The following opinion was recently expressed by a contributor on this website:
http://www.theoildrum.com/story/2006...193/34505#more
"Nigeria is not really a nation-state; more accurate descriptions would be that it is a state of distress, a kleptocracy, a specific example of petrolism combined with tribalism, thuggery, pervasive corruption, poverty and the population trap.
There is no hope whatsover for Nigeria at this point. Conditions are so bad that neither Russia nor China would get involved (especially after the bad experiences the Soviet Union had when it messed around in Africa a few decades ago).
Nigeria is a horror movie that is going to go on and on and get worse and worse. In its future is far more genocide, rapid increase in death rates from multiple causes, and an increased flow of oil money overseas. Unless you have a magic wand to stop the movie, there is nothing constructive you can do except to help your Nigerian friends to escape the country. As individuals, many Nigerians are wonderful people, but they know what is happening; however, given the power of the kleptocrats who rule the country there is nothing the citizenry can do except to riot occasionally to express their despair".
Sobering thought