Opinion
Africa And Modern Slavery
It was the most shocking story I have heard recently. Yes, we were told and read about how Africans were sold as slaves to Europe and America many centuries ago, but to think that slavery still goes on in the African continent in this modern age as shown in footage by CNN a few days ago is simply unimaginable.
The footage which has become a burning topic almost the world over shows African illegal migrants and refugees en route Europe being sold at slave markets in Libya. To see the pictures of these young men being treated like animals and auctioned at prices as low as $300 was very heart-rending. From the accent of a few of these migrants interviewed by reporters, it was obvious they were Nigerians. Some of them narrated their horrific ordeals in the hands of Libyan authorities. They are exposed to appalled harm, torture, rape, sexual exploitation and forced labour.
Record numbers of migrants are dying in the Mediterranean and in the desert every year. In 2015 for instance, over a thousand asylum seekers were drowned. The death toll increases exponentially every year. Just a few days ago, 26 bodies of young Nigerians were discovered at Mediterranean. The all female migrants were said to have drowned while crossing the sea to Libya.
Incidentally, the deaths and the inhuman treatments have failed to deter others from risking the same fate. Some of the people in the footage said they knew the enormity of the danger involved in migrating to Europe illegally through Libya, but they were prepared to take the risks instead of remaining in their countries. Their explanations were simple. The risk of death at sea or desert is no worse than the dire circumstances they found themselves either in their home countries or in Libya.
The big question then is, how did Africa and in particular, Nigeria, get to this level where the citizens, especially the youths would prefer to embark on suicidal missions instead of staying in their countries? The answer is not farfetched – bad government.
African countries are known to have the worst governments in the world. These are governments that care little about the well-being and welfare of their citizens. In most of these countries, citizens face political persecution, dictatorships, hunger, conflict, war, lack of job and many others.
The political and economic instability in many African countries is also a factor. The sit-tight syndrome among African leaders which many a time have led to war has not helped matters at all. But for the mature and diplomatic way the former president of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe was removed from office few days ago by the country’s military after 37 years in power, the East African country would have been in turmoil now thereby swelling the migration figure.
Therefore, to stem the flow of migration, African leaders must begin to make the continent conducive for the citizens to dwell. No doubt, the world bodies like European Union, United Nations have been playing and are expected to play more roles in helping the African migrants and refugees but our leaders should give the people a responsible and quality leadership which will cater for the needs of the citizens. A situation where those in authorities constantly siphon the treasury thereby impoverishing the people will only make the people see migration to Europe and other parts of the world irrespective of the risks therein as their only hope of survival in life.
Young Nigerians depart the country in droves through all kinds of legal and illegal means everyday in search of greener pastures. Had there been job opportunities for them, many of them probably would have preferred to remain in the country and contribute in developing it.
It is important that African Union, ECOWAS and other organisations in the continent put measures in place to foster peace, unity and tolerance among African countries. This way, Africans will see the need to genuinely help their fellow Africans in need instead of dehumanising them or using them to make money or as slaves. African leaders and indeed the entire Africans should rise up in condemnation of modern day slavery and gross human rights abuse going on in Libya, Egypt and other countries.
However, African youths need to be re-orientated on the realities of life. They need to be reminded that there are no beds of roses anywhere in the world, not even in Europe or America. Many migrants who could make it to Europe alive have been disappointed with the realities on ground in these foreign countries. Those who visit or live in these oversea countries will usually tell you that to succeed in these countries one needs to work very hard.
So, instead of risking their lives in the dessert and the Mediterranean, instead of being treated and sold as slaves, African youths should think of how to maximize the opportunities they have in their various countries and use their talents to develop their countries.
It is also imperative that parents should stop pushing their children to travel abroad to make money. Some parents even go to the extent of selling their properties for their children to embark on the nightmarish journey. Many people who yielded to such pressure are not alive today.
So, everybody, especially African leaders, should rise against this evil practice of modern slavery.
By: Calista Ezeaku.
From all indications, Nigeria possesses enough human and material resources to become a true economic powerhouse in Africa. According to the National Population Commission (NPC, 2023), the country’s population has grown steadily within the last decade, presently standing at about 220 million people—mostly young, vibrant, and innovative. Nigeria also remains the sixth-largest oil producer in the world, with enormous reserves of gas, fertile agricultural land, and human capital.
Yet, despite this enormous potential, the country continues to grapple with underdevelopment, poverty, unemployment, and insecurity. Recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS, 2023) show that about 129 million Nigerians currently live below the poverty line. Most families can no longer afford basic necessities, even as the government continues to project a rosy economic picture.
