The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • NGO appeals to Cross River govt to rehabilitate roads to encourage tourism

    A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) MATER DEI, has appealed to Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River to rehabilitate the deplorable roads in the state to boost tourism activities.

    This call is contained in a statement signed by Mr Bioku Ibraheem, the National Secretary of the organisation on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Mr Nnamdi Okpara, the National Coordinator of the NGO, made the appeal when he led other officials on a visit to the governor.

    He said their visit was to acquaint Ayade on its decision to construct an international pilgrims’ centre in Maryland, Ogoja.

    Okpara stressed the need for the road to be fixed, saying that it would encourage tourism.

    “The roads in Central and Northern Cross River areas, Ikom and Ogoja linking Benue state and Abakaliki are in a sorry state.

    “The rehabilitation is very expedient so as to secure the lives and properties of travelers on those roads.

    “Also, a good road network in the state would encourage tourists from all parts of the word to access the state known for its richness in hospitality and tourism potential,’’ Okpara said.

    He also urged the state government to create an enabling environment for investors in the state to do business.

    Okpara commended Ayade for his pragmatic handling of workers welfare and urged him not to relent in his demonstration of good governance.

  • The life and times of Elijah Okougbo

    The life and times of Elijah Okougbo

    Something tragic happened to the Nigeria State on the road to its Third Republic political struggle. The record is there in the history of the combative labour movement and civil society groups which presided over the ouster of the military boys and chased them back to barracks.

    Military dictatorship, wherever it is found, goes with estranged dehumanisation and punitive life style. They are a sect of brutal and blood thirsty beastly kaki wearing men and women whose devilment predates the Stone Age. Military regime as a system of government breeds tyrants, men without economic conscience and moral imagination. It bristles with history of disorientation and predatory; of pillaging, of corruption, of brigandage, of banal suppression of the human spirit and, incapable of reflecting on its own real reason for existence.

    From the period of colonial rule to the time of military interregnum, the Nigeria State is replete with courageous voices from the labour movement, calling for independent, democracy, social justice, equity and fairness. The voices of the likes of Pa Michael Imoudu, Hassan Sumonu, Frank Kokori, Joseph Akinlaja and Elijah Okougbo have breed consistent as the northern star.

    These are the miracles that propelled Nigerian and Nigerians to survive such debilitating disorder and forceful repression that attended colonial and military incursions. But the nation’s survival of the most recent military brutal regime from the time of the self-acclaimed “Evil Genius”, the then President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida did not come without prohibitive human toll. The self-styled President, devoid of the simplest rudimentary human kindness stuck the nation in a time-warp; a whirlpool of bloodbath and savage eclipse of modern state.

    The height of the evil of the time was when the “Evil Genius” helped to furnished evil to the nation by yielding power to General Sani Abacha; the diminutive demented dictator (triple D). The madness climaxed at the protests tagged ‘June 12 protests’ and the massacre of hundreds of thousands of Nigerians across the country. It was a startling regression to animal barbarity and cannibal ethos.

    The crises heightened and assumed a life of its own on 30 June 11, 1994 when Chief M.K.O Abiola declares himself president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the eve of the first anniversary of June 12 in an attempt to claim his June 12, 1993 presidential mandate at Epetedo, Lagos Island. He went into hiding after the declaration, for fear of being arrested. By June 23, 1994, the Federal Military Government arrests Chief M.K.O Abiola on charges of treason.

    Despite the ravages of the military pillage, despite the tyrannical occupation of streets by the agents of darkness, there were avatars, particularly from the oil unions, who heroically stood between the oppressed and the oppressors. July 5, 1994 bear the testament. On that fateful day, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) began the longest strike in Nigerian history to protest the annulled presidential elections. The nation was plunged into a monumental fuel crisis, causing untold hardship to citizens. This was followed by riots on July 8, 1994, in the Southwestern states, especially Lagos, Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, as well as Edo State. The Nigeria Lobour Congress (NLC) merely called for solidarity strike in support of (NUPENG) and (PENGASSAN) on August 3, 1994.

    I asked the elder statesman, Comrade Frank Kokori, not too long ago in Abuja how he held on to the struggle unbroken while in the gulag under the military jackboot at the same time sustaining the non-violence agitation for the validation of the ‘June 12 Mandate’ on streets of Nigeria?

    He responded thus: “The heroes and titans of that era are Comrades Elijah Okougbo and Joseph Akinlaja, both retired Secretary-Generals of NUPENG and Comrade Wariebi Agamene”. He painted moveable pictures of the derring-do spirit of Comrade Elijah Okougbo, a shrewd Negotiator, as one of the greatest men ever thrown up by the labour movement. Comrade Kokori’s exultance on Comrade Okougbo reads like the magical Simon Schama, the famed historian, at the most sublime summit of his expository art. It is not a permissive or primitive adulation.

