Hello, I’m Dr. Charles Apoki, and I’ve been reflecting on a question that troubles me deeply: why do so many Nigerians live surrounded by corruption, decay, and underdevelopment, yet seem undisturbed? Why can people witness filth, corruption, and disorder all around them and simply carry on as if it’s normal?
Recently, in Frankfurt, I was discussing this very issue with someone. I shared a comparison that might explain this mindset. Imagine standing near a gutter. At first, the stench is unbearable. But if you stand there long enough, you stop noticing the smell. You become accustomed to it, almost immune. That’s the danger of prolonged exposure to poverty, decay, and corruption—they start to seem normal. What used to disgust us becomes something we tolerate, and we even stop perceiving it as a problem.
Scientifically, this is explained by how our sense of smell works. The cells lining our olfactory canal pick up scent molecules, sending signals to the brain. But if the same odor fills these cells continuously, they stop responding to it; they’re essentially “suffocated” by it. The brain no longer registers that smell, even though it’s still there. This is the state I believe many Nigerians find themselves in, politically, socially, and even spiritually.
Across every part of our society—from religious institutions to politics, from the North to the South—we’ve become desensitized to the rot around us. We’ve adapted so much to underdevelopment and corruption that when someone tries to bring light, new ideas, or positive change, it’s met with resistance. People just can’t perceive it anymore, because their senses are dulled to anything different from the norm of decay they’re used to.
Interestingly, researchers say that if you take a person away from a foul-smelling environment, the cells in their nose will gradually heal, allowing them to smell fresh scents again. That’s why someone with body odor often doesn’t notice it themselves; they’ve lived with it so long that their sense of smell is dulled to it.
Similarly, those in Nigeria who don’t understand the need for change aren’t necessarily at fault. If you live in darkness long enough, your eyes adjust to it, and you start to think you’re seeing clearly, even though true vision would only come with the light.
My hope is that we realize this condition and seek to break free from it. We’re in desperate need of a new generation, one that can shed light in the darkness and introduce a fresh fragrance of integrity and progress. Let’s not become like those who have “anosmia” to the stench of corruption or “night vision” that’s become comfortable with darkness.
If this resonates with you and you’re interested in making a difference, join our upcoming webinar on Becoming a Person of Influence. Just send a message to +234 82121 9262 to get the flyer. Let’s work together to bring a new light and fragrance to our nation.
God bless you all.
