Autocratic leaders, who use legitimate and illegitimate means to cling to power.
Electoral malpractices in favour of the ruler.
Absence of a strong opposition party for checks and balances.
No defined or suitable ideology adopted by the leaders, fluctuating between socialism and capitalism.
Widespread ethnicity or tribalism leading to mediocrity especially in the army and civil service.
The problem of national integration of so many tribes to enhance unity.
Lack of charismatic leaders commanding true national support.
Religious antagonism especially Christian- Muslim rivalry
A strong tradition of dictatorship making democracy unsuitable.
Conflict of authority in some areas between the traditional rulers and National leaders.
Social
Inadequate schools, high illiteracy and ignorance in many remote rural areas.
Inadequate hospitals, medical staff, drugs, and equipment leading to the inadequate control of the causes, spread and effects of malaria, filarial, river blindness etc leading to high death rate and low life expectancy.
Inadequate clean drinking water in the urban centres, and the lack of pipe borne water in rural areas.
High birth rate and the rapid growth of the population.
High cost of electricity, irregular power supply and backward rural electrification.
Rural exodus leading to urban congestion.
Inadequate food for the growing population, leading to malnutrition.
Immoral behaviour of the youths such as drug and alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, prostitution etc.
Economic problems
Very low income per capita and widespread poverty.
Very high unemployment and lack of good professional training for the job market.
Absence of qualified technicians for industrial and agricultural expansion.
Over dependence on agriculture and fluctuating prices for agricultural products.
Domination of local markets by foreign products especially from Europe, America and Asia.
Lack of capital for investment and over dependency on foreign loans.
The economy in the hands of foreigners, especially industries, shops, leading to capital flight.
