The Nation Newspaper

Tag: facts

  • NSEZCO: Facts, hidden motives and the mudslinging

    This is a season of mudslinging and utter lies for political positioning and other hidden ulterior motives; a season when some people will rather hold on to threads of lies and falsehood in the face of clear facts.

    One of such cases is the ongoing misinformation on a presidential initiative to accelerate industrial development in the country.

    In April 2017, the President Muhammadu Buhari launched the Economic Recovery & Growth Plan 2017-2020 (ERGP), a medium-term national plan and road map comprising sectoral plans for agriculture and food security, energy and transport infrastructure, industrialisation and social investment.

    As President Buhari noted at the signing ceremony for the investment partnership between NSEZCO and its strategic investment partners on February 8,  “When we decided to continue with the implementation of the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan of the previous administration and launched our ERGP to fast track implementation, we had a vision of Nigeria as the pre-eminent manufacturing hub in Sub-Saharan Africa and a major exporter to our immediate West African sub-region, the rest of Africa and indeed the world. Special Economic Zones have an important role to play in achieving this vision.”

    Contrary to insinuations by the sponsors of the misinformation, including some political office holders who feel threatened and sheer mischief makers, the execution of the presidential initiative cannot be said to have been done in a closet. It is an open process that involves experts from the public and the private sector.

    In response to the need for accelerated industrial development, a project delivery team was set up, led by an adviser to the minister and initially comprising selected staff and advisers in both the Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment and the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA). The services of expert consultants were also procured.

    In order to strengthen project governance, a project steering committee was convened under the leadership of the Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, comprising top officials of the ministry and other members drawn from the Economic Management Team and the several related government agencies. Also, on the committee were the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and Africa Export-Import Bank.

    Under the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Project MINE (Made in Nigeria for Export) was envisioned and launched to develop and upgrade SEZs across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones to “world-class” standards whilst also creating an enabling environment for sustainable and globally competitive export-oriented SEZ operations. The dream is to position Nigeria as the pre-eminent manufacturing hub in sub-Saharan Africa and a major exporter of ‘made in Nigeria’ goods and services regionally and globally.

    Several leading Development Finance Institutions expressed keen interest to partner with the government by co-investing in a well governed and managed entity, to which the government had demonstrated commitment by making an early investment of funds. However, without exception, they all insisted that the process for setting up, governing and managing such a company must conform to the standards in operation in their various institutions and that the board and management should not be controlled by government.

    Studies of the SEZ models in Ethiopia, Kenya, Egypt, Gabon and Morocco showed that the most sustainable approach to rapid and sustained SEZ development is the public private partnership model.

    The most compelling case study of this model was the Gabon SEZ Company, a public private partnership led by Olam (a multinational commodities and food group founded in Nigeria) as operator and manager, with the government of Gabon and Africa Finance Corporation as co-investors. Gabon SEZ has mobilised over $400million in shareholders’ investment and attracted about 130 enterprises to set up operations there, creating tens of thousands of jobs.

    Nigeria LNG Limited is one of the most successful public private partnerships in the world. It has created a world-class Nigerian company that generates billions of dollars in foreign exchange for the country, taxes for the government and high-quality jobs for Nigerians.

    The LNG model was also studied, especially its careful partnership design where the government invested its gas assets and provided fiscal incentives and a favourable legal framework while the International Oil Companies (IOCs) invested cash and provided management under a world-class corporate governance framework.

    A broadly similar approach, with amendments to details was used to set up the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company Limited, Development Bank of Nigeria Limited and the Family Homes Fund.

    NSEZCO was incorporated at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), on June 12, 2018 as a limited liability company under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Cap C20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (CAMA), with the FGN represented by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), holding 25% of the shares in NSEZCO at incorporation. The remaining 75% shareholding was held in trust by A&O Secretarial Services Limited, the Company Secretaries, on behalf of a group of development finance institutions who had indicated interest in co-investing with the FGN in NSEZCO (the Strategic Investment Partners), whilst they completed internal investment approval processes for their shareholding in NSEZCO. NSEZCO is therefore not a privately-owned company and none of these directors could have had any beneficial interest, directly or indirectly in the shares of the company.

    NSEZCO intends to raise $US500million in equity by 2023 from the FGN, the Strategic Investment Partners and other institutional investors. Currently, NSEZCO is executing a Round 1 equity fund-raising programme for $250million, in tranches.

    The Strategic Investment Partners participated in a signing ceremony presided over by President Buhari on February 8. Definitive agreements were signed between NSEZCO, Afreximbank, BOI and MOFI, with NSIA signing a Memorandum of Understanding to signify its interest to invest in NSEZCO subject to its internal approval process. AFC and AfDB who are also at various stages of their internal approval processes, were also in attendance.

    Pilot projects include Enyimba Economic City, Abia State; Lekki-Epe Model Industrial Park, Lagos State; Funtua Cotton Cluster, Katsina State.In addition, pre-development studies are said to be ongoing for Greenfield SEZs in Benue, Kwara and Sokoto states whilst studies will soon commence in Ebonyi, Edo and Gombe states amongst several others.

    From available documents, one of those opposed to Project MINE may have been NEPZA. Documents show that the agency wrote to the attorney general of the federationon October 23, 2018, raising the following questions for advice:

    “Whether the establishment of the Nigeria Special Economic Zones Company (NSEZCO) Limited to take over the functions of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority is lawful; and,

    “Whether it is lawful for funds appropriated in favour of NEPZA for the implementation of some capital projects in the Free Zones under the regulatory mandate of NEPZA can validly be transferred into the account of a private Limited Liability Company.”

    In his opinion and advice, the Attorney General of the Federation stated that:

    “The presidential initiative on SEZs to drive national economic growth, the provision of funds in the 2017 and 2018 Appropriation Acts domiciled in NEPZA, and the corrigendum of the National Assembly by the letter of 23rd November, 2018 in favour of NSEZCO should not be frustrated by NEPZA in seeking to retain such funds on technical interpretation of the NEPZA Act.

    “NEPZA should not be found working against the purpose and direction of the policy of this administration which has not violated any extant law.

    “Consequently, the funds domiciled in NEPZA should be released to NSEZCO to enable her utilize same for the presidential initiative”.

    Read also: ‘NEPZA crying wolf over N14.3bn NSEZCO fund’

    Clearly Project MINE is a laudable initiative with great potential to facilitate Nigeria’s industrialization and create jobs for our teeming populace. This attempt to paint the initiative as illegal or corrupt is a depiction of the minds of those who spread the tales. It is not grounded in reality by documented facts. Nigeria, under the leadership of President Buhari, is in a hurry to perform to capacity, and these attempts to derail progress must be resisted by all patriots.

     

    • Ademiluyi writes from Osogbo, Osun State.

