As Nigerian Architects Take centre Stage

At the 12th Architects Colloquium organized by Architects Registration Council of Nigeria, ARCON, the Federal Government said it will be making use of indigenous professionals and firms in the design and execution of sensitive building projects, particularly those that house the nation’s security outfits.

Coming from the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, nobody can doubt the authenticity of the statement. What is doubtful is government ability to match words with action.

Fashola declared that foreign experts would only be engaged if/when their Nigerian counterparts are not available. He insisted that even at that, Nigerian professionals would be attached to understudy such foreigners.

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) was established by the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act in 2010.

With a mission “To promote the development and utilization of in-country capacities for the industrialization of Nigeria through the effective implementation of the Nigerian Content Act, the NCDMB has a lot do if it want to increase the local content element in operations in the Oil and Gas, Maritime, Engineering and other sectors of the country.

Nigeria as a country blessed with massive human capital and mineral resources is, from all available data and information afflicted by self-imposed afflictions.

Illegal refineries in the South South has resulted in several lose of life on the side of the natives and military.

The harm to environment seems to be of secondary concern to the Federal Government but the long term effects will haunt generations to come.

Illegal mining in the North has also attracted deployment of the military. The result-deaths and more deaths.

Is it not time to review these issues, look inwards and seek other solutions just as it being done with the buildings?

The peoples’ Army, funded by the people cannot become enemy to the people.

Business mogul and Africa’s pride, Aliko Dangote has raised the alarm on the brewing youth restiveness in the country.

According to Dangote “Over the next 5 years, Kano youths may stop the rich and powerful from coming out of their houses due to poverty and employment. It is that bad, and it cuts across the country. About a year and half ago, I was at the Jumma’at mosque in Abuja. I dressed in a way I thought will hide my identity. Still, a young man shouted, ‘Dangote!’ Before you know it about a 1000 youth surrounded me. It took help for me to get to my car. We must do something about the rate of unemployment”.

The story is the same in the West, East and Southern parts of the country.

A combination of unemployment, poverty and mutual suspicion has turned citizens against each other for survival.

This is even as politicians grin and smack each other’s backsides as they lobby and jostle for elective offices first and leadership positions after elections.

Are they aware of the protracted issues of unemployment, pitiful infrastructure, abandoned health care centres, nonexistent schools nor markets in many parts of the country?

The global index/rankings places Nigeria at the bottom of Education, Ease of Doing Business, Tourism,  Health care, infant mortality  and life expectancy etcetera.

Gone are the days when citizens travelled freely across the length and breadth of this country-trading, schooling, socializing and interacting?

What are the Governors preoccupied with? What is the mission of elected Legislators to the National Assembly? Salaries, allowances and projects?

If Bandits could terrorize the home state of a sitting President, the chief of Army staff and his colleagues in the armed forces need to do more.

Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah captured the mood of the country when he said recently:

“Leadership is an exercise in problem solving. Cabal, mafia, cult or whatever, it is your call, Sir. Nigeria hangs dangerously on a precipice. You have to lead us to reclaim our country and to restore laughter and hope to our people.

“Today, our nation is sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss of despair, melancholy and depression. No matter how we wish to pretend as a nation and a people, the evidence that all is not well stares us in the face.

Are there no internal solutions to the challenges of Insecurity, Smuggling, Unemployment, Poverty, Electricity, Bad Roads, Education, Health and  Agriculture?

If the Federal Government faith is restored and reposed on Nigerian Architects, I am convinced beyond reasonable doubt that there are Nigerians who are experts in very many spheres of human endevour.

It is either we are not listening to Nigerian professionals because they are Nigerians or such persons, after several attempts to speak truth to power failed, they have given up. They may have left the country or adopted a quiet “sidon look” indifferent attitude to national issues.

This in itself is part of why we remain the way we are. Our professionals are not appreciated, consulted and given opportunities to exhibit their skills and expertise. They are courted by foreigners and zoooom, off they go abroad.

They are known by their friends and colleagues. Let’s bring them home.

In the words of Santayana George  “A man’s feet should be planted in his country, but his eyes should survey the world”

Nigeria needs all citizens to come together, work together, find solutions to our peculiar challenges and make this country the pride and giant of Africa it is destined to be.

This is the task in this Next Level of governance. All political/personal differences must be set aside. The best and most qualified Nigerians must be rediscovered, found out and saddled with responsibilities towards making Nigeria better for Nigerians.

As it is with Nigerian Architects so let it be with Maritime Professionals, Health workers (notwithstanding Ngige’s position), Engineers, Farmers, Educationists, Security, Electricity generation and distribution.

Let’s start let’s see.