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Blog, Opinion Articles, Writers

National Identity And Pride: An Intense Scrutiny by Chukwuemeka Oluka

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If an “Emeka” who is born in Lagos, grew up in Lagos and had never lived in the South-East throughout his life claims the Igbo identity for instance, it’s not necessarily out of love, but out of necessity. The system has made it so because, it’s only by claiming that (ethnic) identity can he get a ministerial slot in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for instance. But the Nigerian (national) identity does not yet offer concrete benefit and pride to him alongside other Nigerian citizens. The opening paragraph captures the disposition of many Nigerians about national identity and pride. It would go on to set the tone for this essay. The essay explores the concept of national identity and pride in a multi-faceted society recently facing protracted armed struggle and key developmental issues. It explores the extent to which historical antecedents and political developments have shaped notions of national pride and identity amongst Nigerians. The essay argues that, despite the odds, weaving a narrative to inspire a national pride and identity in the face of a seemingly topsy-turvy present-day Nigeria is possible. By the way, what really is National Identity and Pride? It refers to the sense of belonging one has to a nation – say Nigeria, or the sense of solidarity one feels with a group about a nation regardless of one’s actual background or citizenship status. The expression of one’s national identity seen in a positive light is patriotism which is characterized by national pride and positive emotion of love for one’s country.[1] Elements of National Identity include the national anthem, working for the success of the nation, respecting national symbols and so on. A closer look at these elements gives a reflection of how Nigerian citizens see the concept of National Identity and pride. Take the national anthem for instance; how many people still feel goose bumps whenever the trumpets herald the “Arise, O compatriots…?” How many still stand at attention while caressing their breasts or foreheads to the rhythmic chords the melody and harmony strike whenever the anthem hits the airwaves? How many citizens still remember the first and second stanzas of our national anthem?  Not many souls anymore. How many citizens are ready to shed their blood defending the integrity of the country? How many of our politicians really work for the success of the nation? Do we hold and see our national symbols like the national flag and coat of arms as totemic symbols that inspire some level of national pride in us anymore? Yet, National identity not only enhances physical security; it is built to inspire good governance, economic development, citizens’ trust, engender support for strong social safety nets, and ultimately make liberal democracy itself [2]. Can these be said to be obtainable in Nigeria today? Can citizens draw some level of pride from what National identity ideally promises? Well… Your guess is as good as the writer’s. How then did we get here, one may ask? This is partly historical, and partly a result of continuous bad governance structures and corruption. The writer blames colonial masters heavily for not prioritizing developing the country. The effect is that the independence of emergent Nigeria, lacked needed depth and couldn’t attain sustainable development. Also, many emergent Nigerian leaders continued with the exploitative socio-political and economic arrangements they inherited at independence – a case of neo-colonialism. This becomes the precursor of the leadership crisis Nigeria experience today. Yet, the process through which our leaders emerge in office also takes some blame. Such processes are mostly marred by irregularities and imposition of leaders lacking ideologies, vision, and selflessness. There is no gainsaying, therefore, that Nigeria desperately needs good leadership to surmount its governance challenges in other to assume its role and pride of place in the global continent. What we thus have today is a Nigeria and a national identity that mean different things to many ethnic nationalities in the country. With the collapse of public education, characterized by long years of neglect occasioned by corruption, citizens are more or less left to depend on private education. Healthcare is inaccessible, and in a state of comatose. Even the number one citizen of Nigeria lacks confidence in the country’s health care system; reason he goes to Britain on medical tourism at the expense of tax-payers’ money rather than invest in the countries health infrastructure. How then do Nigerians identify with a poorly functioning state? A look at the Nigerian Coat of Arms, the motto reads, “Unity and faith, peace and progress.” Are we really united? Do citizens still have faith in the progress of the country? Is there peace in the land? Today, the country continues to battle several security challenges, including but not limited to insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, Farmer-herders’ crises in the North-Central, agitations of cessation in the South-East and South-West plus militancy in the South-South. All these pointing to a dysfunctional and chequered national identity devoid of any level of pride. With the challenges of living in Nigeria, it becomes absolutely difficult for citizens with no access to basic infrastructure and services to feel a sense of National identity and pride. So, things appear to have fallen apart and the center seemingly cannot hold anymore. This captures exactly what could happen if we continue along this trajectory, neglecting the impact national identity and pride can make in mending cracks and broken walls. The question now becomes; can a national narrative and identity be weaved in the face of a seemingly fallen apart nation? Can some level of pride be restored? Absolutely, it can! But note; such narrative(s) must be weaved outside the political class. Since politicians follow the trend rather than set the trend, they are not really change agents because their ultimate interests lie in winning elections. So, often times, when radical change is needed, it has to come from society itself. When citizens start demanding more from the political system, then, the politicians will begin to react. The

