The Nation Newspaper

Category: Comments

  • Time to kick-start housing reforms

    Time to kick-start housing reforms

    • By Charity Ikpoba

    The best description of Nigeria’s housing challenge is that it has been endemic. Besetting the sector are myriad of problems; talk of inconsistent government policies and dysfunctional regulatory framework, poor land administration system, unavailability of serviced plots or plots of land that are ready for housing development, good title that will enhance the marketability of the land, especially after one might have developed or built houses on it, you are in order.

    What about the issues of inadequate basic infrastructures that will facilitate smooth development, high construction cost due to high proportion of imported inputs, harsh operating environment such as lack of constant electricity, high cost of fuel, devaluation of the naira, scarcity of foreign exchange, multiple taxation, and lack of data, challenges of rapid urbanization, a young demographic, burgeoning middle-class population and growth in consumption and other obstacles to housing provision in Nigeria?

    Finance is a critical challenge. High interest rate, high cost of debt funding and limited availability of long tenured loans not only make the cost of borrowing fund expensive, but constitute major impediments to viability of projects, thereby impacting negatively on the level of real estate development. Absence of efficient, comprehensive, organized and affordable mortgage finance system constraints demand for housing. Hopefully, setting up of the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company Plc (NRMC) would boost mortgage financing and home ownership schemes in the country so that generality of Nigerians might be able to access mortgage facilities someday.

    These factors have resulted in high cost of doing business. Despite the availability of key factors for real estate investment and growth, they have continued to hinder real estate development and have not allowed the housing sector to create jobs, boost the Nigerian economy and contribute significantly to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over the decades. In other words, they have slowed down the pace of real estate development over the years.

    Meanwhile, the sector has huge potentials for growth, potentials to attract investment within the country, foreign and investment from the diaspora to drive both the real estate and the nation’s economy on the path of sustainable development. Its large population base growing at about 2.39%, rapid urbanization, youthful and fairly educated population are some of its strong secular growth drivers which placed her well for strong long-term growth in spite its weak and fragile economic recovery. The sector can be boosted to perform optimally and contribute significantly to the economic growth and development of the nation.

    To achieve that however, the system has to go through a number of reforms to attract investments. The economy needs to be properly focused, and properly managed by policy makers and the government so that all sectors, including the real estate can thrive. We need a bold vision for the sector and government must be committed to backing it up with necessary political will to break down all barriers that discourage investment in the sector. Clear-cut policy directions for the economy are required, so that the operators, professionals and private sector participants will be able to plan accordingly, so that there will be activities in the economy, and when there are activities in the economy, initiatives will come up within the real estate and other sectors. This is because real estate business follows the economic circle and it is the way the economy is patterned that real estate latches on. There are prospects for the industry to thrive, the sector is heavily underdeveloped, but there are lots of opportunities for development within the real estate sector which can only be realized by conscious efforts of government and private sector commitment to realizing them. 

    The Land Use Act of 1978 (LUA) has become an obstacle to making land available for housing development. The LUA meant to make land easily available to all Nigerians has, indeed, become a major constraint to home ownership. The process of obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy and the consent provisions of the LUA make land transactions tedious, time consuming and expensive. Without land reforms, it would be a futile exercise attracting investments to housing development. Unhindered access to land and an efficient, time-saving land administration system will unlock the untapped potential of the sector which holds the key to solving Nigeria’s unemployment. We cannot deliver on housing provision if we do not carry out reforms that will make land accessible to estate developers. State governors who have the constitutional power to issue Certificates of Occupancy to ease access to land for developers must be brought into the reforms.

    Government should be the sector driving the mortgage. The role of the government is on two fronts, there is the overall need to maintain the macro-economic variables via disciplined fiscal and monetary policies for stable growth and low inflation to support low interest rates.  The direct interventionist role to promote liquidity of the mortgage industry at single digit interest rates via the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Corporation (NMRC) and Family Home Fund (FHF) should be pursued more vigorously.  Key is that the private sector via mortgage banks retain the role of underwriting mortgages directly and will boost effective demand for homes, which is far lower than the often-touted 28 million housing shortfalls.  It is important to stress again that the core focus of government should be on how to control inflation in the long run to allow for single digit interest rates, rather than just intervention policies. 

    For years, we have grappled with conflicting and unsubstantiated figures regarding housing shortage. The range of estimates, varying from 17 million to 28 million, has not only been a source of embarrassment but also a hindrance to effective policymaking and strategic planning. We need accurate data for strategic planning, for accurate determination of the extent of housing deficit. The current figure of 28 million deficit is unreliable and unacceptable since it is not verifiable.

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    We must initiate coordinated action to bring clarity and credibility to our understanding of the housing deficit and the state of housing in Nigeria and then gear data enhanced policies and projects for effective housing solution.

    Government would not succeed in driving through initiatives and in creating enabling environment for easier, safer and more profitable private sector investments, and affordable housing if it fails to partner with professionals in the built sector, particularly the estate surveyors and valuers. There is need to forge closer relation with other professionals within the economy and open up our industry because the more people come from different backgrounds, the better. We ought to put the whole knowledge and resources together for the development of the industry. It is expedient that reforms be initiated to enhance housing delivery and boost the Nigerian economy. And the time to do that is now

    •Ikpoba is a Lagos based Estate Surveyor and Valuer.

  • A doctor’s insight into the economic crisis

    A doctor’s insight into the economic crisis

    •  By Halimah Sanda

    As a doctor and a public health expert who interacts regularly with the common man and witnesses the struggles of ordinary Nigerians first-hand—rising costs, and fading hopes, I am compelled to reflect on the current economic crisis gripping our nation. While I am not an economic expert, the realities of hardship and despair are palpable in the lives of those I encounter. With prices of basic commodities and medicines skyrocketing and incomes remaining stagnant and in some cases even declining, the average Nigerian is struggling to make ends meet.

    Nigeria’s wounds run deep, its fractures are too many and too severe to heal overnight. Decades of mismanagement and flawed policies preceded this crisis. Our foreign reserves bled dry to artificially prop up the naira, while the powers that were, fiddled like Nero as Rome burned. Those engaged in that knew very well that it was unsustainable in the long run. Now the chickens have come home to roost, and we are dealing with the fallout: a rapidly weakening currency, crippling shortages, and spiralling inflation.

