ENVISIONING NIGERIA
FOR 21ST CENTURY DEVELOPMENT
By Hajia Sani
Nigeria’s return to democratic rule ten years ago has provided
the needed vista to plan, strategise and implement policies that
would in the medium to long term, crystallise the aspirations
and goals of the nation and indeed, its citizens. As the
country’s democracy takes roots, steady progress has become
visible in the country’s socio-economic and political landscape.
The strategies for realising these objectives have their roots
in the Vision 20:2020 Economic Transformation Blueprints, a
document that encapsulates in-depth understanding of the future,
examined in relation to national planning and implementation
needs. The core intention of the vision is to tap Nigeria’s
abundant human and natural resources to transform the country
into one of the top 20 economies in the world by the Year 2020.
The document defines and outlines implementable parameters for
achieving the transformation. It sets the country’s development
imperatives to include establishing a long-term vision for
growth and development; engaging in a massive, sustainable
infrastructure development programme; employing, developing and
harnessing skills and resources for infrastructure programmes
like the building of roads, bridges, rails and inland waterways.
It also envisions re-organising governance and entrenching
transparency in the financial market, as well as monitoring and
evaluating the impact of all long-term development programmes.
Admittedly, Nigeria has had a few internal problems over the
years, especially in the oil-rich Niger-Delta region but these
should not become the yardstick for labeling the nation as
‘sick’. But like Nigeria, countries in Europe, North and South
America, the Middle-East as well as Asia have and continue to
grapple with their own challenges. Cases in point include the
global economic and financial crisis, energy and its transition
to renewable, environmental pollution and global warming,
globalisation, science and technology, population and
demographics, as well as wars and pandemics.
While individual countries around the world have and continue to
grapple with their respective internal problems, it is simply
unfair and unacceptable that at this time in Nigeria’s
developmental history, the western media continue to make what
they term, the ‘poor’ health and sickness of President Umaru
Musa Yar’Adua as the focus of their reportage. One can only
wonder what end such reportage aims to serve and in whose
interest?
This is yet another typical example of negative western media
perception. While in Nigeria and other developing countries, the
cup is seen as half full; the western media continue to paint a
picture of a cup half empty.
But Nigeria will not be distracted by the antics of the western
media. The government and people of Nigeria are committed to
taking the country to greater heights and to occupy its rightful
place in the comity of nations. They are committed to ensuring
that vision 20:2020 becomes a reality.
It must be unequivocally stated that as economic power becomes
more dispersed and innovation comes from all corners of the
world, the real challenge for the world today is the promotion
of peace and cohesion through positive international
understanding, support and cooperation, rather than promoting
conflict, divisive and negative reportage that is presented of
Nigeria and other developing countries by some western media.
For those who positively envision the world in the 21st century,
this is the crucial cornerstone for collective and sustainable
success. Nigeria, as a responsible and respectable country,
expects and demands no less from its friends in the
international community.
