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  • Stella Obasanjo: A collector’s biography (Part 3)

    Stella Obasanjo: A collector’s biography (Part 3)

    One the 14th of this month Stella would have been 72.  But on November 14th 2005, the First Lady was going to be 60!  That event would be marked with a loud bang.  The mother of all parties was planned; only among who is who at the time.  By October plans were in top gear with big officials, political jobbers and all her friends in high anticipation.  Stella was said to have travelled round the globe shopping for her big day.

    On Thursday 20th October she traveled to Paris en route Italy where she was to represent the President at a ceremony in the Vatican City.  Then she made a detour to nearby Spain. During her car ride with the Nigerian ambassador Dr. Kingsley Ebenyi, she informed him that she had a doctor’s appointment to keep; they drove to the hospital in the same car.  She went to the doctor, on Friday morning she had a surgery.  That afternoon she called the ambassador, instructing him to continue with arrangements for her Saturday trip to Rome; SHE WAS FINE.

    But Mrs. Obasanjo became seriously ill on Saturday and had to remain in hospital.  The doctor later called the ambassador and told him about her condition which was even worsening.   Stella was rushed into the intensive care unit of another hospital, the Legal Medicine Institute in Malaga.

    Unknown to Stella, about 4 or 5 hours earlier, a Bellview Airline flight took off from Lagos, headed for Abuja at 8:55pm. 5 minutes later, the pilot who had sent a distress signal lost contact with Control Tower.  The weather was raining, stormy that night.  Minutes later the plane crashed.

    Around 10pm, news of the crash filtered out, with speculations that the plane had crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the Lagos coast.  Search parties were dispatched and divers were deployed.  Late night news was rare then.  It wasn’t until Sunday morning that the wreckage was found in a tiny community called Lisa in Ogun State.

    Back in Spain, doctors battled hard with Stella.  The hospital later called the ambassador, telling him of her deteriorating condition.  Over in Nigeria, President Obasanjo who had been away to his Otta home in Ogun State returned to Abuja that Saturday evening and remained in the Villa.

    At 3am, the President was awoken from sleep by a telephone call from the ambassador in Spain.  Stella was in critical condition in hospital.

    An hour later, Stella was gone!!!  All efforts to resuscitate her yielded no positive result.   The hospital duly informed the ambassador, who then did the Nigerian Thing of “No Be From My Mouth Oh!”  He called the president’s ADC and let him break the sad news.

    It was the early hours of Sunday October 23, 3 weeks and one day exactly to what would have been Stella’s 60.

    That morning, the President called the King of Spain requesting that the autopsy be concluded as quickly as possible so her body could be flown home.  To this, the King obliged.  In fact, even on a Sunday an initial autopsy (pre-survey) had already been conducted.  And that was how October 23, 2005 was named The Black Sunday by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu then Lagos Governor.

    Nigerians basically woke up to hear that a plane had crashed, killing all passengers on board.  The President called for 3 days of national mourning.  Then, while Nigeria was still in anguish over the plane crash, more news hit: The First Lady was Dead!!

    At 9:30am the president’s media aide, Remi Oyo (now late) addressed a press conference of State House correspondents with the news, already well known by then, of Mrs. Obasanjo’s passing on in Spain, “after undergoing surgery”.

    By that time, every Nigerian child old enough to pronounce ‘Stella Obasanjo’ equally knew she had died after a tummy tuck.  Annoyingly, when journalists asked the exact nature of the surgery (why did they even bother to ask her), Remi Oyo replied; ‘that I cannot say’.

    Reactions were swift, thick in coming.

    Top officials besieged State House, Abuja, signing the condolence register there (even though others had been opened elsewhere) and jostling to condole with the president.

    Rites of passage were arranged with rapid speed: Kudos here to Otunba Gbenga Daniel then Ogun Governor who put it together in barely 48 hours of planning. Monday evening, Otunba Daniel announced that   the burial was set for Friday (4 days later) in Abeokuta, Ogun State (OBJ’s home state).

    At 9:25pm Monday October 24, draped in a green-white-green flag, the body of the First Lady arrived Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja to a  crowd of dignitaries on hand on the tarmac.  Sympathizers thronged Aso Rock Villa.  Delegations came from USA, Niger Republic and everywhere.  There was one notable group – the former heads of State.  That delegation had Gen. Muhammadu Buhari who had contested against OBJ, among them.  For the obsequies; after the lying in state and service of songs at the Villa, Abuja there was another lying in state on Thursday morning at Agbeloba House, Abeokuta.

    I attended the Tribute Night at Valley View Hall, Abeokuta that Thursday evening.  The internment slated for 2pm on Friday was to be a private affair at the Abeokuta country home of President Obasanjo.

    I attended the interdenominational service on Friday at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.  EVERY INCH OF STANDING SPACE IN THE STADIUM WAS TAKEN UP.  Dignitaries from around the world that attended were far too many to mention. Mercifully; the group I was with had our place I make bold to say that Stella was the biggest burial Nigeria has ever had – the burial of a sitting president afterwards inclusive!  I call it a State Burial Plus!

    We then followed the motorcade, mostly buses because of the crowd, my group then followed on foot, right up to the entrance of the Obasanjo’s compound, before leaving the coffin of a First Lady and turning back. Real as well as political sympathizers alike were everywhere, crying actual or contrived tears.

    Stella’s friends were like the followers of Christ on the way to Golgotha.

    A big word of appreciation goes to Mrs. Pelemo Banigo (I call her my Princess, she’s from the Royal Efik Kingdom).

    She’s a friend indeed of late Stella Obasanjo.  Yes, she had  all the catering contracts in good times, but on that day, she kept all of us, big friends of Stella (and “small” me) well hydrated with a most appreciated (and scarce) supply of chilled bottled water during that long  slow bus ride and long walk in the heat.

    Also, inside the bus she had brought coolers and coolers of small chops she fed us all with it was a blessing on a day like that.

    And so it was home and dry, that chapter closed – but Hold On…Not so fast, came the word from Stella’s Esan, Edo State people. They were drying foul: on November 1st the news was that OBJ‘s in-laws , the Esan Peoples‘ Congress had given the President a 30 day ultimatum-to produce the remains of the deceased for “proper” interment in her homeland!!

     

    Continues.

     

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  • Who is afraid of civil society?

    In recent weeks, Nigerians have witnessed a potential setback to our nation’s democracy through the on-going unguarded activities by some members of the House of Representatives who dedicate precious legislative time and resources in pushing for passage, a Sierra Leone-originated, but widely condemned and rejected legislative framework popularly known as a “Bill to regulate NGOs, CSOs”.

    The bill which within few months of its initiation in the House passed for second reading in theory, aims at setting up a commission to regulate their activities and provide a platform for robust relationships between them and the government for the interest of Nigerians.

    It expropriates the powers of the corporate affairs commission (CAC), which will no longer be able to issue certificates to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). Certificate Issuance will be handled by a 17-man committee selected by the president subject to approval by the Senate president.

    Under the proposed provisions of the bill, NGOs will have to re-register after 24 months, they will pay re-registration fees and the committee handpicked by the president and decide whether to re-approve or deny the certificate.

