March 2023

28 March 2023
Legit
“Japa”: Nigerian Students’ Population in UK Universities Hits All-Time High
According to the latest official data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), the population of Nigerian students studying in the UK has reached an all-time high of 44,195 for the academic year 2021/2022…

Punch
Security agencies should make elections safer
The pockets of violence reported in some parts of the country during the May 18 state governorship, and houses of assembly elections exposed gaps in the institutional capacity of the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to fully stamp out lawlessness during elections…

27 March 2023
BusinessDay
Number of Nigerians studying in UK hits 8-year high
The number of Nigerians studying in the United Kingdom has risen to a high of 44,195 in the 2021/2022 academic year, the latest official data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) show…

Your Commonwealth
Why many Nigerians are leaving the country
On Twitter, when Destiny Ogedegbe announced his acceptance into both Oxford University and Harvard University, arguably the two most prestigious universities in the world, the spate of congratulatory messages was enough to make one swoon with envy…

26 March 2023
Guardian Nigeria
Opinion polls and 2023 presidential contest: Prediction versus reality
In the build up to the 2023 general elections, several opinion polls were conducted to give insight into the likely outcome of the elections, especially the February 25, 2023 presidential elections…

25 March 2023
Punch
How we lost our loved ones to election violence – Families
The sun has stopped to shine on the household of a chartered surveyor and former Caretaker Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Ward 10, Ahoada West, Rivers State, Chief Chiosom Lennard…

23 March 2023
Rest of World
How Nigerians are using WhatsApp groups to fight food inflation
For Cecelia Anahobi, a single mother of two, grocery shopping in 2022 meant navigating steadily rising food prices. As inflation in Nigeria crossed 20%, Anahobi, a resident of Calabar city in southern Nigeria, saw bread, milk, cereal, meat, and vegetables become costlier with each trip to the store. So, when a colleague told her about bulk shopping via WhatsApp, she couldn’t wait to try it…

Vanguard
10th Assembly: Why North West deserve Speakership
Now that the general election is over, our immediate attention must be geared towards the leadership of the National Assembly, the representatives of the people in Government…

21 March 2023
Bloomberg
Nigeria Set to Extend Biggest-Ever Rate Hikes, Hold Off on Naira Devaluation
The Central Bank of Nigeria is set to extend its steepest phase of monetary tightening to contain inflation and attract investors back into local debt, while holding off on a widely-expected currency devaluation until later in the year…

Channels
The 2023 Verdict: Analysts Review Outcome Of State Elections, Implications
SBM Intelligence’s Head of Research, Ikemesit Effiong joined Channels Television’s election coverage to discuss the implications of Nigeria’s governorship elections, including the impact of social media on the polls and the importance of increasing state autonomy over key governance priorities…

FIJ
REPORT: 27 killed During Governorship, House of Assembly Elections
No fewer than 27 Nigerians were killed during the March 18 governorship and House of Assembly elections held across the country, SB Morgen Intelligence, a data organisation, has stated in its report…

20 March 2023
Newsweek
How the U.S. Invasion of Iraq Is Still Ruining the World 20 Years Later
The U.S.-led invasion of Iraq that commenced 20 years ago in March 2003 set in motion a series of events that today still resound across the Middle East and beyond, fueling violence and instability around the world some two decades later…

Nigeria Politics Weekly
The Gubernatorial Elections, INEC & The Attacks On Igbos
SBM Intelligence’s  Head of Research Ikemesit Effiong joined the Nigeria Politics Weekly podcast to discuss the gubernatorial elections and the role of INEC and the attacks on Igbos in Lagos State…

18 March 2023
Dataphyte
Skepticism as 22 BVAS machines missing in Rivers State
About 22 Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) meant for governorship and house of assembly elections in Rivers State are missing, according to the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Johnson Alalibo…

Nigeria Info
The Mandate ’23: Guber & State Assembly Elections Coverage
SBM Intelligence’s Head of Operations Stanley Ikechukwu and Deputy Head of Operations Goddey Odin joins Ireti Bakare-Yusuf in the #NIMandate23 Studio…

The Mandate ’23: Guber & State Assembly Elections Coverage
Jimi Disu joins Maryann Okon in the #NIMandate23 Studio…

17 March 2023
Culture Custodian
Security Tips to Consider Ahead of Saturday’s Elections
Many Nigerians head into Saturday’s gubernatorial and state assembly elections feeling a mixture of optimism and dread…

16 March 2023
AIT
A Look At The 2023 Governorship Elections
Moneyline’s Nancy Iloh hosts Cheta Nwanze of SBM Intelligence and they talk about Saturday’s governorship elections as well as yesterday’s inflation numbers…

BusinessDay
Inflation rises for second straight month to 21.91%
Nigeria’s headline inflation rate rose for the second straight month in February, largely driven by higher food prices…

Nairametrics
13 people were killed during Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election
No fewer than 13 people were killed in 36 incidents across Nigeria during the country’s 2023 presidential elections held last month…

