The Nation Newspaper

Tag: good

  • Muslims told to continue doing good after Ramadan

    Chief Imam of the Lagos State House of  Assembly, Hon Abdul Hakeem Abdul Lateef, has urged Muslims to continue living a righteous life even though the Ramadan month has ended.

    Speaking in Lagos, Hon Abdul Lateef said that Muslims need to understand that the essence of fasting is for them to be righteous and fear Allah.

    “The month of Ramadan is a season to train Muslims to abandon their food so that they can abandon greed. If you can look at your own food and not move near it from morning till evening, it will assist you to avoid what belongs to someone else.

    “Also, if you are looking at your wife and you can’t touch her from morning till night because you are fasting, that will also help you to abstain from other people’s wives,” he said.

    He added that the month of Ramadan also teaches tolerance and patience because both are needed to avoid sins and overcome trials.

    Ramadan also teaches mercy and compassion, he said.

    He urged Muslims to continue in their good deeds of helping and feeding their neighbours including Muslims, Christians and the idol worshipers.

    He noted that the issue of bombing in the country has got nothing to do with the Islamic religion.

    He said Islam is a religion of peace which does not preach war or violence.

    He told Muslims to open a new chapter in their lives and  devote same to Allah.

  • Manu: Iheanacho good enough for Real Madrid

    Manu: Iheanacho good enough for Real Madrid

    Nigeria Flying Eagles coach Manu Garba has told AfricanFootball.com he is not surprised by Kelechi Iheanacho’s man-of-the match showing for Manchester City in Thursday morning’s pre-season tie because the player is good enough to play for a bigger club like Real Madrid.

    Nigeria Under 20 forward Iheanacho crowned a five-star display for Manchester City with a superb goal in a 4-1 pre-season win over Sporting Kansas City.

    The Golden Ball winner at the 2013 FIFA Under 17 World Cup in the UAE placed his first-time shot inside the near post with a left-footed strike from 20 yards out with an assist from Navas for the fourth and final goal of the match in the 88th minute.

    Kansas City goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum denied Iheanacho twice in the first half and the Nigeria starlet was on till 90+2 minutes, when he paved way for Jason Denayer.

    “I’m not surprised at all by what Iheanacho has shown because if given the chance, he can play for any team in the world, even Real Madrid,” said Nigeria U-20 coach Manu.

    “He already has the technique to flourish at the highest level and the only thing the more established players at City could have over him is experience.”

    Manu said Iheanacho’s biggest asset is his composure and clinical finishing around the box.

    “At his age, his finishing around the box puts him in a class of his own. He scores five goals in a training. Once you give him the space and allow him to control the ball around the goal area, he could convert three of the five chances he gets. He is that good.”

    The Flying Eagles coach told AfricanFootball.com he believes his performance against Kansas City will improve his self-belief.

    “His performance (vs Kansas City) will give him even more confidence to step up his game,” he said.

    Next month, the Flying Eagles will host Lesotho in a final African Youth Championship qualifier and coach Manu said he expects Iheanacho to rejoin the team at least two weeks to the August 16 clash.

    “We have asked City we need the player back with us at least two weeks before our qualifier, but if that is not possible, we could still have him a week before the game as long as he is playing regularly for his club,” said the coach.

  • ‘Akande, Adebayo good choices for APC’

    Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been lauded for appointing Chief Bisi Akande as the Interim National Chairman and Otunba Niyi Adebayo as the National Vice-Chairman (Southwest) of the party.

    A chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State and son of former Governor Adebayo Adefarati, Otunba Gboyega Adefarati, described Akande, who is the ACN’s National Chairman, as “the right choice”.

    Adefarati said Akande is a pragmatic leader and seasoned administrator.

    In a statement, Adefarati said Akande is one of the most versatile politicians in Nigeria today with experience in administrative and political affairs management.

    He said: “When he was the governor of Osun State, he showed humility in power and as ACN’s National Chairman, he worked tirelessly to raise the profile of the progressive party from producing one governor to six, as well as other elective offices outside the Southwest.

