Anyone who claims that there has not been a tremendous increase in the marginalization of poor in China, with disparities between rich and poor growing daily, has either never been to China, or when they went never left their hotel room. I found many statements in this article almost offensive--the development issues are vastly more complicated than this. But interesting comments overall.

The disparties between rich and poor are growing larger, but the poor in China is not marginalized. It is like the rich is doing better than the poor, but the poor is still doing better than the poor before. How dare do I make such a claim? It is because I grew up in China and my father is from a village in the countryside. I remember that there was no paved road to our village, no electricity, and no telephone when I was young. Now the village has them all. Young people now go to the big cities for work and bring back much higher income. For the first time in China's 5000 years of history, China removed agricultural tax completely. Soon more than 50% of Chinese people will live in urban cities. I simply can't see why some people will call this marginalization.

No matter who we as Nigerians copy or what we copy from them, the important factor in the growth of our nation will still lay in the hearts/hands of the people(Nigerians).

One cannot hope for growth and forward movement when majority of the people still believe that the only way to move forward or get ahead, is to cut corners.

Next, we need to realise that China's economic growth came at a very costly price. let us ask ourselves: 1. How many people lost thier farmlands to socalled development projects e.g Condominiums or shopping malls?

2. How much environmental damage has been done to china (it's polluted rivers and lakes, smug filled cities)?

3. How many people were left behind in this Glorious economic wonder huh?

I do agree that the western approach or "solution" hasn't done us much good (if any) but that must serve as a lesson that instead of copying others, we should start from inside and by that I don't just mean home grown solutions but also education. Yes I said it. All Nigerians (including the politicians and all forms of leaders otherwise known as "Stakeholders")need to be re-educated on what it means to be Nigerian. Becase only when Nigerians belive that thier contributions would help move a country that they love, forward, only then can we start to talk of good home grown solutions (of which by then, there would be plenty).

My uncle has three sons but only one was willing to continue farming. Why? It is because one can earn much more in the factories. A lot of farmlands are idle because no young people are willing to farm. Also in China, no one owns land. Land belongs to the Nation. It is a socialistic country, remember? If people are not going to use the land, they get compensation and move on. What's wrong about it? Chinese people have collective minds so historically a lot of infrastructure can be built with collectively effort: Great Wall, Grand Canals, Palace, etc. Individulism is promoted in the West, but not here in China. Confucism always tells Chinese people to do social good.

As for polution, if you go back to Britain in 19th century, it would be the same. All developed countries went through the same process of development. Now they brainwash you to slow down your development or pick up more costly green technology, would you listen? Greening the Earth is a common goal for human beings but the developing countries reserve the rights to develop. That's human rights!

Yes, I quite agree with you that a virulent form of apathy is rife in Nigeria and that it may be at the root of corruption and under-development.

What is equally true is that people are not coming together to share ideas and to find common solutions that will address their plight. Maybe the hunger pangs are too great and that most people can barely afford to look farther than the next meal. In which case, we will have to wait until the political ("thiefing") elite have had their fill and the crumbs start falling to the common man before we would have genuine democracy and the 'spring' of 'real' development in the country.

This is an excellent text Issa Aremu. These days the more I read and listen to comments on the Nigerian issue it strikes me that there is a mammoth crowd of Nigerian intellectuals both here in the diaspora and at home who have the answers to the Nigerian problem but what consistently bothers me is why they are not in the legislative houses or in govt. Why have these places been left to thugs and cake sharers? Why have those who have the answers chosen to legislate on the pages of newspapers and television screens? Who will do for Nigeria what Jerry Rawlings did for Ghana?

My broda dem go kill us if we come!

The comparison between nigeria and china is a fair. hoewever, it stops at love of a motherland. Nigeria citizens need to love this country of ours. you know, love of country will mobilize our citizens to resist the dishonest attitute to daily activities of life. REMENBER one thing. not matter how influential or rich one is, your children will some reap the fruit of your corrupt act. directly or indirectly.

People come to china for 4 days and depart with totally wrong views,Of wanting Electricity over a night,Transportation in the next an hour and the most worrisom SUBWAY over a blink,A country with not up to 10000 megawatts ability is dreaming of metro,A country that Government has no say in land distribution is dreaming of metro.You are just making we that we live here in china a laughing GOAT because everybody knows its impossible even in the next 30 years.Our president knew some of the reason he came to china for are just impossible because all of chinese business class are afraid they invest their hard got loans and one day new Nigeria government reverse it.

