₦airaland Forum

Nigeria is indeed a ZOO. Like Nnamdi Kanu rightly said

Nigeria is a contraption and everything a country should not be.🤌🏾

Sorry to hear about what happened to her — quick healing to her.

To answer the question directly: "go and sue the dog" na nonsense talk, because in law, animals cannot be sued — the *owner* is liable for damages caused by their animal, especially if the dog has a history of aggression or wasn't properly restrained. Here's what I'd advise the family to do:

Document everything first — Medical reports, photos of the injury, hospital bills/receipts, and if possible, photos/videos of the dog and the environment where it happened (was it on a leash? was there a fence?). This is your evidence.

Get police report — Go to the nearest police station and report the incident officially. Even if police don't "handle" it directly, a report creates an official record that matters later.

Check your local by-laws— Many states/local governments have laws on animal control, and dog owners can be held liable for failing to restrain a dangerous animal. Some LGAs also have veterinary/animal control offices you can report to.

Send a formal letter of demand — Before going to court, get a lawyer (even a cheap one, many will take this case knowing there's a chance of settlement) to send a formal letter demanding payment for medical bills and damages. Sometimes this alone makes people suddenly cooperate — nobody wants "lawyer wahala."

Small claims/civil court — If he still refuses, they can sue him personally in civil court for damages (medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost income if she couldn't work). This is very winnable especially with medical documentation and witnesses.

Talk to neighbors/witnesses — If other neighbors have complained about this same dog before, get their statements too — it strengthens the case that the owner knew the dog was dangerous and did nothing.

Bottom line: the owner IS responsible, full stop. He's just hoping they don't know their rights or can't afford to pursue it. They shouldn't let that intimidate them.

I think it's a mix of all three, but scarcity mentality is the biggest reason. Many people grow up believing that if others succeed, their own opportunities will reduce. In reality, knowledge doesn't finish. One person's success doesn't stop another's.

I've also noticed that the people who freely share valuable information often build stronger networks, earn more trust, and attract even bigger opportunities. Gatekeeping may give a temporary advantage, but generosity usually pays better in the long run. The key is to share wisely with people who are willing to put in the work.

mutvy:
Especially those Nigerians that are on Nairaland. Very terrible people.

Facts. The level of unnecessary hostility and negativity from some Nairaland users is exhausting. Healthy debates are fine, but many just seem interested in attacking people rather than discussing issues.

alpharoyalty:
Quota system destroyed Nigeria to an extent.
They destroyed nnpc, nitel and even the military.
How do you explain how people like buhari passed and got promoted in the military.
Imagine a buhari ruling a big country like Nigeria.

Quota system was introduced to promote inclusion, but when merit takes a back seat, institutions inevitably suffer. Whether it's the military, civil service, or public corporations, competence should always come first. No country can consistently reward mediocrity and expect excellence in governance or national development.

UkoAnnang:


Another stories for the gods

It's another election/rigging time for Bola Ahmed Tinubu to engineered everything

Fake jobs
Fake promises

Exactly. Every election cycle comes with the same script: grand promises, headline-grabbing announcements, and claims of millions of jobs. After the election, many Nigerians are still waiting for those promises to become reality. People want results they can see, not another round of campaign stories.

damoobaba:
The boldened above is the problem. IN MANY CASES AND AS NIGERIANS, the leaders are not even the problem but THE CITIZENS. When you walk along your street, there are nylons inside drains blocking them, IS IT LEADERS THAT PUT THEM THERE? You go to the market and the market people CHEAT you, are those ones the elected leaders? The ARMED ROBBERS, YAHOO BOYS, DRUG PUSHERS etc, are they the leaders? The excuse is ALWAYS that country is hard but since I was born, when has the country been easy? MADAMS treating their househelps badly, IS THAT ALSO THE GOVERNMENT? Everywhere you go, you see highly irresponsible citizens who just want everything to work excellently WHILE THEY RUIN IT. The government construct RAIL LINES but after a few weeks some people will go and destroy, steal the RAIL TRACKS and sell them. AND SO MANY MORE like that.

