allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Mismanagement - a Symbol of National Identity (Page 1 of 1)

Recently in Canada, my four –year-old son asked one of the most realistic questions that a child of his age could ever ask: "Daddy, why is NEPA in Canada better than NEPA in Nigeria?" The only answer I could give him was that, NEPA in Canada is being managed by more responsible people than NEPA in Nigeria. I had to diffuse his mind when he wanted to probe further for explanation on why such a difference in behaviours.

Realistically, National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) or Power Holding Corporation of Nigeria (PHCN), whatever the name is now, has not improved in its services since I was born and the younger generation of Nigerians may never see any improvement either. Lack of electricity is an unquestionable way of life. Governor Liyel Imoke, the former power and steel minister, stated during his Senate hearing that, there are 21 new power generating turbines of NEPA wasting away at the port; a very interesting explanation, but who is responsible? Hope for a steady power supply may never come in this century because we are not capable of managing public utilities. It has become our religion to destroy our own investments as a form of our newly found individualistic attitudes. Patriotism has no definition and is considered vague and vain in our daily latitude. Does anyone notice how this lack of patriotism submerged in our individualistic culture is shaping the nation towards a visibly approaching anarchy?

National Youth Service Corps was established about 1973 to integrate Nigerian youths by exposing young university graduates to other parts of the country other than their state of origin and place of abode. In addition to a University certificate, it became a prerequisite for employment. The nation embraced it, and youth corps year was added as part of schools graduation programmes. Today, a graduate is lucky if he is scheduled to commence his service immediately after finishing school because, the National Youth Service Corps cannot accommodate every person eligible any more— for lack of funds to pay N7, 500 to each and every participant. A university or polytechnic graduate can be on the waiting list for about a year before being called to serve. Gradually, the frustration is now telling on the youths who are becoming restive and unpatriotic towards the country. This beautiful programme of assimilation and integration has been completely mismanaged beyond its original concept.

The Nigeria Railway was one of my modes of transportation from Federal Government College, Enugu, to Kaduna during my secondary school days in the 70s. But my 15-year old son sees train services only on television programmes as an efficient and effective transportation system in other countries of the world. For the past 20 years, the federal government has been on a verge of re-establishing the rail system. Billions of naira has gone down the drain, but the rail project has appeared as a mere mirage and a flickering illusion to be attained. To me, as long as Nigerians are heading the project, chances are that, the railway system in Nigeria may never take-off in the next century.

Nigeria is now listed as one of the world's largest importers of fertilizer. The two fertilizer producing companies, the Nigerian Fertilizer Company in Port Harcourt, and the Super- phosphate in Kaduna supplemented our imported volumes. Both companies are now dead out of sheer mismanagement. No one dares to think back, and the nation paddles towards oblivion of a prospect of economic vitality.

We hear in the news these days of one Kenny Martins being sought -after by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for mismanaging the N50 billion of the Nigeria Police Endowment Funds. If Kenny Martins is a Nigerian, why are we surprised? Has our culture changed over night whereby a Nigerian can be trusted with such a responsibility and go home empty- handed? Are Nigerians puzzled over any figure embezzled in the system anymore? If he is a Nigerian, then the government has no reason to hold him. It is part of our national identity card to steal, and therefore, he deserves to be left alone.

The EFCC has been trailing some ex governors in our country purported to have stolen billions of naira from their respective states. These same governors now serve in the Nigerian Senate as duly elected members of a political system of government. No one is talking about them any more. They are by all means, qualified to enact laws, rules and regulations for Nigerians. The appalling qualification and justification of their election or selection into the Senate undermines any truthful path to the recovery of equal rights and justice in a system of government, any where else in the world. If this is acceptable in Nigeria, then we have also mismanaged democracy as a government of the will of the people.

The Nigerian National Shipping Line crumbled to a halt in our very eyes; the Nigerian Telecommunications company (NITEL) is virtually dead; there are about 100 repairable government owned aircraft worth over N40 billion grounded and neglected at various airports in the country, without a single effort to resuscitate them. With more money pumped into the system to buy new aircraft for government agencies, our visions are covered by a membrane of forgetfulness, while we trod towards greater Nigeria that may never come for us or our children. Death of maintenance culture, and our huge appetite for new versions of rules circumvention to loot our own selves, has created a demeaning symbol of a unified identity.

With the rising tide of hunger worldwide, the federal government has just released N80 billion for the importation of rice for Nigerians. Just like government imported fertilizers, very few people without connections will be able to buy a single grain of rice. Those in charge of distributing it will obviously sell to themselves for onward resale to the public at exorbitant prices. Who will verify the quantity of rice being imported, and who will monitor the distribution rationale? As long as Nigerians are bestowed with the responsibility for the importation and distribution of that rice, the result will be futile. Who ever thinks otherwise, should please, challenge me.

Mismanagement as an endearing belief, assumption and tradition of Nigerians from generation to generation over a long period of time, has become our culture. The forces of corruption are more rudimentary, powerful and over bearing than those of an incorruptible society. The danger in our country is that, there is no visible sign of a possible discord of the trend and, therefore, we are lumped and submerged below a recoverable level.

Though, I condemn the reactionary process of the Niger Delta militants or dissidents, the fact that they have easy access to the nation's wealth, and also see how conspicuous our leaders mismanage this wealth, express a relative sense of defiance in their action? Is there any way we can avoid this sense of hopelessness among our youths? The issue of Niger Delta is elitist. The youths are armed by those who were high in government before, who have tasted power, and who obviously know the weaknesses and strengths of our polity. Gross inequity in the distribution of oil wealth to Nigerians, coupled with how our leaders have exposed the bogus conduit -pipe used for draining funds from the system, have constantly created renewed interest in die-hard money making syndrome. The overall effect of this would be an ungovernable system whereby, a collapsed economy could reinforce youths' impetus to make money at all costs, even if it means dying in the process.

The only solution is a radical departure from the current position of which any one in government can steal as much as possible with little or no retributions. But the question is who is credible enough to promote a mitigating effect of the status quo? From all intent and purpose, Yar'Adua seems geared towards such a direction, but who can carry the cross with him? As far as my eyes can see, he seems to be standing alone.

The Nigerian Senate's recent probing of those who have mismanaged the trusted public offices is viewed with resentments, because, nothing will come out of it. Exposed public looters feel honoured in Nigeria since their assumed wealth level is publicly displayed, their value in the country will obviously be higher with invitation to public functions for possible donations. Even churches look for them to be honoured as deacons and deaconesses.

The only unique bond and identity of Nigerians in a country of over 250 dialects is mismanagement of public property. This is our symbol of the 21st century and there is no sign of abating.

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