The Nation Newspaper

Category: Special Report

  • Northwest, Northeast, Southwest federal highways also deplorable

    Our correspondents in Northwest, Northeast and Southwest zones report that most of the federal highways in the zones are in disgraceful condition, a situation that has forced some state governors to take over repairs or reconstruction of some federal highways.

    As we stated in the first instalment of this nationwide report, when we covered the Southeast geo-political zone, our investigation on the state of federal roads shows that most of the major highways across the country are currently in a deplorable condition.

    In this instalment, our correspondents reported that the highways in the Northwest, Northeast and South-west are also bitter tales of woes, anguish, frustration and pain as was the case in Southeast, South-south and Northcentral zones earlier reported.

    From Yobe State for example, our correspondent reports that the state government has vowed to save motorists by constructing and rehabilitating the damaged federal highways. According to the report, the state government “has constructed about 77 kilometers of the road from Damaturu Madza boarder town” but “the remaining 54km of the road to Biu is a still a nightmare.”

    We gathered that the state of insecurity has also had its toll on lack of maintenance that have helped to worsen the condition of the federal roads in this area, especially towards Maiduguri in Borno State, where Boko Haram activities have contributed negatively. Our correspondent quoted a top engineer supervising part of the road projects in the area as saying, “If you go further at the Maiduguri section of the road, the project was completely abandoned due to the Boko Haram wahala. Though work has resumed from that side, the security of the area is very uncertain,” he lamented.

    The report from the Southwest is equally disheartening. For example, our correspondent from Ogun State reports that “From the Sagamu inter – change to Ajebandele (Ogun State) – the boundary between Ogun state and her neighbouring Ondo State, the dual carriage way of 100km each, are replete with failed sections, rough surfaces, potholes, craters, broken down concrete medians and other physical obstructions from over grown weeds, shrubs, trees,  abandoned broken down vehicles, slabs of stones and iron rods that stick out dangerously on both sides of the highway.”

    Ditches, potholes dot  Jaji, Zango-Haya roads

    Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

    Abuja-kaduna to Kano Road is the gateway to Northwest geo-politica zone, which serves a lot of economic purposes, including movement of goods and services, as well as people. The road is noted for heavy traffic during the weekends, as people who work and live in the capital city of Abuja ply the road to visit their families and relatives during the weekend.

    Considering its importance however, the road which is supposed to be in good shape has continued to move from bad to worse, particularly, the Kaduna-Kano stretch, leading to the number of road traffic crashes which have claimed many lives in the recent past along the road.

    While the stretch between Kawo in Kaduna North Local Government Area to Rigachikun, a distance of about four kilometres is passable with only two ignorable potholes, the remaining part of the road which spans 230 kilometers is filled with potholes, especially the Kaduna to Kano lane. Some of the potholes are so big that vehicles have to spend time meandering through them.

    However, work has since commenced on the reconstruction of Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road, as the construction company handling the road was seen blocking one lane at several sections from Abuja to Kano.

    But, Kaduna-Jos Road is in more deplorable state. In fact, it is more deadly; one considering that it is a single carriage way and that its potholes are so close that motorists have to dangerously snake through them.

    The worst of the federal roads within the Kaduna axis however is the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway, about 10 kilometres bye pass road, that connects travellers from the Southern part of the country, Abuja and some parts of North-central to other states of Northwest.

    Our correspondent who embarked on an assessment tour of the above mentioned roads observed that aside potholes, some portions of the roads have been left deformed and dangerous to unsuspecting motorists, as running over them in high speed could lead to accident.

    On Kaduna-Kano highway, portions yet to be touched by the reconstruction are dotted with many potholes and any driver plying the road for the first time needs to keep right. This is because most of the tyre-bursting potholes and ditches are either at the centre of the road or the right side. Therefore, attempts to maneuver through them can lead to accident, mainly because such potholes mostly leave no gap between the road and the median separator, and also because another vehicle may be coming behind and making it difficult to quickly change lane.

    Though there are signs of patches in the past, there are five dangerous ditches and several other potholes between Jaji and Zango-Haya. But from Zango-Haya to Zaria is reasonably okay.

    Kaduna-Jos road, through Saminaka and Pambegua, is a single carriage way terribly dotted with potholes. Kaduna to Turunku is fair. Turunku to Saminaka to Jos requires expertise maneuvering to sail through without crash or costly vehicle damages.

    For the Nnamdi Azikiwe Express way, The Nation’s check revealed that the road which was repaired about two years ago has almost returned to its old bad state.

    Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road, which is the shortest route to Kwara, Oyo and Lagos from Kaduna, has been abandoned due to its bad state, which has apparently made it possible for bandits to operate freely on the road.

    However, few commercial motorists who ply the road to Birnin Gwari and Kontagora in Niger State have dangerous potholes and armed criminals to contend with.

    ‘Poor funding cause of dreadful federal roads in Yobe’

    Duku Joel, Damaturu

    The recent allocation of over 200 billion naira for road projects in the 2020 budget is a clear indication that the federal government wants to change the narrative of the tales of bad highways in the country.

    Even with that whooping allocation, the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has maintained that the money is not enough to fund road projects in the country.

    The ministry in its wisdom has therefore resolved not to embark on new projects until the old ones are completed.

    Prior to this year’s huge budgetary allocation to works, experts said the funding has been inadequate thus causing serious dearth in the sector.

    In Yobe State for instance, the past administration has even moved ahead to construct some federal roads like part of the Damaturu road. The Yobe State Government has constructed about 77 kilometers of the road from Damaturu Madza boarder town and the remaining 54km of the road to Biu is a nightmare.

    The substantial portion of Nguru -Gashua road is still in very bad shape.

    Below are some of the federal roads in Yobe:

    Potiskum  Kyari- Bauchi  Road; Buachi road is in use.

    Kaliyari- Damaturu road is just awarded by the Federal Government but we observed that the contractor was yet to mobilise to site as at the time of filing in this report.

    As for Kano  Potiskum  Damaturu  Maiduguri dualization, the section 4 (Potiskum-Damaturu) is 78% completed.

    Damaturu- Biu Road is about 77 kilometers constructed by Yobe State Government but the remaining 54 km is still in very bad shape.

    Gashua/Bayari- phase I and II are being handled by RRC and ECECC.

    Potiskum  Ngalda Gombe border Road is undergoing emergency repairs while the Nguru  Gashua Road phase of the project has been completed. Also, the second phase, which is being handled by mother cat, is ongoing.

    We observed that Potiskum Jakusko/Gashua is also undergoing emergency repairs by Kawagarbo Construction and M Contractors.

    The dualization of Kano-Maiduguri road project is sub-divided into five sections, the Potiskum-Damaturu is section IV and it starts from Potiskum Junction linking Mamudo, Damagum, Garin Bingel, Dogon Kuka and Ngelzarma to Damaturu.

    When The Nation visited the site of the project in Damaturu, construction work from Potiskum to Damaturu was almost completed from the N4 billion SUKUK funding from the Federal Government except the bypass in Damaturu and the two roundabouts in Damaturu. In Potiskum however, the bypass is completed and is being put in use.

    An Engineer supervising the section of the project, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that the initial project has a total of 96.240 kilometers but, the federal government later approved a length of 18km out of Damaturu and Potiskum bypasses to be included in the project.

    “The project started in 2006 and the substantial completion date of the project was 10th December 2013 but here we are today with the Boko Haram crisis and the paucity of funds and other issues surrounding the project.

    If you go further at the Maiduguri section of the road, the project was completely abandoned due to the Boko Haram wahala. Though work has resumed from that side, the security of the area is very uncertain,” he said.

    The Nation gathered that the Kano/Maiduguri highway dualization project, awarded in 2006 by the then Obasanjo administration stretching over 500 kilometres from linking two major geo-political zones of the northwest and the northeast. The project links Kano to Jigawa in the North West, Bauchi, Yobe and Borno states to the northeast.

    The project is divided into five sections with five different contractors executing each of the sections.

    Section A covers Kano-Kiyawa in Jigawa State, B covers Kiyawa-Azare in Bauchi State, C covers Azare-Potiskum in Yobe State while sections D and E cover Potiskum-Damaturu and Damaturu-Maiduguri respectively.

    Speaking on the state of some federal roads in Yobe State, the Controller, Federal Ministry of Works, Yobe, Engr. Akinmade Babalola, said some emergency repairs were recently carried out on some of the roads.

    He noted that Yobe has about 15 federal roads stretching to   883.4 kilometers in the state.

    “We have just completed some emergency repairs on the following federal roads in Yobe State: Damaturu to Gashua, Gashua to Nguru as well as from Potiskum to Ngalda border in Gombe State”, Babalola disclosed.

    While praising the efforts of the federal government to change the narrative in the road infrastructure of the country, the Federal Controller however called for more funding. He attributed the dearth in the sector to inadequate budgetary allocations over the years.

    Babalola however said insecurity is no longer a challenge as Yobe is at the moment enjoying peace.

    Ondo vows to fix federal highways

    Damisi Ojo, Akure

    In Ondo State, some of the federal roads are Ipele-Isua-Akunnu, Ikare-Arigidi-Okeagbe-Oyin Akoko, Owo-Oka-Isua-Akoko, Ikare-Ado Ekiti and Ore-Sagamu. The Nation investigation shows that the condition of majority of these roads is deplorable.

    Travelers are therefore groaning on daily basis, calling on the federal government to at least rehabilitate the roads.

    Some road users alleged that if the roads have been maintained, most of the road accidents, especially in Akoko axis, would have been drastically reduced, as it would have served as alternative roads to the clumsy Oka Akoko-Abuja road.

    In fact, Ondo State Government has expressed displeasure at the condition of the federal roads in the state. It vowed to fix them for the benefit of the people in the sunshine state.

    Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Saka Yusuf- Ogunleye, expressed displeasure over the roads during an inspection of the failed portion of the roads

    Ogunleye noted that though the roads are owned by the federal government, they are being used by the people of the state, hence the need for the inspection.

    He said” The present government of Oluwarotimi Akeredolu cannot fold its arms and watch these roads become impassable. We have decided to intervene on behalf of our people. Our people remain the priority. Anything that affects them must be tackled. We have to make our roads safe regardless of maybe they are federal roads or not,” he said.

    He explained that the state government was compiling the list of the roads to be fixed across the state, adding that the state government had earlier intervened in Owo/Ikare and Owo/Ose roads, which are all federal roads.

    He said that the state government was going to replicate the gesture in all other federal roads that are in poor state.

    He said the state government intended to liase with the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) on the need for the federal government to fix the roads.

    Ogun, Lagos highways of pain

    Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

    The Ogun State stretch of the federal expressway – especially the  Sagamu – Ore expressway and the Lagos – Ibadan arm of it,  have become the nightmare for thousands of motorists and travelers who ply the road daily.

    From the Sagamu inter – change to Ajebandele(Ogun State) – the boundary between Ogun State and her neighbouring Ondo State, the dual carriage way of 100km each is replete with failed sections, rough surfaces, potholes, craters, broken down concrete medians and other physical obstructions from over grown weeds, shrubs, trees,  abandoned broken down vehicles, slabs of stones and iron rods that stick out dangerously on both sides of the highway.

