Answer to the Institutional Inefficiency?

The critical factors in the failure of the modern African countries have been the inability of these nations to analyze institutional ills which maybe cultural, political, and economic. By locating contradictions in the solutions these problems have not been properly resolved because of the inefficiency of the ruling class. Most of these African nations operate systems and institutions that exist as a byproduct of colonial rule that were designed to create rivalries and distrust among groups. The structures in these countries do not encourage unity of purpose and allegiance to the native countries.

African countries including Nigeria have not successfully addressed these social ills and implemented a collective strategy that will identify and eradicate these contradictions and failed policies to benefit their countries. Nigeria still suffers from fundamental nation building issues such as wealth and resource distribution, poor infrastructure, ethnic and religious conflicts, and failed governing institutions.  How does a country like Nigeria that has one of the most educated citizens on the continent and in the world handle these institutional inefficiencies?  Is by creating more states? Already Nigeria has 36 poorly run states, therefore adding more states will not change anything. The creations of more states will not wash away our fundamental problems confronting our country.

The NationalAssembly has confirmed that ten new states will be created in Nigeria next year. Five states in the north, and five in the south. Some of the reasons for creating new states include religious conflict, dominant tribes oppressing weaker ones, and other groups wanting more control of the resources. All the 36 current states in Nigeria were created by military governments, and no state has been created under democracy due to the immense requirements. To create a new state in Nigeria requires massive consensus including:

*The state’s creation must be supported by at least two-thirds of members (representing the area demanding the state creation) in the Senate, House of Representatives, the House of Assembly and the local government councils.

*A referendum on the new state must be approved by two-thirds of the people in the area where the state is to be created.

*The result of the referendum is then approved by a majority of all the 36 states of Nigeria. And supported by majority of members of the House of Assembly.

* Finally the state is approved by a resolution passed by two-thirds majority of members of  the Senate and House of Representatives respectively.

But there is no guaranteed that the state creation will spell the end of conflicts among groups and tribes in Nigeria and overcome the African curse of ethnic problems.

From a good governance and fiscal responsibility point of view, there is no reason for Nigeria to create more states since all that will do is to increase the cost of administration, provide more outlets for further corruption. Even other minority groups may desire their own state and there is no end to state creations. At this rate every household will become a state the real issues are not addressed properly.

Money that should go towards rebuilding schools, improving healthcare and fighting disease, and building roads will go to paying  numerous and bloated government officials.

Since 1987 there have been 17 new states that have been created in Nigeria and there has been no study done by the National Assembly to find out if there has been more peace and better governance. The empirical evidence will show that the same problems are still manifesting in new forms.

Nduka Obaigbena: Afripol person of the week

Nduka Obaigbena is founding Editor-in-Chief and Chairman of THISDAY newspaper and ARISE, the international flagship magazine that is well received around the world. Chairman Obaigbena has done more than any other person in putting Nigeria on a positive limelight. He can be literally called the father of Nigeria's rebranding. Before the government embarks on the cardinal policy of image making and rebranding, he was in the vanguard of redefining Nigeria for 21st century.

Nduka Obaigbena understood the act of compassing public relations and has singularly given Nigeria the prestige and honour she deserved. Putting Nigeria in a strategic and conspicuous limelight by showing the talents, God-given gifts and ingenuity of our great country is the hallmark of Obaigbena.

Chairman Obaigbena did not limit himself only in Nigeria, but he went further into the rest of Africa and global village. By venturing into South Africa at the end of Apartheid he encouraged the democratic dispensation by extending THISDAY newspaper and other literary publications that showcase the downtrodden Black South Africans in good light thus lifting the African soul and humanity.

Chairman Obaigbena now takes his game higher, bolder and more sophisticated by developing and producing the ARISE magazine, which was well received in the global village in London, Paris, New York and other major cosmopolitans. With his THISDAY INTERNATIONAL he has organized seminars on issues affecting Nigeria and Africa in Abuja, Lagos, New York and London with guests including Collin Powell, former Prime Minister Tony Blair and former President George Bush.

One of the nicest things he has done is to integrate our youths into the music global scene by inviting who-is-who to perform in Nigerian soil. Major international entertainers the likes of Beyonce, Jay- Z, have performed in Nigeria. That has helped to showcase local musicians and Nollywood. With his ARISE magazine he has joined the ranks and files of men of goodwill whom has become part and parcel of the forces shaping the views and perceptions of the African world. With his ample contributions comes a new dawn for enhanced African presence in 21st century.

Nduka Obaigbena is a Neo- cultural African ambassador, democratic capitalist, strategist and patriot. Therefore the Board and Staff of Afripol chose him as the PERSON OF THE WEEK.

Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center (Afripol) is foremost a public policy center whose fundamental objective is to broaden the parameters of public policy debates in Africa. To advocate, promote and encourage free enterprise, democracy, human rights, conflict resolutions, transparency and probity in Africa.  www.afripol.org     This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

How deforestation imperils African Rain Forest

Uncontrolled Deforestation

Deforestation is the cutting down or removal of trees from forested or wooded areas without compensating the loss with the replanting of new trees. The estimates are that large areas of land, approximately, the size of Panama are deforested on an annual basis. It is conceivable that much of the world’s forests could vanish in the next century due to the effects of deforestation (NASA, 2009).

While there are many who argue about the true cause of deforestation, in all actuality there are multiple single variables (Geist and Lambin, 2002). In developing countries, much of the deforestation occurs out of a basic and economic need to provide for one’s self and family. Consumption is the obvious cause, with a growing population that requires increasing amounts of timber used in manufacturing furniture, construction and a variety of other uses. In Nigeria alone, over 90% of tropical lowland rainforests in the Cross River State have been lost to deforestation (Lawrence, 1999). An overwhelming majority of the population needs wood for cooking and heating due to limited energy sources and costs. Farmers and others who live in small cities or rural communities, will often cut down trees not only for fuel but to make more room for agriculture or grazing livestock.

Figure 1 Denuded Forest in Central Africa (2006) NASA Earth Observatory (Stefan Gara)

Uncontrolled logging to satisfy this need is common throughout the continent. While this practice is widespread among African farmers a majority of the annual deforestation is directly attributed to commercial logging. According to (Porter and Brown, 1999) an estimated 25 percent of Africa’s deforestation is directly related to commercial logging. Multinational logging companies often will buy or rent large hectares of land from developing nations. Often there are few regulations regarding industrial or best management practices and little if any concern to environmental consequences. Economic and political interests are also in play as the logging industries in Africa’s forest communities generate jobs and millions of dollars in domestic or regional trade and in indigenous livelihoods (Morgan and Sanz, 2007).

The Effects

In trying to balance the needs vs. the costs, one immediately realizes that aside from a short-term economic benefit, there are only negative long-term consequences to the environment, and by extension to subsequent generations of Africans.

Nutrient poor deforested areas contribute to the phenomenon on “Desertification” Historically, one can look to the effects of the 1930’s Dust Bowl in the United States, where the effects of a long term drought and the displacement of tons of topsoil that were blown off barren fields and carried in dust clouds for hundreds of miles. This event displaced millions of people who were forced to abandon their farms due inability to grow crops due to the extreme degradation of the soil.

Another important role of the forest is that it absorbs a great amount of water during the rainy season. Once removed, soil percolation or the ability to absorb large quantities of water, is negatively effected. When this occurs, flooding displaces large quantities of soil and results in landslides. One only has to look to recent history for examples of this. From 1997-2010, mudslides after extreme rainfall events near a densely populated mountainous area of Mount Elgon, Uganda, resulted in numerous fatalities and the displacement of over 11 millions m³ of slope material (Mafabi, 2010). In July of 2003, a three-day rain event near the Bambouto Caldera in Cameroon resulted in a swarm of over 100 landslides that killed 23 people (Bongsiyisi, 2009).

Nkwen the landslide in Cameroon (Source: CPJ)New York

In areas adjacent to rivers, lakes and streams, deforestation can result in water with increased sediment deposits, increased turbidity and elevated pH levels. The consequences of these negative factors often result in fish kills and the degradation of the watershed, including all forms of life that rely on the careful balance maintained by nature.

The Elusive Solution

The obvious or most practical response would be the development of an effective Silviculture Management Plan (controlling the growth, composition of forests) that all African countries would develop together to minimize or mitigate the negative impact of deforestation to the continent. The main part of Silviculture Management or  Sustainability Management Programs are the careful balance between the planting and removal of trees. For example, in the simplest terms, if a tree were to be removed, one or more trees would be planted in its place. That way, the balance in the forest could be maintained, and there would always be one or more trees to take the place of every tree that is removed.

However, before an adequate solution is found, it is important that the problem is identified. In this case, the deforestation or the denuding of the African forest is but a symptom of a larger issue. That issue is the lack of needed resources available to the population and the intrinsic desire to acquire more. The need for affordable fuel should be the main concern. Until an adequate replacement source is found, someone will always be searching for a tree to cut down. As populations continue to increase, the need and competition for the resource will only increase. Finally, as long as governments in developing countries are willing take money and turn a blind eye to foreign corporations who exploit resources, it will be impossible to find a workable solution.

References

Bongsiyisi, N E. (2009). "Landslide Swarms Within the Bambouto Caldera and their Effects." Landslides: Disaster Risk Reduction. Berlin, Germany: Springer

CERCOPAN. (2009). Nigeria: Centre for Education, Reserach and Conservation of Primates and Nature. In Protecting Wildlife Supporting Communities and Promoting Education. Gillingham, UK

Geist, H., & Lambin, E. (2002). Proximate Causes and Underlying Driving Forces of Tropical Deforestation. Bioscience, 52(2).

Lawrence, W. (1999). Reflections on the tropical deforestation crisis. Biological Conservation, 91(3).

Mafabi, D. (2010). Wildlife body warns people about staying around Mt Elgon. Sunday Monitor.

Porter, G. and Brown, J.(1999). Global Environmental Politics. Westwood Press

Morgan, D, and C Sanz (2007). "Best Practice Guidelines for Reducing the Impact of Commercial Logging in Western Equitorial Africa." IUCN: World Conservation Union. , Switzerland: International World Conservation Union, 2007. Print.

NASA (2009). Tropical Deforestation: Causes of Deforestation. In Earth Observatory. Washington, DC

Deaths Reported In Nigeria and Cameroon

Most of Africa is experiencing heavy rainfall and instead of greeting the rains with happiness, many people in Cameroon, Nigeria and the northern Nigerian states of Bauchi and Borno are fighting for their lives as they face the perils of a severe cholera outbreak.

Cholera is a contagious water-borne infection that is easily and quickly transmitted through dirty, contaminated water and food, which is cooked in unhygienic conditions, using such unclean water. Even though the disease can be prevented through proper sanitation and fresh supply of clean drinking water, this is not the case.

Every year, during the monsoons, there is a surge in cholera cases in Nigeria. One of the main reasons for its spread is heavy rainfall leading to an overflow of dirty water into wells and ponds which serve as the main source of water supply in the village areas.

Cholera is caused by the Vibro cholera bacteria usually spread through contaminated water. Although contaminated water is the primary means of spread of cholera infection, raw shellfish, uncooked fruits and vegetables, and other foods can also harbor cholera bacteria. The cholera bacteria can remain dormant in the water for a prolonged period, especially in the public wells found commonly in the third world countries, and are responsible for the large-scale cholera outbreaks.

The use of modern sewage systems and treatment has almost eradicated cholera in the developed countries. For example, the last outbreak of cholera in the United States was in 1911. However, cholera outbreaks continue to remain an epidemic in many underdeveloped countries including sub-Saharan Africa, India, Latin-America, Asia, and Middle East. These outbreaks are common in communities without adequate sanitation and crowded living.

The most common symptoms of cholera include diarrhea and vomiting, leading to dehydration. Urgent medical attention is needed in people suffering from cholera. If treatment is not started on time, it can even lead to death. Cholera can be easily treated, and death prevented with simple and inexpensive rehydration solution.

The main goal of treatment is the replacement of fluids and electrolytes lost through diarrhea and shorten the time of diarrhea and vomiting. The Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) has been formulated with the optimal water, salts and sugar content to meet part of this objective. If not adequately rehydrated close to fifty percent of the people with cholera will die. In severely dehydrated, intravenous rehydration would likely be needed.

In addition, studies have demonstrated that a single dose of azithromycin (a form of erythromycin antibiotics) given to adults or children with severe cholera can significantly reduce the symptoms and duration of diarrhea and vomiting. Also, oral zinc supplement has been demonstrated to reduce the duration of the diarrhea in children suffering from cholera. Overall, with adequate treatment, the morality or death from cholera is almost none existent.

Formal announcements have been made regarding the seriousness of cholera spread this year. It has been estimated that more than 1,300 people have been infected with this dangerous disease in Nigeria alone. In Cameroon, the estimate goes up to almost 2,000 cases with a couple of hundred deaths.

The healthcare sector in Nigeria and Africa are taking necessary steps to make drugs accessible to those infected. Moreover, campaigns are being run to sensitize the general public on what they can do to protect themselves and curb the spread of cholera and other water-borne diseases.

G. Stanley Okoye, M.D., Ph.D. , Chief Medical Correspondent, Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center (Afripol) and St. Jude Medical Missions ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

Hurrah As Obama's White House Summons Young African Leaders

A gift to African countries on her 50 years independence anniversary. One thing that President Obama, singer Whitney Houston and late Rt. Honorable Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe have in common is the appreciation and admiration of youths. The first President of Nigeria, Dr. Azikiwe in his political campaigns referred to young people as "Future leaders." By this he recognized that tomorrow belongs to the youths and they should be help to realize their God-given potentials and talents.

Whitney Houston, the Grammy winner singer, in one of music albums sang, "Children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way, show them all the beauty they possess." President Obama practical zed it by inviting young African leaders to the White House on the dawn of celebration of 50 years anniversary of independence of 17 African countries. Many observers and editorials in the pages of African newspapers saw it as a snubbed on the current African leaders.

