The electronic and print  media are awash with the well – coordinated non violent mass protest of the “common” citizens of Kenya against “Financial Bill”-proposing a new upwardly reviewed tax regime and the  country’s president’s proposal to buy a new official aircraft besides the one in use. In a swift reaction, the people took to the streets to protest the government’s decision which came at a time majority of the people of that country wallow in an orgy of poverty and squalor. Government’s action, the people viewed, was not only an affront on their sensibility but a display of flagrant callousness and impunity to the plight of the people. The protest resulted in the Kenyan Government recanting its planned obnoxious tax review and presidential jet purchase. It seems to me that bad governance is contagious. Africa, especially the sub-Saharan countries, including Nigeria have been fraught with the perennial challenge of dismal leadership.
Africa’s problem is a function of bad leadership. How could one explain the situation where abject poverty is the second nature of a people and yet the government is averse to popular economic policies but  neck-deep in spending the peoples’ resources on frivolities without considering the people whose resources they suppose hold in trust.Two things are phenomenally noteworthy in  that East African country’s mass  protest ; Consciousness of the people to the fact that they are the owners  of power. And the resultant withdrawal of the planned unpopular policies by Kenyan Government which lend credibility to the saying that power is the prerogative of the people. It is not saying a new thing that government exists for the people because the legitimacy of government is derived from the people. Therefore, every government must be people -centered and people -oriented.
The functionality of the government stems from the existence and acceptance of the people. Kudos to the Kenyan Government for acting immediately on good conscience by withdrawing the obnoxious policies that triggered the protest.The “Commoners” of Kenya deserve commendation by taking their destiny in their hands to demand the recant of the policies. No doubt, freedom is not free, it requires sacrifice, it costs something worthwhile. The Kenyans have lived out Karl Marx’s maxim that the consciousness of oppression is the harbinger and precursor to freedom.  According to Marx, “It is only when the people are conscious of the fact that they are oppressed can they rise to  unmake the instruments that make the oppression possible”. But consciousness alone is not enough to midwife a change, being proactive to dislodge the instrument  of oppression, is the force that activates consciousness.
The madness of shooting indiscriminately, arresting , victimising protesters common in Sub-Sahara African countries are alien to the Government of Kenya, -a plus for the government. Placing Nigeria closely alongside Kenya, it is evident that though the level of docility is alarming and unprecedented in Nigeria, the philosophy that “Nigeria is not worth dying for” seems to be the greatest undoing of the poverty-ridden masses in the country. Multi-ethnicism,  religion  and abysmal poverty level are daunting challenges militating against a united and vociferous protest. Above all,  the lack of integrity and respect for value system have also allowed oppression to thrive unchallenged. The startling revelations of alleged outrageous looting, siphoning of public funds and corrupt practices  in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation under the  former minister of the Ministry, Betta Edu, and the protests by her kinsmen and youths for her reinstatement attest to the fact that Nigeria is incurably sick and is tottering on the brink of collapse if nothing is done to save the country.
Recall that on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) squeezed several top civil servants connected to  financial impropriety the ministry is enmeshed in. Earlier, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), had recovered about N50 billion from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. The money which was allegedly in a conduit to private accounts, was reportedly recovered by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission between July and August 2023 and paid into the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). According to reports, the money which was meant for vulnerable people during the tenure of the former minister of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, was intercepted during a fruitless effort to transfer it into private bank accounts and recovered by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission under its former chairman, Bolaji Owasanoye.
Nigeria is not a poor country yet millions are living in hunger, abject poverty and avoidable misery. What an irony! Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation is naturally endowed with 44 mineral resources, found in 500 geographical locations in commercial quantity. According to Nigeria’s former Minister for Mines and Steel Development, Olamiekan Adegbite, the mineral resources include: baryte, kaolin, gymsium, feldspar, limestone, coal, bitumen, lignite, uranium, gold, cassiterite, columbite, iron ore, lead, zinc, copper, granite, laterite, sapphire, tourmaline, emerald, topaz, amethyst, gamer, etc. Nigeria has a vast uncultivated arable land even as its geographical area is approximately 923, 769 sq km (356,669 sq ml).”This clearly demonstrates the wide mineral spectrum we are endowed with which offers limitless opportunities along the value-chain, for job creation, revenue growth.
“Nigeria  provides one of the highest rates of return because its minerals are closer to the surface”, Adegbite said. Therefore, poverty in Nigeria is not the consequences of lack of resources and manpower but inequality, misappropriation, outright embezzlement, barefaced corruption that is systemic and normative in leaders and  public institutions. Although, Nigeria is ranked as the economic giant of Africa, the most populous country in Africa and the sixth in the world with a population conservatively put at 200 million people,  the country has the second highest population of impoverished people in the world. According to the World Poverty Clock 2023, Nigeria has the awful distinction of being the World Capital of Poverty with about 84 million people living in extreme poverty today. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data also revealed that a total of 133 million people in Nigeria are classed as multi-dimensionally poor.
Unemployment is a major challenge in the country. About 33 percent of the labour force are unable to find a job at the prevailing wage rate. About 63 percent of the population were poor because of lack of access to health, education, employment, and security. Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) speculated that unemployment rate will increase to 37 percent in 2023. The implications, therefore, is increase in unemployment will translate to increase in the poverty rate. The World Bank, a Washington-based and a multi-lateral development institution,  in its macro-poverty outlook for Nigeria for April 2023 projected that 13 million Nigerians will fall below the National Poverty line by 2025. It further stated that the removal of subsidy on petroleum products without palliatives will result to 101 million people being poor in Nigeria. Statistics also show that “in 2023 nearly 12 percent of the world population of extreme poverty lived in Nigeria considering poverty threshold at 1.90 US dollars a day”.
Taking a cursory look at the Nigerian Development Update (NDU), the World Bank said “four million Nigerians were pushed into poverty  between January and June 2023 and 7.1 million more will join if the removal of subsidy is not adequately managed.” These startling revelations paint a grim and bleak future for the socio-economic life of the people. The alarming poverty rate in the country is a conspiracy of several factors, including corruption. In January, 2023 the global anti-corruption watchdog, Transparency International, in its annual corruption prospect index which ranks the perceived level of public sector corruption across 180 countries in the world, says Nigeria ranked 150 among 180 in the index. Conversely, Nigeria is the 30th most corrupt nation in the ranking. It is also the capital of unemployment in the world.  Truth be told: a Government that is corruption-ridden lacks the capacity to build a vibrant economy that will provide employment for the teeming unemployed population. So crime and criminality become inevitable.
Corruption seems to be the second nature of Nigeria as a nation which is why Late Gani Fawehenmi, “Senior Advocate for the Masses” worried by the outrageous corruption level of the repressive regime of a Nigeria’s late Head of State, once said, “If there is a place called hell, the hottest part of it should be reserved for Abacha”. Fawehenmi was of the view that corruption is worse than prostitution. According to him, while prostitution destroys the person who indulges in it, corruption destroys a whole nation.  At the root of Nigerians’ poverty is the corruption cankerworm. Nigeria is not a poor country yet millions are living in hunger and abject poverty. The government can close the yawning inequality gap and increasing poverty level.  There are several cases of corruption in Nigeria that have been swept under the carpet. The case of misappropriation and embezzlement of pension funds is one of such ugly cases that stare the Federal Government’s anti-corruption agencies and the judiciary on the face. Looters of public treasury or funds are the real enemies of Nigeria. They are the cogs in the wheels of Nigeria’s   development  so they should not be allowed to go scot-free.

