MISPLACED PRIORITY

Just of recent the news broke that the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed "banned" Nigerian artiste and actors from going out of Nigeria to shoot music videos and movies. As usual, my beloved Nigerians took to social and print media with the expected backlash and criticism we are fast getting enshrined into our culture and DNA. Well, we all need a distraction or two from the frustrating state of the Nigerian system so a tiny wrong statement or action from those in the corridors of power sets fire on our ever eager and ready wagging tongues (and fingers in this case).

After some days, I watched Oga Lai Mohammed say he did not ban anyone neither did he say no artiste or actor should shoot outside, he maintained that he was just saying they should look inside and utilize the sites we have in abundance for their videos. Because I did not here him myself the first time he was accused of "banning", I will cut him a slack after hearing him justify his initial statements.

Few years ago while I was undergoing the mandatory youth service (NYSC) in Keffi, Nasarawa State, I was privileged to lead a wonderful group of corp members in the Culture and Tourism CDS group. As an adventurer, I made it my number one priority to take every member of the group to at least three tourist sites within the state before my tenure and service year comes to an end. So I set out to search and I discovered that within Nasarawa State alone abides over ten tourist sites, all capable of turning the livelihood and status of the state into an envy for other states and even countries. Sites like the Salt Lake in Keana, Karu Caves, Eggon and Mada hills/moutains, Garaku Palm Wine plantations, Doma Market and Wamba falls are just but a few I can recall. We decided to go with Wamba Falls and the Karu Caves due to proximity and finance but we ultimately just ended up visiting just the Wamba falls.

This magnificent beauty is just a few kilometers outside Wamba Local Government Area which is nearly fifty four kilometers away from Keffi Local Government Area. So there we were, fifty plus persons, all corps members in two buses headed to an unknown site (because I did not conduct any visibility studies), after asking for directions more than thrice, we got to the place where we had to park our buses and venture in on foot. The almost three kilometer walk was not funny to most of us but the sight of that beauty made us forget we had to make same trip (even though it seemed shorter going back). We stayed for about two hours snapping, bathing, basking, eating, chatting and whatnots. It was indeed a beautiful and sweet experience.

Back to Oga Minister, I have had the privilege of traveling across the country and I can say that we are super blessed to have all the beautiful sites we have even though we don't utilize and appreciate them. Let me dwell on the Wamba falls for instance, that gift of nature has the capability of generating unimaginable revenue for the state if only access road will be paved into the village and the site touched a little for aesthetics and security. Every other factor will natural take its course and our entertainment industry need not have such a huge budget just for shooting outside because everyone is looking for ways to cut cost. Why will I go to Niagara falls to shoot a clip when I can visit Wamba falls and shoot same clip at half the price, if not less? This applies to the over one thousand sites we have in this country. All they need is a little attention from Government and not necessarily direct investment from Government (Government can create a PPP-Public-Private Partnership or even encourage private businesses to buy into developing these sites). That way, Mr. Minister will not have to face the gruesome backlash of my dear compadres, he may in fact be informing us about the numerous international acts applying to come and utilize our natural treasures but because no one in Government will directly and immediately benefit from such development, it is not a topic for consideration, instead loans upon loans with double digit interests are signed on monthly basis because those collecting such now will not be there tomorrow when the lenders come calling so our future and that of our kids is being mortgaged by the lack of focus and avarice of those wielding power today. If this country must move forward, we must learn now, how to put the horse before the cart and not the other way round because as it stands, that horse is almost done eating the hay in the cart which was originally meant for winter. Priority 101 is a class we needed to attend yesterday but fortunate enough, the class is still on...