DEVELOPMENTAL CHALLENGES IN NIGERIA

Development is a normative word which tends to prescribe what ought to be achieved from one stage of life. It is a process of improvement with respect to a set of values that exist before while to many scholars; it is a comparative state of affairs.

Some other scholars also see development in terms of economic growth accompanied by social, political, cultural and institutional changes and each change is regarded as positive change.

In essence, a critical look at various sectors of Nigerian e

conomy gives a better picture of the state of affairs in Nigeria whether the country is actually developing, developed or stagnated.

Prior to Nigeria’s independence in 1960, the British Colonial Government came up with her development plan to the then colonized territory in order to suit her exploration and colonization objectives in the country.

Upon gaining independence, the nationalists saw the need to ensure a far-reaching development plan that would put Nigeria on the path of growth through its development aspirations.

It is on record that the First National Development Plan of 1962 to 1968 which later extended to 1970 as a result of the military intervention of 1966 and civil war recorded a notable achievements which included the execution of projects like the Port Harcourt Refinery, Jebba Paper Mill, Sugar Mill in Bacita, Niger Dam, Niger Bridge, Ports extension and construction of a number of trunk ‘A’ roads.

Interestingly, the first generation universities which included the University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, Ahmadu Bello University, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) were established by both the Federal and regional governments.

In 1970, General Yakubu Gowon launched the Second National Development Plan on behalf of the Federal and the then twelve State Governments. The plan was primarily designed to focus on the reconstruction of a war-battered economy and the promotion of economic and social development in the new Nigeria.

Notable among the achievements of the Second Development Plan were the successful construction of many federal roads, take off of the National Youth Service Corps, introduction of Federal Scholarship and loan schemes for Nigerian students.

Equally, the Third National Development Plan was launched in April, 1975 with pleasant objectives of increase in per capital income, more even distribution of income, reduction in the level of unemployment, diversification of the economy, indigenization of economic activities among others. However, all these objectives could not see the light of the day as a result of the incursion of another Military Government in July, 1975, barely three moths after the Plan was launched.

For the first in the history of the country, democratically elected government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari launched the Fourth National Development Plan in 1981, expected to last till 1985. Unlike the previous Development Plans, the Fourth Plan was the first in which the Local Governments were made to participate at the levels of preparation and they were also allowed to have their own separate progrmmes under the Plan.

The Fourth Development Plan was again affected by the change of government in 1983 and by yet another change in 1985. Indeed, the performance of the economy during the Fourth Plan was generally poor and the period eventually saw an end to major National Development.

No doubt, the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) introduced in 1986 by General Ibrahim Babangida and Vision 2010 Plan of General Sani Abacha have both negative and positive effects on the social, economic and political spheres of Nigeria. In fact, the two regimes left scars of wound in Nigerian economy which hitherto remain unhealed.

Since the return of democracy in 1999, government at all levels, particularly at the Federal levels have embarked on series of reforms, short, medium and long term plans which include the National Economic Empowerment Development Strategies (NEEDS) National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP), Seven Point Agenda, Vision 20: 2020, the United Nations adopted Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) among others without appreciable result.

A Development Economist, George Leiser once opined that before you can say that one country is making progress; one must provide answers to what has been happening to poverty? What has been happening to unemployment? And what has been happening to inequality between the poor and the rich?

Hence, the accentuated inequality, pervasive poverty and increasing unemployment rate should be addressed to bring about the accelerated development in social, economic and political landscapes of the country.

Government at all levels must shun policy somersault, corruption, favouritism and nepotism, bad governance and stem the rising spate of insecurity with a view to returning Nigeria to the path of progress.

NIGERIA AND ITS FOREIGN POLICY

Since Nigeria’s Independence in 1960 from the British Government, its Foreign Policy has been characterized by a focus on Africa, especially its unity and independence, as well as the peaceful settlement of disputes. It has also ensured non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations, and striven to promote regional economic cooperation and development.

In pursuing the goal of regional economic cooperation and development, Nigeria was central to the creation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 1975 which seeks to harmonize trade and investment practices for its fifteen member nations.

It would be recalled that a Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon led a delegation of Nigeria and Togo to tour West African Countries towards persuading them and build a regional body that would promote socio-economic and political emancipation of the region.

To this end, since the return of democracy in the past decade, Nigeria has continued its tradition by playing a pivotal role in the support of peace in Africa. It is on record that Nigeria has provided the bulk of troops for the United Nations Peace-Keeping Missions in Sierra Leone and Liberia, as well as the African Union Mission in Sudan while Nigeria’s role during South African Apartheid regime still fresh in our memories.

Suffice to say that Nigeria has demonstrated commitment to the strengthening and renewal of its ties with the International Community. The regimes of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua visited several countries of the world in an effort to renew Nigeria’s ties with some other countries of the world.

In June, 2007, late President Umaru Yar’Adua attended the Annual G-8 Summit in Helligendamn, Germany, after an invitation by German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, where he met many world leaders. Among issues discussed with the leaders were the fixing of the crisis-ridden energy sector, economic exchange, as well as questions relating to the African Union and the West African regional organization.

President Goodluck Jonathan has also since his emergence in May, 2011 visited a number of countries which include the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and several other African Nations in the name of strengthening the nation’s diplomatic relations with other countries of the world. The question is to what extent were those overseas trips in the name of strengthening bilateral or multilateral ties or wooing investors have impacted on the lives of ordinary Nigerians?

It must be noted that several regimes have employed many foreign policy thrusts ranging from Concentric, Citizens Diplomacy to Economic Diplomacy with a view to promoting Nigeria’s national interest and attracting Foreign Direct Investment into the country.

Emphasizing the new shift of using Nigeria’s diplomatic platform to drive growth and national development, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru stressed that henceforth, Nigerians missions abroad would form the new vanguard and foot-soldiers of the country’s economic diplomacy.

At the opening of the 3-day seminar to review the nation’s foreign policy, Ambassador Ashiru maintained that the new thinking in government is the use of the nation’s foreign policy initiatives to induce economic growth and overall national development at home, pointing out that Nigeria’s foreign policy thrust must translate into putting food on the table of ordinary Nigerians at home.

In essence, all diplomatic gestures of the Federal Government must be tailored towards improving the living standard of the people, while Nigeria should make effort at making meaningful presence at sub-regional, regional and international community rather than unproductive and unfruitful diplomatic assistance like "Old Father Christmas" to some countries under the guise of being the giant of Africa.

Nigerian leaders should therefore halt the growing spate of insecurity, corruption and non-adherence to the rule of law as key instruments towards attracting Foreign Direct Investment into the country. This is because, domestic events would tell much on the success or otherwise of any foreign policy objective.

Hence, there is the need for a strong domestic policy in order to build a vibrant foreign policy abroad by adequately funding the Nigeria missions abroad to enable them perform diligently and promote the image of Nigeria, her people and goods in their various places with a view to wooing more foreign investors into the country.