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Tag: government

  • Why kidnapping persists – Lawyers

    Why kidnapping persists – Lawyers

    Some lawyers in Lagos say the rate of unemployment, bad morals and inadequate security contribute significantly to the recurrent cases of kidnapping experienced in the country.

    The legal practitioners spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday.

    “There is no particular region today in the country that is free from kidnapping.

    “The economic reality today is that people are losing their jobs and a lot of people are not even employed.

    “The high level of unemployment should give the government serious concern, because if you are idle, you become the devil’s workshop,’’ Mr Monday Ubani, one of the lawyers, said.

    He said that unemployed youth could easily be recruited to carry out nefarious activities that were detrimental to the development of the country.

    “The government should ensure adequate employment is created to reduce the issue of kidnappers in the country.

    “The government should also ensure that the country is well policed with necessary equipment,” Ubani told NAN.

    The lawyer, who gave tips on how to avoid being kidnapped, said people needed to be more security conscious of their environment.

    “Watch the people you live with in your neighborhood and mind the kind of information you give out to people, because the information could be detrimental to your safety.“Also, watch how you boast. Know your relations well, because successful kidnapping cannot be complete without an insider,” he said.

    Another lawyer, Mr Kayode Ademiluyi, identified bad morals as part of the factors contributing to the rising cases of kidnapping.

    “Apart from the economy that is not too good, when children are not brought up with good values, they tend to join bad gangs,” he said.

    Ademiluyi called on the government to increase the level of security in the country and urged individuals to be security conscious and alert.

    Also speaking on the issue, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa urged the government to engage the youth and adopt the use of technology to stem the tide of kidnapping in the country.

    Mr Kayode Akinsola, another lawyer, urged the police to be more proactive and enjoined everyone to continue to pray for the country’s economy to be back in good shape.

    He, however, commended the government for its efforts at fighting kidnapping in the country.

    NAN reports that several states, in the face of increased cases of kidnapping, have enacted laws with stiff penalties for kidnappers.

    Lagos, one of the latest to do so, imposes penalties that include death for offenders, where a victim dies in the hands of his abductors, and life imprisonment for kidnapping for ransom.

  • Family Government

    Dear Reader,

    You are welcome to another teaching time on your favourite column. This month, via the Word of God, I will be teaching on the series: Family Government! In this end-time when the devil is doing more wickedly, it is essential that the secrets that make for effective family, especially in the area of government, are discovered.

    The family can be likened to an organisation involving two or more people having certain rules controlling it. Family affairs must be directed and controlled by the individuals involved, or else there will be chaos and lack of peace.

    However, the individuals concerned have different roles and duties to carry out in order to ensure a smooth run of the family. The ignorance of these individuals’ roles is one of the reasons most families lack success and fulfilment. That is why I will be teaching on the various responsibilities and duties that are to be discharged by the individuals involved in the family government.

    This week, I will like to begin by discussing The Responsibilities of the Man.

    The man is the head and leader of the family. He can be likened to the “President” in his own family government. God’s Word says: For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church: and He is the Saviour of the body (Ephesians 5:23). As the head, just as most of the blessings of a successful leadership are first poured on you, so also, the blame and consequence of an unsuccessful leadership, will first and foremost be suffered by you.

    God sees the man as the overall head of the family and will hold him responsible for anything that goes wrong in the family government. In Genesis 3:20, it was Adam who named his wife Eve; however, he failed in discharging his duties as the head and leader of his family. As a result, he suffered a dethronement (Genesis 2:23).

    If your family fails, it is your fault; and you are the one who God will question. It was Adam whom God called upon, not Eve or the devil, even when God knew that it was the devil who deceived Eve!  God has committed the government of your home into your hands; therefore, He holds you responsible.

    One major key that guarantees successful leadership, as the head of your family is the key of LOVE (Ephesians 5:25, 27-33).  Men, let me tell you one secret: no woman hates to be loved. When you demonstrate your love to your wife, you will be able to govern your house with ease. This love is demonstrated in words and actions, irrespective of the weaknesses of the other members of your family. Your love should provoke you to render honour to your wife.

    God’s Word in 1 Peter 3:7 says: Likewise, ye husbands dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.  Honour, in this sense, means caring and providing financially, and materially for her. Your role as the leader is not that of being selfish, maltreating, humiliating and beating your wife.

