The historical conjuncture of neo-colonialism and underdevelopment in Nigeria

Abstract

Neo-colonialism is widely viewed by many writers as the survival of the colonial system in an ex-colony. It is one of the issues that have blighted sustainable development in Nigeria. In Nigeria, it can be regarded as a specific phase of her development characterised by its social formation. This situation was carefully crafted during the decolonization process by the colonialists in collusion with Nigerian elites. Central to the understanding of neo-colonialism in Nigeria is the presence of a class dependent on foreign capital. This suggests that neo-colonialism can be seen as a method of control for the reproduction of dependency. This paper argues that the role played by the local bourgeoisie is crucial to the understanding of the synergy between neo-colonialism and underdevelopment in Nigeria. It further argues that the decolonization process was generally skewed in favour of a regime closely linked to foreign interest, desperate to perpetuate underdevelopment. The paper concludes that there had not been radical departure from orthodoxy since independence. Key words: Neo-colonialism, underdevelopment, independence.