Why Badagry Has Remained Largely Underdeveloped

 By Aliu Akeem

Many people who haven't been to Badagry will always hold it , with a very high esteemed value, following history. It is an area which ought to be the Victoria Island of Lagos, or the Abuja of Nigeria. But so many factors connived to shatter her glorious upbringings. And today the land is wailing for attention, as she has been clothed with tattered humiliating attires. Then one ask oneself, To what extent has these histories of the FIRSTS enhanced socioeconomic development in the area? 

The major factors that have downplayed the growth of Badagry are:

1. Education: Even though education started in Badagry in the 18th century, the attitude of the people towards it or the rate of adoption by the indigenes was really poor. Due to the lack of education, so many things happened. Uptil now, Badagry can not boast of 10 professors or 50 PhD Holders since 18th century. The lack of education failed to change the psychological view of things by our predecessors. They failed to question facts and perceived everything as a means of edification. Due to the absence of education, the people of those times could not spit out their minds. They failed to pursue what will be of immense importance to future generation. However, they tried in the aspect of coconut, but it's not enough. Not until the 20th century, that education started receiving the due attention. Even at that, the people need to do more.

2. Politics: One of the widely known problems of Democracy, is that it brings uneven development. Badagry has really suffered in the hands of politics. The political problem is divided into two: the external and internal problems. 

Just as every other local government in Nigeria, Badagry has also experienced the taste of multi party system. Right from Awolowo's UPN, Abiola's SDP, Labour Party, PDP and AD, now APC, have all thrived in Badagry. But none of these parties have appreciated the efforts and contributions of the historical city. The PDP's Federal Government era, did some highlighting things. Like, the approval of deep Seaport. But this current administration have really fined it tough to calculate Badagry in the scheme of National budget and even took the Seaport project away to Ondo.

The internal factor, may be that the majority of the Badagry people, joined politics lately. And before they realized it, other Local government areas had leapfrogged them. 

The internal factor here is from the political Representatives. Over the years, most of the people who had represented or representing Badagry have not proven to be active and dogged. The scene of the representation has been paraded by passive minds mostly. They are people who are just satisfied with their own salaries and allowances and do not care what happens in the society, as achievements are counted only in abstract form. No tangible physical records.

3. Marginalization and Dehumanization: This is really a big problem experienced from the state government. After a sweeping run of votes, they only come back to pick one Special Adviser, wave bye and take other worthy benefits elsewhere. Appointment into the state cabinet have not been fair to the Badagry people at all. In recent times, it is very skeptical to say if a Commissioner has hailed from Badagry. On Dehumanization, some people even think the Badagry people are not Nigerian or even subhuman. They have reinterpreted the word, 'EGUN' to mean, "Mumu," 'Ode, ', less privileged and so on. That inner feeling against our humanity, affected their manners of behavior towards our people. Hence, such people who call us the ' ati o n rin wa"  belief we don't deserve anything good, since we are foreigners in their own views. Meanwhile, it's safe to say Badagry gave birth to Nigeria.

4. The absence of national influential figures: No one can eschew the power of influence in today's Nigeria. The more national figure your region can produce, the more benefits you get. Imagine a region like Abeokuta, which has produced : President, vice president, speaker National Assembly, senators, ministers, Governors, one of the Paramount rulers of Yoruba land, professors, commissioners, etc. What will those sets of people in unity will not achieve? Badagry lacks this! Apart from the Akran of Badagry today, who else? 

5. Poverty: poverty is no longer a shameful word in this country. It is a celebrity word. It has cut across the nook and crannies of the nation. Since Nigeria is the headquarters of poorest people in the world, Badagry is not an exemption. Poverty hit Badagry so hard , because there is no an organization in Badagry that can employ fifty workers. The only company Badagry has, is filling stations which can't employ more than 20 staff maximum with payment less than minimum wage. The only way for youth is the Seme Border. When they even have ideas of Businesses or innovations, poverty kills it and send such hopes into the thin air. 

6. Bad Roads Network: Badagry would have experienced a great turnaround socioeconomically, if the only road leading from Mile 2 to Badagry is not in shambles. The fearful face of the road, as a result of long hours in gridlocks, police extortions, ghastly accidents involving trucks and other smaller vehicles, have driven investors away and crippled all the economic activities, tourism potentials and more. The most painful effects of the road is that, business men aree not coming and the available few are folding. 

6. Poor Infrastructural Amenities: Do you know that since God created the universe, there are still communities that have never seen electricity before? Go to Badagry. And you will be marveled. There are several communities in Badagry West that are still in darkness. Such areas are really below underdevelopment. Which organization will establish in a place where there is no hope for electricity? Absolutely non! 

7. The Egun/Awori Syndrome: Badagry is known to be the home of the Egun people in Nigeria. They are the first settlers. The Awori people later joined. This doesn't mean they are the two tribes. Other tribes like the Ewes, Yorubas also constitute the composition of the people. But the two tribes are often times seen competing over who controls what majorly or who achieves what? This is more pronounced in politics and capital project. At last, it becomes an internal underground crisis, which the two groups will start lobbying to get. At the end, the two of them usually loose such things to another local government outside Badagry.

You can leave your comments in the comment box. Expect the next publication on the solutions to change the narrative. Thanks!