 NIGERIA: GOOD PEOPLE, GREAT NATION
During the early days of our independence, Nigeria was regarded as a land of golden opportunity (a land that is flowing with natural, human and material resources). She was courted by major world powers, the US, Britain, Soviet Union, France among others.She was seen as a potential world power, thus all the major world stakeholders wanted to be in her good books.
After independence came the oil boom. An era that was characterized by petrol dollar. An era when Nigeria’s problem was not money but what to do with money. This period coincided with the era of military interregnum in Nigeria.
The nature and character of governance during this period was marked by corruption and use of political power for personal aggrandisement.Thus, the revenue from oil which would have been used to empower Nigeria industrially went into the hands of a few political elite and their international collaborators. It is not an overstatement to say that the advent of oil exploration and the large revenue it accrued was the bane of Nigeria’s misfortune.
The inability of our policy makers to utilize our huge oil wealth to the benefits of its citizens has evolved a new phase in the socio-political and economic development of the country. Presently, Nigeria is rated as the most corrupt nation in the world. This is indeed a stigma that goes with citizens of this country wherever they are located.
Today the hitherto giant of Africa has become a laughing stock before the comity of nations. Nigeria is commonly referred to as a land of lost opportunity. Indeed things have fallen apart.
However when objectively viewed, every nation is guilty of corruption. The western worlds championing this crusade fall for scam because they are greedy. They want to reap were they never sowed. For instance, why would a rational human being respond to a purported inheritance claim when you never had any relative overseas.Yes, their presumptions are that Nigeria and her citizens are corrupt so anything is possible, (that is why they are scammed)
Often times the Government of Nigeria blame her citizens for bringing the image of this “great country” to disrepute. But they forgot that there exist a correlation between leadership and followership. “It is the kind of leadership that commands the kind of followership.”When our leaders siphon public funds for personal use, what do you expect an unemployed youth to do?
However other nations might see Nigeria, it is pertinent to point out that Nigeria is still a land of great potentials and opportunities. A land with over thirty three strategic solid minerals (gold, diamond, agathe, sapphire, amythest, etc) excluding oil and gas. A land that is consumption oriented.. A land with an evolving technological base. Take a look at the profits declared by Telecommunication giants, Banks, etc, in Nigeria every year and you will agree with me that there is more to gain in doing business in Nigeria. It does not hold gains for multinational corporations alone but also promises huge returns for small and medium scale businesses.
The small and medium scale businesses are fields that are yet to be tapped in Nigeria. The manufacturing industry is still redundant and is begging to be exploited ..In Nigeria today, majority of the rural dwellers are farmers yet Nigeria imports rice from Thailand, palm oil from Malaysia, etc.the truth is that we have the potentials to be self sufficient and self reliant in terms of food production. Before the discovery of oil in commercial quantity, the main stay of our economy was palm oil, cotton, groundnut and cocoa exports. Malaysia that is the world’s largest palm oil exporter today came to Nigeria and collected our palm seedling. And today Nigeria imports palm oil from Malaysia.
I stressed this point because I want you to know that nothing is wrong with Nigeria but with Nigerians. Those God given minerals are still in abundance in Nigeria; what we need is the technical know-how and the enabling environment to transform these economic potentials to our advantage.
On the other hand, investment analyst have always advised that the higher the risk of an investment, the higher the returns. This is one of the driving forces of Foreign Direct Investment in Nigeria. One can always get higher return on investment in Nigeria, especially when such businesses are done with the right people and due processes are followed. “Due process” is emphasized because some foreign investors that are duped often times attempt to cut corners in their dealings with Nigeria. In their effort to do this they end up falling into the hands of swindlers.
We can all exploit the promises Nigeria holds for both foreign and local investors only when we change our perception about Nigeria. Most advance nations of the world passed through one phase of development challenge to another. It took the US over two hundred years to have the first black president; in a country that built its foundation on justice and equality. Nigeria is still a young nation and is only passing through its own evolutionary challenge. Definitely she will overcome this challenge someday.. According to philosophers “change is the only permanent feature of the universe” Nigeria is bound to change for better.
In view of the foregoing, we are committed to presenting to the world the economic opportunities that are abound in Nigeria and also referring them to the right institutions, people and organizations to do business with as well as exposing possible acts by scammers to rob them of their money.
By cooperating with us intending foreign investors will reap the enormous wealth that abounds in Nigeria without falling prey to swindlers. We are not telling you to do business with us; but to analyze information published in this website.
Once again, Nigeria is the hearth of Africa. An economic haven for foreign investment. A super power in the making. |
|
|
|
|
