Why America Needs Nigeria

great post

US and UN is a real Giant and some evil peoples panic. they try to ignite trouble or hate stories against the giants because their domination urge is under control,they think hate stories is better to counter the sophistication they face as threats.they know these giants hate their styled dominance they have for us and the freedom they are willing to hinder us to exercising, so they stand on a cold feet.you have cowed us before, but not now.try and invite other stakeholders and buy up all our banks and borrow as much as trillions dollars so as to create many stakeholders who act as material, corruption and financial hedges or supports to unity.God is wiser because He created humans not to be limited in their living, so we invites freedom that He, God, brings in many natural ways.

I didn't even have to read the whole article but let it be clear to you that no one needs Nigeria, they need our resources no doubt but they canalso get it from different sources. What do we have that can't be supplied by other countries. I think what the developed nations even fear most is the disastrous consequence we may create if for whatever reason they have to deal with refugees from Nigeria but then they can still choose to look the other way.........It may not be right or moral but it has happened before. We are not Mexico that shares a boundary with USA.

Let us not blame our backwardness on US. We should be ashamed and stand up to our responsibilities.
If we really claim to be the giant of Africa we should wake up from slumber and rise to the occassion. Who say we cannot develop our technology beyound that of the US and Europe. All we need to do is to relegate tribalism, nepotism, corruption and greed.
The US is God own country.

The writer seems to forget that population used to be an advantage in the 19th century but no more in the 20th century. What makes nations powerful and developed is intellectual resources. India has a population of over 1 billion, why are they not a world power?

Of recent the only nation that has invested so much in its huge population is China that is why today Chinese economy is waxing strong, in technology china is leading the way and the country has withnessed amazing transformation. Anyone who has travelled to Beijing or Shanghai will appreciate the level of infrastructure there. All over europe, the asians have taken over the school because they understand the need for intellectual development which is the only key for development. The indians are at present one of the best in medicine and I.T

No nation can be developed until you become self reliant and stop being slaved by others. almost 60 yrs after oil was discovered in Oloibiri, Nigeria still allows shell, agip, mobil, chevron to call the shots in her oil industry and we think we can be developed. We have to learn from Venezuela and Iran. all these countries develop their local domestic technology to mine and refine their resources and hence have no multinationals cheating them.

What we have in Nigeria is a large population, majority of whom are (sorry to used the word, but I'm being frank and sincere) FOOLS.

America does not have a need for either Nigeria or her oil. Believe you me, If Nigeria should disappear from the face of the earth today, America would continue. America would just befriend Angola or Guinea like an Ashawo. We do not matter to america or their people.

Back some 20 yrs ago [1990] we had no light [electricity], our education was nothing to write home about, our health sector was in Sham, Tap water nko ?? none.

Now fastforward 20 years later -2010.
Do we have light?? No
Education nko?? - well, we have a minister of
education with a fat budget. Thats about it.
Health sector is in Saudi-Arabia - Just ask
yaradua.
Tap water nko - hehehe that one is in IBB and OBJs
borehole.

Basically in 20 years there has not been any development infastructurewise.
Can someone tell me what part of the economy we have been spending our budget on cos I don't see it. Maybe America should be in charge of our budget + development. Then & only then can we in any way, shape or form blame the Yankees.

i think obama knows what he's doing. i wont give money to a country know to mismanage their funds. should we be needing funds from america if not for our reckless ways? their tax payers funds should be used for serious things and serious ppl.

i think obama knows what he's doing. i wont give money to a country know to mismanage their funds. should we be needing funds from america if not for our reckless ways? their tax payers funds should be used for serious things and serious ppl.

Yes America needs Nigeria; for its oil not for the stinks that trail its leaders.  America corporations (like other countries corporations) get projects worldwide and they are well monitored and managed to completion.  But come to Nigeria, and it's the same Ministers and government officials who awards the contracts that connieve with contractors to abandon the projects and share up the money.

And where does the funds end up; in private foreign bank accounts.  Nigeria then goes back to borrow same money (our money) with interest.  Very sad.

