍🏽 Final Thoughts: Look Deeper

This is bigger than missiles and uranium. It’s about power, pride, and the people caught in the middle. Every diplomatic failure, every bomb, every hashtag war… it costs someone their future.

So when you hear leaders declare “mission accomplished,” ask yourself: for whom?

Because until we build peace on justice—not just on rubble and silence—we’ll keep circling back to war.

💬 If this moved you, share it. Speak up. Let’s not let these stories get buried beneath politics and propaganda.