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Tag: Ban

  • Pros and Cons of post-UTME ban

    Pros and Cons of post-UTME ban

    The Federal Government’s abolition of the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) caught many institutions unawares.  Some had begun the process for the post-UTME when it was scrapped.  They are unsure of how to go about screening candidates.  But some parents are happy that they will no longer spend much on admission.  Others are perturbed about what the future holds.

    The post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) season should to have started but the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu’s directive that universities, polytechnics and colleges of education should stop conducting the screening seems to have slowed things down.

    Adamu argued during the 2016 Combined Policy Meeting on Admissions into Universities, Polytechnics and other higher institutions in Nigeria held in Abuja on June 1, that he was confident in the ability of the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) to conduct the UTME.  The post-UTME, he said, was a repetition of the UTME.

    Some, especially parents, welcomed the development; but others, particularly the institutions, see no justification for the action.

    Prof Peter Okebukola, who was the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) when the post-UTME was introduced in 2004, said the minister did not cancel the post-UTME in its entirety.  According to Okebukola, he said there was no need for institutions to set the same test as JAMB.

    He stated in a mail to The Nation: “I have just received details of the meeting of Vice-Chancellors with the Minister of Education in which the press reported the Minister as announcing the cancellation of post-UTME. The correct position as reported by the Vice-Chancellors is that the Minister directed that universities should no longer conduct the same type of test as JAMB but are free to further subject candidates to screening to meet their local peculiarities.”

    Okebukola said he agreed that the post-UTME screening should be adjusted to test critical thinking and writing and oral skills of the candidates, which he said was the original plan.

    He noted: “The 2004 model had a screening component which was agreed with all vice-chancellors to be through oral interview and essay which JAMB assessment does not cover. More than ever before, we need to admit into our universities, secondary school leavers, from the large pool, those who have at least two characteristics: (a) attained minimum cognitive competence in the relevant subjects in the discipline they wish to study; and (b) competence in written and oral English, critical thinking and ability to present ideas in logical sequence befitting of undergraduates in Africa’s most-expansive and well-regarded university system.  JAMB’s UTME targets only the first characteristic; while the university-level screening should measure the second.”

     

    Institutions tread cautiously

    Institutions that have announced the start of their admission process have used the nomenclature ‘screening’ to replace the post-UTME.

    On its website, the Lagos State University (LASU) asked candidates to apply for the screening of 100-Level and direct-entry students.  Prospective students are to pay N5,000 and fill their data online for the ‘screening’ which would be ‘internal CBT’ (computer-based test).

    The website of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) still has details of post-UTME screening directives used for the 2015/2016 academic session.  Its Registrar, Dr Taiwo Ipaye, said the institution has not started the 2016/2017 admission process.

    She told The Nation that the institution was awaiting guidelines on how to conduct the examination from stakeholders before it would start screening candidates.

    “We will not do examination but we can screen.  They said that there would be a guideline so we are waiting for that guideline.  We have not started screening,” she said.

    The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Prof Oluwole  Morenikeji said universities were still studying the directive, adding that the Committee of Vice Chancellors (CVC) will make its position known soon.

    Morenikeji, who is in charge of admission in the university, said the directive would however not stop the institution from looking at candidates’ credentials before they are taken to guard against forgery.

    “People can fake almost anything in Nigeria now. So the fact that we have been directed to suspend post-UTME does not mean that we will not screen the credentials of the candidates seeking admission. That will be done because we will not allow anyone to use fake certificates to gain admission into the school,” he said.

    Public Relations Officer of the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB) Mrs Emi Alawode said the institution would not contravene the directive to conduct post-UTME screening.  She added that the scrapping of the post-UTME would not affect the institution’s ability to select students.

    “Initially there was no post-UTME and the university and students were admitted.  Likewise now, we will still admit students even without post-UTME,” she said.

    The Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, appears to be following the minister’s instruction.

    Its Vice Chancellor, Prof. Samuel Bandele agreed that it duplicated JAMB’s efforts.

    He said: “What JAMB has done is excellent but they are not saying that universities cannot screen candidates. For example, JAMB has sent 10,000 prospective candidates to us but we need to screen their certificates.

    “Generating IGR should not be our priority even though we need money. We need to get good students to our universities, we now just screen them and scan their certificates.”

    At the Ibrahim Badamasi University in Lapai, Niger State, things are moving smoothly because the institution does not conduct post-UTME.

    The Deputy Registrar, Information and Corporate Affairs, Mr Baba Akote, said: “We don’t do post-UTME.  We only do online screening of results.  We cross check candidates’ O Level results with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) or the National Examinations Council (NECO) as the case may be.  We have never done the post-UTME and with the Federal Government’s directive we have been vindicated.”

