Private Jet Craze in Nigeria

The craze for private jets in Nigeria has taken an alarming dimension. I read in the media recently that Nigeria presently holds the record in Africa for the nation with the highest number of private jet owners. This is not only worrisome but absolutely sickening in a country with poverty amongst loads of problems plaguing the nation.

This is a nation where employment rates are at a record high. Graduates are churned out without commiserate employment opportunities. These graduates then resort to unproductive means of livelihood like selling newspapers, pure water or even riding “okada”. This is a sad irony for a country like Nigeria with wealth that other better developed countries can only dream of.

Don’t get me wrong! There is absolutely nothing wrong with one owning a jet but let us look at Nigeria’s case. From reports, these jets are owned by politicians, public office holders and religious leaders. Your thoughts are as good as mine; we have come to know that our public officers and politicians are corrupt but what of religious leaders? Their congregations as most Nigerians live below $1 a day and they live in such “forbidden” affluence!

Checking out the price of a jet, it cost between 1.8 billion to 9.5 billion in Naira depending on one’s preferences. To think that the number of owners has jumped from 50 to 200 recently is alarming. Imagine the number of lives that can be changed with these funds were put to more considerate use.

Recently, I was discussing with friends and we talked about the State Governor that crashed a plane and none of them had an iota of pity for him. He is supposed to be overwhelmed with the problems of the state but instead, he was gallivanting about in a jet like there was nothing at stake. In all, it all points at the greatest malaise of the nation- CORRUPTION.

Every member of our nation needs to be accountable and seek for accountability from all our leaders whether they are politicians or religious leaders. Phasing out CORRUPTION must be a collective effort.  I would have suggested making ownership of these jets unattractive by way of very high taxes for them but they are the same people that loot the nation blind.

I can see any other way forward than a REVOLUTION. Whatever form it would take, I don’t know but we certainly need one.