A critical look at Nigeria and its economy in the last four years shows that it might be disingenuous for anybody to claim that the country has made no progress or that all its industries have suffered within this period. Such a claim, to critical observers and discerning minds, amounts to being economical with the truth.
What is not arguable, however, is that the economy within this period has been on a reverse gear in its progress, favouring sectors that should, ordinarily and in a normal run of events, have died.
But, amidst this overly economic slowdown, some industries are really doing great which means that, fundamentally and intrinsically, something is wrong somewhere accounting for this negative positivism.
Since the collapse of the manufacturing industry in the country and despite the outcry by the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN) that its members are dying by installment, those in quasi businesses such as coffin-makers and mortuary operators are smiling to the bank on daily basis.
Earnings in these loathsome businesses are quite high, understandable so because it is now booming. Mortuaries across the country are in big and lucrative business and here lies the frustration in the country and its new found negatively positive ‘economic’ growth.
Currently, the major challenges for operators of this business are capacity and inadequate facilities because customer-demand is huge. Their stock in trade, dead bodies, are in large supply and the capacity to handle the job at hand is insufficient. They are witnessing boom in the business.
Undertakers and cemeteries are even rejecting ‘businesses’ these days, and those who are into such businesses are clearing up well. A visit to psychiatric hospitals and other centres where mad people are being treated shows that doctors and herbalists in those places are singing ‘Amazing Grace’.
It is the same story in the pharmaceutical industry where manufacturers of Tramadol, codeine and some other drugs that people abuse nowadays in an effort to forget their sorrows have enormous job at hand.
Until recently, those who sold Sniper (the powerful insecticide that has wreaked havoc in the country but banned by government) were having business boom, because the demand for the product was high. A good number of those who want to leave the troubled times in Nigeria have found in sniper the easiest and shortest route.
The pharmaceutical industry is now churning out all sorts of high blood pressure drugs to contain the growing need for it in Nigeria. Those producing the drugs and the sellers are today experiencing a boom.
It would be outright lie therefore, for anybody, especially “government detractors” who are everywhere, to say that government is not doing well for businesses to thrive. That kind of view is hate speech because the government is really trying. They need commendation even if the country is sinking.
Looking at beer manufacturers, for instance, one would easily see that they are now pushing more tonnes of their products into the society than they had ever done. This is quite understandable given the increasing level of depression in society.
There is liquor everywhere and drinking joints and brothels are making a kill. In fact, they do not seem to be meeting the demand from a growing number of depressed people. It might therefore, be a trite argument for anyone to say that the last four years have not helped such a business.
Visa agencies that help people to process residency in various oversea-countries have become more vibrant now than ever before. More Nigerians see better opportunities outside the country now than ever and are therefore, jetting out to have fresh breath in other climes.
Heightening insecurity has created a flourishing business for those who smuggle guns or gun runners more than ever before. Looking at the prevalence of crime and brutality in the country executed by bandits, killer-herdsmen and Boko Haram with the aid of sophisticated weapons, most of which we are told enter the country illegally through porous borders, one would see that those who bring in these weapons cannot complain of ‘bad market’. Neither will the end users, who have turned the nation’s highways into business centres, through kidnapping for ransom, say life is not grand for them at the moment.
As a people, Nigerians are very religious. Only a few are Christ-like and believe in the suffering Christ. Quite a lot are believers in the glorious Christ and therefore, are superstitious and miracle-inclined. The socio-economic milieu in which they have found themselves in the last four years have deepened this inclination.
In the morning, afternoon and night, prayer sessions are held in some churches where prayer points centre around breakthroughs, prosperity and instant miracles. Not much is said about the salvation of the soul and the preparation for life in eternity. Almost always, the population of a given church reflects the instant outcome of these prayer sessions. And there is always a price to pay—the seed faith.
This explains why the last four years have not been altogether bad for some religious sects because of the influx of traumatised and miracle-seeking Nigerians to such places, looking for divine intervention. Some of these worship centres that are being besieged by Nigerians are making a kill from the ‘mites’ of the worshippers. It is unsustainable, therefore, to argue that such churches are in bad times. An enabling environment has been created for them to grow and thrive.
No matter how anybody looks at it, it is crystal clear that while some people are lamenting that their businesses have been atrophied in the last four years by reason of bad economy, some others have all the gratitude for the current administration for setting off their own good time in the midst of frustration, want and woe.