    The Nation toured the expressway twice in a week and counted over 250 potholes from the Interchange end of it to Ijebu – Ode extending to Ajebandele which motorists contend with regularly at great risk to lives and vehicles’ shock absorbers, sump, fenders, among others.

    But it is worse from the Odogbolu junction up to the Babcock University stretch of the expressway, in Ilisan, a distance of about three kilometre.

    The road is strewn with potholes, rough surface save the Nairaland Oil and Gas Ltd stretch of it, which has a little respite, and there are no road signs or kilometre poles that indicate to travelers distance ahead or the ones already covered.

    From the same Nairaland Oil and Gas to Odogbolu, parts of the road have given way to erosion with the asphalt washed off completely. The Ososa dual carriage bridge along the road also does not have parapet walls (railings), and have regrettably taken the sobriquet of a “Golgotha” for unlucky motorists and travellers.

    On July 4th this year, a vehicle skidded off the Ososa Bridge and plunged into the river beneath, killing three passengers and injuring 11 others in the process.

    Earlier this year, a woman conveying her undergraduate daughter to Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State, lost control of the wheel and plunged into the Ososa River and died.

    This October, many travelers drowned when vehicle conveying them also plunged into the same river, prompting the Ogun State Government to direct the Reynods Construction Company (RCC) to provide palliative measure for the bridges to avoid re-occurrence of vehicles plunging into the river.

    It is understandable why unfortunate travelers do end their journey inside Ososa River. With its bushy surrounding, absence of road signs to warn motorists of dangers ahead, littered potholes, lack of railings and constant flooding on it during heavy downpour, motorists unable to discern where the road should be, discover too late that they are irredeemably headed to the river below the bridge.

    The last time major palliative work was done on the Ogun stretch of the federal road was during the administration of the then President Goodluck Jonathan when the contract for the reconstruction of the road designated as Ajebandele – Sagamu phase 111 was awarded to RCC Nig. Ltd.

    The construction firm at the time repaired the Ajebandele point up to the J4 – Ogbere junction in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, with stone base and laying of bitumen while potholes and craters were also sealed up from same Ajebandele up to Mabolufon junction in Ijebu – Ode and later extended to the Sagamu interchange.

    Today, the potholes and craters have not only returned, but have also come to stay unless the government cares enough to fix them.

    The hardship being experienced by motorists due to the deplorable state of the road is often compounded when any of the major religious centres that dot both sides of the expressway hold its weekly or monthly programme, making travelling along that corridor nightmarish and chaotic as worshippers surging to access or exit their worship centres and travelers battle for access way along the same expressway.

    While it is generally agreed that the condition of Lagos – Ibadan expressway and Sagamu – Ijebu – Ode expressway remained a constant source of agonies, traffic, accidents and damage to vehicles, all of these paled into insignificance when placed side by side with the Abeokuta – Ota – Lagos expressway; another federal road in Ogun State.

    Since the return of democracy in 1999, this road corridor had remained death traps for motorists and travelers. The Nation gathered that the last contract for the Lagos – Sango Ota – Abeokuta expressway was awarded and signed in 2001 with about N26bn debt still hanging on it.

    On May 11, 2019, motorists and travelers spent over six hours at Ota – Abeokuta road groaning, because of its deplorable state. It is worse at the Itori – Ewekoro – Ifo – Ota corridors of it where large portions of the road have washed away. Also, the slow pace of repairs in parts of this busy road does not help matters.

    According to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, N1b is budgeted for the servicing of the road every year.

    Buffeted by paucity of funds, the federal government has never done or completed repair work on it save the Sango – Ota overhead Bridge, which was finished with the influence of Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole as the then Speaker of the House of Representatives.

    Last September, Governor Abiodun hinted that the two governments of Lagos and Ogun had met with President Muhammadu Buhari and requested that the federal government should hand over the Lagos – Sango Ota – Abeokuta expressway to them for its reconstruction, rehabilitation and management.

    It is hoped that in the event that the proposal sails through, the two governments of Lagos and Ogun intend to use Public Private Partnership (PPP) approach to fix the road, commercialise and toll it for easy maintenance, easy movement of people and goods and to drive development not only along that corridor, but also the whole of two states.

    The Controller, Federal Ministry of Works, Ogun State and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) officials – all located within the Federal Secretariat, Oke – Mosan, Abeokuta, could not comment on the situation despite visiting the separate offices three times.

  • Enter social media King Melaye

    For Senator Dino Melaye, social media is a weapon. Regularly he deploys it to battle his political adversaries. As he was ‘losing’ his bid to return to the Senate on Saturday, he was constantly on the social media sharing videos and pictures portraying his opponents in unflattering lights, writes CHINAKA OKORO

    He stands on a black-stripped Persian rug in his glittering sitting room. But some seconds after, he kneels before a glass centre table. He is dressed in a yellow pyjama. On the wall are frames with pictures of his children. A standing white air-conditioning system and a wardrobe are visible. He sings, not Fuji, Juju or Hip-hop but gospel.

    “Oh Lord, be magnified,” Senator Dino Melaye sings. Through the song, he seeks forgiveness and closeness to God.

    As he sings, he gesticulates with his hands in the air in obedience to the Most High and he rotates modulating his voice as ‘the spirit leads’.

    In his latest video where he appears to be penitential, he sings a song by Don Moen entitled ‘Be Magnified’: “Glory be to God! I have made you too small in my eyes, Oh Lord forgive me. I have believed that you are unable to help me. But now oh Lord, I see my…and my heart and soul are so strong. And with my heart and my soul, oh Lord be magnified.

    “Be magnified oh Lord, you are highly exalted. And there is nothing you can’t do, my Lord my eyes are on you, oh Lord be thou magnified…”

    The video, believed to have been done Monday morning, comes after the bid to stop his return to the Senate by Senator Smart Adeyemi, a former President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), was put on hold. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the election inconclusive. A supplementary election will hold later.

    With the video, Melaye seems to be saying in all he will give thanks to God. Perhaps he is also believing in God to stop Adeyemi from ‘stealing’ his mandate’.

    Before the election, Melaye had done a video describing Adeyemi as his political wife and that he would always triumph over him. He said this the day the Court of Appeal nullified his election as the senator representing Kogi West. In a video where he was being interviewed, he said: “I have said it time and time again and I’m repeating it again, Smart Adeyemi is my political wife.

    “I was in APC, I contested against him in PDP, I defeated him. I came to PDP, he went to APC, I defeated him, that is 2-0. We are going back for the third time, it will be a hat-trick. I will score the third goal.” He gesticulated like a man sure of himself on an expensive-looking comfy chair.

    In a video he posted on social media on Saturday, Melaye alleged that all the returning officers in his senatorial district were compromised.

    Melaye, who said the exercise fell short of expectation, urged the Independent National Electoral (INEC) ought to declare the exercise inconclusive because the number cancelled votes was higher than the margin between the two leading candidates.

    2007 and Ajekun Iya

    Adeyemi is not Melaye’s number one foe. No one seems to have inspired him more than Governor Yahaya Bello. The Kogi governor and the senator were allies at the beginning of his administration. It did not take time before they fell out and Melaye released his monster hit, Ajekun iya video in which he declared that he would always defeat the governor in political contests.

    With the video, he declared the governor as too insignificant to challenge him in political battles, vowing to maul him mercilessly. So popular was the video that different remixes of it were done and even Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said the senator had a hit record!

    Osinbajo, not known to have time for frivolities, recommended the video to an audience in Lagos. He asked: “Have you heard? Ajekun Iya ni o je.” He sent the audience into laughter.

    Other videos and social media exposures

    A week before the election, Melaye, at a campaign rally, said he was finer than the governor, richer than the governor and was better skilled in sexual exploits.

    The controversial Senator released a song against Bello in preparation for the November 16 governorship election held on Saturday. Melaye sang the song himself and it is entitled “Kogi Koya… Kogi ko Bello”.

    In a  video to announce his interest to contest the Kogi State governorship election, he wore brown uniform and black shoe to match. He said: “I have consulted God and there is no difference between you and my God because any time I called you, you answer me.

    “So, before my political elders and fathers and the entire people of Kogi West Senatorial District here, I formally announce my interest to contest the governorship position of Kogi State.”

    In another video where he denied gun running, he lambasted Bello. In it, he wore red spots wear, green T-shirt and black cap.

    He said: “Make una come hear tory. They say I carry money give thugs make them go buy guns, Olomaje. The venom of a viper cannot do anything to the back of the tortoise. Haba! I don waka.” He drew open his eyes with his two hands and said “ntoo”.

    The ‘signing’ Senator released another song to show support for the former Vice-President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar.

    The song, which mocked the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari, was released just after Atiku launched his campaign policy document entitled ‘Atiku Plan’.

    The Kogi lawmaker, in a video posted on his Instagram was heard chanting “I have decided to follow Atiku… I renounce Buhari to vote Atiku.”

    Before then, there were many others. In a video immediately after he and 12 others defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he sang: “…I love my PDP, everything dey for PDP…” And there is another one in which he sang: “Udom pass Akpabio, ayaa ya.”

    He has been tagged a “singing Senator” because he sings about anything as far as it taunts his political opponents.

    Melaye loves the finer things in life. His Instagram profile features pictures of him posing in designer boutiques, wearing bright coloured trainers and tight jeans, or in front of a row of luxury cars.

    Melaye has posted videos on social media of himself singing songs taunting the Kogi governor, earning him the nickname of the ‘singing Senator’. The Senator is known for singing songs taunting his political rivals”

    He was criticised late last year after making a cameo in a music video of Nigerian rapper Kach. The video for the song, called Dino, features luxury cars, women in underwear, and $100 bills being thrown around. Melaye is also seen stepping out of a sports car, wearing a T-shirt with the word “legend” written on it.

    Some Nigerians criticised the senator on social media for the ostentatious display of wealth, particularly at a time when many civil servants in his home state of Kogi were owed several months’ salaries.

    The song Dino, named after Dino Melaye, features lyrics such as “100 cars in the parking lot like I’m Dino”.

    The video shows rapper Kach pretending to eat dollar bills, displaying expensive cars, a mansion, jewellery and shoes. In the video, Melaye is seen stepping out of a car, wearing a T-shirt labelled legend.

    The senator is well known for his love of luxury cars, champagne and designer clothes, as his Instagram account shows.

    Because of this flamboyance, many people took to social media to criticise him. His videos have been described as “poorly scripted political movie… call it Pollywood”. He also has been named “Drama king”.

    With over 1 million, three hundred thousand followers of Instagram and over 7,000 posts, he can pass his messages, such as this: “APC scatter scatter, everything jaga jaga, put broom in the air” or “My Toys. My passion Noni! Talk oya talk”.

    His brush with the law

    He has had many brushes with the law and all have always had dramatic touches. At a point, he had to be taken to an Abuja hospital after ‘jumping out’ of a police van to escape custody. There was a video in which he was arguing with the policemen who had gone to effect his arrest over two members of an armed gang who claimed he was their ‘master’. Kabiru Saidu, also known as Osama, and Nuhu Salisu, nicknamed “Small”, confessed to being involved in a series of kidnappings and armed robberies. Melaye, according to them, supplied them with money and weapons. Of course, he denied the allegation.

