DECADES OF NEGLECT,RESOURCE MISMANAGEMENT LED TO POVERTY, INSECURITY IN NIGERIA

Decades of neglect and resource mismanagement have contributed to poverty and insecurity in Nigeria.President Muhammadu Buhari once said decades of neglect and resource mismanagement have led the nation into deep poverty and insecurity.He said if the assets and resources available to Nigeria had been properly managed, the country would be prosperous and peaceful.The statement quoted the president as saying his government was not only determined to reverse the trend of squandermania and mismanagement, “we have made progress in some areas such as agriculture.” 

He appealed to Ecobank Transnational Incorporated to “institute a special fund to develop agriculture, which will cement your legacy as a bank that helped to transform this region’s economic fortunes.”

Poverty breeds a high rate of state insecurity which borders on ethnoreligious conflicts, indigenes and settlers divide, armed robberies, abductions, kidnapping and other criminal activities in Nigeria

In recent times, insecurity has dominated discourse across the country, as terrorism, banditry and kidnapping heightened in the north-east, north-west and north-central; separatist violence and crude oil theft in the south-east and south-south; as well as cultism, armed robberry and sundry crimes.

Despite being one of the wealthiest countries in Africa, Nigeria has struggled to effectively manage its resources and distribute wealth equitably. Corruption and political instability have also played a role in exacerbating these issues. As a result, many Nigerians have been left without access to basic necessities like clean water, healthcare, and education, while others have been forced to flee their homes due to violence and conflict. To address these issues, Nigeria will need to take steps to improve governance, promote economic growth, and ensure that resources are distributed more equitably. This will require a concerted effort from both the government and civil society, as well as support from the international community.

WRITTEN BY: Ilupeju Ibironke Esther