I agree that citizens have responsibilities and many Nigerians contribute to everyday problems through corruption, littering, vandalism, and dishonesty. But leadership still matters because it sets the standard and enforces consequences. In countries where people know laws are applied fairly, many think twice before breaking them. Good governance doesn't magically create good citizens, but it builds institutions that reward good behavior and punish bad behavior. The reality is that both leadership and citizenship shape a nation—you can't fix one while ignoring the other.

damoobaba:
The boldened above is the problem. IN MANY CASES AND AS NIGERIANS, the leaders are not even the problem but THE CITIZENS. When you walk along your street, there are nylons inside drains blocking them, IS IT LEADERS THAT PUT THEM THERE? You go to the market and the market people CHEAT you, are those ones the elected leaders? The ARMED ROBBERS, YAHOO BOYS, DRUG PUSHERS etc, are they the leaders? The excuse is ALWAYS that country is hard but since I was born, when has the country been easy? MADAMS treating their househelps badly, IS THAT ALSO THE GOVERNMENT? Everywhere you go, you see highly irresponsible citizens who just want everything to work excellently WHILE THEY RUIN IT. The government construct RAIL LINES but after a few weeks some people will go and destroy, steal the RAIL TRACKS and sell them. AND SO MANY MORE like that.

I agree that citizens have responsibilities and many Nigerians contribute to everyday problems through corruption, littering, vandalism, and dishonesty. But leadership still matters because it sets the standard and enforces consequences. In countries where people know laws are applied fairly, many think twice before breaking them. Good governance doesn't magically create good citizens, but it builds institutions that reward good behavior and punish bad behavior. The reality is that both leadership and citizenship shape a nation—you can't fix one while ignoring the other.

One red flag many people ignore is how someone handles accountability. If every mistake comes with an excuse, every disagreement is somehow your fault, and they never sincerely say, "I was wrong," don't expect that to magically change after marriage or more time together. Character doesn't hide forever—it eventually becomes a pattern. Believe consistent actions, not hopeful promises.

Legitbeauru:
I don't usually try to solve a problem by attacking it directly. Instead, I focus on analysing the underlying issues that give rise to it. Solve those root causes, and the major problem often disappears on its own.
Regarding the issue of why many Nigerians make poor civic decisions, I believe one of the fundamental causes is the low level of access to, and adoption of, quality education in the country.

Yesterday afternoon, I witnessed something in my community that reinforced this belief.

I saw an elderly woman, probably in her late fifties, emerge from a corner of the street carrying a notebook. She called over another woman who owns a provision shop and asked for her PVC.

The shop owner handed it over.

The elderly woman then explained that a certain individual (name withheld) was collecting people's voter card details. According to her, the information would be used to process payments connected with the upcoming election in one of the South-West states.

What happened next was even more disturbing.

An elderly man who had been listening immediately tried to get himself included. He asked whether he could also submit his voter card. The woman replied that he should meet another person who was coordinating registrations for the men in the community.

At that moment, I realised almost everyone around believed there was nothing wrong with what was happening.

I wanted to speak up. I wanted to explain that they were unknowingly participating in a system that would ultimately work against their own interests. But I couldn't bring myself to interrupt the moment, and I left feeling deeply disappointed in myself.

As I looked at those women, I couldn't help but think about how much hardship they had already endured. Yet they did not realise that what they were about to do, trading away the integrity of their votes for a small immediate benefit, would only deepen the very suffering they hoped to escape.

This brings me back to my main point.

Education changes the way people think. It equips them to recognise manipulation, question suspicious offers, and understand the long-term consequences of short-term decisions.

I have had the privilege of earning two degrees. That education has trained me to recognise bad intentions long before they become obvious. It is not because I am inherently wiser than anyone else; it is because education has shaped how I analyse situations.

Imagine if the people in that community possessed even half that level of civic awareness. That entire vote-buying operation would likely have collapsed before it even gained momentum.

Instead, people were unknowingly recruited into a process that ultimately works against their own future, and many of them participated enthusiastically because they simply did not understand the consequences.

This is why I believe Nigeria's greatest challenge is not merely corruption. It is the widespread lack of quality education and civic enlightenment. An informed population is far more difficult to manipulate, and without citizens who can critically evaluate political incentives, the cycle of corruption will continue to reproduce itself generation after generation.

I agree that education and civic awareness are critical, but they're only part of the picture. Many people involved in vote-buying understand it's wrong—they simply feel trapped by poverty and have lost faith that their votes will change anything. Real progress requires both quality education and an economy that gives people the dignity to reject short-term inducements. When citizens are informed and economically secure, manipulation becomes much harder.

