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Must terms and conditions apply for you to help?
<p>In Nigeria, the idea of "help" is often wrapped in unspoken rules—some written, many not. Whether it’s a roadside mechanic demanding extra cash after fixing your car, a government official insisting on "processing fees" for a free service, or even a wealthy relative making you recite your entire family tree before giving assistance, conditions always seem to appear. </p><p><br/></p><p>This reality begs the question: 'Must terms and conditions apply for help to be given?'</p><p><br/></p><p>In theory, no. Help should be unconditional—a kind gesture, a duty, or simply the right thing to do. But Nigeria operates on a different logic. Here, even kindness is transactional. A politician donates a borehole, but his face must be plastered on it. A philanthropist helps a student, but the student must become his "project" for social media. A friend lends you money, but now you owe them loyalty—or worse, silence when they wrong you. </p><p><br/></p><p>Some argue that conditions are necessary—to prevent entitlement, to ensure accountability, or to "test" sincerity. But more often, they’re about power. The one giving help sets the rules, and the one receiving must comply, reinforcing a hierarchy where dignity is negotiable. </p><p><br/></p><p>True help exists, of course. The market woman who feeds a hungry child without asking for anything. The stranger who pushes your car out of a ditch and walks away. But these acts stand out precisely because they’re rare. </p><p><br/></p><p>Maybe the real test isn’t whether we can give help, but whether we can give it freely—without turning it into a leash. Until then, terms and conditions will remain Nigeria’s silent fine print on every act of kindness.</p>
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