A Doctor Stays, an Economy Chases a Dream
Doctors avert strike, $1tn economy a mirage, Falcons reach quarters, army hunts ISWAP, Dangote cuts petrol to ₦1,165.
Good morning,
A resident doctor in Lagos has not seen a promotion in years. She works 72-hour shifts in a hospital without basic oxygen supplies. The government owed her salary arrears for months. She was preparing to join the 16,000 colleagues who have already left. But yesterday, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors reached a breakthrough agreement with government negotiators on structured timelines for resolving salary arrears, promotion backlogs and specialist allowances. The deal averts industrial action across federal tertiary hospitals. The relief is real. But as with every government promise, the question is whether the money will follow the words.
While doctors breathe a sigh of relief, the economy is chasing a mirage. The government insists Nigeria will build a $1 trillion economy by 2030. To hit that target, analysts say the country would need to sustain an annual growth rate of 10 to 12 percent. The IMF’s projection for 2026 is 4.4 percent. At current realistic growth of 4 percent, the economy will only cross the trillion-dollar threshold around 2040. Even under a wildly optimistic scenario of 10 percent growth, it would still only reach $773 billion by 2030. As our feature piece notes, the 2030 deadline is practically dead on arrival.
But there is good news. The Super Falcons thrashed Egypt 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals at WAFCON in Morocco. After a shock defeat to Malawi in their opener, the team has rebounded with dominant performances. The title defence is alive. Hurrah for the girls!
And the army is closing in on ISWAP. The military has declared the group’s governor, Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa, wanted after a major intelligence breakthrough in the Lake Chad region. Forensic analysis of recovered devices revealed key terrorist locations. A substantial financial reward is on offer. The question is whether it will lead to his capture.
Dangote has cut petrol prices to ₦1,165 per litre. The fourth reduction in weeks. Relief at the pump. And police in Lagos seized a truck carrying 300 cartons of fake drugs. The counterfeit trade is a public health crisis. The seizure is a victory. The question is whether the authorities can sustain the momentum.
Warmly,
Lolade