Inflation...

The increase in oil prices is having a real impact on prices in Nigeria. Transport costs have been jumping up and down for months now, but it seems that all the other commodities are starting to follow suit. When a friend asked a bartender why the price of a drink had increaded N50, since the week before, I was about to quip ‘because fuel prices have gone up’ when he beat me to it. Entirely seriously. The new president has promised to tackle the issues of the Niger Delta and the MEND group have suspended their hostage-taking activities for 1 month. Nigerians don’t seem to have much faith in their leadership (and there is absolutely no reason why they should), but all the same there seems to be some expectations around the new president. Despite his stolen mandate, he seems to be a person of character. It just remains to be seen whether he is strong enough to follow his convictions, or whether the Nigerian people will be disregarded once again.