Let me give you the historical background of Nigeria natural resources that has a link (the same history) with your story. When the Portuguese came to Nigeria in the year 1384, they stayed briefly and left later British rediscovered Nigeria in 1438 or there about  and they had treaties with the local chiefs. And other world powers discovered the natural resources in the country, they were about to fight with British businessmen in the region, so Bismarck called for a conference in 1884 to 1885 to scramble ( partition) Africa to the world powers. And they did it. And British government took only 4 Countries plus Nigeria. In 1900, British government came to Nigeria to rule them fully and extract the natural resources to feed their (British) industries which they succeeded. In 1960, when British government was leaving the mantle of leadership to local people, they planted a seed that everything that Nigeria has is own by the government. Such as:
1. Land
2. Air
3. Rivers
4. Seas

So when Crude oil was discovered in the Niger Delta Nigerian Government claim it and take over it from the indigenes. But when Gold was found at the northern part of the country, the federal government did not go and claim it. These are physical resources that government can manipulate to favour themselves. And I believe almost all governments have this kind of mindset to oppress a set of people in their countries. But when it comes to Bitcoin the governments can't control it because it is a decentralized system that own by everyone and no one. Most Countries were trying to control it to favour themselves but no way so it let to ban and others.

Therefore, president, Nixon in 1971 was trying to stopped the people from exchanging their GOLD to the Fiat currency was a personal interest. They can't try that with Bitcoin.