The three core functions of public health; Assessment, Policy Development and Assurance are the basis of public health system. However, in order for the core functions to be functional and relevant to public health efforts, integration and incorporation of essential services capable of addressing health issues to the public health core function is essential. In public health, there are 10 essential public health services. Each essential service has a defined goal and standard. Thus, lack of national guidelines for these essential services, derails public health efforts. The 10 essential services in public health involve monitoring, diagnose/investigate, inform/educate/empower, mobilize, develop policies/plans, enforce laws/regulations, linking people to public health services, ensure competent public health workforce, evaluate effectiveness/accessibility/quality services, and research for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems (Healthy People 2020, 2014).

Where have Nigeria, a country of about more than 170 million people (2012) and the most populous and oil rich country in Africa, accounting for approximately one sixth of the African population or one fifth of Sub-Saharan African population lost all credibility, governance and public health security for its “common good.”? Over the years, many Nigerian political leaders resorted in embezzling public funds and transferring embezzled and laundered money into an off-shore account without a trace (TED, 2014). For instance, recently in March 2014, the US state department announced the seizure of about $458 million dollars that were in foreign accounts for years, which belonged to Nigeria, but was stolen by former president Abacha (CNN, 2014).

The trend is encouraged not purged, enthused not scoffed, and a pride crowned for few selects. A cancerous cell, clearly seen with the prism of secretly uncounted business deals delivered with a simple handshake. Charmian Gooch bluntly summarized the temerity of the global corruption with few words.” It really isn’t about corruption somewhere over there, is it? In a globalized world, corruption is a truly globalized business, and one that needs global solutions, supported and pushed by us all, as global citizens, right here.” (TED, 2014).

The level of corruption in Nigeria made it very easy and possible for terrorist organizations to continuously emboldened and enforced successful scores of terrorist acts killing many innocent civilians periodically. The recent terror attached in Nigeria in April 14th 2014 killed more than 70 people and injured hundreds, and the death toll and injury are expected to rise (DW, 2014). While most Nigerian politicians are busy Laundering money into foreign countries, their civic duties are clearly neglected and bribed. Perhaps the only sane, intelligent, heroic and altruistic patriot who saw the corruption and terror was the late Colonel Ikemba Odumegwu Ojukwu, the military governor of the Eastern region of Nigeria in 1966, and the leader and the first president of Republic of Biafra from 1967 to 1970. His dream of independence and security from senseless brutality of the easterners meet several resistance from the Nigerian government and foreign oppositions, which is today still incapable of installing peace and tranquility in protecting the public, in Nigeria. Ojukwu intended to install peace in Nigeria by forming Biafra as an independent and sustainable state, a state within the 3 years of conflict under his leadership was innovative and productive.

How successful would Biafra have become if Ojukwu had succeeded in his freedom and liberation efforts? The possibility that Biafra could have become Dubai of Africa was there, but all the good intentions were hindered by unfortunate oppositions. Nigeria is an oil rich country. Europe is the largest oil importer from Nigerian. In 2012, Europe imported 889,000 bbl/d (44%) of total crude oil exported from Nigeria (Energy information administration, 2013). For the past decades, the United States imported 9% to 11% of Nigerian crude oil, although the importation was decreased to an average of 5% in 2012 and 4% in 2013, the oil revenue is enough to stabilize and ensure adequate security in Nigeria (Energy information administration, 2013). Nigeria is the fifth largest foreign oil supplier to the United States in 2011 and now the eighth (Energy information administration, 2013).

In public health issues, it is an unavoidable situation that solutions to public-service inaction threatens public safety, peace, liberty, national and individual security. Thus, effective and feasible public service plan continuum must involve preventative measures to terror acts, which employs primary/upfront, secondary/in the thick, and tertiary/the after-math prevention techniques in public safety/security implementation. Hence, the application of universal security and safety in Nigeria is not an intractable system. Thus, Sarason, a community psychologist bluntly stated “In science, problems may be extraordinarily difficult, but they can never be viewed as intractable, and if some fool says a problem is intractable, it is because he or she is not posing the problem correctly or does not have the brain power to work through to the solution. In science, fools are people who say problems are intractable. In the realm of social action, fools are people who say all problems are tractable” (Schneiderman et al., 2010, p. 118).

Clearly, perceptions and perspectives without the right verification prism can create tractable illusions by setting Golem standards within the community without providing real options to the universal right to life absent of terror. Hence, Nelson’s (1977) assertion, is a good guide to this effect, when he stated, “Analysts within each of the traditions have had a tendency to combine tunnel vision with intellectual imperialism. Members of the different traditions have had a tendency to be lulled by their imperialistic rhetoric. This has often led them to provide interpretations and prescriptions that the public, and the political apparatus have rightly scoffed at. Failure to recognize the limitations of one’s own perspective has made analysis of problems that require integration of various perspectives very difficult.” (Schneiderman et al., 2010, p. 119). Thus, Irrespective of political qualms in Nigeria, policy makers have shown incompetence in replicating Ojukwu’s plea for public safety, liberty, security and tranquility in Nigeria. Therefore, the cultural competence comparable to the Nigerian multi-cultural value and lifestyle is eroded by political corruption and extremist’s terror acts. Fair enough, Nigeria fate is in the Nigerians (public) hands.

References

CNN. (2014). U.S. seizes $458 million stolen by Nigeria dictator.  Retrived from http:// money.cnn.com/2014/03/05/news/embezzlement-seizure-nigeria/

DW. (2014). Terror attack plunges Nigeria into chaos. Retrieved from http://www.dw.de/terror-attack-plunges-nigeria-into-chaos/a-17566801

Energy Information Administration (EIA). (2013). Country analysis brief overview. Retrieved from http://www.eia.gov/countries/country-data.cfm?fips=ni

Healthy People 2020. (2014). Public health infrastructure.  Retrieved from http://www .healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/default.aspx

Schneiderman, N., Speers, M. A., Silva, J.M., Tomes, H & Gentry, J.H. (2010). Integrating behavioral and social sciences with public health. American Psychological Association, Washington DC.

TED. (2014). Charmian Gooch: Meet global corruption’s hidden players. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/charmian_gooch_meet_global_corruption_s_hidden_players/transcript#t-815507