THE NIGERIAN FACTOR

It dawned on me that power (electricity) is of extreme importance to communication (and existence!).
I was recently planning a wireless internet access in a community that greatly needs the service. All was well, until suddenly, the fact that I have to power my servers, routers, radios and other network components, stared me in the face. While one can easily run on petrol or diesel powered generator at the operational base, how do you power your on-site or is it off-site equipments?*!
Power generation and distribution has been a twin calamity threatening our national development, while some nations of the World has achieved several decades of no power outage (even it is rumored that certain African countries have celebrated 2-5yrs anniversary of uninterrupted power supply to their citizens) it has remain a major challenge to Nigeria.
With several power generating plants dotting our national geography, abundant oil reserves and available technical no-how, one wonders why this ‘giant’ of Africa cannot provide uninterrupted power for 1 day for at least 50% of her citizens.
Oh the Nigerian factor.
The Nigerian factor takes different shapes depending upon the context in which it is considered, but it generally implies that things don’t work in this country, or that things are not right in this country.
The ‘Nigerian factor’ is akin to a curse, - so blessed yet impoverished.
The Nigerian factor is the reason why our youths queue up everyday for VISAS to foreign lands- and they keep going back after several refusals - they sometimes even take destiny in their own hands and attempt to swim across the red sea (or is it the pacific now) between Morocco and Spain.
The Nigerian factor is the reason why our universities turn out …………. graduates every year (fill the blank !).
The Nigerian factor is the reason why NITEL the teleco behemoth of Nigeria could not live up to expectations (and still does not!) and one wonders what her past directors (now owners of private telecos) are doing at their PTOs that they didn’t do with NITEL.
The Nigerian factor is the reason, why Nigerians are specially frisked for drugs at foreign airports.
The Nigerian factor is the reason, governors name every street, building and NEPA poles in their state, after themselves and presidents give themselves national honors.
It is the Nigerian factor that encourages every occupant of an office - especially public officers - to divert funds into their oversea accounts - ask Govs. Fayose Alayemusiga … etc.
I could go on!
Until the Nigerian factor is eliminated and a new national image, orientation and mentality is arrived at, nothing - I mean N-O-T-H-I-N-G will work in this country.