The Nation Newspaper

Category: Commentaries

  • Between embracing past lessons and living in the present

    Between embracing past lessons and living in the present

    Sir: In the tapestry of our lives, the past weaves its threads with intricate complexity, shaping who we are today. Every experience, every triumph, every stumble and every heartache contributes to shape the lives of the individual. Yet, there’s a delicate balance between looking back to the past and carrying its weight as burdens into the present and the future.

    The past, with all its memories and trials, is not something to be discarded or forgotten. It’s a repository of invaluable lessons, a treasure trove of experiences that have sculpted our character and fuelled our growth. Each setback, each challenge, and each triumph has contributed to our resilience, our empathy, and our wisdom.

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    But there lies a danger in clinging too tightly to the past, allowing it to overshadow the present and dictate the future. The past, though filled with valuable lessons, can also become a heavy burden, weighing us down with regrets, resentments, and what-ifs. It’s crucial to acknowledge the past for what it is — an integral part of our journey — but not to let it define us or confine us.

    Indeed, there can be no present without the past, but that doesn’t mean we should be enslaved by it. Instead, we should strive to find a balance, to embrace the lessons learned without allowing ourselves to be shackled by the mistakes made. It’s about recognizing that while the past has shaped us, it doesn’t have to determine our destiny.

    Moreover, the past is not always a rosy picture; it’s often marked by moments of darkness, pain, and struggle. Yet, even in the midst of adversity, there are lessons to be gleaned, wisdom to be gained. The challenges we’ve faced have equipped us with strength, resilience, and empathy — qualities that enable us to navigate the present and build a better future.

    So, how do we honour the past without letting it weigh us down? It begins with acceptance — acceptance of our past, with all its imperfections and complexities. It means acknowledging the mistakes we’ve made, the pain we’ve endured, and the lessons we’ve learned. But it also means letting go of regrets and resentments, forgiving ourselves and others, and embracing the possibilities of the present moment.

    It also involves gratitude — gratitude for the lessons learned, the growth experienced, and the opportunities for renewal and transformation. It’s about shifting our perspective from one of regret and resentment to one of gratitude and appreciation for the journey that has brought us to where we are today.

    Ultimately, embracing the past is about reclaiming our power — the power to learn from our experiences, the power to grow and evolve, and the power to shape our own destiny. It’s about recognizing that while the past may have shaped us, it doesn’t have to define us. We are not prisoners of our past; we are architects of our future.

    As we journey through life, let us honour the past for the lessons it has taught us, but let us not be bound by it. Instead, let us embrace the present moment with gratitude and optimism, knowing that we have the power to create a future filled with possibility and promise.

    •John Amabolou Elekun,

    Iju-Ajuwon, Lagos

  •  Is Bode now among the historians?

     Is Bode now among the historians?

    Chief Olabode George, military-era governor of old Ondo State and Lagos PDP buff — is he now among Nigeria’s political historians?  Hardball thought he trained as an engineer, before he decided on a military commission with the Navy?

    Whatever the retired soldier’s current vocation, the way he jumped, both legs, into the Rivers crisis, and started evoking the “wet-ie” spectre of the old wild, wild West was rich.

    On Rivers, he spoke from one side of the mouth as a PDP partisan — no crime.  On the other side, he spoke as a disinterested party — no virtue.

    Was he then hoping his evocation of a past tragedy would suck the unsuspecting into his partisan pitch, masquerading as a disinterested one?  Nice try! 

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    But that was military-era shot-gun thinking, that further ruined Nigeria, after the Khaki boys took over from 1966.  So, Chief George should stop stoking apocalypse, real or imagined.  There’s nothing in Rivers the rule of law, or even sincere political dialogue, can’t solve.  Politics is all about settling disputes and solving problems.

    Still, the George take is about uniform fare on the Rivers conflict, on both sides of the partisan divide —  so much noise, yet so little progress.

    Make no mistake: the Wike and Fubara sides are pulling one another into an avoidable ditch, from which both would emerge mutually crushed.  Unfortunately, the so-called Rivers elders — with Chief Edwin Clark, the “Ijaw leader”, jumping in as unfazed Ijaw partisan, though he is from Delta State — are more interested in winning an argument, not solving the problem.

    Nyesom Wike’s ever roiling and combative self isn’t helping matters. His who-is-not-for-us-is-against us, no-taking-of-prisoners stance has alienated the likes of Dr. Peter Odili, the original godfather of Rivers politics, since 1999.

    Governor Sim Fubara’s penchant to go for broke too, with especial love for brazen outlawry, under the tragic delusion that his gubernatorial office could ride roughshod over other democratic organs of state, and stay alive to tell the story, will ultimately damage his case — and person — when the chips are down.

    Wike just gloated that it was his duty to goad Fubara into actions that could well destroy the governor — actions like serious constitutional breaches as pulling down the Rivers Parliament, not subjecting his spending to parliamentary approval, and all but threatening to abolish parliament, with the grave delusion that he can run the government with three hand-picked parliamentary cronies, out of 32.

    These indeed are dire parliamentary crimes, which no political bluster can soften. But Wike too tragically deludes himself he’d be politically alive to tell the story, should Fubara crumble.

    So, let Chief George and other PDP partisans duly caution Fubara. Wike’s hybrid PDP-APC friends too should tell him some stark home truth.  Wike, as FCT minister, cannot pocket Rivers anymore than Fubara can govern with three law makers.

    Those who genuinely love Rivers must speak up and work towards ending this mutual lunacy.  It’s time for true Rivers elders to roar — not those now busy playing political ping-pong with the future of their people.

  • Telecoms: Balancing growth with affordability

    Telecoms: Balancing growth with affordability

    Sir: Nigeria’s telecommunication industry stands at a crossroads. It is facing pressure on a thousand different fronts. On the inside, it is battling with the challenges of sustainable operations and shareholders demands and on the outside, raising costs and regulatory constraints.

    The telecom industry has immense potential. The recently launched GSMA digital economy report made this point. It projects a rise of 15 million new internet users by 2028. It equally highlights the industry’s significant contribution to the nation’s GDP.

    Industry players, in the light of existing reality, have determined that a tariff increase will provide some succour and allow it to breathe. The Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), an umbrella organisation for telecom and allied services providers, is at the forefront of the push for tariff increase.

    ALTON argues that current tariffs, unchanged for over a decade, are insufficient to maintain operations and may indeed hinder vital investments in network infrastructure and possibly impact service quality. This assertion gains traction against a backdrop of foreign exchange losses, declining profits, and the increasingly challenging economic environmentWithin the same decade, electricity tariff was raised, at least, three times; the price of fuel has gone up by over 300 per cent and inflation has effectively climbed to over 33 per cent. Yet, operators’ demand for telecom tariff increases has sparked a contentious debate among industry stakeholders. For many, the crux of the matter is that the economy is already hard, so telcos should not compound things by increasing tariffs at this time. Economists will take a dim view of this argument.

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    The telcos’ reason for pushing for tariff increases hinges on three main points. One, rising costs. Inflation, currency devaluation, increase in the pump price of fuel, electricity tariff increases and a general economic downturn have significantly increased operational expenses. The cost of maintaining and upgrading infrastructure, alongside acquiring foreign equipment, has outpaced current price structures.

    The second is the investment challenges. Without a price adjustment reflecting economic realities, investors become hesitant. This stagnation in investment will limit the industry’s ability to expand networks, adopt new technologies like 5/6G and ultimately serve a growing population. The bulk of investment in the sector is dollar-denominated.

    Then thirdly, unsustainable business environment. The industry contends with a multitude of charges and levies (the perennial multiple taxation). ALTON reveals that there are over 45. This burden, coupled with a perceived lack of regulatory independence, creates an unfavourable business climate.

    The government, however, has firmly rejected the proposal for a tariff hike. The NCC has refused to approve it. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, emphasizes the need for a comprehensive solution. He argues that higher prices would disproportionately affect affordability and hinder inclusion, particularly for low-income Nigerians. This outcome will no doubt widen the digital disparity in the country.

    In my mind, to move forward, we must be able to strike a balance between the financial viability of telecom companies and ensuring service affordability for consumers. This path likely involves a multi-pronged approach.

    We can start by reviewing the levy landscape.  Reducing the number of charges levied on telecom operators could free up resources for investment. This can potentially create a more attractive business environment. Secondly, regulation must be streamlined in line with global best practices. Experts concede that enhancing regulatory clarity and promoting an environment that encourages responsible risk-taking by investors would be crucial.

    Moreover, operators have the option of exploring alternative revenue streams. This means that telecom companies can explore value-added services or targeted data packages to generate additional revenue without burdening core services.

    The government is not left out. It must consider incentives. The federal government should, as a matter of urgency, consider targeted incentives that encourage network expansion and technological advancements. This will encourage operators to seek growth without solely relying on price hikes. The NCC must step up to the plate here.

    To ensure that the telecom sector achieves its potential, we can’t play the ostrich anymore. Constructive dialogue and collaboration between government, industry stakeholders, and regulatory bodies are indispensable at this point. Adjustments must be made, if the sector is to maintain its contribution to Nigeria’s GDP, currently eight per cent, and thus continue to boost the broader ICT ecosystem growth.

    • Elvis Eromosele,elviseroms@gmail.com

  • Nigeria not ripe for state police

    Nigeria not ripe for state police

    Sir: Given the current state of insecurity in the country, many Nigerians have suggested the establishment of state police, an idea that has been in the front burner of national discourse for some time. More than 14 state governors have submitted proposals for the establishment of state police in their respective domains since the federal government indicated that it is considering the idea.

    Nigeria is a country with a huge landmass and a federal system of government. Countries like the U.S.A, which share some similarities with Nigeria, such as the diversity of population, the land mass, economy and social development, usually opt for a federal system of government and other features that go with it. For instance, the land mass of the U.S.A is almost like the whole of the African continent, from New York to Florida is about six hours by flight non-stop.

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    But, in the case of Nigeria, the push by the Bola Tinubu administration towards the establishment of state police may not be a good one. Not all Nigerians are agreement that the establishment of state police is the right way to go. For instance, 22 out of the 36 states are not convinced that the idea would work.

    Besides, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbotokun indicated at a recent town hall meeting organised to discuss the idea that Nigeria does not need state police.

    He said what the country needs is to build on the centralised policing system it has on ground; with better equipment, training and good remunerations like their counterparts in other parts of the world. In the past, the Nigeria Police Force was effective in maintaining law and order in the country. Then, to hear of operatives of the mobile police were on their way to an area or community was an indication that something wrong had been discovered in such area.

    We witnessed situations in the past where a mobile policeman jumped from the top of a storey building to the ground floor in the cause of his duty. The khaki and khaki uniform was a threat to many criminals. Therefore, state police may not be the answer. The major problem is that we do not have enough men and women in uniform. Besides, the force is not properly equipped for modern policing. The government should do the needful by equipping the police force to handle the current security challenges in the country.

    The problems of the state police will start from day one –recruiting village hoodlums who are known for various criminal activities in their localities, particularly people that do not possess sound educational foundation. The federal character structure of the Nigeria Police helps a lot in taking sides in the interest of ethnicity, tribe, religion and position.

    So, what is needed is a reinvigoration of the present force with good services and more hands. The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) should be merged with the Nigeria Police Force without delay. There is a need for a thorough screening of the personnel who got there through the back door. The NSCDC, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other similar agencies have no business existing as independent bodies.

    •Isaiah Ted Omobude,

    Jos, Plateau State.

  • Ondo/Edo Guber: APC needs reconciliation

    Ondo/Edo Guber: APC needs reconciliation

    Sir: The path to the September 21, and November 14, gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo states respectively, poses significant challenges for the APC and its gubernatorial candidates due to the influence held by some of the aggrieved aspirants within the party’s support base. Without successful reconciliation, the APC will require something akin to miracles to secure victory in the two elections.

    The prevailing sentiment in the political sphere is that if the APC were to conduct free and fair primaries in both Edo and Ondo states, the candidates who secured the party’s tickets would likely win the November 14 and September 21 gubernatorial elections, buoyed by the influence of President Tinubu and the APC’s status as the ruling party at the centre. However, with the controversies and lawsuits surrounding the primary elections, the APC must strategize to overcome these obstacles.

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    First, reconciliation efforts are paramount: earnestly seek reconciliation with the aggrieved aspirants. Second, integrate them into the campaign structure and rally their supporters. Third, consider reimbursing their incurred expenses. Fourth, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, the Edo APC critical stakeholders, and the governorship candidate should engage each of the aggrieved aspirants, leveraging their pedigree and political acumen to foster unity and collaboration for a successful outing during the off-cycle gubernatorial elections.

    Meanwhile, Governor Aiyedatiwa and Senator Monday Okpebholo face a daunting challenge: Aiyedatiwa is a candidate and a sitting governor seeking re-election, while Senator Monday Okpebholo is a serving senator seeking to be a governor. The two candidates’ reconciliation efforts must be genuinely inclusive to stand a chance of winning the governorship elections.

    For Ondo, the late Governor Akeredolu’s political group must be begged and persuaded. Individuals like Adewale Olumuyiwa Akinterinwa, Chief Olusola Oke (SAN), and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, who command significant grassroots support, political alliances, and a strong war chest needs to be brought on board.

    Also for Edo State, it will require a lot of dialogue and reconciliation. For example, an aggrieved aspirant like Anamero Dekeri, who enjoys state-wide youth support and has a strong war chest capable of facing any challenge, must be factored into the equation if the APC wants a smooth run in Edo. APC both at the headquarters and state levels should lay the groundwork for genuine reconciliation, accommodate all interest groups, and ‘beg’ the bigwigs, including reimbursing their incurred expenses. All efforts are essential if a win is to be achieved in both Edo and Ondo state off-cycle gubernatorial elections slated for September 21 and November 14.

    •Zayyad I. Muhammad, Abuja.

  • Electricity sector: Marketplace where entropy reigns supreme

    Electricity sector: Marketplace where entropy reigns supreme

    Entropy is a thermodynamic quantity, often interpreted as the degree of disorder or unpredictability. Note: Electricity generation hinges on Thermodynamic principles. Electricity is seen as basic and essential infrastructure necessary for the welfare of the citizens and growth of the economy; but in Nigeria it is seen as luxury for those who can afford it.

    It hurts most when people are made to pay for goods or services not consumed, such as the epileptic electricity supply. Nonetheless, you can’t give what you don’t have; so the electricity sector in Nigeria can’t give what it doesn’t have, as the electricity generation is very low— less than 5,000 megawatts for over 200milion people and the largest economy in Africa, as par GDP. I say, as par GDP, because assessing the economies of the continent on per-capita basis, South Africa remains far ahead of Nigeria. While Nigeria can claim the crown of Africa’s largest economy, there is a caveat:  South Africa is ahead in terms of infrastructure including electricity supply, as it generates about 42,000megawatts for about 60million people.

    Recently, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC announced 240% hike in electricity tariffs for band A customers, who are supposed to receive 20 hours of power supply per day. According to Musliu Oseni, the Vice Chairman of NERC, customers in this category will now be charged N225 per kilowatt-hour (KW/h), a significant rise from the previous rate of N66. My question is how many hours are left for the band B, C, D and E consumers from the paltry generation of about 5,000MW? I make bold to say that there is no guarantee of 20hours per day power supply to band A consumers. They should just pay, and know that ‘terms and conditions’ apply. Note: there are times when the country experiences a complete blackout due to a national grid collapse.  The crisis in the electricity sector is huge and we should declare state of emergency in the sector.

