Nigeria The Ultimate "Trap House"

A “trap house” is defined as a building owned, rented or abandoned, where criminal activities ranging from drug dealing, gambling and prostitution are carried out without fear. In fact, a “trap house” is a place where all forms of illegal activities is occurring, but no one cares since they all are playing same game by same rules. One thing about trap houses is that they will never snitch on other members.

The term “TRAP” refers to how occupants of these crime houses are trapped in an endless cycle of crime with no outside influence. Members come to believe that what they do is normal and that their collective actions is actually the norm and hence “trapped” in this cycle of crime and criminality. There is safety in knowing that all members are doing the same thing (crime) unimpeded.

Now what does this have to do with Nigeria. See, Nigeria has all the trappings of a “trap house.” The behaviors of Nigerian citizens and our leaders to those of “trap houses” operators are very similar. With mainstream news and social media agog with stories of the recent book launch by our former president Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, and the whooping N17.5 billion naira that was raised in one sitting, one wonders where all these monies came from and why we are all resigned to this event as normal. The list of dignitaries that attended this event are mostly government contractors, oil moguls, former Nigerian presidents, vice presidents and politicians speaks volumes. One interesting thing was that most of these attendees, either have cases to answer with EFCC or have been sentenced to jail but still walking around under their immunity protection. To think that our current president found it useful to be at this book launch despite the devastating brutal conditions in the country boggle the mind.

For the host Babangida, his record is there for all to see! We can talk about his structural adjustment program which set the tone for our current condition, his double-speak skill which earned him the nickname “the Maradona” of Nigeria. What about all the folks that were killed without justification during his tenure as president, and the numerous tenure extensions of his administration. Babangida’s most devastating action was his nullification of the June 12, 1993, election. An election that was billed as the most credible election conducted in Nigeria. This man never provided any justification for his action, and Nigeria is yet to conduct one credible election since.

Now for the similarities between a “trap house” and Nigeria. First, the entire country reeks of crime. Nigeria like “trap houses” represents a nation where crime has been mainstreamed and has become the norm. Mind you the term “trap’ refers to being trapped in an endless and mindless cycle of doing the same thing over and over. Nigeria is no different!

The reason most Nigerian politicians and affluent businessmen feel comfortable in this criminal enterprise is that birds of the same feather flock together. A majority of my Nigerian people are crooks and hence we tend to tolerate each other’s actions.

As someone who just returned from Nigeria, everything done in that country bothers on being criminal. These activities range from security officials extorting money from motorist daily, kidnapping activities on the rise, the cult killings, drug addiction which is decimating our youth due to lack of jobs. Medicines, alcoholic beverages and even food is adulterated. You cannot fly in or out of any Nigeria airport without being hassled for money by customs and immigration officials. In fact, Nigerian motorists gave a whooping 21.8 billion naira to security officials as part of this extortion scheme. Mind you, this was for the holiday season alone. This is how profitable crime has become in Nigeria. However, being widely reported in the press, no elected officials have expressed any interest in holding these public officials to account or shielding poor motorists from these abuses.

Before you feel sorry for the motorists, note that their vehicles are not insured, registered or even roadworthy. They are all willing accomplices to this cycle of crime. Yes, they pay for access on public roadways and the security officials in return look the other way regardless of the condition of their vehicles. No wonder the country suffers from an unusually high number of deaths in accidents on these roadways. We are a “trap house’ because everyone is onto this game, and we all understand, complement and encourage each other.

Everyone in Nigeria is a crook. Your relatives are no different – relationship aside, anyone is fair game to even your closest relatives. Ask someone to purchase anything on your behalf and be rest assured that the final cost will be in multiples of how many hands this errand passed. In Nigeria, nothing is free! You want to buy drinks, there is a high probability that it is counterfeit. Marchants will add fine pebbles to rice to increase its quantity, you wonder whether that meat from the butcher shop is beef, goat or chicken. Actually, your best option would be to buy live beef, goat or chicken to be sure.

What does these have to do with “trap houses?” Simple, the entire country is crime ridden and just like “trap house” everyone understands the game and are willing partners to these activities. So, when we scream of politicians embezzling money, we are not looking for them to stop their criminal behavior. We are simply complaining that they will be removed to pave the way for us to take our turn. The country has become such a haven for crime and criminality that ever Lebanese and Chinese citizens are setting up shop in Nigeria because it is that easy.  

So, when you see this list of shady characters that attended Babangida’s book launch, do not be appalled that no one is crying foul. The reason is that we all understand the game and we worry that we are not part of that program. It does not matter that these donors have cases pending with EFCC. It does not matter that some of them have been convicted already and are free due to the immunity clauses. As someone once told me, our irony is that the next generation will not complain about crime and embezzling in government because fixing it will deprive them of their own opportunity. It is about “chop I chop!” Who cares whether the system is destroyed in the process. So long as I got mine.

We are a “trap house” because no one sees crime and corruption as a problem since we all are engaged in the same game. It does not matter that the Nigerian masses are dying of hunger daily. It does not matter that we have no electricity, functioning hospitals, running water, good storm and sewer drainage systems. It does not matter that our current population is unsustainable, that prostitution, gang killing, occultism, drug addiction is ravaging our youth. It does not matter that our security personnel continue to treat us like animals, and a trip that should take approximately thirty minutes will now take two hours to complete due the numerous security checkpoint and the resultant unnecessary traffic jams. All that matters is that we all are trapped in this “trap house” called Nigeria where abnormal behavior is considered normal.

Just like “trap houses” we have developed our own phrase and slang to justify our criminal behaviors. That phrase is called the “the Naija way.” So, whenever you hear about the “Naija way” it is about getting over on others. Be it paying to jump the line at the airport, overcharging for services, or paying to cut corners. Anytime you hear about the “Naija Way” it is about cheating others or cutting corners. When we tell stories of how we got over on others, we always affirm it by calling it the “Naija way.” Damn the consequences to other people or their impact on the future generation. Just like in “trap houses” we are content with looking the other way, hoping that when we act in similar ways, others will look the other way too. Parents of today observe their children controlling hundreds of thousands of naira with no verifiable means of livelihood, and will look the other way. University professors would banter their useless books and grades in exchange for sex with female students and we all think it is cute. Managers of the Nigerian Youth core program will charge students half their stipend to ghost their posting and job assignments. For these students, they are all willing participants to this “trap house” mentality and the cycle of bad behavior. In fact, it is the “Naija way!” So, the next time you hear about “trap houses” know that you as a Nigerian live in one and the term "Naija Way" has made our country Nigeria the ultimate “TRAP HOUSE!”