My friend, yes America needs Nigeria and is prepared to help develop the country only if the enabling environment exist i.e. transparency of governance, security, respect for human life, rule of law, etc.  I tell you despite the gains America will make in Nigeria, they equally don't like romancing with leaders who are not achievers.

Toyin's comments though make some sense in relation to increased mutially benefitial economic activities, on the one hand, the word Lobotomy comes to mind, may be it is the MBA Toyin. It appears Toyin has been living in the US for too long, without understanding the United States imperialist spirit juxtaposed with enterprise. Toyin needs to travel and mix a little with an open mind. This will enable him see the US is not all that it is cracked up to be on the international stage. On the other hand, Charity begins at home, Nigeria needs to sort out its affairs like the Asian tigers and the BRIC nations Nigeria and its leadership over the last few decades have been unable to provide drinking water, electricity, security of its peoples lives and property or any form of strategic masterplanning for the present or near future at any level. The United States is not obliged and cannot do this directly or indirectly for Nigeria or specifically owe her any favours. Nigeria is one of 200 countries around the world, there are a few other countries with young populations and vibrant economies:India, Turkey etc. etc, to name a few... Nigeria and its leadership have so far been unable to leverage its international advantage of geographical location (proximity to western markets), western style education (though dwindling intellectual capital) and the international business language (English) to provide an enabling environment/culture of productive hardwork for foreign (US?) investment. Can I ask Toyin Dawodu MBA if the Nigerian Embassy in the US has a one stop shop providing credible assistance for would be US investors, interested in Nigeria? What about the rule of Law and Political stability needed as the life support for long term investment? Mr Dawodu MBA in relation to charity beginning at home, can you provide answers as some form of rejoiner to your article? As an MBA you will be able to proffer some objective, reasonably researched feedback I believe?

Do I agree with this article? Yes and No. Yes Nigeria can be a better country.

No, cos we have to do it, fix it by ourselves to cherish, maintain and sustain it. The US that you want to come and fix Nigeria, if I may ask, who helped them fixed theirs?

Suck it up bro, the world is not yet colour blind. Nigeria is a black nation.

Have you heard of the saying… “God helps those who helped themselves”. Well, Nigerians have not yet helped themselves for others to come rushing to their rescue. Try shipping a container from Lagos to Onitsha, makes time na money concept useless.

Israel’s comparison is a mismatch for some many reasons. A good example should be countries like India, china, Brazil etc. on how they got to where they are today. I betcha, they did it themselves through good education, hard work, not rent seekers, respect for knowledge and merit. Respect for rule of law, contracts etc. Religion, which religion? Not a big deal! No insider self imposed rules and regulations that strangulates the movement of goods and services.

I think you are naive and lack a proper understanding of national interests and international politics. On the one hand you state the cases of Egypt and Isreal on US funding , but you fail woefully to explain why this is so and its connection and relevance to Nigeria, ( the basis of your piece). US intrests in Nigeria rest largely on her oil reserves and its importance to the Middle East/Oil/Politics/Gulf of Guinea dynamic at play. What you are proposing is in fact a scenario private capital can tackle effectively with the right conditions/policies managed effectively largely from the Nigerian end. No US corporation will risk its capital with the present conditions in Nigeria lest we return to the 1970's rip off era where Western companies of all sorts dumped so much rubbish in Nigeria because we had an excess of easy money petro dollars and didnt know what to do with it ( A la Gowon)

This article is straight up garbage. Nigeria does not need America to fix her problems.Nigeria and Nigerians need to fix themselves. America has its problems and does their best to protect her interess. Until Nigeria sees the need to cater to the welfare of her citizen sand utilize her human resources efficiently or place the welfare of her citizens as top priority, we will keep writing silly articles like this demanding that a nation with multiple problems reach out and "solve" our problems. Nigeria should learn from the likes of Fashola, build up yours then you'll get respect from the world...America will not fix you. You need to fix you.

You have the example of Israel and how American does everything for Israel so much. But the Jew have AIPAC which donates campaign money to politicians on both sides of the divided and does massive public sensitization.
Plus the 1 million Nigerians you talked about paying taxes is more like 5 million; which is close to the number of Jews in America.
It baffles me that Nigerians have not created an AIPAC like organization to lobby heavily for Nigeria so the US government can come up with Nigerian friendly policies. To be truthful, I see it as sad that China is taking over which should be a wake up call for America that we need to change our attitude towards Africa and methods of investment. May be its something you can look into because this appears to be your field.