    Comrade Kokori however regretted the lack of cohesion on the part of the progressives to form formidable political party to contest elections and form the government at the centre. That was long before I had anything to do with NUPENG. He lamented that those who profited from the blood of innocent Nigeria, occasioned by the military brutal ruination of the nation like former Governor James Ibori, who were linking his hideouts and that of his loved ones to the military boys were the first persons that were rewarded by the same system which they antagonized.

    Comrade Kokori said the history of Nigeria can never be told without the role played by the likes of Comrade Elijah Okougbo. Courageous, impeccably well-mannered, well-bred, with absolute touch of toughness and thoroughness, Comrade Elijah Okougbo and his colleagues organised punitive strikes against the military goons who were determined to keep the nation underfoot while he was kept in detention. The life and times of the iconic Comrade Elijah Okougbo is one whose immerse contributions to modern Nigeria’s search for political determination, institutional building, education, nation building or nation becoming, self-retrieval and continental self-validation will not escape the inquisitive pen of historians.

    Comrade Okougbo was a giants in size and in intellect; even among giants of all strides. He stood out like a supreme exemplar for his exceptional courage, his indomitable spirit, his intimidating brilliance, stupendous energy, entrepreneurial wizardry. Thanks goodness for the immutable hand of destiny which permitted him to witness the birth of the Fourth Republic. It was important that he saw we were finding our ways out of the debris of aborted nationhood, even though we are not there yet.

    My chanced encounter with this man of excellent spirit made me believe he will walk into God’s Kingdom without judgment. The reason is that I am a strong believer of ‘Religion of Humanity’, which for me, is the highest religion. As a detribalised humanist, who daily agonised about the condition of the poor people in the society, he strove relentlessly to pave the ways for those qualified to be gainfully employed in the oil industry and elsewhere. And he assisted so many people in the oil sector in their hundreds to access jobs.

    Therefore, my divine meeting was not just an icing on the cake of my moral search for formidable platforms to agitate and fight for the rights of the underclass, the oppressed, downtrodden and the victimised; the father/son relationship which marked the turning point of my life, created an opening for me in NUPENG, last till the day he breathed his last. I could recall an incident when he penciled down my name for a higher office and task within the oil union and some boys within his homestead protested vigorously. In response, he quipped: “did any of you come from my mother’s womb? Are you not aware that Erasmus’ burning intellect is more superior to your ethnic inclination? That was the vintage Comrade Elijah Okougbo, the protector of the weak, spiritually and otherwise. He was my lord spiritual and temporal!

    His life reads like a magical adventure or some African version of Robinson Crusoe. Born on March 27, 1945 in his maternal home of Ujemen Ekpoma, a second child to Mr. and Mrs. Isaiah Unuigbe Okougbo of the noble family of Okougbo Ocheimen of Uhuen-Idogun-Idumogo, Iruekpen Ekpoma, Esan West of Edo State, there was no questions as to his greatness in life. He attended his Elementary and Secondary Modern Schools at Iruekpen, read and had his GCE Ordinary and Advanced Levels papers before proceeding to the Premier University of Ibadan to study Industrial Relations and Trade Unionism where he graduated in 1977. He also had Diploma Certificates in Journalism and Public Relations.

    Comrade Elijah Okougbo was recruited into the Police Force during the Civil War to join others in performing military duties. He left the police force on his own volition to study Trade Unionism and Industrial Relations as stated earlier. On graduation he moved and worked briefly in the Nigeria Airways as Assistant Industrial Relations Officer before joining the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) as an Organising Secratary in 1979. Comrade Kokori alluded to my personal observations of the man Comrade Elijah Okougbo thus: “Comrade was as a highly principle and organised leader, a man of humble beginning amiable and good natured personality, a lover of his own nativity and a detribalised Nigeria whose pedigree is worthy of emulation”.

    Comrade Okougbo was variously trained in leadership, arbitration, management, conflict resolution, negotiation, revolutionary technique, agitation and propaganda etc in various institutions in the Great Britain, United State, South Africa, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Czek/Slovak Republic, Ghana etc. He was a super star in trade union administration and his dynamism helped to uplift Industrial Relations practice, especially in the strategic oil and gas industry, where he has brought his vast experience to bear in the past three decades.

    As a traditional unionist, he has earned for himself the sobriquet, “The organiser”. Some trade union pundits refer to him as the engine room of collective bargaining. The two books he authored titled: “Strategic Issues on the Dynamics of Industrial Relations – Theory and Practice” and “The Memoirs of a Labour Leader” are the best books I have laid my hands on in the quest for knowledge.

    One would have wished that such epitome and embodiment of human civilisation, institution, leadership remained in the saddle at the highest administrative office of the famous oil union. But he retired on May 31st 2012 to private life, and passed on June 26 at the age of 71. My only wish has always been that Nigeria has men/women of Comrade Elijah Okougbo stature without which there can’t never been the Nigeria of our dream. Adieu Comrade Elijah Okougbo.

    • Ikhide, a social activist, writes from Lagos.

