Torn between Two Pandemics: Poverty Pandemic and Coronavirus Pandemic in Nigeria

The wave of coronavirus pandemic that hit the world coincides with Nigeria’s struggles with her newly attained position as the poverty capital of the world. This paper argues that prevalent poverty is a pandemic that the world has learnt to live with, and that Nigeria is struggling to overcome. The agony of poverty in the country coupled with the coronavirus pandemic subjects the country to a quandary of a dual-pandemic scourge. The paper relies on secondary data and adopts a descriptive and analytic approach. It concludes that multidimensional poverty in Nigeria is pervasive and has become deepened by the pandemic which led to a shutdown of economic activities in various countries of the world. The paper recommends that the government should commit to schemes, policies and projects that aim at reducing [multidimensional] poverty to avoid the rise of new poor as well as be proactive in treating poverty as a pandemic capable of plunging the country into an abyss of underdevelopment

The state of democracy in Africa: democratic decline or autocracy?

Many African states experienced democratic transition following the third wave of democratization that spread across the region in the 1990s. Such democratic states became characterized by multiparty elections, tolerance for opposition tolerance, media freedom, protection of human rights and respect for the rule of law. However, recent trends show that democratic growth has stalled while its gains are short-lived in many states. This is evidenced in the rise in third termism, constitutional coups, military coups and digital authoritarianism that plagues the continent – suggesting a wave of democratic relapse and autocracy. One is therefore poised to ask what the state of democracy in Africa is and what trends and practices have led to a general decline in levels of democracy. To this end, this paper assesses the incidence of democratic recession in Africa by adopting a descriptive and analytical approach that relies on secondary data sourced from peer-reviewed journal articles, reports, briefs and internet sources. It was found that the decline in democratization, otherwise democratic relapse heralds an epoch of democratic instability and entrenched autocracy in the continent. This is not unconnected with the spate of bad governance, violent electoral contestation, digital repression and widespread violation of human rights that is prevalent on the continent. It was therefore recommended that priority be given to good governance, the strengthening of state institutions and tolerance for opposition

FROM “THERE WAS A COUNTRY” TO A “NATION UNDER SIEGE”: EXPLAINING THE OXYGENATION OF INSECURITY IN SOUTH EAST, NIGERIA

The South East of Nigeria has been plagued with skirmishes of neo-civil war between the people of the region and the government. The “new war” in the Southeast is softly prosecuted as a “siege” which is meant to achieve two basic objectives: genocide and economic asphyxiation; typical of what was obtained in the civil war era. Rooted in the sheer perceived malignment of the region mostly populated by the Ibos, the activities of the security forces set up to execute the objectives have been met with stiff resistance from the people through various groups including the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) in a struggle for survival. The paper adopts a qualitative approach that draws data from secondary sources such as textbooks, peer-reviewed journal articles, newspapers and internet sources. It is concluded that prolonged injustice and marginalization occasioned separatist movements and fuel insecurity in South East Nigeria. The paper recommends the re-integration of the people into governance to combat alienation and exclusion. Government should also promote the de-sieging of the region and convoke a Sovereign National Conference that will involve critical stakeholders in the country to restore peace, engender social change and promote development in the region

Assessment of the Prevalence of Multidimensional Poverty in Nigeria: Evidence From Oto/Ijanikin, Lagos State

Poverty in Nigeria is endemic and continues to deepen even amid economic growth. We found that, beyond income, Nigeria is faced with multidimensional poverty that involves healthcare, education, and living standards, with several indicators. Recently dubbed the poverty capital of the world, Nigeria faces an enormous challenge in combating multidimensional poverty. Our study, which was theoretically analyzed using social exclusion theory, adopts both qualitative and quantitative approaches to examine the extent of multidimensional poverty in Nigeria, with particular attention on Oto/Ijanikin, which is a semiurban suburb of Lagos State. Primary data were gathered from the study area, while secondary data were sourced on the prevalence of multidimensional poverty in Nigeria. Focusing on indicators such as healthcare, electricity, education, clean water, and housing, we conclude that multidimensional poverty is indeed widespread in Nigeria and, thus, we recommend social inclusion as the solution

Identity and Identity Politics: Leading Nigeria to a State of Perpetual Instability?

