By Wenjun Xiong
With a population more than 186 million, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa (1). More than 3 million people in Nigeria are living with AIDS (2014 est.). This contributes to excess mortality and results in lower life expectancy (53.4 years), higher infant mortality (71.2 deaths/1,000 live births), higher death rates (12.7 deaths/1,000 population), and lower population growth rates. 65% of citizens live in extreme poverty (2). The low levels of development and the Boko Haram insurgency from 2012 brings Northeast Nigeria into a complex humanitarian crisis.
Nigeria has been receiving foreign assistant from developed countries for many years. USAID has helped Nigeria increase stability through improving social services, building transparent and responsive government, and providing humanitarian assistance. The funding reached 1 billion during 2013 and 2015(3). The aid Nigeria received is significantly higher than average for all countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and significantly higher than average for all countries in the world. Most of the money is spent on HIV/AIDS program and macro economic foundation for growth. This helps Nigeria reduce extreme poverty by stimulating economic growth, promoting healthcare, educating more population, and strengthening good governance.
UK bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) provides support to developing countries and multilateral organisations with an aim to promoting the economic development and welfare of population. Africa continues to account for the largest percentage share of UK bilateral ODA expenditure allocated to specific country or region. It received approximately 54.5% of bilateral ODA spend in 2015 (4). The bilateral ODA to Nigeria has been steadily increasing over the last 6 years with spend in 2015 (£263 million) being 117 percent higher than it was in 2009 (£121 million).
From the report of Australian Engagement with Developing Countries, it shows information of statistical details of Australia's development cooperation with partner countries (5). Australia provided aid to Sub-Saharan Africa and sets its priorities on heath (32%), education (23%) and building resilience (22%). In Nigeria, the development assistance from Australia is increasing from 2000 and reached 5 million Australian dollars in 2012 and 2013.
The statistics showed the development of Nigeria has been found by developed countries, including UK, U.S. and Australia. Most of the money is invested in health related program. More researches are needed to analyze the outcome of the financial aid from those countries.
Comparing international development in Nigeria for these three countries, we can see that the U.S. has spent the most of money in Nigeria. In 2014, the amount that U.K. invested is one fifth of the amount that U.S. invested. The amount that Australia provided was extremely small compared to the amount that U.S. provided. Recently, the U.S. and Australia started to slow down the intensity of financial aid and decreased the amount of international development to Nigeria.
