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Tag: challenges

  • ‘We’re taking action on our challenges’

    ‘We’re taking action on our challenges’

    Text of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s  keynote address at the opening of a two-day  “First National Forum on  the Economy”, organised by The Nation.

    I am pleased to be here with you this morning for “First National Forum on the Economy” organised by The Nation newspaper.  The Nation is a newspaper house that has carved a niche for itself as a locus of progressive thinking through an array of distinguished columnists who serve up a menu of crisp, critical writing on a daily basis.  This is, of course, in addition to its role as a newspaper of repute which tells the news as it is without garnish, sensation or hyperbole.  This stance is well reflected both in the organisation of this national forum on the economy as well as in its theme – National Economy: The Way Forward.

    As this distinguished audience is well aware, our government led by President Muhammadu

    Buhari came to office with an agenda of ‘Change’.  This was a compelling and ultimately victorious slogan not just because our country’s former trajectory was unedifying and unsustainable.  Change also resonated with the vast majority of our people because they have always believed, rightly in my view that with committed leadership and seriousness of purpose, Nigeria can, and will become a model for global economic development. Let me say without any equivocation, that whatsoever, this government will deliver on this promise.

    We recognised at the onset that the plethora of challenges facing Nigeria could be overwhelming if not strategically handled.  The multitude of things requiring decisive action also posed the attendant risk of trying to do everything at once and ending up scratching only the surface, without any visible or desired impact.

    Our approach therefore was to anchor the vision of the government on three critical constraints which if properly addressed, would have positive ramifications for national development.  We accordingly resolved to improve security, tackle corruption and grow the economy in an inter-related manner.

    Since insecurity does not arise solely from a vicious and callous world view, our security strategy is founded on the rule of law and respect for the rights of people in the realisation that these are pillars for an orderly society and for improved governance without which change will prove difficult to achieve.

    Thus, aside from sheer outrage at the plunder of resources that could have lifted millions of Nigerians out of poverty, our anti-corruption stance is also premised on an abiding commitment to transparency and accountability.

    It is a trite fact, yet well worth repeating that if not decisively tackled, corruption can eat deep into state institutions, undermine societal values and alter economic incentives.  It also undermines national security and hampers development. So, it is inevitable that the way forward for our national economy requires that we slay the monster of corruption.

    Living no stone unturned

    Our approach is a multi-faceted one that strives to prevent corruption, ensuring that there are consequences for acts of impunity and aiming to recover illicitly acquired wealth.  The bedrock of prevention lies in the codification of processes and requirements and reduced discretionary arrangements.

    Accordingly, in addition to ‘body language’, we have the Treasury Single Account (TSA) which enables government to track payments to and from its Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Similarly, the zero-based budgeting system we adopted means that proposed expenditures are aligned to specific, verifiable items while an integrated payroll system prevents ‘black holes’ in recurrent expenditure.

    Asset recovery is an important prong of our anti-corruption efforts as we are determined to track and bring back our stolen and laundered resources.  We are aware that it requires clarity of purpose and a painstaking effort to achieve this objective. We have thus been developing partnerships with various institutions and agencies, especially in the international community, while also developing the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in this task.  In view of recent developments relating to diversion of recovered funds, mechanisms will also be put in place to ensure transparency and probity in accounting for these resources.  To start with, a line has been created for recovered assets in the draft budget, thus making the process subject to parliamentary and public scrutiny.

    The starting point then to move our national economy forward is to build a foundation for a resilient and dynamic economy.  Our desire for change must translate into imbibing the ethical values on which we can build the nation that we want. It must be a change in orientation from a greedy, grasping attitude to bringing about a fair, just and equitable society. It must also be a change in our approach to life and living styles itself. We must prefer simplicity to ostentatious living, we must imbibe thrift over waste, and above all, we must celebrate integrity over corruption.  These are not just morally uplifting values, but are essential for reducing the red tape and transaction cost of doing business.

    This modification of our values has become more urgent as the price of oil, the mainstay of our economy over the years has collapsed from the dizzying heights of $140 per barrel in 2008 to as low as $27 per barrel just a few weeks ago.

    Looking beyond oil

     

    The second step therefore, in our economic strategy to move the nation forward is that we must move beyond oil which occupies an outsize space in our economic consciousness.  The reality is that while oil only accounts for about 14.4 per cent of our national economy, it continues to be the source of 90 per cent of official foreign exchange earnings and prior to this year, up to 76 per cent of government revenues.  Indeed, such is the situation that this nation of over 170 million people, benchmarks its national budget on the basis of the price of one commodity – oil.

    We must also look beyond oil because it distorts priorities. Having an easy source of revenues has denied Nigeria the opportunity to engage in the critical thinking and prioritisation that usually drives development.

    In our case, by lacking fiscal pressures, Nigeria has succeeded in wading through the 40 years of boom and bust without addressing fundamental structural issues. In order to move forward, we must reduce current dependence of the federal and state governments on the ritual sharing of revenues earned from oil.  Doing so requires a broader revenue generation effort and diversification of our economic structures, in terms of the drivers of economic activity and sources of foreign exchange.

    The foundation for a strong economy requires that we have appropriate fiscal policies. Fiscal policy will leverage existing policy space arising from a very low rate of value-added tax rate of five per cent and a low tax payer base.  We are focused on increasing the tax payer base in the first instance this year, fully conscious of the fact that increasing taxes may dampen the intended stimulus. At the federal level, the implementation of the budget will stimulate the economy, rather than impose undue austerity.  Accordingly, up to 30 per cent of expenditure which has been devoted to capital spending and the N500 billion for social interventions will create jobs directly and indirectly while also boosting demand.

    Also noteworthy is the fact that non-oil sources, comprising mainly of Companies Income Tax (CIT), VAT and Customs and Excise duties are expected to contribute about N1.45 trillion which is more than oil related revenues estimated at about N820 billion.  This is unprecedented in a long while in our nation and is a near complete reversal of the previous ratio of oil to non-oil revenues. These are bold and clear indications that the Buhari administration is serious about change.

    Diversification

    to the rescue

     

    In terms of diversification, the way forward requires that we move from reliance on crude oil to the production of petroleum products.  By this I mean that instead of merely extracting and exporting crude oil, Nigeria must now take full advantage of its petroleum sector and its entire value-chain. This will mean refining our crude before it is exported, it will entail becoming an African regional petrochemical hub, it will require making full use of our natural gas resources domestically and abroad and, of course, it will also require that we fully implement local content laws and regulations in the oil sector so as to fully utilise its abundant forward and backward linkages.

    It is for these reasons that the Federal Government will be prioritising the adoption and execution of a national oil and gas master plan this year.

    We also now have to move beyond the neglect of other key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, solid minerals and high value services.  The rebasing of our economy in the not too distant past revealed that the contribution of the oil sector to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had fallen from 32.4 per cent prior to the exercise to just 14.4 per cent as I stated earlier.

    In other words, while we were all still focused on the fortunes of the oil market, other activities had sprung up that were driving the economy. These sectors have the potential to create jobs, boost domestic demand and just as important, generate significant foreign exchange earnings, which is why the Federal Government has put diversification of the economy on its agenda this year.