What about the almajiri hypocrisy of the Elite Muslims in Northern Nigeria?

https://www.nairaland.com/8710685/send-kids-abroad-yours-beg

Rashduct4luv:
Praise be to Allah!
In Islam, certain sins are so severe that they come with explicit curses from Allah or His Messenger Muhammad ﷺ. A curse (la’n) in Islamic theology signifies divine displeasure and a distancing from Allah’s mercy, often accompanied by severe consequences in this life and the Hereafter. These curses serve as stern warnings to believers to avoid such grave transgressions and to uphold righteousness and justice in their lives.

Below is a list of some major sins that are explicitly associated with curses in the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah, along with their references:
1. Shirk (Associating partners with Allah)
“Allah has cursed them, and for them is a lasting punishment.” (Qur’an 9:68)

2. Disobedience and Rebellion against Allah
“Cursed were those who disbelieved among the Children of Israel...” (Qur’an 5:78)

3. Killing a Believer Intentionally
“Allah has become angry with him and has cursed him...” (Qur’an 4:93)

4. Severing Ties of Kinship and Causing Corruption
“Those whom Allah has cursed...” (Qur’an 47:22-23)

5. Consuming or Dealing in Usury (Riba)
The Prophet ﷺ cursed the one who consumes, pays, writes, or witnesses usury. (Sahih Muslim)

6. Consuming or Dealing in Alcohol (Khamr)
The Prophet ﷺ cursed all involved in producing, selling, or consuming alcohol. (Sunan Abi Dawud 3674)

7. Slandering Chaste Women (Qadhf)
“Those who falsely accuse chaste women are cursed in this life and the Hereafter.” (Qur’an 24:23)

8. Bribery (Rishwah)
The Prophet ﷺ cursed the giver and receiver of bribes. (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1337)

9. Changing Land Boundaries to Steal
“Allah curses the one who changes boundary markers.” (Sahih Muslim)

10. Theft
The Prophet ﷺ cursed thieves, even for small thefts. (Sahih al-Bukhari 6799)

11. Cursing One’s Parents
“Allah curses him who curses his parents.” (Sahih Muslim)

12. Men Imitating Women and Vice Versa
The Prophet ﷺ cursed men who imitate women and women who imitate men. (Sahih al-Bukhari 5886)

13. Tattooing and Altering Allah’s Creation for Beauty
The Prophet ﷺ cursed those who tattoo and those who get tattooed. (Sahih al-Bukhari 5940)

14. Sacrificing to Other Than Allah
“Allah curses him who sacrifices to anyone other than Allah.” (Sahih Muslim 4876)

15. Harboring or Supporting Wrongdoers
“Allah curses him who accommodates an innovator or wrongdoer.” (Sahih Muslim)

16. Lying
“Invoke the curse of Allah upon the liars.” (Qur’an 3:61)

17. Concealing Revealed Knowledge
“Those who conceal what We sent down are cursed by Allah...” (Qur’an 2:159)

18. Oppression (Zulm)
“The curse of Allah is upon the wrongdoers.” (Qur’an 11:18)

19. Breaking Oaths and Covenants
“For them is the curse...” (Qur’an 13:25)

20. Abusing the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ
“Whoever abuses my Companions, upon them is the curse of Allah...” (Hadith, Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir)

The curses mentioned in the Qur’an and Sunnah serve as powerful reminders of the gravity of certain sins in Islam. They emphasize the importance of maintaining faith, justice, honesty, and respect in all aspects of life. Avoiding these major sins safeguards a believer’s spiritual well-being and draws them closer to the mercy and pleasure of Allah.

May Allah protect us from these grave sins and guide us to live righteous lives filled with His blessings and mercy. Ameen.

What about those that abuse and rape innocent underaged girls in the name of marriage?

segyoms:
This is true,I had battery issue one time engaged a man to borrow me his battery..the man charged me 2k after much begging he collected 1k for to start my car ,it was there I fear the environment..all man is surviving on another man anyhow

That's exactly what hardship does—it makes survival a business. In a healthier economy, helping someone jump-start a car would likely be seen as a simple act of kindness. But when everyone is struggling to make ends meet, even small favours become income opportunities. The real issue isn't just individual behaviour; it's the environment that has made survival outweigh compassion for many people.

Auntychi:
Have you ever wondered why every election, the conversation shifts to tribe and religion instead of policy? It's not an accident.

Once campaign season begins, many Nigerians suddenly become more interested in where a candidate comes from or which religion they practice than what they plan to do about inflation, unemployment, electricity, healthcare, or education. Meanwhile, the problems affecting ordinary people remain exactly the same.

