The Nation Newspaper

Tag: course

  • ‘Lagos environmental reform on course’

    The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment Babatunde Durosnmi-Etti, has reiterated the State’s commitment to providing the adequate infrastructure required to support the environmental management of the emerging Smart City.

    Durosimi-Etti, while presenting the report of his ministry over the last one year, acknowledged the role being played by the state’s waste infrastructure provider, Visionscape Sanitation Service (VSS). He noted that with a population of over 22 million residents, providing waste infrastructure is no mean feat, hence, the state’s partner in the quest to build enduring waste management infrastructure, VSS, was making remarkable progress on the job. For instance, he disclosed that VSS is presently constructing the first engineered sanitary landfill in Nigeria, which located in Epe, and has also made marked progress on the Eco Park project.

    “The Epe Landfill under construction by Visionscape is achieving remarkable progress with the completion of the weighbridge, among other facilities, while Portland Energy & Power is mobilizing to site for the commencement of work on engineered hazardous Landfill in Badagry,” the Commissioner noted.

    Durosimi-Etti further revealed that the efforts of the government’s environmental reforms has led to the recruitment of over 13,000 community sanitation workers to clean the inner streets. The streets, he said, are also mechanically swept, are being managed by three private companies- Avatar, Wastecare, and Corporate Solutions.

    Importantly, he revealed that the completion of 48 mini-waterworks across the State, including the implementation of innovative technology for water management, drainage maintenance, remains with the Lagos State Public Works Corporation.

    In a media chat, the CEO, VSS, John Irvine, described the process of excavating the waste on the 88-hectare dumpsite before construction began.

    “We had to dig deeper than expected to excavate previous waste material and set up a strong foundation. We’ve built the weighbridge and the control tower. The next phase is the remediation work,” he said.

    The Epe EcoPark, when completed, Irvine said, will be fitted with a materials recovery facility; an anaerobic digestion plant; a waste to energy plant amongst other features. He assured that his firm also has plans to incorporate existing landfill miners, known as scavengers, into the waste management value chain by including them in the recycling and recovery activities in the Eco Park.

  • Is continuous registration of voters on course?

    Is continuous registration of voters on course?

    Stakeholders have been assessing the on-going continuous voters’ registration, ahead next year’s general elections. How is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) grappling with the challenges? MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE asks.

    Though the 2019 general elections is about one year away, preparations for the contest are already creating excitements across the country. This was perhaps fuelled by the early release of the election timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the change in the order of the elections by the National Assembly.

    In this regard, INEC commenced the Continuous Voters’ Registration (CVR) exercise April last year, to accommodate those who did not register earlier and those that have just turned 18. Towards the end of last year, there were speculations that the exercise would be terminated by January 31. But, INEC made it clear that the exercise would continue until 60 days before the general elections.

    The commission has been advising eligible voters to go to its offices in all local government headquarters and other officially-designated areas across the country between 9am and 3pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays, to get registered.

    But, many prospective voters from across the country have been complaining about the exercise. For instance, they say INEC appears to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of people turning out for the exercise.  The commission has come under the hammer for not being able to provide adequate staff with the prerequisite training to carry out the exercise. Some people have complained that some of the ad hoc staff conducting the exercise displayed incompetence in the conduct of the task they were recruited to perform.

    In some cases, the machines appear to be slow, making it difficult to register many potential voters. The situation has resulted in the loss of productive hours, given that those who want to participate spend longer time than necessary at registration centres.

    Besides, the commission has been accused of not providing adequate information to prospective voters about the procedure of applying for change of polling units by people that have moved away from where they registered. As a result, such persons do not know how they can transfer of their polling units to their new abode.

    People have equally complained that some INEC officials have been demanding for gratification from people before they get registered. Observers say middlemen who are not even INEC staff have been taking advantage of the ignorance or the frustration of eligible voters — particularly those want to obtain the card for purposes of identification — by extorting money from them.

    The Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Sam Olumekun, said the commission would sanction any erring staff that collects money from the people before registering them. He said INEC would not compromise standard in the conduct of 2019 election.

    Olumekun urged members of the public to report anyone who demands gratification from them to the authorities. He said the fraud was not done by INEC staff alone, but outsiders who collude with them, by turning the exercise into a private business.

    He said: “The commission’s problem in the on-going voters’ registration exercise is extortion. Reports have reached us that some people are being asked to pay some money before they are registered.

    “I must say any staff caught demanding for any form of gratification will be dealt with according to the law. Nobody is supposed to give any dime to anybody before he or she can be registered. The public should watch out and report anybody who falls within the category.”

    The REC said no fewer than 55 registration centres exist Lagos and that INEC headquarters recently deployed additional 30 new machines to address the challenges arising on-going registration exercise.

    He added: “The chairman was actively involved and ensured that new machines were provided for us in Lagos State. Let me assure you that within the last few days when these machines arrived, we are able to register an average of 2,500 voters every day.

    “On this note, I want to assure the people of Lagos that we are not resting on our oars and we implore them to come out to register for coming election. There was this damaging rumour that by January 31, INEC was going to stop the exercise; let me use this forum to tell Lagosians that the exercise continues until further notice.  And for the avoidance of doubt this exercise continues certainly till December 2018.”

    Olumekun cautioned against multiple registrations, noting that people found it more convenient to register afresh each time the opportunity throws itself. He said many of those that have changed their location prefer to register afresh, instead of obtaining the necessary forms at the local government to transfer the registration centre to their new abode.