    As a father to your children, you are responsible for their training in conjunction with your wife. Many men push this responsibility to their wives. It is supposed to be jointly done with you as the man playing the role of training your children to grow in the fear of the Lord like Jonadab did in Jeremiah 35:14, 18-19. You will definitely partake of whatever your child becomes in future; whether good or bad.

    Therefore, your office as the head and leader in the family government, is not that of a ‘dictator” or ‘oppressor’ but that of living up to the responsibilities of loving and providing for the welfare of your family as commanded by God. You are the driver of the vehicle of your family and you occupy a strategic position that can influence and determine what the lives of all the other members of your family will be like. You must live up to this expectation, so that God will not regret making you the head of your home!

    God is the Author of family; as such, your efforts outside His help will be ineffective. That is why you need to accept Him through His Son, Jesus Christ, and become born again. If you will like to be born again right now, please say this prayer: “Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the living God. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.”

    If you prayed this simple prayer, you are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

    Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, pstfaithoyedepo@gmail.com; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

  • Government takes another shot at Lagos refuse with CLI

    Government takes another shot at Lagos refuse with CLI

    The development of a strategic roadmap by the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration  for the environment may have set the stage for Lagos to live up to its Centre of Excellence appellation. BUNMI OGUNMODEDE writes on the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI) – Lagos’ new move against filth. 

    After a comprehensive review of its Environmental Sanitation Laws, the Lagos State government has introduced the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI) for to effectively manage waste.

    The systemic failure in Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators’ involvement in waste management informed the CLI idea, with which the government hopes to tame refuse and create jobs.

    Earlier in the year, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode ordered the city-cleaners – the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) – to stop further collection of waste bills. He directed that all payments should henceforth, be remitted to the accounts of PSP operators.

    The directives came on the heels of the cancellation of the monthly environmental sanitation, which was introduced by the state government during the administration of former Governor Bola Tinubu.

    Since he came on board, Ambode has never hidden his plan to radically reform the state’s sanitation laws and waste management policy.

    Last year, the government signed a $135 million (about N85 billion) partnership agreement with a foreign firm.  The partnership, under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, is expected to last for four years.

    Ambode highlighted his administration’s policy direction on waste management when he spoke last week at MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos Island. It was at the annual lecture of the Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL). The lecture had “Living well together, tomorrow: The challenge of Africa’s future cities” as its theme. The governor told his audience of the massive reform being proposed in waste management.

    The implementation of the reform, according to him, kicks off by July.

    He said the time had come for the state to evolve a new waste management policy that would not only be befitting of a mega city state but ensure that the state remains clean and safe for healthy living.

    His words: “We are also embarking on massive reform in the waste and sanitation management system. I don’t like the way the city is and the Private Sector Participants (PSP) collectors are not having enough capacity to do it but again should I tax people to death. The answer is no.

    “I don’t want to tax the people. So, we need this partnership with private sector operators so that they can invest in the sanitation management of the city and in no time, maybe by July, the city will change forever.”

    The Environment Commissioner, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, said more than 600 Mercedes Benz compactors would be deployed and thousands of street sweepers engaged in all the wards across the state when the policy comes on stream.

    The PSP operators, Adejare explained, will be restricted to handling commercial waste, even as the existing landfill sites will be closed. Transfer Loading Stations (TLS) will be built in all local government areas and more than one million ultra-modern waste bins deployed.

    The litre bins will be fitted with censors to monitor their movement against theft and vandalism.

    Explaining the need for the introduction of a new technology into waste management, the commissioner stressed that the decision to contract waste management under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement was taken because of the high cost which the state could no longer shoulder in the face of limited resources.

    Under the reform, Adejare said three coded waste bags would be distributed to homes for proper sorting and waste disposal by residents.

    He said: “The result of this new arrangement is that waste disposal will no longer be a challenge as efficient system will be on ground for effective management which will eventually eradicate cart pushers in the process.”

     Why the CLI

    The CLI has been established as an extensive and sustainable waste management system to maximize the state’s potential in solid waste management, with focus on recycling, waste recovery and reduction efforts, liquid waste management, drainage management and waste water treatment.

    The news arrangement will also develop sufficient infrastructure for collection, processing and disposal of all waste to meet the state’s environmental objectives.

    “Specifically, it will create the enabling environment for non-governmental agencies, the private sector and the government to harness international best practices in this vital area of infrastructure”, it was learnt.

    The Nation learnt that the CLI will add value and empower those at the bottom of the value chain as it will incorporate citizens as solution providers. They will be taking up responsibilities for the sanitation of their immediate communities.

