Drowning in Unsold Oil

The dangerous collapse of Nigeria's petroleum prosperity

As one of the price hawks in the 13-nation Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, Nigeria for years kept the oil-consuming nations of the world over a barrel by forcing world oil prices relentlessly higher. Now that demand for petroleum is slumping on markets everywhere, however, the price of crude has dropped from $40 per bbl. to $28 per bbl. on the unregulated spot market. As a result, the economic outlook for the 90 million inhabitants of Nigeria, black Africa's wealthiest and most populous nation, has suddenly turned bleak.

Nigeria depends on oil exports for 90% of...

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