Nigeria deeply divided, says UN Report
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A REPORT just released by the
United Nations, UN, on Nigeria’s Common
Country Analysis, CCA, has revealed a
deeply divided society on the basis of the
plurality of ethnic, religious and regional
identities that had tended to define the
country’s political existence.
The report also painted a gloomy picture,
with most of the development and social
indices in the country registering at levels
unacceptable.
The report, which was read during a
consultative meeting on the formulation of
the UN Development Assistance Framework
IV (UNDAF IV) for the South East geo-
political zone in Awka observed that for
decades, different segments of Nigeria’s
population had, at different times, expressed
feelings of marginalization, of being short –
changed, dominated, oppressed, threatened,
or even targeted for elimination.
The report read in part: “Nigeria, with a
population of over 75 million, is the most
populous nation in Africa and the seventh
most populous in the world. Her population
will be approximately 200 million by 2019
and over 400 million by 2050, becoming one
of the top five populous countries in the
world.
“Nigeria is one of the poorest and most
unequal countries in the world, with over 80
million or 64% of her population living below
poverty line. The situation has not changed
over the decades, but is increasing. Poverty
and hunger have remained high in rural
areas, remote communities and among
female –headed households and these cut
across the six geo-political zones, with
prevalence ranging from approximately 46.9
percent in the South West to 74.3 percent in
North West and North East.
“In Nigeria, 37% of children under five years
old were stunted, 18 percent wasted, 29%
underweight and overall, only 10% of
children aged 6-23 months are fed
appropriately based on recommended infant
and young children feeding practices.
“Youth unemployment which is 42% in 2016
is very high, creating poverty, helplessness,
despair and easy target for crime and
terrorism. Over 10 million children of
school age are out of schools with no
knowledge and skills.
“Nigeria’s economy is currently in a
recession and it is estimated that
government revenues have fallen by as
much as 33 percent, which has further
resulted in the contraction of the Gross
Domestic Product, GDP, by 0.36 percent in
the first three months of 2016.
“The vulnerable macroeconomic
environment in Nigeria is affecting investors’
confidence in the domestic economy.”
When contacted last night to react to the
report, federal government officials said they
where not aware of it and couldn’t,
therefore, react.
“Despite the fact that Nigeria is a signatory
to a number of protocols on sustainable and
renewable environment, the country had,
over the decades, failed to protect the
environment, ecosystem and natural
resources. Over-exploitation of natural
resources and pollution of the environment,
desertification are exposing the population
to vulnerability and risks caused by climate
change, among others.
“Nigeria is well-endowed with forest
resources, accounting for 2.5% of GDP. But
Nigeria has one of the highest rates of
forest loss in the world. Between 1990 and
2000, Nigeria lost an average of 409,700
hectares of forest per year on average
deforestation rate of 3.5% per annum.
“Increase in population, human activities like
farming, construction and cutting of trees,
use of wood and effect of climate change
lead to environmental destruction across
Nigeria.”
This in turn leads to unpredictable weather,
drought and floods. The implication of
destruction of the environment includes
reduced agricultural productivity, destruction
of property and loss of lives.
“Nigeria faces humanitarian and emergency
crises of considerable proportions fueled by
a combination of factors including climate
change, inter-communal conflicts and
violence, insurgency, recurring floods, heavy
handed tactics of security forces in
combating crime and insurgency. The
overall consequence is the situation of
systematic and chronic internal
displacement that has given rise to different
humanitarian crises that include the most
egregious and dehumanizing human rights
abuses.
“Over 80 million Nigerians live in poverty and
are affected in one way or the other by the
current humanitarian crisis. Available reports
indicate that there are over 3.3 million
Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, which is
Africa’s largest, ranking behind Syria and
Columbia on a global scale.
“The major challenges Nigeria is currently
facing that constrain her economic growth
and social development are lack of good
governance, general increased insecurity
across geo-political zones in North East,
Niger Delta and Lake Chad region in
particular. The situation is exacerbated by
the existence of systematic accountability
challenges, limited capacities of
independent institutions/ commissions and
limited accountability at the federal, states
and local government levels.
“Nigeria is a deeply divided society
considering the plurality of ethnic, religious
and regional identities that define her
political existence. Since independence in
1960, Nigeria has struggled to build and
sustain national integration. For decades,
different segments of Nigeria’s population
had, at different times, expressed feelings
of marginalization, of being short-changed,
dominated, oppressed, threatened, or even
targeted for elimination.”
The report recommended that transforming
and diversifying Nigeria’s development paths
needed a radical and new approach,
especially by investing in people and in a
strong more dynamic and inclusive
productive informal sector.
It also called for a design and support of
joint programmes to address good
governance, peace and security.
