The last few mornings on my way to work, I've been struck by the following billboard:
As it was taken out of my car window, it may be difficult to read.
At the top of the billboard it says:
''Conversations to Change the Nation''
Below which it asks:
''Why?:
- are we poor?
- is there no electricity?
- are we importing fuel?
- is corruption so pervasive?''
And every time I've seen this billboard I've thought: ''Yes...Why?''
I'm not an expert on Nigeria in any way, shape, or form but, now that I've been hear about 6 weeks, I feel as though I have a vague idea as to why some of these problems exist.
Corruption is so pervasive because, quite frankly, the majority of Nigerians seem to have accepted it as inevitable. This includes both the average citizen and the appointed officials - including police personnel (as I discussed in an earlier post) and so both the givers and the takers accept it as a way of life. It doesn't have to be. Wole is proof that, if you simply don't pay, the opportunity for those in the position to be corrupt is severely diminished.
Nigeria is importing fuel because they have few (if any) facilities in-country with which to process the vast quantities of crude oil coming out of the ground in conflict-ridden regions like the Niger Delta. It is well within the capability of the government to invest in oil processing facilities and yet it seems as though foreign interests dictate that Nigeria's political leaders should continue to out-source what they are perfectly capable of doing themselves. In this case, political will ought to be influenced by the will of the people and yet, as electoral corruption has previously been common in Nigeria, those in political power did not necessary come to be so by legitimate means. Idealistically, I would like to say that, if the Nigerian people decided to no longer stand for it, to demand free and fair elections, and to require that their leaders represent their interests, then things would change. Although great change and sweeping social movements have taken hold in much of the Arab world recently, I fear it will be far more difficult for Nigerians to assert their demands.
There is no electricity (or, I should say, no reliable electricity) in Nigeria because the demand far exceeds the supply. Unfortunately, the Nigerian government also sells its electricity to neighboring countries such as Niger and Benin and, as such, an already scarce supply of power is further diminished. As such, the majority of Nigerians relay on diesel-operated generators to provide their homes with electricity. In conversation with a Nigerian at work the other day, I was told that, as long as there are generators, there will never be a solution to the electricity problem; the generator manufacturers make too much money and Nigerians are complacent with what they have. Until Nigerians suffer with no power at all, they will lack the motivation to demand changes be made. I think this is all related to a lack of political will although, to his credit, the current President Goodluck Jonathan has said that it is possible for Nigeria to have a fully functioning, reliable system of power by the year 2015. As my colleague pointed out, he said it was possible - he didn't say he would make it happen.
As to the question - ''why are [Nigerians] poor?'' - I fear the answer is more complicated than I am qualified to address. Education seems to be a strong priority for Nigerians and, although the public school system is clearly broken, at least there is a drive for the youth to be educated. In fact, beyond basic education, there are training programs for any manner of task or profession - from accounting to janitorial work- in high abundance all over the country. Furthermore, Nigerians are tremendously enterprising people and it seems as though everyone I meet has a business or an idea with the passion (although perhaps not the initial funding or capital) with which to execute it. With the combination of education and the drive to succeed, it is sad to me that so many Nigerians struggle to survive.
To be truthful, however, there are other issues at play here.
Nigerians are not renown for their money management skills - as it is a cash-based society, few people have bank accounts and thus, few people are able to save. Furthermore, culturally-significant events such as weddings and births demand that relatives and friends literally shower each other with money and so, if saving exists outside of banks, it is usually forgotten for the sake of maintaining cultural expectations. And, of course, high value is placed on status symbols such as designer clothes, imported cars, and sprawling houses-come-mansions.
Beyond a lack of savings and a culture that seems to diminish the importance of ''sensible spending,'' the persisting poverty of these hard-working people is the lack of real employment opportunities. In fact, just the other day, we got into a cab driven by a man with an MBA... Still, I feel it is hardly right for me to point the finger at the Nigerian government for failing to provide its own, educated, hard-working citizens with opportunities for decent employment. After all, the American government is also struggling with its own increasingly educated, increasingly under-employed / un-employed population. And, as am sure many would argue, '' it isn't the government's job to provide people with jobs.'' I find this to be true, to some extent. I would, however, argue that although we shouldn't ask the government to just ''give its people jobs,'' it isn't unfair to ask that government to make investments and policy decisions that encourage the growth of new sectors and businesses and programs and projects which would, in turn, give all of us un-and-under employed people a chance to work, to pay back our student loans, to support our families, to improve our position in life, and, more simply, to DO something with our lives. Oh, and, the banks need to be straightened out - it seems absolutely ridiculous that Nigerian banks demand 40% collatoral in order to get a loan to start or grow a small business. As one business owner said ''If I had 40% collatoral, why on earth would I need a loan?!''
Of course, this is all easier said that done. And, one can hardly expect the Nigerian government to overcome its obstacles of unemployment and poverty if we, the ''all-knowing Americans'' struggle to come to terms with it as well.
What impresses me, in all of this, is that Nigerians are bothering to ask ''why?'' - why are there problems. And, one can assume that, once someone asks ''why?'' it isn't a long leap to asking ''what can be done?''
