Harvesting Organs and Futures

The case of a Nigerian senator who has been arrested and charged in the UK with trafficking a person with intent to harvest body parts has reverberated across U.K. and Nigerian newsrooms and social media. It appears to be a gruesome instance of abuse of power and exploitation of a vulnerable and deprived person. There are claims the senator enticed the victim with promises of a better life in the U.K. but secretly planned to use him as an organ donor for the senator’s unwell daughter. A different claim is that the victim was being paid to come to the U.K. as donor but was not a match and has made the accusations to avoid being sent back to Nigeria. It is possible that one, or even both of these accounts are true but we will find out in due course. 

Nigeria actually has a murky history of abductions and organ harvesting. Of recent there have been unconfirmed reports of wealthy people engaging criminal gangs to abduct, murder and harvest organs for their use. However, Nigeria’s history of this goes back to ancient times predating colonialism. Certain tribes were known to abduct people to be used in sacrifices or ritualistic offerings to gods. These practices were outlawed and phased out with the coming of colonialism and Christianity. However, there have continued to be cases and allegations of people killed, or body parts harvested as part of wealth rituals. These murderous and inhumane practices appear to be living on in a different guise  

Poverty has reached extreme levels in Nigeria. It is estimated that approximately seventy percent of the population live below the breadline. Not only are people chronically impoverished but they receive absolutely no direct support from the government by way of welfare or social benefits. Under these circumstances it is very likely that a considerable number of people would be coerced into making organ donations for payment. It is tragic that the very people responsible for raiding public coffers and neglecting public services are the same ones likely to be the beneficiaries and instigators of crimes involving organ harvesting.

As a result of mismanagement and corruption by current and successive governments and legislators in Nigeria healthcare in the country is worse than it was thirty years ago. The current Nigerian president is notorious for frequently traveling abroad to seek healthcare during his tenure. A lot of Nigerians often travel to countries like India or Turkey for critical healthcare. Nigeria is not on course to achieve any of its Sustainable Development health goals; and the WHO estimate life expectancy amongst Nigerians to be around fifty years. Less than ten percent of the national budget is spent on health. Health facilities are rundown and most rural areas have almost no access to proper healthcare. Healthcare in Nigeria is a regional lottery subject to political whim. The richest with the lower needs get the most and best healthcare while the poorest with the greatest needs get little or nothing. The NHIS is a programme that reinforces inequality and does nothing to provide access to universal healthcare.

It’s indicative of the collapse of government, political, judicial, law enforcement and health systems in Nigeria that it has taken an arrest abroad to bring these matters to the surface. It is still unlikely that very much will be done to address it. However, we are reaching the point where we can’t keep covering our nakedness with sacking and cry out hope. Our very present and futures are being harvested right before our eyes. The rot has set in and it may be too late to stop it.

Tackling Nigeria’s Corruption: A Paradigm Shift

© Vanguard Nigeria 

Nigeria has a culture of probing corruption, especially after a leadership change. Given the endemic nature of fraudulence in the country pledging to investigate fraud and corruption is always well received. One would have thought that given the country’s long history of corruption in all facets of society there would be more focus on actually stopping and preventing corruption. An archaic bureaucracy, embedded nepotism and cronyism, and a laughable law enforcement framework make corruption almost inevitable. The system needs to change and the people need to understand the value and benefit of that change. The change needs to come in the form of a new framework of accountability that will underpin every aspect of Nigerian professional life.

There has been a lot of angst surrounding Nigeria’s predilection for tone deafness and regressive behaviour. The description ‘failing nation’ is probably an understatement of the nature of the country’s catastrophic and continuing decline. The almost total absence of effective and purposeful governing and governance in the country is shameful. However, as momentous as that is Nigeria is not alone globally in enduring trial by poor leadership. This does not excuse the country but it makes it less of a focus for me at this time. I am more concerned about weak political nucleus of the country, and the total lack of an economic, social and developmental plan for the future. No matter who gets into power there is no evidence anywhere of any political aspiration beyond just being able to exploit being in power. 

A first consideration would be to review all public and political officer salary structures. This would include a review of legislators wages and expenses. Salaries should be indexed to cost of living and competency standards. Any benefits should be based on basic housing, transport and subsistence allowances. Anything above that should be claimed for and subject to approval and authorisation by a transparent and audited process.  

All public sector commissioning and contracting should be subject to a new standards and accountability framework. There should be fit person and fit organisation standards that ensure that all prospective providers are evaluated for probity and capacity. There should be a two year audit cycle for contracts that ensures that they are performing at the required level and on target to deliver contracted outcomes. 

