There are quite a few things the Nigerian government does not know about its system and its people. A government -- any government -- without reliable data cannot sufficiently plan for its people; distributing resources may become unwieldy. Even if the government is ignorant; what about the many universities and research institutions in the country? With more than 30 universities, yet, one can hardly find reliable data on most matters.

Two social phenomenons ought to have caught the attention of social scientists, or pricked the interest of statisticians in Nigeria . But alas, that’s not the case. As a result, there are no known studies or data set to enable one make a definite pronouncement on the issue of Nigerians who go abroad to give birth or those who go overseas to seek medical care -- only to die in transit or die in foreign hospitals.

Because of this limitation, one has to rely on the oral account of a dozen immigration officials at two main airports in Nigeria , and on first-hand account of female friends and acquaintances that are familiar with these observable facts -- facts that are at times subjects of discussion in some of the Nigerian social events one has partaken in.

In addition to not knowing the official number of women who go abroad to deliver babies, or of those who go in search of treatment and die, no one can tell, with any degree of certainty, the amount of money that is transferred abroad (for payment of services). Still, it is estimated that Nigerians transfer about $2.5 billion every years to clinics and hospitals in the US and six other western nations. In recent years, more and more of such money has been ending up in South Africa and Ghana . It is reasonably estimated that in another decade or so, the money spent on giving birth and dying abroad will surpass the amount spent on foreign education.

Several decades ago, I spent a few years at both Ilu Drive and Queens Drive. To my knowledge, pre-1990 Ikoyi was home to some of the owners, rulers, and shakers of Nigeria . It was an oasis. Within that setting, it was not uncommon to hear of people going to and or returning from trips abroad. This was also the case with those I knew in other wealthy enclaves around the country. The UK , especially, seem like an adjourning state.

Outside of those communes however, going abroad on vacation or just for the fun of it, was a dream. At best, a rarity. Outside of the wealthy enclaves, most of those who hopped on the plane had specific reasons for doing so: to study, going on short courses sponsored by their employers, or going to join loved-ones. Most didn’t go abroad just because “abroad was there.”

On my street and on the many streets I was familiar with, some kids claimed to have been born in Germany , the UK , France , or the US . But mostly the UK . In my early years, it was rare to hear of people who died in transit or who died abroad in search of medical care. This rarity may have been due to the fact that the Lagos of youth had quality clinics and hospitals like Saint Nicolas, IGBOBI, LUTH and many others. Neighboring Ibadan has the University of Ibadan Teaching Hospital .

True, some people may have gone abroad for medical care; it was not the obsession it has become. Also, some kids may have been born abroad, especially the UK , but it was not the fixation it has become. Today, going abroad to have babies has become a national pastime; going abroad for medical treatment has become a status symbol. Sadly, some die in transit or die on hospital beds because of delayed or poor medical care at home.

For some, going overseas to have babies is an objective that must be met at all cost. It doesn’t matter what country. Overseas is overseas so long as it is not Nigeria . Pregnant wives and pregnant mistresses who can’t secure visa to their preferred destinations settle for third rate countries. South Africa is fast becoming a destination of choice for everything and anything.

The pull and push factors behind these trends are a telling evidence that Nigeria is sick. The pull and push factors behind these craze are a telling evidence that most Nigerian leaders (and leadership) since 1979 has been a collection of deranged and fucked-up knots. The mad dash abroad to have babies, and going abroad for medical treatment, is a symptom of what Nigeria has become: a failed, crumbling and disappointing entity.

It is a sad commentary on the leadership of a country -- of any country -- when the most basic of all fundamentals can not be provided to the overwhelming number of the masses. It is an irony of fate that some of the leaders from yester-years, along with their kids and immediate family members are also now suffering as a result of the inadequacies of the Nigerian State they presided over. Some now swim in the cesspool they created.

Not minding the absence of the fundamentals of development, the Cross River State Government has, since 2005, spent more than $700 million constructing the Tinapa Business Resort. Not minding the futility of white elephant projects, the Lagos State Government is scheming to build the Lagos Mega City Project; Imo State is bent on the Wonderland Lake Resort and Conference Centre at Oguta, with a price tag of $100 million. This is senselessness beyond comprehension.

In Bayelsa State , the move is on to build an airport (not an airstrip) even though the state has no sewage system, no potable water, no science laboratories, and no access to quality education and healthcare. Somehow, Governor Timipre Sylva has decided that an airport is more important in an atmosphere of abject poverty and seamless hopelessness.

Even after N550 billion in oil money allocations, much of the state is stuck in the 18th century. The Governor is illogically in search of illogicality. It is this kind of thinking, this kind of awful and lawless governance that has contributed to the failing and crumbling state that is Nigeria .

Sabidde@yahoo.com

Robot  # 1 | 07.10.2008 21:51

There are quite a few things the Nigerian government does not know about its system and its people. A government -- any government -- without reliable data cannot sufficiently plan f...Read the full article.