These observers and editors were reading the tea leaves upside down. The Obama's administration has a bigger fish to fry than wasting time on calculating on how to make African leaders depressed or make their French wine gathering less festive.

Let's make an intelligent guess; Africa is surely not moving forward compare to the rest of the continents and everybody including Stevie Wonder can see it. Therefore most of the problems embedded and occurring in Africa is self infected by the ruling class. The intelligent thing to do is to make sure that ineffectiveness, self-hatred, intellectual laziness and lethargy associated with the current leaders are not passing down to the up and coming generation.

African leaders in exception of few have demonstrated that they are not willing to tackle problems confronting their continent. Many of them may talk the good talk but they are not ready 'to roll' and do thing for their people. We have few pragmatic leaders but not the critical mass to make the difference in the continent with regards to the level of poverty, diseases, hopelessness and apathy.

New York Times writes, "President convened a forum this week to celebrate the 50th anniversaries of 17 African nations, but he did not invite a single African leader to help him do so. Was this, as the African news media and independent commentators see it, an expression of distaste for abusive rulers? Was it an extension of Mr. Obama's own conviction - already enunciated - that bad government is at the heart of the continent's woes and that "Africa doesn't need strongmen, it needs strong institutions"? "

Africa rich in natural resources continue to be the poorest, lest productive and disease-ridden continent. Our African leaders are standing by the side corner, partying and throwing away precious time on unproductive and unsustainable ventures. Apart from few productive African leaders there was no justification for inviting rest of the leaders whose propensity are to overlook their responsibilities. If you cannot teach old dogs new tricks you might as well start with the puppies.

In the forum in the White House, "When asked about President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Mr. Obama told the young people at the forum, "I'll be honest with you - I'm heartbroken when I see what's happened in Zimbabwe. I think Mugabe is an example of a leader who came in as a liberation fighter and - I'm just going to be very blunt - I do not see him serving his people well. And the abuse, the human rights abuses, the violence that's been perpetrated against opposition leaders I think is terrible."

President Obama would have added that Africans have the greatest responsibilities of developing their continent. The point of being independent is to demonstrate to yourself and to others that you are free and liberated. Freedom comes with responsibility anything short of that is mockery of freedom.

Competence invaluable than zoning in Nigeria

Nigeria is coming of age, part of growth and maturity is self examination. This issue of zoning in People’s Democratic Party (PDP) deserves the re-visitation and re-examination in order to determine its relevance at this present polity. The great thing about democracy is the coming together of free people with free will, thus making decisions that are binding to their vision and aspiration. Hot debate in Nigeria on this issue of zoning must be carried out in way that it promotes the ideals of the country, ultimately enhancing goodwill. This debate must be based on peace, fairness, unity and progress for greater good of Nigeria.

Competence should be upheld in this equation because it is superior and has precedence over geographical location and zone. While zoning can become a tool to promote fairness, it does not necessarily bring about competence in the polity. No amount of zoning can make Nigerian economy to grow and give jobs to millions of unemployed Nigerians. No one is suggesting that the issue of zoning should be dismissed outrightly or relegated to insignificance. Zoning has its place in Nigerian politics due to long history of denial and unfairness on the mostly perceived weak groups and minorities. But the discussing of zoning must be shaped by competence; for allowing mediocrity to thrive inorder to safeguard and protect zoning at all cost has its repercussion for at the long run everybody will be a loser.

In this demanding stage of Nigerian evolution what she desperately need are competent men and women of goodwill from any part of Nigeria to channel the vision of the country to reality. Nigeria needs pragmatic and patriotic leaders from any section of country to manage the affairs of the country as president, governors, senator, legislator, chairman of LG and counselors. Nigeria must be willing to trust one another inorder to maximize brotherhood and interdependence with each other. The best way to increase patriotism and citizenship is to encourage Nigerians to be Nigerians not just Ijaw, Efiki, Igala, Hausa, Yourba, Igbo etc. The time has come for Nigerians to freely live in any part of the country, calling it home and realizing their political, educational and commercial ambitions without going back to the so-called native soil or village.

Zoning for one thing does not increase our cohesive force of togetherness rather it highlights our lack of trust among fellow country men and women. Zoning maybe antithetical to democratic process for it inhibits the free participation of common people to elect the leader they chose fit. Therefore in that case zoning can become a tool for ‘gerrymandering’ which goes contrary to its purpose and justification. The zoning might have a grandiose purpose of writing the wrongs of the past but we must make sure that it does not dominate our politics for it has the propensity to dampen our freedom and liberty in our blossoming democratic dispensation.

Nigeria’s fierce debating on zoning is healthy for our democracy, but our country must seriously look into the issue of competence. We need enlighten leaders to build our country, leaders who are patriotic to the nation and who believe in the verses of our national anthem and national pledge. The time has come for Nigeria to become part of economic super block, utilizing her time amply on discussing economic issues, rather than a nation obsessed with the debate of which hamlet or clan will produce a president.

It will be unfair and un-sportsmanship for politicians to use the issue of zoning to diminish any region of the country in order to make a point or score cheap political point. Such an attitude and mindset will not foster amity but rather heat up the country’s polity. It is unwise and imprudent to gain politically at the expense of the unity of our great country.

Nigeria can stand for fairness without disconcerting competence; the most important thing to every Nigerian at this stage of our development and history is to foster unity, peace and economic progress in the country’s political landscape. And our ambitious politicians and their cohorts must stand up for Nigeria.

Urgent Need to Curb Prostate Cancer Epidemic among Black Men

Even though tremendous progress has been made over the years in the healthcare sector, across the globe, many countries today continue to lag behind when it comes to early detection and treatment of life threatening diseases such as cancer. A good case in point is the rising number of Prostate Cancer cases and the resulting deaths among Black Men in West Africa, Caribbean, United States and United Kingdom.

Image via Wikipedia

What is even more alarming is that African American men have a 60% greater chance of developing cancer of the prostate gland as compared to their white counterparts. More than 14 million Nigerian men die of prostate cancer in the age group of 45-50 and above. This high Morbidity & Mortality rate is definitely a cause for great concern, considering the fact that, if detected early, Prostate Cancer can be successfully cured. Often times, the cancer is detected at a much later stage, making it impossible for curative care and treatment to be effective.

This is why, it is imperative for men of African descent to be aware of the risks they face and the importance of getting themselves screened regularly for cancer of the prostate, by the time they reach the age of 45.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1 million, new cancer cases may be diagnosed each year in Africa by 2020 and many of these may be Prostate cancer cases.

Cases, Prevalence, & Mortality of Prostate Cancer

Some of the main reasons why such cases have been steadily growing in Africa

• Excessive poverty

• Insufficient resources

• Lack of basic infrastructure & amenities

• Lack of information, and proper prostate cancer awareness

• Lack of effective screening & treatment programs

• Social, and cultural isolation

Over the years, several scientists and doctors have devoted themselves to researching the causes for such high risk of prostate cancer among African American men. Doctors have been studying the family & medical history of several African American families to check the prevalence of prostate cancer from generation to generation. The research and tests have revealed many facts, based on which various theories have been developed such as -

 Crucial differences can be seen in the prostate of African American men

 A higher level of androgen receptor proteins is present in the prostates of men with African descent

 A genetic mutation has been identified that raises the chances of cancer of the prostate.  It is hoped that united efforts to spread awareness, arrange effective screening and provide cure, across countries will help to save many African Americans from the danger of Prostate Cancer. For more information see

 CDC Features - Prostate Cancer (http://www.cdc.gov/features/prostatecancer/)

G. Stanley Okoye, M.D., Ph.D. , Chief Medical Correspondent, Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center (Afripol) and St. Jude Medical Missions ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

During the course of a normal day, people face varieties of different risks.　 Some risks are known and others are faced with a degree of uncertainty. One of the risks or potential hazards that most people encounter perhaps every moment in a day is their exposure to a variety of chemicals. In most cases people make an informed decision to avoid the substances that are known to be harmful.　 Problems arise when the public is perhaps unwittingly exposed to a substance where the acute or cumulative affects of exposure may be dangerous.

In the United States, a change occurred in 1962 that many consider the start of the environmental movement. Rachel Carlson,　a former marine biologist with the US Wildlife Fisheries, wrote a book called "Silent Spring" This one book was the start of or the catalyst for the modern environmental movement. This book aroused public consciousness and influenced subsequent environmental legislation for years to come including the ban on DDT in the United States and many other countries (Lewis, 1985).

What is DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)

DDT ((Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) is the first of the chlorinated organic insecticide, was originally discovered in 1873. In 1939 that chemist Paul Muller discovered the effectiveness of DDT as an insecticide and was subsequently awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine and physiology in 1948(ASTDR, 2002).

Worldwide use of DDT in the late 1940’s increased tremendously because of its effectiveness against the mosquito and lice; thereby eradicating diseases like malaria and typhus. It was relatively inexpensive and had a low toxicity to mammals compared with other insecticides.　 The World Health Organization estimates approximately 25 million lives were saved because of the use of DDT. By the 1950’s it was widely used throughout the United States, especially in the mosquito prone areas of the south. Today, some areas with prime real estate and multi-million dollar homes were once endemic with　malaria and only made habitable through the application of DDT (WHO, 2005). 

The Controversy

In the early 1960’s, it was discovered that DDT was toxic to fish. Residues were found to remain in the food chain for long periods of time due to its bioaccumulation in the liver and adipose tissue of animals. This led to a 1969 research study that demonstrated an increased incidence of liver tumors and leukemia in laboratory mice (ASTDR, 2002).

Degradation of the substance was also found to be very slow with residual amounts found in soil samples up to 15 years after application. Wildlife researchers (Ames, 1966) linked the exposure to DDT to the habitat decline of the osprey and peregrine falcon due to increased fragility and thickness of their eggs. By 1972, responding to the public outcry, the U.S. Department of Agriculture began to phase out the use of DDT.

The problem with these studies is that they have never been duplicated. A hallmark and perhaps the most important tenet of the scientific method is not only must a hypothesis be testable, but that it must be reproducible. In "DDT: Epidemiological Evidence" researchers demonstrated that cancer correlations between DDT and population levels were not reproducible. Samples taken from areas where high concentrations of DDT were ubiquitous and where trace amounts were found in human blood, urine and feces, there was no corresponding increase in cancer rates in the population. It concludes that the insecticide did not have a significant impact on human cancer patterns and therefore is unlikely to be an important carcinogen for man at previous exposure levels, (Higginson, 1985). Similarly in "Pesticides and breast cancer risk: a review of DDT, DDE, and Dieldrin", while acknowledging that DDT and its metabolites are persistent organic pollutants, the offer could find no demonstrable evidence that DDT was implicated in an increased risk of breast cancer (Snedaker, 2001). Subsequent analysis of five US studies carried did not provide evidence to support a role of DDE (a byproduct of DDT) with increased cancer risks (Laden, Collman, Iwamoto, et al, 2001).

Endemic Malaria and the African Dilemma

The African countries have a unique moral and economic dilemma that is faced by few other nations. Will current and future governmental leaders use DDT to combat the malaria endemic?

The World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control reports that between 1.5-2.5 million people die of malaria or malaria attributed illnesses, annually. Nearly 90% of these deaths occur in tropical Africa with 18% of all deaths occurring in children under the age of 5 (WHO, 2005). There simply is no other disease, in any part of the world that can generate these types of statistics.

Complicating the decision are the economic variables. In a global economy, if governments revert back to the use of DDT, there is a risk that exported products could be banned. Economic figures indicate that countries in Europe imported greater than 10 billion dollars in agricultural products (UN, 2009). Domestically, treating victims continues to strain the budgets of most African governments. Governments often rely on aid from groups such as USAID, the World Health Organization and other Non Governmental Organizations. Most of these agencies are opposed to using DDT for malaria prevention. Without this funding to support DDT spraying, these nations cannot afford it and are forced to adopt less cost effective measures.

Some governments have continued to use it in the face of malaria related deaths. In South Africa's DDT spraying program, malaria rates were cut by 80 percent in 18 months with no demonstrated harmful environmental effects.  Other successes in Mozambique, Zambia, Madagascar and Swaziland were attainable with malaria rates cut by more than 75 percent within two years.

Is DDT the panacea or the magic bullet that will forever remove the scourge of malaria from the world? Probably not, but it remains an overlooked and underutilized tool in an arsenal that has been depleted by regulations forced by incomplete evidence or the emotional reaction of some environmentalists.

References:

Ames, P. (1966). DDT Residues in the eggs of the Osprey in the Northeastern United States and their relation to nesting success. Journal of Applied Ecology, 3, 87-97

ASTDR (2002) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry: DDT, DDE and DDD in Division of Toxicology FAQ

Higgionson, J. (1985). DDT: Epidemiological Evidence. IARC: International Agency for Research on Cancer, 65, 107-117

Laden, F., Collman, G., & Iwamoto, K. (2001). 1,1-Dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene and Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Breast Cancer: Combined Analysis of Five U.S. Studies. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 93(10), 768-775

Snedeker, S. (2001). Pesticides and breast cancer risk: a review of DDT, DDE, and dieldrin. Enivironmental Health Perspectives, 3, 35-47.

The US Environmental Protection Agency. (1985). History: The Birth of the EPA. In J. Clark (Ed.), EPA Journal, Washington, DC

Thurow, R. (2001) In Malaria War, South Africa turns to pesticide long banned in the West in Wall Street Journal

Turusov, V, Rakitsky, V, & Tomatis, L. (2002). Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT): ubiquity, persistence, and risks. Environmental Health Perspectives, 110(2), 125-128.

United Nations. (2009). United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database. In UN Commtrade. New York, New York.

World Health Organization, (2005) The WHO Recommended Classification of Pesticides by Hazard and Guidelines to Classification.

When the sun rises on this hot and humid marshland, the acrid smell of petroleum is thick in the air. Farmers plod though the thick swamps contaminated with hydrocarbons as part of their daily ritual of tending to their fields. This is not rural Louisiana but a half a world away in the Oruma, Goi, and Ikot Ada Udo communities of the Niger River Delta.

