Triumph of Mediocrity

 Also published in DAILY TRUST

The persistent leadership failure in Nigeria has predictably led to the triumph of the culture of mediocrity over the culture of excellence and efficiency in all aspects of life in Nigeria.

In almost everything, hardly if at all anyone expects excellence or efficiency, as it is hardly if at all anyone cares to observe it either. Services (if any) are scantily provided, products are poorly manufactured, works are inefficiently done and enterprises are barely managed. Mediocrity has become too entrenched in Nigeria’s culture to the extent that,  insistence to perform efficiently or expect excellence  in everything is tantamount to naivety.

Obstacles to Poverty Eradication

Also published in DAILY TRUST

Recently the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty was commemorated to highlight the challenges that poverty presents, review the efforts of tackling it and assess the success achieved or failures suffered along the way. By the way, poverty evokes a terrible fear in man, who understandably struggles throughout his life to overcome it.

When is enough is enough?



Also published in DAILY TRUST

The current controversy over the removal or otherwise of fuel subsidy is basically an issue of mistrust between the rulers and the ruled in Nigeria.  Obviously, most Nigerians rightly believe that, the expected proceeds from the exercise will simply end the same way previous proceeds realized went. Interestingly enough, it has been confirmed for instance that, 80% of all government’s privatized enterprises are grounded, and the proceeds have predictably developed wings and flown.

A guide to survival in Nigeria

Also published in Daily Trust

Nigerians are understandably fond of lamenting their largely leadership-inflicted predicaments. Every Nigerian has endless tales to tale in this regard, including the rich.

Lamentation has virtually overshadowed the points of discussion among Nigerians. Majalisa, Mai Shayi or Suya spots, markets and even commuter buses etc; are all virtual platforms for Nigerians to share their lamentations over various problems ranging, for instance, from issues as critical as chronic poverty to the relatively less important ones like a dismal performance of the Super Eagles.

Nigeria @ 51: Counting the cost continues

Also published in DAILY TRUST

Just as almost everything Nigerian in nature is typically ironic, the country turns 51 year “young” tomorrow. Equally ironic is how such annual event in Nigeria is largely overshadowed by counting the cost accrued over the decades of being a country as such. Incidentally, ever since her independence, the very issue of whether the country should remain together or not has never died down. The situation escalated in the mid 60s when a civil war erupted that lasted for about four years through which millions of lives and properties were lost. Though ever since then, there has been no any other civil war again, counting costly costs has never ceased anyway, and is not likely to cease either, in view of the recurring breakouts of ethno-religious and other social conflicts all over the land.