By Jamel Nampijja / GICJ
Nigeria is still facing tremendous challenges including extreme poverty, insecurity, human rights abuse, high unemployment rate, internal conflicts like kidnappings, high crime rate, and terrorism driven by ethno-religious differences, bad governance, and corruption.
According to independent data Nigeria is one of the most corrupt countries as of 2021 with a score of 25 out of 100 and listed 149 out of 180 countries1. Corruption contributes greatly to the Continuing crisis of democracy. In 2015 former petroleum minister Diezani Alison Madueke used a 115$ bribe to secure an election victory for the People’s Democratic Party, money that came from public funds.
On 15 March 2021 Nigeria’s unemployment rate became the second-highest in the world. The unemployment rate had more than quadrupled over the last five years as the economy went through two recessions, casting a shadow over the efforts to implement policies to drive growth and create jobs by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. It’s reported that more than 60% of Nigeria’s ‘working-age’ population is younger than 34. Unemployment for people aged 15 to 24 stood at 53.4% in the fourth quarter and 37.2% for people aged 25 to 34. The jobless rate for women was 35.2% compared with 31.8% for men.
According to the United Nations by 2050 Nigeria is expected to be the world’s third most populous country, with over 300 million people. As his five-year engagement comes to an end, UN humanitarian coordinator for Nigeria Edward Kallon says : “Nigeria must empower its youths to play constructive, unifying, and innovative roles, and fully include them in the country’s development process.”
Bad governance is one of the main reasons for the challenges in Nigeria; the political leadership has failed to govern the country effectively. To ensure that democracy is preserved, international law respected, and human rights protected; the Nigerian government must be more accountable in managing the nation’s resources, give utmost attention to the formulation of policies that are aimed at maintaining economic growth at a level proportionate to the country’s growth rate; something that will help tackle the issue of poverty and unemployment.
Nigeria requires national leadership that is committed, trustworthy, and capable of bringing the nation together, prioritizing national growth and development that incorporates all citizens irrespective of ethnic or geopolitical affiliation for collective growth, peace, and security. Crime and terrorism still have an important role in creating insecurity in the country.
According to the UN, by the end of 2020, the Boko Haram conflict had led to the deaths of almost 350,000 people and forced millions from their homes. Boko Haram is still active and intensifying its presence in new territories and taking advantage of Nigeria's security challenges. This extremist group is dwelling in remote areas that have been left with no protection and security; areas that are remote and largely ignored by the government, where groups can torment rural communities without fear of retaliation.
In addition to that, "Bandits" as they are referred to, are criminals raiding villages kidnapping civilians, and demanding ransom, many are only released after thousands of dollars are paid as ransom.These attacks by bandits have forced thousands of innocent people to flee their homes and seek safety in other parts of the country and others taking refuge in neighboring countries. Over 18 million dollars have been paid to kidnappers from 2011 to 2020; kidnapping has become a lucrative industry in Nigeria where victims have become a source of income for kidnappers. This challenge has expanded to former safe areas as well and the country is having a difficult time protecting the people, President Muhammadu Buhari advised the Nigerians not to pay anything to kidnappers as this will discourage the kidnappers.
Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ) is gravely concerned by the criminal activities of kidnapping and human trafficking in Nigeria, as well as the terrorist threat Boko Haram represents for its people. We call on the international community to increase support to Nigeria to prevent the spread of such groups.
GICJ urges the Nigerian government to keep its commitment to promoting and safeguarding human rights and peace initiatives through youth empowerment and women empowerment, among others. And encourage conceptualizing social and human capital among the youths as an engine of innovation and positive social change. Nigeria is a country of great potential with possibilities for the young and generations to come.
Justice, Human rights, Geneva, geneva4justice, GICJ, Geneva International Centre For Justice
1. Transparency International - Nigeria