    It is worrisome that the clueless imported bill from Sierra Leone shamelessly found its way to our highly respected Lower Legislative Chamber without appropriate scrutiny and in-depth socio-political analysis if Nigeria as a democratic nation needs such totally authoritarian and despotic legislation at this point when the citizens should begin to feel the impact of legislative representation, especially at national level, but are insensitively deprived appropriate representation by the trust ones who endlessly backstab them.

    More unfortunately, the Bill has since arrival to the House been receiving needless legislative attention, time and resources.

    A development of this nature puts to question whether our legislative activities are guided by selfish personal agenda or constituents’ needs and priorities.

    With the volume of well-informed civil society, media and citizens in the country, the on-going effort by the legislators to frustrate accountability mechanism would without doubt result in more aggressive demand for accountability and interpretation of quality of representation and performance by civil society groups that may henceforth trigger citizens’ perception and understanding of who deserves their votes.

    The cabal pushing for passage of the mischievous bill must be made to realise that true democracy which was drastically pursued by the civil society groups has come to stay and the groups will never relent in their efforts in demanding accountability under the same democracy.

    It is no more news that Nigerians have suffered from various anti-citizens bills sponsored by undemocratic cabal in the legislature primarily to sabotage accountability mechanism and continuously ensure citizens are dispossessed their constitutional rights to enjoy democratic dividend.

    Such ill-fated bills include the ‘Social Media Bill’ that was subsequently dropped for its irrelevant to the nation’s progress and citizens’ development.

    The argument that some NGOs used their funds to fund terrorism is merely nothing but an illusion; as if confirmed to be true, what then is the work of Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU)?

    More importantly, the rigorous processes Nigeria’s Civil Society Organisations are subjected during registration and filling of returns is evident and well documented with various authorities like Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) National Planning Commission, Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

    Finally, while the legislators have the mandate towards citizens’ representation, civil society groups have the responsibility not only to foster legislative-constituent relations but also to ensure connectivity between legislative activities and constituents’ representation. Civil society role should rather be respected and appreciated for democratic values to thrive.

    Abubakar Jimoh, a Development Communication Specialist writes from AMAC Estate, Abuja Email: abujimoh01@gmail.com

     

  • Another look at Obiano’s scorecard

    Anambra State governorship election holds on Saturday, November 18, and the past few weeks have been electrified by the campaign of the contestants.

    The contenders include Governor Willie Obiano of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); Tony Nwoye, All Progressives Congress (APC); Oseloka Obaze, People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    They also include Godwin Ezeemo, Progressives Peoples’ Alliance (PPA); Osita Chidoka, United Peoples Party (UPP); Oby Okafor, Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) and Henry Onuorah, Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN).

    But the field is dominated by Obiano, Nwoye and Obaze because of the forces behind their candidacy or circumstances of their run.

    Former Governor Peter Obi’s name is closely linked to Obaze and many wonder if Obi is seeking a third term through the back door.

    Obi, the only PDP chieftain backing him, has demonstrated openly his desire to get Obiano sacked so as to “teach” the governor a little political lesson.

    APC chieftain, Arthur Eze, is a major sponsor and financier of Nwoye, another example of politicians sponsoring candidates into political office with the hope of having a firm grip on state resources through their benefactors.

    But it appears Obiano represents the conscience of the people of Anambra, not just by virtue of his party, APGA, which has done so much for the state in the past 12 years, but by his achievements in office for three years and eight months.

    He enjoys the support of town union associations, market men and women groups, autonomous communities, traditional rulers, religious leaders and leaders of thought across political divides.

    But he cannot take the race for granted.

    The charged political climate in the state hinges on the battle of the political godfathers and their surrogates to get rid of Obiano from office and reactions to The Enablers in the blueprint he unveiled in the early days of his administration.

    The Enablers include Trade and Commerce, Agricultural Revolution, Security of Lives and Property, Improved Healthcare Delivery, Quality Education and Oil and Gas.

    The document was crafted as the easiest way to impact public and private sector workers as well as traders and artisans.

    Anambra is generally regarded as safe. The Obiano administration understands the symbiosis between security of lives and property and has invested money, energy, time and strategy in security.

    What has stabilised the business and economic environment is not the function of a fat treasury the administration inherited but the way resources have been deployed to benefit the people.

    A retired police chief who lives in Awka recently told me that “if all governors are as passionate about securing their environment the way Obiano is, development in every part of the country would be taken for granted.”

    Data obtained from the Anambra State Chamber of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture showed that “in the last three years, the number of small scale industries has increased by 38 per cent as against what it was before Obiano’s inception, and a total of 126 medium-scale industries that were moribund have come back to life.”

    Most of those who fail to see the impact of Obiano’s administration on agriculture are detached from the people, the farms and markets.

    They are used to life in Abuja and Lagos where they dash from fast food restaurant to supermarket to grocery store in search of processed agricultural produce.

    They get confused when they hear that what is in Sokoto is now in the sokoto trousers they are wearing.

    In this era of economic downturn, when life is unbearable for the average Nigerian, Anambrarians have seen an alternative in farms that yield bountiful produce that put cash in their pockets.

    Obiano uses his “Choose Your Project Initiative” to bond with the 177 communities in the state and – adapting banks’ “Know Your Customer (KYC)” – has worked out modalities to interface with voters to make governance felt.

    He gives the people the opportunity to choose the projects they want.

    Nearly all roads in the state are asphalted because the N20 million each community now gets to meet basic needs was in the past used by politicians to drink Champagne.

    Obiano’s performance does not depict a man who does not understand the dynamics of governance, demands of his people and preparedness to satisfy them. Other governors are content flagging off projects they are not ready to complete. But his priority is to attend to projects inherited from his predecessor, Obi.

    Not even the frosty relationship between him and Obi has stopped him from completing projects initiated by Obi.

    Obiano has completed the construction of 51 of the 101 road projected carried over from the Obi era, given N10 million each to 65 markets for facelift and built the first Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) digital television.

    To further open up the state economy, he recently flagged off an Anambra Airport City Project in Umueri sitting on 1,500 hectares of land.

    It is funded with $2 billion pooled by a consortium of Chinese and Nigerian firms, and is expected to be completed in three years and provide 1,200 direct jobs and 3,600 indirect ones.

    Tax payers’ money is not involved because the project is in a Build, Operate, Manage and Transfer (BOMT) arrangement.

    Obiano has intervened in health, education, industrialisation and welfare which nobody can take away from him.

    He has not satisfied everybody but the feeling from the majority speaks volumes about his scorecard.

    Unlike in neighbouring Kogi and Imo States where public workers grumble against governors, Anambra workers are at peace because, to Obiano, their welfare is not negotiable. It is a priority. That is why Anambra workers have nicknamed him alert Governor because they receive their pay before the end of every month.

    Anambra State Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman, Jerry Nnubia, said: “We have seen governance down to the grassroots. We have experienced security of lives and property in Anambra.

    “The agricultural revolution embarked upon by our able and hardworking governor has witnessed a harvest of plenty, and the basic infrastructure being put in place makes him qualified and deserving to go for a second term.”

