Nigeria Needs Help

There is no magical prediction on events that can bring any Nation to an economic standstill or any democratic destruction even in the face of a Global Economic meltdown. It is only a radical economic revolution and agenda that can pre-empt catastrophes capable of destroying and derailing a democratic experiment.

Nigeria is once again both crying and begging for good leadership. Friends and Foes alike can swear on oath in their continuous belief in the present Administration and leadership. However, recalcitrant dullness in the process of setting Nigeria aloof has become a concern of ordinary Nigerian. Papa Awolowo once said that the fastidiousness of Nigeria citizens demands a constant challenge by those in charge of Governance. Besides Papa iconic writings during his life time, he made sure that his activities in economics; concern for the welfare of the peoples; their democratic appetite and the people’ wish to join a growing and developed comity of Nations became paramount in day to day of his dealings with Nigerians.

The Awoists remunerate from time to time on issues confronting the country among themselves both within and outside Nigeria and surprisingly we have all agreed that it would have been much better to see Babangida type of leadership style once again in Nigeria despite the drawback of the imbroglio of June 12th.

The most urgent Infrastructure needed in Nigeria today is that of energy Infrastructures. It is unfortunate however, that none of our leaders could work out a befitting compromise among themselves and with other leaders of the advanced countries to lay down these Infrastructures that will oil the engine of economics development for a population of one hundred and fifty million Nigerians.

When Iran and North Korea regimes became a thorn in the flesh of the sane world, everyone panics and chuckles on the danger of Nuclear proliferations. Perhaps North Korea wants to join the Space race, wants to have one of Its Scientists rides to the Space Station and/or elect to sell weapons of mass destruction to Chavez of Venezuela or Iran or perhaps each of those countries genuinely meant well for their Citizens or perhaps they are all attention seekers; there is one fact unmistakably clear, without these Countries becoming defiance as regards their energy need, the developed Countries, through share ego, subjugation and nonchalant attitudes toward poor Countries, precipitated these nuisance out there.

Developed or Advanced Nations starting with U.S.A., Britain, France, Germany and China all have the monopoly of Nuclear technologies until India, Pakistan and Israel joined the club. Outside the production of Nuclear war heads, the cheapest source for supply of electricity such as Gas and Water turbines, Hydro electricity, Coal Energy, Wind Mills and Solar (with voltaic cells) Energy are not that very accessible and cheap.

It is true that majority of poor countries, due to their unfavorable topography couple with the cost of Nuclear Reactors that stands as 8 billion dollars or 6 billion Euros today, cannot afford to have the Reactors in their domain. When other factors such as terrorist threat, corruption and lack of maintenance culture are factors into place within these poor countries, one can reasonably agree on the need for diligence in handling Nuclear Proliferations.

The existence of Nuclear Regulatory Commission based in the District of Columbia in Washington must urgently be married with a new commission to help countries in dire need of Energy Infrastructures. To ignore is to run the risk of what the world is facing with Iran or North Korea today. If we believe that Libya under Ghadaffi had surrendered all that matters on nuclear technology-know-how, we would be fooling ourselves.

Outside the more than 200 Reactors in the world today with about more than 100 Reactors in USA alone, over 50 new Reactors are under construction worldwide. Obviously, that would be what we know about the open world. South Africa voluntarily surrendered on researches and enrichment of Uranium, but what happen when we wake up tomorrow to learn more of the secrecy that surround Nuclear development in other countries even under the prying eyes of CIA, MIA, M5 or the new Garb of Russia KGB!! It was former President Jimmy Carter that revealed Israel’s stockpiles of nuclear war heads into tens.

Until Iran became openly defiance on Its Nuclear research no one believe the Mullahs with their sparkling white robes could jack any nuclear needles into the world chest.

The paramount issues of safety and leakage of nuclear technology should not stop the advanced Nations from helping poor countries meet their energy needs.

One could be ashamed or embarrassed seeing people dying of hunger in the world even in the midst of plenty, but the lesson from the Global Economic meltdown that continue to plague us today sound an urgent serious note that no one would be immune when the world is faced with unpredictable and unforeseen crisis.

Nigeria is presently struggling to fully democratize Its polity and Its entire aspects of life, corruption is been tackled head-on, Activism been carried into the extreme will be tamed, the rule of law will eventually emerge and electoral evolution is moving robustly with full speed; and no one should underestimate what this sleeping-African-Giant can morphs into within the next few decades. But, Nigerians need help and all hands need to be on deck.

By Dr. Almaroof