It is an incontrovertible fact that Nigeria, with the sobriquet of ‘Giant of Africa’ attached to it, is a naturally blessed state. The abundant natural resources which saturates the length and breadth of the country are but a proof of this. But the astonishing question everyone would love to ask is “Why is a country like Nigeria impoverished”? This remains the million dollar question on the minds and lips of Nigerians and observers from around the world.
All areas or facets of the economy have been decimated. Over the years, the bone of contention in the economy and political affairs of the country has remained the ten lettered word “corruption” which houses maladministration, indiscipline, immorality, etc. It is an undeniable truth that Nigeria has been swimming in a cesspool of corruption for a long time now.
Corruption is walking the streets and corridors of power. We have leaders who instead of fighting for the people, fight against the people; instead of making life bearable and comfortable for the people, make life miserable and daunting. Nigerian governments can provide goods and services for the betterment of the people and development of the nation, but they would rather see their people suffer to settle their own selfish interests. All they do is to engage in a rat race to control power and after that, nothing more.
Despite all agencies, commissions and organisations set up to see into the ugly rising cases of corruption in the country and mismanagement of public funds, Nigeria is still tagged “a corrupt state.” Several billions of naira had been mismanaged up by individuals and organisations but what follows this? Adjournment follows adjournment till the case becomes a thing of the past. And as they say, justice delayed is justice denied. To cut a long story short, we are in a state of decadence.
In 1968, Nigeria was the world’s biggest producer of a lot of products like groundnuts, cocoa, tin, columbine, oil palm. Sadly at present, the reverse is the case as Nigeria is far behind the records she had made in the global agricultural sector.
The insecurity in the country is another subject to be considered. The act of different criminal and terrorist gangs in different parts of the country most especially in the North is tarnishing the image of the country, not only at home but also abroad. As a result of this, instead of protecting lives, they expose lives to dangers.
Kidnapping has become the latest business in the East and Southern parts of the country. Does it mean we do not have enough security agents or we lack the standard facilities to enhance their operations? Day by day, the threat of insecurity keeps on setting its pace. We live in a country where the citizens are denied peace, security and serenity.
Moreover, Nigeria has grown to be a country where the citizens lack adequate and efficient health care services. Statistics say that 1,500 women die every day in our country from pregnancy-related complications while another 96 die daily from road accidents.
With all the qualities and endowments Nigeria possesses, the country should maintain law and order, peace and serenity tailored with speedy economic growth and development. Continentally, Nigeria should not be one of the richest countries in the world but the first and globally, Nigeria should be among the top 10 richest countries in the world coupled with the maintenance of peace, equality, justice and progress.
