NIGERIA - Can this nation survive in the future?

Nigeria - Can this nation survive in the future?

The nation of Nigeria is divided between different ethnic groups and religions and tensions have been ongoing for decades. However, in recent times the introduction of Sharia Islamic Law means that parts of the north are now of limits for Christians and followers of the original faiths. Therefore, can Nigeria survive all the current convulsions and this applies to ethnic tensions, religious tensions, political issues, poor versus rich, and so forth?

Nigeria nearly collapsed during the Biafran War between 1967-1970 when one major ethnic group desired an independent state, however, nations like the United Kingdom supported centralization. Yet these tensions still remain and since then many more convulsions have happened. The most notable being the introduction of Sharia Islamic Law because this meant that you now had two different legal systems within the same nation. To make matters worse, the Christian population had grown enormously in parts of the north and they of course were against these changes.

Over the last few years you have had many attacks in the north of Nigeria against the Christian community and unity is clearly not a reality. Also, in many other areas, for example in the Ogani areas, they demand to control their own resources. Therefore, the Niger Delta is very dangerous and local ethnic groups demand to control their own resources. Given this, many foreign mulit-nationals are worried about the current climate in the Niger Delta.

To make matters worse the political system and business community is often tainted by enormous corruption and the huge natural resources of this nation have been exploited decade after decade by a corrupt elite. Therefore, it is not only ethnic tensions or religious tensions which threaten Nigeria but also major social tensions.

Therefore, can Nigeria survive all these convulsions? To many people Nigeria can survive because they have gone from one chaotic situation to another. However, times have changed since the past because now the Christian population is nearly equal with regards to the Muslim population. Also, more alarmingly, the introduction of Sharia Islamic Law meant that some Nigerians were now unequal within the legal system. If we add all these changes to the growing population and mass inequality, then it is clear that Nigeria does face many serious challenges. Therefore, the future of Nigeria is now "rocky" and mass tensions will further increase in the future. Only a more transparent system can solve the current crisis but can the political elite be forced to change before it is too late?

Lee Jay Walker Dip BA MA

http://journals.aol.com/leejaywalker/uk/