Blog, Essays, Writers

A Call For Urgent Action Against Sports Betting Amongst Nigerian Youths 

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  Two things provoked this essay; first, was my walking into a plaza recently in Enugu. The plaza was seated pretty opposite the main gate of a popular university in the metropolis. In it, a big shop caught my attention. It was filled with young people, and were predominantly boys. It looked as though it was one of those business centres in Nkpokiti of those days when JAMB registration was a booming business.  Many hung at the door wearing long faces. They were desperate to go in.  Those inside were busy with computers and their smart phones. They had troubled faces. I was determined to gaze further inside just so I could see what items were being sold in the shop. Moving closer, I saw most of them clutching a white piece of paper. The air was pretty thick and the industrial fan was blowing hot already. It was a Saturday. It was a betting outfit. It was intense. It was on a match day and so, the place was packed with passionate fans, sporting replica jerseys and rooting for their favourite European teams. On keen observation, I noticed that the white piece of paper they held was a “ticket”. Ticket(s) are printed copies of selected games on which bets are placed. They were betting on matches being played in Europe. They could be seen putting in more money and altering bets in real time as the matches progressed. To say I was blown away by the boisterous crowd was to say the least.  Further evaluation revealed they were mostly young undergraduates with strikingly identical age brackets. Then, my mind quickly walked down memory lane to my undergraduate days back then in the university. Little would you see such a charged atmosphere around any shop. Jukwuese, my hostel mate would tell me how he would board a bus from perm site down to temp site just so he could stake his bet prediction. He had indeed become addicted to the extent he would travel the full distance. But then, the good thing was that he does so secretly because sport betters were scorned and so, they were pretty few. But the society has changed; betting companies are now littered everywhere. Sport betting automatically has become the trending game. Individuals seemingly make gains from sport by successfully predicting the outcome of various sport events in a competition, tournament or league. In Nigeria, football betting has taken a new turn and the popular ones most youths are engaged in include: Naira Bet, Bet 9ja, Sure Bet, Winners Golden Bet, 1960 Bet, Merry Bet, Bet Colony, Stakers Den, while the foreign betting games include but not limited to: Bet 360, Bet 365, 1x Bet, 24H Bet, 368 Bet, Apollo Bet, Bet-at-Home.  Typically, all the aforementioned betting companies create an open platform for interested persons to predict the outcome of a game – Football, Basketball, Car race, Hockey, Dog race, Virtual among others. Fans that predict correctly are rewarded and those whose predictions were wrong lose their monies. This is fast becoming the order in Nigeria.  The predominance of boys in the betting shop indicated that males are more involved in sport betting than the females. This may be as a result of the natural inclination in most men to be involved in activities-based endeavours like sporting. The few girls I saw in the betting shop perhaps represent the female minority that are passive sport betters. Walking down approximately 4 – electric poles down same road, I witnessed a second incident that provoked this essay; it was a banner with the inscription, ‘Make one million with a N200 bet’. This inscription provoked my thinking immediately so much so I wondered if it were a money doubling invitation. But it was not. It was indeed a betting promise of a life time.  If there were a third incident that provoked this essay, it would be that I got home same day to be greeted with my little cousin being heavily beaten. You know his offence? Well, a Bet9ja ticket was found in his bag. After siesta, his bag was presented for the customary review of the day’s class exercises alongside his take home assignments. It was in the process the betting ticket was found. He was in senior secondary one, and was aged 15. Further interrogation revealed that he and his friends would skip classes to visit the Bet9ja shop around Mbanefo street where their school was located to play their predicted matches.  It’s therefore established that sports betting is currently a very popular gambling activity with Nigerian young people. Technological advancement has helped to increase the dynamics of betting, so much so that these young ones only need to sit in their room to apply for a matching forecast.  The good? In a chat with ‘The Guardian’, managing director of ZenithBet, a licensed betting company in the country, Tope Fagbuaro noted that irrespective of what people think about sports betting, the companies are really empowering Nigeria, especially the youth, and in doing so, help to curb crime among them. Quoting him further, he said, “The issue of unemployment cannot be over emphasized. Lots of youths are jobless and few of us decided that we want to be independent and create employment, which is key in the country. Betting has drastically reduced the crime rate. So, government needs to assist us in terms of finance…” The bad and the ugly? For many people, sports betting may be seen as empowerment and a way to reduce crime. But for others, especially the young ones, it can be both problematic and addictive with serious negative effects. With sports betting, comes the incidence of gambling related problems such as borrowing, indebtedness, anxiety, and emotional worries in event of loss of money placed on stakes. Other ugly incidences related to sports betting include bankruptcy, job loss, the use and abuse of substances, depression and addiction. Sports betting among youths also results to poor academic standing. Researchers have established a correlation between poor academic performance and sports betting. They disclosed that heavy online sport betting was associated with poor grades.  In the meantime, the extensive availability of betting houses and the legalization of its publicity have been identified as contributory to the public health and addiction concerns of these young ones.  Our youths have therefore become addicted to search for easy success; no one preaches the virtue of self-contentment nor hard work any longer. His pastor or Imam helps his daydreaming by telling him prosperity tales that do not feature hard work.  The nosediving economy has not helped matters either. Betting also increases frustration tendencies. I heard about a 100 level student who used his school fees to bet online, and has never stopped regretting his actions after he lost. Quite sadly, he lost his admission. A whole year’s efforts completely wasted. Thus, the rigorous preparation to write another university tertiary matriculation examination, (UTME) looking him in the face. Of course, he wouldn’t just laugh

Opinion Articles, Writers

Our National Identity; The Need For A Come Back by Emmanuel Enaku.

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Social media has been agog with celebration and a display of national sense of unity and patriotism following the raising of the Nigerian flag and Nigerian cultural way of lifting the “basket of victory” by David Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi on 15 May, 2021 after the victory win of Leicester football club over Chelsea football club in the F.A. cup finals at the famous Wembley Stadium. It was a powerful and fascinating merger between culture and sports and it has left Nigeria being the centre of envy to the global world after all the depressing news bordering on the proliferation of ethnicity, disunity and inter-tribal disagreements in Nigeria.  The question comes then, is there really any ounce of national identity and pride among Nigerians or was the act following Iheanacho’s win on 15 May a mere facade, an act put up due to the euphoria of that moment? This and many more is what I attempt to reveal in this essay. However, for a perfect understanding, it seems worthwhile to turn our focus into what National identity and pride really entails- a simple and understandable breakdown of the phenomenon, even a clear and concise dictionary meaning. National, as defined by The Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary, means something connected with a particular nation; shared by a whole nation and Identity by the same dictionary is “who something or somebody is”. Therefore, national identity could be said to mean ‘who someone is in connection with the nation he comes from and the cultures and traditions inherent therein’. Pride, on the other hand, according to Google.com is the feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements or, the consciousness of one’s own dignity. Therefore in a nutshell, national identity and pride has to do with recognising where one comes from and having deep-seated pleasure and satisfaction in that knowledge. National identity and pride plays significant role in nation building. It is not mincing words to say that a disorganised and disunited country hardly achieves progress. National identity and pride precisely brings about progress. Therefore, one can aptly say a country needs its citizenry to survive; weakness sets in when citizens becomes apathetic to their country. Such indifference to national affairs retards progress and drags the country backwards and it is only when citizens show commitment and strong love for their country that it is sure to be moving towards a united, strong and developing nation. Nigerians have always been noted for celebrations of its cultural values and quite captivating patriotic acts within and without the country. Like Iheanacho, there has been countless showcasing of national pride until the recent past. This, eventually, has gone on a swift decline following the rise of corruption, the infestation of our culture by foreign cultures and decadence of values in our society. The Nigerian state has become so docile, parochial and hostile that it victimizes people unlawfully irrespective of their rights. This, however, cannot be blamed on Nigerians. The state of Nigeria, the name in fact, is a facade which was put in place by the white colonial masters for selfish interests. The amalgamation was a ruse performed due to urgent need to assuage the issue of budget deficit which was on the increase in the North during the colonial era. The plan was to use the resources in the South to cancel off the deficit in the North. There was no plan of creating a united nation out of the two protectorates before amalgamation. The South has continued to see itself as the victimised and the North as the ‘favoured’ section. This has been the foundation for our disunity, ethnic bigotry and tribalism, with all ethnic groups trying hard to dominate the seat of power, even to the point of being unfair to the other ethnic groups. Even looking briefly into history, the issue of who would take over from Aguiyi Ironsi was rooted in ethnic struggle. Most military officers, including Odumegwu Ojukwu, contended that it was the tradition of military for succession to follow sequentially according to rank, therefore Brigadier- General Ogundikpe who was the next senior officer after Major-General J.T.U Aguiyi Ironsi was meant to take over but the Hausa faction stood their grounds and imposed the then Lt. Colonel Yakubu Gowon. The Yorubas felt cheated and Ojukwu felt aggrieved to the extent of saying that if Yakubu Gowon succeeded Ironsi, the loyalty of the east would not be guaranteed. This and many other factors precipitated into the Nigeria-Biafra civil war of 1967-1970. Recently, the president Buhari’s choice to replace late Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru with Maj. General Farouk Yahaya as Chief of Army Staff has sparked bitterness in the hearts of the Southern counterparts, particularly those of the South-East. Even Iheanacho’s patriotic act at Wembley Stadium was not welcomed by all. Popular Nigeria critic, Igbo leader and fascilitator of the IPOB movement, Nnamdi Kanu, took to twitter to blast David Iheanacho and Vincent Ndidi for raising the “zoo” flag when they ought to be using their victory and inherent fame to buttress the struggle for Biafra. State and ethnic identity has now become of higher priority over national identity. For instance, job seekers from an employer’s ethnic society are preferred over non- indigenes and given lavish positions even with poor qualifications. This has led to every state looking out for ‘their own’ man and has in turn, skyrocketed the issue of hatred and ethnic tensions in Nigeria. However, hope is not lost but success depends on our acting now in line with the suggestions adduced below. The ways Nigerians can move forward are; to avoid ill propagated news that tends to cause strife among us, to realise that there is blessing in our diversity, to respect everyone’s culture and religious views and to live in peace and tolerance with one another, investment in education and social amenities are key factors too, government must give ears to the masses and act fairly while improving the welfare of the citizens and

Essays, Writers

The Nigerian Way by Roselyn Sho-Olajide.

