This World is full of Risk!

This world is risky.  I often feel that this is an understatement; this world is the definition of risk! It is so risky that it would be too risky for us not to acknowledge that fact. Risk, they say, is the possibility that things would not go as plan. If we are to go with that definition, then you would agree with me that this world is risk personified cos it is currently not going according to plan. In Nigeria, this risk is heightened a thousand fold as our own world is just upside down! We only survive, by the Grace of God!

The risk is so high that you are not certain of the next minute except you are a prayer warrior. According to the World Bank (or whatever), we (in Nigeria) are not expected to live beyond 52 (not sure). But I believe that anyone that gets to 40 has really tried and should do a massive thanksgiving. Not with all the noise and air pollution, pot holes (on our roads and in our pockets), shrine hospitals, shambolic schools, bombs, crashing planes, armed robbers and of course, the ever busy traffic situation (for those that live in major cities). Our environment is indeed a mess; crossing the road to buy groundnut in the opposite compound in Nigeria is as big a risk as travelling from Lagos to Kaduna. There is always the frightening possibility that a truck would swerve towards your direction and ensures (even when you are not on the road and try to escape) that it follows you until it brakes one of your legs. You see the risk? At 2pm that day you had complete legs, but by 2.30pm one of them is gone. That is Nigeria for you – Every action, every thought, every plan is bedevilled with risk. Even when you try to avoid them, they just don’t bulge. For instance, if you decide to sit at the front of your house and order the groundnut seller to come; that same truck (when it doesn’t meet you on the road) can still trace you to your compound and crash into you – It happens. That one is worse, you might end up losing both legs and maybe hands! But that cannot stop us from eating groundnut, can it? Cos as they say, we are living by the Grace of God!

Nigeria is a scary place, no means of transportation is safe! If you decide to go by road, good luck; your bus might end up flying into one “mammy water” river. If you think Air is the safest, think again, your plane might just decide to drop you at the front of your house instead of the airport. That might sound like a good deal but you might not make it to your house from that place. Water and Trains…. Did I just mention those two, don’t just go there! A lot of people, to avoid the risk outside end up locking themselves indoors most of the time, but my sister, there is as much risk inside as there is outside. Have you seen the tide of collapsing buildings in Lagos? People inside those houses would have regretted not going out and people outside would have thanked God!  Yes, there is a risk that if you stay indoors for long, you house might protest and fall on you (TB Joshua can testify to that)! The risk inside the house would have reduced if we had electricity at all times – but Nigeria no go gree. There is a risk that the candle you set up to give you light might give you more than what you bargained for – fire!!!. Even when you decide to go sophisticated and use generators, most generators have become sophisticated evils; the fumes escape in the night, goes into the master’s house and begin to suffocate them. I know you know a lot of stories like that ehn... I agree that we are living by the Grace of God!

This risk doesn’t just exist in our environment alone, it is worse in our relationships – where we are supposed to take solace. Doing business with a Nigerian is a risk, having Nigerian friends is a bigger risk, marrying a Nigerian is the biggest (I didn’t exaggerate!) There are only few persons you can trust in Nigeria and sometimes, when you try to review the list of trustable persons; you get the shocker of your life – You can’t even trust your parents! It may seem absurd, but it is true. There is always a risk that your business partner - friend, who also happens to be your mothers elder sister’s son, can turn on you and go AWOL with your funds. Wait… Did I just hear someone say he can trust his pastor? ‘Abeg abeg abeg, no make me talk o…’ Even our dear loving wives… We only get to know that they are not so loving when someone comes to claim Junior, yes, Junior; your first son that looks so much like you by faith, except that… he is not yours!

Thank God for Grace!