    Contrary to the fears of the PSP operators losing their jobs, no fewer than 27,500 community sanitation workers would be engaged under the scheme.

    A government source, who pleaded for anonymity, told The Nation: “While these jobs are important, the induced effect of higher spending power is where we hope to create about 400,000-500,000 jobs. These jobs are those generated as a benefit of the increased expenditures in the supply and distribution chains from the new employees spending more money in the general economy.”

    “The local multiplier effect of a progressive policy that pays above the federally mandated minimum wage in distributional terms is immeasurable. The positive impact on low-income households is particularly beneficial, not only to direct beneficiaries within the household, but also within the local economy as higher spending by workers typically results in an increase in demands of goods and services within their local communities.

    “The relentless efforts of the administration regarding employment for out of work youth who make up almost 50 per cent of the entire Lagos population have been exemplary. The state hopes to ultimately drive meaningful job growth and create opportunities in entirely new industries.

    “An increase in monthly income with the creation of thousands of jobs on the state economy translates to overall improvement in public finances, thereby acting as a catalyst for the delivery of socio-economic values across the state.”

     New roles for operators

    The revised legislative framework harmonising the various laws on environment into a single law to allow for a more convenient administration of the law and management of the environment gave consideration to PSP operators. But CLI has laid emphasis on elaborate and standardised regulation of the environment.

    In designing a sustainable waste management system, the government adopted a holistic approach to addressing the unique problems of Lagos as a city-state with its estimated 22 million population.

    The strategic policy, expected to tame Lagos waste is a product of the ministries of Environment, Justice, Urban and Physical Planning.

    A source said: “We have developed enforcement and most importantly, financing strategy, to support the initiatives.  Over the past 10 months, these efforts have been shaped into the Cleaner Lagos Initiative.

    “The role of the PSPs in the restructuring of the waste management system in Lagos going forward will be to serve the commercial sector of the state.

    “The positive impact that PSPs efforts have had over the years on the Lagos landscape is undeniable. However, we cannot deny that we need a comprehensive waste management system that is world standard. Currently, we do not have an existing structure in place to support those endeavours.

    The restructuring will benefit PSP operators because the state plans to introduce new environmental policies and laws that not only protect the citizens and the environment but all waste management operators who painstakingly invest the resources into helping with the clean-up of the city.”

    The restructuring has created new operational parameters, which will see the existing operators working in the commercial and public sectors.

    The source went on: “The law makes new provisions that protect the interests of existing investments by requiring all commercial entities to have a valid and enforceable contract with a registered operator.

    “There are over 10,000 registered commercial businesses in Lagos. So, the PSP operators are still very much relevant in the new waste management system.

    “Sustainable long-term funding is needed at both the state and local levels to support the efforts needed to reach the state’s goals. Therefore, systematic planning is critical to the long-term success of this comprehensive plan we have for the state.

    “We have worked to improve safety and security by boosting the security forces, the emergency response capabilities and by improving lighting. We are now turning our focus to sanitation and the environment- there is no denial that the system is flawed.

    “This administration has chosen to take the bull by the horns and address the challenges within waste management that are affecting our health, our economy and the very livelihoods of future generations to come in a phased, strategic and successful manner.”

     

    Our fears, by PSP operators

    Living with the fear that the reform may erase their jobs, waste managers, under the auspices of the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAN), last Thursday, rushed to the Lagos State House of Assembly for protection.

    According to them, their investment is threatened, with the government’s “Cleaner Lagos Initiative”.

    They kicked against the new bill to harmonise all environment-related laws in the state into one. A public hearing was being held on the bill entitled: “A Bill for a Law to Provide for the Management, Protection and Sustainable Development of the Environment in Lagos State and for other Connected Purposes” at the Assembly when the AWAN members stormed the complex.

    The protesters carried different placards with various inscriptions, such as: “Dear Hon. members, Lagos MOE wants to cede our services to foreign firms, Monopoly! Wetin we fit do self”;  “Inequitable! 80 per cent to Oyinbo, 20 per cent to Lagosians not acceptable”; “If my people cannot clean their city, what can dey do? Asiwaju Tinubu said in 2006”; and “The Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, we humbly plead with you to speak for our investment which is the bedrock of entire Lagos Activities”.

    Mr. Taju Ekemode, the spokesman for the more than 200 protesters,  who are PSP chief executive officers and managing directors, said the new law that has ceded 80 per cent of waste management to foreign investors would adversely affect their investments.