Think about it. A tomato trader in Kano, a mechanic in Aba, a teacher in Osun, a fisherman in Bayelsa, and a fresh graduate in Jos may speak different languages and worship differently, but they're all complaining about the same things: rising food prices, unstable electricity, poor-paying jobs, expensive transportation after fuel subsidy removal, and a naira that buys less every month.

When the forex crisis pushes up the cost of imported goods, it doesn't ask whether you're Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Ijaw, Tiv, Christian, or Muslim. When a company downsizes because business is struggling, workers from every background lose their jobs together. When parents struggle to pay school fees, hardship doesn't check anyone's tribe before knocking on the door.

Yet public debates often drift away from these shared economic realities and become endless arguments about identity. While citizens are busy defending "their side," few people are asking the hard questions about governance, accountability, public spending, job creation, or why basic services remain poor despite the country's enormous potential.

A divided population is easier to distract than a united one. People arguing over identity rarely have time to demand better policies that would benefit everyone.

Maybe that's why conversations about tribe and religion never seem to go out of fashion, while conversations about fixing the economy quickly fade away.

When ordinary Nigerians realise that hardship has no tribe or religion, the conversation changes—and that is far more powerful than any slogan.

Unity is the one thing the powerful can't easily control.

This is the uncomfortable conversation many avoid. Hunger doesn't ask for your tribe, unemployment doesn't check your religion, and inflation doesn't care who you voted for. As long as ordinary Nigerians keep fighting one another over identity, those responsible for fixing the economy face less pressure to deliver. We can disagree on politics, but we shouldn't let those differences stop us from demanding competence, accountability, and policies that improve everyone's lives.

viyon02:
Nigerians are good people, just that we are frustrated by the system of government. Yes, put a Nigerian in a good environment and the best will come out, For example south Africa ladies like Nigerian guys since they are nice and hard working. Our carnivorous mind is just to survive.

I agree that frustration has changed how many people behave. Most Nigerians aren't naturally dishonest or hostile—they're trying to survive in a system that keeps getting harder. Put the same people in an environment where hard work is rewarded, laws are enforced, and opportunities exist, and you'll often see a completely different side of them. That's why fixing the system matters just as much as expecting better from individuals.

mablie:
The "average Nigerian" is generally unaware about the class struggle in the country.
The ruling economic & political elite are the major problem of the country but they blame ordinary/"average" Nigerians using apparatuses like the media to convey their skewed message.
Unfortunately, the "average Nigerian" has begun to believe this slanted messaging.

This is the oldest trick in elite governance: manufacture a narrative so people fight each other instead of the system. Divide-and-rule works because it's cheaper than actual reform. The real question is why ordinary Nigerians keep falling for narratives that don't serve them."

tesseract:
He is right and he is wrong at the same time. It all depends on perspective and personal experience.
Given the right conditions, any Nigerian can be very bad or very good.
I've encountered very good Nigerians and I have also met very bad ones, Shanks was wrong to label the 'average Nigerian' as bad; It gives an impression that all Nigerians are bad.

I agree to that perspective and personal experience shape our views, but broad labels rarely tell the full story. Nigerians, like people everywhere, are capable of both kindness and cruelty depending on the individual and the circumstances. Saying "the average Nigerian is bad" oversimplifies a complex society and unfairly paints millions of people with the same brush. The problem is better understood by looking at the systems and conditions that influence people's behavior, not by condemning an entire population.

I saw Shank's post and honestly, I understand the frustration behind it — but I completely disagree with the conclusion, and I think it's worth pushing back hard on this narrative.

Painting an ENTIRE population of over 200 million people as fundamentally bad is lazy analysis dressed up as deep insight. It sounds profound until you actually think about it.

Here's what Shank is missing: **survival instinct is not the same as bad character.** A hungry man who bends a rule to feed his family isn't evidence of a broken soul — he's evidence of a broken system. You put ANY population on earth — Americans, British, Japanese — through 20+ years of failed leadership, currency collapse, no power, no jobs, no security, and watch how "good" they suddenly become too.

And let's be real — this same "average bad Nigerian" is the one who:
👉 Gives his last ₦500 to a stranger stranded at a bus stop
👉 Opens a GoFundMe for someone he's never met when tragedy strikes
👉 Shares food with neighbors during hard times
👉 Shares "urgent 2k" on social media that have saved countless people from real emergencies
👉 Still greets elders, still says "sorry" when a stranger falls, still stops to help push a broken-down car

Meanwhile, the actual people who "cheat to survive" at scale — the ones who steal billions, award themselves bogus contracts, and loot pension funds — are wearing agbada in Aso Rock, not hawking pure water in traffic.

