c23: nigeria

Biafra

Igbo separatist movement; Civil war (1967–70), 1–2M deaths (mainly starvation)

Resource Curse

Oil wealth → corruption, weak institutions, underdevelopment

Federal Character Principle

Power-sharing ethnic quotas to avoid dominance

2023 Elections

Competitive multiparty system; Peter Obi surge

Weak State Capacity

Cannot provide basic public goods or security

250+ Ethnic Groups, 500 Languages

Highly diverse; fragmentation challenges nation-building

Religious Split

Muslim North / Christian South

Boko Haram

Insurgency killing 50k+, displacing 2.5M; kidnappings (Chibok girls)

Democracy Progress ≠ Satisfaction

Free elections but citizens lack security/services

Low Taxation

5% GDP tax → state too weak to deliver public goods

Oil Dependency

When prices fall → crisis

Military

Underfunded, abuses → distrust

Fuel Subsidy Removal

Price 195→550 naira → hardship, inflation >30%

Every Household its Own Gov

People supply water, generators, security themselves

Health Care Failure

Poor die, elites fly abroad; “social murder” of poor

Phrase “May Nigeria Not Happen to You”

Warning about state failure crushing citizens