We are not there yet,Nigeria as a nation is still confused, its only in Nigeria that because the state government is introducing a BRT then they need to waste lots of funds in road demacation,ITS STUPIDNESS.China sacrifised a lot to get to where they are and it will be wrong for the group of people or person that began this article to say COPY china.That is where our mistake begins,If we start copying America,Uk,Spain and lots because suddenly something works for them we forget to ask why and when have they being planning on this sucess,we are just there to cut cost and cheat by copying.we forget to think who their people are,what colour they are and at what state of mind. Let me tell you What works in Hong Kong might not work in China that why in Hong Kong all their subways NO one can EAT or Drink without paying Fine but in china all is free.

To cut my story short, To whom it MAY concern,Please DO NOT COPY china,because this will lead to another tragedy for us that we wont be able to wake up from.We as Black people,White teeth,heavy sunshine,blessed with mismanagement and draught need to go to round table and make laws that will work for us as a black nation. for example because China made money from export of textile does it mean that NIgeria can survive from this?Our weather has not given us the ability,because in Nigeria all we need is just a buba and trouser but in china they needs to be prepared for 3 different season which makes the textile factory more busy and with ability of exporting to other countries with same weather.

We Nigerians just need people that can redirect out resources because all we have has being failing us for a long time,No matter how many president we change as long as the law biding them are still same,we will continue to find ourself in the same mess.China can sentence any executive that toys with the life to people to life imprisonment or to be hanged but in Nigeria the LAW covers this people and gives them the previledge to waste the country HARD earn funds but instead we make laws that kill or stone to death these that committ commercial offenses what about you chairman, governors,senators and the president.

We shouldnt for any reason compare china with Nigeria because both are incomparable.There are still poor people in china but at least they are assured the turning point is close because there government have a map out plan of development that will work for their people.NIgeria with unknown population,how can a family prepared food for an unknown Child?Its only in Nigeria that a mathematics lecturer become minister of Agriculture,its only in Nigeria that a first leaving certificate holder heads the HOUSE while there are lots of professionals that can productively manage this positions.

Its only in Nigeria i realise you want to import an Industrial generating set and you are required to apply for an Import licence from PHCN,inwhich PHCN is the reason why you are importing Generator because they can not provide electricity security for your business.

Lots is wrong please consult the professional that got something to offer as regards developments of whom we are.

Akin China, God bless you for your view. I know some of us are patriotic about Nigeria. Until we start Nigerian Technology, Nigerian fabrication and Nigerian engineering home made ones, we will forever rely on others. Civilisation is a product of technology. Some chinese are worse than some Nigerians, the only difference is technology. Also the thirst to see other countries respecting the Chinese made the government to spend almost all the avilable money on technology like the $56 billion military budget for 2008.There will be little left for corrupt guys in china because the government want all available money to go into technology to prove to the Americans that China is a nation to watch.

If Nigeria embraces technology, most of the corruption will also reduce because it will be easy to detect and un-cover things with hi-tech than with human brains alone.For example DNA, finger prints, info tech, hidden cameras, high tech bank operations, etc

Let us call on the Nigerian Society of Engineers to stop doing conferences, meetings, paper presentations and start fabricating, inventing, discovering and assembling Nigerian technologies. Nigerian professor should stop making noise, let them invent something, even if it means they borrow money, when what they have done and the products are out, people are ready to buy. Almost does not count. As for me, before I depart on earth as a Nigerian, I will strive to invent something (a car is cute, put it in production and put my name as the first Nigerian Car Producer .so help me God.

Akin China, God bless you for your view. I know some of us are patriotic about Nigeria. Until we start Nigerian Technology, Nigerian fabrication and Nigerian engineering home made ones, we will forever rely on others. Civilisation is a product of technology. Some chinese are worse than some Nigerians, the only difference is technology. Also the thirst to see other countries respecting the Chinese made the government to spend almost all the avilable money on technology like the $56 billion military budget for 2008.There will be little left for corrupt guys in china because the government want all available money to go into technology to prove to the Americans that China is a nation to watch.

If Nigeria embraces technology, most of the corruption will also reduce because it will be easy to detect and un-cover things with hi-tech than with human brains alone.For example DNA, finger prints, info tech, hidden cameras, high tech bank operations, etc

Let us call on the Nigerian Society of Engineers to stop doing conferences, meetings, paper presentations and start fabricating, inventing, discovering and assembling Nigerian technologies. Nigerian professor should stop making noise, let them invent something, even if it means they borrow money, when what they have done and the products are out, people are ready to buy. Almost does not count. As for me, before I depart on earth as a Nigerian, I will strive to invent something (a car is cute, put it in production and put my name as the first Nigerian Car Producer .so help me God.