The Nation Newspaper

Tag: cost

  • ‘No cost reflective tariff, no constant electricity’

    A firm, Chibek Instruments Limited, has urged the government and other stakeholders in the nation’s Power sector to explore cost-reflective tariffs to get regular power supply.

    Its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Charles Ibe said unless this is done, it would be difficult to solve liquidity challenge and daily rejection of transmitted load by Distribution Companies (DISCOs).

    Ibe told The Nation that a cost-reflective tariff would reflect the true cost of electricity supply and remove reliance on government subsidies.

    He said: “The day the Power sector will turn the corner is when the sector is run in a cost-reflective manner.

    “At midday, when industrial plants are working, they will be happy to buy electricity at a higher cost because they are producing with it. But when you go home to rest, you will need a cheaper cost.

    “During the day, when the demand for electricity is high and the Federal Government allows flexibility of rates, it will meet the energy needs of the country at a faster pace and this will encourage production.”

    Ibe said Chibek Instruments had attained 70 per cent completion of a lithium base integration plant, which could help the Federal Government to solve the national power challenge.

    He said: “Our system can help the government to get off the grid during the day, thereby making power available for industrial users.

    “We are bringing a smarter material called lithium iron. One of the things that make the electric motor possible is lithium iron. The technology we are bringing into the market is a hybrid system. We harness energy from different sources, ranging from solar, generator and electricity.

    “The system will store electricity effectively and use it to power facilities automatically. We are also building capacity to be able to manufacture this system in Nigeria. Currently, our facility is 70 per cent ready. We are going to be the first African country to be a lithium base integration plant.

    “The first phase of the investment is running into N7 billion, and this is just the beginning. To produce a lithium battery is a mega project. Unlike any other manufacturing system, you have components from different countries for manufacturers.”

  • Poultry farmers moan over feed cost

    With feed accounting for between 60 and 70 percent of production costs, poultry farmers are struggling with  high costs, Group Head, Policy & Strategy, Amo Byng Nigeria Limited, Francis Toromade, has said.

    He noted that corn and soybean meal — two key ingredients that make up almost 80 per cent of poultry feed — are volatile commodities.

    A tonne of locally-produced maize, he said, sells for N130,000 while the imported ones goes for N105,000. Because of this, he said poultry farmers had resorted to importing corn.

    Speaking in Lagos, Toromade said the industry’s challenges were unprecedented as the business was more complex, with the challenge of increasing corn export to neighbouring countries.

    The impact, according to him, has led to a drop in profits, pushing some farmers out of business. Eggs and chicken are among the cheapest and most-widely consumed protein staples in Nigeria.

    In the meantime, the Coordinator, Natnupreneur, Mr. Gbolade Adewole.  said his organisation was working with local farmers to increase domestic poultry production.

    According to him, a spell of bad weather or shortage in production wyll send corn and soybean meal prices rocketing.

  • Cost of monopoly at Nigerian ports

    In 2006, President Olusegun Obasanjo carried out a concession exercise to save the ports from total collapse. The concession was conceived to break the monopoly of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, increase efficiency of the ports through promoting competition on level playing fields; decrease cost of port services to users and also reduce the cost of support of the port sector to the government and to attract foreign direct investment, FDI.

    The post-concession era had hardly taken off when NPA brought a storm to bear on the smooth sail of the vessels. Without any official pronouncement or change in the agreement between government and concessionaires, NPA began to divert vessels carrying a class of cargo known as General Cargo to Intels terminal at Onne, Rivers State. This was irrespective of the importers’ port of preference for the discharge of their cargo.

    These cargoes which include pipes, steel pipes, dismantled rigs and so on were classified by NPA as ‘oil and gas cargo’, a nebulous term that was neither in the concession agreement nor in maritime lexicon anywhere in the world. Obasanjo could not understand where this impunity sprang from. Having set up a panel to investigate this odious arrangement, he suspended Intels, one of the concessionaires, from Nigerian ports after its indictment by the panel.