    Bracing for global competition

     

    Thirdly, Nigeria has to ramp up its competitiveness in global terms.  This requires action in two directions. One of the things required is to ramp up our productivity.  For this, we need first rate infrastructure and greater use of science, technology and innovation into our production processes.  It is in realisation of the key role of infrastructure that the 2016 Budget has given priority to roads, power, and rail projects.  We are also signaling the need to ramp up our human capacities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) by extending bursaries to students studying these subjects in tertiary institutions, beginning this year.

    Similarly, our desire to build a competitive economy requires that we reduce the transactions costs of conducting business in Nigeria.  If we are to become a competitive economy, we just have to reduce the processes and expenses that the private sector has to contend with daily just to conduct business. This ranges from company registration, land titling, construction permits, and connection of infrastructure to dispute settlement procedures.  This is yet another item that is high up on the Federal Government agenda and we hope to improve Nigeria’s ranking in the ease of doing business index of the World Bank going forward.

    What most observers remember from the rebasing of Nigeria’s GDP is that we are now the largest economy in the continent. Thus, while this is naturally quite heady news for investors and citizens alike, there are other equally interesting facts revealed by the rebasing exercise.  Most notable is that the services sector grew faster than agriculture and industry which points to great promise in the telecommunications and Information Technology (IT) sector, financial services, real estate, transportation and indeed creative industries, the latter of which compels us to take greater interest in intellectual property. Another fact often overlooked in the discourse is that Nigeria has become an exporter of human services such that remittances into the country were of the order of about $21 billion in 2015.  Going forward, therefore, we will be taking full advantage of the opportunities offered in the services sector.

    There is of course much work to be done but we will be going about our business in a focused but flexible manner which allows for improvements and up scaling of our policy interventions in an on-going manner.  We are similarly committed to ensuring that Nigeria’s strengths are fully leveraged in all these efforts.

    Quite evidently, if we are to move the national economy forward, both the federal and state governments need to work together for the common good with singularity of purpose. I am glad that this spirit was demonstrated at the last National Economic Council (NEC) retreat and I am very hopeful that if we stay on course and implement the recommendations that emanated from there, we will succeed in meeting our aspirations as a nation.

    That strategies

     

    Mr. Chairman, distinguished guests, as part of our short to medium-term planning, we have developed a strategic implementation plan for the 2016 Budget. Permit me to share some of the key highlights:

    This Strategic Implementation Plan articulates six thematic strategies which will constitute the short-term priority of the Federal Government over the next 12 months.

    Accordingly, the Federal Government is focused on implementing 33 priority actions under the six themes in the 2016 fiscal year, in the following strategic areas:

    1. Lasting changes in policy on environment, national security and governance
    • Achieve an appropriate foreign exchange (forex) regime.
    • Increase low interest lending to the real sector
    • Maintain capital spending in the budget at a minimum of 30 per cent.
    • Complement this with funds from the infrastructure fund for commercial projects.
    • Intensify the implementation of public financial management reforms to grow revenues and cut costs.
    • Maintain sustainable debt management strategy.
    • Introduce fiscal incentives to improve collections.
    • Intensify the fight against corruption by increasing transparency, accountability and compliance with law and order.
    • Intensify public procurement reforms in projects to obtain value for money and cut cost.
    • Sustain the fight against insurgency, kidnapping and other violent crimes, terrorism, cyber-crimes, piracy, oil theft and illegal mining activities.
    • Intensify the reorientation of the populace through integrity campaigns.

    1. Diversifying the economy by fast-tracking industrialisation, agriculture and agro-allied processing, as well as attracting investment into the solid minerals, tourism and entertainment sectors
    • Implement measures to achieve self-sufficiency and become net exporters of certain agricultural items like rice in 2018; tomato paste (2016) and wheat (2019). Increase local production of maize, soya, poultry and livestock, so as to achieve self-sufficiency. The deadline will be announced in due course.
    • Revitalise and expand agro-allied processing to intensify local production and processing of cassava, cocoa, cashew, fruits and sesame seed.
    • Utilise 5,000 hectares of irrigable land in the 12 River Basin Development Authorities and utilise 22 dams for commercial farming by prospective investors.
    • Concession the Dadinkowa, Gurara (Phase I) and Oyan Dams with capacity to contribute a total of 82.5MW to the National Grid
    • Adopt and implement a roadmap to stimulate investment into the solid minerals sector, and plug revenue leakages in the sector.
    • Implement the national industrial revolution plan and launch the ‘Made in Nigeria’ campaign.
    • Increase manufacturing capacity through the operationalisation of industrial parks, Free and Export Processing Zones (FEPZ), among others.
    • Enhance support facilities to provide increased financial, technical assistance, networking and information to new investors and existing enterprises.
    • Implement the roadmap to increase private sector investment in culture, tourism, entertainment and sports
    • Create high-technology innovation hubs to support growth in the digital and technology sectors.

    III. Priority on critical infrastructure, focus on increasing investment in power, rail and roads among others.

    • Optimise the 7,000MW installed capacity and ensure associated infrastructure to fuel, transmit and distribute this capacity. complete the privatisation of the National Independent Power Project (NIPP) plants and develop a concessioning plan for Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
    • Ensure tariff includes all costs of transmission, generation and gas at new price, and distribution company costs required to operate, maintain and upgrade distribution network.
    • Resolve all issues on gas pricing, tariffs and payment assurance. Conclude the roadmap on gas development.
    • Complete the Kaduna-Abuja and Ajaokuta-Warri rail lines scheduled for this year; commence the construction of the Lagos-Kano standard gauge line; and finalise negotiations for the Calabar-Lagos rail project.
    • Undertake the rehabilitation and construction of 31 major road projects scheduled for this year to restore degraded sections of the federal highways network and to establish connectivity over a distance of 2,193 –kilometre (through public works projects, maintenance works, Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) and other interventions.
    • Complete the rehabilitation of four airports (including Abuja, Kano, Lagos and Port Harcourt) and explore options for the concessioning of airports.

    1. Oil and gas reforms
    • Adopt and execute a comprehensive National Oil and Gas Master-plan (NOGM) as the roadmap for the petroleum industry’s development, diversification, privatization and governance. Adopt and execute a roadmap of gas development & flare elimination.
    • Set a three-year deadline to be self-sufficient in refined petroleum products and become a net exporter.
    • Work with the National Assembly on the passage of a Revised Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) or Bills to give effect to the NOGM and to resolve fiscal and governance issues of the sector, including setting a timeframe for the privatisation of NNPC and refineries to achieve total deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector; and eliminate gas flaring.
    • Conclude negotiations to deal with all funding gap issues in the upstream sector.

    1. Ease of doing business
    • Move 20 places up global ease of doing business rankings, by implementing fast-track measures for business approvals, acquisition of land titles. (Nigeria is currently ranked 169 out of 189 countries by the World Bank – 2015 Survey)
    • Fast-track visa application and issuance processes

    1. Social Investment

    • Implement social intervention programme and specific health/education projects included in 2016 Budget
    • Health sector interventions including kicking off the revitalisation of primary health centre per ward (a total of 10,000 nationwide)

    Finally, as indicated by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhariv in his 2016 Budget presentation speech, this administration remains committed to economic diversification through import substitution, and export promotion, in order to build a robust and resilient economy, as a lasting legacy for generations to come. This strategic implementation plan therefore represents a significant step along this ‘Journey to Change’.

