However, long-standing ethnic and religious tensions and increasing civil violence still undermine the country s stability. However, the new government inherited a devastated economy and a depleted treasury. Although it has managed to stabilise the economy, it has failed to alleviate the pervading mass unemployment, poverty and social insecurity. While Nigeria earns billions of US dollars a year from crude oil sales, many people still do not have easy access to primary health care, basic education, adequate housing, electricity or water. The rise in oil prices has provided an opportunity to service debts and increase social spending, but there is still the need for significant international assistance.
All social indicators are markedly worse for women than for men.
While poverty in Nigeria is widespread, higher human development rankings in some regions mask localised pockets of disadvantage. As a result, technical and business skills needed to diversify the economy and develop income-generating opportunities are lacking. This, together with urban drift, has led to high levels of unemployment. In rural areas, this lack of investment in agriculture, coupled with the encroaching desert and restricted marketing opportunities, has made the need for other viable livelihoods increasingly important. The VSO programme VSO has worked in Nigeria since the first volunteers in 1958.