    Diaspora Anambrarians also assess Obiano creditably.

    Nchekwube Nwabunnia, an indigene of Nibo in Anambra who lives in the United Kingdom recently wrote about Obiano, saying: “In my candid opinion, Willie was able to sustain Anambra and put Anambra first among equals in a recession.

    “It takes only a great mind to keep the state’s economy afloat while other states are in economic disaster.

    “Workers’ salaries are paid, roads and bridges are constructed. Low quality roads inherited from the immediate past regime are being maintained, investment in agriculture, which is the bane of Nigeria economic diversification, is championed by Anambra.

    “Why do we need a change of government? Is it for strong personality or for strong institution? For the independent-minded and those who have vision, we need to strengthen our state by voting Willie Obiano for a second term.

    “For the political jobbers, you may wish to go for building strong personality, but I can assure you that the majority of Ndi-Anambra are with APGA as ever. Willie is working, Willie we want; Willie will win.”

    • Ubochi, a political analyst, wrote in from Owerri.

     

  • Why electricity privatization must be reversed

    Reversing the privatization is the best option in the circumstances the country finds itself with its electricity industry and it is in the national interest to do so. This is necessary in order to remedy the shoddy privatization exercise carried-out in 2013 by the Jonathan government and to redirect the process a new to permit level playing field to all investors, if the government is really serious about fixing the electricity debacle and to attract serious investors, particularly foreign investors who have the financial resources and technical expertise to the power sector.

    Our policy-makers have not made the effort to assess the situation, in other words they have not asked themselves the three basic questions about the privatization. Will the shoddy privatization stand the test of time? Will it work? And will the present core investors (who neither have the knowledge of the electricity business nor the financial muscles) make it work?

    It is this last question that is crux of the matter. What I am saying in essence is that far more education in privatization of the electricity and its implications should be insisted on especially among our policy makers and politicians to familiarize them with its parameters. Otherwise, they will always make the wrong decisions! And the solution to the electricity problem will remain elusive forever.

    The government lacks a clear strategy of what it is seeking in the power sector. Why in the years since the power sector reforms were made, nothing has been done to improve power supply to the consumers other than to jack-up the tariff?  The reason for this is simple: the people in-charge do not seem to understand what is required to turn-around the power sector. All they are interested in was to spend huge sums of money on constructing massive power infrastructure to raise the country’s generation capacity to 10,000MW. If I may ask, what does 10,000MW generation capacity represent in real terms?

    In fact, the current generation capacity in the country is more than adequate to meet the electricity need of the existing consumers nationwide 24/7, if the right approach is made. But, surely, they lack the capacity to synchronize and optimize the existing power infrastructure to provide steady power supply to the consumers nationwide. The resultant effect of all this was to create white elephant projects and tie up huge capital for years without any benefit to the nation.

    But what else one can expect while the government seems to have an inbred determination to keep engineers out of the high echelon of the power sector by appointing non-engineers (e.g. lawyers, accountants, etc.) to head the ministry of power or key positions in the power sector?

    The foremost of the woes of the power sector is the broader issue of organizational structure. The power industry as it is today, cannot be said to be properly organized as a viable industry with appropriate organizational conditions such as variables and policies necessary for the efficient and effective running of the industry.

    The lack of proper organizational structure has badly affected the performance of the power industry, vis-à-vis, the proper functioning of the electric energy supply chain (Generation-transmission-distribution) and also because of this, it fails to achieve maximum value from the resources made available to them to provide regular power supply. This is the root cause of all the ills in the power industry, which were over-looked over the years in tackling the electricity debacle.

    Another big problem hindering progress in the power sector was the premature privatization of the GENCOs and DISCOs. The exercise was hastily carried out by the Jonathan government in 2013, when the industry was still in a poor state and in dire need of restructuring. For instance, there was no serious preparatory work done to put the unbundled NEPA (18 companies) on sound modern commercial footing prior to the privatization since the idea to privatize electricity was first conceived in 1999.

    I must stress the importance of this point. The privatization was intended to be achieved over a period of time and in phases.  Each phase was designed to clearly, represent defined activities over some specified number of years in the shaping process as to mold the unbundled NEPA (18 companies) in order to transform them into a well-organized viable electricity supply industry capable of generating and supplying affordable and uninterrupted electricity 24/7-before the GENCOs and DISCOs were offered for privatization in the final phase. I know this because I was involved in designing the scheme during the Obasanjo administration.

    But this was not followed through. Instead, the process was subverted by the Jonathan government in 2013 in order to satisfy some primordial sentiments or political agenda by prematurely privatizing the GENCOs and DISCOs to selected individuals in the society. Hence, what would have been otherwise a vibrant electricity supply industry is now in shambles.

    Aside serious signs that all is not well with them since the privatization as they were unable to generate and supply reliable electricity to the economy, matters were compounded by the fact that the GENCOs and DISCOs were in serious financial distress. Just barely, a year after privatization, they asked for and were given huge financial bail-out of N213 billion by the Jonathan government (2014). Some of the DISCOs were reported to have invoked the force majeure clause to disengage from business altogether, in a buyback deal with the government. The Yola distribution company is a case in point.

    What is really alarming about the whole matter is that all of these are happening right in the wake of the privatization, when in actual fact private funds or investment were expected to be available to bank-roll the running of the power industry without any hitches, as was given of the objectives of the privatization exercise in the first place. That the GENCOs and DISCOs are now being subsidized by the government has defeated the purpose and objectives of the privatization. This is good enough reason why the privatization should be reversed.

    Will the Buhari administration with its reputations for fighting corruption and illegality allow this glaring injustice to society to stand?

    To say the least, the current situation with the GENCOs and DISCOs portend serious danger to the entire power industry and threaten Nigeria’s electricity development. Until and unless urgent steps are taken by the government to take a second at the privatization of the GENCOs and DISCOs with a view to correcting the anomalies, the power industry will collapse.

    The artificial jacking up of the electricity tariff would not make a difference to the pathetic power situation -or attract investors when the power industry is still in shambles. Certainly,  if the power industry is properly organized, there is no reason why it should not provide cheap and stable electricity supply to the economy at the current country’s generation capacity, as well as to undertake other complementary businesses  to electricity generation and supply, such as retail activities in electrical/household appliances and other ventures to boost their revenue profile and for the consumers to enjoy reduction in the tariff, through efficiency and enterprise gains.

     

    • Dr. Muhammad, a Chartered Engineer, was a General Manager in the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA).

  • Anambra: The Obaze appeal

    In the build-up to the Anambra State governorship election for 2014, Oseloka Henry Obaze [OHO] was actually the first choice of the party faithful to succeed Peter Obi. His primacy was informed by the need to entrust the state to competent hands that would continue the great work of consolidating the giant strides the state had recorded with the celebrated Anambra State Integrated Development Strategy [ANIDS]. It was a great struggle for those that desired a continuation of good governance in the state and those who wanted a candidate that would be amenable to their selfish interests.  Today, everybody is living with the consequences. That is, however, a story for another day.

