NIGERIA AND GREED

By:
Ajukura, Fidelis O.
ajukurafidelisobi@gmail.com
4th January, 2024.

Greed is a killer; it has ruined our land. Greed has infested the heart of Nigerians such that there is hardly anything that a typical Nigerian can do without devising means of stealing from the system or shortchanging others. Actions in this country are always propelled by greed. Greed is nothing but 'a selfish or excessive desire for more of something (such as money) than is actually needed'.

There is a popular expression in pidgin English that goes thus: 'na thief wey dem catch be thief'. The implication of this statement is that there are lots of thieves out there who may actually be worse than the one caught in the act. In our society, it is very difficult to vouch for anyone. Many who present themselves as saints are really worse than the devil himself. This may not be noticed until they are entrusted with power or money. Nigeria is a land full of greedy people. The virtues of honesty, truth, contentment, selflessness etc are often treated with disdain and scorn.

In Nigeria, trust is like a scarce commodity: people, for the sake of earthly riches flagrantly betray or abuse the trust reposed in them. The most annoying part of the problem is that those saddled with the responsibility of keeping or managing funds brazenly embezzle humongous amount of money that they obviously do not need.

The most recent case is the one involving the suspended National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Halima Shehu who is currently in EFCC net for moving ₦44 billion naira from NSIPA's account to private accounts few days to the end of December, 2023. According to THISDAY, the EFCC's attention was drawn following the unusual movement of billions of naira from NSIPA's account to private and corporate accounts without the authorization of the President or Minister. Two days ago, Halima was arrested by EFCC operatives, grilled, released and re-invited the next day.

What has remained discomfiting to me is the temerity with which people steal money in this country. In the case of Halima, I have been asking myself, 'what does a woman who is believed to be filled with milk of compassion want to do with such a huge amount of money? Does she want to buy the entire country? This is crazy!

Halima, to my mind was just unfortunate that her case was brought to the fore - there are many public office holders who are right now moving huge amount of money from government coffers to private accounts without being detected. It is possible that Halima may have stepped on powerful toes hence this embarrassment - na thief wey dem catch be thief! Unfortunately, this act of stealing that is fueled by unbridled greed cuts across different strata of our society as well as tiers of government e.g., local, state and federal government.

To ameliorate this audacious stealing, government must devise ways or means of restricting or limiting public officials access to funds. Imagine a situation where a public officer can relocate huge amount from government's treasury without due process? The ability to carry out such illegal transactions successfully remains one of the greatest obstacles to our development - government must ensure that such openings are blocked.

*Politeness*
ALL Nigerians are POTENTIAL THIEVES. The only thing is that most are not in position to steal or the amount they are in position to steal not high enough for them to steal

Anyone that wakes up in nigeria and goes out in the morning is out to look for who to deceive to make money. In nigeria, when you try to do things the way they should be done, people look at you like you are an id1ot. What the heck?

junketer:
Anyone that wakes up in nigeria and goes out in the morning is out to look for who to deceive to make money. In nigeria, when you try to do things the way they should be done, people look at you like you are an id1ot. What the heck?

Truth

PoliteActivist:
*Politeness*
ALL Nigerians are POTENTIAL THIEVES. The only thing is that most are not in position to steal or the amount they are in position to steal not high enough for them to steal

We have:
Those who stole in the past;
Those stealing presently; and
Those seeking ways to steal.

Aunty Kemi Adeosun deviced a means to reduce inflated expense based stealing by setting up an "efficiency unit" but was discarded by conspiring thieves in power along with her ideas. Even if she was actually wrong in her NYSC saga, her good initiatives could have been retained and not discarded with her.

The reward for catching a thieve in govt is collection of your own share unfortunately. Maybe Farouk was not cooperating with the top men in the know of her stunts.

johannu:


We have:
Those who stole in the past;
Those stealing presently; and
Those seeking ways to steal.

*Politeness*
😅Then there are those who are totally holy... until the chance to steal a substantial sum arises!

PoliteActivist:

*Politeness*
😅Then there are those who are totally holy... until the chance to steal a substantial sum arises!