Globalization: Does it have Effects on Nigeria’s Governance System?

Abstract

Even though globalization has made countries across the world more connected than ever, there are still controversies over its benefits regarding socio-economic development and good governance in developing countries. Against this backdrop, the study investigates the link between globalization and governance in Nigeria. This is with a view to determining the implications of globalization on the governance of Nigeria. The study, which relies heavily on secondary data, shows that the country’s political authority has been depleted in order to conform to global trends. Globalization has affected the quality of bureaucratic governance, puts pressure on governance on whether to open up or restrict the economy, and exacerbated the unequal distribution of incomes because of the relative differences in the mobility of labor and capital. The study further revealed that globalization triggered the unregulated use of the internet and exposed people to illicit activities. It also contributed to the transmission of diseases, including HIV/AIDS, the Ebola virus and COVID-19. Globalization also encouraged multinationals to access Nigeria, thereby adding to environmental pollution, climate change, food insecurity, and health-related challenges, especially, as a result of oil exploration. These activities have continued to disrupt the people’s means of livelihood, and consequently provoked political and social agitation and engendered secessionist groups, threatening the unity and existence of the country. The study, therefore, concludes that globalization has caused more damage than good to Nigeria’s political and socio-economic activities.