As similar as these events may seem to the casual observer, the differences are quite stark. The Deep Horizon Spill has captivated the world’s attention for the past few months; there has been little if any notice paid to this same issue in Nigeria. Indeed, over the past 50 years, oil spills and hazardous waste disposal have effectively destroyed much of the ecological habitats and watersheds in and around the Niger Delta. In 2006, Royal Dutch Shell, perhaps the greatest offender, was ordered by the Nigerian Parliament to pay US 1.5 Billion dollars in compensation for environmental destruction in the Bayelsa Sate. Royal Dutch Shell continues to appeal the decision (AFP, 2006).

The compensation settlement may be of little help for the local residents. Chronic health problems among the local residents began to appear after the Shell injected a million litres of a waste into an abandoned Erovie oil well. (Olukoya, 2001).

Two months after the incident, residents began to develop unexplained illnesses including vomiting, diarrhea, rashes and extreme fatigue. Epidemiologists and health care investigators determined the source of the illness was the contamination of the local water supply and irrigated crops. This news came too late for 93 individuals who eventually died. Investigators and three independent labs were able to determine the area had been contaminated with toxic waste with heavy metal contamination far above acceptable limits (Olukoya, 2001).

Oil or petroleum contamination has its own risks. Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) and Benzo(a)pyrenes are common organic pollutants that are found in petroleum products. Because they are lipophilic, they have a tendency to bioaccumulate or to be stored in lipid (fat) cells. This is especially true for marine organisms in coastal areas such as the Niger Delta. In laboratory tests, chronic exposure to these contaminants has shown to extremely carcinogenic. Often resulting in tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system and liver (Irwin, 1997).

According to Anyakora, Arbabi and Coker (2008), fish samples from four different species, namely Parachanna Obscura, Pseudolithus Elongatus, Lizza Dumerillii and Clarais Gariepinnus, were screened for the presence Benzo(a)pyrene. These fish were targeted in the study due to their wide spread consumption in the Niger Delta regions. The samples demonstrated consistently high levels of Benzo(a)Pyrene accumulation in all the fish samples. Therefore this study concludes that the population carries an increased risk for developing cancer.

This trend is likely to continue if not become worse over time as more and more contaminants are released and make their way up the food chain. Unfortunately, it must reach this level for laws and other regulations to be passed. Often it’s too late for many, who fall victim to preventable disease brought about by greed or excused by ignorance. There may not be any easy answers to solve the problems of the Niger Delta. Although much damage has occurred in the past century, it is not impossible to undo some of the damage, or at least prevent a continued deterioration. We no longer have the excuse of ignorance that our forefathers did.

References: Anyakora, C., Arbabi, M., & Coker, H. (2008). A screen for Benzo(a)pyrene in Fish Samples From Crude Oil Polluted Environments. American Journal of Environmental Sciences, 4(2), 145-150.

Associated France Press (2006, May 21). Shell ordered to pay 1.5 billion dollars to ethnic Ijaws. Associated France Press

Irwin, R. (1997). In Environmental Contaminants Encyclopedia Ft Collins, CO: National Park Service

Olukoya, S. (2001). Environmental Justice from the Niger Delta to the World Conference Against Racism. Corpwatch

Nuclear energy and nuclear technology can be of great aid to Nigeria in her endeavor to supply steady, reliable and clean energy for her domestic electric consumption. Without doubt Nigeria at this stage of her industrial stage must do something about the paucity of electricity to power her industries and residential homes. Nuclear technology with its entire prospect has its challenges that must be appreciated and be given the requisite attention in order to avoid any catastrophe. Nigeria must do thorough feasibility study, and comprehend the convoluted technology, and implement the intricate precautionary measures and mechanisms required to operate a highly sophisticated technology.

Many countries have sorted and utilized nuclear energy for substantial deliverance of reliable electric supply."As of July 2008, there were more than 430 operating nuclear power plants and, together, they provided about 15 percent of the world's electricity in 2007. Of these 31 countries, some depend more on nuclear power than others. For instance, in France about 77 percent of the country's electricity comes from nuclear power. Lithuania comes in second, with an impressive 65 percent. In the United States, 104 nuclear power plants supply 20 percent of the electricity overall, with some states benefiting more than others." Nigeria can join these nations but she must play by rule of the game: Safety is everything.

Analyzing and dissecting the pros and cons of building nuclear plants to supply clean and steady energy to the country will not negate nor slow down the project but will strengthen the hands of Nigerian government. There is a reasonable danger associated in nuclear plants operations but with well trained technicians, technologists and scientific bureaucrats an error free management and operations are possible. As a nation, we must be frank to one another; we do not have or seems to be sustaining a maintenance culture. Nigeria is quick to build or set up shining and glaring projects but falter in rendering first class management and maintenance. The recent multi-million dollar Nigerian satellite (NigComSat-1) built and launched by the Chinese in May 2007, was shut down to prevent it spinning out of control and damaging others in orbit. The satellite project an example of a "white elephant in space" was a waste of time and resources. The billions of naira invested in the satellite technology can be utilized to solve the earthly problem of waste disposal in Kano or supply borne tap water to a struggling villages in the interior of Nigeria. Nigeria must make sure that the nuclear project will not suffer such a fate like the satellite (NigComSat-1).

Murtala Muhammed International Airport, at its inception was among the greatest aesthetic and architectural wonders of Africa but it has since deteriorated considerably due to lack of maintenance. So is the Ajaokuta Iron and Steel industry, has it not become a dead wood? All these are toddlers' picnic compared to the effects of nuclear mismanagement and God forbid a nuclear accident or incident. In nuclear technology operation, concerns must be attended to, before they metamorphosed to catastrophic accidents and incidents.

In case of nuclear power plants, they must be safely run, for there are no second chances in nuclear accident. Nigeria has the human capital and technical know-how for such a convoluted and elaborated project but lethargy poses the greatest threat to scientific development in Nigeria.

Nuclear accident and Risk management: The Chernobyl effect
No one can discuss about nuclear accident, without recollecting and mentioning the disaster of Chernobyl in the defunct Soviet Union. "It is the 20th anniversary year of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster, where a reactor testing at Chernobyl (now in Ukraine) went terribly wrong on the night of April 25th-26th. This led to the world's worst nuclear disaster involving radiation exposure and explosions. Other nuclear power plant accidents include Chalk River, Canada in 1952, Windscale Pile No. 1, England in 1957, East Germany (near Greifswald) in 1976, Three Mile Island, USA in 1979, Tokaimura, Japan in 1999 and Mihama, Japan in 2004. Some of these disasters led to immediate deaths, chronic diseases like thyroid cancer and leukemia, and major damage to the environment such as groundwater contamination and burning up of plants and trees. Property was rendered useless while expensive rehabilitation, remediation and monitoring programs were carried out. The nuclear power plant disasters were due to either or all of these: improper reactor design, equipment failure and human error." Nobody can accuse Russians of scientific inferiority, notwithstanding, the industrial accident of Chernobyl happened. Nigeria has to be prepared for any eventuality which must be back up with elaborated standard operation procedure to handle any unforeseen disaster. The most important is to have safe proof paradigm designed to prevent any accident by well experienced risk managers and scientists. Nigeria can do it and operate successful nuclear plants with a solid foundation rooted on discipline, concentration and circling competence.

Nuclear Technology cost

Without doubt, it is very expensive to build and maintain nuclear plants. It will cost billions of dollars to build nuclear plants. According to the blueprint proposal about seven plants have been proposed, four in the north and three plants in the south. The exorbitant cost for construction notwithstanding, further resources are needed to run, buy and replace parts of nuclear plants as it wears and tears. Our bureaucrats cannot afford to mismanage this venture and leave sour taste in our mouths with regards to Nigerian Airway, NEPA, Ajaokuta Iron & Steel and many white elephants abandoned in the dumpster of Nigerian industrial experiments. In this era of democratic capitalism, government must not monopolize the project because of their inefficiency, corruption and over compensation. The private companies and citizens will be given opportunities to participate into the ownership of the nuclear plants. Government has to float a limited liability company in which the stocks will be available to the public to buy. Nigerian government can still own the majority stocks but there must be an injection of free enterprise mindset and reality that will be a booster for efficient and transparent run of the nuclear plants. The partnership between government and the public will lessen the cost burden and embolden transparency and probity.

Peaceful and nuclear security

Nigeria is only interested in the safe and peaceful utilization of nuclear technology for domestic energy consumption. Security must be the cornerstone for safety: Our enemies can betray us by stealing the uranium (the natural occurring element/raw material for nuclear energy) and enriched them for destructive purposes. Nigeria must create a well guarded security post to prevent any peripheral intervention, ready to exploit the technology for building bombs and destroying lives. Nigeria must be prepared with seasoned and well equipped security apparatus that has the skill to stop outside interference. Nigeria must make sure that the internal enemies of progress will not use the capture of the nuclear plants to blackmail the people and government of Nigeria.

The disposal of nuclear waste

The half life of uranium (the time it takes for half its atoms to decay) is problematic and which implies that a storage place is necessary. The waste made during nuclear fission including uranium, plutonium, and other elements are highly radioactive. These elements including uranium have long half-lives (the time it takes for half its atoms to decay) some longer than 100,000 years thus creating long time periods before the waste will settle to safe levels of radioactivity. Nigeria will not be immune with this problem of nuclear waste storage; even highly technological nation like America is still gripping with the issue. Daren Briscoe writes in NEWSWEEK (American magazine) recently: "A bigger problem than the safety of the reactors themselves is what to do with the deadly waste they produce. Nuclear power is praised for its zero carbon emissions, but it comes at price-radioactive fuel rods that remain toxic for thousands of years. If you're looking for a reason to feel queasy about building more nuclear reactors, this is it. While politicians bicker over where to put it all-nuclear waste is the ultimate "not in my backyard" dispute-the stuff is piling up. As things are now, a lot of it is simply stockpiled at the plants, submerged in open pools of water for as long as five years and eventually sealed in steel and concrete casks. "You have more than 100 reactors storing waste on-site, under what the Nuclear Regulatory Commission calls a temporary license, in the worst of all possible places." So if America is having some issue with this, what must Nigeria do to handle such a difficult challenge? Nigeria must be creative, resourceful and willing to learn from others.

In totality, a storage place must be built to contain these radioactive elements, which must be warehoused in safe storage area until they poses no risk to man and the environment. Our forest, water and natural wild life must be protected from the devastating effect of uranium contamination and pollution.

What Nigeria must do

As a strategist, patriot and scientist, this paper seeks not to discourage Nigeria, who has come of age. But to elucidate the incessant vulnerability associated with this technology to Nigeria's policy makers and bureaucrats. Such a project associated with a danger of this magnitude proportion cannot be treated in nonchalant mannerism akin to Nigeria's structural and institutional weakness. Nigeria needs a steady power supply and nuclear technology can play an active role in supplying reasonable quantity of energy to Nigeria. However, Nigeria must have diversity of energy supply - solar, thermo, wind and of course nuclear. Nigeria can not make nuclear technology the principal energy supply but to initially build few numbers of nuclear plants at this stage, then as they learn and gain experience in optimum operation of nuclear plants, Nigeria can build more plants.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that ensures "Atoms for Peace" for members in nuclear field can be of great aid to Nigeria. The IAEA is a repository of information and safety guidelines on efficient operation of nuclear plants for peaceful purposes. In addition, Nigerian indigenous scientists scattered around the world can be invited to be advisers to the projects - great scientists and technologists are invariably great minds that are needed for such a Nigerian project.

Analysis and commentary by Emeka Chiakwelu     This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have infused the total sum of N600 billion naira ($3.96 billion) into the Nigerian banking sector to recapitalize the banks that have been plagued with liquidity crisis and credit crunch caused by excessive lending, profligacy and corruption.

The recent audits of the Nigerian banks by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have exposed the inefficiency of the banking sector. When the new governor of Central Bank came in he found out that some major banks were poorly managed and that corruption has eaten deep into the fabric of Nigerian banking system. Therefore the boss of CBN Mr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi committed himself into cleaning the financial mess.

Mr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi the newly appointed chieftain of CBN conducted initial audits of the some of the banks. "Those audits revealed that five banks holding 30% of Nigeria deposits – Afric Bank, Fin Bank, Intercontential Bank, Oceanic Bank and Union Bank were on the brink of collapse due to reckless lending." There was a lax in the system and it was revealed that many loans made to some of the banks’ customers were neither repaid nor serviced but were left dormant.

The CBN bailed out the five banks with 400 billion naira. The managers of the banks were sacked and those customers including many important business tycoons and respectful bureaucrats were compelled to pay back those bad loans.

The governor of Nigeria’s apex bank Mr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi went further with comprehensive investigation and audits of the entire banking sector. The audit findings including: lax in regulation, credit strangulation and low holdings among many banks. Due to the plunge in the deposit holdings among many of these banks, there was credit crunch in the system. The business cannot raise adequate capital from the financial institutions due to paucity of liquidity in the system.

Again the Central Bank of Nigeria on October 2 recapitalized another four banks at the amount of 200 billion naira - "Bank PHB, Equatorial Trust Bank, Spring Bank and Wema Bank -- also judged to be facing a grave liquidity risk."

Replenishing the holdings of the banks was a great move by the CBN, for that will make credit available to the business community and consumers. But that will not be the panacea to the problems of the Nigerian banks, which compels a comprehensive and invasive restructure of the banking system.

Sansui‘s Central Bank must re-evaluate the rules and regulations and come with more stringent regulations that will close all the loopholes in the system. The regulations must be enforced aggressively with verifiable checks and balances. The frequency of the audits must be increased together with random audits can become a deterrent mechanism to inhibit the weakness in the system.