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  INTRODUCTION I was privileged to visit an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp located in Jos, Plateau State, sometime last year, and what I saw was better imagined than experienced. The people living in the IPD camps were in dire straits, and one could not help, but pity them. A few days later, I watched on TV with a dropped jaw how some repentant insurgents were dressed in white clothes and green caps and given VIP treatment. The same men were granted amnesty and were to undergo rehabilitation, would then be freed to lead lives as if they had never committed atrocious crimes before. WHAT IS AMNESTY? According to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (Sixth Edition), amnesty is an official order by a government that allows a particular group of prisoners to go free. Another definition by the same source is that amnesty is a period of time when you can admit to doing something illegal without being punished. We have heard of amnesty in Nigeria as far back as 2011 when the Federal Government of Nigeria granted amnesty to the Niger Delta Militants. But this piece is centered on the current amnesty programme proposed by the Federal Government to be granted to repentant bandits and insurgents.   INSURGENTS/BANDITS VS THEIR VICTIMS  Reports have it that there are over two million people that have been displaced in Borno State alone. When we add the number in other states, we would have a mind-boggling number of people that have been made to flee their homes because of the activities of insurgents and bandits. These people have been displaced from their homes and are camped in IDPs Camps where there is a shortage of water and food, and no means of livelihood. The above staggering figure is growing as the days go by, and you shouldn’t be shocked to learn that we currently have millions of IDPs in the country. This is as a result of the growing violence in some parts of the country, most especially the northeastern and some parts of the north central regions. These innocent citizens of this great nation have been made IDPs as a result of the heinous activities of insurgents and bandits. They are going through these afflictions not because of any crime they have committed, but because of something they had no control over whatsoever. Operation Safe Corridor, a multi-agency humanitarian effort was launched by the Federal Government in 2016 as an amnesty for insurgents and bandits aimed at De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation, and Re-Integration (DRR) of former members of the same insurgents that have unleashed nothing, but terror and had made life unendurable for the people  for over 10 years. It is expected that the same group of people should be assimilated back into the society they had tried to destroy.   As of July 2020, 881 repentant former terrorists have been released since the launch of the programme. So far, Millions of Naira have been used to rehabilitate the same set of people that are responsible for truncating the lives of thousands of people and have displaced millions of people. They have done nothing but maimed, raped, and destroyed innocent lives and properties. It is sad to note that the Federal Government is enabling the culprits to the detriment of millions of their innocent victims. DO INSURGENTS AND BANDITS DESERVE AMNESTY? Before the country grants these groups of people amnesty, there are questions we need to address. Questions like: How are their victims expected to feel when they see people that have made life unbearable being celebrated? Will giving them amnesty change the fact that they have committed heinous crimes against humanity? What does the country stands to gain in granting amnesty to the same people who have thrown the country into jeopardy? Can the repentant insurgents lead normal lives without relapsing to crimes? Do we now celebrate crime to the detriment of the lives of innocent people? Will the amnesty bring an end to insurgency and banditry in Nigeria? Isn’t it an irony that graduates earn thirty thousand Naira as stipends under the NPower programme while insurgents and bandits get more? CONCLUSION  Currently, a bill is being sponsored by the immediate past governor of Yobe State, Ibrahim Gaidam, who is now the Senator representing Yobe East Senatorial District in the National Assembly. The bill which has already scaled through the first reading is proposing that insurgents should be made beneficiaries of Presidential Amnesty just like the Niger Delta Militants. The bill also seeks to give immediate backing for repentant insurgents to be integrated back into society. Instead of spending so much money to rehabilitate bandits and insurgents, the Federal Government should channel the same finances towards upgrading the lives of IDPs. These are people that are suffering not for any offence, but for the fact that the system has failed them completely. Their lives and sources of livelihoods have been crushed under the wheels of insecurities and the failure of those who have sworn to protect them. Another thing is for the government to channel the funds into creating more jobs for the youths. It’s usually frustrating when one graduates and stays for years without a job. This makes the graduate prone to joining social vices like insurgents and banditry. Why are we surprised that banditry and insurgence are escalating in Nigeria? The government is making it look like it pays more to be a criminal than to be an honest person in the country. Insurgents and bandits should be made to pay for their crimes and not be granted amnesty. I look at all these and do not have an option, but call it the Nigerian way.    Reference:https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/boko-haram-senate-disagrees-with-buhari-on-amnesty/q90lk91 Roselyn Sho – Olajide works with an Audit Firm in Jos, Plateau State. She loves reading and writing and can be reached via quest4yln@gmail.com  

Essays, Writers

Western Popular Culture And The Nigerian Youth by Victor Oladejo.

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Western pop culture( also known as popular culture) refers to entertainment( music, film, sports), politics, fashion, education , technology and social life originates from the European and American cultures. The presence of western popular culture in Africa can be traced to colonial links and civilizations which in no small amount contributed to the development of the continent , with the marks of the influence drawn on the educational sector, the mass media, economic sector, political realm and the lifestyle of the people that are influenced. Western popular culture in Nigeria has remained as an influencing force right from the 50s and the 60s . such influences includes the first television station in Africa which was established by the then western Regional government on october 1st 1959 a year before the independence of the sovereign nation and a similar broadcasting television station was established by the then Eastern government in 1960 at Enugu. The television stations served as major tools of mass socio– economic and political enlightenment in the nation. Also in the league of the electronic media influence includes FM ( frequency module) Radio stations which also served as a tool of mass enlightenment through the various programmes where relevant issues of the country were made available. The print media which includes Newspapers , magazines journals and other educational materials such as literature , research texts and documents served as a mode of education to the citizens of the country. Another notable influence includes the use of electronic equipment and gagets such as computers, musical instruments , telephones, television and other technological inventions. In addition to the media influences, there were impacts on music, this is evident in the various musical improvements in popular and indegineous music such as highlife, juju, bongo , reggae and blues which were made with musical instruments and studio recordings. Western cloths and dressing culture also played significant roles in the Nigerian society. In the present day Nigeria of the advanced technollogical era, western popular culture remains as a strong force of influence like it was in the early years of our country. Through the mass media, social media, internet, gagets electronic and other technologies various tools of change have been made available . For example, during the corona virus outbreak the mass media ( print and electronic) was used as a mode of spreading information to the masses on safety measures in Nigeria. The social media is another perfect example of a strong influence on the Nigerian society and the youths in particular. Social media platforms like Twitter, facebook, instagram , and whatsapp have served as a mode of linking people with others and exposure to different oppurtunity and discussions on social, political and economic issues in the country. During the protest against police brutality in Nigeria and the demand for the closure of the special anti- robbery squad(SARS) the social media platforms were used for the display of hashtagged posts and later, the videos of the bloody scenes during the protest. However, admist all the positive influences western popular culture has made in our society, the negative effect on our society and the youths is a growing challenge. Western popular culture with it’s influence on mass media , entertainment, social media and fashion which most of the present day Nigerian youths are interested ; gradual and evident negative changes are made to their lifestyle in some ways. In a bid to replicate and ‘improve’ , the entertainment industry ( music, film) after some contents in some western movies, most of celebrated and trending secular movies now contain sexually glamorizing scenes that celebrate sexual violence , promiscuity and reduction of women to mere sexual objects. Music in Nigeria on the other hand, especially hiphop is a great example of how far western replication has created an ugly trend. Most hiphop music contain the display of nubile women dancers in indecent dressing. In those musics , celebration of sexual promiscuity, addiction , violence and get- rich-quick inducing messages are present in the lyrics. The effect on the youth is quite alarming, because the youths as the audience try to identify with the attractive characters and life portrayed by the celebrities which they accept as normal and realistic to engage in, which in the end lead to the modelling of their new behaviours and reaction to things. The imitation of this celebrites in no small measure has contribute to the rising rate of armed robbert, rape , indicent dressing, drug addiction cybercrimes and other vices in our society. In addition there are tendencies of addiction to the social media due to it’s interactive modes. The frequent use for information search and dissemination , overtime; leads to addiction to the contents which places strains on relationship with others, work , religious and other physical activities. For change to occur and wipe the ugly marks of western popular culture in the lifestyle of our youths and society, the change lies in the hand of the government and citizens. The various control boards on entertainment in Nigeria should place ban on movies and musics that induce vices. The massmedia should promote good values, religious beliefand morals in their programmes and symposiums that would teach on the need to divert attention from aspects of western culture that needs not to be emulated. With all this steps taken, i think the presence of western popular culture in our society would be a tool of positive change. Bibliography: International journal media, journalism and communication.(issue 2 , volume 2, 2016) Albert Bandura , social foundations of thought and action.Englewood Cliff, N.j prentice Hall.( 1986) Oladejo Victor Olayemi is a budding artist and a secondary school graduate. He lives in Ore, Odigbo, Ondo state and wrote in via victoroladejo95@gmail.com

