“Nigeria Close To Becoming A Failed State” — Financial Times

The Financial Times of London has stated that Nigeria risks becoming a failed state if things don’t take a drastic turn.

The UK-based newspaper described Nigeria as a country going backwards economically and plagued with terrorism, illiteracy, poverty, banditry, and kidnapping.

The Financial Times of London made this known in an editorial on Tuesday titled, ‘Nigeria at Risk of Becoming a Failed State’.

It said the abduction and subsequent rescue of over 300 schoolboys in Kankara, Katsina State, revived memories of the 276 Chibok schoolgirls abducted in Borno State in 2014.

According to the newspaper, while the government’s claim that no ransom was paid to the abductors of the schoolboys remains doubtful, other acts of criminality could not be overlooked.

The editorial read in part, “The government insists no ransom was paid. Scepticism is warranted. In a country going backwards economically, carjacking, kidnapping and banditry are among Nigeria’s rare growth industries. Just as the boys were going home, Nigerian pirates abducted six Ukrainian sailors off the coast.

“The definition of a failed state is one where the government is no longer in control. By this yardstick, Africa’s most populous country is teetering on the brink.”

The newspaper also questioned the claim by the President Buhari, that Boko Haram had been technically defeated.

It said contrary to the government’s claim, Boko Haram remained an ever-present threat.