NIGERIA

Although Things Fall Apart, the classic novel by Nigeria's Chinua Achebe, was written about a crisis in the country during the early 20th century when the missionaries arrived, the title could be applied to current conditions. Inflation and corruption are rampant, riots and strikes are frequent, and the nation's infrastructure is in tatters from plunder by past governments. Travel can be a stressful ordeal, stalled by inconvenience, inefficiency and shakedowns -- by police and militia as well as freelance operators.
Despite the country's substantial oil and mineral deposits, prosperity is far out of the reach of most of its people. The new civilian government, led by President Olusegun Obasanjo, has had some success reducing Nigeria's endemic corruption and improving working conditions. But the country still has an awfully long road ahead of it.

Nigeria has never been the most pleasant West African country to visit. It's dirty and hectic, and the Nigerians are known among other African peoples for their aggressiveness -- it is said that the whole country has a Type A personality. Unlike some other developing nations, where you might risk your life for stunning natural beauty or unusual cultural artifacts, the only superlative you'll hear about Nigeria is that Lagos is the world's ugliest and most chaotic city. Nigeria's one true bright spot is its wonderfully ebullient music -- which you'll probably enjoy more in the comfort of your home than in Lagos' dangerous nightclubs.