    Ekemode, who is AWAN’s Vice Chairman, said: “We are here today to let the lawmakers know our feelings, what we suffer and what we may suffer with the new Cleaner Lagos Planning policy.We have been doing this job well over the years and there has been no problems.”

    He described as unfair the government’s plan to hire a foreign firm to clean Lagos.

    He said: “We are not against reform in any way, but the reform should be around the current PSP; that is what we are saying. The policy directing us to leave the streets to allow foreign firms to take over will kill businesses. Where do we put those trucks? We can’t use them to carry sand. Those trucks cannot be used for any other thing, apart from wastes. What do we do with our investments? What do we do with the loans we got from banks?

    “Before the bill is passed, we want the lawmakers to consider the PSP as representatives of the people. The governor said we should take over the commercial place, but the percentage of commercial centre in Lagos is just about 20 compared to what is being ceded to foreign investment.”

     

     

     

    Government: No cause for worry

    Going by the state government’s explanation, the protesting members of the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAN) may be living with the fear of the harmless.

    In apparent response to a suit by the association of PSP (Private Sector Participant) operators reportedly served on relevant ministries within the state government, Environment Commissioner Babatunde Adejare, listed the gains of the new policy.

    A statement by the commissioner identified the people’s safety and wellbeing as priority for the Akinwunmi-led government.

    The statement reads: “We firmly believe in protecting and guaranteeing the basic human rights of the people. We acknowledged the numerous challenges that have plagued the state when it comes to sanitation. When our administration took over, it was apparent to us that we needed to make determined efforts towards water, sanitation and hygiene.

    “This is why over the last 10 months, we have taken a holistic approach to identifying the unique problems and have focused on creating a framework for a sustainable integrated waste management system.

    “We sought and obtained executive council approval to carry out a full review along with the ministries of Finance and the Justice, we put the existing laws and policies under a microscope, we have reviewed them to reflect that sanitation is treated as a non-negotiable requisite in Lagos.

    “And we have come up with strategies for regulation, enforcement and most importantly financing to support the initiatives. The Cleaner Lagos Initiative was born from the results of this process.

    The CLI was established as an extensive and sustainable waste management system for Lagos that will maximise the state’s potential in solid waste management with recycling, recovery and waste reduction efforts, liquid waste management, drainage management, and waste water treatment. It also seeks to fully develop sufficient infrastructure for collection, proper processing and disposal of all waste to meet the state’s environmental objectives.

    “The first phase of the initiative, tackles solid waste management which is in a clear state of crisis due to the moribund supporting infrastructure that must be beefed up- bin placement, transfer loading stations, material recovery facilities and of course landfills.

    The current arrangement is highly cumbersome – LAWMA in its role as regulator is expected to coordinate the activities of 350 individual companies and still carry out its own collection services.

     

  • ‘How government can encourage growth in 2017’

    ‘How government can encourage growth in 2017’

    Dr Frank Udemba Jacobs, President of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) in this interview with Bukola Aroloye speaks on the nation’s manufacturing landscape, expectation for the 2017 budget among other sundry issues. Excerpts:

    What is the state of manufacturing in the country now?

    The manufacturing sector has remained in a precarious situation over the years, having grown at 5.5 percent before 2013 and attained 21.8 percent in 2013 to become the driver of the economy.  This growth, however, declined to 14.7 percent in 2014 and by 2015 it crashed to -1.47.  Worse still, statistics from the first and second quarters of 2016 revealed further decline to -7.0 percent and -3.36 percent respectively.

    Manufacturing capacity utilisation, employment and investment respectively also declined. Over 50 manufacturing companies closed down from January 2015 to June 2016. Many more have closed down since then but we are still compiling the figures.

    To what extent have you been able to benefit from the CBN forex policy?

    The sector benefitted as much as it could from the CBN Forex policy, given the seriousness of the foreign exchange scarcity in the country. Forex allocation to the manufacturing sector did not go far, even with the preferential allocation by the CBN, considering the demand by the sector which is huge.

    What is MAN doing in this time of recession to help stimulate the economy to recovery?

    Manufacturers are adopting a number of strategies in order to remain in business and also to stimulate the economy. Such strategies include increased local sourcing of raw materials, sourcing forex from the parallel market and other available windows, etc. Of course, we have been discussing with government, at all levels including the CBN, on the way out of the recession.

    There are calls for the Bank of Industry (BoI) to be scrapped. What is MAN’s position on this?

