The Answer

 

An actual road in Nigeria

I said I wasn’t done ranting about the country I love so much. I wish I didn’t find any reason to keep venting after my two days break from writing but how is that possible in this lifetime?

I witnessed a vehicle burning over the weekend and as I approached, I saw that it had burnt to the ground, but what shocked me was the brand new fire truck that the firemen arrived in to put out the fire. With all the emergency lights and the well kitted men fighting the fire I had to pinch myself to be sure that I wasn’t dreaming.

But why were they late? It is not all about the show, I acknowledge that some state governors are trying their best to ensure that some of these amenities are working but to me it is not all about buying shiny new stuff, how about human development? The people need to be trained and response time worked on; we should have passed the stages of “could have” and “would have” but hey! we are still here. Truly all those who work for the Government in Nigeria should be applauded because it is not exactly an easy task to work in these spaces.

I had a discussion with someone who works in the agency that tackles human trafficking in Nigeria and it was a horror story. These people work out of their pockets and they are owed for a long time by the Government that they work for. Sounds unbelievable right?

This should be one of, if not the most important agency in our country, with the growing rate of human trafficking and deaths that occur as a result, shouldn’t this Government empower this agency to ensure that their duties are carried out diligently? They seem to be forgotten, the staff run the offices and discharge their duties from their pockets; they make long distance trips to and fro totally by themselves. Where else on earth will this sort of thing happen? Only in Nigeria! When they refuse to use their own funds, they are at the risk of losing their jobs for lack of interest. For real?

I am almost certain that the reason we still do not have uninterrupted power supply is because the sector is jinxed and we need years of solemn prayers and deliverance to get it right in that area. Everyone thought that Mr. Fashola had the magic wand but we see the poor man struggling daily. He now knows that black magic is not only for land conflicts in the villages. Lol!

I read somewhere that JAMB even made the cut off mark into Polytechnics lower and I wonder what is going on. While other African countries celebrate the success in their education sector we seem to be killing ours; others are upping their game while we keep rubbing ours in the mud. 

In other countries, the Government owned schools are popular and every student dreams of going to one but it is an old trend in our dear country. Even the Missionary schools were taken from the Churches at some point which action can never be justified.

Little wonder our fathers and mothers turned out better than us? They were taught by the best in the Government and Missionary schools that they attended. All the elder statesmen in Nigeria attended one of such schools.

I wish I was born in those days when parents sent their children and wards to Government schools and later on Federal schools miles away from home without fear or favour. Now children cry at the mention of Government or Federal schools. The schools are shadows of what they used to be and if the old students do not step in to help, the schools would deteriorate and those in charge would do absolutely nothing. 

The Government has left parents at the mercy of the Private schools who charge an arm, a leg and the neck to give our children what those who are responsible for them will never give to them.

Recently, the school feeding programme kicked off and there was so much noise about it. When do we stop celebrating our entitlement? And if the videos going round are anything to go by, then those in charge should be prosecuted for the evil done to the poor kids who attend the public schools.

Yes, only the poor children attend the public schools, the average families send their children to the moderately priced private schools, the rich go to the expensive private schools and the very rich send their children to study abroad.

Please what is the definition of a failed nation? The answer is Nigeria! This is not to ignore the efforts of the few governors who do the right thing. But how can a Government owe its staff for several months? hmm… it can only happen in Nigeria and the result, every day strike.

Nothing can ever convince me that those who use sirens in traffic to harass poor citizens like me out of the way are not insane. Siren on extremely bad roads, do these people in charge feel no shame?

And the last issue I’ll mention before I rest this depressing post is the Fulani herdsmen senseless killings. Nigerians should get together and pray; I know that our prayers will work faster than what those at the helm of authority will do for us and no I do not rest my case. Not just yet