Why Nigeria Still Remains Backward - UK

PHOTO: BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER TO NIGERIA, MR BOB DEWAR.

LAGOS, Sept 25, (THEWILL) - The United Kingdom (UK) Thursday said the absence of good leadership, credible democracy and rule of law was responsible for various socio-economic and political woes of Nigeria since her independence in 1960.

British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Sir Bob Dewar expressed this view at the 2010 Akintola Williams Annual Lecture organised by the Nigeria-Britain Association (NBA) inside the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island. The lecture was entitled; Nigeria and Britain: Modern Partners.

In his speech titled A Renewed Dawn, Dewar wondered why the country "has not been able to benefit from the confidence that good policy and leadership bring to application of rule of law and credible democracy."

While he left the question open to his audience perhaps for a rethink, he said, "With the necessary leadership and determination in the context of peace, Nigeria can be and will be the beacon for Africa."

He added that Nigeria "must explore avenues of peaceful coexistence and have leaders capable of implementing the right policy, if it must live up to Britain’s expectation of the country as the beacon of Africa."

Dewar recurrently acknowledged that Nigeria "is blessed with a rare combination of human and natural resources, but those resources must now be used wisely to the benefits of the people at all levels."

He expressed view that the youth will make the difference, while appealing to the country’s leaders to place premium on national interest and shun individual and sectional priorities in the interest of all.

He advised that youth "be given a chance to drive national affairs. The future now lies with the youth. Will you not agree that it is your youth potential that can make a real huge difference in the future? You have the largest population in Africa, and most of your citizens are under 25 years of age."

On 2011 general elections, the high commissioner said, "it is important that Nigeria seizes every opportunity to fix its leadership problems. It will require a lot of hard work and commitment by everyone, especially the political leaders, to seize opportunities and not let opportunities pass us by."

Dewar commended the government for achievements recorded in the amnesty programme, banking reforms, power generation, and electoral reforms, and asked that they be sustained and supported.

He cited agriculture as the sector the country "has a global potential, but the country has also the capacity to accelerate growth in infrastructure, oil and gas, mining, agriculture, retail trade, telecommunications, and banking."

Citing the developments in Lagos State, the High Commissioner said the 21st century "may be Nigeria’s phenomenal years if the Lagos example is followed in other states. I think this state [Lagos] has been leading the way, catalyzing others to follow because the others too want to succeed.

"I think this is Nigeria’s century in partnership with Britain. We want to support Nigerian progress and modernization, showing the way forward in economic growth and democracy for West Africa, Africa, and beyond. The British economy is open to business and trade partnership. Nigeria’s progress is really important to the UK," Dewar explained.

Dr. Mohammed Salami, a lecturer at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, called for the stoppage of international grants to Nigeria due to high level of corruption that pervades the country’s top echelon.

He said, "I want to appeal to Europe and America to stop giving financial aids to Nigerian government for the next five years. Let us know how they spend our resources," he said, while he received a loud ovation from the participants.

"Nigeria and Britain are not equal. We have the costliest presidential system in the world and Nigeria’s parliamentarians earn more than their counterparts in the UK and perform less," Salami said.