Agidimolaja  # 2 | 07.10.2008 23:30

....and what has Jomo Gbomo and other militant criminal thugs in the Niger Delta area done to Sylva,the perverse Governor of Bayelsa who is nothing but a carbon copy of Alams? Why has he not been kidnapped by militants who are crying wolf over their so called resources, or is the money to be spent on the needless airport not peoples' money that supposed to be used for their betterments? The militants too are just as sick in mind as our leaders.

Olu Affairs  # 3 | 08.10.2008 05:22

The rot in governance, won't stoop so low as to call it leadership seems to get from bad to worse as time passes by in Nigeria. The so called new and young politicians are even worse than those of yester years. While the old thieves (presidents, head of states, governors and all public officials) looted and plundered the nation in millions, the armed robbers of these days (presidents, head of states, governors and all public officials) are doing a better job by brazenly stealing in billions. Ironically, the Jomo gbomos', Asari Dokubos and their likes are only interested in the same trade as the two mentioned earlier. They live in opulence while the common ordinary people of the delta that they allegedly claim to represent live in abject poverty and penury. A trip to some of these areas will shock most Nigerians beyond belief as in my case.

Domeremember  # 4 | 08.10.2008 08:00

It is a pity what Nigeria has become. Whenever I read books written when Nigeria was still a giant, It makes me feel bad seeing the way things are going. But it seems our leaders are not seeing it. They live in a fool's paradice where nothing is wrong. The government does not place any value on our hapless lives!

jummie  # 5 | 08.10.2008 15:03

it is sickening when i think of nigeria and its numerous defects....

kpekere  # 6 | 09.10.2008 07:30

Great Icons like Nelson Mandela would call it 'a failure of leadership'; but even that's putting it a little mildly. I contend that it is indeed ' a full derangement of governance and a systemic perversion of values'. Having just returned from a recent trip to Nigeria, and having closely observed a largely perversely corrupt populace, not to mention its ensuing product of a hopelessly failed system; what more can one say?

Gbolly  # 7 | 09.10.2008 23:45

It's a shame that our beloved country (Nigeria) has been run into toilet by our leaders. Where do we go? Nigeria is all we got. Let pray for our leaders.

Anengiyefa  # 8 | 16.10.2008 09:33

We shouldnt be complaining. We've all contributed to fucking up the country one way or another.. And as things are going, I can't even see a way out. The place is just totally fuck'd!

tonsoyo  # 9 | 16.10.2008 10:54

Sabella, You have touched on another very important matter here, only that I do not really agree with your conclusion because you lumped laudable programs together with hopeless ones in your conclusion. Leadership in Nigeria is in disarray, followership is totally perversed. Everything in Nigeria and about Nigerians from the type of car you drive to where you buy your loaf of bread, of all things, is status symbol. This is why Nigerians are dying and giving birth abroad, enmasse. I was just telling a friend that I am tired of calling my Pastor almost on monthly basis to name kids that are not mine, since they have to be named on the eight day while I have to always book an expedite appointments to obtain Passports. The issue of giving birth abroad especially, is more of our values as Nigerians than what the government is not doing, after all, what does it take to deliver a baby? If you can afford to give birth in America, you should be able to afford EKO Hospital, Island or Nicholas. But lack of facilities is not the rationale, it is to show others that "I have arrived" mentality in us. OK listen to this, I have a friend who is married to a British citizen, they emigrated to England some years back, they are both now British citizens, but when they want to have their kids they come to America, I asked them why? since you cannot say that England lacked necessary facilities, they answered that they want their kids to have three international Passports, and sure they do. They got Nigeria, Britain and America Passports for each of the kids, haba! tori Olorun! Nigerians!!! It has not stopped there, it has gotten to a stage now that these guys call me from Nigeria to buy them Baby Formula and ship it to Nigeria several months after, why? because their kids are already used to the American Baby Formula not sold in Nigeria. I just sent a two words email to one of them "forget it" I am fed up. If he likes let him put Gaari in the feeding bottles. Our leaders are a reflection of our warped values, we are in a deep shit. We need a re-orientation as a people.

Olamide  # 10 | 27.10.2008 07:12

Nigerians want to go an give birth abroad because holding a Nigerian passport alone these days exposed you to ridicule and could land you in jail in some of these Far-Eastern Coutries like Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. I am tired of the citizens from these beggar-countries looking down on me because I am a Nigerian. I was harrassed in Addis by the Ethiopians just because I mentioned being a Nigerian and had to fight back by telling them they were mad if they thought I would abandon an international job to come and sit in Ethiopia. I also asked them what their sisters and brothers were doing in Dubai (Prostituting and houseboys) if Ethiopia was such a paradise? I was at the airport in Nairobi in August this year when the Kenyans refused holders of Nigerian passports entry into Kenya to go to hotels they paid for to rest before connecting their various flights later on in the day or night. The reason for the Kenyans rudeness? It was their government's policy not to grant visa at entry point to Nigerians unless they obtain such visas from where they are coming from. meanwhile, Camerounians, Rwandese and South African citizens were issued visas to go to Nairobi to sleep at the hotels while Nigeirans wait for 12 hours at the airport. This is what Nigerians are subjected to everyday all over the world because they are simply Nigerians. Who are the cause of the humiliation? Our leaders.