Re-capitalization and bail out of the banks with this large sum of money - N600 Billion naira -may loom inflation. At the moment in Nigeria the inflation is hovering around 10-10.4% and it’s expected to dip below 10% in the next quarter. Therefore the commercial banks must be instructed to be meticulous in their lending in order to avoid excessive money in the circulation that might trigger inflation. Subsequently undermining the value of naira and further depreciation of already weaken naira.

When CBN prints and borrow money to recapitalize the banks that may lower the Nigerian credit worthiness. And it may unleash higher inflation and the devaluation of naira. When CBN finances its recapitalization by withdrawing excessively from the foreign reserve, it poses a threat to value of naira and credit standing of the country.

Mr. Emeka Chiakwelu is the Principal policy strategist at Afripol Organization. Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center (Afripol) is foremost a public policy center whose fundamental objective is to broaden the parameters of public policy debates in Africa. To advocate, promote and encourage free enterprise, democracy, sustainable green environment, human rights, conflict resolutions, transparency and probity in Africa.

Economic perspective and analysis by Emeka Chiakwelu

International Monetary Fund (IMF) will substantially increase its Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) from its lower original reserve to 204 billion which is proportionate to $324 billion. In the last G-20 summit held in America, the members of this important group of the largest economies gave the IMF the green light for creation of significantly larger SDRs.

SDR is a form of proxy or representative currency created by IMF. This "quasi currency" can be converted into four established and chosen currencies referred as "basket of currencies" - dollar, euro, pound and yen. Every member-nation of IMF has a holding according to the stake they have in the institution and the holdings are allocated the so-called SDRs.

According to IMF, "The SDR is an international reserve asset, created by the IMF in 1969 to supplement its member countries' official reserves. Its value is based on a basket of four key international currencies, and SDRs can be exchanged for freely usable currencies. With a general SDR allocation that took effect on August 28 and a special allocation on September 9, 2009, the amount of SDRs increased from SDR 21.4 billion to SDR 204.1 billion (currently equivalent to about $324 billion)."

America and the rest of Group -20 nations supported the increment because the poor and developing nations who were severely impacted by global recession can have access to liquidity. This can relief the credit crunch and aid in reviving the global economy.

The African nations can benefit from the readily availability and increment of reserve asset of IMF. But African nations are skeptical about IMF and its role as lender of last resort. African experience in 1980s with IMF left a bad taste in their mouths, when the cash strapped African nations turn to IMF for credit. It became a disaster for Africa and the consequences of Africa's entanglement with IMF sow the seed for economic depression in today's Africa.

IMF‘s conditional ties for loans were so stringent for these nations to swallow. It was called structural adjustment programs which will supposedly reform the economies. The pathways to IMF’s structural adjustment initiative were paved with hardship and misery. These nations, poor nations of Africa were compelled to cut their spending drastically without putting into consideration the suffering of the masses especially women and children. On the wise counsel of IMF and its Ivy League experts African nations devalued their currencies on the grounds that it will increase export. They failed to see that most African nations are not producing anything but relied on agricultural crops and donors to finance their budgets. With the devaluation the price of crops decline sharply on the international market and Africa’s yoke enhanced.

Those African nations that finally got loans and credits could not pay it back. This became the genesis of the famous African foreign debt which has become a manacle on Africa.

Therefore with this SDR: "All the IMF's 185 members would get more SDRs in proportion to their stake in the IMF. Wealthy countries that don't need the SDRs may be able to lend them to poor nations that do." This can benefit Africa.

SDR for Settlement of debts

Instead of the highly indebted African nations using their hard currencies to pay for their foreign debts, I will suggest the use of SDR to repay the lingering foreign loans. Africa received $540 billion loans from 1970-2002, she paid back $550 billion and she still owned $295 billion as at the end of 2002.

"The countries of sub-Saharan Africa are generally very poor, and the burden of servicing their foreign debt is often insurmountably heavy. On the average, African countries owe 46% of their foreign debt to official bilateral lenders, 32% to multilateral institutions, and 22% to private creditors. However, most of their debt payments (57%)

go to private creditors, while multilateral creditors receive 21% and bilateral creditors22% of the total. Little of the bilateral debt is owed to the United States. In recent years, multilateral agencies and bilateral creditors have forgiven substantial amounts of debt, in order to reduce the poor countries’ debt burden to "sustainable" levels. However, debtors many still have difficulty servicing their debts. There have been calls for 100% forgiveness of multilateral debt. Many analysts suggest, however, that such forgiveness could substantially limit the ability of the multilateral agencies to provide future aid."

"External debt Despite the HIPC Initiative's objective to reduce Africa's total debt, total external debt and the burden of debt service payments still remains high. In 2003 African countries owed a total of US$307 billion to creditor countries and institutions, of which $218 billion was owed by the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. This debt more than doubled from US$120 billion in 1980 to US$307 billion in 2003. Almost 80 percent of Africa's debt is owed to official institutions, of which approximately 33 percent is multilateral debt owed mainly to the IMF and the World Bank. At the same time, total debt service paid by the continent increased from US$3.3 billion in the 1970s to a peak of US$28 billion in 2003, of which Sub-Saharan Africa's share was US$15 billion. In this context, the decision by the G8 countries to grant a 100 percent multilateral cancellation of the debt owed to the IMF, the World Bank, and the African Development Bank by 14 African countries that have reached the HIPC Initiative completion point could reduce the heavy debt burden and boost pro-poor growth by freeing resources for social and productive sectors."

Therefore SDR can become a powerful instrument to wipe out all the African debt. IMF can create more SDRs and issue an allocation specifically for debt payment without triggering global inflation. With total debt settlement African people can use their resources, talents and energy to engage in more resourceful initiatives rather than campaigning endlessly for debt forgiveness.

SDRs can come to the rescue as instrument to payoff African debts. Then funds for servicing and paying debts will be invested in healthcare, education and other areas that need immediate attention in the continent.

Mr. Emeka Chiakwelu is the Principal policy strategist at Afripol Organization. Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center (Afripol) is foremost a public policy center whose fundamental objective is to broaden the parameters of public policy debates in Africa. To advocate, promote and encourage free enterprise, democracy, sustainable green environment, human rights, conflict resolutions, transparency and probity in Africa.

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A democratic process is a marathon race that takes a long time to be evaluated. It will be premature to postulate the failure of democracy in Nigeria for ten years is such a limited time to quantify the well being of democratic life in the country. In this journey there are pitfalls on the way but I am an eternal optimist and greatly bullish on democracy. The democratic system of government have served so many countries well and there will be no reason while Nigeria will be an exception. One thing must be made perfectly clear; democracy is about the people not only about the political leaders, the people must be allowed to fully participate in process for a gainful and meaning result.

Nigeria is lacking the civil infrastructure and architecture for the implementation of the process. But lately our civil society and the courts are rising to the occasion. There is hope and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. It might appears hopeless because the leaders and political parties are obsessed about winning elections. But democracy is not only about election although it is an integral part of the process; election is a means to an end and not the end itself.

Education must play a vital role in the democratic process, the public and leaders must understand their roles in the process. Nobody nor individual owns the process for democracy is the government of the people by the people and for the people. The civil society and media must be vigilant in exposing any darken corner on the path of democracy.

Democracy is an organic system with its vulnerabilities and it is not perfect; at times it can be messy, but it is the best system human beings have come up with. Nigeria can make it inspite of all the problems and abuses the politicians have fabricated. Looking back the past ten years it was bearish but the next ten years, twenty years Nigeria will surely arrive. I am optimistic on the prospect of a well and a thriving democracy in our great country Nigeria.

Nigeria needs to completely overhaul its police institute with a comprehensive reform that will usher in a seasoned and improved trained police men and women. Nigeria‘s reform of the police will not be a piecemeal, where many issues affecting the force will be relegated to the background for a quick fix. A comprehensive solution will be a panacea to the end of the deficiency associated with policing in Nigeria .

Nigeria cannot be a nation with a progressive economy without astute security apparatus. Capitalists and investors must perceive a sense of security in Nigeria . Security and peace will make investments attractive to Nigeria. There must be a strong law enforcement apparatus if Nigeria will make a head way in becoming one of the twenty largest economy by the year 2020.

Salaries and Wages

All things being equal, the police force can not rise to the occasion of protecting lives and properties on empty stomach. Both literally and figuratively the core men and women of the force are starving. Their penury situations cannot allow them to be all they can be. They are victims to corruption thereby debasing their profession of upholding law and order. When reasonable and livable salaries are paid, they become true professionals and the bad fruits in their midst can be detached and rid-off from the force. To enhance and dignify the police force, who are assigned the awesome job of fighting crimes in Nigeria they must be richly compensated and the perks must be made appealing.

Equipped police force

For Nigerian police force to become equal to the assigned responsibilities of fighting crimes and upholding justice, it must be equipped with the necessary materials including functioning communication system, efficient vehicles and reliable armaments to deter and destroy targets.

Educated police force
An enlightened police force must be realized by setting up institutions of higher learning dedicated to educating the police. The curriculum must be geared toward making a dedicated citizen whose civic duties comes first. They must be exposed to the history and politics of the country and must be educated on the inner workings of the governments. They must realized that the protection of lives and properties are supreme to a well manage and progressive state.

The disaster that beset Haiti is colossal and the human suffering with destruction brought by earthquake is up to biblical proportion. The whole world is coming together to help Haiti, the poorest country in Northern Hemisphere, to safe lives and ameliorate human sufferings. Africa is not missing in the picture; many African countries including Nigeria, South Africa, Rwanda and others are offering assistance to Haiti but they should synchronize their effort.

Nigerians are already part of the UN police mission in Haiti that are assiduously working to rescue people who are missing and trapped in the fallen building structures. The Nigerian Vice President Jonathan Ebele Goodluck has promised to follow up with more assistance. Rwanda and Liberia governments have contributed US $100, 000 and $50,000 respectively. Senegalese government has promised to offer land to Haitians, those that are willing to come to Senegal. And "South Africa - The government has announced a three-phase assistance package: deployment of doctors to a search and rescue team led by Rescue South Africa, a non-profit company; deployment of forensic pathologists to help identify bodies; provision of unspecified humanitarian aid in partnership with South African NGOs".

All these contributions by African countries are the right steps in affirmative direction but the planning lacks vitality and coherence. In this case Africa needs coordination that will enable her to make a reasonable impact; this is not to negate the singular effort made by each country. But when they come together under the auspices of African Union the impact will be greatly felt and they will speak with one voice. The whole world will understand that Africa can work together for the rescue and revitalization that citizens of the world are doing in Haiti. African governments must not make this solely a government intervention operation but must devise a method to include their citizens especially the wealthy people in the country to contribute to a Haiti fund and NGOs that are dedicated to charity works.

Afripol Organization has applauded Liberia and Rwanda for the cash donations they made to Haiti. For inspite of the economic downturn and problems these countries were experiencing still they made these donations. Rwanda with her past history of genocide and destruction understood quite well the suffering and Liberia with her legacy of civil war knew what it means to lose life and property on a staggering scale.

Obama's American has taken the lead and has done a good job and the American people have followed with donations. Africans can learn from this; not by giving large resources which they do not have but having a concerted planning and coordination. Nigeria and South Africa the two largest economies in Africa must shoulder bigger responsibilities, simultaneously showing sense of leadership by working together to streamline African response.

Mr. Emeka Chiakwelu is the Principal policy strategist at Afripol Organization. Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center (Afripol) is foremost a public policy center whose fundamental objective is to broaden the parameters of public policy debates in Africa. To advocate, promote and encourage free enterprise, democracy, sustainable green environment, human rights, conflict resolutions, transparency and probity in Africa.

Democracy is for the living and as a vital organic part of a social system; it should only be quantified through growth as it relates to the involvement of the people of a nation in making policy decisions or in electing their representatives in a free and fair electoral system. Democracy as a government of the masses could be a mere usage of word to fulfill political righteousness by the ruling class or a practical application of socio-political philosophy that promotes fairness in a civil society.

Therefore, democracy can only be alive when it is practiced with the involvement of the masses, respect of the power of the people, and with due recognition of their desire. Democracy is silenced and killed when the people’s wishes are forsaken or their consent never sought in the governing of their nation. However, a people on a start to grasp and put democracy in motion could be said to be on a match. Nigeria’s democracy is still at a juvenile stage as this most populous African nation, and OPEC 6th top producer of oil thrives in her 10th year as a democratic nation. At the age of ten, a child is undergoing growth and developmental processes. The child is not mature enough to be judged strictly on the strength and content of his decisions. Likewise, Nigeria’s democracy at this stage is on a developmental phase and a work in progress.

 Democracy in its true form should be government of the people, by the people for the people. This means that the people have the right to choose, to annul and revoke any power. Contrary to the real meaning of true democracy, in Nigeria power has been hijacked by the few nouveau riche who use the wealth of the nation to deprive the masses of their political right, intimidate and silence them. However, as Nigeria’s political metamorphosis is going on there are visible signs of change and transformations in the electoral system of this frontline African nation of 130 million people. These visible changes was orchestrated by the Nigerian Judiciary which picked up strength; became more independent in rendering its functions of interpreting the constitution, turning to the golden temple of justice and the hope of the common man. The nation’s judiciary was able to handle many election cases without fear of favor to the chagrin and joy of the people of Nigeria and the international community. Elections that were found fraudulent and questionable which were challenged before the nation’s judiciary saw many of the mighty falling and loosing their political hold on power. The new life that manifested in Nigeria’s judiciary was the beacon of hope for the emergence of a viable democracy. This single act of bravery by the judiciary built up a good level of national confidence.

Although the regime of Obasanjo as the president of Nigeria besmeared the transparency of democracy, showcased an epic of political witch – hunting, and built-up a massive range of corruption among the ruling class, however, kudos should be given to some members of the National Assembly and those executives who with the rallying support of the masses ensured the survival of the nation’s democratic trend by opposing Obasanjo’s inordinate ambition for a third term. It was a shocking aberration that Obasanjo – the man who received the baton of democracy without a drop of sweat was the one who the devil wanted to use to put Nigeria’s democracy in topsy turvy.

