Right from its independence from Britain in 1960 AND up to the election in 1999 Nigeria was mostly a military dictatorship. The countrys history is characterised by conflicts, which have often found their expression in various religious, ethnic and regional antagonisms and the popularly elected government is now facing tremendous challenges.
The institutions of the state must be strengthened, the economic policy must generate growth, the military must be depoliticised and the balance maintained between various groups all against a background of growing absolute poverty. The democracy that has been achieved remains fragile and violations of human rights occur frequently.