    Nigeria’s power generation is mostly thermal and hydro and has an installed capacity of nearly 13,000 megawatts. For many years, authorities only manage to dispatch about 4,500 megawatts of its installed capacity. While the Per Capita power generation ranges from 3kW to 6.6kW in many African countries, the corresponding figure for Nigeria is 0.05. This is literally shameful and unacceptable. The transmission system in Nigeria electricity sector does not cover every part of the country. It currently has the capacity to transmit a maximum of about 4,000 MW which is awfully below the required national needs and it is technically weak thus very sensitive to major disturbances. In most locations in Nigeria, the distribution network is poor, the voltage profile is poor and the billing is inaccurate. A September 2023 report by NERC showed that out of the total 12,825,005 registered electricity customers in Nigeria, only 5,707,838 had meters, indicating that over 7.1 million registered customers were still subjected to the estimated billing system— otherwise known as ‘CRAZY BILLS’ (emphasis mine). In fact, the electricity sector is marketplace where entropy reigns supreme.

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    Adequate power supply is an unavoidable prerequisite to any nation’s development, and electricity generation, transmission and distribution are capital-intensive activities requiring huge resources of both funds and capacity. In the prevailing circumstances in Nigeria where funds availability is progressively dwindling, creative and innovative solutions are necessary to address the power supply problem.

    As part of its contribution to the resolution of the problems of the electricity sector along the line of its mandate, the Energy Commission of Nigeria, ECN has been collaborating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and therefore, applies the IAEA Model for the Analysis of Energy Demand (MAED). ECN on applying the MAED for a 13% GDP growth rate, the demand projections rose from 5,746MW in the base year of 2005 to 297,900MW in the year 2030 which translates to construction of 11,686MW every year to meet the demand. Unfortunately, 2030 is six years away and we are still at about 5,000MW, so let us focus on generating the balance 71,496MW between now and 2030. It can be estimated that the average cost for adding a Mega Watt of electricity is US$1.5million. This demonstrates the resources required in power supply to develop and particularly industrialize any country on a sustainable manner, are large. Based on this index, it therefore can be estimated that Nigeria would have to invest a whopping US$107 billion to generate 71,496MW by 2030. The financial requirement is phenomenal.

    Majority of the population rely on diesel generator leading to environmental pollution and inflation in the prices of goods and services. This poor electricity supply has been a barrier to private investment in the country.

    The needs for affordable, reliable and sustainable energy have led to transformation in the way energy is generated, transmitted and distributed. It has changed from a passive one-directional system to an active, multi-directional system. In this transformation consumers can now produce, manage and own generation assets. Many households now have solar photovoltaic on their rooftops and some are owners of off-site generators such as wind turbines.

    The ever-increasing population and growing demand for electricity in Nigeria has put great pressure on the existing conventional generations and there is urgent need for other alternative energy resources. Localised energy systems which have been prevalent in the UK and Europe remain the most viable solution to tackle the pressing challenges of lack of reliable, environmentally friendly and sustainable electricity supply in Nigeria.

    Currently, the price of renewable energy generation is gradually reducing and thus will help to achieve better energy access. It is obvious that population growth will always be greater than the existing generation and distribution capacity. Therefore, renewable generation and storage remains the most viable option.

    Localised energy system is a medium-sized electricity generation system of capacity not larger than 50MW connected to a local distribution network. Localised generations are connected close to the load which is responsible for losses reduction in the network.

    Local energy systems provide electricity for different categories of customers for domestic and commercial uses. Localised energy system will encourage different groups in the society to come together and invest in energy sectors.

  • On Professor Isaac Adewole’s 70th birth anniversary!

    On Professor Isaac Adewole’s 70th birth anniversary!

    Professor Isaac Folorunso Adewole, obstetrician, gynaecologist, academic, administrator and former Minister of Health, is 70 years old. So, congratulations to the Ilesa, Osun State-born role model for the youths who rose to become the 11th substantive Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan.

    Longevity is the currency of life! Biblical researchers have confirmed that Psalm 90:10, which puts seventy years as the ‘benchmark’ of human life, was a Psalm written by Prophet Moses, who was recorded to have died at 120 years. By interpretation, therefore, God’s own words remain 120 years!

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    Genesis 6:3 but divided into three parts for Moses: 40 years in Egypt; 40 years in Midian; and 40 years to fulfill his mission as the messiah to the Nation of Israel. As we can therefore see, Adewole is just in the middle space of life, stepping into the last decade of the second part of life! After all, Moses began his real destiny fulfillment at 80!