    The police declared him wanted on a charge of supplying illegal arms and Interpol was urged to arrest him in case he tried to flee the country. This was at a time when his security detail was not removed and he even posted a photo of himself on Instagram shaking the hand of a policeman. He was later arrested at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport international airport on his way to Morocco. And his men claimed he was pushed out of the vehicle while police were ferrying him to Lokoja for trial.

    As a social-media-savvy person, the news of his alleged jump, or push, trended on Twitter for days after that.

    Melaye first came to public attention in 2010 when as a member of the House of Representative he was suspended for taking part in a fistfight in the chamber. This was during a move to remove the then House of Representatives Speaker.

    Trending for non-political reasons

    Melaye has also trended for reasons other than political. At least twice he has been named as the father of kids by celebrities. The first time he was accused of fathering a child outside wedlock was when a Yoruba actress, Bisi Ibidapo-Obe, alleged that he was the father of her daughter. Melaye denied it. Not long ago, he was rumoured to be the father of the child of ex-Big Brother Nigeria star Tboss. He also denied this.

    A future in Nollywood

    There are also fellers than he has landed his first role as a Nollywood actor. When the movie is released, he is bound to trend as his fans and opponents may debate whether or not he plays the role well.

  • Six dead, 52 injured in Lagos gas explosion

    • Scores of shops razed
    • Fire guts part of Civic Centre

    Fire on Wednesday night razed several shops in Ajegunle, in Ifelodun Local Council Development Area (LCDA), of Lagos leaving six persons dead and 52 others critically injured. Also on Wednesday, part of Civic Centre caught fire at midnight. TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO reports.

    Eye witnesses said the fire started like a movie scene. A gas vendor at Aduke Street, Off Ojo Road, Ajegunle in Ifelodun Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos was filling a cylinder for a customer. A call came in and someone close by tried to receive the phone call and there was a blast!

    By the time the coast was clear, six persons, including two kids, dies; several shops have been razed. Property worth millions of Naira lost, and fifty-two persons with severe burns on their bodies are in different hospitals.

    Many were in tears yesterday when this reporter visited. Some stood in bewilderment – in deep thought of their losses. Those whose family members died in inferno wept uncontrollably. Two bodies of those burnt to death were partially covered on the floor.

    At the hospitals, family members and well-wishers thronged to check their situation. Some hospital officials prevented them from gaining entrance not to disturb the doctors attending to the injured ones.

    Some had part of their bodies plastered; others’ legs and hands were hanged. There were cries in the wards arising from their severe pains.

    Some of the emergency responders at the scene include men of the Nigerian Police Force from Layeni Division, officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), firefighters, Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), among others.

    LASEMA Director-General Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu confirmed the death of two people in the gas explosion. He added that many others who were seriously injured were rescued from the explosion.

    Oke-Osanyintolu said when LASEMA officials arrived at the scene of the incident they discovered that a gas cylinder store had exploded as a result of gas leakage.

    He said: “Our further investigations at the scene revealed that the fire ignited as a result of a phone call by an unidentified resident. This spread to other nearby shops and a bungalow behind the shops. Unfortunately, two children (a male and a female) lost their lives and there were other 23 casualties who sustained multiple burns.

    “All the casualties have been evacuated to the Burnt Unit, Gbagada General Hospital, Lagos for treatment.”

    Oke-Osanyintolu said the remains of one of the two bodies, identified as Damilare Afolabi, had been handed over to the family.

    He, however, said the area had been cordoned off and that post-disaster assessment was ongoing. He urged residents to avoid the use of naked fire in the area to prevent further disaster.

    “As a result of visible cracks and intensity of the fire, it is advised that a controlled demolition should be carried out on the burnt structure in order to prevent any secondary incident,” he said.

    Ifelodun LCDA Chairman Fatai Shuaib Ajidagba told The Nation that six people died and those with severe cases have been transferred to General Hospital in Ajegunle and Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

    Others, he said, are at various hospitals in Ajeromi Ifelodun.

    Ajidagba said: “We got a report that prior to the explosion, the gas vendor was filling the cylinder of a customer while at the same time fiddling with his mobile phone which led to the explosion.”

    He called on the traders and residents in the community to be more safety-conscious, especially as the yuletide season approaches.

    He spoke at the site of the gas explosion.

    Ajidagba, who visited those injured in various hospitals, promised to foot the bills of their medical expenses and also pay for the burial expenses of those who lost their lives.

    Those who joined him include a member of the Lagos House of Assembly representing Ajeromi Ifelodun Constituency I, Lukmon Olumo, DPO Layeni Division, council officials, Baales, chiefs and community leaders.

    “Furthermore as part of the measures to forestall a reoccurrence of such incident, the council has immediately set up a committee charged with the responsibilities to locate, inspect and seal off the premises of any gas vendor who do not meet with the state government regulations and standard of such business,” he said.

    While condoling with the community and traditional leaders over the unfortunate incident, Ajidagba commended the efforts of the DPO and men of the Nigerian Police Force, Layeni Division, LASEMA, LASAMBUS and firefighters, for their prompt response.

    The Nation learnt that LASEMA officials prevented the potentially disastrous fire at Lagos Civic Centre.

    The Fire Response Unit of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) in collaboration with the State Fire Service prevented a potentially disastrous fire at the Civic Centre in Lagos at midnight on Wednesday.

    Oke-Osanyintolu, in a statement by the agency’s Public Affairs Officer, Mr Nosa Okunbor, said it took the timely response of the agency to douse a fire that broke out when the outdoor decorations on the Civic Centre caught fire at midnight on Wednesday.

    “Investigations conducted at the scene of the incident reveal that the outdoor decorations on the building caught fire but it was extinguished by responders of the agency on the scene before further escalation to other parts of the building.

    “The situation was quickly brought under control by the LASEMA Response Team and the Fire Service, who were swift, effective and efficient in their operations.

    “I will attribute the quick dousing to calls through the 767 and 112 toll-free numbers, plus incessant training of LASEMA staff,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.

    He advised the public to take adequate precaution during the harmattan season by being alert to fire outbreaks especially when storing combustible material within their immediate environs.

    He urged the general public to purchase and position of appropriate sized fire extinguishers in their homes and offices.

    Oke-Osanyintolu also urged owners of large properties and vast businesses to invest in Fire Hydrants, to mitigate fire outbreak in their establishments.

  • Bizarre tales from IDP camps (2)

    In this concluding part of her series, FAITH YAHAYA sheds more light on the state of things at Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.

    The tale this camp official had to tell sounds incredible.

    “The shortage of food has resulted in us witnessing bizarre things. Recently, a case was brought before us. A male IDP lured a female IDP with a tin of evaporated peak milk. It resulted in unwanted pregnancy and she recently gave birth. This has added to the statistics of childbirth recorded in the camp. The camp witnesses not less than 100 births per month,” he said.

    He was not done: “Another case was military personnel who impregnated a widow who already had six children. She was said to be desperately in need of N50 to buy charcoal to use to cook for her children. There are so many weird cases going on in the camp and most of them are because of the increasing rate of hunger.

    “The men are taking advantage of women because they lack money and proper orientation. Sexual exploitation is no longer a new thing. The female IDPs freely give their body out in exchange for any kind of food. Those who perpetrate this act are mostly security personnel, Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), Borno Youth Empowerment Scheme (BOYES), and IDP males.”

    Giving some instances of bizarre cases, the source said: “Unwanted pregnancy is rampant. For those who cannot afford an abortion, they carry the children for nine months and end up killing them. There are so many cases of children dying after birth and we believe the mothers of the children have a hand in it.

    “An elderly woman in her fifties gave birth and killed the child but she denied being pregnant not to talk of giving birth. I think her denial was because she is elderly and also a widow. To stop the flow of blood, she stuffed her private parts with a piece of the mattress. During the investigation, one of the female NSCDC personnel took her to the room to examine her and discovered that the piece of mattress was already soaked and the blood was already dripping.

    “The second lady also killed her baby after delivery because she could not afford the cost of an abortion. After delivery, which was done secretly, she dug a hole in her room and buried the baby there. After about three days, people around started perceiving the odour. When the odour became severe, she dug the baby out from the hole in her room and decided to go throw the baby in the river. She put the dead baby in a bag and threw in the river. Others who perceived the stench and the bloodstain on the floor traced it to the river and they got her arrested. These are some of the cases that were brought to our attention. For others who got pregnant and can afford an abortion, they go out to abort the pregnancy and move on with their lives”.

    Reacting to the cases mentioned, one of the military personnel that was involved in the investigation said: “I think all these problems are mostly associated with hunger and unemployment. About 80 per cent of those in various camps have no source of income whatsoever. They wake up in the morning intending to beg and depend on the supplies from the state and NEMA but the relief materials are no longer forthcoming. Normally, the state gives one bulb of onion, dry pepper and dry okro to add to the vegetable oil, sachet tomatoes paste, Maggi cubes, salt, rice, beans and maize. But for over 60 days and counting, no relief material has been shared in the camp.”

    When our reporter went around the camp to see the living condition, she was approached by some of the settlers in the camp. They appealed to her to help remind their representatives in the House of Representatives that they are suffering. They willingly gave her the number of one of their representatives in the House of Representative, Mohammed Monguno and the Director-General of NEMA’s number. They said: “Please help us call them and tell them how we are suffering here. We would love to return home someday or have something tangible to do but it is obvious the day when our dreams will be fulfilled is still very far”.

    Our correspondent sought to confirm some of the claims made by the various sources she spoke with. But the Camp Coordinator, Ali Maina, neither denied nor confirmed some of the cases. He, however, said: “I feel the only way to end this is for the women to be empowered. If women are empowered, they will go a long way to reduce the rate of sexual exploitation.

    Decrying how the act has impacted on the camp, he said: “In a month, we record about 90 to 130 births. Childbirth in camp is alarming and some of these people who take in are unmarried. There is also a need to educate them on childbirth spacing. We appreciate the effort of aid workers who come to train the women but what is lacking is the startup kits to continue or ‘practicalise’ what they have been taught.”

    Civilian Joint Task Force

    A member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), Usman Abubakar, said: “If the military will be true to themselves and tell us the truth about their progress in fighting the war, it will end soon. We decided to join them (military) because we feel Boko Haram was overpowering them. Our assistance resulted in most of their success stories. However, the reason why this war is yet to end is that they are not being truthful. If they open up and tell us their situation, we will help them. Even the Governor of Borno State, Prof. Zulum believes so much in the activities of the CJTF. He does not move out of the state if he does not see them in his escort team”.

    Brisk business

    The residents however listed what they regarded as some of the positive sides of their situation. One of the residents, Bukar Ali said: “This war has made people discover their hidden talents. So many people did not know they had special skills but the war made them explore their skills”.

    Some of these “skills”, however, have turned out to be the ability to make charms and amulets, particularly traditional “bulletproof” for sale to desperate residents.

