The Nation Newspaper

Category: Features

  • Mitigating reform failures in the public sector

    Mitigating reform failures in the public sector

    Efforts to reform the public service to achieve efficiency, growth and development have become the priority of every government globally. JULIANA AGBO writes that public sector reforms in Nigeria hold the key to the country’s economic growth and development

    Public sector reforms hold the key to the country’s economic growth and development.

    While many countries have made significant reform progress in recent times through it, reforms make governments more effective, foster stability within societies and unlock economic potential.

    However, political, economic and technical factors have the potential to retard sustainability reforms.

    How to address this issue dominated discussions at the Aig-Imoukhuede (AIG) Foundation’s national workshop on public sector reforms in Nigeria where stakeholders deliberated on the theme “Rethinking Reforms: Why Many Reforms Fail in Nigeria and What We Can Do About It.” During the parley participants proffered solutions to the intractable problem of public service transforms in Nigeria.

    Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, who said the process of reform is life-long, said it is not a destination, but a journey.

    Chief Obasanjo noted that the greatest bane of reforms is discontinuity of the key actors, as any break in continuity means virtually the end of such reform.

    According to him, any reform requires a concerted effort among political heads and technocrats, respecting and understanding one another.

    He said sustainability was one of the key ingredients of reforms, coupled with ownership, initiators, drivers and executors.

    He, however, noted that monetary and other reward systems, including legislation, should be applied to achieve the goal of repositioning the public service.

    Also, the Chairman of AIG Foundation, Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said the public sector leaders must boldly confront challenges such as those of corruption, nepotism, indiscipline, poor attitude to work, laxity, indifference, declining morale, and dwindling esprit de corps.

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    These and other performance disablers, he said, must first be boldly confronted before Nigeria can expect to reap the benefits of structural reforms.

    Additionally, he said the average citizen or service beneficiary, who has, up to this time, been a passive recipient of subpar services, should be actively involved in the policy process.

    Aig-Imoukhuede highlighted the essence of an efficient and motivated public service in achieving good governance, production and distribution of public goods, formulation and implementation of economic policy, and management of public expenditure.

    Citing Nigeria’s Human Development Index ranking of 161 out of 189 countries, he said this was a reflection of the performance of the government over several decades.

    He said Chapter two of the Nigerian Constitution seeks to create a government workforce of size, skills, incentives, ethos and accountability needed to provide quality public services and carry out the functions stated therein.

    Furthermore, he noted that the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation conducted research that examines the root causes of Nigeria’s public sector reform failures. It aims to educate public and private stakeholders by pinpointing factors that enable or hinder successful reforms.

    According to him, the research involved a literature review and a survey. Data was obtained from 593 political functionaries and career officials as well as 1,020 civic actors, service recipients, private sector organisations, and citizens in all the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

    He recommended that public service reform must not be viewed as the sole responsibility of the career public service. Instead, it must be integrated into the daily activities of political parties and civic groups. It must also be incorporated into the manifestos of the political parties and their flag bearers.

    ‘’Reforms must not be reactive or based solely on the desires or expertise of the current leadership or administration. A diverse group of stakeholders must be consulted to ensure a comprehensive review and reform of various sectors of the economy. This process must consider the risks and potential effects of the reform efforts as well as necessary mitigating steps to be taken.”

    On the efforts the foundation has made to make the public service effective, he said: “Through the support of the foundation, the service has successfully digitised thousands of files, automated 300 processes, and acquired hundreds of new digital devices. In addition, with our collaboration with Microsoft, we are up-skilling thousands of workers in the civil service.

    “Technology has been our cornerstone in transforming public service delivery. We provided technical support and funding for the digitisation efforts of the federal civil service.”

    Continuing, he said: “A key area of our support to the civil service is the culture change programme. To change the mindset of this key constituency, we provide communication training, culture change campaign videos, and ongoing assistance for the publication of official newsletters.

    “We’ve helped to develop the civil service culture handbook, better than many of the culture handbooks I’ve seen in the private sector, but we must make it work, that applies the values, behaviors, and practices that are essential for delivering the state’s chapter 200.

    “A key element of our foundation’s theory of change is to ensure that every Nigerian citizen takes ownership of the critical need to reform the public service.

    ‘’It is not their public service, it is your public service, it is our public service, and understand that as it strengthens, you strengthen as well.

    “We are convinced that improved public services lead to better outcomes for our people, communities, and economies. As such, we work closely with the government, closely with the private sector, with academia and development partners to try and transform public service delivery.

    “Since our inception, we have achieved a number of milestones in our quest to transform public service delivery. We are building a critical mass of public sector leaders who are equipped with skills, knowledge, and tools to drive and sustain reforms.

    “We aim to ensure that within the next 20 years, Nigeria regains its post-independence reputation for having one of the strongest public services in Africa.”

    The Head of Federal Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan, noted that the reform process can be daunting, even as she said there should be wide stakeholders’ contribution using the SWOT analysis and ensure that there is a property governance structure for the reform processes.

    Yemi-Esan reiterated the need to work with the private sector in the reform efforts which should involve training of the reform officers to know their roles in the reform efforts.

    ‘’It is essential to recognise that there are no infallible systems, and reform is continuous,” she said.

    She said the country’s reform programme implementation had faced numerous impediments, including lack of inclusive implementation strategy framework, poor funding and inadequate budgetary provisions, lack of skilled manpower, poor communication and lack of ownership and involvement among others.

    To address these challenges, she said the Office of the Head of Service reviewed the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan in 2020.

    She said; ‘’We adopted a different approach to reform formulation and implementation, including wide stakeholder consultation; governance structure for the reform initiative; decentralisation of FC 25 implementations to ministries; training and capacity building; and constant monitoring and evaluation; focus on enablers, including culture change, change management, partnerships, technology, consequence management, effective communication, and political buy-in.

     “We have made significant progress in re-engineering the civil service, and it is essential to recognise and celebrate the good work of our officers and partners while sanctioning indiscipline and poor performance.”

    She also identified key elements for successful reform programmes to include systems and support structures- partnerships, high-level monitoring, capacity building- compensation systems, and change management strategy, among others.

    She, however, called for constant monitoring and evaluation of the reform process.

    Former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili said the civil service once attracted the best of minds until the quality of Nigeria’s public service distorted it.

    ‘’We’ve got to pay more attention to our politics as it is key to developing a public service that improves the quality of life of the citizens.

    ‘’We should be able to have that sense of a common identity. On the basis of which we anchor our national vision and our shared values. Then you have pointed the public service in the direction to build.

    ‘’You can have the public service being given the burden to make the country great when the superstructures go in the opposite direction. That is an unkind expectation. So we do need to correct this,” she said.

  • The road to revitalised poultry, livestock value chain

    The road to revitalised poultry, livestock value chain

    The stage appears set for the revamping of the manufacturing sector to drive economic recovery and create jobs. If robust recommendations and practical solutions proffered at the recently-concluded Nigeria Manufacturers Summit in Abuja, with the theme “Rethinking Manufacturing” are diligently implemented, a new dawn of enhanced efficiency and competitiveness beckons on the sector and its allied sub-sectors, particularly the agricultural and livestock sector. One of the Summit’s participants and Managing Director of FACCO West Africa Limited, poultry and agricultural equipment company, Femi Adelayo, personified this optimism, describing the Summit as “a timely and much-needed intervention for the manufacturing sector.” Assistant Editor CHIKODI OKEREOCHA looks at how its outcome will rub off on the poultry equipment sub-sector of the agriculture industry.

    Nothing will gladden the heart of the Managing Director of FACCO West Africa Limited, a poultry and agricultural equipment company, Femi Adelayo, than to see a sufficiently galvanised poultry and livestock value chain in Nigeria capable of delivering immense benefits to all stakeholders while also playing a significant role in the Federal Government’s renewed push to position manufacturing and its allied sub-sectors to reboot the economy and create jobs.

    However, Adelayo’s hope and expectation that a revitalised poultry equipment sector of Nigeria’s poultry and agriculture industry will lead this charge is predicated on the diligent and successful implementation of the robust recommendations and actionable roadmap and policy framework articulated for the manufacturing sector’s revamp at the recently-concluded Nigerian Manufacturers Summit in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

    On the behest of the Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Nigeria Manufacturers Summit was held in the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja. The summit with the theme “Rethinking Manufacturing” was hosted in collaboration with the Presidency; Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment; National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies and multinational professional services company Ernst and Young.

    The three-day summit, according to MAN Director-General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, brought together relevant government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), multilateral and development partners, regional institutions, corporate entities, subject matter experts and manufacturers across all sectors to proffer practical solutions to the myriad of challenges limiting the manufacturing sector’s performance.

    The engagement provided valuable insights on the policy direction for a sector widely acknowledged as holding prospects of driving the President Bola Tinubu-led administration’s Renewed Hope agenda. It also lived to its billing of reaching a consensus with the Federal Government on the imperatives for intentional development of manufacturing in Nigeria and the crafting of a strategic roadmap for the resolution of the sector’s identified challenges.

    For instance, the Federal Government, on the strength of the Summit, renewed its call on MDAs and manufacturers to prioritise local content and made-in-Nigeria goods. Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who declared the Summit open, specifically called for the prioritisation of local content and promotion of made-in-Nigeria products, noting that Executive Order 003, which makes the patronage of locally manufactured products mandatory, is still in force.

    “Let us be reminded that we cannot achieve significant progress in our drive for industrialisation unless we deliberately promote the production of capital goods. We must be focused on expanding our production base, prioritizing local content, and promoting made-in-Nigeria products.

    “I assure you that Executive Order No 003 – Support for Local Content in Public Procurement by the Federal Government, which mandates the patronage of locally manufactured products is still in effect. The relevant MDAs are mandated to fully comply with the order,” the Vice-President declared.

    He also went a notch higher, imploring manufacturers and businesses to leverage the summit to develop an actionable roadmap and policy framework, ready for immediate implementation, “to create the changes we want in the manufacturing sector.” Shettima also assured that government will always maintain an open-door policy to accommodate manufacturers’ needs and expectations.

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    The Vice-President, who chairs the National Economic Council (NEC), said Nigeria has no better option than to support its indigenous firms to produce locally and increase their capabilities. He, therefore, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to partnering MAN to move the sector forward via speedy implementation of the roadmap to revamp the manufacturing sector.

    Apparently drawing strength from the summit’s robust and engaging discussions and insightful presentations, including the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to put the sector on the recovery path, Adelayo, who was a participant at the summit, is now impatient, literarily, to see government and other relevant stakeholders make good their promise to successfully implement the summit’s recommendations.

    “I look forward to the successful implementation of the strategies and would be glad to be an active part in this, Adelayo whose company boasts over four decades in the Nigerian agricultural and livestock sector, told The Nation, in his review of the outcome of the Summit. While describing the Summit as “Clearly a timely and much needed intervention for the manufacturing sector,” he pointed out that it offered strategic input to revitalise the economy and create jobs.

