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  • Iheme-Nwosu: NBA protests as Ozekhome writes abductors of Appeal Court Judge

    By John Austin Unachukwu

     

    PROTESTS and appeals have trailed last week’s abduction of Justice Chioma Iheme-Nwosu of the Benin Division of the Court of Appeal.

    Justice Iheme-Nwosu was kidnapped along the Benin-Agbor Road on her way to work. Her police orderly was killed.

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) condemned the abduction and appealed to the kidnappers to free the judge.

    Ozekhome, a kidnap victim, wrote an open letter to the kidnappers.

    He said: “The abduction in broad daylight in Benin City of the Justice Chioma Iheme-Nwosu (JCA) is the saddest reminder of a beleaguered nation in the asphixiating throes of death by instalment.

    “That her Police Orderly that accompanied her was brutally killed and dismembered in the process, in a most horrific manner, sends the chill down our spines. This is a noble woman of high virtue, a fecund mind and one of the finest Jurists of great erudition, currently dispensing justice in our intermediate Court, the Court of Appeal.”

    According to him, Nigeria has been turned into “a gruesome and crimson theatre of blood, with absolutely no government protection in sight.

    “Whilst Nigerians are being mauled down across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, the politicians are ever busy politicking, instead of spreading democracy dividends.

    “While the ink is yet to dry on paper as regards the February, 2019 elections, mindless politicians are already busy, strategising and plotting for 2023! Nigeria has become an over-heated and over politicised enclave with no space for real genuine governance. And the hapless masses are the victims of this societal degeneracy and misplaced values.

    “The Judiciary, the weakest and whipping child of the three arms of government (Alexander Hamilton, Federalist Paper No 78), is mostly at the receiving end.”

    Ozekhome observed: “A minister or Senator (both of the Executive and Legislative arms of government, respectively), can afford to travel in convoys of fully armed security operatives.

    “A Judge is mercifully left with just one Policeman, usually armed with obsolete firearms. He is plucked down and dismembered like a chicken. Yet, the Judge, especially Justices of the Court of Appeal, must traverse the nation, handling never ending sensitive appeals from election petition Tribunals, in jurisdictions other than their ordinarily accustomed places of  abode or sitting.

    “They are thus compelled by the cause and course of duty to travel by road, the very bad roads that are unmanned by security personnel. They thus fall easy prey to marauders. Justice Iheme-Nwosu, (JCA), has just suffered this fate.”

    He pleaded with the abductors to set the judge free.

    Ozekhome said: “I beg you, captors or kidnappers of Justice Chioma, in the name of Almighty God,to please release her unhurt. See her as your mother that you would never do anything to hurt no matter the circumstances. I beg you also in the name of humanity and of womanhood, as you read this, to set free, unharmed, unmolested and unhurt, this judicial Amazon. Please, please, please. I beg you”.

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Benin branch (The Lion Bar) and Imo branch also boycotted  and shut down all courts in both states in response to the incident.

    The Owerri branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to which the Justice belongs, also declared a court boycott and prayer sessions for the safety and release of the Judge.

    A statement signed by the Chairman of the branch Mr. D. O Nosike  stated: “The the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Owerri branch shall boycott all courts in Imo State in protest over the kidnapping of  Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme and the gruesome murder of her orderly, an Inspector of Police and a Nigerian citizen.”

    “ The chairman thanked and urged all the members of the Bar to pray for God’s intervention for the freedom of Justice  Nwosu-Iheme (JCA) within the remaining days of the court boycott.

    “Take further notice that the lawyers boycott of all the Courts in Imo State will continue today (last Wednesday) till Thursday and all the members of the Bar in Imo State are urged to ensure full compliance,” Nosike stated.

    The NBA, Benin branch also  declared a three-day boycott of courts to protest the kidnap of Justice Iheme-Nwosu.

    Chairman of the Benin branch, Prince Collins Ogiegbean, who made the declaration at a briefing, said the boycott would run from last Wednesday till last Friday.

    He added that if by then the abducted justice still remained in captivity, they would have no option than to extend the boycott.

    “The branch  also set up a task force headed by Mr. Douglass Ogbankwa to ensure compliance within all courts in Benin jurisdiction, adding that the taskforce would liaise with chairmen of other branches of the NBA in Edo State  to monitor as well as ensure total compliance.

    Prince Ogiegbean, who was flanked by Mr. Adesina Ogunlana, the immediate-past chairman of Ikeja branch of NBA; and Mr. Habeeb Lawal, National Assistant Publicity Secretary of NBA, also called on the state government and security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities to ensure the protection of lives and properties, which according to him, “remained the primary responsibility of government”.

    “We are calling on state government and heads of security agencies to live up to their billing. Face the task squarely in protecting lives and properties and to go the extra mile to see that Justice Chioma Iheme-Nwosu is rescued and that this should be the last time such will happen.

    “It offends our senses as persons living in a society such as ours. If the orderly of a justice can be shot and the justice taken away in broad daylight what happens to those of us who do not have security around us?”

    Read Also: Appeal Court Justice kidnapped

     

    Meanwhile, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Danmallamý Mohammed, said operatives of his command were working hard with other security agencies to secure the release of the abducted judge.

    In another development the traditional ruler of Nkwerre ancient kingdom, Eshi of Nkwerre and Deputy Chairman, Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Chijioke Okwara and his kinsmen have appealed to the Federal Government and the security agencies to do everything within their powers to rescue their daughter, Justice Iheme-Nwosu.

    The monarch, who made the appeal last week, said the abduction was giving her kinsmen and women from Nkwerre sleepless nights.

    He said: “We, who are the kinsmen of Justice Chioma Iheme-Nwosu, have not slept since she was kidnapped.

    “I am speaking as the traditional ruler of Nkwerre and we are still at a loss that seven days after we have not heard anything about her.

    “We still don’t understand why judicial officers whose duties are to interpret the laws of the land and to protect the common man are being abducted.

    “We, therefore, condemn a situation where judges are not only being  harassed but kidnapped.

    “She is a judge of the Court of Appeal and if this kind of situation subsists, it would be very difficult for judges to carry out their constitutional duties.

    “We are appealing to the Federal Government and the security agencies to immediately secure her release. Again we are appealing to the Federal Government to tackle the insecurity in the country.”

  • Chieftain urges unity in Delta APC

    By Raymond Mordi

     

    DEPUTY Chief of Staff to the Deputy Senate President, Alex Onwudiamu, has called on members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State to remain united and work for the growth of the party.

    In a statement, Onwudiamu also called on members to support President Muhammadu Buhari to deliver on his “Next Level agenda” agenda. He said with the tacit support of the present leadership of the National Assembly, the country will witness greater developments in the President’s second term.

    The Deputy Chief of Staff made the call during the reception organised to receive Larry Olisa who defected to the party from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). At the reception, which took place at Ilah, Oshimili South Local Government Area, Onwudiamu said for the APC will grow in Delta there is need for members to form a synergy that will enhance its fortune in future an election.

