Systems & Society

Insights

Columns on Nigerian institutions, infrastructure, democracy, energy and government.

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25 essays

Energy

Nigeria’s power sector “penkelemesi”: Adelabu’s tenure and the next agenda

THE departure of Adebayo Adelabu as Minister of Power presents an opportunity for structural reset in a sector long managed through incremental adjustment rather than deliberate redesign. The word “Penkelemesi”—“peculiar mess”—popularized by Adelabu’s grandfather—aptly describes Nigeria’s power sector. From recurring grid collapses to chronic underperformance, it remains a study in systemic dysfunction. From recommendation to […]

Constitution

The Courts, INEC, and Political Parties: Guardians of Democracy or Its Saboteurs?

Democracies fail not only when institutions are captured, but also when institutions, acting within their mandates, produce outcomes that weaken the system they are meant to protect. At the center of democracy are three guardians: political parties, electoral umpires, and the courts. When these institutions act with clarity, coordination, and discipline, democracy strengthens. When they […]