Book Review: A Swamp Full Of Dollars by Michael Peel

Nigeria like Russia is a petrochemical hegemon within its part of the world. Both countries have populations of 140 million people each and dismal records on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index. Nigeria has however had to cope with oil-related insurgencies that have left many thinking the discovery of oil more of a curse than a blessing. Journalist Michael Peel paints a powerful picture of how oil shaped Nigeria’s history; its development, the civil war, the military era and the current 4^thRepublic. The book also quibbles about a future that could play out sooner than later. It is an interesting read and a fair appraisal of Nigeria’s prospects as the country approaches its Centenary in 2014. A Swamp Full of Dollars is luridly eye-opening.