I strongly believe this is the first step to improvement.
As it was taken out of my car window, it may be difficult to read.
At the top of the billboard it says:
''Conversations to Change the Nation''
Below which it asks:
''Why?:
- are we poor?
- is there no electricity?
- are we importing fuel?
- is corruption so pervasive?''
And every time I've seen this billboard I've thought: ''Yes...Why?''
I'm not an expert on Nigeria in any way, shape, or form but, now that I've been hear about 6 weeks, I feel as though I have a vague idea as to why some of these problems exist.
Corruption is so pervasive because, quite frankly, the majority of Nigerians seem to have accepted it as inevitable. This includes both the average citizen and the appointed officials - including police personnel (as I discussed in an earlier post) and so both the givers and the takers accept it as a way of life. It doesn't have to be. Wole is proof that, if you simply don't pay, the opportunity for those in the position to be corrupt is severely diminished.
Nigeria is importing fuel because they have few (if any) facilities in-country with which to process the vast quantities of crude oil coming out of the ground in conflict-ridden regions like the Niger Delta. It is well within the capability of the government to invest in oil processing facilities and yet it seems as though foreign interests dictate that Nigeria's political leaders should continue to out-source what they are perfectly capable of doing themselves. In this case, political will ought to be influenced by the will of the people and yet, as electoral corruption has previously been common in Nigeria, those in political power did not necessary come to be so by legitimate means. Idealistically, I would like to say that, if the Nigerian people decided to no longer stand for it, to demand free and fair elections, and to require that their leaders represent their interests, then things would change. Although great change and sweeping social movements have taken hold in much of the Arab world recently, I fear it will be far more difficult for Nigerians to assert their demands.
There is no electricity (or, I should say, no reliable electricity) in Nigeria because the demand far exceeds the supply. Unfortunately, the Nigerian government also sells its electricity to neighboring countries such as Niger and Benin and, as such, an already scarce supply of power is further diminished. As such, the majority of Nigerians relay on diesel-operated generators to provide their homes with electricity. In conversation with a Nigerian at work the other day, I was told that, as long as there are generators, there will never be a solution to the electricity problem; the generator manufacturers make too much money and Nigerians are complacent with what they have. Until Nigerians suffer with no power at all, they will lack the motivation to demand changes be made. I think this is all related to a lack of political will although, to his credit, the current President Goodluck Jonathan has said that it is possible for Nigeria to have a fully functioning, reliable system of power by the year 2015. As my colleague pointed out, he said it was possible - he didn't say he would make it happen.
As to the question - ''why are [Nigerians] poor?'' - I fear the answer is more complicated than I am qualified to address. Education seems to be a strong priority for Nigerians and, although the public school system is clearly broken, at least there is a drive for the youth to be educated. In fact, beyond basic education, there are training programs for any manner of task or profession - from accounting to janitorial work- in high abundance all over the country. Furthermore, Nigerians are tremendously enterprising people and it seems as though everyone I meet has a business or an idea with the passion (although perhaps not the initial funding or capital) with which to execute it. With the combination of education and the drive to succeed, it is sad to me that so many Nigerians struggle to survive.
To be truthful, however, there are other issues at play here.
Nigerians are not renown for their money management skills - as it is a cash-based society, few people have bank accounts and thus, few people are able to save. Furthermore, culturally-significant events such as weddings and births demand that relatives and friends literally shower each other with money and so, if saving exists outside of banks, it is usually forgotten for the sake of maintaining cultural expectations. And, of course, high value is placed on status symbols such as designer clothes, imported cars, and sprawling houses-come-mansions.
Beyond a lack of savings and a culture that seems to diminish the importance of ''sensible spending,'' the persisting poverty of these hard-working people is the lack of real employment opportunities. In fact, just the other day, we got into a cab driven by a man with an MBA... Still, I feel it is hardly right for me to point the finger at the Nigerian government for failing to provide its own, educated, hard-working citizens with opportunities for decent employment. After all, the American government is also struggling with its own increasingly educated, increasingly under-employed / un-employed population. And, as am sure many would argue, '' it isn't the government's job to provide people with jobs.'' I find this to be true, to some extent. I would, however, argue that although we shouldn't ask the government to just ''give its people jobs,'' it isn't unfair to ask that government to make investments and policy decisions that encourage the growth of new sectors and businesses and programs and projects which would, in turn, give all of us un-and-under employed people a chance to work, to pay back our student loans, to support our families, to improve our position in life, and, more simply, to DO something with our lives. Oh, and, the banks need to be straightened out - it seems absolutely ridiculous that Nigerian banks demand 40% collatoral in order to get a loan to start or grow a small business. As one business owner said ''If I had 40% collatoral, why on earth would I need a loan?!''
Of course, this is all easier said that done. And, one can hardly expect the Nigerian government to overcome its obstacles of unemployment and poverty if we, the ''all-knowing Americans'' struggle to come to terms with it as well.
What impresses me, in all of this, is that Nigerians are bothering to ask ''why?'' - why are there problems. And, one can assume that, once someone asks ''why?'' it isn't a long leap to asking ''what can be done?''
I strongly believe this is the first step to improvement.
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