  • Re: Sagay vs NASS: Facts and fallacies

    Is every passing day awakens us to the reality of an election year ahead, and doing so with its familiar trappings of staccato style political intrigues, lickspittle, including but not limited to rumours of political alignment and re-aligments, it would certainly come as a rude shock to a necromancer for the National Assembly, particularly, the senate and its leadership, not to come under all forms of politically ingrained verbal blitzkrieg. And, why not?

    The leadership of the 8th National Assembly, (NASS), emerged against all predictions better left to history. But, since its emergence, the NASS has remained the punching bag of those who stood against its emergence. Regrettably, too, the executive has refused to see wisdom in an harmonious and mutually respectful relationship with the second arm of government. Over time, the NASS has been the prime target of attacks and knowing that a weak legislature provides a freeway for easy manipulation of the citizenry, its leadership is expected to have enormous courage and strength of heart to withstand pressure from within and without. The reason survival of democracies is hugely hinged on a vibrant assembly committed to keeping in check other arms of government.

    It is noteworthy that more than any previous Assemblies, the 8th NASS has remained united, focused and pragmatic in the pursuit of its constitutional duties. Against all odds, it survived the teething leadership challenges and diverse political affiliations through personal sacrifices and purposeful leadership. But it would seem that respite was far from being near.

    Yet, while politics is heavily profiled in attacks, finger pointing and intrigues, it cuts a curious pie to find one apparently weighed down by a seemingly deepening acute subjectivity arriving from survivalist instinct attempting to dissect, pontificate and bookmark values, behaviour and ideals far beyond his remit. Moreso, doing it without due regard to the sanctity of truth.

    That was what it felt like after  reading Professor Itse Sagay, (SAN), the Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption’s (PACAC) interview published in the Nation newspaper, recently. In Professor Sagay’s cocktail of untruths typifying someone couched in genteel ignorance or personal hatred, he described the current senate under Dr  Bukola Saraki, as the worst since 1999. Apparently, in curious defiance to evidences available on easy click online, Professor Sagay, true to character, fancied mischief, pettiness and rabble-rousing, as opposed to a little research into the activities of the current senate, and, without due regards to his age and professorial attainment, concluded that the current NASS has not performed!

    Pitiable, as it is, if anyone attributed his gaffe to mere mental hiatus that would come round with time, his umbrage at the senate leadership’s insistence that the Inspector General of Police, Abubakar Idris, should appear before it to answer questions relating to growing insecurity in Nigeria punched holes on expectations that a professor knows better. One wonders what his submission would be if an undergraduate submitted such unsubstantiated verdict without detailed and empirical comparative analysis of the 8th NASS and others before it.

    Granted that Professor Sagay reserves the right to hold any  opinion he so wishes about the senate, but would such right be extend to attempts aimed at  circumventing the truth? Like it or not, while much more is still expected from the 8th Senate, it is without doubt that its leadership has acquitted itself quite well by passing into laws no fewer than 200 bills in record 33 months and more still to come with about 15 months left to go. Interestingly, this record, when compared to the 6th and 7th senate, which passed 72 and 128 bills, in 48 months, respectively, or, the 5th senate with a total of 129 bills in the same month, underscores fact that Nigeria’s senate has never had it so good in lawmaking, as it has had under the Saraki’s Senate presidency. This is why it is curious where Professor Sagay got his facts.

    Perhaps, for the mention, the Saraki Senate presidency passed among others, the following bills since inception: the National Railway Corporation Act 1955 N129 LFN 2004 (Repeal & Re-enactment Bill 2015; Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act CAP B2 LFN 2011 (Repeal and Re-enactment) 2015; National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (est,etc) Bill 2015; Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (est., etc) Bill 2015; Courts and Tribunal Fines and Financial Penalties Bill, 2017 HB 642; Radiographers (Registration, etc.) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2017 HB 676; Medical Residency Training Bill, 2017 (HB.982); National Road Funds (Est, etc.) Bill, 2018; National Climate Change Bill (HB1020); National Agricultural Seeds Council Bill, 2018 (HB. 472);  Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport of Nigeria Bill, 2018 (HB. 973); National Security Agencies Protection of Officers Identity Bill, 2018 (HB. 830); Institute of Environmental Practitioners of Nigeria (HB. 1022); National Biotechnology Development Agency (Est., etc.) Bill, (HB. 33); Nigeria Aeronautical Search and Rescue Bill, 2018 (HB. 139); Federal Audit Service Commission Bill (HB. 107); Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (est., etc.) Bill, 2018 (HB 364 & 656); Digital rights and freedom bill, 2018(HB490); Energy Commission Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018(HB72 & 446).

    Surprisingly, in the face of available records to cross-check where in doubt, Professor Sagay feigned ignorance, but mindlessly continued to dabble into, among others, the 2018 Budget passage delay and sundry senate activities, issues far beyond his purview, and, coming clear as one seemingly suffering from erosion of ideas and condemned to confusing today’s internet age with his analogue era.

    This is why Professor Sagay deserves our sympathy and needs be reminded that the world has since moved on just as no propaganda can overturn or smear truth that the 8th Senate under Dr Bukola Saraki deserves accolades for upping the ante of service and putting the nation first.

    Worse still, caught on tape giving directives to the Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal on how to do his job and handle the Saraki case before it, in a saner clime, the learned professor should be cooling off in a solitary place. But as with history, one day soon, those who do things out of personal grudges, hate or selfishness, will surely have a date with the long arm of the law, no matter how long it takes.

     

    • Oba is Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State governor.
  • Health benefits, nutritional facts of cucumber

    Health benefits, nutritional facts of cucumber

    Few foods are as cool as a cucumber. These low-calorie veggies contain many nutritional benefits, including hydrating properties and valuable nutrients.

    There are hundreds of varieties of cucumber, and they come in dozens of colors, but the edible types are classified as being for either slicing or pickling, according to Cornell University’s Growing Guide. Slicing cucumbers are cultivated to be eaten fresh, while pickling cucumbers are intended for the brine jar. Slicing cucumbers are usually larger and thicker-skinned than pickling ones.

    In the United States, commonly planted varieties of slicing cucumber include Dasher, Conquistador, Slicemaster, Victory, Comet, Burpee Hybrid and Sprint, according to the World’s Healthiest Foods website. Commonly planted varieties of pickling cucumber include Royal, Calypso, Pioneer, Bounty, Regal, Duke and Blitz.

    While most people think of cucumbers as vegetables, they are actually a fruit. They contain seeds and grow from the ovaries of flowering plants. Cucumbers are members of the plant family Cucurbitaceae, which also includes squashes and melons. The most common type of slicing cucumber found in a grocery store is the garden cucumber, Cucumis sativus, according to World’s Healthiest Foods.

    Nutritional profile

    Cucumbers are good sources of phytonutrients (plant chemicals that have protective or disease preventive properties) such flavonoids, lignans and triterpenes, which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer benefits, according to World’s Healthiest Foods.