    He said: “That will result in multiple registrations and it is not acceptable. We implore those who have registered in the past not to come back for fresh registration. What they should do is to confirm their status on our website.

    “I will to call on Nigerians who registered between 2011 and 2015 to check the status of their registration with their phones in the comfort of the homes through the INEC website provided for the verification.”

    An Assistant Director, NOA, Yaba, Lagos, Mrs Abiodun Shittu, who addressed members of Yaba community during the flag off of the exercise, said the agency would ensure that the public were given the necessary information to make them participate.

    She said: “That is why we brought people who can speak the local dialects of the people to enable them appreciate the importance of the exercise. The agency will move from ward to ward within the Yaba council area to enlighten them on the importance of the exercise.

    “We have a responsibility to inform the people and I am very confident that the NOA will not default as far its mandate to the people is concerned. I must say that the turnout today is an indication that awareness is now high side.”

    The founder and National Chairman of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie, said the idea of restricting the registration centres to INEC offices in local government headquarters is not the very best. He said in most cases, council headquarters are far away from wards and communities where the bulk of the people live.

    Okorie added: “So, it is discouraging for people to move from their areas of residence to council headquarters for the exercise. The people are held down, because of the prevailing economic condition. My suggestion has always been that the registration exercise should be brought closer to the people at the ward levels.

    “Again, the sensitization exercise should be a daily affair; it is equally the responsibility of other stakeholders to be involved in the exercise. The National Orientation Agency (NOA) should see this as its major assignment for now. If all these things are done and INEC do not implement the electronic voting, we may not get the full benefit of improved voter registration exercise.”

    The founding National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) said Nigerians would appreciate the continuous voters’ registration more when they are able to vote electronically. He said: “If you have voters’ registration without voters’ participation the purpose would be defeated. It is only electronic voting system people can be assured that their votes will count. That is the only way many people can leave the comfort of their homes to queue up and vote, knowing that it will count.”

    The commission has also been under severe criticisms, following the circulation of footages of underage voters in Kano State in the socio media. INEC had explained that it was on top of the situation. It said it would get to the root of the matter and that anybody found culpable would face the law. INEC chairman, Prof. Mamood Yakubu, said the commission had set up a committee to investigate the allegation.

    A former National Commissioner of INEC, Prof. Lai Olurode, said he was almost killed, when he tried to prevent under age voters some years back. The commissioner’s statement supported the allegation being raised against the commission that element not qualified to vote were in INEC database.

    The Afenifere Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said the success of the exercise depends on the will power to correct the mistakes of the past. He said: “It is clear from what has happened in Kano that we do not have credible voters register at the moment. A situation where children of five years are having PVC all over the place is a pointer to buttress what had been said in 2015.

    “When Prof. Attahiru Jega was distributing voters cards, whereas he was busy distributing PVC to individual in the southern part of the country. In the North, PVCs were given to emirs in bulk and they distributed the cards to the people, irrespective of whether they were qualified to have it or not.

    “We have heard that Prof. Oluyede was almost killed, for preventing underage voting in a section of the country. Where we are right now, it means INEC has to clean up the voters registration exercise. If the nation is one country, there cannot be different voting age for people in different parts of the country. If we have agreed that voting age is 18, then it must be 18 in all parts of the country. To restore confidence in the process, INEC has to clean up the voters register to ensure that only those who attained 18 make the list.

    “As for those who have not registered, community leaders, traditional rulers, church leaders and pastors and Imams have to mobilise their members and people to participate in the exercise. They should have their PVC, because it will be useful one day.”

  • BBNaija: Savagery, clapbacks define the course

    BBNaija: Savagery, clapbacks define the course

    As reality show, Big Brother Naija continues to gather storm, housemates are becoming more comfortable showing their ‘Nigerianess’. The 18th day in the competition witnessed more clap backs than the rest days put together.

    For instance, not being able put together a 56 second puzzle piece in a space of 10 minutes must have split their egos so much that any wrong buttons pressed would have caused an explosion. After being called arrogant by Biggie, Ahneeka was already a pot put to the boil but when Teddy A told her not to be silly, she exploded and threw shade. She even went as far as advising Teddy A to acquire a pair of steel ones.

    For his part, K.Brule was no longer about to take Khloe’s offences lying down. He clapped back extra hard when Khloe tried him; letting her know that he was sick of her bullying and told her to get her own food because he’s not her father. On the brighter side, K.Brule’s revolt landed him cuddles and sweet compliments.

    Nina is known to be surrounded by a group of people that consider themselves superior. Even during the diary sessions, the other Housemates shamelessly declare her a weak link and constantly throw jabs at her inability to fully express herself in spoken word. The fact that she’s always tucked away nicely on Miracle’s lap hasn’t help much. But when Ifu Ennada threw direct jabs and called her names, Nina had none of it. She returned the offences and stood her ground. Though Miracle had to take it a step further and straighten Ifu Ennada out, Nina sure clapped back and gained a little respect from the others.

    Rico Swavey however pulled the biggest clap back thus far; one that wasn’t entirely directed at individual but at the group as a whole. While they planned their meals, Rico Swavey let it  rain and pointed out just how disgusted he was with all the waste and how he loathed finding half consumed plates of food that would eventually be thrown out. Many of the Housemates did agree with him but this certainly did hit home.

  • A coup that changed the course of history

    On January 15, 1966, the first military coup, led by Major Chukwuemeka Nzeogwu changed the course of Nigerian history. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU revisits the aborted journey to democratic stability, barely six years after independence, which set the stage for the enthronement of unitary system by ‘sit-tight,’ adventurous military rulers. 