    It does not make sense to scrap the BoI because it remains the only funding window that can give long-term fund at reasonable interest rates, for now. The Development Bank of Nigeria is not yet functional. Even if it becomes functional, Nigeria deserves more development banks, given the size of our economy. MAN is calling for the establishment of more development banks and retention of the BoI.

    To what extent will you say the BoI has impacted on manufacturing? Would you say the bank has fulfilled its statutory responsibility?

    I would say that the BoI has made some impact on the manufacturing sector, although not as much as we expected. It is trying to meet its obligatory responsibility.

    Over N300 billion is said to be owed manufacturers by government. What is the state of this debt?

    Government owes manufacturers a lot of money and they are still outstanding.

    What is your association doing in the face of the continued influx of foreign goods which the country has local capacity for?

    The Association has been using its advocacy machinery to reach the government and other regulatory authorities responsible for checking this menace, stressing the impact of this tragedy on the economy. We have, in some cases, alerted such authorities of suspected shipment and movement of such products.

    Are you an advocate of the establishment of Development Bank? If yes, what should be its areas of concentration?

    As I mentioned above, I am an advocate of the establishment of development banks. The area of concentration is the real sector as a whole.

    What do you think is the way forward for a virile manufacturing sector in the country?

    The way forward is the adoption of resource-based manufacturing, increased local sourcing of raw materials and deliberate policies towards backward integration while the existing industries should be given monetary and fiscal incentives to survive and grow. Adequate incentives should also be articulated for investments in core industries that would serve as catalyst and spin-offs for the growth of other industries.

    What was MAN’s contribution to the nation’s GDP in 2016?

    I believe you mean the contribution of the manufacturing sector. According to the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), it was 8.95 percent at the second quarter of 2016 dropping from an average of 9.78 percent recorded in 2013 through 2015.

    There are claims that manufacturers want to set up their own power plants. How feasible is this?

    We believe it is feasible and we have gone far into it. We really did not have any choice than to venture into it, of course, as a way of survival. Let me quickly add that it is not a profit making venture but a service to our members.

    The CBN has insisted that there is no going back on 41-item list excluded from forex. What does MAN intends to do about this?

    MAN is still advocating for a rethink of the policy and a review of the list to remove raw materials not locally available.

    There are insinuations that the CBN and MAN are working at cross purpose as a result of the forex ban. What is MAN doing to resolve the impasse?

    MAN and CBN are not working at cross purposes at all. We fully understand and appreciate the challenges on ground. Instead, we are working together to resolve the issue. We are constantly meeting and discussing.

    What can you say about 2017 Budget and the Manufacturing Sector?

    Going by the 2017 budget presentation by Mr. President, MAN would want to believe that 2017 would be a better year for the industrial sector in Nigeria, all things being equal. The budget addresses major issues that would help to improve the industrial sector but, perhaps, not sufficient enough to address all the challenges.

    Areas of note in the budget include the following allocation of N15 billion for the recapitalisation of the Bank of Industry (BOI) to help improve Small and Medium Scale (SMEs) funding access. We also think there should be allocation of US$1.3 billion to the Development Bank of Nigeria for its operationalisation and take-off, focusing exclusively on SMEs.

    Besides, the N92 billion earmarked for Agriculture through the CBN’s Anchor Borrowers Programme, at a single digit interest rate to small farmers. We also think the government should focus on rapid development of infrastructure especially rail, road and power (N213.14 billion) just as we believe the N50 billion earmarked as contribution for the expansion of existing, and development of new Export Processing and Special Economic Zones.

    We also feel strongly too that there should be renewed commitment on patronage of made-in-Nigeria products as well as commitment towards resuscitating domestic refining of crude oil.

    There is need top also encourage domestic garment manufacturing sector in the country. Added to this is the need to promote manufacturing power houses like Aba, etc, towards making Nigeria a new manufacturing hub. This, we believe will enhance the growth of non-oil export. By deliberate commitment to the alignment of fiscal, monetary and trade policies and the release of the Fiscal Policy document.

    For us at MAN, we hope the demand that the President personally issue executive order to ensure speedy facilitation of government procurement and approval, as well as compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act to support local content by MDAs.

    He should also show the needy commitment to ensuring ease of doing business in Nigeria as well as focus on payment of outstanding debts to local contractors.

    However, there are some areas that needed to be addressed in order to fully stabilise the industrial sector. These include foreign exchange management. With the recent increase in the price of crude oil and expected higher inflow of forex, MAN expects higher forex allocation to manufacturers. The 60% preferential allocation to manufacturers’ directive by the CBN which did not quite materialise, should be strictly implemented.

