Seven reasons Congress should be watching Saturday’s elections in Nigeria

You were horrified by the news of the 300 kidnapped girls taken from their school by Boko Haram. You’ve heard violent attacks in Nigeria before. You know Nigeria is located in Africa somewhere. But with everything going on domestically and internationally, why should we still pay attention to it?

Let’s be honest: events in Nigeria are often underreported on our media. The presidential elections scheduled for earlier this month have been postponed to March 28 for security concerns, sparking controversy, and not many people here heard about it. Massacres of civilians happen on a regular basis, but they don’t get the spotlight. “And why should they?” some people on my Twitter feed asked; after all, a big part of what makes a story newsworthy is the impact it has on our daily lives.

{mosads}While I respect this as a valid point, I also think that indifference towards horror, wherever it may take place, shatters a little bit of what makes us human. It gives us an imperfect image of who we are and are capable of doing. It takes away from our ability to understand the world and strive to make it better. It corrodes our empathy, numbs our senses, and in the long run makes us more accepting of the worst, most brutal sides of ourselves.

But, if you agree with the Twitter users I mentioned above, there’s something else you should know: you’re wrong. In fact, the situation in Nigeria does affect our daily lives here in the U.S. Here are 7 reasons why our politicians, and you, should care about it.

Nigeria is one of the world’s largest oil producers – Let’s not shy away from the elephant in the room. Nigeria produces about 2 million barrels of oil per day. As an important member of OPEC (the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries), any instability in Nigeria affects oil prices around the world; and with the 2009 Amnesty Program in the Niger Delta coming to an end soon after the elections, renewed violence in the region could have major implications for oil production. As selfish as it sounds, if you don’t want to break the bank at the pump, you should be interested in a stable Nigeria.

Nigeria is huge – By 2050, the UN expects the population of Nigeria to be much larger than the population of the USA. Currently, 1 in 6 Africans is Nigerian. The population of Lagos is greater than that of New York City. In a globalized world, this huge country is an influential political entity, an enormous job market, and – with the emergence of a prominent middle-class – a growing base of consumers.

Nigeria is a strong partner for the U.S. – In the difficult region of West Africa, Nigeria has been one of the USA’s most consistent allies in a vast array of international efforts, including trade and peacekeeping. Its role is critical to stabilization in the region, and it’s in the US’s interest to support African countries that can assist others, rather than the US providing direct assistance. We support US foreign policy priorities by supporting a strong and peaceful Nigeria.

Violence in Nigeria would be expensive for the U.S. – If the elections fail, there could be grave consequences for Nigeria, the region, and the world. People could use violence to settle what elections did not. This can lead to atrocities committed against civilians, a refugee crisis, and soaring humanitarian and security costs. The US spends billions of dollars each year on humanitarian aid; prevention is much less expensive than reacting once a crisis has hit its boiling point. Furthermore, a poor democratic process in Nigeria will set a bad example for the numerous West African countries that in 2015 will renew their elected representatives.

Extremism is a threat for Nigeria and beyond – In light of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign and the killing of more than 10,000 people in 2014 – a death toll on par with ISIS’s in Iraq -, it’s clear that extremism impacts Nigerians daily. But it also affects you. When an extremist of Nigerian nationality attempted to light a bomb in his shoe on an airplane, he forever changed the security measures at our airports. Something as simple as taking off your shoes for TSA is a regular reminder of the global reach of extremism. The outcome of the 2015 elections in Nigeria will impact the fight against extremism now and in the years to come.

Crime in Nigeria impacts the U.S. – Corruption in a place thousands of miles away doesn’t affect you, right? Wrong. In 2013, Nigeria’s president estimated that the government and oil companies lost well over $1 billion per month due to oil theft and corruption. This stolen money fuels violence in the region, which in turn, affects the US and the bottom line of US companies. A Nigerian government better suited to fight organized crime could also cripple drug trafficking in America: Nigerian criminal enterprises are often linked to the smuggling of heroin and cocaine to the U.S..

Nigeria is a great investment opportunity for U.S. businesses – Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa, with a GDP over $510 billion and a growth rate of over 7 percent in 2013. American investors are already tapping into the opportunities in Nigeria, ranging from agriculture to information communication and technology. The United States is the biggest foreign investor in Nigeria, and American companies ranging from G.E., Google and Proctor & Gamble, are already taking advantage of Nigeria’s growth. Next time you look at your own investment portfolio, remember that the 2015 elections will be critical for the business environment of Nigeria – and West Africa as a whole – in years to come.

In summary, the stability of Nigeria has deep implications on the US’s economy, security, fight against terrorism, and more. Nigeria is growing into one of the world’s top influential countries. Its potential is enormous. It’s in our best interest to support peaceful initiatives, allowing this beautiful country and its people to move beyond the violent conflict of the past towards the endless opportunities of the future. 

Jobbins is the senior program manager for Africa at Search for Common Ground, one of the world’s largest conflict resolution organizations.