Answer: The Nigerian government is trying to address various security, economic, social and political issues in the country, but faces many challenges and criticisms.
Explanation: Nigeria is a large and diverse country with a population of over 200 million people and more than 250 ethnic groups. It has a federal system of government with 36 states and a capital territory. It is also Africa’s largest economy and most populous democracy.
However, Nigeria also faces many contemporary issues that threaten its stability and development. Some of these issues are:
- Jihadism: Nigeria has been fighting an insurgency by Islamist militant groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the north-east of the country since 2009. These groups have killed thousands of people, displaced millions more, and disrupted education, health care and livelihoods. The Nigerian government has deployed military and police forces to combat the militants, but has struggled to contain their attacks and prevent their expansion into other regions. The government has also faced accusations of human rights violations and corruption in its counter-terrorism efforts.
- Clashes between herders and farmers: Nigeria has also witnessed violent conflicts between nomadic cattle herders and sedentary crop farmers over land, water and grazing rights. These conflicts have been worsened by climate change, population growth, environmental degradation and ethnic tensions. The clashes have resulted in hundreds of deaths, injuries, displacement and destruction of property every year. The government has tried to mediate between the parties, establish peace committees, enforce laws and regulations, and provide alternative grazing reserves for the herders, but these measures have not been effective or widely accepted.
- Economic downturn: Nigeria’s economy has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, low oil prices, insecurity, inflation and unemployment. The country entered its second recession in five years in 2020, with a contraction of 1.8% in its gross domestic product (GDP). The poverty rate is estimated at 40%, while the youth unemployment rate is at 32.5%. The government has introduced various stimulus packages, social protection programs, infrastructure projects and reforms to boost the economy and cushion the impact of the crisis on the people, but these have been insufficient or delayed by bureaucratic bottlenecks and corruption.
- Social issues: Nigeria also faces various social issues such as poor health care, education, gender inequality, child mortality, human trafficking, drug abuse and environmental pollution. These issues affect the quality of life, human rights and well-being of millions of Nigerians. The government has enacted policies and laws to address these issues, such as the National Health Act, the Universal Basic Education Act, the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act and the National Drug Control Master Plan, but their implementation and enforcement have been hampered by lack of funding, capacity, coordination and political will.
- Political issues: Nigeria’s political system is characterized by weak institutions, poor governance, corruption, electoral violence, godfatherism, tribalism and media censorship. These issues undermine the legitimacy, accountability and responsiveness of the government to the people’s needs and aspirations. The government has faced protests and criticisms from various civil society groups, opposition parties, religious leaders and international partners over its handling of the security, economic, social and political challenges in the country. The government has also been accused of violating human rights, suppressing dissenting voices and shrinking civic space.
These are some of the major contemporary issues in Nigeria that the government is trying to help solve. However, it is clear that the government alone cannot solve these problems without the support and participation of other stakeholders such as state governments, local communities, civil society organizations, private sector actors and international partners. There is also a need for more dialogue, collaboration and trust-building among these actors to address the root causes and drivers of these issues.
Hope this helps, and have a great day! =)