Re: Our national malaise

Thank you for the  incisive article; the last two paragraphs nailed down the problem that has kept Nigeria, particularly these past 30 years, down. 

It is my view that there was a different Nigeria that existed from independence to around 1985 when the malaise took hold.  In that period, governance had a purpose – uplifting of the people and improving their living standard. To that end, governments worked with development plans to guide them. The first one -1962-1968 – gave Nigeria the Kainji Hydroelectric Power Dam which was completed on time despite the country being involved in the Civil War at the time. The Second National Development Plan, 1971-1975, brought new universities, airports, ports, refineries and the motor assembly plants. The last plan – 1975-1980 had Jebba HEP, etc. After that things went down; no planning and no coherence in governing. The Civil Service lost integrity and so cannot deliver.  

Finance bill: ‘Its unlawful to share stamp duty, bank levy nationally’

International flights grounded as aviation workers strike in Lagos

Getting this country back up will require revolutionary forces acting for a long period, for there’s no longer allegiance to a common faith (a shared destiny) or vision.   

Thank you!

M T Usman, Abuja