     

  • The help Peterside needs

    The help Peterside needs

    Globally, the maritime sector is passing through challenges but it also provides opportunities for growth especially in developing countries where nobody can talk of excess capacity. In good and bad times alike government play a significant role in the growth of maritime sector through visioning, regulation, infrastructural development, creating the right environment, amongst others . This is why the recent developments in Nigeria’s maritime sector is gladdening. We have a Minister of transportation who understands the power of the private sector and a regulator who knows that regulation can make or mar an industry . For once industry players have absolute confidence that the regulator is up and doing, focused and ready to make necessary changes to put the industry on a sound footing to run.

    The global maritime picture is worrisome. There is excess ship building capacity in almost all the ship building centres of the world including China and South Korea that recently have been acknowledged as the topmost two ship building nations in the world ahead of Europe. The fall in the price of crude oil has also affected the demand for new vessels and platforms . Funding of new ship facilities is a big challenge as return on investment has been slow . Competition for new projects is intense between China,Korea and Singapore on one hand and Europeans on the other hand . There is also a serious gap in skilled professionals which ordinarily the developing world should take advantage of. This is despite the fact that in China alone thirty four million persons are employed in the maritime sector yet China do not have enough trained personnel to man the industry.

    The picture of maritime in Africa is not better. Despite new oil finds which should fuel growth in the sector ,the multiplier effect is not being felt. There are no new shipyards established in the past one year, vessels demand is not commensurate with expected trend mostly due to low price of crude oil and low investment in the oil and gas sector . Exports which is expected to boom has not grown geometrically. Africa thus has not maximized the benefit of excess capacity and low demand of vessels in Europe and Asia which could have seen a shift to Africa to handle the effect of competition.

    Nigeria appears worse off in this interplay of forces . A new unpredictable forex exchange regime appears to stifle investment in the maritime sector by making it unattractive. Dip in price of crude oil which is the main driver of maritime growth in Nigeria has not helped matters . Insecurity and piracy has contributed to affect low vessel traffic to the Gulf of Guinea. Excess charges and multiple charges are also having negative impact in both import and export . Poor infrastructure at the ports and access road to the ports has further complicated the matter . The country do not have a national fleet thereby tilting the balance of trade and cargo against her. It’s only natural area of strength skilled manpower is grossly underdeveloped . Nigeria thus have not taken advantage of its geographical location to assert itself as a maritime hub. Two developments seems to give observers of the industry hope of a bright future . One is the realisation by Hon Minister of transportation Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi that the private sector working with Government can change this gloomy picture . The second is the current leadership in Nigeria maritime Administration and safety Agency NIMASA which has proven to be visionary ,dynamic and goal oriented. This is what is referred to in the industry as Government- Stakeholder model for the development of the industry in Nigeria .

    The federal Ministry of Transportation is driving the national fleet project through the private sector. This is to address the gap in cargo sharing , training needs of young cadets , employment opportunities that abound and restore the dignity of Nigeria at the comity of maritime nations without wasting government scare foreign resources. The ministry also intends to upgrade facilities at the ports soon using the public private partnership model . There has been increased industry networking since Amaechi assumed office as minister.

    To complement the trend NIMASA ,the industry regulator seems to have suddenly recovered itself . Dr Dakuku Peterside the Director General has proven to be a competent, knowledgeable and determined driver . NIMASA does all within its power to ensure total enforcement of international standards as enshrined in various IMO instruments . NIMASA is also championing the creation of a critical mass of trained maritime professionals to take advantage of the global acute skill gap that will see to the creation of not less that forty million jobs around the world in the next five years in the industry. A number of new stakeholder supported maritime education and training were laid out recently to see that Nigerians play a leading role as seafarers . The NIMASA helmsman has adopted a number of local and international networking to solve complex problems, this has proven more than useful. His determination to fully implement the cabotage regime will see to the creation of at least ten thousand jobs in the next two years . The promise to reengineer the Nigeria ship registry and make it more technologically driven will see to the explosion of Nigerian flagged vessels and respectability globally . Connected to enhancing the reputation of Nigerian ship register is increased port state (foreign vessels) and flag state (Nigeria flagged vessels) control duties Dr Peterside seems to have deep passion to reposition the industry for accelerated growth and needs to be supported.

    The effort by Federal Ministry of Transportation and the industry regulator, NIMASA, will not pay off unless stakeholders, both from the public and private sector, play critical role in the change we are trying to implement. Government should set the tone and the framework and allow stakeholders to implement and drive a new order . Nigeria is a maritime goldmine waiting to be harvested.

    • Dr Kirkbun is an IMO activist and researcher

     

  • Bayelsa Federal Polytechnic searches for sanity

    Bayelsa Federal Polytechnic searches for sanity

    There is hope, maybe, a breath of fresh air, for the troubled Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa State. The newly appointed Rector, Dr. Timi Seiyaboh, has vowed to bring sanity to the crisis-ridden polytechnic.