    Adelayo admitted that in truth, there are really no quick interventions to long term strategic problems in the manufacturing sector and its allied sub-sectors, which, according to him, have been allowed to fester over a long time. He, however, noted that some of the recent policy guidelines are clearly steps in the right direction, from the keynote speakers’ input on the urgent need to stem the decline of the economy to the charge to increase the manufacturing sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s GDP.

    Others, according to him, include the interventions of the focus groups across the pillars of trade, ease of doing business, patronage and protection of Nigerian companies. “There is also the impact of security, availability of affordable and constant electricity supply and the twin challenges of finance and foreign exchange; the summit clearly charts strategic way forward for the much needed development of the country,” Adelayo added.

    The FACCO West Africa MD also said it was refreshing to see the active involvement of the Federal Government in the Summit and its willingness to engage with the players to develop the various economic sectors. He, however, pointed out that as a valuable player in the agricultural and livestock automation and mechanization sector with focus on grain storage and processing, poultry and livestock turnkey solutions, it would gladden his heart to see the sub-sector’s multifaceted challenges addressed.

    Adelayo identified one of the critical challenges holding down FACCO West Africa Limited and other major players in the supply, installation, maintenance and after sales support of poultry and agricultural equipment space from maximizing their full potential as unaffordable and unavailable electricity supply. This, he said, affects the cost of doing business, which ultimately, makes it increasingly difficult for operators to become competitive.

    He also told The Nation that operators in the poultry equipment supply market have been dealing with low quality equipment flooding the Nigerian market. “While they (low quality equipment) seem cheaper in the short term, the cost to the farmer in the longer term is often a higher burden on their businesses,” he lamented, adding that inconsistent government policies are also pain in the neck.

    The Nation learnt that with a focus on quality equipment for the agricultural and livestock sector, as well as products for animal feed and nutrition, FACCO West Africa offers a multiplicity of products and services, including turnkey solutions for livestock, design and consultancy, grain storage and silos, mobile grain dryers, tractors, harvesters and other agricultural machinery.

    “We offer turnkey solution services across the poultry and livestock value chain, offering adaptable, sustainable and profit-driven solutions from conceptualization to design, facilitation, construction, operation and maintenance,” Adelayo stated, adding that the company’s wide range of equipment and solutions are adaptable in every region, offering quality solution, efficient service and valuable experience for the growth of the business of its partners and clients.

    He, however, lamented that its operations are being negatively impacted by government’s policy inconsistencies, which, according to him, come up in different places such as customs tariffs, policies on equipment and machinery, bottlenecks evident in logistics and other processes involved in shipping and logistics.

    That’s not all. The asphyxiating high cost of finance as well as the challenges with Foreign Exchange (forex) is also a pain point, not only for FACCO West Africa but manufacturers across sectors. He pointed out that with the fluctuating value of the naira, the cost of spare parts for machinery as well as importation of critical raw materials and machinery has been quite challenging.

    Incidentally, Adelayo is not alone in his lamentation over the stifling high cost of funds for manufacturers, for instance. The President of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, also echoed manufacturers’ collective frustration over the prevailing high cost of bank loans when, during the Summit, he said manufacturers and businesses cannot cope with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) current 30 per cent interest rate.

    Dangote, who delivered a keynote speech at the opening of the Summit, did not mince words when he warned that “Nobody can create jobs with an interest rate of 30 per cent. No growth will happen.” He also decried the country’s penchant for importation of goods and services, saying it is a harbinger of poverty. “Import dependence is equivalent to importing poverty and exporting jobs. No power, no growth, no prosperity. Similarly, no affordable financing, no growth, no prosperity,” he kicked.

    The renowned industrialist, while insisting that there is no industrialisation without protection, said ignoring these facts is what gives rise to insecurity, banditry, kidnapping and abject poverty. He, however, expressed optimism that Nigeria has all it takes to develop and sustain a globally competitive manufacturing sector.

    “To do so, we must rethink our industrialisation policy. We must look to leading countries in the West and the East who are protecting their domestic. We must similarly, introduce policies to protect our domestic industries and nurture them into home champions that will create the jobs and prosperity we desperately need. The time to rethink our industrial policy is now,” Dangote said.

    Adelayo is no less optimistic, citing recent policy guidelines such as the reduction of tariffs, the tax consolidation policies and other strategic interventions as reasons to be hopeful. “The availability of grains at affordable prices especially maize; this feed grade maize will reduce the pressure on the maize market, reduce the skyrocketing prices and thereby reducing the prices of eggs, chicken, fish and other protein sources,” he said.

    He, however, said he believes that considering export tariffs increase on raw materials that are not in adequate supply is a quick intervention. “It is difficult where there is a scarcity of a material like Soya bean meal (an important protein source in animal feed) while it is been exported thereby exacerbating the food security crisis,” Adelayo said.

    He listed other interventions that could force a rebound of the agricultural and livestock automation and mechanisation sector and by extension, the economy to include government patronage for building, repairing and utilising grain storage reserves, constant and affordable power supply.

    Adelayo also harped on the need to retool the nation’s educational curriculum for there to be available manpower; access to grants, extension of strategic duty waivers as well as policy consistency to enable manufacturers and other businesses plan.

    It is easy to see why the FACCO West Africa boss and other players are desirous of a virile poultry and livestock value chain in Nigeria. For instance, in Africa, Nigeria holds a crucial position in the poultry market, with an annual production volume put at 454,000 metric tons of poultry meat and 640,000 metric tons of eggs. The country currently ranks second in Africa in terms of poultry production, behind Morocco.

    Poultry remains the fastest-growing sub-sector of Nigeria’s agricultural sector. The industry is valued at $4.2 billion and contributes 25 per cent of Nigeria’s agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The sub-sector is said to be responsible for between six per cent and eight per cent of the country’s total GDP and provides over 25 million jobs. The consumption of poultry products reached $2 billion in 2019 alone.

    Globally, the poultry market is also huge, valued at $322.55 billion in 2021. The sector is expected to grow to $422.97 billion by 2025, driven by increasing stability in the global economy post-2020 pandemic and advancements in global poultry technology. The global poultry meat production currently stands at 140 million metric tons, while egg production is at 86.3 million metric tons.

    With a rich blend of local and foreign suppliers of poultry equipment, FACCO West Africa Limited, according to Adelayo, is well-positioned to corner a substantial share of the poultry equipment market in Nigeria, driven by its huge investments, over the years, in highly industrialised and efficient manufacturing process. He said the company is the most innovative and environmentally compatible among manufacturers within the industry.

  • Reps probe persistent food scarcity despite interventions

    Reps probe persistent food scarcity despite interventions

    Regardless of frenetic efforts by the Federal Government to ensure food availability and security through policies and programmes such as the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP), Nigerians have continued to wallow in hunger and deprivation. The horrid situation has prompted the House Committees on Nutrition and Food Security and Agricultural Production and Services, Agricultural Colleges and Institutions and Finance launch comprehensive probe into what went awry with the government’s intervention toward making food available for Nigerians, NICHOLAS KALU and JULIANA AGBO report

    Earlier this month, the House of Representatives launched a probe into the alleged misuse of government interventions and agricultural funding by ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), schemes and programmes of the Federal Government outside the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

    In the wake of the food crisis currently experienced by Nigerians which the government is frantically trying to grapple with, the urgency of such intervention cannot be over-emphasised.

    The Committees on Nutrition and Food Security and Agricultural Production and Services, Agricultural Colleges and Institutions and Finance were mandated to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the issue during plenary that day.

    The Committees were expected to report within four legislative weeks for further legislative action on the matter.

    The House’s resolutions followed the adoption of a motion titled “Alleged Mismanagement of Government Agricultural Initiatives and Funding by Departments,  Agencies, and Government Programmes Outside the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security” sponsored by Chike John Okafor.

    Of significance among such initiatives to boost agriculture, which the House is to probe, is the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP), for which the sum of N1.1 trillion was disbursed. The programme was mired in controversies right from its inception.

    For some, it seemed strange that such a programme mainly to boost agriculture was introduced and domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and had nothing to do with the Ministry of Agriculture.

    The ABP is an initiative of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration and formally launched by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in November 2015 in an effort to boost agricultural production, improve foreign exchange and reverse Nigeria’s negative balance of trade on food. It was handled by the CBN.

    Initiated under the preceding Goodluck Jonathan administration, Buhari formally launched the ABP in November 2015. Its broad objectives, according to the CBN, are four-fold; increase banks’ financing to agriculture, reduce the national food import bill, create a new generation of innovative and “smart” farmers, and deepen financial inclusion, moving smallholders from subsistence to commercial farming.

    Under the programme, loans were to be disbursed to farmers, who were beneficiaries, through Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and Microfinance Banks (MFBs), all recognised as Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs).

    The programme guidelines made available by the CBN indicated that farmers captured under the initiative are smallholder farmers cultivating cereals (rice, maize and wheat,among others), cotton, roots and tubers, sugarcane, tree crops, legumes, tomato and livestock.

    Farmers who benefitted from the loans were expected to repay their loans by taking their harvest to ‘anchors’ that pay the cash equivalent to the farmer’s account. However, the programme, like many others failed to live up to expectations and left so much to be desired in the wake of allegations of mismanagement and corruption.

    Failure of this programme to live up to expectations has been tied to the allegation that genuine farmers were not involved in the anchor borrowers’ programme.

    This is because a lot of genuine farmers who are into cereals production had voiced that they were not carried along as portfolio farmers took over the programme.

    The farmers alleged that the portfolio farmers gathered as a team, while some went individually as a registered anchor borrower, approached the bank to take the money and end up not farming, but rather go to rice farms in Nigeria to purchase rice paddy from smallholder farmers who are into rice production to pay back their loans.

    It was also alleged that the portfolio farmers also went to neighbouring rice producing countries to purchase paddy for display which Nigerians witnessed as the largest rice pyramid in January 2022.

    Recall that former President Buhari, at the time, noted that rice in the Nigerian market was expected to fall as the country launched 13 pyramids of rice paddy.

    Despite the launch of the 13 rice pyramids and the launch of maize pyramids in Katsina and Kaduna states during President Buhari’s administration, Nigeria continues to witness a surge in the price of the commodities.

    A top official with the government noted that the ABP was an avenue to make Nigeria self-sufficient in rice, maize and wheat production, but all were not achievable due to diversion of funds, lack of proper database of real farmers and lack of proper supervision by the CBN.

    This alone led to the scarcity and high cost of cereals experienced in Nigeria today.

    “Today, the cost of feed for poultry has gone off the roof so much so that people can’t afford to buy egg due to high cost of maize,” he said.

    The official noted that the opaqueness of the initiative was supposed to turn the tide as far as agriculture is concerned, coupled with the raging hunger in the country.

    However, the present situation and growing concern of high cost of food prompted the House to address the situation.

