By Olatunbosun Awoniyi, Li Huailin
LAGOS, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- As the year 2008 draws to a close, Nigeria, Africa's most popular country, is scrambling to stabilized its economy beset by a growing list of political and social difficulties.
Politically, the country began the year still with the controversy surrounding the April 21, 2007 presidential election, with petitions filed by the opposition Action Congress (AC) presidential candidate, former vice president Atiku Abubakar and Muhammadu Buhari of the opposition All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP).
On Dec. 12, 2008, the Nigerian Supreme Court finally upheld the results of the 2007 presidential election in which incumbent President Umaru Yar'Adua emerged as a winner.
During the outgoing year, the spate of robbery in Nigeria is shocking which post a threat to the social order. The fact is that ordinary Nigerians are living in the morbid fear of when or whether a gang of robbers might strike them.
As the year draws to an end, it appears that the crime put police in test who are seen to have lost in the battle to protect the lives and properties of Nigerian citizens.
In a recent incident, at least 10 people were feared killed in Nigeria's southwest Osun State during a bank robbery.
A gang of robbers, mostly teenagers, reportedly raided in four banks before the police came to the scenes and brought the situation under control.
Nigerians are now at the mercy of robbers because of the lack of equipment, which seems to have dampened the morale of the security men.
According to top police officers, there is the need to decentralize the country's police force.
"Yet there will be police outfits run by the three tiers of government, this will pave the way for effective policing in the country," police sources said.
Some are of the opinions that armed robbery has now become a national challenge and only the police as currently constituted cannot handle the situation.
In the Lagos metropolis, the situation has not been different. Recently, a gang of robbers disguised in police and military uniforms stormed shops and fuel stations in many areas in the state.
