Everyone seems to accept that Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital city (FCT), is one of the fastest growing cities in Africa. Take a drive around the city by day, and there’s the likelihood you will fall hopelessly in love with the greenery, the very wide roads and beautiful buildings within the central business district (CBD).
But at night, Abuja easily transmutes into a dense jungle, with crime brewing and dangerous criminals lurking around the crevices and the intense darkness that takes over once it is dusk. Take for instance Jabi, that very long stretch of road leading to Life Camp, Gwarinpa, and environs. It is in the throes and embrace of unbelievable darkness, something one does not expect to see in this so-called fastest growing African city.
As you drive along this road and environs, and if you are not very careful, you stand the chance of either being robbed or that you will run into an oncoming vehicle. But if this is not serious enough to consider, then the people at the helm at the FCT must consider that the reason crime and criminality always festers and grows is because darkness prevails. Shine the light and darkness disappears, the night economy blossoms and our lives are enriched.
We must be able to tell those who should make those lights light that the current situation is indeed a very shameful one, especially with the huge revenues and resources in the pockets of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCDA).
Bob MajiriOghene Etemiku
WADONOR…cultural voice of Nigeria