    In conclusion, it is important to underscore the point that we shall remain engaged with the Nigerian people, including stakeholders in the economy. For instance we intend to start a quarterly meeting with members of the private sector and other economic stakeholders soon and thereby create a forum for engagement on an ongoing basis. Town-hall meetings at the presidential level would also be resumed across the country to explain progress and address the challenges with our people.

    While the task of revamping our economy is a considerable one, our determination as an administration is firm and unrelenting. We urge the Nigerian people to remain patient and indeed expectant. We acknowledge the pains and are concerned by them. Which is why we are working diligently to address the tough challenges inherited from the nation’s past.

    Like I said at the beginning of this message, the plethora of challenges facing Nigeria could be overwhelming, and with it the multitude of things requiring decisive action. We are taking action and in due course they would produce satisfying outcomes, for they are borne out of a leadership that has no other agenda but the progress and greatness of Nigeria.

  • A community’s many challenges

    A community’s many challenges

    Mass Communication students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) were in Ehandiagu-Eha-Alumuna, a community in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State to sensitise residents on strategies for self-development. JAMES OJO, CHRISTIAN OKWOR, SUNDAY ELOM, STEPHEN OGBONNA AND SYLVESTER ORJI (300-Level Mass Communication) report.

    EhandiagU Ehaalumuna, an agricultural settlement in Nsukka Local Government of Enugu State, is known as a food basket, yet it is a community in denial. Despite its endowment in fertile land and resources, the riches do not reflect in its inhabitants’ life.

    The community’s development crisis informed the visit by 300-Level Mass Communication students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). The visit was part of the requirements for their course in development journalism. The students were there to educate the residents on steps to take to attract development to their community.

    The residents relived their plight as the students, led by their lecturers, moved round the community. Elder John Nnaji, said: “The community is backward and we live in extreme poverty. Though, we are blessed with natural resources, we cannot pay for our children’s school fees.”

    The situation, CAMPUSLIFE gathered, has made many residents to leave the area for cities in search of greener pastures. Residents complained about lack of infrastructure, such as roads, pipe-borne water, electricity and health centres.

    A youth leader, Abgo Chika, said the community had the worst road in the state, saying the government had neglected the people.

    He said: “Our community has abundant bees that produce good honey. We have cashew seeds, which we sell at give-away prices, because they are wasting. We don’t have opportunity to attract business investment because of the bad roads. This is dragging the community back in terms of development.”

    Besides, the community is facing inadequate schools and lack of hospitals, which according to Mrs Rosemary Odo, a resident, has put lives of the populace in danger. “Expectant mothers die, because of lack of functional healthcare facilities,” she said.

    On the efforts made by the community leaders to address the situation, Nnaji said: “We contributed money to construct two bridges at Eme River. We have constructed a road through that bridge and it leads to Premier Junction. But, all these were achieved through the community members’ effort.”

    The community traditional ruler, Igwe Daniel Ugwuanyi, said the residents had intimated Governor Emeka Ugwuanyi about their challenges, expressing optimism that the governor would take action to solve the community challenges.

    The monarch urged the government to tap into the resources of the community, which, he said, has the potential to drive development in the state.

    He said: ‘’The cashew plantation we have on 1,500 acres of land can become a source of revenue generation for the government. It has huge employment opportunities for youths in the area. The resources in the community are enough to contribute to economic growth.”

    While addressing the community leaders on how to promote development of the community, a Mass Communication lecturer, Mrs Omah Ekwueme, urged the residents to think out of the box and harness their resources, stressing absolute depend on government to solve their problems may further compound the community’s woes.

    She said there must be a proper communication channel between the community and government. She also argued that proper packaging and processing of agricultural produce, such as cashew seeds and other cash crops, would enhance the  marketability of the crops and profits of the farmers.

     

  • Tinubu: Nigeria must turn challenges to opportunities

    Tinubu: Nigeria must turn challenges to opportunities

    National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday challenged Nigerians to   turn the country’s present socio-economic condition into opportunities for a desirable re-engineering of the economy.

    Nigeria, according to him, has long stood in the corridor between greatness and failure, between progress and calamity and must now “summon the courage to take the bold steps and move in the direction.”

    “We must reform and do so quickly and with alertness to the severity of the circumstances mounting around us,” Tinubu said in a prepared speech he delivered at the 15 – 20th Convocation ceremony of the University of Abuja where he awarded  the honorary doctorate degree in Business Administration (DBA, Honoris Causa).

    Tracing the country’s woes to past leadership, he said: “The ways in which we have grown accustomed to running this nation no longer suffice.

    “If we are to continue as we have done over the years our malpractice will deliver us into the vice grip of national failure.

    “That which we used to do then laugh at ourselves for our errant ways is no longer a joking matter. It is now fatal.”

    He spoke of the plan of the ruling APC to lift 20 per cent of Nigerians out of poverty within four years.

    For this to happen, he said, the state must be a fulcrum for job creation and economic development that touches all Nigerians not just a narrow growth that benefits few people.

    “Although confronted by multiple challenges, I believe this government has the chance and the mission to better our society and forge a new model for our national governance,” he said.

    “We have demonstrated the courage and determination to change a non-performing government through a democratic election. This electoral success has brought new challenges. These challenges are numerous and we must confront them with an even greater courage than that which saw us through the election.

    “We shall do this by implementing a national industrial policy linked to a national infrastructural plan and a national employment strategy.

    “Before our children can dream of a university education they must first enjoy the foundational education of primary school.

    “Our position is that we make a special effort to draw all children to school, particularly the poor. We cannot afford to allow poverty to keep children out of the classroom. If so we are suborning a life of ignorance and poverty for millions of our young ones.

    “This progressive government is committed to providing all school-age children one free meal daily. This seems a simple thing. But it is also wise and prudent. A hungry student does not learn. If the child is too hungry too often, he stops attending school altogether.

    “By this programme, students will more eagerly attend because their stomachs as well as their minds shall be fed. Parents will encourage children to attend because this will take the children off the streets while also alleviating pressure on the family to feed the children.

    “This current leadership will anchor its efforts to re-build Nigeria on massive industrialization and the re-structuring of the economy to allow for growth. Then, will hope be rekindled for millions of our people and a country of great potentials and possibilities will emerge.”

    Second Republic Vice President Dr. Alex Ekwueme, was one of those conferred with honorary degrees.

    His Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) was received on his behalf by his daughter.

    Others who bagged awards at the ceremony were: former Chief Justices of Nigeria, Justice Idris Kutigi, Doctor of Laws (LLD) and Justice Maryam Aloma Muktar, Doctor of Letters (Dlitt) – both (?Honoris Causa) as well as Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who got PhD in Law and Senator Buhari, PhD Social Sciences.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, in a message on the occasion said that government alone could not  meet the needs of higher education.

