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- Jul 14, 2015
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China emerged from chaos 35 years ago to become perhaps
the largest economy in the world. The BBC's Martin Patience
- who has just moved from Beijing to Lagos - asks if Nigeria
can do the same.
Swapping Asia's giant for Africa's powerhouse can be a
disorientating experience.
Leaving Beijing to go and live in Lagos is not a well-worn
path.
But both Nigeria and China are the most populous countries
and biggest economies in their respective continents, making
them ripe for comparison.
I feel I've left behind the grey, imposing order of Beijing for
the chaos and colour of Lagos, where fun and frustration are
doled out in equal measure.
Part of the correspondent's condition is that your ears prick
up at the slightest mention of a previous posting.
Imagine my surprise then when, watching last month's
inauguration of the new Nigerian cabinet, a remark about the
Great Wall of China cropped up during the opening address.
The point, I believe, that the official was trying to make was
that the Great Wall was not in itself enough to protect China
from invaders - the government and people need to be
incorruptible as well.
I say believe because the audio on the state broadcast
briefly cut out.
In China, an audio glitch at such an important event would
cause heads to roll in shame. In Nigeria, people roll their
eyes and shrug it off.
It is just one small example of how the Chinese are known
for getting things done, while in Nigeria there is a reputation
for cutting corners.
Whereas Beijing is a city of smog (the killer downside to the
country's breakneck development), Lagos is a city of
generators (the sound of a nation failing to realise its
economic potential because it can't get its power grid in
order).
But when it comes to business, Nigeria and China are alike
in one inspiring and infectious way.
Both possess an extraordinary entrepreneurial spirit, a can-
do-attitude, that if you want to build something you'd better
do it yourself.
From street hawkers and small shop owners, to CEOs of
large companies, people here survive and, occasionally,
flourish despite all the obstacles.
As for a journalist operating in Nigeria, there is one major
difference.
In China, people would shut down at the sight of a foreign
journalist, silenced by government repression.
In Nigeria, people and politicians don't shut down, they
unload.
They talk and talk, and talk some more - they love it.
Everyone seems to have an opinion on everything.
For a journalist this is both a joy and, as I am beginning to
discover, a bit of a nightmare.
In China, people and particularly officials said barely
anything, so you would spend hours parsing the meaning.
In contrast, in Nigeria you feel you are drowning in
information and quotes.
Working out what is actually true can be just as time
consuming.
When I talk about China to Nigerians, there is an awe and
respect that I have heard in many other developing countries
about China's remarkable economic achievements in the
past three decades.
And, interestingly, while in China the dizzying pace of change
has now left many feeling unfulfilled by their material gains,
in Nigeria there is a suffocating sense of people wanting
meaningful change.
Nigerians want to see infrastructure built, they want better
schools and hospitals, and, perhaps, most importantly, they
want jobs to better themselves.
They want a government that will build and not pilfer.
The Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe once wrote that there
was nothing basically wrong with the Nigerian character.
The author blamed the country's ills squarely on a failure of
leadership.
"The Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of its
leaders to rise to the responsibility, to the challenge of the
personal example, which are the hallmarks of true
leadership," he wrote.
There is now a sense that Nigeria could be at a turning
point.
Just as 1979 marked the start of China's economic
transformation, many Nigerians hope that 2015 will be the
beginning of a new era for their country.
They are placing their faith in the former army general they
have elected leader, President Muhammadu Buhari.
With his no-nonsense style, he has already told his
countrymen that they are too "unruly" and need to learn how
to queue properly.
In a nation where politicians are notorious for plundering
state coffers, Mr Buhari has a reputation for unimpeachable
honesty and integrity.
People now believe that he will get roads and bridges built
(rather than the money being stolen by corrupt officials)
which in turn will help get the economy moving.
With almost two million Nigerians entering the job market
every year, the country faces a demographic dividend or a
demographic disaster.
One man is shouldering the expectations of millions.
But can Mr Buhari pull it off? Evidence might suggest
otherwise.
But then remember China.
Thirty-five years ago the country was emerging from the
chaos of the Cultural Revolution.
Now, by some estimates, it is the largest economy in the
world.
