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By: Grace Ezekiel
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| Nigeria map and Electricity poles |
Nigeria, often celebrated as "The Giant of Africa," boasts rich natural resources, a dynamic population, and a strategically favorable geographical position.
While the country possesses immense potential, it also faces several challenges, including underdevelopment, insecurity, poverty, corruption, and unemployment.
Among these issues, one significant factor is "National Greed," which has affected various aspects of the nation's political, social, economic, and electoral frameworks.
In light of these challenges, the importance of electricity becomes increasingly evident. The national grid is intended to be the backbone of Nigeria’s power sector, playing a vital role in linking energy produced in power plants to households, businesses, and industries.
However, the current state of the Nigerian national grid reveals opportunities for improvement.
It is crucial to address inefficiencies and frequent outages to better meet the energy demands of the nation and unlock its full potential for growth and development.
By investing in and modernizing this essential infrastructure, Nigeria can pave the way for a more sustainable and prosperous future.
"National Greed refers to the prioritization of national interests over the well-being of the populace, often driven by a desire for economic dominance, resource exploitation, and political power."
As Dr. Joseph Stiglitz, an economist and Nobel Laureate, states, "National Greed is a phenomenon where a nation’s pursuit of self-interest and wealth maximization leads to the exploitation and harm of its own citizens, other nations, and the environment" (Oxford Encyclopedia of International Relations).
The history of national greed in Nigeria is complex, rooted in the country’s colonial past, governance issues, and economic structures.
This greed manifests as systemic corruption, resource exploitation, and governance practices that prioritize personal gain over public welfare.
Since the discovery of oil in the 1950s, Nigeria's economy has heavily relied on crude oil exports, which account for over 90% of foreign exchange earnings.
Instead of using this wealth to diversify the economy or invest in infrastructure, education, and healthcare, successive governments and elites have diverted substantial portions of oil revenues for personal enrichment.
National greed has influenced policy decisions, such as prioritizing oil extraction over agricultural development, which was once Nigeria's economic backbone.
It has fostered a rent-seeking culture, where political and economic elites focus on controlling resource flows rather than creating value or improving governance.
On a societal level, this mismanagement has normalized corruption and eroded public trust in institutions.
Citizens often view politics as a means of personal wealth rather than public service, perpetuating cycles of poverty, inequality, and underdevelopment.
The consequences of national greed in Nigeria are severe and affecting the country's economy, governance, social cohesion, and development: Economic Stagnation and Underdevelopment.
It has led to the misallocation of revenues, particularly from oil, leaving critical sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, education, and healthcare underfunded.
Wealth is concentrated among elites, while the majority of Nigerians live in poverty, with limited access to essential services.
The failure to diversify the economy has made Nigeria vulnerable to fluctuations in global oil prices, leading to economic instability.
Morealso, Inequality; Nigeria is one of the most unequal countries in the world.
The combined wealth of the five richest Nigerians ($29.9 billion) could eliminate extreme poverty nationally, yet over 112 million Nigerians live in poverty.
Between 1960 and 2005, approximately $20 trillion was embezzled from public funds—an amount surpassing the GDP of the United States in 2012.
According to Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a former Nigerian Finance Minister and development economist, “Corruption is something that eats at the fabric of the economy and the society.
It diverts resources that should be used for schools, hospitals, roads, and other public services.” This highlights how corruption driven by greed prevents equitable development in Nigeria.
Richard Joseph, a political sociologist, states, "Prebendal politics in Nigeria fosters corruption as officials use state resources to satisfy their personal networks of supporters, perpetuating inequality and weakening the state."
His concept of prebendalism underscores how greed is institutionalized in Nigeria’s governance structure.
The Niger Delta serves as a glaring example of how greed drives environmental destruction. Nnimmo Bassey, a Nigerian environmentalist, criticizes the exploitation of natural resources without accountability to the environment or local populations, stating,
"The government and oil companies prioritize profit over people, leaving communities with polluted lands and waters.
"As one of the largest oil exporters globally, Nigeria plays a critical role in the energy market.
Corruption and mismanagement in the oil sector lead to production inefficiencies and supply disruptions, affecting global oil prices.
Frequent pipeline vandalism and oil theft reduce Nigeria’s output, creating market volatility.
If Nigeria fails to address corruption and inefficiency, it risks losing its position as a regional leader in Africa, potentially leading other nations to favor more stable and transparent partners, thereby reshaping geopolitical alliances.
Addressing national greed requires systemic and cultural changes that promote transparency, accountability, and equity.
Combating national greed is a multi-faceted challenge that needs comprehensive efforts from all sectors of society.