NIGERIA’S REGIONAL AMBITIONS: CHANNELS AND CHALLENGES Cover Image

NIGERIA’S REGIONAL AMBITIONS: CHANNELS AND CHALLENGES
NIGERIA’S REGIONAL AMBITIONS: CHANNELS AND CHALLENGES

Author(s): Aslam Khan, Lawan Cheri
Subject(s): History, Anthropology, Geography, Regional studies, Constitutional Law, International Law, Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Ethnohistory, Military history, Political history, Social history, Modern Age, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Military policy, Developing nations, Politics and law, Politics and communication, Politics and religion, Politics and society, Comparative politics, Political Essay, Inter-Ethnic Relations, Geopolitics, Politics of History/Memory, Politics and Identity, Peace and Conflict Studies
Published by: Institute for Research and European Studies - Bitola
Keywords: Superpower; Economy; Military; Boko Haram Insurgency; Hegemony

Summary/Abstract: Nigeria is the most populous black nation in the world, member of the UN Security Council and largest economy of Africa. In addition to its globally acknowledged qualitative oil, it also has large deposits of mineral resources including tin, coal and gypsum, gold and lead. The country is not only engaged in a passionate competition with South Africa to attain the position of a continental superpower preparatory towards becoming a globally acknowledge giant but also comfortably playing a big-brother role among Africa nations. This paper uses documentary analysis to examine Nigeria’s social, economic and global potentials of fulfilling its dreams vis-a-vis the potentials of its competitor(s). The paper found out that Nigeria faces multidimensional challenges on its path towards continental leadership ranging from domestic problems of rising crime, incessant insurgency, dilapidated infrastructure, growing unemployment, over-reliance on dwindling oil income and leadership crises among others to intense competition from other strong African countries like South Africa, Egypt and Ethiopia. The paper concludes that the country’s goal of a regional superpower status is achievable but Nigeria must address its domestic challenges to win the race of attaining continental hegemony.

  • Issue Year: V/2019
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 43-58
  • Page Count: 16
  • Language: English
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