    Anambra State that was acknowledged as the leading light on all indices of development is now a shadow of its old self. The good news coming from the state today is that Oseloka Henry Obaze is contesting to become the governor again. In 2013 when he first showed interest, Chuks Iloegbunam, one of the aides to Governor Willie Obiano, actually praised him enviously. Writing then from an unaffected position, Iloegbunam pronounced Obaze the best candidate in 2013 way above Willie Obiano, among others. He revealed how he did a character profile of Obaze and came to the conclusion that he was the best qualified. Practically begging the people of the state to vote for Obaze, he drew attention to a popular Igbo that he translated thus: “It will be impolitic to ditch the venue of a chieftaincy celebration simply to pitch camp at the propitiation of the god of recklessness”. Iloegbunam wrote then from a neutral platform.

    I have been part of the present campaign of this great man who comes from a rich pedigree of education, exposure and experience. He worked under three presidents before joining the United Nations system. His career in the UN was admirably paraphrased by the then UN Secretary-General, Banki Moon: “You have proven yourself as a most dedicated, dependable and competent staff member. Throughout your service, you have unfailingly upheld the highest standards of efficiency, competence required of an international civil servant”.

    Listening to OHO as he campaigns rekindles one’s faith in the feasibility of restoring Anambra to the right path. He says many things, all of which are issues-based. I have accompanied him to nearly all the 21 Local Government Areas of the state and his messages have remained consistent; marshalling out policy options his administration will pursue, if elected.

    Strongly committed to real governance, he has done his homework which people can see. Among others, his commitment to human capital development is reflected in his pledge to allocate 26% of the budget of Anambra State to education; letting us know and realize it is the universal requirement among developing countries. Indeed, under the administration of Mr. Peter Obi, great attention was paid to education and series of concrete actions taken that elevated Anambra State from number 26 to first in external examinations [NECO and WASC].

    Throughout the ages, discerning and wise men have held education dearly. When asked to differentiate between the educated and the uneducated, Aristotle said the difference was as that between the living and the dead even as Aristophanes said it was as that between broken and unbroken horses. It was also not a joke that on seeing an uneducated man seated on a stone, Zeno laughed and declared: “Behold a stone seated on top of another stone”.

    Oseloka Obaze is just not reeling out policy options and expectations, but also reveals the realistic modalities to achieve the great re-birth. Still on education, he says: “If I become the governor, education will be free from primary school to JSS 3. From the money budgeted for education, we shall also engage in serious programme of certification and re-training of the youths geared toward skills acquisition. We shall also commit 10% of the money to church-owned schools because they train the people of Anambra State”.

    OHO was part of the “brain box” behind Peter Obi in the implementation and execution of policies. It pains him that the richly crafted and well-executed policy to support the aged – those above 75 years who are not retirees and who do not have people they depend on – has become a conduit pipe for self-enrichment. Under an Obaze administration, the policy will be restored in accordance to its pristine objectives.

    Obaze is also committed to affordable health care provision on the classical Hippocratic principle. “The Physician”, Hippocrates wrote, “should maintain a becoming exterior. Sometimes he should give his services for nothing, and if there is an opportunity of saving a stranger who is in financial straits, he should give his assistance, for where there is love of man, there is also love of the art”. Considering those in real emergencies and are denied medical care because of money, Oseloka says his administration would introduce a legislation that would ensure that doctors and other medical professionals attend to real emergencies the way they should be. To back it up, he also assured: “We shall set up a care foundation with the initial deposit of N1 billion. We shall get wealthy organizations and individuals to contribute to that. The charity, to be administered by honest Anambrarians, will assist in hospital payment for those in real need”.

    As far as Oseloka Obaze is concerned, electioneering is not about throwing tantrums. He has evidently meditated on so many problems facing Anambra State and has come up with well laid-down programme of action to tackle them. He is exasperated with the antics and diversionary tactics of those who fail to recognize the great need to re-build an Anambra State that Governor Willie Obiano has shattered almost beyond recognition. OHO, therefore, lets us see the reason he is interested in replacing him.

    From the vantage position of a principal participant in government, he talks about monies that have accrued to the treasury of Anambra State since Obiano assumed office in 2014 –  N75 billion left in the treasury by his predecessor; N60 billion borrowed secretly by Obiano; Internally-Generated Revenues; over N455 billion appropriated in the budgets of 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017; Paris Club refund; special budget support money given to states by the federal government – and which have been squandered as there is nothing on ground to show for them.

    OHO talks about the flight of decorum and propriety from Government House, Awka; governance by billboards and false claims as in Ugu, Onugbu and yam exports; elevation of propaganda to an industry with Obiano enjoying the monopoly. He draws attention to the abandonment of all on-going projects and total absence of government in the state except in Aguleri, the governor’s home town.

    OHO cautions the people of the state not to be deceived by the movement of caterpillars and bull-dozers to project sites for election purpose; and asks what Obiano has been doing in nearly four years. He raises the issue of crass nepotism that has become the order of the day, where over 50% of Obiano’s aides came from the same town; which is antithetical to the development of a state where everybody will have a sense of belonging.

    He correctly asserts that he remains the best candidate to repair the so many wrongs wrought on the state and its people.

    A man of integrity and compelling force of equity and justice, OHO has made it clear that he would serve only one term, and make way for other zones to take their turn.

    With Obaze, hope is rekindled for Anambra State. The people listen to him in incredible fascination, for no one speaks to them with such obvious honesty and a clear purpose. The lash of his tongue is mostly directed at bad governance. Those of us who know him and have worked with him are relieved that very soon we shall bury an orgy and crown a saint.

     

    • Obienyem wrote from Agulu, Anambra State.

     

  • Ajimobi, prophet with honour

    A prophet is not without honour, except in his own country, and in his own house,” so say the scriptures. This was however not the case for the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, who was recently celebrated by the Muslim Community of the state in grandeur. The community said it decided to roll out the drums in honour of the governor in acknowledgment of his penchant for promoting religious harmony and for delivering good governance.

    The Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, venue of the ceremony, witnessed an unprecedented gathering of Islamic faithful, scholars and preachers from Oyo State and across the South-west zone, under the aegis of Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN). At the epochal event, the enviable award of “The Most Equitable Governor in the History of Oyo State” was conferred on Ajimobi for what the Muslim community called his equitable, fair and just relationship with Christians, Muslims and traditionalists across the state.

    Already, Ajimobi’s closet is replete with diadems from various groups, associations and educational institutions in recognition of his selfless toil and sweat that have changed the face of the state in the last six years. But, the latest award is priceless because never in the history of the state had any governor been bestowed with such a honour by the Muslim community. Among key Muslim leaders that graced the event were the Secretary of MUSWEN, Prof. Dawud Noibi; Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta states, Alhaji Dawud Akinola; Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Abul-Ganiyy Abubakar; popular Islamic preacher, Sheikh Muideen Bello and Prof. Kamil Oloso.

    The chairman, Muslim Community of Oyo State, Alhaji Kunle Sanni, told the gathering that the award was not borne of “hypocrisy, politically-motivated praise-singing or sycophantic favour-seeking.” Rather, he said that it was a meritorious honour that was derived from the Holy Quran, Chapter 55, verse 60, which reads “with what shall we reward goodness except goodness. Which of the favours of your Lord will you deny?”