    In fact, the institution requires sanity. It has been a shadow of itself since its establishment in 2009. From a citadel of learning, the Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, the only polytechnic owned by the Federal Government in Bayelsa, has gradually become the Ivory Towers of decay, corruption and confusion.

    It was even ironic that all the obstacles that militated against the institution were erected throughout the period former President Goodluck Jonathan, who hails from the state, was in the Aso Rock Villa.

    Located on the bank of the River Nun in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state, the polytechnic has a mandate to produce middle and high level manpower in Aqua Agriculture, Oil and Gas, Applied and Enviromental Science programmes.

    The institution’s journey to destruction started during Jonathan’s Presidency. The tenure of its former Rector, Dr. Eneyi Ekpebu, was marred by allegations of massive financial fraud against Ekpebu and the Bursar, Mr. James Neminebor.

    The school was said to have only admitted 48 students since its establishment in 2009. Despite its lean student population, the school reportedly maintained 100 employees in its payroll.

    The institution was crippled by inefficient management and perhaps gross and deliberate financial misappropriation. Some highly-placed persons vowed to destroy the institution by making it their personal cash cow.

    Irked by the development, the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANP), engaged the management staff in a protracted labour dispute. The union wrote many petitions to the then Supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, detailing the woes of the institution and calling on him to bring sanity to the polytechnic.

    They complained among other things of infrastructural decay, unpaid arears of salaries, allowances, minimum wage, first 28 days allowance and implementation of NHIS and pension scheme. But the minister turned deaf ears to the cries of the workers. Ekowe continued to burn. The crisis claimed its first casualty, Mr. Frank Moses, a 35-year-old senior administrative employee of the institution.

    Moses was assassinated in his home in Yenagoa. SSANP accused the management of killing Moses alleging that the deceased became a target for exposing N1bn fraud in the institution and for dragging the management to court over allegations of embezzlement.

    Petitions were further written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) by the union. Ekowe suddenly became a campus of reproach as officials of the anti-graft agencies turned their satellite on it.

    But now with the appointment of Dr. Timi Seiyaboh, as the new Rector of the polytechnic, hope has risen for the long-suffering institution. The workers are happy over the emergence of Seiyaboh whom they described as a forthright anti-corruption crusader. They expect him to turn round the fortunes of the polytechnic.

    Shortly after his inauguration, the rector promised all the stakeholders of the institution a new era. He said the polytechnic would no longer top the chart of bad news. He attributed crisis in the polytechnic to bad management, but said a new chapter had opened for the institution.

    He said: “We will no longer be known for bad image. Most times we have crisis because of bad management. This time we intend to operate a very transparent management. We are also going to be very serious with issues.”

    Seiyaboh said the era of collecting salaries without working was over adding that all the workers must perform their duties to earn their money. He said he was appointed specifically to develop the institution insisting that he must succeed in his mandate.

    He said: “Our days of crisis are over. We want to move forward. I have made it clear that all those that are ready to work with us, we will work with them. Those are not ready to work with us, they will be shown their way out. We need to develop this place. I have a mandate to succeed and I will succeed”.

    On infrastructure, he said the polytechnic was not doing badly. According to him the school has better infrastructures compared to others. But he said buildings and other structures would be maintained and improved upon.

    “Things are going got take shape and move forward. All the unions in the institution will be carried along. We are going to be demanding and we will make sure that people work for their money. We are going to sanitise the institution”, he said.

  • Benin Crown Prince begins journey to ancient throne

    Benin Crown Prince begins journey to ancient throne

    Al is set for the Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, Ambassador Eheneden Erediauwa and Edaiken N’ Uselu to begin the journey from his temporary palace at Uselu in Egor Local Government to Benin City, where he will be crowned the 39th Oba of Benin.

    Three committees have been inaugurated by the Benin Traditional Council to ensure a hitch-free coronation ceremony.

    The Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe, at a news briefing, said the committees were inaugurated since the Crown Prince has performed all the required traditional rites including Emwinekhuan (the Royal funeral rites for the late Oba Erediauwa II).

    Chief Igbe named the committees to include Coronation Planning Committee which has Prof. Gregory Akenzua as chairman, Finance Committee with Dr. Greg. Ero as chairman and Government Committee which has Chief Oseni Elamah, as chairman.

    Roads around the Oba’s palace such as Plymouth road, Ibiwe and adjoining streets are already being reconstructed.

    The Emwinekhuan (funeral rites), which lasted for 15 days, showcased colorful cultural display. It reaffirmed how strong the Binis hold their cultural values and ancient tradition that has been passed from generation to generation for many centuries.

    Palace chiefs displayed how some secrets surrounding funeral rites of an Oba are well guarded.  Everything about the funeral activities had to be done appropriately with correct timing and performed by individuals to whom such functions were assigned.

    It was first time many residents in the state saw the Isiemwenro guilds (the big ants that stings the Oba’s enemies) in full regalia.