Gubernatorial Elections: Police imposes restriction of movement nationwide except FCT
The Nigerian Police Force said there would be movement restrictions on Saturday, March 18 during the gubernatorial and state houses of assembly elections…

15 March 2023
ICIR
Nigeria’s inflation rate rises to 21.91% in February – NBS
Nigeria’s inflation rate rose to a new 17-year high of 21.91 per cent in February 2023, representing a 0.09 per cent marginal point increase when compared to the 21.82 per cent recorded in the previous month…

14 March 2023
AP
Nigeria’s old currency can be used longer amid cash crisis
Nigeria’s central bank has extended the timeline to swap out its old currency for redesigned notes after the change triggered a cash shortage, forcing businesses to close and leaving millions unable to withdraw their money…

Devex
Can Nigeria’s political ‘godfather’ transform the country?
Nigeria’s kingmaker is now king. Months after telling the country “it is my turn,” Bola Tinubu, was announced as the winner of the country’s presidential election that’s fraught with allegations of voter intimidation and manipulation…

Punch
FG generates ₦631.09bn tax from IT sector, says NBS
Consumers and firms operating in the Information and Communication space paid ₦631.09bn as tax in 2022, data from the National Bureau of Statistics has revealed…

13 March 2023
The Cable
#NigeriaDecides2023: So many pre-election projections — and plenty F9s
Were the pre-2023 presidential election surveys designed to promote a particular candidate, prepare grounds to discredit the outcome of the vote — or just results of a bad day in the office?…

Morning Consult
Nigerian Emigration Challenges Underscored by Contested Election
Nigerians are among the most pessimistic about their prospects and see corruption as rampant in their country, according to Morning Consult surveys in 16 countries across six continents, an outlook that is reflected by the outcome of last month’s presidential election, which was marred with irregularities and violence…

WILAN
The Power of Women at the Grassroots
Head of Research at SBM Intelligence Ikemesit Effiong spoke on the Leading Woman Show about the prospects of women’s participation in Nigeria and shared ideas about driving increased female participation in Africa’s largest democracy…

12 March 2023
BusinessDay
INEC: Wrong time to mess up with numbers
Mobilised by protests against police brutality in 2020, Nigeria’s young were determined to ensure a credible election process in 2023 to birth the country they desire…

Premium Times
Nigeria’s 2023 Presidential Election: Inside the opinion polls that got it wrong
In the weeks leading up to the 25 February presidential election, most polls predicted that Labour Party candidate Peter Obi would win the election and become Nigeria’s next president…

10 March 2023
Guardian Nigeria
Poll shift may cost Nigeria more than $2.23b suffered in 2019
Many Nigerians are having a hard time coming to terms with reality; that the 2023 general elections won’t be concluded tomorrow after raised hopes of returning to pre-election fuel and cash crises after this weekend…

The Nation
How Nigeria’s oil-producing states shared over ₦970b derivation fund
The nine oil-producing states in Nigeria shared ₦970.20 billion from the Federation Account through the 13 per cent derivation formula in 2022…

9 March 2023
BusinessDay
Election postponements cost Nigeria dearly
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s postponement of the gubernatorial elections last night can lead to huge economic and financial losses to Africa’s biggest economy…

The Cable
₦296bn for Delta, Edo got ₦37bn — how oil-producing states shared derivation fund in 2022
The nine oil-producing states in Nigeria shared ₦970.20 billion from the federation account through the 13 percent derivation formula in 2022…

Legit
2023 Governorship Elections: 5 States APC May Lose to PDP, Labour Party and NNPP
Ahead of the forthcoming 2023 governorship elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is in control of 21 states while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is in charge of 14, including the newest gain, Osun (which is subject to the final decision of the court)…

Nairametrics
Election postponement comes with staggering economic loss
Socioeconomic research firm BSM Intelligence has said that the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the gubernatorial and state Houses of Assembly elections, will come with significant economic losses for Nigeria…

The Sun Nigeria
Nigeria Decides 2023: Fresh anxiety as Nigerians vote for governors, House of Assembly members
On Saturday, March 11, Nigerians of voting age would once again file out to vote for governors and members, House of assemblies of various states in the country…

8 March 2023
Legit
2023 Governorship Elections: Full List of States APC, PDP, Labour Party May Win as EiE, SBM Release Prediction
Ahead of the March 11 governorship elections, Enough is Enough (EiE) and SB Morgen (SBM) Intelligence have released the results of a survey conducted to find out the likely winners…

Reuters
Lagos in focus as Nigerians elect new state governors
Nigerians will return to the polls on Saturday to elect state governors across the country, two weeks after a disputed presidential election, with the main focus on the race to lead Lagos, the country’s economic heartbeat and wealthiest state…

Stears
Land reform: a priority for Nigeria’s new lawmakers
Only three out of every ten households that own land or any form of real estate in Nigeria can use it for wealth creation…