    The oil and gas cargo invention made another stormy appearance on November 7, 2007 under President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and without any government policy supporting this resort to private monopoly, the Minister of State 2, for Transport, Prince John Okechukwu Emeka issued a directive that all ‘oil and gas cargo’ should be routed through the oil and gas cargo terminal in Onne. The ‘oil and gas terminal’ was a strange cook up to Yar’Adua as it was to the concessionaires whose businesses were beginning to emaciate fast. Miffed by this impunity, Yar’Adua fired the minister after the infamy of compelling him to reverse his directive on the pages of national newspapers.

    It is important to note that Yar’Adua’s family held shares in Intels. But after a critical examination of the huge negative impact of Prince Emeka’s directive which was crippling the maritime sector and driving investors out of Nigeria, Yar’Adua had no choice but to reverse the directive and sack the minister, a clear statement in patriotism.

    The death of Yar’Adua again saw the irrepressible oil and gas cargo issue loom even larger than ever. Once again a letter with the reference number EP/AGM/OPTS/034 dated March 18, 2013 from NPA and another dated November 8, 2013 from the Ministry of Transport ordered all vessels carrying ‘oil and gas cargo’ to be diverted to Intels terminal.

    From now on, the battle to exterminate the siege of the oil and gas cargo cabal and end private monopoly in Nigerian ports would rage and simmer for some years to come. Battles were fought in court and from the House of Representatives to the Senate, with committees of the National Assembly cancelling one another under extraneous influences.

    The cost of these battles is almost incalculable. Between November 15, 2007 and August 8, 2008, an estimated US$150 million was lost to neighbouring countries and about US$3.8 billion in the next eight years.

    The Board of Schlumberger, an oil and gas multi-national company which approved US$125 million investment into a new facility in Lagos moved the investment to Ghana after learning of the compulsory diversion of oil and gas cargo bearing vessels to Onne.

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Femi Atoyebi, a lawyer to Ports and Terminals Operators Limited, PTOL, in a paper presented before the Senate on the occasion of the Public Hearing on the Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Export Free Zone Authority Act (OGEFZA) to Provide for the Designation and Establishment of Oil and Gas Free Zone and Special Investment Areas and Related Matters, captured the huge costs the concessionaires paid and were likely to lose due to monopoly. In his words, “the terms, tenure and amounts of the yearly lease ranged from US$1.25 million to US$10 million and later up to US$12 million”. Some of the concessionaires, having lost the most lucrative cargo, which is General Cargo that includes pipes, dismantled rigs and so on, now dubbed oil and gas cargo, could not continue with their businesses after seven years while many struggled and could not meet their financial obligations to government in terms of lease, throughput fees and taxes. Indeed the government is said to have lost well over US$2.1 billion by the beginning of 2017 in lease, throughput fees and taxes.

    The Managing Director of PTOL, Mrs Lizzie Ovbude, a fierce opponent of monopoly at the ports and a resilient advocate of the concession agreement lost three vessels carrying her cargo to the monopolistic directive in quick succession. Due to the diversion of these vessels, MV Kota Berlain, MV Kota Bakti, and Cosco Jing Gang Shan among others, her company lost millions of dollars.

    A lawyer, with focus on maritime stated unequivocally that “Nigeria’s economy must have suffered a loss of over US$7 billion due to the monopoly squabbles at the ports”. Expatiating, he argued that the colossal loss of revenues to neighbouring countries, the massive losses due to stunted investment and development of the ports and terminals, leakages, tax evasion and shedding of employees due to skeletal finances, all these he affirmed were far more than the estimated US$7 billion the government must have lost due to the heinous activities of the oil and gas cargo syndicate.

    Continuing, he added that “government is paying one concessionaire US$5.2 billion which it claims is “reimbursement” for construction of facilities at Onne, Warri and Calabar. My worry about such claims is that there have never been any reputable Quantity Surveyors to independently verify these claims and I guess too, that there is no Engineering, Procurement and Construction, EPC, or similar agreement between the concessionaire and NPA, to make auditing of the construction possible. So there are no checks and balances. And despite having their money refunded with interest in dollars, this concessionaire will still have exclusive use of the facility for 25 years. Quite hard to believe that this is happening in Nigeria in this age”, he lamented.

