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Despite high revenues from oil, Nigeria is one of the least developed countries. Although it is the eighth-largest oil exporter, the country is number 142 on the new Human Development Index. The huge population of 150 million inhabitants of the largest African nation live often in abject poverty and have a life expectancy of 48.4 years, observers traces this mainly to „bad governance“. The oil and gas revenues for example are not invested in infrastructure, health, and education, but mostly go into private pockets. Nigeria’s bad leadership does not only affect the quality of life of Nigerians, but also reduces it dramatically.
KAS searches together with the German Delegation of Industry and Commerce and the Nigerian-German Business Association for causes of the situation and possibilities for reforms. Together, in the run-up to the 2011 general elections, we start our new series of events “Lagos Round-table”. Relationships between political framework and economic development will be discussed by experts, to which German enterprises in Nigeria belong. The guiding principle is the orientation on the political order of the social market economy.
Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation tries to involve private businesses in the political development dialog with this event.
The former federal capital, Lagos, with about 14 million inhabitants is still the economic center of the country. As the largest city in Africa and “Mega-city”, Lagos is more important than some small countries. This is why economic decision-makers are best reached here.