    Ali said: “The most lucrative venture right now is a charm. Charm, which is known as Maganin Bindiga is mostly prepared by hunters and they are making cool money from the sale of charms. I did not know that the charm was so powerful, especially the one that repels bullet until I saw a neighbour who Boko Haram shot severally but the bullets did not penetrate. To ensure their victory over my neighbour, God rest his soul, after several failed attempts to kill him with the gun and other weapons, they put him on the ground and rode on him with one of their operational vehicles. The news of the potency of gun charms went round and people started seeing the need to use it. Before the war, they had no reason to use it but they do now. People are making money from selling charms. The charm makers have now made it a big business. Their customers are mostly politicians, rich people, some military personnel in Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and even residents who can afford them. The charms are in different price range but the least price is N150,000. You can get some for as high as N3 million. So, the charm is a really hot cake in Maiduguri now and a big deal for those who believe in it. I did not know it works until I started seeing it with my eyes.

    “For the poor people, they get the charms for free because the substances they use in making it comes from the hunters who are mostly in the villages and bushes. They mix part of wild animals and grasses from deep forest to make the charm. The charm used to be peculiar to hunters but their highest customers right now are personnel of the CJTF.”

    Another business that has sprung up since the insurgents is car hire service. Alhaji Sanni Ali gives his cars out to most visitors and NGOs who need to move around the state. Ali said that the business was established following the influx of humanitarian workers into Borno state. According to him: “Because most of them were foreigners who didn’t know their way around, some of us decided to explore car hire business. If you hire an 18-seater bus for a day, you will pay the bus driver N30,000 but before the insurgency, you cannot make up to that even as a commercial driver that shuttles between states.”

    A female real estate agent, Hauwa Saleh, also hinted that house rent has increased beyond imagination. She said: “Two bedroom flat goes for N400,000 to N450,000 but before now, the three-bedroom flat was around N100,000 to N150,000. Now, three-bedroom is for N600,000 while four-bedroom is around N1 million. There is a high demand for accommodation because people relocate from other states to work here in Maiduguri.”

    Also, the hotel business is one of the very lucrative ventures. More hotels are coming up and for the ones that are already in existence, they are usually fully booked. Rooms that used to be around N5000 are now said to be about N10,000 or more, no thanks to the insurgency. The receptionist in the hotel where this reporter lodged, said one needs to make reservation weeks before arrival to avoid being stranded. He said: “If you want to visit Borno, you have to book ahead if you want to stay in the hotel because the rooms are mostly booked and all occupied. So, you have to make reservations weeks ahead of your arrival. Some of the hotels are Dujima, Pinnacle, Nanne and Boi, Garki, Baruwee, Satus, Muna and so many others.”

    Flight operations have also experienced upward swing. It is very rare to get cheap flights to and from Maiduguri. The insurgency has increased the number of people travelling by air rather than a road. If you visit the websites of the airlines that fly to Maiduguri, you will discover that there are usually no vacant seats or. This has made people form the habit of booking ahead.

    Restaurant and eatery business is another business that is growing. Before now, restaurants were hardly seen in Maiduguri town because nobody patronized them. The Nation was told that it used to be strange to see people eat outside their homes. But with the ongoing insurgency and a high number of foreigners and visitors coming into Maiduguri, the restaurants and eateries are making brisk business.

    Supermarkets have been springing up in different locations to cater to the needs of aid workers. As a matter of policy, aid workers are not allowed to go to crowded places like markets, mosques, churches. But supermarkets are considered more organised and relatively safer.

    Translators have also been in high demand for easy communication. Before now, the ability to speak more than one language in Nigeria was not appreciated. But with the influx of foreigners like journalists, researchers and aid workers, the need for translators is now in high demand. Most of the people who fled their communities into Maiduguri speak Shua, Kanuri and Hausa. So, these languages have to be translated into the English language for proper documentation.

    The printing business has seen remarkable patronage too. Most aid workers and good Samaritans who visit IDP camps and host communities to share relief materials brand the items they distribute. Another business allegedly said to be on the increase in prostitution. A source attributed it to hunger.

    Giving a general overview of the situation in Maiduguri camps, a top camp official said: “The camps are expanding daily. Recently, the biggest camp in Maiduguri witnessed the influx of a community that is 73 kilometres away from Maiduguri town. The community; Ngazi came under attack and resulted in the relocation of the residents of the community. The camp; Bakassi is presently hosting 7320 households, while its entire population as at the last count was N43,000. Aside this number residing in Bakassi camp, others who fled their villages are residing in the over 120 non-formal camps scattered across the state capital.

    “The IDPs have not received food in Bakassi camp in the last two months. NEMA has not been able to give them food because it is believed the Director-General needs to sign a new contract with the contractors that supply food to the camps. The border closure has caused an increase in food prices, especially rice.”

  • The hereditary or acquired condition called blindness

    The wife of visually-impaired music star Cobhams Asuquo not long ago revealed that their child is blind. This sparked discussion on whether or not blindness is hereditary. DAMOLA KOLA-DARE finds out that though blindness can be hereditary, there are many types of blindness that are not hereditary.

     

    TALENTED American pop music sensation, Stevland Hardaway Morris, popularly known as Stevie Wonder once said: “Sometimes, I feel I am really blessed to be blind because I probably would not last a minute if I were able to see things.”

    While the sighted thought they had everything and would invest some quantum of pity on the sightless, Steve, says his blindness is a blessing and not a curse.

    Stevie Wonder is a hugely gifted singer and songwriter. Though blind, he remained an inspiration to millions even beyond the shores of America and has won a hatful of music awards, including the Grammies.

    He was not born blind. He suffered what experts call “retinopathy of prematurity”, which is explained as “a condition in which the growth of the eyes is aborted and causes the retina to detach” owing to the premature nature of his birth.

    Several shores away, in Nigeria, musician, songwriter and producer Cobhams Asuquo is another blind musician doing some marvel in the world of music. He was born blind.

    Talented Asuquo, who trained as a lawyer, spoke of his predilection for music from cradle: “As a six-year-old, I would play the blues and whistle, a piano would always excite me as well. So, music has always been a part of me.”

    And just like Stevie Wonder, he is not someone to be miffed because of his visual impairment.

    Strangely, Asuquo is going through a novelty as his first son, David, was discovered blind after four months of birth.

    It is quite disturbing that father and son suffer the same fate: blindness. A truckload of questions will certainly be asked as regards what could be responsible for such and if blindness is actually hereditary.

     

    Experts speak

    Dr Oluwafunmike Ani, an ophthalmologist and eye care specialist, said: “Blindness is a condition that prevents someone from being able to see. There are many factors responsible for blindness. Some of them are congenital, while some are acquired.

    “Some forms of blindness are not preventable, because they are hereditary, but not all are hereditary. This means that a person can inherit the causes due to the fact that there might have been an inherited gene in the chromosome of that person. Also, infections can lead to chromosomal or genetic abnormality which in turn causes blindness as the baby develops in the womb environment. There are a group of conditions responsible for blindness: congenital cataract, that type of blindness is treatable, there is congenital glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, Down Syndrome, which can have cause full and incurable blindness as well as albinism which could result in full or partial blindness.

    “A child can be born blind after the foetal formation in the womb, and after the cells multiply, things go awry in that womb environment or in the blood cells or amniotic fluid. And when there is an abnormality as the baby develops, it can lead to a damage or modification on the way the eyes grow such that the baby suffers eye diseases which in most cases have blinding impact.”

    Dr Ani disclosed that apart from retinitis pigmentosa and albinism, there are several other uncommon chromosomal abnormalities that could lead to child blindness. In all these conditions, there some specific genes that is abnormal. The genes might have been normal before morphing to abnormal, and at that point where a father or mother carries those genes, the offspring is certainly going to pick from either parent. The genes are autosomal recessive, autosomal dominant; sex-linked (that is, the abnormal gene is linked with a female or male sex type). Thus, genes can be transferred from parents to their offspring, and diseases too can be transferred genetically.

    “Also, it is possible for parents who are blind to have children who are sighted. There are many couples like that whose children are not blind.

    “In all these situations of blindness in relation to genetics, the advancement of technology has brought about a sort of relief. It has become easy for those who have the means to go for screening. This involves locating certain unwanted and unacceptable genes in an unborn baby. Once such genes are detected, the baby is removed from the womb and the gene is corrected.

    “For instance, it happened before, when a baby was discovered to have had a congenital anomaly in the womb. A surgery was performed on the baby to correct the abnormality before actual delivery. So, technology has proved to be crucial as efforts continue to increase to reduce the incidence of genetic diseases even before a baby is born,” Ani said.

    Dr. Obomon Taiwo, a Lagos-based optometrist, blamed ignorance for the prevalence of blindness. She said: “Blindness is affecting so many people these days and most of those cases are preventable but proliferates due to ignorance and other factors.

    “When it is debated if blindness is hereditary or not, it is important to look at the causes, first of all. Some kinds of blindness are hereditary, while others are not. For instance, someone who is affected with glaucoma should ensure his family members go for regular check-up because glaucoma is hereditary and as such, a child infected with it can be born blind.

    “On the other hand, blindness caused by cataract is not hereditary because cataract is not hereditary. Fortunately, this kind of blindness is reversible by surgery.

    “There are other factors that can make blindness hereditary apart from glaucoma. For example, retinitis pigmentosa is hereditary and can lead to full blindness. Also, diabetic retinopathy can cause blindness indirectly because diabetes is also hereditary and if not properly managed can affect the eyes. Thus, if the health of a child is not properly attended to and such becomes diabetic, there is every tendency to be blind.

    “Matter of fact, blindness cannot be hereditary, but its causal factors are. For example, someone who had an accident and his eyes were affected and became blind due to inadequate care cannot have blind children because the cause of such blindness is accidental and not natural or hereditary.

    “There are many causes of blindness which are preventable. For every eye condition, the key to ensuring proper functioning of the eyes is regular check-up. Even for those suffering glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa and the likes, early detection is essential. When these causative factors are detected early enough, then they can be properly managed, or in some cases totally cured to avoid blindness.

    “For child whose parents have glaucoma, he or she will also be affected and if not properly treated, he can go blind. Sadly, glaucoma is difficult to detect at a tender age. It is quite possible for complications during pregnancy to lead to blindness, especially if, for instance, the eye chamber of a baby is not well formed.

    “Child blindness can be as a result of inherited causative factors from parents and other un-inherited factors. But when a child is born, there should be proper and immediate eye test, and a yearly eye examination is quite important for all.”

    Former Medical Guild Chairman, Dr Biyi Kufo, an ophthalmologist, said: “Blindness can be hereditary, but there are many types of blindness that are not hereditary.

    A number of diseases which can lead to blindness, such as glaucoma, have a strong hereditary component, so can run in families.

    It is possible for children to be born blind if they are infected with cataracts; being born with cataracts will result in blindness, which can be reversed if properly managed.

    There are other conditions, such as diseases which affect the child before birth. Most of these are contracted by the mother and passed on to the unborn child.

    Many abnormalities in development of the eye of a baby would also lead to blindness.

    Though genetics can play a role in blindness in childhood; that a parent is blind, does not mean that they will have blind children.

    Dr Priscilla Imade, an optometrist, said: “Blindness itself is not hereditary but problems or diseases or conditions leading to blindness can be inherited. If Cobhams was born blind, we need to know the correct history of the causal factors of his blindness; we also need a medical report on that. God never created anybody to be blind or deformed but certain causal factors either in pregnancy or during foetal development may be responsible.

