By: Bede Samuel
Rivers State Nigeria
Capital: Port Harcourt
Size: 11,077 km2
Population: 7.3 Million (2018 estimate)
GDP: $14.1 Billion (2017 official estimate)
GDP per capita PPP: $4500
HDI: 0.542 (2016)
People: Multi ethnic, 3 Major tribes.
Life Expectancy: Male 54.7, female 55.7
Rwanda
Capital: Kigali
Size: 26,338 km2
Population: 12.79 million
GDP: $10.211 billion
GDP Per Capita PPP: $2500
HDI: 0.524
People: Multi ethnic, 2 major tribe
Life Expectancy: Male 66.1, female 69.9
Analysis
Though landlocked and densely populated, Rwanda is a developing country that has undergone rapid industrialisation thanks to successful government policy. Since the early-2000s, Rwanda has witnessed an economic boom improving the living standards of many Rwandans. The Government’s progressive visions have been the catalyst for the fast transforming economy. The President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, has noted his ambition to make Rwanda the “Singapore of Africa”.
Bounded by the Atlantic ocean and having large deposits of hydro carbon, glass and silica sand, Rivers state is one of the most naturally endowed parts of Africa. It produces 50% of Nigeria’s crude oil. However from the statistics above, it is clear that life in this very beautiful part of Africa is not better than life in Rwanda which has very little natural resources and land.
It shows again why seperatism in Nigeria is not a bad politics. Nigeria is too large and diverse to cordinate and develope a modern society. Ethnic tensions and religious intolerance contributes to keep the beautiful people of Nigeria down.
The South East of Nigeria which has clamoured for Biafra for years are always reminded that they are landlocked and with little oil. But here is Rwanda, a landlocked African Nation without resources (except its beautiful people) that survived a brutal genocide, gradually draging itself out of poverty without oil.
Think on this today.
Bede writes from Port Harcourt