    Among the unique feature of the funeral activities was the day residents in the state were ordered not to cook with fire. To some, it was another way of declaring fasting but to others it was a day to eat food prepared the previous day without getting it heated by fire.

    There were also questions about whether the ban on fire was from fire wood, gas or stove, as the order was not specific.

    There was wide compliance with the directives, as bread and snacks sellers made huge sales as many families resorted to eating only bread until 6pm.

    Among the rites performed by the Crown Prince during the Emwinekhuan included the Iviorhue rites representing purity and peace which was performed by Ihogbe Chiefs, headed by Chief Leteman. The Ihogbe head was delegated by the Ihama N’ Ihogbe, the Izakhue and Isoton where the Crown Prince trekked to Benin with 201 Chiefs.

    The performance of Isoton enabled the Edaiken to formally take over the position of his transited father.

    It was gathered that the Edaiken will never step foot on some of the villages and shrines he visited to perform some rites as part of the coronation process once he is crowned as ‘Oba’. Such villages are Ughoton, Ovbiogie among others.

    However, just as all the ancients rites were observed according to dates and numbers in the funeral of Oba Erediauwa, so will it be in the coronation of Prince Erediauwa. Prince Erediauwa will trek through the ancient path his forebears took from Uselu to ascend the throne in Benin, in fulfilment of the Benin’s ‘Odeobawu’, which means’ the path of an Oba never dies’.

    Every Chief knows the role to play but the coronation rites are the functions of seven prominent Chiefs otherwise known as the Usama N’ Ihinron. It was during the reign of Oba Ewuare in the 15th century that granted  the Ihama N’ Igun a special right to carry out a background function at the coronation ceremony.

    The Uzama N’ Ihinron also known as Edion consist of Chiefs Oliha,  Edohen, Ezomo, Ero, Eholo N’ Ire, Oloton and Edaiken.

    Chief Oliha, who pronounces the Edaiken as Oba, is also the Chief Priest of the collective ancestors of the Uzama.

    On a day set by the Crown Prince to leave his palace at Uselu, he would be escorted by chiefs from the Uselu community. Immediately he leaves the Edaiken Palace, the gate is closed and would not be inhabited again until another Edaiken is installed.

    On his way to Benin, the Crown Prince makes a symbolic climbing of a palm tree that has lived over 500 years called ‘Udin amamieson amieuwa (suffer before pleasure). The palm tree was first climbed by Oba Ewuare during his suffering days, when he was hungry, to eat of its nuts. Since then, every Crown Prince had to perform the ceremony of climbing the palm tree.

    From there, the Crown Prince will be escorted to Iya-Akpan, a moat situated long the Benin-Lagos express road, where Chiefs from Oredo will take over and Chiefs from Uselu will return home.

    The Edaiken (Crown Prince) will walk through Iguisi to Eko-Ohae (bachelors’ camp) where he will stay for three days. From there he moves to Uzama, venue of the coronation rites.

    Uzama was where Prince Oromiyan built and lived because of resistance from Ogiamen. It was Oba Ewedo in the 13th century that moved the palace to the present location. While at Uzama, the Edaiken proceeds to Use to choose a title he will be known by as an Oba.

    It is said that before this ceremony, the Edaiken never knows the name he will bear as an Oba. It was at Use that Oba Eweka 1, son of Oronmiyan, first spoke his first words ‘Owomika’ after playing the Akhue (traditional) game.

    After the Use ceremony, the Edaiken returns to Uzama where the coronation rites will be completed and he is pronounced an ‘Oba’. His public appearance as an Oba would be to be presented to his people. But before then, he would have to cross a bridge at Isekhere, where he would  be assisted by Chief Isekhere across the now dried up Omi oteghele River on his way to ascend the throne. The river is no longer there but a symbolic bridge is constructed there and it is over the bridge that the Isekhere helps the Oba to cross over.

    Across the river, the Ogiamien would be waiting for a duel with the new monarch, following which the Ogiamien and his followers would flee. The Oba would then proceed to Urho-Okpota, where he receives Staff of Office from the governor as well as performs some ceremonies before moving into the Palace.

    After seven days, he assembles his ‘army’ for the battle of Ekiokpogha, where he engages the Ogiamen in a mock battle. This battle is a re-enactment of a real battle between Oba Ewedo and Ogiamien.

    Our reporter’s visit to the palace recently  showed that preparations were in top gear for the Crown Prince’s eventual arrival as 39th Oba of Benin Kingdom.  It was observed that the palace is wearing a new look with new buildings being erected, perhaps befitting of modern time.

    Some of the workers said work would soon finish in the new palace. It was gathered that the Crown Prince wielded the big stick by reducing the staff strength.

  • Bayelsa local govt seeks revenue from agric

    The economy is on recession. Revenue from the Federal Government has dropped drastically and responsible government at all levels are wearing their thinking caps to raise money internally to run their affairs.

