“In a country going backwards economically, carjacking, kidnapping and banditry are among Nigeria’s rare growth industries.” – Financial Times
The Financial Times, a UK based international newspaper has described Nigeria as an “almost failed state” in one of its publications dated December 22, 2020.
The Newspaper, owned by Japanese holding firm NiKKEI Inc with headquarters in London, described Nigeria’s worsening insecurity and declining economy as major factors destabilizing the country that was once revered the “Giant of Africa”.
In its publication, the Financial Times mentioned, among others, the recent kidnap of 333 boys of the Government Science School in Kankara, Katsina state and the abduction of six Ukrainian sailors off the Nigerian coast, a few days after the kidnapped boys were freed after government negotiated with the bandits allegedly without paying any ransom- a notion many Nigerians expressed doubts.
The publication also cited instances of kidnapping in the Niger Delta , Oil theft and institutional corruption as major setbacks bewitching the erstwhile promising nation.
“The definition of a failed state is one where the government is no longer in control. By this yardstick, Africa’s most populous country is teetering on the brink.”
Financial Times – December 22, 2020.
The Newspaper said that Nigeria was a failed state as its present government under president Muhammadu Buhari has lost grip of the economy, with poverty rate on the increase and that crime was now the order of the day in the country.
“In a country going backwards economically, carjacking, kidnapping and banditry are among Nigeria’s rare growth industries.” – Financial Times
It pointed out that the country lacked the basics: security, health, education, power and roads and had no plans to manage its rising population projected to be up to 400 million by 2050.
Nigeria A Failed State: #EndSARS Movement, a Spike of Fresh Hopes
The publication by the Financial Times also cited the recent viral #EndSARS movement as a spike of hope that showed the country could still be redeemed if its younger generation were allowed to pilot the its affairs.
The #EndSARS movement which started out as a protest against police brutality became a pivotal platform to decry bad governance and institutional corruption in Nigeria.