    Represented by Director, Tertiary Education, Ministry of Education, Hajia Abdullahi Hindatu, the president encouraged private sector to invest more in research and development in the universities.

    He said:”It is pertinent to emphasize on the quality of teaching and research in our universities.

    “Research should not be relegated to the background in our universities. I therefore urge Nigerian universities to ensure that the quality of the graduates produced compares with products from other universities globally,” the president said.

    Twenty-five thousand, eight hundred and seventy-eight students received their degrees at the ceremony.

    The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Michael Adikwu said 20, 461 received first degree in various fields while 1697 received postgraduate diploma.

    Eight students bagged first class between 2008 – 2015 sessions.

    The breakdown showed that 2,324 were awarded with Second Class, Upper Division; 11,180  were awarded Second Class Degrees, Lower Division.

    Adikwu said that Nigeria’s road to sustainable economic development lied in the creative ability of citizens to turn adversities into opportunities.

    He urged the graduating students ?to use personal initiatives to seize the opportunities that still abounded in the country for them to be self employed.

    Present at the ceremony were former interim Head of State, Chief  Ernest Shonekan; a former interim chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande; state governors; Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed; House of Representatives Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila;, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, a former Niger State governor, Dr. Mu’azu Aliyu; and Rep. James Faleke  among others.

     

  • Kukah to Buhari: Turn challenges to fortune

    Kukah to Buhari: Turn challenges to fortune

    The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Most Rev Mathew Kukah, has advised President Mohammadu Buhari to see the present economic situation in the country as a challenge for him to move the country forward to the next level.

    The Bishop urged the president to emulate great leaders of the world who, when faced with similar challenges, used them as spring boards to turn around the fortunes of their countries for the benefit of the people.

    Speaking in Umuahia, during the valedictory lecture in honor of the out-going Vice Chancellor of the Michael Okpara University of

    Agriculture Umudike, Professor Hilary Edeoga , Kukah challenged Buhari to learn from great world leaders who saw opportunities in challenges.

    Kukah said that great leaders elsewhere had faced similar situations and resolved them for good, pointing out that this is one of the finest moments for the leaders of Nigeria to transform the country.

    “One of our problems in Nigeria is that we lack the imagination, we lack the charisma, and we lack the capacity to rouse a crowd. From 1960 till date, have you seen any Nigeria’s President’s speech that you feel like going back to read?

    “What President Buhari requires is the kind of speech writers that can actually create a vision. And what he requires is to fire the imagination of the society, just like late President John Kennedy did when he became the President of US in the 60s.

    “His speech when he was the president of America propelled a young black woman to study science and became the first black woman to land in space. When Kennedy said we are going to land somebody in the moon, the woman was only 12 years old, and she was motivated to land in the moon thereafter.

    These are difficult times in our country, but they are also times in which we must stand together. If we are talking of change, what must change? Who should change? How will this change happen? And how do we recognize a Nigeria that has changed?”

    The cleric also called on the Federal Government to be proactive and prepare for a post-Boko Haram era by planning on how to re-orientate soldiers returning from the war to be fully reintegrated with the larger society and be productive.

    He said that creating conducive environment for returning soldiers from war has become necessary, as the war against Boko Haram was gradually coming to an end.

  • Aregbesola and challenges of development in Osun

    Becoming governor was not, for Rauf Aregbesola, the fulfilment of an ambition. It was for him, the beginning of a mission: a mission to transform his beloved state, Osun. Prior to his assumption of office on November 27, 2010, the scandalous performance of successive governments, with the rare exception of the Bisi Akande administration is better imagined than real. As a result of poor governance by successive governments, the state infrastructures were in a terrible state of decay. The level of rot, particularly, the degree of moral decadence he met on ground was totally unacceptable to him. Consequently, he embarked on far –reaching reforms to make the state measure up to the standard of what a modern society should be and put it on the path of irreversible posterity. The arrested development of the state explains why Aregbesola was in a hurry to develop the 25 year old state when he came on board in 2010, and was consequently spending up to 80 percent of the state’s resources on capital projects.

    Corrupt public officials and beneficiaries of the old order were not happy with him, because after devoting such a humongous sum to the execution of capital projects, there was little or nothing to steal coupled with the fact that he also blocked all areas of leakages. The foregoing made him unpopular amongst the elites and thieving public officials who have been feasting like vultures on the meagre resources of the state. But to the commoners, the toiling masses and the vulnerable who are in the majority, the anti-corruption and attitudinal change crusade of Aregbesola is a welcome development. In any existing economic or political system, there are those who would naturally oppose the emergence of ideas formulated towards endowing a progressive society. These are those that have been recently uncovered and referred to as a “cabal” opposed to the provision of the people of the state of Osun with the right kind of leadership as symbolized in the pragmatic and quality style of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. They are those who have gone to town, with wild, despicable allegations and malicious propaganda to paint Ogbeni Aregbesola in bad light, cause mischief, misinform and disrupt the existing good relationship between Aregbesola and the appreciative people of Osun.  Like Winston Churchill, Aregbesola might be vilified for his principled position, but no one can fault the altruistic and patriotic motivations for his actions. Like the saying goes, “Diamonds are forever”. Changing global reality in our new world is making leaders that have vision look like narrow-minded, satanic, heartless and wicked while making those without vision look like saints.

    I have watched with a sense of bewilderment, the unrelenting smear campaign against Aregbesola administration and his person.  It is as if Osun is the only state in Nigeria owing its workers salary arrears due to dwindling allocation from the federation account. The opposition, a section of the media on its payroll and the “lynch mob” have found an opportunity in the current economic recession affecting the whole world to vent their spleen on the governor for the sole purpose of deflecting attention from their uncomplimentary activities of their days in power, partly responsible for our present economic woes.

    In just three years, Aregbesola has been able to prove that something good can, indeed come out of Nazareth. He has pulled Osun from the backwaters of underdevelopment, illiteracy, ignorance and disease, to a state that is on irreversible path to prosperity. To realize his vision, the governor had, on assuming office, initiated a strategy of building up reserve of funds with which it could leverage for the projects it has planned to do. His government did two things that nobody thought he could do. By November, 2010, when it assumed office, the state had borrowed a whopping N1 billion to pay salaries. Yet, this did not stop the new administration from recruiting 20,000 OYES members! It was that same period that the state paid bonus to its workers. The abiding question is: How did the Aregbesola do it? By March of the following year, Aregbesola had restructured the state finances to the extent that the state was no longer in any precarious financial condition. The state has stopped borrowing money to pay salaries; it never failed to pay N200 million monthly allowance to OYES volunteers. In less than three years of his first four year- tenure, chroniclers of history would establish Aregbesola’s massive interventions in hitherto rotten and neglected sectors such as education, environment, agriculture, infrastructure, tourism, health and security. From better –developed education system, to well- equipped hospitals, to empowered people; to policies geared towards empowerment, poverty alleviation and a social security programme that protects the vulnerable.

