The Nation Newspaper

Category: Special Report

  • Telcos explore renewables to lower cost, cut carbon emission

    Telcos explore renewables to lower cost, cut carbon emission

    Hit by the suffocating cost of energy, which accounts for between 40 and 50 per cent of their Operating Expenditure (OPEX), telecom operators have turned to alternative energy sources to power their infrastructure, especially Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) and ultimately, lower their cost of operation and reduce carbon emission. However, much as their investments in technologies such as renewable energy could be the tonic to fast-track Nigeria’s Net Zero transition, they are not without challenges. LUCAS AJANAKU reports.

    Telecom operators appear to be in dire straits, no thanks to the ever-increasing energy cost. The Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo never misses any opportunity to raise the alarm over the rising cost of doing business in the country and the need to adjust end-user tariffs to reflect this cruel reality.

     But, Adebayo seemed to have won a new convert in the person of the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Prof. Garba Dambatta on this issue.

    At a public function in Lagos, the chief telecom sector regulator openly admitted that the operators were indeed, going through rough times.

     “For the first time, the operators are posting losses,” Prof. Dambatta quipped, adding that he has drawn the attention of the Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani to the development with a view to possibly implement a marginal tariff hike.

     The prevailing high energy cost is taking a huge toll on the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).

    For instance, available records show that energy cost accounts for between 40 and 50 per cent of MNOs’ Operating Expenditure (OPEX), with the industry regulator NCC indicating, in its 2022 Subscriber/Network Data Annual Report, that telecom operators’ energy cost increased from N1,658,235,000,000 in 2021 to N1,996,659,000,000 at the end of last year.

     The report, which was prepared by NCC’s Policy Competition and Economic Analysis Department, and accessed by The Nation said the figure indicated an increase of 20.41 per cent from the figure reported in 2021.

    The Commission’s data also showed that as of December last year, the total number of Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) owned by MNOs increased to 127, 294 from 114,412 in December 2021 across the country; representing an increase of 11.25 per cent from the previous year.

     As a result of the comatose state of the power sector which makes the 24 electricity generating companies (GenCos) hardly supply 4,000 megawatts (Mw) to the national grid, MNOs, like other businesses, have to rely wholly on fossil fuels as a major energy source while public power supply remains a backup.

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     Now, the snag is that the fossil fuel used to fire these BTS is mostly Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), otherwise known as diesel. The average retail price paid by consumers for AGO increased by 2.60 per cent on a year-on-year basis from a lower cost of N774. 38 per litre recorded in the corresponding month of last year to a higher cost of N794. 48 per litre in July 2023, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report.

     The price is even projected to hit N867 per litre in Lagos State and N875 in the Southwest region in the foreseeable future, a situation, oil marketers, acting under the aegis of the Major Oil Marketers’ Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) blame on fluctuations on the product’s ex-depot prices.

    The Head of Operations, ALTON, Gbolahan Awonuga said the rising cost of AGO remained a major concern for the MNOs which consume no fewer than 40 million litres per month.

     This has pushed telecom operators into panic mode, forcing them to turn to alternative energy sources to remain in business by investing hugely in technologies such as renewable energy, and in doing so the MNOs may have, inadvertently taken the driver’s seat of Nigeria’s Net- Zero transition, which essentially targets to significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions.

     For instance, with a market leadership that boasts 84, 663, 653 subscribers, representing 38. 52 per cent market share, MTN Nigeria has since thrown its hat in the search for alternative energy sources.

     The MNO said it is investing in clean energy technologies as part of its efforts to get around the choking cost of energy to run its operations and also reduce emissions, thereby contributing to helping Nigeria achieve its net-zero commitments.

     In its 2023 Climate Change Report, the ICT company shared insights into how it is partnering with renewable energy, Independent Power Producer (IPP) programme to deploy a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) power plan to supply both its corporate office, MTN Plaza and main data centre in Ikoyi Lagos.

     MTN said, for instance, that its use of three 1.1 megawatt (Mw) gas generators has significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions and lowered energy costs by more than N570 million.

     That’s not all. MTN Nigeria has also installed motion light sensors in buildings and switching centres to optimise power consumption. In addition, it installed a 56-kilowatt proof-of-concept solar project, delivering more than 4, 000 kilowatt hours of clean electricity each month.

     The Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola put the company’s investments in this direction in perspective when he said: “Our commitment to Nigeria goes beyond connectivity. We recognise the environmental challenges our country faces, and we’re dedicated to being part of the solution. Our investments in sustainable energy and infrastructure are not just good for business; they’re essential for the future of Nigeria.”

     The Nation learnt that MTN Nigeria’s Net-Zero emissions target is part of MTN Group’s Project Zero, which focuses on decreasing greenhouse gas emissions across its footprints, thus enhancing operational efficiency.

    The company aims to do this by reducing energy usage, substituting non-green energy sources and investing in certified climate protection projects with high environmental and social standards to offset the emissions that cannot be avoided.

    In order not to be left behind in the race to cut costs and achieve Net-Zero objectives across its operations, Airtel Nigeria announced a deal with WATT Renewable Corporation (WATT) to power parts of its operation via renewables.

     The Director of Corporate Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Airtel Nigeria, Femi Adeniran said the involvement of Airtel Nigeria with WATT was limited to only 30 sites as a proof of concept (PoC) of WATT’s Energy-as-a-Service offering. Of the 30 sites inaugurated, 18 are currently up and running.

     He added that it was not a nationwide contract with WATT Renewable Corporation.

     “Airtel Nigeria is, indeed, committed to its sustainability goals and continues to pursue its Net-Zero objectives across its operations. As we progress in our path towards achieving these, we will keep the public updated,” he said, insisting that the company did not award a contract to WATT to deliver over 32megawatt (Mw) installed capacity of solar PV and storage across 600 cell sites across Nigeria.

    Telecom operator, 9Mobile is also not left out in the race for alternative energy sources designed to lower the cost of operation and at the same time reduce carbon emissions.

     Despite having 12.8 million subscribers, representing 6.18 per cent market share, which makes it the smallest MNO, the Manager of Field Operations, 9Mobile, Okechukwu Nzeduba lamented that energy cost, maintenance and other associated costs account for 86 per cent of the company’s network OPEX.

     Nzeduba, who spoke at a roundtable with the academia, industry and other stakeholders organised by the NCC in Lagos said getting a clean AGO has been a herculean task; noting that it is also expensive to run the generators on fake or off-spec diesel.

     According to him, fossil fuel costs are so high, even as he added that people didn’t know that household cooking gas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) could be used to power generators until the government removed fuel subsidies.

     At the said roundtable, operators, experts and other stakeholders in the telecoms sector lamented the lack of access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria and the huge cost of powering telecommunication base stations with diesel.

     According to them, investing in renewable energy would help telecom operators to save costs. They identified some of the clean energy sources operators could invest in to power their base stations including solar, hydro and wind turbines.

     Prof. Danbatta said unequivocally that alternative clean energy would address the paucity of energy in the telecoms sector. According to him, the telecom sector, like many other sectors, has a significant role to play in transitioning to a sustainable energy future.

     The NCC boss, who was represented by the Executive Commissioner of Technical Services at the NCC, Ubale Maska emphasised that the Commission’s goal was to safeguard the environment for consumers and other users of telecom services while also contributing to the achievement of net-zero emissions.

     Net-zero emissions are achieved when more carbon dioxide is absorbed from the atmosphere each year than is emitted.

     According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), the term net zero applies to a situation where global greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are in balance with emissions reductions.

     At net zero, carbon dioxide emissions are still generated, but an equal amount of carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere as it is released into it, resulting in an increase in net emissions. Reaching net zero on a global scale is a central part of efforts to prevent global warming exceeding the 1.5C climate target.

     According to the WEF, global action to combat climate change has prompted a wave of national commitments to reach net zero. The US and many others are targeting 2050, with countries such as China and India decades later.

     For instance, the Manager of Power Planning, MTN Nigeria, Gideon Shedrack said renewable energy is part of the company’s carbon emission strategy targeting net zero by 2040.

     He said although the company planned to extend its deployment to all of its operations, the cost of switching to alternative energy is high, adding that space constraint was another issue to contend with.

     Shedrack also lamented that there are hardly any good batteries in the market. According to him, the battery design life span is supposed to be between 10 and 15 years, but temperature shortens the battery life span to only three years. He insisted that batteries remained a major challenge to the success of the switching and achieving net-zero emission.

     Nzeduba of 9Mobile could not agree less. He said the theft of batteries and vandalism remained daunting challenges.

     According to him, some people have discovered that batteries could be used to provide lighting to their homes and have, accordingly, resorted to stealing or vandalising the same. Besides, solar panels, he said, must be cleaned once or twice a year. He, however, urged the NCC on the regulation of batteries.

     While noting that investment in renewable energy as an alternative to the prevailing high energy cost is, indeed, capital-intensive, the 9Mobile chief, however, admitted that Return on Investment (RoI) in the long- term makes it a worthwhile venture.

     Apparently, to cut costs, he said the MNO is currently limiting its renewables to the provision of electricity to outdoors such as switches. According to him, hybrids play an important role in BTS but limit batteries to site solutions that don’t require a high volume of electricity. 9Mobile, he also said, is veering off from providing passive services to third parties. He urged the NCC to look toward the passive provision of infrastructure too to help the industry.

     It has been estimated that about a third of the world’s population has unreliable power supplies —or no access to electricity at all.

     For Nigeria, the stats are really frightening as the country has the lowest access to electricity globally with about 92 million people out of the country’s 200 million population lacking access to power.

     Power paralysis has remained a perennial problem in the country, stifling industrial growth, limiting business expansion and profitability and fuelling rural and urban unemployment. The problem has manifested through unstable supply and lack of access to the grid, a reason for the establishment of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) in 2005 with the sole aim of taking electricity to the rural and unserved communities.

     According to the Energy Progress Report 2022 released by Tracking SDG 7, Nigeria’s 92 million population without electricity was followed by the Democratic Republic of Congo’s 72 million, Ethiopia’s 56 million and Pakistan’s 54 million access deficits.

     The report was produced in conjunction with the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency, the United Nations Statistics Division, the World Bank and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

    The report, which covered the year 2020, noted that access to electricity in Nigeria remained poor because electrification provision failed to keep pace with the population explosion. This was in contrast with Kenya and Uganda’s fastest progress in electrification due to their annualised increases of more than three per cent points between 2010 and 2020.

     “The 20 countries with the largest access deficits were home to 76 per cent of the global population living without access to electricity (or 560 million people) in 2020. Most of the top 20 deficit countries are in Sub-Saharan Africa.

    “The largest unserved populations are in Nigeria (92 million people), the Democratic Republic of Congo (72 million) and Ethiopia (56 million). The gains in the electrified population outpaced population growth in Ethiopia between 2010 and 2020; the same cannot be said of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria, where electrification advances failed to keep pace with population growth.”

     The report noted that between 2010 and 2020, electrification proceeded slowly in Nigeria but that as population growth outpaced gains in access, the number of people without electricity grew by three million a year. It attributed this to fragility, underdevelopment and conflict.

     With the rising number of phone users, BTS have to be powered by such means as diesel-driven generators.

     However, as diesel prices rise and network infrastructure spreads to more remote areas, other alternatives are required, not only in order to save money, but also to help combat climate change.

     Worried by the rising cost of diesel, in September 2008, the GSM Association (GSMA) launched a programme called Green Power for Mobile to promote the use of renewable energy sources by the mobile phone industry.

     Its goal was to see 118, 000 new and existing off-grid base stations powered in this way by 2012. It said this would save up to 2.5 billion litres of diesel a year cut annual greenhouse-gas emissions by up to 6.8 million tons and give a boost to the provision of mobile phone services in places that cannot yet use them.

     GSMA carried out a survey of operators, vendors, green power suppliers and financiers to evaluate the market and technical landscape. Its report, published in March 2009, said of the estimated 300, 000 BTS that will be built in developing countries up to the end of 2012, some 75,000 will not be connected to electricity supply grids. It pointed out that extending the grid to such sites would be enormously expensive. Reliability is another problem, in both rural and urban areas.

     As alternatives to diesel, GSMA analysed the viability of other sources of power for mobile base stations: solar, wind, biodiesel, pico-hydro (very small hydroelectric systems) and fuel cells.

     On solar power, GSMA noted that there is often an abundance of sunlight in rural areas of developing countries, and this, together with the increasing availability of solar equipment and its relatively low running cost, makes solar power a popular choice for sites that need up to 2 kW of power. Solar solutions are less economically attractive for larger sites, the report said, but it foresees that the price of installing solar power is likely to fall in the coming years.

     Another alternative is wind. The equipment to trap wind energy is cheaper than for solar-powered stations that have standard load requirements.

     GSMA then estimated the costs to be between 10 and 11 US cents per kWh to produce electricity at small wind-powered stations. A study by the American Wind Energy Association projected it to drop to 7 US cents within five years.

