Abstract
Like other countries confronted with socio-political, economic and security concerns, Nigeria has implemented strategies in response to its economic, political, ethnic and religious crises. The ethnic and religious plurality of the Nigerian state has, to a great extent, influenced the occurrence of political violence in the country. The homogeneity of the state has also engendered complexity in its response to the resulting conflict and violence. This chapter examines the Nigerian state, focusing on the geographical, religious and political variables that influenced its capacity to effectively maintain law and order within its territorial sphere. The chapter also identifies the decisive factors that have sustained armed insurrection and Boko Haram’s reign of terror. As revealed in the chapter, since Nigeria’s independence in 1960, different armed groups have exploited the unintended spaces created by successive governments for armed insurrections and terrorism. Lack of unity among the diverse ethnic groups and absence of cohesion among the political elites have led to the emergence, evolution and proliferation of armed groups in the country.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
The Fourth Republic commenced on 29th May 1999.
References
Aborisade, O. and Mundt, R. (2002). Politics in Nigeria. Second edition. New York: Longman.
African Development Bank Group. (2014). AfDB and Nigeria: Leveraging Partnerships for Economic Transformation and Inclusive Growth. Accessed on 20th May 2016 from http://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Publications/Nigeria_-_2013_-_Country_Profile_-_Leveraging_Partnerships_for_Economic_Transformation_and_Inclusive_Growth.pdf
Agbiboa, D.E. (2013). Ethno-Religious Conflicts and the Elusive Quest for National Identity in Nigeria. Journal of Black Studies, 44 (1): 3–30.
Akhaine, S. and Tsokar, K. (2015). Army Chief Escapes Assassination as Soldiers Shiites Clash in Zaria. Accessed on 19th August 2016 from http://guardian.ng/news/army-chief-escapes-assassination-as-soldiers-shiites-clash-in-zaria/
Azumah, J. (2015). Boko Haram in Retrospect. Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, 26(1): 33–52.
Brinkel, T. and Ait-Hida, S. (2012). Boko Haram and Jihad in Nigeria. Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies, 40 (2): 1–21.
Campbell, J. (2014). United States Policy to Counter Nigeria’s Boko Haram. Council for Preventive Action. Council Special Report No. 70, November 2014.
Danjibo, N.D. (2009). Islamic Fundamentalism and Sectarian Violence: The ‘Maitatsine’ and ‘Boko Haram’ Crises in Northern Nigeria. Peace and Conflict Studies Paper Series, 1–21.
Eliagwu, J. (2007). The Politics of Federalism in Nigeria. Adonis and Abbey Publishers: London.
Fafunwa, A. (1974). History of Education in Nigeria. George Allen and Unwin Ltd.
Federal Government of Nigeria, (1999). Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. Accessed on April 25th 2016 from http://nass.gov.ng/document/download/5820
Federal Ministry of Education, (2015). Education for All 2015 National Review: Nigeria EFA Review Report 2000–2014.
Harnischfeger, J. (2014). Boko Haram and its Muslim Critics: Observations from Yobe State. In: Montclos, M. ed. Boko Haram: Islamism, Politics, Security and the State in Nigeria. African Studies Centre: Leiden, 33–62.
Hiskett, M. (1987). The Maitatsine Riots in Kano, 1980: An Assessment. Journal of Religion in Africa, 17 (3): 209–223.
Ikelegbe, A. (2001). The perverse manifestation of civil society: evidence from Nigeria. The Journal of Modern African Studies, 39 (1), 1–24.
Isichei, E. (1987). The Maitatsine Risings in Nigeria 1980–85: A Revolt of the Disinherited. Journal of Religion in Africa, 17 (3), 194–208.
Kenny, J. (1996). Sharia and Christianity in Nigeria: Islam and a ‘Secular’ State. Journal of Religion in Africa, 26 (4): 338–364.
Khan, S. (2013). Religious co-existence: Tolerance and contestation amongst Hindu and Muslim faith groups of Indian origin in South Africa. Journal of Sociology and Social Anthropology, 4 (1–2): 149–157.
Kirsten, J.F. (1996). Nigeria: A Federation Gone Wrong. Koers-Bulletin for Christian Scholarship, 61 (4): 499–509.
Loimeier, R. (2012). The Development of a Militant Religious Movement in Nigeria. Africa Spectrum, 47 (2/3): 137–155.
Ojie, A.E. and Ewhrudjakpor, C. (2009). Ethnic Diversity and Public Policies in Nigeria. Anthropologist, 11 (1): 7–14.
Ojo, E.O. (2009). Federalism and the search for national integration in Nigeria. African Journal of Political Science and International Relations, 3(9): 384–395.
Okibe, H. (2000). Political Evolution and Constitutional Development in Nigeria: (1861–1999). Enugu: Marydan Publishers.
Okpanachi, O. (2009). Building Peace in a Divided Society: The Role of Civil Society in Muslim-Christian Relations in Nigeria. Paper Presented at the SHUR International Conference on “Human Rights in Conflict: The Role of Civil Society”, Luiss University Rome, June 4–6, 2009.
Oloyede, I. (2014). Islam in Nigeria: A Century of National Islamic Societies. Keynote Address Presented at the International Conference of Islam in Nigeria (COIN) to mark the 30th Anniversary of the Islamic Welfare Foundation (IWF) on Monday, Safar 1, 1436 (November 24, 2014) at the University of Ilorin.
Omotoso, S. (2011). ISL 372: Islam in Nigeria. National Open University of Nigeria. School of Arts and Social Sciences.
Oni, E.O. (2014). The Challenges of Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria, 1999–2007. International Journal of Politics and Good Governance, 5 (5.1): 1–29.
Onwujeogwu MA (1987). Indigenous Socio-Economic and Political Organizations and their Relevance to Development in Contemporary Nigeria. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of Nigerian Anthropological and Sociological Association on Strategies of Authentic Development in Nigeria, 30th November to 2nd December.
Osaghae, E. and Suberu, T. (2005). A history of identities, violence and stability in Nigeria. Centre for Research on Inequality, Human Security and Ethnicity, University of Oxford.
Otobo, E. (1999). Nigeria. In: Adamolekun, L. ed. Public Administration in Africa: Main issues and Selected Country Studies. Westview Press: Colorado, 292–310.
Pate, P. (2015). “Boko Haram: An Assessment of Strengths, Vulnerabilities, and Policy Options.” Report to the Strategic Multilayer Assessment Office, Department of Defense, and the Office of University Programs, Department of Homeland Security. College Park MD: START, January 2014.
Schwarz, F. (1965). Nigeria: The Tribes, the Nation, or the Race – The Politics of Independence. Connecticut: Greenwood Press Publishers.
Tajudeen, A. and Adebayo, O. (2013). Religious Fanaticism and National Security in Nigeria. Journal of Sociological Research, 4 (1): 49–60
United Nations. (2015). ‘Security Council Condemns Boko Haram Violence, Backs Regional Efforts to Counter Ongoing Attacks’ Accessed on September 18th 2015 from www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?News10=51513#.Vfwhpdg1hjo.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Temitope Faluyi, O., Khan, S., Akinola, A.O. (2019). The Character of the Nigerian State. In: Boko Haram’s Terrorism and the Nigerian State. Advances in African Economic, Social and Political Development. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05737-4_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05737-4_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-05736-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-05737-4
eBook Packages: Political Science and International StudiesPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)