There’s a problem with riding a high horse: it hurts if you fall. And when it comes to the world’s poor, the UK, with Gordon and his chum Tony taking the lead, has taken the morale high ground. In fairness to Mr Brown, he does have a genuine desire to play a role in reducing global poverty, in fact he has often described that as his overriding personal ambition for his contribution to world politics.
But while the UK sits on its high horse, and attempts to set the morale standards for the rest to follow, it has suddenly become embroiled in controversy.
Nigeria is a poor country; one in five children does not live to the age of five, and in the past it was a classic example of an Africa country ran by corrupt dictators who squandered aid. And when developed countries argue against providing aid, Nigeria’s example from days gone by supports their case.
But that was then - now Nigeria is a democracy. And goes the argument: it should not be made to pay for past mistakes, that the West was partly at fault for irresponsible lending, that much of the debt relates to crippling interest charges, and that by reclaiming this money, million of Nigerians are being condemned to extreme poverty.
The Paris Club, which is made of 18 of the wealthiest countries in the world is making Nigeria repay $12.4bn in aid. Which, according to Jubilee Debt Cancellation Charity, is more than the total level of debt relief the G7 agreed to provide to the world’s poor over 10 years, when they met at Gleneagles during the summer. For its part, the UK, which is Nigeria’s biggest creditor, is receiving approximately $3bn, and it’s just not fair, argue many.
Trisha Rogers, Jubilee’s director, said: “It is obscene for G7 countries to take billions of dollars from one of the poorest countries on earth. In particular this means the UK will take from Nigeria almost exactly twice as much as it is giving in aid to the whole of Africa in 2005.”
A letter to the Guardian, signed by the heads of nine leading development charities said, “More than 80 million Nigerians live on less than $1 a day and one in five children do not reach their fifth birthday. Seven billion dollars could have a huge impact on reducing this crippling poverty - it should not go to wealthy countries. If the commitment of the UK to Africa is to retain any credibility, the government must refuse to take this money.”
And Reverend David Ugolor of Jubilee Nigeria said, “This money should be helping the 80m Nigerians who live in extreme poverty, not subsidising rich countries like the UK. If they take this money, they will be denying our people access to education, healthcare and water.
We call on the UK and other rich governments not to take the money. If they do, we will hold them responsible for condemning many of our poor to continued suffering and death.”
There is another side to the argument. Firstly, Nigeria is being let off $18bn. Secondly, the proceeds will come from the profits generated by the high price of oil - Nigeria is rich in oil reserves. Finally, and perhaps this it the key point, the symbolism is very important. The deal shows Africa can be trusted, and while the worlds wealthiest countries dither and argue over further aid and debt relief, the Nigerian repayment will offer huge credibility to the argument that aid is not a waste of money - it’s not a case of throwing good money after bad. Africa, in this new age, can be trusted to take its responsibility seriously.
According to Gordon Brown, “The key issue is that Nigeria has substantial oil revenues this year. Nigeria wished to write off its debts … it did a deal with the Paris Club that it would have some of them written off if it agreed to pay some of them.” He added, “Nigeria is not one of the Heavily-Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and has lots of potential wealth.”
Nigeria gets debt cancellation - but at what price? - Jubilee Debt Campaign -
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