Don't trust anybody especially your own folks
Suspect everyone of the Nigerian cloak.
He might be a thief, and she a witch,
Nobody will tell you which is which.
Its because of the Nigerian Factor.

No matter how innocent or good intentioned you are,
Go abroad, and you're looked at suspiciously from afar,
Scammer, 419ner, Corrupter are the badges
You'll have to dispute especially at immigration stages
Its because of the Nigerian Factor.

Fake goods, expensive prices,
Wrapped so nicely, sold with lips that tantalizes,
Get home and plug it into your electricity,
Boom, it blows up with automatic alacrity
Its because of the Nigerian Factor.

Strike: students spending two years in 100 level
Frustration turns them over to violence and the devil,
No wonder Naija certificate is just a piece of paper
Certain to get you nowhere now or later,
Its because of the Nigerian Factor.

There is no law, there is no order,
I, myself and I are my only brothers.
Our law-makers are the first law-breakers
30 democratic parties, they are all fakers.
Its because of the Nigerian Factor.

Mere clowns, masquerading as leaders,
Promise makers, not keepers.
For money's sake, they put all into bondage
Everyday, it goes to a higher stage.
Its because of the Nigerian Factor.

Tough and trash talking
No words of peace, only cursing
People doing evil in the name of religion,
claiming to belong to the Heavenly nation.
Its because of the Nigerian Factor.

Our airplanes, flying coffins,
The highways are filled with potholes of death,
If you cant swim, don't bother about sea-travel
The only hope is in God Almighty
Its because of the Nigerian Factor.

Is this newspaper an original or a photocopy
with all the news about this and that political party
I cant see the pictures, even the text,
paying so much for what makes me vex,
Its because of the Nigerian Factor.

Fluctuating electricity-either half current or overload,
The Light bulb just exploded,
Electronic gadgets destroyed plenty plenty
at least I can see enough to finish my poem
Its because of the Nigerian Factor.

For our buses and taxis, public transport
Get ready your 20 Naira for policeman's extort
Daylight corruption, who will complain, who?
When 4 people are squeezed in a space for two
Its because of the Nigerian Factor.

© John "The Beloved" Ajewole - January 12, 2003