    “Akande’s style of leadership endeared him to the younger generation and that is why we call him ‘Father of the youths (Baba omo kekeke)’. The Asiwaju of Ila-Orangun is a pride to the Yoruba race as he is an embodiment of the core values of an Omoluabi.

    “With Akande as APC Chairman, the days of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are numbered in Nigeria.”

    Adefarati described Adebayo as “a great mobiliser and a politician who knows his onions”.

    He said as the first Governor of Ekiti State, Adebayo’s political experience will come handy in his new assignment.

  • Sweet is the memory of the good

    When she died a year ago, we, her children from campuses, cried as if our tears would bring her back from the land of the dead. But when her remains were buried about three weeks later, it dawned on us that she won’t come back. Mrs Ngozi Agbo, our amiable Editor, departed this world in flesh but in spirit, she remains with us.

    She left a priceless project for us to continue. But many have asked: “How will the project continue without Aunty Ngozi? How can it be sustained?”

    Today, the story is entirely different. Not only that the project has fared well; it is still alive and kicking. I am talking about CAMPUSLIFE section of The Nation newspaper. The campus-centred pullout in this great newspaper has helped to raise many journalists in higher institutions across the nation.

    Aunty Ngozi is no more today but we are still remembering her good works she left behind. Indeed, sweet is the memory of the good but how many people do well?

    After her demise, the Press Club of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) organised a lecture in her memory tagged: Raising fearless campus writers: A dream to change Nigeria. The lecture was held in the Education Hall of the institution with dignitaries such as Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, who was represented by Mr Olakunle Abimbola, Chief Press Secretary to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Mr Lekan Otufodunrin, Online Editor, The Nation newspaper; Mr Deji Elumoye, Chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ), Lagos chapter, who was represented by Mr Jimoh Babatunde; Mr Agbo Agbo, the widower, and journalists from other media houses.

    In continuation of this great legacy in honour of the departed gem, who dared to be different, this year’s edition of the Annual Ngozi Agbo Media Lecture will hold on June 14, 2013 at the Julius Berger Hall, with the theme: Becoming a successful campus writer. Mr Gbenga Omotoso, Editor of The Nation, is the keynote speaker.

    That a memorial lecture could be held in her memory shows that Aunty Ngozi has affected the lives of many, who, in turn, affect lives of others. I am very sure that this would be her happiness wherever she is now. She might have been dead, her short stay on earth has left indelible marks in our heart.

     

    Tosin, a Corps member, NYSC ENUGU

     

     

  • Why politicians can’t be good Christians, by Uduaghan

    Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan yesterday said it was not an easy task for a politician to run the Christian race.

    This, according to him, was because politicians are liars.

    Uduaghan spoke in Benin City at a thanksgiving for a Zonal Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Abel Obi Umahi, who was recently promoted to Major-General in the Army.

    Umahi was the former Commander of the 4 Brigade.

    Uduaghan said a politician would continue to lie even when the people know the truth.

    “As a politician, so many obstacles will come your way. We politicians will come to you and lie.

    “We know that you know we are lying but we will continue until we get what we want.

    “It is not easy to run the Christian race as a politician and as a military personnel.

    “In the military, there are so many things to draw you down.”

    The governor said his comments on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) was for more money to be given to oil producing communities to avert another crisis in the Niger Delta.

    He said communities in the oil-rich region usually suffer from crisis in the region.

    The governor described Umahi as a brave soldier.

    He said Umahi helped reduced kidnapping in Delta State.

    Umahi said the thanksgiving was to appreciate God for protecting him through difficult times.

    Umahi recalled how the juju prepared for him by his father failed when he went to Liberia as part of the ECOMOG mission.

    He said he got a bullet on his left hand where the juju was placed.

    “In 1991, I went back to Liberia but by then I had burnt the juju.

    “The battle was fiercer this time but I was delivered by God. I am a living witness to God’s blessings.”