    “We should definitely seek out foods that are nutrient-rich, using the positive approach of what to put on your plate vs. what to keep off,” said Angela Lemond, a Plano, Texas-based registered dietitian nutritionist and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The peel and seeds are the most nutrient-dense parts of the cucumber. They contain fiber and beta-carotene. “Beta carotene is an antioxidant that helps with immunity, skin, eye and the prevention of cancer,” said Lemond. A study published in the Pakistan Journal of Nutrition found that cucumber seeds were a good source of minerals, and contained calcium.

    “Cucumbers are naturally low in calories, carbohydrates, sodium, fat and cholesterol,” said Megan Ware, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Orlando, Florida. There are just 16 calories in a cup of cucumber with its peel (15 without). You will get about four percent of your daily potassium, three percent of your daily fiber and 4 percent of your daily vitamin C. They also “provide small amounts of vitamin K, vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, manganese and vitamin A,” Ware said.

     

    • Source: www.livescience.com
  • Evacuation of Nigerians from Libya: The facts, challenges, realities

    Evacuation of Nigerians from Libya: The facts, challenges, realities

    On January 7, the Federal Government’s fact-finding delegation began the evacuation of over 5,000 trapped Nigerians in Libya. NORTHERN OPERATION MANAGING EDITOR YUSUF ALLI, who was in Tripoli, reports the details of the exercise and the countenances of the returnees before their departure.

    For five days, Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama was in Libya. He led a Federal Government’s fact-finding team to the North African country on a rescue mission for the over 40,000 Nigerians who were trapped in the Arab country. The Nigerians were mostly in Tripoli, Sabha (the deadly entry point to Libya and transit track to Europe); Benghazi and Misrata.

    It was a diplomatic shuttle with a difference, being the first time the Federal Government decided to confront the hydra-headed migrant challenge headlong.

    Hitherto, the Federal Government had collaborated with the International Organization for Migrants (IOM) for isolated evacuation of Nigerians from Libya.

    To underscore its seriousness, the government raised a team comprising Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs & the Diaspora,  Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa;  Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Mohammed Babadende; Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Maihaja, Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Julie Okah Donli; Federal Commissioner for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons,  Hajiya Saddiya Umar Farouq; a representative of the National Security Adviser, Mr. Abba Ibrahim;  Director-General National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

    Besides the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who were on the entourage, a technical team, including the Head of Chancery and staff of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Libya, took part in the arrangement.

    The Onyeama-led delegation, which has NEMA as its coordination centre, had a clear mandate. It was fact-finding and possible negotiation with relevant authorities

    Its primary assignment was to liaise with the IOM for the identification of camps and all the groups needed to negotiate the release of Nigerians and to negotiate with all groups that have in custody Nigerians and ensure their release in safe and dignified manner.

    A knotty shuttle

    On the surface, the mission to Libya looked simple and achievable. But, it has been a marathon, emotional-laden and a knotty technical shuttle for members of the delegation, who have been working round the clock to carry out the mandate given to them by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The teams’ initial hurdles include: the high number of illegal Nigerians in Libya who are not captured under any guise; the deliberate refusal of the migrants to relate with Nigerian Embassy in Tripoli for useful data;  the  existence of many slavery, trafficking and prostitution cartels and  syndicates under the control of Nigerian ringleaders and Libyan accomplices; the unfavourable geography of Libya; the internecine wars in the Arab nation between the central government and some militia/rebels and the huge budget implication.

    Although the Federal Government gave a 37-day deadline to the delegation, the project may take many months to achieve. It is however better late than never for the Federal Government which has laid a foundation for a sustainable migrant policy for the future.

    The NEMA’s director-general was undaunted on the task as he said: “We are working round the clock to ensure the success of the first phase of this exercise. This will serve as a template for the future.

    “We already have a technical team on ground to work with the Nigerian Embassy in Libya on how to identify these Nigerians and the modalities of returning them home. We should be hopeful that this exercise will succeed.”

    Gains of the fact-finding mission

    The mission to Libya is an eye-opener for the Federal Government, which has discovered among others: an incontestable fact that more Nigerians were trapped than estimated; the complicated nature of crimes linked with Nigerians like slavery, prostitution, robbery and so on; the inhuman condition of the stranded Nigerians in detention camps; the difficulty in evacuating the young Nigerians who are mostly illegal migrants and the reality that not all Nigerians in the Arab country can be immediately returned home because they are in inaccessible and rebel-controlled areas.

    Other discoveries are: the need to explore shrewd diplomacy to prevail on Libya to concede to the release of 5,037 trapped Nigerians and the stark reality that legally, Nigerians resident in Libya are not in a hurry to leave because they make much money from the Libyan petroleum sector, Information Technology (IT) and health services.

    The shuttle also gave the Libyan authorities the opportunity to gauge the Federal Government’s readiness to repatriate its citizens who have constituted nuisance to their country.

    It is on record that the Federal Government protested against the maltreatment of Nigerians in various detention centres and prisons in Libya.

    The President’s Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs and the Dispora said: “We got reports of extortion, beating, and outright killing in anger, violation of rights and all forms of inhuman treatment. The delegation protested to the Libyan Government.”

    With the frank talks and the rapprochement between the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Libyan Justice & Foreign Affairs Ministers, a new diplomatic vista has been opened by the two countries.

    For the first time, the Libyan Government allowed Nigerian fact-finding team to have access to four detention camps in Tripoli to meet with the trapped Nigerians.

    The camps are: Tajoura Detention Centre, Trig al Matar Detention Centre, Trig al Seka Detention Centre and Zilten Detention Centre.

    A member of the delegation said: “In one of the centres, our records showed that there were about 367 returnees but we actually met with over 600.”

    Onyeama and members of his team were upset by the appalling conditions of Nigerians in the detention centres.

    The minister said: “We went to Libya; we discussed with the government; we saw all of you young children; young boys and young girls; and we negotiated to ensure you came back.

    “There were a lot of challenges that we faced. But, we were ready to overcome them and bring you here and you are the first batch that has arrived.

    “We saw the very difficult conditions in which you were held, we felt for you for the very traumatic experience you went through and our hearts really went out to you and I must say that each and every one of us on that delegation really felt so proud of you.

    As young children, notwithstanding everything that you went through, you maintained your dignity,  your composure, your respect and you stood up when we came and sang the national Anthem,  the national pledge with pride, we are extremely proud of you; extremely proud of the way you comported yourself notwithstanding the condition, the most inhuman condition that you were found yourself during this stay.

    “We hope that one thing you have learnt is that your lives matter to Nigerians. Your lives matter to Mr. President. There is no other place in this world that can be dearer than being with your brothers, your sisters and your parents here in Nigeria.