    The joy of independence from the British only lasted for six years. On January 15, 1966, blood thirsty military reformers were on the prowl. Led by Major Chukwuemeka Nzeogwu, the coup drew the curtains on the First Republic. The gains of the nationalist movement were reversed. Up came military rulers who plunged the country into an unmitigated disaster of bad governance. Fifty one years after, the country has not fully recovered from the misadventure.

    The coup, as pointed out by an eminent political scientist, Prof. Isawa Elaigwu, had an ethnic colouration. Four of the five planners were Igbo. The principal victims were Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba and Uhrobo. While Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa, Northern Regional Premier Sir Ahmadu Bello, Western Regional Premier Ladoke Akintola and Finance Minister Chief Festus Okoti-Eboh fell by the bullets, those who carried out operations in the Midwest and Eastern regions spared the lives of their two Igbo targets-Premiers Dennis Osadebey and Michael Okpara. The ceremonial president, Dr. Nnamidi Azikiwe from Igboland, was on medical leave abroad.

    The ethnic distribution of casualties among the military officers was also skewed. Those killed by the mutineers included Brigadier Zachariya Maimalari, Brigadier Samuel Ademulegun, Commander of the First Brigade, Kaduna, Brigadier Largema,  Kur Mohammed, James Pam, Arthur Nnegbe, and Col. Ralph Sodeinde. The discriminating killings unleashed a feeling of ethnicity, which became more intense as the major beneficiary of the coup, the General officer Commanding the Armed Forces, Major Gen. Thomas Aguiyi Ironsi, also an Igbo, took measures that also had ethnic colouration, thereby inadvertently convincing the aggrieved northerners that the change of government was carried out as punishment for northern domination.

    The coup plotters were easily edged out and their vision died with them in detention. The military Head of State suddenly found himself in the corridor of power, unprepared for the responsibility of nation-building. He lacked a programme of action; his competence was in doubt. On coup day, he was full of bravado as he harassed the surviving ministers to hurriedly hand over the reins to him at gun point because the Igbo Acting President, Dr. Nwafor Orizu, was reluctant to appoint either Alhaji Bukar Dipcharima or Dr. Ozumba Mbadiwe as acting prime minister. Yet, he was slow in taking decisive action against the murderers of the civilian and military leaders, thereby aggravating the tension.

    Discipline broke down in the military. Unable to bring the mutineers to justice, soldiers of northern extraction continued to grumbled. Ironsi was in a dilemma. Having hailed the coup as a revolution, Southern intellectuals justified the putsch, unmindful of the perception of Northerners who believed that the plot was hatched to effect power shift from the North to Igboland.

    The Commander-In-Chief also surrounded himself with his kith and kin, thereby failing to become a symbol of unity at the critical time. Ironsi further plunged the country into anxiety by sacking the federal structure and foisting on Nigeria a unitary system through his Decree No 34, 1966. “Nigeria shall cease to be a federation and shall accordingly be a republic,” he said. The regions were abolished, only to be replaced by territorial areas called provinces. . Up came a National Military Government in place of the Federal Military Government. In his view, the key to national unity was the abolition of regionalism.

    More disgusting was the unification of the civil service, which was antithetical to the reality of the country’s diversity in terms of language, culture and regional peculiarities. Ironsi failed to set up a cabinet. The suspicion among diverse soldiers in the barracks grew and aggrieved northern officers started plotting for the revenge of the killings of their past leaders.

    To douse the tension, Ironsi embarked on the tour of the country. His targets for dousing the tension were traditional rulers, the politicians having been discredited by the military. But, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Col. Yakubu Gowon, had the duty of explaining the political situation to the military. After his tour of the North, he went to Ibadan, the capital of Western State, to address the traditional rulers at the Western Regional House of Chiefs. But, at the state dinner organised by his host, Governor Adekunle Fajuyi, the Northern officers passed the code word ’Araba’ among themselves. On July 29, 1966, the soldiers, led by Major Yakubu Danjuma and Lt. Walbe kidnapped the visitor and the host. They never returned alive.

    The military had boxed the country into a succession crisis. Ironsi’s deputy, Brigadier         Babafemi Ogundipe, Chief of Staff, decided to call a special session of senior army officers in Lagos. But, to his consternation, a northern Sergeant refused to take  orders from him. Sensing danger, he vanished into thin air, only to resurfaced in London as High Commissioner to Britain after Gowon assumed leadership. But, there was an obstacle. While the military governors of the North, West and Midwest-Lt. Cols. Hassan Katsina, Adeyinka Adebayo and David Ejoor-accepted the leadership of Gowon, their counterpart in the East, Lt-Col. Chukwuemeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu raise objection. He urged Ogundipe to insist on taking command.

    Gowon succeeded in dousing the push for succession by Northern officers. But, Ojukwu was adamant that the military hierarchical order should be preserved. When power shifted to the North, the government had to contend with restiveness in the North. In what has been described as pogrom, many officers and civilians of Igbo origin were murdered in the North. To halt the trend, Ojukwu advised the Igbos in the hostile region to return home.

    Gen. Gowon was not insensitive to the cloud of uncertainty hovering over the country. He set up an Ad hoc Constitution Conference in Lagos in September 12, 1966. He attempted to outlaw the unitary system, saying: “a country as big as Nigeria and comprising such diversity of tribes and cultures cannot be administered successfully under a unitary form of government, unless such a government is to be enforced and maintained by some kind of dictatorship.” Delegates to the conference oscillated between confederation and federal system. Delegates from Lagos, led by former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Olawale Elias, called for creation of states. The pre-conference deliberations restore peace and harmony in the North, West and Midwest.

