ABSTRACT
The article before you discussed about the pertinent matters facing Nigeria as a sovereign state. Though Nigeria has what could make her one of the best countries in the world in terms of growth and development, but could not because of some factors which stand in the way of the progress she could have been enjoying. Those things which are hindering Nigeria’s progress are corruption, poor health services, insurgencies and a host of other factors. All these coupled with misgovernance and mismanagement of public funds have made Nigeria one of the poorest nations in the world. This article carefully identifies these problems and even goes an extra mile in trying to seek a solution to these problems so that the government both at the federal and state levels will try to find a way forward out of the problems we are facing as a nation.
Nigeria is a middle-income, mixed economy and emerging market, with expanding manufacturing, financial, service, communications, technology and entertainment sectors. It is ranked as the 21st largest economy in the world in terms of GDP , and the 20th largest in terms of purchasing power parity. It is the largest economy in Africa. Its re-emergent manufacturing sector became the largest on the continent in 2013, and it produces a large proportion of goods and below the 2012 ratio. All these are merely put on paper and inks, but rather it is in a poverty stricken state that needs urgent resuscitation and development.
A walk around major cities of Nigeria will put a stamp on the discourse that it is rising at a considerable significant rate. The crane-filled skylines, multi-million dollar mansions,business and shopping malls coupled with visible on growing technologies are just but a few indications of the country’s ascent to prosperity. On the other hand Ironically, the other discourse that is going hand in hand with this narrative is the astounding number of people who are still engaging blows with deep-rooted poverty in the country.
One can only wonder why there is still a wide bridge between the rich and the poor and why is it still struggling with poverty despite the fact that it is home to a major percentage of raw materials that are in hot demand around the globe? Some onlookers and analysts have pointed to overpopulation as its defect. But in addition to overpopulation, we still have other problems facing us our which include insecurity, unending corruption, poor health services.
INSECURITY: The argument that terrorism like wars, contribute to poverty can not be overlooked. Terrorism disorients people and leaves them destitute. It also disconnects businesses from their clients. Moreover, roads and communication networks are destroyed or barred which could further cripple these businesses. Industries collapse, people loose jobs and investors lose confidence in the affected country, thus pushing the affected region down the economic slopes. The Boko Haram insurgency has led to over 100,000 deaths since it started. Report says that business activity in regions like Maiduguri and other places affected by the Boko Haram insurgency had dropped by 80% by 2015 causing business disruption, sporadic migration, abandonment of professions and jobs, discouraged foreign investment, food scarcity and at the same time dehumanizing people. With such a high economic impact poverty is inevitable.
UNENDING CORRUPTION: In this society we found ourselves, in most news item, there will be at least a story covered about how a high-ranking official is under probe over corruption allegations. While this is good news to many, the laws on corruption are lax, allowing those caught in the act an easy get away. While the cultural and religious beliefs are strong, what is not is the political will and the legal framework to deal with corrupt cases especially those involving prominent political figures. Liberia president, Johnson Sirleaf once said "Africa isn't poor,it is poorly managed"
POOR HEALTH SERVICES: When a country is not able to create quality health infrastructure and system for its own people, it risks falling into a trap where the economy remains stagnant. Poverty is both a cause and a consequence of poor health. Poor living conditions increase the chances of poor health. In turn, poor health entraps communities in undying poverty. One of the consequences of diseases is that it depletes individuals,households and communities’ energy to work, to build their lives and that of the society. With less individuals working to make their lives better, poverty creeps and entrenches its roots. According to the CIA Factbook, 33% of Nigerians live below the poverty line ($1) daily as at 2013 when dollar was exchanged averagely at #158. The discourse on poverty in Nigeria is like a jig-saw puzzle. Nigeria as a country is rich but its people are poor. Although Nigeria is rising, poverty is curtailing the country’s growth. As a country, Nigeria needs to address the negligence of sound economic policies and other salient issues. Corruption, selfish interests, thirst for power, religious and ethnic enmity are clogging the pipeline within which development would have flowed. Governments, regional communities and private sector should develop effective strategies based on regional needs and partner with like-minded corporations both local and foreign to drive Nigeria’s wheel of development forward.
Nigeria has the potential to level with or even rise above any other developing country if only it can laid emphasis on shunning corruption, providing basic amenities like water, food, shelter, energy, education and security for all to avert poverty. In conclusion, if the government can efficiently tackle the above listed banes to development, I think we can live up to our name "GIANT OF AFRICA" but if not I am of the opinion that we should just change our name as that name in the case of Nigeria is a Pseudo name.