An outrage against decency – the kidnapping of over 270 young girls in northeastern Nigeria by the Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram – has brought Nigeria international attention.
The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to hold Boko Haram accountable for crimes against humanity. Michelle Obama voiced her outrage. The U.S., China, and Britain sent advisors to help locate and free the little girls. Moslem religious leaders have condemned the kidnappings.
The U.S. should use this moment not simply to help bring back the kidnapped girls, but to also bring forth a comprehensive U.S. policy towards Nigeria.
Nigeria is a country of 170 million people, one fourth of the population of Sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria has the largest economy in all of Africa. It is the largest producer of oil in Africa, and the world’s fourth leading exporter of liquid natural gas. It has 120 million cell phone subscribers. Its burgeoning movie industry is now ranked at about 1.5 percent of its economy and employs over a million people. An estimated 1.5 million Nigerians and Nigerian Americans live in the U.S.
The kidnappers of the girls, Boko Haram, pose a growing threat. Violence in the isolated and impoverished northeast is spreading. Boko Haram indicts the government for corruption and violence. It promises to enforce Sharia law across the territories. To date this year, according to United Nations figures, Boko Haram has killed more than 1,500 people.
It is well funded, well organized and deadly. It will take significant international assistance and coordination to root it out. Providing assistance in trying to save the kidnapped girls is beneficial. But the U.S. needs to have a far more comprehensive policy towards Nigeria – and sub-Saharan African in general.
Nigeria is far more important to us than Ukraine is. Yet the U.S. government is fixated on Ukraine, and relatively disengaged from Nigeria. We should not need the threat posed by Boko Haram to make us realize the importance of Nigeria. Isolating and crushing Boko Haram, while engaging and helping to build Nigeria, should be a centerpiece of U.S. policy and attention.
