SEGURANÇA NACIONAL E OS DESAFIOS DO SÉCULO XXI

This paper is set to discuss the issues on Nigeria’s national security and ways of meeting the challenges of the 21's century. It therefore examined and assessed what it requires to achieve national security and suggest ways of improving her national Security for a better 21’s century. It was discovered that Nigeria’s security issues over the years have been wrongly defined, relegating the major factors that bring better security. This paper, therefore recommend that for a better national security attainment in the 21's century, both the conventional and grand strategic measures should be applied. The need for economic empowerment, good governance, advance science and technology, human and material resources development, etc., must be considered and used for alternative national security attainment.Este documento tem como objetivo discutir as questões de segurança nacional da Nigéria e as formas de enfrentar os desafios do século 21. Portanto, ele examinou e avaliou o que é necessário para alcançar a segurança nacional e sugeriu formas de melhorar sua segurança nacional para um melhor século 2l'. Descobriu-se que as questões de segurança da Nigéria ao longo dos anos foram erroneamente definidas, relegando os principais fatores que trazem uma melhor segurança. Este documento, portanto, recomenda que para uma melhor realização da segurança nacional no século 2l, tanto as medidas estratégicas convencionais como as grandes medidas estratégicas devem ser aplicadas. A necessidade de capacitação econômica, boa governança, ciência e tecnologia avançadas, desenvolvimento de recursos humanos e materiais, etc., deve ser considerada e utilizada para a obtenção de segurança nacional alternativa

Tackling Poverty for Achieving Sustainable National Development in Nigeria

Decades after Nigeria attained statehood, poverty still stares many Nigerians menacingly in the face. It has assumed unprecedented and unacceptable proportions. Manifesting not only in abysm declines in economic indicators but more glaringly and tragically in the suffering and general impoverishment of the vast majority of the people; hunger, diseases and other social quagmire have now become a life style of many Nigerians. Efforts by successive governments to tackle the scourge & poverty appeared to stress the pursuit of high growth rate in statistical terms and failed to reduce to social and economic deprivation of substantial number of people. Sustainable development implies equitable and balance development that take into cognizance the interest of different groups within and among generations in four major areas: social, economic, political and environmental. The paper discusses the tackling of poverty as sin qua non for attaining sustainable national development It concludes that government needs to implement policies and strategies that promote adequate levels of funding and focus on integrated human development policies

Problems and Challenges of Policy Implementation for National Development

As policies and programmes continue to fail in Nigeria, public confidence in government ability to achieve national development erodes. Analysis in public policy implementation continually assumes a greater significance. Public policy is not a bed of roses; it is often challenging and creative, many proposals faced obstacles on their way to implementation. Most proposals do not survive and those that do, emerged mutilated or distorted, so that they no longer serves their intended purposes. The objectives of the paper are to examine the problems and challenges of policy implementation in Nigeria. The paper relies on secondary data for its presentation and analysis. It is of the view that effective policy implementation can only be achieved not only through a continuous political commitment and clear definition of responsibilities and coordination, but also through genuine commitment to eradication of corruption at all levels of government

Federalism and National Integration: The Nigerian Experience

Nigeria, the heart of Africa and world's most populous black nation is a classic case of deeply divided state. It is estimated to be inhabited by over 400 ethnic groups, making her one of the World most ethnically numerous State. These groups are not only differentiated by language, customs and traditions but they also differed in size, power and influence. It is in recognition of this that the founding fathers of Nigeria settled for a federal system of government. This paper examines why federalism and other integrative mechanisms failed to integrate the diverse people that make up the country. The paper contends that non-commitment to the ideals of federalism accounted for the inability of federalism to integrate the different ethnic groups in the country. The paper concludes that for federalism to perform the magic wand, political leaders must be committed to the tenets of federalism. Keywords: Ethnicity, Federalism, Federal Character, Indigeneity and National Integration

History of Corruption and National Development: The Case of Nigeria

Nigeria, with a population of over 140 million people, is the most populous country: in Africa: one in five Sub-Saharan Africans is a Nigerian. The country is also rich in both human and natural resources. Billions of dollars were generated yearly from the sale of crude oil and vet nothing to show for this huge revenue in terms of infrastructural development and the living standards of Nigerians. This state of affairs has been attributed to the prevalence of corruption. This paper examines phenomenon called corruption. It discusses the causes and impacts. The paper attributed the causes of corruption in Nigeria to socio-cultural and the political and economic situation of the country. The paper contends that corruption has been responsible for the instability of successive Nigerian administration since independence to date. Besides, it creates negative image and loss of much needed revenue for developmental purposes: it devalues the quality of human life: robs educational and health sectors of revenues; it slows down administrative processes thereby making the execution of government policies to be ineffective. The paper recommends among others, enlightenment of the citizen on the danger of excessive materialism and the culture of “get rich quick”. Besides, the property of any corrupt official should be confiscated and should also be imprisoned for life to serve as a deterrent to others. Keywords: Corruption, Development, Kleptocracy, Prebendalisr