    Read Also: No mass defection of members to PDP, says APC

    He said the emergence of Ovie Omo-Agege as the Deputy Senate President will go a long way in enhancing the overall growth of the party in Delta State. He said: “You will agree with me that with the calibre of leadership now managing the affairs of the 9th Senate, the country stands a better chance of making faster progress, unlike what we had in the past.

    “Today, our own brother is occupying the lofty position of Deputy Senate President. It is the first since the advent of our present democracy. Therefore, we members of the APC in Delta State must count ourselves lucky, because, that translates to greater fortune for members of our party.”

    The Deputy Chief of Staff welcomed Olisa to the fold, adding that he will be an asset to the party both at the ward, the local government and the state level.

    The statement also quoted the APC Vice-Chairman, Chief George Okafor, as saying that there is no discrimination in the party. He said: “I want to urge you to bring your wealth of experience into the party and help it to grow from strength to strength.”

     

  • Faleke: we’re not a rubber stamp parliament

    James Abiodun Faleke is the Chairman, House Committee on Finance. In this interview with VICTOR OLUWASEGUN, the lawmaker who represents Ikeja Federal Constituency of Lagos State speaks on various issues regarding the 2020/budget.

     

    The National Assembly is being accused of rushing to pass the 2020/budget, to meet the new budget circle. What’s your reaction to this?

    The first thing is to say that the 2020 budget being looked into by the National Assembly will be far better than what we used to have basically, because of you as reporters  have seen the level of work that members are putting into it. Unlike before when ministers found it difficult to attend budget sessions, you discover that Mr. President has banned all ministers from travelling and that they are complying. No minister has avoided this budget session.

    The members of the 9th assembly are great men and women, and I tell you that as far as the quality of this budget that is coming is going to be, its going to stand the test of time.

    What about implementation?

    There was a time that the leader then, now Speaker, threatened the House would commence  impeachment proceedings against former President  Goodluck Jonathan, if implementation did not get to a certain level during his administration.

    You see, the essence of having our budget to start from January to December is for it to be properly implemented. Before now, we’ve always passed our budget at any time. It is affecting the business world. Those in the business sector, those in other sectors of the economy. Of course, they look at the policy of the government to plan their own business. Majority of them have their own budget January too December, while government start our own budget may be at times, it could be April; at times June, sometimes July. The long and short of it all is that there is no time frame. Now, every businessman or woman in Nigeria can plan and say look, Nigeria government will release, we will know the government policy on certain things, and it will start from January. So, I can tell you, as the Chairman of Finance, one of the major reasons is to help monitor the revenue collection from January to December. Unlike what we used to have, a carryover. Let me tell you; assuming we pass this budget in July 2020, what it means is that the revenue that must have accrued from January to July of 2020/must has been used to service 2019. But now, if you have the revenue from January to July being used to service the budget of 2020, you will see that the performance will be there. We as a committee on finance are going to be firm and see that we have the adequate revenue paid into the accounts.

    The opposition has expressed the fear that this budget might just be rubber stamped because both Chambers  of the National Assembly are headed by APC members.

    Which opposition?

    The PDP Caucus issued a statement to that effect recently.

    Signed by who?

    The Minority Leader, Rep. Ndudi Elumelu.

    That it should not be rubber stamped. Well, it’s because he’s not a committee chairman. There is no chairman of any committee that has not done what he is supposed to do. We cannot be rubber stamping. For the fact that we’re APC, in the National Assembly and the Executive does not mean that we don’t know what Nigerians want. Our job is to work with the government to deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians. I mean when they were in control, were they rubber stamping? So, that’s what they were telling us, that they were rubber stamping. So, we do not rubber stamp and were not going to rubber stamp.

    Read Also: ‘2020 budget ‘ll be implementable’

     

    When the Finance Minister was here (at the budget hearing) you mentioned some things that bordered on leakages and how to plug them. People have the impression that the government generally is wasteful, there is so much repetition, and that the budgeting process is cut and paste over the years. What do you say to that?

    We have discussed with the Minister of Finance, Budget and Planning to look at the budgetary format to find a way of merging where necessary, and this is going to take effect from 2021. If we are to start it now, it will delay the passage of the budget.

    Are you asking government to implement the Oronsanye report on merging of MDAs?

    That is left for the executive. For us, we don’t play politics, we’re just making statements. They will study the Oronsanye report and if it is. I’m not saying they should merge ministries; that’s not what I mean. When I say merging,  I say look at expenditure heads, the ones that are not necessary, they need to remove them and that them of the system. We’ve been uses to one format over the years, that’s what I meant.

    Do you see this House presenting the Budget by December 1st?

    We will present the budget by December, I don’t know whether it is 1st, 2nd or 3rd, I have finished my budget for example, I have submitted, and we have harmonised with the Senate. And so many other committees have  finished  and submitted. This is the first time we’re having this kind of speed, cohesion and quality. What is important is for us to present a credible budget for Mr. President, for him to assent before January 1st.

    Are you not worried that were using N2.18 trillion for deficit and N2.45 for debt servicing?

    You see, when you inherit a bastardised economy, you try to rebuild and rebuild it. Buhari inherited a bastardised economy, and it takes time to get things sorted out. It’s not magic, there cannot be magic in it, this is exactly what is happening. For us, yes, i should be worried as a finance person. But Nigeria is still stable, the debt service is still good compared to other nations as to our GDP.

     

    ‘We will present the budget by December, I don’t know whether it is 1st, 2nd or 3rd, I have finished my budget for example, I have submitted, and we have harmonised with the Senate’

     

  • Southwest APC crisis and unending reconciliation

    Concerned stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are worried over the lingering crisis in some state chapters in the Southwest. They called on the party’s national leaders to initiate move to reconcile the warring groups. LEKE SALAUDEEN examines the implication of the unresolved crisis in the states.

     

    Most of the state chapters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Southwest are polarised. The disunity in the party affected its performance in the zone in the last general elections. The crisis became pronounced during the governorship primaries as factions were bent in producing governorship candidates.

    In the build up to the 2019 general elections the crisis led to parallel congresses that produced two  party executives in some state chapters. This also led to emergence of two governorship candidates in some states. The National Working Committee (NWC) had to take decision on which faction to recognise.

    To ensure that the Southwest APC went into 2019 general election as a united family, the NWC set up a committee to reconcile the aggrieved members. The committee headed by the former Borno State Governor, Senator Kashim Shettima had Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru El-Rufai, former Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Professor Modupe Adelabu, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Dakuku Peterside and Barrister Saida Sa’ad Bugaje as members. It went round the states to gather facts from all sides to the crisis.

    The committee held consultations with aggrieved members with aggrieved members in Ogun, Oyo, Lagos, Ekiti, Osun and Ondo. He said the committee made strong and urgent recommendations to the APC’s NWC as a major as part of step necessary to increase the party’s chances of winning all governorship, national and state assembly seats across the southwest. Shetima described the outcomes of the committee’s interaction with the aggrieved parties as promising especially given the frankness of the participants and commitment to remain in the party.

