By Sonny Iroche
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation with over 200 million citizens, is grappling with a complex web of interconnected challenges that threaten its stability, development, and the well-being of its people. These include multidimensional poverty, hunger, insecurity, economic instability, corruption, governance inefficiencies, poor education standards, and social issues such as early marriages. This report outlines practical short- and long-term measures that the federal government, 36 states, and 774 local government councils can implement to address these pressing issues, ensuring a better quality of life for all Nigerians.
Introduction
Nigeria’s challenges are deeply interwoven, with poverty, insecurity, and governance failures reinforcing one another. Multidimensional poverty, which encompasses deprivations in health, education, and living standards, affects millions of Nigerians. Insecurity, ranging from Boko Haram in the North East to kidnappings nationwide, disrupts lives and economic activities.
Economic hardships, including high inflation, double digit interest rates and a rising cost of living, exacerbate these issues, while corruption and bloated governance structures drain resources. Poor education standards, a high number of out-of-school children, and early marriages, particularly in the northern states, hinder human capital development. Addressing these issues requires coordinated action across all levels of government—federal, state, and local—along with the involvement of civil society and international partners.
Section 1: Tackling Multidimensional Poverty and Hunger
Current State
Nigeria has one of the highest poverty rates globally, with over 80 million people said to be living below the poverty line. Multidimensional poverty affects even more, encompassing not just income but also access to healthcare, education, and basic living standards. Hunger is rampant, particularly in conflict zones, and food insecurity is worsened by disrupted agricultural activities.
Short-Term Measures
• Expand Social Safety Nets: Scale up programs like the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) to reach more vulnerable households, especially in rural and conflict-affected areas.
• Food Distribution Programs: Increase emergency food aid in regions facing acute hunger, in the North East, North West, North Central, South East, South West and South South, regions of the country aimed at curbing malnutrition.
• Subsidize Essential Commodities: Temporarily subsidize staple foods and essential goods to ease the burden of inflation on low-income families.
Long-Term Measures
• Boost Agricultural Productivity: Invest in modern farming techniques, irrigation, and access to credit for smallholder farmers to increase food production and create jobs.
• Improve Infrastructure: Develop rural roads, storage facilities, and electrification to reduce post-harvest losses and connect farmers to markets.
• Enhance Healthcare and Education Access: Build more primary healthcare centers and schools, particularly in underserved areas, to address health and education deprivations.
Section 2: Addressing Insecurity
Current State
Insecurity is pervasive across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones. Boko Haram and its splinter groups continue to terrorize the North East, while cattle rustling and banditry plague the North West. The South East faces violence from unknown gunmen, and kidnappings for ransom are widespread nationwide.
Short-Term Measures
• Strengthen Security Forces: Increase funding for intelligence gathering, equipment, and training for the military and police.
• Community Policing: Empower local vigilante groups and community leaders to collaborate with security agencies in identifying threats.
• Support for Victims: Provide immediate relief, including shelter and healthcare, to displaced persons and victims of violence.
Long-Term Measures
• Address Root Causes: Implement poverty alleviation programs, youth employment initiatives, and equitable resource distribution to reduce grievances that fuel conflict.
• Promote Dialogue and Reconciliation: Facilitate peace talks between conflicting groups, such as herders and farmers, and support community-based conflict resolution mechanisms.
• Justice and Accountability: Establish special courts to fast-track prosecution of terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers, ensuring swift justice, such as the long and winding case of Nnamdi Kanu.
Section 3: Managing Economic Challenges
Current State
Nigeria’s economy is grappling with high inflation, double digit interest rates, a rising cost of living, and overreliance on oil. The long over due removal of fuel subsidies and currency devaluation have further strained household incomes.
Short-Term Measures
• Monetary Policy Adjustments: The Central Bank should implement measures to stabilize the naira and control inflation, such as interest rate adjustments.
• Price Controls on Essentials: Introduce temporary price caps on basic goods like food and fuel to prevent exploitative pricing.
• Support Small Businesses: Provide grants, tax relief, or low-interest loans to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to stimulate economic activity.
Long-Term Measures
• Economic Diversification: Invest in non-oil sectors such as agriculture, artificial intelligence, technology, and manufacturing to create jobs and reduce dependence on oil revenues.
• Improve Tax Collection: Reform the tax system to widen the tax net, and increase revenue without overburdening the low income earning citizens, and reduce wasteful government spending.
• Renewable Energy Investments: Develop solar, wind and other renewable energy projects to reduce reliance on expensive and environmentally harmful fuel sources.
Section 4: Combating Corruption and Improving Governance
Current State
Corruption remains endemic at all levels of government, draining resources meant for development. The large size of government, with overlapping agencies, contributes to inefficiency and wastage.
Short-Term Measures
• Enforce Anti-Corruption Laws: Strengthen agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prosecute corrupt officials without political interference.
• Increase Transparency: Mandate public disclosure of government budgets, contracts, and procurement processes.
• Reduce Government Size: Streamline federal and state agencies by merging duplicative functions and cutting unnecessary bureaucracy.
Long-Term Measures
• Civil Service Reform: Introduce merit-based recruitment and performance evaluations to improve efficiency and reduce patronage. The Tinubu administration should quickly revisit the Oransaye’s Civil Service Reform Report, with a view of implementation of the relevant reforms.
• E-Governance: Digitize government services and financial transactions, using artificial intelligence technology to minimize opportunities for bribery and embezzlement.
• Civic Education: Launch nationwide campaigns to educate citizens on their rights and how to report corruption.
Section 5: Enhancing Education and Social Development
Current State
Nigeria has one of the world’s highest numbers of out-of-school children, estimated at over 10 million, with the North particularly affected. Early marriages, especially of underage girls, remain prevalent, and education quality is poor.
Short-Term Measures
• School Enrollment Campaigns: Launch targeted initiatives, especially in the North, to encourage parents to send children, particularly girls, to school.
• Free School Meals: Expand school feeding programs to incentivize attendance and reduce hunger among students.
• Enforce Laws Against Early Marriages: Strengthen enforcement of the Child Rights Act and provide shelters and support for girls at risk.
Long-Term Measures
• Invest in Education Infrastructure: Build and renovate schools, train teachers, and provide learning materials, especially in rural areas.
• Vocational Training: Integrate skills acquisition programs into the curriculum to prepare students for the job market.
• Promote Gender Equality: Implement policies that promote women’s education and empowerment, including scholarships for girls in STEM fields.
Conclusion
Nigeria’s challenges are daunting but not insurmountable. Addressing multidimensional poverty, insecurity, economic instability, corruption, and social issues requires a coordinated, multi-level approach involving the federal government, states, and local councils. Short-term interventions must provide immediate relief, while long-term strategies should focus on systemic reforms and sustainable development. Success hinges on political will, transparency, and collaboration among all stakeholders, including the private sector, civil society, and international partners. With decisive action, Nigeria can break the cycle of poverty and insecurity, paving the way for a prosperous and stable future.
This report provides a roadmap for Nigeria’s leaders and citizens to confront the nation’s most pressing challenges. By prioritizing human development, security, and good governance, Nigeria can unlock its vast potential and ensure a better quality of life for all.
NB: Sonny Iroche is a 2022-2023 Senior Academic Fellow at the African Studies Centre of the University of Oxford, and Post Graduate in Artificial Intelligence at the Saïd Business School of the University of Oxford
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/sonnyiroche
