I asked a friend today, that was lamenting about the removal of the subsidy (bear in mind I am not in support of it), what she had done to make Nigeria better (big or small).
Really we are ready to complain and talk and talk and talk. What have we really done for our communities or own states or Towns... nothing. We just complain. And the sad part is that when given the opportunity we do even worse than our current leaders.
Every Nigerian wants to go to school and become a doctor or a lawyer or an engineer. No one wants to be a carpenter and be the best carpenter Nigeria has ever had.
No one wants to be a plumber and be damn good at it.
No one wants to be a framer and be damn good at it...
How then do we want to grow?
What saddens me is that we don't have farms again. We don't have people farming.
Rice can be grown in Lagos.
Did you know that in Taraba state strawberries and grapes can be grown there?
Do you know that Adamawa state can have one of the largest tea manufacturing company in the world?
Do you know that coal can be mined in Enugu and coal can be used for generating electricity for the whole of Nigeria and beyond?
Do you know that the pulp gotten from the mangroves in Bonny, Bayelsa, Nembe etc, lying fallow disturbing the creeks can be used in the manufacturing of paper? Research has shown that it can actually have one of the largest paper manufacturing company in the world.
Every state is unique and has is good soil and products untapped.
Have we harassed our local government leaders or our governments. What are they doing?
Donala Duke of Calabar took a sleepy town and turned it into a tourist hub. Even after he has left office Calabar still celebrates their festival/carnivals every year. Calabar is one of the cleanest cities in Nigeria cos he also emphasized the importance of being clean.
I ask again including me what have we really done for Nigeria?
Have we looked at our neighbors and found out what affects their lives?
Do we want to get our hands dirty doing the work that no one wants to do?
Are we ready to make a change with our deeds not just our mouths?
What developed countries do that underdeveloped countries fail to do is agriculture. America produces a lot of the food they consume, if not all.
What do we produce in Nigeria?
I am so happy that they are banning the importation of rice. Good for us.
We should go back to our villages and grow rice. At least lets start from there.
There is a saying that goes this way.. "when a man has eaten well, his brain would function properly" ...(translated version)...
Anyways I know one thing though the way forward for me is FASHION & FOOD..LOL
Do have a lovely day and I look forward to your comments.
Ciao
You raised excellent points about people not exploring other industries as much as they should. You can't really blame them though. Some people are simply ignorant about the other opportunities in Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the underlying problem is oil. Nigeria simply lacks the ability to effectively and efficiently manage our oil resources and as a result the country is suffering from the resource curse.
A major consequence of the resource curse is that industries not related to the natural resource, oil in our situation, suffers. Ngozi Okono-Iweala and the world bank have been talking about the agriculture sector in Nigeria for some time now, but obviously no one is really listening. And why should they?
Besides telecom, banking, and oil and gas, (I should add the nongovernmental aid groups, but I'll leave it out) most other sectors of our economy are in disarray. They could be gold mines filled with opportunities for our youth, but entry, simple operational logistics, and countless bureaucracies are prohibitive. We shouldn't even talk about the monopolies in most of these other sectors.
I think that at the end of the day, our entire country and government needs restructuring. For one, I'm a proponent of dividing Nigeria. There is no need for us to keep pretending we love one another. We are different people, and we no longer need to abide by a British explorer's opinion of what Nigeria should be. I'm inclined to believe, based on no evidence (lol... aka opinion), that we would thrive better as smaller countries with a more homogeneous population.
About the subsidy removal, like most people, I do not support our government's radical approach. The way our government has gone about it has made me really suspicious that there are multitudes of back door deals between the oil companies and connected few to just make a little extra money. I'm sure our government knows that there is no way we would passively accept this unethical subsidy removal. The way they even explain the benefits and reasons for the removal is almost comical. When has our government ever thought of providing social safety net programs to Nigerians? They most positively are aware that we will not buy their stupid explanations.
I agree with them that the industry needs to be deregulated and what not, but before we saddle the average Nigerian with an over 100 percent increase in gas prices and massive inflation in the name of deregulation and restructuring, how about we fix Nigeria's oil refineries to function at a respectable capacity and fix our supply and distribution chains. This issue really angers me too much. I don't even want to think about the environmental damage or the price the poor communities where oil is drilled have paid.
