The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Deep

  • State police: Between the devil and deep blue sea

    With nationwide debates on vital issues affecting our country, it seems Nigeria has arrived at a stage where most of the people can now decide the fate of our country. National discourse on vital issues is not new to Nigerians, but recent events show that our country, for good or for ill, now wants to indicate the direction which we should go.

    One of the latest issues on our plate is the need to fully operate a federal system of government which will devolve responsibilities among the components of the federation. It is now generally believed that the centre is loaded with too many responsibilities some of which it cannot carry and which should be shared among the components of the union. The current attractive subject is the need to create state police to enable the country achieve a higher level of security and surveillance.

    The arguments for state police are very strong. One is that much of the personnel constituting state police must be indigenous to the environment. The personnel are expected mostly to be indigenes of the state who know and appreciate the needs, complexities and ethnic configuration of the state. It is also believed that Abuja is too far away as police command headquarters to be able to effectively move its personnel around especially in times of emergency. Proponents of state police also refer to other countries especially in Europe and the Americas where police force is structured into three – national, state and municipal. Nowhere, people say is a central police system in operation. Finally supporters of state police refer to the distinct if not mutually exclusive ethnic configuration of the Nigerian nation as to make a central police system inoperative, oppressive, inconvenient and inefficient. All the above postulates are right.

    But let us look back a bit and recall what happened in our remote past when there were more or less three tiers of policing in Nigeria especially in the northern and western regions of our country. The east was saved from the destructive and confusing effect of national, state and municipal police system. In the west, there were problems of politicians at regional and municipal levels confronting each other, interpreting differently the roles to be played by these security outfits and generally engendering disorder and confusion which they were set up to avoid in the first place. Some of us can remember concepts like ‘Akintola Police’, ‘Balewa Police’, ‘Shagari Police’ etc. These were derogative terms meant to downplay the usefulness and impartiality of these security bodies.

    Now let us examine the present Nigeria and its tempestuous, self-serving and sometimes irrational politicians who are at the head of various political and governmental institutions. To put it straight, Nigerians are not having the best political operators today. Much of our governmental activities at federal and state levels are geared towards self-aggrandizement, glorification and self-propelled esteem. Many things happening in recent times illustrate vividly the negative effect to which politicians in power can deploy a security outfit. Some few examples. Security operatives accompanying big men especially ministers and governors in an attempt to clear the road for their paymasters usually cause havoc by creating confusion on the road or outright demobilizing or killing hapless citizens who did not do their bidding as quickly as they wanted; some innocents citizens have lost their lives when police men think they are serving their masters by pushing vehicles and humans off the road.

    Overzealous security men watching the offices or homes of big men occasionally assault innocent people whose only offence is that they move near the big man’s house. More recently a section of this country has been battling with a state governor who ordered his men including security police to pull down buildings and structures belonging to political opponents. One can imagine what would happen in a restructured security outfit where the governor has his own police force over which he assumes supreme command. He could order political opponents to be slaughtered at will, quoting relevant portions of state law.

    The above black situation notwithstanding, Nigeria as it is now is too large, too ethnic-conscious, too unwieldy and perhaps too different one from the other in culture, orientation and civic approach to life to accommodate a single policing system. It is therefore a problem of choosing between the devil and the blue sea. Both can result into death. But doesn’t the man who prefers plunging into the blue sea to instant death by the devil have a chance, however slim of accidental safety? This may sound pedantic but it can also be real. Some have said that decentralizing police outfit may aid disintegration of the federation. It is doubtful whether any state or regional police may be strong enough to support or ignite each unit of the federation going its own way. Several states, municipalities and organizations have established their own local security outfit variously called vigilante, neighbourhood guards etc. These bodies are meant to serve as State or Local Police, but without enforcement power.

