Being called a failed state is not about life being brutish, or about countries being poor, or about a country being free from corruption.
A "failed state" refers to a country where the government has little, very limited, or no impact on the daily lives of its people, countries where to all intents and purposes, government is not functioning.
Think of Pakistan, where bin Laden could hide for years very close to a military base without the government having a clue, a place where another country (the US) can launch an operation without informing the state...
Now, let's localize it.
With the exception of the Nigerian Army (who once again brushed the police yesterday), what other national institution functions well in Naija? NEPA? Police? (Boko Haram will have a word about that), the Judiciary? (ask Brother Dimeji), FERMA? (check almost all Federal roads), NPA? (check the queue of ships waiting at our sole working port), Universities? public schools? NNPC? refineries? NCC? NITEL?
When you have a state that doesn't exist to its citizens, that is a failed state.
Now, ask yourself again, is Naija a failed state?
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4 comments:
I suppose every year this thing drives me crazy. Nigeria is not a failed state. their methodology is so flawed as to be not worth thinking about. But I suppose people will continue to use it as it meets preconceived notions and to confirm various biases. Here is a pretty good take down of the index:
http://zeitgeistpolitics.wordpress.com/2010/06/24/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-failed-state/
Hell yeah it is a failed state. Doesnt take rocket science to know that.
We live like rats in this country, feeding on the woes and mishaps of one another while others wine and dine at this expense.
Sad story!
I think people are worried about the wrong thing. What difference does it make if "the west" called Nigeria a failed state? The point is that something...ANYTHING needs to be done. Unsafe roads, lack of stable electricity, kidnappers, ritualistic murders, ethnic/tribal/religious tension, lack of adequate healthcare, useless policemen and road safety officers, poverty, corrupt politicians...and you don't think there's a problem that needs fixing?!? Come on now. Every country has its problems, this i know. But that doesn't mean Nigeria is immune just because we get upset at someone calling it a "failed state"
YES!
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