    Sagbama, the Local Government Area of the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, is not left out. The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the council, Mr. Michael Magbisa, recently reeled out its plans to improve the economy of the council.

    Magbisa said diversification is the pill for economic recovery and agriculture is the future. The chairman gathered stakeholders of the council at the Secretariat to brief them of his plans and his achievements since he was appointed to administer the council by Dickson.

    Dickson’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Mrs. Ebizi Brown, Political Adviser, Fynman Wilson and other notable leaders attended the event. Briefing them, Magbisa said all the plans to engage various sub-sectors of agriculture especially poultry and farming had been concluded in the council.

    He said: “You are all aware of the economic recession facing us globally, this has made a lot nations to diversify their economy.

    “We, at Sagbama plans to diversify into agriculture, hence we have initiated plans to venture into poultry farming and fishing. The council plans to engage about 100 youths to be trained in this areas not just for an empowerment for them, but also as a source of revenue generation for the council”.

    Reflecting on the administration of the council, he said: “Although the journey has not been so smooth but because of the support given me by most of you I have been able to overcome some of the challenges we faced.

    “Despite the downturn in the economy and all the problems facing us as a people we have a success stories to tell and achievement to show case today”.

    He, however, made a passionate appeal to his stakeholders. He said: “It is my appeal for all of us to encourage and give all our support to our own father and leader, the executive governor of our beloved state Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson who is also from this wonderful council.

    “It was through his magnanimity I am able to be here as a caretaker chairman of this council, that also include most of you that are present her today. I want to specifically use this medium to appeal to all of us, his kinsmen to rally round the Governor especially now the federal allocation to the state gas dropped drastically.

    “Though we are facing the same financial challenges at the council, but because of our zeal for quality service and delivery of political dividends to our people. We have been able to not only spend the meager allocations that come to the council judiciously and prudently, we have recorded successes”.

    On some of his achievements, the chairman said following the state government’s directive, workers’ verification was carried out and payroll frauds such as impersonation, illegal appointments, falsification of documents and over-aged declarations were discovered.

    He said electricity was restored to the council’s secretariat. He said payment of workers including primary school teachers were still ongoing. He said the council was also able to open some factories to drive local production of essential goods.

    He said: “In this very short time of our stay, we have been able to put up aa table and sachet water factory in Sagbama. We also renovated the chairman’s lodge and governor’s lodge. We have also given the council secretariat a befitting look and the paint used in painting the secretariat building was actually produced by Sagbama Local Government Council.

    “We have set up a bakery for the production of bread for our people and we intend to create employment opportunities for our teeming youths, so as to reduce crime and other vices affecting us.

    “We have also relocated all commercial vehicles operating in Sagbama Town to the council motor park. This move is to create an enabling environment for passengers and to also check the insecurity challenges we are facing before I assumed office.

    “Very soon, security cameras will be installed in strategic location to monitor the activities of unscrupulous and questionable characters. We have also refurbished speedboats for our marine police to enhance security on our water ways. The various security apparatus have also been strengthened.

    “We have also put in place boreholes to provide water for our people in Tungbabiri.

    That project is ongoing and very soon the Tungbabiri axis of Sagbama shall have clean and portable drinking water from that project”.

  • Peterside, NIMASA and reforms

    Peterside, NIMASA and reforms

    Mr Dakuku Peterside, Director General of NIMASA can be described as the man who saw tomorrow.  When he was appointed, without knowing what was coming defined his mission in the regulatory agency  in three powerful words, reform, restructure and reposition NIMASA as the most efficient maritime administration in Africa .

    The CEO of Nigeria’s apex maritime regulatory agency may not have known that there will be massive drop in container volumes in almost all the ports globally . It is on record that container throughput in ports of Los Angeles and Port of Long beach dropped drastically in the past six months . This is not peculiar to the United States as container volumes dropped in almost all major ports in Asia including Singapore a transshipment hub .

    When major shipping companies began to report incredible decline in profit  with a good number reporting losses it became clear that the shipping and maritime industry was passing through challenging times .

    The losses in revenue and profit suffered by shipping companies began to take a toll on new projects in the industry. A lot of new vessel projects previously ordered are being put on hold , worse affected are dry bulk and offshore  market vessels.  Many finance institutions were no longer excited to fund new vessel project because of the projection that it will take a long time for the industry to bounce back to huge profit era.  This also affected revenue for those who derive their revenue from spin off of shipping activities.

    Pressure is on carriers to cut cost of doing business and reduce freight to remain competitive . This has and will have significant impact on the general outlook of the shipping and maritime industry . This coupled with excess capacity in the industry has put the issue of reforms on the front burner of industry discourse . The need to readjust to new economic realities has become inevitable.

