The Upsurging Waves of Islamic Fundamentalism and the Case for Nigeria’s Development: Institution, Structural Processes, and System

Islamic fundamentalism, sequel to the demise of the Cold War, surfaced as the new form of confrontation on a global scale. Nigeria has not been spared as it has experienced its own share of religious-fundamentalist based violence, especially from July 2009, following the resurgence of Boko Haram on the political scene. This paper investigates the relationship between Islamic fundamentalism as epitomized in Boko Haram and Nigeria’s quest for development. It seeks to answer the question: is there a conception of development within Islamic fundamentalism? How is it pursued and attained? How would these pursued goals leave the Nigerian state at the end? The paper argues that the activities of Boko Haram has had adverse effects on the political, economic and socio-cultural developmental chart of Nigeria by causing loss of lives, properties and businesses, political instability, the state of public fear and intolerance, and weakened national integration. The thrust of this paper is to examine how the Nigerian Constitution, corrupt structural processes in the military, and the failure of the Almajiri system of education caused the wave of Islamic fundamentalism in Nigeria. It, therefore, recommends that government needs to fight corruption, place utmost attention on the welfare of the citizens, incorporate the Almajiri system into the Ministry of Education, and amend sections of the Constitution which supports the imposition of the Sharia.