Category: Business

IN what appears to be an obvious blame game, the Director General of Consumer Protection Commission, CPC, Mrs Ify Umenyi, has attributed the lacklustre performance of the commission to the failure of the federal government to empower the commission through sustainable policy.

She added that lack of funding from the government has rendered the commission incapacitated in the last 13years and has made it difficult for Nigerians to feel the impact of the agency.

She said notwithstanding that, the current administration of the agency was resolved to uplifting CPC from an obscure position to a prominent one, using its limited resources, through the innovative execution of its policies and programmes.

Umenyi said the agency so far has been able to establish offices in the country’s six geo-political zones, in Lagos, as well as in the Federal Capital Territory.

She said CPC under her dispensation had also executed surveillance and enforcement operations in different markets as well as the successful prosecution of offenders in Kano, Lagos, Zaria and Kaduna.

Umenyi also listed the successful resolution of hundreds of thousands of consumer complaints; conducting of quality tests and analysis, introduction of products and services listing and monitoring programmes, as well as collaboration with sector regulators and national standard bodies as part of the agency’s accomplishments.

MASS Communication 101 threw up so many “must-know” at the new undergraduate students in Mass Communication department to the extent of amazement. On the one hand, the new learning was compulsory for purpose of passing examination and on the other hand, it registered as though one was reliving Mongo Park’s experience when he “discovered” River Niger. One of such exciting new learning was the peculiar nature of those characteristics that distinguished radio from other media of mass communication: ubiquitous, most penetrating, rural, largest listenership engagement, cheapest for advertisers (both in terms of cost per reach and opportunity to hear/reach…the peculiarities continue.

A good number of my course and class mates opted for radio under broadcasting, as against television, not to mention print journalism. I was tempted to try out radio broadcasting, but there was John Momoh always on TV screen at 9pm with the national network news, and coming to class the next day with all the trappings of a super star, and then the confinement (or entrapment?) of the audio studio…I was not thrilled.

For me and some others in my class then, print journalism enables the most freedom of the three major options available to us then. Print threw up the opportunity of individualism in the demonstration of talents and abilities, the opportunity of photography, the creativity of prose writing, the by-lines expressive of individuality, etc. With print journalism, I do not have to be trapped in a cubicle inside a studio, confined for the definite measure of heat from the lightings, and I did not have to further labor to learn how to manipulate the audio console.

It became clearer to us all as we grew in training, that whatever the choice we made of the options available in of specialization, journalism or mass communication is same in purpose, functions, roles and duties. Whether taken from the angle of electronic or print, journalism is about (1) information (2) enlightenment (3) orientation (4) awareness (5) entertainment. A particular course was designed to sum the role of journalism, no matter from what angle we practice, to be MASS COMMUNICATION FOR AWARENESS.

AWARENESS is the platform for change. During the period of apartheid in South-Africa, people sacrificed all to generate and broadcast the critically important information needed to build the army against apartheid. In India, fighting poverty became a national challenge and mass communication became one of the tools used to whip up the needed emotional engagement for attitude change. So, people say information is power; journalism is about information – gathering, processing and dissemination, for positive change.

So much has happened in sphere of information gathering and dissemination over the years, to constrain or reference to the journalism environment of even the last 5years. Apart from the most obvious technological advancement, media habits have changed dramatically, new and hitherto unimaginable media vehicles spring up every day. The equation has far changed in terms of sources, method of processing and avenues for dissemination of news and information. As a matter of fact, information has been more finely subjected to detailed definition and description; financial news, for instance, is now more differently gathered, processed and disseminated from political news. So many other categories and compartmentalization have followed in the definition of news recent times.

In spite of all of these changes, however, the basic fundamentals have not changed. Obviously consequent upon technological advancement, there seem to be a resultant consequence of change in the effectiveness of journalism as change agent and a driver of societal growth and development. That poses a challenge we intend to put in focus for all, starting with the RADIO medium.

With all its strength, Radio stands at the vanguard in the measure of efficiency in the discharge of its duties, versus other media vehicles. As noted above, radio is most penetrative, most user-friendly, frontal in audience engagement, most adaptive to rural usage, not discriminatory of literacy level, appealing and most persuasive. More on effectiveness check the following extraction from a study says so much about radio medium:

– a tool for democratization

– a platform for the expression of ideas and opinions

– an alternative media to the imperfections of public and commercial media

– a conflict management tool

– an agent of social change

– a channel for the diffusion of information on rural issues

– a tool that can be used for training and the transfer and exchange of knowledge and technologies

– a channel for interactive communication, dialogue and debate on the major issues of rural development

– a medium to collect local information on social issues, which is essential for defining, planning and implementing local development efforts

– a tool for cultural expression and entertainment, and a means of collecting, preserving and promoting the oral and musical heritage of rural communities

– a tool for social investigation

FAO’s Extension, Education and Communication Service summarize the most important functions of rural radio as above.