     However, wind power is only viable in such areas as coastal and mountainous regions, where wind blows sufficiently strongly and frequently. In other places, hybrid solutions may be used that combine wind and solar power.

     Biodiesel fuel (derived from vegetable oils or animal fats) can be used as a direct replacement for conventional diesel in base station generators, but it is not necessarily a universal solution. Among the factors that must be considered are local access to supplies of biodiesel, and how its production could affect agriculture.

     Similarly, fuel cells or batteries are mainly used as backup electricity supplies for base stations that have limited power requirements. So far, the commercial viability of using fuel cells as the prime power source has not been greatly tested.

  • Past vaccination failure cause of diphtheria resurgence

    Past vaccination failure cause of diphtheria resurgence

    Diphtheria remains a significant threat to individuals and families in Nigeria, particularly affecting unvaccinated children. The current outbreak starkly highlights past failures. The question looms: will the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare rise to the challenge, or will they engage in meetings, talks, and interventions with limited impact? ALAO ABIODUNdelves into the issues

    Why should anyone succumb to diphtheria? Why should children fall victim to a disease entirely preventable with vaccines? These questions echo the frustration faced in Nigeria, a country equipped with both vaccines and diphtheria antitoxin (DAT) either procured or donated by development partners. As of October 3, 2023, a staggering 8,604 individuals have been afflicted by diphtheria, and 453 lives have been lost, as outlined in a joint report by the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). Shockingly, these infections and fatalities have spread across 114 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 19 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

     Kano State emerges as the epicentre of this outbreak, representing 86 per cent (7,188 cases) of the total 8,604 confirmed cases in Nigeria. Other affected states include Yobe (775 cases), Katsina (232 cases), Borno (118 cases), Jigawa (23 cases), Bauchi (20 cases), Kaduna (17 cases), Lagos (8 cases), FCT (6 cases), Gombe (5 cases), Osun (3 cases), Sokoto (3 cases), Niger (2 cases), Cross River (1 case), Enugu (1 case), Imo (1 case), Nasarawa (1 case), Zamfara (1 case), and Kebbi (1 case).

     Tragically, the most impacted by diphtheria are children aged 1 to 14, with 80 percent of confirmed cases in this age group being unvaccinated. This grim reality stems from historical failures, manifested in Nigeria’s vaccination coverage gap, currently standing at 43 percent. This means that only 5 out of every ten children in the country have received all three pentavalent vaccines, which protect against five life-threatening diseases: Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B, and Hib.

     Behind these harrowing statistics lie real human beings—Nigerians with families who cherish them, individuals with dreams and potential that could have benefited the nation. Their lives have been tragically cut short due to various preventable reasons, including parental ignorance or the government’s failure to fulfill its crucial role in ensuring that every child receives the full spectrum of vaccines they need to thrive.

     Diphtheria, as described by the World Health Organisation (WHO), is a highly contagious disease preventable through vaccination. It is primarily caused by Corynebacterium diphtheria, with Corynebacterium ulcerans also identified as a source. The disease spreads through direct contact or respiratory droplets in the air, posing a significant risk to unimmunised children. Symptoms typically start with a gradual onset, including a sore throat and fever. In severe cases, the bacteria produce a toxin that forms a thick grey or white patch at the back of the throat, potentially obstructing airways, leading to breathing and swallowing difficulties, accompanied by a barking cough. Swelling in the neck, caused by enlarged lymph nodes, is also a common symptom.

     Nigeria has experienced diphtheria outbreaks in the past, notably in 2011 and 2022. In the current year, an initial outbreak occurred between January and April, affecting 21 of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). However, the WHO recently sounded an alarm, declaring that Nigeria is facing a second wave of the diphtheria outbreak. The first wave occurred from January 1, 2023, to May 22, 2023. The WHO reported an increase in affected population, with a rise in confirmed cases and related deaths during epidemiological weeks 31 to 33, which span from the end of July to mid-August this year. Additionally, there is an elevated risk of transmission, with clusters and outbreaks reported in newly affected Local Government Areas (LGAs).

    Nigeria’s vaccination figures betray the true narrative

    The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, has his work cut out for him, as the health indices and wellbeing optics in the country are not looking good at all. Maternal and infant death is on the rise, communicable and non-communicable diseases are taking the lives of millions, COVID-19 and its attendant mortality and morbidity is not yet over, the health sector is poorly funded, out-of-pocket expenses for health are outrageous and catastrophic, and now, diphtheria disease that countries of the world have long left in the annals of their distant history is still a regular guest in Nigeria.

     In all this, one must acknowledge some of the efforts of the government to curb the escalation of diphtheria, particularly in taming the community spread of the disease. Few weeks ago, Prof. Pate constituted an emergency Taskforce to curb diphtheria outbreak in the country. The taskforce which is being co-chaired by the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib and the Director-General of the NCDC, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, will also have the Director of Public Health in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Anyaike Chukwuma, representatives from the WHO, UNICEF, Federal Ministry of Information, and the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on Primary Healthcare Delivery (NTLC) as members.

     The taskforce team has the responsibility to liaise with the governors of states affected by diphtheria for their counterpart funding, ownership and mass mobilisation. Pate stressed that there is an urgent need for massive mobilisation and sensitisation. “Our people should be aware about the disease, the dangers inherent in it, and what they need to do,” he said.

     The Federal Government has urged state governors of affected states to institute face-covering requirements such as facemasks in public gatherings in order to slow down the progress of the diphtheria outbreak. The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, during a briefing on diphtheria, said, “I would like to call on governors of affected states to institute face-covering requirements such as facemasks in public gatherings. By so doing, we can add another intervention to slow the progress of the outbreak.”

     The WHO, in its diphtheria situation report for Nigeria, disclosed that diphtheria outbreaks are underreported in Nigeria. According to the 2021 Nigeria Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey and National Immunisation Coverage Survey, the third dose of pentavalent vaccine (Penta3) coverage was 57 per cent in 2021. Also, WHO second Rapid Risk Assessment for diphtheria in Nigeria reassessed and maintained the risk as high at the national level and low at the regional and global levels. “The low national coverage (57 per cent) of the Pentavalent vaccine (Penta 3) administered in routine immunisation, and the suboptimal vaccination coverage in the paediatric population—with 43 per cent of the target population unvaccinated—underscores the risk of further spread and the accumulation of a critical mass of susceptible population in the country with sub-optimal herd or population immunity,” it said.

    The WHO recommends that vaccine coverage of 80 to 85 per cent must be maintained to ensure community protection. This is a task that all government agencies saddled with the sacred responsibility of public health safety and security, including the Federal Ministry of Health, NPHCDA, NCDC, among others, must do. UNICEF Nigeria has called for an urgent ramping-up of vaccination efforts across the country amidst the most severe diphtheria outbreak in recent times. In a statement, the agency stated that the devastating impact of the diphtheria outbreak across the country is not only a grim reminder of the importance of vaccination, but also that Nigeria is home to a staggering 2.2 million zero-dose children, that is, children who haven’t received even a single dose of vaccine – the second largest of such cohort in the world. “We must collectively take urgent actions to drastically reduce this number. Every child deserves protection from preventable diseases. This is not negotiable,” said Dr. Rownak Khan, UNICEF Representative.

     It also called on all local and international partners to rally together to ensure that every child is reached with life-saving vaccines. It emphasised the importance of strengthening routine immunisation, community engagement, and health systems strengthening to avoid similar outbreaks in the future.

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    No excuses for low vaccination coverage

    It is diphtheria today. Tomorrow, it may be hepatitis, tetanus, circulating variant poliovirus (cVPV2), and others. Although ensuring that children are immunised against vaccine-preventable diseases is the collective responsibility of all, especially parents, the government has a major responsibility to provide qualitative, affordable and accessible healthcare services to the people.

     With over 30,000 primary health care centres (PHCs) scattered across the country, only about 4,000 of them are actually functional at any given time. Although under the Nigerian federal system, building and maintaining of PHCs is the responsibility of states and local governments, the Federal Government still plays a very big role in its funding and equipping, especially through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), which is a Federal Government initiative through which one per cent of Nigeria’s consolidated annual revenue and partner resources is deployed to guarantee a defined package of care; provide operational budgets for PHCs, and support accident victims across selected highway belts around the country. While national and sub-national leaders hold meetings and conferences about how to increase routine immunisation in the country, hundreds of thousands of Nigerian children are losing their precious lives. Experts in the immunization space have continued to maintain that the health sector needs less talk and more action.

    Stakeholders give practicable solutions

    Stakeholders in the health sector have urged the government to do more in terms of advocacy, community engagement, and most important of all, ramping-up routine immunization for children. Stressing that it is much cheaper to spend resources carrying out public enlightenment and community engagement than to treat a lot of people, they noted that the historically low vaccination coverage in the country has come back to haunt the country, affecting children.

     Nigeria’s foremost virologist,  Prof Oyewale Tomori, has urged the government to stop giving excuses and tackle the issue head-on by vaccinating as many children as possible, especially those in the hard-to-reach areas. Speaking with The Nation, Prof. Tomori said, “We should be ashamed. Close to 80 per cent of cases are partially vaccinated or not vaccinated at all. Children, from new-born to 14 years old, are affected. This shows you how far back our immunisation coverage has been hopeless. More cases between July and September 2023 than from May 2022 to June 2023, shows that we have been waiting for over a year and not declared this a national emergency. How callous and uncaring.

     “We spent all our energy on a traumatic election while our children are dying of ordinary diphtheria that the world has forgotten. Every child born in Nigeria must receive their childhood vaccination.”

     In a chat with The Nation, Dr. Ejike Orji, a public health advocate and the immediate senior special adviser to the FCT Minister on Health and Hospital Management said, “Once there is a breakdown in the vaccination process, there could be a flare-up and some of these diseases flare up around the world from time to time. The most important thing here is to have surveillance bio-vigilance and a surveillance system to be able to detect it early enough and start acting before it spreads like a wildfire. The government has been doing a lot to contain it, but for me, especially in the public health space, it is human behaviour that is the critical component in most of these. This is because science has made it possible and there are scientific steps to contain or treat the disease.

    “However, the most important thing that increases the spread of all these diseases is the human behaviour component. The key thing is to vaccinate children. In Abuja, there is a vaccination program, especially in high risk areas. The FCT Disease Surveillance and Vaccination unit is going round vaccinating children. But will people bring their children out to be vaccinated is another thing. Also, will people keep their environment clean enough?

     “On the government side, the government is doing what it is supposed to do, but often, we say the room of improvement is in public education and community engagement. There should be massive public education and community engagement on the matter so that people will know about the disease – how it spreads and how it can be prevented and treated. When people are armed with this information, you have done almost 90 per cent of the work.

     “Governments need to use the media, community media, play groups, town cries and others to engage the major stakeholders in the community. It is much cheaper to spend resources doing public enlightenment and community engagement than to treat a lot of people. Traditional and religious leaders are the bridge between the government and the people. They are closer to the people, they know their nuances, and the people believe in them.”

     Also speaking with The Nation, Dr. Patrick Ezie, the Chief Medical Director of Silver Cross Hospital in Abuja said, “The important thing to really note on why WHO is raising the alert level for diphtheria currently is because diseases have different spans of spread. For instance, if you have one case of diphtheria in a year, it is not something to be worried about, but when you start having 10, 15, 20 or more cases, you start reaching epidemic levels. At the epidemic level, it means that the illness has spread to such a degree that it now becomes a public health emergency.

     “What the government can do is to recognise that it needs to ramp up the public health concern about it, and be on the same page as WHO and realise that this is a disease that can become an epidemic for the country. This way, you can become more aggressive by setting up different public health interventions. Having diphtheria spreading to this level means that there is a failure in the current immunisation programme. It means that the immunisation is not getting to enough babies or you have a pool of babies who are not able to access this vaccine or the vaccine storage system is faulty; this means you have vaccines that have lost their potency by the time they are getting to the end users. As a result, you have people who are supposed to be immunized, but in reality, they are not immunised.

     “The government also needs to introduce booster doses and start vaccinating the population of citizens that may be at risk or do not have access to health facilities, so that diphtheria antibodies increase. I don’t think there has been enough adverts on radio, TV, print, and others to alert the populace on the spread of diphtheria, the nature of illness, and the way to prevent it. Government also needs Public-Private Partnerships (PPP). It is okay to have the vaccines in public institutions, but are the private ones carried along? There is an increasing proportion of people who use private facilities, as against the public facilities, especially with the frequent strikes and breakdown of services in the public sector.

     “The current way the diphtheria vaccine is given is in combination with three or four other vaccines for babies. But there is a combination of tetanus and diphtheria that can be done. So, when you are giving a tetanus shot, diphtheria can be given alongside. If we have such vaccines in-country, there needs to be more advocacy such that health workers can know that the vaccine is available and push it for the population. The government can also ensure that when people have the exposure or are identified to have diphtheria, that there is public health surveillance to check if the people in contact with the infected individual are suffering the symptoms. Contact tracing is very important.”

