The growth strategy and the challenges of development for the 21^st century Nigeria (1986 – 2011)

This paper examines the growth strategy in Nigeria where much emphasis is placed on increased Gross Domestic Product (GDP) before development could be achieved. Using only descriptive data analysis for some selected macroeconomic indicators in Nigeria between 1986 and 2011, it has been established that the Nigeria economy has failed to develop as evidenced from mass poverty and unemployment in spite of relative growth in GDP and GDP per capita. Nigeria is to adopt the “basic need approach” of providing the basic needs of the people such as food, water, health care, education, transportation, shelter etc that can easily impact directly on the lives of the people.