    With the pros and cons and contradictions steering us in the face, many think that policing Nigeria will not remain what it is for too long. Parliaments all over the world are usually hesitant to make fundamental changes that will reorder societies. This is particularly so on issues concerning security. Nigerian politicians know their onions. Many of them know how they got to the National Assembly and they would be hesitant to make fundamental changes in the constitution that might affect their hold to power especially at local level. Many of our men and women at the National Assembly know that they are not there by merit but by one subterfuge or the other. Some rely on godfathers at national level hence they can confront local demi-gods. These are not the people who would put the interest of the nation above personal survival. But it appears time is running out in Nigeria. The nation may have to decide sooner than later whether to operate a true federal system of government or to continue our present “patch-patch work”.

     

    • Asiwaju Fasuan MON; JP writes from Ado-Ekiti.

  • ‘DEEP’ IS LAUNCHED WITH THRILL

    AS guests trickled into the Ultima Studios in Lekki, Lagos, they might have expected a regular book launch with speeches and long readings. As guests took their seats and the lights went off and the cameras started rolling, then action.

    That was how first time author Joseph Endy Ogbuka launched his first poetry book, ‘Deep’.

    The event started with a screening of a vox-pop where people from different walks of life gave diverse interpretations of the word ‘Deep’. Then, Ogbuka recited one of the poems, ‘Occupy Nigeria’ which reflects the heart of Nigerians whenever they take part in rallies and protests. Later, Ogbuka’s daughters, Olachi and Kachi read two poems from the book, ‘#Occupy Nigeria’ and ‘Life’ respectively.

    A major highlight of the event was the performance by the troupe, Thespian Muse. They dissected the poems and infused then in a 45-minutes performance of dance, music, drama and panegyrics.

    Ogbuka in his speech said the book is a labour of love and had nursed the idea for a long time. He also promised to work on another one soon.

    Omoye Uzamere put the performances together alongside Ultima Studios.

  • The rot is very deep

    SIR: Since the inauguration of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2015, attention of Nigerians and the international community have been focused on among other issues; how to tame the hydra-headed monster called corruption. The war commenced with focus on public institutions and immediate past government officials alleged to have plundered the treasury under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party. There are high expectations that the stolen funds would be returned to Nigeria to facilitate development.

    Corruption has eaten deep into the fabric of the Nigerian society. We conduct ourselves as if Nigeria is a country without national ethics. Section 23 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended) prescribes the national ethics as: Discipline, Integrity, and Dignity of Labour, Social Justice, Religious Tolerance, Self-reliance and Patriotism.

    Unfortunately, the family – the institution which is expected to inculcate these values in its members has abrogated its responsibility in pursuit of mundane issues. The family it can be asserted without fear of contradiction has failed the nation. This position is informed by the gamut of societal ills bedevilling our country which are manifestations of moral decadence. Otherwise, what else could propel some parents who reportedly hire members of the public to write examinations on behalf of their children or purchase examination question papers thereby sending wrong message to the children that it pays to cheat? There are reports of children at such tender age in nursery schools who steal snacks from lunch boxes of other children, of university students who cheat during examinations or pay lecturers to obtain in advance examination question papers before examination day so to pass the exams. Children who hitherto were community assets and protected by members of society are presently subjected to all manner of abuses and targeted as objects of trade. Those who establish baby factories to manufacture babies for sale, the armed robbers, the kidnappers, the suicide bombers, and Boko Haram sponsors are all manifestations of collapsed family system. Indeed, the rot is very deep.

    Examples of pervasive rot in our society are numerous. In our markets, traders cheat unsuspecting members of the public by for example, hiding rotten tomatoes at the base of baskets while scattering large and healthy looking tomatoes on top to give a false impression of the entire content of the basket in order to extract maximum amount of money. The practice is same for food items such as yams, potatoes and so on. What about those engaged in the production and sale of fake drugs, counterfeit currency or collude to convert our beautiful country into a dumping ground for substandard goods, hazardous electronic waste or import sand as fertilizer and water as petroleum products and are paid subsidy.

    The traditional institutions that harbour our rich cultural values have not been spared the rot. In times past, traditional rulers were seen custodians of our rich cultural values, an embodiment of truth and justice. They shielded their communities from imminent danger. Regrettably, in present day Nigeria, some traditional rulers are known to harbour armed robbers and participate in the sharing of loot snatched at gun point and through the spilling of the innocent blood of citizens. Similarly, faith, community based and civil society organisations, labour unions, students and professional bodies house elements that engage in corrupt practices. The rot is very deep indeed.

