A Review of Value Added in Nigeria’s Pre and Post–SAP Agricultural Sector: Background and Issues

In spite of the growing importance of oil, Nigeria has remained essentially an agrarian economy, with agriculture still significantly contributing to its Gross Domestic Product. However, the potentials of the agricultural sector to contribute to economic development in Nigeria have varied widely in the last two decades. This variation appears to be correlated to the nature of the political and economic regimes that exists. There were indications of some moderate output increase following the introduction of SAP. But, it is not yet certain whether the extent of deregulation policy currently being pursued by the Government and the preliminary outcome has elicited the desired response. One of the indications of the adverse development is the diversion of scarce foreign exchange from financing capital and intermediate imports to paying for food imports. Successive governments have experimented with various options in the promotion of agro-based industries, import substitution, promotion of specific sectors and specific areas. The outcome is an imbalance growth of various sub-sectors in the sector, poor capacity utilization, eroded competitiveness of local manufacturers and uneven playing field within the country. This paper basically reviews and analyzes the components of Nigeria’s agricultural sector, its contributions to economic development, and strategies adopted within the sector before and during the Structural Adjustment Program. It recommends that providing the right policy framework/enabling environment and incentives for private sector investment in the sector enshrined in the new economic blue print‘Transformation Agenda’ could be a viable option for revitalizing the sector

A Review of Value Added in Nigeria's Pre and Post-SAP Agricultural Sector: Background and Issues

In spite of the growing importance of oil, Nigeria has remained essentially an agrarian economy, with agriculture still significantly contributing to its Gross Domestic Product. However, the potentials of the agricultural sector to contribute to economic development in Nigeria have varied widely in the last two decades. This variation appears to be correlated to the nature of the political and economic regimes that exists. There were indications of some moderate output increase following the introduction of SAP. But, it is not yet certain whether the extent of deregulation policy currently being pursued by the Government and the preliminary outcome has elicited the desired response. One of the indications of the adverse development is the diversion of scarce foreign exchange from financing capital and intermediate imports to paying for food imports. Successive governments have experimented with various options in the promotion of agro-based industries, import substitution, promotion of specific sectors and specific areas. The outcome is an imbalance growth of various sub-sectors in the sector, poor capacity utilization, eroded competitiveness of local manufacturers and uneven playing field within the country. This paper basically reviews and analyzes the components of Nigeria’s agricultural sector, its contributions to economic development, and strategies adopted within the sector before and during the Structural Adjustment Program. It recommends that providing the right policy framework/enabling environment and incentives for private sector investment in the sector enshrined in the new economic blue print‘Transformation Agenda’ could be a viable option for revitalizing the sector.Department of HE and Training approved lis

Political Conflicts, State Collapse and Ebola Virus Disease: Prevalence in West Africa Examining the Nexus

Using Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone as case studies, this paper examines the political factors that enabled the outbreak and prevalence of Ebola virus in West Africa. The data are generated from Ibrahim Index of African Governance, Human Development Report, World Development Indicators, and Corruption Perception Index. The central argument is that protracted violent conflicts in the sub-region resulted in political instability, which collapsed governmental functions and socio-economic infrastructure and services. Thus, the inability of governments to respond effectively to the outbreak of Ebola is located in the absence of enabling and corresponding socio-economic infrastructure, especially in the rural areas. Consequently, the paper projects that the virus will remain a potent threat to human security in West Africa so long as infrastructure remains in a ruinous condition. Given this projection, the paper recommends overhauling socio-economic infrastructure and strengthening political stability through the institutionalisation of democratic principles in the sub-region

Inequality, democracy and development under neoliberalism and beyond

This book is the collection of articles by young researchers from Latin America, Africa and Asia who were laureates of the South-South Institute held in Bangkok, Thailand in November 2014. The primary objective of the South-South Institute is to offer advanced research training opportunities to the younger scholars on the diverse problems and challenges faced by the countries of the South, and the theoretical and methodological perspectives that might be appropriate for gaining a full understanding of the specific situation of the countries and peoples located outside the core of the international system such as it is presently structured. The main premise of this effort is the glaring inadequacy of much of the theories and methodologies developed in the North, as crystallised in the mainstream social sciences, to provide the required instruments for a sound understanding of the problems confronting the countries of the South. The Institute mobilises young scholars from across the three continents, involving them in discussion, critiques and adaptations of existing theories and the generation of alternative approaches