Nigeria, March 12 -- I came to get gas and the pump was looking at me like a loan officer asking, are you ready to make this financial decision? I left negotiating like I was applying for a mortgage. Buying petrol in Nigeria now requires risk assessment, emotional support, and a small prayer and even then you drive away wondering if you just purchased fuel or made a financial commitment for the week.

Nothing serious, just a small top up. But the pump was still staring, like a bank officer reviewing a loan application. Are you sure you are ready for this commitment. Because buying petrol in Nigeria is no longer a transaction. It is a life decision. You do not just drive into the station anymore. You arrive slowly, carefully, like a man a...