    “But if they are detected and treated early, perhaps the prognosis will be better and blindness can be avoided. If a child is born blind, from birth the paediatrician will know because it is recommended by the National Optometrists Association (NOA)  that eye test should be done at birth, six months,  one year, three years and then after as the child moves from class to class. I am not sure Cobhams’ son was born in Nigeria. So I want to assume that the paediatrician examined him for light reflexes at birth which is an indication of sight.”

    University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital Consultant Ophthalmologist Prof Feyiyemi Adepoju noted that blindness can be hereditary or acquired (non-hereditary). Above a third of blindness in children at birth may be hereditary.

     

  • Bizarre tales from IDP camps (1)

    The quest for food and necessities has forced women in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps to take desperate measures to survive. Instances of day-old babies killed and dumped are also becoming rampant, FAITH YAHAYA reports

     

    THE prevailing economic hardship appears to have brought out the worst in some fellow Nigerians living in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps. The situation is aggravated by the continued closure of land borders with neighbouring countries. Prices of staples and other necessities have skyrocketed beyond the reach of many poor families. The closure has also affected the supply of food items, particularly rice and relief materials to the various IDP camps across the Northeast.

    For IDPs living in various camps in Maiduguri, Borno State, the inability of states and the Federal Government to distribute relief materials in the past two months has been attributed to the border closure. Lack of relief materials has caused hunger in the camp and has forced many to seek survival by whatever means. For most of the female IDPs, it is alleged that they now exchange sex for money or any food item.

    Visits by The Nation to some of the formal and non-formal camps in Borno revealed the deplorable state the campers live. From Abuja to Maiduguri, the 60 minutes to 75 minutes flight depending on the size of the aircraft, is always welcomed by the 32 to 34 degrees temperature with scorching sun and hot breeze.

    One had expected to meet a deserted airport on arrival. But to the amazement of this reporter, the airport terminal, which looked like a makeshift building, was very busy. The arrival and departure areas were filled with passengers, mostly humanitarian aid workers, military personnel, researchers and others who were in the northeast for one business or the other. The sound of aircraft taking off and landing is one thing they are accustomed to. Plying military jets, private aeroplanes and commercial aircraft have made the airport busy. The terminal building that was hurriedly commissioned by the then Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika before he handed over in the last dispensation is not yet in use.

    Driving out of the airport, the street is busy with vehicles, tricycles, and bicycle riders, pedestrians going to different locations and of course, beggars who are mainly women. The ubiquitous street urchins (Almajiri) with plates in hand are part of the mix. They beg for food and money for their daily survival. The streets are filled with branded vehicles with various inscriptions and logos of the numerous humanitarian agencies that have turned Maiduguri to their base. Neem trees of varying sizes dot the frontage of many of the houses, thereby reducing the impact of the heat on the environment.

    The streets and major junctions in the town wear colourful banners and buntings bearing messages emphasising the need for education. Some of such inscriptions read: “With a gun, you can’t kill education, with education, you can kill terrorism”; “Education is the powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

    In the various IDP camps, tales of those who narrowly escaped death as a result of the insurgency are similar. Some of the IDP camps visited in Maiduguri include; Kusheri, CBN, Jiddari Polo, Muna Garage, Bakassi, Jiddari Afghanistan, Mashidimami, Musinee, and others. Some of the inmates narrated their terrible experiences during the invasion of their towns and villages by the Boko Haram insurgents.

    One of the inmates, Bulama Umara, fled Konduga with his two eyes intact. But he has gone blind owing to lack of healthcare services and money to treat himself. Umara, who is being guided around by one of his grandchildren, said, “I had my two eyes before the attack on our community. I even fled Konduga and came here with my two eyes. But I later developed high blood pressure and as a result, I went for traditional treatment instead of a hospital and I completely lost my sight.

    For Mama Emmanuel, she was pregnant when her community was attacked. She said she escaped through the help of a soldier. According to her: “The attack was getting so serious and we had to start running to anywhere we felt would be safe. I was already due for delivery that period but I didn’t know where I got my strength from. While we were trying to escape, I assisted my children in scaling the fence. When it was my turn, I was not even done scaling the fence when a bullet hit the man who assisted me. The man could not make it. When I was done scaling the fence, a soldier helped me. The stress of jumping the fence made me experience early labour. I was rushed to the hospital by the young soldier. He made sure he waited till I was delivered of the baby. As a way to remember and appreciate his effort, I named my baby after the soldier though I don’t know if he is still alive”.

    For Abba Tom Jidda, he believes the attack on his community was destined by God. Jidda, who used to own many cows and many farms, said he now depends on people to feed. Giving a brief tale of his past life, he said: “I owned over 200 cows before the attack. When our community was attacked, I remember I still had about 62 bags of millet in my store for my personal use not to talk of other food products. I was living very fine but now I depend on NGOs to feed. It is not a bad situation because the clerics even said the world revolves. I believe it is my turn to be fed by people. The most important thing is that I am alive. At the peak of the crisis, barber’s lives were under serious attack. Some people were killed because they don’t grow beards. At that time, barbers were seen as sinners for cutting people’s hair. They could not boldly come out to say they barb for a living. The barbers that were identified were taken away and killed.

     

    Food crisis

    For the IDPs living in various camps, feeding has become a major problem as they have not received relief materials in the last two months. Some attributed the delay in the distribution of relief materials to border closure while others blamed it on the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) who they said, was delaying the signing of a contract with new contractors for supplies.

    Amid food shortage, one of the female IDPs in the largest camp in Bakassi camp, Maiduguri, was said to have had sex with a male IDP in exchange for a tin of evaporated milk. A visit to Jiddari, a host community that houses about 3000 IDPs, revealed that most of those who escaped the insurgents find it difficult to fend for themselves. They do not have access to potable water despite the presence of a borehole in their community. According to them, the borehole stopped working three years ago, which has denied them access to water. Those who must have their bath daily have to trek for about 50 minutes to fetch water or buy from vendors (Mai ruwa) who mostly sell 14 kegs for N150.

    Inmates at Jiddari camp complained that they have never benefitted from relief materials distributed by aid workers. Before now, most IDPs in Maiduguri used to get food and relief materials at regular intervals. Besides the long distance between it and Maiduguri, trenches dug by the military close to Jiddari have made the place inaccessible to aid workers. Usually, relief materials meant for them are allegedly hijacked by non-IDPs.

    The road leading to the community is not easily accessible and our correspondent was dissuaded from visiting the camp. According to the natives, moving close to the camp may be considered a security threat and that military personnel could mistake a visitor for a Boko Haram suspect.

    The campers who claimed to have been in the community for the past six years are mostly women who claimed their husbands were killed by Boko Haram insurgents. They were however seen with little children of ages one to eight. One peculiar case was that of Falmata Makilta, a 40-year-old grandmother who was left with two of her grandchildren to take care of. According to her, her son was killed by the insurgents. “I am a grandmother with two grandkids to take care of. I have five children. My son travelled to get charcoal when he was attacked and killed. Later on, my daughter-in-law abandoned the kids who were four years and one year with me and she went to remarry.”

    Besides the case of Makilta, a source familiar with the living condition of the IDPs said they indulge in “black market”. Black market, according to him, is the exchange of sex for basic needs which has become luxury for the women. The women when asked about the whereabouts of the father of their children, they were quick to say “ba baba” (no fathers for the children). The children are products of illicit affairs occasioned by necessity.

    “People who give find it difficult to access us because of the ditch created by the military. We are in our present location because we have nowhere to go and most of our husbands were killed during insurgency attacks. The soldiers use the manmade ditch to prevent suspects from coming into Maiduguri because it has been discovered that the insurgents gain entry into the town through Jiddari. Everyone familiar with the terrain knows that nobody is allowed to cross or get close to the ditch. Whoever gets close is considered a terrorist and shot. So, the fear has prevented people from coming to our aid and we have nowhere to go.

    “The ditch is a hole the military dug to create a barrier between communities they are protecting and the bush. Anybody outside the ditch is considered an enemy. There used to be communities like Al-Dawari after Jiddari but it has been cleared and taken over by bushes. Leaving the community at certain times and approaching the ditch makes the military consider you an informant going out to give information to the insurgents.

    During the rainy season, tricycle riders avoid the community because of the bad state of the road. For this reason, their pregnant women usually give birth without medical attention or the help of a midwife. According to them, older women with experience in childbirth assist with the deliveries ones. The only available hospital is far away.

    Confirming what most of the IDPs in Jiddari said, the Wajen Masallacin, Goni Umara (Chief Imam) said: “If aid workers come around our community, people hijack the relief materials because our place is too close to the military zone. This place used to be called Jiddari Afghanistan because it witnessed the highest number of attacks at the peak of the insurgency. Boko Haram most times enter through Jiddari but residents later decided to adopt only Jiddari to avoid scaring people from their community. Over 2000 IDPs are hosted by me. Interventions come to this area but it does not get to those who need them”.

    Highlighting some of the challenges faced by the IDPs, said, “We will appreciate a makeshift shelter because some women here find it difficult to eat. Some stay for over a week without cooking because they have nothing to cook. Women give birth without proper medical care because hospitals are far and expensive. For a pregnant woman, she needs to have more than N3000 before she can attempt going for ante-natal and it is quite a distance”.

    Proffering solution to the hijacking of food supplies, he said: “If there is proper documentation of the IDPs, this problem of food being hijacked by people who are not real IDPs will be addressed.”

     

  • For Elumelu, Dangote, Otedola, Danjuma, charity begins at home

    Rich Nigerians spend their wealth in a variety of ways, but for some billionaires, including Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola and Tony Elumelu, philanthropy is the way to go, writes ROBERT EGBE.

     

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari will tomorrow confer the National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award on two Nigerian billionaires, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Tony Elumelu. The honour is in recognition of their continuous hard work and total commitment to the empowerment of youths in Nigeria and Africa or, in simple English, philanthropy.

    Dangote sits atop the Dangote Group. Elumelu is chairman of the UBA Group, Transcorp Plc and founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF). They both have something in common: giving. They share this with Geregu Plc Chairman Femi Otedola and South Atlantic Petroleum chairman Gen Theophilus Danjuma.

     

    The Award

    The NPOM Award was instituted by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Labour and Employment to honour deserving Nigerians in recognition of their hard work and excellence.

    Minister of Labour and Employment Dr. Chris Ngige, in a statement to the honourees, said: “The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has approved the conferment of the National Productivity Order of Merit Award on you in recognition of your high productivity, hard work and excellence.”

     

    Dangote

    As of November 2019, Dangote had an estimated net worth of US$10.3 billion, sustaining his position as the world’s richest black man.

    The owner of the Dangote Group has an internationally recognised reputation for philanthropy.

    On October 25, 2018, Richtopia, a United Kingdom (UK) based digital periodical that covers business, economic and financial news, named Dangote the sixth most charitable man in the world.

    The recognition came shortly after the businessman endowed his foundation to the tune of $1.25 billion.

    Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and J.K. Rowlings occupied the first three positions while Oprah Winfrey and Elon Musk were in the fourth and fifth position respectively.

