Nigeria at the Brink: A Comparative Assessment of Governance, Security and Development in Nigeria, Ghana and Burkina Faso (Published)
This study examines the interconnected challenges of governance, security, and development in Nigeria, Ghana, and Burkina Faso within the broader context of West African political instability and democratic transition. While Ghana has maintained relative political stability and democratic consolidation, Nigeria continues to grapple with insurgency, banditry, corruption, and institutional fragility, whereas Burkina Faso has experienced repeated military coups, violent extremism, and state collapse in several regions. The study adopts a comparative political economy framework anchored on the theories of state fragility, governance, and human security. Using qualitative comparative analysis and secondary data from scholarly journals, reports from international organizations, and government publications, the paper investigates how governance quality influences security outcomes and developmental performance. Findings reveal that weak institutions, corruption, elite capture, and poor service delivery significantly undermine national stability in Nigeria and Burkina Faso, while Ghana’s relatively stronger democratic institutions and accountability mechanisms have contributed to improved governance and socio-economic outcomes. The study concludes that governance effectiveness remains central to sustainable development and national security in West Africa. It recommends institutional reforms, anti-corruption measures, regional security cooperation, and inclusive development policies as critical pathways toward stability.
Keywords: Burkina Faso, Ghana, Security, assessment of governance, development in Nigeria