    President Bola Tinubu, like any leader, faces immense challenges and constraints in steering the nation towards prosperity. While expectations may be high, it is essential to temper them with a dose of reality. No president, no matter how well-intentioned, is a magician capable of conjuring solutions out of thin air. Of course, President Tinubu cannot turn around decades of mismanagement in just nine months.

     It is tempting to lay the blame at the feet of President Tinubu. However, blaming him after barely nine months in office is unfair and unrealistic, for the reality is far more complex. So, while it’s understandable for Nigerians to vent their frustrations over the current economic crunch, it makes little sense to put all the blame at the feet of the current administration. Nigeria did not get into this mess overnight, and it certainly cannot get out of it overnight either. As Nigerians, we must recognize that the road to recovery will be long and arduous. It requires collective effort, sacrifice, and a commitment to addressing the root causes of our economic woes. Blaming individuals or playing the blame game only serves to distract from the systemic issues that require systemic solutions.

    Comparing Nigeria’s economic woes to the healing process of an aliment provides a poignant analogy. Much like the process of recovering from an illness, the journey to economic stability in Nigeria mirrors a gradual healing. In the same way a patient must patiently adhere to a full course of treatment, the nation requires a sustained commitment to well-thought-out policies and systemic reforms. Just as an illness may leave lingering discomfort even after apparent recovery, Nigeria’s economic revival might be accompanied by residual challenges. President Tinubu, in his nine months in office, serves as the caregiver administering the initial treatment, but the deep-seated issues demand a collective effort that extends beyond any single administration. Nigeria has been mismanaged for decades, and no leader, regardless of their intentions or capabilities, can single-handedly reverse the tide of years of neglect and poor governance. The healing process is intricate, necessitating time, care, and a strategic approach to mend the fractures inflicted by years of mismanagement and flawed policies.

    As a medical practitioner, I often explain to my patients – healing takes time. There are rarely any quick fixes or magic bullets. One has to go through the full course of treatment before seeing results. The same principles apply to national economies too. So, Nigeria’s economy requires time and correct policies to recover. There are no quick fixes or magic bullets here. Patience is key, for, like the recovery from an ailment, the full realization of Nigeria’s economic potential may take time, with persistent efforts required to address any residual discomfort in the form of ongoing challenges.

    Of course, tell that to the average Nigerian battered daily by this economic crunch. Our people demand immediate salvation without comprehending why change hasn’t happened “like that.” They have forgotten, or some of us were too young to know, that prophets of old warned us repeatedly about these very times, Economic experts and analysts have sounded alarm bells before things went too far, much like how the holy books foretell Jesus’ second coming. And yet, like startled sheep, we feign surprise when the prophesied events transpire. Sadly, there were too few, if any who heeded the warnings and took corrective action in time. Instead, we were all too busy making money, chasing power, processing dual nationalisms and positioning for the next election cycle. Essential reforms were postponed, critical institutions were left to decay, and corruption was allowed to flourish. And now here we stand on the precipice.

    At the same time, I cannot comprehend why some among us seem to rejoice over or make political capital of Nigeria’s economic woes. It shows a distinct lack of patriotism to celebrate your country’s misfortunes. We were all warned that decades of misrule would eventually catch up with us. Now it has unfortunately come to pass, despite the hopes that maybe this time things will be better.

    Equally worrying is the behaviour of too many of my generation of younger Nigerians. We agitate loudly from the side-lines but lift no finger to fix things. We point fingers and hurl invectives on social media but proffer no solutions. We recline into our comfort zones, hoping problems will disappear instead of defying limits to make change happen.  But the leaders of today will not be around forever. One day, the mantle will inevitably fall upon our generation. Make no mistake: that time is fast approaching, whether we like it or not. So rather than snipe from the side-lines, we better roll up our sleeves and help the current leaders address Nigeria’s mammoth challenges. Our children and grandchildren will not judge us by how much we critiqued but by how much we positively contributed when Nigeria needed us most.

    I ask: What have you done to uplift this nation recently? What sacrifices do you make for the collective good? For how long will you criticize leaders instead of equipping yourself for future leadership? Nigeria’s second coming beckons her young, but are we ready to heed the call? My fellow young Nigerians, start preparing yourselves for leadership now! Learn from the positives and negatives of the past and current administrations. Immerse yourselves and understand the intricacies of governance, economic policies, and institution building. Because, ready or not, our time is coming sooner than we think.

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    One day, leadership must change hands. Young Nigerians must specially prepare for this epoch moment lest we repeat mistakes of the past. Learn everything you can about governance NOW! Those of us already privileged to be in the corridors of power must use this opportunity with wisdom, and this apprenticeship to carefully understudy leadership, optimizing knowledge for future use. The health of Africa’s greatest hope depends sorely on us getting this transition right. Instead of pointing fingers, let us channel our energy towards constructive dialogue, collaboration, and holding our leaders accountable for their actions. It is only through unity and a shared vision for a better Nigeria that we can overcome the challenges that lie ahead.

     Real change requires a collective effort and a willingness to confront the hard truths about our past and chart a new course towards a brighter future. No one leader or generation can resolve challenges of this magnitude alone. The healing of Africa’s giant is not a nine-month or nine-year project. It is the work of generations. But the foundation stones have to be laid here and now through hard work, cooperation, patriotism, and visionary leadership. Only then can we nurse this fractured economy back to full, thriving health and achieve our full potential as a proud African nation. So, let us not dwell on blame but instead focus on the work that lies ahead to build a more prosperous and equitable Nigeria for generations to come.

    •Dr. Halimah writes from Kano and can be reached via halimahwrites@romzaibfoundation.org

  • Solving Nigeria’s airspace conundrum

    Solving Nigeria’s airspace conundrum

    • By Wole Shadare

    The state of Nigerian airspace infrastructure has raised a lot of concerns among aviation stakeholders. It wasn’t as if the country’s airspace was unsafe, so many issues like inadequate navigation equipment, and poor radio communication among others raise concerns about how difficult pilots communicate with air traffic controllers.

    For several years, most of the navigational facilities were obsolete and grossly inadequate and posed serious dangers to air travel. Pilots expressed displeasure and were visibly angry over poor navigational aids at most airports. Aerodromes suffered from long periods of neglect, poor planning, and wanton corruption that left the sector in a precarious situation.

    Pilots recalled their experiences any time they flew within the country’s airspace. They found it very difficult at a point to establish communication with the control tower because of the lack of effective radio communication coverage.