    Analysts observed that in spite of the reconciliation the APC lost presidential election in Ondo and Oyo states; and also lost governorship seat in Oyo State to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Observers argued that this was an indication that the reconciliation didn’t achieve much or that the NWC failed to implement the recommendations of the committee. Some factions pulled out of APC and voted for the opposition candidates during the 2019 general elections apparently because the reconciliation failed. Again, months after the committee had submitted its report, the NWC is yet to make it public or act on it. This explains why the crisis persists in Southwest APC as listed below.

     

    Ondo

    The lingering dispute rocking the Ondo State chapter of the ruling APC started during the 2016 governorship primaries that produced the incumbent governor as the party flag bearer. Frontline aspirants like Dr Segun Abraham, Senator Ajayi Boroffice and Chief Olusola Oke rejected the result of the primaries.

    Abraham, who emerged as first runner-up in the election challenged the result of the primary at the Federal High Court. Oke left the APC and joined the Alliance for Democracy (AD) that gave him automatic ticket to contest governorship election. In spite of the acrimony that trailed the primary, Akeredolu went ahead and won the governorship election with massive support from the national secretariat of the party and some APC governors across the country.

    The general expectation was that after election a reconciliation process would be initiated by NWC to resolve the crisis amicably. Unfortunately, that was not the case, the crisis has continued to fester.

    Analysts were of the opinion that the fight in  Ondo APC is between the Nation Leader , Senator Bola Tinubu and Akeredolu. They said those loyal to Tinubu such as  Abraham, Boroffice, a former Chairman of the party in the state, Mr Isaac Kekemeke and a former member of the House of Representatives, Mr Bamidele Baderinwa distanced themselves from Akeredolu’s reconciliation moves and his administration.

    The unresolved crisis has deepened the division in the party as more factions emerged during the last ward and state congresses held last year ahead of the 2019 general elections. There were parallel executives claiming to be the authentic executive committee of APC in the state. However, the national secretariat recognised the Ade Adetimehin-led executive that is loyal to the state governor.

    Failure to resolve the crisis before the general elections led to the defeat of APC in the presidential election in the state by the PDP. Besides, the opposition won two of the senatorial seats while APC won four out of nine House of Representatives seats. However, the party bounced back to win 23 out of 26 seats in the state House of Assembly.

    Read Also: APC to PDP: We don’t need rigging to win in Bayelsa

     

    APC stakeholders accused Akeredolu of anti-party activities during the last general election. He was alleged to have sponsored Dr. Tunji Abayomi against Boroffice the APC senatorial candidate for Ondo North. Abayomi who contested on the platform of Action Alliance (AA) lost the APC senatorial primary to Boroffice. Despite the governor’s antics, APC candidates struggled to win elections in Ondo North. The APC members in the senatorial district have vowed not to support Akeredolu’s second term ambition so as to pay him back. Even though Akeredolu had denied sponsoring Abayomi, the APC stakeholders rejected his explanation.

    Concerned with the protracted crisis in Ondo APC, leaders of the party in the Southwest held a reconciliation meeting with the aggrieved members of the party in Akure, the state capital. The peace parley was spearheaded by Tinubu. Also in the entourage were former interim national chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande, Chief Osoba and a former APC National Vice Chairman (Southwest). Akeredolu, Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi and aggrieved members were also in attendance.

    The reconciliation became necessary because of the unimpressive performance of APC in the 2019 general elections in the state and to mend its fence ahead of the 2020 governorship election in the state.

    Speaking with newsmen after the parley that lasted over three hours, Tinubu said it is important for members of APC in Ondo State to come together and end all bickering for the goodness of the party.

    Soon after the meeting, some aggrieved APC members have denounced the success of the reconciliation. They insist that nothing can be resolved without dissolving the Adetimehin-led executive.

     

    Ogun

    In the build up to 2019 general elections there were two factions of APC in Ogun State. A group was led by the former governor, Ibikunle Amosun and the other by Chief Olusegun Osoba, also a former governor of the state. The face-up between the two groups is dated back to the emergence of Amosun as the governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2011. Osoba who was the party leader in the state kicked against the choice of Amosun but he was prevailed upon by the national leadership of the party to accept it in the interest of the party.  All through,  between 2011 and 2015, the relationship between the Amosun and Osoba was anything but cordial. When the ACN merged with other legacy parties to form APC, Osoba was assumed to be the party leader in the state but Amosun didn’t recognise him.

    In 2014 the Ogun APC held a parallel congress which produced two parallel executives with one loyal to Amosun and the other in support of Osoba group. Eventually, the executive that had sympathy for Amosun was recognised by the APC’s NWC. The Osoba group felt frustrated and dumped the party. Osoba and his supporters headed for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to enable them contest the 2015 general elections.  The APC won all elections in the state.

    Shortly after the elections, the APC leadership in the Southwest embarked on reconciliation moves to bring back the aggrieved members in order to reposition the party. Osoba and his group returned to the APC. This development rekindled the rivalry between the two warring factions. Amosun said he would not recognise the “returnees” unless they reapply for membership at their respective wards.

    The crisis climaxed when the governorship primary was to be held. The Amosun group presented Adekunle  Akinlade as their governorship candidate and forwarded the name to the NWC for ratification. The NWC rejected the convention held by the Amosun group and ordered for a fresh exercise. The Amosun group boycotted the new convention which produced Prince Dapo Abiodun. His election was upheld  by the APC national headquarters as the party’s gubernatorial candidate for 2019 general elections.

    Amosun who had boasted that he would install Akinlade as his successor in office felt disappointed. He believed that he was popular enough to win governorship election for his anointed candidate on any political platform. This, he attempted when he drafted Akinlade to contest governorship election on the platform of Allied Peoples Movement (APM). The electioneering campaign in Ogun State turned into a war. Many lives were lost and properties worth millions of naira destroyed.

    The APC mega campaign rally attended by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abeokuta was disrupted by thugs allegedly sponsored by the Amosun group. They threw stones and hurled missiles at the President and other APC national leaders on the podium in order to forestall the presentation of Abiodun as the party’s governorship candidate by the president and the APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.

    The election was held under tensed atmosphere. Eventually, Dapo Abiodun won the governorship context. Ironically, Amosun who was elected senator on the platform of APC had not congratulated Abiodun. His protégée, Akinlade challenged Abiodun’s victory at the election petition tribunal, his case was dismissed. He appealed against the judgment and lost again. Though, the APC had suspended Amosun for anti-party activities but his group are spoiling for war over the soul of APC in Ogun State. The former state executive of APC loyal to Amosun had sued the NWC over its dissolution. The matter is still in court.

     

    Oyo

    The Oyo APC was consumed by the intra-party crisis as it lost presidential, governorship, state and national assembly elections to the opposition party, PDP in the last general elections. The crushing defeat suffered by the party was due to the battle of supremacy between the former governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and the former Minister of Communication,  Adebayo Shittu.