    As Nigerians, therefore, it is our collective responsibility to join hands with President Buhari’s administration to bring about positive CHANGE in our fatherland. We cannot stand aloof and criticise the government of inaction or inability to deploy the “magic wand” to effect positive CHANGE in Nigeria. All Nigerians need to stand up to be counted as CHANGE agents by doing the RIGHT THING. So that TOGETHER we shall bring positive CHANGE in our country.

     

    • Mrs Rahila A. Ahmadu, PhD,

    Abuja.

  • Why man needs deep personality analysis

    Why man needs deep personality analysis

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines health as a complete state of physical, mental and emotional wellbeing and not mere absence of a disease. This underscores the tripartite nature of man. Man is made up of spirit, soul and body, according to the Bible.

    For a proper and lasting solution to the various health challenges, it is imperative that man’s overall composition be taken into account.

    Man is very complex, and as such can be described as ‘complicated’. To maintain harmony or optimum health, man should look beyond the physical for solutions his problems.

    Man has passed through several civilisations, with each age developing its own level of sophistication as to how best to survive in different, unique environment, situation or circumstances, however primitive. With the advent of modernity, scientific knowledge, especially the so-called primitive ideas were jettisoned in every sphere, including health care delivery systems.

    Ironically, the more man tries to put aside ancient ideas, the more problems he confronts. The solutions, however, remain elusive. It is difficult to deal decisively with diseases, such as breast cancer, sickle cell anemia, diabetes, renal failure, prostate cancer, stroke, HIV/AIDS, even malaria, these days.

    There is drug abuse/dependence, which often leads to impaired reasoning, violent crimes, prostitution, and even mental illness. All these take their toll on countries across the world (socially, economically and politically)

    Although conventional allopathic approach to health care recognises certain inadequacies, with the theory of psychosomatic factor; this unfortunately has not been far reaching. Attempts in the area of astrology, tarot and others, have their drawbacks, compounded by individual prejudices or religious or spiritual beliefs.

    Deep personality analysis (DPA) is a therapy. It is an all–encompassing one at that. It is specially developed by me, taking into cognisance, the frailties of other schools of thought, and one that breaks religious, spiritual and cultural barriers. This therapy sets to address the following:

     

    Life path

    Nobody was born by accident. Man must be traced right from the very point of pre-existence, getting into the womb, and being born. Having been born, what is the purpose of coming into this earth?. So, there is the need to look at the course of his sojourn, necessary accomplishment, before eventual departure. These are meticulously outlined, spelt out in this therapy, without any ambiguity whatsoever.

     

    Career

    Against the backdrop of the tendencies by man to copy others hook–line-and-sinker in career choices, ultimately leading to frustration and even avoidable death. This therapy is able to deftly identify what career suits the individual, bringing fulfillment, joy, necessary pecuniary rewards, and social recognition – leaving one’s footprints on the sands of time. This also applies in choosing candidates for positions in corporate, diplomatic, defence and even leaders at various strata of governance for peace and progress.

     

    Marriage

    Every man is expected at a certain stage in life to have a spouse. The timing may vary from person to person. A lot of people undoubtedly encounter or have difficulty in even coming to a decision or realisation, not to talk of being able to make the proper choice. This therapy would help guide the subject as to the right spouse, with the right temperament, and hence compatibility, not mere facial appearance as many  want to do, ignorantly of course. This leads to series of problems sooner or later, sometimes resulting in irreversible damage (socially, emotionally and economically).

     

    Disease pre–disposition

    No two individuals, even twins can be the same. There would always be that uniqueness in the workings of the internal organs/systems. As the engine of a car does not break down, without first issuing warnings on the dashboard (however subtle) so is the human body prone to disease conditions. This therapy helps to guide the individual, based on his peculiar make up as to which specific health challenges lie ahead, and necessary measures outlined to avoid or prevent same.