  • Governors: Nigeria will overcome economic, security woes

    Governors: Nigeria will overcome economic, security woes

    In spite of Nigeria’s socio-economic and security challenges, many governors say they have no doubt that the nation will overcome.

     The governors, therefore, advised Nigerians to be optimistic as they work in partnership with President Bola Tinubu and other leaders to return the country to the path of growth.

     They made the remarks during activities to mark Nigeria’s 63 Independence anniversary in their respective state capitals yesterday. For states like Ekiti, Bayelsa and Ebonyi, it was a double celebration for them. They marked their 27th year anniversary.

     The governors that expressed confidence in Nigeria bouncing back to the path of development were Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq(Kwara),  Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Rotimi Akeredolu(Ondo), Seyi Makinde(Oyo), Ademola Adeleke(Osun), Chukwuma Soludo(Anambra) and Hope Uzodimma(Imo).

      Others were Peter Mbah(Enugu), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau),  Yahaya Bello(Kogi),  Duoye Diri(Bayelsa), Siminalayi  Fubara(Rivers), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Abba  Yusuf (Kano)  and Mohammed   Bago (Niger).

      Abia State Governor Alex Otti was markedly different from most of his colleagues in his speech. He blamed the challenges faced by the country on leaders whom he accused of graft,  greed and narrow-mindedness.

     While governors like Bala Muhahammed and Mai-Mala Buni  (Yobe) called for a change of attitude by Nigerians in order to make Nigeria develop, Hycinth Alia(Benue), Francis Nwifuru(Ebonyi),  focussed their speeches on what they had done to make life better for their people during their tenure.

    •Lagos 

      Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who cancelled   activities to mark the anniversary, urged Nigerians to support the administration of President Bola Tinubu to make  Nigeria a prosperous nation.

     He also implored Nigerians to continue to live together in love, unity and peace, irrespective of religious or ethnic differences.  

    Sanwolu explained in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, that the cancellation of the anniversary activities was necessitated by economic challenges.

      The statement reads in part: “There will be no elaborate celebration. This is in line with the economic challenges of the times. The usual parades and other elements of the celebration are being shelved. Prayers have been held in mosques and churches to mark the anniversary.

     “The governor enjoins Lagosians to celebrate modestly, even as they continue to pray for the peace and progress of Nigeria and our dear state.”

    63rd Independent: ‘Our renewed hope for unity and prosperity is not a mere aspiration, but a call to action.

    •Kwara

    Governor   AbdulRazaq, who congratulated Nigerians on the occasion, said that  Nigeria’s march to greatness was on course and stronger footing.

    AbdulRazaq said Nigeria would emerge stronger from the challenges of nation-building.

      He tasked the citizenry to be resilient and committed towards a prosperous Nigeria project.

     The governor, who is also the chairman of Nigeria’s Governors’ Forum(NGF) said:  “No matter their magnitude or shades, the country has always emerged stronger from any of its challenges and the current ones will not be different.

    “The country’s march to greatness is on course, and even on stronger footing. Nigeria’s greatness is non-negotiable,” said the governor.

    AbdulRazaq commended and congratulated all the patriots who remained true to the dream of a greater, united Nigeria at all turns of history.

    He therefore called on Nigerians to remain united and committed to collective good.

    “I congratulate Mr President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and the rest of the country on this occasion. We thank God for His mercies on our country.

    “I believe, in togetherness, we’ll build in the successes of the past years and break new grounds in political maturity and inclusiveness, economic growth and collective prosperity,” he said. 

        *Oyo

    Governor  Makinde said Nigeria’s renewed hope for unity and prosperity was not a mere aspiration but a call to action.

     He pointed out that with unity, the nation can overcome any obstacle, bridge any divide, and achieve greatness. 

    Makinde said “Today, as we gather to celebrate the 63rd anniversary of our great nation’s independence, we stand at a crossroads in our history. We find ourselves at a pivotal moment, a moment that calls for renewed hope, unity, and a shared commitment to prosperity.

    “Despite the challenges that have tested our resolve, I firmly believe that Nigeria’s best days are still ahead of us.

     “ We have conquered numerous challenges, and it is this spirit of perseverance that should fill our hearts with hope as we move forward.”

    •Ondo

    Akeredolu, who expressed optimism that Nigeria was on the path of progress under President Bola Tinubu, called on Nigerians to unite with the country’s leaders in the task of rebuilding the country.

     He said the 63rd independence anniversary celebration was the time for Nigerians to demonstrate their dedication to national development and nation-building.

      He expressed confidence that the country would overcome its current socio-economic difficulties to emerge more prosperous and stronger.

      Akeredolu said: “Despite today’s challenges, our hope and trust must remain unshaken. Our journey towards a prosperous and secure future has just begun. We must continually interrogate every issue that hinders the development and greatness of our beloved nation.

     “We will persist in our efforts to foster true federalism. We must be dedicated to addressing the root causes of our national issues. The welfare of our people should accelerate our resolve for development.”

     ”  I urge us to remain steadfast in our faith in a better and prosperous Nigeria.”

    •Ekiti

      Governor   Oyebanji whose state marked the 27th year of its creation yesterday, counted many blessings that have resulted from the state’s existence.

    He expressed satisfaction that Ekiti has excelled in many aspects of Human Development Indices.

     The governor described the state as a front-liner in education, life expectancy and access to quality healthcare.   physical infrastructure development, access to water, peace, ease of doing business, gender equality and social inclusion, among others.

    Expressing his commitment to the dreams of the founding fathers of the state, the governor said that his administration is  collaborating with appropriate Federal Government agencies on the exploration of the state’s God-given mineral resources.

    •Osun

    Governor   Adeleke acknowledged the unfavourable economic and security situations in the country and charged leaders to unite in order to find lasting solutions in line with the vision of heroes, who fought for the nation’s independence.

     According to him, we are currently in a difficult situation, the precarious economic situation is affecting everyone.

     “This is our reality and we must face it. As leaders, we must collaborate to find lasting solutions irrespective of our cultural, religious, political and social affiliations.”

    •Imo

      Governor   Uzodimma predicted that Nigeria would soon become one of the strongest nations in the world.

     He,  therefore, called on all Nigerians to persevere,   love the country more and make it work for everyone.

    Uzodimma said:  “The least we can do as Nigerians is to invest our faith in our country and pray fervently for her progress.

       “Therefore, as we celebrate this year’s Independence anniversary, we should renew faith in Nigeria. We must remain confident that this blessed country will ultimately become a great nation. I foresee a Nigeria that will sooner rather than later rise above the challenges that currently impede her march to a virile and prosperous nation. 

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     “I see in the nearest future a new Nigeria that is the bastion of democracy where the expectations of the majority will be met, where justice and equity shall reign and where sustainable development shall be taken for granted.  Yes, I am convinced that Nigeria will surely rise to become one of the strongest nations in the world. I call on all Nigerians to remain optimistic that it shall be well with our country.”

    •Enugu

    In Enugu, the Enugu State capital, Governor   Mbah assured Nigerians that the country’s challenges were  surmountable.

     He urged Nigerians to work together for the country’s peace and development.

    He stated these in a statement he personally signed to commemorate the nation’s 63rd independence anniversary.

     Praising  Nigerians for their resilience in the face of socio-economic challenges, Mbah expressed optimism that the country would emerge from its present difficulties stronger and more prosperous.

     He said: “The struggle for independence was not an easy one, but our founding fathers prevailed.

     “Likewise, I have no doubt that we will ultimately emerge from the present socio-economic difficulties stronger and more prosperous if we all work together irrespective of political affiliations as well as ethnic and religious backgrounds.”

     The governor saluted the nation’s founding fathers for their doggedness, patriotic zeal, and lofty visions for Nigeria.

     He urged the three tiers of government to work together to put the country on the path of recovery by working harder.

    The governor saluted all Nigerians on the independence anniversary.

    Anambra

    In his   message, Governor  Soludo enjoined the people of the state to be optimistic about a brighter future for Nigeria.

     Soludo, who prayed for   President Tinubu’s success, also renamed the state’s airport in Umueri after renowned novelist   Chinua Achebe.

     He described himself as a die-hard believer in Nigeria’s potential to be great and urged other Nigerians to have unwavering faith in the country.

       “I’m a diehard optimist and believer in the potential greatness of Nigeria. I see a more glorious future, provided we all intentionally decide to make it happen,” the governor said.

     Soludo  described Achebe as an example of Africa’s unsung hero, while Wikipedia,   described him as a

    “a Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic, regarded as a central figure of modern African literature.”

    “Achebe rejected Nigeria’s national honours twice in protest against what he perceived as injustice to his home state, Anambra. Today, Anambra will finally honour Chinua Achebe.”

    Abia

    But   Governor     Otti was on a different plain in his speech to mark the anniversary.

    Otti blamed corruption and greed among leaders for the country’s backwardness.

     He said he believes that the country has not made much progress in its journey for transformation.

     Otti said; “A lot of factors have been blamed for Nigeria’s inability to live up to the heights expected of it since independence 63 years ago.

    “My estimation, however, is that Nigeria has not made much progress in its journey of transformation for reasons of greed, and narrow-mindedness.

     “The desperation for power, unending pillaging of public resources and the worrisome refusal to see the bigger picture boils down to greed and the ungodly urge to think only of ourselves.

     “Corruption and the abuse of resources have combined to cripple several state institutions in the country are manifest products of greed which for me, represents an unhealthy desire to acquire everything for oneself without minding what happens to afterwards and to other people.”

     Stating that the situation was not completely irredeemable, the governor said the independence anniversary marks “a great day to begin on a new path towards national rebirth.”.

     He added: “Admitted that a whole lot have fallen out of sync with our dreams and values of nationhood, I do not however think that the situation is completely irredeemable otherwise many of us will not be here today.

     “At any rate, we must refuse to be misled into thinking that change can just happen by merely wishing. A desire for change must match with appropriate commitment,a clear sense of responsibility and an understanding of the quantum of sacrifice required to turn things around.”

     The governor, who  also said that no nation thrives when young people are isolated, added that Nigeria has lost its best in many fields  as a result of the “Japa syndrome.”

      •Bayelsa 

     Governor   Diri also expressed hope that Nigeria would overcome its current socio-economic difficulties if the right measures were implemented.

    He said: “As the nation grapples with the consequences of the removal of fuel subsidy, it is my fervent hope that our present difficulties will eventually be over if the right measures are implemented.

    “In this my fourth year of delivering this address, we cannot overlook the immense progress we have made as a nation and as a state. Whereas, we cannot ignore the many challenges we still face, much has yet to be achieved.”.

    Rivers

      Diri’s counterpart in Rivers State,  Governor  Siminalayi Fubara called on the people to support and pray for the success of the     Tinubu-led Federal Government.

     Fubara, who argued that 63 years was still not enough for any country to fully develop, congratulated the people for their courage and resilience to surmount the odds and challenges on the journey to nationhood.

     “I believe that for a country to develop, 63 years is still small, but even in all our struggles  and challenges, there is still some away, the take away can be seen in the way we have managed ourselves in the last 24 years, managing our democratic system,” said

     The governor stated that surmounting the challenges faced by the nation required the commitment of not only leaders but also all Nigerians.

     “I want to say that the new administration at the centre, is doing its best, what we owe them is our prayers and support to achieve the Nigeria of our dream”, he said.

     Fubara noted  Nigerians had refused to be discouraged by the numerous challenges faced by the country and had chosen to remain bonded as a nation.

     •Plateau

    Also,  Governor Mutfwang called on the people to keep faith in the country and its leadership at all levels.

     He said he had no doubts that Nigeria would bounce back in spite of its present economic challenges.

      Mutfwang said:  “Irrespective of the challenges we face, we must stick together, look beyond the horizon, towards building a prosperous state and nation.

    “We are certainly not where we ought to be! Just like our beautiful state, Nigeria is a blessed land with vast resources, opportunities and talents; all yet to be fully explored.

     “However, we must have faith in this nation and support our leaders. We must rally around and collaborate with one another towards improving the fortunes of our beloved country.”

       “Together, we can build an inclusive society where every Nigerian, regardless of background, gender, ethnicity or religion, gain access to equal opportunities for growth and development. Equity, justice and fairness will continue to be our watchwords.”

     The governor used the opportunity of the anniversary to exercise his power to exercise the “Prerogative of Mercy” by freeing four persons serving life imprisonment.  The four are Danladi Musa, Tali Zingtim, Ponzing Nanshep and Dauda Joshua.

     •Benue

     In his broadcast,   Governor   Alia announced measures by his administration to boost manpower and make life better for the people.

     Alia said: “Our good people of Benue, I share the pains most of you are going through; and I assure you that your resilience and patience will not be in vain as this administration continues to reposition, as well as strengthen our institutions for good governance. I want to assure you that succour is on the way.

     “In the meantime, we have purchased 100 buses to be handed over soon to Benue Links, the state-owned transport company, to provide affordable transportation to the public.