Essays, Writers

The Nigeria Of My Dream by Paul Akherialea.

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  Over the years, since the great colony, Nigeria, became a sovereign state, togetherness has always been a hotly-debated topic that often divides opinion. In this recent time, it seems as though the nation is about tilting off the edge and so, many theories of cohabitation are being proffered. But it goes still with the saying, that, “hope is the last thing that dies”. It is therefore my pride to believe in the emergence of a new Nigeria; the Nigeria of my dream.  To start with, now perhaps more than ever has there been a repression and continual parade of fear and panic in Nigeria. Nigeria has been steadily encroached with deleterious impingements of tribal agitations, ethnical predilections, insurgency, economic instabilities, morale infringement and general moral decadence. All through my childhood to this day, the deteriorating state of the nation has been the headlines of the news. The news is either introducing a new call for panic, complain or fear. However, within these uncertainties, through new eyes, one can see a promising Nigeria with befitting applaud and ovation. I have read in the hall of fame of how Nigeria had stood tall in civilization even before the Neolithic Revolution period; how she thrust through two centuries of the British Colonial over-lordship among the vanguard of the African continent and how she joined in the comity of independent sovereign nations reputably. Although the wake into the fading label of this great country and the uprising tussle for stability in these recent times is sickening, I cannot be too punch-drunk to slum into the question of; “what happened to the Nigeria of our fathers’ dream?” Because, there is more to the future than meets the eye. A dignified Nigeria can always emerge.  Tellingly, it is always very easy to recollect the fissures within the structure when Nigeria attained her independence. The seeming shove over the years have been the contest of a federation where true federalism is not being practiced, marginalization and unbalance federal structure of ethical proclivity, the intimidation by politicians and bureaucrats who only want to satisfy their ill political adventure; nothing more, and evidently, the fight for the abundant resource. These notwithstanding, I dream of a new Nigeria which must not only ‘sustain’ but work to improve and thrive; actualizing her full potential as a label and icon in the Africa continent and beyond. A country integrated in harmony, knit in the edifice of her diversity. A country partitioned into a colony not by the Berlin conference of 1884/1885 or freed from the confines of white skinned men by a coalition with an aspiration for ‘just independence’. But a country that strove as one, through thick and thin with a resolve to function as a ‘culture area’. This; is the Nigeria of my dream. A people who would live in harmony, with industrialized states, serviceable health sector, efficient educational system, ethnical coherence, tribal indifference, shared governance and social justice. Social justice with synergy of right to life, right to dignity of human purpose, right to fair hearing, right to private and family life, right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, right to freedom of expression and the press, right to peaceful assembly and association. I dream of a country where power is given to the people. A place where after having stood under the whisky sun for several hours, you would sit and smile as the sun finds its rest while waiting for final results because you knew that whether it fell on the favor of your choice candidate or not, your vote counted and election was free and fair.   Furthermore, it may seem that the sole reason for the brain drain and relocation of Nigerians to other countries is the search for greener pastures, but looking at this drift critically, people indeed need a leadership under which their life, health and security matters allot and this also, is the Nigeria of my dream. I dream of a Nigeria where the Igbo man would put on the ‘babban riga’ and the headpiece of the ‘fula’ and the Igbo woman would tie round her waist the ‘abaya’. I dream of a Nigeria where the Hausa man would wear the ‘agbada’ coupled with the ‘sokoto’ and his wife would tie the ‘gele’ and love to wear the ‘aso oke’. Not for ceremonial purposes or for favoritism during campaign lodges and flag- offs but to have a good feel of the beauty and the richness of the cultures of this great country. I desire to see a nation of icons and elites, compatriots who would blaze the trail in any sphere of influence they represent outside the country, especially, culturally. People like the Nigerian Professor, Charles Egbu, who was recently appointed Vice-Chancellor of Leeds Trinity University, Late Prof. Chinua Achebe, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Olajumoke Olufunmilola Adenowo, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie among others. Also, on the political front, I look forward to a Nigeria where there are no internal rivalries. A Nigeria of peace and hope just as she is known for her commendable peacekeeping interventions and operations and her influence in securing the independence of the member States of the Africa continent. Just like the Nigeria who proposed and received ECOWAS endorsement for a Standing Mediation Committee which should intervene in a timely fashion during the crisis in Liberia under the administration of our beloved then head of state, General Ibrahim Babangida. In fact, the existence of, and peace in Liberia and Sierra Leone today are traced to the peacemaking, peacekeeping and peace-building efforts of Economic Community of West African State Cease-Fire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) led by Nigeria. This is the Nigeria of my dream.      In addition, Nigeria overtook South Africa as Africa’s largest economy since 2013 and has remained top on that list. This is a global applaud for my dear country and her influence is wide growing. Investment by foreign countries in Nigeria is growing. Nigeria in the present may be a challenging place to operate but as remarked by American’s economist and writer Cook, “the nation is too important to ignore”.1 This too, is the Nigeria of my dream. Commending the Nigeria entertainment, media and arts industries, the Nigerian Film Industry (Nollywood) is globally recognized as the second largest film producer in the world. It is one of the priority sectors identified in the Economic Recovery and Growth plan of the Federal Government of Nigeria. These industries has spun a new level of enculturation so much so that recently, words from the Nigerian ‘pigin english’

Essays, Writers

The Pipe Dream Of Nigerian Youths by Osanyinro Oluwaseun. 