     

    Diet

    You are what you eat. This therapy designs tailor–made diet plan to suit the subject’s unique genetic composition. This way, the individual maintains optimum health, thus avoid expensive medical bills, on diseased conditions that would ordinarily have been addressed through diet alone.

     

    Colour therapy

    Colours without doubt, abound in nature around us. God made the colours, with each of them peculiar for a purpose. This therapy ipso facto carefully identifies the most, specific, homogenous colour in harmony with the subject, as colours affect our moods, behaviour, attitude and actions, under different situations or circumstances. Whether we are talking of the right colours in our dresses, offices, homes, even cars, this therapy comes very handy.

    Deep personality analysis erases the cross road experience that many are going through across the world. Man is not created to grope aimlessly.

  • Deep seaports: Prospects and challenges

    Deep seaports: Prospects and challenges

    A Lagos lawyer, Chijioke Emeka, examines the legal framework for deep seaports development and the economy at a workshop on Maritime Law organised by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS)

    More than 86 per cent of Nigeria-bound cargoes pass through the ports in Lagos. The industries within Lagos and its environs are a major attraction. The role of industries cannot be ruled out. Industries need modern ports to move their equipment. Apart from Lagos, how many states can boast of the presence of industries? You cannot rule out the role of industries in port operations and efficiencies.

    Deep seaports are transit points. What is the reason for developing a deep seaport in Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Delta states? We must do things professionally and not politically. There are critical factors to consider when developing a port. A deep seaport is expensive to maintain. A port must be competitive. We have enough ports already. Most of the ports are not viable. Let’s develop our roads and rail network.”

    Perhaps the jostle by States for deep seaport hosting may be explained by the reality of the implications of the fact that Nigeria currently accounts for 76 per cent of all maritime trade moving around West Africa. It requires no clairvoyance to project that whoever hosts a viable deep seaport along Nigeria’s coastline will likely host the cargo hub serving port for ports along the entire sea way from far West down the entire belly of Africa, ending at Central African maritime curve.

    Challenges to deep seaport development in Nigeria

    The development of deep seaports in Nigeria is not without possible challenges. These may include:

    Financial constraints

    The cost of a Greenfield deep seaport project can be enormous. The huge financial implications can be a set-back to such mega projects. The Ibaka Deepwater Port is estimated to cost at about $2billion. Cost recovery estimations on such a project must be robust. Recovery for long-term gestation projects like a seaport can be slow. Financing can therefore be a significant challenge, which may only be overcome by considerable guarantees coming from government partners.

    This is why the PPP model, already at work in the ongoing Lekki Port, can be a solution to seamless financing of such mega projects. The private sector-government synergy is expected to interplay to provide robust funding from big local lenders, the global financial system and the International Finance Corporation, as the case may be.

     

    Political interference

    Political interference can be a challenge to deep seaports development. There are known instances in the past where political interference scuttled private sector efforts at projects at the commanding heights of the economy. Even with concession agreements, once political expedience dictates interference, concession contracts have usually been unable to protect concessionaires from political weight propelled by virtual sovereign immunity and impunity.

    This is one of the reasons a regime of robust legal framework is required to back up the development of deep seaports.

     

    Lack of adequate legal framework and regulatory regime

    While the jostle for participation in deep seaport development rages, the project still lacks a formidable legal framework. Deep seaports require distinctive guidelines for their construction and operation.

    The Nigerian Ports Authority Act 1999, the principal legal framework for ports has not envisaged deep seaports development. The Ports and Harbours Bill currently before the National Assembly has not made significant provisions on regulatory requirements for deep seaports. The Bill only made a broad reference to development of Greenfield port and the required approvals for same.

    Experts suggest solidly rooted guidelines in the form of legislation as necessary for effective development and operation of deep seaports. There is need for benchmarks to be set and operational issues relating to licensing, marine environmental management and navigation, environmental review criteria, pipeline safety and operation, application of international agreements, common user infrastructure and sharing, record-keeping, inspections, supervisory roles, and termination of licenses, amongst others, clarified [Akabogu, E.; ibid].