    “We know that many if you were trafficked many of you taken against your better judgment, you have come home and you will not be abandoned.  There are provisions in place to provide for an extensive rehabilitation for you to enable you to get education, skills and development to equip you to get jobs.”

    Why government can’t stop illegal migration

    The Federal Government’s major challenge is the inability to check the exodus of Nigerian youths to Libya via Niger Republic. Apart from its porous borders, the ECOWAS Protocol allows free movement of Nigerians all over West Africa, irrespective of their missions. The Immigration chief told The Nation in Tripoli: “I want you to know that regional migration in West Africa is  ECOWAS-based.  The border of Nigeria in reality is in Niger, not in Nigeria. What we are saying is that any Nigerian who wants to go to Niger, do not need a visa. All they need is a cross travel certificate and you have no right to stop them.

    Babandede said: “But cooperation with Niger Republic is fundamental in migration. This we have done in June 2017 when we invited the heads of immigration services of the whole ECOWAS region to stop them and make sure that Niger provides that border control for us.

    “Anybody can take a travel certificate and go to Niger without a visa. As a citizen, you can go to Ghana, Benin Republic.  All we can do is to stop people we suspect and they have the right to protest if they have the right to travel.

    “We have common mobility with Niger. We are working with Niger. In 2017 alone we have returned almost 500 people through the support of Niger Republic. Some, we have stopped because they do not have documents at all. What you see as this large number of Nigerians in Libya is not a cause of today; it is a gradual process and they are trapped in Libya because of the crisis there.

    “Some of them have even joined rebel groups. That is why some take the risk and go through the sea. We need to make our borders effective. We think we can do it with technology. We are committed to that and to reduce the number of people who are travelling because the border is our big challenge.

    “Next month, we are going to launch a border training programme where our officers can work simultaneously with the ones in Niger Republic so that once they see anyone in that kind of position, they can turn him back and we can take action.

    “Our intervention in Libya is not only for illegal migrants. The Minister of Foreign Affairs had the opportunity to chat with some Nigerians who are living legally and doing business.

    “We want to showcase to Libyans that every Nigerian living in Libya is not a bad guy or drug pusher. The minister met them and this is why we sent intervention to review their passport.  There are people who are working in oil companies, factories or running their businesses as citizens of ECOWAS. We need to support them.”

    What next for government, returnees?

    The immediate task of the government is to liberate many Nigerians held hostage in rebel-held areas in Libya.  The 5,037 Nigerians being evacuated at present were mostly those trapped in Tripoli which is under UN-backed government.

    More Nigerians have been stranded in rebel-controlled areas like Misrata, Sirte, Benghazi and Tobruk. These areas are inaccessible to the government delegation.

    Beyond the evacuation, the government has mapped out a reintegration, rehabilitation, and sensitisation programme for the returnees.

    Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa said: “The Federal Government under the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs) in collaboration with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs & the Diaspora has concluded arrangements to provide skill development programmes for the returnees.

    “The short-term training includes: basic sewing/dress making; baking and confectionery; bag making; bead and fabric stoning; soap making; deodorant; bleach and disinfectant; hair fixing; braiding and weaving; tie & dye and batik; manicure; pedicure and nail fixing; food preparation and small chops; make-up; gele (headgear) tying and event decoration.

    “The skills under the long-term includes: welding; plumbing; aluminum fabrication; hair dressing/barbing; woodwork/carpentry; and catering/hotel management.”

    On sensitization, Onyeama tasked the returnees: “After all you have been through in Libya, we want you to go out there as advocate to tell other young boys and girls in the country your experiences in Libya  so that they will not make the same mistakes; so that they will not be in the same condition to be exploited and be deceived into embarking on this hazardous journey.”

    Will returnees go back to Libya/Italy?

    As the Max Air Boeing Jet was hovering over the airspace of Port Harcourt, there was no sign that all the returnees have learnt their lessons. The federal and the states would have to live up to the promise of given the returnees a new lease of life.

  • Facts about $1b security vote distorted, says Federal Govt

    Facts about $1b security vote distorted, says Federal Govt

    Information and Culture Minister Alhaji Lai Mohammed has shed light on the approval of $1 billion by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) to fight insecurity nationwide.

    He said the money was approved to assist the military in tackling serious security challenges, including the Boko Haram insurgency, illegal oil bunkering, kidnaping and cattle rustling.

    Mohammed took exception to the criticisms of the approval by the opposition, saying that they were unnecessary, uninformed and in bad faith.

    To the minister, $1 billion is not too much for the military to fight insecurity. Security of lives and property is at the core of the government’s existence, he said.

    He said while Boko Haram had been largely degraded, as claimed by the critics, fighting such an asymmetric war is costlier than fighting a conventional war.

    The minister reminded the critics that the war against terror had never been fought with budgetary provisions.

    Mohammed spoke with reporters in Lagos on the motivation for approving the cash and its anticipated impact on the capacity of the military to frontally confront the multi-dimensional security challenges.

    Justifying the financial assistance to the military, the minister said it had played a dominant role in in resolving the various security problems across the federation.

    Mohammed said: “The annual budgetary allocation to the military is not commensurate with the internal security challenges we face, for which we have had to continuously rely on the military to assist the police and the Civil Defence Corps. When insurgents take over a chunk of our nation’s territory, we turn to the military. When the farmers/herders clash escalates, we turn to the military.

    “When kidnappers up their game, we turn to the military; when illegal bunkerers and pipeline vandals are seeking to overwhelm our oil production and export, we turn to the military; when ethno-religious clashes occur, we turn to the military. But when it is time to give the military the resources it needs to function, we say it is a waste of scarce resources; we come up with spurious reasons to deny the military its due.”

    “The scriptures say to whom much is given, much is expected. That also presupposes that to whom much is expected, much is given. The Nigeria Governors Forum acted wisely in approving the withdrawal of 1 billion dollars from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) to fight Boko Haram and other security challenges in the country.”

    Mohammed said: “The aircraft being used for the war, including fighter jets and helicopters, altogether, consume 64,021.08 litres of fuel per day. With the aircraft flying a total of about 30 sorties a day, and at N275 per litre, it costs a total of N15,153,428.25 daily to fuel the aircraft.

    “The spares for the aircraft from January to November 2017 cost N20,019,513,739.88, while consumables for the aircraft, and here I am talking of engine oil, and plugs amounted to N3,863,600 monthly and N46,363,200.00 yearly. What about the cost of ammunition? Just for 42 days, from 5th November to 17 December, the cost of ammunition was over 5 million dollars.

    “Since we are using the Air Force as a reference point here, what about the cost of acquiring Air Force platforms? For example, the 12 Super Tuscano aircraft recently approved for sale to Nigeria by the US Government costs a whopping 490 million dollars, yet this is government to government contract, and the costs of spares, munitions and other consumables are not included.