    Another maritime close observer adds that the role of NPA and government at the ports defeats and indeed perverts the whole essence of the concession. “How, for instance, can the tariff regime not be regulated”, he asked.

    “The concessionaires clearly negotiated with the government and agreed on a flat tariff regime to ensure a level playing field. How is it that the same government now allowed one company to charge much higher tariff? Why is it that while 25 concessionaires charge US$7.40 dollars per tonne for discharge and loading of cargo and pay US$1.12 to the government, one single company and a concessionaire like others, that is Intels, charges US$65 per tonne and pays US$5.8 to NPA? This simply defeats the whole idea of reducing cost of doing business at the ports, one of the cardinal reasons for the concession. And that was why a lot of our importers turned to neigbhouring countries. So it becomes penny wise, pound foolish”, he concluded

    This was the cloudy situation at the ports when on April 27, 2015, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan gave the unintelligible directive that legitimized monopoly. Jonathan’s directive signed by a certain Engineer David Omonibeke, Executive Director, Marine and Operations, requested that all oil and gas related cargo must be handled only at the designated terminals at Onne, Warri and Calabar, three terminals operated exclusively by Intels. The same directive also instructed LADOL Integrated Free Logistics Zone Enterprise to relocate its US$500 million fabrication and integrated yards in Apapa, Lagos, South West Nigeria, to Agge in Bayelsa State. It was one directive that instantly put at risk over US$5 billion projects, 70,000 jobs and further cast an ominous cloud over Nigerian Content, a revolutionary edict that had attracted over US$5 billion investment in Nigeria’s petroleum industry since its signing in 2010, with a projection of another US$10 billion by 2016.

    Buhari’s recent counter directive that restored the concession agreement of 2006, saved Nigeria from an avoidable home-grown economic catastrophe.

     

    • Tare-Johnson writes from Port Harcourt.

  • ‘Why bridging cost was raised’

    The Federal Government said  it raised the cost of bridging petroleum products from N6.20 to N7.20 per litre  to address the concerns of transporters.

    In a joint briefing of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) in Abuja, the government agencies allayed fears over an impending hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol.

    The General Manager, Operations/Corporate Services of the PPPRA, Mr. Olasupo Agbaje, said the increase in bridging cost component of the pricing template had been absorbed by efficiencies in the sector and savings from lightering expenses.

    Also, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, said the Federal Government is committed to looking inwards and ensuring that Nigerians and the public do not pay more from where efficiencies can be achieved.

    Represented by his Technical Assistant on Downstream and Infrastructure, Mrs. Brenda Ataga, the minister  explained that the issue of the increase in the pricing template was an efficiency issue which ensured that the review did not translate to a change in the price of PMS.

    He said: “The increase in the pricing template was an efficiency issue. Efficiencies in one sector of the oil and gas supply chain had been moved to another sector. These efficiencies can change tomorrow, there is the potential, but as the PPPRA has stated, it is in their mandate to consistently look at these indices and review the price to the benefit of Nigerians.

    “I am assuring the general public from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources that all reviews are done to their benefits.”

    Also, the Acting Executive Secretary PEF Management Board,  Mr. Ahmed Bobboi, explained that following the increase in the bridging cost, the organisation had developed a new freight rate for PMS to reflect the adjustment.

    Bobboi, who stated that adjustment and the new rate would not affect the current fuel price, also stated that payments for the new rate had come into effect from April 3.

    Speaking in the same vein, the Acting Executive Secretary, PPPRA, Mr. Victor Shidok, stated that the price band for PMS remained between N135 and N145 per litre.

    Shidok was represented by Mr. Olasupo Agbaje, General Manager, Operations and Corporate Services, PPPRA.

    According to him, the additional N1 per litre Transporters Bridging rate shall not in any way translate to an upward review of PMS pump price, adding that the information had been communicated to all stakeholders accordingly.

