No question, the entrapment called Nigeria is well known in the oil business it is one of world's biggest supplier of oil. That image of oil has set up a tone that Nigeria is a very rich country bubbling with life potrayed by the haves even though when one takes a close look at the changing phases and events of the common man, bogus businessmen and government officials to see how oil has controlled and doomed the country in its entirety, the country is nothing but a jungle despite its oil wealth.
With all that oil, the nation seems to be undeveloping and moving backward by the day with the above picture of Njemanze Waterfront in Port Harcout, the hub of the nation's oil well taken by Candace Feit of New York Times. In President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's presentation of the 2008 budget he projected a total revenue of N1.96 trillion in which eighty percent of that will come from crude oil sales with a "presumed exchange rate of N117 to the US $1."
So, Mr President, how about the slums in the neck of the hood where oil is produced? What are you going to do about it? Would there be another Fela Anikulapo Kuti to tell it in your face that corruption has eaten the entire nation it is now baked in every Nigerian gene? Apparently, the oil boom is not ending anytime soon since war here and there has catapulted oil sales, once again to the top.
Nevertheless, the poisonous substance called oil has created all sorts of characters in Nigeria which is disturbing and bizarre. Nobody wants to get anything done but to engage in mysterious underground economy, using oil as a tool that fuels bitter conflicts often seen in the Niger-Delta crisis whic indeed has destroyed any hope of ordinary development. The above picture speaks for itself.
Njemanze Waterfront, Port Harcourt
Njemanze Waterfront, Port Harcourt, captured by Candace Feit, New York Times
Kirikiri Road, Olodi-Apapa, Lagos by Onuchi, Panoramio, a Google Earth photo selection
Traffic stretching from the Cele Bus Stop to Mile 2 on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway. Photo by Diran Oshe, Vanguard
Police men, of the Mobile variety(MOPOL) at some check-points, according to the driver, demand more than N100 since they consider themselves special. Indeed the vehicle was flagged down at two of such checkpoints and the driver “settled” accordingly. By Fredrick Okopie, Vanguard
Nigeria's boxer in 1964 Olympic in Tokyo, Japan Siki Panter points to his Toyota Camry car burnt by the explosion in Lagos on July 24, 2008. A petrol tanker burst into flames at the Orile Iganmu district of Lagos, killing dozens of people in a public transport heading to their offices early this morning and leaving several others with severe burns, including vehicles, shops and houses. GETTY IMAGES
A Nairaland exclusive. The palmy man is getting high on his own supply. Na real wah!
I found this at Nairaland. That's the notorious death trap Lagos-Benin Express Road. According to the commentator at Nairaland: "Odikwa risky!"
Gov. Fashola hasn't checked out these slums yet in his bid to clean up Eko?
Ghetto blaster around Amukoko, Orile-Iganmu area captured by John Njoku, Vanguard