     “In addition, plans are underway to distribute N50,000 each, to market women across the state, to enhance their petty trade businesses.

     “Our lofty visions, policies and strategies for good governance cannot be achieved in a society bereft of security of lives and property.” 

     He also urged Benue youths that trek to Abuja and other cities to honour certain Nigerians to desist from the act immediately.

     “While we reflect in retrospect, it is equally pertinent for us to examine where we are, and look to the brighter future that lies ahead of us, especially in a State like ours that possesses all the potential of peaking us in the comity of states,” he added.

    * Nasarawa 

       Governor    Sule pledged to consolidate the commitment of his administration to turn around the fortunes of the state.

     The governor revealed that his administration would not only increase the number of poor people enjoying N5,000 monthly payments but increase the sum to N7,500.

     Like Mufwang of Plateau State,  Sule exercised his Prerogative of Mercy power by releasing 20 prison inmates.

     *Adamawa

    Governor  Fintiri   called on Nigerians  “to reflect on our shared values and work towards a more united and prosperous nation.”

     He pardoned three inmates– Zaro Boniface, Luka Grastone and Jauro Banyi– of the  Numan Correctional Centre in Numan Local Government Area.

    *Kano 

      Governor   Yusuf said that 63 years after independence, Nigeria has recorded some progress.

       Yusuf, however, noted that for Nigeria to do better, “we must build on the foundation laid by our founding fathers which include the principles of fairness, equity and justice.”

     He also said that his administration would send out  1,001 First Class graduates for  Masters degrees in foreign universities. 

    *Yobe

    Also, Buni charged citizens to play their parts in building a united, strong and prosperous Nigeria.

    He congratulated Nigerians for their independence and commended them for their resilience in ensuring a united country in spite of the numerous challenges.

     “Every nation has its peculiar challenges, the commitment of Nigerians to a united and progressive Nigeria has been strong and unshakeable,” he said.

     The governor called on the citizens to exhibit tolerance, accommodation and sacrifice, saying,” we should exploit our diversity to serve as a strength to our unity.”

      *Niger 

       Governor    Bago appealed to Nigerians not to lose hope in the present government.

        Bago said that the 63rd anniversary of the country called for new resolutions and visions from every citizen. 

    He said: ”  It(63RD anniversary)  is another opportunity for us as a nation to reflect on the mixed feelings of triumphs and misgivings that characterised our journey to nationhood. We have been through trying times and on each occasion, we have always come out more resilient, remaining a united and prosperous nation.

     “Therefore, we have every reason to celebrate together and I am very excited to be part of this history-making celebration of Nigeria’s 63rd independence anniversary.

     “Our achievements as a sovereign nation truly call for celebrations but we should also use the moment to run an honest check on our contributions both individually and collectively.”   

    *Taraba

    Also,   Governor Kefas commuted the death sentence of four prisoners to life imprisonment and pardoned 17 others at various correctional centres across the state.

    Sokoto State Ahmad Aliyu and Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State called on Nigerians to pray for the continuous peace in the country.

  • Yam farmers battle challenges of climate change, insecurity

    Yam farmers battle challenges of climate change, insecurity

    Increasing the yield of important crops such as yam is crucial to ensure food security and livelihood. However, unpredictable rainfall and higher temperatures have contributed to reduced yam harvests. In this report, JUSTINA ASISHANA highlights the multi-faceted challenges faced by yam farmers in Niger State; encompassing issues related to climate, security and access to essential resources.

    Yam farming has been a vital source of livelihood and sustenance for farmers across Niger State. The state is one of the significant yam-producing states in Nigeria. It produces over 2.3 metric tons of yams, representing more than 10 per cent of the entire annual yam produced in Nigeria.

    Yams serve as a staple food in many tropical and even sub-tropical countries. Niger State supplies yams in large quantities to many parts of Nigeria, including Lagos, Ekiti, Oyo, Kano, and Warri. The yams are also exported for revenue earning.

    Nevertheless, in recent years, farmers such as Comfort Iowo, a resident of Chachanga Local Government Area have been disappointed by low yields caused by unpredictable weather. Yams need consistent and sufficient rainfall for optimal growth and development. Comfort said she planted 1,500 heaps of yams but only harvested 800, unlike previous years when she would harvest as much as 1,400 heaps of yams.

     “The harvest from my yam farm is very poor. The low yield was caused by the inclement weather, lack of fertiliser and insecurity.

     “Sometimes, we are scared to enter the farm. The size of the yam was average. I did not get big yams last year, unlike the previous one when most of the yams from my farm were large. We are hoping for a better crop this year,” she said. However, she is not very hopeful as the farming seasons are progressively unpredictable.

     Of the 11 cultivated species of dioscorea (yams), three —dioscorea rotundata (white yams), dioscorea alata (water yam), dioscorea cayenensis (yellow yams)—are economically significant in Nigeria. Yam is usually propagated through the use of small whole tubers (seed yam) or cut pieces of tuber (setts).

     “Ware yam” is a term derived from West African languages used to describe yams that can be eaten soon after harvesting without undergoing a lengthy storage process. They are an important source of food in yam-growing areas and are often characterised by their relatively higher moisture content compared to yams intended for storage.

     In contrast, “seed yams” or “sett yams” are specifically selected and preserved for planting in the next growing season. They have desirable characteristics and are stored to ensure their viability as planting material.

     While yams are an important food and cash crop, harvests have been affected by erratic weather patterns. For maximum yield, yam requires an annual rainfall of over 1500 millimetres distributed uniformly throughout the growing season.

     However, historical data from the World Bank shows that annual rainfall in Niger State has hovered below 1500 millimetres since 2011, and data from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency predicted a moderate dry spell for up to 15 days from May to August 2022 over parts of Adamawa, Benue, Kogi, Ekiti, Kwara, Niger, FCT, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi and Gombe.

    The farming community rejoiced as early rains arrived in 2023, a contrast with the previous year’s unfruitful season when delayed and inadequate rainfall during the critical growing stages of plant growth affected the germination of yams, leading to smaller tubers and reduced harvests.

    Some farmers said certain yam seeds did not germinate, leading to significant losses. When the rains eventually came, the downpour caused flooding, which swept away the crops; resulting in huge losses.

    For Aisha Usman, a yam farmer in Maikunkele in Bosso Local Government Area, the 2022 yam harvest proved to be her most challenging. The harvest from her one-hectare yam farm produced undersised tubers that were unsuitable for sale. She was forced to turn some of her harvests into seed for this year’s planting as she did not have enough money to buy seed.

     She has not been able to access the subsidised fertiliser due to the bureaucratic process involved.

    Last month (August 6) Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago announced he had approved a 20 per cent subsidy on 600 tons of fertiliser delivered to the state. Each 50kg bag is sold at N18,000, far below the N24,000 to N30,000 price in the market. The subsidised fertiliser is, however, only available at designated stores across the state.

     The onset of rainfall starts late and evens when the beginning and retreat of rains are on time, crop-growing seasons are often disrupted by short or prolonged periods of unusually low or no rainfall.

    Whenever there is a low volume of rainfall during the March/April/May season, the overall yam yield for the year will be adversely affected, thereby reducing farmers’ income. 

    The direct effects of climate change are increased temperatures, reduced precipitation, reduced length of growing season, and changes in the timing of critical threshold stages vital to crop development.

     For example, yams undergo two phases namely growth and dormant phases. The growth phase occurs for about six to 10 months depending on the species and then slows down for two to four months.

     The slowing down process is the dormant phase. The phases occur in the wet and dry seasons, respectively. The unpredictable rain means that farmers risk losing their crops either due to lack of rain during the planting season or too much rain when the yams are in the dormant stage.

     Flooding is a primary cause of food insecurity. This is because it sweeps away farms, destroys crops and is one of the significant reasons the majority of Nigerian smallholder farmers are still poor. Unpredictable weather has been identified as one of the issues preventing the United Nations 2030 goal of achieving substantial improvement in the lives of rural dwellers.

    Nigerian smallholder farmers such as Comfort and Aisha are vulnerable because they lack the infrastructure to mitigate extreme weather conditions.

     Invasive weeds, pests and fungi are part of climate change effects that affect crop yields. They thrive in warmer temperatures with increased carbon dioxide levels and wetter climates.

     On average, farmers spend over N11 billion annually to control weeds. The cost is likely to rise as invasive weeds and pests are likely to expand with warmer temperatures. The increased use of pesticides and fungicides harms human health as they eventually find their way into rivers and other waterways.

     Yams are agronomic, annual rain-fed crops that grow for six to 12 months; depending on the cultivar, ecology and soil properties in the production area.

     The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) puts world yam production at about 30 million tons annually with 90 per cent grown in the yam production belts of West Africa.

     According to ONE, the frequency of droughts in Sub-Saharan Africa tripled in 2010-2019 compared to the 1970-1979 rainy season. The organisation stated that African countries now bear the brunt of the impacts of climate despite not having caused or benefitted from causing climate change. It states that the African Continent is currently facing its 152nd drought since 2000.

     Many climate-vulnerable countries have also been the most impacted by rising food costs and conflict.

    Insecurity threatens yam production

    Security is another factor that causes grave concern for yam farmers. Banditry and insecurity have cast a shadow over farming communities, leaving farmers such as Luca Tanko and Abubakar Saddiq grappling with both climate-induced hardships and fears about safety.

        Banditry stems from nearly four years of ongoing conflicts among settled cultivator communities and nomadic herders who roam the high plains of specific local government areas, including Rafi, Rijau, Wushishi, Mashegu, and Kontogora, Shiroro, Bosso, Muye, and Paikoro.

     Banditry arose in Shiroro council around 2017 and escalated in 2020, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Shiroro council has become a focal point for banditry in Niger State; with a significant presence of bandit leaders based in the region.

     There are currently two types of bandits in the North, namely those who abduct for ransom and sometimes kill their victims despite being paid the ransom and the herdsmen who struggle for space with the farmers.

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    The former are more prevalent in Niger State than the latter. To this end, the presence of bandits (who have been classified as terrorists by the government) in farming areas has disrupted the agricultural activities of many farmers. Some farmers accessed their farms but did not harvest their crops due to safety concerns.

     Luca Tanko, whose farm is in Shiroro Local Government Area, said his yield was poor after planting 3,000 heaps of yams.

     “My farm is located in Shiroro Local Government Area. I planted over 3,000 heaps. The harvest could have been better. But the rains did not come on time and people removed and ate the seeds we planted.

     “I harvested just half of what l had planted. Some of the yams did not even germinate at all. The previous year, there was a bountiful harvest because there was sufficient rain,” he said.

     Many of them cannot return to their farms for harvest because of the fear of being abducted or killed by terrorists.

     Insecurity is rife in the major yam-producing local government areas of Shiroro, Rafi, Munya, Paikoro, Bosso, Wushishi and Mariga. In recent years, many farmers have been killed and kidnapped with thousands displaced, disrupting the production and supply chain.

     Abubakar Saddiq, another farmer in Paikoro Local Government Area highlighted how insecurity affected his yam farming. The impact of insecurity on yam production was exacerbated by diminishing yields, contributing to a decline in the supply of yams and a subsequent crash in prices.

     This compounded the economic hardships faced by yam farmers, prompting calls for government intervention to provide affordable fertilisers and improve security conditions.

     “I am in Paiko and there are some parts in Paikoro that people cannot farm. Some villages in Lapai and Paikoro are affected.

     “The security situation has improved slightly this year and attacks are not as rampant as last year. Last year, some people didn’t harvest their yams because of insecurity and they lost their crops as they rotted in the fields,” he said.

    The Chairman of Jere Yam Market in Paikoro Local Government Area, Alhaji Audu Doma noted that the insecurity in the region has led to the scarcity and high cost of yam seedlings due to the sustained banditry attacks on yam-producing communities.

    Last year, in some markets across Niger State, 10 tubers of yam cost N10,500, while in previous years, it cost N5,000 or N6,000; depending on the sizes.

    A visit to the Kodobe Market showed that 10 tubers of yam sold between N12,000 and N15,000.

     Currently, there is no research on the effect of insecurity on farmers.

    Farmers face a hard time recouping their investments

    Poor harvests have resulted in a crash in the price of yam. A spot check in significant yam markets, including Paiko, the headquarters of Paikoro Local Government Area, Kasuwa Gwari and Gwadabe Markets in Minna, the state capital revealed that the price of the commodity crashed by over 30 per cent. Yam supply is also not sufficient to meet high demand.

     According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the price of a yam tuber has increased between June 2022 and June 2023 from an average of N384.48 to N510.77.

     In 2022, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ernest Umakhihe stated that although Nigeria is the leading producer of fresh yams, the country exports less of the product; which means it is unable to meet the demand for yams.

     In July, the Niger State Government made available fertilisers to be sold at a subsidised price of N18, 000 which is lower than the N28, 000 in the open market. The government also pledged to provide additional farming tools.

     However, due to cumbersome procedures, many yam farmers have found it impossible to access subsidised fertiliser and have to buy from the open market; resulting in high production costs.