    However, the gulf between Gowon and Ojukwu had become widened. Although a lot of concessions were made to him in the Aburi Accord, the governor of Eastern Region still opted for secession on May 30, 1967. Gowon promptly declared a state of emergency in the country. He also created new state s and appointed new military governors. Reflecting on the restructuring, Elaigwu said:  “Ojukwu was now on the defensive; he had to react to Gowon’s political moves on Nigeria’s chess board.”   Later, the Hed of State appointed civilian ministers to stabilise his government.

    The civil war lasted for three years. There were heavy casualties on both federal and Biafran sides. In 1970, Col. Philip Effiong led the rebel forces to surrender. Then, the Federal Government started to confront the challenges of reconciliation, reconstruction and rehabilitation. Contrary to his promise to organize a transfer of power to the civilians, Gowon postponed the transition programme. He was ousted from power in 1975.

    His successor, the late Gen. Muritala Mohammed set up a transition programme. Although he was assassinated on February 13, 1976, the programme was not truncated. It was completed by his successor, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo in 1979 after 13 years of military rule.

    But, coup plotting had become the latent career of ambitious soldiers. Thus, the military sacked the Shagari administration, barely four years after. The Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, was also shoved aside by his Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida in August 1985. Babangida who spent eight year in office, and promised to relinquish power annulled the most credible presidential election won by the late Chief Moshood Abiola of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). The interim regime of Ernest Shonekan that succeeded him was sacked by Gen.Abacha. In 1998, Abacha died in office and Gen. Abudulsalami Abubakar came to office. He handed over to Chief Obsanjo as president.

    On getting to power, the military embraced the attitude of self-enrichment. Corruption became a state policy. Also, under the successive military governments, Nigeria regressed to the unitary system. The legacies have not been wiped out by political stability in the last 19 years of the Fourth Republic.

     

     

  • NNPC: crude-for-product arrangement on course

    NNPC: crude-for-product arrangement on course

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said it will go ahead with its crude-for-product plans.

    Its Group Public Affairs Manager, Ndu Ugbamadu, in an interview with The Nation at the weekend, said Federal Government has never contemplated dropping the idea or substituting it with another as of efforts to make fuel available in the country.

    He said the delay in fast-tracking the growth of the initiative does not mean that the government has abandoned the idea.

    He said the Federal Government through NNPC, is in talks with prospective bidders for crude locally and internationally in order to ensure that the scheme enjoy a seamless run.

    Ugbamadu said: ‘’To underscore the fact that the crude-for-fuel arrangement is on-going, the government recently ran a programme on the national television station, through which stakeholders in the oil and gas value chain engaged in cross-fertilisatiion of ideas on the issue and further provided solutions to difficulties or bottlenecks the government might face in the course of implementing the scheme.

    ‘’The Direct-Sale Direct-Purchase Import model, through which the government planned to get fuel proportionate to the crude supplied to the refiners abroad is broad, and made of processes.

    “The fact that the process is long, made the government to be careful about its implementation. The programme is still in place, and whenever the government is through with its plans on the issue, it would definitely inform Nigerians about it.”

  • Alleged perversion of course of justice: Ricky Tarfa makes no-case submission

    Alleged perversion of course of justice: Ricky Tarfa makes no-case submission

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Rickey Tarfa, standing trial over alleged gratification and attempt to pervert the course of justice has told a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere that he has no case to answer.

    At the resume of proceedings of his trial yesterday before Justice Adedayo Akintoye, Tarfa, through his counsel, Mr Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), told the court that he has filed a no-case submission.

    Owonikoko said he filed on November 9, to say that the defendant has no case to answer.

    The learned silk stated that the application is supported with an affidavit and a written address and that the prosecution has been duly served.

    He said: “At the last adjourned date, the prosecution closed their case. Upon the view of the prosecution, our response in this case is a no-case submission. That will suffice in this case.”

    Owonikoko, therefore, urged the court to discharge the defendant on the ground that there is no-case to answer.

    “I urge your lordship to discharge the defendant on the view that there is no case to answer.”

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on October 23 closed its case against the defendant after calling six witnesses, who testified against Rickey Tarfa in a trial, which began in March, 2016.

    EFCC prosecuting counsel Mr. Nnemeka Omewa confirmed the service of the no-case submission application on them by the defence.

    He, however, said they were yet to file a reply.

    “We were served late last Friday with a 54 paragraphs of  a no-case submission. We are still going through them and we have not been able to respond to the no-case submission. We shall be asking for a short adjournment to enable us respond.”

    Justice Adedayo Akintoye adjourned to December 12, for hearing of the application.

    The EFCC had first arraigned Tarfa on March 9, 2016 on a 27-count charge, bordering on offering of gratification to some judges and perversion of the course of justice.

    The anti-graft agency had alleged that Tarfa offered N5.3 million gratification to a judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa, to “compromise” the judge.

    The agency claimed that Tarfa transferred the money in several tranches to the judge between June 27, 2012 and December 23, 2014.

    The commission alleged that the SAN lied about his age and failed to declare his assets to the commission upon his arrest on February 5, 2015.

    The offences contravened Section 64 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    But Tarfa pleaded not guilty.

    He subsequently sought to quash the charges on the premise that they were incompetent.