    The state of Osun’s experience in the spheres of infrastructure and human capital development is also worthy of commendation when compared to what the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola met on ground and how he has been able to transform Osun in less than three years. The current economic recession affecting the state, nay Nigeria notwithstanding, Aregbesola has so far demonstrated that, with great determination, Osun State could become the envy of many and the pride of her citizens at home and in the Diaspora. Osun State infrastructural facilities, though yet to be completed due to the economic meltdown, is the symbolic representation of Aregbesola’s government’s  resolve to eradicate the decadence of the past and link the state and subsequently, the people with the future.

    Aregbesola’s efforts at repositioning Osun State have not gone unnoticed. The World back in conjunction with 14 states in Nigeria have replicated the OYES initiative in those states. Aregbesola was invited to address the UK parliament on the Schools Feeding Programme and on his innovative tablet of knowledge, “Opon Imo”. Even the Muhammadu Buhari-led APC federal government has incorporated some of his programme, especially the School Feeding Programme and the N5000 stipend for the unemployed graduates into its programme.

    Aregbesola has within three years in office pioneered changes geared towards the achievement, improvement and sustenance of good quality of life for the citizens of the state. He has within so short a time in office demonstrated that where there is a will, there is always a way. Surely, the good that Aregbesola has started in Osun State, though, temporarily hindered by the current economic recession, will outlast him; it will live long after he would have passed on. Since he meant well for the state, he deserves the support of people. In this historic battle of repositioning the state, he needs to be encouraged, not scared. And since this battle is collective, not personal, he deserves solidarity, not brickbats.

     

    • Aminu is National Coordinator, Oodua Youth for Good Governance .

  • Strides, challenges of Otuoke varsity VC

    One major concern of Prof. Mobolaji Aluko, the Vice-Chancellor, of the Federal University in Otuoke, the community of former President Goodluck Jonathan in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, is the status of the university’s programmes.

    Aluko is the pioneer vice-chancellor of the institution, which started operation in 2011. The American-trained professor took over the leadership of the newly-established ivory tower on February 16, 2011.

    In fact, he took over the university when there was nothing on ground. But his minder’s touch, experience and exposure have built the institution to an enviable height especially when juxtaposed with other universities established the same time.

    Students’ population has increased; staff statistics is excellent; academic infrastructure has improved and there has been a friendly relationship between the university and its host community despite some challenges. With the standard of learning and character established by Aluko, the university will in no distant time become one of the top ranking ivory towers in the country.

    But Aluko is still worried. He is disturbed by the status of programmes offered in the university. Because the institution is new, all its courses as at last year were yet to be accredited. An accreditation panel visited the university late last year.

    Aluko said the school went through accreditation for 12 of its programmes. “And my hope, my aim and ambition is either to have full accreditation or to have  at least 80 to 90%of our programmes accredited preferably 100%.

    “But sometimes when you don’t have full accreditation it’s equally an opportunity to improve on  those things they have not given you to gain accreditation for,” he said.

    In social sciences, the university runs six programmes such as Accounting and Finance; English and Communication Studies, Economics and Development Studies, Political Science, History, Sociology and Anthropology. Aluko has also developed six programmes in sciences such as Chemistry, Micro-biology, Computer Science, Physics Mathematics and Statistics.

    All of the courses are undergoing accreditation at the same time. The professor said: “This is really like a university accreditation. In some other universities, sometimes it will be certain programmes, but in a new university like this, where none of them have been accredited, it is serious.”

    Indeed, it is a big challenge for Aluko because this is the first time the programmes are undergoing accreditation.

    Undoubtedly, Aluko worked very hard to achieve the standard of student ratio, staff mix,  facilities, classrooms and laboratories, library, safety and security and campus cleanliness, among other requirements needed for accreditation.

    On the relationship between the university and its host community, Aluko described it as testing. He acknowledged that the community made tremendous sacrifice including raising money to erect eight start-up buildings.

    He, however, said the community has unlimited expectations from the university, which he said sometimes were beyond  the institution.

    “We are a federal university and not a community university, not Bayelsa university, not a Niger Delta university. We are a federal university and also part of international community.”

    On the issues of finance, Aluko said: “Finance has been the major challenge here. We were lucky that we had N1.5billion  take-off fund that other universities did not have and that was what we used to provide facelift in this place.

    “But overhead has been a challenge because we have never gotten more than N6million  which is inadequate. We don’t have electricity here since August 2014.

    “So we generally run on generator. We have 13 diesel generators for a total of 1.95 megawatts and 8 transformers for a total of 2.55megawatts. We spend N2million monthly on generator.”

  • The challenges I faced rising to the top -Nollywood star Bukky Wright

    The challenges I faced rising to the top -Nollywood star Bukky Wright

    The joy of a mother is to see her children grow into adult and become successful in life. For popular actress, Bukky Wright, she wishes no less. Bukky, as she is fondly called by friends and fans, is presently in cloud nine over her two sons who have suddenly gown into men and graduated from the university.

    The mother of two is particularly excited watching her older son, Gbenga, aka Ojayy, trying to pursue a career in the entertainment world as a musician.

    Her son, she said, began to manifest the talent when he entered secondary school. But she wanted him to concentrate more on his education. However, unknown to the young boy, she opened a commercial studio, hoping that it would help to build his career whenever he is through with his education.

    “I noticed that he started taking interest in music when he was in secondary school. But because I wanted him to face his education, I didn’t let him know that I liked it. At that time too, he was kind of falling in love with football, so I had to be careful. Without letting him know, I opened a commercial studio, hoping that when he is through with his education, he would take up a career in music.”

    The young man played his part by bagging a degree in Biological Sciences from the Rutgers University, New Jersey, US.

    Speaking with The Nation shortly after watching her first son, Gbenga, perform to the admiration of a large crowd at the University of Lagos, Bukky said she is happy and fulfilled. Brimming with smiles, with her eyes dashing across the room to steal a look at her son, who sat a little distance away, the veteran cross over actress said: “You want to know how I feel? I must confess that I feel happy, I feel fulfilled like a mother whose son has made her proud. I am the proudest mum in the world right now.”

    In truth, Bukky Wright has every bragging right to feel proud, judging from where she was a little over a decade ago.

    At the time, the young Bukky Wright had just come out of her broken marriage. As a young mother of two, she was heartbroken and disillusioned, and probably unsure of what the future had in stock for her.

    But fortune soon smiled on her when an old friend and confidant, Shan George, who was at the time a popular actress, offered her a shoulder to lean on. Bukky was introduced to what at the time was a fast-growing industry- the home video industry. One thing led to another, and Bukky was given an opportunity of a life time when she starred in her first movie, entitled Images.

    The charming actress has earned for herself a befitting status in the industry, with A-list performances in movies and television series like Super Story’s Oh Father Oh Daughter, Agogo Eewo and Saworo Ide, among several others.

    The story of Bukky Wright’s rise from a position of seeming hopelessness to that of one of the best in her profession and a successful businesswoman is a lesson in perseverance, dedication and hard work. This much she attested to herself. “I think I owe my success to God. Then, you all know me as one who does not give up. I am hard working and also endure any condition. My versatility and believing in myself is another thing that has helped me. I think all these are what have helped me till this day. I met a lot of people in this industry who are far better than I am. But I believe it is God’s plan that is manifesting in my life.”