    He said: “In view of the complaints of the National Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, on the inadequacy of the bridging Fund on the pricing template, which stood at N6.20 per litre and the threat this posed to uninterrupted movement of petroleum products nationwide, a Ministerial Committee recommended that the savings of N1 per litre from the Lightering Expenses be added to the bridging Fund to address the concerns of transporters.”

  • Relief as fertiliser cost crashes

    Relief as fertiliser cost crashes

    Farmers heave a sigh of relief as a Federal Government’s intervention slashes the price of fertiliser, making it readily available, GBENGA ADANIKIN reports

    LAST year, fertiliser cost as much as N11,000. Farmers were hurt. Food prices shot up. People complained across the country. Now things are different, with fertiliser going for about half of last year’s price, thanks to the Federal Government’s efforts.

    Since the news broke about plans by the Federal Government to slash the price of fertiliser NPK 20:10:10, a major agricultural input to N5, 500, farmers across the country waited patiently to witness implementation of the policy.

    Stakeholders in the sector such as agro-dealers, Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN), the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), prior to the initiative strived to design a simple but implementable model that will ensure affordability and easy access to the input. Often, farmers are confronted with the challenges of adulterated fertilisers aside from the problem of affordability; the farm input is also mixed with sand and other contaminants.

    In 2016, price of fertiliser especially NPK, rose to as high as N11,000 contributing largely to hike in price of staple foods in the market. Urea which is an additional input after the application of the NPK sold at about N7, 500. Local farmers clearly were not finding it funny until the presidency intervened.

    As a result of the several bottlenecks, the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative came into existence having FEPSAN as the implementing partner. It was an outcome of President Muhammadu Buhari’s meeting with the King of Morocco. The deliberation among others was to facilitate the export of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP), through OCP Group, Morocco to ensure steady supply of the raw material for local production of fertiliser. The other raw materials include the Muriate of Potash (MOP), sourced from Europe and Russia while Limestone Granules (LSG) was locally sourced from the West African Fertilizer Company limited, Okpella, Edo State. These deliberate efforts was to meet fertiliser deficit in the country and ensure the nation locally blend the material.

    “From that 14th December, 2016 to 14th February, 2017, we gave farmers free gift. They started to receive fertiliser at N5,500. Agro-dealers also got theirs, when they come to a plant like this, they will pay N5,000, and sell for N5,500,” said FEPSAN President, Mr. Thomas Etuh.

    The initiative was simply put together by FEPSAN alongside other partners to produce One Million Metric tons of fertiliser for local farmers across the country for 2017 wet season and 500, 000 Metric tons for dry season farming. Remarkably, the fertilisers are blended in about 11 blending plants which were initially working at lower capacity across the country. Local fertiliser blending plants took ownership of the project, engaged labour and produced the farm input at a reasonable cost of N5,000.

    To sustain the project, the federal government entered into a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with the private sector, (FEPSAN), an association of fertiliser producers. It set up a presidential committee chaired by the Jigawa State Governor, Muhammed ?Abubakar and other stakeholders. They include FEPSAN President and representatives from the Office of Chief of Staff to the President, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

    Since it is largely private sector driven initiative, it is believed that there are chances the initiative will surpass the present administration. The chairman shared same view, stressing that the call for legislation to sustain the initiative was unnecessary.

    “It is always good if there is need for legislation. But this is purely a business venture. I don’t believe it requires any bill,” said Abubakar.

    Recorded and Anticipated Benefits

    Interestingly, implementing the initiative is such that encourages private sector partnerships. With the cost of NPK 20:10:10 trimmed down to N5,500, farmers can now procure as many bags necessary to support their cultivation. This translates to a possible increase in food production. Already the Kano state government through the State Assembly has procured 50, 000 metric tons worth N5 billion to be distributed to the farmers across the state.

    The Jigawa state government has also purchased about 4, 000 bags of the farm input for its farmers. Other northern state governors and interested public office holders are expected to follow suit. Incidentally, the foreign exchange for the entire purchase of fertiliser across the country would have amounted to about $200 million. However, with the initiative, government has the opportunity of saving the huge sum.