    Justice Akintoye dismissed his application consequent upon which Tarfa appealed the court’s decision.

    But the upper court, in a ruling, ordered Tarfa back to the High Court for trial in respect of the charges preferred against him by the EFCC.

  • Obaseki on course

    SIR: It was Winston Churchill who said that anybody who has ever achieved relevance with the parameters for the measurement of achievement usually goes against the rung of individuals and of tradition. And I really must say that so far, the man in charge of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has begun to apply that principle in theory and in practice. The man has two ears and two eyes and a brain and knows how to use them all.

    Sometime ago, I had cause to draw the attention of the Oshiomhole administration to one of the oldest roads in Benin, Ibiwe, with craters resembling a miniature Grand Canyon. Instead of considering getting the attention of their principal to working that road, some of the governor’s aides sent me threats, asking me to go to my state and ‘complain’. But to my surprise, that same road was one of the first which Obaseki decided to refurbish. The man took time to go there and see things for himself before embarking on some measure of action.

    Some of the greatest things being said about Obaseki today is that he seems every inch of the technocrat he is said to be.  He has said that there is no free money in Edo, telling rabble rousers using television and radio to access government house that the party for the collection of largesse is over. Obaseki has banned Edo Omo-oniles, and recently took on certain individuals seen to be untouchables in Edo State. And therefore, the Ring Road in Benin City is beginning to be spick and span, and I guess Obaseki achieved this by moving the source of the generation of waste from the Oba Market axis to another location.

    I am happy with Obaseki, and most Edo people are, even though some may be a bit shy or political to say so. We have two prayers for him, and for Edo State and they are based on the projections and imagery of Edo State or Benin City in the next decade.

    One, we hope that these steps are not flukes, and that he sustains them to the very end.  We also hope that the other actors on the national stage would have the courage to take on even members of their party with the Obaseki example if the interest of the state and its people is at stake.

     

    • Bob MajiriOghene Etemiku,

    Benin City, Edo State.

  • 100 days: Akeredolu on course in Ondo

    100 days: Akeredolu on course in Ondo

    As celebration of 100 days in office by political office holders is becoming a tradition in the country, many would’ve been on the edge to see what the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Olurotimi Akeredolu has done within the short period.

    Although, one would’ve considered insignificant the first one hundred days of an administration with a four-year mandate in evaluating and drawing conclusion on what the future holds for the people, it’s pertinent to speak on some of the giant strides made within the short period by the APC-led government.

    Bearing in mind the precarious situation the APC-led government met on ground in the state vis-a-vis the economic recession in the country, Akeredolu was able to face the challenges headlong to bring dividends of democracy to the people.

    It still beats the imagination of many political watchers how he was able to solve the issue of unpaid salaries of the thousands of state workers who were wallowing in debt and hunger when he took over the reins of power in the state.

    Some economic analysts couldn’t figure out how he was able to achieve the winning streak in the face of terrible financial situation he met on ground with billions of naira owed several financial institutions with repayment plans that severely depleted the state revenue.

    The governor, being a dogged personality, has been making frantic efforts to turn things around in the state. A cursory look at the magnitude of construction works which have been embarked upon and completed and those that are still on going revealed how determined he is in turning the state around as he has promised the people. In all the three Senatorial districts, there have been massive road repairs and constructions in a manner that has never been witnessed before in the history of our state. State-owned tertiary institutions also benefited from the road construction projects. At University of Technology in Okitipupa, intra-roads network were fully constructed and electrified from the main gate inward. Also the state Medical University, Ondo, received similar road construction and other institutions roads are all currently receiving attention.

    Looking at the industrial sector of the state, the APC-led administration has hit the ground running as it’s making moves to quickly bring the state to redemption and onto the path of greatness again by resuscitating moribund state-owned industries. To this effect, the administration has signed several MoUs with some companies including a foreign organization.

    The APC-led administration has changed the face of governance and the scope of Arakunrin Akeredolu is beyond the horizon as his administration has signed several MoUs with different strong companies, including a foreign partner and with the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC on Olokola project to build a 27-kilometer overhead bridge across the sea that will link Ilaje with Lekki in Lagos State. At the completion of this massive project, without doubt, commercial activities of great magnitude would burst forth in the state and to a large extent turn it to another business and financial hub particularly due to its proximity to the nation’s major commercial hub, Lagos.

    Meanwhile, the administration is working assiduously to ensure all roads in the rural areas in the state are linked to the major highways, as part of efforts to achieve this goal, the administration is repairing and constructing all roads in every ward in the state. Besides, the Governor has made it mandatory for all the eighteen caretaker chairmen in the state to construct at least ten kilometer of roads in their local government areas and they have complied with the directive immediately. The goal of the APC-led government is to turn the state into one big octopus of road contraction when it begins major road construction projects in the state.

    There’s no doubt that the people of the state have begun to experience great economic relief, besides the state workers who no longer work with fear of uncertainty concerning payment of their salaries as the governor has begun to gradually offset salary arrears owed by the previous government.

    As a focused administration which believed in rule of law, justice and set to provide and work in a peaceful environment, the Arakunrin Akeredolu-led administration within a short time of assumption of office reinstated all the lecturers that were unjustly sacked by the last administrator at the state-owned Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko. Full benefits of all the affected lecturers were paid up to date.

    It has been argued at several fora since the nation has been plunged into economic recession that exploration and exploitation of agricultural advantages abound in the nation is the only quickest way out of the economic quagmire.  The Arakunrin Akeredolu-led Government has keyed into this as he’s currently using agriculture to drive employment in the state through carefully crafted programmes of engagement of the youths that will eventually triggered Agric revolution in the state and food security.

