USAID's Strategy in Nigeria

With the 1998-1999 transition from military rule to a democratically elected government, Nigeria committed itself to the development of a sustainable democracy and the expansion of economic and social opportunities for all Nigerians. Over the intervening four years, Nigeria has made significant progress in laying the foundation for future democratic consolidation and economic growth. Nonetheless, Nigeria still faces formidable challenges.

Nigeria's economic and social stability is threatened by the rising tide of poverty. The projected doubling of the population by 2025 will require a doubling of the already inadequate infrastructure and GDP simply to sustain the current level of poverty. The economy's dependency on oil revenues has overshadowed the needs of agriculture, which employs nearly three-quarters of Nigerians and accounts for over 40 percent of GDP. Revitalization of the stagnant agricultural sector is a key strategy for poverty reduction. Pervasive corruption, which acts as a regressive tax and redistributes wealth in favor of the privileged, is also a major contributing factor to poverty that must be addressed.

Nigeria's social indicators also paint a grim picture. Infant and maternal mortality rates are unacceptably high and similar to rates of its poorer, smaller, neighbors. High fertility and inadequate birth spacing contribute to poor health and limit Nigerian women's productive capacity. Far more alarming is the potential for explosive growth in the near future, to as many as 10 to 15 million HIV-infected individuals over the next eight years.

The primary U.S. national interests in Nigeria are democracy, global economic growth and stability, and regional conflicts. Nigeria's prosperity and stability are essential to growth and stability in West Africa and more generally in sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria is the fifth largest exporter of oil to the United States, and a top-ten exporter worldwide.

Back to Top ^