Nigeria has been independent for almost 50 years, and the social, economic, legal and political structures that define a vibrant state are in decay or non existent. I want us to have a vigorous debate based on facts about the condition of Nigeria without resorting to insults. Let us put aside our retrogressive ethnocentrism in examining the issues that affects us all.

Nigeria has been a top oil producer for the past few decades, but this abundance of resources is not reflected in the lives of the people.

*Unreliable electricity supply
*Life expectancy that is under 50 years
*Educational system that is under stress
*Insecurity of life and property
*Abject poverty for the majority juxtaposed with obscene wealth for the priviledged few
*Health care system that is not good enough for the elected officials and the rich
*Rag tag police force that is underpaid and has become a scourge to those they were supposed to serve and protect
*Redundant army, navy and air force that is not contributing to economic development
*Corruption that has permeated every facet of life
*A population that has been so victimzed that they are content to wait for handouts from their oppressors

Let us be civil in expressing our views. Do not shout by writing in capital letters.

Does this really matter at this point? We have a population of 140 million to deal with. What matters more to you?

Nigeria works for me.  The power issue is the only unique difficulty we face here.
Our president is smarter than GW Bush, anyway. Was America a failed state? No.

Kobojunkie:

Does this really matter at this point? We have a population of 140 million to deal with. What matters more to you?

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It does matter. Nigeria needs the squandered resources to meet the needs of the 140 million people. How else do you intend to accomplish this?

What squandered resources? The ones you are fighting to restore, or the squandered resources, the loss of which, you are more willing to blame on the minority so you can feel good with yourself claiming to care for the majority?

Your former president called nigeria a failed state and you are still wondering whether it is true

Kobojunkie:

What squandered resources? The ones you are fighting to restore, or the squandered resources, the loss of which, you are more willing to blame on the minority so you can feel good with yourself claiming to care for the majority?

, could you explain to us, specifically, what you mean?

all that you listed is not enough to call nigeria a failed state

DRANOEL:

all that you listed is not enough to call nigeria a failed state

What else do you need?

Kobojunkie:

What squandered resources? The ones you are fighting to restore, or the squandered resources, the loss of which, you are more willing to blame on the minority so you can feel good with yourself claiming to care for the majority?

************

Yar adua just mentioned that a group of 4 had stolen 6 billion naira from petroleum subsidy. Does that count for something? I do not care about wasted resources. I am concerned about the continued pilaging of the resources to the detriment of all. Does Nigeria work for you too in its present form? If not, then how do you propose we solve some of the problems?

I am not interested in the politics of Nigeria but I am concerned about the welfare of all Nigerians.

jazzsoul:

************

Yar adua just mentioned that a group of 4 had stolen 6 billion naira from petroleum subsidy. Does that count for something? I do not care about wasted resources. I am concerned about the continued pilaging of the resources to the detriment of all. Does Nigeria work for you too in its present form? If not, then how do you propose we solve some of the problems?

I am not interested in the politics of Nigeria but I am concerned about the welfare of all Nigerians.

Errm, How can you you take care of the welfare of nigerians if the politics is still cash and carry

DRANOEL:

all that you listed is not enough to call nigeria a failed state

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Relative to the size and resources we have, I submit that Nigeria is a failed state. Let me see your parameters for a failed state. I hope you are not waiting for a full blown civil unrest before you acknowledge the severity of today.

show me 30 countries in africa that dont have such problems

show me another 30 asian coutries not face with the same problems

show me 10 countries in south america also not faced with similar problems

the point is,when you have issues you try the best you can to solve them and not give up and say "o lets disintegrate"

DRANOEL:

show me 30 countries in africa that dont have such problems

show me another 30 asian coutries not face with the same problems

show me 10 countries in south america also not faced with similar problems

the point is,when you have issues you try the best you can to solve them and not give up and say "o lets disintegrate"

Who is talking about disintergration Is that where your fear is?Are you not the same person that once started a thread we should stop deceiving ourselves that we are not one after the jos riot?

Mr Dranoel, there are about 50 countries and territories in Africa. Why should Nigeria settle for the bottom 30? I do no advocate the break up of Nigeria but rather I want to raise the consciousness of Nigerians to achieve the heights that we are capable of collectively.

asha 80 you are beginning to get on my nerves!

DRANOEL:

asha 80 you are beginning to get on my nerves!

Am i lying. Look for a rope.You know what to do next.

one,two ,three

dranoel

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show me 30 countries in africa that dont have such problems

show me another 30 asian coutries not face with the same problems

show me 10 countries in south america also not faced with similar problems

the point is,when you have issues you try the best you can to solve them and not give up and say "o lets disintegrate"

i got to know those slowpoke u dealin with a f uckin nightmare!

nigeria is here to stay and will see them come and go

If Nigeria is a failed state, things would have crumbled much more. I do believe Nigeria is in a very mediocre state but please, what other option is there? To go back to the British and ask the to re-colonize us?
Besides, y'all need to start remembering stability. Nigeria is not stable. No unstable country will succeed either.

ezeagu:

, could you explain to us, specifically, what you mean?

Imagine you had a friend who happened to own a business in, say Oshodi market.  Your friend deals in imports and exports and happens to have a huge warehouse where he stocks up his inventory. Problem is your friend does not believe in making sure to secure his warehouse – has never really considered that he ought to take it on himself to secure his business in any way.  Now this your friend has been complaining for years about how people steal from him most everyday and blames his business woes on these thieves. Then one day he comes to you to ask if you think his business has failed. Would you tell him the business failed him? Or he failed the business? Is the business a failed one?

