UCLA

This thesis is an analysis of Nigeria's governance of its natural resource funds (NRF). The first half will discuss the unique challenges faced by oil producing countries in managing their resource revenues and provide an overview of Nigeria's lackluster track record in this respect. Then, the role of sovereign wealth funds (SWF), in particular natural resource funds (NRF) in mitigating some of these challenges will be examined. The second half of this thesis focuses on Nigeria's management of its previous NRF, the Excess Crude Account, and analyzes the strength and weaknesses of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) Act, the legislation that established the countries three new NRFs and the government entity to manage them. I conclude by offering pragmatic recommendations on how to improve the NSIA, which is under legal dispute.