Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja


The Financial Times of London has described Nigeria as a country going backwards economically and plagued with terrorism, illiteracy, poverty, banditry, and kidnapping and risks becoming a failed state if things don’t take a drastic turn.

The UK-based newspaper said this in an editorial on Tuesday titled, ‘Nigeria at Risk of Becoming a Failed State’.

It said the abduction and subsequent rescue of over 300 schoolboys in Kankara, Katsina State, revived memories of the 276 Chibok schoolgirls abducted in Borno State in 2014.

According to the newspaper, while the government’s claim that no ransom was paid to the abductors of the schoolboys remains doubtful, other acts of criminality could not be overlooked.

The editorial read in part, “The government insists no ransom was paid. Scepticism is warranted. In a country going backwards economically, carjacking, kidnapping and banditry are among Nigeria’s rare growth industries. Just as the boys were going home, Nigerian pirates abducted six Ukrainian sailors off the coast.

“The definition of a failed state is one where the government is no longer in control. By this yardstick, Africa’s most populous country is teetering on the brink.”

The newspaper also questioned the claim by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), that Boko Haram had been technically defeated.

It said contrary to the government’s claim, Boko Haram remained an ever-present threat

The Financial Times stated, “President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 pronounced Boko Haram technically defeated’. That has proved fanciful. Boko Haram has remained an ever-present threat. If the latest kidnapping turns out to be its work, it would mark the spread of the terrorist group from its north-eastern base.


“Even if the mass abduction was carried out by ‘ordinary’ bandits — as now looks possible — it underlines the fact of chronic criminality and violence. Deadly clashes between herders and settled farmers have spread to most parts of Nigeria. In the oil-rich, but impoverished, Delta region, extortion through the sabotage of pipelines is legendary.”

The newspaper said security is not the only area where “the state is failing”.

The Financial Times added that Nigeria has more poor people than any other country even as Nigeria has the highest number of out of school children on earth.

The newspaper stated that as oil continues to lose its value, Nigeria’s economy would worsen.

“The population, already above 200 million, is growing at a breakneck 3.2 per cent a year. The economy has stalled since 2015 and real living standards are declining. This year, the economy will shrink 4 per cent after COVID-19 dealt a further blow to oil prices.

“In any case, as the world turns greener, the elite’s scramble for oil revenue will become a game of diminishing returns. The country desperately needs to put its finances, propped up by foreign borrowing, on a sounder footing,” it said.


The newspaper said Buhari, who has less than three years left in office, must use the remainder of his term, to redouble efforts at improving security.

It advised the government to restore trust in key institutions, among them the judiciary, the security services and the electoral commission, which will preside over the 2023 elections.

The Financial Times said the #EndSARS protests led by Nigerian youths, signaled a glimmer of hope for Nigeria’s teeming youth population.

It added, “The broad coalition that found political expression this year in the EndSARS movement against police brutality provides a shard of optimism. At least Nigeria has a relatively stable democracy. Now Nigeria’s youth — creative, entrepreneurial and less tainted by the politics of extraction — should use that system to reset the country’s narrative.”

The newspaper concluded by saying that it was time for Nigeria to restructure its political system and concentrate on security, health, education, power and roads.

“At the present trajectory, the population will double to 400 million by 2050. If nothing is done, long before then, Nigeria will become a problem far too big for the world to ignore,” it warned.

complexBoss12:
We the Association of Patriotic Citizens of Nigerian (APCN) headed by Vulturebbqgrillz, seriously debunk this false information that is meant to paint our darling daddy bad, the most hardworking president in the world. Mr integrity himself, the best thing to happen to Nigeria after dudu Osun!

This news has every coloring of ipob pigs who are miscreants determined to destabilize the nation. we urge you all to trust the process as even our dear book haram brothers that were integrated into the society helped us complete the movie series " rescue of Kankara boyz"

May Allah continue to bless our darling daddy who is presently in Daura with the first class citizens of Nigeria.

signed helinus (PRO)

Exc2000:




North really embarrassed us as a nation

You said you want Presidency we gave you

80 percent of Resources comes from southern oil, southern tax and Southern port, remaining Agricultural revenue comes from South buying Northern Agricultural produce

*Marry the number of wife you can cater for .... North says hell No

*Give birth to number of kids you can raise like Arabs in Saudi, UAE, Kuwait and Qatar you said He'll No


..

Redcrafton:
This kind of news doesn't bother people any more.

Two years ago our brothers from the SW would have rubbished this post with fake statistics claiming that Nigeria is better today than ever.

But today they have all disappeared into oblivion.

Pictorially, they are now like that little thing compared to the big patched one, two years ago.

blacknp:
Nigeria is a Federation of States, & you are blaming 1 person? What is the difference between you & an Almijiri in Yobe State?

Since the President in Abuja is the cause of all your woes in a democratic dispensation? People refuse to think out the box, it is the President’s fault, youths prefer yahoo yahoo instead of industrial farming, it is the president’s Fault, not the Governor who under Nigerian law is the custodian of the land? Ignorance reigns supreme?

blacknp:
It is your perception, Government doesn’t control my life, I could care less who the Governor, or President is, my life is better today, & Jah willing can only get better.

blacknp:
It is your perception, Government doesn’t control my life, I could care less who the Governor, or President is, my life is better today, & Jah willing can only get better.