Nigerian youth decry corruption                         Photo courtesy

Nigeria has become a country of 'lists': It's either a list showing it is richest/wealthiest or another one showing those who have money in foreign accounts. But as these figures are thrown out, it makes one wonder, if the persons undoing the country's economic wellbeing are known, how come no action taken has landed anyone seriously behind bars?

In a central planned economy that is Nigeria, it is no doubt that  the level of waste, fraud, misappropriation and mismanagement takes high toll on national resources. The players and referees are in consonance; each endorsing the role and activities of the other. That Nigeria gets about 20% benefits out of its budgeted Naira while 80% is attributed to waste, fraud, mismanagement and misappropriations, nepotism, paternal dealings, is due in part because the players and referee use each other's lines. Government programs are poorly authored, implemented and enforced. Therefore, it is no surprise fraud is easy and culprits go scot-free.

With oil as the mainstay and one that belongs to the government [unearned income], all one needs to do is hijack an aspect of the flow and they are in. How can a country that is ranked 5th in the world as a big exporter of crude oil import refined products?

Of course, with challenges imposed by unreliable electricity, water and poor basic infrastructure, refining crude in Nigeria is limited. Therefore by default and design, the leadership in an appearance to make the refined product reasonable, elects the use of subsidy as give back to the Nigerian consumer.

Fuel subsidy in Nigeria is what Medicare/Medicaid is in US: Fraught and laden with fraud, abuse and mismanagement that it does not seem to go away. Since Nigerians have been made to enjoy the alleged benefits of fuel subsidy, any attempt to remove it is always met with opposition. But for Nigeria to release itself from bad policies, tough decisions must be made. There are no easy answers because a people bent on undermining themselves always find a way to circumvent any attempt at effective and good solutions.

Should some people be tried for fraud? Well, fraud has to be proven. If they are milking the system because the program/policy is easy and loose, the solution is to tighten them and demand stringent conditions. While the acts can be seen as morally reprehensible, to prove fraud takes more strict approach. Either way, Nigeria’s  central government has continued to show weakness in dealing with the cancer cells in its veins that keep mutating and growing unchecked.

There is need to copy and paste what South Korea did in the 90s to cleanse itself of business and political figures that held the country hostage: It rounded them up, tried them and confiscated their assets. It sought and entered into treaties with many countries demanding extradition of any South Korean accused of fraud who resides in their country. To make their demand stick, it sought to cut off trade with any country that does not comply.

Well, Nigeria has what the world needs - oil/gas. Here is a bait and hook:- Nigeria will not sell its oil/gas to any country that harbors any Nigerian known or accused to have in collaboration or concert carried any economic program detrimental to the nation. Were Nigeria to do this, UK, US, France, Germany and some other countries where Nigerians see as haven for their loot, may come to the fore to help.

Nigeria’s leadership needs to learn how to bluff and be seen to be serious in curbing and curtailing activities by her citizens that keep undermining the country and rendering its 150m+ citizens hapless and irredeemably despondent cum desperate. Cross-border crime fighting can be contained but the approach has to take, consider and inculcate actions within and outside the country. If Nigeria’s leaders were to encourage Nigerians abroad especially in US and UK, to report activities of Nigerians who stash cash, buy real estate and invest with money that appears to have migrated from Nigeria’s treasury, there will be appreciable reactions.

A 'Whistle Blower' legislation that calls on Nigerians wherever they are to join the efforts of the federal government to curtail the nefarious and corrupt activities, with reward for information leading to conviction, would be a welcome first step. President Jonathan should consider this initiative. He will be the first to seek help to curb corruption. Relying on EFCC alone will not do it.

Nigerians have to be involved and encouraged to help fish out its enemies – those undermining its economic wellbeing.  A message like 'It's 'Your Money- Help Nab the Criminals’; will give Nigerians sense of ownership in the war against corruption. But this call must be seen as above anyone in government including the president and his immediate and extended family members. There shall be no sacred cows, however, if there are, Nigerians must make them unsacred.

Until those who end up at the blunt end of government bad policies and politics participate to address and put an end to corrupt practices, no amount of government efforts will produce desired results. Nigerians know who are undermining them but somehow out of timidity and lack of support, criminals in Nigeria look like super stars. They should not be - period.

It is time Nigerians step forward to be counted and become tools in dealing with issues that keep shackling and holding down their country. The country does not belong to the 37 men - president and 36 governors, and their political and business cohorts. It belongs to 150m+ Nigerians. If the Igbo saying 'that one person should never be larger and bigger than their community’ holds true, then the rest 150m+ Nigerians who lay comatose, down, trodden and low must rise and demand better deals.

I guess, the "Animal Farm" syndrome - 'all animals are created equal but some are more equal than others,'   suits the way Nigerians look at themselves and condone conducts unbecoming. The ownership by Nigerians can only be exerted when they step forward and demand better treatment - unapologetically.

It is your country, what are you willing to do about it? Nigerians must be willing to put a stop to being guinea pigs in their national government experiments that never seem to end with results they are proud of. A trillion naira demand, whose expectation appears to be like waiting for the sun to rise from the West.

By Ejike E Okpa ii
Nigerian-American in Dallas, Texas.