In the United Arab Emirates, all the states have their State Police forces. Because of the cosmopolitan nature of the UAE, the Police officers are men and women from virtually all countries of the world.
It helps to stem crime. They do next to nothing daily as these are cameras everywhere here. Incidents of petty theft or armed robbery don’t come up here. According to Emmanuel Amuneke, you can forget your expensive handset on a chair here and return to find it untouched.
That is how efficient the security system here is. The Policemen here cruise in airconditioned jeeps. They don’t blare their sirens. It is unbelievable but that is the true picture, which makes the place about the safest place on earth.
In contrast, Nigeria has one single Police force, which has been bogged down by all problems since its birth. The officers, who are poorly paid, run on rickety and old patrol cars, without spare tyre.
M.D Abubakar, who was once in the NFA, has been trying to change the fortunes of the Police, but his efforts are yet to see green-light because we have not drawn lessons from UAE, which is the second home to most of our leaders.
Crime will continue to thrive in Nigeria if we don’t adopt modern-day technology and empower our Police force with the right tools.
Running out of Dinas
My Editor, Tony Ubani ensured that I was given enough money to come to the UAE to cover the FIFA U-17 World Cup. But as the competition runs to a close this weekend, I have big holes in my pocket.
Reason, a Dina exchanges for N45, which makes it difficult for Nigerian journalists to cope with living here. The other day, as I walked through Deira, the bustling business area of Dubai, my Diran predicament was compounded when I saw lovely things that I wished to buy for the guys back home in Nigeria.
It came at a cheap fee here but after converting it to naira, it became so expensive to buy.
With the Eaglets not leaving this place until after November 8, I knew that purchasing the items would further worsen my situation. A friend calmly advised me to allow it go because we were running out of Dinas.
Doing business with China
The Chinese are an industrious people. They have taken over in Nigeria, especially Lagos, where their goods are aplenty in our shops.
The government, especially, Lagos is doing serious construction business with the Chinese, who are building new roads in various parts of Lagos like Ikorodu and Mile2-Badagry roads.
But in UAE, where the U-17 World Cup is holding, the Chinese are an endangered specie. Reason: their products don’t meet the standard required here.
Everywhere you go, you here people talking down the Chinese. Though their products are cheap, people still prefer to buy expensive products from Malaysia, India, Japan and Italy because of their high quality and durability.
The other day, a migrant told me that he was amazed that Nigeria was contracting the construction of roads to Chinese firm, noting that the roads would not last long.
And just the other night, a Pakistani cab driver, mocked the Chinese penchant for poor quality jobs as he drove us round Baniyan Square.
He said that because of their poor quality products, the Chinese have employed the buy one get one free marketing plan.
My colleagues laughed as the driver added that even with the promotion plan that Chinese products were a no-go for discerning shoppers
Shopping for Christmas
Nigerians have descended on Dubai to shop for the forthcoming Christmas. This is the place that shoppers from all parts of the world come to shop for high and good quality goods at the best prices.
What you get in Dubai is pure quality.
All the top fashion brands in the world have their shops here. As expected, Nigerians are already shopping for the Christmas season.
I have been here for more than 17 days and have seen lots of high quality goods and enjoin all to come visit Dubai to shop for goods for the family and possibly to sell to those who can’t make it here because of the cost of flight tickets and hotel accommodation.
It’s a win-win situation if you shop here.
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