The political discourse in Nigeria is centred on who is and who is not; where one is from, or not, as well as what religion or culture one practices or does not. The plurality of the State is constantly being exploited by the political class to divide the citizenry along ethnic, religious, lingual and cultural lines which undoubtedly is inimical to development. Although, not a determinant for conflict, diversity in Nigeria has unjustifiably sparked ethnic, communal, religious and racial skirmishes which when left unchecked entrenches separatism, secessionism, insurgency, widespread poverty, marginalization, division, inequality and ethnic restiveness which will drive the country to a state of fragility. Identity can be said to exist on different levels; ethnic, state, national, transnational, and global identity. Each of these is approached at either personal or collective capacity and is often given preference by the parties involved due to what they stand to benefit from the group. This is why individuals may be found giving undue prominence to the group at the expense of the State’s interest. The paper thence sought to assess Nigeria’s tortuous experience with identity and identity politics with particular reference to ethnic, religious and lingual challenges whilst arguing that identity consciousness has overtaken national consciousness, thus making ethnic-hegemony-rivalry the norm. It is however recommended that groups with strong religious loyalties should be enlightened on the need to compromise

The state of democracy in Africa: democratic decline or autocracy?

Many African states experienced democratic transition following the third wave of democratization that spread across the region in the 1990s. Such democratic states became characterized by multiparty elections, tolerance for opposition tolerance, media freedom, protection of human rights and respect for the rule of law. However, recent trends show that democratic growth has stalled while its gains are short-lived in many states. This is evidenced in the rise in third termism, constitutional coups, military coups and digital authoritarianism that plagues the continent – suggesting a wave of democratic relapse and autocracy. One is therefore poised to ask what the state of democracy in Africa is and what trends and practices have led to a general decline in levels of democracy. To this end, this paper assesses the incidence of democratic recession in Africa by adopting a descriptive and analytical approach that relies on secondary data sourced from peer-reviewed journal articles, reports, briefs and internet sources. It was found that the decline in democratization, otherwise democratic relapse heralds an epoch of democratic instability and entrenched autocracy in the continent. This is not unconnected with the spate of bad governance, violent electoral contestation, digital repression and widespread violation of human rights that is prevalent on the continent. It was therefore recommended that priority be given to good governance, the strengthening of state institutions and tolerance for opposition

Torn between Two Pandemics: Poverty Pandemic and Coronavirus Pandemic in Nigeria

The wave of coronavirus pandemic that hit the world coincides with Nigeria’s struggles with her newly attained position as the poverty capital of the world. This paper argues that prevalent poverty is a pandemic that the world has learnt to live with, and that Nigeria is struggling to overcome. The agony of poverty in the country coupled with the coronavirus pandemic subjects the country to a quandary of a dual-pandemic scourge. The paper relies on secondary data and adopts a descriptive and analytic approach. It concludes that multidimensional poverty in Nigeria is pervasive and has become deepened by the pandemic which led to a shutdown of economic activities in various countries of the world. The paper recommends that the government should commit to schemes, policies and projects that aim at reducing [multidimensional] poverty to avoid the rise of new poor as well as be proactive in treating poverty as a pandemic capable of plunging the country into an abyss of underdevelopment

