October 1 every year comes with some measure of nostalgia for Nigerians. Being the anniversary of the nation’s independence from British Colonial rule, it is a day for stock taking when Nigerians reflect on the progress or lack of it in the years of her self-rule.
In this interview, a cross section of Nigerians share their thoughts on the state of affairs in the country and offer suggestions as to how the country can move forward.
Mr. Obinna Odunze, Political Scientist and Business man:
My take is that Nigeria has performed far below average given the potentials in both human and material resources in the country. In political science, we were taught that a potential actualized is more natural and bigger than the potential itself.
If you x-ray our position in any aspect of the economy you will agree that we have not done well at all. For instance, the Petroleum industry has been our main stay for a long time since independence. Unfortunately, even in that aspect of our economy, we still have not done well. We still export crude at prices ‘dictated’ to us by the giant buying international community and import finished PMS, AGO and DPK, among others, at prices also handed down to us by even nations who do not have what we have. Why can’t we refine crude here for our use and for export? Don’t we have abundant resources to do so?
Why did we abandon agriculture, which unarguably fed this nation before crude? That is one of the greatest mistakes of our leaders past and present. Incidentally our past leaders are still our present leaders.
Way to go is to go back to our first love – Agriculture. We have vast untapped aquatic and land resources. Proper harnessing of this will bring back the lost glory.
Secondly, we need to seriously industrialize. We have resources both for forward and backward integration that are either wasting or even depleting. Effort should be made to harness them.
Thirdly, and very importantly, government should provide infrastructure. This will boost private participation. Millions of people are ready to invest in the economy but the lack of infrastructure is militating against them.
Lastly, security must be provided at all levels and at all times. This will engender both local and foreign investment in all parts of the country. Security here includes political stability.
Mrs. Ngozi Pipi, Lawyer:
Nigeria at 57! Where to begin? In 57 years of independence, what should have been a great country has been on a steady backward march towards decay, lawlessness, disenfranchisement of her future (the youth) unequalled corruption, and I could continue on this backward march. What should our leaders do differently?
First, learn a long overdue lesson in humility. Understand that they are public servants and not demi gods, learn to respect the law of the land and not feel that they are above the law and learn to respect the people they govern, learn to separate public property from their personal possessions. If and when they do this, it will be easier to get the masses to fall in line. Beautiful things will begin to happen in the country.
Mr. Joseph Bamidele, Public Servant:
Nigeria as a developing nation cannot be said to be the worst among the committee of nations in terms of development, as the nation can still lay claim to a good number of positive developments since independence.
After independence, the nation has witnessed some positive developments economically, politically and socially. Economically, Nigeria has witnessed some ups and downs by going in and out of recession while also becoming the most economically viable nation in Africa with the highest GDP after the last rebasing exercise.
Politically, the nation is presently on the longest run of uninterrupted political dispensation. While socially, Nigeria has grown to be recognized as the biggest entertainment industry in Africa and one of the best in the world, same goes for sports.
The above notwithstanding, the nation has since been bedevilled by leadership problem and so has been far from achieving its full potentials through human and natural resources. The country has a lot of opportunities to achieve greater heights if the right set of leaders are vested with the appropriate authority and all are made accountable for their actions.
Mr. Fred Igila, Graphic designer:
Nigeria has not done well at all, our roads are bad, electricity is not stable and the health sector is deplorable.
In fact, nothing is working and our leaders, both past and present are to be blamed. At 57, Nigeria should be comparable to countries like Malaysia and some other European countries.
As a way forward, our leaders, present and future, should invest in our infrastructures, ensure steady electricity so that businesses can grow because without power, nothing much can be done. They should also invest in the health sector.
Our leaders travel out and meet with leaders of the developed countries they visit so they should copy what they see those ones doing.
