By Paul Onomuakpokpo
Despite the hobbling
challenges of poor security and infrastructure, it is not uncommon for foreign
investors to speak glowingly about the huge opportunities in the Nigerian
business environment. They wonder why Nigerians should lend themselves to ruing
their citizenship and being subjected to stark poverty when all around them are
treasure troves they, foreigners, have braved long distances to explore.
Of course, we cannot
legitimately accuse some of these investors of engaging in double speak. Yet
the discerning among us are not oblivious of the fact that such a tribute to
the boundless opportunities in the country could also serve as a euphemistic way
of referring to the ease of making a fortune from the country by circumventing
its laws and swindling the citizens.
Yes, it is not only
foreign business people that enrich themselves through the violation of the laws
of the country to the detriment of the citizens who pay for their services. It
is a norm among local businesses to make their customers to pay for services
that are not offered or shoddily provided. This is why the citizens have almost
become inured to their ordeal at the hands of electricity distribution
companies.