    Now that the once-little bird is now an eagle soaring, may the Stone of Israel grant Professor Isaac Folorunso Adewole the uncommon grace of perfect fulfillment in the last lap of life’s purposes!

    May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace in Nigeria!

  • NDBDA and need to appoint next MD from Delta

    NDBDA and need to appoint next MD from Delta

    By Ovasa Ogaga

    The Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA) was established in 1976 via Decree 37 promulgated by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

    Its functions amongst others include development of irrigation schemes for crops and livestock production and other agricultural purposes.

    Over the years, the agency has established several agricultural pilot schemes including fisheries at various sites across the Niger Delta.

     However, over the years, the instrument establishing NDBDA has either been consolidated or readjusted by other decrees in terms of mandate with direct agricultural production excised from its functions and termed Water Resources Development Agency.

    Its boundary was also readjusted leaving 18 out of 25 local government areas in Delta State in the scheme.

    The local government areas include Bomadi, Burutu, Ethiope East, Ethiope West, Isoko South, Isoko North, Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West and Okpe LGAs. Others are Sapele, Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Udu, Uvwie, Patani, Warri South, Warri North and Warri South West Local Government Areas.

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     The readjustment of the boundary places Rivers State, Bayelsa State and 18 Local Government Areas of Delta State under the jurisdiction of this strategic agency of government with its functions expanded to cover development of surface and underground water resource for agricultural and domestic water needs of the people; construction of dams, wall boreholes and drainages etc, for irrigation and other purposes; collect and collate data for comprehensive master plan on water resource use, socio-economic and environmental well being of the River Basins; construct, operate and maintain sensitive infrastructure such as roads and bridges that are germane to smooth businesses in operational sites of the Agency among others.

     From the foregoing, the strategic importance of this agency to the socio-economic development of the mandate area cannot be over-emphasized.

    Water may be everywhere in the Niger Delta but safe and portable drinking water or for other domestic and commercial purposes are not readily available. It is obvious that the sensitive areas of concern in the Niger Delta where this agency plays critical roles like the development of irrigation schemes for agricultural purposes, building of dams, roads, bridges and water schemes in its mandate areas, places the agency at the very core of government developmental goals for the area.

    The Ministry of Water Resources has enormous budgetary provisions for all these schemes with support from international donor agencies like World Bank, IMF, USAID, etc which commit billions of naira to development of water resource schemes across Nigeria annually.

     The area of concern in this piece is management of the River Basin authority over the years.

    NDBDA is headed by a Managing Director/CEO with four Executive Directors in charge of the four major departments crucial to delivery of its mandate in line with the instrument establishing it.

    The four departments include Administration and Finance; Planning, Investigation and Design; Engineering Department and Services Department. Since the inception of the NDBDA in 1976, there had been 13 heads of the agency drawn from either Rivers or Bayelsa States to the total exclusion of Delta State either by deliberate fault or calculated attempt to undermine the interest of Delta State.

    Those who have served as heads of the agency include J.D Briggs from Rivers State designated then as Executive Secretary from 1977 to 1980 and A.M Ndiomu from Bayelsa State, designated as Acting General Manager from 1980 to 1981. Engr B.J Samuel Horsfall from Rivers State took over as substantive General Manager in 1981 and was there till 1984.

     Engr G.B Eguwe from Bayelsa State assumed office in April 1984 as Acting General Manager till 1985. In 1985, S.O.L Amadi Nna of Rivers State took over as substantive General Manager till 1989 when Engr B.A Lawson also from Rivers State stepped in as General Manager for 10 years between 1989 and 1999. Hon Desmond Akawor and Surveyor R.O Allen, both from Rivers State also served as General Manager of the agency from 1999 to 2003 and 2003 to 2009 respectively. In 2009, Engr Dickson Ahagbuje from Edo State was appointed acting Managing Director. He served till the appointment of a substantive MD in 2011 in the person of Mr N.M Aleru of Rivers state. After three years, Aleru handed over to Hon O.E Beredugo of Bayelsa State who served as Managing Director from 2014 to 2017. Beredugo was succeeded by Engr Tonye David West of Rivers state who was Managing Director of the agency from 2017 to 2020.