    Undoubtedly, Bukky Wright sure has a lot going for her at the moment. Her two sons, the fruits of her crashed marriage, have graduated from universities in the US. Apart from this, her acting prowess, intelligence, beauty, charisma and unassuming love for all has earned her a place in the hearts of thousands of fans home and abroad.

    While she may have overcome the initial setback of her life, Bukky confessed to The Nation that her greatest wish for her sons is that they grow up to have a stable home. Asked if this has anything to do with her own experience, the popular actress said: “No, not at all. But you see, as a mother, the best thing you would wish for your son is to have a very peaceful and stable home. And that is what I wish for my sons.”

    Far away from what others might view as the turning point in her life, Bukky Wright claimed that the turning point was when her sons came to live with her after the collapse of her marriage.

    “I think the turning point in my life was when my children came to live with me. At the time, my first son was about six, while his younger brother was about four. When they moved in with me, it dawned on me that I have a huge responsibility not to fail myself and them. I knew that I had a task to make sure that things work well. Today, I thank God that I passed that challenge, because it was really a big challenge for me. You can imagine what people would say if I had failed.”

    Bukky said she would have been deemed a failure if she had failed in raising her sons. She would, however, give the credit of the success to God. “I give God all the glory,” she said, stopped what looked like eternity before continuing, “Even now, when I ask myself how I did it, I can’t find the answer. Then I realised that it was God. There was no way I could have raised them by myself without the support of God. Imagine sending two children to university in the US,” she said with her eyes shut as if in deep reflection.

    Asked if she has slowed down on some things she did when her boys were younger, Bukky looked straight as if trying to recollect something, before shooting back with a bright smile pasted on her face, “I don’t think there was ever anything that I did and I wouldn’t want them to see me do. The truth is that I lived my life for them, and anybody who is close to me knows this. I don’t drink, I don’t smoke or party. So, there is really nothing that I would not want them to catch me doing.”

    As she spoke, her son, Gbenga, who had watched and listened to his mother as she fielded questions, sought to contribute to the interview. For the young man, being the son of Bukky Wright has its own challenges. “Being her son can be very challenging. As a popular person, everywhere you go as her son, the people expect you to behave and live above board. But in Nigeria, that is very tough. For instance, I was driving one day when a man brushed my car. I was very angry and I came down in a very angry manner, but at that moment, I remembered that I cannot afford to fight in public, and that if I do, it may affect her brand. So, I simply calmed down and let the man go.”

    And for the mother, building a successful brand took a lot of hard work and several challenges. Asked to name some of the challenges that she surmounted to rise to the top, Bukky Wright said: “There were many challenges. To put it mildly, they were simply too many to start listing them. But the main ones were financial and moral. As a woman in an industry that was mainly dominated by men at the time, you had to be doubly good at what you do to make any headway. So many times you had to go hungry because you had no money. Again, as a woman, that puts you in a moral challenge.”

    Aside from acting, Bukky is relatively a successful businesswoman. Her boutique, located in the Lekki area of Lagos, is a choice shopping place for the big boys. The outfit, she said is the result of a long term planning. “It took me a long time to plan this. I have always thought of sitting down in my own shop and all the things in the shop being my own brand. That’s why I’ve been trying to brand the name. I’ve always said it that Bukky Wright is not just a name. It is a brand that could come out with anything. I’ve been nurturing it for a very long time.”

    From owning a fashion shop, Bukky is expanding her business coast to include entertainment and promotion.

    “I do a lot of stuff now. I have opened a record label, with my son as the first artiste on the label. By the grace of God, we hope to have more artistes on the label.”

    While it is true that other aspects of her life seem to have fallen into place with relative ease and profound successes, but Bukky has also had her fair share of troubles, ranging from media gossips surrounding her career and relationships to the challenges of making success of her career.

    However, in spite of the brave face and thick skin towards scandals and rumours, Bukky confessed that she had broken down in tears over a story. And talking about her friends, she claimed that, while she has plenty of friends and acquaintances, her two sons remain her best friends. “I have a lot of friends and I have a lot of acquaintances. My kids are my best friends. I have two of them; Gbenga and Eniola.”

    But another person who is close to Bukky Wright was her late mother. Their closeness was on display when the old woman died about two years ago, as the actress was left distraught. But time seems to have mended her broken heart, as she spoke fondly of her mother’s memory.

    “I was very close to my mom. But i give God the glory that we have been able to keep her memory alive.”

    Of the lessons she learnt from her mom, Bukky said the most profound was to be herself at all times and to be generous to people around her.

    “I was very close to my mum and she taught me a whole lot of things. She taught me a lot about life and she taught me that the family comes first before any other thing and it has been working well for me.

    “She would always tell me that I should always believe in myself. She said that, while others may deceive you, you cannot afford to deceive yourself. She also taught me to be generous. For instance, she said that you don’t need to ask your guests whether they would eat or not. She said you should simply serve your guests whatever you can afford. And in truth, you cannot come to our house without eating something, because she would not allow that to happen. These lessons are helping me in my own life today, and I sincerely thank her for inculcating into me these virtues.”

    One of the reasons that Bukky is adored by her fans is because of her beautiful sense of fashion, both on and off the screen. And whether in traditional wear or English dress, Bukky Wright would most likely emerge your poster girl.

    “I love shirts. I love anything that has to do with fashion. Mostly, I love to wear shirts. But that does not mean I don’t wear native attires. Maybe I should say that I dress to suit the occasion.”

    So how does she manage her male fans? She disclosed that she puts in place a structure that defines the role of both parties. “I make them know that they are just my fans and nothing beyond that. But if a particular one becomes persistent, I either refuse to pick his call or simply devise a more diplomatic way to put him at arms length without necessarily hurting him.”

    She however, maintained that she has no regret about her personality. “I have no regrets at all. If I come back a thousand times, I still want to be Bukky Wright.”

  • Strides, challenges of Otuoke varsity VC

    One major concern of Prof. Mobolaji Aluko, the Vice-Chancellor, of the Federal University located in Otuoke, the community of former President Goodluck Jonathan, in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, is the status of the university’s programmes.

    Aluko is the pioneer vice-chancellor of the institution which started operation in 2011. The American-trained professor took over the leadership of the newly-established ivory tower on February 16, 2011.

    In fact, he took over the university when there was nothing on ground. But his minder’s touch, experience and exposure have built the institution to an enviable height especially when juxtaposed with other universities established the same time.

    Students’ population has increased; staff statistics is excellent; academic infrastructure has improved and there has been a friendly relationship between the university and its host community despite some challenges. With the standard of learning and character established by Aluko, the university will in no distant time become one of the top ranking ivory towers in the country.

    But Aluko is still worried. He is disturbed by the status of programmes offered in the university. Because the institution is new, all its courses as at last year were yet to be accredited. An accreditation panel visited the university late last year.

    Aluko said the school went through accreditation for 12 of its programmes. “And my hope, my aim and ambition is either to have full accreditation or to have  at least 80 to 90%of our programs accredited preferably 100%.

