Development Aid Relations between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of India, 1960-2007
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Date
2023-10
Authors
Usman, Ugboga Koku
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Development aid has its roots from the Post-World War II Marshall Plan of 1948, European Recovery Programs (ERP), to provide economic assistance in rebuilding Europe after the Second World War. The success of Marshall Plan in war torn Europe convinced the many leaders of developed countries that the newly independent countries including Nigeria should get similar assistance. In 1960 Nigeria after her independence embarked on various developmental policies, plans and programs which required development aid support from the donor countries such as the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Japan. However, the western aid failed to stimulate economic development, but rather it created dependency and debt trap. This informed the Nigeria- India development aid relations. It is against the aforementioned disquiet that this research study traces and evaluates development aid relations between Nigeria and India from 1960 to 2007. The research is based on the following objectives: to analyze the problems of donor funding in development aid relations to developing countries, assess the main features and trends of India’s development aid to Nigeria between 1960-1998, to examine the dynamics of India’s aid to Nigeria between 1999-2007, and finally, to evaluate the impacts of Nigeria-India aid relations on both countries. The study was guided by two theoretical perspectives: realism and dependency and underdevelopment. The realists’ perspective assisted to evaluate the political self- interest of India in the interactions. On the other hand, dependency and underdevelopment theory enables us to assess the actual beneficiary on Nigeria- India relationship. This study used descriptive research design. This involves reviewing of various literature, documents and oral information obtained through in-depth interviews. The study adopts the purposive sampling technique. Both primary and secondary sources of data have been used to extract data. The data are systematically analyzed and critically evaluated, in line with the objectives of the study. The study is based on the assumptions that the Indian’s development aid to Nigeria has favoured India. It also assumes that, Nigeria is getting more and more undeveloped because of India’s development aid, and also that India’s development aid to Nigeria has been misused by Nigeria. The study reveals that, both Nigeria and India have had development aid relations for many years. It has been demonstrated that India’s development aid to Nigeria is driven by its enlightened self-interest. The current pattern of development aid relations between Nigeria and India is inherently asymmetric. The asymmetry is manifested in the import of raw materials and export of manufactured goods by India to Nigeria, and it is a threat to economic development of Nigeria. Therefore the present skewed nature of trade and investment relations between India and Nigeria is capable of undermining Nigeria’s developmental efforts, if it continues. Therefore the relationship has to be restructured to allow for transparency and equal opportunity.
Description
Thesis Submitted to School of Law, Arts and Social Science in Fulfillment for the Requirements of the Award of Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science of Kenyatta University November, 2023
Keywords
Development Aid Relations, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Republic of India, Development, Relations