    Dignitaries included Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who was represented by Deputy Governor Pius Odubu; Oshiomhole’s former Chief of Staff Osarodion Ogie, a lawmaker, Razaq Belo-Osagie, and members of the Delta State Executive Council.

  • ‘Good education is expensive’

    ‘Good education is expensive’

    Running a good private school requires capital investments that many proprietors are unwilling to make, says educationist, Mrs Moronke Oshosanya.

    In an interview with The Nation, Mrs Oshosanya, who runs Acehall School in Ikeja, Lagos, asserted that quality education is expensive and that school owners must be willing to train their teachers and put learning resources in place that will improve their school’s education delivery.

    “Good education is expensive. Very few schools train their teachers; very few schools have learning resources. There are fears that after training teachers they leave for other schools. But if you don’t train them, it is garbage in garbage out. But the investment is worth it because a good education impacts for live. You are able to use whatever it is you learnt everywhere,” she said.

    Mrs Oshosanya said further that technological advances underscore the need for Nigerian children to receive quality education because they now compete on a global stage.

    “Away from inability of teachers and inadequate resources, the world has become global and the Nigerian child will be competing with others around the world. Are we preparing children for the world? I was head of school, trainer and consultants before I started Acehall. When I tell proprietors there is a need to do this, they say there is no money. I got frustrated and decided to start a school that would incorporate all I know,” she said.

    In practicalising all she knows in her school, Mrs Oshosanya said her pupils feel so much at home they are unwilling to leave, and advises others to do same.

    “When you come into Acehall as a child you don’t want to leave – a major problem for our parents because their children don’t want to go home. Here, learning is fun,” she said.

    Explaining how Acehall incorporates fun into learning numeracy and literacy, Mrs Oshosanya said pupils connected the film Prince of Egypt with Mathematics. The play, based on the biblical character of Joseph who was imprisoned in Egypt, was enacted during the school’s end of year concert.

    “Take for instance Prince of Egypt, they learnt maths with the film – they calculated the distance of the Nile River and the Red Sea; they plotted graphs with their favourite characters to find out who was most loved,” she said.

  • Keshi: Eagles good for Nations Cup

    Keshi: Eagles good for Nations Cup

    Super Eagles Head Coach Stephen Keshi has boasted that the Super Eagles have all it takes to win the Africa Nations Cup in South Africa early next year.

    Speaking in Abuja, the Big Boss said the Eagles are overdue to rule Africa again after emerging champions in 1994 when he captained the team to her second victory in Tunisia.

    Keshi said: “The major challenge we are facing now is that of infrastructure. We don’t have a good pitch to train on, but everybody would want us to win. The pitch we train on here in Abuja is nothing to write home about. The surface is so hard that you record a lot of injuries after every training. But with the exemption of that, I can say that we are ready to give the title a chase in South Africa.”

    The former international said he is not bothered about the training programmes of his opponents, rather his concern is for his players to be in good health, and remain focused on the task ahead in South Africa.

    He promised that the Super Eagles are poised to make Nigerians happy at the championship.

  • Good night, Mama Sheila

    Good night, Mama Sheila

    Taiwo Abiodun, a reporter with The Nation on Sunday, met and interviewed the late Mrs. Sheila Solarin who passed on last Sunday several times. In this report he relives memories of his encounters with her.

     

    I shall pass through this world but once; any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show my fellow creature,

    Let me do it now, let me not defer it or neglect it

    For I shall not pass this way again.

    -Etienne De Grellet (1773-1855 )

    “Babalawo , do you have Tai Solarin’s children’s phone number? I heard that Mama Sheila is dead, please help us confirm,” Kofo Osagie, a colleague from the office, called me last Sunday. Immediately I heard the name Babalawo I knew it was from the office, for that is what my colleagues call me. Grief, shock and confusion enveloped me. It was shattering and it made me unstable. My handset almost dropped from my hand, it was as if I had been possessed by the Parkinson disease. I called Corin, she didn’t pick the call. It was strange of her not to pick my call. At this juncture I began to suspect what Kofo told me might be true. I decided to send a text asking her about Mama. In a jiffy, she in one word sent a text saying, “Confirmed.” Oh! It’s true, Mama is gone. I wept like a baby. This was the second time I would weep in my life. The first was when my mother died at 79.

