Profile: James Mackay

About This Author

I have worked and travelled extensively in Nigeria over a prolonged period and during that time have come to admire the good humoiur and resilience of the average Nigerian when confronted with the problems of inadequate housing,chronic traffic congestion, poor public services, widespread official corruption and general lawlessness which characterise life in the major cities - and Lagos in particular. Life in the countryside is not much better for the average Nigerian, for although Nigeria has developed over the last fifty years into a leading oil producer,little of the wealth created has 'trickled down' to the grass roots where unsurfaced roads are turned into mud in the rains, light is supplied after nightfall by candles and hurricane lanterns and access to a supply of water can involve a two mile walk with a bucket. When viewed from a European perspective life in Nigeria appears chaotic and at some point during their sojourn any expatriate living there will find himself or herself inevitably confronted with the choice to 'love Nigeria or leave her.'