Nigeria Has Come of Age 

On December 9^th 2004, Femi Kuti, the son of late Fela Kuti, the legendary Nigerian Afro- Soul-Beat musician was the guest of the BBC’s World Television talk show, Hardtalk. For 30 minutes that the programme lasted, Femi painted a very grime and pathetic picture of those governing Nigeria and Africa. Almost every question that was asked by the interviewer on Nigeria and Africa, Femi gave despondent answers. 

His responses manifested the despair that the Nigerian star and most Africans have toward those governing them. However, while Femi was right to vent his anger on some corrupt leaders of Africa and their supporters in Western Countries, he forgot one thing, the current changes going on in some parts of the Continent and in his native country: Nigeria.

Continental Changes 

Although the adjective change might mean many things on the continent, people such as Femi and billions around the world should be informed that, positive changes are really taking place on the Continent. Certainly there have been and will still prevail some negative changes like the pitiful state that, change has brought upon the people of Ivory Coast. Nevertheless all is not horrendous in Africa.  In the area of democracy, there have been remarkable improvements.  There are cases of peaceful democratic transitions in countries such as: Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa, and Mozambique to mention just these few.

Nonetheless, there are also failures in democracy and good governance such as: Cameroon, Tunisia, Algeria, Guinea, Republics of the Congo and Gabon. But some exceptional progress has been achieved in the area of peaceful cohabitation amongst former foes within the same country. Rwanda is a case in point. Burundi is also making progress.  

In Rwanda the former warring tribes are now are at peace with each other and stability and economic prosperity is gradually coming back. The only remarkable disappointment is the Democratic Republic of Congo; where its leaders are busy scheming and nursing tribal hatred instead of encouraging peace

Nigeria 

Nigeria is not just a dreadful case as Femi presented.  At the same time, it will be very difficult to change the strong negative perception about Nigeria in sub conscience of many.  But it has to be stressed that, since 1999, there have been many changes in Nigeria.  Sceptical minds such as Femi should excise some patience and also some honesty to recognise and accept that, President Mathew Olusegun Obasanjo can’t within a span of 4 or 5 years carry out a complete overhaul of attitudes and conducts that have existed in the country for the past 40 years.  

On the other hand, Femi should also be humble and courageous to accept that, no matter how excellent his late father was in music; he was not an example of moral rectitude. The father of Femi left a legacy that I do not think was edifying. Especially that, some attitudes and practices of father Kuti was inimical to youths.  In particular his loose sexual behaviours and reliance on drugs, these are some of the reasons why some African and some Nigerian youths are today in danger. 

This is because, they took father Femi as a role model, hence any mistake he did was taken as a style by some innocent Nigerian and African youths. Hence, while it is normal and justifiable for Femi Kuti to criticise Nigerians and some African leaders, some Africans like Femi, should start asking themselves individual questions. What have I done to change the situation in my country and the continent?  Are my works and attitudes toward my country inimical to its progress in the right direction?  Until some Africans are able to ask and answer these two questions, then will they be able to justify some of their regular criticisms of the systems in their countries.

Administrative changes in Nigeria

The civilian regime of Obasanjo in spite it shortcomings, have created a commission or service to fight against economic crimes.  This body is called the Economic and Financial Crime Commission. The government of Nigeria is also trying to diversify its economy from its preponderant dependent on Oil to other mining sectors and none mining sector, in particular the area of Agriculture.

Because of the professional way, in which the reforms operations have been carried out, the successes have not delayed in manifesting.  Today there are noticeable growths in the out put of Cocoa and other cash crops. And in the mining sector, Nigeria is improving its solid minerals and with a new mining law in place, noticeable growth will soon be seen. Although the reforms process has not been smooth, many Nigerian businessmen have developed confidence in the economy of their country. But it must be said that, the same confidence in the economy is not match with the doubts Nigerian have in their politicians (1).

However, where Nigeria has recorded a phenomenal growth and surprises are in the area of Telecommunications, within a short period, which is from 2001 to 2005, Nigeria has registered 10 million new lines. The mouth-watering successes of companies such as MTN and Globacom have made others that doubted the potentials of Nigeria to think twice. The second phases of privatisation has just been launched and major state cash consuming Industries that have excelled more in their mismanagement will be put on sale. The main ones are the state electricity utility company NEPA (2), National Railway Corporation, and Nitel (3).   

All the privatisation schemes are carried out in an almost transparent manner through the Bureau of Public Enterprises and in addition, the government has hired an International firm to bring more light on the operations in its lucrative Oil sector.  If those are not signs of progress, then I do not know how it should be called. However, there is still some unrest in parts of Nigeria, in particular in Niger Delta or occasionally in the North, between Moslems and Christians. But, it is not a case that is unique to Nigeria. Larger democracies such India, also face similar unrest with far more brutal consequences than what is going on in Nigeria.  

Columbia in Latin America has been for 40 years lurked in a civil war with her Marxist rebels and it has not deterred the peaceful parts to progress and attract investors. The problems of Nigeria are not more than those faced by Pakistan in Balouchistan province or the Philippine in the Mindanao province and recently, Thailand and her rebellious southern provinces. Nigeria certainly has her own unique centrifugal problems, but she is not on the brink or faces the kinds of problems faced by aforementioned countries.  

To the best of my knowledge, there is no caste system in Nigeria which is synonymous to apartheid which might prevent peace to come back in hotspots such as the Niger Delta. Hence, apocalyptic reports as those published in the Southern African Financial Mail of March 18^th 2005(4) are far from the reality and inimical to Nigeria’s image.

Notes:-

-        1) read: corruption and prosperity an article written by Leonard Lawal and by Fortune magazine November 200^th 2006

-        2) NEPA: National Electricity Power Authority

-        3) NITEL: Nigerian Telecommunications provider fix and mobile phone services

-        4)read the a report by the South African Institute of International Relations on investment in West Africa published in the Financial Mail on March 18^th 2005