    Adopted mother

    I broke down and tears cascaded down my cheeks. Mama dead? Few hours later, I started receiving calls from home and abroad asking me the full details and her last hours as if I was there when she breathed her last. When I got to the office the next day some of my colleagues including Joe Agbro Jr,, Udezie Edozie, Yemi Ajayi, Ronke Rafiu, and a host of others. Even my older brother Yemi Abiodun, called from Akure, among others to console me. In fact, I received over 30 calls. It was then I believed that I am one of her adopted children.

    Yes! I had interviewed her several times. I had spent a whole day with her times without number. In fact, we had become family members as I too shared my problems with her asides from the official job.

    I used to ask her many questions from the sensible to the nonsense, civilised to uncouth, foolish or wise, yet she would not turn me down. I have asked about her romantic life when she was young, the medical problem she ever faced and she told me it was cervical cancer. I told her that I am a friend to her parrot as I sighted the parrot in her house, she told me that we had that in common. I have demanded from her why she did not use walking stick at her age, and she replied “I don’t need it.” I have asked her why she kept Ghanaians, Togolese in her house, and she replied “What is wrong in that Taiwo? They are okay.”

    “Where is your pet dog Rosa?” I once asked her. I used to tell her that she was like the Nursery Rhyme of Mary’s lamb that goes with her anywhere Mary goes, but Mama would jocularly tell me that she was Sheila and not Mary and Rosa her dog was not a lamb, too. The giant dog, Rosa later died due to old age.

    I have asked her why she did not have a gate in her house [there is now] and she replied, “I have nothing thieves would steal here.” I once asked her who owns the herd of cows in the school and she replied, “They belong to my son, Tunde and that is his business, I keep to my house here, he too keeps to his business nobody disturbs another.” I remember I asked her why she uses eye glasses and hearing aids and she said “I cannot hear very well again and I cannot see very well. What of you Taiwo?”

    I remember she asked me to bring my twin brother if truly I am a twin, and I told her that my twin brother, Kehinde is still alive but in far away Canada. She said, “That is what Yoruba will say when they have no twin brother or sister again, anyway let us meet one day or do you want me to come to Owo?” she jocularly asked. I promised to bring my twin brother to her whenever he comes to Nigeria. Unfortunately, that would never happen again.

    Call her a stubborn agitator, tag her a non-realist. Label her an atheist, in fact, she was a humble woman and a gift to Nigeria and should be called the Biblical Deborah who fought for the Israelites.

    Anytime I mentioned the former military President General Ibrahim Babangida, she would say “I cannot forgive him. He contributed to my husband’s death. Babangida incarcerated my husband for months just because he was fighting for a just cause,” she would say.

    I asked her why she did not go to church one Sunday morning when I went to interview her, she responded “And why did you come here on Sunday morning when you know I should be in church. Church? I don’t go to Church. I am an atheist. I am always busy.” And when I told her it has been long since I went to Church she was excited. She gave me a parting gift, a book titled Humanism by Barbara Smoker. Apart from this I have eight books from her because she always gave at least one anytime I go there to interview her.

    She was simple, approachable, loyal, humble and down to earth, unlike the so called affluent and arrogant Nigerians whom you have to fill forms and wait endlessly to see.

    Till she died,Mama was still teaching old people how to read and write. She later abandoned the class and converted her motor garage into a classroom as she could no longer trek to the school again. Till her death, she used to mark errors found in newspapers, as she once confided in me that Nigerian papers are riddled with errors but they are trying.

    Now that I, sorry, we, have lost a mother, it is good for us all to give her the last respect and celebrate her. This was a woman who chose a lowly lifestyle for our sake. She left the comfort of Britain for Nigeria where the roads are bad, no electricity, no security of life and where there is no respect for human dignity.

    Goodnight Mama, Good night Tai’s wife.