    “The costs stated above are for the air force alone and restricted to operations in the Northeast alone. We have not even talked of the army or the navy, which are also fully involved in tackling internal security challenges. Nor have we included the operating cost of the Nigerian Air Force in the Niger Delta to curb pipeline vandalism, in the Northwest to contain cattle rustlers, in the Northcentral to curtail herdsmen and farmers clashes or kidnapping, armed robberies and separatism in other parts of the country.”

    Noting that the opposition has the right to offer constructive criticism, Mohammed said that such a right was not a liberty to distort facts, engage in crass sensationalism and play politics with national security.

    He chided those viewing the security fund from the prism of partisanship for wrong perception, pointing out that the military, as a national institution, serves all Nigerians, irrespective of their religion, ethnicity or political party.

    Mohammed said if the military had been better equipped to tackle Boko Haram in the early days of the insurgency, thousands of lives, including service men’s, could have been saved and the war would have ended long time ago.

    He added: “If the funds meant to equip the military have not been diverted into private pockets, there may be no need today to withdraw any money from the ECA for that purpose.”

    The minister praised the NGF for approving the withdrawal of the money, describing its action as an act of patriotism.

    He added: “Their action, which is not unprecedented, is right. Those who have imputed ulterior motives to the NGF’s action are wrong. Their action amounts to a disservice to our service men and women. Just because some people, under a different political dispensation, squirrelled away money meant to equip the military in the past does not mean the military should be left to its own devices, or that every allocation to the military will suffer the same fate.

    “Ours is a disciplined government that does not allow allocated funds to end up in private pockets or spent on prayers. We will always empower the military and other security agencies to be better able to carry out their tough tasks. The controversy over the approval of 1billion dollars by the NGF is absolutely unnecessary and unhelpful.”

  • Of facts and fiction

    Facts they say, are sacred but comments free. Perhaps, this universal prism provides the right angle to examine some of the issues thrown up by President Muhammadu Buhari’s 57th independence anniversary speech.

    In that speech, the President made certain claims that should not escape serious scrutiny else unsuspecting members of the public swallow them as nothing but the truth. For him, Nigeria has in the past two years recorded appreciable gains in political freedom: “A political party at the centre losing elections of state governor, National Assembly seat and even state assemblies to opposition parties is new to Nigeria”.

    Though the President did not give specific cases where these elections were won by the opposition since his regime, the re-run governorship election in Rivers State and the very recent senatorial election in Osun State easily come into mind. Whereas the Rivers’ re-run election was marred by large scale irregularities, the circumstances of the Osun senatorial election and the role of imposition of an unpopular candidate in bringing about that pass are too well known. These shortcomings however, did not detract from the fact that the elections were won by candidates from opposition political party.

    But that is beside the real issue. The problem is not as much with the fact that a party different from the one at the centre won the elections as with the claim that opposition parties’ winning elections is ‘new to Nigeria’ and therefore a credit to the current administration. Far from it! The history of Nigeria’s electoral process cannot bear this claim out. Such a conclusion will definitely pale into insignificance when confronted with the weight of evidence to the contrary especially since the return of democracy in 1999. Lagos State, before the current regime, was for 16 years governed by an opposition political party.  During that period, the opposition won the governorship elections four consecutive times.

    In Imo State, the incumbent governor, Rochas Okorocha, flying the flag of a relatively underrated party, APGA, defeated an incumbent PDP governor during the 2011 governorship election. The case of Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State also followed the same pattern. He won the 2012 governorship election on the platform of the Action Congress AC. This writer cannot forget in a hurry the superlative jargons with which political commentators described that feat by Oshiomhole.  Even then, Anambra State has for three consecutive terms been won by APGA.

    If these facts were lost to Buhari, he should not have forgotten in a hurry that flying the banner of his party, the Congress for Progressive Change CPC, Tanko Al-Makura came from an obscure position to win the Nassarawa governorship election in 2011in a contest with an incumbent governor. Or has Buhari forgotten that he owes his current office to the defeat of an incumbent President? So where do we now fit in the purported feat the President wants to take credit of?

    Given the above, it amounts to a falsification of extant facts to have arrived at the incongruous conclusion that opposition parties’ winning elections is a novel achievement which Buhari should take credit of. It is a sad commentary that the President was misled by his speech writers into such a fallacious conclusion.

    Since the issue attracted Buhari’s attention, the sentiments expressed could be taken as an expression of hope and commitment to free and fair elections. Its veracity will definitely come to test during the coming elections. He has the coming governorship elections in some states to prove that he wants to make history in the conduct of free and fair elections. That chance is still open. Opposition parties winning elections on these shores are nothing new.

    The President would also want to assume some credit for guaranteeing the freedom to associate, to hold and disseminate opinion. But he went off tangent in his conclusion that recent calls for restructuring are responsible for agitations in some quarters for the dismemberment of the country. It is exactly the other way round. Restructuring is viewed by many as a therapeutic response to agitations for self-determination especially, in the face of the inability of the government to attend to nagging national questions.

    Agitations for restructuring, true federalism, devolution of powers or resource control predate the current regime. That was why we had the various national conversations during the regimes of Obasanjo and Jonathan. Perhaps, the inability to implement the pristine recommendations of those conferences is part of the reasons the agitations have festered.

    If the agitations are now widespread as we have seen in recent times, they are perhaps an indication of the insensitivity of the current regime to and its manifest inability to take along the sensibilities of the constituents in its governance agenda. It is not enough to blame calls for restructuring for the rising agitations for self-determination. Neither is it helpful disparaging genuine discussions on restructuring on the faulty claim that they emboldened some groups to canvass for the dismembering of the country.

    That suggestion is at best, a clear attempt to blackmail, frighten and intimidate canvassers of genuine conversation on the systemic deficits that have held this country prostrate over the years. The target is to give restructuring a bad name and dampen the momentum of agitations. So what type of political freedom is Buhari talking about in the above circumstance? In dismissing the calls so offhandedly, he left no one in doubt on his serious aversion to genuine discussions on the way forward.

    It is not enough to decree that such talks can only be undertaken at the level of the national and state assemblies. Neither will issues be resolved by placing the blame for the rising agitations on the doorsteps of leaders of communities where the agitations emanate. Both the blame and solution lie on the response of the government to emerging national challenges. And as can be deciphered from the President’s speech, he carries a mind-set that is unhelpful in the circumstance.

    The national and state assemblies where he wants the conversations to take place are also circumscribed by the same systemic and structural debilities. It is not surprising that the same interest group opposed to any form of structural alteration has found them willing tools in spurning genuine efforts to amend sections of the constitution. We have not forgotten in a hurry how the National Assembly recently threw away proposals for devolution for powers and the national outrage that followed it.

