THE FEDERAL Republic of Nigeria is often considered to be the “giant of Africa” due to its huge population and large economy.
With a population of over 220 million people, the country accounts for 16% of Africa’s population and an estimated one fifth of all black people in the world when you include the Nigerian diaspora.
Nigeria is the 10th largest oil producer in the world and is becoming increasingly powerful internationally.
However in recent years Nigeria has come under increasing strains stemming from security challenges that could threaten the viability of the Nigerian state in the 21st century.
There are the ongoing secessionist movements such as those in the Delta region and Boko Haram, and the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the northeast where over 40,000 people have been killed and 300,000 displaced.
However a new conflict has been fermented by the ongoing climate crisis. In the northwest desertification in the Sahal has forced Muslim Fulani cattle herders to migrate further south on to land held by southern ethnic groups. This has erupted into an ethnic/religious conflict that has been termed the Herder-Farmer conflict which has led to the deaths of over 10,000 people and tens of thousands displaced as a result.
This conflict has extended further south into the southeast and southwest which has led the Eastern Security Network to clash with Nigerian armed forces. Armed vigilante groups have exacerbated these issues.
It is widely believed these issues have been exacerbated by the unequal distribution of wealth in Nigeria due to corruption and mismanagement.
Since 2015 Nigeria surpassed Brazil and India to become the most unequal country in the world. This is partly due to the ongoing and rapid population growth.
As the security and economic situation continues to deteriorate there is increasing doubtfulness over the government’s ability to deal with these problems effectively.
Many hope that with the upcoming elections in 2023 that things could change but the problems are very complex and multifaceted and are unlikely to be solved with a new leader.
Nigeria is no stranger to internal struggles. Under the British, colonial Nigeria was effectively run as two separate states with the South having more direct rule and the north having limited autonomy.
There are clear religious and ethnic differences between both regions with the south being predominantly Christian and the north being predominantly Muslim.
This led to stark differences in the standards of living between the two regions with the south benefitting relative to the north from more institutional and economic development. This legacy still exists today and it is no surprise that conflict often centres around the unequal distribution of wealth and resources in the country.
The 1967 Biafran war demonstrated this tension as the Republic of Biafra attempted to secede from the Nigerian state due to Igbo nationalist aspirations and issues with the Hausa-Fulani dominated government at the time. This led to a brutal civil war with scars still felt today.
Many would argue today’s problems are in part due to the artificial nature of the colonial state which for some Nigerians is not as important as their ethnic identity.
However, it is unlikely that the Nigerian state will collapse anytime soon. What is likely to continue is violence and instability as the issues behind these conflicts are likely to get worse before it gets better.
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Nigeria became a “failed State” the moment independence from Her Majesty’s English Ministers was granted in 1960.
The New Nigerians Elected political leadership were so incompetent that within six years of independence from the English, the Nigerian Government had starved to death over a million of its own citizens during the 1966 Biafran war.
Since independence from the English, Nigeria has had a session of savage; brutal and self-serving elected and military ministers, who do not believe in being politically accountable in any way, to Nigeria’s voters.
It’s an African thing.
The absolute low point in Nigeria’s military government was the repeated arrest, and savage and brutal beatings endured by the Afrobeat star Mr Fela Kuti- Fela’s mother died as a result of the brutal and savage Nigerian Military.
Secondly, the inability of the Nigerian government to use the Oil wealth to benefit all the people and infrastructure of Nigeria.
Lastly, as an African-heritage man, I felt personal shame in 1995, when the savage and brutal government of Nigeria, ignoring pleas from Her Majesty the Queen, and many other western Caucasian world leaders, hanged the BBC’s Mr Ken Saro-Wiwa, aged 54.
The works of Nigerian Mr Wole Soyinka: playwright, novelist, poet, and essayist reveal the essence of Nigerian culture and thinking that makes accountable governance an almost impossible concept for most of Nigeria’s elected Parliamentarians and Ministers.
Nigeria is a failed state.
The quicker Nigeria is broken into at least three independent; but federated states, the quicker Africa’s most populous nation may begin to exercise accountable and stable governance.
Why don’t you publish something constructive about Nigeria instead of this negative, sensationalist rubbish? No, Nigeria is not ”becoming a failed state”, and is working towards a bright future. Sorry to disappoint you.
Hello! I love this article and appreciate its insight into the tensions between Nigeria’s North and South, mainly through its exploration of the 1967 Biafran War.
The author’s discussion of religious and ethnic differences in both regions offers an excellent background to understand why there are still issues with unequal wealth distribution today.
One of the main factors behind ongoing conflicts is a lack of reconciliation between sides after the war.
With so many ethnic groups internally divided by religion, nationality, or economic status, it stands to reason that animosity will continue if those affected don’t learn to forgive each other for past grievances.
This can be done through dialogue, education, and reframing how people perceive their experiences.
I also believe there is a need for an increase in government regulation and economic investment.
This could come through policies such as providing infrastructure in impoverished regions, increased access to healthcare, and improved educational facilities.
These measures would help those affected by poverty and improve the quality of life for all Nigerians.
Finally, I believe any solution must focus on recognizing both sides’ perspectives while embracing a more unified identity than one based solely on ethnic or religious differences.
A great example of this can be seen in Nigeria’s national anthem, which speaks to a sense of unity within diversity.
By emphasizing the importance of collaboration over hate, we can ensure that future generations are not left with scars from past wars but have a chance to live in peace and prosperity.
Overall, this article was incredibly informative about the tensions between Nigeria’s North and South regions.
I am grateful for the insight it provides into how we can begin to reconcile these issues and create a more peaceful future.
Thank you for sharing!
I doubt very much if the world fully understands one of the most confusing, contradictory and in explicable situation of Nigeria? The cabal of powerful politicians and oligarchs who run the country create a near stone age condition by their looting activities and take their loots abroad. By 1st October 1960 when the British left Nigeria, there were water and electricity 24/7 in every major city and town in Nigeria. Today 62 years after, these modern necessities have all but disappeared. Nigeria is a land of a thousand rivers but the people are forced to dig wells for water. The president uses London hospital like official and regular clinic next to his residence while the entire country’s health care system is near collapse, etc etc.