Nigeria at 56

By: Ohiri Obiarandu
econd Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people who are called by my name shall humble
from their evil ways, I will look down from heaven and forgive theirs sins and heal their land”. James 4:6 Says “… God gives grace (kindness) to the humble…”.
In the light of these biblical assertions, they inform us that it is only when as an individual, family, group, community, state or country can be lowly in heart, pray earnestly to God and shun sin, we will always attract the grace (kindness), blessings, and life-changing endowment from God Almighty.
Our country Nigeria though populous and famous in the world has failed to improve on the lives of her citizens. There abound misdeeds in our country like owing of workers’ salaries, non-payment of pensions and gratuities, embezzlement of public funds, assassination of innocent people, ritual killing, pipeline vandalism, unemployment of qualified labour force, thuggery, mediocrity, fornication and the likes. Those are all against God and can shut the windows and doors of blessings from God against us.
Nigeria at 56 is called upon to create employment for the majority of the skilled and semi-skilled youths and workers. For this to happen, there should be the revitalization of the steel industry at Abeokuta, cement industry at Nkalagu, ground nut pyramids in the North, Golden Guinea Breweries in Abia State, rice farm at Ebonyi, Adapalm and shoe industry in Imo, and many others to accommodate different grades of labour force. The government must improve on rice production in Ebonyi State popularly called Abakaliki rice to serve the populace even as it be of same quality with the foreign rice imported into the
country, to drastically reduce its cut-throat price as is presently experienced. The Aba Shoe Markets in Abia State must be encouraged in their frantic effort to produce shoes and sandals. Their shoes popularly called ‘Aba made’ have helped Nigerians and thus can be promoted by making their raw materials available, making the roads, motorable for effective trade and making energy (electricity) available.
Economic recession in Nigeria as seen can be overcome through profound development in tourism like our museums, Lakes like Oguta lake, air ports, recreation parks, large-scale production of vegetables, fruits (Pineapple, garden egg) production and aggressive industrialization in the country.
Society for Family Health, SFH, said “Population is a matter of people and not a matter of numbers”. Mills said “governance is for the People’s Welfare” thus Nigeria at 56 must as a matter of importance care for her citizens.