Nigeria’s democracy must not have attained the height and sophistication obtainable in the western world for diverse reasons. The sophistication and quality of operational democracy in the west could be attributed to its level of political development as a result of the good foundations led by their founding fathers. For example, the foundation of United States was led by a people who were determined to be free and live together for a common motive. And it was on the same premise that the founding fathers constructed the constitution of United States on the platform that those things that motivated the people to live together, for example, freedom and equality should also be their guiding principle. Nigeria is a case of a multi- tribal group with diversified interest that is now learning how to become a nation. The concept of Nigeria as a nation was forced upon the people by Britain who was her colonial master. Now, Nigerians are beginning to accept and understand the reality of working together to live as a nation. In the same vein they are striving to comprehend the modus operandi of a true democracy.

Political development goes parri passua with quality education. The level of literacy in Nigeria is still a far cry from what it is in the western world. Nigeria may have crop of reputable professionals in all corners of the globe, but a total percentage of its human capital like most Sub-Saharan African nations is still a far cry from what is obtainable in developed nations. Therefore, the high population of uneducated voters in Nigeria is another acute barrier to her political development.

It is not a hidden fact that lack of innovative, transparent and service-oriented leadership has always been a cog in the wheel of Nigeria’s democratic progress. While leadership should be blamed as one of the reasons of the stymied growth of democracy in this nation, the people of Nigeria should also be awakened to the consciousness that all hands should be on deck for the survival and acceleration of quality democracy in their country. Like Hillary Clinton said in her popular usage of an African proverb, "It takes a village to raise a child". It will take the total commitment and sacrifice of the people of Nigeria to give democracy uplift and for her to occupy an enviable position among the league of democratic nations.

The incessant kidnapping of foreign oil workers in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria by the militia especially MEND (Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta) is an epitome of an unfinished business and colossal negligence of the people of Nigeria by the various governments that has ruled the nation. Nigeria is the most populous African nation, and Africa’s largest producer of oil. It has remained an unfathomable irony that with the massive oil revenue, an average Nigerian still lives in squalor with less than two US dollar (US$2.00) a day.

With the huge oil wealth earned by the nation, Nigeria is supposed to be developed more than what it is today. With huge unemployment rate, debts (the outgoing regime of Obasanjo incurred $3.2 billion debt), and lack of infrastructures – good roads, electricity, hospitals, pipe borne water, industries and total negligence of the rural areas; one would wonder where has the petro- naira wealth gone to? Definitely, the wealth is shared among the few that ruled the nation and their collaborators (foreign and local).

The trouble at the Niger Delta began in the late 1980’s as various youth groups started agitating for employment and contracts from the oil companies. Similar to various rural areas in Nigeria, the Niger Delta villages are without government presence in terms of job provision and economic empowerment. With the deteriorating economic situation and itching poverty that plagued the Nigerian families especially those in the rural areas many of them where unable to send their children to primary schools not to talk of universities. This significantly disqualified them from applying and not to talk of obtaining jobs from the oil companies whose requirement for employment was for candidate to have first class honors or summa cum laude. While these rural youths were unable to obtain the high profile jobs, some of the oil companies contracted out the provision of unskilled labor to vendors who were either connected to the government or claimed to represent their community while they were only out to satisfy themselves to the detriment of their people.

Those in power in Nigeria were busy enriching themselves with the oil proceeds, building strong relationship with the oil companies and never cared to look into the plight of their people especially were it concerns building industries, schools, roads, providing electricity and good drinking water in the rural areas. It is proper to emphasize that some of the oil companies tried in their various social objectives to assist various communities in the Niger-Delta, but one of their major mistake was to rely more in building business relationship with some dubious elements that ruled the country and not creating synergy with the communities the operated. Most of the time the oil companies prefered to deal with lobbyists - the so called community leaders that claimed to represents the communities, bribing them with huge sum of money and at the end incurring the wrath of the people who remained with nothing.

This year alone about 100 foreign oil workers have been kidnapped in the turbulent Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Among the oil workers abducted, 13 are still under captivity. What started microscopically in the late 1980’s as protest whereby youths from the oil producing towns will carry placards and block the gates of oil companies demanding for jobs and contracts, continued to grow in turbulence from where youths would go to flow stations and rigs and disrupt operations of the oil companies and to what has escalated into militants attacking, bombing oil facilities and kidnapping foreign oil workers for a ransom. While this growth of agitation and dissatisfaction was shown by the youths of this various NigerDelta areas was culminating, the Nigerian government unable to find resourceful ways to nip it at the bud, control, pacify and fairly do what was right for the nation, the oil companies and the under-developed Niger-Delta whose environment has significantly been affected by the oil exploration and production operations.

The increasing rate of kidnapping of oil workers in the Niger-Delta does not only speak of the desire of the people in that area to have control over their resources, it shows a spiral effect of utter negligence by the various Nigerian governments to develop the nation thereby making the people to rise and take laws in their hand, however, the approach may be wrong. It also epitomizes a hungry people who lack meaningful way to eke a living. If there are to be industries and firms to employ this youths and they have gainful employment from where their daily needs will be catered for; those militants won’t be seen snaking around the creeks. If there are to be provision of free education, quality and subsidized educational system, most of the youths will prefer to stay in citadels of intellectualism and drink from the fountain of knowledge which will afford them better live. To show what poverty and hunger has to do with the various kidnapping in the Niger Delta; it is common that many of those kidnapped in the Delta are seized by armed gangs who demand for ransom and often release their victims unharmed once they receive payment.

The kidnapping of foreign oil workers in Nigeria is affecting the production of oil in the country and will seriously hamper its economy. Oil is the main base of the Nigerian economy and many oil companies are pulling out and stopping operations in the Delta region. The same problem is affecting the world oil market where Nigeria is a major player and the producer of Bonny light crude oil which is the best in the world. The price of oil per barrel is now up to $70.00.

The ever brewing storm in the Niger Delta is affecting the international image of Nigeria and deterring serious investors from moving into Nigeria. Coupled with the just concluded presidential election which was riddled with various irregularities many foreign investors are still worried and uncertain if a new government will be able to take over office on May 29, and what will be the direction of the new government if it ever comes into place. Recently, the Nigerian government auctioned 45 oil exploration licenses, but had little or no big Western Oil firms in the bidding. The bidding lacked luster, was dominated by mostly Chinese, Indian and small, emerging, local oil companies.

Therefore, if Yar’Adua the president-elect successfully assumes office on May 29, the problem at the Niger Delta and the general development of Nigerian rural areas need to be of priority to his government. He must endeavor to give Nigeria a new face as a nation ready to improve the standard of living of his people, while promoting peace, law and order.

"Soldier comes, soldiers go but barracks remain" is a cliché which is as old as the nation of Nigeria with its multifaceted political problems. Literary, soldiers will always join, leave the army whether dead or alive but the barracks will monumentally tarry. Subtly explained, no matter the caliber of various rulers that will thread the political corridor and landscape of Nigeria, the nation and people of Nigeria will outlive their mess.

While Nigerians might outlive the booboos and wickedness of the various rulers that walked through their labyrinth, Nigerians do it at a ransom. The ransom which the people of Nigeria have always paid to carry on as a result of the sins and callousness of every leader who has unjustly in one way or the other manned the affairs of the nation has escalated mountainously. It has become a big burden to be shouldered by the Nigerian masses who are already crippled. At the end of every regime, while Nigerians suffer the burden of the price they have to pay to continue existing as a nation through lack of good roads; shattered educational system, zero industrial development, ill-equipped hospitals, sick administration and poverty at all levels; the few in power or those leaving office would have the temerity to dance to foreign banks where their allies (local and foreign) help them to stack away the fortune of their nation in personal accounts.

If tomorrow comes in April 2007, the people of Nigeria will be heading to the polls for another election that would usher in a new regime. From the look of things many pundits and analyst are of the view that a political hurricane might blow in this densely populated African nation, making the peoples’ expectation dicey. Come April, May and October 2007 will Nigeria survive another change of baton?

This doubt was given birth to from the way Obasanjo the president of Nigeria handpicked Yar Adua as his next successor on the platform of his ruling party - PDP The other cause that generates heat is the unending rivalry between Obasanjo and Atiku , his VP who decided to cart his quest to become the president of Nigeria under his new political party – AC, just to have his pathway to Aso Rocks truncated by both EEFC and INEC despite court ruling in favor of Atiku. Other symptoms of the impending political tornado manifested through the operations of EEFC and INEC which gives the mouth a lot to chew. Nigerians are known to enjoy flamboyant campaigns and always look forward to the Election Day. However, the coming election lacks luster; keeps people in apprehension with an envisaged low voters turn out and massive catastrophe at various polling centers.

While Nigerians are faced with another humongous ransom to pay this year in order to carry on as democratic nation, it’s germane to encourage the populace to go ahead and pay this price. It is necessary for Nigerians to seriously reconsider their steps towards eradicating the malfeasance and defecations of their past leaders by charting a new paradigm. They can achieve this with their votes. If Nigerians vote properly and out of their conscience they would be going a long way to reducing the accumulation of ransom hanging on their neck. All and sundry should give this budding democracy time to mature and as it stands every true vote counts.

As the sun shines brighter at the east and sets dimmer in the west; home will always be the best. Home is where the heart is and therein is the treasure. The World Igbo Congress (WIC) is an entity which has been nurtured through the years just like Igbo People’s Congress (IPC), have matured to what it is today. WIC may have noble intentions, with their humongous treasures buried in the south eastern region of Nigeria, but their home seems to be in Diaspora – United States of America. This ambiguity with a shade of abnormality gingers a need for rethinking.

After another convention which ended September 4, 2006 in Boston, this body which some of their objectives are: to unify Ndi-Igbo everywhere; promote, protect and advance Igbo culture and civilization, promote progress and development in Ala-Igbo, promote and cultivate political awareness and civic responsibility among Ndi-Igbo, etc. has really come of age. However, its activities have shown to be more for the Igbo elites and its impact nominal in continental Igbo land. What explanation could be given that an organization which supposedly should be an umbrella for all Ndi-Igbo (both those in continental Africa and Diaspora); since its inception in Houston, Texas has had all its conventions in United States of America. One should start asking; where are the bulk population of Ndi-Igbo? Are they all living in United States of America or at the south eastern region of Nigeria? While kudos should be given to WIC for propagating the interest of Igbo internationally and sending echoes around the globe for the socio-economic advancement of Ndi-Igbo, they should think inwardly on how to get the common man in Igbo land involved. The only way to achieving that would be by hosting some of their annual conventions in various towns in south eastern region of Nigeria.

In the tone of the old school rhyme that says; summer is the season when students are so merry with a long vacation; for Igbo elites, politicians, nouveau riches and every person of substance, summer is the period to converge or retreat into ‘Camp David’ in United States under the canopy of World Igbo Congress. While WIC has provided a cornucopia for the rich and powerful to retreat in America and renew their contacts with the hope of advancing the Igbo course. But to millions of grass root Igbo in Nigeria, little or nothing is known about this Hercules of international symbolism. This is due to little or no impact WIC has made in the local Igbo communities. Even with the numerous teething problems buffeting ‘Ohaneze’ which if not well handled will lead to its demise, ‘Ohaneze’ an Igbo think tank has a wider grass root acceptance than WIC. Today, it seems that the beleaguered ‘Ohaneze’ and the elites are depending on the strength of WIC to resurrect the crawling remnant of the Igbo aspirations within the realm of political survival in the polity of Nigerian terrain.

It costs about $300,000 to organize an annual World Igbo Congress convention in American cities. The Igbo attendees that come from all corner of the globe spend close to $4m dollars annually to grace the convention. Yearly American cities where these conventions are held receive big economic boost. While it is good to support international friendship; imagine what good it will do to the people of Enugu, Imo, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Delta and any other Nigerian states, if the sum of $4m dollars and more are injected into their revenue through the annual convention of WIC. WIC would not only have helped in the economic development of the people she claims to speak for , but also will generate awareness among the grass roots who are the prime reason for the existence of that body. After all, charity should begin at home.

The gathering of the Ndi-Igbo during the conventions organized by WIC has drawn more towards building political blocs and seeking for panacea to heal the wounds of the marginalization of the Igbo people in Nigeria political system. It falls on the Igbo to work themselves vigorously back into the Nigerian political system by presenting themselves trustworthy, united, staunch, willing and ready. The generality of the work to achieve these tasks falls on the Igbo politicians, elites and chieftains. No other body but WIC seems more organized to foster this action. As important as this may be, WIC has not come out with structures – political, economic and social that would reinvigorate the collapsing foundations of her people and position them for the new trend.

Swami Vivekananda, a 19th century Hindu holy man, once said that every nation has a "special genius" and that of India’s is religious devotion. For the Igbo’s, theirs are tenacity and patience . Those characteristics should be transformed into action if the Igbo should become relevant in the political navigation of Nigeria. Unfortunately, the general claim has been that the Igbo have been marginalized by the federal government of Nigeria, but internally the Igbo elites, politicians and the rich have in various ways marginalized their own people and that is the worst.

This could be a proper time for the evangelism, revival and salvation of this ethnic group who have been dubbed the "Jews of Africa’. How correct this is, only time will tell. There’s an urgent need for the Igbo to have an agenda which is democratic in nature and shun its misconstrued republicanism. The political image of the Igbo man in Nigerian psyche should be rebuilt. When an Igbo man or politician is asked: Got a brother to betray? And his answer is No, then all other regions of Nigeria will have no reason not to give massive support to the much sort Igbo presidency which has remained elusive for now and which is one of the major concerns of World Igbo Congress.

