Nigeria awaits democracy dividend

The transition to democracy has had teething troubles

The people of Nigeria should be celebrating the second anniversary of the restoration of civilian rule.

President Olusegun Obasanjo was sworn in on this day in 1999, bringing to an end a long period of corrupt and autocratic military rule in Africa's most populous country.

Hopes were high across the nation that an era of peace, freedom and prosperity was being ushered in.

But two years later people are complaining that there has not been a democracy dividend.

There is little doubt that Nigerians now have greater political freedom.

President Obasanjo also enjoys international goodwill and more importantly, Nigeria seems to have survived the wave of ethnic and religious violence that followed the restoration of civilian rule.

Despondence

But the mood amongst ordinary Nigerians appears gloomy.

"We are in a deep mess in the country and I don't see anything worth celebrating," said one Lagos resident.

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"Our currency is in poor shape, the economy is in bad shape. There is nothing anybody can be happy about to suggest we should have a celebration," said another.

Our Nigeria correspondent says the infrastructure is still appalling, telecommunications are amongst the worst in the world, electricity is unreliable and embarrassingly for a leading oil producer, there are still petrol shortages.

He says the government's war on corruption has also been a disappointing anti-climax.

To add to the misery, food prices have continued to go up and the currency has fallen.

Information Minister Jerry Gana says Nigerians should not have to wait much longer for signs of improvement.

"This government is definitely, definitely making the necessary impact, and more and more will manifest," he told the BBC.

But despite the promises and the public holiday, which the government has termed "National Thanksgiving Day", few Nigerians are out on the streets giving thanks.