Please do not get me wrong, this documentary is a public relation(s) disaster for
Nigeria, Nigerians and every thing Nigeria stands for. But I tend to have a
different view about this documentary. My opinion is that, British Broadcasting
Corporation (BBC 2) deserves special award and commendations for finding time,
resources and manpower that went to Nigeria to do such an eye opening documentary.
Please permit me to thank BBC 2 for this wonderful efforts and exposure. I suggest
British Broadcasting Corporation should do more documentaries on Nigeria.
This documentary should become a major challenge for our own media outfits like,
Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Channels Television, Silver Bird Group, Daar
Communications Plc, owners of (African Independent Television [A.I.T.], and Ray
Power Radio Stations) to expose many dark sides of our society, with a view to
prompting positive actions from the government. On this note, I recommend Covert
Journalism/Reporting for all Nigerians. These days every one can become a reporter
(iReport) and publisher due to information technology. Therefore, we should expose
the good, the bad and the ugly in our society. Covert, surveillance and spy cameras
are also recommended.
For the benefit of those who have not watched it (welcome to Lagos), I enclosed
here a weblink for episode 1
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00s3bmx/Welcome_to_Lagos_Episode_1) and
episode 2
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00s5x5w/Welcome_to_Lagos_Episode_2).
The above documentary is similar to an earlier drama/film (Blood and Oil) shown by
the same channel BBC 2. The above film(s) and documentaries are highly recommended.
First, it shows the level of decay. Secondly it shows absence of government. Thirdly
it shows the determination and how people work very hard to survive in the face of
government imposed hardship. It also revealed that there are a lot of human
resources to be harnessed for national development. The people in the documentaries
(Welcome to Lagos) exhibited several entrepreneurial and survival skills.
I understand that the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (Dr. Dalhatu
Tafida) protested to the controller BBC 2 against the documentary (Welcome to
Lagos). Ironically, the government he is representing and past governments did more
to push people to the slums. An example was the Moroko evictees who were forceful
evicted by the ex military ruler (Babangida) in 1990. Till date (20 years after),
many of them are still going to court for compensation. Many have died in the course
of pursuing their resettlement claims.
Though Moroko then was not properly developed, all the ex ruler (Babangida) did was
to forcefully evict people from their homes. By so doing he pushed people to the
streets which would have led to more slums. Thank goodness he (Dr. Dalhatu Tafida)
did not deny the existence of the slums in Lagos in his protest message. On behalf
of poor Nigerians whose pain, anguish and neglect by the government necessitated the
making of these documentaries, I declare his (Dr Dalhatu Tafida) protest letter null
and void.
The authorities that asked Dr Dalhatu Tafida to protest or the Nigerian High
Commissioner himselfshould bury his head in shame for the failure of Nigerian
government to provide basic amenities like houses, electricity etc. How much will it
cost the nation to provide houses, steady power, water etc for its population
compared to how much that has been looted by government officials. Olabode George
for instance misappropriated about 85 billion naira. Imagine what this amount could
do for those people shown on the documentaries.
In the same manner that the British Broadcasting Corporation used documentaries
(Welcome to Lagos) and drama (Blood and Oil) to expose the neglected part of the
Nigerian society, and even cause the federal government to react (protest letter
from The High Commissioner to the BBC 2), let use films, documentaries, drama on
DVDs to propagate political evangelism and change. Picture effects are a powerful
means of communicating to people. Perhaps this method (political evangelism) could
cause the government to react positively for our people.
Finally, please remember to participate and join the fight against global warming.
Turn off your electrical appliances/lights when not in use. Plant a tree or sponsor
one to plant on your behalf. Government and companies should send less paper work
and do more email, telephone, and sms. May God bless Nigeria.
Chinedu Vincent Akuta.
An activist and leader of “Support Option A4 Group” Leicester-UK
akutachinedu@yahoo.com
http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com/
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