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  The dawn of the day saw him fetching water from the well and singing at the highest pitch of his voice which of course could wake the dead in the house. As if that was not enough, the lyrics of his song would have surely made the dead laugh. He was singing of his enviable future of dropping out of school because he wanted to be a musician, composing a hit song, making millions of dollar, building mansions, buying cars and becoming God’s gift to women. A future the Nigerian entertainment industry has sold to its audience should have to be recognised. A future seen in popular Nigerian songs and movie. A future Nigerian entertainers are living or shown to be living. Presently, the entertainment industry has the loudest voice in the lives of youths.  We could the blame social media for creating the avenue for entertainers to display their affluence, we could blame the entertainers themselves for showing off on social media or we could blame the youths for being gullible enough to believe all they see on social media is real. Yet, the blame game cannot stop the cankerworm called materialism still eating deep into the hearts of the Nigerian youths. According to the English dictionary, materialism is a state of constant concern over material possessions and wealth. A state where every other thing seems secondary save physical possessions one has such as cars, houses, gadgets, phones and even money. While these possessions are of benefit to man, a constant concern over their absence or eagerness to possess them at any cost is detrimental.   The Nigerian entertainment industry has since time in memorial favored individuals with material possessions and wealth at the expense of wisdom, arts and crafts or education. Interviews granted are mostly of young people who have made millions at an early age and have material possessions to show for it rather than youths that have made world record in inventions or education. A musician that just bought a vehicle worth millions is celebrated while a person who won an international writing competition may not be known. Lives of entertainers are being watched or followed on the social media where they show the world their newest acquisition almost every day. Today, youths spend more time on social media, are more materialistic and less involved in hard work. An example can be seen in youths preferring to sit in a house for 90 days and come out with millions of naira instead of working.   A ripple effect of this cankerworm is unhealthy competition. Nigerian youths have begun competing with one another as to who has more material possession. In bid to take after their models in the entertainment industry, most youths seek to possess materials even beyond their capacity. It is of no wonder one could see a jobless youth using the latest I-phone product or buying latest clothes or shoes and would involve themselves in fraudulent practices just to acquire them. This can be seen as the percentage of young Nigerians involved in scam, drug trafficking and sexual misconduct is on the increase. They would stop at nothing to be able to rub shoulders with Nigerian entertainers and be recognised by the industry.  While forgetting that human wants are insatiable, one of the effects of materialism is dissatisfaction. As the Nigerian entertainment industry encourage the acquisition of more and more possessions, youths become dissatisfied with their current state and want more. Whatever they possess at a particular time becomes obsolete and they want whatever is the latest. They want whatever is being celebrated at the moment.  Inferiority complex has become a burden pledging lives of Nigerian youths that for one reason or another are unable to join in the rat race of materialism hosted by the Nigerian entertainment industry. Also, as life does not always go as planned, some youths in this rat race may realize that things seem not to be working out. The two parties may fall into depression and become anxious of the future. With a lot of news on suicide and suicidal thoughts of youths, one could trace it down to a need not met at a particular time and might further trace it to a material possession not acquired.  With unhealthy competition on one shoulder and dissatisfaction on the other in this race, Nigerian youths have little or no savings for rainy days. Every dime earned is immediately spent on purchasing the latest gadgets so as to look good in the eyes of peers. The lack of delayed gratification has thrown many into a state of dilemma during rainy days such as loss of job.   To cut the snake by the head, the Nigerian entertainment industry should endeavor to promote more educational shows, celebrate achievements in relation to hard work and inventions. Little milestones reached should be hailed and not just those that have it all. Songs and movies that encourage contentment and legal means of becoming famous should be made popular. Effects of materialism should be curtailed in Nigerian youths before they become incorrigible.    Osanyinro Oluwaseun, a graduate of Microbiology and currently a master student of Public Health at the University of Ibadan runs a blog on WordPress deejemima.wordpress.com

Essays, Writers

“There is Money in the Entertainment Industry” by Aaron Livingstone.

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My very good friend called me sometime in 2017, “Aaron, there’s a new system we can use to make money, YouTube.” She explained to me how Mark Angel and Emmanuella became celebrities and Millionaires all of a sudden through entertainment, uploading comedy skits to YouTube.  It was mind-blowing. It was phenomenal. Well, the typical me would have jumped at it immediately, but I had just had a session with my financial mentor, where he had told me to only build a business on passion and meeting a need. Quite interesting points, he added that as important as making a profit is, I must make sure I focus more on adding value to society.  I took these words to heart, so immediately my friend brought up the YouTube comedy business, as a means to make quick money, I called her bluff. It doesn’t blend with my core values.  That said, it is no doubt that the Nigerian entertainment industry is raking in billions in profit annually. The industry has undoubtedly made a lot of people millionaires in a very short time.  The entertainment industry comprising the music, movie, arts, and also comedy industry has been the major source of the Nation’s celebrities, as it is quite easy to build a strong fan base in Nigeria.  But there’s a question that’s begging to be asked, and that’s “what inspires our Entertainers?”   My analysis of the entertainment industry in recent years has shown that a good number of Nigerian youths seek to become financially independent, famous, and influential. They want to “blow” so to say. But really, there’s nothing wrong with seeking to make a profit out of a trade. It’s just fair that a labourer should receive wages for his labour.   What poses a challenge is when you place money above the values you should promote and see profit as your major driving force, neglecting the fact that as an entertainer, you have the propensity to hold your audience spellbound, you have a hypnotizing effect over them that could influence their beliefs, their thought patterns, their view of life and even their sense of purpose and their motivations.   Entertainers are the biggest influencers in today’s societies and maybe they’ve not noticed but the people believe in them much more than they believe in the government.  At the end of the just concluded Big Brother Naija show, some said and I quote, “I commend the supporters of Laycon, popularly called Icons as they’ve shown an unrelenting commitment to their love and trust in him and I would recommend they with immediate effect, set up a political party.”   That statement would seem like a joke gone too far, but looking at the underlying facts, one would say that entertainers can one day take over the government, but that’s not the focus today.  Now, seeing how the masses love their celebrities, I begin to wonder, do these entertainers care so much about their fan base?  I go back to my initial question, “What motivates, inspires, and drives our entertainers?”   Materialism could be seen as a self-seeking act, where a person raises the need for profit over adding value and promoting positive change and morals.  A quite interesting fact is that the Nigerian entertainment industry has become a hotspot of materialistic quests and self-seeking entertainers who only look out from themselves while they create their content.   There was a time where entertainers like Onyeka Owenu, Fela Kuti, and the likes would stand to promote good governance and unity.  There was a time when the entertainment industry was seen as a revolution and an avenue to stand against bad government policies and political misgivings.   Well, in today’s Nigeria, the entertainment industry is still a revolution, but a revolution that promotes greed, materialism, the love for money, sexual vices, and negative morals and speaks nothing about matters that concern their audience.  Our entertainers so much want to make us forget our sorrows but never want to use their platform as a means to reach out to the government.   It’s disheartening, nevertheless, we are proud of Celebrities. They are doing the nation proud.  Not less than 80% of Entertainers in Nigeria are below the age of 40. This strikes a note, letting us know that the Nigerian youths are in control of the entertainment industry.   This also stresses out the fact that our youths have been overly drawn to materialism. One wouldn’t point an accusing finger at them, because the situations in the country make one want to live differently, but if that’s the case then we are not ready for a better Nigeria.  So much can be done through the entertainment industry by the youths, with their energy but it would require a re-channelling of their drive, motivation, and purpose from Materialism to Value addition.   The Nigerian people need at this point people who can speak on their behalf, not just people that would help them drown their worries. The Nigerian populace needs people who won’t just see them as a target market to monetize skills, but to them, as a people, yearning for a change and the Entertainers take up the banner of change and neglects the drive for profit.  Materialism and materialistic drives will in no way make any positive impact and with such, our Entertainers would only keep on encouraging negative values and immoral vices in the youths.   The Nigerian youths see the entertainers as Hero’s and they let themselves be willfully influenced by them. So, the entertainers must live up to this standard.  Entertainers should not be driven by materialism.  They have the key to promoting positive values in Nigerian youths.  The Love of Money is the root of all evil!  Aaron Livingstone is a final year Industrial Chemistry student of the Federal University of Technology, Minna. He has a great passion for gaining knowledge and loves to read. He wrote in via livingstoneaaron41@gmail.com      

