infrustructure and money. When europe comes they don't buy anything. They just make annoying political demands and if you don't agree they start ruining your economy and reputation. China will want Iron Ore and buy it, or compete for construction contracts and use their leverage to win them. The Chinese economy is propped on construction the way the US is propped on military, so it needs a constant fix of large scale projects to keep business afloat back home.
Though economically the international presence is actually not that visible. You just hear more about it because that's the outsiders story. For example international companies are very present in the Nigerian oil sector, but that's about it. So if you're in government you'll see them or if you work in oil they're obviously there, but everyone else is just local stuff. Oil accounts for i think 30% of Nigeria's economy but 90% of the stories about Nigeria in foreign media because that's what they're there doing/for.
It's 80% of government revenue so they matter there as well, but it's only like that because the country is a hideously incompetent british contraption that can't effectively enforce taxes on citizens so life is tax free if unless you own property in the city.
Like I said I don't think there will be a Nigeria for much longer because it's a zoo.
Bookmarks