MREŽA ZLOČINA, TEORIJA RUTINSKIH AKTIVNOSTI I POŠAST ORUŽANOG RAZBOJNIŠTVA U NIGERIJI

The incidence of banditry in Nigeria has assumed an unprecedented mien which constitutes a major bane to the hitherto troubled security in the country. The phenomenon has created a multi-pronged security challenge that has amplified the spate of destruction of life and property and displacement. Meanwhile, inchoate and nascent erudition is still associated with the incidence of banditry in Nigeria. Thus, this study attempts to satiate this lacuna by annotating the incidence from the Routine Activity Theory standpoint. The study adopts a descriptive and analytical armchair analysis which relies on a secondary source of data. The study found out that the menace of banditry is prevalent in Nigeria, particularly in the Northwest. Some of the methods favoured by bandits include armed robbery, cattle rustling, arson, sexual violence, kidnapping, raiding villages and schools, looting, stealing livestock and gruesome killing. The incidence is attributable to the conflicts between farmers and herders for scarce resources, the influx of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) into Nigeria, an overwhelmed, weak and understaffed security apparatus, illegal mining, slow response and poor engagement of the Nigerian government, and a vast ungoverned forest territory. To adequately address the incidence of banditry in Nigeria, the study recommends a prevention strategy that focuses on the three major areas identified by the Routine Activity Theory: the motivated offender, the suitable target, and the absence of guardianshipUčestalost oružanog razbojništva poprimila je neviđene razmere u Nigeriji. Ova pojava nanosi veliku štetu već problematičnoj državnoj bezbednost i predstavlja višestruki bezbednosni izazov jer prouzrokuje novi talas uništavanja ljudskih života, imovine, kao i raseljavanje stanovništva. S druge strane, naučno-teorijska istraživanja se još uvek bave pojavom razbojništva u Nigeriji. Ovo istraživanje nastoji da popuni postojeću prazninu kroz analizu pojavnih oblika oružanog razbojništva sa stanovišta Teorije rutinskih aktivnosti (engl. Routine Activity Theory). U radu se koristi deskriptivna i analitička metoda koja se oslanja na sekundarne izvore podataka. Istraživanje ukazuje da je opasnost od oružanog razbojništva (banditizma) prilično rasprostranjena u Nigeriji, posebno u severozapadnim oblastima. Neka od najčešćih krivičnih dela su: oružane pljačke, krađa stoke, paljevine, seksualno nasilje, otmice, upadi u sela i škole, otimačina, imovinske krađe, i brutalna ubistva. Učestalost ovih krivičnih dela može se pripisati brojnim faktorima: dugogodišnjim sukobima između farmera i stočara oko oskudnih resursa; prilivu malokalibarskog i lakog naoružanja u Nigeriju; preopterećenom i slabom bezbednosnom aparatu koji je hronično opterećen nedostatkom kvalifikovanog osoblja; sporoj reakciji, lošoj organizaciji i neadekvatnom angažovanja nigerijske vlade u rešavanju ovih problema; prisustvu protivzakonitih rudarskih aktivnosti, kao i ogromnih šumskih prostranstava koja su velikoj meri neregulisana. Kako bi se država na adekvatan način pozabavila pojavom oružanog razbojništva u Nigeriji, u radu se preporučuje strategija zasnovana na Teoriji rutinskih aktivnosti koja identifikuje tri ključna cilja u prevenciji ovih krivičnih dela: motivisani prestupnik, privlačna/osetljiva meta, i odsustvo “sposobnog čuvara”

The Political Economy of Oil and Coronavirus Disease in Nigeria: Imperatives for Diversification

Nigeria runs a mono-petrodollar economy, and the government has persistently ignored the calls for diversification except for when the price of oil plummets. Indeed, there has not been a tangible effort to sincerely shift the focus from being perpetually oil-dependent to developing the non-oil sectors of the economy and increase foreign exchange earnings. However, the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic revealed the volatility of the Nigerian economy and its susceptibility to oil shock and natural disasters. Situated within the context of the Cobweb Theorem, this paper explores how oil dependence has exposed the Nigerian economy to oil price fluctuation and the threat of an impending recession. The paper which relied on secondary data also examines the imperativeness of diversification as a way forward in Nigeria and concludes that the government must take advantage of her abundant resources and pay critical attention to other sectors of the economy such as agriculture