Oil is a large contributor to the national income of Nigeria. However, the country sees an overwhelming amount of poverty and destruction. The gap in the link from oil contributions to the government budget and the common public is the steady and past history within the government. Yet, recently attacks have been made on oil pipelines in order to demand money for projects in the most poverty stricken areas. The problem is that these attacks are now affecting an even greater range of people already sustaining life on a minimal basis.
Nigeria’s government has been historically corrupt. Therefore, I do not feel that the money from oil will be readily replaced or spent within the next few years for the Nigerian masses. At this point I feel the attacks must end because it is now affecting those who already live on a minimal basis. I am not sure if the developed world will intervene because of interest in oil. However, it would be best if a developed country put pressure on the Nigerian government to possibly shift government position on spending.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/12/11/pip.nigeria.oil/index.html
What do you think are the implications of this for US foreign policy?