A homecoming

After months of absence from the country, one is naturally excited to return. Besides the excitement of returning to the homeland, one thought that had gnawed at the mind was whether one would notice any change, and would that change be positive or negative? It is May, once again, a month that is fast becoming […]

After months of absence from the country, one is naturally excited to return. Besides the excitement of returning to the homeland, one thought that had gnawed at the mind was whether one would notice any change, and would that change be positive or negative? It is May, once again, a month that is fast becoming a milestone where the country pauses to assess the progress or the lack of it, from its political leaders. It is difficult to decipher real progress or lack of it as most of the news that has been going out of Nigeria has been the stampede into the fold of APC, the ruling party, by high-ranking members of the opposition, the quarrels in the opposition parties, the persistence of insecurity in the North West and the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks in parts of Borno State.

As the Egypt Air flight approached Abuja this sultry Thursday afternoon, one could feel it dipping its nose below the clouds. When it went down to a clearance, one could look out of the window to see the city spread below, in all its bright afternoon splendour, looking calm and peaceful. We soon landed, were ushered out of the plane, and walked into the terminal building. One thing that immediately struck was the neatness of the foyer and all the walkways leading into the immigration and customs reception area. Everything was sparkling clean. Immigration clearance was quick and business-like, even though the plane was full to the brim. There was hardly a queue.

One was ready for the long wait for luggage, but was surprised that the wait was shorter than usual. The luggage was disgorged to the waiting passengers in no time. Luggage in hand, one was expecting the usual shenanigans from the customs officials at their post, which was the last before the exit, but again was amazed by their brisk and courteous manners. Incredibly, there were smiles of welcome all around.  I didn’t count, but the time spent between when we came out of the plane and going out of the airport was much, much shorter than I have ever experienced here.

We drove out of the airport, and one kept wondering what magic had come over the aviation and internal affairs ministries that superintend over the affairs of the airport. For decades, citizens have complained about the desultory conditions of our airport terminals, particularly Lagos and Abuja airports, which carry most of the passengers. Complaints have also accumulated about how immigration and customs officials intimidate and extort travellers. They deliberately cause queues and delays to further their interests.

• Early campaigning is a distraction that must stop
• North West APC leaders betray their suffering people

The Nigerian citizen travelling might shrug his shoulders in acceptance of this unsavoury official behaviour at the airport and the unkempt looks of its surroundings, but a foreigner and first-time visitor would be traumatised.  The turnaround I witnessed at the airport this time is an indication that we can change things once our leaders put their noses down to it. At least that is one notch up for the country.

However, what worries the mind would have to do with the cost of living and the security of the citizens. For these two, the indications and what is abuzz are indeed alarming. That night I was out to stock on groceries, and to my chagrin, everything I bought four months ago had gone up a few notches. It has now been almost two years since the president, upon assuming the mantle of leadership, dispensed with the petrol subsidy as well as allowing the naira to float, with dire consequences on the cost of living. Some of us applauded that decision due to the belief that the subsidy regime the last government administered was unsustainable. We thought that the new government had a magic wand to wave off the dire consequences in a short time. One is disappointed that we now have to live with rising prices despite a stagnant income. One bright spot, however, was the price of petrol, which has remained stable, though still high.

As for security, the government seems to be running out of ideas on what to do to stem its rising tide. Banditry in the North-West is running at full speed, with many villages in Zamfara and Sokoto being emptied of their citizens. All efforts to clear the bandits from their strongholds in the forests seemed to have failed, including the orchestrated campaign to capture the notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji. In the North-Central, the communal clashes between herders and farmers continue to consume lives unabated.

In the North-East, the Boko Haram insurgents are staging a comeback in full force, particularly in Borno State, where their remnants have lain latent around Lake Chad and the Sambisa Forest. The terrorists even dared to attack military cantonments and ransack them with impunity. The terrorists have been raging a reign of terror in towns of the northern Borno, particularly Marte, Wulgo, Gamboru Ngala and Rann. Fortunately, the Borno State Governor, Baba Gana Zulum, has taken up the gauntlet and together with the armed forces, the civilian JTF and hunters have taken the fight to the insurgents. Zulum has shown unusual courage and empathy by going to sleep on the war front, so to speak. He slept in Marte twice, at Wulgo and Rann. It is this kind of courage and empathy that one looks for, unsuccessfully, from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.