Winner of the CHOICE Award for Outstanding Academic Titles in 2014
The timing of the book could not have been better, in the wake of Boko Haram's assaults and atrocities perpetrated on innocent
bystanders in central and northern Nigeria. It is a must read for scholars and policy makers concerned with conflict and state failure in Nigeria.
- CHOICE
Hill's is a paradoxical book. He points out that Nigeria is a construct that has almost fallen apart several times since Lugard decreed its birth. He contends that its failure and continued unity are the result of three key mechanisms federalism, oil and
the armed forces.
- The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs
Hill's book thoroughly showcases Nigeria's failure and continued unity as a product of complex and contradictory roles [...] His analysis significantly contributes to the ongoing debates over state failure and Nigeria's threatened existence as one of the largest democracies in Africa.
- CGIS-FMSO Blog
[...] The binary nature of the core analytical chapters will provide readers including those new to Nigeria with effective information for making up their own minds. Hill's latest work deploys graceful prose, well-placed anecdotes and the necessary sensitivity to Nigeria's complexities. - Journal of Modern African Studies
This book adds useful insights to our understanding of the challenges of statebuilding in Nigeria and should be of keen interest to those interested in African politics - International Affairs