Top 10 Major Political Problems In Nigeria (2024)
This article is about the top 10 major political problems in Nigeria currently in this year 2024. Though Nigeria is seen as a rapidly developing African nation, this does not imply that there are no issues in our own country. You will learn about the main political issues facing Nigeria in this article, as well as potential solutions.
The Nigerian political and social spheres are filled with numerous issues. For many years, people were ignorant of potential remedies, and the circumstances remained unchanged. Every day, little steps are taken to make life better for Nigerians, but a lot more needs to be taken into account. The 10 major political problems in Nigeria in recent times are discussed below.
TOP 10 MAJOR POLITICAL PROBLEMS IN NIGERIA 2024
The following are the 10 leading political problems in Nigeria this 2024 in no particular order:
CORRUPTION
The fact that the nation has a reputation for being among the most corrupt in the world is not new to anyone. Given that statistics indicate that 70% of corruption activities originate from this segment of society, the majority of Nigerian politicians are notorious for their corrupt tactics.
Public monies are often placed in foreign bank accounts by government officials. It is well known that private individuals assist in the money laundering process. In addition, the politicians steal billions of naira and conceal them under false identities so that the public is blind to their illicit activities.
The law and police are likewise breeding grounds for corruption, and as a result, the public no longer has faith in these agencies to protect them. One of the main causes of the nation’s overall dilemma is this issue.
This is due to the fact that corruption can seep into other contexts and endanger all governmental structures, the economy, and other areas of society. The highest branch of society that is tasked with protecting the people and finding solutions to all issues is the government, which is also the one most implicated in corruption in Nigeria today.
TRIBALISM
One of the most important political concerns in Nigeria this 2024 is tribalism. This leads to political divisions, civil unrest, fatalities, and favouritism during elections, indicating that voters are motivated more by tribalism than by a candidate’s ability to win office. Tribalism has always been the source of all other problems in the nation, and individuals today have strong prejudices either in favour of or against those who come from similar or different backgrounds.
Disagreements over politics, religion, culture, or anything else frequently result in intertribal disputes and loss of life. In politics, tribalism is a serious issue since most voters cast their ballots according to their tribes. When someone makes a mistake, members of their tribe overlook it, but those from another tribe consider it the worst crime. The Nigerian people are not helped by this polarising psychology.
ECONOMIC DOWNTURN
The state of the nation’s economy has deteriorated significantly. The population of the nation is rapidly increasing against the drop in paid employment and decent compensation.
Consequently, workers’ incomes are insufficient to purchase things from marketplaces. It puts a great deal of people’s lives in jeopardy, which is one of the reasons why many workers are requesting pay raises especially as it concerns the minimum wage of the average Nigerian.
OVER DEPENDENCE ON CRUDE OIL
In order for Nigeria to be truly prosperous and not be at the mercy of a select few powerful individuals who make all the decisions and hoard this priceless natural resource for their own selfish gain at the expense of the welfare of the populace, the country’s overreliance on crude oil and failure to diversify the economy need to be examined and reviewed.
TERRORISM
Nigeria continues to have a serious political issue in 2024 with regard to terrorism, particularly in the country’s northeast. The government’s failure to address this issue head-on has resulted in the hydra-headed monster still plaguing the nation today.
GOD-FATHERISM
This is a political sponsorship where the sponsor manipulates other politicians to further their own objective. Seeking out their “godfathers” is a common initial step for those wishing to enter politics. This is the term for seeking out someone who could support your career and encourage you to advance into a more senior political position.
It appears that a lot of politicians are forgetting that Nigeria is a democratic country and that the decisions made by its people, who having the opportunity to elect independently, should determine the administration. The irony here is that the “godfathers” typically adhere to the ideologies of generally dishonest political parties rather than God’s fundamental principles. Sadly, this issue has been polarising the nation and poisoning its political landscape.
POLITICAL INACTIVITY OF NIGERIAN YOUTHS
With the exception of politics, young people in Nigeria are typically quite vibrant and active members of society. Sadly, their voices are often ignored and not taken seriously by the political class. Many Nigerian youths also believe that launching a political career and taking on all the risks that go along with it is not worth it.
Aside from their lack of political awareness and engagement, Nigerian youths face several other issues. Youth unemployment is at an all-time high, and the government’s general stance against providing real jobs for young people indicates that this trend will likely continue in the foreseeable future.
NIGERIAN MEDIA PROPAGANDA
As you may be aware, a democratic society heavily relies on the media. Thus, the journalists who work for these media houses have a primary responsibility to glorify dishonest leaders and paint a negative picture of their opponents. This ensures all of the everyday political news that Nigerians consume to be less accurate.
People are forced to assimilate irrelevant information and draw their own conclusions from something that is not particularly true, leaving out all the vital specifics. A significant concern is that a large number of political figures, or their proxies, bribe journalists to produce stories that minimise their transgressions and only depict them in a favourable light.
RELIGION
Nigeria is among the nations where a variety of religious beliefs are practiced throughout the country. Given that Nigeria is the most populous nation on the African continent and is home to a diverse range of cultures, this is understandable. There are many different faiths, but some of the most popular ones are Christianity, Islam, as well as the African Traditional Religion.
The problem with religion is that followers of the main religions vie with one another for influence and support political candidates based more on their religious beliefs than on their abilities and qualifications for office. Instead of uniting individuals as citizens of the same nation with shared ideals, this causes division and a sense of estrangement between them due to differences in religion.
NIGERIAN CITIZENS
Many Nigerians no longer have faith in the political system in their country. They usually don’t participate in any electoral process and don’t think about the nation’s candidates or the status of politics in general. Choosing not to take part in the national electoral process is a common decision made by people who would rather spend their time doing other things than actively choosing and deciding who will lead their country and govern their lives for the next four years.
Even now, a large number of Nigerians fulfil all the requirements to cast a ballot, but many choose not to do so. This is due to their belief that their vote will be inconsequential and that those with greater knowledge of the present political climate will cast their ballots instead. These actions are not promoting Nigeria’s development because so many people, for a variety of reasons, refuse to have their voices and concerns acknowledged.