Blaming "the average Nigerian's character" for what bad governance created is exactly the kind of narrative that lets the real culprits off the hook. It's not that Nigerians are inherently wicked — it's that survival mode has been forced on them by decades of leadership failure, and Shank is diagnosing the symptom while ignoring the disease.

The environment didn't reveal who we are. It's hiding who we could be if given half a chance.

What do you think — is this a fair pushback, or does Shank have a point? 👇

omoredia:
I totally agree. A country where people like Adeboye can speak thw truth anymore

The bigger issue is that no one—whether a religious leader, traditional ruler, journalist, activist, or ordinary citizen—should feel pressured to stay silent about matters affecting the public. A healthy democracy depends on people being able to speak honestly, question those in power, and express differing views without fear.

omoredia:
I totally agree. A country where people like Adeboye can speak thw truth anymore

What do expect from the business man called Adeboye?

Thundafireseun:
Very very valid statement...

When you run into any policeman on duty...All he thinks about is how to extract money from bloody civilians...

The EFCC claiming self righteous ... Get full erection once they use a Yahoo boy so they can milk him ....

Dangote price of cement in other countries is cheeper than in Nigeria because of bad intentions... My list is Endless

That's why accountability shouldn't be selective. Whether it's police extortion, abuse of anti-corruption agencies, monopolistic pricing, or wasteful government spending, the same standard should apply across the board. Nigerians deserve institutions that serve the public, not systems that appear to benefit a few at the expense of the many. Without transparency and consequences for wrongdoing, public trust will remain low.

Progress should be measured by results, not promises. If things are truly taking shape, Nigerians should see it in lower inflation, better security, reliable electricity, quality healthcare, improved education, and more jobs. Until those improvements are widely felt, many people will understandably remain skeptical.

[quote author=NewHe post=140052901]Fair question, and it's usually left out because it's more comfortable to only talk about what government owes us. But citizenship isn't a one-way contract.

At minimum, citizens owe the state: obeying just laws, paying legitimate taxes, participating in civic processes (voting, jury-type duties where applicable, honest engagement in local governance), and not actively undermining the collective good for private gain — which cuts both ways, by the way, since ordinary citizens gaming the system in small ways (bribing their way past a checkpoint, falsifying documents, refusing to pay taxes they can afford) contribute to the same rot they blame leaders for.

But responsibility isn't just legal, it's also about vigilance and participation — staying informed, holding leaders accountable between elections and not just during them, organizing, speaking up, refusing to sell votes for rice and cash. A citizenry that disengages entirely and just complains from the sidelines makes bad governance easier, not harder.

The tension, though, is that responsibility has to be somewhat proportional to trust. It's hard to ask people to be fully invested, tax-compliant, law-abiding model citizens when the state routinely fails its own basic obligations — security, infrastructure, justice. So yes, citizens have real responsibilities. But "what do citizens owe the state" and "what does the state owe citizens" aren't separate conversations — they're the same conversation, and one side collapsing tends to erode the other.

That's a fair clarification. Direct taxation doesn't automatically create accountability, but it gives people a stronger personal stake in how public money is used. When citizens clearly see their own earnings funding government, they're often more likely to question waste, demand transparency, and hold leaders accountable. Of course, as you said, it's not guaranteed—active citizenship still depends on public awareness and the willingness to speak up.

Dreal1247:
They are using them to maintain the most populated part of the country and claim bogus allocation while bringing nothing to the table. Useless government conducting marriages for unproductive men who are economically redundant. At the end, they are used to sway votes to their preferred candidate.

This is so true

Savageman247:
A Nigerian man has ignited conversations on social media after revealing the list of items his family was asked to provide by one of his village groups following the death of his mother.

The man, Emeka Nobis, disclosed that he and his brother recently attended meetings in their mother's village as part of the traditional burial process. According to him, they met separately with three groups: the Umunna (men of the kindred), Umuada (women of the kindred), and Alurudi (women married into the kindred).

He explained that each group presented its own set of requirements before the burial rites could proceed. Nobis shared one of the lists online, showing numerous food items and refreshments expected to be provided for members of the group.

The post quickly attracted widespread reactions, with many Nigerians questioning why grieving families should face such financial obligations while mourning the loss of a loved one.