7 March 2023
JoyNews
Analysis: Election 2024 and the Ghana Card
A Deputy Chairman in charge of Corporate Services at Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC) says his outfit is pushing for the passage of the Constitutional Instrument (CI) that seeks to make the Ghana Card the sole document for voter registration…

6 March 2023
News Central
Nigeria Gubernatorial Election: INEC Chairman Orders Retraining, Sack of Negligent Staff
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has directed that it’s ad-hoc staff be made to undergo a refresher training ahead of the governorship and state assembly elections billed for Saturday 11 March, 2023…

The Sun
Presidential/NASS elections: A post mortem
On February 25, 2023, Nigerians turned out in their numbers to elect their President and National Assembly members. This was sequel to the promise of President Muhammadu Buhari to bequeath a legacy of free, fair and credible elections to Nigeria…

5 March 2023
Financial Times
Nigeria’s new president inherits fragile nation
Bola Tinubu this week fulfilled his life-long ambition to become leader of Nigeria after winning the closest presidential vote since the end of the country’s military dictatorship 24 years ago…

3 March 2023
BusinessDay
Analysts see Nigeria’s inflation accelerating further on naira scarcity
Analysts in Africa’s biggest economy are predicting that the country’s headline inflation will accelerate further on the persistent naira and fuel scarcity and the post-election tensions that shut down several businesses…

The Cable
’15 states for PDP, 10 for APC’ — EiE, SBM release guber polls forecast
Enough is Enough (EiE) and SB Morgen (SBM) Intelligence have released the results of a survey conducted to find out the likely winners of the forthcoming gubernatorial elections.

CGTN Africa
Nigeria’s president-elect will have busy first 100 days
Partner at SBM Intelligence Tunde Ajileye says that raising revenue, tackling the oil and gas prices as well as returning the subsidy programme are key issues Nigeria’s president-elect Bola Tinubu must address during his first 100 days in office…

Naija News
2023 Governorship Election: Fresh Poll Predicts States To Be Won By APC, Labour Party, PDP, Others
A fresh poll has predicted the states likely to be won by major political parties in Nigeria’s governorship election scheduled for March 11, 2023…

Nairametrics
Gubernatorial Elections: Babajide Sanwo-Olu projected to win, more than 50% interest in the election – SBM Intelligence
A report by socioeconomic research firm SBM Intelligence revealed that 64.0% of respondents in Lagos believe that Babajide Sanwo-Olu will win the governorship election, with the majority of all age groups and employment categories also choosing him…

Punch
Naira crisis: Attacks on banks barbaric, misplaced
The ongoing naira crisis is bringing out the ugly side of some Nigerians. Frustrated, angry and hungry, some bank customers are resorting to mob action, attacking banks and bankers, and torching Automated Teller Machines and other facilities…

Sahara Reporters
New Survey Predicts How Political Parties Would Share States In March 11 Governorship Election
A civil society organisation, Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria and SBM Intelligence has released election forecast for the March 11, governorship and state houses of assembly polls in 28 states, lamenting that the disconnect of electorates from the lower levels of governance is very unhealthy for democracy in Nigeria…

2 March 2023
Bloomberg
Only 3 in 10 People Turned Out to Vote in Nigeria’s Elections
Turnout in Nigeria’s presidential election was the lowest on record – with fewer than 3 out of 10 people who registered and collected voting cards casting their ballots…

Energy Voice
The Tinubu presidency and Nigeria’s energy challenges
Nigeria has elected Bola Tinubu to be the next president of Nigeria, keeping the All Progressives Congress (APC) in control of the country…

1 March 2023
Foreign Policy
Tensions Escalate as Nigeria Awaits Results
On Saturday, Nigeria held Africa’s largest democratic exercise when many of the country’s 87.2 million eligible voters cast their ballots in presidential and legislative elections…

Modern Ghana
Peter Obi’s winning possibility is quite impossible now
The chances of Mr. Peter Obi of the Nigerian Labour Party heading the next government of Africa’s most populous nation are almost impossible, says a research analyst…

New York Times
Nigeria’s Most Powerful Kingmaker Wins His Long-Desired Throne
In the run-up to Nigeria’s presidential election on Saturday, the ruling party candidate’s best-known slogan was “Emi lo kan,” a phrase in the Yoruba language meaning “It’s my turn.”…

Reuters
Investors hope Tinubu’s Nigeria presidential poll win heralds reform
Nigeria’s new president-elect Bola Tinubu has a reputation for raising taxes and appointing technocrats that international investors hope will carry through to his presidency and usher in reforms to the exchange rate and costly fuel subsidies…

Washington Post
Bola Tinubu of Nigeria’s ruling party wins presidential election
The opposition, including the campaigns of both outsider candidate Peter Obi and former vice president Atiku Abubakar, has vowed to contest the results, saying that a new election should be held under a new elections chief…