    In terms of 2017 budgetary allocation for fertiliser subsidy, the federal government is expected to save another N60 billion. To a large extent, the procedures seem transparent and less cumbersome. Etuh narrated some benefits of the intervention stressing that, “We only import 37 per cent of inputs we don’t have in Nigeria, which is Urea and Limestone to get fertiliser to the farmers.”

    This is PPP arrangement; there is no subsidy at all. We will save N60 billion for government in six months and save another $200 million in foreign exchange.” He added that, “Thousands of jobs have been created within two months and more jobs will be created. There is a movement of trucks bringing raw materials from Lagos, Port Harcourt and other places to the blending plants.

    “There are two drivers and two motor boys, multiply it by 5,000. Again, we have a loader and off-loader of 15 persons. So, if you multiply it, we will arrive at 1.4 million jobs already created. This is the direct job being created and others that will be created outside the factory.”

    During an inspection of the project, a study of the initiative revealed its multiplier impact on the entire sector. For instance, almost moribund fertiliser processing plants across the country are being revived with continuous supply of raw materials worth N20 billion to the facilities for the next six months. Currently, about 11 processing plants are under optimum function in the country. Some of them include the Ebonyi State Fertiliser Company, Golden Fertiliser Company, Lagos, Superphosphate Fertiliser and Chemicals, Kaduna, Bejafta Fertiliser Company, Plateau among others. In the first batch of the programme, the 11 plants are expected to be fully engaged. They included three in Kaduna, two in Kano state, one in Funtua, Katsina state, one in Bauchistate, one in Plateau state, one in Niger state, one in Lagos state and one in Ebonyi state. Aside, the railway system is being developed to transport phosphate from Lagos through the rail to Funtua, Katsina state and other parts of the country. About 100 trucks load raw materials are being transported daily to the various plants nationwide.

    In Kano State for instance, the State Agricultural Supply Company (KASCO), established in 1981 by the World Bank was grappling to survive its operations, as a result downsized some workforce. It was working below production capacity until the recent intervention. According to its Managing Director, Bala Inuwa the facility had to increase its workforce to 600 staffs, working on three shifts to blend the input for the farmers and agro-dealers in the state. He explained that the presidential initiative has created more jobs and raw materials for ?the fertiliser processing plant. ?”In Kano State, we have about 44 local governments and there are 60 shops that are ready to sale the commodity. We load about 60 trailers daily and we are serious about improving our capacity,” he added.

    As a result, the Kano State government is to take delivery of new processing line due to its confidence on the supply of raw materials. “In this programme, the price is stable and is much better. Farmers already know the price. So the initiative is a good one and as a result, we are expecting a new line worth N250m in the next two weeks,” said the Kano State Governor, ?Abdullahi Ganduje. According to him, the initiative has reduced corruption in the system, created about 200 jobs and encouraged farmers to increase their productivity. “The issue of subsidy was what killed fertiliser production in Nigeria. You sit down in the house instead of going to the farm,” Ganduje said.

  • VC urges private varsity owners to review cost

    The Vice Chancellor, Achievers University (AU) Owo, Ondo State, Prof Tunji Ibiyemi, has counseled proprietors of private universities in the country to seek cost-effective ways of running the university such that it enables them survive and attract more students.

    He also called on the Federal Government to declare an emergency in the education sector, with priority on private universities.

    Speaking at the 10th matriculation of the university, Ibiyemi lamented that while public universities were oversubscribed, private universities could hardly fill their quotas.

    He said: “Statistics over the past three years have consistently shown that over 98 per cent candidates preferred to study in public universities, leaving less than two per cent for private universities.

    “Of the 98 per cent seeking admission to public universities, less than 20 per cent actually gained admission. Hence, while the annual admission quotas of public universities are increasingly over-saturated with demands that cannot be met, that of private universities are abysmally running in surplus begging for demands.”

    To survive, Ibiyemi said private universities must seek sources of funding outside school fees and subvention.  He suggested that they focus on research and industry.