With the right leadership, countries can be transformed.
www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-34962106
the largest economy in the world. The BBC's Martin Patience
- who has just moved from Beijing to Lagos - asks if Nigeria
can do the same.
Swapping Asia's giant for Africa's powerhouse can be a
disorientating experience.
Leaving Beijing to go and live in Lagos is not a well-worn
path.
But both Nigeria and China are the most populous countries
and biggest economies in their respective continents, making
them ripe for comparison.
I feel I've left behind the grey, imposing order of Beijing for
the chaos and colour of Lagos, where fun and frustration are
doled out in equal measure.
Part of the correspondent's condition is that your ears prick
up at the slightest mention of a previous posting.
Imagine my surprise then when, watching last month's
inauguration of the new Nigerian cabinet, a remark about the
Great Wall of China cropped up during the opening address.
The point, I believe, that the official was trying to make was
that the Great Wall was not in itself enough to protect China
from invaders - the government and people need to be
incorruptible as well.
I say believe because the audio on the state broadcast
briefly cut out.
In China, an audio glitch at such an important event would
cause heads to roll in shame. In Nigeria, people roll their
eyes and shrug it off.
It is just one small example of how the Chinese are known
for getting things done, while in Nigeria there is a reputation
for cutting corners.
Whereas Beijing is a city of smog (the killer downside to the
country's breakneck development), Lagos is a city of
generators (the sound of a nation failing to realise its
economic potential because it can't get its power grid in
order).
But when it comes to business, Nigeria and China are alike
in one inspiring and infectious way.
Both possess an extraordinary entrepreneurial spirit, a can-
do-attitude, that if you want to build something you'd better
do it yourself.
From street hawkers and small shop owners, to CEOs of
large companies, people here survive and, occasionally,
flourish despite all the obstacles.
As for a journalist operating in Nigeria, there is one major
difference.
In China, people would shut down at the sight of a foreign
journalist, silenced by government repression.
In Nigeria, people and politicians don't shut down, they
unload.
They talk and talk, and talk some more - they love it.
Everyone seems to have an opinion on everything.
For a journalist this is both a joy and, as I am beginning to
discover, a bit of a nightmare.
In China, people and particularly officials said barely
anything, so you would spend hours parsing the meaning.
In contrast, in Nigeria you feel you are drowning in
information and quotes.
Working out what is actually true can be just as time
consuming.
When I talk about China to Nigerians, there is an awe and
respect that I have heard in many other developing countries
about China's remarkable economic achievements in the
past three decades.
And, interestingly, while in China the dizzying pace of change
has now left many feeling unfulfilled by their material gains,
in Nigeria there is a suffocating sense of people wanting
meaningful change.
Nigerians want to see infrastructure built, they want better
schools and hospitals, and, perhaps, most importantly, they
want jobs to better themselves.
They want a government that will build and not pilfer.
The Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe once wrote that there
was nothing basically wrong with the Nigerian character.
The author blamed the country's ills squarely on a failure of
leadership.
"The Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of its
leaders to rise to the responsibility, to the challenge of the
personal example, which are the hallmarks of true
leadership," he wrote.
There is now a sense that Nigeria could be at a turning
point.
Just as 1979 marked the start of China's economic
transformation, many Nigerians hope that 2015 will be the
beginning of a new era for their country.
They are placing their faith in the former army general they
have elected leader, President Muhammadu Buhari.
With his no-nonsense style, he has already told his
countrymen that they are too "unruly" and need to learn how
to queue properly.
In a nation where politicians are notorious for plundering
state coffers, Mr Buhari has a reputation for unimpeachable
honesty and integrity.
People now believe that he will get roads and bridges built
(rather than the money being stolen by corrupt officials)
which in turn will help get the economy moving.
With almost two million Nigerians entering the job market
every year, the country faces a demographic dividend or a
demographic disaster.
One man is shouldering the expectations of millions.
But can Mr Buhari pull it off? Evidence might suggest
otherwise.
But then remember China.
Thirty-five years ago the country was emerging from the
chaos of the Cultural Revolution.
Now, by some estimates, it is the largest economy in the
world.
With the right leadership, countries can be transformed.
www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-34962106
