Nigeria at 59: Youths Speak on the State of the Nation

• Nigeria at 59: Youths Speak on the State of the Nation

Africa’s largest economy and the world’s most populous black nation, Nigeria, marks 59th independence anniversary amid growing insecurity and 55.4 percent youths unemployment/underemployment rate.

Despite the nation’s resources, over 23 percent or 20.9 million active job seekers are unemployed, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Recent research by the World Bank revealed that the few individuals that are gainfully employed are merely working because they cannot afford to be idle.

Judith Agbunno, a 24 years old medical doctor, who spoke with our correspondents, said despite the high unemployment rate in Nigeria, the health sector is grossly understaffed.

Prof. Muheez Durosinmi, the Vice Chancelor of Eko University of Medicine and Health Sciences, revealed that the nation’s health sector operates on one medical doctor to 6,000 patients presently, an increase of 900 percent above the one doctor per 600 patients recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“The excessive pressure and stress reduces doctors’ productivity and impacts other areas of their lives, given the sensitivity of their job,” Dr. Agbunno stated.

Oluyomi Esan, a Psychiatrist, explained that mental disorder and suicide rate are high among medical practitioners because of their high-stress level and long working hours.

In 2018, Dr. Durosinmi noted that only 35,000 out of 73,000 registered medical doctors were practicing in the country as the rest had abandoned Nigeria for advanced nations with better infrastructure and working conditions.

At 59, Nigeria still spends $1 billion on medical tourism per annum, the highest among African nations. This is despite the Central Bank of Nigeria’s efforts at stimulating local production in order to ease pressure on foreign reserves and support job creation, yet 30,000 Nigerians are allowed to spend an estimated $1 billion yearly on medical tourism at the expense of both local health sector and the nation’s foreign reserves without tangible efforts at curbing it.

“Nigeria is one nation with lots of untapped potentials that could place the nation at the global forefront. However, the years so far have shaped the nation into a shadow of its true self”, stated Ms. Bethel Ikoro.

“Despite been blessed with brilliant human resources, Nigeria is being governed by unsatisfactory leadership – leaders who can neither lead effectively nor represent admirably.”

Obinna Okpala, a Civil Servant and an engineer, said corruption and lack of morals have eaten down to our marrows as people. He said it is a shame that at 59 Nigeria still does not have constant power supply despite spending over $16 billion since 1999.

“If we can achieve constant electricity supply, prices of goods and services would drop as the cost of diesel and generator maintenance would be eliminated from operational costs,” Mr. Okpala stated.

Femi Adeyeye, a social commentator, said Nigeria is a failed state at 59. He highlighted the surged in the number of Nigerians abandoning their homes due to insecurity, economic policy that has failed to work for everyday people and a helpless judicial system that only works when it favours the ruling class as signs of a failed state.

Ishioma, who was one of the people we interviewed last year, said there is no respect for the rule of law as the whole nation witnessed last week when a federal agency, Department of State Security, blatantly disregarded court order and presently dragging Justice Taiwo Taiwo before the National Judicial Council for granting Omoyele Sowore, the convener of RevolutionNow protest, bail.

She explained that nothing has changed a year after she made her comments on bribery on this platform. The business environment remains hostile with Special Anti-Robbery Squad harassing and killing youths on a daily basis.

“At 59 we still have so much to work on, Nigeria’s growth and development isn’t just a government issue,” said Temitayo Sikiru, a data analyst.

“Our family is messed up, the community is messed up, the society is messed up and we crowned it with a messed up government.

“Until we take up our individual responsibilities to this great nation, we will continue to function below our collective capacity”, she added.