Much as I have a lot of things that I dislike about Nigeria, I do not agree with the common notion that it is the worst country on earth. Many persons would want to stone me at this point because there are obvious and glaring reasons why we should curse the country.
Is it epileptic power supply (even the unborn child already knows how to say NEPA from the constant use of the word by his pregnant mother) or is it the high unemployment rate or the poverty amidst abundant resources or the rampant corruption? There are a plethora of reasons to hate being Nigerian.
But the question is, are we really the worst nation on the planet as we are made to believe?

My intention is not to try to paint black white or to make us comfortable with our problems.

But for us to face our problems we have to define them correctly so that we don’t get consumed by the thought that our problems are out of this world and hence the only thing we can do is to run away from or live with them with the mentality of fatalism.

It is not all woes for Nigeria. Despite our challenges we have been able compete to a great extent with other nations. We have musicians who are well known beyond the shores of our land, we have vibrant businesses, and hardworking people. Time will not permit me to mention other things but for those who look out for the good about Nigeria, you will find many things for which to be proud of.
I believe every country has her own challenges and I also believe that for every major success in life, there is always a time of crisis. A crisis that will test your resolve on the path you've chosen. Nigeria is passing through such times and it is indeed very unpleasant. But one step at a time, we shall get there. This is not just blind patriotism! It is believing in a prospect that is certain.

This is not the time to compare ourselves with others. It is time for us to build a country that we will all be proud of. We can look to other countries who are ahead of us and borrow a thing or two that will help us on our nation building journey. But let us not fall into the temptation of comparison for such breeds despair when we see how far we have to go to meet up. Let us rather build a nation that we can sell to the world and be proud of any time.

What will really make us the worst country on earth is not our present bad circumstances but our lack of will to stand up and make things right - to keep on fighting for a better tomorrow. A sick man who believes he is dead while still alive is bound to die very soon. Let us not condemn ourselves while there is still much hope and let us not close our eyes to hope when there is indeed one. If we work towards it, we will achieve it. It is not time to resign ourselves to fate. Let us not magnify our problems beyond proportion such that we dread tackling them.

We are known as resilient people. Rather than using our resilience as a pill for "suffering and smiling" let us use it to build this country to the height we desire. God Bless Nigeria.


©Vikel2104


Say your opinion on this.

This won't be the first (or last) of such write ups. Will people please start doing something? As in, do! Very few 9jerians read, and even fewer put what they read into practice. So just do something, and if you've already started, do more!

The rot has been built over the time and although kudos must be given to the present government for trying to steer the ship on the right course but i still believe they can do better. And when you look up and think who can do better than this government all you see are retired, tested and trusted crooks, thieves and ex generals waiting to devour and plunder the country more.

A certain region said they are born to rule and if they do not rule there would be chaos. That region produces nothing and if truth must be told that region should bear the brunt for Nigeria's under development! That region has produced more presidents than the other parts of the nation combined and all they do is just increase the population of Nigeria and not the wealth.

I would advise you that in as much as you love Nigeria and we love Nigeria, please note that Nigeria is not worth dying for, you would die in vain! And yes Nigeria is not the worst country on earth but it is one of the worst because in comparison with countries which are ranked worse off than Nigeria they have reasons to be there, either they are war-torn countries or extremely poor countries. Nigeria is not war-torn and we are not a poor nation yet we are there in the midst of those nations!

^^Like I acknowledged earlier, our problems are evident and glaring and could even make one go mad with rage. But you know, everyone cannot run away. Even if one runs away, Nigeria is still the person's root. It therefore lies on us to try to pick ourselves up from this state and see what good we can achieve. Yes, there is still some good that can come out of us. Since our problems were created by us, then all we need to do is figure out where we got it wrong and start from there. We finally become failures if we stop trying to succeed.

look what happens when you try to help them: https://www.nairaland.com/1850225/nigerians-stop-blaming-government-own

even the people do not want change for the better. egotistical scumbags!!

There is a fundamental flaw in our value system. We are quick to say that our leaders are bad but we forget that they were not imported from elsewhere, they are from among us. If we want to change the country, we have to start with ourselves. The average worker goes to work late, the public office worker won't do his job unless you apply some grease (bribe), parents encourage their kids to cheat in exams, business owners only employ family members, etc and yet all these people are quick to point accusing fingers at the government.