     The poor state of the controller/pilot VHF communication coverage of the country’s airspace was glaring. Users were piqued that if navigational aids could work in such places as Togo, Ghana, and Sao Tome, they wondered why the same equipment couldn’t work in Nigeria.

    The careful planning by the Ministry of Aviation and National Aerospace Management Agency, NAMA to change the narrative of bad news as it affects the country’s airspace safety had seen a massive investment of over N32 billion and another $12.9 million to overhaul the airspace architecture by the last administration. While so much was achieved, there are so many investments NAMA is expected to carry out to reposition Nigeria’s airspace infrastructure and make it safer.

    While taking note of the complaints of the umbrella body of air traffic controllers, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), NAMA has itemised the several ongoing and completed projects across the country’s airports aimed at safety, efficiency, capacity, and environment.

    Among these are the surface movement radar and ground control systems at Lagos and Abuja completed in the first quarter of 2022; the deployment of three-dimensional virtual tower simulators in Lagos completed by December 2021.

    The process of tackling the rot in NAMA of many years started slowly about a few years ago. The remarkable work of past chief executive officers particularly, Capt Fola Akinkuotu and Mathew Lawrence Pwajok is worth mentioning.

    At NAMA, the agency made some strides. In the area of communication, the agency had a few challenges. Over time the airspace is increasing because of growth in traffic and the air routes are many and they cut across the nation because there are more connections between various airports, as new airports are coming up.

    In response to this, NAMA is deploying a very high-frequency system to enhance extended coverage communication, from bandwidth to bandwidth to enhance the safety of air navigation.  That is the project that will enhance communication between pilots and air traffic controllers, which is voice communication from air-to-ground.

    For exchange of flight, an aircraft departs and there is the need to inform the airport where the aircraft is going for them to also prepare and expect the airplane.

    There are more digital means of sending this information, which are referred to as data links, that is what the agency is working on to get funding to be able to provide not just voice communication but also data links that can provide an accurate and more express exchange of sensitive information and flight movements.

    The incumbent Managing Director of NAMA Engr. Umar Ahmed Farouk has carried on seamlessly and breaking new ground with the planned provision of modern and seamless navigation safety tools.  All the hiccups are expected to be tackled as the federal government has acceded to the request of the agency to overhaul and modernise the communication architecture of the country’s airspace.

    The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in February this year disclosed that he had received approval of N40 billion to procure and upgrade navigational equipment nationwide. He stated the dearth of facilities led him to request urgent intervention from the president to acquire safety critical equipment.

    The newly appointed managing director of NAMA, Farouk has decided to take pre-emptive steps to upgrade most of the equipment. Farouk, who had been the most senior director in the agency before he was appointed substantive Managing Director has been working tirelessly to re-position NAMA to meet global standards.

    The Minister, Farouk and his team are working to upgrade our Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) after Keyamo visited France, the country of the installer of TRACON.

    Aside from that, the federal government is also procuring landing equipment and navigation equipment and upgrading the ones in existence including the procurement of modern ILS for the five international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port-Harcourt and Enugu.

    There is also the Doppler Very High Omni-directional Range (DVOR) equipment that guides aircraft in very difficult circumstances. Even in hazy weather, they guide aircraft in their approach and landing.

    The government is equally in the process of acquiring the equipment as one of the bold steps taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to upgrade many of the country’s obsolete airspace infrastructures.

    The agency has been grappling with the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) coupled with intractable communication challenges in Nigeria’s airspace which became inefficient over the years because some of the parts had become outmoded.

    Farouk has vowed that the myriads of problems plaguing communication between pilots and controllers would soon be a thing of the past. He promised to immediately fix the communication problem and also declared an emergency in power supply, as NAMA’s installations are expected to provide 24-hour service to ensure that aircraft fly safely in Nigeria’s airspace.

    The airspace agency spends a humongous amount of its revenues on diesel to power its generators and recently considered investing in solar systems.

    The communication architecture of Nigerian airspace is now broadened, addressing issues that were prevalent before as there are processes to ensure seamless communication between pilots and air traffic controllers.

    Over time navigation has always relied on ground-based navigational aids. However, with the advent of satellite navigation adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) GNSS, the scenario began to change.

    Due to errors inherent in the GPS constellations, the raw navigation signal from the satellites was not accurate enough to provide precision approaches.

    The satellite errors were due to various factors, including SA (selective availability) which was a deliberate introduction of errors to downgrade the quality of signals.

    However, with the removal of the SA errors, there was a significant improvement in the accuracy of the satellite guidance signals.

    This nonetheless, could not meet the requirements for precision approaches. To further improve the accuracies of the navigational satellite signals several measures were adopted, such as Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) and Ground Based Augmentation Systems (GBAS), which are ways of detecting and correcting satellite errors by comparison of received satellite signals from a known reference point and computing the errors.

    Speaking on the application of SBAS for approach navigation in Nigeria, Farouk noted that the use of satellites for navigation (GNSS) is not new in Nigeria as they have implemented RNAV approaches using satellite signals.

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    However, these approaches he said are non-precision approaches as the accuracies do not meet up to precision categories, hinting that the RNAV provides only lateral guidance with no vertical guidance signals. It then still means that the ground-based navigational aids provide better accuracies.

    The country’s ground-based instrument landing systems provide navigation guidance from Category I to Category III approaches, which mean airport or traffic capacities are still better with the existing ground-based instrument landing system during bad weather.

     However, the cost of acquisition and maintenance of ground-based navigational aids is high and therefore, alternative means of navigation that are cost-effective is a welcome development.

    The traditional ground-based instrument landing systems have been the sole means of instrument approaches before now. It is expected that the SBAS (LPV) when implemented will be available for use in addition to the existing ground-based navigational aids and the already applicable RNAV. The choice of which to use will be at the discretion of the airspace users.

    While there is a remarkable improvement in air traffic management in the country with installed facilities, however, the agency is urged not to rest on its oars to ensure that there is consistent improvement in the country’s airspace surveillance.

    •Shadare, Aviation and Travel journalist writes from Lagos.

  • Umahi’s drive in works sector

    Umahi’s drive in works sector

    • By Vitalis Obidiaghaa

    Briefing the press after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on Monday, February 26, the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, announced that the Council has approved a N1.06 trillion contract for the construction of the first phase of the coastal road from Lagos to Calabar. Umahi, who disclosed this to newsmen, explained that the phase is part the 700 kilometre road spanning nine states and with two spurs leading to the northern states. According to him, FEC approved the fund for the first phase made of the 47.47 kilometres dual carriage way to be constructed with concrete, having five lanes on each side and a train track in the middle.