    It is obvious Buhari is averse to any form of discussions on vexatious issues of our federal order. He sees such discussions as an attempt to break up the country. By the same inference, he can neither drive any discussions in that regard nor provide the necessary executive prodding that will drive the process. For him, everything is all about security, securing the country and force. Fronting security concerns each time serious national issues arise is in my view, a subterfuge for evading reality.

    But even in the area of his greatest competence- security, is this country better secured today with all the criminalities and threats to life and property? If anything, the recurring deployment of soldiers across the country under operation this or that, to fight social vices attests to upsurge in insecurity in the land. This should instruct that we tinker with undue fixation on extant structures, institutions and processes that have kept the components polar apart and stultified genuine efforts at national development.

    It is time to think outside the box rather than enslaved by a status quo that has at best remained counterproductive. It is high time we democratized the political process by electing civilians into the highest political office in the country. Buhari’s handling of genuine democratic engagements, his preference for force in resolving civil concerns constitute a sad reminder to the years of the locust denoted by military rule. That is the unfortunate signal each time he responds to nagging national challenges. Ironically, force has proved inherently defective in genuinely and permanently addressing some of the issues that confront this country many decades after Independence.

     

  • Ogoni clean-up…the fears, the facts

    Ogoni clean-up…the fears, the facts

    The state of the Ogoni clean-up has raised posers. PRECIOUS DIKEWOHA, who has toured the oil spill sites in the four local government areas in Ogoni with the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Programme (HYPREP) Team, provides the answer.

    In 2011, the Federal Government constituted a committee to study the spill in Ogoni land  and the report of the committee known as the UNEP report has given birth to a fresh hope for the people. It has also come with fears.

    The Project Coordinator, Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Programme (HYPREP),   Mr. Marvin Dekil,  an Ogoni son, said  to kick- start the process  of the cleanup, a Board of Trustee, Governing Council  and the office of the Project Coordinator was constituted for easy implementation.

    The Acting President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo had last year inaugurated committees that would facilitate the implementation. But till date the people of Ogoni are worried over the continuous delay in the implementation. The truth is that many Ogoni indigenes are looking at Ogoni cleanup  with the view that it will lead to distribution of cash, compensation and settlement of land owners. Unfortunately,   the money is tied to training and empowerment.

    Dekil said the exercise has different phases.

    He explained: “Yes, we have started, but   since the cleanup project is on stages it is not everybody that would understand that something is going on at this stage.  But we have done a lot, that was why we decided to visit your community to brief you of what we intent to do in your community.

    “The project is being backed by the Federal Government to clean all the affected Ogoni communities, but this is Ogoni project.  We need to reach out to the communities. We need to inform you that Federal Government is ready to clean up Ogoni. We are about to commence work. We are visiting the entire sites. Some companies have already moved in to the spill sites testing their equipment and expertise. But, we have not awarded them the job; anything they do now is from their own money. We will be carrying out training for women, youths and those with requisite knowledge in specialized areas that would help the cleanup process.

    “No oil spill site will be left unattended and we will respect your community and cultural boundaries. We are here to do a thorough job for Ogoni people. We will bring people who will examine the drinking water you have here because we will bring good drinking water. We will bring people who will visit all the sites.  The provision of water and health impart assessment are important to us. We will bring experts all over the world including Rivers State Ministry of Health to know the health impact of the people and provide treatment were needed.”

    During the visit to some communities in the four local government areas of Ogoni land, including a courtesy  visit to the palace of their monarchs,  the project coordinator insisted  on open meeting where the youths, women, elders and chiefs would have equal opportunity to speak and ask questions.

    Some of the questions are: how many years would this clean up last? What will be their benefits, is the cleanup going to stop us from fishing , if you train and  provide job for the youths what about our women and elderly people. Since you are going to bring some companies to work in our community can you considered us to do some of the jobs under the local content policy. When are you starting, the water you said you are going to provide is it going to be centralize or to install in each of the community.

    The coordinator said: “The water is in two phase for remediation process we are going fix all the already existing water facilities in the affected communities and in the long measure we are going to install water tanks in the communities.  On whether we are going to carry you along, the project is Ogoni project definitely we are going to train some youths including empowering the women. As I speak some Ogoni youths who have degree in the related field are already working with us. We are going to train more youths even those who have no degree.  In addressing the water needs, we will do something that will provide quick water for the people before the permanent water treatment plant will be installed. We want to beg your support so that we can be sure that the water facility you already have before can be maintained. We are to train 1,200 women from the four Local governments everybody is going to benefit.”

    When HYPREP team visited the chairman of Ogoni Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty, Chief Godwin N.K Gininwa, the Gbenemene of Tai Kingdom, the people came out enmasse to welcome their visitors.

    For them the federal government should first of all fix the bad roads linking the area, which, they said, has become a nightmare for the people.  They promised to give necessary support to HYPREP project coordinator.  They also made it clear that the cleanup should reduce crime in the area through provision of job for the jobless youths.

    While commending the Federal Government for fulfilling their promises to Ogoni people, Chief Gininwa also thanked God that money was not paid to be shared among the communities but tied around the project, adding that this could have resulted into bloody communal clashes and family problem.

    A visit to the  tensed   Kpor community in Gokana local government of Rivers State showed that the crisis rocking  chieftaincy stool in the community may be a setback for the companies  testing their equipment at the oil spill sites because both the youths and the elders are divided. Our investigation revealed that the cleanup can only be successful when there is peaceful co-existence among the communities in the area.  Of course, HYPREP has done one of the crucial aspects of going round the communities in the four local government areas to sensitise the communities to understand the important of the project and give their approval, especially the youths of the area.

    During an Ogoni stakeholders meeting, which took place at the HYPREP office in Port Harcourt, Ogoni leaders–   made up of traditional rulers, politicians, businessmen and community heads– demanded to know the challenges facing the project coordinator’s office which they believed is affecting the speedy implementation of projects in the oil spill  affected communities.

    They expressed dissatisfaction over inability of the stakeholders, including IOC to contribute their quota of the $1billion clean up in Ogoni land, adding that it was not enough to present an Ogoni man at the front as the project coordinator.  They said every necessary thing required at the office of the project coordinator should be provided.

    The Ogoni leaders  insisted that the project coordinator must always open up and feed them with information  to enable them pressurise the government, board of directors and others to fast tract the project.

    Mr. Barinua Wifa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who chaired the meeting, said the essence of the meeting was to listen to the overview of the cleanup from the project coordinator and know what role to play as Ogoni leaders. He said it is legitimate for people to show concern about the issue affecting the people and its environment but it is totally wrong to play politics with issues that are affecting the people.

    He called on the Federal Government to be sincere and provide adequate fund for the project implementation in Ogoni land, stressing that, Ogoni leaders cannot allow anybody, be it Federal or state to play politics with Ogoni project.