    The House had expressed worry over the growing food scarcity and malnutrition in Nigeria and the alleged mismanagement of agricultural funds intended for agricultural development in the country. It also noted that the Federal Government, through various schemes and interventions in the past eight years has spent more than N2 trillion in funding agricultural interventions with the view of making food available for millions of Nigerians. It said due to the alleged mismanagement, misapplication of funds and abuse of the programs, Nigeria is still experiencing food scarcity and malnutrition.

    The motion had read: “The House is aware of the reports and allegations of abuse, mismanagement, and misapplication of government intervention funds earmarked for agricultural development and food security initiatives in Nigeria through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through the Anchor Borrowers Program (ABP) disbursed about 1.12 trillion Naira to 4.67 million farmers involved in either maize, rice or wheat farming through 563 anchors.”

    The House is worried that the agricultural sector plays a crucial role in ensuring food security, improving nutrition and supporting the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians, and any abuse of the programmes and schemes of the government drastically affects millions of innocent citizens.

    At the inception of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration, faced with the dire economic situation at the time, and in a bid to shore up funds in the face of economic challenges, launched a probe to recover the money disbursed for the programme.

    It was reliably gathered that relevant security agencies had gotten a Presidential directive to recover loans from the Federal Government Anchor Borrowers Programme amounting to over N500 billion.

    According to sources, it was gathered that out of N1.1 trillion of funds sunk into the programme, about N575 billion have so far been recovered.

    Among those to be probed as far as the mandate is concerned are banks, farmers, individuals and other financial institutions, among others.

    The source said that many of the banks failed to account for the funds which passed through them for various beneficiaries of the loan.

    “Most of the banks have not accounted for the funds given to them for the programme. Many of them got money they did not disburse and never returned such money to the Government. So they have to account for those. The banks have been contacted and some of them have expressed their willingness to cooperate with the probe.

    “As it is, the Presidency has given marching orders that the loans be recovered by relevant security agencies for the Federal Government.

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    “Among those who would be involved in the probe are the farmers, individuals, banks, companies, microfinance banks and credit and thrift services, among others.

    “The loans, which amounted to about N1.1 trillion has about N575 billion paid so far.

    In the coming days, more details would come to light over the matter, but for now, it is confirmed that a go-ahead has been given for the money to be recovered.

    “It is not out of place for the Presidency to give such orders to security agencies on issues of national importance. It is not unusual for the president to authorise security agencies to carry out such tasks.

    “As I said, many of the banks did not account for the loans which were in their custody but they did not disburse.

    “They have been written to in respect of the probe and some have expressed their commitment to work with the security agencies on the matter,” a top security official in charge of coordinating the probe had said.

    Following this development at the time, there was growing tension over the outcome of the probe, but since then, nothing has been heard as the agencies supposed to pursue it have been silent over it.

    As Nigerians continue to battle with the problem of food shortage, they also continue to wonder when the report of the probe would be made known to show seriousness on the part of the government in ensuring accountability and food security.

  • How to ensure Nigerians’ access to healthy foods

    How to ensure Nigerians’ access to healthy foods

    Stakeholders say exposure to unhealthy diets, especially ultra-processed foods, is worsening the non-communicable diseases (NCD) burden in Nigeria. How can the country strengthen its healthy food systems to guarantee access to nutritious food? CHINYERE OKOROAFOR reports that this issue preoccupied deliberation at a recent capacity-building programme in Lagos

    How exposed are Nigerians to unhealthy food? The answer, some stakeholders say, lay in the country’s non-communicable diseases (NCDs) burden. No fewer than 27 per cent of all deaths in Nigeria are due to NCDs, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Disease Outlook 2023. The five major risk factors for NCDs are unhealthy diets, excessive consumption of alcohol, tobacco use, physical inactivity and air pollution.

    Aware of the problem, the federal and state governments have implemented programmes on the NCD progress indicators in areas, including the NCD policy and plan, tobacco taxes, tobacco advertising bans, tobacco health warnings and alcohol taxes.

    However, according to the WHO, Nigeria has recorded limited progress in other areas. These include tobacco smoke-free/pollution, tobacco media campaigns, salt policies, trans fats policies and healthy diet awareness, among others.

    Stakeholders considered the issue in Lagos during a capacity-building programme organised by the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), whose theme was “Human Rights: Food Justice and Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSB).”

    The event featured nutrition and food experts, environmental, social and health activists, youth groups and other stakeholders from across the country.

    Their consensus was that one of the areas that deserve attention is the link between NCDs and bad diets, especially ultra-processed foods actively promoted by food corporations.

    They urged the government to protect Nigerians’ access to healthy food choices, by curbing the country’s exposure to ultra-processed foods and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

    In their view, food can be medicine, because nutritious food is critical to health and resilience.

    They further urged the government to increase the SSB tax and spend the improved income on strengthening the health sector.

    Healthy food as a human right

    The right to food is recognised in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 25) as part of the rights to an adequate standard of living, and it is enshrined in the 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Article 11).

    However, stakeholders at the event extended that right to the concept of food justice. They explained food justice as a holistic view of the food system that regards healthy food as a human right and addresses barriers to that right, including interference and manipulation of access to nutritious food by corporations producing processed foods, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). In their view, GMOs pose significant health, environmental and economic risks, while an improved tax on SSBs is in the public health interest.

    Dangers of ultra-processed foods

     A Public Health specialist at the University College Hospital (UCH), University of Ibadan (UI), Dr Francis Fagbule described ultra-processed foods as “industrial formulations, including substances not commonly used in culinary preparations, such as flavours, colours, sweeteners, emulsifiers and preservatives.” Examples include sugary drinks, packaged snacks, instant noodles, ready-to-eat meals, candy bars, sugary breakfast cereals, and fast-food burgers and fries.

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    He added: “Greater exposure to ultra-processed food is associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder and mortality outcomes.”

    He also echoed the views of leading nutritionists, including Prof. Carlos A. Montiero of the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, who, in his article Why and how to fight processed diets stated that “…many ultra-processed foods meet the criteria for addiction that have been established for tobacco products. Both are pathogenic by design.”

    Fagbule added: “Ultra-processed foods are detrimental to health. They have poor nutrient quality, high levels of added sugars, unhealthy fats (such as trans fats) and sodium.

    “They are low in essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre. They have high caloric density, are energy-dense but nutrient-poor and have a negative impact on the metabolism. They also contain additives, preservatives, and other chemicals not commonly found in natural or minimally processed foods.

    “Worse still, they are addictive. Additionally, added sugars, fats, and flavour enhancers in ultra-processed foods can trigger addictive-like eating behaviours. Furthermore, they are associated with NCDs and often have negative environmental impacts.”

    Fagbule condemned what he described as the “secrecy” around GMOs, noting that consumers need an informed decision on what they want to eat.

    ‘Chemicalisation of foods, a health disaster’

     CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi warned that Nigeria was seeing a rising chemicalisation of foods, saying this was a health disaster.

    He added: “When you throw open our food system to GMOs, you are affecting the local communities and as well, the community livelihoods as a whole.

    “It’s disheartening that the government palliatives, rather than being channelled to local farmers, are diverted. It’s time for Nigeria to have a rethink in terms of the kind of developmental process we want to follow, particularly looking at our food chain, focusing on local food production.”

    ‘Corporations manipulate consumers to embrace unhealthy diets’

    He also noted that Nigerians face increasingly poor food choices, following deceptive marketing by some big food corporations.

    Oluwafemi said: “In particular, the food industry and big corporations manipulate consumers to embrace unhealthy diets, bombarding us with marketing that promotes processed foods high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats.”

    Oluwafemi, a public health advocate, also expressed concern about Nigeria’s NCDs burden, saying an increased SSB Tax is a globally proven tool to curb the rise.

    He said: “We are particularly concerned about the growing rate of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have caught the attention of the global health community because they are responsible for about 41 million deaths yearly, equivalent to 71 per cent of all deaths globally.

    “In Nigeria, nearly 30 per cent of annual deaths are due to NCDs, such as diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart diseases, stroke, cancer, and oral health diseases, among a long list.

    “In understanding this public health challenge, scientific studies and evidence have increasingly identified and singled out the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) as a critical risk driver of NCDs and obesity, which is a pre-disposing health condition for NCDs.”

    He further suggested that to mitigate NCDs “the consumption of these beverages and unhealthy diets must be reduced. SSBs include but are not limited to carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks, fruit juices, sweetened sports drinks or any artificial sugar-sweetened beverages.

    “In this manner, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends the effective taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) as part of its global action plan for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).”

    Oluwafemi lamented that despite the significance of the SSB tax intervention, it has yet to achieve the desired impact.

    ‘GMOs not solution to food shortage’

    The keynote speaker and Director of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Dr Nnimmo Bassey raised the alarm about Nigeria’s food system; warning that the increasing presence of GMOs poses significant risks to the environment and the economy.

    He argued that GMOs had been linked to cancers, diseases, allergies, and several health challenges because of, among others, their dependency on toxic pesticides and the destruction of biodiversity and nutritional diversity.

    Bassey maintained that GMOs are not the solution to food shortage in Nigeria, saying 70 per cent of the food eaten in the world is produced by small-scale farmers, not industrial farmers.

    The foremost environmentalist urged the government to invest in supporting small-scale farmers, build rural infrastructure and sustainable systems of storage and processing of local foods and empower farmers so that they can boost their income.

    He noted that access to safe and wholesome food is a fundamental human right, yet Nigerians are being exposed to GMOs without their knowledge or consent.

    According to him, over 20 GMO varieties have been approved in Nigeria, with some already in circulation, and many more imported as finished products.

    Bassey called for a complete overhaul of Nigeria’s biosafety law, citing its inadequacy in protecting Nigerians and the environment.

    He added: “Concerns have emerged over the environmental and health impacts of GMOs, their impact on traditional farming methods, and issues around seed patents and others.

    “The governments in developing countries are responding to those concerns in a variety of ways; with some banning GMOs outright, some embracing the technology and others attempting to find a balance between the concerns and needs of all sides.

    “It is totally unacceptable that in the name of food sufficiency, the country is exposing its citizens to products of risky technologies without adequate, independent and or long-term assessment of their impacts on human and environmental health.”

    ‘Black’ foods matter

    CAPPA’s Policy and Research Manager, Zikora Ibeh emphasised the need for deliberate government policies to promote natural, indigenous foods; noting that they are part of our cultural identities as black Africans.

    “At the core of our food justice campaign is the truth and conviction that “Black foods matter,” Ibeh said.

    “Access to nutritious foods is not only a human right but also a social condition necessary for the well-being and development of African peoples. We are a people blessed with an abundance of healthy and natural foods. Our gardens and lands provide the most wholesome consumables.

    “Yet, recent times have seen our markets swamped with unhealthy foreign diets. Processed foods extremely high in sodium and sugar are replacing real, nutritious foods, upsetting public health,” she said.