    Sanni said: “One day, somebody came to the holy Prophet Muhammed (SWA). He said I love somebody. The Prophet said: ‘Have you told him? He said ‘No.’ The Prophet said: ‘Go and tell him.’ For the goodness that the governor has done for the sake of religious harmony in Oyo State, we want to exhibit the Islamic spirit of appreciation by saying – May Allah reward you abundantly.

    For the records, he said that the Muslim community decided to honour the governor in appreciation of his ‘unprecedented disposition’ to legitimate demands by Muslims when compared with the lukewarm disposition some of his predecessors to such demands.

    Going down memory lane, he disclosed that Colonel Adetunji Olurin (who was Military Administrator of the state from September 1985 to July 1988) was the only governor that fostered harmonious relationship with the Muslim community, since the administration of Chief Bola Ige. He said the late Cicero of Esa-Oke, who governed the state between 1979 and 1983, also maintained a balance between Muslims and Christians and consulted widely among all religious leaders before taking decisions.

    “Let me state without any fear of being contradicted that when Governor Ajimobi first came on board, it was not easy between us. Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola-Alao (the late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland) used to settle quarrels between us, because he (Ajimobi) misunderstood our quest for justice to mean Islamic fanaticism of the highest pedestal. However, we wrote a stinker to him one day when we felt short-changed in a board he inaugurated. Instead of getting annoyed, he invited us to a meeting. He said we should convince him that he had been unjust. To our surprise, the governor bowed to our superior argument and included more Muslims in the board.’’

    Another reason the religious leader adduced for the honour conferred on the governor was his decision to acquiesce to the Muslim’s demand for the declaration of a public holiday to mark the first Muharam, the beginning of the Islamic calendar. Besides, Sanni said the governor wormed his way into the heart of Muslims through the composition of a balanced executive council and boards of government parastatals, as well as his decision against the clamour for the return of mission schools to original owners. In a similar vein, he said that the governor had impressed the adherents by permitting wearing of hijab by Muslim pupils in public schools. Although, the governor’s annual tradition of breaking fast with a large population of Muslims during the 30-day Ramadan since 2011 had its blessings from Allah, he said that it could also not go unnoticed by the community.

    Sanni said: “When we asked that our Muslim girls be allowed to wear hijab, we did not say Christian girls should be forced to adorn same. The day we went to the governor on the hijab proposal, he did not think twice before granting our request. That was 10 years after two Muslim governors rejected our appeal. May Allah bless the soul of one of them; the other one is still alive.

    “Since January 1 is the beginning of the Christian year imposed on us by the colonialists, the governor has made history by righting the wrongs that had been done against Muslims for ages.  He has succeeded in maintaining religious peace in Oyo State where his predecessors have failed. That is why he is being honoured. May Allah elevate him beyond his imagination and make him worthy of Aljannah in the hereafter.’’

    Sheikh Bello, who also extolled the governor for advancing religious harmony, urged him to ensure the emergence of a successor that would sustain his legacy projects and complete projects he might leave behind.

    The fiery preacher said, “Lagos is working today because Governor Akinwumi Ambode started from where former Governor Babatunde Fashola stopped by ensuring the completion of all the projects he inherited. I want to beg you not to install anybody who will not sustain your legacy or abandon any project you may leave behind. You are a listening governor, unlike some of your predecessors. Now that they are out of office, they have ruined the chances of any of their family members to aspire to such position again because of their maladministration and incompetence.”

    The governor also received commendations from other speakers, including the Chief Imam of Akobo Central Mosque, Sheikh Abibullah Buhari and the Are Musulumi of Yorubaland, for his efforts at promoting good governance and peaceful co-existence among religious adherents in the state.

    In his acceptance speech, the governor expressed appreciation to the Muslim community for finding him worthy of the honour, which he described as symbolic. According to him, Muslims don’t just give such an award to anybody.

    Ajimobi said that when he was contesting for governorship, he told God that if he would not use the position to worship Him and serve humanity, He (God) should not allow him to win. He added, “I thank God that what we are doing today is a celebration of answered prayer. I’m what I am today because God has destined it.’’

    He used the occasion to appeal to the people of the state to always thank God for His good deeds and that they should always forgive any wrong done to them in order to have their prayers answered. The latest honour, no doubt, is an addition to the bejewelled cap of Ajimobi, who has vowed to sustain the development, peace and harmony he had restored to the pacesetter state.

     

    • Sadeeq is Senior Special Assistant to Governor of Oyo State on Media (Print).

  • Edo’s Alaghodaro Investment Summit

    As Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State marks his first anniversary in office on November 12, there would be so much to talk about in the coming weeks on the Edo State Investment Summit, otherwise branded as Alaghodaro, which means ‘progress, moving forward and looking ahead’ in Edo language. It is another way of saying the future is here. Everywhere you turn in Benin City, the Edo State capital; you will find billboards and flag pole banners starring back at you in a welcoming gesture announcing the summit and critical areas of intervention to reset the economy of the state.

    The summit that would be declared open by Prof Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s Vice President, is scheduled to hold from November 10 – 12, in Benin City, and the organisers have promised to reveal ‘Nigeria’s best kept secret’ at the summit. The essence of Alaghodaro has been aptly captured as “Envisioning the Future” by looking at 30 years from now. It is a bold and visionary endeavour by Governor Obaseki and the intention is for local and foreign investors to unlock the investment potentials in Edo State. Indeed, Alaghodaro is a march to greatness and a plan to own the future.

    By being forward looking and coming up with a strategic intent for creating wealth and prosperity for Edo State people, Obaseki is bringing his wealth of experience in the private sector, especially his investment-savvy credentials, to bear on his economic transformation agenda in Edo State. The very distinguished professor of strategy, Michael Porter of the Harvard Business School, says strategy is about winning by using your resources to gain competitive advantage through innovation.

    As a man of ideas, Obaseki has clearly continued on this path since he assumed office 12 months ago and it is evident that he is in a hurry to accomplish so much during his tenure. The governor is a technocrat and strategist and silent workaholic who would rather allow his performance record speak for him as he strives to win for the Edo State people. If you visit the website of Alaghodaro, it says the summit is aimed at bringing together “top Nigerian and international business leaders, investors, bankers, industry experts, policymakers and the academia to set the agenda for development”.

    The richest man in Africa, Aliko Dangote, will be leading a host of other serial investors and entrepreneurs to make presentations in what the organisers say would “spark innovation and inspire commitment to strategic deployment of capital for greater socio-economic and environmental impact”. Together with the Dangote Group, the Mahindra Group from India and Tolaran Group from Singapore are ready to showcase a $1.5 billion investment at the summit. A ground-breaking event would be the launch of Edo Industrial Park that would signpost the governor’s vision for the rapid industrialization of the state.

    In addition, the summit intends discover how Edo State will leverage its competitive advantages in the different sectors for sustainable economic growth. This critical outcome is expected to be achieved by private sector collaboration with the state government. The strategic pillars of the prosperity road map that would be unveiled at the summit as the government looks into the future include institutional reform, economic development, social welfare, environmental sustainability, and art, culture & tourism.

