Why do we complain??? (by Sylph)

I have come to realise that in life we take too much for granted. Nothing however, brought this point home more than coming to Nigeria.

Nigeria is a country rich of both natural resources and human capital. This country has an abundance of oil, natural gas and minerals such as coal, iron ore, lead/zinc, bitumen, talc and the list goes on and on.... Though, many of which are either unexploited or underutilised. The economy has benefited tremendously from their oil industry and they are yet to truly explore the potential of their natural gas. However, despite the abundance of resources and the availability of human capital (as the population of Nigeria is approximately 140 million), the quality of life for the average man remains relatively low.

Life in Nigeria for the average man can be described as nothing less than short and brutish and the life expectancy is relatively low. Despite all of this however, the Nigerian spirit of entrepreneurship is alive, as they are aware that they have to do what it takes to survive. That I admire about them..... All day long you will see them hustling their trade, whatever that trade might be. And I will admit, these Nigerians are rather skillful. On any given day once you venture outside your gate, within no time you will be able to find someone offering fresh fruits for sale, or peeled sugarcane (why peeled, I cannot say and its peeled and transported open to the elements, in a wheel barrow... umhhh, germs yummy), or a man carrying a sewing machines on their heads, making clinging sounds with his scissors in their hands, or shoe repair men, carrying a makeshift wooden box, filled with rubber, glue and nails, you can even find men carrying nail clippers and barbering sets, offering manicure, pedicure and haircut services. You name it and I am certain you can find it on the streets of Nigeria.

Anything old and rustic, you can find it here. Like old Singer sewing machines with the wooden encasement and cast iron stands, old books and magazines, old brands of products that were discontinued in Trinidad, like Team soft drink in the tall glass bottle and Pear Soap. Or what about a kerosene stove, which was used back in the 60's. This is the place of antiques.... Old electronics that were deemed unserviceable in other parts of the world, some how find their way here and are put into use. Nigerians are clever with their hands, so they are quick to repair and service anything. With a population of 140 million there is a market for almost anything in this country. In addition to which access to basic utilities, such as electricity, running water and waste disposal is not readily available to all. Yet still the average man gets by and he does so with very little complaints.

We recently went on a trip outside of the capital and trust me when I say, you have not seen Nigeria if you did not leave the capital, Abuja. Because the capital is relatively new and that is reflected in its lay-out, design and infrastructure. However, the average Nigerian has not even seen the capital, Abuja, so for one to get a true glimpse of life in this country, one must leave the city and venture outside to the villages and the bordering states. All I could think of while we drove was where do they get running water from????? And I am not even referring to water to bathe or wash their clothes, but more importantly, water to drink and prepare a meal. Because to me water is one of the most important and vital resources for human survival. A man can survive comfortably with out food for weeks, even months at a time, once he has a clean supply of water. However, the absence of a clean water would reduce his chances of survival. Another alarming issue which I came across on this trip was high level of pollution or rather garbage. Apparently, there is no proper waste disposal plan in this country, so you will see garbage littered everywhere. On the streets, in the markets, along the road ways, in the drains, everywhere. Garbage, garbage, everywhere. Now this is something which I noticed even within the capital, however on a smaller scale. In addition to the garbage, because of the absence of a waste disposal plan and limited water supplies, there is also the issue of human waste. People go to the bathroom to relieve themselves anywhere. So help me do this maths - limited access to water + garbage+human waste = disease. Well at least in my mind.......

The remarkable thing to me though is that the Nigerian people do not complain. At least the ones that I have encountered. Despite all of the adversities that they are affected by on a daily basis, they still manage to strive for greatness and provide for themselves and their families. At no point while I have been in Nigeria have I heard anyone complaining that the Government has not provided them with opportunity or have mismanaged the economy. At no point, have I seen young men sitting idly by blaming the Government for their misfortune, or waiting for Government handouts. Because, to be honest they know that it will never come. So they get up each day and get what is due to them. However little it might be....

Please do not get me wrong. I am not trying to imply that the Government does not have a crucial role to play in alleviating the problems that are faced in this country. For many of the problems plaguing this society can only be solved by the powers that be. However, what cannot be ignored is the self reliance of the people in making ends meet. Because, I came from society where all you hear is complaints. Complaints about the Government, about their policies and employers, about everything. You hear complaints about the sun too hot, or the rain falling too long. Or there is too much traffic to go out and the prices are too high. There are no jobs and the crime levels are on the increase. No one stops to think about the less fortunate, or that the cost of living in Trinidad, although high and can be better managed by the authorities, is still relatively cheaper than in most countries of the world. Or who are the ones that are actually breeding the criminals in the society? Maybe its the Government!!!!!!!!!!!!

Very few persons will attempt to examine the situation and realise that as a responsible citizen we too have a role to play in the development of the society. No true society is built by the sweat of the politicians alone. Where is the civil society involvement and I am not referring to the Trade Unions or one or two NGOs. When will the average Trinidadian realise that their existence is not dependent upon the Government. Can anyone tell me when?

I recently had to endure a friend complaining about the pressures of going to school overseas, in a temperate country and how fed-up she was of the sacrifice and I could not help but wonder about the millions of people who would give anything for such an opportunity. Mind you this very friend, left her job in Trinidad willingly to pursue this degree. But oh how quickly we forget and begin to complain.

I have done my fair share of complaining in the past, however I am now challenging myself to be more appreciative to what life throws my way. Because life has been good to me and has thrown quite a bit my way. So instead of complaining that the cup is half empty, I have decided to enjoy the remnants of the drink.