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Bill and Melinda Gates Are Paying Off Nigeria's $76M Debt to Japan

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Re: Bill and Melinda Gates Are Paying Off Nigeria's $76M Debt to Japan

#61
post #28

Nigeria loses tens of billions of dollars a year to corruption, especially in their oil industry, especially among politicians. If I was Nigerian, I would find this sort of charity to be very embarrassing.

Nigeria has a $2,000 GDP per capita. Embarrassment over assistance on polio eradication is not a luxury they have. Any help there is fortunately going to be largely welcomed by Nigeria.

Re: Bill and Melinda Gates Are Paying Off Nigeria's $76M Debt to Japan

#62

To all the commenters too busy being aghast at giving money to a government to read the article: > Nigeria’s debt to Japan is the result of Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) provided by the Japanese government in 2014 for increased polio eradication. efforts. > The country has made great strides in its efforts to eliminate the disease thanks to this funding. > Nigeria did not record a wild case of polio from July…

The thing that's weird to me is that an economy the size of Japan would even keep track of such a thing. The Japanese government could find that kind of money in the couch cushions in the name of humanitarian aid.

This was a loan, possibly from the taxpayers, it wasn't charity. Governments don't just "lose track" of $76 million owed to them. Or at least, they shouldn't.

Presumably, Nigeria agreed to the terms, so I don't see the issue.

Re: Bill and Melinda Gates Are Paying Off Nigeria's $76M Debt to Japan

#63
post #21

I'm I the only one who thinks that Japan kinda looks bad here? I mean, Bill's foundation is already dedicating $3B a year on development assistance, couldn't Japan just say to Nigeria: "You don't have to pay us back. Consider it a donation". How could they reasonably expect Nigeria to pay them back $76M?

I don’t think making a loan and expecting repayment under its negotiated terms is that bad a look.

Re: Bill and Melinda Gates Are Paying Off Nigeria's $76M Debt to Japan

#64
post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The thing that's weird to me is that an economy the size of Japan would even keep track of such a thing. The Japanese government could find that kind of money in the couch cushions in the name of humanitarian aid.

This was a loan, possibly from the taxpayers, it wasn't charity. Governments don't just "lose track" of $76 million owed to them. Or at least, they shouldn't. Presumably, Nigeria agreed to the terms, so I don't see the issue.

I'm sure Nigeria did agree to the terms, but if I were a citizen of Japan I would be embarrassed that the money was not just gifted as part of a foreign aid program.

Re: Bill and Melinda Gates Are Paying Off Nigeria's $76M Debt to Japan

#65
post #46
post #21

I'm I the only one who thinks that Japan kinda looks bad here? I mean, Bill's foundation is already dedicating $3B a year on development assistance, couldn't Japan just say to Nigeria: "You don't have to pay us back. Consider it a donation". How could they reasonably expect Nigeria to pay them back $76M?

> How could they reasonably expect Nigeria to pay them back $76M Oil revenue?

If they make so much cash with oil, then why does Japan and Bill Gates have to spend billions to help them fight polio?

Re: Bill and Melinda Gates Are Paying Off Nigeria's $76M Debt to Japan

#66
post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Look, Nigeria is swimming in money yet remains a shithole. The Gates Foundation "donation" is only a replacement for tax money that went into somebody's pocket instead of being used for what taxes are meant to be used for, whether paying loans or building a healthcare system. I never said they were in the pocket of the oil tycoons. The oil tycoons aren't the ones embezzling the country's entire national budget.

>shithole you're tipping your hand a little much

According to https://www.transparency.org/news/feature/corruption_percept... Nigeria is tied for 136th worst corruption in the world, out of 176 countries. Worldwide, Nigeria is the poster boy for scams. Google "nigerian 419 scammer" for an example. According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)... the per capita income of Nigeria is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expe... the 2015 WHO estimate placed Nigeria with a life expectancy of 54.5, which placed it at 177 out of 183 countries.

You may think that "shithole" is too strong of a statement. But that description seems about right to me. What is average for Nigeria would qualify as a horrible slum in most countries.

Re: Bill and Melinda Gates Are Paying Off Nigeria's $76M Debt to Japan

#67
post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, the Gates Foundation only cares about their image, they're really just in the pocket of Nigerian oil tycoons. LMAO. Or, you know, there are tens of millions of people in Nigeria suffering from problems unimaginable in the West, and their goal is to help children and eliminate diseases rather than wait for fundamental governmental reform that won't occur for decades at least.

Look, Nigeria is swimming in money yet remains a shithole. The Gates Foundation "donation" is only a replacement for tax money that went into somebody's pocket instead of being used for what taxes are meant to be used for, whether paying loans or building a healthcare system. I never said they were in the pocket of the oil tycoons. The oil tycoons aren't the ones embezzling the country's entire national budget.

Nigeria is not swimming in money.

You're talking about $200 or $300 per capita of GDP going to corruption, maximum.

They have an economy comparable in size to Indiana, with 190 million people.

Re: Bill and Melinda Gates Are Paying Off Nigeria's $76M Debt to Japan

#68
post #65
post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> How could they reasonably expect Nigeria to pay them back $76M Oil revenue?

If they make so much cash with oil, then why does Japan and Bill Gates have to spend billions to help them fight polio?

You should ask this question to the Nigerian Govt.

Re: Bill and Melinda Gates Are Paying Off Nigeria's $76M Debt to Japan

#69
post #65
post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> How could they reasonably expect Nigeria to pay them back $76M Oil revenue?

If they make so much cash with oil, then why does Japan and Bill Gates have to spend billions to help them fight polio?

Everyone has debt, it's a tool, not a sign of poverty/inability to repay.
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