Abuja’s dull, dark streets, shame of a nation

During a recent trip to Beijing, China’s capital, I was with a friend who was travelling there for the very first time, and when we landed at the Beijing Capital International Airport, I suddenly turned round to see my friend weeping. I was very surprised at his action, that instead of rejoicing for safe landing, […]

During a recent trip to Beijing, China’s capital, I was with a friend who was travelling there for the very first time, and when we landed at the Beijing Capital International Airport, I suddenly turned round to see my friend weeping. I was very surprised at his action, that instead of rejoicing for safe landing, my friend, who was very enthusiastic about the trip, burst out weeping. 

I was ashamed to be by his side, but as a close friend, though I initially didn’t know the cause of his grief, I couldn’t just ignore him but tried to find out what the problem was. My friend later calmed down amidst the flurry of enquiries from me and even sympathetic Chinese who passed by, and secretly told me that he was actually weeping for Nigeria, his country. His grief started soon after we landed, and were proceeding to pick up our luggage. 

The magnificent airport and orderliness was what struck my friend. He told me his mind quickly went back to our point of departure in Nigeria, from where we took our initial flight to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia via an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing Dreamliner aircraft. My friend said on landing and seeing what was on ground in Beijing, he quickly drew comparison with what is available in Nigeria and couldn’t help weeping. As he wept bitterly, I even thought he got a bad call from home when I rushed to the toilet. But that is always the tragic mistake many Nigerians make, to be ignorantly comparing Nigeria with China, perhaps because the Chinese are so friendly and available to assist (even if they have to gain from rendering such assistance), that many ignorant Nigerians think we are anywhere comparable to them in terms of development, infrastructure and technology.  

My friend had not seen anything yet, because that was just the point of arrival. As we entered a vehicle and moved into the heart of Beijing, my friend was speechless-from the well-organized streets to the beautiful skyscrapers and well-paved streets, fantastic bridges and all, he couldn’t weep any longer. At our hotel room, he looked through the window into the streets at night, and alas! Beijing looked even more beautiful at night. 

We took a walk to a restaurant and to visit a friend at a supposed Beijing suburb, and everywhere was well lit at night, orderly, and peaceful. We talked about Abuja’s streets at night, and it was a very wrong comparison to make. 

Take a look at Abuja’s Central Area and even Asokoro or AYA area at night, not to mention other areas that are considered low brow, and you are confronted with an intimidating and frightening darkness. Under this darkness, many bad things happen, such as hoodlums lurking to attack innocent persons and robbing them of their belongings. Not many streets in even Abuja’s city centre have the luxury of efficient and functional street lights, and as a result, once night comes, almost everywhere is locked in virtual darkness. 

There is often great difficulty in convincing a first time visitor to Abuja that he is actually in the capital city of Africa’s biggest economy if he arrives at night, because the city does not have trapping of modern capital city or befitting its status. That brings to mind, the enormous responsibility of administrators and public officials in effective performance. 

I am sure many government officials who are saddled with the provision of public infrastructure do often travel outside the country, and do see the way other countries put their money into use. It is shameful and disheartening that Nigeria’s case is always different, considering her status and economic strength, to always look pathetic. 

If our administrators would judiciously utilize public funds and provide much needed infrastructure, there is no doubt that the country would fare better than this. The nation’s capital at least, should look better than it is now, in terms of road network, connecting bridges and street lights. 

If the right people are put in the right places and less money is stolen from public treasury, the nation would stand to benefit immensely from her abundant resources, but a situation whereby only one individual, by virtue of official position, stashes away unimaginable amount of public funds for personal use, or acquires incredible property in and outside the country at the expense of the masses, would always make my friend to weep in other lands.         

Ochogwu Aba Ilolo writes from Igwu Orokam, Benue State.