    Information from the Alaghodaro website further revealed that the Edo State Investment Summit was conceived with the following objectives in mind:

    • Bring together stakeholders critical to advancing business interests across a variety of industries.
    • Build important business relationships with key stakeholders such as investors, financiers, consultants, operators, project developers and government.
    • Acquire practical knowledge from top local and international business leaders and investors on the latest trends, opportunities and challenges across various fields of interest.
    • Gain valuable insight into Edo’s investment landscape and untapped potential in a variety of industries.
    • Explore prospects for joint venture or outright acquisition through public-private-partnership, privatization and commercialization of several state-owned enterprises.

    To set the tone for the summit and to demonstrate his commitment to succeed, Obaseki was at the London Stock Exchange recently to speak to a global audience on investment opportunities in Edo State. The sectors he talked about during the session discussing ‘The Nigerian Opportunity’ included mining, agro-processing, infrastructure, transportation, healthcare, arts, culture, tourism and education. With assurances of a favourable investment climate provided by the governor, global business leaders are encouraged to participate at the Alaghodaro Investment Summit.

    In a season of declining oil revenues, Obaseki says Alaghodaro is a response to that challenge through innovation by moblising human and private capital to open up non-oil sectors such as agriculture, mining, sports, technology, entertainment, arts, culture and tourism. The time has come for governors to completely innovate and think out of the box. The era of going cap in hand to Abuja for monthly handouts should become a thing of the past. Such monthly allocations ought to be considered as residual revenue while focusing on non-oil sector revenue to accelerate developments in their respective states.

    Indeed, plans are afoot to turn Edo State into a tourist destination through a re-branding effort that encourages ownership of the process by all stakeholders. The idea is to look at the culture and lifestyle of the Edo people; festivals, carnivals, tourist attractions and historical sites in view of the rich cultural heritage of Edo State. For example, Edo State Festival of Arts, Culture and Tourism, otherwise known as EDOFEST is planned to hold from December 17 – 22 in Benin City just as the Ososo Carnival has been scheduled to hold in Ososo in Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State from December 23 – 30.

    These are just two examples to promote domestic tourism in the state. In addition, the state government has also targeted a critical audience by looking at diaspora citizens. It is an open secret that most Nigerians abroad are keen to either return home or have investments with organisations or individuals they can trust. Nigerians abroad send millions of dollars home every year but these funds can be properly harnessed for investment purposes in critical sectors that align with the Alaghodaro vision.

    There are several investment assets that may be considered by investors including our diaspora brothers and sisters. A good example is the AMES Edo Truck Transit Park which is an Edo State government public private partnership agreement (PPP) with Atlantique Marine and supported by the federal government through the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) that is constructing a modern Truck Transit Park (TTP) located in Benin City. The park is designed to conveniently accommodate about 1000 trailers on rotation basis. The park will also serve as a public rest area located off the road to provide temporary rest location for truck drivers.

    Another PPP example is the construction of an Inland Container Depot (Dry Pot) in Benin City also facilitated by Atlantique Marine. The objective of the project is to bring shipping activities closer to manufacturers and drive industrialization in Edo State and neighbouring states. On completion by 2018, the project is expected to be designated a Custom Port and receive the federal government approval as a Port of Origin and Destination.

    However, in order to successfully reset the economy during and after the Alaghodaro Summit, the strategy and economic team should explain in a document the incentives for investors who are deploying private capital. An investment guide would also be helpful and it should clearly establish how shared value that is sustainable can be created through PPP to encourage more investments from the private sector.

     

    • Braimah is a Lagos based public relations and marketing executive.

  • Hadiza Bala Usman and the road less travelled

    I totally agree with the former Military Governor of Kaduna State, the highly respected Col. Dangiwa Umar (Rtd) that the surest way to stamp out corruption in our body polity is to give total and unalloyed backing to public office holders who insist that the right things are done at all times, irrespective of whose ox is gored. Even more precisely, I unequivocally concur with Col Umar that Hadiza Bala Usman, the Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) deserves not just our support but resounding applause as she continues with the unenviable task of stamping out innate corruption in the administration of the nation’s ports.

    From the very fist day she assumed office as the Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza made no pretenses about her resolve to go to war with entrenched interests that have for years held the nation hostage at the ports; forces that previous administrations either colluded with or deliberately ignored, leaving our dear country reeling in colossal fiscal hemorrhage. In line with the strategic agenda of ridding the NPA of corruption and stemming huge revenue losses, she insisted from the outset on the dogged and uncompromising adherence to the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy of the federal government. It is now well known that her administration uncovered and exposed the fact that about N11.2bn that belong to NPA were still domiciled in commercial banks in clear contravention of extant financial policy of the federal government. It was similarly discovered that about €6 million, being revenue generated by the NPA that should have been remitted into the Federation Account, were illegally held in separate accounts in a number of commercial banks while $23m was said to have been found in another commercial bank. Being a member of the presidential advisory committee on anti-corruption, Hadiza Bala Usman was expectedly resolute about redressing the inherited tardiness in the financial accounting processes in NPA. Of course the scattered funds of the authority have since been properly accounted for and turned over to the Treasury Single Account of the federal government. It is equally laudable that she has instituted measures to recover huge funds being owed the agency and has put in place an anti-corruption office at the NPA.

    Determined to wean NPA of its history of corruption, indolence, ineptitude and sharp practices, I am aware that the Hadiza Bala Usman administration now tracks the budget and finances of NPA using the instrumentalities of the budget tracking and transparency organization, making the NPA the first government-controlled revenue generating agency in Nigeria to open its books and accounts to the civil society and the public for monitoring and scrutiny. It is most gratifying that Hadiza Usman’s efforts are speedily paying off and this much is reflected in the NPA posting a revenue of N118 billion in the first quarter of 2017 alone. As learnt, the same agency generated less than N12 billion in the whole of 2015.

    Like most other observers of the new NPA management under Hadiza Bala Usman, I have since noted her resolve to improve the ease of doing business in the nation’s ports in line with global best practices and pursuant to the Presidential Executive Order to this effect. This explains why she and members of her team have since commenced the review of the Exclusive Port Concession policy of the federal government which is about 10 years old. A critical component of this review, as I have since learnt, is the freeing up of the nation’s seaports from the suffocating grip (as well as the whims and caprices) of a few powerful operators who have been enjoying operational monopoly under the less than transparent Exclusive Concession Agreement. This old system, lawyers (including the Attorney General of the Federation) believe clearly negates the globally acclaimed standards in a free market economy. Worse still, the new NPA management has said that verifiable facts have severally shown that this old system of monopoly and unfair benefit encouraged corruption and huge loss of revenue that is accruable to the federal government through the NPA. For example, we have been told that under the old order of monopolistic concession, some terminal operators were known to have colluded with some high-ranking, albeit corrupt, NPA officials to create a cartel that ensured that all oil and gas cargoes were directed to specific terminals under the exclusive concession agreement. However, with the termination of monopoly under the Exclusive Concession Agreement, almost 200 port operators can now compete favourably and fairly for cargoes to be discharged at their terminals. This, experts say, will help generate more income for the federal government and create more jobs for the teeming populace of our great nation, as more terminals will become functional at the ports.