Sunny Oputa is a Senior Fellow and a Political Analyst on Nigerian Affairs at Afripol.Org

It was the famous poet, Robert Burns that said, "Man’s inhumanity to man, makes countless thousands mourn." Inhumanity is callousness, deprivation, oppression or an ungodly act of one man to another. It is an epitome of cave-man’s mentality; a dysfunctional behavior that should be shunned in any civilized society. Therefore, the brutality that encompasses politics in most African nations, especially Nigeria is gruesome and points the arrow backward towards primitivism. This incessant and wanton killing of politicians in Nigeria by their rivals or opposition groups has culminated to a culture of extreme cannibalism, and should be strongly condemned by every right thinking person.

Four days after Chief Funso Williams, the assassinated People Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant was laid to rest, the assassins dagger expired the life of another PDP gubernatorial aspirant by name of Dr. Ayodeji Daramola. Before, these recent massacre of souls in Nigeria’s political field, there have been plethora of politicians who have been cut down in the prime of their life. Chief Bola Ige, the former Attorney General of the Federation was one of them. The frequency at which these mayhem are been perpetuated is seriously truncating Nigeria’s road to representative democracy. Instead of growing into a modern day democracy where the people are allowed to speak, and determine who rules or not, this most populous African nation is turning into a political abattoir where power lies in the bullet of the assassins by the instructions of their masters who benefits from these orgy of blood.

This new wave of hacking political opponents down in order to eliminate opposition and grab power is not novel to the political system of this giant of Africa. However, the rate at which these gruesome murders are committed has become alarming and prompts for quick intervention by the Nigerian government. There should be a new paradigm which must be humane enough to give credence to the true meaning of politics and showcase Nigeria as a democratic nation. It has become germane for Nigerians to reconsider their steps whether they are working towards the realization of representative democracy or gearing towards 'mobocracy'.

Democracy is not cannibalism or Nazism. It is neither fascism nor machiavellism. In the simplest term, politics whether in government, institutions or corporate organizations is a way by which decisions are made within a group. Democracy itself as propounded in the ancient Greece, and during the Declaration of American Independence by Thomas Jefferson in 1776 to the present day, is a system of rule in which power belongs to the people, and they have the right to elect those that will rule them and also have the ability to revoke or annul the powers given to their representatives.

By these incessant mayhem, the noble game of politics in Nigeria is deviating into a macabre dance meant for only jingoes, butchers and gladiators. Good spirited people- gentlemen and ladies who would have loved to be involved in the politics of their nation are been silenced out of the game for the fear that they might be killed unnecessarily. The dearth of good people in the Nigeria’s body polity may not only drain the quality of its human capital, but will usher in bunch of mediocre into the system. This will definitely hamper the social, political and economic development of that country.
The perpetrators of this reckless waste of human lives in Nigeria are mere canals ruled by avarice and hubris. Over ambitious men, suffering from "macbethian" syndrome, who wants to grab power without going through the necessary steps. In same class of politicians or wannabee are those that absolute power has corrupted and intoxicated.

The people of Nigeria have kept silent enough. They have to speak out and work against this apparent inhumanity. Wole Soyinka, the Nigerian Nobel laureate in literature must have envisioned such calamitous situation when he said that "the man dies in him that keeps silent in the face of oppression." Avraham Yehoshua, a Jewish writer in his recent book ‘A Woman in Jerusalem’ said ‘when there is no humanity, the man dies." Oppression and inhumanity are like a hydra-headed monster that should be opposed.

Nigerians have to be empowered to stand up against this oddity. As Nigeria prepares for the next political dispensation, the atmosphere requires to be deodorized and the stain of blood in the political fabric of this oil rich nation washed anew. Those dirty linens must be taken to the laundry by the people and government of Nigeria. The nation can do better than sit on the fence; waiting until God intervene. For sure God will intervene because He abhors unrighteousness. If those agents of human destruction have imbibed similar philosophy like Nietzsche who declared that God is dead and does not see, then they better be told that it is only a fool that will say , there’s no God. God is alive and all seeing and will surely judge the quick and the dead.

Apart from the current war against corruption in Nigeria, the Obasanjo government has another war to fight. It is war against indiscriminate political assassination. The government has to come out with a strategy and a road map to nib this ugly situation at the bud. If the first rocket must be launched, this is the time. Delay or dilly-dallying over this will eventually wreck the boat of the nation towards modern democracy. Nigeria’s already battered human right status will be worsened and this might etch an indelible stain on its global image. The government of Olusegun Obasanjo should reinforce the country’s homeland security through the internal affairs ministry.

There should be collaboration between a homeland security unit, state police departments and all communities in order to achieve this onerous task. The government should empower the people by organizing village and town hall meetings in order to raise awareness and make its stand clear concerning the prevailing situations. Having urgent meeting with all political party leaders , delegates from all states and local government , police chiefs should be one of the steps the government could initiate to stop these cancer of political assassination from spreading. Hopefully, these measures would help to curtail this new tribe of political butchers and clean the malodorous pool of blood they have spilled.

Sunny Oputa is a Senior Fellow and a Political Analyst.

Polio has been identified as one of the most damaging diseases which can snatch away a child’s physical, mental and emotional stimulus to lead a normal, healthy and happy life. This is why; countries across the world have been working together closely to develop a strong Public Health Campaign for complete and total polio eradication since 1988. In most parts of the world, particularly the western nations, the devastating complication of polio is rarely seen today. Even when poliovirus infection occurs in these areas it is the least harmful strain of poliovirus. In addition, there is adequate vaccine to protect against such poliovirus infection. In contrast, less developed countries including Nigeria, India, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Egypt, the strain of poliovirus is the wild harmful type.

In countries such as Nigeria, India, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Egypt, thousands of innocent children have been crippled for life due to the transmission of the wild polio virus (Paralytic poliovirus). The strain of poliovirus often may lead to the complications of temporary or permanent muscle weakness, paralysis, disability, and deformities of the hips, ankles and feet. In some cases, the deformities caused by poliovirus infection can be reduced with surgery and physical therapy. Such expensive and intense treatments are not readily available in developing nations where polio is still endemic. As a result, most persons who survive death from polio often live with severe disabilities and low productive lives to even support their families. However, proper and timely immunization campaigns, however, especially in India have helped in reducing and controlling the spread of this life changing disease.

Even though all it takes is to vaccinate each and every child under five with the polio vaccine to achieve global polio eradication, this has not been the case especially in Nigeria due to lack of funds and disjointed running of the immunization campaign. In the recent past, however, Nigeria has shown evidence of a reduction in polio cases thanks to the selfless and commendable work done by the ‘Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’, a joint venture by Microsoft Founder, Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda Gates.

In a meeting recently, the Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan publicly expressed his gratitude for the outstanding work done by Bill Gates and his wife in delivering better healthcare services not just in Nigeria but all over the world. He further admired the contributions made by them both in terms of time and money which has resulted in a drop in the number of polio cases from couple of hundreds in 2009 to just a about three cases this year.

Today, Northern Nigeria has emerged as the only place in the world that has seen so much progress in its goal towards polio reduction and subsequent polio eradication in such a short span of time.

 Author: G. Stanley Okoye, M.D., Ph.D. , Chief Medical Correspondent, Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center (Afripol) and St. Jude Medical Missions ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

In order for a Nation to realize her dreams for greatness, there must be committed men and brave but fearless men who have vision and passion and above all must be very intelligent and great thinkers. Unfortunately Nigerian past  have lacked most of the critical attributes listed. We have possessed mediocrity in abundance and that is the main reason why Nigeria has remained stagnant in the comity of Nations or what I call arrested development. Lack of basic infrastructures, a comatose education system, and top heavy leadership selected with the only qualification of ethnic bias, pervasive corruption, thieves in high places.

Well, finally there is a glimmer of light and hope at the end of the tunnel for Nigeria, thanks to the likes of Soludo, Iweala, Ribadu and El-Rufai. They have brought hope and a strong believe of the great things than can be achieved other than massive looting of the treasury by our thieving past leaders whose day of judgment is still ahead of them.

Professor Chukwuma Soludo, the Executive Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria first bold move that really propelled him to the forefront of his peers was his decision during the President Obasanjo government was to restructure the Nigerian banking sector which has brought immense respect and succor to the Nigerian economy and earned him great accolades around the world. Because he is a bold and brave man who knows his salt, he stepped outside the boundaries/box where non before him had been and made a great and positive impact even when many so-called experts were telling us that he would fail woefully. Those are the kinds of qualities that sets visionaries apart for their peers. 

Without a doubt, Soludo’s latest move on the Naira currency (strategic redenomination of the currency from August 2008, so that 100 old naira will become one naira) would certainly achieve the same positive effect that the banking policies he promulgated is doing to the Nigeria economic landscapes today. This development will appreciate Naira affirmatively against dollar and makes its easier for Naira to be convertible. Simultaneously it will encourage investment and increasingly the supply of regulated money into Nigerian banking system. A bulwark to inflation.

Just for the fact that we have a brave and bold thinker who is ready to revolutionize the Nigeria economic landscape is enough to applaud him and let us not be discouraged by the nay Sayers who are already picking holes in his latest attempt/vision and are already predicting doom for his attempt to reinvent the Naira which right now is just as good as the paper it is printed on. That is just another reason why we should all believe that this too will succeed and this too shall pass. My litmus test that it will succeed was when I first read that World Bank had no comment and was numb, made me aware that just the psychological effect of his latest move will be good for Nigeria’s economy as it will strengthen the Naira against the Dollar and also bring Nigeria single digit inflation. Even when Bill Gates first unveiled his vision to put a computer in every home, many said he will never succeed because that was too ambitious and bold for a man of his statue at the time, but today not just that almost every home has a computer, many have more than one and maybe that explains why he is one of the richest men on earth today. Even when Ford first rolled out his first car many said that was too bold and that he will never succeed, but he proceeded and look at history today. If he has listened to the nay Sayers then, maybe we will still be riding on horses and buggies instead of cars..

More power to you Soludo, Nigeria’s greatest thinker and visionary, an icon on his own strength. I am certain that your vision will revolutionize our economic landscape and your success will shock the nay sayers once again!!! More power to you to dare to step and go where many before you have never been or are too timid to go. History will be kind to you.
Vincent Ogboi - Senior fellow, economic and financial analyst on African affairs at Afripol organization.    This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Democracy in Nigeria @ ten although not a complete failure is still not out of the ICU-Intensive Care Unit. All the major and critical indicators of political transitions to a true democracy are still missing in the political landscape of Nigeria. Nigeria is like a sick child that has the attention and care of a specialist doctor but continuously and stubbornly refuses to take the prescribed medications that will see her out of the intensive care unit.

It is disheartening that Nigeria with so much capital and human resources knows the right things to do but for some personal and selfish reasons of a few elites (bigmen) have refused to implement any positive recommendations that will move her into the league of democratic nations. This elitist few for some selfish reasons and personal gains continue to refuse to carry the masses with them. That is the reason that majority of Nigerians if asked today will judge this democracy after ten years as a failed experiment because there has been virtually no positive impact in the lives of most Nigerians as only the few Elites continue to live in opulence due to corrupt practices while leaving many in abject poverty in the land of so much wealth.

Politicians continue with impunity to divert funds marked for infrastructural development into their personal accounts while many ordinary Nigerians still go to bed hungry and without clean water or electricity despite the enormous income generated from crude oil.

Nigeria after 10 years of democracy still cannot boast of a successful local government election devoid of electoral frauds such as stealing of ballot boxes and bribing electoral officers of the electoral body entrusted to conduct elections in Nigeria (INEC) while a Small country and a neighbor like Ghana has successfully conducted a national election with very minimal or zero bloodshed, also judged as free and fair by observers from all over the world.

Nigeria continues to deceive the whole world that she is fighting a war with a pervasive corrupt system that is riddled with massive corrupt practices in all facets of Government but refuses to show any credible casualties…the world knows that you cannot fight a war such as corruption in Nigeria without casualties on the ground to show. The fight of corruption has become a joke and revolving door for the very rich and powerful where many are arrested in the glare of the media and cameras only to be released through the back door to enjoy their ill-gotten wealth which they fail to realize is the sweat of the people of Nigeria!.

Almost fifty years after independence Nigeria is still fighting a war in the creeks of the Niger Delta where the black gold that sustains her gushes from. All the citizens of the land in the Delta are asking for is a fair share of the resources found on their land and control of pollution of the waters so that they can at least sustain their pre-oil way of life- which is fishing. They lack basic amenities such as roads, water, electricity, health care and schools. It is like the case of a child that cries all night thereby making it impossible for the parents to sleep. The parents know that if they feed the child and probably change the diapers the child may then be rocked to sleep thus allowing the parents a restful and blissful night of rest. Successive Nigerian Governments have had the opportunity to right the wrongs of the past but have stubbornly refused to do so hoping and wishing that, like many things in Nigeria, this will go away on its own. They have failed to see this simple logic and have decided to bomb these citizens to oblivion with their “mighty military”!!

Nigeria must realize that no amount of hollow effort to rebrand Nigeria will change the negative perception of the world on Nigeria until Nigeria begins to do right and live to its true position in the comity of Nations. Nigeria for too long has been bestowed with all the required ingredients that make a great Nation. Until all that potential is harnessed and properly harvested Nigeria will continue to be a “Big Boy” walking around in undersized shoes. It could get very painful. Nigeria’s potential remains nothing but potential until it is converted to energy or useable resources. In A SIMPLE analogy it is like uncooked meat in the freezer until it is seasoned and cooked it just uncooked meat with no nutritional value for man or woman—that is the true story of Nigeria.

The world is really disappointed on Nigeria, especially the black nations of the world who had hoped that Nigeria, being the world most popular black nation will be their shining light on the top of the hill like America is to the whole world. Nigeria continues to tell these nations to look elsewhere as they are not quite ready to take the position as the giant of Africa which may be a misnomer for Nigeria so far.

