THERE are many selling points in the ongoing World Cup tournament in Qatar. Despite the fact that the lackluster performance of the Super Eagles of Nigeria had denied them the opportunity to play in the quarterly tournament, The Hope observes that both the government and the people of Nigeria have a lot to learn, though viewing through the tubes. From the architectural designs of the stadia, and the environment to the hospitality and civility of the Qataris, much can be admired and copied.
HOWEVER, the event that captured our attention, above all things, is the character of the Japanese fans. They had waited behind to clean the stands right after their match with Germany. The Blue Samurai, fans of the Japanese team, started this tradition of distributing hundreds of rubbish bags and cleaning up rubbish during and after the match, at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. This they did even after losing to Belgium in that game. In other words, win or lose, the culture of cleanliness remained sacrosanct to the lives of the Japanese.
WE observe that this attitude of cleanliness that has brought Japan to global recognition, even beyond their shores, contrasts the attitude of an average Nigerian. Whereas the attitude of cleanliness seemed natural to the Japanese, it has become a forced culture here. Forgetting that the use of the environment dictates how the environment treats one, many Nigerians seem to love the habit of dirtiness.
THEREFORE, open defecation, intentional littering of the environment and poor waste management despite the forceful monthly environmental sanitation has become a norm. We however observe that before the inauguration of the War Against Indiscipline (WAI), different tribes had instilled the culture of cleanliness in their wards, right from the cradle. The defiance of Nigerians to cleanliness seems however to depict the defiant attitude of the people towards their nation and a revolt against government’s neglect of the people.
THE Japanese culture of cleanliness takes root in Shinto, their indigenous religion, and cleanliness was its core teachings. The key idea of Shinto was to ward off Kegare (which translates to impurity, which may be death and disease). Thus, it is believed that uncleanness harbours death and diseases. This idea is in tandem with most tribal beliefs in Nigeria, but the deviation lies in the fact that Japan had upheld this culture and imbued it in wards right from infancy. We therefore insist that since dirtiness is alien to our traditional culture, it is the responsibility of all families to train their family members in the art and act of inward and outward cleanliness.
FURTHERMORE, given the positive significant relationship between dirt, disease, and death, proactive legislations should be enacted and enforced. We recall that in the past, sanitary officers do visit localities and even homes to ascertain the level of compliance with basic rules of hygiene.
MANY houses receive deadlines for the provision of toilets, waste disposal bins, and clean environments. While recalcitrant homes were sealed, erring people were taken to court, fined or jailed. We strongly insist that this tradition is revived especially by local governments; ably supported by the State and Federal governments. When a new or hitherto dead culture is to be revived, persistent and unrelenting awareness with force is required. That is why at The Hope, we believe the teaching, carrot and stick approach is needed to instill in Nigerians, the needed hatred against dirt and unclean environment.
CLEANLINESS does not however come cheap. The Japanese went to the stadia, bag in hand to get rid of the dirt. It is therefore imperative for government and institutions to make garbage bags, dustbins, and equipment available for the collection of dirt, for appropriate wastes administration. It would therefore become necessary for different governments to erect waste bin at strategic places for the collection of refuse, and clear waste bins often and as appropriate.
FINALLY, the Japanese who went to Qatar had by their good behaviour, paved a way for the respect and acceptance of other Japanese travelling to other countries. We therefore implore all Nigerians to, (for the sake of those who would seek international travels to other nations) develop, and exhibit characters that would change the present perception of Nigerians to fraudsters and mischief-makers. THE HOPE believes that poverty should not be the reason for our dirtiness; neither should our behaviour abroad inhibit the grant of travelling permits to our brothers and sisters who are seeking for greener pastures overseas.