     Various stakeholders, including government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and local communities are taking several actions to mitigate the challenges of climate change in yam production.

     Some strategies adopted by farmers to mitigate the effects of climate change included multiple cropping, where farmers grow yams and other crops such as maize on the same land at the same time rather than just one crop throughout the growing season.

     Growing the same crop year after year reduces the availability of certain nutrients and degrades the soil.

     Inter-cropping enhances the land’s yield and promotes climate resilience through higher plant resource efficiency and natural suppression of pests. This is so because as more crops are grown, the benefits and money increase as well.

     Aware of climate variability, some yam farmers have been responding to these changes through the use of adaptation practices such as irrigation, mixed cropping, changing the planting dates, fertiliser application and the use of organic manure, mulching and tree planting to provide shade and minimise water loss and planting drought-tolerant and disease-resistant yam varieties.

     Other strategies included training farmers on new and improved planting approaches such as the yam minisett technique, which involves cutting up a yam tuber into many small pieces to enable the production of up to 20 yams from one seed yam, efficient water management and post-harvest practices.

     Investments in rural infrastructure, such as water storage facilities and irrigation systems to ensure a more reliable water supply for yam cultivation, especially during periods of low rainfall, providing farmers with accurate weather forecasts and early warning systems would enable them to make informed decisions about planting and harvesting times and avoid losses due to unexpected weather events.

     The government and other stakeholders should  support climate change adaptation initiatives that are driven by local communities. They should encourage them to participate in developing policies that are context-specific and in tandem with the needs and priorities of the farmers.

     Improving market access for yam farmers can alleviate post-harvest losses and enhance their income. Strengthening the yam value chain through proper storage and adoption of on-farm value-addition activities such as yam flour processing and transportation contributes to overall food security.

     In the light of unpredictable weather, theft and insecurity, yam farming in Niger State faces numerous challenges.

     The experiences of local farmers underscore the urgency for government action to address these issues.

     By offering accessible fertilisers, enhancing security and investing in agricultural research, the government can bolster yam farming, enhance productivity and ensure regional food security.

     Empowering the local farming community will strengthen the economy and improve overall well-being in Niger State.

    •This piece was produced as part of the Aftershocks Data Fellowship (22-23) with support from the Africa Women’s Journalism Project (AWJP) in partnership with The ONE Campaign and the International Centre for Journalists (ICFJ).

  • Why sweetened drinks leave bitter taste

    Why sweetened drinks leave bitter taste

    Citing health concerns associated with excessive sugar consumption such as diabetes and obesity, the Federal Government has kicked its heels in that its plan to increase the excise duty on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) from 10 per cent to 20 per cent stays. But the plan is not well received by operators in the Food and Beverage sub-sector. Describing it as “punitive,” “fatuous,” and “a demonisation of SSBs,” they insist that the proposed tax increase, if enforced, will unleash severe repercussions on businesses, consumers, and government’s revenue. Assistant Editor CHIKODI OKEREOCHA reports.

    •Manufacturers, Fed Govt on war path over 20% tax hike

    The Federal Government may be stuck between the rock and the hard place if its projected revenue increase to meet its financial obligations is hinged on enforcing the proposed increase of excise duty on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) from the current 10 per cent to 20 per cent.

    While the Federal Government insists there is no going back on the plan, citing the need to combat the rising health risks associated with excessive sugar consumption, especially diabetes and obesity, the enforcement of the excise duty hike will not be a walk in the park.

    Already, the proposed tax increase has come under stiff opposition by operators in the Food and Beverage sub-sector of the manufacturing industry. Many of them insist that the health reasons adduced for the imposition of the increased taxes on SSBs are fatuous and a demonisation of SSBs.

    They argued that promoting a false narrative that sugar-sweetened beverages are the sole cause of diabetes and obesity is not only misleading but also detrimental to the national economy and the reputation of the producers.

    The evidently aggrieved manufacturers also drew attention to the fact that increasing taxes on SSBs will have severe repercussions on businesses, consumers, and the government’s revenue.

    They recalled that previous implementation of a sugar tax in 2021 had significant repercussions, as the industry contended with about 10 per cent revenue decline, with the Food and Beverage sub-sector experiencing negative Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth.

    They manufacturers, therefore, warned that enforcing the proposed tax this time around will lead to mass layoffs, factory shutdowns, and an exacerbation of the unemployment crisis.

    The Federal Government inadvertently drew the battle line, literarily, between it and manufacturers of SSBs when its Ministry of Health, last week, said it was determined to go ahead with the enforcement of an increase in the excise duty on SSBs from 10 per cent to 20 per cent.

    The ministry cited the need to combat the rising health risks in excessive sugar consumption, especially diabetes and obesity, as reason for doing so. Its Director/Head of Public Health, Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, explained that the tax increase was aimed at promoting healthy beverage choices, reducing the intake of processed sugar, and soft drinks and contributing to a healthier future for Nigerians.

    Anyaike, who conveyed the ministry’s resolve not to back down on the policy, at a Pro-Health Tax Policy Campaign on SSB at the ministry and that of Finance in Abuja, added that by increasing the tax burden on sugar-sweetened products, the ministry hopes to deter consumers from purchasing them and seeking healthier beverage alternatives.

    The Director also advanced other reasons to justify the tax hike on SSBs. She said, for instance, that taxation on SSBs has been  implemented in countries like Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, and Portugal to reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks.

    “We are committed to attaining the global best practice of at least 20 per cent of the final retail price on SSBs as the N10 per litre price fails to achieve that. This campaign aligns with other government’s efforts in improving the public health of the Nigerian populace to meet up with the global priority of significantly reducing Non- Communicable Diseases (NCDs),” she said.

    Anyaike had an ally in a representative of the National Action and Sugar Reduction Coalition (NASR), Edozie Chukwuma, who said the campaign was to sensitise the public, policymakers and concerned government authorities on the dangers of the consumption of SSBs.

    Edozie said there was the need for this administration to increase the SSB tax as part of efforts to discourage the patronage of sweetened products. His words: “We’re calling on the government to enact laws to put together a tax that prohibits or that would, in the end, reduce the consumption of sugary drinks, and how will this tax work?

    “It simply works by increasing the affordability of sugary drinks, thereby providing revenue that could be used to support healthcare, especially with regards to NCDs burden in the country. “It is an epidemic and it needs to be addressed. Out-of-pocket payments are at an all-time high, with over 75 per cent of Nigerians paying from their pockets for treatment of different ailments.”

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    But manufacturers of SSBs are not swayed by such arguments and, accordingly, slammed the Coalition for misleading the public on the impact of sugar on Nigerians’ wellbeing. The manufacturers said while they acknowledge the importance of addressing the health concerns, they believe it is essential to present a more nuanced and balanced perspective on the issue.

    Firstly, manufacturers said it is crucial to consider Nigeria’s sugar consumption in relation to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommended daily intake limit, pointing out that the Sugar Annual Report of the United States Department of Agriculture (May 19, 2022) put the per capita sugar consumption in Nigeria in 2021 at around 8 kg.

    This is much lower than the global average of roughly 21.4 kg per person and below 9.1 kg yearly recommended by WHO. In addition, the diabetes prevalence in Nigeria in 2021, measured as the percentage of the population ages 20 to 79, was equivalent to 3.6 per cent and was relatively low compared to the average global rate of 9.8 per cent. Manufacturers, therefore, noted that the majority of Nigerians fall within the recommended limits.

    A statement by the Director-General of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Segun Ajayi-Kadir, however, said the health issues being raised are multifaceted and require collaboration between various stakeholders and cannot be adequately addressed through isolated approaches such as excise taxes on soft drinks.

    “Imposing increased taxes on SSBs based on this fatuous argument disregards the larger context of overall sugar consumption patterns. Promoting a false narrative that SSBs are the sole cause of diabetes and obesity is not only misleading but also detrimental to the national economy and the reputation of the producers.

    “Such unfounded claims can create unwarranted panic among the public, leading to a decline in consumer confidence, which can have far-reaching consequences for the beverage industry. It is essential to base decisions on scientific evidence and not succumb to alarmist rhetoric that lacks a comprehensive understanding of the issue at hand,” Ajayi-Kadir said.

    He added that evidence available to MAN does not support the notion that taxing soft drinks has reduced obesity, or diabetes in countries where such measures have been implemented, noting that the primary cause of obesity and overweight is an imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended over time.

    “The WHO acknowledges that the high prevalence of obesity is likely influenced by a combination of factors, including genetic traits, environmental factors, and behavioural aspects that may have genetic and environmental influences,” Ajayi-Kadir stated, adding that international experience has failed to demonstrate that reduced consumption of soft drinks through taxation leads to weight loss.

    Noting that weight loss requires a reduction in calorie intake and increased physical activity, MAN said despite implementing soft drink taxes, countries such as Mexico, Finland, Chile, the United Kingdom, France, and Ireland continue to grapple with rising obesity rates and have not provided evidence of significant public health benefits.

    Ajayi-Kadir said Mexico, for instance, introduced a sugar tax in 2014 to curb high soft drink consumption and combat their alarming obesity rates, but obesity rates in Mexico have continued to rise. Same for the UK which implemented a sugar tax in 2018 with no evidence of improving obesity rates. Obesity rates in the UK are the highest in Europe, with projections indicating further increases in overweight rates in the coming years.

    Similarly, in Ireland, although the soft drink tax has prompted product reformulation, there is no clear evidence of a decline in obesity and overweight rates. The reduction in sugar-sweetened soft drink consumption among teenagers has not translated into a decrease in their overweight rates.

    “It is worth noting that beverages contribute only a small percentage to overall sugar intake, while confectionery accounts for a much larger portion,” Ajayi-Kadir said.

    He also said reports from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on taxation in Chile have highlighted that the impact of the soft drink tax on reducing sugary drink consumption does not necessarily lead to an overall decrease in sugar consumption.

    “Studies have indicated that consumers tend to substitute the source of their sugar intake rather than reduce it significantly. These examples demonstrate that simply implementing taxes on soft drinks does not effectively address the complex issue of obesity and overweight.

    “A comprehensive approach involving education, behavioural changes, and broader dietary reforms are necessary to tackle these challenges successfully,” Ajayi-Kadir emphasized.

    Why manufacturers are kicking

    As earlier highlighted, Ajayi-Kadir lamented that increasing taxes on SSBs will have severe repercussions on businesses, consumers, and the government’s revenue. According to him, previous implementation of a sugar tax in 2021 had significant repercussions, with the industry faced with an  eight per cent to 10 per cent revenue decline.

    Noting that the Food and Beverage sub-sector experienced negative GDP growth that year, the MAN DG expressed worries that such distressing indicators foreshadow a bleak future if the proposed tax is enforced, with dire consequences including mass layoffs, factory shutdowns, and an exacerbation of the unemployment crisis predicted to hit 41 per cent this year.

    Besides, the collateral damage of this tax, he said, won’t be limited to the manufacturing sector alone. “The burden will disproportionately fall on lower-income consumers who rely on SSBs as a staple in their diet due to limited access to fresh produce amidst soaring inflation rates. The proposed tax and the inflation crisis will further erode their purchasing power, leading to higher prices for essential goods and services. The vicious cycle of deprivation and scarcity will only worsen, pushing Nigeria deeper into food shortage nightmares,” Ajayi-Kadir stated.

    Moreover, he said the government should consider the potential decline in tax revenue resulting from increased taxes. “Higher prices may lead to reduced consumption, which in turn could lead to a decrease in sales volume. As a result, the projected revenue increase from the tax hike may not materialise, adversely affecting the government’s ability to fund essential public services and initiatives,” he said.

    Manufacturers insisted that rather than resorting to punitive taxation, a more holistic approach should be adopted to address public health concerns such as educating the public about balanced diets, promoting physical activity, and encouraging healthier lifestyle choices. Collaborative efforts between government agencies, NGOs, and the private sector can also contribute to creating awareness and driving positive behavioural changes.

  • How MDAs circumvent Federal Character rules on employment

    How MDAs circumvent Federal Character rules on employment

    Sections 14 and 15 of the Federal Character Commission Establishment Act provide punishment for those who fail to abide by the procedure set out for the recruitment of people into the public service of the federal, state and local governments as well as government-owned companies. One of the provisions is that such existing vacancies must be compiled and advertised in, at least, two national newspapers. But, this provision has been applied in breach, using waiver as subterfuge, TONY AKOWE reports

    For years, the Federal Government’s embargo on employment has resulted in youths being jobless.  As a result, the public service is depleted yearly because of retirement and resignation of some personnel, either because they have reached the mandatory number of years in the service or to take up other jobs.

     The excuse by heads of ministries, departments and agencies of government has always been that there is an embargo on employment. But, while that is on, new people are being employed by these MDAs as replacements.

    More often, one learns of jobs being sold in these MDAs for as high as N2 million for levels seven or 8 jobs. Desperate Nigerians go out of their way to source the money which they pay to secure such jobs.

