Written in 1998 during the rule of Abacha and Abdulsalami Abubakar: https://www.nytimes.com/1998/07/30/world/abuja-journal-marble-mogul-caters-to-the-nigerian-capital-s-elite.html

Abuja Journal; Marble Mogul Caters to the Nigerian Capital's Elite

The military officers who have ruled Africa's most populous nation for two decades, and siphoned off a good share of its oil revenue, are busy building vast mansions on their Abuja real estate. They want gold-inlaid basins for their bathrooms and Jacuzzi baths, sophisticated water purifiers and huge quantities of Italian marble that Mr. Luttwak is busy importing.

''One man from the national petroleum company just gave me $100,000 only for the marble in his house,'' Mr. Luttwak said. ''My company started three years ago, and I'm now the major importer of Italian marble. This is Africa's land of opportunity.''

As Mr. Luttwak, sweat glistening on his brow, blue eyes gleaming, rushes around his premises looking for a driver to make a huge marble delivery to the northern city of Kano, in walks Ahmud E. C. Agberankhe. He is 34 and has a university degree in physics. He works for Nigerian Radio for a monthly salary of about $40.''In the 1980's a graduate like me could have a car,'' Mr. Agberankhe lamented ''But now it's difficult to make ends meet. You have the knowledge, but there are no openings. If you strive, you should be given a chance.''

Nigeria has huge reserves of marble and granite. But, as in the oil industry, mismanagement has led the domestic industry to ruin. State-owned factories are idle. So Nigeria imports marble and granite, just as it imports petroleum. And disaster for the majority translates into opportunity for a few. A northern Muslim ruling caste controls the country through the military and is unlikely to be budged. Disciplined, God-fearing and determined, this caste, for Mr. Luttwak, stands in contrast to what he sees as an impossibly unruly south. He is unconvinced that change is imminent.

Rossikki will find you and when he does, it won’t be funny.

Insightful piece exposing age long mental inertia of our unfit leaders. unfortunately a member of that clan is still in charge.