138. Nigeria has joined the ranks of a handful of African countries that have led the process of implementing the novel mechanism of the APRM. It signed the APRM Accession MoU on 9 March 2003 and has systematically put in place structures that have led to the current review of the country. Upon completion of the current review, Nigeria will be the eight country to have successfully gone through the review process, which will then pave the way for the implementation of its National Programme of Action (NPoA). This leadership by example will go a long way in influencing other African countries to accede to the APRM. In addition, Nigeria has been fulfilling its financial obligations and has made significant contributions to the continental APRM Trust Fund. 139. Nigeria, by virtue of its abundant human resources and resource endowment, is a major player in the global economy. Since the resumption of civil rule in 1999, which also marked the end of its pariah status due to the brutal military dictatorship of Sani Abacha, Nigeria has played its rightful role as a mouthpiece of Africa on the global stage. Whether at Group of Eight (G8) Summit gatherings of the world’s richest and most powerful nations or meetings of the Group of 77 (G77) bloc of influential developing nations, Nigeria has represented Africa’s interests and promoted its new NEPAD development strategy. 140. Nigeria’s position in global energy markets continues to underline the interests generated by the international community in the Niger Delta crisis. As the world’s fifth-largest producer of hydrocarbon and a leading member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the security situation in the Niger Delta area, where over US$40 billion is earned from petroleum resources annually, has global repercussions, as has been witnessed recently in the record global energy prices. Not surprisingly, the United States of America (US) as well as multinational energy corporations have been among the keen actors seeking sustainable solutions to the Niger Delta crisis. Indeed, international corporate actors have warned that, unless a lasting solution to the Niger Delta crisis is engendered, the global volatility in energy prices will continue. 57