Memo offering policy advice to Nigeria

MEMORANDUM FOR THE HONORABLE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA

Subject: Economic Development Plan for Nigeria

Mr. President, first of all, congratulations to your country for successfully completing its 12th consecutive year of civil governance, the longest period of non military rule in the history of your country. The purpose of this memo is to brief you about the economic development plan which our think-tank has prepared for your country. You can use this plan as guidelines for enacting broad macroeconomic reforms to improve further the lives of ordinary Nigerians. Though Nigeria has started its journey in becoming a prosperous nation, there is much need to be done to reach the destination.

Mr. President, your country faces great challenges that will prove to be great obstacles in the journey of Nigeria towards economic and social prosperity. In the lights of our recommendations given in our plan, you can take concrete policy measures in different areas (Economy, Governance etc.) and transform Nigeria into an economically prosperous and stable nation.

Conflict Management and Mitigation

Despite 13 years of democratic rule, Nigeria is still going through difficult political and economic conditions. Problems like Institutionalized corruption, Delta region's insecurity, religious and ethnic extremism and intolerance in the north, and political repression have continued to fuel dramatic increase in violence and are undermining economic and social development of a country. In Niger Delta, militants' attacks on electricity installation is one of the factor contributing to increased load shedding in your country which is causing major problem to the economy and the businesses. The Christian-Muslim conflict in the north is also creating hurdles in the way of peace.

Nigerian government need to talk to the militants and those religious and ethnic armed groups, listen to their legitimate concerns and work towards disarming them. Militants who are ready to disarm themselves should be offered vocational training which will help them to get a decent job or start their own business. Reintegration of ex-militants into the mainstream economy by creating jobs for them will address the root cause of the violence.

Prevention and control of HIV/AIDS

Nigeria is a home to second largest HIV/AIDS infected adult population (approx. 3 million). Nigeria is also a home to one million AIDS orphans. These numbers are on a continuous rise which is making the result of Nigerian vulnerable to catch this dangerous disease. These numbers need to be mitigated by taking some urgent actions. Nigeria needs human capital and other resources and HIV/AIDS is consuming both. Government spends a good amount of its resources on HIV/infected patients and rise in number is calling for more spending when these resources can be utilized for the economic development of Nigeria. HIV is also driving the growth in mortality rate.

Over half of the Nigerian population is under the age of 15. This youth need to be educated and prepared for the future. Besides improving the quality of education, a proper sex education program in all the primary and secondary schools need to be ...