     The Nation’s investigation revealed that, in a particular agency, several workers who probably paid for jobs were sent home after two years on the job on the excuse that their employment was not legal.

     This led to several complaints which necessitated a motion on the floor of the House of Representatives for an investigation on what has been regarded in the House as job racketeering.

    In the motion, Oluwole Oke (PDP, Osun) alleged mismanagement of personnel recruitment, employment racketeering and gross mismanagement of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) by ministries, departments and agencies of government. He accused MDAs of fraud in the management of the IPPIS and devised methods of inserting ghost workers into the payroll and get payments through back-door channels.

      Oke further alleged that, as a result of the illegal activities in the various MDAs, the government loses billions of naira annually.

     He said: “The Federal Government has numerous Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Parastatals, Institutions and others. Currently, they represent the biggest employers of labour in Nigeria. The overhead of these public institutions constitutes a major component of the Budget of the Federal Government.

    Notwithstanding this near-sacred role being played by the Federal Government, the process of recruiting and employment into the civil service has become one that is fraught with endemic corruption.

     “Public institutions have since stopped the process of advertising for jobs and vacancies. Even in the few instances where adverts are published, the slots are already commoditised and available for the highest bidders.

     “In other words, most public institutions now sell employment positions, notwithstanding the qualification of the applicant and the ability of the applicant to perform optimally on the job. This poses a major risk and has, indeed, constituted itself into a channel for the underperformance of the public service.

    “Historically, from 1960 to the 1990s, Nigeria boasted of one of the best crops of public servants in the world and service delivery was at the highest level of professionalism.”

     Continuing, he said: “This situation has since changed, largely because of the method of recruitment and the quality of recruitment into these public institutions, which are driven by fraud, abuse, corruption and pecuniary considerations.

     “In spite of the introduction of these reforms, most Ministries, Departments and Agencies, in collusion with the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning have devised methods to insert ghost workers and get payments through back-door channels.

     “They have also crafted methods that are being used to circumvent the BVN technology.

     “If steps are not taken to investigate these challenges, the morale of most civil servants will be completely dampened. The Federal Government will continue to lose billions in monthly payments to ghost workers and illegal payments and the country will continue to be serviced by unqualified workers in the employ of various sectors within the Federal Civil Service.”

     Revelations at the investigation headed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Navy, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi appear to have proved right the assertions contained in the motion. All MDAs have admitted to their failure to advertise existing vacancies in total disregard for extant laws and regulations.

     Instead, they now prefer to apply for waiver not to advertise the job openings even when they have to mass employ. Procedures for recruitment into the service are contained both in the public service rules and the Federal Character Commission handbook which contained its enabling laws and other subsidiary legislations.

     The Commission is one of the 14 independent federal executive bodies established by Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution as amended. The agency, however, predates the Constitution as it was set up through degree 34 of 1996 which is now an act of the National Assembly.

     The Establishment Act mandates the commission to promote, monitor and enforce compliance with the principles of proportional sharing in all bureaucratic, economic, media and political posts at all levels of government.

     One of the key mandates of the Commission is to ensure that there is even spread in employment for all Nigerians. that Nigerians from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT are well represented in government agencies.

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     Also, Section 6 (c) of the regulations which is still in force and signed by the former Executive Chairman, Prof. Shuaibu Oba AbdulRaheem provides punishment for disregarding to the provision in line with the laws establishing the commission.

     The sitting of the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee to investigate job racketeering in ministries, departments and agencies has brought to the fore the behind-the-scene dealings in employment racketeering across all government agencies, leading to constant requests for waiver by the MDAs.

     The Nation gathered that with the agencies employing workers without an adequate budget, the MDAs often overdraw their personnel budget, exhausting what is meant for them in the budget before the end of the year, thereby leading to such agencies owing salaries and allowances of workers.

    In a circular from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, dated July 11, 2017, the government frowned at such practice which it said is putting pressure on the government’s annual budget. The circular Ref. No. 58775/II/T/358 was signed by the then Acting Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr. (Mrs) Habiba M. Lawal and titled “Streamlining Procedures for Recruitment into Federal Agencies.”

     The SGF said the habit of recruiting workers indiscriminately has not only created ghost workers in the payroll who receive fraudulent and erroneous salaries but has also perpetuated nepotism and regional imbalances in the Public Service.”

     It warned that “if these practices continue unabated without reference to budgetary provisions and due process, the country stands the risk of unpaid salaries to workers, claims of budget shortfalls and the need for virement which would increase the payroll cost now already over 40 per cent of total government expenditure. Besides, the current ongoing reforms aimed at providing a high-level assurance on the integrity of the payroll and control personnel cost would be jeopardised.”

     The circular, however, gave a way out of the situation, giving specific guidelines to be followed before such recruitment should be carried out. It said: “The government has, therefore, seen the need to take drastic step/action to arrest the situation in view of the current economic situation facing the country.

     “Consequently, the government has decided to streamline the processes and procedures for recruitment and appointment into the Public Service. The MDAs are expected to adhere to Manpower Budget for their proposed recruitments, which must be approved by the supervising Ministry or Agency; obtain a waiver to Recruit from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF); there must be appropriate budgetary provisions to accommodate the proposed recruitments; while a letter of clearance must be obtained from the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation to confirm budgetary provision for the proposed recruitment.

    Allegations of gross violations have not gone down well with the members of the Ad hoc committee as they continued to notice severe imbalances in recruitment by these agencies.

    For example, while the Nigeria Food Science and Technology Council had permission and waiver to recruit 65 members of staff, only two of the six geopolitical zones in the country were represented in members of staff employed by the council.

     This forced Wole Oke to call for the validation of the exercise. He observed that the employment of the 65 members of staff failed to take into consideration the provisions of the Federal Character as contained in the 1999 Constitution as amended.

     Oke said: “This agency recruited members of staff without obeying the provision of the Federal Character Commission which is a constitutional requirement and the Federal Character Commission gave them a certificate of compliance.

     “On what basis was the certificate issued when they failed to comply with the provisions of the Constitution? We have to take this matter seriously. This recruitment should be validated because it violates extant laws.”

     The Chairman of the Committee, Gagdi expressed sadness that the waiver which was supposed to be used in an emergency situation was being abused and being used to deny qualified Nigerians opportunities to get jobs. Gagdi said: “Why did you choose to apply for a waiver when you are recruiting 300 and the law says only if the number is below 100? Why did you use a waiver for the recruitment of over 300 members of staff? That is against the law. It short-changed millions of Nigerians that should be given equal opportunity in terms of the employment process.”

     The Nation observed that one of the agencies that appeared before the investigative committee applied for a waiver to carry out recruitment two years after it had conducted the exercise.

    It was also observed that while the agency recruited about 120 members of staff in 2015, without advertisement as stipulated in the extant regulations, it applied to the Head of Service and the Federal Character Commission for waiver in 2017 and got approval. It was also observed that the recruitment took place one year after the circular from the Federal Character Commission making it mandatory for agencies to advertise vacancies in at least two daily newspapers circulating throughout the country.

     But one question that lawmakers have continued to ask all agencies that appeared before it is why the preference for waiver rather than advertising existing vacancies for all interested Nigerians to apply. They also asked how the agencies generated the list of applicants who participated in the recruitment exercise.

      In the course of this investigation, The Nation was informed that those who want to get a job in one of the paramilitary agencies are asked to part with about two million naira on the excuse that their salaries will soon be increased.

     The Director-General of the Directorate for Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA), Ambassador Rabiu Dagari believe that the government agencies now resort to waiver for recruitment as a way of cutting corners and avoiding doing the right thing. He said even though his agency had applied for a waiver in the past, he would not follow that part as head of the agency as it denies the government the opportunity to harness the best for available jobs.

     Dagari explained that the use of waiver was denying the government the opportunity to employ some of the best hands-to-man strategic positions in the service.

     The practice of obtaining waivers for recruitment has also encouraged extortion. A former member of staff of the Federal Character Commission, Haruna Kolo admitted before the House of Representatives ad hoc Committee investigating job racketeering that he served as a front to collect money from job seekers on behalf of the Chairman of the Commission. Haruna admitted collecting between N1 million and N1.5 million from about 25 job seekers to give them an appointment into the Commission.

     But the Chairman of the Commission, Muheeba Dankaka swore by a copy of the Holy Quran that she never collected any money from Haruna Kolo, neither has she ever asked him to collect money from job seekers on her behalf. But Kolo said the Chairman directed him to liaise with one Yishua Gambo, who is the driver and Personal Assistant to the Commissioner from Taraba and collect money from the applicants. However,  two of the victims of job racketeering gave a bird’s eye view of what Nigerian job seekers may be passing through. The two victims, Abdulmalik Isa Ahmed and Ali Mohammed Yaro told the committee how they paid the sum of N1million and two million each for appointment letters without being posted or assigned any specific responsibility.

    He claimed to have been enrolled on the IPPIS platform and has been receiving his monthly salaries without being posted to any department even though Kolo had given him assurances. Even though he was given an employment letter as a member of staff of the Federal Character Commission and has been collecting salaries, he has never been assigned any specific duty.

     He said: “All I want is this committee to ensure that I get my job back. I paid money to get the job and I only wanted to be posted.”

     Now, he appeared to have lost the job as the Commission has retrieved the appointment letter earlier issued to them. The same applies to Ali Mohammed Yaro who said after his graduation 11 years ago without a job; he saw an opportunity to secure one with the Federal Character Commission.

     He claimed that Haruna Kolo told him that the money was for the Chairman and that I would be captured on the IPPIS platform.  He brought the appointment letter and some documents for me to fill.

     “In August 2022, Jallo took me to the Treasury House where Kolo Haruna met me, took me into the IPPIS office and I was captured. They told me that my posting letter would be ready within two weeks and I got my first salary in January 2023, five months after my enrolment in IPPIS.

     “In July, we got a message from the Human Resources Department to come with our credentials for a meeting on Monday, July 17 2023. Upon arrival, we faced a committee that investigated us collected the original appointment letters and said that we would be issued another one within one week.

     “The Secretary told us that they don’t sell appointments in the commission and that they were going to conduct an investigation into the issue, retrieve our money and regularise our appointment.”

     Several government agencies now prefer to obtain waivers and carry out backyard recruitment in the name of replacement which many, however, admit may not be giving the service the needed expertise and the best qualified for the job.

  • Unending renovation of the hallowed chambers

    Unending renovation of the hallowed chambers

    The renovation of the National Assembly Complex, whose contract was awarded by the Federal Capital Development Authority was supposed to be completed on August 18, 2023. With the commencement of the renovation work, the Senate and the House of Representatives could not use their chambers. They had to resort to using a temporary chamber for their plenary activities. The inauguration of the 10th Assembly also took place in the makeshift chambers. While the Senate is accommodated in one room, the House of Representatives has to make do with two spaces because of their number. A month after the scheduled completion date, there are no signs that the lawmakers will commence plenary in their chambers when they resume from break. SANNI ONOGU, TONY AKOWE and NICHOLAS KALU report.

    The members of the 10th National Assembly, who are currently observing their first annual vacation, are expected to resume plenary on Tuesday, September 26.

    However, just before the National Assembly went on recess in August, a mild drama played out during plenary on the floor of the House of Representatives. There was uproar as new members of the House protested and stormed out of the upper floor serving as their second chamber. They all besieged the ground floor chamber where the presiding officer could see and hear all. Their grievance was that they were kept in a place where they could not be heard.

    This was because the chamber that members of the House of Representatives use is a makeshift space because the main chamber had been closed since April 2022. Its closure was to enable comprehensive reconfiguration and renovation works to be carried out. The makeshift plenary space in the House of Representatives is located on two floors which used to serve as the main conference rooms of the House. These are Hearing Rooms 018 and 231.

    Since all the lawmakers could not be accommodated in the main hall where the presiding officer sits, some lawmakers had to spill over to the second hall, a floor after the first, to enable them to participate in the proceedings.

    The same applies to the Senate where Hearing Room 022 has been converted to a makeshift plenary chamber since April 2022. It was also used for the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly due to rehabilitation works.

    While 109 Senators conducted their plenary in Hearing Room 022 in the Senate’s new building, 360 members of the House of Representatives had to combine halls on two floors due to their number.

    The difficulty of being in the second hall is that all lawmakers on the second floor have to follow proceedings of plenary sittings from a television screen as if they are “observers.”

    The attention of the presiding officer is often not on them; hence those sitting there hardly contribute to debates, support motions or raise a point of order.

    As a result of this, first-term lawmakers who occupy the upper floor felt they were being unduly undermined and shut out of the proceedings because, in their thinking, they are ‘fresher.’

    However, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who presided on that day, assured that the challenge would soon be over when members of the House resume sitting in the main Chamber after their annual vacation.

     The problem of a cramped space is just one of many challenges that have arisen due to the renovation of Phase One (White House Wing) of the National Assembly.

