CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF EXCESSIVE DESIRE FOR MATERIAL WEALTH AMONG NIGERIANS.

In Nigeria today, people struggle to make money everyday and in the process a lot of crimes are committed. This phenomenon has risen to an alarming proportion. It is common nowadays to see Nigerians, especially youths, who want to have all the material comforts in the whole world without being ready to work at all. Even those who have no means of livelihood want to ride posh cars, live in palatial buildings and go about with the most beautiful women of their choices.
Excessive desire for material wealth as a common phenomenon nowadays is caused by our society's warped and twisted values. The society as a whole recognizes those who can cut corners and make their wealth without caring to ask how they acquire their wealth. Hard work, as a value, is not cherished by Nigerians. As a result, many Nigerians struggle daily to acquire wealth mostly by crooked means.
Furthermore, the government is not helping matters. Government officials at the helm of affairs see their positions as a means and an opportunity to acquire wealth. There have been cases of government officials acquiring wealth at the expense of the tax payers.Government officials, out of greed, fail to provide the necessary social amenities such as pipe-born water, electricity, etc that could make Nigerians have a sense of belonging and comfort. An average Nigerian feels insecu red when thinking about his future. Nigerians believe that it is a sin to be poor in Nigeria. Therefore, they do all sorts of things to acquire wealth excessively when they are still young so that they will not suffer when they become old.
Nigerians' excessive desire for material wealth has taken a great toll on the country, especially the country's image. Hardwork and honesty are no longer the best policies as they are not acknowledged and rewarded accordingly. The psyche of every Nigerian has been twisted towards acquiring wealth excessively. This has made many Nigerians to take to crimes like armed robbery, hired killing, fraud forgery. prostitution and drug trafficking. Many Nigerians have lost their lives to armed robbers and hired assassins. Many others lose their life savings to fraudsters commonly referred to as 419-ners. The image of the country has been called to question by the international community as a result of drug trafficking and common occurrences of assassination and armed robbery.
The craze for excessive material wealth among Nigerians should give the government concern. All necessary steps towards curbing this malaise should be taken by the government so as to redeem the image of the country.
Helen Okorie.
Okeira Grammar School.