    In his words: “Today, we had the approval of FEC for the construction of 700 kilometres of coastal routes running from Lagos through the nine coastal routes or states up to Cross River; meaning that it goes through Lagos; the Lekki Deep Seaport, Ogun State, Ondo State, Delta, Bayelsa, Port Harcourt and Akwa Ibom. But we also have two spurs that leads to the North, from the ongoing Badagry-Sokoto route and the one that leads to the Trans-Sahara route that goes from Ogoja down to Cameroon. Now, it is a dual carriage way. And each carriage way has five lanes and a provision for a train infrastructure that will be at the middle.”

    The above development, which has earned Mr. President the commendation of well-meaning Nigerians, signifies Umahi’s quest to use his expertise as a thoroughbred structural engineer to transform Nigeria’s road infrastructure, easing the pains that Nigerians have gone through over the years, due to poor road networks. This becomes even more encouraging when one considers the strategic importance of that coastal route to Nigeria’s economy, especially as it serves as a linkage between the Southwest and the South-south economic corridors.

    The significance of this project will be better appreciated when one considers the fact that one of the key indicators for measuring a nation’s developmental quest is to examine the effort such nation makes towards her infrastructural development. This is predicated on the fact that a good road network, apart from providing comfort for the travelling public, also serves as a vital catalyst for sundry economic activities. And every informed mind who means well for our nation, will agree to the fact that the coastal route, just like many other strategic routes within our shores, holds so much promise for our nation’s economic rejuvenation.

    That, perhaps, explains why Mr. President stated during his campaign, that his intention was to “modernise and expand public infrastructure so that the rest of the economy can grow at an optimal rate,” —a promise he is now determined to fulfil by the activities of Umahi, the minister of works. And if one rises beyond sentiments and judges by the series of activities carried out by Umahi ever since he assumed office as the minister, one would agree to the fact that he came with a high level of determination to make a difference towards transforming Nigeria’s road infrastructure. This can be seen, not only through his words and ambitious project plans, but also in his profound understanding of how to navigate the associated challenges that come with such ambitious projects. An example of such scenario is the case of this coastal road from Lagos to Calabar.

    Recall that FEC had on October 30, 2023, approved that the Lagos to Calabar coastal road be procured under (EPC+) Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Financing in favour of High-Tech Construction African Limited, with the expectation that the company will search for the funding. And they have already started searching for the funding, but ran into hitches. And in his proactive quest to ensure the success of this ambitious project, the minister thought it wise to seek for the understanding and intervention of Mr President towards fast-tracking the project and Mr. President gave his consent.

    Umahi’s passionate words to Mr. President went thus: “Since this project was going to be procured in two phases and multiple sections, can we get the Federal Government to fund the phase one, which is 47.47 kilometres, running from Ahmadu Bello in Lagos down to Lekki Deep Seaport?” To this the president graciously approved. Speaking further, the minister stated “we also have the challenge of a lot of infrastructure on the road corridor. So, we requested Mr. President to approve that we realign the road, so that we move closer to the ocean shore, and then avoid those properties which could lead to litigation. And Mr. President also approved. But then, that led to a new challenge. And the challenge is the need to start the project as quickly as possible as to protect, you know, the communities along the corridor. So today, we have procured the first section, which is 47.47 kilometres under 10 lanes and FEC graciously approved the contract for N1.067 trillion with no objection.”

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    The above good news and the commendations that it has generated so far do not come as a surprise to those who have followed Umahi’s determined efforts towards the transformation of Nigeria’s road sector since he assumed duty as the Minister of Works. It resonates deeply with the aspirations of many Nigerians who rejoiced when Mr. President gave him that important responsibility. Those who have followed his activities closely can attest to the fact that he is determined to ensure that the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President becomes a reality through the delivery of quality road infrastructure in Nigeria.

    Speaking during one of his meetings with the project stakeholders in Lagos, Umahi stated that “the Lagos-Port Harcourt-Calabar Coastal Highway is the first of its kind in the whole of Africa, and it is quite innovative as it shows that the giant of Africa is beginning to show her prowess and this is being revitalized by the captain of the ship, His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu. So, this is very beautiful. Another good news is that this project is going to be built on a concrete road of 11 inches thick with 20-millimetres reinforcement.”

    For those who believe in the unfolding greatness of the Nigerian nation and the determination of the present administration to live up to the truest potential of the Nigerian nation, these words from Senator Umahi and his drive to make a difference reassure Nigerians of the steadfastness of the Renewed Hope Agenda. That is why he deserves the support of all Nigerians.

  • Attaining food sustainability through women farmers

    Attaining food sustainability through women farmers

    SIR: As Nigeria grapples with the food shortage across, it is now time to re-think the pivotal role of women in promoting food sustainability. Women are natural beings with an innate potential to conceive, deliver and nurture. This potential is not restrictive to biological cycle of life but it extends to all spheres of life including political, social and economic life.

    In almost all communities in Nigeria, women constitute a major percentage of active farmers. Women in rural communities have been able to combine strength, zeal and dexterity in production of farm inputs that contributes to the survival and sustainability of the home front.

    It is however worrisome that despite the huge population of women farmers, their impact on food production is yet to be felt. A lot of factors have contributed to stifling the potentials of women in sustainable food production in Nigeria. Some of those factors are social, cultural, economic and political.

    In specific terms, the land ownership system does not really favour the female gender as most families bequeath inheritance of landed property to men rather than women. As a result of this most women are given portions of land to farm out of benevolent gestures other than as a right of ownership.  This scenario has limited women farmers to become just subsistent farmers.

    Other factors limiting women farmers can also be traced to lack of support from government. Women have limited access to resources compared to their male folks and this makes it difficult for them to compete in the agro-business economy. The lack of resources serves as a limitation to accessing modern farm tools that would enable them go into large scale production, whereas these tools are easily accessed through loans to their male counterparts.  There is also the dearth of knowledge on large scale farming amongst women farmers and this has restricted them to subsistent farming. Another factor is the cultural limitations that confines women with reproductive and domestic roles.