Enough is enough. Govt should return oil prices to the former rates or be thrown out.
@Prism of an immigrant thank you so much for your comments. Hmm really food for thought.
ReplyDeleteOur nation is not only our leaders' job to fix, we too should play an active role in making it work; however, our leaders must lead and show the way. Unfortunately, that is not the case in nigeria. No wonder our nation is in such turmoil!
ReplyDeleteOnly God can save us.
Thanks for ur comment on my blog. Yes, I live in NZ. Thinking about visiting sometime?
- LDP
Hmmm...good food for thought. There are so many angles at which to look at it and you have provided one. It is harder to move forward if basic needs are not met, and we need to hold government accountable in order to pave the way for many we are thinking along your line.
ReplyDeleteAlso, removing the subsidy may not even be the problem, but how it was done. You do not just wake up one morning and throw a building together. If prices has gone up like 5% or 10% and people see that the extra money is going towards much needed reconstruction...the backlash would be milder. It is utterly atrocious that in the midst of creating a evil budget...you tax the masses.
On the agriculture sector, I will quote prism "but entry, simple operational logistics, and countless bureaucracies are prohibitive." . Simple and short, people who dare to try are road blocked into failure.
ReplyDeleteFuel subsidy removal is just another way to line the politicians pocket, there are no short or long run economic benefits to the average Nigerian.
@ le dynamique professeur its So true. I would let you know when my the grace of God I come to New Zealand..loll
ReplyDelete@Jostwrite I am with you. Didn't like the way they removed it. I am not really against fuel subsidy. IF they cut down all the outrageous expenses of the senators, house of reps, governors, local govt chairman, including the president, give us constant light, then fuel subsidy should definitely be removed. Don't do this when your senators still spend outrageously on themselves.
@9jaFoodie very true. But the mentality we Nigerians have now isn't a mentality of farming. We all want white collars jobs. Lets have the desire to go back to farming and skills again. Then let the problem be we are looking for the opportunity to make a living with this and that. At least we should start somewhere.
Thank you all for your comments. Loving every bit of it.
I think you shouldn't have talked about this...you didn't provide how to executute ur suggestions. And I've been to Adamawa and they do have one of the biggest farms. A lot of what you mentioned are effective but not efficient.
ReplyDeleteAnd change ur bio....2011 is over. *wink
For once I won't go with you on this one o. What have we done for Nigeria???? Please, don't let us even start counting, even if its just me. I have done and still do stuffs for my neighbourhood and govt don't care, not like I am looking for their support.
ReplyDeleteWheneva one wants to do stuff in this country, they are not allowed most times. Churches want to repair roads, govt don't allow them cos they say d contract has been given out.
I know ppl dat want to go into farming, but dont have the resources and cant get loans. Farming aint d easiest to go to in naija, just look at the interstate roads.
People do stuffs everyday, Nigerians are patriotic people. You can ask us about anoda topic o, but not this one
@Adebsrk yep you ARE right I didn't give explanations. I am researching on it cos I am passionate about agriculture and yes I would change my bio. It is 2012.
ReplyDelete@ilola I know there are Nigerians that do a lot of patriotic work but not enough dearie. Not enough. I know our govt hasn't done anything. But if the church really means business they would be a very strong force for the govt.
Thanks for your comments. really loving every bit of it.
I'd agree with @ilola on this one.Lots of people are doing good things but they hardly get enough encouragement not to talk of recognition for it.
ReplyDeleteWe can all make our country better, may God help us all to do so!
ReplyDeleteI do agree with you that we can all do more for our country or communities. I can understand what you were trying to say but maybe it did come across as a bit of generalisation.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I've launched a campaign called 'Give a book, save our future' on my blog. Please do visit my blog and find out for yourself ways you may be able to support.
http://apenandaheart.blogspot.com/
Wow. Sis, this is DEEP stuff. Every Nigerian needs to get some of this. You are absolutely right and it has only been just recently that I too have realized this and have been itching ever since to do SOMETHING, a CHANGE perhaps for this beautiful country of ours. However, I will have to say that it is not only about people trying to save the country, because there are a number of active and devoted men and women trying to make a change in Nigeria. The government also has to fulfill their promises and stop messing the people about. But I will like to say those that are already doing should keep on going, with or without encouragement or support. May God help us.
ReplyDeleteDatFunkyFro