    Dangote started his Foundation, Aliko Dangote Foundation, in 1981 with a mission to enhance opportunities for social change through strategic investments that improve health and well-being, promote quality education and broaden economic empowerment opportunities.

    The Foundation was, however, incorporated in 1994 as a charity in Lagos. Twenty years later, it became the largest private Foundation in sub-Saharan Africa with the largest endowment by a single African donor.

    The primary focus of the Aliko Dangote Foundation is health and nutrition, supported by wrap-around interventions in education, empowerment and humanitarian relief.

    Among many others, the foundation gave out a whopping N2.5 billion, the same amount the Federal Government also donated for the purpose of ameliorating the sufferings of the flood victims during President Goodluck Jonathan era.

    The Foundation, in line with its mandate to provide relief in times of disaster, spread its philanthropic works beyond the shores of Nigeria with a donation of $1 million to the government of Nepal. The gesture was meant to support the government’s efforts in providing relief to the victims of the earthquakes that occurred in the country.

    In January 2018, Dangote bequeathed a $3.3 million complex to Bayero University Business School. In May 2018, Dangote donated 150 fully kitted operational cars to the Nigeria Police Force. In June 2018, he donated 200 housing units to Boko Haram victims – mostly women and children. In July 2018, he donated more than $800,000 to the University of Ibadan and in November 2018, he donated a $2.7 million hostel to the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria.

    In May 2018, Dangote said he wanted to be known as the biggest philanthropist in Africa.

    “I do not only want to be known as Africa’s richest man but the biggest philanthropist. I will continue to use my resources and my voice to help shape a better Nigeria, and Africa as a whole,” he said.

     

    Elumelu

    Elumelu is one of Africa’s leading investors and philanthropists, as well as the most prominent proponent of entrepreneurship in Africa.

    The whole of Africa is home to his charity moves.

    In 2010, he created The Tony Elumelu Foundation, private-sector-led philanthropy empowering African entrepreneurs and championing African entrepreneurship on the continent.

    The Foundation’s flagship initiative, the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, is a 10-year, $100 million commitment to identify, train, mentor and fund 10,000 young African entrepreneurs across 54 African countries.

    The Foundation’s mission is inspired by Tony’s economic philosophy of Africapitalism, which positions the private sector, and most importantly entrepreneurs, as the catalyst for the social and economic development of the continent.

    Embodying this narrative in the private sector, Mr. Elumelu has built his reputation as a corporate turnaround expert.

    He is credited for leading the largest merger in corporate banking history in Nigeria, resulting in what is known as present-day UBA Group, Africa’s global bank, employing over 30,000 staff and with branches across 20 African countries, London, New York and Paris.

    In 2010, he founded Heirs Holdings, a family-owned investment company, committed to improving lives and transforming Africa.

    Today, Heirs Holdings’ portfolio spans the power, oil and gas, financial services, hospitality, real estate and healthcare sectors, operating in twenty-three countries worldwide.

    Through Heirs Holdings, Elumelu is committed to the sustainable development of the African economy, channelling his investments and experience into improving lives across the continent, while changing the narrative of Africa.

    Elumelu was 11th on the 2018 Richtopia list. He and Dangote were the only Nigerians mentioned on the list.

     

     Otedola

    When Otedola – in an unrivalled act of philanthropy – donated N5billion (approximately $14 million) to the Save the Children Fund on November 10, it created what is being fondly called ‘The Otedola example’.

    The donation, which was made through his daughter, DJ Cuppy’s Foundation, is believed to be the single largest individual donation to charity in Nigeria’s history.

    It will support various intervention programmes for destitute children in Nigeria’s insurgency ravaged Northeast.

    “God has been so kind, the only way I can show my gratitude to Him is to use my resources to support those who are underprivileged. This I intend to do for the rest of my life. In a world full of conflicts, diseases, calamities and inequality, we all need to show the milk of human kindness, to reach out and comfort the sick and give a helping hand to the weak,” Otedola said.

    Otedola’s friend, Aliko Dangote added his donation of N100 million bringing the total donation to N5.1 billion.

    The donation, maybe his biggest, was certainly not the businessman’s first.

    In 2005, Otedola made a N300 million personal donation to the completion of the National Ecumenical Centre-Nigeria’s primary place of Christian worship-in Abuja.

    In 2007, he was among a group of donors who gave N200 million to the State Security Trust Fund in a drive to reduce crime in Lagos State. Later that year he donated N100 million to the Otedola College of Primary Education in Noforija, Epe. In 2008 he donated N80 million to the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Port Harcourt.

    In October 2016, veteran actor Victor Olaotan, best known for his role as Fred Ade-Williams on long-running television drama Tinsel, was involved in a serious car crash.

    The ghastly car accident left him unable to use his legs properly and in dire need of $50,000 to get the appropriate medical care overseas. Otedola reportedly agreed to take care of his hospital bills.

    Otedola has been on record for picking up the medical bills of Christian Chukwu, former Captain and coach of the Super Eagles or the Green Eagles as the team was earlier known. He did the same for Peter Fregene (now 72), Nigeria’s former international goalkeeper (1968- 1971), among many others.

    Danjuma

    In December 2008, he set up the TY Danjuma Foundation. The Foundation’s principal aims are to provide durable advantages through the implementation of development programmes.

    The Foundation operates more as a philanthropic organisation rather than simply as a charity. This allows for the foundation to seek out other deserving causes and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to partner with and make grants available.

    The TY Danjuma Foundation seeks to alleviate poverty in communities by providing basic amenities, education for children and young adults while also providing free medical care for indigent people. $500,000 has been given out as grants to NGOs working to relieve suffering in Danjuma’s home state of Taraba.

    Taraba is historically one of Nigeria’s most impoverished states, compounded by the absence of a health service which catered for the masses. Furthermore, the state has the highest case of river blindness and other debilitating illnesses.

    The TY Danjuma Foundation is currently partnering with over 50 NGOs throughout Nigeria, and with the support and co-operation of 36 state governors.

    One of the many NGOs, being supported by the Foundation, is CASVI working in Takum, Wukari and Donga.

    CASVI’s main area of expertise is on the provision of free eye care services such as the treatment of river blindness in Wukari, Ibi and Donga.

    “The foundation is a Nigerian foundation and, as a result, will support initiatives across the country. The rationale for commencing in Taraba was simply to fulfil the old adage that ‘charity begins at home’. Now that we have a chief executive on board, we will examine different communities across the country where we can make a difference. My vision is that the foundation will play a pivotal role in building a Nigeria where all citizens have access to quality health care, education and equal opportunities to realise their potentials,” Danjuma said at the TY Danjuma NGO Consultative Meeting in Abuja in 2010.

     

  • In the throes of stamp duty charge

    The N50 stamp duty charge introduced by the Federal Government on Point of Sale (PoS) transactions has continued to receive livid reactions. Seen as counter-productive, some merchants have ditched the POS device. Will the policy hamper the cash-less policy of the Federal Government? JANE CHIJIOKE asks

     

    THE sudden introduction of stamp duty charge by the Federal Government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has made not a few to avoid the use of the Point of Sale (PoS) machine.

    The stamp duty, which stipulates a N50 charge on every Point of Sale (POS) transaction of N1,000 on an individual has received much condemnation, thus threatening the effectiveness of the cash-less policy introduced by the government.

    The POS device was introduced in 2012 by the CBN as an instrument to drive home its cash-less policy.

    Merchants and customers said the charge was inconsiderate following the excess bank charges on various platforms which include the N50 online transfer charges, N65 after third withdrawal inter-bank fees, N52.50k monthly maintenance fee, N4 SMS alert, N20 per page of a statement of account, the recent charges on deposit and withdrawal of cash above N500, 000 for individual accounts and N3 million for corporate accounts, among other charges.

    Some merchants have abandoned the use of the device. They complained that the charges have negatively affected their businesses, as they record low patronage.

    Before now, charges were based on the aggregated transaction on the merchants’ accounts.

    The Supervisor of Shark Oil Filling Station, Oshodi, Noah Eletu said he has stopped using the POS because customers now prefer cash transactions.

    “We have stopped using POS because it is affecting our businesses negatively. There has been a constant complaint from our customers on the extra charge, they said they cannot pay N50. Some of them would, first of all, enquire if we charge N50, then they would opt to pay with cash.

    While some who do not have the cash at hand won’t even buy. We also realised that the normal monthly charges on POS by banks have also increased. So we just had to stop using it completely. We are back to cash transactions,” he said.

    Mrs. Chinwendu Ogah, who operates a beer parlour business at Magodo said she has to stop using the POS because she realised that it was affecting the level of patronage.

    “This is a business I run and I would not allow N50 charge to put me out of business. Moreover, people now have cash, on them as they move about; nobody wants to pay through POS device again,” she said.

    Another retailer at Ikeja, Mr. Joseph Momoh who owns a supermarket said his customers were not willing to pay the N50 even as he said most times, he incurs the cost. But, when he realised that the burden was becoming unbearable for him, he had to completely stop using the device in his shop.

    Mrs. Mercy Ojo who owns a mini -supermarket at Osolo Way expressed a similar sentiment. She is of the view that as the economy is not favourable, citizens try to conserve what they have and would not want to pay extra. As a result, her customers no longer ask for the device.

    The mid-year report of the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) indicates that the value of POS transactions in the first six months of the year was N1. 4 trillion, representing a 38 per cent growth over 1.01trillion recorded in the same period last year.

    It noted that the growth was driven by retailers across the country. Twenty-Eight per cent of the total transaction volume was consummated in the retail sector, which represents 52.8 million. This is as a result of the increase of retail merchant registration on POS.

    The fuel station was second in position with 28 million in terms of volume, representing 15 per cent of the total POS transaction. The wholesale market came third with N27. 2 million transactions representing 14 per cent while fast food outlets had 10 per cent with 19. 6 million transactions. Hotel accounted for three per cent with six million transactions.

    The transactions were carried out over 238,801 active terminals used by merchants across the country. This showed an additional 21,563 terminals deployed this year when compared with 217,283 active terminals as at December, last year.

    But with the new charges on the device which is fast recording a decrease in usage, these gains recorded might remain a thing of the past.

    For instance, some Small and Medium enterprises confirmed that the charges on POS are counterproductive on their businesses and customers now frequent Automatic Teller Machines to withdraw cash.

    This, according to them, accounts for the low usage of the device. For some retail big brands, they shoulder the burden for fear of losing out in the market space.

    The Supervisor of PEP Store, Osolo Way, Bimpe Adesina is not happy. She is faced with low patronage and also always in a tussle to give balance to customers as they prefer to pay with cash.

    Hear her: “The charge has spoilt a lot of things for us. Most times customers who would have loved to pay through POS might end up not buying anything because of the charge. Some would excuse themselves to go and use the ATM which is quite a distance from here.”

    “On getting there, there might be a queue and coming back here might be too stressful for them. So, in the end, you won’t see them again.

    “The N50 is a big deal to many. Before payment was highly based on POS than cash but that is no longer the case.

    “Secondly, we retailers are always faced with not having the actual balance to give customers as most of the low denominations are rarely available.

    “So in that aspect, POS has helped us a lot in solving the issue. But now that customers have resorted to cash, we are back to the challenge.”