Igbiki Benibo

For over four decades, the people of Babbe Kingdom in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, have been systematically marginalised and excluded from leadership positions, despite being the principal landlords of the headquarters. This grevious injustice has perpetuated a cycle of under-representation and disenfranchisement, denying the Babbe people a voice in the governance of their own local government. Khana Local Government is divided into three districts; Babbe, Ken-Khana, and Nyokhana. These districts are further subdivided into two state constituencies. However, despite this seemingly fair distribution, a closer examination reveals a long history of marginalisation and exclusion, particularly against the people of Babbe/Bori district.The statistics are stark: out of 19 political wards, Babbe Kingdom boasts seven, yet they have been consistently overlooked for the chairmanship position.
Meanwhile, the people of Ken-Khana and Nyo-Khana have governed the local government consecutively, ignoring the pleas of the Babbe people and perpetuating a cycle of exclusion. Again, Ogoni is divided into six districts: Babbe, Kenkhana, Nyokhana, Gokana, Tai, and Eleme. These were political districts established  under Nigerian colonial authority. Gokana, Tai, and Eleme are now local government areas in their own right, although Khana is grouped with Babbe, Kenkhana, and Nyokohana. Only Babbe is excluded from  Khana as a political slave. For decades, the people of Babbe have been systematically denied representation in key leadership positions, including the chairmanship of Khana Local Government. This trend has continued unabated, with Nyokhana producing two elected chairmen and Ken-Khana producing four, while Babbe has been excluded from the chairmanship position since 1999 till date.
This marginalisation is not only wrong, but  also contributes to the Babbe district’s underdevelopment and poverty. Babbe residents have been denied access to resources, development initiatives, and opportunities because those who come from afar to run the local government area lack the enthusiasm and fervour to develop Bori because they believe it does not belong to them. The continued exclusion of Babbe from leadership positions is a clear violation of their rights and a betrayal of the trust placed in the previous government. It is a stark reminder of the systemic inequalities that persist in our society and the need for urgent action to address them. A closer examination reveals a glaring imbalance in leadership positions, perpetuating a cycle of marginalisation and exclusion.  Nyo-khana has had the privilege of producing a serving House of Representatives member and a State constituency representative. Ken-Khana, on the other hand, has had a State assembly member and has just completed a tenure as chairman of Khana Local Government Area.
Meanwhile, Babbe district has been consistently overlooked for key leadership positions, leaving its people feeling like political orphans. It is only just and fair that the next chairmanship position in Khana Local Government goes to a capable and deserving individual from Babbe district. This would not only address the historical marginalisation of Babbe but also promote inclusivity and equity in the political representation of Khana Local Government. Leaving Babbe vacant or politically orphaned would perpetuate a cycle of underdevelopment and disenfranchisement, denying its people access to resources, opportunities, and a voice in their own governance. We urge the political stakeholders in Khana Local Government to prioritise fairness, justice, and inclusion in their decision-making processes. However, there is optimism for a shift. As an advocate for equity, justice, fairness, and peace, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has the chance to address this historical injustice in the upcoming local government elections.
By giving the people of Babbe a chance to lead, we can start to address the systemic marginalisation they have endured for far too long. This includes ensuring that all political parties in Khana Local Government give a Babbe son or daughter the chairmanship ticket  in the forthcoming chairmanship election  and demand equality in representation in key decision-making positions, access to resources and development projects, and an end to the systemic marginalisation that has persisted for far too long.  Babbe residents seek justice, equality, and inclusion. It is time for the government to listen and take action. By collaborating, we can create a more just and equitable society in which every citizen has a voice and a chance to succeed. Let us seize this opportunity to build a better future for everybody.
Chief  Deemua wrote in from Khana.

