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To repair Nigeria, all hands needed

By Editorial Board
27 January 2017   |   3:58 am
At no other time than now does Nigeria need all her citizens to put their hands on the plough and work to save the country. The economy is in tatters and poverty ravages the land.
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Nigeria Flag

At no other time than now does Nigeria need all her citizens to put their hands on the plough and work to save the country. The economy is in tatters and poverty ravages the land. Yet, Nigerians, including many in the Diaspora, have been found exceptional as solution providers. The utmost must therefore be done to engage the best hands in the work of repairing Nigeria.

No government, of course, can compel any Nigerian with knowledge or skills to come home and work for the nation except the atmosphere is made conducive and the incentive is encouraging. Indeed, many are often discouraged by what they see of how researchers, scientists and experts who stay back or work in the country are treated by the system. Facilities and resources must therefore be made available for people in order for Nigeria to be truly re-built. The country, regrettably, is currently hardly attractive to anyone who seeks excellence in his field of endeavour especially with such necessities as basic as regular electricity and water supply not available.

It is trite even to say that if the operating environment is conducive, Nigerians would return to their country in droves. Professionals need certain things to function optimally. Top on the list is a steady supply of electricity to do just about any business they are engaged in, be they doctors to perform surgical operation, researchers to conduct experiments, academics to read and write books, information technology engineers to design new products. But for Nigerians to return, where are the modern tools to work with? Where are the laboratories? And where are the libraries well equipped with up-to-date publications?

Section (2) of the country’s constitution says that government shall promote Science and Technology. And it is a well known fact that the United States of America’s large federal budget for research and development (R&D) has been that country’s ‘secret weapon which enabled it to achieve the domination of the world in innovation and the production of many game-changing goods and services. President Muhammadu Buhari was once reported to have promised N3 billion to a research foundation, a puny sum that can only do little: Such a gesture, combined with the fact that a very poor amount of money is allocated to the ministries of Science and Technology as well as Education illustrates the lack of seriousness in the quest for creating the environment that can attract talents into the country. Education is central to advances in science, technology and indeed every field of human activity. Sadly, education is not, as it should be, in the first order of priority in Nigeria.

As this newspaper once reported, Nigerians abroad would be too happy to make to their fatherland the kind of unquantifiable contributions they are forced by a hostile home environment to give to other nations. Even now, they remit into the Nigerian economy billions of dollars each year. This is a huge amount of money which a focused government could access to execute productive development projects to tangible, multiplying effect.

Also there are many examples of Nigerians who by choice returned with the patriotic zeal to do their bit for the country. There are many others who were headhunted to come home and work in government. Too many have, however, badly scarred by the experience of working for their fatherland. The intrigues, corrupt practices, stifling hostile attitude and meanness that pervade the operating environment have been simply unbearable for many. Some go back in frustration while some remain but badly burnt in career or financial terms.

Many Nigerians in the Diaspora also stay away from home because they are used to an environment where life and property are reasonably safe, where terms of contract are respected and the rule of law is adhered to, where government policies are largely consistent. They are used to a stable polity not dominated by political and financial corruption and where politicians play their game with maturity and with the best interest of the nation at heart. Almost all of these are still alien to Nigeria. What patriotic zeal would, for instance, drive a citizen to return to a home country where salaries are not paid for months?

No one will readily leave a society where things work for one where things don’t, where corruption in high places is a way of life. Certainly, most Nigerians would be too happy to return and help build their country but those in positions of power and authority must create the right conditions for it.

Nigeria needs all of her best or skilled hands on the deck. The government of the day must, in words and in deeds, invite, receive those hands and put them to good use.

6 Comments

  • Author’s gravatar

    The same hands that are boasting to rule it in the last 50 years with nothing to show for it but mess, are the hands to do the said repair or live with their mess. Eastern region will fix 50 years deficit under Republic Of Biafra now in existence, to be a model for Africa and uplift Africa in this 21st century world.

  • Author’s gravatar

    As a native easterner under Republic Of Biafra, you do not need anyone to allow you to control your God given resources, you are to defend your God given resources- which we will do with Republic Of Biafra now in existence and the ongoing BIAFRAN REVOLUTION WAR (BRW), God has given us sure Victory!

  • Author’s gravatar

    [Section (2) of the country’s constitution says that government shall promote Science and Technology. And it is a well known fact that the United States of America’s large federal budget for research and development (R&D) has been that country’s ‘secret weapon which enabled it to achieve the domination of the world in innovation and the production of many game-changing goods and services. President Muhammadu Buhari was once reported to have promised N3 billion to a research foundation, a puny sum that can only do little: Such a gesture, combined with the fact that a very poor amount of money is allocated to the ministries of Science and Technology as well as Education illustrates the lack of seriousness in the quest for creating the environment that can attract talents into the country. Education is central to advances in science, technology and indeed every field of human activity. Sadly, education is not, as it should be, in the first order of priority in Nigeria.]

    Your problem in Nigeria is that the system of government you practice is such that does not encourage the kind of leadership you need for the development of the country as you suggest in the article! The British Colonial government weaned you to a Parliamentary system whereby you have ‘Shadow Cabinet’ arrangement to keep in check what the incumbent administration is or can do but your stupid advisers, sued for American type in 1979 – a ‘Trajan Horse’ gift indeed, which works under strict laws and you have not the tendency to obey laws in Nigeria so how can you develop under such circumstance – thus the system allows the pillage of the funds meant for such developments anticipated for the people! A country where you give solutions and groups in the administration hijack such and claim that your ideas or solution belong to them – they covet your ideas as theirs and unashamedly claim payment for your solutions submitted and when you complain the senior or Heads of Departments do not say anything – they remain mute! I can say that I supplied the solution Nigeria required to fix that country that early – as eraly as 1986 of they had allowed Tunde Idiagbon and Buhari on the seat of government but then it was their duty as Military men to fight back at the ousting attempt so it is part of the problems in Nigeria leaders do not know why they should be on the seat as leaders other than the name and the possible perquisites derivable from such opportunity!

