Poverty in northern Nigeria

http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/nigeria/publication/nigeria-economic-report-improved-economic-outlook-in-2014-and-prospects-for-continued-growth-look-good

While the South of Nigeria has relatively low poverty rates, ranging from 16% in the South West to 28.8% in the South East, poverty rates in the North West and North East are 45.9% and 50.2%, respectively. While the South of Nigeria (especially the South West) has experienced a strong positive dynamic in poverty reduction in recent years, the poverty rate in the North West has remained stagnant, while poverty has actually increased in the North East. Thus, disparities between the North (North West, North East) and South of Nigeria in poverty and living standards have increased. This is no doubt related to the recent security challenges in the Northern part of Nigeria. Explanatory factors for the high differences in living standards by geographical region are likely related to differences in the provision of public services and the degree of connectedness to larger markets.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/ebola-outbreak-africans-understandably-wary-about-promised-cures-1.2740035

She notes that the pharmaceutical industry conducts two out of five clinical trials in the developing world "because they can do higher quality trials more cheaply and more quickly there, and they save a great deal of money by testing drugs on these people."

Then, if and when the drugs get approved, those companies sell them at a price many people in the developing world cannot afford.

In the process, Washington says, "we owe them an immense debt and here's a chance to help pay them back."

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/11/the-problems-of-the-%E2%80%98north%E2%80%98-and-other-issues/

The amalgamation of Northern and Southern Provinces by Lord Laggard in 1914 was not popular with the descendants of Danfodio. Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto and the Premier of old North often regretted the ‘mistakes of 1914‘ and Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, the post Independence Nigeria Prime Minister had in the 1940s emphasized loudly the cultural and religious differences of the Northerners and Southerners.

Yet, we labored on fruitlessly towards the path of that elusive unity. In the politics of 1950s, the Northern Peoples‘ Congress (NPC) was mainly a Northern Party dedicated to the fortunes of the North. At Independence in 1960, the NPC with seats won only from the North was able to form a Federal Government with the NCNC of the South; leaving the Action Group also of the South in opposition.

The Northerners were able to restructure the Federal Civil Service with the doctrine of Federal Character. However, the Civil War terminated the marriage of convenience or inconvenience and political friends became enemies.

The rest is now a part of history from which Nigerians have not learnt anything. The problem of the North is the Fear that unless the Northern leaders (Hausa/Fulani) are in power or form a significant part of the ruling caste, Northern interests would not be safeguarded.

On this point, there would be no compromise. The leaders, whether political or military, always see themselves as custodians of Northern interests (albeit, their own selfish interests).

When President Shagari was overthrown, it was believed to be a preventive measure against the emergence of a Southern President after him; when a Southern President was elected later, the election was annulled to satisfy the fear of a Southern President.

Thus, the Northern problem is nothing but Fear. The nation needs to address this danger fast and quickly too.