:- Sen. Ben Murray Bruce.
Many Nigerians are complaining about the constant
fall in the value of the Naira and they blame the
Government.
But
is the government really to blame? In truth, our
insatiable appetite for all things foreign is to blame.
I always fly Arik Business Class whenever I am
traveling abroad except Arik does not fly on that
route.
Not only is an Arik ticket a fraction of the cost of a
British Airways ticket, but the money I pay to Arik
circulates in Nigeria and helps firm up the Naira’s
value.
As I speak to you today, a British Airways Business to
London is ₦2,103,666 while Arik Business is ₦551,545
yet our elite still fly BA
But though Arik offers an affordable alternative to
British Airways and other foreign airlines, our big men
prefer to pay double what Arik charges to BA and
other foreign airlines for the same services and yet
they complain about the value of the Naira.
I have Nasco cornflakes and I have eaten Kellogs
cornflakes. In terms of nutrition and taste they are
almost indistinguishable. Yet our elite who will rather
eat Kellogs than Nasco cornflakes, wonder why the
Naira is falling!
Even something like Quaker Oats can be substituted
with corn meal known locally as pap.
Obasanjo Farms of Nigeria and other large scale
poultry farms have the capacity to provide chicken for
the entire nation. Since that is the case, why are we
even buying imported chicken?
In fact what is wrong if every family in Nigeria has a
poultry in their backyard to give them eggs and meat?
My steward went to Makoko, which is one of the largest
fishing communities in Lagos. He wanted to buy fish
and they were selling imported frozen fish!
Yet in the very waters in front of them, there exist
fresh fish that is more nutritious than the cheap
frozen fish they were selling.
We keep spending over 1 Billion Naira importing rice
when our own farmers are capable of meeting our
national demand for rice. But for some reason,
Nigerians just prefer to buy imported rice.
The imported rice we buy in Nigeria is not as good as
our local rice because it has been stored for years in
silos and treated with chemicals.
Moreover, every time you buy it, your money is going
out of Nigeria to service an economy in Asia. The end
result is that their currency gains value while ours loses
value.
Have you ever wondered why European Premiership
Clubs are so interested in Nigeria? It is because
Nigerians spend billions traveling to Europe to watch
their games, buy their merchandise and promote their
leagues.
Yet, back at home, we would not be caught dead
watching our own local league.
If we will not spend money on made in Nigeria goods
and services, how can we expect our Naira to hold its
value and appreciate?
Obviously we can not cut ourselves off from the world.
No nation is an island, but at least we can fly Nigerian
airlines, eat locally produced food and patronize our
football league.
If we do this, not only will our economy grow and
produce jobs for Nigerians, it will also make our goods
and services improve in value such that they will be
attractive enough to be imported.
I bought Innoson vehicles as official cars for my
staff. I have never lived to regret it one day. They are
comfortable and durable. But most of all, I know that
my purchase helps to keep jobs in Nigeria and improve
the value of the Naira.
I urge you to do the same. We have no other country
but Nigeria and it is you and I that will make it what
it is.
If we buy Naija We Will Grow Naira
His name is Ben Murray-Bruce, Odubanjo omotayo Hammed, Beauty Gboelo. We just want to
make Commonsense! Join this train to spread the news made in Naija goods
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