    There is need to review the provision of some existing policies that support women contribution to food sustainability. The national policy on agriculture aims at attaining self-sustainable growth in all the sub-sectors of agriculture and the structural transformation necessary for the overall socio-economic development of the country as well as the improvement in the quality of life of Nigerians. To achieve this policy the female gender must be strategically empowered to contribute to food sustainability. This is also in line with the goal of the national policy on Gender in Agriculture.  The agriculture gender policy is to promote and ensure the adoption of gender sensitive and responsive approaches towards engendering plans and programmes in such a way that men and women have access to and control of productive resources and facilities to bridge gender gaps. The policy document will enhance the platform to build an agri-business ecosystem to meet both domestic and foreign demands to achieve food security and accelerated development.

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    There is no other better time to implement these policies than now!  In line with the strategies contained in these policies, the government should collaborate with stakeholders to identify the gender limiting factors restraining women from participating in large scale farming and set-up a mechanism to mainstream gender equality in agri-business.  Secondly, through an inter-sectoral collaboration, government should allocate resources across sectors that would render support to women in agriculture.  Thirdly, there is need to implement gender sensitive laws, policies and regulations as well as build the capacity of stakeholders to abide by the guiding principles that provides for equitable access to women farmers.

    For them to be involved in large scale production and commercial agriculture, women farmers should be granted subsidies on agricultural products. In essence modern farming tools for mechanized farming should be provided at subsidized rates to women farmers.  Fifthly, the federal and state government should provide soft loans with low interest rates and favourable re-payment plans to women in agriculture this would enable them get easy access to resources

    Finally, to achieve the above, women farmers association should be mainstreamed in every policy decisions of government; they should be given the opportunity to contribute to government policies, actions and implementations.

    • Victor Emejuiwe, Centre for Social Justice, Abuja.
  • On the Expatriate Employment Levy

    On the Expatriate Employment Levy

    • By John Ainofenokhai

    In conceptualizing a nation’s urgent economic revamp, its workforce empowerment, revenue generation, improvement of nationalization/indigenization, hope is certainly not a plan. Historically, bold economic reforms and their disciplined enforcement remain twin ‘weapon-grade’ tools progressive nations deploy to change the narrative of economic infamy as well as fast-track stability.

    As it were, on February 27, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu boldly launched the Expatriate Employment Levy, EEL, and handbook at the State House Council Chambers, Abuja. The flagship policy project will be operated on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model between the Federal Government of Nigeria represented by the Ministry of Interior as the guarantor with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), as implementing agency.

    The levy, scheduled to commence on Friday, March 15, comes as part of the government’s effort to bolster the nation’s economy and empower its workforce. At the well-attended launch event, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, were among other dignitaries.

    Clearly, as the country continues to navigate the complexities of globalization and economic disruptions, the EEL indisputably remains a vital instrument for shaping a prosperous and sustainable future for all its citizens.

    To quote President Tinubu at the launch: “I’ve been further assured that the project has the capacity of plugging loopholes and gaps that have bedevilled the country in dealing with security challenges, movement of foreigners in and out of the country…

     “There will be clear lines of implementation and effective acceleration of aims and objectives of this programme. Immigration matters and expatriate quotas, and relevant stakeholders, have to be effectively guided to make Nigeria the focus of the objective of this EEL. Therefore, it is my honour that the handbook of the Expatriate Employment Levy is hereby launched.”

    Ahead of implementation of the EEL, stakeholders across various sectors are, not surprisingly, optimistic of its potential to catalyse positive change in the nation’s economy.  Targeting promotion of local talent and fostering sustainable growth, the levy represents a significant step towards achieving long-term prosperity and self-reliance for Nigeria and its citizens.

    The new initiative is also expected to generate revenue for the government; improve nationalization/indigenization; increase employment opportunities for Nigerians with foreign companies operating in the country, balance employment opportunities between Nigerians and expatriates, close wage gaps between the expatriates and the Nigerian labour force and facilitate knowledge transfer to grow the economy.

    By incentivizing the employment of local talent, the government aims to create a more sustainable and inclusive economy, reducing dependency on external sources for specialized skills.

    Cut to the bone, the implementation of the Expatriates Employment Levy aligns with the nation’s broader economic agenda, which prioritizes indigenous capacity building and job creation. It reflects a strategic shift towards fostering a conducive environment for local businesses to thrive and contribute to national development.

    More, the levy is expected to provide a significant boost to government revenue streams, which can be allocated towards critical sectors such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure development.

    This injection of funds has the potential of driving socio-economic progress and enhancing the quality of life for Nigerians across board.

    Nigeria has witnessed a growing influx of expatriates into its workforce in recent years, driven by globalization, foreign investment, and specialized skills requirements. To regulate this trend and ensure equitable opportunities for its citizens, the federal government decided to fully implement the EEL.

    Without dispute, the EEL serves as a mechanism to encourage the recruitment and development of local talent. By imposing levies on companies employing expatriates, it incentivizes organizations to prioritize the training and employment of Nigerian citizens.

    This emphasis on local workforce development not only reduces dependency on foreign labour but also contributes to skill enhancement, job creation, and empowerment within the Nigerian community.

    Of critical importance is the fact that revenue generated through the EEL will bolster the government’s financial capacity to invest in critical sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and social welfare programmes. These will stimulate economic growth, enhance productivity, and create a conducive environment for sustainable development.

    By channelling funds into local initiatives, the EEL fosters entrepreneurship, innovation, and small business development, thereby nurturing a robust and diversified economy. And the presence of expatriates in key sectors facilitates the transfer of specialized skills, knowledge, and best practices to the local workforce.

    It’s important to realize that the EEL is not merely a fiscal measure but a strategic tool for promoting national development, empowering the local workforce, and fostering economic self-reliance. In effect, by prioritizing the recruitment, training, and retention of Nigerian talent, while facilitating skill transfer, knowledge exchange, and regulatory oversight, the EEL contributes to the creation of a more inclusive, competitive, and resilient economy.

    More specifically – and this worth repeating – the objectives of EEL are to promote knowledge and skill transfer from expatriates to local employees. By attaching a financial commitment to the employment of expatriates, government encourages employers to actively engage in training and mentorship programmes. This facilitates the development of local talents, thereby strengthening the domestic workforce over time.

    EEL provides a balance between encouraging FDIs and safeguarding the interest of local workers. In this regard, EEL ensures that while expatriate workers contribute to economic development, the rights and opportunities of local employees are not compromised.

    EEL also encourages collaboration between government entities, industry associations, business stakeholders as well as provides need for continuous dialogue and consultation between the public and private sectors while channelling policy making towards addressing the needs of various sectors and fulfilling broader national goals.