    This is where Dr Dakuku Peterside-led NIMASA seems to be getting it right . Since assuming office as CEO of Nigeria’s maritime regulator he has been single minded about reforms. He promised that before one year in office the processes in NIMASA will be fully automated and vessels can obtain provisional registration within forty eight hours and full registration in 30 days .  He promised to eliminate corruption and put NIMASA back on the path of transparency. Dakuku is leading an army to reform NIMASA’s vessel survey, inspection and certification program such that NIMASA will surpass all International maritime organisation indices.

    One area the public has acknowledged the new NIMASA helmsman as focused is giving Nigeria a voice in the international maritime community. Dr Peterside is building the right network to optimise  the benefit of international collaboration and support to unleash growth in Nigeria maritime industry. Being a man of ideas he has been able to sell Nigeria as the next big destination for maritime investment . No one will be surprised if NIGERIA is elected into IMO council by next year .

    Another area NIMASA has made significant impact is in responsiveness to industry changes . NIMASA is now much more dynamic and in sync with rapid changes in the industry . There is s sense of urgency to reform and reposition in the maritime industry.

    To navigate through a massive reform Dr Peterside-led NIMASA is developing a  medium term strategic road map to guide growth in the industry in an orderly manner .

    If there is any area that requires ingenuity it is in handling of massive drop of revenue in NIMASA by as much as 49% yet the new leadership in NIMASA has not slowed down in any of its core mandates.  Rather than impact negatively in the operations of NIMASA , the drop in revenue has spurred NIMASA to find new and creative ways of handling maritime regulation while tackling new developments in piracy and maritime security , environmental issues, implementation of cabotage regime for the benefit of Nigerians  and growing the number of seafarers.  NIMASA is on course and it is one institution that has proven that good leadership can turn a mess to a source of hope . These may not be the best of time for the maritime industry globally but it is a time of discovery for Nigeria on what strong and focused leadership can do for a people.

     

  • Maritime Academy warns employees against sharp practices

    The Registrar of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Mkpandiok Mkpandiok, has warned members of staff to take their work seriously and avoid all kinds of sharp practices for selfish gains.

    Mkpandiok gave the warning during his meeting with members of staff after the expiration of the period of mourning earlier declared by the Management in honour of the late Ag. Rector Dr. Anthony Ishiodu.

    He reminded them that ‘Public Service Rule’ is still in operation and he will not hesitate to apply sanctions on defaulting Staff where necessary.

    The Registrar, who has been sitting in for the Acting Rector since the demise of the former rector, said management may embark on expressed his dismay over the attitude to work of some Staff and condemned theft of the Academy’s valuables, frequent leakages of official documents or information by Staff to some unscrupulous members of the public, amongst other negative things.

    He further stressed such extreme behaviours are not justifiable, and called on those perpetuating these injurious acts to have a change of attitude before the law catches up with them.

    The registrar also proposed conference marking of scripts by lecturers of the academy and the conclusion of the exercise two weeks after the conclusion of examinations, saying such would help to restore sanity to the Academy.

    His words: “This serves as last warning on these things, after now, heads will roll.

    “I will also not approve frivolous advances; all funds disbursed to the Academy have been budgeted for under specific sub-heads, therefore the era of using government funds for personal reasons are gone.”

    He urged non-academic staff to properly keep records of Cadets and Students in file documentation.

  • Twice unlucky

    I open the newspaper and the first headline that screams at me is: “War in Umbrella Peoples Party”. It is the lead of The Country. The story is about the crisis in our party. Two days earlier we had tried for the second time to hold the party’s national convention in the Garden City. But no thanks to two conflicting rulings from an FCT court and a Garden City court, it all ended up in stalemate.

    As I read the report, which is a detailed account of the trouble with our party, I remember my predecessor in office. Though we now belong to two different political parties, I have a feeling that he and some people are behind the woes of our party. They want to cripple it at the national level.

    We were close and did so many things together. All that ended as soon as I became a minister. I changed my boss and soon had to change loyalty too. My old boss and the immediate past one quarreled soon after I changed job.

    Madam, my immediate past boss’s wife, was not happy with my old boss. I found myself in a deep blue sea and pitched my tent with my immediate past boss. Call it the game of survival and I had no qualms with that.

    Things got so bad that when he was to be made a minister, I orchestrated problems for him. The petition, the White Paper and other things that made his journey to becoming a minister difficult were all games; of course championed by me.

    He was mean to me at some point; so, I saw nothing wrong in being mean to him too. He was always describing me as corrupt and not refined. He even called me a thug and said I was the commander of the cultists and other bad elements around. He was really mean to me and I had no choice but to give it back to him.

    As I think through how our relationship went from sweet to sour, the sun peeps in announcing its presence.

    The time is 8:00 a.m. and I am not prepared to go to the office yet. I have chosen to use today to review our botched convention, the money I blew on it and where to go from here.

    My daughter soon walks into the living room. We exchange pleasantries. In no time, she grabs a novel and begins reading. I look at her and wonder if she is proud of me. I have really been a handful as a father

    My mind soon wanders away. With mixed feeling, I float to the past letting the present take care of itself.