    “But sometimes when you don’t have full accreditation is equally an opportunity to improve on  those things they have not given you to gain accreditation for”, he said.

    In social sciences, the university runs six programmes such as Accounting and Finance; English and Communication Studies, Economics and Development Studies, Political Science, History, Sociology and Anthropology. Aluko has also developed six programmes in sciences such as Chemistry, Micro-biology, Computer Science, Physics Mathematics and Statistics.

    All of the courses are undergoing accreditation at the same time. The professor said: “This is really like a university accreditation. In some other universities, sometimes it will be certain programmes, but in a new university like this, where none of them have been accredited, it is serious.”

    Indeed, it is a big challenge for Aluko because this is the first time the programmes are undergoing accreditation.

    Undoubtedly, Aluko worked very hard to achieve the standard of student ratio, staff mix,  facilities, classrooms and laboratories, library, safety and security and campus cleanliness, among other requirements needed for accreditation.

    On the relationship between the university and its host community, Aluko described it as testing. He acknowledged that the community made tremendous sacrifice including raising money to erect eight start-up buildings.

    He, however, said the community has unlimited expectations from the university, which he said sometimes were beyond  the institution.

    “We are a federal university and not a community university, not Bayelsa university, not a Niger Delta university. We are a federal university and also part of international community.”

    On the issues of finance, Aluko said: “Finance has been the major challenge here. We were lucky that we had N1.5billion  take-off fund that other universities did not have and that was what we used to provide facelift in this place.

    “But overhead has been a challenge because we have never gotten more than N6million  which is inadequate. We don’t have electricity here since August 2014.

    “So we generally run on generator. We have 13 diesel generators for a total of 1.95 megawatts and 8 transformers for a total of 2.55megawatts. We spend N2million monthly on generator.”

  • Bayelsa: Dickson and the challenges ahead

    Bayelsa: Dickson and the challenges ahead

    Following his victory at the last gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State, as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) Governor Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), according to political observers, will have to confront some fresh challenges in administering the oil-rich state, Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor, reports.

    The highly controversial 2015 governorship election in Bayelsa State may have finally been concluded following an earlier inconclusive attempt. But going by the submission of pundits and the implications left behind by some developments that occurred before, during and after the violently contested poll, the task of governing the now highly polarized state may not be an easy one for Governor Seriake Dickson, the man who got the nod of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to continue in office for another term of four years, having polled the highest number of votes in the said election.

    Following the conclusion of the supplementary election held on January 10, 2016, INEC declared Dickson, the incumbent and candidate of the PDP, as the winner of the Bayelsa State governorship election. According to the results, Dickson defeated his closest rival, Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to win the election. While Dickson polled 134,998 votes, Sylva got 86,852 votes. The initial election was held on December 5, 2015.

    Dickson, who has been in charge as the governor of the oil-rich state since 2011, earlier served as a member of the House of Representatives, representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency of the state. In the House of Representatives, he served as the Chairman, House Committee on Justice and also a member of several committees.

    According to Yenagoa-based public commentator and lawyer, Fred Ganpate, the electorate has played its part and has now thrown a challenge to those it defied threats and bad weather in some places to vote for. He said it is now very important for the re-elected governor to fulfill his campaign promises.

    “However, Dickson will have to brace himself for some challenges emanating from the current situation of things in the state. There is no doubt that the people of the state will expect a lot of things from him and quickly too. Given the fact that the people had a variety of options to choose from the last time, the expectation from the man who eventually won is enormous,” he said.

    Gampate cited the dwindling revenue of the state, growing insecurity, youth unemployment and a widely polarized citizenry as some of the challenges currently confronting the re-elected governor. And according to him, “Bayelsans would expect him to hit the ground running in finding solutions to these issues as soon as possible.”

    Dwindling revenue

    In the run up to the last gubernatorial election, Dickson has expressed deep concern over the steady decline in the revenues accruing to the state from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC). He explained that the decline was evident in the less than one billion naira shortfall in the revenue received by the state between August and September, 2015.

    It was a visibly worried Dickson that disclosed that the state received only N5.2 billion for September 2015. He also disclosed that the state received N6.2 billion in the month of August and that the amount from the previous month had dropped to N5.6 billion occasioned by the sharp reduction in prices of crude oil in the international market.

    “You can imagine what would have happened, if we didn’t experience this drastic and sudden drop in our revenue, Bayelsa would have been something else. But we are still not despondent. We are hopeful that by the grace of God, revenues will improve and we will again work together to take our state to the next level,” Dickson said.

    With the FAAC allocation now further dwindled, and given the yearnings of the people of the state for more development as exemplified in their demands from candidates during the last election, pundits say Dickson will have to set about improving the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) base of his state.

    Former spokesperson of the Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA) in the state, Comrade John Duokpolor, said it is now expedient for the governor to stop giving the people the usual excuse of dwindling allocation and find a way of increasing the financial situation of the state so as to be able to give the people the much needed dividends of democracy.

    “As we speak, oil price has crashed from $104 to $38 per barrel. Possibly, it might still crash further with Iran back in the loop and America dangling Shell oil and Shell Gas. So, we must understand that it is not helpful to rely solely on the federal revenue. Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) must be looked into.

    This is not a time for Governor Dickson to cry over dwindling allocation. It is time to generate revenue and meet the needs of the people who voted for him. His re-election amidst so much rancor, controversy and uncertainty places upon him a very serious burden of expectations and duty, and there is no way the people will be satisfied with excuses this time around,” he said.

    To Gampate, the government may have to put on its thinking cap and find ways of getting citizens in the informal sector to contribute to the revenue base of the state as a way of improving the IGR accruable to it.  “The place to look into is the informal sector. That is the sector that is actually untapped and having the capacity to help the state at a time like this. What is accruable from the sector is huge. It is just that nobody is paying attention to it now.

    “But unlike the formal sector, you cannot get anything out of it unless you first encourage the people therein. And the easiest way to encourage the informal sector to keep on paying is to make them feel the impact of your government, because if you go back to collect from them again, they will ask you what you did with the ones they’ve paid; that is usually their response.

    “If you want them to keep paying without blinking an eyelid, just provide amenities for them. Within their locality, fix roads, give them water, if they have problems with getting water to flow from their taps, send them tankers to drop water for them; let them feel the impact of the government. Once these are done, they will pay,” he said.

    Insecurity

    Another challenge Dickson is currently confronted with is insecurity. Headlined by the rising spate of kidnapping and other violent acts, as well as the recent abduction of a serving commissioner and the younger sister of the governor, many residents of the state are calling on the governor to secure lives and properties at all cost.

    Observers are blaming the return of insecurity in the state on the high spate of thuggery and other violent activities associated with the last governorship election in the state. “The last election, in terms of criminal activities, remains the worst in the history of the state. My major fear is that unless these politicians find a way of disarming those they armed during that period, the state may be in for a terrible time,” Duokpolor cautioned.

    Recently, the APC charged Governor Seriake Dickson to brace up to the security challenges instead of blaming it on the opposition. The party urged the governor to live up to the expectation of the people of Bayelsa by performing his most basic responsibility of ensuring the security of lives and property in the state.