    Shittu had rallied aggrieved party members under the aegis of Oyo APC Unity Forum to challenge the leadership of Ajimobi . The group accused the former governor of exhibiting dictatorial tendencies. The crisis culminated in parallel congresses that produced two parallel executives of APC in the state. However, the NWC of APC recognised the executive produced by the Ajimobi faction. Consequently, members of the Unity Forum defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on of the parties that formed alliance with PDP to win all elections in the state.

    Reflecting over the APC crisis in the state and its poor performance in the elections, Ajimobi has called for reconciliation among the warring factions in the party. He said reconciliation became imperative in order to reposition the party and put it in good stead for the challenges ahead. He appealed to all party faithful “to understand that life is about conflicts and resolution. We have all had our shares of mistakes. No one should be blamed or absolved of such human imperfections”.

    But Shittu is still spoiling for war. He has vowed that he and his supporters would not have anything to do with Ajimobi’s peace initiative. He said he would retrieve the party from those he called predators. My group, the Unity Forum would retrieve the party from them, while the process of rebuilding the party in the state would soon start, he stated.

    A Professor of Peace and Conflict Resolution at the University of Ibadan,  Albert Olawale hailed Ajimobi for initiating peace process, but asked him to disqualify himself from setting up the committee. He said the former governor is a party to the crisis. As a result he cannot handpick the arbitrators; a neutral body should constitute the peace committee for genuine reconciliation to take place, he said.

    Olawale suggested that the national leadership of APC should come in and carry out the reconciliation of the warring groups. “The NWC should intervene in the crisis and reconcile the groups. Nothing will come out of Ajimobi’s reconciliation move. Those who lost party tickets and the election are licking their wounds. The APC national secretariat should come to Oyo State to investigate what went wrong.. There are too many wounded people in Oyo APC. The Nwc should punish the perpetrators of the crisis and compensate the victims. From there, restructuring of the party will start; then the party will be repositioned for future elections.

     

    ‘The unresolved crisis has deepened the division in the party as more factions emerged during the last ward and state congresses held last year ahead of the 2019 general elections. There were parallel executives claiming to be the authentic executive committee of APC in the state’

     

    Osun

    The crisis in APC Osun State chapter played out in the build to the September 22, 2018 governorship election. No fewer than 17 aspirants came out to jostle for the party’s ticket. On the eve of the primaries, former Secretary to the State Government Alhaji Moshood Adeoti who was among the aspirants pulled out of the race.

    Adeoti alleged that the primary was arranged, skewed and designed to favour Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, who was the Chief of Staff to former Governor Rauf Aregbesola. He dumped APC for Action Democratic Party (ADP) that offered him governorship. Adeoti lost the election, but he won in his local government, Iwo. Analysts said if Adeoti had remained in APC, the party would have won in the first ballot. He scored over 49,000 votes.

    Osun State Governor, Alhaji  Oyetola had promised to bring back aggrieved party members including Adeoti who left the party after the governorship primaries. Oyetola paid a visit to Adeoti in his residence in Iwo after attending a religious programme in the town. The development is being interpreted as moves to bring Adeoti back into  the APC fold.

    It is hoped that with the return of Adeoti and his supporters, APC will be better positioned for future elections in the state.

     

    Ekiti

    There was no faction in APC Ekiti State chapter. Immediately after the governorship primaries all the aspirants pledged their support for Mr Kayode Fayemi that emerged as party candidate. They even pledged to work for his victory at the poll.

    The only problem Fayemi had was the suit filed by the supporters of former Governor Segun Oni  challenging the validity of his nomination. Oni was also an aspirant. The case was dismissed by the Supreme Court.

    The APC Elders Forum has hailed the governor for the restoration of peace in the state chapter.

     

    Lagos

    A faction of the APC in Lagos State led by Fouad Oki held a parallel congress to challenge the main stream. Oki was the campaign director of former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s 2015 governorship contest. He had in February, this year launched the Broom United Movement, a faction of aggrieved APC members.

    Immediately the governorship primaries that produced Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu was ratified by the APC National Secretariat, the Oki group had fizzled out.

     

  • ‘Technology vital to Lagos Traffic Radio’s success’

    By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

     

    The General Manager, Lagos Traffic Radio (LTR), Mr. Tayo Akanle has emphasised that technology has an important role to play in boosting the broadcast station’s programmes, assuring that the organisation will enhance its online presence to attract followers to its various social media platforms.

    Akanle spoke during the state Traffic Radio’s Programme Planning Conference aimed at x-raying programmes and activities of the station.

    He commended members of staff for their diligence, urged them to rededicate themselves to work and called for greater commitment and innovation, saying: “The reward for hard work is more work.”

    Praising the Programmes Department for its efforts in organising the forum, Akanle maintained that the event was of immense benefit to the station and its esteemed listeners.

    “Good listenership and online followers had been a major success. I appreciate you all, continue to listen to Traffic Radio 96.1FM, and we promise to give you the best. Remember to follow us on our social media platforms so as to be updated about our programmes,” Akanle said.

    Assistant Director of Programmes, Mr. Victor Oteri commended the GM for his support to staff members  towards the fulfilment of the mandate of Traffic Radio.

    Read Also: Traffic law enforcement model for state govts, FCT

     

    ‘’I want to appreciate the General Manager for granting approval for the improvement of staff welfare. If you have a leader that gingers, encourages staff and gives you the satisfaction to press further and to do more, Tayo Akanle is a diligent one to pick,”, Oteri said.

    He explained that the conference was convened to evaluate the station’s activities and determine the progress made in fulfilling its mandate.

    Oteri maintained that content to radio or broadcasting can be compared to oxygen in human beings, emphasising that it is, therefore, essential for the radio station to evaluate its progress and fashion out strategies to push and promote its brand.

  • Infrastructure: Still a long walk in the maze

    One month after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu declared a state of emergency on roads, and gave a marching order to eight construction firms to help fix the roads and relieve residents of traffic nightmare, it is still the same old story, writes ADEYINKA ADERIBIGBE

     

    The question Lagosians may soon ask Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is: just how much longer does he need to fix the roads?

    The question, which is being asked with all sense of responsibility, is because they are seeing no sign of respite that anything may change soon, despite the imminence of the dry season, the much-expected period where much speed is expected on ongoing projects.

    Their worry was triggered by none other than the lackadaisical attitude of the contractors saddled with repairing the roads and bringing the much-needed relief to road users.

    On October 13, the governor declared an emergency on the roads and saddled eight construction companies with constructing some selected roads.

    The contractors were Messrs Julius Berger Construction Company Plc, Hi-tech Construction Company, Arab Contractors, Metropolitan Construction, Slabaugh Construction, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), Rajaf Foundation Construction, and RCF Nigeria Limited.