    Today, Engr M.D Derefaka is the Managing Director of the NDBDA since 2021. Derefaka is also from Rivers state. From the above analysis, it is obvious that Delta State has been the weeping baby of the agency since inception. While Rivers State has produced 9 MDs spanning over 30 years, Bayelsa state has produced 3 with Edo state having one acting MD. While time and space will not permit detail analysis of the distribution of heads of the four departments of the agency since 1977, information available indicates that even those HODs have been skewed in favour of either Rivers or Bayelsa state making one to wonder whether it was a mistake for Delta State to be included among states under the mandate area of the agency. As the tenure of the incumbent Managing Director inches closer to an end, this is the time for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to look in the direction of Delta State in appointment of the next Managing Director of the agency to clear the doubts in the minds of most Deltans. For an Agency which was established since 1976 for three states to have been managed for almost 50 years by two of the three states it covers is an aberration. This is one mistake that must be corrected by the Tinubu administration to build trust and confidence in the present administration. For too long, Deltans have been silent hoping and praying for the right thing to be done. And the time to right this wrong is now.

     The 18 local government areas covered by the agency in Delta State are three times the size of Bayelsa state and also bigger than Rivers State. One wonders the criterion for appointment of heads of this agency since 1977 to the total exclusion of Delta State. President Tinubu should address this anomaly. Delta State is part of the Niger Delta and the highest oil producing state in Nigeria as at today.

    Taking our oil to fund critical business of government and treating Delta as second class when it comes to issues of appointment to heads of agency like this instance of the NDBDA is one bitter pill that the people cannot continue to swallow. The time to act and change the narrative is now. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the true democrat should appoint the next Managing Director of NDBDA from Delta State in the name of equity, fair play, justice and inclusive politics.

    • Ogaga, a Journalist and Public Affairs Analyst writes from Asaba, Delta State.

  • NIMASA: Tasks and expectations from Mobereola

    NIMASA: Tasks and expectations from Mobereola

    The trajectory of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has always been in the news for negative reasons. For instance, among its past Directors-General, we have those who have faced corruption charges in the law courts. But the new helmsman, Anthony Ekundayo Mobereola, has a high reputation for integrity, performance, and delivery on expectations. He has renewed hope amongst the maritime stakeholders that the organization’s ship will be redirected along the right path.

    People who have interfaced with Mobereola have spoken glowingly about his high value for professionalism, vision, patience, and a striking resemblance to public etiquette in whatever he does. His maiden interactive session with Maritime stakeholders which was held on Thursday was a testament to how highly rated he is in the industry and shows that expectations are a mouth full. He is perceived as a man with the Midas touch under whom substantial transformation of the sector is anticipated.

    As a brand, Mobereola is a man of powerful spirituality, absolute purity, and all-round spiritual flexibility.  Even in his alma mater, where he presides over its National Alumni Association, he has within one year brought a lot of changes to the old students’ body, by inspiring and mobilizing the Alumni to give back to the alma mater. Ayo Aluko-Olokun, who works closely with him as the General Secretary of Saint Patrick’s Grammar School, Ibadan Alumni Association, describes Mobereola as “a visionary leader and team player with a strong sense of patriotism. He is a leader who takes service to humanity, not as a job but a mission. The NIMASA DG leads by generously donating and contacting other old students to donate handsomely to the progress and development of the school and the academic excellence of the students.”

    Social formation teaches that a change in nomenclature will also lead to a change in the status of any newly established institution, and it is bound to affect everything around it. With this in mind, one may wish to ask: what’s President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda all about and how does Mobereola as the new NIMASA DG fit in? To start with, the Agency is very central to the concept of the blue economy, not only in terms of maritime safety and the development of an exceptional trade facilitation framework in Nigeria but also in its potential to help grow the economy and raise the revenue profile of the sector. Mobereola holds a Ph.D. and a M.Sc. in Transport Economics from the University of Wales, United Kingdom, which makes him suitable for the job. The Marine and Blue Economy Ministry is a new creation and it is in the delivery of performance of parastatals like NIMASA and others that the Ministry will be able to deliver on its mandate and Nigerians would now see the need for the creation of that Ministry. NIMASA has a task to protect the local shipping industry to generate wealth for Nigeria.