    Ibaka was already under threat of Court actions over alleged violation of intellectual property rights in its conceptualisation. An alumnus of the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), Kuru, Andrew Okoja, retired Navy Rear Admiral, had claimed that the concept which gave birth to the project was his original idea. The retired naval officer claimed to have developed the concept while undergoing Senior Executive Course in NIPSS in 1993 for the development of a deep seaport in the eastern seaboard of Nigeria. Both NPA and Akwa Ibom State Government were threatened with law suits by Okoja and his NIPSS class.

    The ownership, construction and operation of the deep seaports are guided by law and ethics. The introduction of the Deep Water Port Act 1974 (DWPA) in the USA and the amendments in 1984, 1990, 1995 and 1996 furnished conditions to meet the necessary requirements for deep water ports. as deducing adverse effects on the marine environment, which might come about as an aftermath of the development of such ports and submitting detailed plans, including financial, technical information, location and the capacity for construction and operation and maintenance of the proposed deepwater ports.

    In 2000, due to the Amendments in 1996, the importation of natural gas, which would utilize offshore structures, was proposed by industry to the U.S. Coast Guard. Prior to this, the DWPA solely considered crude oil and did not specifically allow the importation of natural gas. Subsequent to dialogue in clarifying jurisdictional roles and procedures for the application process, Coast Guard proceeded with proposing legislative changes to the DWPA. The 9/11 terrorist attacks changed the focus of the entire country with regard to public safety.

    Following 9/11, potential security threats were analysed throughout the US in all forms of transportation and industries. Soon Congress implemented another law, the Maritime Transportation Security Act 2002 (MTSA). Congress assessed the risks that affected the maritime environment that included the potential hazards of LNG. In November 2002, the President signed the MTSA formally amending the DWPA to extend the definition of deepwater ports to include natural gas facilities, implement measures to improve vessel and facility security.

    Overtime, agitation on port controls and regulation have favoured reforms that saw to privatisation and concessions of ports to free port activities to competition and effectiveness.

    Even with the gains of these reforms, it has been cautioned that care should be taken to ensure that foreign investors do not prejudice the interests of cabotage operators when it becomes suitable to them for business or anti-trust purposes.

    Following the US example, Nigeria should find a meeting point between free market in the deep seaport enterprise, and effective legal and regulatory regime that would protect the concessionaires and the country.

    Short and long run safety regulations

    There are several safety issues associated with deep seaports. In the US, the DWPA encouraged the promotion of the deep water ports as a safe and efficient medium of oil transportation with minimised tanker traffic and associated risks. For the sake of safety measures latest technologies available are used in the construction and operation of the deep water ports which also impose economic, social and environmental effects in the national interest.

    The concerned deep seaports authorities are responsible for oil spill prevention, containment and cleanup, effect on oceanographic currents patterns, potential dangers from waves, winds, weather, and geological conditions etc. There have been concerns that Nigeria may be easy destination for hazardous cargo. It is believed that a deep seaport that attracts Panamax and Post-Panamax vessels may even increase the possibility. These are part of the concerns for safety, both in the short and long run.

     

    Poor existing road and rail network

    Although deepwater ports will be most favourable to importers of liquid bulk cargo, implications of evacuation could pose some challenges. Though a detailed system of pipelines is expected to be a core part of the project design, individual companies may have to link up to the system from the landing point to wherever they will locate their storage tanks. For many that have existing facilities already in built-up and congested areas like Apapa, costs on such additional investment may be discouraging. Current security issues affecting existing pipelines are also important to note and prepare against.

    A major challenge to Ibaka might be the need for effective road network for inland cargo movement. A massive construction programme of heavy-duty, year-round-motorable, integrated road networks, specifically targeted as distributive channels, must be developed alongside the deep seaport. A railway design should also be explored for more effective transportation. Also, the nearby Ibom International airport at Okobo may be harnessed for inland air movement of cargo, especially to the North Central and North East.

    For Lekki Port, with the bloated urban density issues in mainland Lagos resulting in intractable traffic gridlocks, more robust engineering ingenuity is expected to be deployed to develop seamless evacuation access for the massive cargo expected from non-regional hub cargo traffic.