Although all is not lost as Nigeria is still blessed with abundant human capital and natural resources that if properly harnessed will make Nigeria the envy of the world. Majority of Nigeria’s ever ready human capital still  reside in the fertile laboratories scattered all over the world waiting in the wings to help Nigeria sour like the eagle which she truly can become when called upon.      This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Ask the average man or woman on the streets of Nigeria of what benefit is Democracy to him or her ten years later, when men and women who have given their best 30 to 50 years of the service to their Fatherland are allowed to die waiting for their retirement benefits such as their basic monthly pension entitlements. Retirees in their seventies and older who in more civilized societies are accorded respect and dignity they deserve especially as senior citizens through the state provision of free or highly subsidized health care, food, shelter, and transportation, while their counterparts in Nigeria are treated with disrespect and humiliation – Thanks to Nigeria their land of birth where guaranteed economic hardship is a way of life prescribed by mean hearted corrupt leaders to the masses they serve. This economic hardship is by no means a result of lack of funding or poverty but rather a pervasive and endemic corrupt system as Nigeria is richly blessed with resources such as crude oil which brings in billions of dollars into Government coffers on a daily basis.  Many who have meritoriously served their countries in various capacities are required to make fruitless and multiple trips from all parts of Nigeria by traveling many thousand miles in their frail state of health to the capital city Abuja to collect their pensions only to be told that their pension is not ready because some corrupt politicians have diverted the funds into their personal bank accounts through corrupt practices. These corrupt Government workers and politicians do this only to steal the accrued interests before these monies are released to the pensioner which usually is after 6 months to 2 years late.

This sort of pervasive and callous corrupt practices has continued to send innocent Nigerian retirees early to their graves due to starvation as a result of lack of food, shelter and health care for the elderly. Many die traveling on the roads of Nigeria from their various states of residence to Abuja, the capital where the pension board (aka cipro) is located. Nigeria roads are known to be treacherous and riddled with pot holes and are also known as death traps and among the worst the world over.

Many retirees who are fortunate to have children or relatives living abroad especially in the west, have been saved early avoidable death since they have been invited to join their children abroad who now cater for them to alleviate this economic hardship. These children or relatives of retirees have now taken the responsibilities of maintaining and providing for their parents in their golden years because their land of birth have continued to deny them their basic and fundamental rights to shelter, peace and happiness even in the midst of so much wealth.

Democracy, ten years after in Nigeria should not be about stolen elections and power for the leaders with complete neglect or disregard for the people. Democracy should be about caring for the people. A working democracy should have a human face which is obviously lacking the case of Nigeria as a result of greed and corruption by the few and powerful elite. Why must Nigeria’s burden and lack of foresight by her leaders continue to be the burden or responsibilities of other nations who have managed their resources well through better accountability and transparency? This is a question that the west must continue to seek answer for from the corrupt nations of the world!!  If this is not addressed soon by these nations of the west, it may later become their problem and that of their children!!!

The problem with the Nigerian situation is not the lack of funding, but contrary to that as billions of dollars are allocated and published all over the newspapers creating the false impression that all is well with the pensioners while those who are entrusted with the responsibilities of disbursing these funds corruptly divert these monies into their personal bank accounts with the connivance of many so called politicians and leaders in Government establishments. The system is littered with so much corruption and lack of accountability throughout the distribution line that nobody feels the responsibility for the torture that these retirees in Nigeria are forced to endure on a daily basis. The system is never probed or audited so that any clogs or kinks in the system can be corrected or removed thereby saving many retirees the torture of sending them to their early grave.

Nigeria Government must realize that for anyone to take her seriously in the democratic world and in the comity of nations there must be genuine accountability and established measurable minimum goals. The welfare and treatment of retirees in the Nigerian economy must be removed from the back burner and brought to the fore front as a matter of critical urgency. It is a black eye to the leadership of Nigeria both past and present that despite the enormous wealth generated from oil revenues her retirees who have served meritoriously are still treated with such disdain and humiliation. Nigeria politicians should realize that the so called leaders and workers of today are the retirees of tomorrow and of course they do not want the treatment meted out today to the retirees to be meted on them when they wear the same shoes.

Many of these retirees have spent thirty-something or more years working for the Federal Gov. of Nigeria or State Govt. only to be discarded when it is time to get paid their entitlements while the corrupt leaders feed fat on corrupt practices from the resource that was built from the blood and sweat equity of the retirees. These are the kinds of negative indicators that will continue to put Nigeria miles behind its peers in terms of caring for her citizens and carrying the people along in her democratic experiment.  Many of the politicians do not care about the people as long as they continue to steal ballot boxes with impunity and thereby muzzling the voices of the majority. Many of the politicians know what the problem of Nigeria is but due to selfish gains and lackadaisical attitude of the people continue to swim in the troubled waters.

The government without further delay should review all policies concerning the state of her retirees and not just policies on paper but what is actually happening on the ground.

We should as a matter of urgency contact the living retirees and ask them to evaluate the system that has been so callous to them and make suggestions on how it can be made more efficient and transparent. Anyone found to be a cog in the progress, regardless of position or connection to power must be removed and prosecuted to the full extent of the law and made example of, for others to see. They should be no sacred cows. Nigerian leaders must not be seen as selfish, self centered and callous who careless for her citizens.

All retirees who have served this nation meritoriously whether they reside in Nigeria or overseas must be fully compensated and apologies tendered for the way they have been abused and mistreated so far and only then can a new leaf be opened to move forward. Only then can the true healing begin. Dignity and respect must be the operative word when dealing with retirees who have given their best years to their land of birth. Nigerian Leaders owe it to the world that they are willing to turn a new leaf in relating to their bosses-the masses!!  Elections must not only be credible but must be seen by all as fair and credible. Like many developing and developed countries Nigeria’s funding for retirement and pensions must be reprioritize and placed as a first line item to be paid before any capital or recurrent expenditure is paid. The system must be constantly reviewed, audited and purged to bring efficiency and transparency to the forefront.

Maybe the  Nigerian Government with retired federal employees should emulate the states of Kano and Lagos for they are probably the two states in Nigeria that are not indebted to its pensioners thereby cutting down on the crime rate which increases dramatically when retirees and employees are not paid there incomes on a consistent and timely basis. Prompt and consistent payment of pensioners their entitlement should be seen as a matter of national importance which the nation cannot afford to gamble with.

The retirees are sick and tired, the teachers are tired, the hospitals are stretched, doctors are crying for poor remunerations, the masses are sad  and the only smiling faces are the corrupt politicians and leaders living in opulence….the drums are beating LOUDER AND LOUDER and the question is how long will be this be tolerated. It is a clarion call for justice and equity and fair play…are the leaders listening????

The progress of the enormous debts which at present oppress, and will in the long-run probably ruin all the great nations ...

-Adam Smith

A linguistics sociologist once defined a  as something one can smell, touch and feel. African foreign debt is an enormous disaster; its ugly consequences litter everywhere even along the roadsides. Yes, a great disaster indeed! You can smell it, touch it and feel it in Africa’s heartland.

Africa received $540 billion loans between 1970-2002, she paid back $550 billion (i.e. principal with interest inclusive) and she still owned $295 billion as at the end of 2002.

Africa from what we can deduce, has overtly tied herself to the apron string of foreign debt payments. Unfortunately these payments are endless. The borrowed principal has already been paid, yet the interest continues to accrue at a whopping rate. With such a trend, it is erroneous to believe that the continuous rescheduling of the debt payment by Paris club or any other allied group could proffer lasting solution but fire brigade approach. This will only succeed in delaying the great disaster that is lurking behind.

Already the disaster has arrived! The effects of the disaster have commenced amplifying and will continue to permeate to all facets of life in Africa. Without mincing words, the people that are hardly hit by the brunt of the debt services are the poor and the children. Majorities of Africans fall into these categories. It is pathetic to note that qualitative education, good health care, affordable shelter, clean and drinkable water supply, sewage system and reliable power supply have all eluded these poor people. Their government in question has failed in providing basic amenities that will affect them positively, all in the name of servicing foreign financial obligations.

Enough is enough. This abuse and torture meted out on Africa as a result of these foreign debts have diminishing impact on the well being of the continent. Without deferment or holding back, somehow, something must be done to bring this apparent disaster to an end. A sensible and constructive compromise must be reached with the western creditors and international bankers.

It is truism to acknowledge that self inflicted torture rooted in ignorance, naivety and lack of intellectual insight on the part of the greedy and corrupt African leaders, who took out the loans in the first place, created such an agonizing situation.

The western bankers and financial institutions did not twist round African leaders with their little fingers in order to compel them to borrow to their demise. It was their choice to borrow, most times, they were propelled by avaricious inclination and in the process they stole from their constituencies without minding the ensuing retardation it will have on the economy in particular and populace in general. Corruption is and has been the bane of development in Africa.

Most of these debts were accumulated during the cold war. During the era of bipolar world, African leaders were granted loans at the height of cold war for political reasons and these had nothing to do with sound financial decisions. The funds were wasted on some white elephant projects or rather siphoned to some secret bank accounts that were beyond spying eyes of an average African. Most of these loans were acquired without the consent of the citizenry, ironically now; they are the ones absorbing the greatest burden of the loan services.

In Congo, the maximum President, late Mobutu, took out so many loans that were indirectly deposited into his France bank accounts.

Nigeria was granted loans particularly because of her oil wealth, unfortunately some of those loans were more or less not put to good use that would alleviate the sufferings of her people by creating employment opportunities and enabling environment for a sustainable industrial growth. The vast majority of Africans were aware of their leaders’ misadventures but were helpless and as well powerless to compel them otherwise. Even Apartheid South Africa borrowed money without the consent of the black majority. Today who is paying the price? There is this clarion call to African citizens to pay back the loans with the shocking interest rate that was acquired without their blessing. Though this may be inimical to their psyche, the Black South Africans have to pay back the loans of apartheid era. The Congolese have to pay back loans made out to their dictator.

African governments at the expense of their peoples’ livelihood carry out debt payments and in some countries, a great chunk of their GDP is devoted to these loans services. Those funds would have been ordinarily invested in healthcare and education, the two core areas that needed immediate attention in Africa. The money owned to the industrialized nations have so much quadrupled, due to the malleable interest rate. It is beyond anybody’s wildest imagination on how these debts will ultimately be repaid in this lifetime. It will also be inconceivable and fallacy to believe that they can be repaid in this our generation or the one to come, if nothing is urgently done.

In this continent, the four horsemen of the apocalypse - conquest, conflict, famine and death are no mere visitors. They have taken up residence.
-Martin Wolf (Financial Times)

In view of mismanagement of Africa’s resources and funds; even the looting of her treasury by some of her leaders, it can be said thereof, that corruption has attained an alarming proportion in the continent. In fact, it has eroded the system. It may therefore, sound incredible and laughable when one suggests that time has come for a cancellation or rather a major debt relief to Africa’s enormous foreign debt.
The cost of the foreign debt payments to the African citizens is not a child’s play. The funds that would have been used to upgrade the health care system and quality of education were diverted to debt servicing and payments. African children are paying the price for debt servicing.
These debts are owed to industrialized nations. African governments have been unable to meet up with their financial obligations and have resorted to continuous rescheduling of the loan payments as regulated by International Financial Institutions and their agents, such as IMF, London Club, Paris club, World Bank and others. 
As years progress, so also the burden of the debt widens. However, all the stakeholders fully take cognizance of the fact that these loans seem impossible to be liquidated with ease. 
So many figures have been thrown around, but the most recent data stated that Africa’s foreign debt currently stood at $350 billions. This is outrageous, a gigantic yoke!
To buttress the level of poverty in Africa, out of the 41 nations identified as Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) according to World Bank, 33 of those nations are from Africa.
Africa has nothing to show for such an enormous debt but weak and dilapidated infrastructures with a very devastating low human development index.
Below are the intrinsic reasons why AFRIPOL subscribe to debt cancellation for Africa, which must go forward without much ado or conundrum: 

1. Mutual Benefit: Africa and the West can share an affirmative interdependence based on mutual respect and benefit. This can only be possible when the burden of debt is released from African’s shoulder. When Africa is stable, this spells well for democracy and capitalism. This will in return stimulate trade.

2. Global Stability: A healthy and wealthy Africa will contribute to the world stability. Moreover, Africa will have the adequate resources to make impact in resolving conflicts within her continent. This is good for Africa in particular and the world in general.

3. Social Security and Freedom: Actually, the brunt of the debt payments mostly rests on children and women and not on African leaders. Those who absorb the agonizing pains are the poor masses. For them, there is no job; no food; no shelter. The leaders hide under the guise of being incapacitated because of foreign debt payment obligations, to shy away from their responsibilities and they allow the masses to wallow in abject poverty while they themselves live flamboyantly and affluently. Therefore the debt cancellation at least, if judiciously managed will affect the poor positively, when such funds are channeled to areas that will make life worth living. 

4. Non Restrictions on Economic Policies: The truth is that as a result of these foreign debts, the West directly or indirectly dictates Africa’s economic policies. Africa’s economy is import driven. They rely heavily on importation. It is not always economic policies that suit African that matter but those that are favored by the foreign creditors. That is why their policies are tailored to suit foreign debt demands. If debt relief is granted, Africa can now employ policies that will be considered unique to her economic goals.

5. A Clean Slate /Economic Freedom: What Africa desperately needs now is a fresh beginning. For the fact that the debts are cancelled, it will give Africa hope and a sense of belonging. Africa will now put up confidence to bargain for what is good for the continent in the comity of nations without ego problem of being indebted. 

6. Africa’s History: Yes, it is important too. This is not just to be visceral but to be realistic to Africa and again for the sake of history, Africa has suffered untold hardship via slavery and colonialism. This time around, reasonable people can conclude that Africa needs a push.

7. Principal Loan Accomplishment: The actual principal borrowed had been paid. The problem now is the accumulated interest over the years and it is still going up. It is point clear now that Africa has demonstrated concerted commitment to her financial obligations.

8. State of Health Care in Africa: Against all odds, a case must be made for a sound healthcare in Africa. There is no fund to implement Africa Union agenda on health. The cost is beyond the resources and funds at hand. AIDS, Malaria, Polio, Ebola are confronting Africa. This continent needs the funds to aggressively fight back these killer diseases. 

