By Vincent Tan
With rising social assault as Nigeria prepares for the 2003 elections, there are concerns from the state's capability to hang together as a single entity.
As the Olusegun Obasanjo management can be criticised for not delivering the assured economic goods, the military may be cut straight down to size and there are attempts at re-professionalising the armed service. All in all, while the Nigerian situation gives grounds for concern, the negative conclusions that the state may fail is certainly not obvious.
One of the most important issue in Nigeria presently will be the matter of democracy, recognized not just as an end to military rule but also as the institution of receptive and responsible political organizations which promote a government that is responsible, prevent corruption, respect human and civil rights, and ensure popular sovereignty.
The SAP has not yet helped the Nigerian economic climate much and the politics lack of stability considering that the early 1990s has seriously restricted ale subsequent governments to apply economic policies. Without the establishment of an accountable government, the chances of addressing other pressing problems-like the deterioration of living conditions and the collapse of once outstanding educational institutions-are very minimal.
Nigeria is also well rendered with abundant human as well as natural resources to cope with its problems. Many of its exceptional leaders have been kept in jail or in exile. The solution for addressing its problems and thus combine democratic governance in the government republic lies in having a government that works on the principles of good governance and is most especially, accountable to the Nigerian people. Good governance in Nigeria is hence vital to its balance and growth which of the economies of West African countries in the Sub-region.
The issue of data corruption, however, still remains one of the most difficult problems underneath the current federal government of Obasanjo.
For the majority of Nigerians however, the pushing problems every day survival remain the greatest fast goal. Since the oil boom of the 1970s, Nigeria's economy has been around crisis despite continued growth in oil production.
As the Olusegun Obasanjo management can be criticised for not delivering the assured economic goods, the military may be cut straight down to size and there are attempts at re-professionalising the armed service. All in all, while the Nigerian situation gives grounds for concern, the negative conclusions that the state may fail is certainly not obvious.
One of the most important issue in Nigeria presently will be the matter of democracy, recognized not just as an end to military rule but also as the institution of receptive and responsible political organizations which promote a government that is responsible, prevent corruption, respect human and civil rights, and ensure popular sovereignty.
The SAP has not yet helped the Nigerian economic climate much and the politics lack of stability considering that the early 1990s has seriously restricted ale subsequent governments to apply economic policies. Without the establishment of an accountable government, the chances of addressing other pressing problems-like the deterioration of living conditions and the collapse of once outstanding educational institutions-are very minimal.
Nigeria is also well rendered with abundant human as well as natural resources to cope with its problems. Many of its exceptional leaders have been kept in jail or in exile. The solution for addressing its problems and thus combine democratic governance in the government republic lies in having a government that works on the principles of good governance and is most especially, accountable to the Nigerian people. Good governance in Nigeria is hence vital to its balance and growth which of the economies of West African countries in the Sub-region.
The issue of data corruption, however, still remains one of the most difficult problems underneath the current federal government of Obasanjo.
For the majority of Nigerians however, the pushing problems every day survival remain the greatest fast goal. Since the oil boom of the 1970s, Nigeria's economy has been around crisis despite continued growth in oil production.