The State of Independence In Nigeria @56

The State of Independence In Nigeria @56

 
At the same time, Nigeria’s estimated population is a substantial 180 million. U.S. armed forces have been drawn into Nigeria’s conflict with an Islamic group, Boko Haram, which has also spilled over to a degree into neighboring Cameroon, Chad and Niger. There are a number of Nigerians in the U.S. Finally, in general, it is not to America’s advantage for a large, important African nation to simply collapse, as Nigeria risks doing in the face of its problems.
European influence in modern day Nigeria began when in the 16th century when the first explorers from Spain and Portugal began trading with locals, leading to the development of ports, such as Lagos. The British became an increasingly dominant influence on the region in the late 19th century through the Royal Niger Company, resisting German attempts to expansion in the region.

In 1900, the territories under the control of the Royal Niger Company became the Southern Nigeria Protectorate. In 1914, this was combined with the Northern Nigeria Protectorate to create the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria, which forms the borders of modern day Nigeria.

Many aspects of modern life in Nigeria were established under the period of British Rule, but by the middle of the 20th century, the call for independence sweeping across Africa and the decline of the territories in the British Empire led to Nigeria being granted independence on 1 October 1960 under a constitution with a parliamentary government and a degree of autonomy for the country's three regions.

Nigeria marked total independence from Britain when it became a federal republic when a new constitution was adopted on 1 October 1963 with Nnamdi Azikiwe as its first president.

Political unrest led to a series of military coups in 1966 and Nigeria was ruled by a military junta with democratic rule not being restored until 1 October 1979

Perhaps the biggest threat to Nigeria’s stability comes from the major drop in the world price of oil. Nigeria at one time had a somewhat diversified economy. That funneled down to almost total dependence on oil, so that, when the world price drops, Nigeria’s income, employment and general level of economic well-being plummet catastrophically.

Efficiency and stamping out endemic corruption would make a big difference, but neither flourish in modern Nigeria and, so, disaster now looms.

With barely controlled rebellions in the north and the south of the country and low oil prices, there is some reason to be concerned that the West African nation of Nigeria is coming unstuck.

It would be easy for Americans to say now that it doesn’t matter much over here. The U.S. economy no longer really needs Nigeria’s oil and its production is falling in any case. The trouble occurring there is for the most part either in the inland far northeast or in the Niger River delta area and does not imperil any significant American interests.