By Aliyu Hamza
It is so sad that Nigeria’s economic and security architectures are obviously on the precipice and it is so unfortunate nothing much tangibly convincing is being done to salvage the sorry situation. This is especially worrying as it seems that overtime, the leaders of our country have resolved to subject us to a state of dystopia. Every reigning administration always seem to perform worse than its predecessor.
On the security front, the Nigerian state has submitted the fates of its citizens to the “Mercy” (or should one say Wrath) of rag-tag terrorists and bandits marauding and slaughtering about with impunity. Some theories even suggest the security crisis is State-abated and certain information and explanations, especially as they relate to Solid mineral deposits in worst hit areas, command logical credibility to such theories especially as it relates to Zamfara and Sokoto states.
On the economic front, the Nigerian economy continues to defy every economic logic. For decades, a country producing petroleum resources has never had a single petroleum drilling/extracting company only to outsource services to international firms who are also looking to feast on our resources.
Paradoxically, the home refineries meant to process the extracted crude have been deliberately incapacitated to favour fuel importation, a venture which benefits a few selected oil moguls who sell imported products at discretionary prices amid a shady subsidy regime.
Then came, subsidy removal in 2023. The nation was told it would favour competition which would force down prices. On the contrary, we’ve seen price hikes eversince including the recent September hike which ironically, was introduced same day as the first private domestically built Dangote refinery commenced roll out of its refined petrol product.
In normal mainstream economic sense, internal production ought to have eliminated importation and other overhead costs which would bring down prices. But in our country, the reverse is the case. The resource managers of our nation always cite new economic jargons to the bewilderment of the masses to justify price increases every now and then.
STATE-BACKED PSYCHO–FINANCIAL TERRORISM
Today, there is nothing cheap in Nigeria as a result. Even the most common of foods such as Garri and sweet potatoes are no longer cheap and are nearly out of reach for the poor.
Pathetically, there are now people who feed on edible weeds to survive because they can’t afford basic food. There are also those including many familiar faces who were formerly doing averagely ok financially, but who have now become visibly emanciated while always wearing worried looks — clear symtomatic manifestations of the current oppressive economic climate.
Meanwhile, the government keeps on rolling backwards on its duties by eliminating incentives and subsidies (from kerosine to petrol, electricity to education) while heaping taxes (VAT and others). This is as incomes remain stagnant in the midst of an insecure/unstable environment unfavourable to both internal businesses and foreign direct investments.
The so-called minimum wage the government pledged to increase after much dragging with the labour unions has not even been implemented but the same government has already devised strategy of taking it back with the other hand through the outrageous fuel price increase.
In essence, the message being signalled to us is that ordinary Nigerians are expected to continue bearing brunts upon brunts of every economic austerity measure and pains that accompany them.
Contrarily, government officials keep on perpetuating mind boggling and incomprehensible state thefts regime after regime – financial crimes of which majority of the perpetrators go virtually unpunished.
For the citizens, they say we should keep on exercising patience for better days of prosperity, days that don’t ever look forthcoming as the economic squeeze bites harder. This is what I call State-backed and tolerated Psycho-financial Terrorism being perpetuated against its people.
NATIONAL PATRIOTISM?
Some may say it is an incitement to sedition but to be bluntly honest, the sense of optimism and patriotism I used to have for Nigeria have been significantly degraded all thanks to the mounting levels of socio-economic and security dystopia that have now thrived for at least over a decade. Nothing I think, would bring back such national fervour in me unless there’s tangible national progress as I now live as a helpless passive citizen.
As the government has proven incapacitated (at best description) or unwilling (at worst) to provide the basics for its citizens, patriotism in the common man as he concentrates on how to survive seems farfetched. One should not even mention the plights of our droves of Internal Displaced People (IDPs) languishing in miserable camps. For many, claims of patriotism today are a mere fantasy. A mere fantasy indeed!
Aliyu Hamza is a PhD student of Political Science in Ahmadu Bello University. He is also a writer, public affairs commentator and international relations analyst. You can contact him via haliyu86@gmail.com.