Things that must Change in Nigeria

Unbridled migration/emigration of desperate Nigerians to hell When you go to any embassy in Nigeria you will see Nigerians in long queues, some waking up at 4am to be on the line. What is driving them out of Nigeria? I was shocked to hear that Nigerians constitute a significant portion of the illegal immigrants that drown daily in the Mediterranean Sea. Recently I watched loads and loads of Nigerian evicted from Libya. Libya? I am told of the numbers of countless Nigerians languishing in foreign jails and many are on the death roll in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Africa and China for drug- trafficking. I am thoroughly ashamed to be said to belong to a country where some young people prefer to migrate to hell than live in their country. Is there nothing really that we can do to stop this national disgrace? Street trading, begging, hawking and refuse dumping on highways Though my heart goes out each time I see young men and women crisscross the highways to sell their wares to passengers in moving vehicles, I have always wondered if there is nothing we can do to give these young and often not-too young folks who risk their lives and demean their personalities a decent chance to eck out a living, to do more decent jobs or ply their trades in a proper market? Then I am bewildered that in many cities, everywhere is turning into markets especially in such places as Aba, Portharcourt, Kano and Ibadan. Then the whole environment is littered with refuse. On the highways these days you find new trading settlements in places like Ogere in Ogun State, Lokpanta in Abia State and Obehie in Rivers State and the whole road median is covered with refuse and the people continue to buy and sell on the refuse, day in and day out. Have we lost our sense of decency or what? Barbaric ways of tax/levy collection and enforcement In many states of this country, it is very embarrassing to see so-called revenue collectors jump on to the road from hide outs or put dangerous spikes to force vehicles to stop. Many accidents have occurred from this type of ambush. Sometimes, revenue collectors or regulatory agents scale fences to shut down factories for alleged tax evasion. Can’t we stop these barbaric acts of impunity? The governments at all levels should ensure that they use due process of law to enforce any mandate, including ejecting illegal squatters. Many foreign businessmen and visitors are alarmed at this lack of due process in regulatory enforcement. Nigeria must stop these rofo-rofo practices as they bring shame to our country. Politics without ideology and political harlotry I am ashamed of the level of primordial politics played in Nigeria – politics of stomach infrastructure. Elected and non elected political office holders switch parties at the drop of a hat. No ideology, no principles. What matters is temporary relevance and access to the national wealth. If you cannot beat them, you join them. When can we stop this political harlotry in Nigeria? It demeans the political class and rubs off negatively on the image of our nation. Let us get elected officers to resign their positions and return to the electorate, if they must cross carpets. Some deterrence is badly needed to help stop this political harlotry. Mazi Sam I. Ohuabunwa OFR