    The Group Head, Financial and Account, Super Saver Stores, Segun Akinpelu, said its brand had decided to bear the burden to remain competitive in the market than to task customers.

    He said though it is affecting the business, satisfying customers was of utmost priority. To stay aloof, he said, the brand has resolved to cut down on some expenses.

    Akinpelu, who faulted the charges, noted that it would only be valuable on the masses if the money generated would be genuinely used to address issues that would benefit them.

    On his part, a customer who identified himself as Joseph said it is insensitive to the plight of the masses and also a barrier to the objectives of cash-less policy of the CBN.

    “The most annoying aspect of it is that we take anything that the government pushes to us. We are not the kind of people that come together to fight a just cause. They give us crumbs and we cannot address issues of national interest.

    “What is the government’s reason for these charges and what has the government done with our taxes since 59years59 years ago. This is pure oppression of the citizens,” he said.

    The CBN directive

    On September 17, a circular signed by the Director, Payments System Management Department, CBN, Sam Okojere, authorised banks to unbundle merchant settlement amounts and charge applicable taxes and duties on individual transactions stipulated by regulators.

    The circular mandated banks to charge individual N50 stamp duty on every N1, 000 transactions.

    The merchant service charged was also reviewed downwards from 0.75 per cent ( capped at N1, 200) to 0.50 per cent (capped at 1,000).

    Mobile agents react

    The Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents of Nigeria (AMMBAN) is convinced that the Federal Government’s move to raise revenue for its expenditure would counter the financial inclusion and cashless policy.

    Its National Secretary, Mr. Odion Kings, was emphatic that the country would return to cash era if the policy was not reviewed.

    As a vehicle to achieving a robust financial inclusion of the masses and the cashless policy, the mobile bank agents are situated at every nook and cranny in the country offering alternative financial services.

    Kings put the situation in perspective when he said the stamp duty charge would deter mostly the unbanked at the grassroots level from being captured into the financial system.

    According to him, those at the grassroots have refused to make cashless transactions because of the charge.

    He noted that since CBN introduced the charges, his members have recorded a sharp decline in POS transactions at their various outlets across the country. This he said threatens the sustenance of the business.

    “All our members are complaining bitterly. We charge N200 and even below for POS service. By the time banks remove their N50 with the normal charges of 0.75, at the end of the day, the mobile agent is left with maybe N50,” he said.

    “Out of that N50, they pay house rent, shop rent and other expenses in running the business. It is just like we are being used as tools.

    “For some of our members who charge N50 on customers, they are recording fast decline daily. At my outlets in Lagos, the average per day was 40 but since this new policy I barely get 10” he said.

    The Chairman, AMMBAN Lagos chapter, Olowu Babs Azeez said the association was making efforts to meet with CBN to exempt the mobile agents’ accounts from the charges.

    He said the drastic reduction in the use of the device calls for a quick intervention to sustain the businesses of bank agents in the country.

    “This policy has been in existence even more than 30years ago. If you look at the currency then and now, it is different. Compare the value of a 1,000 then and now is more like N100,000.

    “So, if at all the policy need to be implemented, it has to be on a N100,000 and not N1,000 because the value of money then and now is different,” he added.

    From his observation, the Secretary Ifo Zonal chapter, AMMBAN, Ogun State, Mr. Ayodele Ademola, said most of those that live in areas that are quite far from banks have started storing cash in their homes.

    He said as they cannot part with N50 on POS, they set out a day, to go to banks and withdraw some money that would last them for a particular period.

    He said areas such as Oja-Odan, Ogere, Odeda, Ifo and others lack bank presence of which mobile bank agents have been able to offer banking services to the dwellers.

    He reiterated that the bank agents are being put out of business as patronage has reduced. He said some are at the verge of closure as they can no longer sustain them.

    Ademola, who also want bank agents’ accounts excluded from the charges noted that areas, where there was at least 80 per cent of patronage done daily, has reduced to 30 or even less.

    “Some that record 50 per day can hardly get 20 patronages now. This business has been able to offer job opportunities to many youths around these areas but now their jobs are being threatened,” he added.

    Financial analysts react

    A financial analyst, Dr. Austin Nweze of Pan African University, said the Federal Government made a hasty decision to implement such policy without considering its implication on the masses.

    He said as the country was yet to fully embrace cashless transactions, a slow and steady approach would have been appropriate for effective result.

    Nweze, who faulted the policy, stated that citizens should not be charged for going cashless as it would discourage them from accessing such financial platforms.

    Moreover, he said, as about 50-60 per cent of the money banks are trying to move into the banking sector is in the informal space, banks are supposed to strategise so as to offer incentives to encourage people to have banking relationships.

    He said the excess charges by banks are reasons some people do not consider saving their money in banks.

    “Sometimes our policymakers confuse us. How can you make policy and it starts immediately? They should have given a time frame within which the implementation would begin. But the government is not patient enough for that.

    “Policymaking should be a gradual thing. When you do it immediately, people will feel the impact so much so that the aim of the policy is defeated and unsustainable,” he said.

    ” I feel that the government would have placed a time frame and do everything they can to encourage people to go cashless.

    Have a critical mass, let them get used to the convenience, then you can now begin to charge maybe from N10 to N20, you gradually build that up not slamming N50 on every N1,000 transactions.

    Gains for banks

    Nweze maintained that the policy would be more beneficial to banks than the Federal Government.

    He said: “You charge N50, do you know what that means per transaction. One can make 5-10 transactions in a day either as an individual or as a business.

    Still, at the end of the month, they charge you COT. The banks are in a hurry to make money and they are pushing the CBN to make policies that are not favourable to the industry. Policies are not made for the masses, they are made to protect their interest.

    “The Federal Government is not directly benefiting from this because it is the banks that are charging, so they are the ultimate beneficiaries.

    “Banks pay corporate taxes and that is how the Federal government make money unless there is another clause. I have mentioned earlier that if care is not taken, the unemployed would be tasked,” he added.

    Mr Ayodele Akinwunmi of the Corporate Banking Department, FSDH Merchant Bank explained that the N50 charges are taxes for the Federal Government and not for banks.

    Moreover, the tax for revenue generation is quite small and one of the lowest in the world.

    This, according to him, can be hinged on the large percentage of the economy which is in the informal sector and are not taxed. But with the cashless policy, spearheaded by technology, the informal sector can be taxed.

    Again, a good number of rich citizens do not pay tax. Hence the need to expand the tax base rather than limit it to those within the formal sector.

    For more revenue generation, deploying technology to ensure tax compliance is what the Federal Government is trying to achieve, Akinwunmi added.

  • How Nigeria can make money from waste

    Waste management has become a huge issue in Nigeria. At a conference, experts from Nigeria and the Netherlands converged on the Dutch Consulate in Lagos to proffer solutions. They also talked over waste management as a catalyst for creating a circular economy, OYEBOLA OWOLABI reports

     

    There is money to make from proper waste management. Plenty of it, if only Nigeria can go the Dutch way, say experts.

    The Chief Executive Officer of Holland Circular Hotspot (HCH), Freek Van Ejik, believes the country can reap the benefits if it extends waste collection service to 100 per cent of the population, creates awareness and change citizens’ attitude to waste, closes dumpsites and builds sanitary landfills.

     

    The Dutch example

    The Netherlands is a small country in terms of landmass. It is 22 times smaller than Nigeria. But the country is very neat because it is well advanced in waste management. It deploys technology in the management of waste as it practices 80 per cent recycling, 17 per cent incineration and recuperation of energy content of waste, and only three per cent waste is landfilled.

    The Netherlands is an urban society as well as an agricultural superpower which has enabled it to solve its environmental issues. However, the limitedness in its space and natural resources compelled it to find local and scalable solutions to close the resource cycles.

    One of the ways it closed the resource cycles was the creation of a circular economy through waste management.

    The capital city, Amsterdam, is analogous to Lagos in many facets- (population – about 5,000 people per square metre); confined space but big city; wet and densely populated areas-these similarities make their waste challenges comparable.

    Mindful of the similarities and challenges, the Netherlands has proposed to partner Nigeria on waste management and the circular economy.

    To fight the menace in Nigeria; using Lagos as a pilot, experts from both countries converged on the Dutch Consulate in Lagos to proffer solutions. They also talked over waste management as a catalyst for creating a circular economy.

    In Holland, about six billion kilograms of waste is produced every year. Out of this, 8.5 billion kilos are household wastes. Others fall under the commercial, industrial and other categories of wastes.

    As a result of this, the country created a waste collection system which ensured that waste did not end up as waste, but converted into wealth. In terms conversion of garbage to wealth, the Dutch believe that the end of life of a product marks the beginning of another.

    The country in 1979 created a waste hierarchy. The hierarchy has disposal at the lowest rung of the pyramid, followed by energy recovery, recycling, re-use, minimisation and prevention at the topmost. It also introduced the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR); minimum standards; landfill and incineration taxes/landfill bans as well as a separate collection of waste streams.

    To ensure the efficiency of these methods, the country ensured an adequate planning system; a municipal waste tax that covers all costs; co-operation between government authorities; involved waste management industry and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

    Read Also: What Oyo govt plans to do on Waste management – Commissioner

    It also ensured consensus on data, monitoring and enforcement systems. The outcome of this is that just two to three per cent of waste is landfilled; 81 per cent is recycled and 17 per cent becomes Waste to Energy (WtE).

    Currently, Holland produces 7.7 million tons of energy from its waste plants, 4,000 GWh of electricity, 14 PJ of heat, 18 per cent of renewable energy (R1 EU status) and 25 per cent capacity is used for imported waste (mainly from the United Kingdom).

     

    Extended producer responsibility (EPR)

    The EPR system focuses on the polluter-pays principle. Its primary objective is to achieve efficiency in the production process and the final product. With EPR, the product design is improved upon to achieve a high utilisation rate (repair and resell), and then the producer collects waste, treats it, re-uses and eventually recycles. This process prevents unnecessary pollution of the environment.

     

     Circular economy

    According to Ejik, the circular economy is a system change; another way of designing, producing, using products and dealing with waste.

    Holland did not achieve its dream of becoming one of the world’s cleanest cities in a jiffy. The dream was realised through a consistent and committed plan and implementation.

    According to Ejik, the environment forced people to become collaborative and innovative. “The country’s water management created a collaborative DNA; its low groundwater table, urbanised society, and being an agricultural superpower compelled it to solve environmental issues early enough. The essence of creating a circular economy is to get more value and revenue from products, incur less risk and costs,” Ejik said.

    For Holland, the journey to a circular economy began with waste management. The country was committed to its waste management policies and markets. Beginning from 1875, Holland created a process which allowed it move from public health (collection) to environmental protection (control and technical); to resource management (integrated waste policy system) and preservation of prosperity in 2016 (circular economy), which is basically about waste prevention.

    The county also created the conditions for change by choosing the right interventions, which included evolving legislation and regulations, intelligent market incentives, financing and behavioural change, among others. The Dutch’s target is to achieve a fully circular economy by 2050 and a 50 per cent reduction in the use of raw materials by 2030.

