Following on from my post on Nigeria that never got further than a jumble of thoughts flushing around in my head just when I would be trying to sleep - take a deep breath…. I found a blog via “Nigeria, What’s New” called “Looking for good in Lagos“.

It is fascinating to discover new things about your country through a stranger’s eyes. It is called learning, stupid. Uncomplicated and simple weblog but it is in the doing, today, that can move you to tears. Excellent effort from a true hero and social historian. And who is the stranger?

The blogger is now on her 127th good things about Lagos. I got quite excited thinking I would find a whole bunch of great happenings in Lagos that I obviously missed while I was there. And yes I did and here are some:

“Colourful head wraps” Well yes I think these are wonderful too and people should have fun as much as possible.

“Easy driving on Third Mainland Bridge” . The bridge is a place of grave danger from thieves, area boys and other drivers AND…..”that is a big reason why the company wants us to travel with armed guards when we travel this route”.. damn I did wonder who were these people with their sirens blasting kicking us plebs out of the way as they weave recklessly through the traffic causing mad men and women to give chase at high speed at the risk to everyone’s life. This kinda of reminded me of driving around Miami and remembering (so I was told) to never pull alongside another vehicle at a STOP sign or traffic light, just in case there was a armed crazy sitting in the next car ready to blow your head off! The perception of danger is generally far worse than the reality.

Just one other point - MEND is not “a home grown terrorist organisation” - well what do I expect from an “oil-executive family”?

and

“I don’t have to wait in line for petrol” cause my driver does it whilst I am at Bible class. Well thats just wonderful but surely you should be asking and thinking about why Lagosians are queuing for petrol in the first place?

OK it’s a great idea this “Looking for Good” and I might just take it up whilst walking and busing around London and anywhere else I happen to be.

I liked the piece by Nigerian Curiosity in which he

scour the web and find Nigerians who are having discussions or expressing their opinions about Nigerian and global events. I recently happened upon the blog of a young Nigerian called Naija Pikin. His post was titled - Are We Cursed?

As Nigerians know this is not a new question, in fact it has probably been asked a million times or 100 million (number of possible over 14s in Nigeria) over the years and still no one has been able to come up with an adequate answer - “yes it is cursed” ok but what is being done about it, doesn’t anyone have an antidote? or “no, it is not cursed” I dont believe in curses so this is my option but then if it’s not cursed, what the hell is wrong with the place / people? Curiosity and Pikin try to deal with this for example Pikin writes…

I am tempted to want to give in to the school of thought that strongly believes that a demonic cabal is happy holding us down

Curiosity puts the blame on Nigerians themsleves

The only demons that hold sway over Nigeria, are Nigerians themselves. No one to blame but us. We have had the best opportunities to create a nation that should be a leading example for every human being, but we have failed.

I think it is both - what could possibly be a worse than a mixture of citizens who put self-interest first and leaders who are a demonic cabal?

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Nigeria