INDIAN GAARI: BUT WHAT WERE WE EXPECTING?

Imported Indian Gaari found its way onto the shelves of Nigerian supermarkets with a massive outrage across the nation this month. For a country of 170m people with the largest production of cassava in the world, the entry of imported Gaari remains an insult to our genius, economy, leadership and mostly our people. But please was there something better we were really expecting?

Candidly speaking, what were we expecting when the Nigerian Leadership failed to protect the “Made in Nigeria” brand? What were we expecting when the government does no know her people not to talk of their needs? What were we expecting when a few men are testing the waters and oceans with the Nigerian economy? What were you expecting from a country that does not know that for every importation, jobs have been sold already to foreigners?  What was it we were expecting when government systems play Ludo with smugglers? What were we expecting when government does not care about Nigerian manufacturers who scream daily “give us electric power?” What were we expecting when foreign companies are anointed above their Nigerian competitors? What did you expect  when Innoson is not considered a car by the Nigerian government who end up treating foreign models as if imported cars dont crash?

Gaari

Please what were you expecting from a system where herdsmen enter into a city to wipe out families while the state governor goes on to tip such killer herdsmen? What were you expecting from a country that never believes in her people but rests her existence on foreign economies?  What do you expect with a country whose virtues are sold for a token? Please stop fighting the customs guys alone. This is a systemic problem. What do you expect in a country where money can buy a court judgment, electoral votes, justice and value system? Why worry yourself about a system where obedience to the rule of law is more of moral suasion? You have heard of imported Jollof rice, imported toothpicks, imported fishes and imported clothes. I believe there will soon be imported houses and maybe one day imported Nigerians. How did we develop taste for what we do not have the capacity to produce? This is the billion dollar question!

US Dollar continues to push the naira beyond the N500 mark to join the list of the weakest currencies in Africa. Why?  Because the demand for forex continues to grow geometrically. No matter how much you try to rebrand, the taste buds of 90% of Nigerians has been replaced with the foreign upon which all Nigerian products taste bland. Knowing fully well what Mahatma Gandhi did in India, I insist that when it comes to change of taste, force, through public policy, sandwiched with public awareness is the way. Smuggling is harming this country more than the government ever knows. Soldiers should partner with the Nigerian Customs Service while the government strengthens the rule of law and support businesses.

Smugglers have invaded our territorial boundaries and destroyed our economy. The Nigerian government must fight smuggling to a standstill. If Gaari with all the cassava abundance here could still get  imported, any product of which we have comparative advantage can still get imported without remorse. It is time to fight illegal importation.