In recent weeks a lot has been said about the decision by Nigeria's petroleum ministry, under the leadership of the petroleum minister, Muhammadu Buhari to invest $1.5 billion in an outdated refinery. If not for misplaced priorities the government would have handed the refinery over to the host communities, let them seek financial and technical partners to revive it at no cost to the government. $ 1.5 billion will go a long way to boost infrastructure across the country. If what we here is true the Dangote and Bua refineries would have 850,000 barrels per day capacity upon completion. That is about 40 percent of Nigeria's daily output of crude oil. Several other marginal fields are coming on stream.

In the aviation sector Air Peace and the about to be operational Green Africa Airways would be flag carriers with all it takes to play an important role on the regional and international space, the government also owns two airlines, Arik and Aero Nigeria. Apart corruption I see no reason why Nigeria's public officials would be obsessed with projects that would further undermine Nigeria's financial health like starting an airline or throwing $1.5 billion into a dead refinery.

Nigeria/NLC/ Nigerians and their public officials have failed to learn from how their behaviour ended up decreasing the value of NITEL by several billion USD. I see the same thing playing out if people keep on letting emotions and personal interest determine how they make decisions on issues of importance for the whole country.