A story recently ran in the Guardian proclaiming that a terrorist group operating in Nigeria may be interested in pursuing peace talks. Whilst the terror perpetrated by Boko Haram is a significant and credible threat, a quiet cancer is eating away at the fiber of Nigerian society. Political corruption is rampant in Nigeria. Wages are deliberately kept low, whilst bureaucrats and big business attain wealth at a rate bordering on the obscene. Nigeria is a potential powerhouse of numerous natural resources, chiefly: gas, gold, and oil. The potential for terror cannot be ignored, but more attention needs to be focused on bribery, and corporate greed that are crippling Nigeria. If the Western powers fail to exercise their influence to curtail the rampant corruption, the appeal of anti-establishment groups like Boko Haram will only continue to grow.
Like to learn more? Check these related links:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18245866
http://allafrica.com/stories/201208150419.html
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-scope-of-corruption-in-nigerian-oil-is-truly-horrifying-2012-10
http://www.bribenigeria.com/
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