In Nigeria media environment, however, the prevalent practice among radio stations (brands) amount to compromise on the efficiency of the radio medium, abuse of a system and a disservice to the people/listeners. Radio medium in our environment has essentially been reduced to commercial or business venture. Programming has been divided into two – 75% entertainment (for business gains), 20% news and 5% religious programs. In a purpose-driven environment, the primary role of radio is public information and enlightenment for positive change. Broadly put, 97% of the active radio stations among the 120-154 recorded stations in Nigeria sell revenue-attracting entertainment programs. News time belt is quickly taken as compulsory distractions. But for international agencies such a Society for Family Health, the HIV/AIDS campaign would have been ignored. Programming requires the right sense of responsibility, commitment and the right investment approach.

Worse of all is the present system which even puts the cost of the radio stations’ discharging their duty on the listener in form of audience-participatory PHONE-IN PROGRAM. The broadcast commission and consumer protection council must check this trend. I pity callers who are made to load their GSM phones to call presenters to keep their programs on air. Because most of these presenters are not adequately equipped, they are quiet without callers. It is bad enough that radio stations cannot design programs beneficial to the society, it is even worse that the same compromised listeners are made to pay for these stations to be in business.

Our suggestion is for the broadcast commission to review broadcast licenses of all the radio stations with a view to entrenching professionalism, responsibility and efficiency in line with global professional ethical standard. Our radio stations must add value.

IN its quest to link the universities and the organised private sector, the Executive Secretary of the National University Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie, has initiated moves to partner with the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency (SMEDAN), especially in the training of university lecturers on entrepreneurship.

Okojie disclosed this at a one-week training of trainers’ workshop for instructors of Entrepreneurship Development Centre for Nigerian Universities in Abuja, stating that lack of employment has eaten deep into the economic fabric of the nation.

He said, “To address this problem, NUC is partnering with SMEDAN and the University of Ibadan to train university lecturers in entrepreneurship development. There is no gainsaying that entrepreneurship education would enable the youths to take advantage of the emerging economic transformation taking place in Nigeria thereby strengthening their individual financial capacity and collective national economic growth.”

Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), operator of the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture, has denied reports making the rounds that it asked any of its labour contractors to lay off workers.

The General Manager, Policy Government and Public Affairs (PGPA), Mr. Deji Haastrup, in a statement over the weekend gave this rebuttal.

“This clarification has become necessary in view of reports by some media suggesting that a number of workers have been sacked, “ Haastrup said, adding, “six existing labour contracts will be expiring on December 31, 2012 and new contracts will commence immediately after. The transition will not lead to redundancy.”

Haastrup further explained that the tender process has gone through all the appropriate phases and NAPIMS has approved and directed the award of contracts to the successful bidders, commencing on January 1, 2013.

The CNL Director, Human Resources and Medical, Mrs. Ihuoma Onyearugha, confirmed that “all workers will have the opportunity to work for the new contract companies, unless they choose to retire with accrued benefits.”

CNL is engaging with all stakeholders, including the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), NNPC and the Ministry of Labour to find a lasting solution to the on-going industrial action.

The Nation gathered that the management of Chevron Nigeria Limited is discussing with the contract workers and has offered good disengagement benefits for those willing to go. It was learnt that some of the workers can get as much as N60 million as benefit if they voluntarily opt to go.

OIL firms with headquarters outside their operational base have been given marching orders to relocate their offices or risk legal action.

Giving this charge recently was Mineral Resources Awareness Initiative of Akwa Ibom, a non-governmental organisation. The group said if the companies failed to comply with the request within three months, it would not hesitate to employ all legal measures to compel them.

Chairman of the group, Mr. Victor Akpan, who spoke at a press conference in Lagos, said the development whereby oil companies operate in the state and leave their head offices in Lagos State was unfair.

Akpan said, “We wish to emphasise here that our feelings are the true reflections of the minds of the people of Akwa Ibom State. We are not happy with the ugly situation where oil firms continue to remain adamant to several calls for relocation of their administrative headquarters to Akwa Ibom.

“It will be recalled that the late Sani Abacha administration had directed all the oil companies operating in the country to relocate their administrative head offices to their areas of operations.

“The directive was adhered to by Shell Petroleum Development Company. SPDC has since relocated to Rivers State many years ago. One wonders why other oil companies have not taken a cue from the SPDC.”

Akpan therefore urged the affected companies to be good corporate citizens and relocate their headquarters to the state.

MOST businesses either get ruin by what they choose to do or fail to do at any point in time. And for members of the Lubricant Association of Nigeria (LUPAN), most of whom have had a run of misfortune owing largely to the activities of counterfeiters masquerading as genuine businessmen, perhaps now is probably the time to go on a warpath with the latter.

Reason: a huge industry has been built around substandard lubricants by these conmen and their ilk, a development which analysts argue, has taken a heavy toll on the local market.

Independent investigation carried out by stakeholders in the sector has revealed that the economy is being short-changed one way or the other by the nefarious activities of merchants of fake lubricants and other allied products.

From available statistics, the country is said to lose over N200billion yearly to a syndicate group involved in the faking of existing brands in the market.

One individual who should know better is Mr. Ayobami Odetola, Lube Operations Manager, MRS Oil Nigeria Plc.