    Officials of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) and the Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic in Rivers State, refused to comment.  The Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) the university referred our reporter to its website.

    The website showed the university still admits students the old way. The registration for screening started on Monday and would end on July 1.

    The students are to pay N7,000 for the exercise (N1, 000 application fee, N4, 500 test fee, and N1, 500 for “computer demonstration exercise”.

    At the Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), post-UTME screening will hold on Saturday as scheduled.  Candidates are to pay N10,200 for the exercise.

    The institution’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Tunde Olofintula, told The Nation that since the Federal Executive Council (FEC) ratified the post-UTME in 2003, it is in a position to reverse the decision.

    “I feel it is the prerogative of FEC to reverse that decision. As far as ABUAD is concerned, we are going ahead with our screening on Saturday 18th of June,” he said.

     

    Mixed feelings from parents

    Some parents are happy with the scrapping of the post-UTME because of the extra financial burden on them.

    Mrs Namonday Gofwen, a secondary school teacher in Plateau State, said since the post-UTME does not guarantee admission, then the extra financial cost is not worth it.

    “I am fully in support of the scrap because it is extra burden on parents. Now I have two of my sons that sat for the last UTME and one of them scored 200; the other scored 190.  Those scores are enough to guarantee their admission to any university in the country. So, subjecting them to another examination in form of post-UTME can be discouraging.  The post-UTME test is not free.  Parents have to cough out money for transportation and feeding for their children; have to pay for the test. This is extra burden on the parents and the candidates. JAMB should be left alone to do that please,” he said.

    Another parent, Ayuba Gana, described the post-UTME as exploitation, saying: “Another examination after passing that of JAMB is exploitation of candidates and their parents. I don’t want it. So if the minister decided to scrap it, I will be most happy.  It should be supported by all Nigerians.”

    A parent from Cross River State, Mr David Awak, said the post-UTME is more vulnerable to abuse than a centrally-conducted examination.

    He said: “It is in the best interest of the country that the programme was scrapped. It would have been a good thing but the universities started to abuse it. Those in charge of the examinations took advantage of the fact that they could easily be reached by those writing the examinations thus opening up a leeway for all manner of irregularities by way of paying for admission and so on. It is better that a central examination body, which is somewhat remote and more inaccessible, set the standard for admissions. It would be more dispassionate and more objective as no personal contact is involved.”

    A parent, Mrs. Dupe Ayegbusi,  described the post-UTME as a rip-off.

    “My son who scored high marks at UTME in the last two years has not succeeded to get admission despite writing post-UTME in three universities which charged between N5,000 and N10,000.

    “There is a serious economic problem in Nigeria and we civil servants are owed salaries and raising money for such a test is now a big challenge. I am happy that post-UTME has been cancelled,” she said.

    However, some parents still prefer the post-UTME despite the cost.

    Mrs Martha Ilemobade, a Lagos-based parent believes the post-UTME provides better integrity for the admission process.

    “I am not in support of scrapping post-UTME because if they do, only children of rich will enter UNILAG.  It will be very difficult for the child of the common man to enter UNILAG.  You will see the rich people will just be giving money and submitting names; then the children of the common man will come and there is no space.  I don’t support it.  Although it cost money, but God will provide for us,” she said.

    Mr Zamani Damwes, a resident of Jos, also wants the post-UTME retained, saying, “Some students register for JAMB through centres that will guarantee them pass mark to university. I mean some candidates and parents buy the JAMB scores. So the post-UTME will sort such candidates out.”

    A parent in Minna, Mallam Audu Ahmed is happy with the scrap because it is cost saving, but says it also has negative implications.

    With two of his children seeking admission, Ahmed said he had been concerned about the financial implication of the post-UTME, especially as one of them took the examination last year but not taken.  With the scrap, he expects to be spared the cost.  However, he is worried that it may affect the chances of qualified candidates getting admission because of the “man-know-man” syndrome.

    Though she benefited from the post-UTME, Eniola Johnson, a student of the University of Calabar, is not sure she would want the examination retained.

    “I would say that post-UTME helped me to gain admission.  I scored only 197 in the UTME and got 280 in the post-UTME. I am really talking with mixed feelings here because although it helped me, I think the process is being abused. Also it is very expensive. I mean after all the JAMB payment and stress, I still spent over N9, 000 for the post UTME, I think it is too much. Even though I was successful, I am sure there are lots of students who paid all that and still did not gain admission. Also there were lots of “sorting” and “man know man” as those who wrote the exams tried to reach those who could improve their scores. It has become a source of revenue for the school. I think it is good but they started abusing it,” she said.

    However, James Aniyeloye, is not confused about his preference for the scrapping of post-UTME,  accusing many universities of abusing the system and subjecting candidates to hardship.

    “I went to sit for post-UTME in a university before I got admission, the crowd management was poor and we were subjected to lots of hardship. We thought that we would conclude it in a day but we slept over in a place where we did not know anybody.

    “Transporters increased their fares while those selling food and other things exploited us. A student fainted in the course of struggling to pick tallies to serve as number. I am in full support of the stoppage of post-UTME”.

  • ‘Why Fed Govt must ban fish importation’

    ‘Why Fed Govt must ban fish importation’

    Nigeria spends billions of naira yearly on fish importation, despite its huge marine resources. The Executive Director/CEO, Nigerian Institute of Oceanography & Marine Research (NIOMR), Dr. Gbola Akande, in this interview with OLATUNDE ODEBIYI,urges the government to ban fish importation to stimulate domestic production, as aquaculture can enhance economic  divesrification .

    How do we bridge the gap between fish supply and demand?

    Aquaculture is the only way to bridge the gap.  All we need is more campaign and awareness on the importance of people going into aquaculture or fish farming. If we embrace aquaculture, it would help to reduce pressure on the amount of fish that we import and also reduce pressure on fishing. With our current population estimated to be about 170 million, the demand for fish is about 2.6 million tonnes annually. Locally, we produce only about 800,000 tonnes and import about 800,000 tonnes of frozen fish; this adds up to 1.6 million tonnes annually. This leaves a wide gap of about a million tonnes.

    Aquaculture is the only way to bridge the gap between fish supply and demand. For this to happen, more people should go into aquaculture. Although fish farming in Nigeria has been on the increase, for it to contribute meaningfully to the protein needs of the country, we need more campaign and awareness on the importance of people going into fish farming. This will help to reduce pressure on the amount of fish that we import and also reduce pressure on artisanal fishing.

    How should the government intervene in aquaculture?

    One area of aquaculture that is critical is feeds and this is where government must come to our aid. In aquaculture, feed accounts for about 75 per cent of the overhead cost. This is why NIOMR has been involved in carrying out research to reduce the cost of feed by looking into ingredients that can make feed come at a cheaper price. For instance, NIOMR’s research into the use of maize with cassava for aquaculture feed has brought down the cost of feed, though not drastically. Another major component of fish feed is fish meal, which is being imported. In this regard, we are researching into using some fish which species are in abundance in our water, to convert them into fish meal, to also reduce cost of feeding.

    How would NIOMR integrate Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) into fish production?

    NIOMR yearly carries out training for SMEs on aquaculture, fish processing and marketing- which is the bone marrow of the future. Currently, catfish is the major aquaculture product that we have, and it can be said that catfish takes about 90 per cent of what we produce in aquaculture while the rest are tilapia and all other fish species.

    NIOMR is researching into various tilapia species, so that there will be no problem with their growth. This would help us to have a second candidate that farmers will also be able to culture and farm with ease. Our effort to increase fish production in Nigeria has also led us into instituting a scheme known as entrepreneurship in aquaculture for young potential fish farmers. The Institute has also formed fish farmers into innovation platforms which would enable us to have marketers, entrepreneurs, manufacturers and producers. The platform would help them to get better price for their produce.

    When you culture your fish, they do not come out equal. You could put 1000 fish in a tank, but all the fish will weigh differently. This is why the Institute came up with canning of cat fish, just like we have canned sardine and geisher. With this innovative platform, farmers may now can the smaller fish and sell the big ones. We have been canning catfish and tilapia which is our value addition to aquaculture as there will be choices to either have your fish fresh, canned or smoked. Value addition is critical for us because with more value on your product, you get more money.

    Nigeria is targeting agric as the arrow-head of its renewed economic revival plan. Where does your institute fit in?

    A lot of areas. For us to shift from oil to agriculture, it means we have to produce locally. One area that NIOMR has been working on is to discover fish species that can be used to produce fish meal as an alternative to imported fish meal; this is part of our effort to reduce the cost of feed. We have discovered the fish,. It is known as “Nectar Fish,” but we are still doing the preliminary studies. We have produced fish meal from this fish, and we have done the analysis of the protein, the fat, the moisture, the proximate composition and what the fish meal contains in terms of protein. We found out that the protein level is high- over 60 per cent. So, the next stage we are in is that we are undergoing is feeding trial to compare the fish meal produced from this fish with imported fish meal. If we can source the fish meal locally through this effort, that will be our own contribution to the economy.

    Another area is that in the ocean, we have another fish called ariomma fish species, which is a good replacement for titus and the sardine. We have located where those fish are in abundance and what we have done is to can the fish and do a comparative analysis between the ariomma fish species and the imported titus. Also, we have conducted research on and already gone into the culture of marine shrimps. We earn foreign exchange from export of shrimps but because of the quantity that we are able to catch, we do not get much. We are into research to enable us culture marine shrimps properly. Our aim is to have export potential in the nearest future, rather than just bringing in and not exporting.

    We also have plans to develop fish crackers which could replace prawn crackers being imported from China. Also, our smoked fish is a good product for export. Some people are exporting smoked fish. These are some of the things NIOMR is doing to support the Federal Government in its change programme – from a net importer to exporter.

    How can aquaculture be positioned as a major contributor to the GDP?

    Government should provide the enabling environment for the fishing industry to thrive. As the fish industry is today, some  people who are interested in it are not doing the business because of some of the problems in the Niger Delta and because we have the problem of pirates and militants to mention a few. In the past, the number of vessels that were operating in the country was between 200 and 250, but now this has reduced to less than 150. These are areas that government can come in.

    Another important step to take is that the Federal Government should totally ban importation of fish. This would help to protect our fish farms. There is no point importing fresh water fish since we have a lot of farmers investing in fish farming locally. If government bans fish importation, there will be massive cultivation of agric products and this would grow the economy. We have to produce what we eat locally, otherwise, we will run into problem and that is why this government is saying that we must produce what we eat locally. We need to sit down, look inwards and make sure that whatsoever we do has local content so that with time, there will be total ban of imported frozen fish, rice, tooth pick and other agricultural produce. If aquaculture takes its rightful place with the awareness we are creating, fish importation into the country is going to be a thing of the past because we are going to do massive aquaculture.

    What challenges do you face in carrying out your duties?

    Our major challenge is funding. Whether you are given enough money or not, research is a continuous exercise, but by God’s grace, this year’s budget is going to propel us to do more than what we have done in the past. This is because the projects we are going to have this year is enough for us to propel our research to a point that we will be able to say funding is not a major problem. The more money we get for the research, the better for us and, the more we can turn out more research results the more our findings. When we do research, we do not stop at research but, we take the research into a pilot level so that we will be able to tell interested entrepreneurs whether that project is viable or not.

    What are the latest innovations and researches by the institute?

    One major thing is that we have been able to solve the problem of catfish being underpriced from the farmers. That is why we are providing smoking klins that can smoke fish in a neat way so that the end of the day, they will get good price for their products. We have being able to use the smoking klins to assist farmers to add value to their fish and also to reduce fish excess which cannot be sold at a go when harvest is much.

    How do you fund your researches and projects? Do you depend solely on government’s subvention?

    Apart from the government budget, we have some projects that are externally funded. This year’s budget will be far better than what we got last year, and we will manage it judiciously to be able to achieve our targets and further justify the establishment of the institute.

    What are NIOMR’s targets?

    For this year, part of our target is to raise farmers as much as possible. We are going to produce a good number of smoking klins to spread all over the 36 states of the federation. For this year, we have targets on the number we are going to produce and we have targets to produce fingerlings that will be sold to farmers at subsidised rates. We also have plans to make all male tilapia fingerlings in order to boost a lot of aquaculture farming from tilapia. We are doing research to make sure that catfish can be bred all year round, because at certain points of the year, they don’t breed.

  • Ignore call to ban Obaseki, group tells APC

    Ignore call to ban Obaseki, group tells APC

    A group, the Edo Accord Initiative has called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) to ignore calls by some Bini Chiefs for the banning of Mr. Godwin Obaseki from governorship primary.

    It described the comments as mischievous, adding that the chiefs are plotting to divide the party.

    The Chairman of the group, Mr. Dennis Idahosa in a press statement urged the APC to conduct a free, fair and credible primaries instead of listening to those he termed party destroyers,

    Idahosa said the call to disqualify Obaseki was not only fallacious, selfish but geared towards a divisive end by detractors of the APC.

    “We condemn entirely such deceitful pronouncement and urge the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun led National Leadership of the APC to not only shun such call but disregard any further reports that will seek to disrupt the existing peace witnessed in the Edo APC today.

    “It is worthy of note that as progressives, we are convinced that the development witnessed in the state for the past seven and half years by the Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s administration is another giant stride that would take APC to victory in Edo.

    “As a socio-political group in Edo state, we have also endorsed unmistakably the governorship aspiration of Mr Godwin Obaseki who has been through the rigours of governance and is ready to take Edo to the next level.

    “After critical look at all the aspirants, we have come to the conclusion that Obaseki who has a well-groomed ideology about governance with unblemished record in financial administration, and his well thought out agenda for the Edo people will transform various sectors in the state.”

  • Kaduna, beggars in showdown over ban

    Kaduna, beggars in showdown over ban

    Banned from soliciting alms in Kaduna State, beggars have threatened to sue the Nasir el-Rufai administration, reports ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE

    Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai has since realised that not everybody claps for him each time he makes a policy move. Early in his administration when he rolled out bulldozers to demolish some parts of the Kaduna metropolis, traders whose shops were pulled down griped and grumbled and screamed. The government said it was all in the interest of the state. Now the el-Rufai administration has made good its threat to ban street begging and hawking, and it has come under fire.

    The beggars, among whom the physically challenged, have threatened to sue and fight the government until it backpedals. El-Rufai and his team have shown no signs of backing down.

    Signing the ban bill into law shocked the beggars because after they got the hint that such a policy was coming, the government seemed to cool off, saying nothing about it for a long while. Finally, the law has come, expected to take effect from September.

    Speaking during the signing of a partnership agreement to boost the education sector that every child in the state must go to school, the governor disclosed to a delegation from UNESCO, UNICEF and USAID, saying, “This morning, I signed a bill that prohibits street hawking and begging in Kaduna State. From September 2016, every child between the ages of six and 15 must be in school not on the street hawking or begging, otherwise the parents must be prosecuted and sent to prison.

    “We have taken this step to give impetus to the Universal Basic Education Act which makes basic education in Nigeria compulsory. We must force people to send their children to school and we are not going to give them a choice; everyone in Kaduna State must go to school,” he said.

    The governor’s revelation, just like when the ban was first announced last year, was greeted with demonstration by beggars and people living with disability.

    The announcement of the previous ban came on the heels of a series of bomb blasts that climaxed with bombing at Sabon-Gari Local Government Area of the state that left 25 people dead and several others injured. The decision to ban begging and hawking, according to the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, was to enhance security. The statement further said that anyone caught flouting the ban will be arrested, pending when it will be relaxed. The statement further urged the citizens to report all suspicious persons and movements to the security agencies.

    The beggars took to the streets and threatened to sue the state governor for defamation of character, for labelling them as terrorists. They stormed the Kaduna State Council Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), where they dared the governor, saying they would remain on the streets until the government gets them gainful employment.

    However, the governor, in a swift reaction, insisted that there was no going back on the decision, saying that the government does not see begging as a profession and as such would not permit it.

    He said, “We had to take an unprecedented decision to ban beggars in Kaduna State because of the security threat that some of the beggars and hawkers pose to the rest of the populace.”

    He finished off by saying that “Begging is not a profession; begging is humiliation. We don’t believe in it. There is no going back on the ban on street begging.”

    As a corollary to the beggars’ outcry, Governor El Rufai later appealed to the people to see reason with the ban and cooperate with the government for the safety of citizens of the state. Our government will never unleash pains on beggars and hawkers in the state. The government’s decision was not aimed or targeted at the vulnerable group but to protect citizens.”

    “This government is a responsible government and conscious of its constitutional role to protect citizens and ensure law and order for common good. The state government will not fold its arms and allow citizens to be killed via terror acts and break down of law and order, hence the decision.”

    He argued that the overriding need to secure the lives and property of the over eight million Kaduna State resident is superior to that of a few who think they have a right to beg.

    “As painful as it could be or misrepresented, the decision was taken in the best interest of our citizens and government appreciates support from all sections of the state regarding the reality of our security situation,” the governor said.

    The governor has also said that the beggars would be trained in various skills to empower them and make them useful to themselves and society.

    The beggars in a joint protest with the leadership of people living with disability alleged that the governor had not fulfilled his promises before accenting to the bill. They however gave the government seven days ultimatum to withdraw the law or they will occupy the government house.

    The beggars stormed the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kaduna State Secretariat, saying they were ready to sacrifice their lives against the law. They comprised the blind, deaf, the cripple, elderly, young and women with their babies, with placards bearing inscriptions such as “El-Rufai before stopping street begging, pass state disability bill.

    “Begging can never be stopped by persons with disability in Kaduna. “El-Rufai, fulfil your campaign promises before stopping begging in Kaduna”.

    Commenting on the new law, Chairman, Concerned Citizens with Disabilities, Julius Shemang said the passage of the street begging and hawking bill in the absent of adequate provisions made for the street beggars first contradicts the agreed process reached between them and the government that solutions will be proffered before the law come into effect.

    Shemang said that people with disabilities had submitted a comprehensive memo to the state House of Assembly as their inputs into the law.

    The document, received with mixed feelings, made the following demands:

    “As a matter of priority, government should create and give more job opportunities to people living with disabilities in the state not minding their qualifications.

    “Automatic appointment should be given to children of People Living with Disability so that they can care for themselves and in turn care for their aged parents thereby putting a stop to street begging.

    “Lack of education, employment and poverty in the disability community made many resorted to begging in order to finance their education and that of their children. While we welcome and commend the present policy on free education for all children by present regime, the gesture should be effectively extended to People Living with Disability.

    “Government should set aside monthly allowance or package for caring for those elderly and disabled beggars who cannot benefit from any form of trade or education in order to get them off the street. To do this, government should identify and cater for them through their respective local government areas of origin or as the case may be.

    “Medical care and health services for People Living with Disability should be free of charge in the state.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Okada ban and Lagos’ safety

    Total ban on okada will not kill anyone but will provide safer roads while the public will be made to patronise other means of transportation that are safer. People always think it will bring about hardship on general public but the disadvantages outweigh the advantages”.  – Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Abuja (2014)

    Leadership, of men and materials entails having the clear capacity to understand the contending issues at stake and mustering the political will to take hard decisions and implementing them promptly. The salutary aim of course, is to find lasting solutions to persisting, socio-economic or political challenges, all for the common good. In so doing, the leader, acting in concert with the relevant team of technocrats, critically analyze all the factors at play. These should also include the likely implications on the stakeholders before arriving at the conclusion. But when it has to do with the protection of  lives and property, which he solemnly swore to before the public, his action could be more drastic.  Indeed, he would likely be driven by seeking enduring good than pandering to the wishes of the critics, or being swayed by the temporary pains of those who may have benefitted from the anomalies being corrected.

    It is within this context that one must take a dispassionate look at the recent threat by the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, to enforce a total ban on commercial motorcycles (aka okada) operations in the Lagos metropolis. In fact, not a few public affairs analysts feel this has become necessary, given the recent bloody, inter-ethnic clash in the Ketu-Mile 12 area of the state, ignited by a dispute between an okada operator and a passerby. It led to the loss of lives and property worth millions of naira. That was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. Now, tough choices have to be made on the part of the governor as the chief security officer of the state. Elsewhere, such hard or harsh policy decisions have been taken that have paid off, eventually.

    For instance, Lee Kuan Yew, the pragmatic economist who engineered Singapore’s economic miracle, as its Prime Minister between 1959 and 1990 took such hard stance. Without it, he could not have transformed the once unrecognized  island, devoid of natural resources to rival the likes of Hong Kong and Manhattan, with solid infrastructures, skyscrapers and alluring tourist attractions. In a similar vein, when in 1974, Sheikh Rashid tasked the young Mohammed with overseeing the growth of  Dubai International Airport, hard choices had to be taken to carve out the dream that it has become this day. Some people had to bear the brunt at the beginning of the implementation of the structural changes. Similarly, compelling traffic-related situations as we face in Lagos may inform tougher and more stringent measures, in order to save more lives from being wasted.

    It would be recalled, that the immediate past administration of  Babatunde Fashola, irked by the menace posed by the okada riders had signed the Lagos Road Traffic Law 2012, on August 2, 2012 which restricts okada operations in at least 492 of the 9,200 roads across the metropolis. It was with the intention of ensuring safety and orderly flow of traffic within the metropolis. But sad to note that some four years after, the problems posed by the okada operators have worsened rather than abate in spite of the restrictions. It is a common sight to find them plying against traffic flow along Pen Cinema-Fagba, Agege-Abule-Egba and the Ketu routes. Some of the operators have been accomplices in series of armed robbery attacks and fatal accidents, with ample evidence when one visits Igbo Orthopedic Hospital, Yaba.

    Governor Ambode has convincing reasons therefore, to approach the Lagos State House of Assembly to amend the law from the restriction of okada operations within some routes to total ban of their operations in the state. Indeed, as a stickler for the rule of law, he cannot be comfortable with the flagrant abuse of the law by okada riders, added to reports of some robbery incidents perpetrated with the motorcycles.

    Interestingly, similar reasons were adduced by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) while placing a total ban on commercial motorcycles in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in 2014. According to Mrs. Susan Ajenge, the then FCT Sector Commander of FCT, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the ban of okada within the city centre drastically reduced the rate of accidents in the area. In her words: “Before the ban of okada in the city centre, hospitals and emergency wards were always filled with okada accidents’ victims, same with mortuaries, but this has drastically reduced as result of the ban”.

    Though some hard-line critics would vociferously argue that a total ban would be insensitive, given the fact Lagos is the commercial nerve centre of the country, with the seaports and high density population, the long-term advantages should be taken into consideration. A smoother flow of traffic, less accidents and robberies traceable to the operators would be guaranteed. So also would be the reports of police harassment and extortion of okada riders.

    In fact, one of the reasons Abuja presents a beautiful vista and instantly attracts a visitor, even at first sight is the easy traffic flow, devoid of okada operators and clustered buildings. Lagos can achieve a similar scenic scenario if laws are amended and enforced. There are other seaport cities or capitals in both the African continent, nay the world that have population issues to that of Lagos but not solved by motorcycle operators. Name them; Cairo, Tunis, Johannesburg, Hong Kong, Seoul, Bangkok, Jakarta, Istanbul and Casablanca are some of them which have adopted creative strategies to combat traffic gridlock in the absence of motorcycles.

    The position of Governor Ambode that the city could well do without their menacing presence is in tandem with the 21st Century Lagos City Master Plan, currently evolving under his people-friendly administration. With the light-rail project in progress, inner roads receiving the desired attention and increasing emphasis on water-based transport system, what is needed is massive public enlightenment on the immense benefits of Lagos without okada.

    There is little doubt that many of the operators would be thrown out of job and suffer some temporary economic setback. But they could seek alternative means of livelihood by keying into the N25 billion Youth Empowerment Scheme of the pragmatic Ambode-led administration. With it, they will be empowered with requisite skills acquisition that would be more enduring than riding motorcycles for commercial purpose.

    Those who however, think that taking to crime would be an option should have a rethink. This administration has zero tolerance for all shades of crime and criminality, as violators of laws would only have themselves to blame.

    On its part, the government will do well to engage the relevant transport unions of the commercial okada operators in sustained sensitization programmes. All the members could be re-organized into skills cooperative societies. They should have their mindset reoriented towards finding suitable alternatives, with the aim of putting food on their families’ table. The time for the total ban on okada in Lagos is now.

     

    • Baje, a journalist writes from Lagos.

  • NCC lifts sanction on MTN Nigeria

    Mr. Tony Ojobo, the Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), said on Wednesday that the commission had lifted the sanction placed on MTN Nigeria since July 13, 2015.

    Ojobo said in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the regulatory sanctions were for 24 identified infractions.

    It said that the lifting of the regulatory sanction was in no way related to the Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card non-deactivation fine.

    “This is to confirm that NCC has lifted the regulatory sanctions placed on MTN since July 13, 2015.

    “The sanctions were for 24 identified infractions which are not in any way connected with the SIM card non-deactivation fine.

    “These were a number of violations discovered by the Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Team of the commission in June 2015.

    “Consequent upon the inability of MTN to remedy the identified infractions, the commission invoked the sanction in its guidelines,’’ the statement quoted Ojobo as saying.

    It said that the sanction meant the denial of regulatory services to the telecommunications company for failing to remedy the infractions in line with NCC’s regulations.

    According to the statement, consequent upon the remediation of the 24 infractions by MTN, the regulatory body’s letter of March 14, 2016, informed the company of its decision to lift the regulatory sanction.

    “It should be noted that this does not in any way extend to the fine for non-deactivation of SIM card case.

    “The case of SIM card deactivation is an entirely different infraction, which is mutually exclusive to the 24 infractions now remedied.

    “This has become necessary in view of the many enquiries being received from concerned stakeholders.
    “This action is without prejudice to the matter which is presently in court. Please be guided accordingly,’’ it quoted Ojobo as saying.

  • Ban on sexy music video raises gay rights campaign in Kenya

    Kenya’s first gay music video swiftly banned by the country’s film board shows a well-toned young man, naked apart from his underpants, leaning over his tattooed male lover in bed.

    Two pretty young women exchange kisses on a park bench, one putting a ring on the other’s wedding finger, as the vocalist sings: “I can’t change, even if I tried, even if I wanted to.”

    The song, same love, was originally recorded by American hip hop duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis during the 2012 campaign to legalise same-sex marriage in Washington State.

    A remix by Kenyan rap artist, Art Attack, set out to provoke similar debate in the conservative East African nation, where homosexual acts are punishable by up to 14 years in jail.

    “We expected that this will create controversy, we expected that a lot of people will talk about it but we didn’t expect the amount of publicity it has received,” the report said.

    “The erotic scenes were meant to show that these people also fall in love.”

    Interest in the video has been fuelled by the Kenya Film Classification Board’s (KFCB) Feb. 23 decision to ban it and ask Google Kenya to take it down.

  • Lagos bans sponsorship of pilgrims to Mecca, Jerusalem

    Lagos bans sponsorship of pilgrims to Mecca, Jerusalem

    Lagos State Government Thursday said it will no longer sponsor Muslims or Christians pilgrims who embark on pilgrimages to Mecca in Saudi Arabia or Jerusalem in Israel, saying it was not a responsible way to spend tax payers’ money.

    Commissioner for Home Affairs in the State, Hon. Abdulateef Abdulhakeem, who disclosed this when members of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Home Affairs, led by Hon. Olayiwola Olawale, paid a visit to the ministry in furtherance of their oversight function, said the government decided to ban the sponsorship because it amounts to injustice for certain individuals to continue to benefit from the government to the detriment of other numerous members of the society.

    Abdulhakeem said, “Part of our mandate is the supervision of the Pilgrims Welfare Board. Recently the governor and the state executive council approved a policy for the state to stop sponsorship of pilgrimages and that is line with the policy thrust of the government and what the State House of Assembly also speaks to.

    “In this day and time when we are talking about paucity of funds coupled with inhibiting challenges that the government has to take care of. We can no-longer afford to spend the sum of one million on one single individual to go on pilgrimage when the scripture did not compel anyone to do so.

    “So it is most irresponsible way of spending tax payer’s money. That is why the government has taken a solid decision that we will be accountable and responsible for every kobo that the tax payers pay to the government. It is an injustice for the government to be spending millions on group of people when millions of Lagosians are yearning for government’s attention.”

    He said state government has commenced the process of gathering data of religious organizations and their locations in the state to be able to set standards give orientation and provide security for them.

    According to him, there is a symbiotic relationship between the executive and the legislative arms of government in the state, while thanking the Assembly for the quick passage of the 2016 Budget.

    “Your resolution is a compulsion it is not advisory. Even your motion that Mile 12 Market should be relocated to another area is being considered by the state government. The Ministry of Home Affairs has been restructured and some of its duties have been given to other MDAs.

    Responding to the development, Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Home Affairs, Hon. Olayiwola Olawale, said the decision was laudable, saying the Assembly was ready to back it with the necessary legislation.

    He said the visit of the committee to the ministry was homecoming, adding that the commissioner was a man of integrity and that the committee would work hand-in-hand with the ministry.

  • FIFA: Platini  appeals 8-year ban

    FIFA: Platini  appeals 8-year ban

    UEFA President Michel Platini, appeared on Monday at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich to appeal against an eight-year ban from football.

    Platini and outgoing FIFA President, Joseph Blatter were banned in a ruling by the adjudicatory chamber of FIFA’s ethics committee on December 21, over ethics breaches concerning a “disloyal payment” of 2 million dollars made to Platini in 2011.

    Platini said as he arrived at FIFA headquarters that he was not there to fight for his future, rather he was there to fight against injustice.

    “If I had anything to reproach myself, I would be in Siberia to hide in shame,” he said.

    Former France playing star Platini, 60, has denied any wrongdoing and also intends to take his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne.

    The hearings come just over a week before FIFA was due to elect a new president in Zurich on February 26.

    Platini had intended to run for the FIFA presidency, but withdrew his candidacy last month following the ban.

    Blatter and Platini are ruled to have breached FIFA articles relating to offering and accepting gifts, a conflict of interest, loyalty and general rules of conduct.

    The adjudicatory chamber of FIFA’s ethics committee said in its December ruling that Blatter and Platini “did not show commitment to an ethical attitude.”

    It said both failed to respect all applicable laws and regulations as well as FIFA’s regulatory framework and demonstrated an abusive execution of their positions within FIFA.

    The committee said in addition to his ban, Platini should pay 81,100 dollars fine.

    A FIFA official said on condition of anonymity that Blatter’s appeal against his eight-year ban is due to be held by the FIFA appeals committee on Tuesday.

    He said it is thought the FIFA appeals committee could also make a ruling this week.

  • Ewi, Sultan call for night grazing ban in Ekiti

    The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, have called for a ban on night grazing in Ekiti State, saying this will end clashes between farmers and cattle rearers.

    At a parley  at the Ewi’s palace in Ado-Ekiti, the rulers said grazing should be banned from 6pm to 6am.

    They recommended that committees, comprising farmers, cattle rearers, security agencies, representatives of traditional rulers and councils, should be established.

    The parley, which was organised to settle conflicts over alleged grazing rights and destruction of farms by cattle, was attended by a government delegation, led by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Kehinde Odebunmi; members of the Ewi-in-Council and representatives of the Sultan.

    Present also were the national leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), led by its National President, Alhaji Muhammadu Kirwa Hardon Zuru; representatives of the police and Department of State Services (DSS) as well as farmers’ groups and leaders of the cattle rearers.

    Praising the government for its efforts at maintaining peace, they stressed the need to curb the ugly trend.

    Other recommendations include setting up vigilance groups, taking a census of cattle owners and decentralising the leadership of cattle rearers to comprise an Ardo/Seriki Fulani in each senatorial district with a new head at the state level to be responsible to the national body.

    The stakeholders emphasised the need to reposition the leadership of Miyetti Allah Association for effective control of herdsmen.

    They added that grazing routes and reserves must be developed to serve as a permanent solution.

    Commending the Ewi and Sultan for their role, they noted that the patience, understanding and resilience of farmers’ groups in the state was laudable.

    Odebunmi thanked the monarchs and others for their peace efforts.