    Another Ogoni son at the stakeholders meeting was Hon Dike Matthew, member Representing Tai Constituency in Rivers State House of Assembly.   He called on HYPREP to take urgent step in providing water to the affected communities.

    Hon. Matthew said: “The UNEP report stated clearly that the drinking waters in the area are not safe for consumption. So why are they still telling us that they are going to provide water when water are yet to be provided to this affected people. If UNEP report said water source has been contaminated and that drinking the water in those areas is poisonous, yet the people are still drinking the same water, something need to be done urgently to protect the lives of the people.”

    The Resident Coordinator of United Nations in Nigeria, Mr. Edward Kallou   and United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Syminton,  visited Ogoni and interacted with the people and HYPREP team.

    Kallou stated that the remediation process involved technical approaches that needed a lot of time to achieve a result. He urged the people of the area to give the Federal Government a chance to be able to deliver a better result.

    Kallou said: “I am here today on a familiarization visit on Ogoniland. I am here to have a better understanding on the impact of the oil spill and the progress that has been made in the implementation of the UNEP assessment of the devastation in the area. There are two conclusions I want to draw in my visit. This is a very technical investment; it is not a rural type of investment where you are going to see houses built within a short period of time. My appeal is patience, to ensure that the required technical needs are met and to ensure that at the end of the cleanup it is properly done.”

    For Mr. Stuart Syminton, United State Ambassador to Nigeria said his visit to Ogoni was to get information about the cleanup. He commended the idea by HYPREP to think of providing water and building of health facilities to the communities in Ogoni area, adding that the project should target on the people by ensuring that everyone is happy at the end of the day.

    He noted that United States would partner with government and those handling the programme to achieve a good result for the people of Ogoni and the people of Niger Delta.

    Syminton said: “We are here to access the progress in Ogoni land, we are happy to hear that work has started, we are also glad that they are thinking on how to provide clean water for the communities including the provision of health facilities. This is part of the remediation; it is not about starting this project, it is about the people, the community and to ensure that everybody is involved.

    “The United States is interested in the area of provision of health care facilities and we are going to look at areas to partner with you, but we are happy that something is going on in Ogoni land.  We would like to know how the fund is being release to you, what is the structure of the decision making body of this programme. Are the people affected full represented, who are these people, is the private sector and local community part of the structure. I will advise that you source your manpower locally.”

  • Facts behind judicial officers’ earnings

    Facts behind judicial officers’ earnings

    •Continued from last week

    When one even ventures to compare the salaries and purchasing power of Nigeria Judges and their counterparts abroad and in some African countries, what he or she observes could be highly appalling.

    In the United States of America (USA), while the Chief Justice John Roberts earns $255,500 (or N118, 807,500) per year, the eight associate justices earn a healthy pay raise to $244,400 (N113, 646,000).

    The salary for Supreme Court justices in US is significantly higher than the average salaries earned in related occupations. In 2010, the median salary for all judges and magistrates, regardless of level, was $119,270 (N55, 460,550). Federal circuit judges earned an average of $184,500 (N85, 792,500). Lawyers earned a median of $112,760 (N52, 433,400) yearly.

    As of April 1, 2010, Justices of the Supreme Court, including the Deputy President, were in Group 2 of the judicial salary scheme, with an annual salary of £206,857 (N123,700,486). This is the same group as the Chancellor of the High Court, Lord Justice Clerk, President of the Family Division and President of the Queen’s Bench Division.

    The President of the Supreme Court, Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, Lord President of the Court of Session and Master of the Rolls make up Group 1.1 of the scale on £214,165 (N128,070,670), below only the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, who earns £239,845 (N143,427,310).

    In South Africa, according to the latest report of the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers, chaired by Judge Willie Seriti, judges in the high and labour courts earned annual salaries of R1.4million (or N46.9million).

    Judge-presidents (heads of court) pocket R1.6million (N53.6million) a year, Constitutional and Supreme Court judges get R1.7-million (N56.9million and the chief justice earns R2.3million (N77.0million), which is a far cry from what obtains in Nigeria. The package of the president of the Supreme Court is just over R2million a year. When they retire, judges are entitled to continue drawing their salary and other benefits, which continue to qualify for an annual increase.

    Doubtless, these princely sums would be quite inconceivable in Nigeria, yet on average, our Justices handle more than five times the number of cases that these Apex Courts adjudicate over.  If one was to contextualise these further, the purchasing power of our dear Naira is quite poor when compared with what is obtainable in these other countries.  As such making a comparison will be like comparing apples and oranges, chalk and cheese.

    It may as well be surprising to note that John Roberts, the 17th and  Chief Justice of the United States is just 61 years old. He took his seat on 29 September 2005, having been nominated by President George W. Bush after the death of Chief Justice William Rehnquist. And except by incapacitation, death or impeachment, he will hold this position for life.

    In contrast, the CJNs and the Justices of the Supreme Court mandatorily vacate the Bench at 70 years of age; even when they are physically fit and proper to compete with J.J.Okocha on the football pitch. Worst still, they are denied by our laws from going back to the Bar to practice, but rather to be soliloquising in the daytime and counting the stars in the night till the Lord demands for the return of his lordship.

    Shortly after Justice Olufunlola Adekeye retired from the Supreme Court bench on October 28, 2012, she said after 36 years in the service of the judiciary, she couldn’t look at a house she could go to as her own. And that is the fate of so many retiring judicial officers, except the few that were privileged to be heads of court.

    Also, during a valedictory court session held in his honour, Justice Adamu Bello, the erstwhile Justice of the Federal High Court , Abuja, fingered poverty and lack of welfare package for judges as key factors behind the spate of judicial impunity currently ravaging the country.

    It is therefore not just dangerous to underfund the Judiciary, but it is even more dangerous to input a hypothetical and gargantuan figure of N33.47billion as the nation’s judicial officers yearly earnings; when in the real sense they were paid N8.6b yearly.

    • Ahuraka is the Media Aide to Chief Justice of Nigeria

  • Facts about tyre blowout

    It is interesting and encouraging that the death of the former Minister of State for Labour and Employment and a top military officer in a car crash along Kaduna – Abuja and Maiduguri roads respectively has brought to fore, some fundamental issues which have hitherto been played down at various levels. In the same week, two pathetic accidents also occurred on Bauchi and Owo – Akure roads which led to the loss of over 20 lives.

    In this article, I will focus on just one of those safety issues, TYRE PROBLEMS. The two sad accidents were caused by tyre blowouts.

    It is expedient for every driver to deeply understand the physical forces (Kinetic energy or Momentum, Centrifugal force, Traction or Friction, road banking etc), how they affect the control of the vehicle (acceleration, steering and braking) and how to prevent the loss of control.

    I would like to classify this piece into 2, The Quality of Tyres and the Handling of Tyres as they affect driving.