Essays, Writers

The Relationship Between Nigerian Youths And Religion by Olu-Ojegbeje Lolade.

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It was the French sociologist Émile Durkheim (1858–1917)  who defined religion as a “unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things”. Since the dawn of time, mankind’s search to for God and a connection with the divine has led man to religion. In human’s search for God, religion is one thing  humans at one point of their life of another will identify with. Almost everyone has one form of religion or another, through which they search for meaning and purpose. Religion is a very powerful, as it is a major determinant of the habits, attitudes and lifestyle of those who find themselves in it.   According to a report by The World Fact book by CIA, about 50% of Nigeria’s population consist of Muslims, 40% Christian and 10% practice traditional religion. Nigeria, being a very religious country has a greater percentage of her population as youths. It is a well-known fact that the youths play a major role in the development of a nation. It is therefore important to examine Nigeria from the standpoint of her youths and religion, as well as how they interact.   First, it is important to note that majority of Nigerians were born into homes where their parents practice one form of religion or another. Many were probably christened according to the dictates of their parents’ religion. It then became very easy for many to accept religion as a part of their lives, as they have been introduced to religion since birth.  Consciously, or unconsciously, religion became a force in the formation of their perception about life.   Religion seems to exert a powerful force in defining the lives and attitudes of youths. For most Nigerian youths, religion is a major determinant in their the choice of clothes, food, social clubs, marriage partners, sexuality, lifestyle and general outlook towards life.     Moreover, religion in a way ensures the preservation of certain traditional values.  While defining the lifestyle of youths, it does ensure they are kept in constant check through its doctrines. The prescriptive nature of many religion makes this possible. Most religions dictate what is expected of their faithful and how they should conduct themselves. Most religions encourage their faithful to practice love, empathy, purity forgiveness and piety. A major positive impact of religion on youths is in the preservation of these values, while encouraging them to become better individuals.  Nigeria, being a multi ethnic country with people from divers religious backgrounds, religion can be a powerful tool in the integration or separation of these people. Youths play a huge role in the integration or separation of people with different religious background like Nigeria. Religious tolerance and religious violence should be considered here. Overtime, youths have been used as tools to either foster unity or prevent it in religion.   Religious Tolerance  Religious tolerance simply means respect for people’s faith and belief, while allowing them practice what they believe. Religion is believed to be one of the most sensitive issues that may cause conflicts in a  society as it involves human belief and faith. For these conflicts to be prevented, there is a need for respect towards other people and their religious beliefs. When youths actively practice religious tolerance, religious crises can be prevented.  Religious Violence  Religious violence is majorly caused by religious intolerance. When the respect for other peoples religious beliefs is absent, there is bound to be violence. The fact that religion is based on people’s faith and beliefs opens it up as an avenue to turn people against each other. More often than not, youths have been used as a tool for religious violence, with several ethnic clashes following after. Very many Nigerian youths express their disregard for other religions and even go on to disrespect people who have a different religious view. It is worthy to note that Nigeria is sinking into a terrible religious crises. Youths have a huge role to play in  managing this.   Nigerian youths must play their parts as the interface between the Nigerian society and their various religious beliefs. Respecting one another’s religion and refusing to be used as tools to perpetuate religious violence are very important things Nigerian youths must take very seriously.   They can engage in the creation of awareness on the subject of  religious violence and how to prevent it.  Having established that the interaction between Nigerian youths and religion affects the Nigerian society, it is important to note that a positive interaction will bring a positive development, while a negative interaction will bring a negative development. However, the difference lies in the way the Nigerian youths choose to interact with religion.     REFERENCES  https://theunboundedspirit.com/the-negative-effects-of-religion-on-society/  https://youthandreligion.nd.edu/related-resources/preliminary-research-findings/sociologists-find-that-religious-teens-are-more-positive-about-life/  OmosadeAwolalauReligious Education and Nigerian Youth ( Beverly Hills Calf, Sage Publications, 1969)  Ojegbeje Lolade wrote in via lollydel2016@gmail.com   

Essays, Writers

Who Do You Serve? by Osifo Daniel.

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Religion has played a big part as a means of identification for Nigerians. It is an extensive thread, woven deep into the fabrics of the Nigerian culture, and one cannot go without the other. Unfortunately it has formed a unique divide between the Nigerian people. A Bini Muslim, very unlikely. An Ibo Muslim, I personally have not seen one, but then again I’ve only lived two decades in this country. An Hausa traditionalist, do the Hausa’s even practice any form of ritualism? I think I can safely say less than ten percent do. These are just a few examples of the dilemma that we have found ourselves in. Different religions has found a way to cement itself into the various demographics of the Nigerian society. To the South, West and Eastern parts of Nigeria, form the majority of regions that practice the Christian doctrines. While to the North and again Western part of Nigeria form the majority for the Islamic doctrine. Ironically both religion forced on us by the iron hands of the western Invaders, who at first came baring gifts. Leaving us to abandon our roots and our old religion, our ritualism and polytheistic practices. Although, the western religion has taken a big chunk out of our old traditions and ways of worship, the tides are changing. The advancement of society and technology. The constant improvement of technology has left the Nigerian youths pondering. Further expanding their minds and leaving them to ask the thousand years old question, ”Does God exist?”. This question continues to grow everyday, creating various debate and school of thoughts. The old days of blind followership is gradually coming to an end. Days where we were told that, there is an almighty and powerful God, who created us in his own image and likeness. Who loves his creation and has given them everything and in return ask only for their love and worship. But I don’t believe it’s as simple as that. With so much suffering and pain in the world today, if the almighty God, who loves his children dearly, can take it away, why is the world still broken. In as much as he could command a word and it comes to pass, why hasn’t he commanded the pains of this world away. But then again, it’s not that simple, or so we are led to believe. In a world full of identity crisis. Where people know little to nothing about their heritage, native culture or traditional practices, I believe Nigeria and Nigerians are suffering a great deal. We all indulge in the practices and norms of the western man, leaving us to act hostile towards our own religion. The white man came and told us our religion is wrong, unpure and fetish. Holding a Bible in one hand and a gun behind their backs, and enforcing their own religion on us, but let me tell u this ‘all religion started as an idea’. They came to our lands, claiming our ways of life was barbaric, but yet they absconded with our beautiful art works. So why then should we accept their religion, is ours not good enough?. They kill and slaughter innocent black men everyday, and with hate still in their heart for men of color, they pray to their almighty God. Who they claim created us in one image and likeness, but even they don’t believe that, enforcing different forms of segregation on men of color, and believing in white supremacy, hypocrisy at it’s best. Who is to say Jesus wasn’t black, they created a white image for us because that’s what they wanted us to see. But the times are coming, when the eyes of Nigerian youths would be open and they would be able to see the church as the profiteering ground that it is. The richest pastor in Nigeria, has an estimated net worth of over, one hundred and fifty million US dollars, I’ll leave you to convert it to naira, the numbers are completely unreal. Making him one the richest pastors in the world, and still yet there are members of his congregation who can’t afford to pay the tuition fees for his prestigious tertiary institution. Where did our humanity go, what does Christianity preach. It is truly sad that majority of the Nigerian youths eyes are still closed to this reality. I thought the Christian doctrine was about love and peace, but all I see is hate and conflict. Hate between our fellow men. Hate between our fellow Nigerians, where is this love that religion preaches. But after all said, i have hope. Hope, that the direction of mental awareness social media platforms are creating would one day put an end to this illusion. If there is a god, I hope he is watching us, because I am. I am only watching because that is the sane thing to do in a country like ours. Watch and advocate silently and subtly draw their attention to the reality, so as to avoid and form of bigotry altercation. Religion is a big part of our culture, but it has been corrupted by the greed of men. Who’s only aim is to profit rather than serve humanity. All I see now is a tumor, growing silently in the midst of believers and unbelievers. The million dollar question now is, who do you serve?… Osifo Daniel wrote in via danitoosi@gmail.com

