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nance, resource management
and development to achieve
that status.
Of course we realize that
there are other worthy "com-
petitors" in the continent such
as South Africa or Egypt.

Q: Going back to the UN
related matters. Do you
think that you have a
chance to get a permanent
seat on the Security
Council (SC)?

When we are considering an
expanded Security Council,
we think that Africa should
have at least two permanent
seats based on geographical
representation. We think that
opportunity and the effective participation, at least in Nigeria should occupy one of
and sustainable support, providing inventory and ser- the seats -- both because of its
Africa can replicate their vices. We intend to expand size and also for its past and
spectacularly performance as these. A country can only continuing activities as a
well. Africa's resources and make the best use of a resour- peacekeeping nation. We
abundant human capital com- ce if it actively participates in have played an important role
bined with foreign invest- the process of developing as peacekeeper over the
Nigeria
has
ments and access to overseas that sector. That's the trend of years.
markets would ensure such government policy right now. demonstrated its capability to
an out-come in the 21st mobilize, deploy and sustain
Century. We have a lot of oil, and battalions in support of
more gas than we have oil. peace-keeping operations in
Q: In today's newspaper For instance, there are part- former Congo, Lebanon,
headlines, it is said that the nerships with Algeria in this Yugoslavia, Angola, and
Nigerian Government is field. One idea is to see how today we are the largest
now promoting local com- we can transport gas across contributors in Darfur,
panies to play a more active the Sahara and then connect Sudan.
part in the oil industry -- a it to the European network.
role that until recently has Besides, we played a crucial
always been on the hands of Q: I have read that Nigeria role in resolving the conflict
big foreign companies. is aiming at becoming a issues in Liberia and Sierra
What is your reaction? superpower in Africa. Leone before the UN came
What do you think about along, both in terms of the
The oil sector is of consider- that? largest financier and troop
able strategic importance to contributor.
Nigeria. But because it is a We could definitely be one!
capital and technology inten- We are hoping to be the Q: What do you consider as
sive sector, the extraction of country representing Africa. Nigeria's main achieve-
the commodity tends to rest We call ourselves the Giant ment in the international
in the hands of big compa- of Africa. With all our poten- arena?
nies, such as Shell or Exxon, tials (of 140 million dynamic
etc., as in many oil producing people and lots of resources) Firstly, Nigeria had always
countries. This is also the we ought to be one, but it abided by the United Nations
case in Nigeria. However, does require a sustained com- Charter in promoting and
international
there is a great need for local mitment in politics, gover- preserving
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