    According to Henry Ford, “coming together is the beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.” From what yours sincerely have heard about the new appointments in NIMASA, Mobereola’s choice is very endearing and it is in the right direction. It is hoped that he would live up to his billing, with his rich track record.

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    Born on August 26, 1959, the new DG was the pioneer Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), where he was popularly called ‘Dr. MOB’. He led the processes that took the public transport system in Lagos out of its “dysfunctional and chaotic” state to its present enviable status. Between 2015 and 2016, Mobereola served as Commissioner for Transportation in Lagos State and was later appointed the Chairman of The Board at Lagos Bus Services Limited (LBSL) by the Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration. He was the architect of much of what is being celebrated in Lagos today as the Blue and Red Rail Lines projects.

    I have argued elsewhere that in the First Republic, under the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) was contributing 42% of its earnings to the coffers of the Federal Government annually. It’s time we went back to that framework, and NIMASA has a big role to play in it. It is estimated that the maritime sector can turn about N7 trillion into the economy annually. NIMASA can achieve this by focusing on its core mandate and not trying to be everything to everybody. For those who care to know, NIMASA is currently one of the most important agencies in Nigeria, after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the military. So, its technical capacity has to be top-notch because it’s the agency that will enable the country to earn the kind of foreign exchange that the Maritime and Blue Economy will need to solve the balance of payment and currency crises currently confronting our dear country.

    For Tinubu to make this happen, he must make sure that NIMASA is very well-funded and supported with policies and FEC approvals to drive its transformation and also unbundled the Maritime fund which is 3% of freight on every cargo. And for Mobereola to succeed, the strategic option is to remain the patriot that he has always been – an exceptional manager who has the technical capacity, intellectual nourishment, and strategic opportunity to run an Agency as complex in shape and size as NIMASA. Not only that, members of staff of the Agency should be well-remunerated and motivated. He should also introduce data-driven processes and ensure ease of doing business by the shipping lines. Technology should be deployed to move the sector forward and faster – and can be first-class, bringing in the foreign exchange that the country needs to survive. Failure to do these will be catastrophic for the country’s economy because, if Nigeria doesn’t diversify her economy from crude oil, she is finished! Yes, if Nigeria is to get her way out of the critical balance of payment crisis, NIMASA should be at the centerpiece as a formidable front for the maritime base, in agreement with “the policies and programs outlined for the sector, guided by the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, H.E. Adegboyega Oyetola.”

    A word of advice, though: as Nigerians are expecting an even bigger performance from this man of wisdom and impressive capacity, let Mobereola make clear the government’s policies and direction for the sector: An Agenda not politically driven but industry-focused and friendly must be stated for him to etch his name in gold!

  • Ekiti Muslims laud Dangote Foundation

    Ekiti Muslims laud Dangote Foundation

    The Muslim leaders in Ekiti have expressed their gratitude to the management of the Dangote Foundation for the gesture during Ramadan.

    President of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Ekiti state, Alhaji Hammed Bakare, who successfully supervised the distribution of the Dangote Foundation’s largesse in collaboration with committee members to all the 16 local government councils, described the gifts as timely given the present economic reality.

    He said despite logistical problems, the food items, initially intended for distribution before the end of Ramadan, have now reached their destinations.

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    He remarked that the initiative had set precedent for future philanthropic endeavours.

    Alhaji Bakare remained optimistic that the generosity will inspire both Muslim and non-Muslim benefactors to continue the tradition of giving as commanded in the Holy Quran.

    Also speaking, the state secretary of the National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO), Mr Tijani Musa and the representative of the Organisation of Muslim Unity (OMU), Alhaji Saka Akinola expressed gratitude to foundation.

    Representatives of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Ekiti state chapter, Alhaja Taibat Oladunni expressed her appreciation for the fair and inclusive distribution process.

    Alhaja Oladunni said the development not only reflects the Dangote foundation’s vision but also serves as a call to action for affluent individuals to partake in the noble cause of aiding their fellow citizens.