On February 27, 2014, Nigerians,
or should I say, the Nigerian government celebrated the 100th year of the
creation of the geographical entity called Nigeria, courtesy the 1914 amalgamation
of the Colony of Lagos and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria with the
Protectorate of Northern Nigeria by Lord Frederick Lugard.
Now 100 years old, Nigeria has
grown in different facets, from being the most populous black nation in the
world and a big brother in the West African sub-region, to the democratic/military
government fluctuation from independence in 1960 to 1999 when democracy was
finally embraced as the stabiliser of the polity and the military made to
return to the barracks -15 years now entailing for good.
In as much as these indicate the progressiveness
of Nigeria, the Nigerian Dream has long been cut short by countless appalling
scenarios that have continued to inhibit the manifestation of a true giant of
Africa she has long presumed herself to be but has been snail-achieved, no
thanks to the narrow-mindedness and selfishness of her leaders and a host of
the led.
Dreams do come true but what
makes a dream come true are the tenacious steps employed towards achieving
them, which most times are sacrificial and painstaking.
In as much as every nation has
its unique headache, the self-imposed economic and political advancement
hindrance has been the wall to the progressiveness of Nigeria which daily
builds the anxiety on when the dividends of democracy would be paid to the
daily lives of Nigerians that would in the medium run, drive a significant and
economic friendly level of foreign direct investment and build the tourism
potentials of Africa’s most populous State.
However, the self-imposed
economic and political advancement hindrance entailing and not limited to the
growing level of corruption by the untouchables in President Goodluck
Jonathan’s cabinet, incessant power failure, and of course the embarrassing,
abysmal and intensified killings in the North East zone of the country by Boko
Haram have in very big measures driven the unproductiveness of many Nigerians
and stalled the economic buoyancy of the country –beyond the celebrated 510
billion USD – which have had a cyclical effect on Nigeria being tagged a
No-Go-Area a number of times by the Super powers, the wastages of capital and
recurrent expenditures as a result of monies incurred on the infrastructures
destroyed by Boko Haram, as well as the financial misappropriation by the
untouchables in government. Only if Nigeria had gotten it right, the rebased GDP
figures would have been at a higher number, possibly in trillions of dollars
which would be reflective in the standard of living of the country, as the Per
Capital Income (P.C.I.) would significantly grow to tens of thousands of
dollars, as against the $2,937.5 it currently is.
The PCI significantly captures
the GDP effect on the general populace and should be a benchmark for celebration
as against just the rebased GDP.
Bearing in mind that the
population of Nigeria is far above Egypt and South Africa, her Per Capita
Income at $2,937.5 (a rise from $2,800.00 the previous year) is still
significantly lower than Egypt’s and South Africa’s $6,600.00 and $11,500.00
respectively entailing that much more still has to be done in driving the economic
prosperity of all in Nigeria and not a few, as Egyptians and South Africans (in
the vast majority) are better off than Nigerians and these countries
holistically are more efficiently productive than Nigeria.
With the rebased figures putting Nigeria’s
economy as the biggest in Africa and the 26th largest in the whole world, then
the big questions are “has the economy of Nigeria realistically leap frogged
Egypt and South Africa and are Nigerians (in the vast majority) better off than
their counterparts in Egypt and South Africa?
The Nigerian Dream isn’t about
consistency in the practise of democracy, the fat salaries earned by the legislators
across the federation, the 680million USD rebased GDP, nor the camouflage
nature of the uniforms of the police –which by all indication was initiated to
make them look more professional – but the Nigerian Dream is all about the passion
inherent in the political class (especially members of the executive and
legislature) and citizens as a whole to hold the nation dear to their heart and
fight for her continued prosperity in unity and love irrespective of the
religious and tribal divide that makes Nigeria a geographical entity.
These said, the realisation of
the Nigerian Dream would be made meaningful when:
1.
All Nigerians exude a remarkable level of
patriotism for the country, which would be evident in the reduced emigration
crave to Dream countries “United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada,
Malaysia, Germany and South Africa, as these countries are widely considered as
destination point to efficiently reroute the realization of one’s dreams.
2.
Corruption is no longer a free for all and a
drastic clamp down on corrupt individuals is regularly achieved, thereby making
Nigeria a red-zone for the economic terrorist (corruption).
3.
There is a widespread peaceful coexistence of
Nigerians across the various strata of individual difference, especially religious
and ethnicity.
4.
There is a an extensive significant improvement
in the power generation capability of Nigeria, which would be greatly reflected
in the Foreign Direct Investment drive in the country, as well as the self employment-ability
and entrepreneurship of Nigerians (Local-content Investment Drive).
5.
The availability of infrastructural facilities
like good roads network, transport system, water supply system and efficient
telecommunications services which would have an increased and significantly
improved multiplier in driving efficiency in production.
6.
A diffused development of all states in the federation,
dwindling the uncontrolled migration to Lagos State. This is pivotal as it
would reduce congestion in Lagos and also make other states a port of call for
investment activities.
7.
An improved healthcare system and education
system, driving brain gain.
8.
Nigeria is the cynosure of the international
community for the RIGHT REASONS, as against the insecurity tensions, financial
misappropriation/corruption etc that repeatedly headlines it attention.
Conclusively, the Nigerian Dream
which should be devoid of individualism but full of what I would call
“collectivism” should be aimed at a successful country in which positive
stories told of its economic and political progressiveness doesn’t bring its
validity to questioning in the local and international community but a cue for
other governments and nationals to follow and emulate, whilst using Nigeria as
an epitome of reflective economic and political progress.
God bless Nigeria.