    QUALITY OF TYRES – The quality of tyres depend to a very large extent on the chemical compound of the rubber used in manufacturing the tyres, the tyre construction (bias, bias-belted or radial-ply), the tyre thread design (all – weather, snow or conventional passenger tyres). The more the rubber is in contact with the road, the more the degree of traction but the rate of traction reduces when the road is wet. The various types of tyres also vary in terms of their effectiveness in stopping, and cornering.

    There is also a need for the drivers to be able to decode the tyre sidewall information (passenger code, load code, weight – speed code, traction grade, temperature grade, tyre size, construction information, etc).

    In a nut shell, the following handling factors can cause a tyre blowout or allied problems – Quality of the tyres (production error, worn out tyres, tyres without adequate thread depth, expired tyres even if new, twisted tyres, improper tyre rotation, improper or careless mounting of tyres, etc).

    Defects (caused by frequent climbing of road kerb or other objects, frequent scrubbing of the tyre  sideways against road median or road kerbs, wrong patching of punctured tyres), under – inflation or over – inflation of tyres, damage by sharp objects on the road, wheel spinning (especially when the tyre gets stuck in a mud), Speed (the faster your speed, the faster also your vehicle tyres will wear out), the temperature and temperature changes.

    Handling – Every driver and vehicle owner must know the limit of adhesion which is determined by the grip of the tyres to the road. This depends largely on the tyre design as earlier mentioned, the vertical force placed on the tyre (the load or weight), the tyre and condition of the road surface, and the vehicle speed.

    A combination of acceleration, steering and or braking has a lot to do with weight transfer which in turn determines the stability or loss of control of the vehicle.

    In addition to tyre blowout, other factors which can make a vehicle to roll-over or summersault include: cornering at a high speed, over-braking while cornering at a high speed, over-steering while over speeding, faulty suspension system, wide vehicle-  ground clearance and overloading.

    For safety on the road, always obey the speed limit or adjust your speed (according to your skill, vehicle condition and the environmental factors, especially the road surface); avoid speedy take-off, speedy steering and speedy stopping; avoid potholes, stones and sharp objects on the road, avoid climbing road kerbs or scrubbing your tyre walls against road median or kerbs, avoid overloading or load/passenger imbalance in the vehicle, do regular wheel balancing and alignment, and don’t despise expert advice on the right tyres to buy for your vehicles. Prevention is better and cheaper than cure.

  • Facts and fallacies of fuel subsidy

    Facts and fallacies of fuel subsidy

    Umana Okon Umana, an economist, is the former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State. In this piece, he highlights the fallacies associated with the fuel subsidy and what can be done to guarantee regular fuel supply for domestic consumption.

    Many boisterous and healthy debates have broken out on social media platforms and, indeed, other fora on the recently adjusted price of petrol. But quite unexpectedly, some of the arguments are grounded in myths. Here are a few and my attempt to burst them.

    The first myth is that subsidy does not exist.

    There is a subsidy when the pump price of petrol is below the effective cost. The effective cost is the landing cost plus the distribution cost plus margin. Subsidy is the difference between effective cost and the pump price of fuel. Landing cost for a litre of refined petroleum depends on the price per barrel of crude oil. When government fixes the pump price of fuel below the effective cost, distortions are created.

    In elementary Economics, when a price is fixed below the equilibrium price, there will be a shortage and a black market will be created. The government in Nigeria was paying for the difference between the effective cost and the pump price. Government was therefore subsidizing the cost of fuel. Nigeria spent over $35 billion between 2010 and 2014 to subsidise petroleum products.

    The second myth is that subsidy favours mostly the poor.

    This is not true. By paying fuel subsidies, we were subsidizing the consumption of imported petroleum products. We were therefore supporting production abroad and creating jobs abroad at the expense of Nigerians. Besides, outside Lagos and Abuja and other major cities where the controlled price of N86 was enforced, fuel was sold at between N150 and N180 in the rural communities.The government guaranteed price of N86 was therefore a myth as the poor people outside Lagos and Abuja had always paid N150 or more for a litre of fuel.

    The reality is that it is the rich and not the poor who benefit the most from Nigeria’s fuel subsidy. Findings by the IMF show that globally, the bottom 20% of households take only 7% of fuel subsidy while the richest 20% take 43%. Nigeria’s fuel subsidy at some point accounted for 30% of total expenditure of the Federal Government and 118% of the capital budget. It also accounted for over 90% of annual oil revenues.

    Payment of oil subsidies was not only not sustainable, it crowded out spending on core infrastructure projects such as roads, railways and power with grave consequences for the standard of living of Nigerians. Besides, the artificially low and government guaranteed and subsidized price of fuel was a disincentive to private investment in the oil sector.

    It is not surprising that although the Federal Government approved over 20 refinery licenses to private investors many years ago, not one refinery has been built. I must however commend Aliko Dangote for his entrepreneurial acumen in this regard. His new refinery being built in Lagos and scheduled to becompleted late 2018 will enhance local refining capacity.Rather than subsidizing the consumption of imported petroleum products we should support the private sector to build new refineries.

    Fuel subsidy also took a disproportionate share of dwindling foreign exchange allocated based on official rate. There was therefore an imperative need to free the resources deployed for the payment of fuel subsidies. Thankfully, government has made meaningful appropriations in the 2016 capital budget to upgrade infrastructure in the areas of roads, railways, agriculture, education, and provide support for small businesses.

    The third myth is that at N86 per litre, Nigerians were already paying too much for fuel.

    The facts do not support this position. The Table below shows that at N145 per litre, the petrol price in Nigeria is about the lowest in West Africa. It is now clear why, at the old price of N86, the opportunities existed for arbitrage and corruption as fuel for which Nigeria already paid subsidy was smuggled to Niger, Cameroon, Ghana, etc, where there is no subsidy regime. Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, Senegal and Mauritania have petrol pump prices of N185, N218.9, N228.85, N234.82 and N256.71, respectively.

    Removing fuel subsidy will fuel inflation is the fourth and the commonest of the myths.

    While it is true that the upward adjustment in the price of fuel will affect some components of the Consumer Price Index, the overall impact on prices will be cushioned by activities in other sectors of the economy, upgrade in public transportation and improved fiscal discipline. Over time, the efficiency of the market will drive down prices.

    The fifth myth is also a fallacy. It states that if other oil-producing countries like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are paying fuel subsidies, why can’t Nigeria pay?

    Saudi Arabia pays out of a huge surplus after meeting the expenditure needs of the country. Nigeria’s revenue is not enough to cover basic expenditure requirements. We cannot continue to run a country that spends more on subsidies than on the total capital budget. Other countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Ghana and Angola already took the bold step to remove subsidies on fuel prices. We should commend President Muhammadu Buhari for taking a decisive action to deregulate the downstream petroleum sector in the face of dwindling oil revenues and the pressure on the Naira.