According to him, “Nigeria’s economy loses over N200 billion annually, due to influx of adulterated lubricants and the fact that most people patronise road side engine oil dealers.”

Odetola, a member of lubricants sector stakeholders, disclosed this recently while briefing newsmen on the initiative by stakeholders in the downstream sector to begin a nationwide public enlightenment campaign on lubricants market sanitisation.

He said: “The economy also records a huge cost of over $250 million as outflow that is not necessary to import base oil yearly. Nigeria is the largest importer of used cars and about N100 billion is incurred as unnecessary spending on adulterated lubricants, while over N30 billion goes into treatment of respiratory infections caused by environmental hazards of fake engine oil across the country.”

Also speaking, the Gas Manager, Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Mr. Olasupo Agbaje, explained that the campaign became necessary following a ministerial directive to the Agency by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, to coordinate the regulation of base oil and sale of lubricants in the country.

He said, “We are working with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to stamp out the scourge of lubricants adulteration and illegal trading of base oil in Nigeria.

“The mechanism to sustain the campaign has been put in place and severe sanctions will be given to offenders in the sector.

“The campaign is aimed at educating Nigerians on the dangers of adulterated base oil being used as lubricants and the need to procure lubricants through authourised sources.”

He added, “Procurement, distribution and retailing of base oil and adulteration or improperly packaged lubricants by unlicensed vendors over the years resulted in such hazards like, malfunctioning and damage to engines and machinery, adulteration of edible oil with hazardous health implications, environmental pollution and destruction of the source of livelihood of genuine practitioners in the industry.”

Expectedly, concerned stakeholders like LUPAN, many of which have been at the receiving end of product fakers are not leaving any stone unturned in their quest to rid the sector of unscrupulous individuals bent on jeopardising their business interest.

In a statement made available recently to journalists by the Executive Secretary of LUPAN, Mr. Emeka Obidike, he said the association is also appealing to the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency, review downwards to 5 percent the import duty tariff on base oil which is the chief raw material that is used in producing their lubricants.

The LUPAN executive secretary said lubricants produced in the country are produced with strict compliance with regulatory standards locally by SON and the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, alongside other international standards, adding, however that most lubricants imported into the country do not comply with these regulatory standards.

He said some of the lubricants brought into the country sell at cheaper price than genuine products, adding that more worrisome is the import duty tariff of 10 per cent which is the same for imported lubricants and for base oil which is the major raw material used by lubricant producers in Nigeria.

He added that the association is seeking a higher tariff regime for imported lubricants in order to protect local producers as well as remain competitive in the market.

Not leaving anything to chance, LUPAN led by the Vice-Chairman, Alhaji Ado Mustapha Muhammed, who doubles as the Chairman/CEO AMMASCO Oil, has also reached out to regulatory authorities like the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) with a view to stemming the incidence of adulterated lubricants in the local market.

Accompanied by the other members of the executive council, Muhammed paid the DG of SON, Mr Joseph Odumodu a courtesy call.

The LUPAN boss while canvassing the association’s position, had argued that, “Apart from investing heavily in state-of-the-art factories as well as in research and development, our members are high employers of labour and as such are ready to partner with SON in all fronts to ensure sanitisation of the market, to ensure that it is devoid of substandard, fake and adulterated products.”

According to them, this negative trend in the wake of President Goodluck Jonathan’s much-touted local content agenda, signals danger to users, the nation’s economy and could cripple the local industry if urgent steps are not taken to arrest the disturbing trend.

Expressing confidence in the SON’s leadership to bring sanity to the oil lubricant market, Muhammed called on the Federal Government to review downward the high import duty on base oil, which is the chief raw material for the production of lubricants.

In response, Odumodu, allayed the visiting team’s fears, adding that SON was embarking on registration of all products including oil lubricants in the market within the next few months.

He said this is part of deliberate measures to sanitise the market, to ensure standards are adhered to by manufacturers and that consumers have value for their money.

According to him, the nation’s economy was being threatened by the twin problems of fake/substandard and adulterated products, whether they are imported or produced locally.

“There are standards and we are ready to enforce it, I can assure you. We have launched the zero –tolerance campaign, and for us it is a new beginning,” Odumodu said.

Stakeholders are, however, curious that many months after the regulatory authorities gave what appeared to be blessed assurances, no concrete steps have been taken thus far as lubricant fakers have become too daring in recent times.

Echoing similar sentiments, Chief Nnamdi Williams, an erstwhile staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), said the authenticity of most lubricants sold in the local market is questionable.

“A well-refined lubricant helps to reduce the knocking or breakdown of the engine,” Williams declared matter-of-factly.

Expatiating, he said, “If you use a gasoline with a very low octane number, you invariably shortened the lifespan of that engine,” adding: “It is regrettable that most of the lubricants you find in the market are not just cheap but of low quality, thereby endangering the lifespan of most machineries, including industrial equipment. The regulatory agencies, I daresay, have a lot of work to do beyond paying mere lip-service to the fight against adulterated lubricants.”