    Some of the critical highways and even inner roads listed among the roads for urgent remedial attention include the Ojota stretch of the Ikorodu Road, Motorways -Kudirat Abiola Way, Apogbon Highway, Babs Animashaun Road, Agric/Ishawo Road and Ijede Road in Ikorodu, as well as Lekki-Epe Expressway from Abraham Adesanya to Eleko Junction.

    Also to be touched in what may be the first phase of the massive reconstruction are the roads in Ikoyi, Ikeja GRA and Victoria Island.

    “We expect the rains will begin to subside and this is why we are mobilising our contractors to immediately start the major construction work on the identified highways and bring permanent relief to residents. I am giving all Lagosians the assurance that the contractors will start the construction in earnest and will deliver on the terms of agreements reached with them,” Sanwo-Olu assured.

    He also directed the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials to work round the clock to control traffic in areas where the construction would take place.

    Sanwo-Olu, who empathised with pain of road users, gave the contractors a marching order to start the reconstruction the following day.

    Their efforts, according to the governor, are to be complemented by the rehabilitation by men of the Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC), which during the August break, claimed it palliated 200 roads.

    Some road users have raised concern that virtually all those roads have since been washed off in the ensuing rainfalls of the last two months.

    A section of road users are even querying what qualifies Victoria Island, Ikoyi, and Ikeja GRA, while many more densely populated roads abound at Oshodi, Mushin, Agege, Okokomaiko, Ojokoro, Ifako-Ijaiye and even Ikeja, all in the mainland, all of which could have given more relief to road users, had they been attended.

    The Nation’s checks, however, showed that one month after Sanwo-Olu’s approval, none of the contractors have mobilised their workforce to site, despite the respite from the rains.

    The situation on most of the roads listed as priority by the government and for which contractors have been selected has remained same.

    The Nation could not immediately confirm whether the government has mobilised all the contractors.

    However, Sanwo-Olu kept assuring road users that he has their listening ears, and feels their pain. He sought Lagosians’ understanding as he sorts the state’s myriad challenges.

    The governor disclosed that his administration had audacious programmes lined up to address the current challenges facing the State.

    He however hinted that his strides might be hampered by “a number of irrevocable financial liabilities tied to which the State’s resources had been tied,” by his immediate predecessor.

    He said: “I know I cannot give excuses to Lagosians that I met the state in financial mess. It would amount to meaningless stories. And nobody will never know the real status of finances of any state until they get there. It is until I got there that I realised how bad we are in terms of outstanding liabilities, financial commitments to local banks and Federal Government’s bonds.”

    To finance the capital projects envisaged for the state, the governor disclosed that he might have to seek fresh funds. “We may have to widen the tax net and improve the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state, to fund some of the pending capital projects,” he said.

    At a public forum recently, Sanwo-Olu also took umbrage at critics, carpeting his administration, saying having concluded planning, implementation becomes easy.

    Read Also: About these Nigerian roads…

    Sanwo-Olu’s critics are unrelenting. They said seven months is too long for the governor who knew he was inheriting assets and liabilities of a state to make an impression.

    Sanwo-Olu, who brandishes a two-governor-in-one ticket, they claimed is too solid to be wasting time at the door of indecision.

    His dithering, they claimed, depicts a mind not cued to the assignment of his office.

    Adeola Samson was one of such critics, who believes Sanwo-Olu should stop wallowing in self-pity and face his assignment.

    “The governor knows the roads were bad, long before he was sworn-in in May. The roads have been deplorable and road reconstruction was one of his cardinal campaign promises, so why is he delaying after the victory?”

    Some users believe bad roads are a major cause of traffic nightmare on Lagos roads. They reasoned that if 50 percent of the roads are fixed, much of the choke being experienced across the state’s road network would have been addressed and traffic will move more freely, leading to a reduction in the cumulative man-hour loss in the state, which is put conservatively at over two billion man-hours per year.

    But the governor reasoned that other factors outside bad roads are responsible for traffic gridlock.

    According to him, population and vehicle count are exerting immeasurable pressure on the roads.

    According to Sanwo-Olu, more than 10 per cent of the nation’s 180 million population, reside in the state.This is beside a vehicular movement average of 240 vehicles per kilometre, as against the national average, which ranges between 11 and 15 vehicles per kilometre.

    The governor said being the nation’s economic capital, Lagos roads will always experience traffic congestion but pointed out that his administration is coming with a robust transportation system to relief the roads and lessen the pain of road users.

    He said: “In the short to medium term, we have decided to come up with intermodal transport scheme, which will see us simultaneously developing capacities in waterways, rail and road mode mass transit. Our intervention is largely focused on the road, because it is the most used method of transportation.

    “The BRT programme is on course and we have taken delivery of 800 buses, which we are currently trying to clear from the Nigerian Port. Once this is done, we will be able to remove a lot of yellow commercial buses off the road in line with our transportation plan. “

    On the road infrastructure, he promised some speed once the rainy season is over.

    Dayo Ayeyemi said with one, out of the six months of dry season gone, the governor need to breathe hard on the contractors if appreciable work is to be done on the roads by the advent of next year’s rainy season.

    A Deputy Director of Public Affairs in the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure Mr Adesegun Ogundeji said the complaints had been high this year because the rain has a debilitating effect on the roads.

    “Once it rains, the surfaces of the roads are usually washed away, leaving the roads distressed, depressed and deplorable,” he said.

    He said the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure and the LSPWC have been mandated and are working on the roads to ensure they are repaired and the pains of road users are attenuated.

     

  • Olafeso: PDP will provide strong opposition’

    Dr. Eddy Olafeso is the National Vice Chairman (Southwest) of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In this interview with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE, he explains why the party took the recent Supreme Court judgment in good fate, how the party is preparing for 2023 polls and what to expect in the November 16 governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi states.

     

    What is your reaction to the Supreme Court judgment on the 2019 presidential election?

    The remark of our national chairman, Chief Uche Secondus, is the position of every PDP member across the country. We have left the battle in the hand of God and the court of the people. And obviously, if a system is bad, you expect that things will not go right. Our prayer is for Nigeria to get out of the decadence of the last three years, so that we can begin to practice democracy, the way it should be done. The country is desirous of the rule of law, where every Nigerian will be equal before the law. For us, the court case between President Muhammadu Buhari and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is gone. The Supreme Court is the highest court of the land, whether fallible or infallible, it has made its pronouncement. We went to court to attenuate our own belief in our country and the constitution. And if the court has spoken, we have nothing beyond that.

    What is the next step for the PDP?

    We are on overdrive to strengthening our party. We are making sure that our party members, who are equally going through what every Nigerian going through, are properly positioned to vote out the APC in 2023. Our party is cohesive, those who believe that our party is not organised are merely speculating what is not there or what is real. Some even predicted PDP’s death some four years ago, but today we have 15 governors, very tangible number of senators and House of Representatives members. Our enemies have always wished us dead, but we have risen beyond their own bad wish and survive their predictions. Nigeria needs a very strong opposition, especially when the lack of plan by the APC has rendered everybody hopeless. There are no infrastructures; the foreign direct investment to Nigeria has nosedived from S4.4 billion dollars in 2016 to S2. 8 billion dollars in 2018. It is so tragic that the capital flight is almost about N2 trillions. We are sitting on a keg of gun powder and uncertainty.

