by Staff writer
The simple answer to the question, “Is Rwanda better than Nigeria?” is “in what sense?”
Many times I’ve heard how Rwanda is now developing at a faster rate than Nigeria. But this is not true.
Actually, comparing Rwanda to Nigeria is like comparing Singapore to the United States.
First of all, Nigeria is 35 times the size of Rwanda. Rwanda’s population is currently estimated at 12.63 million — compare that to the over 200 million living in Nigeria.
Second, Nigeria and Rwanda have different strengths and problems. Nigeria’s major problems are bad governance and tribalism.
Rwanda is a small, landlocked country with a troubled past. Right now, the country is fighting really hard to get out of the poverty trap by pushing its good governance and stability brand to attract investments from foreigners.
On the other side, Nigeria, one of the top 3 richest countries in Africa, is not really lacking in foreign investments.
GDP per capita (PPP) alone, Rwanda ($773 in 2018) is nowhere near Nigeria ($2,033 in 2018). GDP per capita is calculated by dividing GDP by the midyear population.
Nigeria has a good economy, compared to most other states in Africa. The issue of Nigeria is the allocation of resources to the common people. The country has been riddled with corruption for many years and it appears Nigeria’s oil wealth has turned more a curse to the citizens than a blessing.
Considering how rich Nigeria is, there is no good reason it should have the level of poverty it currently has. In fact, there wouldn’t have been any need for this post at all. But Nigeria is a giant that has failed to live up to its name.
70% of Nigerians (over 100 million people) live under the poverty line.
Both Rwanda and Nigeria are very different on any level you can think of.
Rwanda has had one president for nearly 2 decades. Paul Kagame has been Rwanda’s president since 2000.
No way this could have been possible in Nigeria.
Rwanda has one dominant political party, which wins elections by over 90% or more. Since the dominant party always wins elections, their agenda and development plan never changes. Regardless of who is in parliament, their agenda is always the same.
This somehow affects Rwanda’s structural development.
Also, unlike Nigeria, Rwanda has one language and one culture, and therefore issues of tribalism are kept to the barest minimum. I feel this, in particular, has made Rwanda more stable than Nigeria.
Some foreign companies that used to operate in Nigeria have left, citing volatile and unfriendly business environment.
Rwanda has been named the second easiest place to do business in Africa, according to several reports.
Rwanda may currently represent the best impression of an African state that is moving in the right direction, but it still has a long way to go before it can compare itself to Nigeria.
Rwanda is a landlocked country and does not have any natural resources.
Nigeria is rich in natural resources and touches the sea. This gives Nigeria a great competitive advantage. Rwanda is only relying on its people to move forward, also in its unity and peace, safety and security.
In conclusion:
A. If I wanted to get rich quick, I will move to Nigeria, an oil-rich country with access to many customers in one location.
If you are a large manufacturing company, you would want to go to Nigeria. You have access to 200 million people. Sell 10% of your items to the customers, and make one dollar on each, and boom, you have got $20 million sitting in the bank. Quick and easy!
B. But if I wanted to live in a very organized country with less hustle, rule of law, low levels of corruption, business-friendly climate, and accountability from government institutions, I would go to Rwanda.
Very nice country: RWANDA
Sorry to say but your comparison seems poor to me. If Rwanda, a country that is 35 times smaller than Nigeria, can achieve $773 GDP per capita in 2018, tell me why Nigeria should brag about achieving only $2,033! It’s a shame really. Also, the population has nothing to do with quality. In Nigeria, with over 200m people with 70% living under the poverty line, as you said, tell me how good an economy is with such terrible statistics.
Listen, if the population is your basis for good development then you need to change your mindset. because Nigeria is nothing compared to Rwanda in terms of development.
By the way, I’m a Nigerian. But that is the truth.