Nigerians-and-its-political-leaders-should-wake-up-and-stop-depending-on-other-foreign-countries-for-its-development-and-advancement

President Buhari                     Vice President Osibanjo
 
Without a doubt, a nation that does not produce anything significant for global market consumption, can also never attain economic global recognition amongst the community of nations. There are no two ways about it. In life, people are mostly responsible for the outcome of their lives and how it turns out at the end. As it is with individuals, so it is with a community and a nation. Agreed that there might be other ‘external factors’ that could contribute to people’s experiences and status, be it pleasant or unpleasant, but the chunk of what becomes the outcome of their lives; is in their hands. To put it bluntly, whatever level of underdevelopment and whatever we see ‘wrong’ today in Nigeria, “Nigerians” are the ones responsible for it. Though, our Political Leaders from 1999 to date - at the Federal, State and Local Government levels, as the custodians of the nation’s wealth and resources, are the ones to take the chunk of the blame for Nigeria’s present deplorable situation, but it is us – the people that have put them there, or ‘allowed them’ to occupy that public space.
In another well-though-out piece by a public affairs advocate, Mr. Smart Ofugara, he gave a vivid summary of the foundation of what has given rise to who we are, and from which every action emanates from, and the need for all of us not to fold our hands and allow things to remain the way they are going. Particularly on the fact that we have become a nation that is known to produce and export practically little to nothing.
According to Ofugara: “The ancient societies evolved over the centuries in phases through which various eras of progress emerged. These progresses have helped shape different societies with the system of governments operated and the development accompanying the welfare of societies. In all of these, laws, policies, regulations, have been introduced to help govern the affairs of man. In the same vein, the stronger nations had to evolve a way of controlling the affairs of the world through exploitation, rule, and psychological control and even brain washing. In the 1960s, all military training were done in Europe and the attendees were brain washed to see themselves as leaders of their countries. This explains the incessant coups of the sixties, seventies, eighties and running through the twenty-first century by politicians who had control of state wealth, its resources and apparatus of governance. In the process, what do we have, is dependence on sale of cash crops and crude oil. No invention, no manufacturing, but trading company with coupling or assembly plants in the name of manufacturing company. These are known and undisputed facts which had affected our values and discourse. Looking into the future, should we continue to do the same thing over and over? Should we re-circle the same leprosy hands? The bond we share makes it difficult to close ones eyes and say nothing.
“There are questions demanding answers in all sphere of the economy and polity. Health Care? Where are we? December 31st, 1983 Brigadier Sani Abacha said, ‘our hospitals have become mere consulting clinics.’ The Nigerian healthcare system is one of the lowest in the world, hence our political leaders and the well-to-do in our society go for medical check-ups abroad. Right from 1960 when we gained independence, till date, practically all our past and present political leaders at all levels of government had gone, and are still going for medical attention in Europe, Asia, North-America and United Arab Emirates (UAE), simply because they have neglected the nation’s healthcare system but prefers for being offered by others abroad.
“If our healthcare system were good, would we continue to have our political leaders traveling abroad for medical attention? Did we notice how we provided employment and sustained the European economy at our own detriment? If Europe and America have increasingly become expensive, why the discovery of India as the alternative for health Care? I think it is time to address these malaises in the interest of our people. The health care industry and the ingenuity of our people is such that given the right environment, it will become a major money spinner and a job provider for our teeming population in search for a job. The time to address health care is now. A situation where water is not available in hospitals is unacceptable and this is besides the unavailability of modern equipment and devices that will help the doctors and nurses do an effective job. The infrastructures and the enabling environment need to be addressed. Perhaps, a partnership with the public, private and foreign examples across the world should be encouraged and divested from government control of hospitals. Government business should be one of regulations and enhanced tax system as we evolved in the society. The healthcare insurance system which is still in its teething stage after several years of its introduction, needs attention and thorough scrutiny by stakeholders, so that an actual policy and its implementation and buying is sold to the population.
“The lip service paid to food productin needs to be addressed. Our land is blessed with the production of every type of food needed indifferent areas of our country. This can be comparatively harnessed to the benefit of all. The establishment of silos to accommodate excess crops will help make food available all year round and not seasonal. It will encourage more planting and harvesting. We do not have to boil yam only as the process for eating it. Processing it into powder, flakes, are ways in which industries grow and create employment. The same goes for all our foods products grown in the different regions. Besides, small scale industries will grow. An example is the juice business which can be done, bottled and sold to neighbors and the community markets. Again, the food-processing can be revived with abundance of production and supplies to these industries. Nigeria has no business importing tomatoes, cornflakes and other cereals when we plant and grow them. Animal husbandry is not left out. More of it needs to be encouraged to meet the increasing demand. Fish farming should be encouraged and the experts with agriculture extension should be engaged to effectively bring the food production to fruition. Over the years, different types of cooking oil have been imported into Nigeria. we have even adopted them and forgotten that from our own palm tree. From the dirt and stain lies wealth yet untapped and abandoned. The shells can be used in the construction of roads, counter tops, flooring of houses, and other great designs, the stems are useful as ceiling boards, and roofing. We need to wake up.
“The timber industry is very dear to my heart. It is my wish that the African Timber and Plywood industry or its model can be revived. There are a lot of jobs waiting to be created in that field. Standardizing is required so that sizes, models, designs can be developed for customers choices. Homes, offices, school, hotels, and churches all need doors, wood for flooring, furniture, kitchen cabinets, baby cots, beds of different sizes, recreation environment and the list go on. We import these items instead of producing and exporting them. Sweden’s IKEA industry (Private) is a very good model for us to copy and create our own production and market for the African continent. The jobs and market from this sector are very enormous and would be beneficial to our economy.