Toyin, why are you speaking from the four compasses of your mouth. Its difficult to understand if your either an American or a Nigerian because of your baseless and clueless analysis.

LOOKING back at history, America usually don't get the message, nor act on matters this strategic until the ship have left shore. (This subject in question involves black-Africans). And I am the least surprised at America's treatment of Nigeria in all matters of great importance, afterall if Nigeria has had an effective leadership or even a charismatic dictator, the story would be different today. See Haiti.....? $300,000 for 150-million people; 50-year old oil pollution in the south all caused by American oil companies? GOD forbid, should Nigeria someday find itself battling an incident equivalent of the Union Carbide in Bhopal, India, then the world again would witness another round of finger-pointing i-told-you-so.

Dear Toyin as much as much as i want to agree with you i must say the problem is Nigerians themselves, i give you a case of Virgin Atlantic investment that was overturned less than three years into its inception some may say such arrangement is not done but come to Orlando International Airport the scheme is working well. The U.S government does not manufacture but guarantees and advises its citizen where they choose to do Business When Yaradua was busy reviewing and reversing Obasanjos policies you think there would be no reaction no matter how bad OBJ policies may have been.
Why is America in China and not in Cuba ??? both communist, in fact China has a worse Human right issue only one thing the business climate is guaranteed
How can you set up shop and not know how much to budget on Diesel to run Generators because it is always scarce that alone can make nonsense on your financial planning.
Nigeria can not Fail NO we are too intertwined and Dependent on each other, our Military as bad as we want to see them have more elements of People who want one Nigeria and there is too much intra regional distrust to warrant a cooperation for a rebellion

is he writing as an american or as a Nigerian.This is one foolish writeup I have read today.

Nigeria's policy makers & people should shift away from this talk & thinking of how important Nigeria is to America or the rest of the World. Emphasis should be focused on the importance of the Nigeria State to her inhabitants. We talk about 150 Million population & oil reserves as if that is the only thing that is required to be a great Nation. What use is a 150 Million when over 95 Million of it cannot pass basic literacy competence test & more of this number are living in abject poverty. Has anyone read India or China using population to boost of her importance to the World. These Countries derive their strength from hardwork, Human capital development & gradually closing gap between the rich & the poor thru meaningful Social Services investments. In another decade, Nigeria will just be another Oil Producing Country along with new Countries in the Business like Ghana, Brazil, Uganda, Rwanda where the conditions are more condusive to do Business.This is evident by recent move by Shell to sell their Oil Wells & I bet other Multinationals to follow soon. Nigerians feel that Nigeria is too important to the World, the funny thing is that not many people care or talk of Nigeria outside of Nigeria of late. Even our little neighbours like Chad, Niger, Benin do not consult with us like before, before embarking on policies that may affect our interests. Because of this chip on our shoulders & our failure to accept the fact that we need the World to help fix our fuck ups for us before we become another Somalia; then I cannot see how the end can be prevented which is very nearer than we imagine.

Nigeria thinks that she is too important. What the developed countries need is our oil, so if Nigeria impoldes today, they will support the part that gives them the fastest access to crude oil. The Refugee-situation that will come from it will be of secondary importance to them. So Mr Igbokwe, we should try to turn things around by ourselves and not rely on the developed world. Nobody will clean our mess for us.

Please Nigeria should deal with its issues and not expect other countries to carry their burdens..giant of Africa ma ass..mchewww we are only Giants in population nothing else..If you where the president of any country wouldnt u rather visit Ghana than Nigeria, 50 years after independence what have we got to show for it..no good roads..still no stable power supply, no good health care system..if we want people to take us seriously things need to change period..thats my 2kobo

It should be in the interest of the developed world that Nigeria should remain one and not disintegrate.If there is any serious crisis in Nigeria, there is no guarrantee that African Countries, Europe ,Asia and the Americas will not feel the impact.We live in a world of lnterdependence.Yes,Nigeria is important to the world and therefore they should help us to strenghten Democracy.