1. Nigeria – Historical Foundations

2. Federalist Structure (Muslim North, Christian South) 36 States

3. The Nigerian Nation at a Glance

4. 2. Per Capita GDP Rankings
United States ($37,800)
United Kingdom ($27,700)
Mexico ($9,000)
Russia ($8,900)
Iran ($7,000)
China ($5,000)
Nigeria ($800)

5. The Making of the Modern Nigerian State (1 of 2)

6. The Making of the Modern Nigerian State (2 of 2)

7. Former Head of State: President Umaru Yar’Adua

8. Current Head of State: President Goodluck Jonathan

9. Former Head of Government: President Umaru Yar’Adua

10. Current Head of Government: President Goodluck Jonathan

11. Politics in Action (2 of 2)

12. Legitimacy
Nigeria is a relatively young country, achieving independence in 1960, this makes establishing legitimate government more difficult
Fragmentation – tendency in developing countries to fall apart along ethnic, regional, and/or religious lines
Nigeria is diverse religiously, ethnically, linguistically
Corruption – Much of the oil money coming into the country goes directly to government officials, not to the people
Patron-client relationships very important (prebendalism)

13. Constitutionalism
Nine constitutions drafted since 1914
Five under colonial rule and four since
Military and civilian leaders have felt free to disobey and suspend constitutional principles or change constitutions not to their liking

14. Colonial Era
Britain’s imposition of a federal structure on Nigeria grouped together many different historically antagonistic ethnic groups
Aggravated tensions when regional boundaries coincided with ethnic divisions
Over 250 distinct ethnic groups

15. Divisive Identities: Ethnic Politics Under Colonialism

16. Colonial Era
Christianity – British introduction of Christianity created a divide between Christian and Muslim areas
Islam (Sharia law) dominant in the north, Christianity in the south
Intensification of Ethnic Politics – emergence of three dominant groups: Hausa-Fulani (north), Yoruba (southwest), Igbo (southeast)
These cleavages generally coincide with geographic cleavages (reinforcing)
British pitted groups against each other to maintain control

17. Independence Era The 1st Republic (1960-1966)
British Westminster model
Biafran Civil War and Military Rule ( )
Ethnic + political violence
The 2nd and 3rd Republics ( )
Presidential system, FPTP, plurality elections
Alternating military, civilian rule (coups)
The 4th Republic (1999 to Present)
2007 – First peaceful turnover of power between civilian presidents after elections
PDP now dominant political party

18. Independence Era (1960-Present)
Parliamentary vs. Presidential System – Nigeria operated under parliamentary system from
Ethnic divisions made parliamentary system difficult
So switched to presidential system with separate legislature and independent judiciary
But neither has been able to check the power of the president
Intensification of Ethnic Conflict – After independence, Hausa-Fulani (Muslims in North) dominated parliament because of large population

19. Independence Era continued
Military Rule
A series of coups d’état and rule by military leaders during the past 50+ years
Democratization efforts interrupted by military intervention
Economic dependence on Oil
This has led to corruption and has caused great harm to the environment and low levels of legitimacy for govt.
Because of corruption, most Nigerians have not benefited from oil wealth
Government-dominated economy
Collapse of world oil prices in early 1980s caused a crisis for the government because nearly all its income was dependent on oil (rentier state)

20. Rentier State

21. Structural Adjustment / Privatization
Developed structural adjustment program (SAP) with support of international financial institutions (IMF, World Bank)
Privatization central to adjustment program
Some parastatals sold off
Intended to generate revenue, reduce state expenditures, improve efficiency
Disappointing results

22. Economic Growth

23. Dependency Theory

24. Growing Inequality

25. Steps Toward Democratization
New constitution eliminating military rule
Freer press
Regular elections since 1999
Protections for ethnic and religious groups.
Redrawing of state boundaries to increase representation + more states created
Direct election of president
Electoral support required from different subnational regions
Creation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

26. Nigeria in the World of States
Nigeria has military and economic power in West African region
Nigeria has significantly increased its importance as a regional power through its leadership in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
Nigeria forced to seek support from international financial institutions (IMF, World Bank)
Forced to accept direction from foreign agencies
Influential member of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries