Category: Special Report

There is a consensus among stakeholders in the intellectual property ecosystem that the adoption of a national intellectual property policy and strategy for Nigeria is long overdue. However, beyond the validation and adoption of an intellectual property policy and strategy, experts posit that there is a more compelling need for implementation of the policy in order to achieve desired goals. ONYEDI OJIABOR AND GBENGA OMOKHUNU report

Books and other products of the creative minds have suffered greatly from the activities of those who reap from where they did not sow. This unacceptable practice, experts believe, has gone on all through history.

So, to prevent the continued stealing of what specialists refer to as intellectual properties, countries that make up the United Nations enacted a legal framework known as copyright, which promotes and protects the development of books and other creations of the mind. In light of this, stakeholders in the intellectual property ecosystem have reached a consensus that the adoption of a national intellectual property policy and strategy for Nigeria is long overdue.

They, however, stressed that there should be stringent implementation, noting that every policy is only good as the level of implementation it enjoys. Perhaps, the need to cover the gaps in the intellectual property network prompted a national multi-stakeholders workshop for the validation of the draft national intellectual property policy and strategy for the country. It was put together by government agencies that are gatekeepers in the intellectual property (IP) sub-sector in Nigeria.

Apparently, to underscore the importance of a national intellectual property policy and strategy for the country, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) partnered with the organisers. The event, which was held at the United Nations Building, Abuja, provided the platform for stakeholders in the IP-related industries and relevant public and policy agencies to examine and discuss the draft document of the national intellectual property policy and strategy with a view to finalising the document for subsequent adoption.

In attendance were the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, who was represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs Evelyn Ngige; Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, represented by Mr Fur M. Anpe, Director of Technology Acquisition and Adaptation, Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation; the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva, Ambassador Richards Adejola, represented by Mr Akindeji Aremu of the Permanent Mission in Geneva.

Also in attendance were heads of all collaborating IP agencies, including Dr John Asein, Director-General of Nigerian Copyright Commission; Dr Ibrahim Dan Azumi, Director-General of National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), represented by Dr Ephraim Okejiri; Chief Registrar of Commercial Law Department of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Stella Ezenduka; the Registrar of Trademarks, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Shafiu Adamu Yauri. In addition, the workshop had a large representation of participants drawn from the private and public sectors.

The event was declared open by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), who was represented by the Permanent Secretary and Solicitor-General of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs Beatrice Jedi Agba. The opening ceremony of the workshop was followed by presentations at plenary and breakout sessions by thematic groups representing critical aspects of the draft document.

Major presentations and discussion segments included National Intellectual Property (IP) Policies and Strategies in World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO’s) partnership with member states. Presentation and discussion of the draft national IP policy for Nigeria; presentation and discussion of the draft national IP policy for Nigeria (international consultants), presentation of the draft implementation strategy, discussions (draft policy and strategy) in three clusters (breakout) and presentations of reports from the breakout sessions by the respective rapporteurs of the three clusters.

Observations, recommendations and validation were made after robust engagement and discussions in the various plenary sessions and breakout groups. Participants particularly made some observations and recommendations to improve and enrich the draft National IP Policy and Strategy. The observations and recommendations were noted and incorporated into the draft document.

Thereafter, participants unanimously validated the National IP Policy and Strategy for onward transmission to relevant ministers and the Federal Executive Council for adoption as the National IP Policy and Strategy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It was, indeed, a gathering of eggheads in the intellectual property industry for the three-day event. Intellectual Property law “relates to the establishment and protection of intellectual creations such as inventions, designs brand, artwork and music.” It is “a body of laws that govern all the relevant aspects, including ownership, registration, protection, licensing, patents, copyright and trademark which enable people to earn recognition or financial benefit from what they invent.”

The validation and adoption of the draft national intellectual property policy and strategy can only be meaningful when President Muhammadu Buhari signs the Copyright Bill, which has been passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly, into law. Undoubtedly, the National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy (NIPPS) is an important aspect of the government’s policies that need awareness and support from Nigerians to engender much-needed economic empowerment.

NIPPS’s development is said to have begun this year, arising from the collaboration between the Federal Government and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). Many stakeholders have been yearning for the country’s intellectual property to be protected and given a life of its own for the benefit of creators and inventors. Its economic importance, stakeholders say, cannot be over-emphasised. This, they say, brought about a validation and adoption workshop of the draft National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy for the country.

The Federal Government and agencies responsible for Intellectual Property (IP) in Nigeria, with the support of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), developed a draft National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy for the country. The project, which commenced this year, also benefited from the inputs of national and international experts and public and private sector stakeholders. The vision of NIPPS, according to the final draft, is utilising the intellectual property for sustainable economic prosperity; while the mission is to promote a comprehensive and conducive IP ecosystem as a catalyst for harnessing the full potential of IP for socio-cultural development and sustainable economic growth.

Findings showed that Nigeria has legislation for the administration of patents, designs and trademarks. What is needed is legislation for the administration of trade secrets, databases, integrated circuits, geographical indications, utility models or petty patents. Malami, at the workshop, said the re-enactment of the Copyright Bill, which has been passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly, is awaiting transmission and assent by President Buhari. He was excited that the workshop is the first time Nigeria is taking deliberate steps to put in place a framework to guide the orderly development of its intellectual property system.

It is also an opportunity, the AGF said, to define a path, in line with global standards, for unlocking and harnessing the country’s rich endowments in the areas of innovation and creativity. Malami, represented by Mrs Jaddy-Agba, said: “Convinced of the need to bring the country’s intellectual property laws to international standards, this administration, in October 2017, ratified four treaties in the field of copyright.

“The step has been followed by the re-enactment of the Copyright Bill which has been passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly and is awaiting transmission and assent. In addition, earlier in 2021, the President had assented to the Plants Varieties Protection Act as part of a deliberate policy to protect the rights of plant breeders who propagate new and improved plant varieties. We hope that the new intellectual property policy would catalyse the needed reforms in all aspects of intellectual property law and administration, especially the Trade Marks Act, the Patents and Designs Act and the Merchandise Marks Act, all of which require comprehensive review.

“In the past three decades, Nigeria has continued to witness exponential growth of its creative and innovative sectors. We had recognised the importance of innovation and creativity in the empowerment of citizens for wealth creation and national economic development.”

The AGF, who said the government is aware of the importance of a national policy in the generation, protection, use and promotion of intellectual property assets, added that “a policy is only as good as its implementation.” Continuing, he said: “It is, therefore, heartening that a complementary implementation strategy has also been developed outside the policy. As envisaged in that strategy, we must intensify our engagement with relevant stakeholders to make them understand and use the document for informed actions.”

Malami said the Nigerian Copyright Commission, in collaboration with the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, has developed a Model Intellectual Property Policy for Nigerian Universities. He assured that the government will give the final stages of the validation process the needed attention.

The Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organisation, Daren Tang noted that with a population of over 218 million, with a median age of 18.1, the hugely creative and innovative potential among the youth demographic in Nigeria cannot be overemphasised. Tang, who was represented by Loretta Asiedu, stressed the need to properly harness the creative potential of this kind of human capital by the adoption of policies that promote innovation and creativity through the intellectual property system.

“It is important to develop a framework to unlock innovative potential by facilitating the use of the IP system for economic empowerment by all stakeholder groups and levels, including hitherto underserved parts of the population, including women, youth, small and medium enterprises and indigenous communities. Considering developments on the continent, such as the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area, with its potential impact on intellectual property rights, the time for this framework is now.

“For us in the World Intellectual Property Organisation who are acquainted with the development of the IP landscape on the continent, it is very encouraging to note that stakeholders in Africa are attaching great importance to issues of intellectual property, shifting the paradigm from merely raising awareness on the subject, through assisting member states to develop legislative and institutional frameworks for the promotion and protection of IPRs, through building the capacity of member state IP offices to process applications, to assisting member states to develop, by way of a thoroughly engaging consultative process, National IP Policies and Strategies that demystify intellectual property and makes it far from a preserve of the wealthy developed nations.”

With a vision of “utilising the intellectual property for sustainable national prosperity” and a mission “to promote a comprehensive and conducive IP ecosystem as a catalyst for harnessing the full potential of IP for socio-cultural development and sustainable economic growth” the national intellectual property policy and strategy, may be set to fly pending the final endorsement by the FEC.

What is more, with laudable strategic objectives, including strengthening the legal framework for the protection of intellectual property rights in Nigeria; strengthening the institutional framework for the administration and management of intellectual property rights in Nigeria, to enhance the generation and protection of intellectual property rights; to promote and facilitate commercial exploitation of IP assets and technology transfer; to strengthen the legal and institutional framework for the enforcement of IP rights in Nigeria; to develop the required human resources for the administration, protection, commercialisation, and enforcement of IP rights; to promote IP training, education and awareness, the country is bound to reap bountiful economic benefits from the adoption of the policy.

About a legal framework for the administration of intellectual property rights (Industrial property rights), the policy recognised that currently, Nigeria has legislations for the administration of patents, designs, and trademarks while patents and designs are administered by the Patents and Designs Act,  Chapter P.2 of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.

On the other hand, trademark matters are governed by common law and statutory provisions. The statutory provisions, it said, are regulated by the Federal Government through various laws such as the Trademarks Act1 (TMA) and the Merchandise Marks Act2; albeit some elements of trademark protection are also contained in the provisions of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control Act3 (NAFDAC), the Companies and Allied Matters Act 4 (CAMA) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act 5 (SON).

It said all aspects of trademark engagements other than the issues relating to common law rights are regulated by the Federal Government. Therefore, it follows that these laws have national application in their coverage. It, however, noted that there are currently no legislations for the administration of trade secrets, databases, integrated circuits, geographical indications, utility models or petty patents. For trade secrets or confidential information, it said section 37 of the Constitution guarantees a form of privacy as a fundamental right. It did not forget to add that there are remedies under common law for breach of confidential information and privacy.

According to the policy, there is no special legislation for databases, but this is protectable under the Copyright Act. There is no special statute on integrated circuits, but they can be protected and registered as industrial designs. There is no special protection for geographical indications or appellations of origin. On copyright and related rights, it said the Copyright Act Cap C.28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria is the main source of the Nigerian Copyright Law, which makes robust provisions for copyright protection, administration and enforcement in Nigeria. It further said the Act makes provision for neighbouring rights that cover performers’ rights and protection of folklore in Nigeria.

In line with the Marrakesh Treaty to facilitate access to published works by visually impaired persons (the Marrakesh Treaty), it said the Act made provides for the reproduction of published works in Braille for the exclusive use of the blind and sound recordings made by institutions or establishments approved by the government. The Law on copyright, it said, operates throughout the country being an Act of the Federal Government, copyright being on the exclusive list of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) on which only the Federal Government could legislate.

The Law also includes subsidiary legislations that the Nigerian Copyright Commission is empowered to make pursuant to its regulatory mandate. The Act, in Section 31, also protects the expression of folklore in Nigeria against reproduction, communication to the public by performance, broadcasting, distribution by cable or other means, adaptations, translations and other transformations when such expressions are made either for commercial purposes or outside their customary context.

On plant/animal variety rights, it said the protection for plant/animal varieties is by a sui generis system, under the recently enacted PVP Act 2021 of Nigeria, which covers all genera and species. It noted that, apart from protecting plant varieties, the PVP Act 2021, encourages investment in plant breeding and crop variety development and establishes a Plant Variety Protection Office for the promotion of increased staple crop productivity for smallholder farmers in Nigeria. It, however, said the PVP regulations will need to be developed in order to operationalise the PVP Act 2021.

In addition, the Patents and Designs Acts also provide for the grant of patents for biotech inventions pertaining to plants and animals. On traditional knowledge and traditional medicines, it said Traditional Knowledge (TK) and Traditional Medicine is not protected by patents, “but there is protection for some TK as folklore under copyright. There is no deliberate policy in place and there is a very low level of appreciation of the importance of such policy in the public sector and amongst organised private sector organisations,” it said.

On international treaties, agreements, and protocols such as industrial property rights, it said for industrial property, Nigeria is a member of the WIPO, the Paris Convention for the protection of industrial property, the Nice Agreement concerning the international classification of goods and services for the purposes of the registration of Marks and the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) and the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

It said though Nigeria’s industrial property law predates the TRIPS Agreement, they are substantially consistent with the fundamental provisions within the agreement. The absence of regulations for the protection of trade secrets, databases, integrated circuits, and geographical indications, it said, remains a challenge to conformity with TRIPs.

Although there are some Bills at the National Assembly seeking to align Nigerian laws to her treaty obligations, the domestication of TRIPS into the country’s IP landscape has been a source of doubt and controversy among stakeholders. As Malami stated, the implementation of the policy is key. Of what essence is the validation and adoption of a policy and strategy that will end up on the shelf?

In this piece, Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo of Anambra State examines the chances of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and counsels that unleashing social mob on critics and relying on propaganda tactics cannot take him far in his political ambition.

My attention has been drawn to some of the tirades on social media following my frank response during an interview on Channels TV regarding the “investments” Mr. Peter Obi claimed to have made with Anambra state revenues. Sadly, several of the comments left the issue of the interview to probe or suggest motives, inferred from my response on “investment” that I am opposed to Peter Obi’s ambition and therefore committed a “crime” for which the punishment is internecine abuse and harassment even to my family. Some people even suggest that the gunmen who went to attack a checkpoint at my hometown on Saturday 12th November but were gunned down was part of the mob reaction. I used to think that for decent people, certain conducts are off-limits, and that in Anambra, politics is not warfare.

Of course, as a Christian, I know that telling the truth can be very costly, even suicidal. Our Lord and saviour was crucified simply for telling the truth the people did not want to hear. I promised that I won’t be the usual politician, and will not knowingly lie to the people. I am not an Angel but rather than knowingly repeat the same deceitful character that politicians are known for, I would leave public office. It is a vow I made to my God and to my family. Only God knows how many days I will be on this seat but whether I am on it or not I will always say it as it is – knowing fully the suicidal consequences of telling the truth in a political arena, especially in a country where lying and deceit by politicians have become culture and celebrated as being “smart.”

Ideally, I should just have laughed off the infantile exuberances as many friends advised (I am used to this, having been in the ‘Arena’ for a while). I always re-read the quote “The Man in the Arena…” by President Theodore Roosevelt (1910) to remind myself of the burden of public office. Several well-meaning Nigerians and Ndigbo called to advise that I should just ignore them. A respected Igbo elder statesman, who called, advised that I should just ignore what he described as “Peter Obi and his social media mob.” According to him, “everyone knows that he is going nowhere, but they are looking for who to blame.” After some 20 minutes of discussion, he advised that I should personally author a response – just for the records.

Everyone knows that I don’t follow the winds or one to succumb to bullies, nor shy away from a good fight especially when weighty matters of principles and future of the people are involved. One lesson I learnt from my former boss and mentor, (former) President (Olusegun) Obasanjo, is never to be on the fence. I learnt that one must always take a stand: for better or for worse. I do so with every sense of humility, and leave history to judge. Most people have commended me for “tactfully avoiding being drawn into the Peter Obi issue” until now.  Since I am now being forced into the Arena on this matter, I have a duty and a right of reply, if only for the records, and to also give the social media mob something substantive to rant upon and rain their abuses for weeks. In this preliminary response, there are some things I will refrain from saying here because, in the end, February/March 2023 will come and go, and life will continue.

At the outset, let me state that this exhibition of desperation, intolerance and attempt to bully everyone who expresses the slightest of dissent is reprehensible. This is Hitler in the making. When the revered Arch Bishop Chukwuma stated that in Enugu State, they were not obedient, he was ferociously bullied on social media. Any dissent is tagged a saboteur or, in my case, it could be that I want to contest for president after office or that I am envious of Peter Obi. Soludo envious of Peter Obi? Totally laughable! But this is the same person I was asking to return to APGA in March 2022 and contest for president and yet envious or doesn’t want him to be president. This is madness! Seriously speaking, the obdurate attempt to muscle the republican Igbos to maintain the silence of the graveyard is antithetical to everything Igbo. It is not who we are. Insulting other ethnic groups and religions or denigrating others is certainly not the path to Aso Rock. If this is not checked, it may indeed endanger the future political and economic interests of the Igbos.

In his time, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was the undisputed all-time leader of the Igbos but he had his arch rivals and even independent candidates won landslide elections against his party, NCNC, in Igboland. Obafemi Awolowo had stiff opposition among the Yorubas while Ahmadu Bello had his share of opponents in the Northern region. Today, no one has accused Afenifere or other strong presidential candidates from the South-west of being “anti-Yoruba” because Tinubu is a frontrunner, nor has anyone accused (Rabiu) Kwankwaso and several other Northern candidates of being “anti-North” for not supporting Atiku. As a full blooded republican Igboman and democrat, I reject this despotic intolerance.

Yes, I fully understand the anger of some urban and Diaspora youths and some Nigerians who are dissatisfied with the trajectory of the country or with the candidates of the major parties and wished other options. Not knowing much about others, some see Peter Obi as the contrast they wished for. I get the point. But this is a democracy: the minority will have their say, but the majority their way. Translating anger and social media agitation into political outcomes requires humongous work.

For full disclosure, let me state that Peter Obi and I are not just friends, we call ourselves “brothers.” But we have political differences: he left APGA for PDP after his tenure as Governor while I have remained in APGA since 2013. During the last two governorship elections in Anambra in 2017 and 2021, he led the PDP campaigns but APGA won landslide in both elections. By the way, in 2016, he visited and proposed that I defect to PDP and contest the 2017 election against the incumbent Willie Obiano, but I declined. After my victory in November 2021, he called to congratulate me as I did to him in 2010. That is the Anambra way: we fight fiercely during campaigns but share drinks at the next social events. After all, it was the great Zik of Africa who taught us that in politics, there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies but only permanent interests.

We sat next to each other during the Emeka Anyaoku lecture at Nnamdi Azikiwe University on 8th March, 2022, and I made an offer for him to return to APGA and contest as its presidential candidate. Yes, I did. In my mind, it was time for Igbos to organise their region politically before stepping out to bargain power with other organised coalitions. On his part, he tried to convince me that he expected APC to unravel; while PDP would be the “only one” standing. We debated and he proposed that we could meet later to discuss further. He attended my inauguration on March 17.  A few weeks later, he requested and I obliged him to use the Anambra State government house facility to launch his presidential bid under PDP.  I was surprised to read in the news later that he had defected to LP (a party with literally zero structure), thereby attempting to weaken the same PDP he saw as the saviour a few weeks earlier. He paid me a courtesy call as the presidential candidate of LP, and we had frank discussions.

During our meeting, I reminded him of my proposal to him to come and contest under APGA. More importantly, I told him (possibly to his surprise) that I did not make the proposal in the belief that he will win in 2023 but that it would give us the opportunity to get our people organised as a bargaining force, with him leading the effort since I was busy as Governor (my immediate predecessor, Willie Obiano had indicated to me that he was not disposed to contest an election). We noted that we were in opposing political parties and in response to my direct question as to how I might help him, he requested that I should just ensure a “level playing field” and let the people decide. In fidelity, my government has provided the atmosphere for him and his supporters to operate freely in Anambra without any molestation (compare with treatments to LP even in other South-east states), and allowed his billboards which are, in many places, wrongly placed almost on the roads.  As a person, I have several shortcomings but being petty is not one of them. We have shown him tremendous goodwill—which he did not extend to the same Labour Party when he was Governor (Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, as LP governorship candidate in 2013 was denied the use of Ekwueme Square for his rallies).

Someone reminded me that a mob has no head and hence, cannot reason. The same Peter Obi was one of those who told Ndigbo that APGA was the vehicle through which Igbos would organise to engage the rest of Nigeria politically. He was said to have sworn to Ojukwu and publicly that he would quit politics the day he leaves APGA. The rest is history. When he was the Vice-Presidential candidate under PDP in 2019, the emotive train then dubbed the ticket “the Igbo project.” As then chairman of planning and strategy committee of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, I cautioned for a more pragmatic approach but the emotive blaze of the time held sway. We were vindicated afterwards.

By the way, APGA is Nigeria’s third largest political party today (after APC and PDP, it is the only other party with a state governor and third largest presence at the National Assembly). And some people have the temerity to suggest that APGA’s candidate should “step down” for Peter Obi as the “Igbo candidate.” I wonder when Igbos met to choose a candidate. They even argue that after all APGA supported President Jonathan and did not field a candidate then. Well, the fact as I was told was that no candidate showed interest under APGA then. Besides, APGA’s unwritten rule then was to support the party at the centre – which, if we apply this time, should actually be APC. But we have our own candidate. Recall that all the political parties had their primaries during the same period. Once Peter Obi realised that he won’t get the presidential or vice-presidential ticket of PDP, he ran to Labour Party (a political party known as a transit camp for aspirants who lost primaries in APC, PDP and APGA), and the chorus by a vociferous minority now is that LP has become the “Igbo project,” and the APGA candidate who emerged the same time as Peter Obi should “step down.” Ridiculous! Now I truly understand that a mob cannot reason.

When will Ndigbo understand and learn politics, especially of Nigeria? When Bola Ahmed Tinubu defied the political wind of the time and stood out as the “only man standing” in AD and later AC (before ACN) against a sitting president of Yoruba descent, no one accused him of being “anti-Yoruba.” Indeed, everyone recalls that both Tinubu and President Obasanjo disagreed politically, and probably still disagree – but none is being accused of being “anti-Yoruba.” Under Tinubu, the South-west strategically organised under a different political party, the ACN and went into a formidable alliance that kicked out a sitting president (in Africa?), and that alliance is not broken yet. Igbos, in their frenzied Nzogbu nzogbu politics, have sadly found themselves in a political cul-de-sac. Tragic indeed! When will my people smell the morning coffee?

Let me now address the substance of my response during the interview, and I stand by what I said. On record, I doubt that any governor in Nigeria has paid as much tribute to his predecessors as I have done during campaigns and in office. I always said that ALL of them did well and to the best of their abilities. Yes, Peter Obi was governor for 8 years (2006 -2014) during a period of unprecedented oil boom and prosperity in Nigeria (Nigerian economy was growing at average of 6-8% per annum, and oil price was highest during this time). I have seen all kinds of funny comments and interpretations regarding what I said about the value of his “investments.” Some refer to SabMiller and bandy all kinds of figures as to how the investment of $12 million is now worth less than $3 million. Of course, there is room for legitimate debate about the logic or quality of the investments. For example, people might differ as to the propriety of using taxpayers money to promote a company in which one is a shareholder in the name of “investment,” or even whether so called “savings” are warranted when there were dozens of schools without roofs or classrooms, or local governments without access roads or hospitals without doctors/nurses. A Bishop recently publicly advised that I should please try to construct the “Ngige type of quality roads,” stating that the ones done by his successor (that is, Peter Obi) had washed off, while Ngige’s remained. I promised and we are delivering quality roads that Anambra has not seen before.

For sure, prudence in public resource management is desirable and we are opening new frontiers in that area. People will however differ as to whether saving money in the bank account is a KPI (key performance indicator) for a government where poverty is escalating except where its institutions for absorption are weak or where the government has no robust/big agenda for transformation. Governments exist to save lives, not to save money. We can debate and differ on this – (by the way, I know when/how it is appropriate to “save” as I built Nigeria’s foreign reserves from $10 billion I inherited to all time $63 billion, and even after paying $12 billion to pay-off Nigeria’s external debt and going through unprecedented global financial crisis, I still left behind about $45 billion – Go and verify!).

Funny, in the rabid frenzy to grab every straw, they cut a clip during our governorship debate where I was stating vital statistics and they claimed that I was “praising” Peter Obi then while committing a crime now by “criticising” him. Hahahaha! Well, it is true that I said during the debate that, according to National Bureau of Statistics, poverty in Anambra actually grew (from less than 25% in 2005) to about 53% under Peter Obi in 2010/2011 but fell under Willie Obiano to 14.78% in 2020. Yes, poverty more than doubled under Peter Obi and more than 50% of Ndi Anambra were in poverty under him. Go and verify! I am Governor, and sitting on privileged information which I will not want to use against a political opponent. But on matters of facts, I will always state same as is. As the saying goes, you can fool some of the people some of the time but never all the people all the time. Enough said for now!

Where do we go from here? I listened to my friend Governor (Nasir) El-Rufai on TV explaining why the northern governors decided that power should shift to the South. According to him, they asked themselves what would their founding fathers – Ahmadu Bello, Tafawa Balewa or Aminu Kano have done in the circumstance? Today, I ask my people, Ndigbo: do we ask what Azikiwe or M.I. Okpara or Akanu Ibiam would do in the present circumstance? I worry that Ndigbo as Nigeria’s foremost itinerant tribe and with the greatest stake in the Nigerian project does not yet have a strategy to engage Nigeria – politically! Every four years, we resurface with emotive Nzogbu Nzogbu political dance (“it is our turn dance” but without organisation or strategy) and fizzle out afterwards; while others work 24/7 strategising and organising.

Let’s be clear: Peter Obi knows that he can’t and won’t win. He knows the game he is playing, and we know too; and he knows that we know. The game he is playing is the main reason he didn’t return to APGA. The brutal truth (and some will say, God forbid) is that there are two persons/parties seriously contesting for president: the rest is exciting drama! That many Americans may not like the fact that Joe Biden (79 years) and Donald Trump (76 years) are two frontrunners for president in their parties does not remove the fact that if both of them emerge as candidates, definitely one of them will be president in 2024.

As my brother, I wish him well and even pray for him. I told him during his courtesy call that my prayer is that himself or Prof Umeadi of APGA would win, why not? That is from my heart, but I also told him that my head and facts on the ground led me to know that it’s probability is next to zero (what I cannot say before you, I won’t say behind you). So I already told him my opinion. Indeed, there is no credible pathway for him near the first two positions, and if care is not taken, he won’t even near the third position. Analysts tell him you don’t need “structure” to win. Fantasy! Of course, LP won governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun on social media and via phantom polls, while getting barely 2,000 votes on the ground. Creating a credible third force for presidential election in Nigeria requires a totally different strategy and extreme hard work.

Of course, Peter Obi will get some votes, and may probably win in Anambra state – as “home boy.” But Anambra is not Nigeria. If he likes, I can even campaign for him but that won’t change much. From internal state by state polling available to me, he was on course to get 25% in 5 states as at August this year. The latest polling shows that it is down to four states, and declining. Not even in Lagos state (supposed headquarters of urban youths) where Labour Party could not find candidates to contest for House of Reps or Senate. The polls also show that he is taking votes away mostly from PDP. Indeed, if I were Asiwaju Tinubu, I would even give Peter Obi money as someone heading one of the departments of his campaign because Obi is making Tinubu’s pathway to victory much easier by indirectly pulling down PDP. It is what it is!

The current fleeting frenzy, if not checked, will cost Ndigbo dearly for years. The South-east has the lowest number of votes of any region, but it is also the only region where the presidential race might be a 4-way race (it is a two-way race in the other 5 regions), thereby ensuring that our votes won’t count in the making of the next president of Nigeria. Afterwards, we would start complaining that we don’t get “what we deserve” or cry of marginalisation. During the 2019 presidential election, the five South-east states were united for PDP but contributed merely 1.6 million votes to PDP which was about the votes that Kano state gave to Buhari. The emotions might run to heavens but politics-power is about cold calculations, organisation and building alliances for power. In a democracy, it is a game of numbers. So far, I don’t see any of these – and 2023 might again be a wasted opportunity for Ndigbo! What is our Plan B when Peter Obi loses in February 2023? Some people prefer that we should play the Ostrich while Peter Obi toys with the collective destiny of over 60 million Igbos. Yes, you pray that he wins, but what if he fails as he is certain to? The Bible says that my people perish for lack of knowledge. As the saying goes, only those who plan can control the future. Ndigbo, wake up and smell the coffee!

What would Zik of Africa or M.I. Okpara do in this circumstance? Our founding fathers understood that in politics, you don’t get what you deserve but what you bargain/negotiate, and you negotiate with your organisation and VOTES. Not social media militancy or bullying (where over 90% of actual voters are not on social media)! Our fathers built alliances with other major political parties in other regions (not with socio-cultural groups that don’t command any votes), and Ndigbo were in the reckoning in the first and second republics. After the elections, we will see how many votes any of the leaders of the socio-cultural groups will get for Peter Obi from their wards. Sometimes I even sense a conspiracy to nudge us on a path to nowhere thereby further pushing us into irrelevance, and I pray that I am wrong. Just my two cents!

It is not too late for Ohanaeze Ndigbo and progressive Igbo leaders to pre-emptively start charting a pragmatic future for Ndigbo in Nigeria after the elections.  Armchair social media analysts can have the luxury of fantasizing with wild speculations. Right or wrong, they earn their pay and with no consequences. For us as leaders, the lives of tens of millions are at stake. We have a historic duty to act and being silent or politically correct is not an option. For starters, Ohanaeze should study the report of my committee (planning and strategy) in 2019. It may still be relevant today. Second, Ndigbo should seriously study the MoU signed at the Yar’Adua Centre in 2010. The leader of Igbo Political Association, Chief Simon Okeke and our members are still there. Thirdly and for me, Ndigbo should strategize and bargain especially with the TWO candidates likely to be president on at least four central issues:

(A) Lasting peace and security in the South East, including the release and engagement with Nnamdi Kanu; (B)South East Economic transformation agenda and the FGN’s Marshall Plan for the South East as promised since the end of the Civil War (the post war ‘reconstruction’). We appreciate the Second Niger Bridge and recent contract for MTN to reconstruct the Onitsha-Enugu expressway. But the rail-lines to the five state capitals, speedy access to the sea, highways linking South East to the North and South South, addressing our existential threat as gully erosion capital of Africa, Free Trade and Export Processing Zones, etc; (C) Restructuring Agenda for Nigeria that devolves powers/resources to the subnational entities and in which it would no longer matter where the President comes from; (D) Levelling the playing field for the unleashing of the private sector and the full participation of Ndigbo in the economic and governance space; etc.

To conclude, let me once again wish my brother Peter Obi good luck. He should have fun and enjoy the fleeting frenzy of the moment. But he must moderate the desperation as exhibited by his social media mob. There is a limit to propaganda. A mob action often reflects the character of its leader. No one has a monopoly of social media violence, and no one should play God. Life won’t end by February/March 2023. I hope that after February 2023, Peter Obi will return to APGA (the party that made him everything he is politically) as I offered him on 8th March, 2022 and begin the hard work, if he truly wants to be president of Nigeria. It won’t happen by desperately jumping from one party to another or by unleashing a social media mob on everyone who slightly disagrees with you. I decided to pen my views personally – again for the records. On this, I don’t mind being a one man minority. As history beckons, my conscience and sense of duty to my people dictate that I should never be silent. I will happily accept the judgment of history for standing by the truth!

Today, as the world marks the World Diabetes Day (WDD), experts are worried that the silent killer of mankind is assuming a more dangerous public health crisis in Nigeria and around the world. CHINYERE OKOROAFOR reports that more than eleven million Nigerians – three in ten adults – are living with diabetes, with the nation facing a situation akin to a ticking time bomb.

In medical world, diabetes is dubbed the “silent killer” because it causes a slew of additional problems in patients. As a result, medical experts often preach the gospel that it’s critical to keep diabetes under control in order to avoid the complications that come with it. Reason: If diabetes is discovered early, it can be effectively treated. Unfortunately, diabetes is often taken for granted by many individuals because it doesn’t manifest easily as a health challenge, most times until when it is almost too late.

It is as a result of this that Mega Lifesciences, a leading pharmaceutical company embarked on a sensitisation of residents of Lagos State to the dangers of the ailment that could be life-threatening, most times. The pharmaceutical giant used the sensitisation programme to commemorate the World Diabetes Day, being its 9th edition of the diabetes education and awareness campaign.

During the event, medical experts called on Nigerians to take advantage of this year’s sensitisation to the dangers of diabetes, its prevention and care tips to take care of their health. This, they said, would engender better management of the ailment.

The World Diabetes Day is celebrated every November 14 as a global awareness campaign to draw attention to diabetes, a non-communicable but long-lasting disease condition known to be one of the major health and development challenges of modern times. It is largely preventable and it affects individuals of all ages. The theme of this year’s celebration, “Education to Protect Tomorrow,” under the combined theme of the World Diabetes Day 2021-23 campaign “Access to Diabetes Care,” was aimed at raising awareness around the fact that millions of people living with diabetes around the world do not have access to diabetes care.

Diabetes patients require constant care and support – experts

Experts say that diabetic patients require constant care and support to manage their condition and avoid complications. Nine in 10 of diabetics have the Type 2 variant, a lifestyle disease linked to obesity and unhealthy living. The Type 1 variant is an unpreventable autoimmune disease that develops in childhood.

The Head of Business of Mega Lifesciences, Amit Raghunvanshy, said Mega Lifesciences’s initiative tagged, “Good health by yourself,” is a platform where Nigerians can check their health on the pharmaceutical company’s website. “As the word is explanatory, you can see good health; you are taking care of your own health, and you are responsible for your health. I have realised that if you keep on talking to someone to live a healthy lifestyle, they will not change unless they decide on their own and shun a crummy lifestyle, especially as it pertains to diet; then only will it happen.

“So, you have to take your health into your own hands. That is very important. Based on that, we have created a website (www.ng. megawecare.com) where one can check one’s levels of health. “On that website, one can register oneself for free and one can get health-related newsletters. You can see there are free tools, which are international tools. You can check your basal metabolic rate that is BMR. You can check your BMI, you can check your heart rate and you can check other conditions also even prostate. Not only on diabetes but also about other health conditions such as prostate enlargement; this is also a top issue in Nigeria,” he said.

He also hinted that the company is dedicated to assisting Nigerian doctors in research. Explaining what diabetes is as well as the symptoms and prevention, Dr Akinyele Akinlade, Senior Consultant Physician/Endocrinologist at the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos, said Nigerians should stop being too spiritual and face reality when they are being diagnosed with diabetes. According to him, too much intake of Coca-Cola or sugar is not necessarily what causes diabetes, but the inability of insulin to move glucose into the cells so that the cells can use the glucose to generate energy.

“We need to get what diabetes is because when you tell someone that he has diabetes, the first thing he says is ‘I don’t drink coke, I don’t take sugar.’ We get diabetes not because we drink coke, not because we take too much sugar, not because we eat eba or amala. When we say someone has diabetes, what we actually mean is that the person’s body is not able to deal with the sugar that the body generates from the food that person has eaten.

“No matter what meal you take, it eventually gets broken down to become sugar, fat and protein. And the essence of all these molecules is to help the body to generate energy and there is one chemical that our body produces which is called insulin. The role of insulin is to move this glucose into the cells so that the cells can use the glucose to generate energy. And it is when the body is able to generate the energy that we’re able to do all the things we are able to do,” he said.

Types of diabetes and the risk factors

The two main types of diabetes, according to Akinlade, are Type one and Type two. In Type one, which is common in children, the body doesn’t produce insulin at all while in Type two, the body produces insulin, but the quantity it produces is inadequate. “So the sugar still builds up in the blood.”

He added that sometimes when women get pregnant, their blood sugar levels start to rise as a result of the pregnancy. “For expectant women, they are diagnosed to have what we call gestational diabetes. Once they are delivered of their babies, their blood sugar goes back to normal. But what we must note is that any woman who has had gestational diabetes or diabetes during pregnancy, later in life, that person is most likely to also develop diabetes.

“So, there are other forms of diabetes, which can happen if you have a problem with the pancreas, liver, misuse of drugs like steroids; some anti-hypertensive drugs can also lead the blood sugar to go up and so forth, but they are not as common as type one. Type Two is the most common. Worldwide, the number of diabetes is more than 500 million as of the last count in 2021. In Nigeria, we have more of young people who have diabetes. But we know from our practice, that this number is not correct. We probably have more than that number,” he said.

While encouraging people to always check their blood sugar level, Akinlade added that 50 per cent of people who have diabetes don’t even know that they have it. “The intriguing thing about diabetes is that 50 per cent of people who have it don’t know that they have it. And that’s why we encourage that when patients come to the hospital, no matter what they want to complain about when their test is being carried out, a blood sugar check should be part of it. Because we’ve been able to diagnose so many people who didn’t even come with complaints of diabetes,” he said.

While highlighting the symptoms of diabetes, Akinlade said those who are fortunate may start noticing that they are passing a lot of urine. “They wake up in the night to pass urine more than four or five times. They notice that they pass a large volume of urine or sometimes some people just notice that when they pass urine and it drops on the floor, ants gather around the urine.

“The only thing some people may notice is that they drink plenty of water while they are losing weight. Or they notice that their vision is getting blurred. Some people may notice that they have a toothache, recurrent boils or frequent vagina discharge. When you notice any of these symptoms, surely if you have a family issue, you should be checking for diabetes.

“The sad part is that many people ignore the symptoms until they develop complications. You know when you develop complications of diabetes; most times it is not reversible. Many times for many people, the first time they get to know that they have diabetes is when they have a foot that is not healing and they need to go to the hospital. That’s number one. Number two is you also notice that we’re all growing bigger or fatter, simply because we’re not exercising as we used to,” he said.

For those who didn’t develop diabetes during their active life, Akinlade said the risk of developing diabetes is high as they grow older as a result of inactivity. “If you have a family history, chances of developing diabetes are also higher. So, for those of us who have parents, or a parent who already has diabetes, or a brother or a sister who has diabetes, we also have a risk of developing it and when we notice, when you see your mother or your father, being very careful with certain food, running away from drinking coke, fanta, malt and all that, you also need to follow them because that is a healthy lifestyle. Diabetes is now preventable. We have to ensure that we watch our weight and exercise very often. Also, regular blood sugar checks are very crucial.”

On the complications that may arise when we have diabetes or we don’t manage it well, Akinlade said: “Diabetes affects every part of our body. It can cause a stroke. It can cause blindness. It can cause a heart attack. It can cause amputation. But we can avoid this stage if we manage our diabetes well. It can also lead to infertility, not only in women but also in men. So, if we manage it well, we can prevent all these complications.”

A Senior Lecturer at the College of Medicine, the University of Lagos/Honorary Consultant Paediatrician to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Dr Elizabeth Eberechi Oyenusi, said people who have been diagnosed with diabetes need the information and education to know what to do, adding that the management of diabetes depends on the patient.

“The first access to education is for the person who is predisposed to diabetes. So, the person diagnosed with diabetes needs the information and education to know what to do. Diabetes is one of those conditions that their day-to-day management depends on the patient.”

She recounted how a diabetic patient suffered the amputation of the leg because she didn’t get appropriate education on the complication of diabetes. “I’ve seen a diabetic patient whose son was getting married. She had to wear an ill-fitting shoe, and by the time she came back from the ceremony, she had a wound on the leg and she didn’t take it seriously. And by the time she came to the hospital, the wound has spread so much that they needed to be cut off. Instead of just cutting it when it was just the toe she waited until it got above the knee that the amputation had to happen. This didn’t need to happen if she had enough education about not wearing ill-fitting shoes, for example,” she said.

The Product Manager of Diabetes Care, Mega Lifesciences, Adedayo Aremu, said the pharmaceutical company has reached over 200,000 people in its quest to educate them on diabetes prevention and care. “Mega Lifescience is a company that is dedicated to wellness and Nigerians are very interested in it. That is why we are committed to various wellness education projects. One of them is the patient education process. In the last five years, for example, we’ve been able to reach out to no fewer than 200,000 in our quest to educate them on diabetes,” she said.

Globally, the transition to cleaner energy is on the front burner. Recent developments indicate that Nigeria, through the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline; Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline, and Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano, may be launching a renewed double assault in the direction of the abundant gas reserves to drive the global energy transition. By extension of partnerships, other African countries are also to benefit, thereby becoming strong players in the global gas market, MUYIWA LUCAS writes.

“There is opportunity in adversity” as a maxim may be playing out for Nigeria and some African countries. This is so because, currently, the world’s attention has focused on the transition to renewable energy.

Amid the ongoing Russia/Ukraine conflict, Nigeria’s Minister of State on Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva seems to have seen the inherent opportunities.

Not ready to miss out on such openings, Sylva, in March, while receiving a delegation of the European Union (EU) Ambassadors led by Samuela Isopi, EU’s Ambassador to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in his Abuja office, was quick to market the potential of the country and continent in the area of gas supply to Europe.

“Nigeria is ready to step in as an alternative gas supplier to Europe in the absence of supplies from Russia,” Sylva said. This much he said in the face of Russia’s continued threat of cutting gas supply to European countries.

His suggestion is not misplaced. After over four decades of abandonment of the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline Project (TSGP), life appears to have returned to the project which seeming was moribund as it received a fresh breath at a meeting of ECOWAS Mining and Petroleum Forum last February in Niamey, Niger Republic. It has also further rekindled hopes of better prospects for the continent.

The TSGP, a partnership among Nigeria, Niger and Algeria, will enable Europe to tap directly into the three countries’ significant natural gas reserves, helping it to diversify its supply sources while creating critical sources of revenue for African gas markets.

Reserve

Sylva may have aptly captured the capacity of Nigeria and African countries to feed Europe with gas, especially when it is considered that the country has one of the biggest gas reserves in the world with an estimated reserve of 206 trillion cubic feet (tcf), and a possibility of getting up to 600 tcf if fully exploited.

This size positions Nigeria to take a chunk of the gas market to Europe where Russia currently supplies about 30-40 per cent of the EU’s gas needs.

As of the end of last year, natural gas reserves in Africa totalled over 620 tcf, with Nigeria accounting for the largest reserves in the continent, while North Africa accounts for nearly half of the continent’s total gas reserves, with Algeria concentrating the highest amount, some 159 tcf.

A researcher at Statista, Lars Kamer, noted that natural gas reserves in Africa will last around another 55.7 years before being depleted if the present level of production is maintained.

He argued that in 2020, the African Continent generated 231 billion cubic meters of natural gas. This represented a growth of more than 70 per cent in the output level in comparison to that of 2000.

Currently, Algeria is the main natural gas producer in Africa, followed by Egypt and Nigeria.

Channelling to wealth

Checks revealed that as of 2020, Africa’s natural gas exports amounted to over 95 billion standard cubic meters, with Algeria, Egypt and Nigeria as major exporters.

Most of the African gas exports arrive in Europe, which absorbed 60 per cent of the gas exported from Africa in 2019, via pipelines or as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Algeria’s gas exports, for instance, were destined almost entirely for Italy and Spain.

Kamar noted that the geographical proximity of Algeria to Europe makes the North African country a strategic supplier–although stagnating production levels and lack of infrastructure impose challenges for increasing the trade level.

Perhaps, aware of this infrastructural challenge, Nigeria, Niger and Algeria approved a roadmap to develop the 30 bcm/year Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP) between Warri in Nigeria and Hassi R’Mel in Algeria, passing through Niger.

The project, estimated to cost $13 billion aims to link Europe to the three countries’ natural gas reserves. The pipeline will be 4,128 km long, viz 1,037 km in Nigeria; 841 km in Niger and 2,310 km in Algeria. This project is regarded as an opportunity to diversify the European Union’s gas supplies.

The TSGP will also allow the supply of the regions of the Sahel countries. This project has been reactivated in a geopolitical context marked by strong international demand for gas and oil and a surge in prices after the war in Ukraine began eight months ago.

Algeria, whose proven natural gas reserves supplied around 11 per cent of the gas consumed in Europe before the war in Ukraine, compared with 47 per cent for Russia, is the first African exporter of natural gas and the seventh in the world.

Of the 257.5 bcm of gas extracted in Africa in 2021, Nigeria contributed 45.9 bcm translating to nearly 18 per cent. Additionally, out of 75.3 million tons per annum of Africa’s gas liquefaction capacity, Nigeria contributes 22.2 mtpa, as the country is home to a plant that makes up nearly 66 per cent of sub-Saharan Africa’s total LNG production capacity of 33.8 mtpa.

The Federal Government has said the project presents a huge opportunity for the country.

Sylva said: “This project is going to take the gas all the way from where it is produced, to the European market. And it cannot be a better time, because gas prices are quite firm at this point. I believe that it is a very good time for us to take advantage of very high gas prices globally.”

Development, plans, revival

On January 14, 2002, the then Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Algerian National Oil and Gas Company (Sonatrach), signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for preparations of the project and three years later, both parties signed a contract with Penspen Limited for a feasibility study of the project. The feasibility study was completed in September 2006, and it found the pipeline to be technically and economically feasible and reliable.

Still, in February 2009, NNPC and Sonatrach agreed to proceed with the draft MoU among three governments and the joint venture agreement. The inter-governmental agreement on the TSGP was signed by energy ministers of Nigeria, Niger and Algeria on July 3, 2009, in Abuja. Similarly, on July 28 2022, the Algerian, Nigerian and Nigerien ministers of energy signed an MoU for the implementation of the TSGP project, co-signed by Sylva, Algerian Minister of Energy and Mines, Mohamed Arkab, and Nigerien Minister of Energy and Renewable Energy, Mahamane Sani Mahamadou at the end of the work of the third tripartite ministerial meeting held in Algiers.

 Route

The pipeline will start in the Warri region in Nigeria and run North through Niger to Hassi R’Mel in Algeria.

In Hassi R’Mel, the pipeline will connect to the existing Trans-Mediterranean, Maghreb–Europe, Medgaz and Galsi pipelines. These supply Europe from the gas transmission hubs at El Kala and Beni Saf on Algeria’s Mediterranean coast. The length of the pipeline would be 4,128 kilometres (2,565 miles): 1,037 kilometres (644 miles) in Nigeria, 841 kilometres (523 miles) in Niger, and 2,310 kilometres (1,440 miles) in Algeria.

  Operator

The pipeline is to be built and operated by the partnership between the NNPC and Sonatrach. The company would include also the Republic of Niger. Initially, the NNPC and Sonatrach would hold a total of 90 per cent of shares, while Niger would hold 10 per cent.

Russian gas company Gazprom was said to have negotiated with Nigeria about its possible participation in the project. Also, Indian company GAIL, France’s Total S.A., Italy’s Eni SpA and Royal Dutch Shell have expressed interest in participation in the project.

A former Algerian Energy Minister, Chakib Khelil noted that “only partners that can bring something to the project, not just money, should be there.”

Energy ministers of Algeria and Nigeria have said that “if things go well, there will be no need to bring international oil companies into the project” and “if the need for partnership in the project arises, not every partner will be welcome on board on the project.”

Rival pipeline

With the takeoff of the TSGP foot-dragging, Nigeria, in May 2017, signed an agreement with Morocco to build the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline, which would carry natural gas from Nigeria through 13 West African countries, up to Morocco and Spain. This development was considered a major death knell on the TSGP.

The rival project, known as the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project (NMGP), launched last month, already has a signed MoU between the two countries and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), is seen as a significant step in fulfilling Nigeria’s drive toward harnessing the country’s abundant gas resources.

The NMGP pipeline is 5,600 kilometers (3,480-mile) in length and will run across 13 African countries and provide gas from Nigeria to West African countries through Morocco and subsequently to Europe. The pipeline will originate from Brass Island in Nigeria and terminate in the North of Morocco, where it will be connected to the existing Maghreb European Pipeline that originates from Algeria, via Morocco, to Spain.

Once completed, the project will supply about three billion standard cubic feet of gas per day (3bscfd) along the West African Coast from Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Gambia, Senegal and Mauritania to Morocco.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari described the signing as a very important milestone. He expressed appreciation to Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and King Mohammed VI of Morocco who entrusted NNPC and the Moroccan National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mined (ONHYM) with the “strategic project.”

He said both countries stand to benefit from the project which extends beyond the supply of gas to energise countries along the route.

“Some of the benefits include the creation of wealth and improvement in the standard of living, integration of the economies within the region, mitigation against desertification and other benefits that will accrue as a result of the reduction in carbon emission,” he said.

The NMGP is aimed at monetising Nigeria’s abundant natural gas resources to generate additional revenue for the country, diversify its gas export routes and eliminate gas flaring.

AKK project

“We are already building gas infrastructure such as the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline project, expected to take gas to Algeria, and the West Africa Gas Pipeline project designed to take gas to Morroco,” Sylva said.

In July 2020, Nigeria officially launched the construction of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project, which links the Southwest of the country to the North. The AKK gas pipeline will deliver 3.5 bcf/d (99mcm/d or 36.1 bcm/year), of gas from several gas projects in the South of the country.

In the first phase, it will supply 2.5 bcf/d (57mcm/d or 20.7bcm/year), to domestic customers. Developed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) using a build-and-transfer model, the pipeline is part of the TSGP project.

Commendation

While a critical issue for the TSGP is finance, for which Sylva has said funding the over $13 billion project will come from Europe, stakeholders across the continent have not ceased to praise the revival of the TSGP.

For instance, the African Energy Chamber, a group that promotes cross-border cooperation in the continent’s energy industry, praised the rebirth of the project.

The Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, N.J Ayuk said the project would help Africa to contribute to the sustained and diversified supply that consuming countries are looking for, particularly the European Union, which is its market of proximity.

The Head of Gas and Power of Quest Energy, George Amara said the TSGP project will help to actualise the government’s National Gas Expansion Plan (NGEP) or the Gas Master Plan.

The African Energy Chamber maintained in its State of African Energy Q2 2022 Report that “gas will come from Algeria, Egypt and Nigeria, which will account fully for 80 per cent of African gas yields between 2022 and 2025. Algeria, Egypt and Nigeria will also account for about 60 per cent of the continent’s total LNG production capacity during the same period, even as construction moves ahead on new facilities.

A public analyst, Mayowa Sodipo said: “It actually shows that African countries are trying as much as possible to position themselves to possibly see how well they can help Europe cover the energy demand issues. Beyond this, this particular project will actually mean a lot for the three African countries involved, especially the benefits that will accrue to their local economies.”

For him, with the demand for natural gas rising, the TSGP project could transform Africa’s energy future if properly implemented.

The re-awakening

In March, EU delegates met with Nigerian officials in Abuja and held talks about diversifying Europe’s sources of energy.

At the meeting, Sylva urged the EU to encourage its oil and gas companies such as Shell, Eni, and Total Energies among others to scale up investments in the gas sector in Nigeria as it would help the EU meet its energy needs.

Sylva noted that the EU needed to have a rethink when the Russia/ Ukraine war is over, noting that “from what is happening with Russia, gas has been weaponised and unless you create an alternative, gas will continue to be weaponised.”

He assured the EU diplomats that “Nigeria will work with you and we are ready to be an alternative supplier of gas to the EU but you should tell your companies here in Nigeria to plan more investments here. If your companies invest more in Nigeria, it will also help us to increase our gas supplies to Europe.”

Ambassador Isopi urged Nigeria to take advantage of the opportunity offered by the present crisis in Europe to shore up gas supplies to Europe. She appealed to Nigeria to step into that gap supply chain as an alternative to Russia adding that the country must not allow the opportunity to pass it by.

Earlier in June, the government directed the then Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to implement a deal on a gas pipeline to Europe through Morocco. Authorities are also planning to transport more gas from Southern to Northern Nigeria and build a major gas turbine in Abuja.

Renewed hopes

The TSGP, which had been regarded as a moribund for over four decades, received a fresh impetus at a meeting of the ECOWAS Mining and Petroleum Forum last February in Niamey, Niger Republic. It has also further rekindled hopes of better prospects for the continent and also further accentuated in an April meeting held in Abuja by the ministers of the partnering countries.

The TSGP will enable Europe to tap directly into the three country’s significant natural gas reserves, helping it diversify its supply sources while creating critical sources of revenue for African gas markets.

Much of the estimated $13 billion pipeline cost will be spent in Niger, acting as a much-needed boost for the already growing energy sector and the wider economy. It would also enable Niger to monetise its own gas reserves, estimated at 34 bcm, with recoverable reserves of 24 billion cubic meters.

“Restarting this project, sends a clear message to investors and important strategic partners in Europe and Africa, that things are changing in Africa,” Ayuk said.

The Nigerien Minister H.E. Mahamane Sani Mahamadou said: “This project will be transformational for all the countries involved and we in Niger are committed wholly to making it a success. It will bring jobs and much-needed revenue from gas monetisation.”

Niger already has experience in driving significant energy infrastructure projects, including the $2.2 billion Niger-Benin crude oil pipeline currently under construction from the Agadem Basin in Niger to the Cotonou Terminal offshore Benin.

Upon its expected completion in 2023, this 1,243-mile (2,000-km) pipeline will support production increases to more than 120,000 from a current 20,000 bpd.

Benefits

Sylva is convinced that the $13 billion TSGP project will present a huge opportunity for Nigeria, Niger and Algeria to tap into the European markets, saying it is an opportunity to diversify the European Union’s gas supplies.

Besides, he said that the project would bring the participating country’s gas resources closer to the European market, especially with the high cost of gas occasioned by the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Sylva said: “The project takes our gas to the European market directly. At present, a lot of gas in Nigeria is stranded or re-injected because there is no infrastructure to take the gas to the market. This project is going to take the gas all the way from where it is produced to the European market, and it cannot be a better time, because gas prices are quite firm at this point. I believe that it is a very good time for us to take advantage of very high gas prices globally.”

He added that it will serve as a huge boost to the economic growth of the African Continent.

He said it would, first, create a corridor for development across Africa. “Chad is also not far away from the corridor of this project. So, this project has a lot of potential for growing the economies of African countries, West African countries and North Africa,” Sylva said.

The Niger Republic Minister of Petroleum, Mahamadou Mahamane said the countries were ready to pull their resources to ensure that the project was achieved. He underscored the need to get the project going, saying it would promote regional cooperation as well as earn revenue for the countries.

The Algeria Minister of Energy and Mines, Mohamed Arkab said the reactivation of the project would boost the economic development of the countries and assist them to achieve carbon neutrality in line with the global energy transition.

“While being fully part of the project aimed at decarbonising the oil and gas industry in the short-term and at achieving carbon neutrality in the long-term, we remain convinced that a global and efficient energy transition cannot take place without the contribution of hydrocarbons,” he said.

“As such, natural gas presents itself as an energy of excellence to ensure this energy transition while ensuring the security of the supply of markets, whose demand is only increasing.

“I invite all the parties and teams to participate actively in the realisation of this important project, within the required deadlines.”

Fears

While stakeholders are convinced of the prospects of the TSGP, some are equally worried about the political will to see it through. Rightly so, given that, for over 40 years, the TSGP has been in the cooler and is just being revived now.

How far can this project which, if properly harnessed, can bring Africa out of its energy woes, come to life?

Many who don’t understand the workings of the Yoruba traditional culture may shudder over the rationale behind the decision of Ooni of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Oba Babatunde Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi to marry many wives. OLADAPO SOFOWORA writes that Oloris are like precious gemstones and ornaments on the king’s bejewelled crown

Since Ooni Adeyeye Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II ascended the throne of his forebears on December 7 2015, he has recorded  successes.

 As an iconoclast, he is loved by all for doing things differently, especially in his approach to issues as a youthful monarch.

In 2017,  he was enmeshed in controversies when his enstranged wife, Edo-born Olori Wuraola Zaynab Otiti Obanor, whom he married in March 2016, parted ways with him.

 As the news broke, the media space was thrown into a frenzy. After weeks of public outcry against the woman’s approach, they moved on with their lives.

 Ooni thereafter married Olori Naomi Shilekunola, a prophetess from Akure, Ondo State,  who was delivered of a baby boy Tiadenikawo. Ooni named his son after his mentor and former Governor-General of the defunct Western Region; Ooni Sir Adesoji Titus Aderemi Tiadenikawo.

 Everything was going smoothly until December 2021, when Olori Naomi’s cryptic post on Instagram announced her exit from her marriage to the first-class monarch.

 The internet went loose again as this engendered another round of controversy, leaving many tongues wagging on her outburst on the social media and also the way Olori Naomi handled the situation.

But  Oba Ogunwusi  remained unfazed by the avalanche of criticisms that trailed his marital decisions. The monarch, not minding his critics, moved ahead in ushering new Oloris into his harem.

 According to sources, after consulting the Ifa divination for guidance, it was said that the Ooni would have to marry as many Oloris as possible like his forbearers to solve the marital issues.

 As the Arole Oodua, the charismatic monarch heeded the voice of the divination. The first Olori to walk into the palace was the beautiful and well-connected Administrative Manager of Next Oil and Gas,  Mariam Ajibola Ogunwusi (nee Anako) on September 6, this year. Some maintained that she is not new to Kabiyesi as she has been his friend for over three years.

 It is said that the cool and calm Kogi-born, but Ilorin-raised woman is a cheerful giver and also a very shy woman who loves to keep a low profile. Olori Mariam lost her dad at a youthful age and was raised in the home of the former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, who was the boss of the Nigerian Police between 2012 and 2014. Her mother is a retired Commissioner of Police in Kwara State. Olori Mariam is said to be respectful, principled and endearing.

 The beautiful and highly cerebral but reserved Olori Opeoluwa Elizabeth Ogunwusi (nee Akinmuda), who the Ooni married on  September 15,  at Magodo, Lagos, is the second wife. The well-read Olori in her early 30s was said to have studied in Glasgow, Scotland, with a degree in Information Technology-related course.

 Not much is known about her as she is hardly seen on social media space. She is from a well-to-do family and hails from Ondo State.

 Olori Tobiloba Ogunwusi (nee Phillips) is the third  as she was  married  on  Sunday, October 9. At 32, Olori Oluwatobiloba is the youngest   in the harem. She is beautiful, given her background as a beauty queen and fashion connoisseur.

 The Okitipupa, Ondo State-born woman is a show stopper. Anytime she saunters into a public event, her aura and graceful gait do not go unnoticed. She is always dressed with attention to the minutest details and with lots of vigour.

She is magnificent and owns a private shop  in  Lekki,  Lagos State where her brand ‘QTP Luxury Fashion Company’ is situated with a long list of clientele.

 She is a graduate of Marine Science from the University of Lagos. In 2012, she was the winner of the World Miss University Africa (WMUA) beauty pageant. She is also a skilful 3D artist with years of experience but mostly uses it to draw out new fashion patterns and designs.

Read Also: PHOTOS: Davido, Chioma meet Ooni, Olori Mariam

Olori Ashley Afolashade Adegoke made her entry into the Ooni’s palace  on Friday, October 14, in Ife. Ashley is a Princess from the Lafogido Ruling House of the source, Ile-Ife. She is a chartered accountant with a Master’s degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Greenwich.

 Currently, she runs her business in the United Kingdom. Her non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Ashley Adegoke Foundation focuses on the less privileged children and widows.

 According to sources, Olori Ashley is the owner of Triple Two Coffee and the CEO at Risencrowd Limited. She is not a strange face in the Ile-Ife palace as she has been  involved in palace activities  since Ooni Adeyeye ascended the throne.

 She is a generous, interesting and respectful personality who is open to collaboration, as she also creates a synergy that will bring glory to the House of Oduduwa.

 Many have described her as an exciting personality, adding that, with her, there is no dull moment.

On  October 20, in Ile-Ife, Princess Ronke Ademiluyi  joined the harem  as the fifth wife and also the oldest of the wives.

 Olori Ronke is the great-great-granddaughter of Oba Ademiluyi Ajagun, Oonirisa Adimula of Ile-Ife, the predecessor of the great Oba Adesoji Tadenikawo Aderemi, the 49th Ooni of Ife.

The Ademiluyi royal family is from the Lafogido Royal House, one of the four ruling houses (Osinkola, Ogboru, Giesi and Lafogido respectively) under the Oranmiyan Royal Dynasty.

 Oba Ademiluyi Ajagun’s great-great-granddaughter-Princess Aderonke Ademiluyi is a UK-trained lawyer and successful entrepreneur. She used to own a fashion trading/merchandising concern known as Rukkies which was located at Opebi in Ikeja Lagos.

Then, she later diversified into  fashion hosting business with the annual Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL) which began in 2011 in London and then the affiliate Africa Fashion Week Nigeria was established some years after.

 Both brands have been the biggest platforms for emerging African talents across the globe. She also owns the Adire Oodua franchise and also organises the annual Moremi Ajasoro Beauty Pageant.

 The calm and smooth-talking Olori Temitope Adesegun is not new to the palace long before marrying the respected monarch on October 24,  in Lagos.

 The well-educated philanthropist has a diploma in Linguistics and Data Processing from the University of Lagos and also a Bachelor’s degree from the same university.

 She also bagged degrees from Oxford, Cambridge, INSEAD Fontainebleau and Harvard to add to her intimidating resume.

She is currently the Deputy Convener of the monarch’s  Hopes Alive Initiative.

 The mother of one had distinguished herself in the public and private sectors. She later became the Personal Assistant to the then Secretary to the State Government of Lagos State, the late Princess Aderenle Adeniran-Ogunsanya between 2009 and 2011; during the then administration of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN).

 The Ijebu-born Princess from Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State was also the anchor/host and producer of a Lagos State Ministry of Health, Public Health Advocacy Programme: Health Wise for four years.

 Sources say she is Ooni’s Swizz knife as she is multi-functional and plays many pivotal roles in ensuring Ooni’s pet projects are actualised.

 For those who don’t understand the need for many wives in Ooni’s palace, it is a tradition and part of the Yoruba monarchical culture that must be upheld. Oloris are like precious gemstones and ornaments on the king’s bejewelled crown. So are the six Oloris to Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.