    Look. I urge you to glance through this website; http://www.virgo-enterprised.com and tell me what I have not done all of it sent for the attention of the Administrations including the problem discussed by the Northern Governors and their Emires just last week that early for somebody to have dealt with the problems posed not only in the North but in the entire country, yet we are in 2017 still talking about how to solve problems in the NORTH! Look, may God help you people in Nigeria! NO GAIN SAYING THIS BUT SOMEBODY SHOULD TELL YOU THAT UNLESS YOU DO AS I HAVE SUGGESTED IT in my last submission on 2nd February 2015 at ABUJA Offices, you’re not going anywhere I have said this by virtue of my past solutions and contributions the governments are using already in the country – exemplified in the Option A-4 and the adjuncts i.e. the finger/name reader machines idea; you can find it on page 161 of my book! On this point I want somebody in the Information Ministry and the Presidency to challenge my claim to this assertion! I said it all the priblem is that NIGERIAN AUTHORITIES ARE NOT GIVEN TO ACKNOWLEDGING THEIR CAPABLE NATIONALS otherwise with the quantum of work in that website all of which are with the authorities in Nigeria they remain UN-ASHAMED silent but, I am not going to remain silent with my kind of contributions solicited by the Heads of State for that matter for Nigeria! Thank you, folks!

  • Author’s gravatar

    See what I did further to help prod the minds of the seeming concerned Nigerians about firness and natural justice; I consulted with Barr. Falana calling him from London which he answered and he wanted to know more about my complaint and concern by asking me to send an e-mail to my inquiry! I did this and next I was to speak with him he declined my phone and I am wondering why after all all he is a ‘human right’ barrister oblivious to me that he was associated with SERAP group!
    2) The I did the same to Barr. Festus Keyamo and I urged him to search in Chief Fawehinme’s (SAN) Library to see that my book titled; “Nigeria – survival or disintegration!” where Option A-4 was lifted by Federal Government was delivered to his office if he (Festus Keyamo) worked for the legal luminary as he claimed, at the time of IBB’s political experimentation!
    3) Then I mentioned Kazeem Afegbua to also check on IBB’s shelves for my correspondences towards the evolution of ‘Option A-4 particularly on his 52nd birth day occasion with letters of congratulations to his office and to discover my format for the ‘Format INEC is using for results of the votes polled by candidates during elections!

    All these was to make it authentic enough for the administrations to see reason for my sincerity and concern and that I am still talking about this injustice leaves a lot for those in authority to explain why! Think about the number of Commissioners in INEC – all PhD holders and none contributory to the solutions they are asked to apply for your election in Nigeria even the ‘voter education idea’ and you’re talking about ‘democrats’ and corruption!

    I urge you to google the topic ‘Atlantic Slavery’ on the BBC Question Time program 29th Jan. 2017 and I have a book on the topic if you log onto; http://www.virgo-enterprised.com, with recommendations of what they can do to help humanity! To remind President Donald J. Trump about the event related to the arrival of the Africans in company of America’s historical records, to be amongst the first to arrived in the U.S. in the company of Amerigo Vespucci and Lucas Vasquez Ayllow at the coast of Peedee River, South Carolina from Sao Tome, the Principie and the Congo Basin -1452, 1501 and up to 1526 not forgetting the ‘fauna and flora’ the arrival and subsequent contributions for the Industrial Revolution in Europe and America, folks!

  • Author’s gravatar

    ALL HANDS ON DECK INDEED AND WE HEAR THEM SAY: Do or promoted things that remind us that we are one and not things that remind us that we are not ‘One’ and in September 2015 we were told how they pulled down and closed the Christian Chapel particularly the Children’s section at the ‘Aso Rock Villa’ and we are told how the Vice President could not do anything about the decision/ the policy to close the Chapel down! The much they could have done, if they were/ are thinking rationally is to reduce the number of attendants to the Chapel and control the noise in the compound from both the Chapel and Loud-speakers from the Mosques in the Villa – Nigeria being a ‘Secular State’ and these features paint the picture to visitors vividly about what to expect whilst in Nigeria! I don’t know what the situation is like in the Villa presently but to hear this kind of story even from the Senior Press adviser to the President claiming not to know who gave THE ORDER LEAVES A LOT FOR THE CAN people to discern really! Are they saying that when the Christian President comes to the Villa the Chapel will be re-opened or that there will be no more Christian President for Nigeria and if there is going to be one he should pray and worship outside the Villa whilst his Vice, possibly a Muslim, should worship inside the Villa – a rather mystifying arrangement and that will be the Day for Nigeria! Going by this closure of the Chapel it shows that your so-called orientation disseminating officers are either not trained or knowledgeable of what a true national orientation program is all about! I mean you cannot on one hand be preaching ‘One Nigeria’ and on the other you’re demonstrating that you are not ‘One’ or going to be ‘One’ and from your leaders for that matter, whoever is advising you in Nigeria!

    In any case this comment might be my last but look out for my 3rd book coming out any time from now and titled – “A Wake Up Call for …..!”, in it you’ll discover that Nigeria’s political problems could have been solved that early if they had accepted fully my recommendations in the publications! Log onto: http://www.virgo-enterprised.com and see the others to follow, folks!