    Given the above facts, the decision of the federal government to terminate a boat pilotage agreement between the Nigerian Ports Authority and Integrated Logistics Services Limited (INTELS) is highly commendable and should be lauded and regarded by all well-meaning Nigerians as a step in the right direction as the NPA continues to effect the long overdue reforms in the nation’s ports. It is however shocking and embarrassing that rather than commend the NPA management for the bold steps being taken to help generate desperately needed income for our nation, political motives are being imputed in the termination of the pilotage agreement between NPA and INTELS. This is extremely mischievous and most unfair to the dexterous management team at NPA under Hadiza Bala Usman. Aside the fact that the boat pilotage agreement between the NPA and INTELS which was signed in 2010 for a validity period of 10 years has been adjudged as illegal by no less a person than the Attorney General of the Federation, the agreement also negates the extant TSA policy of the federal government.

    Even more riling is the fact that INTELS has been defaulting in making remittances to the federal government. Facts making the rounds have shown that between January 2010 and September 2016, INTELS collected about $1.295 billion under the agreement. Out of this amount, INTELS remitted only $343.35 million to the NPA. At a time the federal government is resorting to huge borrowing to fund the national budget, it would have been scandalous to continue to travel this uncharted route with INTELS. As political jobbers seek to demonize Hadiza Usman and her team at NPA, all persons who love this country, irrespective of political affiliation ought to understand the urgency of rallying round this unusual amazon. In spite of the odds that seem to be staked up against the war against corruption in this country, I am convinced that progress is being made and much more would be achieved if the likes of Hadiza Bala Usman are given the requisite support to do even better.

     

    • Sani is Special Adviser to the Kaduna State Governor on Political and Intergovernmental Affairs.

  • Re: Queen of The Netherlands, Nigeria’s nightmare

    I write in response to the letter published in The Nation of November 6 with the above title. The write-up used the occasion of the recent visit to Nigeria by Queen Maxima of The Netherlands, to try to cast aspersion on the role and record of Shell in Nigeria, and made claims on our social investments and environmental practices which do not bear scrutiny or reality. It is good for the reading public to know the correct situation.

    While the letter rightly highlights the eminent position of Shell in oil and gas production in Nigeria, it however, questions the contributions of Shell companies in Nigeria to national development outside the legal remit of paying taxes. I cannot possibly exhaust the contributions of Shell companies in Nigeria here, but a few examples will suffice. From humble beginnings some 60 years ago, Shell pioneered oil and gas production in Nigeria both on land, swamp and offshore. Today, our interests are expressed in four viable concerns – The Shell Petroleum and Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC), Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG), and Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) in which we have a 26.5% shareholding and are also technical advisors. While SPDC led the way in onshore, swamp and shallow offshore oil and gas production, SNEPCo launched Nigeria on the path of offshore production by developing Bonga in 2005. We also pioneered the use of gas as a fuel of choice since the 1960s. NLNG alone has contributed about 4% of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Shell companies in Nigeria continue to strengthen their position in the country by optimising their onshore oil footprint while making investments in deep water and natural gas, particularly domestic gas.

    The write-up sneers at the social investments of Shell and dismisses the Shell scholarship programme, as “tokenistic.” Of course, our scholarship awards are not mere tokens! Since the 1960s, Shell companies in Nigeria have instituted separate scholarship programmes that have given opportunities to thousands of Nigerians to gain undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications both within and outside the country. The beneficiaries have returned to Nigeria to help in nation building. SPDC and her Joint Venture partners have not only kept faith with their scholarship programme since the 1960s, but also expanded it to include the Cradle-to-Career six-year fully funded sponsorships for bright but indigent primary school pupils in the Niger Delta, while SNEPCo, through its own version, now covers the 36 states of Nigeria including Abuja.

    Noteworthy examples of our sponsorship are the SPDC JV Niger Delta Post-Graduate scholarships in partnership with three top universities in the UK – Imperial College London, University College London and University of Leeds. Foreign scholarships are also awarded by communities using funds disbursed to them under the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) initiative. Shell companies in Nigeria have awarded 7,652 (secondary) and 4,435 (university) educational grants over the last six years alone. The testimonies of hopes restored from Borno to Benue and from Anambra to Bayelsa are touching.

    But we also touch other aspects of education. We support science teachers, donate ICT facilities, build classrooms and promote the setting up of professorial chairs and centres of excellence in Nigerian universities. In 2016, Shell inaugurated what the Nigerian National Librarian, Prof. Lenrie Aina, described as “the first complete public library in Nigeria.” The ¦ 1.03 billion library is one of the ¦ 2-billion social investment projects Shell sponsored to mark Nigeria’s centenary anniversary. Our wider social investment portfolio focusses on community and enterprise development, education, health, access-to-energy and road safety.

    The allegations in the write-up that Shell companies don’t build roads and bridges in the Niger Delta is staggeringly untrue. We have continued to fund the provision of these amenities as part of our social investment portfolio. For example, the SPDC Joint Venture has built many bridges and roads in the Niger Delta through the GMoU initiative which was introduced in 2007. There are currently 38 active GMoU clusters in Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Abia – the states in which the SPDC JV is operating.  From 2007 to date, the SPDC JV has disbursed a total of N22.53bln to these GMoU clusters for the financing of development projects and programmes, of which scores of roads, bridges and culverts have been built. Also, the SPDC JV (in conjunction with the Niger Delta Development Commission) is financing the construction of the N24.4 billion Ogbia – Nembe Road. Ninety-seven percent of this road has been completed. It is also noteworthy that the NDDC has received N549 billion in development funds from the SPDC JV and SNEPCo since its inception in 2002.

    One can also mention here the Afam VI Power Plant which the SPDC JV commissioned in 2008, and which contributed 12 percent of electricity to the national grid in 2016. The Afam VI Power Plant is the largest of its kind in Nigeria, and supports economic growth while providing power for millions of people in the Niger Delta and elsewhere in Nigeria.

    But perhaps, it is in the area of oil spills that the letter has inflicted the greatest injustice to SPDC operations in the Niger Delta. Unfairly, SPDC gets all the flak for the pollution problem regardless of the devastation caused by crude oil theft and illegal artisanal refining. We all know that there has been a huge national outcry on the enormity of this challenge in terms of economic loss and harm to the environment such that the federal government has set up a security task force to address the menace. To give an idea, third-party sabotage of pipelines and other infrastructure was responsible for 90 percent oil spill incidents of more than 100 kilometres from SPDC JV facilities in 2016 alone. Crude oil theft on the SPDC JV pipeline network resulted in a loss of about 5,660 barrels of oil a day (bbl/d) in 2016.

    Meanwhile, SPDC continues to make good progress in efforts to reduce operational spills, by working to appraise, maintain and replace key sections of its pipelines and flowlines. Fifty-seven kilometres of flow lines and 42 kilometres of pipelines were replaced in 2016 bringing the total distance of flowlines and pipelines replaced over the last five years to nearly 1000 kilometres. And we are also working to prevent and minimise spills caused by theft and sabotage of our facilities in the Niger Delta. In 2016, we sustained on-ground surveillance efforts in our areas of operations, including pipeline networks, to mitigate incidents of third-party interference and ensure that spills are detected and responded to as quickly as possible.

