What are the challenges faced by the independent Nigerian nation? In what ways is it similar or different from the challenges faced by independent India?

Nigeria’s national movement and freedom struggles were unorganized. After independence, the Nigerian constituency went through similar situations of instability and disorganization. The major challenges were:

a) Nigeria had large ethnic diversity, and so making a constitution acceptable for all was a huge challenge.

b) The existing diversity in the social and economic status of the ethnic tribes.

c) The increasing tendencies of regionalism which often affects the unity.

d) The building up of the essential judiciary, parliamentary system, and leadership.

e) The corruption, even from the Government officials which affects the economy.

f) To compensate for the loss of 5-10 % of Nigerian mangrove ecosystem which had been wiped out during the clearing of oil spills

g) Over-dependence on oil trade (oil was discovered in the Niger Delta in 1970-s. Nigeria depends solely on oil trade as a source of revenue. They neglected agriculture.)

h) Non-saving culture, the country’s economy went into collapse after the drop in the price of crude oil.

The major challenges faced by India after independence:

a) Refugee problems

b) Partition issues

c) Kashmir issues

d) Reorganization of states

e) Naxal movements

India faced many problems after independence but was solved effectively by the Indian administrators. They could handle the crisis in a much easier way than in the case of Nigeria because the Indian constitution was well written and implemented effectively by 1950. The constitution written by Ambedkar was so fine that it brought unity among the cultural and socially diverse groups. The Indian bureaucracy had strong leadership, and it gripped the social situation very well.