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AbstractThis study examined how selected Nigerian newspaper editorials covered the commemoration of its 60th independence anniversary. Frame theory provided the theoretical lens with which to make sense of the data. Drawing from van Dijk's (1992) model of editorial analysis, which focuses on Definition, Evaluation and Recommendation, this research investigated how Nigeria's journey as an independent nation in the last 60 years was framed in the editorials. The study found that there were divergent views as to whether there was a reason to celebrate or not. Defective structure, insecurity and poor leadership emerged as major problems to Nigeria's development. Consequently, these editorials framed restructuring, provision of security and rejigging of the recruitment process for political officeholders as solutions to the identified problems. The study indicated that these papers glossed over Nigerian Civil War experience, thus denying the younger generation the lessons of this important historical event.

The paper evaluates various aspects of Anglo-Nigerian relations during 25 years of Nigeria's independence. The analysis is meant to put us in a better position to fully understand the nature and trends of the bilateral relations even after the first 25 years of Nigeria's independence. The analysis is supported by an avalanche of extant literature that abounds on Anglo-Nigerian relations since 1960 when Nigeria became politically independent.The unraveling of the literature is illuminating. One, the trend of Anglo-Nigerian relations has remained largely unchanged even in the 21st century. Two, although there have been occasional outbursts of misunderstanding and disagreements between both countries, such disagreements have never been allowed to go to the extent of causing protracted diplomatic rupture between them. Three, the prospects of improved relations between the two countries remain ever bright. In the final analysis, it is recommended that Anglo-Nigerian relations should be improved, nurtured and strengthened for the mutual benefits of both countries.

Since 1st October 1960 that Nigeria got independence from the United Kingdom, she has experimented with diverse political systems - parliamentary, unitary, military, presidential and diarchal styles to boost peoples' welfare, still majority are poor. This paper examines Nigeria's income and human poverty, while indicating her citizens' priorities that political leaders failed to address. It accounts for the progress achieved and the prospects in fighting poverty in Nigeria. The country's growing unemployment, underemployment, low remuneration, weak savings and investments, corruption, short access to basic services coupled with the 64.4% people, who survive on less than US$1.25 in 2000-2007 attest to her poverty in the midst of plenty. These pathologies accrued from bad governance, weak economic policies, plans, implementation and non-commitment of private organizations. The ongoing Nigeria's democratic institutionalization sends hope to people. Nigeria needs collective participation of all development's stakeholders to drag in good political leadership, as a developmental tool.

Introduction -- Delinking: The Action Group and the Pursuit of Decolonization -- Disorder: National Incoherence and Foreign Relations -- Development: The Politics of Farm Settlements -- Democracy: The Western Region Crisis and the Coker Inquiry -- Decentered: The Sardauna, the NPC, and Relations with the Middle East -- Conclusion.

The continuous misgivings about Nigeria's developmental trajectory predate Nigeria's independence. The clues that can unravel and demystify the mystery surrounding the continuous retardation of socio-political and economic well-being of Nigeria have over the years become a tall order. Using the qualitative method, this paper succulently highlighted restructuring as a veritable panacea for promoting peaceful co-existence amongst ethnic nationalities, and also encourages healthy competition among federating units or states. This paper further discussed restructuring as it relates to resource control by sub-national government. It recommended power devolution and deloading of the exclusive list of 1999 constitution as amended and galvanizing the states and local government towards assuming more governmental responsibilities.
Keywords: Federalism, Political Restructuring, Clue, Devolution, Autonomy.

Cashew production in Nigeria has been identified and acknowledged by the government as a means of foreign exchange contributing to the gross domestic product of the economy since 1961, a year after Nigeria's independence. However, little attention has been paid to increase the production of this all-important cash crop. The economic benefits of the crop are not in doubt. This necessitated a study to empirically examine the impact of cashew production to the gross domestic product. The study adopts survey method and secondary data were utilised. Collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, t-test and regressions with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS 20). The result shows that cashew production and export significantly impacts positively on the gross domestic product of Nigeria.(r = .082 p < 0.05, t = 3.594, F = 0.127, DW = 0.499).The study concludes that cashew production and export have positive impacts on the gross domestic product of Nigeria though very weak. The study recommends that governments at all level including organised private sectors and well-meaning individuals should exploit this industry to diversify the States' economy, fight unemployment as well as boost food security in Nigeria

"Ever since independence, messianic references to a natural Nigerian leadership in the affairs of the African continent have been ingrained in the conduct of Nigeria's foreign policy. Internationally, Nigeria's endowments of human and natural resources, deeply asymmetrical interactions with neighboring states and the active engagement of successive regimes in the affairs of the continent have called for the country's treatment as a regional power and a pivotal state for West Africa. However, Nigeria's 'manifest destiny' remains more about influence than power. The country's unsteady projection of structural or relational power starkly contrasts with the deep regional imprint left by trans-frontier networks that focus on Nigeria but operate independently of territorial affiliations. The related regionalization process exacerbates the fluidity and fragility of region-building as much as problems of statehood and governance within Nigeria." (author's abstract)

Nigeria's March 2015 elections ushered in a historic moment—for the first time since the country gained independence 55 years ago, the opposition won a national election. The successful challenge came from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Muhammadu Buhari. Given Nigeria's history of electoral flaws and violence, as well as concerns that the military was growing impatient with civilian rule, the peaceful conduct of the elections proved an especially welcome surprise. With the emphasis having shifted from fear to hope, the elections have the potential to be politically transformative, even if the new government—which faces daunting problems—falls short of its supporters' elevated expectations.

This study is concerned with the circulation, composition and character of the core political executive elite in post-colonial Nigeria over successive political regimes and with changing sources and levels of government revenue. The true riddle is perhaps not the instability of the post-colonial governments, as manifest in the frequent regime breakdowns accompanied by rapid turnover of the political executive elite. Rather, the larger puzzle lies in the composition and interactivity of the political executive elite since Nigeria's independence in 1960. The incessantly troubled manner in which political leadership has changed raises serious doubts about societal influence on elite circulation, composition and character, and by extension, on the political system. This leads to the main question of this research, which is twofold: What social background and styles of interaction have characterized the circulation and composition of the core political executive elite in Nigeria? Have core political executive elite patterns limited the scope of the political system through the succession of different governments with shifts and influxes of economic resources in the post-colonial period? The main objective of the study is to analyse the historical and dynamic composition of the core political executive elite by looking at the periodic circulation (flow) of elite members from specific social and interaction backgrounds.