Blog, Essays

The Audacity Of Impunity by Segun Awosanya

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The series of unfortunate events (dearth of National cum internal security due to over concentration on Regime Security) in the past 3years in Nigeria clearly demonstrate that there is no rights to personal liberty in Nigeria. Despite the fact that the clarity of the 1999 constitution as amended on that matter is obvious to the blind- “Every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person, and accordingly, no person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment.” — Section 34 (1) The Impunity of our police service especially those of the special Anti-Robbery Squad is alarming. The purpose of policing has since be altered for some evil agenda weaponized against the innocent citizenry, with an unwritten clear mandate to terrorize the youth of our nation based on recent data as mined by the #EndSARS #ReformPoliceNG Movement over one year of advocacy. There are growing Concerns on adolescent killings across Nigeria. — Emeka Ojinze obtained his VISA to the UAE to study alternative energy sources but was killed in the Anambra in 2017) by a Policeman seeking to extort him, He was 23. Angela Nkechi Igwetu, a corper in Abuja, with just a few hours to passing out, but was gunned down by a trigger happy Police officer. She was 23. Richard Peter Gora was tortured to death by Policemen over a N10,000 Phone he allegedly bought in the market, purported by police to have been stolen in Kaduna. He was 22. Sofiyat Yekin, a nursing mother in Bodija Ibadan, Oyo State, was gunned down by a police while displaying their show of force while intimidating innocent youth in the area for extortion. She was 23. Final year student Salisu Haruna, plunged to his death in a well in Ekpoma Edo State, while trying to escape the religious abduction by the special anti-cultist squad (SACS) that terrorizes the hostel he visited. He wasn’t found until days later. He was 23. Mrs Kudirat was killed by the bullet of SARS operatives showing force and high handedness while chasing young boys perceived indiscriminately by them to be yahoo boys. There are many others shot in the head in public, and several okada riders & bus drivers killed over bribes. Studies also have shown that over 2000 persons have been killed extrajudicially in the past 10years by the police without any closure on the cases and a plethora of cases of abduction and unjust incarceration without charges running into thousands across Nigeria. Suffice to say that the abuse of human rights in Nigeria is becoming a culture. It is helpful to think about what keeps criminals under control in our society. Ask any sane police officer globally: it is not the police and the courts who keep criminals at bay. It is the society as a whole. It is the ordinary people who call the police when they hear a problem starting. It is the ordinary people who trust the police and cooperate with them to bring criminals to justice. That public trust is held by a thin line which only works when it is backed up by the vast majority of ordinary people. This, by the way, is why police brutality is so damaging to law and order in our society. If ordinary people lose trust in the police, they wonʼt call and they wonʼt cooperate. If they fear that calling the police to solve crime could result in their neighborsʼ kids being shot dead, they wonʼt call. And they also wonʼt cooperate in more serious cases. Without community back up, the “thin line of trust” starts to feel very thin indeed. And criminals become bolder. Today, Citizens are violated by Police every 45minutes if not less across Nigerian major cities. Only a fraction of these human rights abuses is reported. Of the reported cases 90% border on armed robbery and kidnapping for ransom using police stations as bases or driving round in circles on our highways while inflicting horrendous physical and psychological damages to their innocent victims. A wise man once said our adaptability can be both a blessing and a curse, a prolonged look upon wonder and abomination begins to make them mundane. The system, however, is not broken, it was built that way leading to the current spiraling execrable standards of the modern day when compared to what is obtainable in saner climes. We have journeyed from domesticity to embracing primitivism under the oppression and impunity of a vile and anachronistic police system. But each time the people demand accountability, it is often met with media costuming and prevarication. They begin to mention training, addition of tags and dramatic reactions that simply move furniture around without any definite, effective or meaningful restructuring. A Yoruba apothegm aptly states that it is not he who was struck by a reckless driver that makes mental note of the registration number of the vehicle. Those ignorantly chanting the litotes of Police with the suggestion of reformation of SARS must understand that the culture of impunity of SARS has been ingrained in the system thus becoming a metastasized cancer which will require a total shutdown before it destroys the entire police system which can still be salvaged if we act fast enough. In this situation where our policing system has been hijacked by ethnic brigade as balkanized, with bold unconscionable pronouncements by the police on the daily, just to maintain the status quo of the ecology of their delicate organized crime syndicate, it clearly demonstrates the ominous tragedy that lies in wait. We must not culture cancer but ensure it is severed (EndSARS), while we intensively and surgically focus on a holistic reform of the police system (ReformPoliceNG). A government that cannot protect the lives and properties of her citizens lacks legitimacy. As likened to a man who procures a fast horse at the expense of feeding his children…thus stripped of his income by a sane and conscious society. In the face of overwhelming statistical evidence, There is no point disagreeing