    Furthermore, we expect that the backlog of confirmed Letters of Credit should be honoured at the rate prior to the depreciation of the Naira.  This would help to increase domestic production.

    On additional sources of forex, there is need to further  intensify and encourage  non-oil manufactured export through the full implementation of the EEG/NDCC scheme as this would encourage manufacturers to produce for export.

    The gap between the inter-bank exchange rate and the parallel market is too wide and should be narrowed through deliberate policy by the CBN.

    MAN appreciates the provisions in the budget in terms of the recapitalisation of BoI, operationalisation of Development Bank of Nigeria as well as the Anchor Borrowers Programme.  However, the usual problems encountered with these facilities, as was the case in the various CBN intervention funds, in terms of challenges and complexities in processing applications as well as built-in additional charges should be addressed and avoided.

    On the fiscal policy, MAN   appreciates the federal government for addressing the issue of 41 items as well as the release of 2016 fiscal policy measures. However, there is need for further amendment or clarification to the policy as some important sectors have been removed from the import prohibition list, or adversely adjusted; eg sanitary wares, domestic articles and wares of plastics, equipment for scafolding, bulk tea and billets. These should be addressed. On the whole, I believe that if the budget is effectively implemented, it would go a long way in addressing the issues of the industrial sector.

  • Magu, victim of government of Non politicians

    The echo of Buhari’s if ‘we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us’ has continued to resonate. He has however devoted the last 16 months of his administration to a crusade against only those who have explicitly stated ‘stealing government funds is not corruption’, leaving those who are directly responsible for the current depression through their mismanagement of the privatization policy that scuttled the IMF projected seven million jobs, and turned our country to importers of labour of other nations with millions of our own youths thrown into the unemployment market.

    And because the nation has been frightened into frenzy by the level of debauchery exposed on daily basis by government, we have failed to acknowledge that part of our current problem is the preponderance of men of faith rather than politicians in government. The result is a regime that seems to daily find excuses for failure by blaming its predecessors whose forces including those used by Ibori and Saraki to run Ribadu out of town and Magu out of EFCC into detention are still visible in government. Unlike advanced democracies driven by Orwell’s fictional Nineteen Eighty Four, where everyone is a slave to the state, we are piloted by a physically exhausted 74 years old Buhari, a national icon who would rather run the state by prayers than politics. He is ably supported by an equally apolitical but praying Vice President, Pastor Osinbajo. There is also Pastor Babachir, the SGF.  A few others who hold critical position in government are said to fuel intra party crisis in order to present themselves as alternative to physically fatigued Buhari in 2019 in case he chooses not to run. Conspicuously missing in Buhari’s team are the real politicians.

    Raged against President Buhari on the other side are his well known adversaries hooded in APC cloak. They live and thrive through intrigue, serial betrayals and opportunism. They blame Buhari for all the woes of the country including the continued sabotage of the economy by ravaging Niger Delta Avengers they secretly sponsored and equipped. Their open antagonism to Buhari’s war on corruption finally found expression in their refusal to confirm Magu as chairman of EFCC last week.

    The script was modelled after the one used to take over the Senate. Giving themselves enough time to perfect the script, they had held on to President Buhari’s request for five months. Then as if the Senate was doing Nigeria a favour after the long delay, the deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, announced at plenary on Wednesday that the confirmation hearing would hold on Thursday – the following morning.  Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption chairman, Chukwuka Utazi, PDP-Enugu, went on to confirm to Premium Times the hearing would hold as scheduled.  But curiously on Thursday morning, the Senate failed to list the Magu’s confirmation in the Order Paper. Those who understand how the Senate Mafia operates will agree the chamber did not receive the DSS report that was deployed to scuttle Magu’s confirmation only that morning.

    Unfortunately many of us who as columnists try to interpret government action for the benefit of the public have not been of much help to President Buhari. When he postponed quenching of a raging fire in his house until the very morning the election of the Senate leadership was to take place, we attributed his naive ‘I am ready to work with anyone’ as respect for independence of four arms of government. We justified government indolence for spending six months to constitute a cabinet, a task often executed within 24 in other democracies. When reminded that those who did not contribute to his electoral success or understand the policy thrust of APC have hijacked his presidency, we allowed the President to get away with a righteous indignation that he understands politics better than anyone else on account of having contested for the presidency three times. When Pa Bisi Akande first raised alarm about the self-serving group that was set to destabilise the APC they had worked hard to build, we wrongly credited Buhari with Fulani’s famed mastery of power politics.

