Songs of disenchantment: the sorrow of Nigeria

About this episode

<p><u><a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/10/01/nigerians-dislike-their-president-but-may-re-elect-him-anyway?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nigeria</a></u> is suffering a worsening security crisis, compounded by a lean harvest, global aid cuts and rising energy prices. So why is President Bola Tinubu likely to win January’s election? Europe is struggling to develop a rival to <u><a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/10/20/europes-dependence-on-america-in-space-is-hard-to-escape?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Starlink</a></u> and reduce reliance on American satellites. And our obituaries editor recalls the improbable career of author and conman <u><a href="https://www.economist.com/obituary/2026/10/22/jeffrey-archers-career-was-worthy-of-his-most-improbable-plots?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeffrey Archer</a></u>.</p><p>Watch extended clips from Insider <u><a href="https://www.economist.com/interactive/insider/previews?utm_campaign=a.brand_fy2627_q1_awareness-imp-tr_prospecting_global-global_direct_na&utm_medium=audio.podcast.pd&utm_source=economist&utm_content=discovery.awareness.anonymous.tr_nativeread_np-tiinsider-apr_na-na_web_na_na_na_na&utm_term=sa.arc-isi" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a></u>. </p><p>Guests and host:</p><ul><li>Ore Ogunbiyi, Africa correspondent</li><li>Jonathan Rosenthal, international correspondent</li><li>Ann Wroe, obituaries editor</li><li>Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”</li><li>Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”</li></ul><p>Topics covered: </p><ul><li>Nigeria, Bola Tinubu</li><li>Starlink, Ukraine, Musk, OneWeb, Eutelsat</li><li>Jeffrey Archer, Kane and Abel, perjury</li></ul><p><em>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—<u><a href="https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">subscribe to The Economist</a></u>.</em></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>