She's about to be a failed state if the citizens don't read their rights, and enforce it by consent or by conquest. You are Nigerians and without you the government doesn't exist so therefore, the folks in government are your servants, they serve you not themselves. Police and army brutality must stop cause we pay them to protect us not to kill us all. She'll be a failed state if every region don't start making their own laws and managing their resources. She'll be a failed state by the time the religious crisis begins on a national scale.

How many Nigerians read their rights as a citizen? If there is anything in that constitutional right that you don't like or doesn't favour the people, it should be changed read and see. The government have no right over you and everything they do, you must like else they shouldn't do it at all.

I agree Nigeria is a failed state!!!!

jazzsoul:

************
Yar adua just mentioned that a group of 4 had stolen 6 billion naira from petroleum subsidy. Does that count for something? I do not care about wasted resources. I am concerned about the continued pilaging of the resources to the detriment of all.

You are concerned, or, like most of us, feigning concern? Which one?

jazzsoul:

Does Nigeria work for you too in its present form? If not, then how do you propose we solve some of the problems?
I am not interested in the politics of Nigeria but I am concerned about the welfare of all Nigerians.

Solve what problem exactly?  Do you really think that one more thread on here on this silly question shows concern for Nigeria? Seriously, are you convinced that all we do here counts for much when we continue to sit back while the door to the shed remains open to the thieves to continue pillaging? Or do you expect the same thieves to close the door to save your pressure resources from being stolen?

Kobojunkie:

You are concerned, or, like most of us, feigning concern? Which one?
Solve what problem exactly? Do you really think that one more thread on here on this silly question shows concern for Nigeria? Seriously, are you convinced that all we do here counts for much when we continue to sit back while the door to the shed remains open to the thieves to continue pillaging? Or do you expect the same thieves to close the door to save your pressure resources from being stolen?

**************
Mr Kobojunkie, I wish you would speak for yourself. I am concerned about the state of Nigeria. My mother was murdered by armed robbers in Nigeria 8 years ago. I do feel the pain of insecurity of life and property daily.

Since there is no problem in Nigeria as far as you know, then you should not be interested in this thread.

jazzsoul:

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Mr Kobojunkie, I wish you would speak for yourself. I am concerned about the state of Nigeria. My mother was murdered by armed robbers in Nigeria 8 years ago. I do feel the pain of insecurity of life and property daily.

No offense, but what does that have to do with concern for Nigeria and the people then ?

jazzsoul:

Since there is no problem in Nigeria as far as you know, then you should not be interested in this thread.

Post the exact line where you got the above from.

Kobojunkie:

No offense, but what does that have to do with concern for Nigeria and the people then ?
Post the exact line where you got the above from.

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What does what have to do with the concern for Nigeria? You asked what problem there was to solve in Nigeria. I assume you do not see any.
Do you know how many innocent victims loose their lives to armed robbers in Nigeria daily. One needs an armed escort to travel around the country
because of the break down of security.

Do you believe that Nigeria can reach its true potential with the existing level of corruption? I do not need to elucidate the problems in Nigeria to you if they are not readily apparent.

failed state would be somalia. Nigeria is close but not there yet.

bawomolo:

failed state would be somalia. Nigeria is close but not there yet.

It will soon approach somalia because as usual we collectively as nigerians will do nothing but hope on God to come down from heaven and perform miracle and wonders to make nigeria better.

asha 80:

It will soon approach it becausde as usual we collectively as nigerians will do nothing but hope on God to come down from heaven and perform miracle and wonders to make nigeria better.

***************
That is exactly my sentiment. We do not want to let it get to the stage of Somalia or Zaire before we arrest the situation. I strongly believe in the potential of Nigeria but this will not yield positive results if not harnessed.

If Nigeria is not a failed state  then is definately showing indices of a Failed state.

Land of Famine, Gross Human Rights Violations, Stolen Elections and Poverty is re-certified as a “Failed State".  

A failed state is most readily identified by the existence of rampant corruption and criminality in the state apparatus, massive human rights violations, rigged elections, predatory elites with protracted monopoly on power, an absence of the rule of law, severe ethnic divisions and sectarianism, deep economic crises and a significant refugee problem caused by political persecution, among other factors.

It is accurate to say that Nigeria’s political institutions have been corrupted to a point where they have become ineffective in performing basic governmental functions.

On every measure of state failure, this can be demonstrated. For instance, security apparatuses (army, police, etc.) are used as private military forces to suppress the citizenry and opposition elements, and prevent the growth of democratic institutions.

Indices of failed state

1. Failure on Human Rights -

the institutions responsible for the protection and promotion of human rights have been mangled beyond recognition. The regime maintains itself in power through brute force and massive repression. Arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings, torture and other abusive political persecution practices go on unchecked even today. The past and present regime has consistently interfered in the functioning of judicial institutions and undermined their legitimacy, efficacy and credibility by installing political hacks as judges - el rufai , ribadu, bola ige, ken saro wiwa and thousands more



2 Failure on Health

Nigerians continue to suffer from preventable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and diarrhoeal diseases.



3.Failure on Youth: The Greatest Failure of All

Underfunding of the education establishments and Parents were too poor to pay for their children’s education. Inability of parents to afford basic school supplies such as books, pens and paper