“The steel and aluminum industry cannot be allowed to die. We need the revival of the steel industry to start production. Whatever it will take to get up to speed should be done devoid of politics. The multiplier effect from steel for our society cannot be over stated. Its revival will boost our economy and provide gainful employment and production for our people. With the steel, we can build bridges to aid our failing roads, connect communities and expand our reach for connectivity. Besides the steel industry, the abandoned petro-chemical industry needs to be revived as well. The by- products from crude oil should not be imported into the country. They should be produced locally because we have the capacity and the market. As investment in this industry is being done, government should divest her interest and give room for private participation. Regulations, oversight responsibility should be the duty of government and not the running or administration of these industries. Politics should be taken out of this discussion so that objectivity can be achieved.
“The civil service requires a complete overall. A reform of the civil service is required with real improvement. The level of stealing and conniving with politicians is a result of the current ‘your obedient servant’ mentality and idleness in the operations of the civil service. Candidly, 35% of the civil servants end up doing nothing tangible for months on end. Again, this idleness needs to be addressed.
“A critical area which has been neglected over the years is RESEARCH. The importance of research in every aspect of society cannot be overstated. Funding for medical research is needed to tackle emerging and deadly ailments like cancer, malaria, and aids etc. We cannot continue to rely on foreigners to drive this industry and impose on us whatever their findings are economically on us. We must rise to these challenges. A sizeable budget and income should be set aside to enable researchers do their jobs and implement their findings for the benefit of society. Similarly, our educational system needs revisiting. The era of reading and passing exams should be revisited with more vocational and hands-on training. These training should include electricians, carpenters, construction, computer programs, tailoring, nursing, medical technician, catering, farming, plumber, printing, welding, mechanics, leaderships skills, act of politics and service, sports development, and a host of other valuable skills. Once these skills are embedded in the curriculum for learning and re-engineering of skills for older graduates, the gainful legions which is currently available for politicians to use at will can be motivated to use their ingenuity positively while attaining independence for the growth of society purposely for productive and service delivery.
“The time to address our dependence on the declining and fluctuating crude oil market is now. Our reliance on crude oil revenue is a curse. This can be likened to a child who forgot to learn that if he does not build upon his inherited wealth, he or she will become a beggar. And truly, we are a beggar country. What explanation do we have to give for the monthly visits by governors and local government chairmen to Abuja to collect monthly allocation instead of creating the enabling environment that will earn them wealth. And the question before them is what are they investing these monetary collections on? The day demand for crude oil goes away, the malaria fever that will hit Nigeria will be worse than the austerity measure, SAP, beat tightening, or any other acronym we have ever heard of in the life of our nation. Power generation is ignored at the peril of growth for our small and large-scale growth of industries. Solar power should be invested in and encouraged. It will revolutionize our entire economy.
“Draconian laws, however it is denigrated should be implemented to tackle the evils of corruption. Corruption bedeviling the power sectors, corruption bedeviling civil service, corruption bedeviling political office holder and outright elimination of the immunity clause from our constitution and a thorough appraising of issuance of temporary restraining order. The security of life and property is important and must be addressed. The level of insecurity is not giving our nation a good image. It is very difficult to invest in a society where the investor cannot visit and communicate. A situation where funds that should be used for investment is spent on private security and the buying of diesel for power is most unacceptable and desires urgent attention,” Ofugara emphasized.
The truth is, the foreign developed countries will not want Nigeria to develop as it should because their markets and economy’s growth is dependent on what happens in Nigeria – as the most populous black nation in Africa. These developed countries want to sustain the export of their finished goods to Nigeria as their main market in Africa. But Nigeria as a country, actually has all the human and natural resources and potentials needed to transform and grow our economy to greater heights. These foreigners know very well that if we are developed like them, they will not be able to export their finished goods again in commercial quantities, hence they will not readily want to see us develop. This is what our Nigerian Government at all levels should always guide against.   
Agreed that the Government has no business in owing businesses, and it is the responsibility of the private sector and investors to do this. But the privatization of the existing government-owned companies has been grossly abused by greedy politicians in power. They often use fronts to buy these government-owned investments without them having the capacity and expertise to run these companies. Hence, we have in our hands today, a privatized Power sector that cannot generate, transmit and distribute required power consumption to the Nigerian populace. A very good example is the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) and others. But how long are we going to continue to be a nation that depends on others for practically everything we use? Is it not shameful that all our State Governors monthly race to Abuja to collect their allocations and State salaries? That is a people and governments who prefer ‘easy money’ instead of being innovative and creative in developing their States in other to create wealth for all.
Like we have repeated many times. No foreign country and its foreign leaders will help us develop Nigeria. The responsibility to develop Nigeria must be carried out by Nigerians. The foreign countries are very much aware that if Nigeria is developed today, Nigeria will no longer import their produced goods like cars, furniture, etc. if Nigeria should have a stable electricity, we will no longer import their generators, batteries, inverters, etc. So, these foreigners will rather have us remain ‘underdeveloped’ and dependent on them for everything. But is left for us to say no! And start doing the needful. What becomes of the immediate and far future of this nation lies squarely in our hands. So, let us not allow sentiments, political affiliations, religious fanaticism, nepotism, godfatherism, political apathy, and even our stomach to blind us, dictate to us, influence and persuade us from ‘doing the right thing’.
Zik Gbemre.
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