    Buba Galadima said the ruling party is yet to make its impact among the ordinary people…        

    Absolutely, the old man spoke the mind of everybody. That is the reason I said the hopelessness in this country will continue to multiply over time and not because one is wishing Nigeria bad. Look at the budget submitted to the National Assembly, out of N10 trillion projected, they are not sure where half of the money will come from. They are rather looking at increasing the Value Added Tax (VAT). In this extreme case of poverty and you continue to tax people arbitrarily, you are only encouraging them not to do anything. Everybody is running away from this country because it is not working. For me, Galadima spoke our minds and that is the mind of every Nigerian. The burden is too much, but the President is flying all over the world. He has visited over 40 countries, yet he has not been able to bring investment into the country. Those Galadima is talking to, know exactly what is happening. We have banditry, Boko Haram, kidnapping, infrastructural decay, dead economy and all manner of abnormalities. As far as I am concerned, it is so sad that we found ourselves in this quagmire.

    Read Also: PDP confused, jittery over possible loss at Appeal Court

     

    How will you assess the Nigerian border closure with its neighbours?

    I am not averse to ensuring that we protect our sovereignty. So, that people don’t just use us as dumping ground. For me, it would have been a situation where Nigerians would be alerted and informed that this would be our position. And that it will take place from this period to that period. We are doing this in order to strengthen out things. This is done in order to check the in-flow of arms and ammunition into our country. This is done in order to check in-flow of contaminated and expired goods to our country. And you put our neighbours on the alert that you have been doing this, but we will not allow you to do that again. The way they did it without preparing the minds of Nigerians is too hard. Though, I am not in sympathy with any neighbouring country, which wants to use Nigeria as a dumping ground. You must recollect that even China closes it boarders. But all these affirmative pronouncements like rice farmers are now able to sell their products, but for how much? A bag of rice is now sold for N25,000, but how many Nigerians earns N25,000 as minimum wage. It is so tragic, it is unfortunate, but for me, it is part of growing up and development of our nation. Again, if it appropriately done, it is welcome.

    How is the party prepared for the Bayelsa and Kogi states elections?

    We will do our very best if the umpires play their own role. There is no Nigerian that had not gone through the weight of this severe economic depression that we are going through. The economy is growing at less than two percent per annum. That is abysmally low and unfortunate; this is a nation that recorded over 700 percent growth under the PDP. The poverty in Kogi had actually shown the door to the APC, the outstanding performance in Bayelsa is enough to retain the PDP in government. We will win the two states. The PDP will win Kogi West Senatorial District, that is where Dino Melaye is contesting from and I know that the total rejection of APC is at hand because Nigerians had suffered so much.

    Why are you so confident about the elections?   

    Go to Bayelsa and see the developmental stride of the PDP. That Bayelsa had taken a quantum leap in the area of education, health delivery which the ordinary man on the street can see, this is never in doubt. In the area of infrastructural development, Bayelsa had gone far beyond what the APC left behind and that is exactly what we are showcasing, not only in Bayelsa but in all the states were we govern. Go to Rivers State and other states, you will see that there is the hope for development. People are working in tandem with the government.

    Now that the Supreme Court had decided on the presidential election, where will the party pick its next candidate from?

    The position of my party is yet to be taken. We have organs of the party, the National Working Committee (NWC), the National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BOT), they will meet and take decision about 2023. Our ultimate concern at the moment is for unity among us, proffer condition for the future and bring back those glorious moments. It is something that we are going to work at, we have not taken decision. So, whoever is speculation now is merely trying to gorge our feelings. For me, 2023 will take care of itself when the time comes.

    Atiku said he will continue to fight…   

    You know that Alhaji Atiku is a fighter and he explained this to you. It is done for the betterment of Nigeria. In every capacity you find he finds himself, Waziri Atiku Abubakar will continue to fight. All his investments are in Nigeria and for you to be able to fight against poverty he must fight and empower the people. In any capacity one finds himself, whether as President, former Vice President or private citizen, what is most important is the Nigerian project. Like he said that he will continue to fight, I believe, he is a leader that should be believed. He had proven himself over the years and there is no reason for you to think that he should not fight. For me what he said means, we will continue to fight for Nigerians.

     

    We are on overdrive to strengthening our party. We are making sure that our party members, who are equally going through what every Nigerian going through, are properly positioned to vote out the APC in 2023

                                       

     

  • NDIC pegs coverage to mobile money users at N500, 000

    by Collins Nweze

     

    The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has said it will provide deposit insurance coverage of N500,000 maximum limit to subscribers of Mobile Money Operators (MMOs).

    Speaking during NDIC’s Special Day at the 33rd Lagos International Trade Fair in Lagos, NDIC Managing Director/CEO Umaru Ibrahim, said one of the most significant achievements of the corporation is the provision of the deposit insurance coverage to subscribers of mobile money operators to the maximum limit of N500,000 through the pass-through deposit insurance framework.”

    Umaru, who was represented by Joshua Utopidok, the Director for Special Insured Institutions, said: “As it stands, the number of licensed MMOs by the Central Bank of Nigeria is 23, with eight being bank-led and the remaining non-bank-led. As of 30th June 2019, the number of subscribers to the MMOs stood at 9,249,265.

    Ibrahim said following the issuance of the “framework for the Licensing and Regulation of Payment Service banks (PSBs) by the CBN, which stipulated the extension of Deposit Insurance Coverage to the depositors, the Corporation has designed an appropriate Differential Premium Assessment System (DPAS) Matrix for Premium computation/payment as well as set an Insurable Limit to the Depositors in the event of failure’’.

    Read Also: NDIC to tackle economic, banking sector challenges

     

    He said the “corporation is taking these measures so as to engender confidence in the system and to discourage bank customers from keeping cash at homes, shops and other places outside the banks. “Money kept outside the banks are not insured by the corporation and are susceptible to loss through robbery, theft or fire outbreak.”

    “As provided for in the NDIC Act 2006, when insured financial institutions fail, depositors of deposit money banks (DMBs), non-interest banks (NIB) and primary mortgage banks (PMBs) are reimbursed up to a maximum limit of N500,000, while the maximum insured coverage for depositors of Microfinance bank (MFBs) is N200,000.

    “However, the insured limits are periodically reviewed by the board of the corporation to ensure that the majority of depositors are covered.”

    According to Ibrahim, the corporation received 35 petitions and complaints from bank customers on issues, such as the ATM frauds, un-authorised fund transfers, and cheque related issues.