I need more reactions on this.

This country can only get worse.

Expecting diverse and opposing opinions on this thread. Keep 'em coming! Please be civil in expressing your opinion.

If we the people could change our attitude and mentality then everything will change for the better. We can’t keep waiting for Government. The level of dishonesty in Nigeria is just mindboggling, from the market person to public service officials. If we could only be honest and not hypocrites! But will people do this. Developed Nations whether religious or not have been able to develop due to a high level of integrity from the people. This cuts into every sphere of the society.

As long as we continue to have the calibre of people at the helm of affairs, Nigeria is totally beyond repair and it can only go from bad to worse to worst.
I unashamedly have a fatalist mentality, proudly and terribly not optimistic. And I believe with all my heart more Nigerians NEED to adopt this mentality.
Our parents did the optimistic route, so no thanks. Optimism has a way of making the Nigerian rely on some magic or supernatural force to solve the glaring problems in the society. Optimism has encouraged a dire laziness in the Nigerian, where she relies on fate, destiny, magic to egg on in life.
Nigeria needs a do or die approach, a now or never disposition and not a hope that everything is going to be alright.

^^Having a fatalistic mindset and advocating for change don't go together. A fatalistic mindset believes that things are determined by fate and there is nothing anyone can do to change them.

My takeout from the article- 'What will really make us the worst country on earth is not our present bad circumstances but our lack of will to stand up and make things right - to keep on fighting for a better tomorrow.'

I believe in a better Nigeria i will be proud of before my last breath.

God bless our beloved Nigeria
God bless Nairaland
God bless the OP

I still believe that Nigeria will be better one day...






Zooming to..
www.nairaland.com/1852534/mtn-data-cheapest-rate.

yes

__

Story for the gods

OMG. FPT

reading!!

Repair the machine or heal the wound, it can always happen.. But it will never happen until the thorns in the wound are removed, the bad parts in the engine are replaced and the design model is upgraded with more advanced systems and safety measures with effective monitor sensors reporting every detail that goes askew...
The country has always been working repairs and cures but the removal of the bad parts or wounding thorns has never been a serious focus... Some times people are sacked or imprisoned but thats just to make way for the next of the same or worse..

The truth is ;there is a physical thing going on in earth ecology and it is far more important than Nation and culture and economy.. Life Depends on it and we aren't paying enough attention in the entire world of every nation.. It will be an issue for every nation when it reaches over the limit.. Life will be under so much pressure that worries about nation and culture will fade in the shadows of water and food and air to breathe, just simply to survive even if it is at the level of a primitive creature... There is a price to be paid for the damage we do to the earth as we work hard to amass our dreams for ourselves out of the earths resources and ecosystems... Not a small thing at all, its the most important thing for living...

^well said

Patriotic answer: NO



Honest answer which everybody know including op: YES!

Watch this thread or topic descend into a school yard scrap with lots of screaming, ethnocentric abuse and name calling.

@ OP : Nigeria is not beyond repair and there are people trying their best to see us join the ranks of developed countries. I want to see Nigeria prosper and I am very disappointed with those at the helm of our affairs at the moment. We deserve better.

I cannot categorically tell you NO now

From my vintage point of view for a guy that left Nigeria in his teenage year and a constant visitor to the country, the number one problem is leadership. That's what is lacking in Nigeria. The people can only get themselves out of this bondage if they are ready for bloody revolution . This so called thieflicians are not ready to do anything positive for the people . Hence , they should be eliminated by any means necessary. If not, the country is perpetually doomed.

We are like her eating more bananas with shame,got the guts to tell the world /mama/ A girl realized that she had grown hair in between her legs.
She got worried and asked her mother about it. Her mother
calmly said, "That part where hair has grown is called
monkey and be proud that your monkey has grown hair."
The girl smiled.
At dinner, the girl told her sister, "My monkey has grown
hair."
Her sister smiled and said, "That's nothing, mine is already
eating bananas!"
Their mother fainted right on the dining table...
Lolssssssssssss

Arise O ' compatriots
Nigeria call obey ........, ....... All will need is BEHAVIORAL CHANGE and it begins from ME and YOU.
We all have a Role to Play!!!