    EEL will also address demographic changes such as aging population or shortage of skilled labour thereby encouraging businesses to prioritize local talent acquisition and invest in workforce development initiatives – ultimately safeguarding the nation’s long-term economic prosperity.

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    For clarity, expatriate workers subject to EEL are those who are non-citizens employed within Nigeria. Expatriate workers may also encompass individuals on specific type of work permits, visas, or other temporary residency arrangements.

    The EEL covers the private sector industries that utilizes foreign workforce or rely on expatriate labour, such as construction, ICT, agriculture, manufacturing, oil and gas, telecommunication, services, banking and finance, maritime and shipping and healthcare. Any company/organisation that engaged expatriate talents is subject and liable to pay the EEL.

    The Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, being the government agency saddled with the statutory mandate of “control of persons entering and leaving Nigeria,” shall be responsible for determining which expatriates fall within the EEL purview and enforcing the levy in line with relevant provisions. The NIS is also to use the data generated from the EEL project for the purpose of enhancing Nigeria’s national security.

    With regards to reporting and compliance, government will provide online platforms for employers to report expatriate employment details electronically. These platforms will streamline the reporting process and facilitate efficient data exchange between employers and government agencies.

    As a well thought out policy, the EEL, certainly will impact the expatriate employment space which has been largely ungoverned. This should show progressive returns in terms of local workforce mentorship and revenue streams.

    • Ainofenokhai is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja.
  • Remembering MKO Abiola’s transformer semiotics

    Remembering MKO Abiola’s transformer semiotics

    • By Banji Ojewale

    One of the captivating political campaign lines of MKO Abiola has been immortalized in a seminal work by Professor Tunde Ope-Davies (Tunde Opeibi) of the University of Lagos. Titled Discourse, Politics and the 1993 Presidential Election Campaign in Nigeria, the book documents the drive of the gladiators to secure the mandate of the electorate. Ope-Davies’ uncanny nose for hidden details smokes out Abiola’s rush for virtually every trick in the advertising books to outwit his main challenger, Bashir Tofa, of the National Republican Convention, NRC, leading Abiola to create the famous punchline on the transformer as a metaphor for abiding leadership. MKO, as he was fondly called, was of the Social Democratic Party, SDP. He is quoted by Ope-Davies (then known as Tunde Opeibi) as saying during his search for votes that all Nigeria needed to overcome its age-old statehood concerns was ‘one transformer’, one singular and enduring personality in the saddle whose beam of integrity would permeate all of society for salutary ripples in his days and beyond.

    So, Abiola had an ad with the kicker, Endless Power Interruptions, followed by the rider, All Nigeria needs is one transformer! In between, you have the semiotic message of a lit lantern in the midst of darkness ‘depicting poor power supply or the failure of … government to guarantee steady and regular power…to Nigerian homes.’

    Ope-Davies recalls how the subject of failed and flawed leadership is then broached in the body copy: ‘This country has the resources to ensure stable power supply. All it takes is one achiever who can transform what seems impossible to be possible. M.K.O. Abiola has the courage and honesty of purpose to unite us in a bold move to solve our problems… All Nigeria needs is one transformer… A transformer is the equipment that generates electricity in every neighbourhood. Without a transformer, there cannot be power supply. Often, officials of the company responsible for power supply blame lack of good or ageing transformer for their inability to ensure good and steady power. While suggesting that he would address the problem by providing the leadership that would ensure regular energy supply, he presents himself as the one transformer who would ‘transform’ the society. One could see the creativity in the use of social amenities to promote political candidate’s campaign messages. Instead of making promises in plain language, he appeals to the visual senses of the people.’

    This book on the June 12, 1993 poll was written in 2009 to chronicle the trajectory of a politician’s victory through ‘effective campaign strategies’. It salutes the people’s overwhelming trust in Abiola as their freely chosen leader.  But alas, Abiola’s triumph was aborted by the conspiracy and infighting among the military authorities and their civilian co-travellers. He wasn’t allowed to transform into the transformer he promised us. We’ve had to continuously mourn a doleful political leadership underhandedness that has followed Abiola’s loss. Instead of a ‘transformer’, we’ve have had pall-bearers giving us abyss darkness. Each departing gloom always gave birth to a blacker dimness, until finally, in Muhammadu Buhari, we were hit with a somnolent blindness that sent all the nation of 200 million plus to sleep for eight years. He reminded us of Rip Van Winkle, the character in Irving Washington’s short story who slept for 20 years and missed the American Revolution in 1776.

    Still, sitting at Abiola’s feet wasn’t a wasted time. We received the lesson of all time: a nation that slips at the leadership level is bound to trip and fall. You must get it right at the point where you’re choosing who to lead you. He’s the transformer who gives you and the entire society the light that leads you away from the pit of perdition.

    You don’t have him or her, you don’t have light. You may have all the resources of this world as our beloved Nigeria has; they would all come to zero if there’s no hero of a ‘transformer’ to show the way to exploit these assets for mass benefit. But if you have ‘zero’ or limited resources, a hardworking, innovative and selfless leader would bond with his or her people to readily create a mass of wealth surpassing the so-termed riches or minerals of an endowed nation bereft of a good leader, a transformer. It was the point Nigeria’s late novelist, Chinua Achebe, made in the book he published in 1983, The Trouble with Nigeria.

    We must begin to work harder at choosing our leaders, whether at the centre or at the wings, outposts or grassroots, seeing that’s the make-or-mar stage of the process of efficiently administering a society, its people and resources. That’s what also decides if that society would be a success or failure, if it would march into a prosperous and stable future or if it would just be taking unsteady baby steps with fears that it would be a matter of a few years for the legs to collapse and prevent further movement altogether.

    More than 60 years after so-called independence, Nigeria is still shady about its status: to stay together or break up, to shred its constitution or retain it, to run a presidential or parliamentary system, to be under an arrangement in which the majority become poorer and destitute while a minuscule steal state wealth with impunity or work for a truly just order, to create more states or not, to bring back the regional system or let it remain in the past?

    The weak and indifferent leaders we’ve had over the decades have been defeated by these demons, such that they’re recurring little devils that feature under every administration and in every age. Lay hold on the newspapers of the 70s through the 80s, 90s and the current century and you’d find the imps everywhere. No strong leader has emerged to rock the boat and change the order. Warped religion, corruption cronyism (nepotism), ethnic considerations, compromised (stained) leadership etc. combine to block such attempts. 