  • How to buy a good rug

    The most important step in buying a good rug is to find a rug dealer you can trust. The best rug dealers are those who love to share their knowledge with you to enable you make the right choice.

    Some of the finest, ones can be found at Nobel Carpets and rugs located at 44, Eric Moore Road, Surulere, Lagos, Btr Commercial Enterprises, 7/9 Itire Road, Surulere, Lagos, Duluxe Carpet located at 67 Awolowo Road, Ikeja, Lagos.

    At the Ojuwoye market, Mushin, Lagos, a fairly used plain rug which has no design is sold for N30,000 depending on the size. A yard is N4,000. The price of fairly Persian rugs range, from N60,000 to N120,000 depending on the quality. It costs N8,000 per yard and has hard textual quality.

    Before you head to the rug store, measure the area the rug will cover. Remember, you should probably have a border of flooring all the way around the rug. Allow for a range of sizes; the greater the range the more choices you will have. Consider if you will prefer traditional rug or those with contemporary designs. To guide your decision, you may consider getting an interior designer to help you find a suitable one. But remember, the rug dealer’s focus will be on quality. Yours will be on what you like. Listen to all, but mostly to yourself. Ensure that the pattern of rug does not clash with the curtains.

  • Good times for ex-militants in 2013

    Good times for ex-militants in 2013

    Next year, the Federal Government plans to spend over N88 billion on the Amnesty Programme, N16 billion more than what it is spending this year, raising concern in some quaters, writes LEKE SALAUDEEN

     

    BY the time this year ends, the Federal Government is expected to have spent about N72billion on its Amnesty Programme for repentant Niger Delta militants. This is more than what it spends to deliver basic education to children.

    Next year, it plans to spend more on the programme, largely because of a third phase, just approved by President Goodluck Jonathan. Over N88 billion will be sunk into the programme next year. Of this, 30,000 ex-militants will take home N23.6 billion as stipends. Another N35.4 billion will go into the re-integration of transformed ex-warlords. N3.699 is earmarked for what is described as ‘presidential amnesty programme’.

    Three years ago, attacks ranging from theft to bombings to kidnappings pummelled oil production to as low as 500,000 barrels on some days. So, the government began spending hundreds of millions of dollars a year to maintain an uneasy calm in the oil-rich delta. Production is now back up to 2.6 million barrels daily of low-sulfur crude.

    Another move government adopted to ‘buy’ peace in the region was to get the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to begin paying ex-militant leaders such as Mujahhid Dokubo-Asari to protect oil pipelines. Dokubo-Asari gets $9 million a year to pay his 4,000 former foot soldiers to protect the pipelines they once attacked.

    Gen. Ebikabowei “Boyloaf” Victor Ben and Gen. Ateke Tom get $3.8 million a year apiece to have their men guard pipelines. Government “Tompolo” Ekpmupolo maintains a $22.9 million-a-year contract to do the same.

    But, oil theft appears to be on the rise again. Shell estimates that more than 150,000 barrels of oil are stolen daily.

    Last month, President Goodluck Jonathan approved a third phase for the Amnesty Programme, a development which analysts say mean the country may commit millions of dollars to the programme next year.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Research and Documentation, Oronto Douglas, believes there is no better option than continuing to ‘buy’ peace.

    He said: “If it’s too huge, what are the alternatives?”

    Through the programme, 26, 358 former Niger Delta militants have been trained in various vocational courses both at home and abroad.

    The Jonathan administration claims that the amnesty proclamation is the sincerest , boldest and most profound effort by any government of Nigeria since 1960 to address the agitation for fairness, equity and development in the oil- rich Niger Delta. The successful management of the post-amnesty programme, said government, has ensured the return of peace, safety, security and sustainable development to the region.

    But some analysts have disagreed with the government’s position. To them, the programme is selective and not in the interest of the majority of the people of the Niger Delta. They claim that the programme is only benefiting a few people. They believe part of the money could have been used in setting up industries to create jobs for the unemployed youths in the region and Nigeria at large.

