Factors Affecting Nigerias Underdevelopment Essay

According to an economist the idea of increase is a concomitant whereby there is an increase in a nations GNP and GDP, leading to an increase in growth .but to a sociologist this is a surface definition as development or rather a country is regarded as developed when such increase is affecting the living condition of its people even to the smallest group in the society. Where we dont only calculate numbers and figures and structures but can see the positive flip of things in the life of the people, both the rich, average and poor. Then such a society would be regarded as developed. For example the living conditions of the USA.Nigeria the nigh populated country in Africa fil lead with its endowed natural resources, and jibe to the united nations statistics Nigeria is the 8th virtually populous county in the world with a population of 2.3% (UN 2011).but the country free suffers the decay of underdevelopment imputable to certain avoidable f haveureors that stand as unavoidable. What in truth is underdevelopment? W.A Lewis 1963 says that a country may be underdeveloped in the wiz that its technology is backward when compargond with that of other countries or in the sense that its institutions argon relatively unfavorable to investment, or in the sense that capital resources per head are offset when compared with western Europe or in the sense that output per head is low or in the sense that it has valuable natural resources that has not yet begun use (extracted by opafola 1996).Agreeing to what Lewis has said so well underdevelopment can be explored from another dimension which in a way he seemed to conduct ignored, it is a situation whereby the quality of life of the majority of its people is low. The causes or factors of Nigerias underdevelopment can be shared into 2 which are both external and informal. External includes slavery, colonialism, neo- colonialism and the worldwide recession (Rodney 1972), with which in my opinion is a fact for our und erdevelopment the foundation. Also the internal factors include bribery and rot, poor leadership, bad patriotism from citizens etc. which actually is avoidable.FACTORS AFFECTING NIGERIAS UNDERDEVELOPMENT1. Bribery and CorruptionThis is the greatest factor that has put Nigeria where it is today, the unloose of corruption this is an internal factor. According to the Longman dictionary of contemporary English new edition corruption is define as dishonest, illegitimate or immoral behavior, especially from someone with power. In Africa as a whole look into has seen it that most African leaders are corrupt in nature, leading to their backwardness in development of their economy. Taking a cue from the late Attah Williams of Ghana, he executed all the corrupt leaders in Ghana for the stability of the country, and from recent news Ghana has taking a new turn in its development process (silver bird news 23rd august 2012). The issue of corruption is Nigerias biggest contend that is eat i nto our economic growth leading to bills laundering and looting of public funds meant for the improving living condition of citizens.Corruption now is found in every facets of the Nigerian system especially the political aspect has leaders steal for selfish gain. The transparency international corruption index 2011 class-conscious Nigeria 143th of 183 counties in the world that is developed, in any case on the scale of 10 (very clean) to 0 (highly corrupt) Nigeria scored 2.4%, between 2010 and 2011 Nigerias stain declined from 9 places scoring 2.4% from a possible 10 showing the greatest sign that efforts at correcting corruption had been very inadequate in the last year (business day, Wednesday September 6 2011).This shows the height of corruption in our country, taking the story of the former governor James ibori of delta introduce who was jailed for 16 years for money laundering in April 2012 by the American judiciary after being discharged by a Nigerian court due to bribe for a case he was still found guilty. Nigerias conundrum is this menace and until there is a stop to it I wonder where we are heading to. 2.Neo-colonialism or imperialismThis is an external factor of Nigerias underdevelopment it is the highest form of exploitation from the British countries to their colonies after independence. Nigeria has contributed to its economic backwardness, as it promotes the nutrition of foreign domination and enhances neo-colonialism and the flowering of subjugationism (onimode, 1981). Imperialism has always been an exploitative phenomenon, which was the initial motive for colonization. Nigeria has been seen as a cast away ground for most British counties, making it difficult for us to produce our own goods.Also the fact that we are primary producers with fewer technicalities to produce our raw materials into finished products makes it a means of imperialism as we exporting our goods at the rate determined by the British colonies and still import back a t a higher cost. For example the crude oil, Nigeria is the largest country with the crude oil but the poorest in economic landed estate due lack of technicality in transforming crude oil into petrol which led to the issue of sucidy removal in January 1st 2012, even after which things havent changed as fuel scarcity hits most part of the country e.g. Abuja, Lagos etc. as at 19th September 2012.3.Poor leadershipAccording to toilette c. Maxwell leadership is about influence and niyi adesonya sees it as not just influence but also inspiration. The idea of Nigerias leadership is just based on selfish gain of eating the national cake and leaving the main aim of governance. Research has seen it that Africa is one continent whereby its leaders are older than the country itself and Nigeria is not left out, as most of our past leaders are very much older than the country itself. The issue of poor leadership is also a contribute factor whereby due to corruption leaders make laws to favour their actions, as each time a ruler comes in seat we cargo area on amending the constitution to suite political parties, politicians make empty promise during preference campaigns when put office little or nothing is done in such community and citizens keep suffering in squalor and begin to govern themselves providing the necessities for their comfort.Due to poor leadership the recent issue of flood all over most riverine area would have occurred, this is because a developed country would have been prepared to channel the water released from the Cameroonian dam into another dam. But since Nigerian political elites buy the farm time on supererogatory things like the introduction of the 5000 naira note, citizens are homeless. Poor leadership is a contributing factor of Nigerias underdevelopment, as the main issues are not critically tacked to solve other things.It has led to flamboyant spending of public funds whereby an average senator in the house of representative is paid unne cessary bills like the seating allowance, wardrobe allowance etc. aside the salary they earn, why wont people kill to seat on political power? Nigeria is one country whereby the president earns more(prenominal) than the president of linked States. As they continue to buy properties that they dont need instead of place in profitable business.4.Bad patriotismThis is also a causing factor for our underdevelopment from in my opinion, it is obvious that most Nigerians are aware of our backwardness and they dont try to help matters instead they add to the problem itself. By disobeying or making difficult certain rules meant to help the country, this is because they believe it is another lie to eat from us. From the AIT news in August Hilary Clintons last visit to Nigeria in 2012, she told the president to have the lead power of taking certain stringent rules and standing firm for example the handiwork of governor Fashola of Lagos state is termed credible as Lagos with its massive popu lation is actually adjusting to change. This is because even as unpatriotic most Lagosians are governor Fashola still took a stand, Nigerias problem is also citizen built as persons no what is slump and refuse doing it for no reason.REFERENCESWalter Rodney (1972) How Europe Underdeveloped Africa Dar-Es Salaam. Tanzania Publishing House. Lewis W.A (1963) The Theory of Economic Growth London George Allen and Unwin Ltd. S.O. Opafola (1996) The daybook of Philosophy and Development Vol.2, Ogun State University Hope Publications. Onimode, B (1981) Imperialism and Nigerian Development In O. Nnoli Edition. Longman Dictionary of modern-day English New Edition.Business Day Newspaper Wednesday September 6 (2011), Nigeria and Corruption Index United Nation Statistics 2011.AIT News august 2012.