Nigeria and the United States: An Analysis of National Goals

摘要

Since the beginning of the 21st century, the continent of Africa has regained its importance to the United States and other developed nations, primarily due to its vast amounts of untapped resources. Nigeria is the largest producer of oil in Africa, and it ranks fifth as a supplier of oil to the United States. Nigeria earns an estimated $40 billion per year from oil and natural gas extraction, although trouble from insurgencies and criminal activity has reduced production. Nigeria has become a target of interest for many nations as their demand for Nigeria's resources continues to grow. These nations realize that their economic growth depends upon fair, equitable, and consistent access to Nigeria's resources. Thus, Nigeria's capacity to provide a stable and responsible government has become a global issue. The United States largely ignored Nigeria and the rest of Africa after the fall of the Soviet Union. But it has now refocused its financial and diplomatic efforts on the continent of Africa as access to natural resources becomes more difficult, and the fear of Islamic-based terrorism spreading in northern Africa grows. The U.S. Department of State (DOS) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), with public support from President George W. Bush, have begun to strengthen cooperative ties to both Nigeria and the rest of Africa. Recently, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) established a new military- political regional command, U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM), to strengthen security ties with friendly African nations and regain influence on the continent. This research paper examines U.S. efforts to improve relations with Nigeria and help Nigeria stabilize its economy and improve governance. The author also reviews current Nigerian public policies and national objectives and analyzes how well U.S. policies complement them.