My Krossroads

I was deliberately taking my time to comment on the BBC report Welcome to Lagos when an email from a friend asking my opinion and what could do be done about the negative report spurred me to probe and look deeper. The report Welcome to Lagos is a must watch for every Nigerian, it is interesting, enlightening and fun to watch. Watching it did not elicit anger but a deep seated desire to erode the system of policies that are inimical to the interests of the society and the iniquitous practices that affect the society at large. The question is does the report give a true portrayal of life in Lagos? Lagos used to be the capital of Nigeria, the seat of government until it was moved to Abuja some years back.  So, Lagos should still represent the best of Nigeria.

Back to the BBC report which was broadcast to the world on April 15, 2010 and yes! Answering the earlier question the report featured life on the Ojota dumpsite and lives generally in several slums in Lagos. The documentary showed how people in Lagos make a living from dumpsites; it showed different story lines told by different people, their struggles, above all their hope for a better tomorrow.

The report in the same line portrayed Lagos in Nigeria as a city of utter hopelessness, poverty, Famine, destitution, desperation, high poverty and a city with numerous unemployed youths tramping the streets which is contrary to efforts by the present administration to turn Lagos into a mega city comparable to the best in other parts of the world. Sadly, the same story is replicated all over Nigeria. These images unfortunately are the only ones the western world appreciates and understands.  The question is why  it sells in the west? Simple, the westerner prefers to see images of Africans showing the greatest need for survival and continuous aid. These exotic images are strangely interesting and more accepting of the primitive concept and way of life in Africa. Why the western media crave these footages is beyond me but the more unpleasant the images are, the more appealing they are.

Now, the truth is the slums do exist and the scenes are quite familiar to many Nigerians. So, why are we angry, why is there so much talk about revenge images. Why are there talks to rehabilitate some shown in the report when the sad truth is, there are very many Nigerians in similar situations.

Honestly we must begin to call a spade a spade; here is how a foreign reporter recently described Nigeria, “Nigeria is a kleptocracy that milks the most populous African nation. Oil wealth has made this massive African nation one of the most dangerous, most corrupt, most impoverished a straight out saddest countries on earth despite billions and billions of dollars in annual oil revenue, virtually none of it reaches the general population, instead lining the pockets of one “big man” after another”

Well, as Nigerians we have the right to question Welcome to Lagos and the above description of Nigeria but if truth be told are they far from the truth, are the images wrong. Regrettably, Nigeria has continued to fail its people, the leaders carry on with atrocities, with so much impunity that one wonders where the fear of God has gone. To all Nigerians, the cry of the masses must be heard and felt by every Nigerian, only then can change be sought.

I believe in one Nigeria, together Nigerians can overcome the plagues existing today. I know beyond reasonable doubt that we will get there, it is just a matter of time. Someday, the people of Nigeria will wake up and begin to demonstrate a high level of responsibility that will be seen by all.

That the BBC decided to broadcast to the world the Lagos we know, should not be a deterrent to Nigerians or a threat to the survival of the nation. Rather, it should be a continuous reminder of the work that needs to be done,  the need to wake up quickly from slumber and begin to act.

Nigeria just marked eleven years of uninterrupted democratic rule, am emphasizing this because it is a milestone. It shows how politically aware Nigerians have become, this awareness means there is no going back to military rule. The uneducated man on the streets may not understand the importance of the report but the human spirit of every Nigerian wants to be free from oppression, and the so many social malaise existing today.

On second thoughts why are these images not shown on the several television stations in the country, rather the television stations focus on celebrity’s events, music tailored after the west, and fashionistas on the red carpet, why is vanity deeply entrenched in the system such that there is a total shift from the very essential happenings around us. At the risk of sounding like a broken record,  we see poverty around us every day, why do we ignore this,  we all paint a picture of all is well, why are we not the voices of the helpless or underprivileged, why are we not protecting the children on the streets.

The BBC report awakened something, what it is am yet to figure it out, maybe I will have it all figured out by the time I understand why nobody is stemming the tide of millions of Nigerians escaping to foreign lands and why money is continuously stolen by the elite for their various selfish reasons.

Finally, I may not understand what drives the foreign journalist to show these images and why they make good stories in the west, one thing I do know is we need to speak for ourselves and not hide these slums which are a global phenomenon.

Take your choice in one of the daily newspaper had this view, Mr. A to Mr. B. The BBC Documentary on Lagos was in bad taste….I am angry. Mr. B replied Why? Mr. A. Our centre of excellence and emerging mega city was classified a mega slum. Mr. B. There’s nothing to be angry about. Simply classify London a mega slum too.