    The government is encouraging farmers and making farming attractive to the youths through its direct procurement of farm inputs like fertilizer and agro chemicals affordable to them. Quite a number of schemes were initiated by the administration to make commercial farming practicable in the state by making financial provisions through what it tagged Anchor Borrowers scheme. Beneficiaries of the scheme are closely monitored to ensure the set goal is achieved. Among the schemes is Organized Agricultural Land acquisition for cluster farming which is done  on local government basis to allow more people to take to farming. No fewer than two thousand youths have been penciled down to benefit from the Phase I of the Graduate Youth Empowerment programme in multiple ways. Likewise, the administration has facilitated the approval of over N500 million worth of business plan for different groups across the 18 local governments in the state, this was made possible by the Governor, Arakunrin Akeredolu, who made a high level contact with the World Bank team.

    In order to have a proper and comprehensive record of farmers in the state to enhance projections and developmental plans, the administration is making arrangement for the registration of all farmers in the state and their farmlands to be processed and uploaded into the state portal. This will afford the government to be able to have data of farmers in the state that could easily be accessed for whatever assistance required for each particular farmer and farmland, and for exposure to the national and international market.

    Moreover, for value chain, the Akeredolu-administration is revamping all moribund state-owned agro-processing enterprises and facilitating the establishment of new ones. This is to improve the quality of the produce to generate more proceeds for the farmers and government.

    Arrangement is also ongoing on e-extension to facilitate information flow for Farmers and other stakeholders. The desire of the administration to ensure farmers are not financially handicapped, Farmers Micro Finance Bank is a top priority of APC-led government that will afford farmers easy access to finance and revive the cooperative society culture and spirit, that will transform the state economy right from the Grassroots. The administration is not leaving any stone unturned as it’s set to explore all crops as arrangement is in top gear to commence the implementation of both small-holders and medium/large-scale programme for oil palm, cocoa and cashew cultivation.

    The goal is to rehabilitate existing cocoa farms and facilities, the planting of new ones with the best variety. The Fisheries sector is not left untouched. Fishery and Aquaculture development with the use of floating cage system is in top gear for farmers including youths who are just coming into the enterprise.

  • ‘Ikpeazu on course in Abia’

    ‘Ikpeazu on course in Abia’

    In this piece, Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s media aide Emmanuel Apollos highlights his principal’s achievements in the last two years and the challenges confronting the state.

    The 2017 Democracy Day celebration on the 29th of May in Abia State will remain an issue of public discourse for a while because of the uniqueness of the celebration. Some folks who have served in previous governments in the state must have thought it would be business as usual and follow the regular scripts. Plans, proposals and budget running into millions of naira, put together by some top government functionaries, was ready, waiting for the Governor’s red ink.

    As at Friday, May 26, not even a dime has been made available to anybody for the ‘almighty’ May 29 Democracy Day celebration. It was on Saturday, May 27 that the Governor gave audience to some topshots of the government who had came from Umuahia to the Governor’s Lodge in Aba for the long awaited red ink.

    Prudently, and after painstaking study of the proposal before him, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu gave an approval that was considered a far cry  from what was expected.

    Again, many had thought that, having won the final case against his election at the Supreme Court on the 12th of May, Governor Ikpeazu would have ordinarily succumbed to the pervading feelings and suggestions that he should use the May 29 democracy day for an elaborate double-barrel outing; marking his second term in office, celebrating democracy day and celebrating his second and final victory at the Supreme Court over Uche Ogah, Alex Otti and Friday Nwosu.

    Governor Ikpeazu shocked everybody, starting with his close aides. First, he instructed the Secretary to the State Government, who was chairman of the planing committee to extend invitations to the May 29 democracy day celebration to every Abian, including former Governor Orji Uzo Kalu, Uche Ogah, Alex Otti and Friday Nwosu, that would have ordinarily been described as his political foes. He beckoned on every Abian, not minding their political affiliations to join in the event marking the return of democracy to Nigeria.

    On Sunday, May 28, an interdenominational thanksgiving was held to mark the second year anniversary of the Governor in office at the Abia State International Conference Center in Umuahia.

    Immediately after the thanksgiving service, by the evening of Sunday 28, the Governor, alongside his Deputy, Sir Udo Oko Chukwu, and the “who is who” in Abia politics returned to the conference center to listen to the Commissioners as they present their scorecard of achievements in their various ministries. It was the first time in Abia that such a public review by stakeholders held.

    The event which started at 6pm lasted till 12.30 am, with the Governor and all other invited guests in attendance.

    On Monday May 29, while Abians were waiting and hoping to attend the usual gathering at either Umuahia township stadium or the Abia State International Conference Center, Umuahia, for the celebration of long flowery speeches, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, chose to embark on a state wide tour of some ongoing projects and commissioning of completed ones with stakeholders in the Abia project.

    As early as 8am, on Monday May 29, the buses where lined up and ready to move for the business of the day.

    Abia leaders, including Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, Hon. Uko Nkole, Hon. Sam Onuigbo, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, Col Austin Akobundu, Prof Mkpa Agu Mkpa, Chief Mba Ukariwo, Chief Okezie Anyamele, Chief Allen Nwachukwu, Chief Acho Nwakanma, the members of the State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon Chikwendu Kalu and his Deputy Hon. Cosmos Ndukwe, cabinet officials etc were in government house to join the Governor and his Deputy, Sir Udo Oko Chukwu, to embark on the tour.