...
...
A REPORT just released by the
United Nations, UN, on Nigeria’s Common
Country Analysis, CCA, has revealed a
deeply divided society on the basis of the
plurality of ethnic, religious and regional
identities that had tended to define the
country’s political existence.
The report also painted a gloomy picture,
with most of the development and social
indices in the country registering at levels
unacceptable.
The report, which was read during a
consultative meeting on the formulation of
the UN Development Assistance Framework
IV (UNDAF IV) for the South East geo-
political zone in Awka observed that for
decades, different segments of Nigeria’s
population had, at different times, expressed
feelings of marginalization, of being short –
changed, dominated, oppressed, threatened,
or even targeted for elimination.
The report read in part: “Nigeria, with a
population of over 75 million, is the most
populous nation in Africa and the seventh
most populous in the world. Her population
will be approximately 200 million by 2019
and over 400 million by 2050, becoming one
of the top five populous countries in the
world.
“Nigeria is one of the poorest and most
unequal countries in the world, with over 80
million or 64% of her population living below
poverty line. The situation has not changed
over the decades, but is increasing. Poverty
and hunger have remained high in rural
areas, remote communities and among
female –headed households and these cut
across the six geo-political zones, with
prevalence ranging from approximately 46.9
percent in the South West to 74.3 percent in
North West and North East.
“In Nigeria, 37% of children under five years
old were stunted, 18 percent wasted, 29%
underweight and overall, only 10% of
children aged 6-23 months are fed
appropriately based on recommended infant
and young children feeding practices.
“Youth unemployment which is 42% in 2016
is very high, creating poverty, helplessness,
despair and easy target for crime and
terrorism. Over 10 million children of
school age are out of schools with no
knowledge and skills.
“Nigeria’s economy is currently in a
recession and it is estimated that
government revenues have fallen by as
much as 33 percent, which has further
resulted in the contraction of the Gross
Domestic Product, GDP, by 0.36 percent in
the first three months of 2016.
“The vulnerable macroeconomic
environment in Nigeria is affecting investors’
confidence in the domestic economy.”
When contacted last night to react to the
report, federal government officials said they
where not aware of it and couldn’t,
therefore, react.
“Despite the fact that Nigeria is a signatory
to a number of protocols on sustainable and
renewable environment, the country had,
over the decades, failed to protect the
environment, ecosystem and natural
resources. Over-exploitation of natural
resources and pollution of the environment,
desertification are exposing the population
to vulnerability and risks caused by climate
change, among others.
“Nigeria is well-endowed with forest
resources, accounting for 2.5% of GDP. But
Nigeria has one of the highest rates of
forest loss in the world. Between 1990 and
2000, Nigeria lost an average of 409,700
hectares of forest per year on average
deforestation rate of 3.5% per annum.
“Increase in population, human activities like
farming, construction and cutting of trees,
use of wood and effect of climate change
lead to environmental destruction across
Nigeria.”
This in turn leads to unpredictable weather,
drought and floods. The implication of
destruction of the environment includes
reduced agricultural productivity, destruction
of property and loss of lives.
“Nigeria faces humanitarian and emergency
crises of considerable proportions fueled by
a combination of factors including climate
change, inter-communal conflicts and
violence, insurgency, recurring floods, heavy
handed tactics of security forces in
combating crime and insurgency. The
overall consequence is the situation of
systematic and chronic internal
displacement that has given rise to different
humanitarian crises that include the most
egregious and dehumanizing human rights
abuses.
“Over 80 million Nigerians live in poverty and
are affected in one way or the other by the
current humanitarian crisis. Available reports
indicate that there are over 3.3 million
Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, which is
Africa’s largest, ranking behind Syria and
Columbia on a global scale.
“The major challenges Nigeria is currently
facing that constrain her economic growth
and social development are lack of good
governance, general increased insecurity
across geo-political zones in North East,
Niger Delta and Lake Chad region in
particular. The situation is exacerbated by
the existence of systematic accountability
challenges, limited capacities of
independent institutions/ commissions and
limited accountability at the federal, states
and local government levels.
“Nigeria is a deeply divided society
considering the plurality of ethnic, religious
and regional identities that define her
political existence. Since independence in
1960, Nigeria has struggled to build and
sustain national integration. For decades,
different segments of Nigeria’s population
had, at different times, expressed feelings
of marginalization, of being short-changed,
dominated, oppressed, threatened, or even
targeted for elimination.”
The report recommended that transforming
and diversifying Nigeria’s development paths
needed a radical and new approach,
especially by investing in people and in a
strong more dynamic and inclusive
productive informal sector.
It also called for a design and support of
joint programmes to address good
governance, peace and security.