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    We need leaders with character that emerge from a crucible of fire. They should pass the unbending integrity test. In their 2011 book, Segun Osoba, The Newspaper Years, Mike Awoyinfa and Dimgba Igwe, relate how late Babatunde Jose, a giant of Nigeria’s newspaper journalism, recruited his reporters who went on, not only to become the greatest in the industry, but also outside their discipline. Jose was unsparing and disruptive in his search for those who would mould the society through their reports.

    At an interview session, Jose wanted to know what a young potential reporter would do if, while he was making love with his wife, he heard a bang outside followed by a scream. One fellow said he’d disengage and shower before going to cover the event. Another said: ‘I won’t shower. I would just put on my pants and trousers and go.’ That’s the answer that made Jose’s day: Forsaking personal pleasure to serve the public. The book also records the case of the one who has an urgent journalistic assignment. But then here comes his pregnant wife; she is groaning, needing to be taken to the hospital. What’s the poor journalist going to do? Our fellow says he’d take his woman to the health facility and leave for the assignment after his wife delivers. He missed it, according to Jose. He said he’d tell the young man since he wasn’t a nurse, why would he wait at the hospital after taking her there? Jose said: ‘I was that harsh in my assessment of people’s attitude to work… (I looked for) those who were impersonal, who showed that the love for work transcends personal conveniences.’

    Nigerians must be harsher than Babatunde Jose. For, our task is to choose one who, having been seen to have transformed himself would be entrusted the task of exuding light to some 200m+ compatriots. Surely, much more of Spartan discipline and impersonal propensity would be required of him and his government than of journalists.

    Nigeria hasn’t had such leaders. It’s the reason challenges of decades past are still here in the 21st Century. Nations that started the race with us have left us far behind. We were destined to have a shot at the moon. But our leaders failed to envision a dream and a future as a John Kennedy had for the United States. Some of my compatriots say that it’s late to dream again of a transformer waking the giant, that there are no new territories to conquer.

    As an invincible optimist, I disagree.

    • Ojewale is a writer at Ota, Ogun State.  
  • In defence of NYSC skills acquisition programme

    In defence of NYSC skills acquisition programme

    SIR: Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED), an acronym for the NYSC program established in 2012, was designed to tackle the pervasive issue of unemployment, a significant challenge confronting Nigerian youths and graduates today. This issue has become a matter of national concern as some of our most educated and dynamic individuals are not actively contributing to economic and social development.

    The SAED program was charged with raising awareness among corps members about the realities of the Nigerian job market. By offering foundational entrepreneurship training and practical skills, it aimed to empower them to consider the possibilities of self-employment or initiating their own businesses.

    Many corps members harbour disdain for the program, often attributing it to the lengthy duration of both the lectures and practical sessions. During our orientation camp, the program ran daily from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., spanning a full five hours. In the classroom, it was common to observe corps members dozing off, engrossed in their smartphones, displaying signs of fatigue, or engaging in other forms of unserious behaviour.

    To me, that period was the highlight of the orientation camp. I gained invaluable knowledge, particularly during the lecture delivered by an official from the National Directorate of Employment following the distribution of the guidebook titled “Starting My Own Small Business: Participant’s Workbook.” This lecture served as a pivotal and transformative moment for anyone who was responsible and attentive.

    We were imparted with comprehensive insights into the intricacies of establishing a formal business in Nigeria, along with the diverse opportunities available across various sectors. Additionally, we learned about the avenues through which one could secure grants or loans from government agencies tasked with that responsibility or from commercial banks to facilitate business expansion.

    Many individuals who had successfully leveraged these opportunities were invited to deliver practical lectures, and they did so with professionalism and expertise. Their first-hand experiences served as invaluable lessons for us, providing practical insights and guidance on how to navigate the entrepreneurial landscape effectively.

    Prior to attending the camp, I already had a business idea, and I was working diligently towards realizing it. However, attending the SAED classes further ignited and encouraged my efforts. As a result, I recently took the step to register my business with the Corporate Affairs Commission, spurred on by the confidence and insights gained from the SAED program.

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    With the assistance of the SAED program, four corps members were able to secure a total of N2.3 million in grants. Among the 90 corps members who submitted their business plans, seven were selected to present their proposals to officials from WEMA Bank, as well as fellow corps members and other NYSC officials. Ultimately, four corps members emerged as grant recipients, with amounts awarded as follows: N800,000, N700,000, N600,000, and N200,000, respectively. This achievement highlights the effectiveness of the SAED program in fostering entrepreneurship and facilitating financial empowerment among corps members.

    I believe that the prevalent laziness among many youths today contributes negatively to their disdain for the SAED program. Several corps members have expressed to me that they consider it the most “boring” aspect of the orientation camp. However, personally, I find the parade to be the most tedious part of the camp. This is because I lack any passion for becoming an army or paramilitary officer, which diminishes my enthusiasm for the parade activities.

    Absolutely, the blame should not be placed on the NYSC SAED program itself. Instead, it is the laziness and lack of foresight among many of our youth and graduates that hinder their appreciation of this valuable opportunity. The SAED program serves as a platform to showcase talents and acquire knowledge that can be instrumental in thriving during and after the NYSC program. It is essential for us to seize this opportunity and make the most of it, as it may only come once in a lifetime.

    • Ammar Muhammad Rajab, Kano.
  • Waiting for Governor Diri’s inclusive cabinet

    Waiting for Governor Diri’s inclusive cabinet

    SIR: In 1860, lawyer and former one-term congressman, Abraham Lincoln stunned the American community by prevailing over three prominent and politically enlightened rivals – William H. Steward, Salmon P. Chase, and Edward Bates, who were his opponents in the keenly contested Republican nomination for President of the United States of America. Lincoln appointed all three of them after the elections, in disbelief, as Secretary of State, Secretary of Treasury and Attorney-General respectively. All, to key political cabinet offices – the engine room of government. That singular well-thought-out act helped President Lincoln steer the country through its darkest days.

    What propelled Lincoln to fill his cabinet with rival politicians was that these were men of strong character, great talents and patriotic American citizens. Lincoln desired to harness these rich human resources to enable him effectively tap into their variegated talents for national growth and development of the American State.

    The author of “In Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln”, Doris Kearns Goodwin in her research, found that, apart from other variables, Lincoln wanted people in his cabinet who thought the way he did and had the passion for selfless service and the ability to unify a divided America, particularly to stand the head of the rebellious South.

