#6 - Nigeria

Saturday I was away from home and only packed a few granola bars.  I ate when I got  back home today but I wasn't very hungry in spite of having little to eat today.  I think part of it is because I am not feeling the best and am a little under the weather.  I hope that improves soon but if it doesn't I guess it will be easier to live on a buck twenty five...

Nigeria is country on the west coast of Africa and gets its name from the N i g e r River that runs through it.  Nigeria is also the seventh most populous country in the world.  With such a huge population one would think that it would be well on its way to economic prosperity but 64.4% of its population lives on a buck twenty five or less a day.

The root of this problem lay in the oil rich region of the N i g e r delta.  This region has been the key to controlling the government ever since it was nationalized.  It makes up a substantial portion of the nations economy and while it makes the government rich, it does nothing to help those who are poor in the country.  Basic infrastructure is poor, health care is poor with a life expectancy of 47 years and an infant mortality rate of 97.1 per 1000 live births.

Political instability has been along standing problem in Nigeria.  Since 1960 when it gained its independence from Britain, it has endured several coup d'etat's and military rule.  Recent political history has seen a return to a republican form of government but corruption is still a big problem.

While the economy of Nigeria has a long way to go, it has been improving recently and Nigeria is among the fastest growing economies.  As the first African nation to pay off its debt, it has the ability to spend a larger percentage of its income on debt relief programs.  As long as the government is stable, this is something likely to happen, but stability has not always found a home in Nigeria.