    Ejik reiterated that for the circular economy to thrive, businesses must be involved from the start. “Entrepreneurs (big and small) are the main actors of a transition to a circular economy,” he said. The CEO, however, noted that entrepreneurs cannot do it alone, and so urged the local governments to set the urgency, set boundary conditions and allow for experimentation. “Knowledge institutes on their capacity should develop new insights, enable vaporisation of their knowledge and create awareness. The new generation, the leaders and consumers of tomorrow should also be involved as their contribution is crucial,” he added.

     

    Lessons for Nigeria

    Ejik proposed the short term, mid-term and long-term goals for Nigeria to manage its waste, achieve a circular economy and sustainable environment. The short-term goals include: extending waste collection service to 100 per cent of the population; creation of awareness and change citizens’ attitude to waste; close dumpsites, build sanitary landfills, charge a fee which covers the total cost.

    For the mid-term goals, Ejik proposed separating organic wastes from others and treat them (composting, anaerobic digestion); a collection of dry recyclables (co-mingled and glass separate); introduction of fee system to cover the cost; introduction of a monitoring system and diversion from landfilling.

    The long-term goals he proposed included planning and licencing Waste to Energy (WtE) capacity only for non-recyclable wastes; ensuring stringent environmental standards for all operations and products; introduction of the Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) for recyclable products and moving to a circular economy.

    Ejik also identified the role of government in the transition to a circular economy to include strengthening networks (independent party connecting sustainable innovators; eliminating legal and regulatory barriers (issuing licenses, amending laws and giving room for experiments); and supporting the market (procurement, certification).

    For cities to accelerate circularity, Ejik proposed the following: provide a platform to showcase best practices in the city; discover the circular potential of the city and set priorities and ambitions; involve businesses from the start and give room for experimentation.

    Other incentives towards attaining circularity include an understanding of the barriers to circularity and addressing the same; facilitating interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaborations and introducing mainstream circular thinking into all education and training, among others.

    He added: “Waste management is not the circular economy; it’s the last part of it, but it can be a catalyst for a fully circular economy. We see a circular economy, beginning with waste management, as a business opportunity. It is an opportunity first and business second; it is a tremendous sustainable spinoff. We should not look at something as waste but as something with value, which is more than a waste.

    “If you give a second, third and fourth life to your telephone, that means with the same amount of materials you get far more value. It’s about more margins on the same amount of materials; about collaborating in a value chain. It always begins with one thing – cost-cutting (fewer materials, less energy, less water, fewer costs, and a story of hope with sustainable spinoff).

    “We live in open time, a very digital age where business, as usual, is not an option. The consumers in many western countries look for guilt-free consumption – when they buy anything, they want to be sure there is no child-labour involved, there is quality, and it will cause no damage to the environment. This is the same mind-set that Nigerians should have – ensuring that our consumption lifestyle does not damage the environment.”

    The Chief Executive of MetaSus, a sustainable solutions firm, Bert Keesman, expressed his hope that Nigeria can solve its waste problem if Holland could.

    He said: “During our week here, we were focused on Lagos and we found that the population of Lagos and Amsterdam is similar (about 5,000 people per square kilometre), which is enormous. The challenges are quite similar-having to manage waste in a confined space but a big city. In a big city, economies of scale are very important to make waste management cost-efficient and there are opportunities to do it well.”

    The convener of the symposium Sade Nubi, an engineer, said the session was organised in order to bring stakeholders together to proffer ways of partnership with the Netherlands, seek better waste management for Nigeria, beginning with Lagos, and then booster the transition to a circular economy. Nubi was optimistic that Nigeria’s waste problem will be surmounted if the Dutch example could be adopted, implemented and practised to the core.

    She said: “I am sure Nigeria and Nigerians are open to the partnership. We need help, knowledge and technology transfer. So, this is a good opportunity for us to have a good combination of that. We will collate information after this brainstorming session and see how to reach back to the people on the ideas that have been proposed. We will see how to liaise with individuals to see how beneficial the suggestions are given will be to Lagos, especially as a flagship state.”

  • Revamping Nigeria’s oil palm production for economic development

    Nigeria used to be a major producer of palm oil when agriculture was the mainstay of the economy. However, ever since the discovery of oil in commercial quantities in the 50s, the country’s oil power production has been underwhelming. The current economic reality presents the urgent need to revamp oil palm production in the country, writes JULIANA AGBO

    Despite the availability of over three million hectares of farmland for palm oil cultivation, production remains low at close to two tons per hectare, relative to a global benchmark of 25 tons per hectare.

    This is as a result of the maturation of existing palm trees, as some of these trees with the optimum usual life cycle of 25 years, were planted in the 50s, as well as low investment in replanting high-yielding oil palm seeds.

    Nigeria’s annual palm oil consumption is estimated at 2.4 million metric tons. Report shows that in the first quarter of 2019, the country imported a total of 112, 480 metric tons of palm oil.

    The Nation reports that the major oil palm producing states include Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Ondo, Rivers, Ogun, Osun and Oyo states.

    However, statistics from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) shows that the country currently produces 1.1 million metric tons.

    Data from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board revealed that in January, Nigeria imported 41,281 tons, 8,532 tons in February, 52,872 tons in March and 9,795 tons in April.

    Consumption data

    Report from PWC states that palm oil consumption is expected to reach up to two million metric tons in 2029; with a potential supply gap of up to one million metric tons.

    The released report at the validation workshop on National Initiatives for Sustainable and Climate-Smart Oil Palm Smallholders organised by Solidaridad West Africa, Nigeria, also stated that there is now an increasing local and foreign demand for palm oil produced in Nigeria.

    “Demand is still expected to outstrip supply owing to low yield, slow plantation growth and the perennial nature of the oil palm. The gap is likely to be filled by import and smuggling”, PWC stated.

    It added: “Consumption grew at an average growth rate of 2.9 per cent, mirroring Nigeria’s population growth rate.

    “This growth trend is projected to continue as palm oil continues to be a major food source for both domestic consumers for local dishes (80 per cent of demand) as well as industrial consumers (20 per cent), who require palm oil for various food and household items.”

    It further explained that the total consumption of crude palm oil was estimated at 1.6 million metric tons last year, with production put at about 900,000 MT.

    Need to revamp oil palm production

    In the circumstances, stakeholders from the sector revealed that they want the Federal Government to draw up strategies in reviving the sector, adding that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Governor Godwin Emiefele declared a single digit interest rate loan, even as he said that the country’s target is to become the third largest producer of palm oil in the world.

    On the implication of palm oil importation, the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN) said the importation and illegal smuggling of palm oil is making local producers lose 500 million dollars annually.

    Reacting to the data from Malaysian Palm Oil Board, the association stated that the country’s estimated production is between 1.7 million and 1.8 million metric tons with an average consumption of 2.4 million tons annually. The state of affairs gives a deficit of about 700,000 tons that are still sourced from other countries.

    However, Nigerian stakeholders who are calling for a revamp of the industry said thriving oil palm sector is fundamental to Nigeria’s diversification agenda.

    The National President, Oil Palm Growers’ Association of Nigeria (OPGAN), Igwe Hillary Uche, who said oil palm is a long-term product that needs to be invested in for three to six years before returns are expected, explained that the commodity can easily compete with crude oil and help the economy of Nigeria grow very high if given good attention.

    Uche said the main challenges oil palm growers are facing include good seedlings from Nigerian Institute for Palm Oil Research (NIFOR). He called on the Federal Government to fund the institute so that they can give healthy seeds to the farmers at subsidised rates.

    The National President, who said the commodity requires funding and government intervention, said there are many other things involved which he reeled off to be motorised harvesters to harvest palm fruits and good mills so as to bring out the special palm oil which the international market needs.

    On what the oil palm growers expect from the CBN’s intervention, he said they should start from funding NIFOR so that they can give seedlings out to farmers for early planting. He revealed that before four years, the country will start seeing the dividends. Uche said the country will start exporting palm oil.

    Continuing, Uche said: “Now that the CBN is planning the modalities of how they are going to intervene, I wish they have started. If they can start now that the rains have not gone far, we can start planting the seedlings. They promised giving us seedlings this month. If they don’t start the programme after this month and if they don’t provide us with the seedlings, how can we start expansion?”

    In terms of land accessibility, he said as the National President of Oil Palm Growers in 24 states, he is sure of his farmers having enough land for their own expansion, adding that if they can co-operate, they can also help those who don’t have.

    Uche called on the Federal Government not to involve middle men between the CBN and oil palm growers, saying they would frustrate the efforts of the Federal Government in revamping palm oil production.

    His words: “We want direct contact. When oil palm produce was sustaining the country’s economy, nobody was intervening then. Because of the capital intensiveness of oil palm production, we need cash, and we are going to monitor it. Like they have designed it, we have clusters of minimum of five farmers and maximum of 10 farmers. Among these clusters, one must have a mill then plantation owners will be supplying the mills to produce enough. So, if these clusters are grouped together, you fund them, they will manage it, and there will be competition in production.”

    A smallholder farmer from Enugu State, Chidiebere Okafor, said for Nigeria oil palm sector to be sufficient, government and other relevant stakeholders need to change farmers’ mindset, adding that most of the farmers from his state who showed interest in farming following the announcement by government’s support earlier never received any positive response.

    On the challenges of the sector, Okafor pointed out that the oil palm industry in Nigeria is not well regulated with laws and regulations governing environmental management, forest conservation and sustainability.

    Okafor said: “These include water management, soil conservation, biological control of pests and reduction of waste and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To address the issue of GHG emissions, which is related to global warming, one can use a Life Cycle Approach (LCA) to develop an inventory of GHG emissions along the entire palm oil supply chain beginning with the cultivation and ending with the determination of palm products.”

    He said Malaysia, which is regarded as the world’s greatest exporter of palm oil, views mitigation using the LCA as an investment to ensure the sustainable production of palm oil as well as the sustainable competitiveness of palm oil in the global oils and gas market.

    He said: “Assistance from CBN alone can’t make the country self-sufficient in oil palm production. There is need for science experts to come into the picture before thinking of diversifying the sector.

    “The problem Nigeria has with improving the sector is not finance, but approach. The country lacks the necessary approach of innovative technology so as to make it easier for smallholder farmers.

    An agriculture expert, Augustine Akor, reiterated the need to revamp the oil palm sector. Palm oil development has a very significant initial cost and that cost has been a constraint for smallholders.

    Akor said with more than 40 per cent of global palm oil production coming from smallholder farmers, a focus on developing a smallholder model, instead of rolling out large agro-industrial plantations, will work for the expansion of palm oil across the country.

    He said: “What we need is a palm oil industry in Nigeria based on secure land rights and this is something we don’t currently have.

    “We need palm oil industry based on a mixed economy that will satisfy people’s needs, their cultural needs and their income needs. Yes, it will take investment, but not the extractive kind that treats local land as freely available and local people as cheap labour.

    “Given that average smallholder palm oil yields are significantly lower in Nigeria than in other regions such as Malaysia or Indonesia, smallholder farmers in our country will need support from the private sector if they are to realise the benefits of palm oil expansion. We need to put in the investment and technical assistance so that farmers can get their palm produce to the market at the right price and in right conditions.

    “We need to keep an open mind, encourage partnership and encourage, especially local players to participate. Civil society must look at how it can support smallholder farmers in meeting the costs of establishing their own plantations.”