The most recent government project in my community of residence
It's impossible to talk about the money relating to the Nigerian government without talking about corruption which is complete bullshit. In Rivers State Port Harcourt, a place where it's only fair to say has had the most successful infrastructure built recently in years, because the governor has spent money in ensuring the stay has more good roads and flyover bridges. However, it's also true that Rivers State has spent a total of sixty-three billion naira (63,000,000,000) (over $80,000,000) for the construction of 12 flyover bridges. This means the Rivers State government spent seven billion naira (7,000,000,000) almost $10,000,000 for each flyover bridge.
Now before I will give my opinion on whether such an amount of money was exorbitant or not, I will like to first assume that the government ran an initial cost on the project before bringing it to light. This means that they would have thought about the need for street lights to be allocated for each project alongside maintenance of each project over a period of time which I will like to assume was the reason for spending such money on the project. But to my surprise, all the new flyover bridges in Nigeria, have street lights not working. I was privileged to get close enough to those maintaining the newest of the flyover bridges in Port Harcourt which happen to be around where I live in Rumuokurusi Port Harcourt, only to discover that the street lights work with a generator powered by fuel, and the people maintaining it haven't been given money required to buy petrol. Imagine spending 7 billion naira on a project that can't be maintained, this is where I draw the line because it's clear that the money wasn't judiciously used for the project it was allocated for making it bullshit.
Although I wasn't expecting less from the Rivers State government given the streak of wastage that the Nigerian government is known for. In Imo State Nigeria, a new commissioner position was made only to discover it was the position of commissioner of laughter. With the governor stating at one point that the people of the state are sad, thus his reason for creating such a position to make them happy. Now such commissioner will definitely have projects commissioned to him for such purpose despite how hilarious the position is. I wasn't surprised after not hearing anything about the commissioner who was appointed a year later. But then I know very well that wherever he is, he is enjoying the positions with all the allocations that come with it.
Although there are also projects in Nigeria that are still worth looking forward to, like the new National law school which I have seen to be a state-of-the-art facility, the entire project cost 21 billion naira (about 26 million dollars) considering the school is meant to be a self-sustaining school, I think it's worth the amount, but then again this is Nigeria, and it's still too new to conclude anything, we can only wait and see.
I will also like to site one thing I would have preferred the government allocated money for, and that is the development of industries. If 7 billion can be used to do one flyover bridge that can't be maintained, then I think every state can spare 2 billion naira for creation of at least 200 new businesses, that will definitely had to the states GDP and also be a source of revenue when the state has a level of shares in the businesses they have created. A lot of Nigerian youth have great ideas that needs funding. Most might not even cost up to 5 million naira for start up, some might, but then it will be worth an investment because even if 50% of these businesses fail from poor management, the ones that stand Can be enough to cover the loss of the failed ones and this will also strengthen longitivity of any business as there would have to be government bodies involved to stop so many mistakes people make in business due to sentiment. I'm not here to talk about the process to all this, so I will just end here and probably talk about the details some other time.
All photos were taken by me using my company drone with the company label well inserted on the photo
Thanks again for stopping by my blog today, until next time.