The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government – Section 14 (2b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

THERE are provisions of the Constitution our governments observe in breach. Section 14 (2b) is one of them. What is the meaning of this provision when governments do not attach any importance to life? What efforts have governments made to halt the waste of lives all over the country?

Outside the traditional crises in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Plateau, and Yobe States that claim lives almost daily, other Nigerians die from road accidents, majorly caused by the poor state of the roads, and poorer condition of vehicles their owners would have pulled off the roads had economic conditions permitted. Nigerians live perilously in peace time. Criminals are on the prowl.

If Nigerians survive these, they could be victims of conflicts – sectional, ethnic, religious, political. As if these are not enough, adulterated products – from drugs to foods – present more problems. Four years ago, Hope Adeleke, a policeman, lost five children to kerosene explosion in Oghara, Delta State. Adeleke was on night duty when his home exploded in a ball of fire. Four of his children died immediately and then the fifth. The journey to death began with the innocuous purchase of kerosene.

They never knew it was adulterated. Deaths from kerosene explosions are seasonal; they are usually a consequence of product scarcity. Kerosene used mostly as fuel for cooking is often scarce and remain
expensive with prices as high as N150 per litre, when available. Government has had little concern about steady supply of the product unlike fuel for vehicles.

Criminals latch into the gap in supply and pump adulterated products into the system. This has been going on for years. People die; people denounce government’s indifference, the matter ends. Last year again, there were losses of lives to kerosine explosions, fake drugs and other areas governments pay no attention. When will governments start caring for the people? Nigerians are tired of blames and excuses when they are mortally hurt from the laxity of those who should protect them. What do you tell a man whose family is at the verge of extinction because government does not cares for him? No reasons are acceptable for avoidable loss of lives.

Nothing can compensate the likes of Adeleke for their losses, but something is inane about governments that swear to make security and welfare of the people a priority, but consistently fail to keep their promise. What can justify our governments’ neglect of the people? Perhaps, they would have cared if our lives were worth anything.