    Now with an  attempted derailment of Buhari’s war on corruption by the Senate using  Daura’s DSS report and the SGF alleged award of contracts to the company in which he has an interest using the Senate Ad Hoc committee report, the pertinent question is who Daura is working for?  How come Saraki and his ‘Like Mind Senators’ who have demonstrated their opposition to the President’s war on corruption had the DSS report ahead of the executive that controls the awesome apparatus of state power. We can then proceed to ask how come the DSS brief about  Magu’s alleged flight to Maiduguri alongside Mohammed and  Nnamdi Okonkwo of Fidelity Bank who are being investigated by his commission and the alleged award of contract by FCDA to his Africa Energy to lavishly furnish his residence at a cost of N43m was never passed to the President before Magu’s name was forwarded to the Senate for confirmation.

    How come DSS that organized a sting operation at the middle of the night to retrieve alleged proceeds of corruption from residences of some Supreme Court justices was unable to capture an abuse of office by the SGF who has not denied awarding contracts to ‘Rholavision’, a company he claimed to have founded in 1990 but from whose board he claimed to have resigned in 2015. The two tragic events seem to vindicate the claim by many concerned Nigerians including the President’s wife  that some of those currently surrounding  the President are working neither for Buhari nor Nigeria but for themselves.

    And once again, it will appear Buhari and his APC government of men of faith has been outwitted by Saraki and his ‘like mind senators’. The forces that demoted Ribadu, chased him out of the country, and replaced him with a candidate of their own choice; arrested, detained and suspended Magu from the police for several months without salary before he was finally transferred out of EFCC ‘for illegally keeping case files of top politicians being investigated by EFCC in his house’ until he was rehabilitated by President Jonathan are still very influential in Buhari’s government of change.

    The immediate target and victim is Magu, regarded by his peers as ‘an incorruptible and courageous officer’, who as head of the sensitive unit charged with the investigation of senior public officers, investigated the role of  Bukola Saraki in the collapse of  Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria as well as James Ibori, former Governor of Delta  currently serving jail term in London  in addition to recording in one year, more high profile convictions than all his   predecessors put together.  The ultimate target however is Buhari’s war on corruption which they intend to discredit

  • ‘Government should encourage gas usage’

    To discourage the continued use of firewood for cooking and deforestation, with their attendant environment and health hazards, the government needs to make gas more affordable to the average Nigerians and ensure that operators access foreign exchange (forex).

    The General Manager, Dozy Oil and Gas, Isaac Isiguzo, stated this.in Lagos.

    He said the Federal Government’s encouragement of investors to go into manufacturing and packaging of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) would make Nigerians to shift from  wood to cooking gas.

    Isiguzo told The Nation in Lagos that the company was channeling efforts to curtail deforestation in line with the government’s initiative.

    He  said profit aside, it was patriotism that made the company key into the gas initiative, adding that the company was committed to partnering with the government to improve the life expectancy of Nigerians by switching to clean fuel such as LPG.

    He expressed worry that many Nigerians still depended on firewood, which is causing deforestation, adding that climate change and desertification are real.

     

  • Flood: Residents seek government’s intervention

    Residents of Araromi Odo community, Bariga, have urged the Lagos State Government to save them from health-related diseases and economic strangulation.

    The chairman of the Community Development Association (CDA) Mr. Johnson Adeola said Odukoya, Lateef Fagbemi and Oshin Folarin streets are always submerged by water from the lagoon, forcing the residents to flee their homes.

    He said: “The problem we experience here results from our being very close to the lagoon. The canal here was not properly constructed.

    “It is not wider than a gutter. We have two canals in this area; one is at Onike and the other at Bajulaye. Those were properly done. But the one that is supposed to serve our community is incomparable to the others.

    “The situation has been causing lots of problems to the community. It is not only during the rainy season that our houses are submerged but also during the dry season. The places are always flooded.

    “The flood starts in August till January when it subsides for some months and starts again. The situation has been like that for many decades.”

    The CDA chairman further said the development has led to the spread of waterborne diseases.

    He said: “School children don’t go to school when the situation becomes worse. School proprietors have relocated their schools to other places because of dwindling enrolment.”

    A community leader, Chief Adeyimi Zacchaeus said it was time government took urgent steps to save the people from untimely death.

    “We are calling on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to visit this community and see things for himself. But the situation is that our lives are at risk, our health is challenged and businesses have crumbled,” he said..