    The Co-ordinator, Ijaw Monitoring Group, Mr. Joseph Evah, said it has failed to address unemployment, under-development and bunkering.

    Evah told The Nation that those who have completed their training in various vocations sponsored by the Presidential Amnesty Programme are roaming the streets because they have no jobs. He said sending the ex-militants for vocational training without planning for where to absorb them after training has made the programme useless.

    Evah said: “The beneficiaries are becoming restive because the monthly allowances being paid them by government have stopped. If care is not taken, the youths in Niger Delta are likely to return to the creeks and foment trouble.”

    According to him, the relative peace in the region endures because the militant leaders and some of their followers were favoured by the Amnesty Programme.

    “But once the boys can no longer collect money from government, we will be back to square one in that region.

    “Failure of the government to establish industries that would create employment opportunities for the graduates of the vocational courses and the teeming unemployed youths in the Niger Delta is one of the shortcomings of the Presidential Amnesty Programme. The youths resorted to carrying guns and distruption of oil companies operation because of lack of jobs, they have no means of livelihood and no shelter on their heads, whereas, the oil companies are mining crude oil worth billions of dollar every day from the region. In the process of oil exploitation, the farmlands, the rivers for fishing and the wells that serve as water supply for the people are polluted.

    “Niger Delta is endowed with resources for the establishment of industries. If there is any region that should have monopoly of industries in this country, it is Niger Delta. We have the refineries located in the region. The bye-products of oil can be used in production of textiles, plastic materials, like chairs and foam. Commercial fishing is possible, given the proximity of the region to the sea. If properly utilised, Nigeria can provide the fish need of the West African countries. But all these potentials have not been translated into fortunes. No single effort was made by the Presidential Amnesty to create a single industry in the volatile region.

    “I am sure government has spent nothing less than $1 billion on the training of the ex- militants, with a view to reintegrating them. If government has used $500 million to set up industries, the situation would have been different. The economy of the Niger Delta region would have changed. The living condition of the people would have improved. What we need in that region is massive industrialisation that would impact positively on the economic well-being of the people.”

    Evah said the programme did not benefit all youths in the region. About 26,000 have benefited .

    “The programme should not discriminate against those who did not go to school. It should not benefit only militants but every able body in the Niger Delta. Those carrying guns are less than one per cent. You cannot rule out that those without guns would not spark one day.

    “The money is there but the government is not spending it on human resources and economic development of the region,” he said.

    Public Affairs analyst Emmanuel Aluede believes the amnesty programme is flawed, illegal and not in the best interest of the majority of the people of Niger Delta. Even though he believes the programme is necessary, he insists that the huge investment approach of the amnesty programme is not in the best interest of Nigerians. He frowned at the way the programme has been implemented to cost several billions of naira to benefit a few people that have committed crimes against the state.

    “If you take a look at the programme partners, you will notice no participants from the developed nations are involved, despite the fact that these nations are the biggest contributors for development aid and grant. These developed nations will be better placed to help groom militants to acquire skills. No disrespect to the other 21 nations involved, the majority, in my view, are not better than Nigeria, if we had leaders who put the peoples’ interest before self interest.

    “From information gathered from the various overseas training programmes, several hundreds of millions in US dollars must have been spent. I won’t be surprised if the government expenditure is beyond the $1 billion for the security stabilisation in the Niger Delta through disarmament, demobilisation, rehabilitation and sustainable re-integration of ex-militants as pre-condition for medium and long term development.

    “Let’s assume that 50,000 will benefit from the programme at the end of its implementation. Compare this number to the total number of youths in the Niger Delta amount to several millions who remain law abiding despite unemployment. A good percentage of them have at least School Certificate or university degrees. Where is justice, fairness and equity in this programme by leaving behind law abiding youths, whilst a handful who chose the act of militancy to bring their message of marginalisation to the attention of the Federal Government are moving forward?

    “The over $1 billion to be expended on the programme would have been of greater value to the people of Niger Delta and Nigeria, if it was used to upgrade our higher institutions both across Niger Delta and Nigeria.”

