By Aare Afe Babalola(SAN)
Poverty
1960
Nil – Per Lord Macaulay, 2nd February, 1835
“I have travelled across the length and breadth of Africa and I have not seen one person who is a beggar, who is a thief such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, people of such calibre, that I do not think we would ever conquer this country, unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage and therefore, I propose that we replace her old and ancient education system, her culture, for if the Africans think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will lose their self-esteem, their native culture and they will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation”.
2020
The poorest country in the world.
Over 50 percent of Nigerians live in extreme poverty; while over seven million Nigerians are in urgent need of life-saving assistance (European Union Parliament Resolution, January 2020)
Also:” Nigeria has become the poverty capital of the world” (World Poverty Clock, June 25, 2018) Available at: https://qz.com/africa/1313380/nigerias-has-the-highest-rate-of-extreme-poverty-globally/
Also: “After living in denial, the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics confirms Nigeria’s poverty capital status” (Guardian News, May 15, 2020) https://guardian.ng/politics/after-living-in-denial-nbs-confirms-nigerias-poverty-capital-status/
Hunger
1960
Everybody had enough – Per Lord Macaulay and my personal experience
2020
Prevalent among the lower class.
According to the 2020 Global Report on Food Crises, Nigeria ranks in the list of the world’s 10 hungriest countries. With a score of 27.9, Nigeria suffers from a level of acute hunger and undernutrition that is categorized as “serious”. Nigeria only ranks better than several conflict and war-torn countries.
See European Union, https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/news/food-insecurity-and-knock-effects-covid-19-hungriest-countries
(Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, the Sudan, Nigeria and Haiti are the world’s 10 hungriest countries in the world)
Unemployment
1960
No unemployment – Per Lord Macaulay above and also from personal experience
2020
According to the Q2 2020 unemployment report published by Nigeria’s Bureau of Statistics, more than 27% of Nigerians are unemployed.
One in every two Nigerians is either unemployed or underemployed.
See: “Nigeria’s unemployment rate has more than tripled in the last five years—and it will only get worse” (August 14, 2020) https://qz.com/africa/1892237/nigerias-unemployment-rate-tripled-in-five-years/
Occupation
1960
Predominantly farming
2020
* Farming abandoned.
* The occupation of youths is mostly politics
Politics
1960
Mainly by retired Civil Servants and Principal of Secondary Schools. They were contented and ready and willing to serve and reform the country without salary but Sitting Allowance.
2020
* Now a profession. * Highly monetised. * Do-or-die politics.
* Mostly for jobless people who rely on godfathers
* Politics is now the most lucrative enterprise
Corruption
1960
* Unknown in Nigeria.
* Abominable and detested
* Introduced to Nigeria by European, Lebanese and Indian Contractors, Businessmen
* Forbidden by native laws and customs and traditional religion.
* Instant judgment by Sango, God of Iron and Thunder
2020
* Prevalent
According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index 2019, Nigeria is the 2nd most corrupt country in West Africa, and 34th most corrupt country in the world.
“Corruption worse in Nigeria, new Transparency International Report says” (Premium Times, January 23, 2020)
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/374090-corruption-worse-in-nigeria-new-transparency-international-report-says.html
Begging
1960
* Unknown in West and Eastern Regions. Few in the North
* Beggars were stoned by youths in Western Nigeria.
2020
* Common throughout the country.
* Found on the Streets, Churches, Mosques and at Parties
Terrorism and kidnapping
1960
Existed only in the dictionary
2020
Found everywhere. On the street, in the house, in the farm, offices, schools, day and night.
According to the 2019 Global Terrorism Index, Nigeria is the 3rd most unsafe and terrorism-prone country in the world, ranking behind only two war-torn countries, Iraq and Afghanistan
Also: According to the United Nations, “Nigeria is a pressure cooker of internal conflicts and generalised violence that must be addressed urgently” See “Nigeria needs urgent action to end “pressure cooker” of violence claiming thousands of lives, says UN rights expert” (UN, 3 September 2019)
- In January, 2020, the European Union Parliament moved a motion for urgent resolution of Nigeria’s high level of terrorism and insecurity, stating that “the security situation in Nigeria has significantly deteriorated over the last years, posing a serious threat to regional and international security; whereas human rights violations, violence, criminality, and mass killings are widespread and constantly reported, notably in the North-Eastern Region of the country”.
- See: “European Parliament resolution on Nigeria, notably the recent terrorist attacks”(Res. 2020/2503(RSP)), January, 2020
Available at: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2020-0064_EN.html The UK’s recent Foreign Travel Advisory on Nigeria warns that “Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Nigeria” https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/nigeria/terrorism
Religion
1960
* Liberal * West and East mostly Christian* North – Islam
2020
Cause of armed conflicts in many states and one of the reasons for the emergence of Boko Haram
Travelling
1960
Safe (Day and night)Safest in the night
2020* Night travel is virtually abandoned and if done, it is very risky
* Daytime travelling – Fear of kidnapping.
* Most roads are in poor state of repairs
Types of government
1960
* Federal Constitution * Regional * Parliamentary system * Peaceful until 1965 in the West * Fast development in all Regions
* Donated by the military and falsely described as Constitution made by the people.* Unitary Government in the name of a Federal Constitution* Weak and undeveloped states* Constitution: Concentrates power in the Centre; cause of poor development* Godfatherism: breeds transactional leaders
2020
* Donated by the military and falsely described as Constitution made by the people.* Unitary Government in the name of a Federal Constitution* Weak and undeveloped states* Constitution: Concentrates power in the Centre; cause of poor development* Godfatherism: breeds transactional leaders
Class of people
1960
Three classes existed: * First Class – The Oba, the Chiefs and Ministers. Members of House earned only Sitting Allowance.* Second Class – Teachers and Civil Servants and some Businessmen * Third Class – the ordinary people No rich or wealthy class.
2020
We now have;* Superrich or super-wealthy class * The weakened middle class consists of Teachers, Civil Servants and Businessmen* Extremely poor people now in majority.
Education
1960
* Highly qualitative and functional* Compared favourably with that of UK
2020
* Has dwindled in quality and functionality * Poor funding* Poor infrastructure* Strikes and * Poor accountability in public universities.
Currency
1960
Nigeria Naira stronger than Dollar and Pound Sterling in 1960.
