Voter apathy could hammer Nigeria growth prospects – Economist

EDINBURGH — Resource-rich Nigeria should be one of the world's most exciting countries in which to invest. But, with problems ranging from a struggle to stop Islamic terrorists from committing violent acts in remote areas to widespread corruption, Nigeria is not appealing to many asset managers looking for opportunities. Multinationals have lost their appetite for doing business in the populous nation, too, following a range of scandals including: a government battle with South African telecoms giant MTN, accused of moving money illegally out of Nigeria; and HSBC, blamed for money laundering. Dramatic political change is needed to catapult Nigeria towards the top of the world's high-growth charts and encourage foreign investment. But that's unlikely for now, because voter apathy is likely to ensure that the status quo is maintained, is the message in The Economist. – Jackie Cameron 

By Thulasizwe Sithole

A closely fought presidential election will fail to convince voters that anything much will change, says The Economist.