Nigerian News Update:
They are the future leaders all right, no one can deny them the pleasure of that assumption. But nothing comes on a platter of gold; one needs to work hard to attain any goal in life. Many went to high school; some dropped out or never had the privilege of being in the four walls of a classroom. Some have lost or are losing faith in themselves and the government.
As was to be expected, under a portrait of youthful exuberance, I must confess that there is no prospect in the tales surrounding the youth today.
Nigeria’s youth can be amazing just as they can always be counted on to do the right thing. But oftentimes, they hit the news headlines for the wrong reasons. Regrettably, such wrong impression thereafter continues to rob mud on the majority among them with good intensions even as it questions the integrity of those doing exploits around the world. There has been in circulation on social media of some unimaginable display of nuisance by youth. It is quite unfortunate that the energy that will power Nigeria into a prosperous future is now under the influence of drugs.
Irrespective of the poor handling of youth affairs, the government with certain confidence and adulation thumbs its chest affirming it has done its best for the masses. Therefore, it does not bother the political leaders that Nigeria’s youth are increasing in great numbers daily in the unemployment market. What seems to disturb well-meaning Nigerians is that so many young people have wasted decades in search of jobs after graduation from higher institutions. Following this disappointment, some young people who kept their cards of woe close to their chest stepped over the line in trying to find excitement to keep body and soul in one piece.
Of late, in a bid to evade the burden of joblessness and frustrating lifestyle, some young people treat themselves to celestial ecstasy by consuming Crystalline, Metamphetamine generally nicknamed in Igbo dialect as Mkpulu-mmiri. Apparently, it is difficult to understand why these young persons’ chose the road to hell in search of happiness. In all cases, these substances are dangerous to health as they could damage some body organs. But such explanations usually fall on deaf ears evidently because what has happened in the world of these youth is the relentless intake of substance to make them feel high and happy. The definitional character of some youth perhaps best captured the assumption that they have an attitude management problem. Hence, being jobless is seen as a license to take substances. Call it an addiction or the multiplication of extra happiness. Ever since the dangerous Mkpulu-Mmiri substance hit the market, the lives of most youth have been trapped. They now ‘enjoy’ a new life in drugs since the promised change agenda of the government remains secluded in perpetual denial. In a way, the central character of those involved in the Mkpulu-Mmiri consumption twists around seeing themselves as myth or heroes. They, therefore, take pride in their newfound insanity nature for being restless, adventurous but unknowingly killing themselves gradually as the clock ticks.
The point must be noted that Mkpulu-Mmiri is not the first drug issue that usually encounters Nigeria’s youth as they set forth at dawn in their young life. Indeed, drug-related issues do not die completely, they only fade away for a while only to resurface in another form or dimension. At one time or the other, drug abuse orbits around Indian hemp, cocaine, Tramadol, heroin, codeine among others as the order of the day. Of course, the above-mentioned substances still cause havoc in society today. Obviously, what drug addicts did not know is that Mkpulu-Mmiri or any hard drugs at their disposal do not offer complete happiness. Instead, it increases the challenge of serious mental issues among young people in society.
It is said that unemployment has exposed some young people to embrace substance consumption as well as become politicians ‘beck and call’ as political thugs or join groups associated with violence. The insecurity turbulence in the country from Boko Haram, banditry, kidnappers and the unknown gunmen who unleash terror and misery on the citizens is fuelled by recruiting vulnerable youth. There is no gainsaying that drug addiction among young people might continue to get worse as long as unemployment persists in the country. Therefore, it is optimistic to expect a sudden reduction in drug-related abuse among young people if our leaders have the political will to do the right thing. Really, good intentions or good plans have never been in short supply in the government circle. Indeed, those have always been constant like the northern star. The ever-elusive variable has always been the courage to see the planned sail through. It is shameful to see government policies somersault right after take-off. The Ajaokuta steel dream and automobile factories like Volkswagen in Lagos, Peugeot assembly plant in Kaduna and textile industries in Kano, Kaduna and Lagos respectively went with the wind. Unfortunately, all were abandoned or starved of funds due to a lack of vision on the part of the government. What is more, the education sector tale is even more pathetic. The government’s plan to develop the educational sector through establishing more tertiary institutions and encouraging private ones to thrive have not mitigated the challenge in the education sector or assisted the people meaningfully. It is however sickening that, there is no thought of where or what would absorb the products of these institutions to prevent young people from increasing the job market. In countries where the welfare of the young population is of great concern to the government, it would not sit back feeling complacently helpless about its future generation. Obviously, the government needs to address the policy mismatch and an absence of enabling environment for the nation’s young population.
The drug challenge among young people in society is an ominous sign of things to come. Although salvation may be at hand, a deeper look into the lapses reveals government failure to serve the people well with all the resources at their disposal. Therefore, the government needs to sit up and make sacrifices in the interest of the people. More so, young people should shun and desist from drug-related activities and direct their energy and time on fruitful ventures. The negative actions of young people evidently align with the saying that, an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. This is the context in which the youth surge into being addicted to consuming the poisonous fruit of speculative happiness Mkpulu-Mmiri. There is a need for the government to address issues concerning youth very seriously. It would be irresponsible on the part of government to ignore the challenges facing the leaders of tomorrow.