Nigeria's Elite Are Tenants Selling Off the House

Nigerian elites are likened to tenants who are rapidly selling off a landlord's house, according to Tony Edemenaha. He argues that instead of acting as responsible caretakers of the nation's assets, these elites, who he claims took control in 1999, have been systematically dismantling and selling off the country's commonwealth.

Edemenaha contends that terms like "privatization," "deregulation," and "public-private partnership" are euphemisms for theft. He points to the transformation of the national electricity provider, NEPA, into PHCN and then into eleven separate Discos, which he argues has resulted in darkness and "estimated billing" rather than improved service. The author laments that refineries, built with national pride, are left to rust while the country imports fuel at exorbitant prices.

He uses the analogy of borrowing a neighbor's car, draining its fuel, damaging it, and then letting it rot, all while charging the neighbor for the smoke. This, he suggests, is how the elite operate, burning the house to justify selling the ashes. The piece implies a sense of urgency, as the "lease is expiring" and the elites are in a hurry to complete their actions.

The author contrasts the current situation with the past, suggesting that even "our joke" NEPA was at least a shared national entity. He expresses dismay at the state of public primary schools, describing classrooms lacking basic furniture and functional blackboards, illustrating the widespread decay of public infrastructure.