Builders or Crossers: Tale Of The Bridge That Broke A Village.

My father told me a story…

You know… those bridges (decks) that were made locally by securely tying sticks together across three parallel strong cables with 2 as guides, all anchored at either end.

This bridge connected the village to schools, hospitals, and other villages on the other side of the river. In fact, the young men could travel to the cities to work in the factories.
Life was beautiful… until a storm blew a few sticks off a section of the wooden deck.

Life came to a halt. Everybody thought “someone would fix that soon”, but days became weeks and weeks became months.

One day, some brave men came together, seeing an opportunity to make money. They charged a token to help women, young children and men who had been scared to cross the bridge. After all, it was just a few inches of the bridge that was blown away.

Life continued… until another storm happened and more sticks got blown away.
But no one could be bothered.

The “bridge crossers” as they were then called, simply increased their charges. The market women didn't mind the additional costs either, they simply spread the cost across their goods. Farmers paid the extra with a smile, thanking the men for their service to the community.

A few days before the community sector leadership elections, there was another storm, and a few more sticks got detached.

It was perfect timing for the contestants to discuss their plans for the bridge.

Some contestants promised to empower community youth with ‘bridge-crossing’ skills and gears (hand gloves and boots) so that they can become employable as bridge crossers in the future. Others promised they would build gyms to help the young men become strong enough to qualify for the ‘bridge crosser’ certification examination. Someone even promised to diversify the bridge-crossing sector so that the proceeds would be used to make life easier for every resident…for example, the young men that had passion for cutting down overhanging tree branches around the bridge would be supported.

The manifestos were fantastic and the residents couldn't be more impressed as they gladly elected their community leaders.

Training centers were built, and soon, young men were enrolling in ‘Bridge-Crossing Certification Programs’. The trainees received their specialized gear (padded gloves, reinforced boots, & balancing sticks). The village celebrated the innovation.
Market women adjusted their prices once again, ensuring the cost of goods reflected the new professional fees of the bridge crossers.
Life continued, and despite the inconvenience, people adapted.

This time, the entire bridge collapsed, leaving only two shaky ropes dangling over the raging river. Bridge-crossing was no longer an option. Panic set in.

And that’s when an old man spoke up.

"From the beginning, we needed bridge builders and repairers, not bridge crossers. We trained people to survive a broken system instead of fixing it. Now, we have nothing left to cross."

His words sank deep. The villagers realized then...
That the real solution was never in helping people 'cross' the bridge but in making sure it works, and everyone could cross, anytime they wanted.

That night, a few young men gathered. They did not bring crossing gloves or boots. They brought ropes, wood, and nails. They started rebuilding.

At first, the villagers were skeptical. "Who will pay you?" they asked.
"We will all pay," one of the young men replied. "Because a working bridge serves everyone, not just those who can afford to cross."

It took months, but the bridge was restored.
The men made sure it was stronger than before.
Trade flourished again.
Children went to school without fear.

Everyone had equal opportunities to access the life they wanted. And this time, when the storm came, they knew what to do.

The lesson?

If you make money from broken systems, you’ll never want them fixed.
Africa doesn’t need more bridge crossers; we need bridge fixers, builders even.
People who don’t just find a way to survive dysfunction but commit to solving it at the root.

Which one are you?

Why does this matter?

For years, Nigeria’s housing market has been operating the same way.

Instead of fixing the affordability crisis, we’ve been adapting to a broken system. Offering ‘affordable’ rent that results in unsustainable lifestyle, building houses people still can’t afford.
But how long before the entire bridge collapses?

At PetitHaus, our goal is fixing the system, not just creating “quick-fixes” for a broken one.
But to fix the bridge, we need to work together, to break barriers that hold us back. This starts with blurring the class (social/cultural/political) divides that only helps a few.

We're leading with equal opportunities for eeryone to own high-quality, dignifying homes within their income, without compromising quality of life.

Want to join us?

You can also request a free copy for personal perusal or future reference.
Thank you.