    The tour buses left Government House Umuahia at about 9:30am

    First stop was the inspection of Abia State Mushroom farm located at the headquarters of the State’s ministry  of Agriculture, where the performing Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Uzo Azubuike, conducted the Governor and his entourage round the farm. Senators Abaribe and Ohuabunwa were given the opportunity to harvest mushrooms.

    From the mushroom farm the train left for Arochukwu, where energetic and hardworking Commissioner for Works, Hon. Eziuche Ubani was already on ground at the ongoing Ndi Okereke Bridge to brief the Governor and his team on progress so far made.

    From Arochukwu, the convoy returned to Umuahia and inspected the ongoing reconstruction of Aba Road in Umuahia by Arab Contractors.

    Already pressed for time, the team left Umuahia  to the location of ongoing Umuocheala road at Isiala Ngwa south and from there to the ongoing Osisioma flyover before heading to MCC/Samek road and Faulks Road/ Ifeobara basin at Aba north.

    At about 3pm, the convoy arrived the Ndiegoro area of Aba, off Ngwa Road, in Aba SouthLGA, where the Governor commissioned four cluster of streets, namely; Aharandu, Onyebuchi, Enejiaka, and Ibadan Streets to the delight and lavish celebration of residents of the area who have never witnessed anything of that sort for more than 60 years.

    The stakeholders team later moved to Obingwa and inspected three different active sites, including the ongoing expansion of Ururuka road, the ongoing construction of Owoahiafo/Onicha Ngwa Road, and also ongoing Umuaro-Ekwereazu Ngwa road. The last two roads are expected to provide alternative links to Akwa Ibom State as the federal government is yet to complete the reconstruction of Ana-Ikot Ekpene Highway.

    The convoy then returned to Isiala Ngwa south again, and inspected the Umuokoro-Umuoba road.

    The final inspection for the day held at about 6pm at Umunkpei-Amaiyi road in Isiala Ngwa north and the convoy returned to Government House Umuahia, after 11hrs.

    For the stakeholders, it was an eye opening engagement as summarized by the retort of Chief Mba Ukariwo; “I have never seen anything like this since my involvement in Abia politics, honestly I didn’t know Governor Ikpeazu was doing so much work even while he was battling with court cases”.

    Governor Ikpeazu was sworn in as the fourth democratically elected Governor of Abia State on May 29, 2015. May 29, 2017 marked exactly his two years in office.

    Within this period under review, Governor Ikpeazu was jointly distracted with various frivolous court cases by the trio of  Uche Ogah, Alex Otti and Friday Nwosu, who dragged him from tribunal, High Court up to the Supreme Court twice, and he emerged victorious, with the mandate given to him by Abians, supremely confirmed.

    Despite the distractions and paucity of funds, Governor Ikpeazu kept his eyes on the ball, bearing in mind the promises he made to Ndi Abia during the electioneering campaigns. In other words, if Governor Ikpeazu were like others, the two years of distraction, coupled with the economy that went into recession, was enough excuse not to perform. Yet he rounded up his first-half of his 4-year tenure with unmatchable feats, especially in the area of agriculture and infrastructural development in the state.

    For Abians and those familiar with the state, Governor Ikpeazu’s first-half as Governor represents two years of experiences and challenges, that have thoroughly reshaped the political direction and alignments of the state, as well as opened new frontiers in the sociology-economic infrastructure of Abia state.

    It is first-half of unmatchable feats, amid distractions. Most observers within and outside the state believe that no government in Abia state since 1999 has done and achieved what the Ikpeazu administration has achieved in two years, despite the obvious distractions that were designed by the old political order in the state and their proxies to pull him down.

    Despite the verifiable landmarks of achievements already recorded, Ikpeazu, as a sincere leader said this to Abians during his May 29 state address: “much as I can confidently state that we have done a lot in the last 2 years, I will equally be the first to acknowledge that there is still a lot of work to be done in different areas.”

    His greatest worry remains the issue of outstanding salary of teachers and pensioners. Hear him: “I am unhappy with the fact that although we are up to date in the payment of the salaries of civil servants in the state, many teachers and pensioners are still being owed. I wish to reaffirm my commitment to the welfare of workers and further pledge to find a lasting solution to the salary impasse within the next few months.”

    Recall that Ikpeazu upon assumption of office, identified five Pillars of Development, where he anchored the developmental vision of the state under him.

    These pillars, as identified by the governor, are education, agriculture, infrastructure, trade and commerce, as well as oil and gas.

    According to Governor Ikpeazu during his state address on May 29: “We have taken considerable steps to deliver on those pillars and enablers and the results are there for all to see. I am grateful to the distinguished Abia leaders who took time yesterday to make inputs into our plans during our interactive session at the International Conference Centre and I assure them that we will take those inputs into cognizance as we move to the next phase of our developmental objectives.”

    On his administration’s achievements with regards to roads and bridges, the governor highlighted some completed and ongoing projects including 40 roads commissioned and 45 still ongoing and at various stages of completion.

    “One of the very first actions I took on the first working day after my swearing-in as Governor was to flag off construction work on roads in Aba and Umuahia. We are mindful of the importance of good roads to the stimulation of economic and social activities and we have not relented since day 1. To date, we have succeeded in completing about 40 roads across the state out of the about 80 roads we embarked upon from inception. Mention must be made of the fact that most of these roads, especially in Aba, are being constructed with rigid pavement technology which guarantees their longevity.”

