To be a human is a blessing because God decided to favour human beings. He would have created any of us in another form.
To be a Nigerian on the other hand is huge! Huge because our socio-economy does not agree with us. Our reality is different from what is on paper.
While many see Nigeria as the giant of Africa, we see it the other way round. We know the giant is not economical but just a matter of number.
Our political, environmental and social activities might suggest we are a bit doing fine but the reality here is different.
I don't know about other countries or the situation of people there but i know that of my country.
To be regarded as an average Nigerian, i mean those of us who eat what we see because it is what our resources can get.
Those of us who walk from 8am to 6pm moving from one place to another in search of jobs that are not really there.
Those of us who stay by the roadside as vulcanizer, mechanic, pepper seller, fish seller, etc,.
Those of us who work daily before we can eat. Our gains can hardly sustain us daily so we try same thing every day by selling and eating from the little gains.
To be a Nigeria and be proud is a personal conviction. This is because the situation of things here will either make you angry or frustrated. Even at that, there is nothing you can do about it.
To be an average Nigerian, you need to apply for government jobs that have been shared among the elites. So applying is just to make it seem the masses are carried along. When the result comes out, your name would be missing.
To be an average Nigeria, you are very much at risk walking on the street. The Police, soldier or Navy see themselves as demigods. You will be harassed for slightest mistake by soldiers and Navy. For the police, you will be harassed for doing nothing.
There is nothing like rights on the streets. Who will fight it for you? Many of the incidents on the street are not reported, those reported are swept under the carpet.
Funny enough, the police write your statement for you and stand by it that you gave them the information. Your phones, laptop or whatever would be searched and probably taken away from you.
In fact, every average Nigerian on the street is a suspect. It is even worst if found to have any crypto related application on your phone. You will be beaten and taken away for days for having that on your phone.
To be an average Nigerian, you are your own security. Your life and safety of that of your family is in your own hands. You either get prepared or be destroyed as the police or fire fighter would hide under lack of fuel to come rescue you in cases of robbery or fire incident.
To be an average Nigerian, your health, safety, property, security and the rest are on you. The government care less about every detail.
Maybe we can hide under the fact that we are very many but a committed leader would find ground to solve these problems and proffer long lasting solution to them.
The things narrated above are things the government is aware of but sadly do nothing about. In some cases, they just say sorry if they became popular.
This is the life of an average Nigerian and something we cope with on a daily basis.