  • My fears about level of education, displacement in the North

    Hon. Muhammad Jega is the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on IDPs, Refugees and North East Initiatives. In this interview with  INNOCENT DURU , the lawmaker representing Gwandu/Aliero/Jega Federal Constituency, Kebbi State, speaks about his fears about the level of education and displacement of people in the country, the North in particular. Excerpts:

     

    Could you tell us a bit about your background?                                       

    I was born in Jega village. There is a town called Jega in Kebbi State. That was where I had my early education. I was born in 1959. I went to Jega Primary School between 1967 and 1972.  Thereafter, I went to Government College, Sokoto, for my secondary school education. After finishing my secondary school in 1977, I went to Uthman Dan Fodio University. We were the pioneer students of Usman Danfodio University, where I did a two-year  pre-degree course before I was admitted into a full degree course.  The university wasn’t offering the courses we wanted to do; so I alongside other students who offered to study medicine, architecture engineering, and agriculture, were transferred. I was one of those who were transferred to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where I read architecture. I graduated in 1982. After my first degree, I proceeded for my postgraduate in the same course and finished in 1984.  After my masters, I went for National Youth Corps Service, which took me to the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus, in the old Anambra State. I finished that in 1985.

    What next did you do after your youth service?

    After that, I took up an appointment with the defunct  Sokoto State Ministry of Works as an architect.  I was there up till 1991 when Kebbi State was created and we went back to our state.  Working in the state civil service, I rose through the ranks  to the position of a permanent secretary. I was with the women affairs, Ministry of Works, as Permanent Secretary  and  also Water Resources before I resigned and joined politics. I resigned in 2005 and was given a commissionership, a member of the state’s executive council in  charge of local government affairs.  I was there from 2005 to 2007 before I contested for the House of Representatives. I won the election  and was in the House from 2007 to 2011.

    In 2011, I re-contested and lost my seat to the PDP candidate. I contested then under the All Nigeria People’s Party ( ANPP). IN 2015, I contested under the APC and won the election and returned to the House again. In 2019 also, I won and continued to represent my people in the House of Representatives.

    Before this interview, I did  a search on you and found that even when education had not been widely accepted in the North, you had gone very far…

    (Cuts in) What I just told you was a summary of the education I went through because I have master’s degree  in Business Administration. I did PostGraduate Diploma in  Management; then I did my MBA.

    Is it that your parents are rich or educated that made them to give you that level of education?

    No.  My parents were moderate; they were not poor.  I was the pioneer student in my family.  I am from a polygamous home.  Those days, we enjoyed scholarship and that is why it is one of my priorities to ensure that we reach the grassroots to educate them by paying for their school fees. We encourage them to go to school.

    The situation has drastically changed. I am sure many of us at the helm of affairs enjoyed scholarship and could not have gone to the university if not for the scholarship. At that time, Mohammad Adamu Aliero(former Kebbi governor) was one year ahead of me in the university. Usman Dankingari, who succeeded him, was in the same class with me. The present governor of Kebbi State was one year behind me in the university.  They were the second set of the Uthman Danfodio University.  Things were much better then. We had scholarship. That is why when we look at what is happening now, it bleeds our heart because the situation has changed.

    What exactly are you talking about when you say ‘what is happening now’?

    In terms of access to education across the whole country and especially in the North.  The situation is worse in the North.  All those in control of the affairs of the North enjoyed free education. Mention names; governors, all those representing the state in the North, in ministerial and whichever positions must have enjoyed free education.

     What is the implication of this now that scholarship is no longer there?

    That is why we are in this trouble.  The standard has fallen because people are just after the certificate. The quality is not there and all the noise some governors are making in respect of education, some of them are not actually providing good quality education, the structures, the conditions of these  schools and even the quality teachers are nothing to write home about.

     

    Remember that I told you I started university education from the Uthman Danfodio University where I did my A levels. I was transferred to another university and we met students from all over the country and competed  with them.

     What,  in you view, is  the solution because we have had the Almajiri school but I am not sure it is a solution?

    The way out is to face education squarely.  We are just window-dressing for now.  Education, health and agriculture, these are the most important sectors that can rescue most of the states in the North.

    When these sectors are established, then you can go for industrial development.  But where people are not educated, where health facilities are not accessible, where agriculture is just a lip service, how do you expect to have progress?

    Talking about agriculture, the North supplies  a large percent of the food in the South  and the country in general.

    It could have been better if better attention is given to that area than what is being done now.

    What do you think is not being well done?

    So many things are not going straight the way they should go. So many programmes, like the CBN Anchor Borrowers Programme and a lot of things. There should be some  study so that you can improve.

    What do you think is wrong with the Anchor Borrowers Programme?

    Some of the real farmers are not involved. We have a pyramid shelve type of hierarchy. The best of the pyramid is where you have these subsistent farmers. Most of them do not have access to finance and mechanisation.  If attention is given to them, they can feed the nation easily. The food security we are talking about would be achieved easily and by now we would have been exporting agricultural products to all other African countries and even to Europe.

     As the House Committee chair on IDPs, Refugees and North East Initiatives, how do you feel that many people in the country, the North in particular, are displaced?

    It is sad, very,  very sad because most of these people left their homes as a result of conflict, either armed conflict, banditry and or some disasters.  The irony of this is that when people are forced out of their homes, they don’t know where to go. Sometimes the sons, daughters and their fathers are separated. You will see the father go to the left and the mother and the children to the right and they will never be together again. It is very, very sad. We commend the federal government for the establishment of the humanitarian ministry because the humanitarian concern of this country is very serious. Starting from the Boko Haram in the North East to the North West where you have the bandits. In  Kaduna, Katsina and Zamfara, people are seriously displaced from their homes.  There are some places you cannot even travel to even now. Security issues are serious matters in this country and without security, you cannot talk of any development.

    I read that the number of displaced people would rise in the future. Does this in any way disturb you?

    It means that in the years to come, there would be more turbulence. With no end to insurgency, the crisis would be expanded and it is serious if we cannot control this at this time. The financing of the security template now is taking so much of our developmental programmes because it is competing with other needs.  By the time it expands, then forget about development, forget about peace and that will displace more people.  This is why we have to come together to see how best we can tackle this. Otherwise , we would be in trouble.

    There is so much unemployment in the country. The basic needs of the people are no longer accessible. What is the price of rice today? It is serious.

    Normally in this kind of situation, women and children are the worst hit. Children cannot run to a safer place. Mothers would be victims of rape and victims to accessibility to basic needs.

    Let us get a bit personal. You are 60 years but you don’t look it. What do you do maintain a younger look?

    Laughs. I just work hard and don’t bother with unnecesaary things. I give service to my people and by so doing, I have less stress.

    Since you have been in the National Assembly, how much would you say you have touched your people?

    Many of my people. I can’t even mention their number.

    In which areas?

    In the area of education, health and agriculture because these are the basic needs of the people.

    When you look at the country at large, would you say we are making progress or moving backward?

    There is some progress but we could have reached a higher level than where we are. Nigeria has what it takes to be great. We have diverse people. Only in my village, we have more than 15 professors. There is the need to redefine our position so that the country can be better.

