When Nigeria was crying for change, people were too apathetic to listen, but now, ‘Change’ is crying for Nigeria and Nigeria must wake to embrace it!
I read with mixed feelings the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhamadu Sanusi’s article on Why Nigeria is underdeveloped.
I feel very happy that at least there are some highly placed individuals like the Emir who have time for and feel concerned about the Nigerian situation; people who know where our shoes pinch and who also know what we can do to redress the situation.
As much as I am happy about the Emir’s piece, I feel worried that our Lawmakers may not even see the article due to the exigency of their duty talk less of passing the message to the President.
I want to agree with the Emir that we have all it takes to develop Nigeria and make her self-reliant. China did not get to her present position in a day. She must have started by trials and errors. Let Nigeria too start this way for change.
I do not believe in failure. There is nothing like failure but there is something like mistake and we can always learn by our mistakes. It is when one does not try at all that one fails but if at the first attempt one fails, one must try again.
As I have pointed out earlier, we have all the resources needed to turn Nigeria around. We have land in abundance – fertile arable land suitable for Agriculture, we have manpower in quantum and we have money. Yes, we have money! I am tempted to say almost in excess. That may be an exaggerated view but we have money. Is all the billions stolen by just a few individual who found their ways in to public office not enough to create a city if well applied?
What we lack is the will, the ability and the courage to take a plunge. If we do not wake up and hold the bull by the horn to liberate Nigeria, Nigeria will remain as it is now – underdeveloped.
Following therefore are my humble suggestions to effect change for the better for Nigeria:
1. Nigeria must reactivate her refineries and build some more by the Government building or by collaborating with private investors or by creating enabling environment for private investment in the sector. We must stop relying on China and other foreign countries for refined products. It must be noted that for the size and population of Nigeria there cannot be too many refineries.
2. We must reactivate or resuscitate our industries, particularly the Textile industries. Closely connected to rejuvenation of our industries is the need to do something about our power supply. This is because industries can hardly thrive where there is no power supply.
Importation of foreign goods that could otherwise be produced in Nigeria should be stopped or discouraged. This could be done by imposition of heavy tariffs and duties on importation of non-essential goods and goods that are being produced locally.
1. Exportation of raw materials that could be used to develop Nigerian industries is to be stopped. This should include the exportation of crude oil.
2. Agriculture should be given its former place of pride. Farm settlements should be resuscitated to address unemployment and reduce crimes. If our boys who now resort to kidnapping are settled and gainfully engaged they may notthink of kidnapping people for money.
3. The President should use the Prisoners Exchange Program between Nigeria and China to recall Nigerians who are reported to be languishing in Chinese jails but whom China is exploiting to drive her economy by using them as human machines to produce what Nigerians and other nationals rush to China to get .
Nigerian government is to investigate the cases of these Nigerian prisoners in China to see those were not tried or given fair trial before they were lurked into jail and take necessary action on them. The real offenders who are in Chinese jail should be made to come back home to continue their jail terms and be made to work for Nigeria as they were doing for China while in Chinese jails.
. Government to sponsor Nigerians to foreign countries notable for assembling of vehicles to learn how to assembly cars, trucks, motor cycles, etc so that we may start assembling them ourselves.
Nigerian educational system should be technical oriented so that our young graduates and school leavers may learn and know how to make and repair simple household gadgets.
1. After reactivation of our industries, the government should create an enabling environment for the industries by creating market for them. For example, government must encourage the use of locally made cloths by the Police, the Army, NYSC and all such organizations to have their uniforms made of made in Nigeria cloths.
2. From the mass of land that we have in Nigeria the government is advised to create a New Town – a city of hope for Nigerians abroad who want to come back home after their sojourn overseas and probably for those who are repatriated.
The New Town to be made conducive to good living by having amenities such as electricity, water supply, schools, hospitals, shopping centres and markets.
Who says this cannot be possible or that we do not enough resources for such? Nigeria was not as buoyant as it is now when Abuja was conceived and built!
Let all the stolen monies that are being retrieved now be plunged into the project and I am sure there will be a great change for the better for Nigerians. We have solid minerals in abundance in the northern part of the country and also in commercial quantities in some southern states. I remember that as young girl my father used to be involved in gold mining activities in and around Ilesha, Osun State. I am sure the gold is still there! This can fetch Nigeria money. The government should establish or encourage the establishment of gold mining and stone polishing industries as necessary.
Nigeria should please wake up and tap these resources which are wasting away underground when she needs them overland for her development.
Nothing will please me more than seeing some of my suggestions being implemented in my lifetime as I am now in my 80s.
This is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Accordingly, it is difficult to figure out when to end it. But then, this is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Period.
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon