@Edent This is great. And it’s another recommendation that everyone go and read “Seeing Like A State”.
In this case: standardized names have the effect of handing power over individuals to the government.
By maintaining the casual attitude to names the article describes, Nigerians are keeping out of their lives a state that may not always be benevolent, or even particularly competent.
@slothrop you are one of an increasing number of people to recommend that book.
I reviewed it a couple of years ago https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2021/11/book-review-seeing-like-a-state-james-c-scott/