Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), has warned that the Niger Delta crisis may degenerate into a civil war of the same gravity as the catastrophic wars that left Liberia and Sierra Leone in ruins, if the government continues to take the problems plaguing the region for granted.

"What is happening in Niger Delta is not being taken seriously and is very sad. It may actually end up being bigger little by little. If we are not careful, chances are that the 140 million Nigerians may end up like a Liberia or a Sierria Leone or a Somalia," Ribadu warned last weekend.

"When we are trying to fight corruption a lot of people are saying it must be business as usual. If you touch them, you are touching democracy, if you touch them you are touching the rule of law. But they will never succeed Nigeria will never be a Congo," he added.