  • Government donates to IDPs in Gombe

    Government donates to IDPs in Gombe

    The Federal Government has donated food and non-food items to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) resident in Gombe State.

    Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Aisha Jummai Alhassan, distributed the items on behalf of the government yesterday.

    She said the government is concerned about the IDPs and is doing everything possible to resettle them back in their communities. She urged them to be patient.

    The minister also held a town hall meeting on the National Women Empowerment Fund (NAWEF) and Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP).

    She said N1.6 billion had been provided for the micro-credit programmes aimed at increasing financial access for Nigerians and so reduce poverty in the country.

    Alhassan explained that N200 million had been earmarked for eight states that would pilot the NAWEF, with 10,000 women beneficiaries targeted per state.

    Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states have been deliberately selected from the Northeast because of the insurgency, she said.

    Others are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Jigawa, Nasarawa and Osun states.

    “GEEP on its part will be implemented nationwide and is open to everybody,” she added.

    The minister said the loan, which will be repaid in six months, is obtainable from the banks through cooperative groups, adding that the ministry and developing partners are making arrangements to provide financial literacy and skills training to beneficiaries, while advisory will be set up to help women manage the loans.

  • Government raises peace panel on herdsmen/farmers clash

    Government raises peace panel on herdsmen/farmers clash

    The Federal Government has set up a technical committee to find solutions to the reoccurring clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in the country.

    The committee has two weeks to carry out its assignment.

    Minister of Interior Gen. Abdulraham Dambazau (rtd), who inaugurated the committee in Abuja, said it was raised to fashion out ways to address “this conflict that is fast becoming a clog in our efforts toward achieving a harmonious relationship among the citizenry as well as to our economic development moves.”

    The committee, headed by the Director-General of the Institute of Peace, Conflict and Resolution, Prof. Osita Osita, is expected to: “identify the problems underling the conflict from regional and national perspective, have an overview of past police investigations, including those that have been implemented, and to highlight the successes and challenges of each.”

    Other duties of the committee include: “Situate the Niger-Benue generally and Nigeria in particular as areas of conflict between pastoralists and sedentary farmers; identify regional and local laws and regulations that impact on the conflict and lastly, outline tentative strategies to deal with the conflict vis-a-vis the methodology for open stakeholders forum.”

    Prof. Osita, who expressed the readiness to work, said peace in Nigeria is not negotiable “because it is in the atmosphere of peace that government can deliver the dividends of democracy.”

    He promised that his committee will do everything possible to help achieve the expected peace.

  • Government, insurance industry launch flood protection plan

    The property flood resilience action plan, launched on Friday in the United Kingdom (UK) brought together the government and the insurance industry with the aim of ensuring property owners are better equipped to prepare for flooding.

    The independent report is set to help people better protect their homes and businesses from risk of flooding and get back into them sooner if it does happen.

    According to InsuranceAge,  it explores the following: the role of building regulations and certification, in encouraging use of flood resistant construction methods; how rigorous independent standards can provide confidence in flood products across the industry; how insurers can further increase their support for property owners installing flood resistant measures, particularly at the repair stage.

    According to the report a “one stop shop” advice web portal has been established to make it easier for people to find the most relevant information on better protecting their properties against flooding.

    This advice, which is targeted at homeowners, business owners and third parties including insurers, includes:  precautionary actions to take to better protect property from flooding; actions to take if property is in imminent danger from flooding; live flood warnings; recent case studies and research.

    In addition, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has produced a new consumer guide to resilient flood repair which insurers are helping to circulate.

    Floods Minister Thérèse Coffey said: “The impact of flooding on people’s lives is not just financial, it can be emotionally devastating. This new action plan brings business and government together so it will be easier for people to take action to better protect themselves and their properties.

    “Our unprecedented £2.5billionn investment in flood defences will better protect 300,000 properties from floods by 2021.

    “But property-level measures are key to ensuring those who are unfortunate enough to suffer flooding can get back in their homes and businesses sooner and minimise the impact.”

    Dr Peter Bonfield, chair of the property flood resilience action plan added: “The Action Plan will help to give people and businesses the means to reduce the chances of their lives and livelihoods being disrupted by flooding. This is about both stopping the floodwaters getting in and speeding recovery when it does.

    “This action plan goes hand in hand with other recent announcements, like the broader National Flood Resilience Review. Both help ensure the country is better prepared for future flood events.”

    Insurers

    Director-General of the ABI Huw Evans, said: “Being flooded is horribly traumatic, not only because of the immediate devastation, but because drying out and repairing badly affected properties can take