This post is in response to a contest by 
Theme: How safe your country is ?
Answer
A few years ago, I had the opportunity of visiting a place I had longed for since I was in primary school. I had read about it from my English Text Books and by the stories told by my English teacher then, I held the environment in awe and promised myself that this place would be my number one port of call, whenever I toured the South Western part of my country, Nigeria.
Situated in Ekiti State and surrounded by beautiful trees and bushes is Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort. This resort is famous because it is a rare and unparalleled gift of nature (it houses a Spring where the warm and cold waters flow side by side but do not mix) and is the only one of its kind in the entire world.The locals think that the water from the Spring can heal diseases and I think visiting was so much fun.
Places like this abound in my country, a country with lots of natural wonders and from which the government could realize so much revenue if they set their mind to it. Tourism is currently at its all time low because it's no longer safe for people to visit those touristy sites.
Recently the country has had to grapple with colossal forms of crime and terror across all its states, the high rate of unemployment being the key driver of this hydra-headed monster called insecurity.
Unfortunately Nigeria has more people living in poverty than any other country at the moment, people trying to make ends meet at all cost, thereby resorting to nefarious activities like kidnappings for ransom and armed robbery.
Nigeria is a country with high levels of crime, ranking 17th among the least peaceful countries in the world. This has made the security situation uncertain in many parts of the country.
Nigeria at the moment is not safe, even for Nigerians. Everyone is in danger and everyone knows it. It has long left the list of safest countries in the world with things getting worse by the day.
With our problems foundational, it is imperative for our leaders to show commitment to bringing solutions to the table at this crucial point in our history. This post is not aimed at just casting aspersions on my country or sending the wrong signals to the outside world, the truth needs to be told just the way it really is.
Photo by Tabitha Mort: https://www.pexels.com/photo/running-water-surrounded-of-trees-and-plants-710906/
Thank you for reading!