Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa and has the number one economy overtaking South Africa just last year. But its problems are so many and so serious one wonders if the country can survive, or should survive.
Nigeria won it's independence from Britain in 1960 and it's been mostly downhill from there. As one corrupt government after another were overthrown in military coups, both corruption and coups became a way of life for Nigerians.
Although the latest federal elections, in 2011 were relatively non-violent and fair, that was a serious departure from the norm, but a good sign anyway.
Corruption is rampant in Nigeria in both the government and the military. The frequent military coups were finally quelled by the government through very large bribes to the military generals - paving the way for the culture of corruption which now runs the country. There is so much corruption in Nigeria, that $19 billion in oil revenues disappeared in the first 4 months of 2014. That's an incredible amount of money to just disappear.
To make matters worse, very little of the oil revenues that do get past the thieves make it to the very poor people in northern Nigeria who are mostly Muslim, this is why Boko Haram started in the first place and Abuja has done nothing to remedy that situation.
Neither is the money getting down to the non-commissioned ranks of the military who are poorly paid and very poorly equipped. It's so bad that they are afraid to confront Boko Haram because the jihadists are much better armed than they are. This rag-tag collection of Muslim extremists living in the forests are far more formidable than the biggest and best military in Africa.
Nigeria began to be noticed in the west several years ago when they suddenly discovered that they could steal money over the internet by lying, scheming, preying on people's greed. They really hit the big time in April when Boko Haram stole nearly 300 school girls right out of their school.
As shocking as this was, it was far from the first time the jihadists have kidnapped girls, it's been going on for years and neither the government nor the military have done anything about it. It's as though it's become a way of life along with lying, corruption, and theft.
The government of Goodluck Jonathon might have completely ignored the loss of nearly 300 girls were it not for the international outcry. With elections coming early next year, he suddenly had to be seen to be doing something. So, at first there were a remarkable series of lies - it didn't happen; it was staged by political enemies; they've all been rescued; we know where they are; we will have them home very soon.
Did they actually think anyone would believe them? Apparently yes! And why not? The media in Nigeria is totally unregulated and fearlessly print anything they want. Semblance to the truth is completely unnecessary. In fact, reporters expect people to pay them for reporting a story, thereby ensuring a friendly piece.
But no matter how dreadful the story there will be no law suits, no sanctions. The only problem is if they pick on the wrong person, their offices may well be destroyed overnight.
Jonathon's government is so disinterested in rescuing the girls that he hired an American PR firm, Levick, to help them manage the propaganda. Their job is to discredit the parents of the lost girls who are protesting the government every day, and to make Jonathon look like he actually cares and is doing something about them.
That's not the official line; according to Levick they are there to help Jonathon get the girls back. They seem to have forgotten that they are a PR firm not a paramilitary outfit. Maybe the transition from Washington to Africa suddenly turned the professional liars into warriors.
It's hard to find anything really positive to say about Nigeria except that it's economy is growing rapidly and is expected to join the top 20 economies in the world in a few years, that is, if not all the oil revenues are stolen.
I'm so discouraged for the abducted school girls and for the poor people of northern Nigeria, especially the Christians who are being slaughtered mercilessly by Boko Haram without any effort whatsoever by the military to stop them. I wonder if it's too late for the British to take Nigeria back?
An honest, capable government in Abuja would have a beneficial effect, not just in Nigeria, but on the economy of much of sub-Saharan Africa. I know it's impossible, but, if only.
Nigeria won it's independence from Britain in 1960 and it's been mostly downhill from there. As one corrupt government after another were overthrown in military coups, both corruption and coups became a way of life for Nigerians.
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| Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo talks with George W. Bush, June 2003 |
Corruption is rampant in Nigeria in both the government and the military. The frequent military coups were finally quelled by the government through very large bribes to the military generals - paving the way for the culture of corruption which now runs the country. There is so much corruption in Nigeria, that $19 billion in oil revenues disappeared in the first 4 months of 2014. That's an incredible amount of money to just disappear.
To make matters worse, very little of the oil revenues that do get past the thieves make it to the very poor people in northern Nigeria who are mostly Muslim, this is why Boko Haram started in the first place and Abuja has done nothing to remedy that situation.
 |
| National Mosque, Abuja, Nigeria |
Nigeria began to be noticed in the west several years ago when they suddenly discovered that they could steal money over the internet by lying, scheming, preying on people's greed. They really hit the big time in April when Boko Haram stole nearly 300 school girls right out of their school.
As shocking as this was, it was far from the first time the jihadists have kidnapped girls, it's been going on for years and neither the government nor the military have done anything about it. It's as though it's become a way of life along with lying, corruption, and theft.
 |
| National Church, Abuja, Nigeria |
Did they actually think anyone would believe them? Apparently yes! And why not? The media in Nigeria is totally unregulated and fearlessly print anything they want. Semblance to the truth is completely unnecessary. In fact, reporters expect people to pay them for reporting a story, thereby ensuring a friendly piece.
But no matter how dreadful the story there will be no law suits, no sanctions. The only problem is if they pick on the wrong person, their offices may well be destroyed overnight.
Jonathon's government is so disinterested in rescuing the girls that he hired an American PR firm, Levick, to help them manage the propaganda. Their job is to discredit the parents of the lost girls who are protesting the government every day, and to make Jonathon look like he actually cares and is doing something about them.
 |
| Ship House, Defense Headquarters |
It's hard to find anything really positive to say about Nigeria except that it's economy is growing rapidly and is expected to join the top 20 economies in the world in a few years, that is, if not all the oil revenues are stolen.
I'm so discouraged for the abducted school girls and for the poor people of northern Nigeria, especially the Christians who are being slaughtered mercilessly by Boko Haram without any effort whatsoever by the military to stop them. I wonder if it's too late for the British to take Nigeria back?
An honest, capable government in Abuja would have a beneficial effect, not just in Nigeria, but on the economy of much of sub-Saharan Africa. I know it's impossible, but, if only.
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