Nigeria: 64 Jahre und ein Trümmerhaufen - Wo bleibt die Hoffnung?

Nigeria recently marked its 64th independence anniversary amid ongoing socio-economic challenges, prompting discussions on governance and development. The stark realities were highlighted in a recent piece by The Punch, stating that between 2015 and May 2023, over 63,000 citizens were lost to violence, including terrorism and banditry, without significant improvement under the current administration of President Bola Tinubu. Infrastructure remains a persistent problem, with about 56,000 uncompleted projects and a power generation capacity well behind that of its continental peers, struggling to produce just 5,000 megawatts compared to South Africa and Egypt’s 58,000 megawatts each. The World Bank notes that 45% of Nigerians still lack access to grid electricity.

Economically, Nigeria faces pressures from fluctuating oil prices and increasing poverty, with an estimated 133 million people living in multidimensional poverty as of 2023. Policies enforced by Tinubu’s government in an attempt to stabilize the economy have reportedly added 7 million citizens to the poverty line, raising concerns over food security and access to education and healthcare. The precarious state of governance spurs debate on the need for true federalism to empower local entities and facilitate sustainable development without further reliance on ineffective leadership. More insights into these pressing issues were shared in a recent analysis on saharareporters.com.