In the wake of recent happenings in Nigeria, the question that has been agitating my mind with unavoidable stridency is this: Can anything good still come out of Nigeria? As Socrates once said, " The unexamined life is not worth living." So, it is appropriate to pause now to take a hard look at our beloved country, Nigeria, devoid of politics, partisanship, propaganda, and parochialism. As a concerned citizen and a stakeholder in our collective quest for sanity and sanctity in Nigeria, I write to say that all is not well, no matter how one tries to slice it or spin it. Here is a graphic look at Nigeria today: If you decide to stay home, there is no electricity most of the time. If you want to buy fuel for your generator, there is usually no fuel. If you see fuel, you will notice that the per-litre price has almost doubled, and you cannot afford it sustainably to meet your energy needs.
If you are running a business, you have no power most of the time to run your machinery. If you want to buy diesel, you now must pay N700 per liter, which is not sustainable, which explains why many businesses are shutting down or shipping out. If you decide to travel by road in the North, you risk being captured or killed by Boko Haram, Bandits, or Terrorists. If you head South, you risk being harassed, captured, or killed by Kidnappers, ESN, or Unknown Gunmen. If you head South, you risk being harassed, captured, or killed by Kidnappers, ESN, or Unknown Gunmen. If you decide to travel by train, you now run the risk of having the train bombed and passengers killed or captured by Bandits and Terrorists. If you decide to go to your farm, which has been the mainstay of our existence in Nigeria, you must now pay tax or deposit advance ransom to Bandits and Terrorists to avoid being captured or killed in some states. If you live in a rural community, the community must now pay Bandits and Terrorists tens of millions of naira to avoid being attacked and having their inhabitants raped, kidnapped, or killed in some states.
Art depicting africa
If you live in a rural community, the community must now pay Bandits and Terrorists tens of millions of naira to avoid being attacked and having their inhabitants raped, kidnapped, or killed in some states. If you own a vehicle, you must now queue for hours and pay double the price we used to spend just a few months ago to buy fuel of lesser quality and pray it does not damage or destroy your engine. Suppose you decide to avoid all the problems on the ground by flying. In that case, you must now pay double the fare you used to spend a month ago, wait for hours after your scheduled departure time as the airline struggles to get scarce aviation fuel, and pray Terrorists and Bandits do not invade the Airport to capture or kill you before you take off. Haba!!! If you are a student, be prepared to spend double the time necessary to complete your 4-year program as ASUU continues its never-ending strikes, grapples with the federal government, and still comes out to face inevitable unemployment for the next 5-10 years.
If you are a Civil Servant, you will notice that the price of essential food commodities has gone up by three times what they used to cost and that it's impossible to make ends meet with your salary, which has not been adjusted in the recent past to catch up with double-digit inflation. If you are a Business Owner, be prepared to provide your own Borehole, Power, and Security and pay all kinds of Registration Fees, Taxes, Levies, VAT, and a dozen other fees arbitrarily assessed by one Task Force or another. If you are a retiree, you can be confident that your pension will not be paid as when it is due. You may slump and die in the queue one day, waiting for your retirement after providing decades of patriotic and meritorious service to your country. Suppose you are a football fan who reminisces about the glory days of Nigerian football and seeks refuge from your besieged and battered existence. In that case, you can no longer find that refuge because the Super Eagles can no longer run on the field and talk less about soaring. We have become a losing nation on the pitch when it matters. So, permit me to ask again: Can something good still come out of this Nigeria?
Dr. John U. Osonwa is a Climate Change and Environmental Expert, a Social Commentator, and a Good Governance Crusader.