    “Any private university in Nigeria that will survive the impending holocaust must embrace research and invest in manufacturing rather than rely exclusively on school fees,” he said.

    He noted that the only solution to the economic recession was industry, saying ‘economy is knowledge-driven’.

    According to the don, the source of knowledge is through research and human capital development within education sector.

    The Pro-Chancellor/Chairman, Governing Council of the institution, Dr Bode Ayorinde, urged parents and guardians to pay their wards’ tuition promptly to enable management pay adequate attention to their studies.

  • ‘Digital financial services to cut banks’ cost by 90%’

    Digital financial services have the potential to cut the cost of providing financial services by 80 to 90 per cent and create three million new jobs by 2025, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele has said.

    Speaking yesterday at the 2016 BusinessDay Financial Inclusion Summit held in Lagos, said that financial inclusion has evolved as a key topic on the global development agenda over the last decade.

    He explained that its importance has grown substantially over the last years, which is reflected in the growing number of academic studies showing its positive effects.

    Emefiele said that financial inclusion is required to enhance incomes, investment and well being at the household level. It is also critical for economic growth and financial stability at the macroeconomic level.

    He said that these gains prompted Nigeria to launch its National Financial Inclusion Strategy in October 2012 with the overall target of reducing the adult financial exclusion rate from 46.3 percent in 2010 to 20 percent by 2020. This means that by 2020, we expect that eight out of every 10 adult Nigerians should make use of at least one financial product (formal or informal).

    “Within this strategy, distinct targets were stipulated for specific elements of financial inclusion including access to electronic payments, savings, credits, insurance and pension products, among others. For instance, 70 per cent of the adult population is designated to utilize electronic payments platforms comprising cards, Automated Teller Machines, mobile money/banking and Point of Sale (PoS) channels by 2020,” he said.

    He explained that based on the bi-annual survey report routinely conducted by the Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EFINA), the adult financial exclusion rate had dropped from 46.3 per cent in 2010 to 39.5 percent by 2014. This is a very complimentary and favorable development.

    “However, in order to achieve the defined target for 2020, the extant rate still needs to be halved. This requires stronger and systemic efforts by all stakeholders. This is where digital financial services, the focus of today’s summit, become germane,” he said.

    “Digital financial services refer to financial services, such as payments, savings, loan or insurance products, which are provided through electronic platforms, such as mobile phones, the internet, or electronic cards. Digital financial services can promote financial inclusion, because they are capable of dismantling the existing barriers to financial inclusion. One key barrier to financial inclusion, as defined in Nigeria’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy, is the remoteness of access to financial services,” he added.

  • ‘Poultry farmers struggling with high production cost’

    Poultry farmers are facing high production costs, the President, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, has said.

    Oduntan, who spoke in Lagos, said the industry was facing shortages of products required for proper husbandry, adding that some farmers have been forced to pull out of the business.

    He said rising feed prices have affected the cost of egg production.

    Oduntan said the price of maize per tonne has risen to N120,000, while soyabeans cost N145,000. The prices were N60,000 and N80,000 two years ago. Feed supplements, such as fish and bone meals, have also risen.

    As a result of the increase, feed ingredient prices and production cost per dozen for egg producers have also risen, he said,

    Given that projected demand for corn is likely to increase and continued naira depreciation inevitable, he said poultry producers’ costs and profitability would be negatuvely affected. Oduntan noted that Nigeria loses about N700 billion annually to smuggled poultry products.

    According to him, the smuggled products, which are majorly frozen chicken and turkey, have negative impact on Nigerians.

    He regretted that the government was yet to compensate farmers who suffered losses as a result of cooperating with the government to destroy the affected birds.

    Oduntan noted that the association would not relent in its efforts and would continue to focus on policy, advocacy and institutional linkages that would put poultry production on the path of excellence.

    He said the association’s National Poultry Show has been scheduled for between November 29 and 30, at Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

    Industry leaders, researchers, scientists and entrepreneurs are expected at the event billed to help create a sustainable poultry industry.

