A Nigerian election pits an ex-general against a tycoon
Muhammad Buhari has disappointed. His opponent could be worse
NOTHING SEEMS awry on arrival at the Ajaokuta Steel Company near Lokoja in central Nigeria. Nestled in scrubland are rows of depots, mills and furnaces; the complex covers 800 hectares, or four times the size of Monaco. Inside the main building workers amble through the foyer, barely noticing a suggestion box.
This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “Battle of the big men”
From the February 9th 2019 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from Middle East & Africa
A narrow corridor in Gaza has become an obstacle to a ceasefire
Binyamin Netanyahu says the presence of Israeli troops is crucial. His generals disagree
If Nigeria cannot end fuel shortages, disaster beckons
A new refinery creates a chance to scrap ruinous petrol subsidies
The fall of Libya’s central banker triggers a new struggle
It could help the warlord who controls the country’s east
How Africans can stay cool as the climate warms
Air-conditioning is only part of the answer
The relationship between Israel and Turkey is at breaking point
But the Turkish president is desperate to avoid a regional war
China’s relationship with Africa is growing murkier
A decline in capital flows does not necessarily signal disengagement