Nuka Lesuanu Deemua

Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, has witnessed a disturbing trend in recent years, as  several prominent multinational corporations announced their departure from Nigeria, citing various reasons such as economic hardship, regulatory challenges, insecurity, and difficulty in accessing foreign exchange.  This phenomenon is not without  far-reaching implications for the nation’s economy, which demands careful consideration.  Some of the companies that have left Nigeria include: LafargeHolcim, a Swiss-based cement company, which closed its operations in Nigeria in 2022 due to the challenging economic environment; ExxonMobil, an American oil company, announced its exit from Nigeria’s upstream sector in 2021, citing regulatory uncertainty and security concerns.
Shoprite, a South African retail company, was said to have closed its own operations in Nigeria in 2020 due to the harsh business environment.  General Electric (GE), an American multinational, allegedly shut down its operations in Nigeria in 2019, over difficulties in accessing foreign exchange and the high cost of doing business in the country.  Pfizer, an American pharmaceutical company, which closed its operations in Nigeria in 2018 based its decision on  the challenging business environment, while  Cadbury Nigeria, a British confectionery company,  shut down its operations in Nigeria in 2017 due to the harsh economic conditions. Nokia, a Finnish telecommunications company, also closed its operations in Nigeria in 2016 due to the challenging business environment. The departure of these companies has significant implications for Nigeria’s economy. Firstly, it leads to job losses and a decline in economic activity.
We need not be told that the closure of these companies results in a significant reduction in government’s  revenue, exacerbating the country’s fiscal challenges. The exit of multinationals in this magnitude undermines Nigeria’s attractiveness to foreign investors, a situation that can lead to a decline in foreign direct investment, which is critical to the country’s economic growth and development.  In the light of this disturbing trend, the writer sees a need for urgent reforms to address the challenges facing businesses in Nigeria. The government must act swiftly to address issues such as access to foreign exchange, regulatory uncertainty, and the high cost of doing business in the country. Nigeria’s economic growth has been sluggish in recent years, and the exit of multinationals will only exacerbate the situation. The country’s GDP growth rate has been less than 3 percent in the past few years, and the exit of multinationals will only make it harder for the country to achieve its economic growth targets.
The manufacturing sector has been particularly hard hit by the exit of multinationals. The sector has been struggling due to the challenging business environment, and the exit of companies like LafargeHolcim and Cadbury Nigeria will only make things worse. What about the country’s  trade balance?  As a country which relies heavily on imports, the exit of companies like Shoprite and Nokia will not be funny at all. Of course, the rate of decline in the country’s foreign exchange earnings can only be imagined. Companies like ExxonMobil and GE were significant contributors to Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings, and their exit will only make it harder for the country to earn foreign exchange.
This no doubt is  a blow to Nigeria’s quest for diversification of  its economy  away from oil.  The exit of companies like LafargeHolcim and Cadbury Nigeria will only make it harder for the country to achieve this goal. Howbeit, the multinationals’  exodus from Nigeria is a wake-up call for the government and stakeholders, for an urgent action is required to address the challenges facing businesses in the country and to create an environment that is conducive for  investment and economic growth. The government must act swiftly to address the issues that led to the exit of multinationals. This includes addressing the challenges of accessing foreign exchange, regulatory uncertainty, and the high cost of doing business in the country.
Nigeria cannot afford to continue to rely on oil exports as its main source of revenue. The country must diversify its economy, and the exit of multinationals is a reminder of the urgent need for economic diversification. The exit of multinationals was a reminder that Nigeria’s economic growth is not guaranteed. The country must work hard to create an environment that is conducive for investment and economic growth.  Thus, the multinationals’ exodus from Nigeria should be seen as a call to action for the government and stakeholders. The time to urgently address the challenges facing businesses in the country with a view to creating an enabling environment for investment and economic growth is now.

Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi