Singapore is a small city state hosting 3 races and 5.6 million people (2015 estimate); whereas Nigeria is a large country, hosting 250 ethnic groups and 182 million people (2015 estimate). Both were newly independent countries in the early 60s and shared several homologous economic statistics as at then. However, Singapore has outperformed Nigeria in assorted economic development areas, has earned a first world status; while Nigeria still struggles with the basics of economic development. While Singapore has small land space, and no mineral resources; Nigeria has massive, arable land space which gives it a comparative advantage in agriculture, and is an oil rich country. This paper is a sweeping comparison of Nigeria and Singapore on their economic development performances. It further analyses how policy processes contributed to the two countries differing economic development statistics. The paper reveals how the two different and newly independent countries in the 60s followed different paths toward nation building. The period of 1960 to 1990 played key, formative roles in the both countries’ economic development narratives. Within the three decades, Singapore was transformed from a third to first world country while Nigeria was caught up with International Monetary Fund’s Structural Adjustment Program. This Comparative Study finds out lessons Nigeria can learn from Singapore in pursuing an inclusive and sustainable economic development through several policy suggestions.

Singapore is a small city state hosting 3 races and 5.6 million people (2015 estimate); whereas Nigeria is a large country, hosting 250 ethnic groups and 182 million people (2015 estimate). Both were newly independent countries in the early 60s and shared several homologous economic statistics as...