9. Promotion of Democracy: A political paradigm based on fairness and equality with broad-based representatives known as Democracy cannot survive on an empty stomach. Democratic system of government is quite expensive to operate. For democracy to have a true light of the day in Africa, the needed resources must be available.

10. Reinforcement of Economic Capitalism: For Adam Smith’s concept of free enterprise to take hold in Africa, Africans must have good impression of capitalism. These foreign loans servicing and payments do not augur well for capitalism and laissez faire before the suffering masses of Africa. Africa’s weak and dilapidated infrastructures must be developed to international standard. This will enable industrialization and investments to be realized in the continent.

From the fifteenth century to the present day, there have been ideological debates about Africa and her relationship with the rest of the world. Western pseudo- geneticist and evolutionist questioned the humanity of the African and suggested her existence on earth as just a mere savage. When that theory was disproved, the debate shifted to the inability of the African to govern herself and whether she possessed the skills and the intellect necessary to control her environment and society. All these challenges to the credibility of the African were made with disregard for history and Africa's contribution to mankind.

The debate for our age is aid or trade? 
Some argue that Africa must be paid reparation by the West, then the financial aid can be use to develop and sustain development in Africa. While others say we need both trade and aid. I say we only need trade. All the foreign aid and loans that have been given to Africa have produced no measurable result. No man will feed you and your family and then see you as an equal. This is about dignity.
On a civic level, Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) from the continent can network with their counterparts in the Western world to support whatever cause they are fighting for. From a governmental perspective, the leadership cannot progress when they agree to neo-liberal economic policies (which have not be proven to be effective) that cripple the economy, and turn citizens inept by removing shields and stimulants that make the internal economy grow. 
If the African feels that he needs to be given reparations for colonization and unfair economic practices after independence, he must discuss those issues on a different platform. If he is to improve the current state of despair, poverty, and hopelessness, he must take ownership of himself and his country. Taking ownership means taking control of his environment and resources, demanding fair market prices for commodities, and setting standards based on the interest of Africans versus adopting foreign theories. 
Trade cannot be taught to the African because we are capitalists by nature. Even in antiquity, men farmed and women went to the market. You can still see the entrepreneurial spirit today in Africa since the people do not usually benefit from the wealth generated by the resources of their nations. The economy is sustained by local traders. For example, oil does not benefit the citizens of Nigeria although Nigeria is member of OPEC and makes billions from oil; the money goes to run government institutions. There is no reliable electricity for industrial or home use (manufacturers and society's elite use generators). Refined oil is expensive since it is largely imported, therefore making the cost of transporting goods high, again translating into costly goods. Very little money is invested in health care, education, and infrastructure.
The image of African leaders stretching their hands out to beg on the global stage is a reflection of their inferiority complex and incompetence as "leaders". African leaders have a "come help us mentality" and if you need help as a government then you are incapable of being seen as a mature, responsible body and will therefore be treated like a child. 
President Mobutu has more money in one bank account than the $5 billion loan the Democratic Republic of Congo just took from China to develop the country's infrastructure, and that does not include his wealth from other accounts, palaces and vehicles. 
What the average African want to communicate to the international community is that these leaders do not represent us. So when they are begging at the G8 or UN meetings, they are doing it for themselves and their cronies and not for the people. Western donors need to save their time and energy by depositing aid money into the Swiss bank accounts of African leaders, which is where the money is going to end up anyway. 
What the people need are fair trade policies. We need the West to open their markets to Africa, not only for raw materials, but processed and finished goods. Continental Unions (e.g. cotton, cocoa, and cassava farmers union) need to develop and share 'best practices', bargain for block prices, and more importantly control market prices. The price of cocoa needs to be set in West Africa and not in Chicago. The wheeling and dealing of world commodities through the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group must be reexamined. Changing these policies will bolster the entrepreneurial spirit of the African, create a viable wealth distribution system, stimulate the local market, and augur a sense of self worth. Besides, it is always better for a man to fish and support his family than sit at home and be given fish everyday. 

There is a psychological disorder known as Stockholm syndrome, this occurs when a victim shows loyalty to a powerful abuser regardless of the danger this can pose to Its well-being. This is common among victims of domestic violence, kidnapped victims and abused children. The psychological ramification of slavery and colonization on the Africans is the single biggest hindrance to development on the continent. Theories, policies, and plans that have been proven to be effective everywhere always fails in Africa. Intellect is not the problem because the African in diaspora has excelled in every field of human endeavor. So why do our system fails us in modern Africa? 
Loss of Self
The greatest loss the African endured during colonization is the loss of self and indigenous modus operandi. African lost a sense of who he was, his relationship to the rest of the world, his relationship with his environment, his dignity, and his compassing value system. His confidence was subsequently lost and his believe in his self was absolutely obliterated. This affected the African ability to produce, manufacture, or govern. The effect of this syndrome was so devastating that he rejected the image of himself and became hostile towards family, friends, and culture (another factor to Stockholm syndrome).
Political independence for most African countries were acquired in the sixties and African leaders took on their new positions with the mind set of continuing and adopting the status quo. No modern African state was developed with any African values, humane laws, or systems that were effective in antiquity. Every state simply became an imitation of a European state and way of life. If you forget how to rule a state, then you will forget how to manage a business. One relates to the other, if the mind can conceive of one, then it can conceive of the other. The fact that the leaders looked towards the oppressor and trust him to make policy that advance his interest, is another clear sign that he is suffering from this syndrome.
Whitening
The inferiority complex of the African presents itself in the form of’ whitening’; the physically and mentally getting rid of blackness. 
Politically it means adopting Western forms of government and policies without examination or making adjustments to include Africa’s value system. First of all, because he has lost confidence in himself, he doesn’t think he has the capability to create and implement his own form of government. No western or foreign adaptation of government, trade, development, or policy can work in any African country without making vital adjustments to fit the culture and lifestyle. Besides the flawed premise of some in another land designing a plan for another person elsewhere doesn’t seem to be logical. Scotland Yard may suggest a policy and the African adopts it without questioning the intent or how this is going to work or affect him. 
Economically, both macro and micro scales, Africans mimicked alien ideology and paradigm that can hardly take a hold in his environment. This hampers fair trade and loan negotiation.
Socially, some African woman wears her hair and bleaches her skin to make herself look European.
What is worst, there is no moral compass for setting standards for what is good, acceptable, or poor based on Africa values system. 
Any non dark skin person can come to Africa and exploit her because the African will give concession to that person. If you are white, Indian, Chinese, or Arab you will be treated like a king in Africa because your skin is fairer than his, which is where he wants his skin tone to be. The true value of himself is dead.
Illogical Reason
The modern African cannot question the failed system of government he is running because it works for his foreign friends at the expense of his people: neo-liberal trade policies are crippling his economy because the World Bank suggested it, no body question its poor and unproven results. Any action without the consent and approval of the West is inconceivable; he will argue the Western position and logic more than even the European. Since he believes that the mission of the European to Africa in the first place was to help him and not to acquire slaves and goods, he runs to him for help on the most mundane issues. He is a very loyal victim, he adores his master, and he worships him, and wants to be like him. 
The fact that the modern African state cannot use her resources to develop herself and runs a prudent state is evidence of Stockholm syndrome.
The Elite
Just like a battered child who was grows up to become an abuser, the African elite simply took on the role of the oppressor after independence. During colonization the European exploited the resources for his own gain and took the capital to Europe where he enjoyed its wealth. Today, African leaders do the same thing, they exploit their countries resources for their own gain and embezzle and siphoned the money to Europe and other western nations. The elites don’t invest in civic causes and social amenities like building hospitals, schools, setting up endowment for the arts, or building museums, instead they flaunt their wealth to the poor and think money will compensate for their inferiority complex.
Road Back
In other to take his rightful place on the world stage, the African needs to have a sense of who he is. In countries people don’t know themselves or their neighbors. History and prejudice are based on folklore and tales that may insert hatred for another group. The grouping of modern states is based on colonial system and people view themselves based on how the colonials viewed them. 
A comprehensive teaching of African history, contribution to society, stolen legacy, and influence of western civilization has to be taught at a very young age. This true knowledge of self will bring a sense of self worth, dignity, and the confidence needed to overcome any psychological hang-ups. The African needs to know how much more his society was much more advanced than the European before the late nineteenth century
If the African in antiquity had the capability of organizing empires beyond ethnic and religious boundaries, then ethnicity and religion cannot be issues for the African today, they are simple channels of divide and conquer. Besides, no single ethnic or religious group has developed itself to meet world standard. Wherever you go in Africa there are bad roads, poverty, and hopelessness across all ethnic and religious groups. We should unite based on experience, survival, and self preservations.
“If you have no confidence in self you are twice defeated in the race of life. With confidence you have won even before you have started.” – Marcus Garvey

For years proponents of globalization and free market economy labeled those who desire to include social justice, wealth distribution, fairness, and equity within economic framework as either socialist or communist. Most neo-liberal economic thinkers considered themselves the foremost custodians of capitalism and as the visionary thinkers of the modern age. The modus operandus in the economy, they claimed must be market based and must be the waves of the future; if it’s not working for you then something must be wrong with you.
We know from history that markets have always existed since the beginning of time. The fundamental difference with modern economic practice is the role the market plays in the community. Today the market is the central part of the community versus the historic position of the market as an institution that serves the community. Therefore, any glitch or hiccup in the economy will have a large impact on the community which will result in the lost of assets and wealth of thousands of people.
The recent economic failures on Wall Street sent shock waves through the global economy, eight years after we first saw the consequences of deregulation and the mismanagement by corporations like Enron, WorldCom, and Tyco. These events should not be viewed as independent isolated cases, more so they are a symbol of a deep systemic illness that is caused by deregulation which is the main tenant of globalization,
Neo-liberal economists including Friedman and Hayek argued that regulations are stifling the economy and what was needed was a free market economy that allowed the market to freely exist without the government monitoring activities. Instead of having a government or independent agency regulating agency; neo-liberal argued that the market will self regulate, thus relegating justice and fairness in the market to the background. They made these claims with no accountability for greed and responsibility on the part of the business executives. The social contract was simple, how corporations handled their business was not important, what is important is the sacrifice the general public have to make to accommodate the welfare of the corporation.
The current economic framework is based on the society as a whole making every possible sacrifice to make sure that big business can maximize as much profit as possible, while ignoring labor, environment, wealth distribution, and taxes. 
The recent failures in US are the end result of an economic policy that some will argue never benefited society as a whole. Modern global economies have experience growth without social responsibility to the native communities that were exploited. Companies that are given tax breaks by host countries in Africa, Asia and other places thrive with cheap labor, lower tariffs and  neglected labor laws in their host nations. Profits they  accumulated  go directly into the hands of the shareholders and executives  at the expense of the poor masses.
Now same people who are proponents of less government -  against  government intervention and social welfare; now welcome government intervention when they are in trouble. These company executives are asking for bailouts and  handouts. Will this act of corporate bail out make the CEO who just escaped with all his loot more compassionate about the need for healthcare and making ends meet among the middle class and poor? For what is good for the corporation is also good for the individual citizen. What is clear is that the interest of the rich is protected while poor class and middle class are neglected due to their inability to exert control over the politicians. Globalization and capitalism in our modern day must put account of the less powerful and make sure that the collective interest of the citizens of the global villages supersedes the welfare of big powerful corporations.

Importing ideas from one country to another without properly examining the social factors of the country will only lead to failure. Micro finance banks have become the rave in developing countries to reduce poverty due to the success of the nobel laureate Yunus Mohammed in impacting the lives of rural women in Bangladesh. His success has become a model being duplicated all over the world.

In my recent trip for to Nigeria I was pleasantly surprised to see two micro finance banks in my village in Zonkwa in the heart of Nigeria. Curiosity led me into one of the banks and I wanted to find out if they were actually giving loans and what the process was. I opened the door and was greeted by a teller who inquired about the nature of my visit, I told her I was interested in getting a loan and wanted to know what steps to take. The loan officer was not in but she gave me a check list for loans which asked for things like land CFOs, bank history, etc. I also remember thinking as I left why the bank was empty even though it was next to a booming market.

Weeks go by and I am in Kaduna a town of 4 million people visiting James a friend who was having a bad day because a local businessman derailed his plans for the day. I inquired more on what happened and he told me helped sell 2 generators for the local business man for a commission and cashing the check turned out to be an adventure. The check was written in the man’s name but he did not want to go to the bank with Mr. James, he only wanted cash and asked James to return the check and collect money. They went back and forth and in the dialogue james learnt the businessman had not been to a bank before and did not have an account. My friend volunteered to take to one. When they got to the bank it became a hassle for the man to physically enter the gate of the bank, it took time and convincing before they could enter.

This incident shed light to me about hidden hindrance to the success of micro finance banks in developing community. I was surprised to learn that the business man has been in business for over 20 years and her has never been in a bank before, not only has her not been in the bank before her does not see it as an institution that can help expand his business and bring him wealth, her sees it more as something that could possible cause harm to him. What is the source of this institutional fear?

People in developing countries have not seen institutions serve them, instead institutions have been a source of exploitation. This maybe the cause of institutional fear, others include language, identity, and documentation. Language is a barrier because it is a hindrance to communication when information and literature that promotes services are written in a language the average client does not understand. So in Zonkwa the local merchants inability to read and speak english affects their understand of what a micro bank does and how they could benefit, as far as they are concerned it is another large building that caters to the elites. Identity is an issue because there is no legal representation of one’s self in any governmental form. This is accomplished in America through social security number, driver’s license, or passport. In developing countries the only form of identification indigenous people have is themselves. Documentation may be the worse barrier because it provides proof of legitimacy and reliability. The businessman had his store for 20 years but there is no proof of registration, there is no land title to his store location, and he had no ledger documenting his business activities for the last 20 years. These items where on the checklist of the micro finance bank.

Examining these issues and coming up with solutions to these barriers will go a long way in making micro financing successful in more places and improving rural communities in developing countries.