Blog, Essays

Hadi Sirika and the return of Nigeria Airways by Reuben Abati

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  One of the usual features on Nigerian social media is the nostalgic passion with which Nigerians often distribute pictures of the old Nigeria Airways and how that company once considered one of the best in Africa was mismanaged and made to fail. Established in 1958, it was liquidated in 2003. I have seen pictures of old tickets, images of Nigeria Airways pilots and crew, and for anyone who traveled with Nigeria Airways, you cannot but be moved to pity.  Pity yes, because while Nigeria, the most populated country in Africa can no longer manage an airline of its own, the African skies are dominated by such airlines as Ethiopian airlines, Air Maroc, Kenya Airways, and South African airlines. Rwanda has a functional airline too. There is also Air Namibia.  The assets of the Nigeria Airways of old have not only been liquidated; most of its former staffs are wasting away. In the aviation sector, Nigeria has the biggest market in Africa and has signed Bilateral Air Service Agreements with over 70 countries, but it lacks the capacity to compete. Even the few private airlines operating within the country are barely struggling to survive. The agony of the Nigerian air traveler is not something to be imagined: we all face a daily grind of disappointment from airlines that cancel flights at will and offer no explanation. When you complain, the airlines simply tell you that things are very hard. So, if things are hard, are they supposed to be so shabby? The other month, the door of an aircraft on the domestic route flew off as the plane landed. That has not stopped Nigerians from patronizing that same airline. Most of the country’s airports are also poorly equipped and poorly maintained. The air-conditioning rarely works; the toilets are a nightmare. Aviation is big business but more than that, it is a major catalyst for economic growth and development. If there is any sector that is in urgent need of rescue, the Nigerian aviation sector is that sector.  It is, therefore, a thing of interest that the Federal Government says it is now determined to revitalize the aviation sector and bring back Nigeria Airways or Air Nigeria as it has been referred to. This much was disclosed when the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika received a certificate of no objection, an Outline Business Case certificate of compliance it is called, from the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC).  Tomorrow July 18, in London, Minister Sirika is launching a Road Show to attract investors, and formally unveil the name, the logo, the colour scheme and the structure of the national carrier.  It all sounds so exciting and I am sure many Nigerians who agonise daily over how other African countries seem to succeed where we keep failing would like to see Nigeria run its own national airline and create opportunities for the business sector. The only problem that I see is that there is so much that is opaque in the proposals that have been put forward so far by Mr. Sirika. Being a former pilot, the Minister is definitely not a tyro in the business, but as he engages both the local and international audience, there are many questions that must be addressed. I intend to raise a few of these in this preliminary comment. The Ministry of Transportation and ICRC, the regulatory body, do not seem to be on the same page. The ICRC and similar institutions involved may face challenges with their own reputation. The Outline Business Case Certificate by the ICRC seems to agree only in principle that a national carrier can be established. It goes further to give specific conditions under which this may be done, and the Minister himself has quoted some of these conditions which the Ministry under his watch seems to be breaching already. Having noted that the business case and market study submitted to it are “in substantial compliance with the ICRC Act, 2005 and the National Policy on Public Private Partnership”, the ICRC avers: “This certificate is granted on the condition that the Federal Government demonstrates her commitment to leverage private sector capital and expertise towards the establishment of the National Carrier through the provision of an upfront grant/Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to fund aircraft acquisition/start-up capital. The FGN also agrees to zero contribution to airline management decisions and zero management control by the government. Any attempt to impose government control over the management of the Airline invalidates this certificate and the entire process”.  It goes further: “In view of the fact that the mitigating conditions for the project may change over time, this Certificate is valid for 12 months from the date indicated below. This certificate is therefore issued to enable the Ministry commence an international open competitive bidding process to procure a world-class strategic investor to manage, operate, maintain, and invest in the National Carrier.”  The ICRC provides further information on its website with regard to other aviation sector projects including the development of an aerotropolis, the establishment of a maintenance, repair and overhaul centre (MRO) and the development of cargo/agro-allied airport terminals. Except the role of the infrastructure concession regulatory body is a mere formality, I do not see any evidence that the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Ministry of Transportation (Aviation) is keen about compliance with the strict provisions outlined in the Certificate of No Objection.  The Road Show scheduled for Farnborough, London, tomorrow, does not sound like “an open competitive bidding”; it is a launch. Do you do a roadshow for a transaction that does not yet exist, or for a company that is not yet in existence? Minister Sirika and whoever his transaction advisers maybe have already determined that the proposed airline would cost the Nigeria government $8.8 million.  How was that arrived at? He has also talked about a take-off grant of $300 million to purchase 5 aircraft to be delivered by December 19?  There certainly must be some known best

Blog, Essays

The Unique Folly of the Nigerian Elite by Femi Adebajo

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A study of Nigeria’s social architecture reveals certain intriguing characteristics of its social and economic elite; those humanoids whose preferential placement in the higher reaches of the system ensures distinct advantages of wealth and opportunity. Now, this kind of social laddering is not unique to Nigeria, nor indeed is it necessarily totally undesirable, not least as a stimulus to striving. The in-built exploitation is inevitable, of course, and must stimulate the conscience of the advantaged and the fervor of the disadvantaged- in all climes. Other places strive to mitigate the consequences of this disadvantage, by private charity or public programmes, and thereby aim to increase the comfort of the socially disadvantaged, that they might not perish and retain some potential, albeit reduced, to work their way out of their disadvantaged, or in older times, fornicate their way out of it. This is called enlightened self-interest and is an even stronger incentive to charity than altruism- a genuine belief in the responsibility of the strong to the weak, however, defined. At any rate, the wealthy would often avoid conspicuous displays of affluence, not to rub the noses of the poor in it, so that they might be mollified and encouraged. That’s how the lucky aristocrats kept their heads. The rich keep their fortune and the poor are provided a safety net, an illusion of democratic entitlement and from time to time, a fiesta of patriotic bonhomie to create a feeling of togetherness. In Nigeria, our social elite has no such pretensions. Such is their collective blindness and utter lack of introspective capacity that, once most of the European colonialist buccaneers left, and thankfully the Arab thugs didn’t bother with more than hit and run banditry, they simply moved into the sinecures vacated by the foreign masters. And then acted as it that iniquitous social programme of systematic disadvantage could be vitiated by superficial sops, religious invocations and the irregular drips of juice from the gilded cups of the fortunate. When this fortune is attained, not by hard work, but often by vertically transmitted preferments or sexually acquired positioning, it loses any iota of genuine admiration and respect. If this is then compounded by a habit of lousy showiness, callous indifference and open disdain for others, a pit of resentment is being dug, slowly and steadily, in the minds of ordinary citizens. Why do these perfidies persist when the perpetrators are so much fewer than the victims? Well, the weapons of inertia are of course quite potent psychological weapons. Somehow, stealing of the common patrimony is better if done by my kinsman than by the thief from the other group. And the soothing effects of this tribalist wound salve can be magnified by a recourse to religious belief, especially if you are lucky to have a zeitgeist where nebulous faith is the norm rather than a genuine context-purified understanding of Holy texts, and therefore the silly invocations of acolyte ministers are supposed to be indicative of a divine purpose, to be generally understood, unquestioningly accepted and obediently surrendered to, a prudent down payment for a blissful afterlife. However, like the proverbial greedy fly that follows a corpse into the grave, the Nigerian elite miss, time and again, ample opportunity for both correction and restitution. They continue to flaunt their lavish lifestyles in the faces of the dispossessed. They maintain their opulent lifestyles. They continue to deny the poor a modicum of dignity and a tiny ray of hope. They are ever more inventive in designing and deploying outrageous means of conspicuous consumption. They forget that every elastic object has a limit and that even the long-suffering Nigerian poor have a finite limit to their tolerance of pain. If they are lucky, the revolution will come from within and a small but effective group from their ranks, educated penitents like many of us University-educated professionals in some comfort and security. We are angry but reasonable and will probably punish these infelicities by no more than hard slaps on the wrist, and perhaps kicks to the groin. If that fails, the inevitable explosion of anger will consume us all and the angry mobs will not be impressed by proof of legitimate income when our gilded cages are stormed and like Bastille and Torquilstone breached. If I could, I’d pray that the Nigerian elite has an awakening. Femi Adebajo can be reached on Facebook

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