John O. Ifediora. Abstract This paper advances the position that standing military forces in sub-Saharan and North African states have, on the whole, failed to serve the security interests of their populations, have functioned with alarming frequency as instruments of authoritarian consolidation, and constitute a chronic drain on public resources that are urgently needed for economic development. Drawing on historical evidence, comparative political analysis, and development economics, this paper argues that African states would be better served by disbanding or dramatically reducing conventional military establishments in favor of robust, well-trained, and well-resourced civilian police forces capable of addressing the…
Author: CASADE
John O. Ifediora Introduction Corruption is Africa’s most devastating and most normalised catastrophe. Unlike drought, conflict, or epidemic disease — calamities that attract international attention, humanitarian mobilisation, and genuine public grief — corruption kills quietly. It kills the infant whose rural clinic had no medicines because the procurement budget was diverted into a minister’s private account. It kills the student whose potential was extinguished in a crumbling, understaffed school whose construction funds never arrived. It kills the farmer whose irrigation infrastructure exists only on paper, the contract having been awarded to a politically connected ghost company. These are not metaphorical…
CASADE Position Papers On Nigeria’s 2027 Presidential Election A Nation at the Crossroads Nigeria stands, once again, at a pivotal moment in its history. The 2027 presidential election is not merely another exercise in democratic ritual — it is a defining referendum on the future of Africa’s most populous nation and its largest economy. With over 220 million citizens, vast natural resources, and immeasurable human potential, Nigeria possesses every ingredient for greatness. What has consistently eluded her is not capacity, but calibre of leadership. The time has come for Nigerians to demand, and to elect, a president endowed with a…
John O. Ifediora. Abstract The economic impact of bureaucratic corruption on development is examined within the framework of an industrial organizational model of oligopoly. It is argued that the deleterious effects of corruption arise primarily from its distortionary influence on socioeconomic decision-making, and that these effects are rendered more pronounced by diminishing levels of transparency in governance. Utilizing Sub-Saharan Africa as a case study, and incorporating new empirical evidence and recent scholarship through 2025, this paper demonstrates that endemic and unconstrained corruption disrupts and ultimately retards economic development. New sections address the phenomenon of state capture, the corruption of emergency…
John O. Ifediora. Abstract. Bureaucratic corruption constitutes one of the most persistent and debilitating impediments to economic development on the African continent. This paper examines the multidimensional consequences of bureaucratic corruption across African economies, drawing on empirical data from the African Union, UNCTAD, Transparency International, the African Development Bank, Chatham House, and peer-reviewed scholarship. Following a continental analysis, the paper provides five extended national case studies — Nigeria, Cameroon, Kenya, Zaire (the Democratic Republic of the Congo under Mobutu Sese Seko), and South Africa — that collectively illuminate corruption’s consequences across diverse political systems, resource endowments, and historical contexts.…
CASADE Series on Bureaucratic Corruption The management of assets recovered from corrupt officials represents a critical test of a nation’s commitment to transparency and good governance. For Nigeria, a country that has intensified its anti-corruption efforts, the question of how these recovered funds are accounted for is of paramount importance to its citizens, international partners, and policymakers. This analysis provides a comprehensive overview of Nigeria’s evolving asset recovery mechanisms, the legal frameworks underpinning them, and the ongoing journey toward complete financial accountability in 2026. Table of Contents The Evolution of Asset Recovery and Accounting in Nigeria The Institutional Pillars: Who…
CASADE Position Papers on Nigeria’s 2027 Presidential Elections. John O. Ifediora.. The ‘Last Shot’ Narrative: An Examination of Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 Presidential Bid The political landscape of Nigeria is once again shaped by the enduring ambition of one of its most prominent figures, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. His recent confirmation of intent to contest the 2027 presidential election, potentially at the age of 81, reignites a national conversation about leadership, succession, and the future of the country’s democracy. This analysis examines the multifaceted motivations behind this bid, which extends a political pursuit that began in 1993. Framed by Atiku…
CASADE Policy Papers on Nigeria. Nigeria’s presidential elections in 2027 represent a critical juncture for the nation’s democratic consolidation and regional stability. This analysis provides a comprehensive examination of the electoral roadmap, the prevailing security landscape, and the institutional frameworks required to ensure a transparent and credible process. The central thesis posits that the 2027 election is not merely a political contest between individuals, but a profound stress test for Nigeria’s institutional integrity and its entire security architecture. Success will be determined by the capacity of its democratic institutions to manage a complex electoral cycle while safeguarding the process against…
CASADE Public Policy Series. Table of Contents Beyond the Ledger: Redefining Public Sector Accountability Metrics in 2026 The Four Pillars of Institutional Integrity and Performance Data and Trust: Balancing Quantitative Outputs with Qualitative Impact A Step-by-Step Guide to Implementing Accountability Frameworks From Measurement to Transformation: Partnering for a Transparent Future Beyond the Ledger: Redefining Public Sector Accountability Metrics In the evolving landscape of governance, public sector accountability metrics are defined as the systematic, quantifiable, and qualitative measures used to evaluate the performance, integrity, and public impact of governmental institutions. The year 2026 represents a critical juncture, particularly for emerging economies,…
John O. Ifediora. The Evolving Nature of Security Challenges in Africa The security landscape of the African continent is undergoing a profound transformation. By the end of 2026, the predominant security challenges in Africa will be defined not by traditional interstate warfare, but by a complex matrix of intrastate fragility, the proliferation of non-state actors, and systemic developmental deficits. Contemporary analysis must therefore adopt a multi-dimensional perspective that extends beyond conventional military metrics. This requires a focus on the principles of Human Security, a model that integrates food and health security, economic stability, and environmental resilience into the core of…