[size=14pt]NIGERIA[/size]
Blessed with fertile soil, an abundance of oil, and a huge, energetic, talented population, [size=14pt]Nigeria should be a picture of Africa’s success[/size]. Instead it is one of the poorer countries and teeters on the edge of ethnic and religious conflict while the state plunders resources completely unchecked.

Oil supports and destroys Nigeria. Nigeria supplies 10 percent of the oil consumed in the United States –slightly less than countries like Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Canada- making it also important to U.S. interests. Since 1970, Nigeria has received US$280 billion in oil revenues. Through economic mismanagement, graft, and theft, this vast fortune has been squandered. Like many African countries, Nigeria borrowed billions against future commodities revenues, putting itself deeply in debt. Nigerians are, on average, poorer today than when oil was discovered. The effects of oil money and poor governance have undermined domestic industries, making Nigeria almost completely (95 percent) dependent on oil.

Nigerian society is complex with ethnic, religious, and political groups competing for wealth, land, and power. The country is home to at least 250 ethnic groups, many of whom clash regularly. Getting rich however, is a uniting goal. Most Nigerians lack a sense of national identity or civic pride. Even Nigerians don’t trust one another. Harsh economic realities have turned Nigerian cities into labyrinths of overcrowded streets affected by crime, disease, pollution, and ethnic violence. Resulting corruption and overcrowding have crippled municipal services. Firms wanting to set up in Nigeria must bring their own infrastructure. Despite all this, Nigeria has become an essential regional power. Its military is an effective peacekeeping force, having deployed soldiers to Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Sudan. Developments in Nigeria, whether good or bad, political or economic, will echo throughout the region. Nigeria plays a lead role in increasingly important African regional organizations such as Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU). Nigeria will continue to be a concern to the United States over the next decade as its economic significance, social problems, and regional influence increase. The country will continue to gradually deteriorate from the within. As the state decays, Islamic extremism will gain more of a foothold. However, its strong, somewhat democratic, federal government, in partnership with its capable military, should keep the country moving forward.


Marine Corps Midrange Threat Estimate: 2005-2015 - http://file.wikileaks.org/file/us-marines-mid-range-threat-assessment-2005.pdf