    A leaking parliament

    Before the commencement of the renovation work, members of the House are, literally speaking, drenched whenever it rains. Nigerians were treated to the shameful spectacle of a flooded National Assembly foyer and adjoining offices as cleaners worked frantically with mops, packers and buckets to salvage the situation.

     Respite only came when the downpour ceased. The situation had sometimes disrupted legislative activities. The chambers are not often spared. In addition to the leakages, the cooling system in the chambers packed up, forcing lawmakers to use papers to fan themselves.

     The National Assembly Complex is a magnificent building. It evokes a sense of grandeur whenever it is approached through its spacious ceremonial foreground. But, such feelings begin to dissipate as one enters its expansive foyer.

     As one steps into the lobby before the renovation commenced, the first sign of a lack of proper maintenance of the grand edifice was the cobwebs that perennially hung in the dome overhead. Besides, other embarrassing sights as the one created by water leakages during a downpour only emphasised how urgently the structure needed repair work.

     Many offices in the complex kept standby buckets to collect rainwater oozing out of crevices whenever it drizzled. Even the hallowed chambers were not spared due to excessive heat that assailed lawmakers due to a dysfunctional central cooling system. Most of the walls within the building had been defaced as a result of water leakages.

     The leadership of the National Assembly had consistently pointed out that the maintenance of the complex is the responsibility of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).

    The controversy

    In the 2020 budget, N37 billion was allocated for the renovation of the complex. However, the amount generated public outrage. The amount was, however, not applied as the project did not commence partly due to the lockdown occasioned by the Coronavirus pandemic. The amount was eventually slashed to N9 billion following a review of the budget of that year.

    The President of the 9th Senate, Ahmad Lawan and the then Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila had, upon resumption of office in 2019, conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the building and saw the level of dilapidation. He said it was based on this that the budget of N37 billion was arrived at and sent to the Presidency for necessary approval for the rehabilitation of the complex. Lawan said that though the money was reduced to N9 billion, it was yet to be released.

     The then Senate’s spokesman, Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, who is the current National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, had also said the complex had not witnessed any major maintenance since it was constructed. He also claimed that even with the reduction of the proposed N37 billion to N9 billion for the rehabilitation of the structure, the money was yet to be released.

    Basiru had also stressed that the National Assembly administration and its leadership are not responsible for the maintenance and renovation of the complex as wrongly believed in many quarters. This, he also pointed out, was the responsibility of the FCDA.

    On its part, the FCDA had attributed the delay in awarding a contract for rehabilitation of the roof of the complex to the Federal Executive Council.

    The FCDA statement by its Public Relations Officer, Richard Nduul said: “The attention of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has been drawn to the recent flooding of the lobby of the National Assembly Complex, Abuja resulting from leakages from the roof. Our findings indicate that the leakages are traceable to blockages of drainage leading to seepage of water through expansion joints in the roof slab.

    “Full waterproofing of the roof of the White House building is a major aspect of the proposed renovation of the National Assembly Complex.

     The management of the National Assembly approached the FCDA in 2019 for a total rehabilitation and upgrading of the complex to bring it in tune with parliamentary buildings around the world.

     “The contract is currently undergoing a procurement process in line with the Procurement Act of 2007 and will, therefore, be awarded as soon as it is concluded in conformity with the requirements of the Act and also considering all other relevant parameters.

    “The FCDA, therefore, assures that when the time comes, this project will be executed meticulously in order to ensure that the country gets value for the funds that will be expended; as this has been the tradition with every other assignment which the Authority has undertaken.”

    The scope of work and cost of the project

    During the official handing over of the project to the contractor in April 2022, the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Shehu Hadi Ahmad, represented by the Acting Director of Public Buildings, Adebowale Ademo listed the scope of work to be carried out during the renovation.

     Adebowale said: “The renovation will comprise the two plenary chambers of the National Assembly as well as the office buildings housing the office accommodation for the Senators and members of the House of Representatives.

     “The scope of what is to be done in this phase one of the works entails making the roof watertight. There have been several inconveniences of roof leakages experienced in the past and one of the major areas of attention is to redress the roof leakages and make the entire roof of the White House water-tight.

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     “Next is the cooling system. Some of the Committee Rooms and central lobbies have faced challenges of temperature regulation because some of the chillers are out of service.

     “The contract entails the replacement of some of the chillers and rehabilitation of those that are in good condition to make them work properly.

     “We also have, as part of the scope, the replacement of lifts that are inoperable in the White House as well as in the House of Representatives and in the new Senate Wing.                                                                                                                                                                                “Beyond that, work will be done in the toilet areas to ensure the plumbing and the equipment and fittings are in proper condition. In addition, work will be done to address challenges of the extra low voltage equipment, the public address system and the fire safety installations.

     “These works will entail rehabilitation and upgrading to make them state of the art and ready for use looking at today’s technology.

     “Most critical of all, is the reconfiguration and the upgrading of the two chambers of the National Assembly.

     “The reconfiguration works involve extending the sitting terraces to provide more comfortable sitting and also provide a worktop where the legislators can sit and work in a very comfortable manner.

    “Beyond that, the entire ambience of the space is going to be transformed. We are hopeful that, at the end of the works, we will have a new and very efficient working environment for our Senators as well as the members of the House of Representatives.

     “This covers the essential scope of what needs to be done and what is going to be done during this renovation work.

     “As I said earlier, it is a major intervention. It is comprehensive and the intention is to restore the building to its original status and also to upgrade it so that the facilities and equipment therein will match any in any parliament in the world.”

     Expectations

    The Clerk to the National Assembly, Ojo Olatunde Amos, who was represented by the Secretary of Estate and Works, Bashir Yero said the National Assembly Complex will remain a place to be in terms of legislators’ comfort after the renovation.

     He said the renovation of the National Assembly was long overdue. The complex, when completed, will give a physiological boost to lawmakers, members of staff and visitors, including Parliamentary reporters.

     Yero said: “We believe by the time this project is completed, the National Assembly will certainly be a place to be in terms and our legislators will be more than happy to have an enhanced environment, especially the chambers.”

     The Managing Director of the firm handling the renovation, Messrs. Visible Construction Company Nigeria Limited, Olalekan Adebiyi said the work would be done speedily.

     Adebiyi said: “We are ready to move with good speed. We are ready to work day and night because we know the challenges ahead.

     “Everything we have to do, we have to do fast considering the fact that the legislators have to vacate the main chambers to a temporary place for us to work.

     “So, we know what it is and we are ready to face the challenge and do whatever we have to do very fast so that we can deliver in a good time.”

     Ultimately, the renovation of the National Assembly Complex is expected to bring about some major changes which include:

     Improved infrastructure: The renovation work is expected to improve the infrastructure of the National Assembly Complex, making it more conducive to legislative activities.

     Enhanced security: It is also expected to enhance the security of the National Assembly Complex, making it safer for lawmakers, members of staff and visitors.

     Modern facilities: The renovation work is expected to provide modern facilities within the complex such as state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment to enhance the legislative process and enhance workspaces inside the main chambers.

    Improved aesthetics: It is expected to improve the aesthetics of the National Assembly Complex, making it more visually appealing.

     Increased comfort: The renovation work is expected to increase the comfort of lawmakers, members of staff and visitors to the complex, by providing better ventilation, lighting and seating arrangements for lawmakers.

    Cost of the project and scope of work

    The immediate past Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Bello on Thursday, July 21 2022 said the ongoing rehabilitation of the National Assembly Complex would cost N30 billion.

     Bello made the revelation while addressing Senators during an oversight function by the Senate Committee on the FCT, in Abuja. The former minister noted that, out of the N30, 229, 290,830.35 contract sum meant to carry out the rehabilitation, N9.2 billion had been paid to the contractor; leaving an outstanding balance of N21.029 billion.

     He said the National Assembly Phase II popularly known as “the White House” was maintained from 1996 to 1999 by ITB Nigeria Limited.

     “The commencement date was April 16, 2022, and it is expected to be completed on August 15, 2023,” Bello said.

    Rehabilitation work commences

    The rehabilitation work on the complex began around the middle of 2022 with an August 2023 completion date.

     The former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila who is now the Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during an inspection in August last year, urged the contractors handling the project to ensure it was done in record time. But this has not been the case. He had warned that the quality of work must not be compromised.

     “This work started in August, a few weeks behind schedule, but for a good reason. So far, between August and now, giant strides have been made; you can see the whole chamber has been ripped apart and the innovations are going to be state-of-the-art,” Gbajabiamila had said.

    Problems arise

    In July this year, after the rehabilitation work had reached an advanced stage with the expectation of the August deadline, it was realised that the problem of leakage still persisted.

     The contractor claimed it was working hard to ensure that the leakage of the National Assembly dome ceased. The firm said this in a statement in July 2023 in Abuja by its Project Engineer, Tajudeen Olanipekun.

    Challenges

    Five major challenges that have militated against the completion of the job, according to findings by our correspondents include: 

    Funding: Work on the project has been plagued by poor funding, which has slowed down the pace of work. A source close to the Contractors said, that apart from the N9.2 billion advanced to the firm last year, nothing substantial has been accessed from the outstanding balance of N21.029 billion.

     Again, the widening gap between the exchange rate of the Naira and the Dollar is said to be a major challenge to the firm as the quoted sum is no longer sufficient to complete the project. The contractor was said to have approached the FCDA authorities several times for an upward review of the cost in view of current realities. This is yet to be granted.

     Design changes: There have been several design changes during the renovation project, which have led to delays and additional costs.

     Weather conditions: The rainy season has also slowed down the pace of work, as construction work is difficult to be carried out during heavy rainfall. These challenges have continued to militate against the completion of the renovation project.

    No known date of completion

    It is not clear what percentage of the rehabilitation has been done. The exterior of the three domes of the chambers has been worked on while the entire exterior and interior of the White House Complex is being repainted with its traditional white colour. Several elevators which were hitherto moribund are undergoing refurbishment and replacement. The carpet grasses in some parts have been removed and fresh ones planted while varieties of flowers have been introduced. Besides, new Closed Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) are visible both within and in the surroundings of the White House complex.

    However, it is apparent, according to the contractors; a completion date is unknown as the rains are still on.

     As the lawmakers are expected to resume on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, it is obvious that members would still have to make do with the makeshift plenary spaces they have been using since inauguration.

     One hopes that the renovation will be completed as soon as possible so that life at the complex will return to normal. Nigerians do not wish that completion of the project would become indefinite as many Federal Government projects.

  • Transforming public service for greater efficiency

    Transforming public service for greater efficiency

    Amid challenges, stakeholders underscore the need for a renewed vigour in the public service to enhance service delivery efficiency. Despite prior attempts yielding minimal result, Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation has embraced this challenge with a mission to transform the public service. Through a partnership with University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, the foundation aspires to inject over 3,000 Nigerians, equipped with contemporary skills and fresh perspectives, into the public service by 2030. Assistant Editor, MUYIWA LUCAS, reports

    Transformational change is a critical ingredient needed in the rebuilding of the country. To achieve this, experts and stakeholders are convinced that a vital starting point will involve giving the public service sector a re-orientation, including equipping the workers with the state of the art tools and change of attitude to work.

    In Nigeria, the public sector, which is comprised of the three tiers of government, remains the biggest employers of labour accounting for about 1.2 million employees across the three tiers of government agencies. However, notwithstanding this huge figure, making the sector efficient has remained a major source of concern. This is not due to lack of efforts by government and other related bodies though.

    Previous initiatives aimed at transforming the public sector include the Dotun Philips Panel of 1985 which attempted to reform the Civil Service. The 1988 Civil Service Reorganisation Decree promulgated by former military President General Ibrahim Babangida (retired) had a major impact on the structure and efficiency of the Civil Service. Still, in August 2009 the then Head of the Civil Service, Stephen Oronsaye, proposed reforms aimed at repositioning the Nigerian civil service to be among the best organised and managed in the world. While the public sector has been undergoing gradual and systematic reforms and restructuring, however, it is argued that upon the return of the country to democratic rule on May 29, 1999, the civil service is still considered stagnant and inefficient, making the efforts made in the past yield little or no dividend.

    In a research work titled:“Nigerian Public Service Performance in a Dysfunctional Ecology: Issues, Challenges and the way Forward” conducted by Cyril Osawe of the Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences, Lagos State University, Ojo-Nigeria, and published in the Review of Public Administration and Management Vol. 3, No. 7, July 2015, by arabianjbmr.com, the author noted that while the issue of enhancing the Nigerian public service performance has been a subject of debate, the framework through which this can be achieved to a large extent depends on the ability of the government to formulate policies capable of promoting effective public service performance. Osawe noted that despite all reforms geared towards improving the performance of the sector, service delivery has remained poor.

    “The performance of the public service towards national development is no doubt the most tasking challenge that the government of Nigeria is facing today. The Public Service reflects the state of the nation and no nation has been able to advance beyond its Public Service. Studies have shown that no nation can attain sustainable development for the enhancement of the living standard of the people without a properly organised public service to implement government policies,” Osawe noted.