  • Wanting a child at all costs (4)

    WHAT if it is a matter not for my ears alone”?

    “It is for your ears alone”

    “Mo n gbo, go ahead”

    She told me in Yoruba Language about a popular white garment church pastor in the riverine side of Lokojamama. The Pastor according to her and her informant can make impossibility becomes possible. And she is ready to do anything to make the man make her problem solved.

    After listening to her. I cautioned her against such a thing and if she would go, she should go with someone very close tom her and trustworthy.

    “That is why I am telling you now” She giggled

    “ Just be extra careful, I am warning you”

    “ I don hear joo, which day we dey go?

    “Go where”? I asked now getting disturbed.

    “The Pastor now, abi na because your mother in-law na Alhaja?

    “Come of it, what has she or her religion got to do with it. I am an adult for crying out loud”

    “Then wake up if you are one”

    I was not against such a thing but I just believe that whatever will be, will be, no matter how late.  I just don’t want us to stick our necks into what we will not be able to carry.

    When it dawn on me that we must all go together, I told her to choose a date but I must tell my husband , which she agreed to.

    “ Eh eh, tell him, but not more than him, I don’t like noise or broadcasting of an intending trip, she o tigbo?”

    “Yes, I heard you well”

    I just did that in order to let me off the hook. She came a week later and we went in public bus in order to not to go with our private cars so that busy bodies will not feed on our information. We were catting happily as the commercial car swerved from the right to left. A times, from one big pothole to another. All the roads were in state of disrepair.

    We travelled from Ilorin through, Esie, Odo-Owa, Ikoro, Isanlu- Isin ,Iya Gbede, Kabba; coming out at Obajana and finally to Lokoja where we hired a commercial Tricycle popularly known there as keke napep to the outskirt of the town to meet the Pastor.

    Pastor  Concobilo was man in his mid-50’s. Not too tall. He has this long beard that makes him look like a character in a book I have read in the primary school. I cannot really remember the title. But One of them contained Cinderella’s story.  Another was that of Rapunzel.  O yes, I can now remember, it was called Lady Bird’s book.

    We were ushered into his big church built outskirt of the town. Movement of both people and vehicle were common sights. There was a place for VIPs and open place for all. Depending on what you want. We were taking to his VIP arena. May be the church worker must have thought we were one or he felt we were city ladies.

    Anyway, the Pastor later came to meet us. He prayed and told us that our problems are  minor thing before God and before him. He told us what to do.

    My friend wanted to say much but each time I sense that; I will use my leg to touch her own cautioning her to maintain her position. A time, I will stylishly interject. I don’t believe in reeling out my secret to a mere stranger. If the Baba feels he can do it, let him go ahead. Why must we tell him all the meats in our soup-pot? All the chocolate bars in the fridge and so on. No, it must not be so.

    We went outside the church vicinity and I was a bit relief . One, I was out of that pace. Two, I have satisfied my friend and finally that she will let me off her hook to face my own job as well as  handle  my own problems in my own way too.

    It was not so.

    “When are we coming back again?” Bukola asked

    “To where” I asked now with a bit of anger.

    “To the Pastor of course”

    “But you have known the road and have met the man, do I need to come with you again” I replied looking straight onto her face.

    “It seems you are not perturbed about your problems”?

    “I am worried but I won’t kill myself”

    “Then wait until Alhaji Muda brings in the second wife”

    “No qualms. Is he not a Muslim? I am I not from a polygamous home? The white man preaching to you about one man, one wife is polygamist in nature. Was that the reason for turning yourself into a crocodile before the man with your whole mouth opened, wanting to be reeling out what was real or not? Just let us handle our cases personally. But call me in case you need me or my assistance.”

    We went back to the pack to board the only available car. The driver wanted to wait for the remaining passengers but we told him we will pay .

    “ Madam, are you sure you will pay for the three remaining seats”

    “Yes, we will”

    “I am afraid o. Hope you will pay before we leave the park”?