    On the pipeline security contracts awarded to Niger Delta militant leaders, Aluede said the contract conflicts with the government’s policy of disarming the militants. The same government is empowering them as custodians for the security of the nation’s pipelines through lucrative contracts totalling $49.6 million annually. Another conflict here is that government has contracted out the responsibilities of the nation’s security agencies where several billions of naira is invested annually.

    “The award of pipelines security contracts to private entities puts the nation’s security at risk. It would have been better and more cost effective if a special military task force was set up to deliver a more efficient and effective role. Militants who choose to remain as such could be provided proper military training and discipline to take up created positions within the new Special Task Force that is made up of personnel from all our security forces”, Aluede added.

    But Evah did not see anything wrong in awarding the pipelines security contract to the militant chiefs.

     

    A collosal waste

     

    Former Minister of Petroleum Prof. tam David-West said “the (amnesty) programme is good but it is being executed wrongly.”

    This is why little has been achieved, he said.

    “ The government is busy throwing money all over the place as if that would make it work. You don’t buy peace with money. All the government needs to do is to talk to the militants at the level they understand. If you induced them with money, you are creating problem. Some of the militants told me government has stopped giving them money as they used to do. Government spoiled them with money and created more problems among the youth in the Niger Delta.

    “The programme has benefitted very few in the Niger Delta. Some of them are more comfortable because of the largesse from government. Imagine Asari Dokubo collecting $9 million annually in the name of protecting the oil pipelines. A university professor earns N5 million annually.

    “There can be no development until the fundamental problem of degradation of Niger Delta is addressed. To me it’s a colossal waste.

    He said taking the ex-militants abroad for training is stupid.

    David-West said: “Taking them to foreign countries for vocational training is a stupid thing to do. Why don’t you organise training programmes within the Niger Delta, get the trainers from abroad to do the training on ground. Some of them have never being to Lagos, now you are sending them to Europe and Middle East. Look at the cost implication of sending thousands of militants abroad for training. Training is good but it’s being done wrongly.”

    He said the President cannot buy peace.

    “I have said it before that government believes it can buy peace with money. I can’t imagine giving out $49.6 million to the so called militant leaders for a job that could be done by a joint military task force. The best the government could do is to incorporate the militants into the task force. We have done it before. The military with the support of the militants have policed the pipelines and went after those engaged in oil bunkering. Some of these militant leaders have no followership. The contract is like buying goods you have not seen.”

     

    Life after training

     

    The programme has entrepreneurship scheme for 350 ex-militants in the Niger Delta.

    Spokesman of the programme Daniel Alabrah told our correspondent that the scheme was designed to equip and prepare the amnesty beneficiaries to become self reliant and employers of labour.

    Alabrah said rather than leave them idle after completing their vocational training, a three-week intensive entrepreneurship programme was designed for them preparatory to commencing their own business.

    He added: “For those in this pilot post-training entrepreneurship scheme, we are about to put them through a process where they can create their own small business places. We will brand it, give them branded equipment, seed money and see them become owners of small businesses scattered around the Niger Delta or any place they choose to do business in Nigeria.”

    Alabrah stated that there would be a 12-month monitoring and evaluation period for the beneficiaries when they were expected to maintain log books and monthly reporting to see if they were growing in the business. This, he further explained, would ensure that they go into profitable ventures without nursing the fear of failure.

    “We are collaborating with some banks to ensure proper funding and monitoring of the scheme. Beneficiaries will not be given cash but they will be required to state their business location, which will then be paid for and properly equipped with the tools or items for their chosen, he said.

    Apart from the entrepreneurship scheme, Alabrah disclosed that the Amnesty Programme is collaborating with government agencies to absorbing them. About 130 have been employed in private and public sectors.

    He said Jonathan has approved the inclusion of 3,642 ex-Niger Delta militants in the Presidential Amnesty Programme bringing the number of the former agitators undergoing reformation under the programme to 30,000.