Reflecting on the experience, Nobis revealed that his mother died at the age of 71 after a prolonged battle with cancer that had already cost the family millions of naira in medical expenses. Because of her age, he said she was classified under the highest burial category in his community, with the family also expected to provide a cow as part of the traditional rites.

Despite the demands, he said he and his brother have chosen to approach the discussions calmly while engaging community leaders in constructive conversations.

Sharing the reason behind making the experience public, Nobis wrote that he wanted to document the realities of traditional burial practices in his part of Igboland, prepare others who may one day go through a similar process, and encourage conversations about reforming customs that place heavy financial burdens on bereaved families.

"Culture can be modified. It's left to us to challenge these practices as years go by. I'm pretty sure that it definitely will happen," he wrote.

His post has since sparked a broader debate online, with many arguing that some traditional burial practices should be reviewed to reduce the financial and emotional burden on grieving families, while others maintained that cultural customs should be preserved but adapted to reflect present-day economic realities.

SOURCE
https://www.reportnaija.ng/2026/07/bereaved-son-sparks-debate-after.html

This story keeps repeating itself all over Igboland and it's always the same pattern — a family already drained by hospital bills now has to source a cow and feed three different groups before they can bury their own mother in peace. Nobody is saying we should throw away tradition, but there's a difference between honoring culture and using grief as leverage to extract money from people who have no choice but to comply.

What gets me is the "highest burial category because she was 71" part. So the older and more accomplished your parent was, the more it costs you to mourn them? That's backwards. If anything, elders who lived long, full lives should be celebrated without their children going into debt for it.

Credit to Nobis and his brother for handling it calmly instead of blowing up at the village — that's actually how change happens. You can't reform a system by fighting the people who administer it; you reform it by being in the room, year after year, until "we've always done it this way" stops being a good enough answer. Culture isn't static, it's just slow. Someone has to start the conversation, and he just did.

Ever post your dog for sale, make one "buyer" chat you for days, ask plenty questions, collect videos, then vanish? Or you be buyer wey don pay attention to breeders wey no even get the puppy dem dey advertise?

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SeeWahala:
And some young misguided Nigerians still fill jamb form and choose 'POLITICAL SCIENCE' as their preferred course of study

Political Science isn't the problem—bad politics is. If anything, Nigeria needs more people who understand governance, public policy, constitutional law, and accountability. The tragedy is not that students study Political Science; it's that too few of those who end up in power actually practice the principles they're supposed to uphold.

budaatum:
So, the argument is that most Nigerians do not hold the government accountable? If so, I agree, as does the evidence.

At the last election where more than 90 million were registered to vote, less than 10 million elected Tinubu.

We must indeed do better next time.

Low turnout was certainly part of the story, but many Nigerians also questioned the credibility of the process itself. The delays and technical issues with the electronic transmission of results, reports of voter intimidation in some areas, attacks on polling units, and widespread allegations of irregularities all contributed to public distrust. Whether one believes these changed the final outcome or not, restoring confidence in elections requires a process that is not only free and fair but is also seen to be free and fair.

budaatum:
What I've found is that the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary are made up of human beings like the rest of us, and if we the people think they will uphold their "duty to govern transparently, uphold the law, and use public resources in the public interest", we are only deluding ourselves that they are angels.

Ironically, Tinubu is changing that ideology by taxing us more. It did not matter to us much when our leaders were stealing Nigeria's money, but now they'll be stealing our own tax money out of our own pockets, I bet we'd pay more attention to how its spent, or stolen.

You're right that public officials are human, not angels. That's exactly why democracies are built around accountability, transparency, and checks on power-not blind trust. Where I'd disagree is the idea that citizens only become vigilant when they're directly taxed. Nigerians have long paid through inflation, poor services, insecurity, unemployment, and indirect taxes. Oga the real challenge is building institutions and a civic culture where leaders know they'll be held accountable regardless of where the revenue comes from.

budaatum:
I am beginning to be intrigued by this so called "average Nigerian" that is going about. I've just been told they are taught rubbish, and here's me being told they are not good people.

Please, "average Nigerians" on Nairaland, if any, are you a bad person, and do you expect the Executive and the Legislature to check their excess power for you?

That's not the argument being made. The issue isn't whether the "average Nigerian" is good or bad. It's that in a constitutional democracy, citizens and institutions both have responsibilities. Citizens are expected to hold leaders accountable, while the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary are expected to exercise their constitutional powers responsibly and check one another. When either side fails, democracy weakens.