    I didn’t bother to answer him again. I just dip my hands into my purse and handed over the money to him. He was surprised. He went away and brought five hundred and fifty naira change.

    “You can use that for soft drink and roasted plantain”

    “Roasted plantain”? Madam, how do you know it is my favourite? He asked.

    “We say you. Was it because we didn’t snatch it from your hand? Were you not sitting down in that corner by the cobbler munching it”?

    Bukola told him.

    “ Yeeee, I don die oo, so you saw me. I went there to hide so that my colleagues will not beg for it.”’

    “Nothing is hidden my brother” I chipped in.

    The expression in his face was bright. He laughed and thanked profusely.

    “ Oga driver, don’t go and buy ogogoro or gin. We want to arrive safely” Bukoka told him jokingly.

    “ Madam , you don’t know me oo, even if I drink a whole bottle of gin meant for 3 people; I will not be intoxicated. My blood is used to hot drink”

    “You mean it” one of the passengers, a man putting on babariga asked .

    Yes, I mean it. I can drink five bottles of schnapps. I can even finish two bottles of Hennessy and still dey kampe” the driver said again.

    “No, No, please don’t do that” We chorused as he put on the ignition key.

    That  was ten months ago. I was preparing to go on rest at the Whispering Palms Resort in Badagry when Bukola called me . Her voice was hoarse, which means she must have been crying all along. Initially, I thought it was one of her  normal crying of lack of children.

    To my surprise. It was not. Ah!  Wonders shall never end. Trust nobody.

     

    (To be continued next week)

  • Cost of environmental compliance high, says MAN

    Cost of environmental compliance high, says MAN

    The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) on Wednesday lamented that the cost of being environmentally compliant is high and has continued to generate serious concern for manufacturers.

    The Association, therefore, called on the government to harmonise the functions of the various environmental regulatory agencies, with a view to reducing the cost of compliance.

    The Chairman, MAN, Apapa branch, Mr. Babatunde Odunayo, made this known while delivering his address at the 7th edition of the Mandatory Environmental Seminar held in Lagos.

    The seminar was organised by MAN, Apapa branch, as part of its advisory services aimed at eliciting voluntary compliance by member-companies to globally accepted environmental standards and the Nigeria environmental laws.

    At the seminar with the theme ‘Constructive Engagement of the Nigerian Manufacturers Towards Sustainable, Clean and Safe Environment,’ Odunayo said because of the high cost of environmental compliance, manufacturers have long been requesting the harmonisation of the functions of the regulatory agencies.

    He, however, expressed regrets that such request has so far remained “a cry yet to be heard.” He said rather than yield to the Association’s request, the regulatory agencies continued to inundate manufacturers with “unimaginable demands, with very stringent imposition of fines for failure to comply.”

    Odunayo said: “We have to contend with the Federal agency, the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).”

    He added that local government councils also have environmental and health inspectorate departments. “There are too many interventions for the same objective,” Odunayo pointed out. He said the way forward is to chart a path towards a progressive, but non-oppressive disposition in managing environmental compliance issues with the manufacturing sector.

    The MAN chief however, said in the face of aggressive intervention by state and federal government agencies, the Association has continued to provide value-added advisory services to member-companies in order to provide relief and comfort to helpless manufacturers.

    He stated that the seminar cum workshop provides a veritable platform for having a collaborative engagement with the environmental regulatory agencies. “This year’s edition is happening at a time when we just concluded our Best Kept Environmental Premises Inspection Competition (BKIPC),” he stated.

    According to him, the programme was established seven years ago by the branch to encourage members’ compliance to health, safety and environmental regulations and also monitor yearly, their environmental consciousness thus, encouraging the improvement of quality control of business processes.

    “Also, the intended impact of this seminar was to further underscore the importance the Association attaches to issues of environmental sanitation, pollution and to public private engagement,” he added.

    The Lagos Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Samuel Babatunde Adejare, encouraged manufacturers to endeavour to protect their environment. “Environment is life: if there is no environment, there is no life,” he said, urging companies who cut corners during factory inspections to have a change of attitude.