A common saying goes thus; when one\u2019s path is obstructed by a heap of logs<\/p>\n
which must be cleared for passage, the topmost logs must be removed first
\nin the dislodgment process. Or, as the renowned economic historian David
\nLandes would suggest; whenever there is ambiguity, then the first duty is
\nto clearly define the term in question.<\/p>\n
Prioritize is defined as \u201cto organize (things) so that the most important
\nthing is done or dealt with first\u201d, according to Merriam Webster
\ndictionary.<\/p>\n
And Nigeria is swarmed by burning issues. It would be trite to begin to
\nlist the varied ills that ail Nigeria. Even a grade schooler can count
\nthem off his\/her digits, proffer insightful remedies and warn you that
\nimplementation of the solutions has been the Achilles\u2019 heel.<\/p>\n
To be sure, corruption, insecurity\/Boko Haram terrorism, diversification
\nof economy, unemployment, derelict infrastructure, Healthcare crisis,
\nabsence of a manufacturing base, and Institutional decay \u2013 Education,
\nCivil service etc., are no less burning issues that are in dire need of
\nattention. If the aforementioned issues are to be prioritize, the question
\nthen is, in what order should this administration tackle same?<\/p>\n
For the current Buhari\u2019s administration in Abuja, therefore, to prioritize
\nin this sense refers to the selective urgency with which some burning
\nnational issues are delivered to the \u201cintensive unit\u201d for appropriate
\nattention with respect to others. A drastic downturn the country\u2019s
\nearnings purse from Oil (with low prices in the international market), may
\nfurther count as a motivational factor towards the need for an effective
\nprioritization strategy.<\/p>\n
Few would disagree that corruption remains the singular virus that has
\ninfected every facet of Nigeria, systemically, and its eradication or at
\nleast, reduction of its \u2018viral load\u2019 to the barest minimum is a task that
\nmust be accomplished with immediacy.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, Buhari administration is right on target on the war against
\ncorruption, placing it on top of its list of priorities.<\/p>\n
Because corruption enervates, degrade and finally destroys any\/all good
\nintentions of any project irrespective of significance, the failures of
\npast administration have their roots in this menace. In \u201cThe Real
\nHousemates of Corruption\u201d, I suggested some enablers of the practitioners
\nof corruption that government should take a closer look at, and action
\nagainst; but the advice obviously meant little to the Goodluck Jonathan’s
\nadministration which has now been exposed as deft architects of the temple
\nof corruption.<\/p>\n
In the prioritization strategy, certain \u201cvitals\u201d must be stabilized before
\nany measurable improvement in other sector is even possible. Because of
\ntheir synergetic linkages, issues like Security\/Boko Haram terrorism and
\nPower infrastructure (electricity) take precedence over essential
\npriorities; there hardly any point in constructing first class hospitals
\nall over the country for healthcare, if the equipment cannot be powered,
\nor fatalities inflicted by marauding terrorists, and armed gangs that have
\nno use for emergency rooms.<\/p>\n
In \u201cWith Light Most Things are Possible\u201d, permit me to reproduce a part here;<\/p>\n
In the boring spat between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former
\nmilitary President Ibrahim Babangida, the former waxed strong about his
\nadministrations power development achievements;<\/p>\n
“Because it was important, you know that power is the driving force for
\ndevelopment and for any developing country. But since the building of
\nEgbin power plant, until I came back in 1999, there was not any generating
\nplant for almost 20 years and Babangida spent eight years out of that.
\nNow, he has the audacity to talk about anybody; I think that is
\nunfortunate.”<\/p>\n
“I started five of what they called Independent Power Stations which were
\nstopped for two and a half years when I left office. Now the present
\nadministration has started building a new power project at Uyo.<\/p>\n
“As a country, Nigeria should be adding nothing less than 1,500 megawatts
\nannually. South Africa with a population of 50 million generates 50,000
\nmegawatts. Nigeria with a population of about 165 million we are not
\ngenerating.<\/p>\n
As at 1999, I met 1,500 megawatts before we took it up to 4,000 megawatts.
\nWhat we started they are now allowing it to go on. I believe if they
\ncontinue with the programme that we left, in another two years, we will
\nget to 10,000,” he said (Vanguard 19 August 2011)<\/p>\n
Sixteen years later, billions of dollars \u201cexpended\u201d, electricity
\ngeneration currently fluctuates between 1,500 and 5,000 megawatts (as at
\nMarch 13th, 2016), with intermittent nationwide blackouts – situation
\nthat emphasize, the time to declare a national emergency on the power
\nsector is way past due.<\/p>\n
And even after a temporary relief is achieved in stable electricity,
\nsustaining the growth in the power sector cannot be assumed to be secured
\nin the hands of incoming administrations. Hence, I has suggested in the
\nsame article that \u201cPerhaps, time has come for a constitutional amendment
\nthat requires any incoming administration to increase the existing power
\ncapacity by a minimum of 5,000 megawatts for every 4 year tenure in
\noffice. Failure to abide or execute such a requirement should result in
\nimpeachment. If our leaders can’t dream, perhaps the constitution can
\nforce-feed dreams to them\u201d.<\/p>\n
Next up, the industrial sector which touches the entire spectrum of the
\ncountry\u2019s well-being \u2013 employment, improved living standards, wealth
\ncreation, food security, and global competitiveness. Without a vibrant
\nmanufacturing sector, Nigeria continues to engage in the pretense of
\neconomic growth without development, and wear the cloak of a developing
\neconomy without the substance. Make no mistake about it, \u201cwithout
\nindustrialization, development will not happen\u201d is a well-documented fact
\nboth by United Nations agencies, and top researchers worldwide.<\/p>\n
Whatever compass the Buhari administration employ to design its chain of
\npriorities, the manufacturing sector is a recurring enigma that should not
\nbe ignored. For Nigeria, the old knee-jerk policy responses to
\nsocio-economic fundamentals, should be confine to the dustbin of history.<\/p>\n
Emma Adoghe.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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