    A statement by its spokesman, Nathan Egba, said the party is worried about the increasing rate of violent crime, including kidnappings across the state. The APC called on the security agencies in the state to step up their intelligence and track down all criminal elements within the state.

    The New Bayelsa Movement, a non-political pressure group, last weekend, raised the alarm over growing threats to life and property in some parts of the state. The group called on the governor to urgently confront the threat before more lives are lost to kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminal elements in the state.

    In a statement by its President, Titus Ezonfade, and Secretary, Meg Tamunomiebi , the group maintained that it had watched with dismay the increasing number of lives lost to hoodlums every day in the oil-rich state.

    Already, the governor has revealed that his administration had finalized plans to unfold a comprehensive security framework to address the current trend of insecurity across the state. Dickson recently warned that anybody found culpable will be dealt with in accordance with the criminal laws of the state and the country.

    He called on youths in the state not to allow themselves to be used under whatever guise to perpetrate any crime, warning that no one would be spared when caught. Dickson enjoined the people of the state to go about their legitimate duties without any fear of molestation, assuring that security agencies had been put on red alert to track down criminals and their cohorts.

    Fence mending

    Another urgent task before Dickson, according to political analysts, is the need for him to supervise the mending of political fences across the state so as to reduce the widespread division and sectionalization occasioned by the tense politicking experienced in the state during the last governorship election.

    Already, political analysts have commended the governor-elect for extending an olive branch to his opponents in the contest. Upon his victory, Dickson called on those who contested with him but lost to come forward with their programmes and policies and support his administration to move the state forward. With this singular action, many are hoping that in no distance time, the political divides within the state will close ranks and allow peace to reign.

    But Gampate would want to believe that the decision of the opposition APC and its candidate to contest the result of the election at the tribunal may delay the healing of political wounds. “I want to believe that given how tense the contest was, with the battle now moving to the tribunal, the worst is not over yet,” he said.

    Following the declaration of Dickson as the winner of the election, the APC candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, vowed to challenge what he described as the procured victory of the PDP in court. According to him, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Baritor Kpagir, deliberately set up machinery to ensure the return of the PDP candidate and incumbent Dickson.

  • Real estate: The challenges ahead

    Real estate: The challenges ahead

    The real estate sector is estimated to hit  $13.6 billion this year, accounting for 7.6 per cent of the gross domestic product. This may be good news for investors, but experts are calling for caution, writes MUYIWA LUCAS

    Renowned accounting and auditing firm, Pricewater-houseCoopers, is usually not known for getting its economic predictions wrong, though with slight variations in some instances usually caused by unforeseen fluctuations in micro and macro economic policies.

    And so, when the firm made its report public that the country’s real estate industry would be valued at $13.65 billion this year, compared to the $9.16bn in 2014, accounting for 7.6 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, (GDP), it obviously sent  investors and realtors leaping for joy.

    Now, in spite of the sharp downturn in the economy, especially with the naira’s free fall against international currencies, including the fast declining international crude oil price, stakeholders and experts in the real estate industry are still of the opinion that the sector will remain buoyant and full of activities this year.

    But there is a caveat to this: realtors and investors have to be very discerning in their choice, or areas of investment because the sector will respond to both negative and positive economic indices.

    Director, Real Estate Advisory, North Court Real Estate, Tayo Odunsi, agreed that the outlook for the real estate market this year will be largely dependent on the overall performance of the economy as the demand, supply and price of space is contingent on the well-being of occupiers, developers and investors.

    Similarly, the Senior Manager, Real Estate Finance, Stanbic IBTC, Mr. Tola Akinhanmi, at a real estate conference, brought to the fore the need to take purposeful decision in real estate investment this year. For instance, he said there has been growing interest and focus on investment grade assets within the retail and office segments of the sector, in spite of an increased government interventions and support for the housing sector, such as the World Bank-led housing initiatives, establishment of the Nigerian Mortgage Refinancing Company (NMRC) and relative mortgage accessibility through pension reforms.

    A report by North Court Real Estate, titled: Nigeria real estate market outlook 2016, further corroborates Akinhanmi’s submission. According to the report, the office development segment will experience massive boom, with over 150, 000 square metres of lettable space currently being developed for delivery over the next six months to two years. Of this figure, Lagos, the report says, remains in the front runner in this development, accounting for over 25,000 sqm to be delivered. And while Eko Atlantic City gradually takes shape, Ikoyi area would be the prime office destination; Abuja and other second tier cities will follow.

    Investigations by The Nation revealed that high grade office spaces expected to be completed and drive this projection include but not limited to The Wings, a 27, 000m2-luxury office space being developed by RMB Westport and Oando Plc; Lake Point Towers; Madina Tower; and the 26,000m2 World Trade Centre (WTC) in Abuja. Others are the African Capital Alliance’s 6,670m2 “Alliance Place” in Lagos, being developed at a cost of N165 million, and the 15, 734m2 Heritage Place being developed by Actis.

    “The development pipeline has never been so robust; the office development pipeline is very rich. Never has the nation enjoyed such influx of investment office space available for take-up by third parties as against owner-occupation, which was the norm in the past. The invasion may drive prices down moderately; we also postulate that occupiers may surrender leases in older buildings in preference for new builds, which may be willing to offer competitive prices,” the report said. This postulations may not be incorrect given that some developments, such as the Civic Towers and Landmark Tower, delivered in 2015, though had fairly rapid occupation, they nonetheless where rented at rates less than originally desired due to the economic crunch.

    But Akinhanmi explained that in spite of the economic downturn, there was still a strong market in Nigeria’s real estate. This, he observed, accounted for the sector’s emergence as the sixth largest in the country, accounting for 8.4 per cent of the total Gross Domestic Product in 2014, and further growing by 18.78 per cent in the second quarter of 2015.

    “The real estate sector has in the past five to seven years witnessed increased foreign and domestic investment; entry of foreign developers, investors and service firms; increased joint venture arrangements between local sponsors and financial as well as strategic partners; and development expansion into secondary places, such as Delta, Owerri, Abeokuta, Enugu, Ibadan and Kano, among others,” he said.

    Yet, other stakeholders are of the opinion that the residential sub-sector will always have its own demand requiring that the supply gap needs to be covered. Boye Ajayi, a  consultant, explained that in spite of the economic situation, this sector would still be a high flyer because shelter ranks highly in man’s hierarchy of needs.

    Therefore, Ajayi argues, man’s first priority is to get shelter over his head. He, however, said the sector may not experience high brow residential apartments making waves, but there will still be activities in the sector.

    Indeed, experts said going by the events in the beginning of the year, tougher times loom, yet opportunities for success the subsector still abound. They, therefore, advise that smart real estate ideas, including innovation in designs, local content for production, and construction approach; creative funding; and disciplined focus, should be paramount to any investor in the sub sector this year.

    Furthermore, with a seemingly gloomy future for the economy, Ajayi urged that engaging in any development requires more than ever before, proper analysis, adding that Nigerians and investors  seek experts’ opinion before committing resources to any investment this year.