NIGERIA

Part 1

 conflict in the Niger Delta

MEND (Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta) goal: greater oil profits should go to people of the Delta states methods: violence, kidnapping, siphoning, gun running effects: foreign oil companies have left Nigeria or cut production Army has attempted to contain the rebels, but violence continues

structural adjustment
international oil prices fell in early 80s, Nigeria developed enormous debt, turned to World Bank, IMF shock treatment:
(1) restructure and diversify Nigerian economy, decrease dependence on oil (2) reduce government spending and privatize parastatals

very mixed results

 Global economic crisis, 2008:

good news:
successful bank reform initiative in Obasanjos second term debt actually reduced under structural adjustment agricultural production and prices remained strong

bad news:
decrease in oil prices led to currency devaluation Stock Exchange declines, housing prices dropped, international tourism dried up inability to provide electricity privatization of power companies reversed

 federal character
federalism: desirable in theory
power shared, representation enhanced, contact points with government increased, democratic rule achieved

federal character in Nigeria: recognize people of all ethnicities, religions and regions, taking their needs into account Federal character embodied in Nigerian constitution
Electoral representation, regional thresholds

Negative effects of federalism:

divide rather than unify bloat and promote corruption within the bureaucracy competition for government resources and political benefits

demand for devolution

Niger Delta region demands for control of revenue Northerners lack resources support redistribution, oppose true federalism

 democratization:
change since Nigerias last military regime, 1999
some privatization alleviation of poverty: public wages increased, some illegally diverted funds returned to state treasury

some checks and balances between branches of government

Obasanjos bid to change constitution to allow 3rd term rejected by legislature

some judicial independence revival of civil society independent media

has made it more difficult to hide electoral fraud

peaceful transition of power

intertwining of economic and political problems: main stumbling block to democratization