Analyzing Nigerians happiness level in my own words, I’ll first like to elaborate on the word happiness, then what the causes of happiness are, how people act and comparing the Nigerian situation simultaneously. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines happiness as a state of wellbeing and contentment or feeling satisfied that something is right or that something has been done right. Referring the above definitions, Nigerians are not content; they are not satisfied, and not living well. Nigeria is a country with people living in the suburbs with no electricity, clean water, good health facility and delta youth turned kidnappers.
I wonder why anybody should be satisfied to say that Nigerians are the happiest people on earth when in the real sense the people are annoyed that the government is not doing what it ought to do (Chima). Those they voted in to rule them have neglected them. It is not right to say Nigerians are happy when diseases of all sort, poverty, ignorance, low quality education and corrupt leaders are prevalent. Whoever it is that made this statement really is not living in Nigeria or has forgotten the statement “a hungry man is an angry man”. Nobody is truly happy when they’ve not fed in days, affected by physical or mental illness, lack sufficient money to live at a standard considered comfortable. The decision makers and religious leaders have somewhat succeeded in deceiving the less privileged Nigerians to accept destitution or their deserving state with the hope that they will someday receive their rewards of riches and good life in heaven.
Nigeria on the other hand has all the resources to make the citizens comfortable with all their basic needs provided. The Gross Domestic Product is widely thought to be the best measure of economic wellbeing. Nigeria has a GDP per Capita of $920; this is what a Nigerian earns averagely per annum and a life expectancy of 60 years (CIA). Instead, the ruling class steals the wealth of the nation while the people turn around to praise them as successful. Nigerians are not happy at all and instead of fighting for their rights they suffer in the midst of vast natural resources and plenty wealth. It’s not possible for Nigerians to be happy when the only available jobs are public bus conductor or okada riding.
They cannot be happy when life in the country is very unpleasant and savagely violent. It is not possible to say Nigerians are happy when people are not sure of what the next day has in store for them. How is it possible to be happy when the people are suffering, frustrated, children dying from lack of food and illnesses, where lives and properties are not secure. Of course not everybody in Nigeria is unhappy; there exist a minority that is comfortable and satisfied. A minority made up of politicians who lie to us every electoral season to get our vote; a minority that stole the happiness of the remaining citizens; a minority that have redirected the wealth of the country to their pockets. But then again, Nigerians cannot be the happiest people on earth because of this minority.
A research by Harry Williams revealed that happiness could be caused by happenings in a person’s life be it physiological, biochemical in the body and the nature of life (Harry). Sure Nigerians might have had happenings in their lives; like good outings or lovely time out with their friends. This does not mean they are happy. It means they are doing something to take the stress out or take their minds off their problems. Happy people do the right things at the right time; they always have smiles on their faces, they do not vandalize properties, they follow rules and are orderly. A nation that has youths that vandalize pipelines, a nation where youths participate in the Jos killings, a nation where the youths are used as machineries for political fight, a nation where drivers beat the traffic lights intentionally cannot be happy.
Nigerians are obviously very optimistic people. There’s a characteristic of an entrepreneur in every Nigerian as they strive to survive their day-to-day lives. Nigerians seem to be perplexed at any individual who has no strong desire to want to achieve something good for himself/herself or family. They want to go places and accept rightly that they can. These beliefs powers their confidence and hopefulness and hence work towards happiness (Bim). As a living proof of this, I live and learned in Lagos. I have noticed many unpleasant things and managed to come out of it smiling even when the situation doesn’t warrant it and this also applies to many Nigerians. Nigerians believe firmly in the labor theme tune “things can only get better” and there is a Yoruba saying which says, “If a Friday is to be sweet, you will know by Thursday”. Nigerians might not be happy about everything they are going through but perhaps, they’ve already seen what Friday holds and what they see makes them happy (Bim).
They live every day of their lives saying: “E go better”, “God dey”, “Na to dey jolly dey go”. These are Nigerian slogans that mean it would get better; God does exist; and enjoy your life. These people say these things not because they’re happy but because as the religious people, we are taught that if there is life there is hope. I would rather say Nigerians are hopeful people not happy.
The statement “Nigerians are the happiest people on earth” is obviously myopic. The survey that reported this statement lacks reliability. On what bases were the countries rated. It is high time people realize that Nigerians are unhappy; they live in silent suffering and as the saying goes “suffering and smiling”. One cannot say for sure if a person is happy by asking them. The average Nigerian is always bothered with security, lack of electricity, poverty and financial insecurity. Nigerians are happy because they can persevere and accommodate but they are not the happiest people on earth. Their happiness comes from living and experiencing life through the poorest quality life can offer and it is said to be hopefulness and being confident about the future.(Oringamje Nneka)
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