    He, therefore, submitted that for the public service to perform effectively, it has to operate under some core values such as integrity, meritocracy, discipline, professionalism, patriotism, impartiality and secrecy of government information, except where the information divulged conforms to the Freedom of Information Act.

    Indeed, the concern for public officials is now on the rise, with different bodies and organisations contributing their quota to enhancing service delivery as well as professionalism in the sector. At a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) funded three-day leadership retreat for Nigerian governors recently, Lealem Berhand Dinku of UNDP noted that the programme was designed to provide a transformative platform for public officials to collectively reflect, learn and exchange insights on effective leadership and complex challenges. “By focusing on experiential learning, exploration and reflection, the distinguished participants will be equipped with the necessary skills and competencies to lead in highly complex and uncertain environments,” he observed. Such is the concern for the public service in Nigeria.

    Bridging the gap

    Experts agree that while reforming the public service sector is pivotal to entrenching a viable economy and strengthening of the country, yet, undertaking such venture remains a capital intensive exercise which the country may not be able to afford in a long while giving the paucity of funds available to government amidst the numerous contending sectors begging for funding amidst other demands.

    But a private sector driven initiative has since seized the initiative to channel a new course in public service. Determined to contribute meaningfully into having a strong and virile public service, the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation (AIG), established in 2017 by a former Access Bank Managing Director and his spouse, Aigboje and Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, aimed at bringing the needed change to public service in the country and across Africa.

    The Foundation is confident that by strengthening public sector reform with funding and technical assistance and by implementing capacity-building programmes for public servants, through collaboration with government ministries, departments and agencies, academic institutions, civil society organisations, and private sector entities, a far reaching impact would be attained.

    In collaboration with the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, the AIG Foundation offers Nigerian public servants an immersive executive education experience aimed at strengthening the skills they need to build cultures of excellence, effectiveness and integrity throughout the institutions they lead. With this, beneficiaries of the programme are positioned to enhance their countries’ development through improved governance and public policy creation. Since its inception in 2017, 29 scholarships worth over £50,000 each have been awarded to future public sector leaders who have demonstrated a passion for the public sector.

    Other initiatives by the Foundation include the AIG Senior Leaders Programme for Federal Permanent Secretaries and the annual AIG Public Leaders Programme, which aims to provide high-potential public servants with the knowledge required to bring about transformational change across their organisations. Through its various programmes, the Foundation has helped in training about 400 public servants since 2017 and targeting to reach 3,000 of the country’s top public servants by 2030.

    AIG Scholars spend the year at one of the world’s top universities, gaining knowledge and skills from the outstanding academic faculty and expert practitioners and interacting with other future public sector leaders from around the world. After completing their degree, Scholars return to their countries and use their learnings to bolster policymaking, support reforms and contribute to their nation’s development.

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    At the closing ceremony of the AIG Public Leaders Programme which took place at the Conference Hall of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, last year, His Royal Highness, Muhammadu Sanusi II, enjoined the 49 grandaunts of the programme to use the learnings they received to drive change in their organisations. He stated that those who have the privilege of receiving world-class training like that offered by the University of Oxford had a burden of responsibility to serve the nation and its people with integrity and not to use their office for personal enrichment.

    Change Agents

    Beneficiaries in the AIG Foundation may have become agents of change in the Nigerian public service. For instance, a year 2020 AIG scholar, Folasade Osho, who is an Assistant Chief Regulatory Officer at the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), explained that her Master’s in Public Policy degree (MPP) ensured she acquired the skills and capacity to use multi-disciplinary and global perspectives to tackle the country’s public policy challenges.

    “Interacting with world-class academics, policy experts, a diverse cohort, and robust multi-disciplinary course content broadened my perspective and allowed me to embrace global, historical and multidisciplinary perspectives when considering available options to address Nigeria’s policy problems,” Osho explained, attributing her success in Oxford to the solid academic support provided by the Blavatnik School of Government (BSG) and the coaching and mentorship sessions that were integral to the AIG Scholarship programme. She is particularly grateful for the summer project she undertook with the Oxford in Berlin Global Public Health Strategy Group in Oxford, saying it provided her with a career enhancing opportunity and the experience of contributing to a national project.

    Osho, who presently serves as a member of the Technical Working Committee implementing pharmaceutical traceability in Nigeria, said the project focused on using digital tools to mitigate the supply of substandard or falsified COVID-19 vaccines in lower-middle-isometries. She attributed the knowledge and experience she gained during the project to her being included to serve on the Technical Working Group (TWG) for implementing pharmaceutical traceability in Nigeria. She is grateful that becoming an AIG scholar has changed her life, opening many doors of opportunities. She has also been involved in preparing guidelines and organising workshops and training for stakeholders within the pharmaceutical supply chain, the Federal Ministry of Health, other agencies, and funding partners. These activities are in preparation for a full-scale implementation of traceability for all medical products in Nigeria by 2024.

    The Special Adviser to the Chairperson, Board of Trustees, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Hakeem Onasanya, was a 2019 AIG beneficiary in a Master’s in Public Policy degree (MPP) programme. Relieving his time at Oxford, which he described as “life changing,” he said: “My experience at the Blavatnik School of Government was a once-in-a-lifetime, life changing opportunity. I gained practical knowledge from academics and renowned public policy leaders on the nuances of public service. When you work in public service, you must serve the people; you are not doing them a favour. So, I approach my work with that mindset. I also carry out constant impact evaluations to assess how the beneficiaries of any project I am engaged in are faring and if it is solving the identified problem. Finally, I ensure that I obtain sufficient data so that the assessment of the results of our interventions is backed by evidence,” Onasanya said.

    Garlands for the AIG Foundation has not ceased to stop. A former Special Assistant to former President Muhammadu Buhari on Finance but attached to the office of the immediate past Vice President, Professor Osinbanjo, Louisa Chinedu-Okeke, was a 2018 AIG scholar in the Master’s in Public Policy degree (MPP) class at the University of Oxford.

    Propelled by her desire to make a leap from a career in consulting to the public sector, Chinedu-Okeke sought and gained knowledge and developed skills from one of the world’s leading universities that positioned her be successful as she transitioned into the public sphere. “The MPP allows you to engage with a broad spectrum of policy areas without feeling restricted. The applied elements of the course enable you to go beyond the theory and develop a diverse set of skills integral to working in public service,” she said.

    The AIG Foundation product revealed that the knowledge gained while on the scholarship, proved very handy in her role as a member of a committee that monitored and evaluated the implementation of Nigeria’s economic sustainability plan created in response to the economic impact of COVID-19, including her membership of the Fiscal Policy Reform Committee that came up with the Finance Bill for 2021. For her, the AIG Scholarships are a rare opportunity. Her words: “Not only did the scholarship made it possible for me to attend the University of Oxford, but it also provided a great support network. The team at the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation were always on hand to provide advice and support. I encourage any Nigerian Civil Servant looking to create change in the public sector to apply for the programme.”

    Changing narratives

    The AIG-Imoukheude Foundation, on its website, says it seeks to solve real-world problems by training its focus on advocacy, capacity building, civil service reforms, and improving healthcare. Through evidence-based advocacy, it seeks to provide focused citizens with information and knowledge about public sector performance so that they are empowered to call for improved public service delivery and hold the government accountable. It also advocates for increased private-public sector collaboration and knowledge transfer to improve the effectiveness of the public sector.

    It has capacity building programme directed at enhancing the proficiency of civil servants and other public sector officials to be more effective in their roles. This is done by funding scholarships, developing executive training programmes based on the needs of the public sector workforce, and collaborating with government entities to support their capacity-building initiatives. The AIG Foundation also supports the reform initiatives of public sector entities by providing financing, strategic support, and technical assistance, focusing on projects that will ultimately contribute to a more effective service.

    The foundation also seeks to improve access to quality, affordable healthcare and is working with the government to strengthen primary healthcare systems for better health outcomes for all citizens.

    “We also collaborate with carefully chosen partners to provide them with strategic support and funding to address some of the most significant challenges in Africa’s primary healthcare sector,” it said on its website.

  • How Africa can achieve prosperity, by Tinubu

    How Africa can achieve prosperity, by Tinubu

    • President pledges Nigeria’s support for AU, OIC

    President Bola Tinubu has sounded the need for Africa to focus on building peace and stability, saying this will be the continent’s path to growth and prosperity.

    He also called on the African Union (AU) to move beyond some elements among member-states, whose vision of the continent he described as narrow and evil, explaining why his leadership will avoid confrontations at the moment.

    President Tinubu, who is also the chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), expressed the opinion during a bilateral discussion with the President of the Union of Comoros and Chairperson of the AU, President Azali Assoumani, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

    He explained that Africa needs stability across board to take advantage of the development and opportunities to prosper presented to it by current global developments, declaring that this is the continent’s era.

    According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu also asserted that the AU is strategically positioned to secure consensus positions for the continent on economic and socio-political relations with the world, particularly with Nigeria’s backing.

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    Assoumani noted that the African Union seeks to complement Nigeria’s effort in securing peace and prosperity in Africa, rather than competing with it.

    He said it’s the responsibility of the African leaders to confront those wrestling for power on the continent.

    “We have told China and Russia that they have a responsibility to ensure that there is stability in these countries, as there will be no developmental partnership where there is a lack of stability in countries being impacted by coupists. We appreciate your stand on these matters,” the AU Chairperson said.

    As President of the Union of Comoros, the AU Chairperson said Comoros seeks to learn from Nigeria’s experience concerning the steady improvement in diversity management, electoral officiating and economic growth over many years.

    “We want to turn our country into an emerging economy and we need the experience of Nigeria as we seek your cooperation to conduct an election that will win us the respect of the international community and allow us to develop at the right speed and quality,” the Comoros President emphasised.

    President Tinubu also welcomed the Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Hissein Brahim Taha and reiterated that the Islamic world has a strategic role to play in the sustenance of peace and development in Africa and across the globe.

    The leader of the 57-nation body of cooperation praised the Nigerian President for his active effort in bringing African states to a place of common understanding.

  • Tinubu seeks local solutions to economic growth, joblessness

    Tinubu seeks local solutions to economic growth, joblessness

    • President offers incentives to willing investors
    • Elumelu praised for $100m start-ups seed fund

    President Bola Tinubu has challenged African political and business leaders to look inwards towards economic and youth unemployment issues.

    He made the call yesterday at the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) and United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Generation Unlimited (GENU) Breakfast Roundtable meeting, a side event at the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

    The President, who was represented by the Minister for Trade and Industry, Doris Uzoka-Anite, decried the over-reliance by Africans on foreign donors, calling for an end to that mindset.

    “I don’t think we are doing enough as Africans for Africa. We need to do a lot more. Tony Elumelu has been the major person driving investments in supporting the youths and start-ups.

    “We need to challenge ourselves a bit more. Africa has some of the richest people on the planet. We have a resource-rich continent with huge population of young people.

    “We need to take up the challenge upon ourselves as Africans to support one another. It is about time we stopped looking for international organisations for donor funding. We need to go out of that mentality.

    “We will rather have donor funds coming in to support what we have on ground already and not them coming to give us a seed or showing us the way. We actually know how to do things. In Africa, we have a rich culture and if we go back to our tradition, there is a whole lot we can learn from each other.”

    Continuing, the president noted that Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) were the engines of Nigerian and African economic growth, adding that they contributed almost half of national GDP, and more than 80% percent of employment.

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    In his welcome remarks titled, “The TEF Entrepreneurship Programme: A Decade of Impact,” Elumelu said it highlighted the significant contribution of the TEF’s flagship 100 million dollars Entrepreneurship Programme in advancing Africa’s socio-economic growth.

    He and his wife, according to Elumelu, took a bold step 13 years ago, to rewrite and change Africa by enhancing entrepreneurship development to galvanise African solutions.

    “Seed capital, training, mentoring and networking. We have lit a beacon, and we need the beacon to shine brighter and better. To do this, we need the support and collaboration of everyone.

    “One hundred million dollars is a drop of water in the ocean compared to what we need in Africa.

    “Young Africans need economic support. We’ve seen the devastating effect of climate change, how our young ones due to hopelessness are migrating and living in difficult situations. We want to put a stop to that,” he said.

    To achieve that, Elumelu called for collaboration to prioritise young Africans, bring more women to economic activities and alleviate poverty.

    Also, Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said TEF’s work aligns with the state programmes on economic empowerment and poverty reduction.

    Sanwo-Olu said collaborative efforts must be evolved to enhance the scale of Impact to deepen inclusion, equity and fairness.

    Regional Director for Africa, UNDP, Ahunna Eziakonwa, said the group partnered TEF due to shared belief in galvanising development across Africa and globally.

    Eziakonwa noted that Africans wealth was its population which constitutes 70 per cent of young, vibrant and innovative people.

    TEF’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Somachi Chris-Asoluka, said the foundation had funded 18,000 entrepreneurs, disbursing over a 100 million dollars directly as seed capital to these entrepreneurs and they have gone on to create over 400 thousand jobs across all African countries.