    There are also daily over-flights of the pipeline network areas to identify new spill incidents or illegal activities. In addition, we have installed state-of-the-art high-definition cameras on a specialised helicopter and this has greatly improved the surveillance of our assets, and have implemented anti-theft protection mechanisms on key infrastructure. In addition to prompt containment measures, cleaning up and remediation of oil spills that occur in its areas of operations, SPDC also pays compensation to third parties impacted by operational spills. However, the applicable law stipulates that compensation is not payable in respect of oil spills caused by third-party interference.

    We are open to challenge as we are continually working to improve our processes through constructive engagements with stakeholders. This is because Shell companies see themselves as reliable partners in Nigeria, always ready and willing to play their part in nation-building. This determination has not dimmed in six decades, and will remain so for many more to come.

     

    • Weli is General Manager, External Relations, Shell Nigeria and West Africa.

  • My thoughts on Ondo Education Summit

    I have recently been thinking aloud, thinking about our children, about their education, about the future we are preparing for them, how effective our plans have been so far and the impact on the current crop of youth. I was at the October 26 -27 Ondo Education Summit where I was privileged to chair one of the technical sessions. The experience was a refreshing one and the discourse has kept me wide awake with racing thoughts. This piece is my own way of contributing further to the discourse.

    Professor Michael Omolewa in a 2007 presentation said “ Educational reforms emanate from the basic conviction that considerable progress can be made in a nation by its people through careful engineering of the educational process”.

    Reforming education is not an easy task; it must take care of all the relevant parameters such as national needs, wider consultations, commitment, reliable data, practicability and sustainability all in the quest for development to achieve desirable outcomes useful to the society. The process of education reforms must match modern scientific and technological innovations for it to remain relevant to both learner and the nation. It also takes years for any meaningful education reform to yield results. Nigeria as a nation has had its fair share of education reforms preceding independence and like every other sector of the nation, it has continued to evolve amidst serious challenges.

    When in the 1970s, the Federal Military Government by decree took over the administration of schools from faith-based institutions, without a plan or clear cut policy, they used poor funding, poor facilities and teacher unavailability as excuses for their decision, desiring to bring the educational sector up to the same level as international counterparts. Policy formulation though, is not the problem, as with most things post-independence. Implementation has proven to be a herculean challenge for the Nigerian government. Consider the free Universal Primary Education which was launched in 1976 but the policy on education itself appeared in 1977, one year later, there is bound to be confusion in implementation. In the case of the Universal Primary Education, government’s take-over of faith based schools had no clear cut policy direction on paper let alone an appropriate plan for implementation. This was similar to many policies and decrees made during military rule; taken by fiat and hurriedly implemented using the routine fire brigade approach that was characteristic of the military era.

    The fact remains that government’s take-over of the faith based schools was poorly thought, ill-conceived and haphazardly implemented. The parochial purpose of the proponent of the scheme, as I stated was an attempt at buying into the excuse  of poor funding of faith-based schools for the sole trajectory of promoting dictatorial policies, without considering the sustainability of the scheme in the long run.

    In present day Ondo State for instance, public school attendance has grown to 800,000 students, where enrolment in primary and secondary school is about 500,000 and 300,000 respectively with a total number of 18,420 teachers on the state payroll; 8,222 in primary schools and 10,198 in secondary schools. The state also has about 1,445 public schools to cater for in her budget.

    The foregoing statistics put an average of 554 students per public school and a student-to-teacher ratio of 43 to 1, which is alarmingly above the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recommended ratio. The state can reduce the level of overcrowding in our public school system, tackle infrastructural decay and invest more in public establishments if it reduces the number of schools it is currently responsible for. They can return some of the schools to faith-based organisations or make a conducive environment for them to establish schools which they would be responsible for and would increase competition and standard of education.

    Ondo State, with a required budgetary allocation of 26% for the educational sector, a total of N38.3billion has been expended on public schools from 2013 to 2016 with nearly 80% of this figure spent on recurrent expenses leaving just 20% for capital projects. Coupled with an overwhelming recurrent wage bill in the civil service, a high debt burden and fast dwindling revenue in the face of a harsh national economic climate, the enormous responsibility government took in respect of the programme cannot be effectively sustained.

    The financial burden has become too great for government alone to carry. The resultant effect of this is very glaring and our failing educational standards are audible even unto the deaf. The return of these schools to faith-based organisations will eliminate the back and forth funding manoeuvring that has become characteristic of our educational sector; closing this funding gaps will help accelerate the rapid improvement in the quality of education offered, thereby leading to an overall improvement in the standard of our graduates.

    Sensing the obvious weakness of the scheme, the federal government under the leadership of Olusegun Obasanjo in the 1979 constitution placed primary education under the joint control of the state and local government. This strategy was aimed at reducing the financial burden of funding on the part of the federal government and shifting it to the states which barely had enough resources to keep its wage bill alive. The truth remains that states can no longer fund primary and secondary education effectively hence the need to return these schools back to their rightful owners who are willing and competent enough to run these schools effectively. Government’s continuous control of these schools is simply a political expediency designed to impress the masses and lacking in actual substance.

    If this return policy is successfully implemented, of the 304 public secondary schools in the state, 71 of these schools which are faith-based would be returned to the missions and 233 left in government’s control. A total of 688 schools out of 1,141 public primary schools would be handed over to the missions with 453 left for the government to carter for. This would result in a drastic change in the facilities of both the mission owned and public schools as there will be enough resources to cater for their infrastructural needs effectively. Also, parents who for a very long time have longed for their wards to be raised within the religious setting would be afforded the opportunity to do so.

    In a society where moral insanity has become a priceless possession, the need to raise our children with good values has become imperative. There is no gainsaying that faith-based authorities come in second to none in offering sound moral values at both the primary and secondary levels, which forms the foundation on which the child’s future pursuit is enshrined. The recent increase in crime rate in our state can attest to the fact that there is a sharp decline in morality amongst children and these failing standards are potential landmines that need to be seriously addressed. The implication of the acceptance of these failing standards is interchangeable with the fast eroding moral structure of our public schools’ system. It is in this frame of confusion that religious leaders, especially those who received core conservative training while growing up, easily take recourse to playing the Praetorian Guard in whose custody the holy grail of moral sanity is eternally preserved.   Returning these schools back to faith based authority will help arrest this situation.

    There needs to be adequate and efficient monitoring, evaluation and disciplinary scheme that would promote and ensure sound and effective service delivery in schools and would allow for better, more efficient execution of existing facilities in the remaining government owned schools. This will be a welcome development for both the government and the public as educational standards would definitely improve and be stabilised in the following years. Ondo State must learn to plan its education policies and implement them with commitment and sense of direction for the greater good of all its citizens. Returning these schools back to their faith based owners if followed through will prove to be the panacea of repeatedly failed educational reforms in Ondo State.

     

    • Anyanwu-Akeredolu is Ondo State First Lady.