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    It is for this reason that the recent proclamation of Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri’s avowed commitment to constitute an inclusive cabinet in his second tenure in office is worthy of applause. This move, if studiedly carried out, would further unite the Bayelsa community to gaze at the same direction in squarely addressing the problems of under-development in the state. It goes without saying that this move would not only douse the flames of discontent, intolerance, greed and self-centeredness amongst our political class but shall deflate the hitherto despicable trending winner-takes-all syndrome in our polity.

    What is left to be done now by Governor Douye and his “Kitchen Cabinet” is to fish out such men and women of proven character and ability who would positively add to his government’s developmental action plan for the next four years. These choices should be men and women of commonly shared moral and ethical values, and who have, unarguably, knowledge and understanding of what service delivery to an under-developed state, such as Bayelsa, means.

    Such candidates so identified, should have emotional and political attachment to both the state and her leadership, as well as exude the finer attributes of vision, probity and accountability, pragmatism, loyalty and unflinching commitment to assist the leadership in the task of advancing the development the state.

    • Braeyi Ekiye, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
  • Can Tinubu be Nigeria’s Roosevelt?

    Can Tinubu be Nigeria’s Roosevelt?

    • By Olabode Lucas

    Franklin D. Roosevelt, one of the three greatest presidents of the United States of America became the president of his country in 1933 at the height of the great depression. The great depression which raged between 1929 and 1939 caused a severe economic downturn that blighted and laid prostrate many countries in the world. In the USA, the depression led to decline in stock prices which resulted in a period of economic dislocation characterized by high unemployment and colossal business failures. It was a grim period for citizens of the USA.

    On taking over power, Franklin Roosevelt popularly called FDR, first instilled confidence in his people by telling them in his inauguration speech, that they had nothing to fear but fear itself. Between 1933 and 1939, President Roosevelt enacted what was popularly called the New Deal which was a series of programmes that included public work projects, financial reforms and regulations. The New Deal provided support for farmers, the unemployed youths and the elderly.

    The legacy of Franklin Roosevelt will always remain evergreen in the history of the USA. He brought the USA through the great depression and made the country a prosperous one which had dominated the world since World War II, a war he led the Allied power to win over Nazi Germany led by Adolf Hitler.

    No two countries are the same and I think the situations in the world at the time of Franklin Roosevelt were pole apart from the present situation in the world, but one can say with some certainty that the present situation faced by President Bola Tinubu is not very much different from what Roosevelt faced in 1933 in the USA. On taking over the rein of government, President Tinubu met a battered and mangled economy, high rate of unemployment, high inflation rate, insecurity, unbridled corruption at high and low places, low wages, humungous debt profile in which we use 96% of our revenue to service, searing high cost of food and other essentials and general disillusionment and hopelessness among the people.

    In fact, he met a country which is still the poverty capital of the world where 64% of the people live below poverty line. For any impartial observer, Nigeria had never had it so bad as the previous administration before Tinubu has put us in the gutters economically. There is now the fear that if nothing concrete is done to improve our economy, Nigeria may tread the same path as Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

    On taking over in May 2023 with his Renewed Hope Agenda, Tinubu’s body language depicted what Sir Winston Churchill of Britain told his country men and women during the Second World War, that he had nothing to offer to them but blood, toil, tear and sweat. In his inaugural speech, Tinubu unilaterally removed the fuel subsidy which had been riddled with unbridled corruption, embezzlement and criminal opacity for many years with attendant humungous drain on our resources. This singular act caused seismic economic rumpus in the country.  Costs of petrol, transportation, food and other essentials went up astronomically. Many people including top economists thought the action was too hasty with little or no plan formulated to cushion the deleterious effect of the removal on the common people. Some felt that the removal should have been gradual. A sizeable informed opinion in the country however, felt that the move was a courageous one which was a necessary bitter pill to take us out of our self-imposed economic ailment. The jury is still out on what would eventually be the effect of removal of petrol subsidy on the well-being of the people. However, one salutary effect of the removal of petrol subsidy is the increase in the allocations given to state governments from the Federation Account. It is unfortunate that in most states the people are yet to feel the impact of these increased allocations.

    Since taking over, President Tinubu had taken measures to alleviate the sufferings of the people by giving different categories of people different financial palliatives. It is a matter of regret that some aspects of this laudable initiative for the down-trodden were messed up by people in charge of it in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. He has also tried to change the direction of the economy from the rudderless path of the past eight years. The Naira has been allowed to float instead of being supported artificially by the CBN. This action has caused precipitous decline in the value of the Naira with attendant increases in prices of goods and commodities. To douse the pang of hunger among the people, the president has ordered the release of grains to the people from strategic grain reserve.

    Student loans have been reintroduced. At every given opportunity, President Tinubu has always assured the people that there will be light at the end of the dark tunnel in Nigeria. Many people are not convinced. The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) under the feisty Ajaero is restless and agitated. Just a few days ago, the NLC organized a two-day protest which was later changed to one day to protest against ‘hunger in the land’.

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    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has the reputation of getting things done by turning bad political economic situations around. He built this reputation in Lagos State where he was the governor between 1999 and 2007. Of course, governing a state is far less complicated than governing the whole country, but many people believe that he is up to the task. The economic situation in Nigeria at present is grim as a result of economic recklessness and mismanagement over the years, especially in the last eight years under Muhammadu Buhari who thoroughly disappointed millions of Nigerians with his unmitigated ineptness.

    World history has shown that when the situations in some countries were dire and people were rudderless and forlorn, leaders usually emerged to salvage the situation. We have example of the emergence of Winston Churchill in Britain who saved his people from the debilitating threat of Adolf Hitler during the dark days of the Second World War. In post-war Germany, Konrad Adenaeur and Ludwig Erhard emerged to bring economic prosperity to the defeated Germany. Franklin Roosevelt as stated above rescued the USA with his New Deal to get his country out of the great depression. President Tinubu is certainly not an angel but among the three contestants for the post of the president during the last presidential election, he has the best credentials for the job. If one judges from its antecedents in governance one may conclude that perhaps he is the one destined to take Nigeria out of the present economic quagmire as Franklin Roosevelt did for the USA between 1933 and 1939. Time will certainly tell, but he needs the cooperation of every Nigerian since he has our mandate to do the job.

    •Professor Lucas writes from Old Bodija, Ibadan.