    “While I will not go into the list of all the roads we have constructed and are constructing, permit me to emphasize that the reconstruction of Faulks road by Setraco Construction Company is solving the perennial problem of the Ifeobara basin and Ukwu Mango which hitherto always caused the area to be flooded. Today, to the glory of God, the company has achieved significant milestone in fixing Faulks Road and creatively solving the problem of the Ifeobara Basin.

    “Also noteworthy is the fact that we have commenced work on Port-Harcourt Road in Aba which is another key economic road. I assure you that we have engineered a unique funding model for the road and it will be delivered in record time.

    “In Umuahia, you are all witnesses to the work Arab Contractors are doing on the Aba Road from Stanpol to Isi Court. The quality of the project underpins our determination to ensure that we use the best contractors to deliver the best quality of work in Abia State.

    “In Abia North Senatorial District, among all the ot her roads we are doing including the Abiriba Ring Road, the Abiriba Nkporo Road, the Ohafia Township Roads, the Eluama-Otampka Road, the Eke-Obuzor-Ngodo Road and the Nkpa Road, permit me to single out for special mention, the Bende-Arochukwu Road. This road was conceptualized to serve as an alternative to the perennially impassable Ohafia-Arochukwu Federal Road. I had the opportunity to inspect it during our Thank-You Tour to Arochukwu last week and I witnessed the laying of the bridge on the road. My promise to Abians today is that by Christmas of 2017, the road will be completed and commissioned so that our brothers from that axis can comfortably travel to their communities.” Governor Ikpeazu said.

     

  • Obaseki on course in Edo, says Williams

    Obaseki on course in Edo, says Williams

    •Former varsity don urges Edo governor to set up exco

    Eminent scholar Prof. Adebayo Williams yesterday appraised the first 100 days of Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, saying that his administration was on course.

    He described the governor as a hardworking, dynamic, courageous and self-effacing administrator, whose policies and programmes have connected with the legitimate hopes and aspirations of the people.

    Noting that the story of Edo under Obaseki is unfolding, the former university don, who hailed his remarkable feats in the last three months, said: “At the end of his tenure, Edo will become an economic and technological hub.”

    However, the renowned essayist advised the governor to quickly set up his cabinet to enable him tap from the talents and experience of commissioners and advisers.

    He added that the governor “cannot single-handedly run” the state.

    Williams spoke in Lagos at a colloquium organised by the Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa with the theme: ‘Tracking Governor Godwin Obaseki’s 100 days in office.”

    The guest speaker and Editorial Page Editor of The Nation, Mr. Sanya Oni, hailed the governor’s programmes on economic diversification, job creation, power and executive time management.

    An important highlight of the event was the video presentation of Obaseki’s 100 days.

    The achievements highlighted included road rehabilitation, the setting up of the Gele-gele seaport Committee and the agricultural committee, the ban on illegal taxation by touts, fiscal discipline, the Bill for Pension Scheme, the signing of power purchase agreement and increased funding for technical education.

    Others include school renovation, the resuscitation of farm settlements, transparency and accountability.

    Williams, who chaired the lecture, noted that he had delivered the valedictory lecture in honour of Obaseki’s predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who he described as a “warrior politician,” who laid a solid foundation for him to build upon.

    He said: “Oshiomhole is a warrior politician. He was the John the Baptist, who made it possible for Obaseki to be doing what he is doing today. He fought godfatherism and other challenges. All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is also a warrior politician and made it possible for former Governor Babatunde  Raji Fashola to practise politics of anti-politics to connect with the people.”

    Williams praised Obaseki for running a focused government devoid of scandals, stressing that he has thrown away the racketeers and concentrated on service delivery.

    He added: “People have great expectations about the governor. Obaseki is a good governor and a man of promise. I can bet that a lot more will be heard about the energetic, promising and self-effacing man. Judging by the way he has taken the bull by the horn, Edo will be an epic centre of good governance and economic prosperity.

    “Edo is a product of a glorious empire, the Benin Empire. When the Portuguese visited Benin, they were shocked by its level of advancement. It was socially and culturally ahead of Lisbon, the capital. Benin had well-paved streets, an ancient form of electricity and it was painted. It was an empire on the way to modernity before it was stopped by the invasion and later, it collapsed.

    “Benin was a remarkably rich empire. What the British stole from the city pointed to its greatness and wealth. Governor Obaseki is a hardworking governor with a vision and innovation to take the state to modernity, not regressing it to primitiveness. What is this quiet and self-effacing man doing in politics? He is going against the grain of normal politics. Obaseki is impacting on the life of the people.”

    Oni, an economic expert, said Obaseki has a fresh economic direction, instead of the peculiar tradition of dependence on the federal allocation that depended on elusive oil earnings.

    He noted that Obaseki’s 100 days in office might define the character of his administration, adding that he started well by reducing the massive wastage of executive time allocated to useless meetings and appointments that have no bearing on good governance.

    Oni applauded the emphasis on technical education in Edo State, explaining that increased funding for vocational education would reduced the number of unemployable youths and enable them to acquire skills that would make them get jobs in the technical areas.

    The coalition’s Country Director, Mr. Jude Gadimoh, said: “Our peer review mechanism in assessing the states in the country makes it expedient on us as a group to challenge the Edo State government to showcase what they have done so far as Lagos State developed that culture of reviewing herself every 100 days, especially during the government of Babatunde Fashola. That kind of review mechanism helps a government to quickly respond and correct areas of lapses within its operations.”