Thread by @nwaoma007

1./ You raise germane points, but one can’t exculpate govt & hold citizens responsible.

It’s a joint failure. The societies we hold up as examples aren’t better because the people are better. They are largely better because there are systems which enforce rules.

https://twitter.com/DrOlusesan/status/1399033787057647618

2./ People are held accountable & the administration of justice is fairly even-handed.
In Nigeria, citizens are comfortable disobeying the laws because they follow the examples of their leaders and it’s hard to enforce laws that you don’t abide by.

3./ Gradually the impunity that begins at the head flows down. If govt. officials disobey road signs, how will citizens obey?
If govt officials disrespect and pervert court judgments, will rich businessmen not do the same? It flows down.

4./ Our consistent failure of systems continues to haunt us from top to bottom. Even if the rank & file begin to obey, if leaders remain delinquent it will fail.

Residential estates in Lagos have rules, those with proper controls and punitive measures for failure

5./ tend to have higher levels of obedience than those who don’t.

Planning laws must also take the practicalities into consideration. A market is knocked down and a 3 storey plaza is created. The new rents are beyond the price point of the tomato sellers who used to be there.

6./ The people who sell high end goods don’t want to be there. Even if the rent is magically made affordable for meat-sellers, how many people will climb to the top floor of a 3 storey building to buy meat and veg? There won’t be elevators because we can’t power them.

7./ The problems are many and they aren’t cut and dried. I agree that as a people we are complicit, but leadership must show example.