A country which responds promptly when its citizens abroad are in need is a nation indeed. Nigeria’s efficient evacuation of some 1,200 of its nationals stranded in the strife-torn Central African Republic (CAR) is a commendable demonstration of national effectiveness.
Working in close association with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), as well as the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence, the Federal Government rescued men, women and children who had been stranded in the central African nation. They were airlifted to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, where their details were taken and were provided with relief materials and medical assistance. Several state governments have undertaken to convey their indigenes to their states of origin.
This is as it should be. No nation worth its salt will stand by while its citizens are in harm’s way, regardless of where they may be or what the circumstances are. In the past, Nigerian governments have been slow to respond effectively in similar situations, even when it was clear that other countries were evacuating their own citizens. Such tardiness has resulted in the needless death and suffering of Nigerians whose only crime was to reside outside their homeland.
Although the rapid evacuation of Nigerians from the CAR is commendable, the Federal Government must move beyond treating symptoms to addressing root causes. Why are Nigerians so thoroughly dispersed across the world, including in countries that would not normally be considered attractive destinations from a Nigerian standpoint? Even while making allowance for the famously peripatetic nature of the average Nigerian, it is obvious that many of these emigrants feel compelled to seek greener pastures because of the perceived lack of opportunity at home.
Such deficiencies can be seen in the unacceptably high rates of unemployment, especially among the youth, and rampant infrastructural shortcomings, particularly in roads, electricity and potable water. A host of increasingly intractable security challenges within the country have also contributed to the continuing exodus of Nigerians. Thus, they can be found all over the continent, often in menial employment and always vulnerable to ill-treatment in times of instability or crisis.
The loss of valuable human resources to other nations is a problem that the Jonathan administration should seek to seriously address. The energy expended on rescuing Nigerians stranded abroad would be better utilised in ensuring that they are able to fulfill their hopes and dreams at home. Fortunately, the country is wealthy enough to create an enabling environment in which all Nigerians can maximise their potential: what is needed is the political will to fashion out the policies that will bring this about.
Expediting home-grown development is all the more imperative given the fact that the African continent is going through particularly turbulent times. Apart from the troubles in the CAR, there are crises in Somalia, South Sudan, Congo Democratic Republic, Mali and Egypt. Coming five decades after the attainment of political independence, such widespread instability is testimony to the relative ineffectiveness of regional and continental bodies like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU), to ensure the peaceful resolution of disputes.
The nations that make up the continent are fractured along ethnic, religious, linguistic and other lines. These fissures are aggravated by the inordinate desire of many of Africa’s leaders to hang on to power, even when it is clear that they have outlived their use. The scarce resources which should be ploughed into development projects are spent on arms which are used to repress the citizenry.
Nigeria has an important role to play in the maintenance of peace and security in Africa, but the effectiveness of that role should be predicated upon the creation of a society that its own citizens do not feel compelled to flee from.
