Bring back development

The kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls by Nigerian terrorist outfit Boko Haram is a crude reminder of what growth without equity could do to malleable societies. Boko Haram, an Islamist militia outfit, hails from the northern slice of Nigeria, often touted as the poster boy of African economic development. Some time ago, US President Barack Obama had called Nigeria the world’s next economic success story. But this story has been sullied by a highly uneven distribution of wealth. While the elite got fatter, the poor lost jobs and were pushed to the fringes.

The rise of Boko Haram stems from the extreme poverty and joblessness that has engulfed Nigeria. About 70 per cent of the people in the country’s north live on less than a dollar a day and a significant chunk of the populace is illiterate and ill. Ironically, this brutal force started out as a non-violent movement against state atrocities on civilians and to demand jobs, food security and social recognition. But, as elsewhere, poverty, homelessness and social neglect form a deadly cocktail that religious fundamentalism can set a match to whenever it wants.

Climate change too, say experts, has played a key role in the crisis unfolding in Nigeria. Today, outfits like Boko Haram are populated by those displaced by severe drought and food shortage in neighbouring Niger and Chad. By one estimate, nearly 200,000 farmers and herdsmen lost their livelihoods and moved to Nigeria from neighbouring areas. The role of this West African nation’s energy crisis is equally important. Recently, the country introduced severe cuts in fuel subsidies, inviting intense public wrath. Oil reserves are almost non-existent in many regions. A World Bank note says half of all Nigerians have no jobs. More than 70 per cent of young people are unemployed. And a Unesco report says Nigeria has the highest number of children out of school in the world.

Experts say the solution to the crisis is introducing equitable growth, and not necessarily military action. Now that the international community, mainly the US, is intervening in the hostage crisis, many fear this may lead to another round of ugly Western interference. If the intervention paves the way for another round of resource hunting, that will only end up aiding the forces of terror. The focus should be on forcing the Nigerian government to legislate better resource allocation and reform the economy in such a way that it produces more jobs rather than a clutch of wealthy individuals.

Assistant Editor

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