The oil, finance, telecommunications and private education sectors should be subject to a special interim taxation or levy to raise funds to finance a new programme of public investment in health, education, transportation and agriculture. Public consultation should be undertaken to identify and agree the areas for investment. A public commission should be appointed to administer the process and its operation should be open and report publicly quarterly. All its records should be publicly available for information and scrutiny. 

Instead of continually probing corruption Nigeria needs to reduce the opportunities within the system to defraud public finances; and increase the potential for most citizens to earn a living wage and enjoy a better quality of life. Looking for corruption in a corrupt system is just folly. Just probing corruption and punishing the guilty does nothing to address the causes of corruption. Also, it doesn’t highlight any real lessons to be learnt. The culture and systems that foster corruption need to change. Improving living conditions across the country, and reforming public management systems would be significant steps in the right direction. 

Malaria Vaccine Tests: Who Really Benefits?

Malaria has been a major health hazard in tropical countries for way too long. The suffering and ill health it causes contributes to a higher rate of infant mortality; and accounts for a loss of work hours to economies. The news of plans for the testing of a malaria vaccine is a welcome development. If successful it should help prevent infant fatalities, general suffering amongst the adult population, and help protect visitors to affected areas.

The malaria vaccine is expected to form part of a complementary treatment approach to malaria. If successful, it alone cannot lead to the eradication of the disease. The causes of malaria are rooted in political, social and economic conditions of developing countries. The inadequacy of public sanitation, drainage, and hygiene means that mosquitoes will continue to breed and thrive in the affected countries. The political will to improve social conditions is often lacking in these countries. Most sub-Saharan countries are significantly underperforming on their sustainable development goals (SDG), especially in the area of health.

It is well known that the attention paid to public health improvement in sub-Saharan Africa is far from commendable. Were it not for charitable organisations like the Gates Foundation health immunisation and public sanitation would not be receiving adequate consideration or resources. The development of a malaria vaccine is a significant step in combating the disease. However, if it is not made universally accessible to those living in the poorest and most dire circumstances then its benefits will be limited.

The successful development of a malaria vaccine will immensely benefit people traveling to affected countries from more developed countries. However, unless steps are taken to ensure that the vaccine is universally affordable and accessible to the poorest in the affected countries then it may turn out that they end up being testing guinea pigs for a vaccine they may not be able to fully benefit from.

Nigeria Born Again

copyright: Asukwo eb

Since the return of party politics in Nigeria following the demise of military dictator Sanni Abacha the country has made some considerable strides. The economy is considered one of the key emerging economies in the developing world. There has been widespread access to mobile communications and internet services. Business magnate Aliko Dangote is considered the richest man in Africa. However social conditions have deteriorated. Poverty, unemployment and deprivation are rife. Wealth inequality has gotten worse. Corruption continues unchecked.

A lot of hope has been vested in incoming governments to curb corruption and neglect; and get development back on track. To date no government has been able to deliver on its promises. The current government under Buhari promised to fight corruption, instability and deprivation. It is widely acknowledged that it has failed to do this to any appreciable extent. However, Buhari has expressed an intention to stand for election to a second term as president. There has been a lot of debate on whether based on his performance he can be considered a worthy candidate. It is almost certain his party will support his candidacy but he himself has not distinguished himself as a saviour with the vision or will to bring about change in the country.

It’s incredible that in 2018 Nigerians are still hoping for an election campaign based on integrity, social and economic vision, and an honest manifesto; instead of cash distribution combined with thug driven violence. We still don’t have candidates who can give a good account of their past stewardship. Campaigns are rife with false claims, empty promises and personal abuse. The electorate deserves better and needs to hold political aspirants to a higher standard. The only way change will happen is if a new cadre of politicians is ushered in. The country desperately needs people with a passion for public service who are not driven by a desire for personal enrichment.

Nigeria is currently beset by extensive poverty, a lopsided economy, inadequate rural investment, wide ranging unemployment, unchecked crime and regional violence, poor access to healthcare, erratic power supply, decline in quality of education, mass emigration, and inadequate public services. Any politician not talking about these issues over the next year cannot possibly have very much to offer. Any campaigns that are not centred around offering solutions to these problems would only be trying to pull the wool over our eyes. Any chance of a better future will depend on the electorate demanding a better class of politician; and asserting their rights to have a political system that serves the nation as a whole.