Nigeria

Shell Faces New Risks in Nigeria

After a number of accidents, attacks by militants, and political scandals, is Shell’s honeymoon with Nigeria coming to an end? Some recent events and transactions indicate a shift in the Dutch company’s strategy in the country, opening a window of opportunity for new operators.

Nigeria Makes Another Attempt at Anti-Corruption

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has sacked the country’s corruption czar and appointed a new one. Can they turn things around?

Nigerian Oil Exploration at 10-Year Low Before Law

Despite a drop-off of instability in the Delta today, oil exploration in Nigeria has slumped to the lowest in a decade after producers including Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Total SA backed away from investment until the country’s petroleum law is finally passed. Just one exploration well was drilled in Nigeria over the past two [...]

Corporate Foreign Policy Speech in Helsinki

Robert Amsterdam’s speech on corporate foreign policy in Helsinki, Finland.

Shell Lawsuit Settled: How Nigerian Human Rights Move Forward

Oil company Royal Dutch Shell will pay $15.5 million to settle a lawsuit against its Nigerian subsidiary by the family of executed Nigerian environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and other dissidents, the plaintiffs announced yesterday.  The lawsuit accused Shell of complicity in the 1995 hanging of Saro-Wiwa and the murders or persecution of other environmental activists [...]

Opportunity in Investment: Nollywood on the Rise

The beauty and indeed power of Bollywood has never been more prevalent than in recent months, with the smash-hit success of the film “Slumdog Millionaire“. Through the music of A.R. Rahman and the dazzling cinematography, one can only imagine the next big hit to come from an emerging economic and indeed cultural market. However, there [...]

A United Africa Needed in Conquering Conflict, Corruption

Rule of law in Africa has always been a controversial issue to foreign investors looking to take steps in to emerging markets. The recent acts of piracy coordinated on the ground between Nigeria and Somalia are examples not only of a lack of domestic security but of the power of African inter-connectedness, even if it [...]

Won’t You Be My Neighbor – African Infrastructure being Abused and Unused

“If a continent is divided in to a patchwork of tiny countries, countries too small to have internalized key externalities, vital public goods will be missing.”  - Paul Collier, Wars Guns and Votes Infrastructure Reform – a critical platform for one running for elected office in Africa against the incumbent. Roads, schools, houses and yes, [...]

Africa – Change You Can Connect To

Scholars, pundits and celebrities alike have long downplayed Africa’s growth, almost as though the continent itself were a mismanaged country, a sorry nation-state of affairs.  Truth be told, there is significant, tangible change as a result of investment seen across the continent, change which is helping not only bring African citizens up to speed with the [...]

A Prescription for Foreign Investment in Nigeria

Last evening, the keynote speech of Dr. Kingsley Moghalu, CEO of Sogato Strategies Group at the Business and Investment Forum for Nigerian Governors was published, detailing Dr. Moghalu’s strategic approaches to foreign investment in Nigeria. Dr. Moghalu has some straightforward yet insightful applications for how foreign direct investment can be exponentially more beneficial to Nigeria [...]