NIGERIA’S IMAGE AT HOME AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY According to Transparency International, an organization that monitors international financial corruption. Nigeria is the 172nd most corrupt country on earth out of 215 nations surveyed. No wonder members of the international community dreads Nigerians and tries of relentlessly to frustrate their efforts from obtaining a visa into their country for numerous reasons from seeking education or vacation. Back at home, the situation is similar, corruption is the core negative attribute that Nigeria and Nigerians have been labelled with-parents bribe school teachers and examiners for their children, business men seek juicy contracts by bribing the authorities. Unknown to many, the members of the international community are watching with keen interest and at the same time implementing measures to ward off Nigerians. Going back in time before the country’s foray into the military era, Nigeria was recognized as the giant of Africa because of its massive populace of 170 million people and its potential for diverse industrial output. This amongst other positive factors has attracted investors from around the globe to come and tap from its resources but due to unfavourable government policies many have closed shop and left. An example is the British businessman, Richard Branson who tried to resurrect the National carrier with his virgin Brand. After a negative foresight, he sold the company and described Nigeria as “the killer of dreams”. But what went wrong? Many ask, the answer lies in the negligence of sensitive issues by the military which in turn created cankerworms such as poverty and unemployment. He legislators can the highest salaries in the world, with a basic wage of #122,000, nearly double what British MPs earn and many hundreds of times that of the country’s ordinary citizens. No wonder the ruling elite can afford luxury homes in London or Paris, and top end cars that, across West Africa have led to the subsequent “Wabenzi” or people of the Mercedes – Benz. Yet 70% of Nigerians live below the poverty line of N150 a day struggling with a failing infrastructure and chronic fuel shortages because of lack of petrol refining capacity. With this staggering fact, the youth which accounts for 50% of Nigeria’s population are forced to indulge in illegal alternatives to wealth such as oil theft, drug trafficking internet fraud, armed robbery which has invariably given the country a bad reputation. Nigeria is not quite the most corrupt country on earth as efforts are being made to redeem the image of the country both home and abroad. On the local scene, parastatals such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) amongst others were set up by the civilian government headed by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo to combat the activities of corrupt individuals. On the International Scene, Bilateral relations have been re-established and strengthened to promote trade, and to rebuild the trust that was once breached. The result of these has opened the gates of the Nigerian society to investors all over the globe to come and exploit the enormous resources it has to offer. The rate of internet fraud, drug trafficking has drastically reduced as its participants – the youth, are now being involved in various ventures in entertainment, energy, IT, Telecoms, fashion and retail. Today, we can boast of the likes of P-square, D’banj, Wizkid, Tuface and Davido who have all taken the Nigeria music to the globe and as well signing partnerships with international record labels and multinational companies. Not he entrepreneurial level, Mike Adenuga, Aliko Dangote, Tayo Oviosu and the rest have all made Nigeria proud by establishing their businesses on international frontiers. We can go on in the area of sports, fashion, style, etc but through we may be plagued by infirmities such as violence, insecurity and unemployment, we proud today because Nigerians are now risking up to the challenge and at the same time correcting the bad impression Nigeria has always been smeared with. We might not be there yet, but the recent developments triggered by the Nigerian community have rebuilt faith and trust by the international community though we still have a lot to deal with and conquer at least there is hope. My God is my strength
Posted on: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 21:13:47 +0000
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