10 status symbols which every nation with pride seeks in the 21st century and it is unfortunate that 200m Nigerians are not embarrassed about the fact that they lack them despite being the world’s largest black country

Ayo Akinfe

(1) At least one national automobile company that manufactures a car synonymous with the country like say Fiat, Lada, Skoda or Volvo

(2) An aircraft carrier to patrol her territorial waters and continental shelf

(3) At least one manufacturing giant who can supply the nation with all its industrial goods. If the rest of the world stopped trading with India today, Tata Industries could easily meet all their industrial needs

(4) Self reliance when it comes to steel production. Every nation worth its salt can produce enough steel to meet domestic industrial demand. If they do not produce iron ore they introduce a scrap metal policy

(5) An ability to produce all its defence equipment. One reason why the Nigerian military suffered initial setbacks against Boko Haram was because it was waiting for the delivery of hardware from abroad. No serious nation relies on other countries to supply it with basic defence equipment like assault rifles, battle tanks, armoured personnel carriers, rocket propelled grenades, etc

(6) Self reliance when it comes to the supply of medical equipment. Covid-19 has exposed how we have no health policy. It should embarrass every Nigerian that the country has to import equipment like ventilators, testing kits, oxygen tents, etc

(7) Provision of basic primary healthcare. Every week, at least one Nigerian VIP or millionaire flies abroad for medical treatment. I could understand if it was for specialist treatment like say a rare form of cancer or a unique eye operation but we are shamelessly going abroad with basic things like malaria, typhoid, asthma, etc

(8) A national carrier. Every nation on earth prides itself on the efficiency of its national airline. Air Egypt, Ethiopian Airlines, Air France, Lufthansa, KLM, BA, Emirates, etc are all symbols of national prestige

(9) Having an urban underground metro network in its biggest city. Do you know that Lagos is the largest city in the world without an underground network? It can take you eight hours to get from Mile 12 to Lekki, which is why primary school kids are at bus stops as early as 5am

(10) A major global sporting success. Football is our national sport and it is highly embarrassing that we have not even made a serious attempt to win the Fifa World Cup. How can the world’s largest black nation where football has religious status not have ever gone beyond the second round of the World Cup before? We need to set ourselves a deadline for when we want to join the likes of Brazil, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Argentina, etc as the heavyweights of the beautiful game