deve

n. a coerced payment; “protection” money. Subjects: English, Nigeria, Crime & Prisons, Money & Finance, Slang

Editorial Note: Jocular reference to actual levies made by the government for growth and development. Etymological Note: development levy.

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Citations: 2003 All Africa (Aug. 19) “Displaced Residents Flee Warri” (in Warri, Nigeria): Motorists, shop owners and commutters were subjected to varied harrowing experiences during which victims lost money, wares to youths who terrorised the area, demanding all manner of fees tagged development levy otherwise called “deve.” 2003 Onyema Ugochukwu @ Nigeria All Africa (Sept. 29) “NDDC is Reconstructing The Destruction of 50 Years—Chairman”: There is something now, they call it “deve,” that is development levy. It has become so bad these days they even charge on the basis of blocks and that is what we face. (That is, if a construction is to be embarked upon, the people would, in a manner of quantity surveying, collect commission per number of blocks to be used for the project). 2003 Barry Morgan @ Port Harcourt, Nigeria (Upstream) (Oct. 17) “Oil stoking fires of ethnic rivalry”: Onyema Ugochukwu says that after 33 months of operation, 405 projects have been completed despite the emergence of what is dubbed “deve"—an unofficial development levy charged on-site by local communities on contractor’s construction materials even though projects are meant for their benefit. 2004 Bobson Gbinije Daily Champion (Lagos, Nigeria) (May 20) “Killing the Renaissance in Delta State”: The word deve is a neologistic infusion and shortened form of “Development Levy.”

Posted 8 Jun 04 | Permalink | Tell a Friend