    Solving Nigeria’s food identity crisis

    Ibeh also echoed the view that GMOs were not the solution to food or nutritional inadequacies on the Continent. She bemoaned what  she described as Nigerians’ “food identity crisis,” even as she urged the government to implement policies that will curb the spread of unhealthy diets.

    She said: “There is also the mounting pressure on Africans to embrace GMOs, despite lingering safety concerns about them. GMOs are being presented as alternatives and solutions to food insecurity driven by factors such as climate change, unending conflicts, poor food policies, land grabs by big corporations, poverty and lack of government support for smallholder farmers who play a critical role in feeding our communities.

    “It is not surprising that right before our eyes, new realities are emerging in terms of food and access to healthy diets. Our traditional meals are disappearing, and the hunger pangs and diet-related diseases are growing. There is a developing food identity crisis among Africans who will never know what it means to enjoy a taste that is authentic and native.

    “We must reject these false alternatives and assert that our lives and foods matter. Our foods, enriching as they are, sustain us and are the foundation of our existence. African governments must move beyond superficial interventions and take impactful actions that secure black public health.

    “In particular, the Nigerian government can stop the consumption of unhealthy diets by implementing effective food policies that defend public health. State authorities must also take charge by bolstering the capacity and securing the environment of local farmers to cultivate and produce more nutritious foods.”

    Other speakers at the event included a Research Associate at the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) Fidelis Obaniyi; Project Officer, CAPPA Opeyemi Ibitoye and food scientist and CAPPA Programme Officer, Sodium Reduction, Bukola Olukemi Odele.

  • Developing Nigeria into Africa’s tech hub

    Developing Nigeria into Africa’s tech hub

    Nigeria’s march to becoming a leading technology hub in Africa is beset with many obstacles, ranging from low mobile internet penetration and broadband access to fluctuations in power supply and other challenges. But, a coalition of interventions by the government and players in the tech space is on course to improve its ranking from 114th out of 140 countries in the global competitiveness index for infrastructure to enable it to harness the over $2.17 billion revenue that could be generated in the information technology services market by the end of 2024, writes KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR

    Boundless opportunities for revenue generation and job creation abound in the technology space encompassing informational technology and other value chains.

    Besides being a huge money spinner, the value chain holds the ace to turning the fortunes of the economy around creating commercial activities for millions of Nigerians that play in that space.

    Significantly, the ICT sector includes telecommunications and information services, publishing, motion pictures, sound recording, music production, and broadcasting, driven by growth in fintech, e-commerce and digital services.

    The sector has attracted significant foreign investment and could generate several billions of dollars annually with continued support and innovation.

    In 2022 alone, tech startups raised an estimated $1.3 billion in funding.

    But, the potential of the industry has been hampered by a colony of challenges, part of which is tech infrastructure.

    A Senior Product Lead at Kenvue Incorporated, a United States-based company, Mr Joseph Kalu said the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration should scale up efforts to position the tech industry in Nigeria in a vantage position to tap the potential the sector offers in turning around the economy and contribute significantly to the gross domestic product.

    While lauding the efforts of the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Mr Bosun Tijani in launching the three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme and tech training schools to boost the development of the tech sector, Kalu said such a programme aimed at onboarding more young Nigerians into the tech space is worthy of commendation.

    But, he said much more could be achieved if efforts are accelerated to fix the sore points in the technology industry.

    He said: “Though it is too early to give a comprehensive rating for the Tinubu administration’s performance in the Digital Economy. However, any administration’s success will depend on its ability to address infrastructure challenges, support tech education, and create policies that foster innovation and investment in the tech sector.”

    The tech expert said Nigeria could tap into the opportunities available in the sector if the right steps are taken to drive its growth and contributions to the national economy.

    He said: “As a Nigerian in Tech who has visited other countries and seen first-hand how space is being enabled by their government, the Nigerian government should invest in digital infrastructure, like broadband internet and reliable power. With stable and subsidized electricity and the internet, young people will have the tools to compete globally with their peers from other countries.

    “The government should also implement policies that support local startups. Improving STEM education and offering incentives for tech training programs will help build a skilled workforce. Creating innovation hubs and funding research can also drive tech growth.

    “Regulatory agencies need to address the gaps in data privacy and cyber security to protect consumers and businesses. E-commerce is a sector that has a really good potential for growth and clear policies will foster growth. Bottlenecks in areas such as transportation and postal service should be removed so that more companies can build innovative products and small businesses can tap the resources in e-commerce.

    “For e-learning, stronger accreditation and quality assurance are needed. The Ministry of Education can partner with e-learning platforms to create learning content tailored to the Nigerian populace. Indigenous education content is an untapped market in Africa.

    “The tech space has great revenue potential for Nigeria. Though the sector is currently experiencing a decline for the fourth consecutive quarter, from the 10.32 per cent growth rate recorded in Q1 2023 to a 5.43 per cent year on year in Q1 2024 reaching a five-year low,

    “The ICT sector could contribute a significant GDP by 2025. The ICT sector contributed 17.89 per cent to Nigeria’s total GDP in Q1 2024 despite its decline. The ICT sector includes telecommunications and information services, publishing, motion pictures, sound recording, music production, and broadcasting, driven by growth in fintech, e-commerce, and digital services. The sector has attracted significant foreign investment and could generate several billion dollars annually with continued support and innovation.

    •Kalu

    “In 2022 alone, an estimated $1.3 billion was raised in funding by tech startups. Revenue in the IT services market is projected to reach $2.17 billion by the end of 2024.

    “Nigeria’s tech infrastructure over the past 10 years has greatly improved and is improving but still lags behind developed countries. While mobile internet penetration is high, broadband access and reliable power are challenges. Nigeria ranks 114th out of 140 countries in the Global Competitiveness Index for infrastructure. South Africa and Kenya have made more progress, providing benchmarks for Nigeria. The government should focus on providing affordable and constant electricity and internet access for us to be able to compete effectively with other countries in terms of technology.

    “Nigeria is set to become a leading tech hub in Africa. With a large, young population and increasing internet use, the country will see growth in fintech, e-commerce and digital services.

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    “The government initiatives and private investments will drive innovation and entrepreneurship, positioning Nigeria as a major player in the global tech scene.

    “Nigeria is a frontier market for tech service providers due to its growing economy, large young population, and increasing digital adoption. The country offers many opportunities in finance, e-commerce, mobile services, and digital content. International tech companies see Nigeria as a key entry point into the African market and her talent as world-class in project delivery.

    “As stated earlier, Nigeria’s market value in the tech service space is in billions. E-commerce is exploding with companies such as Jumia, Konga and Showdeck to mention but a few are championing penetration. Local startups are increasingly ready to seize this opportunity, with many receiving international recognition and funding. However, challenges such as infrastructure and regulation need to be addressed to fully realise this potential. There should be regulations that level the playing field for new entrants to thrive in tech in Nigeria.

    “To attract more Nigerian youths into the tech service space, the government and private sector should invest in STEM education and tech training programs. Universities should offer tech courses and employ highly trained staff to equip students with the relevant skills required to get a tech job.

    “Offering scholarships, internships, and mentorships can also help in getting people into space. Coding boot camps and tech hubs can foster innovation and entrepreneurship. Showcasing success stories and creating a supportive ecosystem will inspire more youths to pursue tech careers.”

    He said experts in the tech space are increasing, using their expertise to drive leading design teams to create digital products for global brands.

    Kalu said: “When I decided to get into tech, what I first considered was an area of tech that is timeless and has a gap in the market. In the fast-evolving tech space, the first thing to do is research market trends and identify gaps where skills are needed. It is important to identify the skill of the future, one that is well-paying, borderless and can get you hired across different countries. To identify this, speak to a career coach in any tech training institute.

    “Next is to build a strong foundation in key tech areas such as software development, data analysis, product management and cyber security. I will recommend learning such skills in a structured learning environment such as the Federal Government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme and tech training schools. Finally, get mentorship from people who are trailblazers in your chosen field.

    “To be good in tech, it is important to identify one’s area of strength before venturing into learning. A person who is very creative, curious and detail-oriented may be good in design compared to someone who isn’t. In the same way, a person who is good with words and writing may excel in UX writing, copywriting and content writing as compared to another who isn’t.

    “To be a leading service provider in software engineering, one needs skills in programming languages (such as Python and JavaScript), cloud computing (AWS, Google Cloud), cyber security and so on. Soft skills such as problem-solving, project management, and communication are also important skills to possess because as a person in tech, you’ll collaborate a lot with stakeholders and having soft skills is essential.”

    Kalu spoke of evolving dynamics in the tech space, where remote working is gaining global traction.

    He said: “One thing COVID-19 pandemic did was to teach us that we now live in a global village. Companies were forced to go remote and hiring remote wor kers worldwide skyrocketed. With this came some crazy advancement in technology that has hugely shrunk time and distance.

    Technology drives globalisation by enabling instant communication and collaboration.

    “People have now realised that they do not have to travel or move from one location to another to perform tasks or have meetings. Tools such as Zoom, Jira and Slack have allowed people to work together, communicate and collaborate from anywhere in the world. Cloud services allow businesses to operate globally without a physical presence. According to the World Economic Forum, digital globalisation has increased cross-border data flows by over 45 times since 2005, showing the impact of technology on reducing time and space.

    “Technology is making outsourcing more efficient. Companies from the US, UK and other parts of the world now outsource work to skilled talents in Nigeria thereby increasing these talents fx earning potential which in turn grows the economy. With technology, it is now easier to work for a company overseas and receive payment in USD than it was 10 years ago.

    “Communication tools and project management software lead the frontline in enabling companies to outsource tasks globally. Countries like the Philippines have become a top outsourcing destination, with its BPO sector contributing $26 billion to the economy in 2020.

    “With tools such as Zoom, Teams, Google Meets and others, video conferencing is now easier than ever. Jira, Zoho and Trello have made project management and collaboration issues a thing of the past.

    “Project managers can hire teams across the world, have them do tasks and monitor their tasks efficiently without breaking a sweat. When it comes to internet connection, Star link has made it possible for someone in the most remote part of the world to work efficiently. Of course, with solar inverters, power isn’t an issue.

    “With these tools, remote work is now the new normal, enabling people to work effectively and efficiently from any part of the globe.

    Technology has enabled remote work by providing tools for video conferencing, collaboration, and cloud-based applications. These tools help maintain productivity despite movement restrictions.”

  • How to unlock advertising potential, by experts

    How to unlock advertising potential, by experts

    In the fast-paced world of digital transformation, adapting to the evolving landscape requires collaboration and innovation. As Nigerian brands embrace digitalisation and digital advertising, experts emphasise the importance of safeguarding user privacy and attention while preparing publishers and brands for the current digital paradigm shift, ANNE AGBI reports

    The ever-evolving landscape of digital advertising demands not only keeping pace with trends but also understanding the audience’s pulse. As Nigeria embraces digitalisation, the key lies in comprehending the audience, exploring innovative solutions and preparing for a future where the digital landscape is more interconnected and accessible than ever before, all while respecting privacy. This shift has led various digital platforms to focus on increasing internet penetration and expanding the digital footprint in Nigeria. They are curating unique targeting options and creative advertising formats, such as gamification and dynamic adverts, positioning themselves at the forefront of providing solutions that address the sector’s needs.

    Global advertising technology company, Eskimi, in a seminar held at Radisson, Ikeja Lagos, highlighted key trends and challenges in the digital advertising ecosystem. The seminar, whose theme was “AdTech Trends; Evolving Digital Identity and Capturing Attention,” explored trends in AdTech and how they can be maximised. The digital advertising landscape in Nigeria is undergoing rapid transformation, presenting challenges and opportunities for brands and advertisers. At the forefront of these changes in 2024 is the impending deprecation of cookies, particularly notable with Google’s plan to eliminate them by the end of the year.

    According to the facilitators, Google has already deprecated one per cent of cookies in the first quarter of 2024, prompting the exploration of alternative ID solutions such as Id5, Prebid and UID 2.0 to maintain targeted advertising while safeguarding user privacy. Also discussed was the shrinking attention span of digital users, attributed to the prevalence of bite-sized content on various social media platforms.  To combat this, brands were urged to be proactive and innovative and to increasingly explore creative innovations while expanding into new advertising channels such as audio platforms as well as connected TV (CTV).

    Brands were also urged to prioritise attention metrics to gauge the effectiveness of their ads, track user engagement and improve ad performance over time. It was also emphasised that while measuring attention metrics is crucial, it does not compromise user privacy. The data is aggregated to analyse audience behaviour and improve advertising strategies, ensuring that brands can effectively engage with their target audience in a privacy-conscious manner.

    Eskimi Business Development Director, Vita Garifulina, said: “We looked at cookie-less environments, which is beginning next year because it has a lot to do with targeting and people’s data in digital advertising. We also explored attention which is very important because we are exposed to quite a lot of ads online and how brands should utilise their budget to get customer’s attention. Also explored were creative innovations which are also important because they are concerned with grabbing users’ attention.”

    Garifulina said the event provides users the opportunity to get drowned in thousands of ads daily. That is why we always want to help our clients and partners to utilise their marketing budget respectively which brings us to effective marketing strength. “I have worked with Nigerian brands and agencies for 12 years now and I can say it’s evolving quite quickly. When we started everyone said they just wanted a traditional mode of advertising with billboards, radio, etc. It took us some time to convince them on how digital is better than traditional media buying. I think that Nigeria has a very progressive market; people are bold and open to innovation. Some of the creative formats we have are very bold and Nigerian brands are not afraid to experiment and follow global trends,” she said.

    She advised brands to be more open to experiments while emphasizing the importance of continuous learning, following global trends and bringing it to the local market. “If brands understand the importance of data and creative innovations, they learn and follow some global environment and digital programmatic advertising; everything is going to be fine. Although a lot of people are beginning to get certifications, traveling and studying. I think the market is quite good if we don’t talk about the economic situation,” she said.

    Senior Account Manager of Eskimi for West and Central Africa, Tayo Adediwura, noted that the depreciation of cookies has been an ongoing conversation for about three, or four years now and it has come to a head in 2024 when some of the plans that Google has to deprecate cookies have finally been actualised and will be out totally by the end of the year.

    He said: “In the first quarter of this year, Google already deprecated one per cent of cookies. We recently started testing out the Google Privacy sandbox. There’s also the rise of alternative ID solutions such as ID five, Prebid, and UID 2.0. Everybody just tries to solve the problem of privacy or make sure that we can continue running advertising campaigns programmatically, without basically opening up people to privacy issues, having people steal their data, or being tracked in a very unconventional or spooky way.”

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    He encouraged brands to be more innovative and look to explore more creative innovations and channels because there are a lot more other channels where users are a bit more attentive than the other and then explore measuring attention so that they can improve on those metrics outside of whatever metrics they have been collecting in the past.

    Adediwura said: “In trying to command users’ attention, knowing that they have an average of about three seconds to register whatever is being communicated to them, brands have started exploring more options such as adding creative innovations that are big and intrusive because smaller formats for advertising don’t work as they used to.

    “Brands have also started exploring more channels. We see people advertising on audio channels and it’s because attention on these platforms is a bit higher because people are listening to music, thereby taking advantage of their ears, they have their earplugs. There’s also connected television CTV, where you can reach people via TVs or Smart TV consoles, their game consoles and others.

    “Brands are also looking to measure attention metrics outside of the regular advertising metrics that we’re measuring. One of the ways Eskimi is prioritising attention metrics is in collaboration with Lumen. “So, one can track people’s eyeballs when they are looking at your ads, how long they were looking at your ads and what they were looking for. It’s very interesting because the reason they are collecting these metrics is so that they can improve on them.”

    He further encouraged brands to evolve with the trends and understand them because doing so can help them become confident in coming up with solutions and innovations. He noted that digitally, Nigeria still has a long way to go in terms of patronising channels, which he said results from many Nigerians not owning smart TVs.

    Eskimi’s Creative Director, Jevgenij Piliusin, enlightened the participants on how to use creativities to boost the attention of users in digital environments. He advised huge brands to pay more attention to gamification as a way of gaining attention while smaller brands were advised to focus on simpler ways and not deep user interactions.

    According to Digital Media Manager of TBWA concepts, Biose Isichei, running an advertising agency in Nigeria has its highs and lows seeing that, in the early days, the adoption of traditional advertising means such as radio, TV and others have been used for advertisement but currently a lot of technology has been implemented to improve how marketing and communications are for brands. “We need to be innovative in terms of how we provide our services. Part of what we do is leverage technology in the advertising industry effectively to deliver the best to our clients. It’s a win-win for us, I must say.

    “If you look at how ads have been done in newspapers, video TV commercials, the social media ads. YouTube ads, we also have programmatic ads, which is where Eskimi comes in on how they have been able to diversify the rates at which ads are been executed. From the high-impact ads to the takeover banners to the Google cookies which are about to be changed. We learned a lot. It is also a pointer for us in the advertising industry on how we need to approach new ways of doing our creatives.

    “Eskimi has been able to up their game in that aspect and we are looking at doing the same in our agency because we are beginning to see the need for programmers doing creatives for agencies and leveraging on technological tools effectively to get the best results,” Isichei said.

    The Team Lead of Felfo Digital, Tunde Ojo expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the event, stating that it was a very good initiative by Eskimi to get everyone on board with the evolving trend around users’ identity and how best to catch the attention of the audience as regards brand-related campaigns. He said: “We needed to understand that for every trend, there has to be some sorts of tool or evolving technology that will help brands understand how to better manage their audience identity. I work with a marketing agency and I can say for a fact that some of the tools or technology that Eskimi has developed would help.”

    The Digital Marketing Manager of Hala Bets, Abiola Adeniyi said: “We talked about identifying digital advertising trends and just from what we learned today, we are already looking at how we can implement the different methods, strategies, and creatives to optimise future advertising campaigns. The floating ad, for example, is a very interesting concept which we can use. Maybe when our users are on the sports site, a floating ad could pop up, giving them details about the game they are looking at, and pulling them to our website. We are also going to look at the other high-impact adverts, and technologies we were shown and pick the ones that suit us.”

    Continuous learning and adaptation are paramount in this dynamic landscape. Brands must stay abreast of global trends, experiment with new ideas, and remain open to innovations to stay competitive. By addressing these challenges and implementing innovative solutions, brands can navigate the evolving digital advertising ecosystem in Nigeria effectively, optimising their campaigns for better engagement and results.

  • Taming societal ills through effective parenting

    Taming societal ills through effective parenting

    At a time of rapid technological advancements and unstable shifting social norms, the foundation of society—its families—faces incomparable challenges. The rise in juvenile delinquency, mental health issues among youth and the erosion of core values underscore a deep-rooted problem that cannot be ignored. At the core of these societal ills lay the critical role of effective parenting. As the primary influence on a child’s development, parenting shapes not only the individual but also the broader community. By fostering a nurturing, supportive, and disciplined environment, parents can instill values and behaviours that counteract negative societal drifts. AMBROSE NNAJI reports

    The prevalent moral degeneration among individuals these days is often attributed to inadequate parental guidance. With many parents abdicating their responsibilities to the digital age, concerns about societal values have escalated.

    Recognising this parental deficit, the Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), an organ of the Catholic Church, has urged parents to recommence their role in nurturing children towards lives esteemed by society.

    The Commission said that neglecting parental duties has significantly contributed to pervasive social vices such as rape, kidnapping, human trafficking and domestic violence, among others.

    To reinforce this call, the Justice, Development and Peace Commission of the Catholic Church of the Annunciation (CCA), Ori-Oke, Lagos State, organised a seminar titled “Effective Parenting as a Cure for Societal Ills.”

    The JDPC is an action-oriented structure through which the Catholic Church responds to social issues affecting all people. This structure identifies, corrects and ensures the promotion of justice, peace and human rights. The manner of this response is based on the social teachings of the Church.

    The JDPC also promotes sustainable and integral human development through holistic empowerment approach, and enhancing effective structural transformation of the society, without any form of discrimination. The Commission provides legal aid mainly through the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), education/social enlightenment, prison visitation, election monitoring/governance watch, empowerment, charity among others.

    The event which is organised in partnership with the Isolo Deanery of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos aims at awakening parental consciousness and equip parents with the necessary skills to provide proper nurturing for their children.

    The JDPC Coordinator 1 of the parish, Comrade Charles Nwamadi acknowledged the urgency of addressing parenting issues to mitigate societal challenges. He emphasises the need for parents to prioritise their responsibilities and adopt effective parenting practices. Reflecting on personal experiences, Nwamadi underscored the transformative impact of the seminar in reshaping his parenting approach.

    The seminar aligns with the JDPC’s commitment to education and social enlightenment. Nwamadi emphasises the commission’s dedication to addressing societal ills through initiatives centred on effective parenting. The programme’s reflects the commission’s determination to confront prevailing challenges.

    Through engaging discussions and insightful presentations, the event was aimed at empowering parents with practical strategies for effective parenting.

    Nwamadi highlights the importance of fostering open communication and prioritising parental presence in children’s lives. Moving forward, the JDPC aims to expand its efforts to other parishes within and beyond the Isolo Deanery. By fostering a culture of proactive parenting, the Commission seeks to cultivate a society where children thrive in forward-looking environments.

    The event also underscores the JDPC’s commitment to promoting positive change through grassroots initiatives. Through collaborative partnerships and community engagement, the Commission seeks to address societal challenges at their roots.

    As society grapples with evolving complexities, the imperative for effective parenting remains paramount. By equipping parents with the tools and knowledge needed to nurture future generations, the JDPC endeavours to create a society where values of compassion, integrity, and empathy flourish.

    The Coordinator of the Deanery, Alexander Ifeanyichukwu Chiaha, stated that the programme stemmed from the Commission’s profound compassion for humanity. He emphasised the importance of fostering familial unity and instilling vital values in children to nurture a more robust societal fabric.

    Chiaha decried the prevalent moral decay in society and underscored the pivotal role of effective parenting in combating such challenges. He emphasised that values crucial for good and quality leadership are primarily instilled through parental guidance, educational institutions, societal influences and community norms.

    Chiaha advocated for effective parenting as a catalyst for societal transformation, asserting that individuals’ behaviours, including corrupt practices, often traced back to their upbringing. He expressed unwavering commitment to expanding the programme’s reach beyond the current parish to other communities within and outside the deanery.

    Furthermore, Chiaha, as a Logistic Consultant, delineated the nine parishes comprising the Isolo Deanery, including Catholic Church of Annunciation, St. Peter Catholic Church, Ejigbo, and St. Francis Catholic Church, Idimu, among others. He elucidated the hierarchical structure of the deanery, with the Dean overseeing operations and directives stemming from the diocese through the Director of JDPC, Rev. Raymond Anoliefo, who endorsed the programme.

    Obiora Madu, an educator delivered a profound discourse on the seminar’s theme. He elucidated the multifaceted role of parents, emphasizing their provision of emotional, financial, and practical support to guide children through life’s various stages toward responsible and independent adulthood.

    Madu defined parents as individuals bearing legal and/or biological responsibility for a child’s upbringing, encompassing biological, adoptive, step-parents, or legal guardians. He underscored their pivotal role in nurturing, protecting, educating, and instilling values in children, thereby equipping them for adulthood.

    Highlighting the benefits of positive parenting, Madu stressed the importance of fostering stronger parent-child relationships, which engendered trust, better lifelong outcomes, internalised morals and leadership potential in children.

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    Madu contended that good parenting prioritises God, society, and leaving a positive legacy, as reflected in the character of one’s offspring. He emphasised the influence of parental upbringing on individuals, asserting that good parenting fosters responsible leadership and societal betterment.

    Furthermore, Madu outlined key strategies for effective parenting, including boosting a child’s self-esteem, reinforcing positive behavior, setting consistent disciplinary boundaries, prioritizing communication, and demonstrating unconditional love. He emphasized the importance of treating all children under one’s care with dignity and compassion, whether biological or adopted, as a means to cultivate a more nurturing and supportive society.

    Madu concluded by asserting that societal ills often stem from inadequate parenting, underscoring the imperative for collective efforts to promote positive parenting practices for a brighter future.

    Commenting on the theme of the event which was “The Role of Family Values and Culture in Parenting,” Mrs JaneFrances Chinyere Okoye underscored the urgent need for parents to prioritise and uphold family values to safeguard societal stability amidst the prevailing challenges. She emphasised that cultural, religious, ethical, relational, and socio-economic values form the cornerstone of familial integrity, with ethical and moral values revolving around principles of righteousness, justice, and integrity.

    According to Okoye, the foundational strength of the Church and society rests upon the presence of robust family units that nurture children to know, love, and serve a higher purpose. While acknowledging the omnipresence of divine grace, she underscored the irreplaceable role of the family in facilitating spiritual growth and moral development.

    Okoye elucidated that every family operates on a set of core values, whether explicitly articulated or implicitly conveyed through daily interactions and parental guidance. She stressed that effective parenting entails nurturing a child’s physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and cognitive development from infancy to adulthood, guided by a clear delineation of familial beliefs and principles.

    Highlighting the importance of fostering healthier relationships and preparing children for success, Okoye emphasised the significance of regularly exploring and identifying one’s family values. She emphasized that these values not only shape parental guidance but also serve as a compass for navigating complex moral dilemmas and societal challenges, thereby fostering a wholesome and thriving community.

    Moving forward, Okoye advocated for the integration of discussions on family values and culture into both singles and married forums to equip future parents with the necessary tools and insights for effective parenting. She stressed that such initiatives would not only bolster the preparedness of prospective parents but also provide married couples with opportunities for introspection and growth.

    In aligning family values with the overarching theme of effective parenting as a remedy for societal ills, Okoye urged parents to internalise the essence of these values and impart them to their children with empathy and understanding. She cautioned against authoritarian approaches that might alienate children, emphasising instead the importance of fostering open dialogue and mutual respect within the family unit.

    Acknowledging the myriad of challenges faced by parents in today’s socio-economic climate, Okoye empathised with their struggles but urged them to prioritise their roles as nurturers and educators. She stressed the need for a balanced approach to parenting, wherein material responsibilities are harmonized with the cultivation of core family values and cultural heritage.

    While commending the efforts of the JDPC in organising such enlightening seminars, Okoye called for greater outreach to a broader audience, including young adults transitioning into parenthood. She emphasised the collective responsibility of society in nurturing the next generation and underlined the importance of proactive preparation and support for both current and future parents alike.

  • Turning Lagos into a smart city economy

    Turning Lagos into a smart city economy

    Recently, the Lagos State Government berthed a Transport Policy to better coordinate its inter-modal transportation initiatives which are aimed at promoting organised public transportation, ADEYINKA ADERIBIGBE writes

    The Sanwo-Olu administration deepened the first pillar of its THEMES+ Agenda, with the unveiling of the Lagos State Transport Policy (LTP).

    Though the policy had been on the drawing board since 2019, the administration, prioritising transportation and traffic management, finally unveiled the document, becoming the first state to do so and breasting even the country to the tape.

    Pipe dream

    The closest the country got to pushing a national transport policy was last year, when its multilateral stakeholders submitted a draft of the policy to the Federal Ministry of Transportation. The draft, inherited by the current Minister Senator Ahmed Sa’id Alkali, was to be slated for another review ahead of its presentation to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval. The minister has, at several forums, expressed commitment to delivering this critical document once all the critical stakeholders had signed up on it.

    The problem is that achieving just that keeps getting more complex. Putting together a working transportation policy is one that goes beyond the parent Ministry of Transportation. The policy must contain inputs from Aviation Ministry and that of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, and lately, even from the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, all agencies and departments under these four major ministries.

    Getting diverse agencies and departments to synergise rather than working in silos get more daunting as each gets more preoccupied with getting the renewed hope of the Federal Government on stream.

    Yet, the country keeps losing huge revenue as the document that would drive the movement of all modes of transportation to achieving a healthy economy becomes more daunting.

    Berthing a national transport policy was a journey that began in 1965, but 59 years later, successive administrations only left Nigerians with a wish list. A surfeit of intentions crisscrossing the four major modes- land, air, waterways and pipelines; which have left the country prostrate. The result is that the sector, despite its huge potential, has been unable to cap beyond four per cent, its best yet, to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    Since the turn of the Fourth Republic, the National Council on Transportation (NTC), which was the highest council on transportation (made up of commissioners of transportation of all the states, heads of agencies in the transportation sector and chaired by the Minister of Transportation), have continued to issue policy guidelines to regulate the sector. The result has been a mismatch of policies which has left the sector unregulated as all comers deploy all forms of equipment/vehicle(s) to operate the sector and mine its wealth.

    The Lagos example

    That was why the state’s former Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde lauded the Sanwo-Olu administration for finally delivering the document.

    One of the ‘wise men’ invited by the former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration to put the document together (representing the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Oladeinde said the document would finally lay to rest the rumbles about the “father” of the state’s transportation magic.

    “For all those asking where is the father of all the initiatives which has set this state apart, we have located its father in the Transportation Policy, while the ‘Mother’ remains the STMP being religiously implemented by the government,” Oladeinde said.

    The National President of the Chartered Institute Of Transport Administration (CIOTA) Prince Segun Ochuko Obayendo lauded what he called the “Lagos can do DNA,” which has continued to see the state beat others to being the best in all sectors, and sustaining the drive to achieve a 21st Century economy.

    Obayendo urged the state to ensure the professionalisation of the sector, arguing that by berthing the policy, the Lagos State Government has sent the signal for an imminent end to the unregulated operation choking the sector.

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    Pioneer Dean of the School of Transport and Logistics, Lagos State University (LASU-SOT), Prof. Samuel Odewunmi opined that the policy would sanitise the sector.

    Odewunmi, who was one of the drafters of the policy, however, said he would not jump into critiquing the policy until the government officially releases the policy.

    The Director of the Centre for Inter-Modal Transport Studies, University of Lagos, Prof. Iyiola Oni, who, with Odewunmi had drafted the policy, also chose to be cautious. For him “the success of the policy will depend on its implementation.”

    Oni, however, described the policy as “very robust,” arguing that “giving her citizens a document to run with, will guide the sector that is critical to any economy.”

    He said the document could be adjusted every five years to accommodate the changes that needed to be captured in the document in order to regulate all modes operational in the state.

     Unveiling the document before a creme of discerning stakeholders which also included four Commissioners of Transportation from other states, among them Ogun, Kwara, Kaduna and Osun, Sanwo-Olu said the policy would be the compass needed to give more bite to the various initiatives being implemented by the government.

    Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat observed that transportation is not only a facilitator of movement but also a catalyst for economic prosperity. He said it is in recognition of this that the administration prioritised transportation and traffic management, and has been methodical in deploying other modes of transportation to reduce congestion and improve the quality of life of residents.

    He said he is happy to note that Lagos, again, is the first to come up with a document to sanitize the sector, adding that Lagos wouldn’t mind seeing other states and the Federal Government copy the document if it would help sanitise the sector.

    Presenting the document, the Commissioner for Transportation Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi commended all his predecessors, beginning from: Dr Muiz Banire, Prof. Bamidele Badejo, Dr Kayode Opeifa, Dr Dayo Mobereola, Ladi Lawanson and Dr Oladeinde for their painstaking insights in shaping the document and bequeathing a deserving document to the people of the state.

    “We have been able to put together a transportation system that does not have only what we need for today, but has what we require for tomorrow. He lauded Governor Sanwo-Olu for his commitment which has seen the various initiatives which has seen same commitment on the roads, rail as well as waterways, which has seen the deployment of 15 new ferries added to the 20 earlier deployed which is complementing a waterway command and control centre at the LASWA Headquarters to ensure the safety of the waterways.

     Policy synopsis

    The new Policy has a 15-year shelf- life that is renewable every five years. The government, recognising that the sector is critical in pushing back poverty, seeks the reduction of travel time and the overall cost of using the transport system with the sector playing an enhanced role in the state’s economic and social development.

    The overarching objectives of the policy according to the document is “to be a sustainable transport system that is integrated, safe, adequate, reliable, comfortable, efficient, affordable, environmentally-friendly and anchored on a progressive and competitive market economy, providing inclusive access to all the people of the state in an environmentally sustainable and economically cost-effective manner.”

    The policy, therefore, took note of the following framework parameters: accessibility for all; land use and transport planning, governance arrangements and gender equality and social inclusion, and financing and cost recovery.

    Other parameters are private sector and multilateral agencies participation (PS&MAP), planning and budgeting process, monitoring and evaluation, institutional arrangement and capacity building, managing expectations with focus on stakeholders consultation and advocacy and deploying pilot projects.

    The policy’s scope: Divided into 14 elements, the policy covered among others; road infrastructure, with emphasis on improving efficiency of road networks and utilisation through sustainable maintenance, upgrading specific link roads to meet growing demands and improving network efficiency, undertake road classification, appropriate responsibility for use of roads and improved practices for the management and financing of roads. Improve road signage and improve transport services in rural areas.

    Under the new policy, the state will establish a transport safety agency; to coordinate and organise the safety of transport infrastructure and operation of all land transport. Also to be strengthened is the Lagos State Transport Police, currently operating as the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) to ensure the safety of travellers and transport providers, and undertake regularly, safety and security training for all transport agencies and service providers.

    In the area of traffic management, the policy aims to come up with regulations to guide the use of the infrastructure and the provision of transport services, equip all the roads with signs and road markings to physically guide traffic, ensure adequate and appropriate control and management of on-street and off-street parking, this would be complemented with regular review of enforcement strategies of transportation/traffic enforcement agencies to adopt more technology-driven approaches in the discharge of their responsibilities and deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems such as automatic  incident detection, CCTV Cameras and Area Traffic Control (ATC) and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) devices to boost detection of traffic infringements.

    The roads envisages the deployment of more BRT buses with cleaner energy and the increased bus and non-bus based mode of transportation, bus fleet expansion through encouragement of private sector participation, injection of more first and last mile buses to improve commuting experiences deployment of taxi and e-hailing services and mini bus services aimed at encouraging fleet modernization and eradication of motorcycles and tricycles as means of operation in the state.

    For urban road freight, the policy aims at encouraging timely maintenance of freight vehicles and training and retraining of qualified drivers and owners, in which tankers and lorries would ultimately be confined to designated routes.

    The policy targets a reduction in the deployment of private car travels as more users switch to public-regulated transport. The policy also aims at dipping the average age of vehicles through the use of vehicle scrapping schemes.

    Though the policy had consideration for non-motorised transport, such would only be encouraged with improvement in safety and security of pedestrians while using the road networks.

    Rail transport: The policy anticipates a regulatory agency to regulate the deployment and deepening of urban rail mass transit with the deployment of the Blue and the Red lines.

    The policy also seeks to see the state become more active on air transport. Among others, it seeks the establishment of an aviation unit in the Ministry of Transportation. It seeks improvement of more road access to the domestic and international airports and with other stakeholders promotes the use of Lekki Airport.

    On Inland Waterways Transit, the policy seeks to maximize its comparative advantage on waterway transit, promote the development of a healthy boat building industry and intensify efforts at upgrading water infrastructure, while the policy seeks to promote a robust maritime transport where related industries would be encouraged to spring up that would be the catalyst to the development of the Lekki and Badagry seaports.

    For pipelines, the policy seeks a robust partnership with NNPC Limited in monitoring the use of pipelines to assure their safety and to discourage the use of pipelines as mechanic villages, all of which is aimed at reducing carriage of liquid freight by road.

    Despite its huge ambition to promote and maximise the potential of the sector, the policy, while admitting that the sector does some damage to the environment, seeks to promote carbon remediation and reduction. At regular intervals the new infrastructures are to be subjected to regular tests to check their resilience to climate change factors, encourage purpose built auto-repair workshops and discourage roadside repairs, as well as developing a plan to tighten vehicle emission standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

     Conclusion

     To achieve all these, the policy canvasses the establishment of a multi-agency and independent transport projects implementation committee to regularly review and recommend the state’s major infrastructure projects in a way that will ensure cost-effective implementation and safe operation.

  • How trade modernisation project will improve revenue

    How trade modernisation project will improve revenue

    The Federal Government is eyeing $250 billion in revenue through the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP), which is believed would have a profound, long-term impact on the country’s social and economic development. According to experts and stakeholders in the economy, the project, spread over a 20-year concession period, presents a tripod for revamping revenue sources for the country as it will boost revenue generation, deepen legitimate trade and combating corruption, MUYIWA LUCAS reports.

    A greater challenge of revenue generation is the stark reality the country faces, presently. This challenge may get higher even as the federal government under the administration of President Bola Tinubu is on the verge of approving a new national minimum wage for workers given the huge financial requirement to take on the increase in workers’ salaries.

    With a workforce of about 1.2 million on the federal government’s payroll, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, was quick to note that the N494,000 national minimum wage initially demanded by organised labour cumulatively amounts to N9.5 trillion annually- a figure he noted as capable of destabilising the economy and jeopardising the welfare of over 200 million Nigerians. Even at the N250, 000 minimum wage demand by labour, this would amount to about N3.8 trillion annually.

    Still, the N62, 000 minimum wage being offered by the Federal Government, translating to a little over 100 percent increase on the existing minimum wage, implies that more money will have to be expended in settling workers’ salaries.

    The implication is that the government will have to source for more revenue options to cushion the effect of the increment on its finances. Already, the country is challenged by an escalating debt profile, marred by declining revenue from oil partly occasioned by the global shift from fossil fuel investment in view of the renewable energy, production shortfall over the past five years and oil theft menace.

    This is why stakeholders are convinced that the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP), a presidential initiative powered by the federal government’s economic rejuvenation and diversification agenda, offers government a veritable means to address its revenue demand. As conceived, the TMP leverages cutting-edge technologies to fully automate and streamline Customs operations and smoothen international trade. The TMP, signed on May 30, 2022, between the Federal Government of Nigeria and TMP Limited, expires on September 27, 2042. , It is being implemented through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and detailed in a Concession Agreement (CA).

    The project, ratified by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on April 18, 2023, paves the way for the transformation of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) into an efficient organisation equipped with the latest technology, facilitating streamlined services for businesses and government agencies. As part of the initiative, 2,500 Customs officers are slated for training by the first quarter of 2025 to drive the initiative. Already, its first Phase is underway following the investment of over $400 million as at December 31, 2023 by the promoters. Under the agreement, the concessionaire commits to investing $3.2 billion over the concession period of 20 years.

    The total projected expenditure for the project across the 20-year concession period is approximately $3.2 billion, encompassing both Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) and Operating Expenditure (OPEX). Each of the three phases, spanning the entirety of the concession, involves significant investment. Phase one involves a CAPEX investment of about $300 million, while phase two and three require investments of $465.4 million and $435.8 million respectively.

    The CAPEX of $1.2 billion for each deployment phase includes hardware, Customs application, equipment, application implementation services, technology infrastructure, Marine Deployment, and Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) costs. The estimated OPEX for the concession period amounts to $1.896 billion, covering fixed and variable costs, expenses, and charges associated with the day-to-day operations of the NCS platform.

    The TMP

    The project’s three phases cut across deployment, management and eventual handover to Customs officers. The concessionaire is mandated to develop, deploy, implement and ensure the timely delivery of the project at NCS’ relevant locations nationwide, in accordance with the Implementation Schedule, Output Specifications and Standards, and Technical Requirements as set out in the Agreement.

    Under the scheme, the TMP is being implemented in line with laid out plans. In the first phase, that is the first to third year of its life span known as the initial deployment, the emphasise is on implementing the project’s core services which covers aspects such as the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS). The UCMS is the core of the operational activities and underpins the decision chain and command of goods clearance for release, in line with requisite taxes and waivers of the Federal Government. Still, the UCMS is divided into three mains clusters covering areas such as the revenue cluster which consists of modules that support the revenue generation functions of the NCS in line with the revenue generating business processes of the Customs. Also is the enforcement cluster- comprising of modules that support the enforcement functions of the Service in line with the enforcement related Business Processes of the NCS. Closely associated with this is the Office Automation Cluster- containing modules that enhance the administrative functions, in support of frontline and operational activities of the NCS. This is to be fully developed during the expanded deployment stage of this phase.  Perhaps of significance is the trade portal- to be developed as a central hub of all trading activities that keys into the UCMS, providing the integration interface for Other Government Agencies (OGA). The trade hub will further simplify how the public obtains import and export licenses and other non-NCS related certification that enhances the import and export decision capacity of the NCS. There is also the non-intrusive inspection system that integrates 67 cargo scanners of various types and capacities at sea ports, airports and land borders. The system will provide anonymity in cargo scanning, coordinated release decisions and seamless post clearance audit to ensure optimal performance of inspection image analysts.

    The Risk Control Centre (RCC) is where command and control activities will be undertaken to provide nationwide visibility to the NCS. The RCC will be two-tiered with each Zonal Command having its own mini-RCC, all of which are seamlessly integrated into the RCC at the headquarters, while the Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS) allows the NCS to track all cargo transiting through the country. It covers cargo marked for re-export, either through other land borders or through Free Trade Zones, as well as excise cargo for manufacturing purposes. Cargo will be monitored through electronic seals. Still, is the Cargo Release System that will provide physical infrastructure to manage the automated release of cargo once clearance has been obtained. The system will entail the following: an Intelligent Gate System (i-Gate); Truck and driver identification and management system; Electronic seal integration system; and port traffic management integration. Geospatial Services will ensure the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) to enhance the operations of the NCS, majorly through enforcement system, which will provide an operational platform for NCS to conduct physical inspection of goods, while gathering evidence on-the-go, to ensure transparency and preserve the integrity of operations, among other features.

    Still under the first phase is the second tranche running from the fourth to sixth year of the project. This phase is the expanded deployment phase and focuses on office automation to support the administrative and operational functions of Customs in line with business processes, finance and accounts, human resource management, document management, tariff and trade policy management, data analytics and business intelligence; continuous capacity building and knowledge transfer.

    In its phase two, that is from the seventh to the 12th year of the TMP, the focus is on the deployment of the first upgrade/update to the technology systems including deployment of marine related technology and related equipment. The capacity building activities will continue in this phase to enhance the skills and knowledge of the NCS for technology optimisation.

    Read Also; Lagos warns traders against using harmful substances to preserve food

    Phase three, that is 13th to 20th  year, will see the deployment of the second and continuous upgrade to the technology systems, as well as hand back of the assets to the NCS, given the expected independence of skills and capacity of NCS personnel, based on the continuous capacity building activities of the project.

    Benefits

    The Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Wale Adeniyi, appears to have built his mantra on trade facilitation especially to boosting ease of doing business. In his recent visit to China, Adeniyi reechoed the inherent opportunities embedded in the Nigeria Customs Service Trade Modernisation Project at the Headquarters of Huawei, an information and communications technology company in Shenzhen, China, as he centered  his discussions around his passion to modernise customs operations and administration.

    In similar vein, the National Public Relations Officer, NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada, agreed that the trade modernisation project will aid trade facilitation and efficiency in customs delivery which remains the essence of trade modernisation.

    “It is just about simplification, standardisation, harmonisation and automation of processes and procedure. It is part of our efforts to ensure that we facilitate trade and effectively collect revenue for the federal government and enforce fiscal policies of government in terms of anti-smuggling and other responsibilities,” Maiwada said.

    Explaining the process further, Maiwada made it known that under the UCMS, the service would be able to scan 200 containers within an hour, which he noted would significantly aid the decongestion of the the nations ports.

    Similarly, the General Manager, Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) Limited, Ahmed Ogunsola, said as the concessionaire, TMP continues to work closely with the NCS, adding that the project commenced in 2022 and “we continue to work closely to deliver on the project”.

    Ogunsola explains: “We are currently in the phase one of the project and we would move to phases two and three at the appropriate time. We have made significant progress with respect to the deliverables of the project. We are jointly developing and we will jointly deploy a new customs management system in additional to many other areas. We have carried the customs along in jointly designing and developing these solutions, and there is 100 per cent knowledge transfer in everything that we are doing.” He expressed confidence that the Customs and by extension the nation’s economy would be the better for it at the end of it all. “We believe that by the end of the project, NCS will be a pride among its peers. The project builds on the successes the NCS has had over many decades and this is what will bring the NCS into the 22nd century to ensure that it earns its place of pride among customs administrations around the world. We are building the foundations for changes in terms of deploying new technology advancements in terms of how Customs service’s work. All we are doing is that we are providing systems and platforms as well as services that enhance those functions and activities,” Ogunsola explained.

    The Head, Business Processes, NCS, Usman Abbah, also said the UCMS would increase productivity and boost revenues, noting that the systems are protected by seven layers of security and aided by 40 servers.

  • Challenges in the fast food industry

    Challenges in the fast food industry

    Increasing urban migration, changing consumer lifestyles , franchising models and other factors is pulling traction for the global fast food/quick service restaurant market projected to reach over $973.31 billion in the next six years. The proliferation of such outlets in Nigeria in the last two decades has nonetheless tested the audacity of many operators in the value chain , who are currently navigating a myriad of challenges to keeping the business afloat. Besides understanding market trends, curtailing escalating cost of operations, players say overcoming fuel/ chicken shortages, fierce global competition, tough economic conditions and decreasing levels of disposable income, is forcing them to evolve strategies for survival , writes KELVIN OSA – OKUNBOR.

    The  move to achieve food security is engaging the attention of Nigeria and other  countries across the globe.

    To consolidate this move , the  government  in many countries, including Nigeria is  working round the clock in  designing strategies and other measures that will ensure its citizens are  offered foods provided by private sector players and others in the food processing value chain that  meets the best international standards in terms of quality, hygiene and nutritional components that will not challenge their well being.

    It is for these reasons that the government continues to drive  investment  in sustainable agricultural practices, supporting smallholder farmers, strengthening  value chains as well as  improving  post-harvest handling and storage systems.

    Like other countries, Nigeria considers food security as some form of insurance against hunger and malnutrition, both of which have the capacity to impede economic development.

    Experts say it is for these reasons that all developed and some developing countries make considerable efforts to increase their food production capacity.

    Increasingly, more private sector players are making foray into the food processing and allied business.

    Significantly, more players are investing in the food processing and quick service restaurant value chain.

    Among such players is Food Concepts Plc. One of its subsidiaries: Chicken Republic, experts say could be described as   Nigeria’s largest chicken restaurant chain based on its footprints across the country.

    As one of the pioneers of the quick service restaurants (QSR) industry in Nigeria, it  recorded the most sales among its peers last year despite surging inflation that dampened consumers’ purchasing power.

    The Association of Fast-Food Confectioners of Nigeria (AFFCON), has stated that Nigeria’s organized fast-food industry is estimated at N250 billion and  has been growing at a 10 per cent  annual rate in recent years.

    Investigations reveal that urbanization,  growing working class, adoption of digital innovation, and changing consumer lifestyles have been identified as key factors driving sustainability and growth in the country’s quick service restaurant  sector .

    Experts say other  drivers include Nigeria’s booming tourism and hospitality sector, technology adoption, and increasing demand for new flavours.

    Reports say as  Nigerian cities swell with a growing middle class, and Gen Z and millennials – unique demographic groups with different palates, tastes, and inclinations to eat out – new opportunities continue to  open up for QSR owners to provide differentiated offerings for these booming customer markets.

     Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) in Nigeria have come a long way,  since the first QSRs launched in the 1960s.

     From 1973, the business assumed new dimensions  as Nigeria  opened its doors wide to other QSR players  providing a wide range of fast-food options, including regional and international cuisines.

    In 1999, a new player –  Food Concepts Plc entered the space to slug it.

    But, other operators  including  Domino’s Pizza, KFC,  Pizza Hut, Bukka Hut, Kilimanjaro, Foodies, The Place, Sweet Sensations, Mega Chicken, Tantalizers, Chicking and Crunchies have   since joined the fray to struggle for  their share of the market providing  various food choices to match the requirements and preferences of the diverse consumer base.

    Data from Euromonitor International shows that the sales volume of restaurants in the formal market increased to 87.8 million in 2023 from 86.7 million in the previous year, while the value grew by 10.4 percent to N260.5 billion.

    Since 2023 , investigations reveal that low consumer purchasing power has forced most chained quick service restaurants to offer deals and promotion.

    Besides, operators in the sector have been evolving different marketing strategies to gain dominance in the fast paced business.

    According to a review of the most recent food service statistics from global market research firm Euromonitor International, Chicken Republic had the greatest sales value at N60.9 billion (more than $47 million), followed by Sweet Sensation at N4.58 billion (approx. $3.5 million) and Mr. Bigg’s at N2.68 billion (about $2 million) in 2023.

     In the  Nigerian food chain, operators continue to grapple with excessively expensive animal feed, driving up poultry production costs and limiting production volumes; illegal poultry imports  continue to threaten food safety while undercutting prices of domestic products and electricity is unreliable.

      Nigeria, experts argue, has all the natural blessings to be an agricultural powerhouse competitive on an international scale.

    Speaking in an interview Managing Director of Chicken Republic, Mr Kofi Abunu, the strategy to stay afoot in the business is to have a deep understanding of  market trends.

    Besides understanding market trends, he said any player in that space must constantly look out for what the customer needs and deliver on such promises.

    He said the company, which  took off as a franchise holder, was  determined to stamp its footprints in the quick service restaurant space.

    Abunu  said to survive in the business, operators must understand how to adapt to the changing state of the market. He said : “ In the very early days, we owned a franchise licence to operate a chicken brand that was rooted in South Africa. However, it did not take us long to recognise that this brand would never offer what our Nigerian customers truly wanted. For one thing, the West African taste palette is unique – we like our food much spicier than people in South Africa, and our flavour combinations are very specific to this part of the world. In addition, many of the well-established fast food brands in Nigeria at the time were not adapting to the changing state of the country or market.”

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    Tracing the entrance of the company to the value chain, he said : “ It is important to note that Chicken Republic entered the market as a challenger brand. It opened its doors in the same period that military rule in Nigeria ended and the brand was positioned as a revolution in great-tasting chicken.

    “We thereafter changed our positioning to extraordinary chicken for extraordinary people as we continued to challenge the status quo, by demonstrating that Nigeria is perfectly capable of creating a home-grown, modern African brand that is at  par with any other world-class quick service restaurant brand.”

    The last two decades , he said, have  thrown up enough challenges for any entrepreneur to contend with.

    Nonetheless, optimism he said has  kept the dream alive , as the company remains focussed it’s ambition to  dominate the market.

    He said : “ There is a saying among Nigerian entrepreneurs that if you can do business in Nigeria, you can do business anywhere”.

    Things are tough here, even on a good day. But as with all things, there is a bright side to this. As Nigerians. We are innately resilient and have a great deal of ingenuity. Over the years, we have weathered many storms and overcome many obstacles. From fuel shortages to chicken shortages, fierce global competition, tough economic conditions and decreasing levels of disposable income to Covid, political unrest and now the state of hyperinflation that we find ourselves in.

    “For example, during the fuel shortage crisis of 2015, we really had to innovate and find alternative ways to keep our restaurants running.

    “The fuel shortages were also what inspired the launch of our N500 Refuel meals, which led to our everyday affordable value menu category. Mostly, these issues are not unique to us. They affect all people in Nigeria. So, What do we do? We can’t give up! Instead, we must literally just keep on frying our chicken one piece at a time. “Nice Nice” is symbolic of how we show up and of how important it is to celebrate our small victories along the way – be those a perfectly prepared meal or a smile on one happy customer’s face.”

    On the products the company has rolled out, the Managing Director said : “ Chicken Republic has been through many changes over the years. As the saying goes, “relevance is a moving target”. It is important to ensure that you think not only about what has worked in the past but also about what it is that is going to carry you into the future. Innovation requires imagination.”

     “ Building our e-commerce business was also a big step for us that was brought about quickly and scaled rapidly because of Covid. However, despite the never-ending need to shift and change; we never mess with our  core pillars that define who we are as a brand.”

    He listed the pillars to include putting people, capacity first.

    “ We respect that we are only where we are today because of our people. They are the ones who bring Nice Nice to live.The other value  is our soulfully spiced chicken, flavoured to perfection with our unique blend of West African herbs and spices. “The inspiration for our flavours comes from recipes that have been handed down by West African women over thousands of years. This is not something we mess with.  We  never lose sight of our vision: To be the most loved quick service restaurant in West Africa. “This is an ambitious quest that requires us to keep abreast of what our customers truly want and need. It is about deliberately  injecting love into all that we do – particularly when times are tough. It  is also going above and beyond to provide everyday affordable value to our customers.

    “Significantly, it  is to look after the communities and environments in which we operate.”

    Phenomenally , the company, he said, has grown from  a single store in Lagos to over 187 outlets across 26 states .

    He affirmed : “ It is not any one thing, but rather a combination of things, informed largely by our understanding the Nigerian landscape along with all its complexities and retaining our ability to be flexible and agile has given us an advantage over large global brands. I also think a growth mindset plays a big role for us. We are always questioning, learning, and constantly improving.”

    “ We  continue to push for Outstanding Service Every time. This is the language of our people. This is what guides and inspires our attitudes and behaviour.

    “This is much the same. Focusing on problems keeps you stuck in the past.

    “ Nigerians can find the resilience and optimism needed to overcome challenges and pursue their dreams.”

    On activities lined up for the 20 years anniversary of the company, Abunu said : “  We kicked off the celebration with a message that tells the story of our journey in the industry featuring some of our delivery and business partners.  We are  engaging  the public, we are rewarding creators who can recreate scenes from the message with interesting gifts. The popular Ikorodu boys have also hopped on this challenge.

    “ As a customer centric brand, we know without our customers we won’t be here, so we have launched a number of promotions to reward them. Over the next weeks, you will see more celebrations of our 20 years across several customer touchpoints. We are also celebrating the people in-house without whom there would be no services.”