The Subsidy Question
The removal of fuel subsidy in 2023 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been one of the most controversial policy decisions in Nigeria’s recent history. According to the president, subsidy removal was designed to reduce fiscal burden, unify the foreign exchange rate, attract investment, curb inflation, and discourage excessive government borrowing.
While these objectives are theoretically sound, the reality for ordinary Nigerians has been severe hardship. Fuel prices more than tripled, transportation costs surged, and food inflation—already high—rose above 30% (NBS, 2023). The World Bank (2023) estimates that an additional 7.1 million Nigerians were pushed into poverty after subsidy removal.
A Critical Economic View
As an economist, I argue that the problem was not subsidy removal itself—which was inevitable—but the timing, sequencing, and structural gaps in Nigeria’s implementation.
- Structural Miscalculation
Nigeria’s four state-owned refineries remain nonfunctional. By removing subsidies without local refining capacity, the government exposed the economy to import-price pass-through effects—where global oil price shocks translate directly into domestic inflation. This was not just a timing issue but a fundamental policy miscalculation.
- Neglect of Social Safety Nets
Countries like Indonesia (2005) and Ghana (2005) removed subsidies successfully only after introducing cash transfers, transport vouchers, and food subsidies for the poor (World Bank, 2005). Nigeria, however, implemented removal abruptly, shifting the fiscal burden directly onto households without protection.
- Failure to Secure Food and Energy Alternatives
Fuel subsidy removal amplified existing weaknesses in agriculture and energy. Instead of sequencing reforms, government left Nigerians without refinery capacity, renewable energy alternatives, or mechanized agricultural productivity—all of which could have cushioned the shock.
Political and Public Concerns
Prominent leaders have echoed these concerns. Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, described the subsidy removal as “good but wrongly timed.” Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party also faulted the government’s hasty approach. Human rights activists like Obodoekwe Stive stressed that refineries should have been made functional first, to reduce the suffering of citizens.
This is not just political rhetoric—it reflects a widespread economic reality. When inflation climbs above 30%, when purchasing power collapses, and when households cannot meet basic needs, the promise of reform becomes overshadowed by social pain.
Broader Implications
The consequences of this policy are multidimensional:
- Inflationary Pressures – Food inflation above 30% has made nutrition unaffordable for many households.
- Rising Poverty – 7.1 million Nigerians have been newly pushed into poverty (World Bank, 2023).
- Middle-Class Erosion – Rising transport, rent, and healthcare costs are squeezing household incomes.
- Debt Concerns – Despite promises, government borrowing has continued, raising sustainability questions.
- Public Distrust – When government promises savings but citizens feel only pain, trust in leadership erodes.
In effect, subsidy removal without structural readiness has widened inequality and eroded social stability.
Missed Opportunities
Nigeria’s leaders had the chance to approach subsidy removal differently:
- Refinery Rehabilitation – Ensuring local refining to reduce exposure to global oil price shocks.
- Renewable Energy Investment – Diversifying energy through solar, hydro, and wind to reduce reliance on imported petroleum.
- Agricultural Productivity – Mechanization, irrigation, and smallholder financing could have boosted food supply and stabilized prices.
- Social Safety Nets – Conditional cash transfers, food vouchers, and transport subsidies could have protected the most vulnerable.
Instead, reform came abruptly, leaving citizens to absorb all the pain while waiting for theoretical long-term benefits.
Conclusion: Reform With a Human Face
Fuel subsidy removal was inevitable, but Nigeria’s approach has worsened hardship for millions. True reform must go beyond fiscal savings to protect citizens.
Economic policy is not judged only by its efficiency but by its humanity. A well-sequenced reform could have balanced fiscal responsibility with equity, ensuring that ordinary Nigerians were not crushed under the weight of sudden change.
Nigeria has the resources, population, and resilience to lead Africa’s economy. But leadership requires foresight. It requires policies that are inclusive, humane, and strategically sequenced.
Reform without equity is displacement of poverty, not development. If Nigeria truly seeks progress, its policies must wear a human face.
References
- National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). (2023). Poverty and Inequality Report. Abuja.
- National Population Commission (NPC). (2023). Population Estimates. Abuja.
- World Bank. (2023). Nigeria Development Update. Washington, DC.
- World Bank. (2005). Fuel Subsidy Reforms: Lessons from Indonesia and Ghana. Washington, DC.
- OPEC. (2023). Annual Statistical Bulletin. Vienna.
By: Amarachi Amaugo
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