    The breeze from the poolside of the Labadi Royal Beach that Saturday afternoon was refreshing. There were ladies in different levels of nakedness. Many of them were white who had come to enjoy the sun in mother Africa. The sun was good for tanning.

    I noticed a couple at a corner. Their countenance showed they were not having it good. Perhaps, they were in the beach hotel to see if they could work things out. They reminded me of a film about a couple who returned to the hotel where they met as a way of bringing back the spark. Were they here for the same reason? I had no way of knowing.

    I had just come into Accra to meet Ihceama, a man I believed so much in and was pushing his quest to become governor with all of my heart. He was hibernating in Accra to escape possible attempt on his life. We did not want to give anything to chance while we were in court trying to straighten the ‘k-leg’ that stalled his mission to the Government House.

    It was one of my frequent visits to Accra to brief him on happenings back home. Sitting on a camp bed beside me was Ihceama. After hours of debriefing in the room, we decided to come and savour the breeze by the poolside.

    “Your leadership quality is amazing and it remains the reason I am with you and will remain with you. It matters not that we are age mates; but you are height above many of us when it comes to leadership qualities. You are just amazing and will come out victorious at the Supreme Court,” I told Ihceama.

    The usual humble man that he was, he simply said: “Thank you, thank you.”

    I was quick to add: “I am not saying this because you are here. No, I say this because I believe it, because I have seen you demonstrate leadership qualities I may never be able to demonstrate. I have tried to emulate you, but I have given up because I am simply not built that way. So, to make up for my shortcomings, I will stay around you to give me direction.”

    My daughter soon brings me back to the present when she called my attention to the live interview on the state of things in our party.

    The panelists have no nice words to say about our party and being a key actor, they have bad things to say about me too. I find myself muting the volume of the television at a point. My daughter, who has now abandoned the novel, looks at me and smiles; the sort that suggests she feels I am uncomfortable with the panelists’ line of thought.

    She soon walks out of the living room without saying a word. I guess she is retiring to her room to go and continue listening to the submissions of the panelists.

    I return to The Country and see a report illustrated with Ihceama’s picture. Seeing his picture irritates me. I have tried all possible to rubbish him, but he keeps surviving. I wonder why this man always finds his way out of tough situations. His confirmation, as a minister, remains a setback for me.

    Once in a while I have thought of forgiveness on both parts and moving on, but the situation is so bad and we have both gone too far to call a truce. Things are really so bad, and in my view beyond repair because of several under-currents.

    I hate him more now that I have suspicion that he is working in concert with some people to ensure our party never rises again.  They have succeeded twice so far in scuttling my ambition to install our party’s national chairman using that fool we made the mistake of inviting to oversee our party. I am sure I will forever regret falling into their trap. Putting that man as acting chairman of our party remains a trap which I only realise after falling into it with two eyes wide open and twice now efforts to correct the error has not worked out.

    As I close The Country, I resolve that I will look for evidence to back my suspicion that Ihceama and some other people in the governing party at the national level are deliberately frustrating our party and when I get the evidence, it will be fight to the finish. Yes I promise. I will not take it lightly.

  • Ibom Power gets CBN’s endorsement as it celebrates 150 days without forced outage

    Ibom Power Company (IPC) has been lauded by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the effective utilisation of the CBN-Nigerian Electricity Market Stabilization Facility (CBN-NEMSF).

    The company was a third batch beneficiary of the facility disbursed about a year ago under the N213Bn CBN-NEMS Facility.

    In a testimonial on utilisation of the fund at the nationally televised 4th tranche disbursement ceremony which held in Lagos, it was noted that the CBN-NEMS Facility aided improvement of Ibom Power operations.

    The fund was utilised to implement Ibom plant capacity recovery through the completion of Unit 2 and black startwhich has increased total available capacity to 155MW.A Dead Bus closure technology was also installed in Ibom Power Unit 3 which has improved plant operations including stability on the grid.

    Ibom Plant Unit 2 is capable of restarting the National Grid during system collapse which is a regular occurrence.

    Speaking at the event which had the Minister of Power, Works, and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola in attendance, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, said the CBN-NEMSF was implemented “to address shortfalls in the power sector”.

    He expressed the CBN’s commitment to support the power sector in solving the electricity supply challenges in the country.

    Meanwhile, Ibom Power Company has celebrated the milestones of attaining 155MW available capacity and 150days without forced outage.

    The 150 days and counting means that Ibom power plant supplied power to Akwa Ibom State, Aba and Calabar  every day for 150 days.

    The additional available capacity is due to the completion and testing of Unit 2 with about 40Megawatt (MW) capacity.

    With the completion of Unit 2, Ibom Power is well positioned as a major player in ancillary services market ready to offer spinning reserve and black start services.

    This accomplishment has added extra generation capacity to address the country’s severe power needs. It is also a major step in Governor Udom Emmanuel’s industrialisation initiative.