    I read that some constituency projects you pushed for were not executed. What is you take on that?

    That is politics.  If you are in politics, people will make series of allegations but the truth will always prevail.  Some of the people who contested with me wanted to blackmail me but they could not succeed because they had ulterior motives.  They are not sincere. That is what it is.

    How would you describe your journey into politics?

    It is up and down. I told you I was in the House before I was ousted.  Even then I won the election but the mighty PDP then used their power. It is service to the people.

    How do you relax?

    Relaxation? I have installed Samsung Health App. Every day, I walk. There is a number of walk I have to do every day. When I get home now, I have to complete it to make sure I have attained my daily steps.  This monitors almost everything- the oxygen in the body, the blood pressure, heart rate, stress level and sugar level.

  • Controversy over Diaspora remittances

    By Sheriffdeen A. Tella

     

    It is of great interest that the issue of remittances from abroad is coming into the front burner and becoming controversial like many issues that have to do with local and foreign sourced figures. Many research articles have been published just as many doctoral theses have been defended on benefits and challenges of remittances to financial sector deepening and development, and, short and long term economic growth. The articles and theses were on Nigeria, African countries and even the rest of the world but particularly for emerging and developing countries. The Central Bank of Nigeria has a strong research department with experienced economists and I am sure they are not unaware of the research issues on remittances to an economy. Possibly, they have also carried out studies on impacts of remittances on Nigerian economy with positive outcomes or otherwise. But, are those impacts visible in our books and on our economy? This brings us to the issue of data that has now become the source of controversy between World Bank report and Central Bank Nigeria.

    When President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated his economic team recently, he emphasized the need for them to generate data for Nigeria so that they can provide economic advice based on appropriate data set. Does that imply loss of confidence in the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, established and paid to collect data for Nigeria and/or the Central Bank of Nigeria whose duty is to collect and supply data on financial activities and outcomes? Could it also mean that the team is not expected to give advice until members validate their data sets? The implications of these are great.

    What we should not lose sight of is that the World Bank or International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other international agencies more often than not obtain their data from national and international data collecting institutions. In some cases, they use local consultants to gather both primary and secondary data on their country. Sometimes, they have more genuine data set than those generated locally and this is particularly true for cross-border transactions data sets. For example, while local data on crude oil export remains unreliable due to illegal crude oil production and sales, the data obtained abroad at the point of entry to oil importers remain more accurate than locally gathered data. The same can be said of the cross-border financial flows. The problem with the government and its agencies is that they are fact-scared. When information available says Nigeria’s business environment is improving or our World Happiness Index is on the rise, everybody feels happy with such information but not when the country’s Human Development Index declines or corruption index rises.

    The World Bank data showed that the amount of remittances into Nigeria in 2018 was about US$25 or US$26 billion while the Central Bank claimed that they only saw US$2.6 billion or about one-tenth of the World Bank’s value. The same World Bank gave values for other countries using the same data set; and, to the best of our knowledge, most of these countries have not disputed the claim. Given the way we fiddle with figures to meet our expectations or needs, Nigerian data are hardly reliable. The interest rates displayed by banks are always different from the actual interest rate customers pay; the profits declared by most businesses have been adjusted to avoid paying appropriate tax; the inflationary rates announced are often far below what the market prices exhibit, just as the amount of remittances that flow illegally are not usually accounted for. In this era of free flow of information, the central bank only needed to request for the World Bank data to see how the latter arrived at $26 billion. If found to be true, then the deposit money banks should explain how they recorded just 10 per cent of the revealed amount.

    Based on the number of Africans in diaspora and possibly the amount of remittances flowing into Africa annually, the African Union now regard the Africans in diaspora as the sixth region of Africa! A World Bank report of 2012 estimated that over 39 million Africans were found in North America; 112.65 million in Latin America; 13.56 million in the Caribbean and 3.51 million in Europe. Also, the World Atlas.com estimated that the African diaspora in the United States can be up to 13.6 per cent of the population as at 2018. The World Bank in 2012 reported that before the 2008-2009 global financial crisis, remittances worth US$22 billion was reported to flow into Sub-Saharan Africa annually. The Bank further stated that remittances for 2010 were estimated at US$21 billion and US$22 billion in 2011 while the estimates for 2012 to 2014 were US$24 billion, US$25 billion and US$27 billion respectively. Improvement in the economies of the high income countries over time, according to the World Bank estimates, made global remittances to jump and for emerging and developing countries it was US$483 billion in 2017 and US$529 billion in 2018 with India receiving the highest of US$79 billion and Egypt US$29 billion as the highest for Africa and Nigeria over US23 billion.

    The Nigeria value translate to 83% of the budget for 2018, about eleven times the foreign direct investment (FDI) flow to the country or represent 6.1% of the GDP (www.pwc.com). Given the 2017 estimated population of Nigerians abroad at 1.24 million and those in specialist vocations or those engaged in businesses of import and export, the amount of remittances to Nigeria cannot be US$2.6 billion in recent years. It is possible that branches of most Nigerian banks abroad as well as their corresponding banks do not remit the hard currencies to the country but instruct the home banks to pay naira equivalent to customers while using the remittances to transact businesses abroad. Chief Anthony Ani, former Minister of Finance alluded to the possibility of such practice by banks based on his past first-hand experience. Interaction of the central bank with the World Bank and other financial institutions involved in monitoring remittances is imperative to unravel the discrepancies in local and international figures. The Central Bank should not just gloss over an important issue like that.

    The essence of getting to the root of the real value of the remittances is the benefits derivable from the usage of the fund to develop the economy. It is noteworthy that remittances come from varied categories of sources but large proportion comes from the diaspora. Diaspora itself is of different categories according to research outputs, namely, religious, political, Labour, imperial, trade or entrepreneurial and cultural. The categories of concern here are labour and entrepreneurial. The labour category refers to those migrants that were forcefully taken away as slaves to work in foreign land in the past slavery activities and those who, today, voluntarily migrate to take up jobs abroad remitting parts of their incomes to their countries of origin. The trade or entrepreneurial migrants are the ones that migrate abroad to set up businesses and remit profits back home. The Japanese, Chinese and Indians have moved largely from the first category to the second while Africans and people of other developing countries are still largely in the labour category. This is also responsible for the huge difference between amount of remittances flow to China, India and others and the amount to African countries.

    The Asians governments were able to invest the labour remittances to develop human capital and their economies that encourage the earlier sets of migrants and their offspring back home and use the acquired skills to further promote production and development. That is what Nigerian government should aim at. The central bank should cooperate with government to make sure that remittances are actually remitted to Nigeria and not allowed to be used by foreign banks or branches of local banks abroad. It is economic sabotage to keep what is supposed to be remittances abroad because it helps production in those countries and continues to promote underdevelopment in the home land. The National Assembly should be able to legislate on this and even probe what is happening not to prevent recurrence in future.

     

    Tella is Professor of Economics, Department of Economics, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye.