First, I congratulate Nigeria on the celebration of her 59th Independence anniversary. It speaks volume that a man or woman of this age, which is a stone thrown from the round figure of 60, should be counting significant milestones of positive achievements and impact on others.
From my tiny window of over 30 decades as a born Nigerian, I x-rayed some areas of concerns and I am left worried if my generation has had a sense of good governance. Half the time I heard the generation of my father say things were better in the 50s, 60s and 70s. Fortunately I was born into the mid-80s and from when I knew myself as a rational being till date, I have consistently heard the chorus, “government was better in our time.” I am sure, if the rot continues, my generation will also sing the same chorus to the coming generation.
If I were to define good governance without consulting any textbook or dictionary; I would simply say it is the ability of the government (rulers) to provide basic amenities (infrastructure) for the wellbeing of the people.
The absence of good governance in the affairs of the nation has given me sleepless nights, leaving me to age away. These thoughts got heightened when my principal friend from birth (my father) called me on a Saturday morning to lament the spate of decay on the federal road passing through our hometown.
I immediately flashed back to memory lane what the road used to look like as a kid. It was a red dusty busy highway connecting the West (Lagos) to the North (Abuja). I recall how the roofs/buildings close to the road were naturally painted in wine colour. I enjoyed visiting home to see grannies and watch the vehicles ply in their numbers on jet speed.
Succour finally came between 1997 and 1998 during the regime of the late General Sanni Abacha, then Head of State, who approved the contract for the reconstruction of the federal road through Lampese community in Akoko-Edo LGA, Edo State all the way to Lokoja leading to Abuja. This was handled under the watch of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) headed by Muhammadu Buhari, then Major General. The contract was awarded to Dantata and Sawoe for execution. Upon completion, like a beautiful bride, she (the federal road) attracted the establishment of businesses all around the adjoining communities at the speed of light. Lampese and other communities became a beehive of economic activities, day and night.
Today, over 20 years down memory lane, the state of that road is a nightmare, a snare to keep travellers stranded due to neglect. It is most worrisome to hear of the harrowing experience inter-state travellers have passed through sleeping over for days just to make head way to and fro the gateway of the community.
There is no need asking if we have a government because we truly do. But are they sensitive to this and many of such deplorable states of infrastructure? The question that begs for an answer. This state of this road and many others is enough to give any government sleepless nights and spur them to declare a dare state of emergency on all federal roads.
I am not sure if Nigerians at any time have asked for too much from the government other than simple basic amenities from taxpayers’ money. We just need a government that is humane. A government that listens to the lamentations of the people, with eyes to see the excruciating state of the people, nose to perceive the decay of the infrastructure, emotions to feel the agony, and initiative to act right to alleviate the sufferings of the people.
Palliative measure is not the answer to this road and other federal roads across the country. If truly what is worth doing at all is worth doing well, then those concerned should deploy machineries for reconstruction work to commence on the faded portions of the road from the Lampese end all the way to Lokoja.
Worthy to remind us that decayed infrastructures like roads lock down businesses, which rub offs on the overall economy. Business activities, transit of goods from the north to the south-west vice-versa, are heavily carried out via that single route. Farmers’ activities have been partially crippled as they cannot move their produce to the market centres. Companies who have found pastures for backward integration are also counting their woes as personnel are trapped and not able to move.
May I remind the government (elected officials) that what the people seek for is nothing more than good roads, electricity, pipe-borne water, functional educational institutions, healthcare as well as affordable housing units. If we have all these or half of them, Nigerians that I know, would be less bothered of other things because the basics are available.
KENNETH ADEJUMOH
Adejumoh writes from Lekki
Tweet @kenadejumoh
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