06 May, 2010

Nigeria: Goodluck!


I remember back in the ‘70s seeing pictures of cement carrying ships, hundreds and hundreds of them, anchored off Lagos, the result of a largely non-existent building boom for which the Nigerian government had grossly over-ordered, thus increasing their personal take. Many of the ships sank or rusted away.

Since independence Nigeria has been poorly served by its leaders. I had high hopes of Umaru Yar’Adua, scion of an important Muslim family in the North of the country. He seemed honest. But his health was poor and he died yesterday.

Nigeria is the 8th largest oil exporter in the world and has the 10th largest proven reserves. It is the most populous country in Africa, with 155m people, and a virtually even split of Muslims and Christians.

The Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian from the south, completes Yar’Adua’s mandate which runs for another year.

As the Muslims and the army look on, he will need everything his name implies.

No comments: