Navigating Challenges: The Nigerian Spirit of Resilience and Adaptation
Nigerians transitioned from relying on the government/system for water and electricity to creating self-sustaining solutions for water and energy supply. Now, there is an increasing urgency to address the security challenge independently once more!
Over the past 15 years, Nigerians have showcased remarkable resilience in the face of national challenges, pioneering local and alternative solutions to address critical issues affecting their communities.
Water Supply: Faced with the inadequacy of government water supply systems (Federal, and State Water Board and the Basins Authorities), Nigerians took matters into their own hands. Communities, both in urban and rural areas, turned to drilling boreholes and wells, investing in self-sustaining water sources despite the financial burden. The determination to secure a basic necessity like water highlights the tenacity of Nigerians to survive and thrive, even in the absence of systemic support.
At the moment, Nigerians do not look to the government nor the many systems and institutions set up to ensure water supply, no, we do not! We solved it ourselves!
Energy Independence: The national power grid’s unreliability prompted Nigerians to explore alternative energy sources. Solar-generated systems, inverters, and personal power solutions became popular choices to combat the erratic electricity supply. Despite continuous efforts by Nigerians to enhance the national grid, by asking that the national grid by decentalized so regions can generate their own power supply as deem fit, admist several other alternative solutions to stablize, maintain and monitor the nationa grid from its consisten collaps that has fallen on the deaf ears of the Nigerian Federal Government, citizens have chosen to embrace decentralized energy solutions, demonstrating a commitment to self-sufficiency and adaptability.
Currently, solar alternatives in Nigeria may not be optimal, but they are improving with various packages catering to both small and large families/communities from soal lamps for homes to solar street lights, small solar panels and boxes for lighting points, and power phones and computers to large solar panels and batteries that can power entire household appliances.
Security Dilemma: While Nigerians have successfully devised local solutions for water and electricity challenges, the issue of security remains a complex frontier. Community policing, recognized as a potent solution, faces obstacles rooted in societal divisions. Economic disparities fostered by the system contribute to jealousy and mistrust, hindering the unity required for effective community policing. However, instances like the swift community response in Okuku-Yala in 2021, where residents rallied against kidnappers, showcase the potential power of unified, community-driven security initiatives.
Currently, community policing only works in rural communities / remote villages where everyone’s economic power is pretty much the same. Everyone knows everybody and can account for each other, this close unit ensures that it is the community of the people, by the people, and for the people! And they will spring into action to repel any external force!
I’d like to share these two stories to help make a case for my opinions:
In 2021 (if I recall correctly), around 5 pm, Kidnappers attacked the major junction in Okuku-Yala and abducted the leading pharmacist. It happened swiftly, leaving everyone in shock. However, within just 3 minutes, once the onlookers recovered, they quickly mobilized on bikes and cars to pursue the kidnappers. The chase lasted about 40 minutes, resulting in the recovery of the pharmacist and the apprehension of one or two of the kidnappers. This incident highlights the power of community policing, where people come together to protect each other when the government fails to provide adequate security.
However, when there’s a disparity in economic power, jealousy can arise, turning community members into each other’s adversaries. In Calabar in 2023, a medical doctor was kidnapped, and a ransom of 10 million Naira was demanded. I believe that this act is driven by the misguided belief that medical doctors enjoy a better life. This perception ignores the doctor’s challenges, working multiple jobs and overcoming significant efforts to attain their position, negating the efforts of parents who have worked their whole lives to support their wards through their Yam farms, respective civil servants jobs to taking loans to ensure good education to ensure their wards become productive members of society. The mass Nigerian population’s greed, envy, and jealousy often prevail, leading to acts of violence against those perceived as more prosperous. It also reflects a cowardly approach to prey on the vulnerable and defenseless instead of confronting the true adversaries to make Nigeria better in ensuring our leaders are held accountable for ensuring decent infrastructure for living, economic activities, and security. The population will redirect their energy towards building a safe, secure, and sustainable environment enabling access to the basic needs of Nigerians. Recognizing that the true adversaries are those exploiting the nation’s resources and hindering individuals from realizing their full potential.
The way forward to community policing in the cities of Nigeria lies in overcoming internal divisions fueled by economic disparities. Instances of crime driven by envy and jealousy within communities emphasize the need for a collective shift in mindset.
- There is a need for the National Orientation Agency to embark on this mind-shift campaign through the Signage Commission in states, together with every media outlet possible. Again, the key to a civilized society is a well-informed public, there is no better time than now!
- Community leaders should step up and strengthen youth groups to ensure productive engagement in the community that sees that their basic needs are catered for!
- Traditional leaders need to stop being election-year puppets and live to their power as leaders to safeguard the lives and properties of their indigenes.
- Community security groups have had more impact than the Nigerian police have for most of it, this simply calls for the strengthening of these community policing groups. The reason why this works is simple, in communities, most people know each other and know what everyone is up to! If a situation arises, these groups can tell you firsthand who is capable do XYZ, this is easy to predict, prevent, get intel, and solve cases. By doing this, crime is automatically curtailed.
- The current trend is criminals leaving where they are known to commit crimes in places where they are not known, thus making it difficult to track, thus the need for communities to keep watch of people moving in and out of their environment! Recently, property owners in Nigeria have been tasked/encouraged to get to know their tenants alike and asked not to rent out their properties to anyone whose occupation is not defined, wealth can not be explained and day-to-day can not be accounted for. It'll take a while for this to become efficient. But this will go a long way in curtailing the movement of people and crime scenes all over the place! It is also the biggest argument for a borderless Africa!
- Young Nigerians have a strong inclination to contribute to solutions and be part of something larger than themselves. This is evident in their active engagement in civic participation, volunteering for non-profit organizations, and their eagerness to serve in the military and paramilitary outfits. Therefore, if called upon to participate in various levels of community policing to protect lives and properties within their communities, they would gladly, proudly, and honorably respond to such a call, irrespective of incentives. While benefits may be appreciated, their commitment is driven by a genuine desire to make a difference and serve their communities.
Here’s The Guardian article on community policing and security in Nigeria
Vanguard Nigeria has an article on community policing, fears & prospect
The Authority Nigeria shared some valuable data points for perspective
Here’s a thought from friend Oluwatobi Akindunjoye
As a society, we must transition from rewarding ill-gotten wealth to establishing disincentives for such gains. If individuals cannot provide a clear explanation of their income source, business records, or payslips, society should collectively reject them. Financial institutions such as Banks should refuse their services, and property owners and hotels should limit their accommodations. They should face challenges in finding romantic partners!
By implementing a system where acquiring wealth without a legitimate explanation becomes difficult, similar to how other systems scrutinize individuals without proper information, we can foster a culture of transparency and accountability.
Imagine a Nigeria where honest, hard-earned wealth is celebrated more than enormous, unexplained riches. The shift should be towards discouraging ill-gotten wealth, creating a society that values integrity and ethical practices over shortcuts and questionable financial gains.
But again, even you reading this is saying “ah, for where”, well na why we dey here now so! You like am?