    Poor power capacity

    As Africa’s population giant, Nigeria has missed huge opportunities in real sector direct foreign investments with her persistent power challenges. With the yet intractable energy challenge in Nigeria, aside from road networks, electricity is expected to be a challenge not only to the deep seaports but for the projected surrounding businesses and new urban settlements that would attend the ports. With the ongoing reforms and concessions by the Federal Government in the power sector, the challenge of power may well be on its way out of Nigeria.

    Also the plan to site Independent Power Plants in the proposed Ibaka Industrial City may be the answer to likely energy challenges of the deep seaports.

    Poor viability assessment culture and moribund businesses

    Nigeria’s landscape is littered with many large scale projects that commenced with great hopes and promises and ended up white elephants. Apart from post-development mismanagement, the reason for the dash of hopes is placing political considerations above honest viability assessments of the sustenance of such projects as short-time and long time business models.

    It has been suggested that promoters of Ibaka Deep Seaport should examine the Calabar Port for answers to its challenges. Posers should be raised whether, apart from its shallow draft and dredging issues, the port is affected by other factors that have robbed it of viability advantage like its neighbour in Port Harcourt. As a cargo hub much of its cargoes are expected to be delivered to neighbouring ports by lighters and may not be affected by shore logistic problems. Yet, for the purpose of achieving the aspect of its business plan that targets gateway status to inland states of the Southeast, Northcentral states and Northeast states, these questions are necessary to cover the spectrum. This is because Calabar challenges may become Ibaka’s challenges, subject to results of an investigation on honest viability assessment.

    A deep seaport is not a social infrastructure. It is a large and complex business venture that should only be embarked upon with demonstrable viability as self-sustaining and profitable business.

    Food for thought

    From 2006 the Panama Canal, the Atlantic/Pacific shipping gateway, has been undergoing expansion at the cost of $5.3 billion. The expansion is expected to be completed in 2015 and the expended sum projected to be recovered within 11 years; because it is business.

    Summary and recommendations

    A Deep Seaport is measured in terms of its increased depth of draft with attendant capacity to host and handle larger heavily loaded (economical) vessels.

    The global trend that saw naval architects and engineers pursuing a predilection for larger designs of carriers; is the incentive for deeper seaports, expected to accommodate Panamax and Post-Panamax ships.

    With population advantage and with almost 80 per cent of regional cargo traffic being Nigeria-bound, Nigeria is the natural hub of maritime industry in the region and cannot be left behind in the jostle for efficient deep seaports.

    Deep seaports are capital intensive in development and maintenance. Their viability indicators must include access to population, industrial and trade activities. Thus Nigeria does not need more than Lekki and Ibaka deep seaports, at least for now and in the nearest future.

    The other suggested deep seaport locations at Badagry in Lagos State, Olokola in Ondo State, Ogidigben near Escravos in Delta State, Agge in Bayelsa State, Bonny in Rivers State, Calabar in Cross River State etc may turn into white elephant projects and should be rested for future developments.

    With the advantage of massive control power of regional cargo movement, Nigeria stands a huge chance of attaining the regional transshipment base with Lekki Deep Seaport; while Ibaka Deep Seaport would attain the oil and gas hub for much of the Atlantic stretch and an important global supply terminal.

    Funding constraints, political interference, lack of sufficient legal and regulatory framework, safety concerns, requirement of massive infrastructural support like roads and railway network, poor power capacity, poor viability assessment culture etc, are identified as factors that militate against deep seaport development in Nigeria. The challenges are however surmountable.

    Legal and regulatory framework for deep seaports development, ownership, operations, safety and security issues should be clearly set out. A middle ground should be found between a free market with regulatory framework for safety, sustainability and the larger national interest.

    A comprehensive inland river ports development will be a huge cargo transportation network support for deep seaports. Energy should be channeled towards developing a good network of river ports and jetties along Nigeria’s navigable waters.

    Deep seaport activities will impact positively on Nigeria’s economy, but to reap the benefits, parameters must be set right. Great opportunities for huge can be missed when mismanaged.

    •Emeka, a maritime practitioner and Principal Counsel, Auxano Law Consult in Lagos.