We should be insisting that both of these candidates sign a British Contract With Nigeria to Undo the Woes of Colonialism that commits them to the following foreign direct investment commitments over the next 10 years

Ayo Akinfe

[1] Investment that will grant Nigeria the capacity to produce at least 5m tonnes of steel annually

[2] Investment that will ensure Nigeria has a machine tool manufacturing capability

[3] Investment that provides a double gauge railway network that links up all of Nigeria's 36 states and runs at a minimum speed of 120km per hour

[4] A 95% literacy rate by the year 2030

[5] Investment in the hydro-electric power sector which ensure Nigeria can generate at least 50,000MW per year

[6] At least two technical vocation colleges in every one of our 774 local government areas

[7] At least three food processing plants in each of out 36 states given the agrarian nature of our economy

[8] At least six secondary schools in each of our 774 local government areas

[9] At least 20 primary schools in each of our 774 local government areas

[10] At least $10bn of foreign direct investment annually

These are some of the basic requirements of nationhood. Maybe if we had all this in place before independence the First Republic would have succeeded.

Given that we had none of this in place, ethnic mistrust, corruption, religious bigotry and nepotism grew to fill the vacuum. Nature as we all know, abhors a vacuum.

Unfortunately we still not still have some of the basic requirements of nationhood in place, hence why Nigeria is currently in turmoil. For me a country that cannot produce enough steel to meet its local manufacturing requirements is not a nation but a colony.

As a people we must then pledge to achieve these basic goals, no matter how irresponsible the government is. We should be pressing the incoming British government to correct some of the wrongs of the past by turning Nigeria into its favourite investment destination.

Share