The countries that were at par and even below Nigeria in 1960 are making strides while our own elites are consumed by self-interest and primitive accumulation of wealth. Even countries such as South Korea and China that borrowed money from Nigeria at a time have left us and gone far ahead.
The culprit of this trend is not hard to find. It is the elite themselves who seem to lack any iota of patriotism or development zeal.
On Thursday, November 30, 2023, companies that benefitted from a N250billion disbursement from the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) Intervention Fund by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are expected to appear at an investigative hearing by the Senate Committee on Gas. 15 companies were invited by the chairman of the committee, Senator Agom Jarigbe, to explain or throw light on the progress or lack of it, of the Gas Expansion programme for which they collectively received those public billions.
The NGEP was introduced in 2020 by the Buhari administration which at the time, made promises to convert one million cars from petrol to CNG, before the end of 2021.
In September of 2020, the Buhari government launched the N250 billion National Gas Expansion Programme fund by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in collaboration with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. In December of same 2020, it was announced that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited, will support the effort of the NGEP, by establishing designated NNPC retail filling stations offering free petrol-to-gas conversion services for “some cars” to enable vehicles to run on LPG or CNG.
Like most programmes earmarked for public good, the NGEP has failed and failed spectacularly to live up to billing.
This spectacular failure after gulping billions is the reason why this column supports the Senate in its quest to investigate and possibly reboot that laudable initiative in the public interest.
In the absurd theater of Nigeria where promises often collide with realities, the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) Intervention Fund stands as a glaring testament to the lack of elite consensus in steering the nation toward prosperity. Elite consensus is a phenomenon which most developed social formations have in common. The concept refers to a situation in which members of the elite are unanimous about the fundamental norms of a social system.
Elite Confusion Versus Elite Consensus
As an influential and operational group, they agree on the basic ethics and rules; and the imperative of preserving the political and social order without which they themselves are at an injurious risk.
Indeed, the stability of the system, even its survival, depends on the consensus of those who have been most favoured by the system. Some scholars have contended that elites have a special stake in the continuation of a system in which their privileges rest.
However, elite consensus does not prevent elite members from disagreeing or competing with each other for pre-eminence. Indeed, when comparisons are made between a developing social formation like Nigeria and the developed ones, there is often the lamentation that development continues to elude us largely because there is the absence of an elite consensus for development and stability. Rather, there seems to be an alternative agreement to ruin and impoverish Nigeria.
India is a success story today because there was an elite’s consensus to genuinely work for the greatness of India using education, science and technology. It is the same story with China and other Asian Tiger Nations.
That investigation of these 15 beneficiary companies by the Senate Committee on Gas sheds light on a larger failure — the persistent prioritization of personal interests over public welfare by the Nigerian elite.
As Femi Falana wrote in a recent article, many of the so-called Nigerian elite consider subsidies and development grants as further opportunities to pocket national resources thus diverting money even meant to feed the poor.
We can see these phenomena in virtually all government intervention efforts, from NDDC failures to failures of Anchor Borrowers Scheme wherein farm funds were handed out to governors and other politicians who largely invested the funds in politics and luxurious living.
Failed Intervention Programmes
However, the stark reality is that the NGEP programme as well as others like it has fallen far short of achieving any of the set objectives billed for it. Instead, we now have a situation where gas costs are escalating alongside the dubious and unacceptable manipulation of fuel costs.
The NGEP was envisioned as a catalyst for economic development. The objectives include; Improved access to finance for private sector investments in the domestic gas value chain; Stimulate investments in the development of infrastructure to optimize the domestic gas resources for economic development; Fast-track the adoption of CNG as the fuel of choice for transportation and power generation, as well as LPG as the fuel of choice for domestic cooking, transportation and captive power; Fact-track the development of gas-based industries particularly petrochemical (fertilizer, methanol, etc) to support large industries, such as agriculture, textile, and related industries; Provide leverage for additional private sector investments in the domestic gas market; and boost employment across the country.
However, the yawning gap between intention and outcome underscores a more profound issue — the elite’s failure to collaborate for the collective good.
A pervasive pattern compounding the NGEP’s failure is the fact that the 15 beneficiary companies, owned by Nigerian elites, have failed to deliver on their mandates. Allegations of corruption and underperformance have shrouded the programme in controversy. This raises pertinent questions about the commitment of the elite to the nation’s progress. The failure of these companies to meet expectations is not just an isolated incident; it mirrors a broader trend where personal aggrandizement takes precedence over national development. The elite, instead of championing the cause of the people, seem more inclined to exploit public resources for their personal gain. The enemies of Nigeria are the elites who are privileged to be assigned contractual responsibility and they failed to deliver and most of them like to blame the West for the underdevelopment of the nation, but they are the worst culprits in the sorry state of the nation. When confronted with the nation’s underdevelopment, it has become a habitual response for some members of the elite to point fingers at external factors, particularly Europe and America. This diversionary tactic deflects responsibility and accountability, perpetuating a cycle of blame-shifting rather than addressing internal challenges.
The Historical Perspective
While it is true that historical and global factors have played a role in shaping Nigeria’s trajectory, it is equally crucial to acknowledge the internal dynamics that hinder progress. Blaming external entities for internal failings is not a solution but a convenient excuse that perpetuates a culture of non-accountability.
In proffering solutions to break free from this cycle of underperformance and elite dissonance, there must be a concerted effort to foster genuine elite consensus for the betterment of Nigeria.
By aligning their interests, the elite can channel resources and expertise toward projects that benefit both parties and, more importantly, the nation. In conclusion, the NGEP Intervention Fund’s failure is symptomatic of a larger malaise — the lack of elite consensus to prioritize national welfare over personal interests. As Nigeria strives for true economic and social transformation, the elite must recognize the pivotal role they play in either perpetuating the status quo or steering the nation toward genuine progress. The time for self-reflection and collective action is now, for the benefit of all Nigerians and the generations to come.
MAY NIGERIA REBOUND IN OUR LIFETIME
