A journey of a thousand miles begins with a step. The excitement that had rented the air at Independence celebration made the founding fathers missed the reality. Ethino-geographic politics beclouded their reasoning so much that they forgot themselves and it derailed the purpose of freedom. Colonialism had been an adventure to exploit and plunder the conquered territories. The Colonial Administration had mapped-out a plan to ensure the achievement of their goals. This design had been adjusted when a new challenge made it compulsory for them to leave, and could be likened to how slavery had yielded a way for colonialism.
At Independence, imperialism had replaced colonialism but the founding fathers had put a stop to continued political domination with the Republican Constitution. We could not refocus the economic and sociocultural dominance. Educational structure had been designed to cater for the needs of the Colonial Administration. Instead of establishing science and technology, grammar schools had been their focus, since education was largely in the hands of missionaries, who had little or no skill in the area of science. You cannot give what you don’t have. And the few schools established by the Colonial Administration were not better.
In 1960, Nigeria had two higher institutions of learning and none could produce scientists and engineers to fill the vacuum created by Independence. Thus, the design of new Universities and other tasking structures could not be handled by Nigerians. Many years after Independence, we still turn to the West or East to do overhauling of national refineries and steel complex.
The railways left by the Brits, with the exception of Abuja-Kaduna and Delta-Kogi, are still what we are managing. All waterworks in Oyo State had been established by the Colonial Administration and that is what we are still grappling with, no plan for expansion. Thanks to the geologists who have been multiply geometrically sinking of boreholes without emphasising its shortcomings such as earth tremor.
Long stay of the Brits and refusal of the Afrikaans to leave for Netherlands made South Africa the only developed country in Africa. And the reality of what had made that possible had not eluded Mandela, who maintained policy of coexistence at the end of apartheid. The renowned freedom fighter had opined the aborigine could not sustain the pace of development on their own without the help of their white and Indians counterparts.
Today, we are proud Africans to rely on MTN and DSTV, though South Africa does not have complete control of the technology deployed.
Colonial Administration had maintained all service rendering institutions and corporations at breakeven point and still repatriated gains to the UK as a booty. The services include pipe-borne water, rail/air transportation, electricity, refined petroleum products, agricultural produce and what have you. In fact, education had not been spared by the capitalist at all levels.
This was changed at Independence. Don’t forget the Western Region had started universal free primary education before Independence and that was an exception in the country. This was replicated across levels of education without thinking of its implications. The funniest thing is that, the First Republic leadership aborred socialism. We practically turned the economy into a feeding bottle economy. Imagine, the government paid for fuel you put in your car!
The military incursions into politics worsen everything. It was their era that ushered in autocracy and dictatorship. Military chain of command cannot condone federalism. Thus, federalism was the first casualty. Prior to military intervention, Regional Government had its police force which functioned simlessly with the Federal Police. Taxes such as Value Added Tax became federal.
Establishment of university was seen as an exclusive right of government. Military injected so many ills into our body polity.
Each time an attempt was made, there used to be a serious resistance from the populace to reorientate the economy in line with modern reality. There had been much uproar when Babangida junta wanted to implement the Structural Adjustment Programme. Protests had almost stopped the Obasanjo Administration from privatising the moribund NITEL and Nigerian Airways. In fact, his decision to sell the refineries was rescinded by his successor.
Hope for a better country that will develop rapidly had made the likes of Lukoye and Bekololari Ransome-Kuti to return to Nigeria after their study in the UK. The hope that was lost to ethnicity and mediocrity was returned and rechristened Renewed Hope three years ago. True to its slogan, the two cankerworm moths were destroyed on day one of the present administration. With the removal of fuel subsidy and unification of Forex comes the availability of funds for developmental purposes. If you think Wike’s developmental stride was made possible because of Federal Capital Territory status, then visit Nasarawa State to see what Professor Sule is doing there.
Hence, the infrastructural revolution has taken off earnestly. We can live in the self-denial of the achievements but Muritala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, Enugu, Ibadan and Ogun State airports are undeniable. The abandoned Sokoto-Badagry Expressway and a newly conceived Coastal Highway (Lagos-Calabar) are underway. Power generation, transmission and distribution is under the surgical scissors of the Renewed Hope agenda. As Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission in place, that sector is now fully liberalised.
Nigerian Education Loan Fund is a game changer in the administration of tertiary education in the country.
Instead of making it free and nonfunctional, study loan availability has changed the landscape of universities. It is the first step to university autonomy, a situation whereby governments relinquish their control of universities and put an end to Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU). Universities are the bedrock of technological advancement and this can only be possible when they are well funded.
This gain must be consolidated by necessary government agencies such as Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND). The inadequacy of these two agencies has been spotted and another one to focus research funding is being established (National Research Fund). NRF has been a subsidiary of TETFUND which prioritise the training of academic staff of higher institutions.
Stabilization of the financial sector has opened investment doors to both local and foreign investors. Before now, foreign currency especially US Dollar had replaced Naira in transactions done locally. It was so bad that Naira was not seen as a store of value. The Gross Domestic Product is gradually approaching the set target of One Trillion Dollar economy.
The Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP) is another landmark achievement. It was the vision of the President to enhance the purchasing power of workers through “buy now and pay later”. This encourages local manufacturers to produce more due to either wholesales funding or guarantees from the CREDICORP. It is not limited to manufacturers alone but also extended to suppliers.
We may not be there (where we wanted) yet, the renewed hope government has moved to the site and started the construction. It is the duty of those who are in the know to educate and sensitize the angry Nigerians who have every reason to be angry because many State governments are not keying into the dream.