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Tag: hope

  • Governors, ministers, others preach hope to Nigerians

    Governors, ministers, others preach hope to Nigerians

    Governors and ministers yesterday urged Nigerians to be hopeful as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu tackles the challenges facing the country through the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    They also urged Nigerians, especially Christians, to always show love, compassion, and tolerance as exemplified by Jesus Christ, whose birth is being celebrated globally today. 

    In their separate  Christmas messages, the governors and ministers also stressed the need for Nigerians to pray for the peace.

    Governors Dapo Abiodun,(Ogun),, Seyi Makinde, Bassey Otu(Cross River), and Caleb Mutfwang(Plateau).  The ministers were Nyesom Wike( Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Adebayo Adelabu(Power), and Iziaq  Salako (Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare) congratulated Nigerians for witnessing another Christmas.

    Prominent leaders who also felicitated Nigerians included former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, erstwhile Labour, and Employment Minister Chris Ngige;  Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Owolabi  Olakulehin; former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi and  National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) Director-General Temitope Ilori.

    Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Christopher Musa also rejoiced with troops, whom he praised for their resilience in the anti-terrorism war.

    Abiodun called on Nigerians to look beyond the present economic challenges and be optimistic about a better tomorrow.

    He admonished Ogun State residents to be tolerant of others with different religious beliefs.   

    Emphasing the need for all Nigerians to rededicate themselves to the growth and development of the country, Abiodun reaffirmed his commitment to improving the living standards of Ogun people.

    He said: “As we celebrate this special season in moderation, let us all have it at the back of our mind that the present economic challenges facing our nation are ephemeral and there is a bigger picture of hope ahead.

    “We must support all the reforms embarked upon by President Bola Tinubu towards the revitalisation of our hitherto weak economy and ensure prosperity.

    “This is not rocket science as we have begun to see its positive impacts in all sectors,” 

    Makinde called on Christians to use the Christmas season to pray for the state and Nigeria.

    Makinde, who prayed for those mourning the loss of their relatives at a children’s funfair in Ibadan last week, advised people celebrating Christmas to do so responsibly. 

    He urged residents to report suspicious movements to security agencies through the State Emergency Number 615.

    Makinde said: “I wish all Christians and residents of Oyo State a Merry Christmas.

    “Christmas presents another opportunity to spread love and to make supplications for our state and our country.

    “We should remember those mourning the loss of their children in the recent stampede and pray that God will console them and give them the fortitude to bear the loss.

    “I also urge residents of the state to be observant and vigilant at this period. They should report any suspicion to security agencies through 615.

    “As we always say, if you see something, say something and the government will do something. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in advance.”

    In Calabar, Cross Rivers State, Governor Bassey Otu urged Nigerians to spread love, kindness, and unity in communities as they celebrate the season.  

    He acknowledged the economic challenges confronting residents of the state, assuring  that his  administration is planting seeds for an economic turnaround.’’

    His words: “We are planting seeds for economic turnaround and significant progress in our state and country.”

    Otu assured that sustained governmental policies will yield positive results in the coming year.’’

    He also highlighted the importance of unity and love in overcoming challenges.

    In his message, Governor Mutfwang called on Christians to embody the values of love, kindness, and generosity as exemplified by Jesus Christ.

    He also called on residents to pray for the peace, unity, and progress of the state and Nigeria.

    Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang congratulating the people for witnessing the season of joy and happiness.

    “It is with profound joy and gratitude to Almighty God that I extend my warmest greetings and best wishes to you as we celebrate the glorious occasion of Christmas,’ he said in a statement by his spokesman   Gyang Bere.

    Mutfwang added: “Christmas is a season of love, selflessness, and generosity. It is a time to embrace unity, share with those in need, and renew our commitment to building bridges of understanding and reconciliation.

    “I sincerely pray that this season inspires us to work together for peace, uplift one another, and foster the virtues that strengthen our communities.’’

    Former Vice-President  Abubakar implored Nigerians  to be guided by compassion and selflessness.

    He urged them to cherish the significance of Christmas as a time for reflection and togetherness.

    Atiku also urged Nigerians, particularly Christians, to express gratitude for the season despite the many challenges confronting the nation.

    He said: “It is a blessing that we can once again celebrate the events leading to the birth of Christ, despite the adversity we face.”

    Urging political leaders to make the necessary sacrifices for the nation’s collective good, Atiku also appealed to Nigerians to remain united and embrace one another with love.

    “With love and unity, there is no obstacle too great to overcome. Let us, therefore, come together to share love and joy with all people of goodwill,” he added.

    Wike urged residents of the FCT to  rededicate themselves to God and be law -abiding.

    “Since Jesus Christ whose birth is the reason for the celebration of Christmas obeyed the commandments of God, Christians, too, must keep the commandments, especially by showing love to people around us and teaching others to do the same,” Wike said.

    His admonition was contained in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka.

    The  minister said “with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola  Tinubu, things will keep getting better.”

    Read Also: Yuletide: First Lady urges Nigerians to embrace hope, unity

    Wike congratulated  FCT residents  ‘’for the grace of celebrating another Christmas.’’

    He prayed  that God  to celebrate the season would  also ‘’ensure that we all celebrate many more Christmases in good health.’’

    The minister also sympathised  ‘’with families of victims of the recent stampede in Abuja’’. 

    Power Minister  Adelabu called on  Christians and Nigerians to emulate the selfless sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

    He also urged Nigerians to rededicate themselves to the betterment of fellow Nigerians and the country by reflecting on the sacrifice Jesus made to redeem humanity.

    Adelabu assured Nigerians of President  Tinubu’s  commitment to delivering on his  Renewed Hope Agenda.

    He expressed optimism that Nigerians would soon begin to reap the dividends of democracy.

    He said: “On this occasion of the birth of Jesus Christ, this is to wish our Christian brothers and sisters a wonderful celebration.

    “Let us all reflect on the sacrifice that the Saviour of the World, made by becoming a mere mortal, in other to redeem us of our sins.

    “We are encouraged by this huge and monumental sacrifice of Jesus Christ, to also key into this sacrifice, in giving our support to the economic reforms by President   Tinubu.

    The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Isiak Salako, advised Nigerians to expect a better life next year because of the reforms of President   Tinubu.

    He also urged Nigerians to exercise patience with the government as it tackles the challenges.

    Salako gave the encouragement while distributing rice and fertiliser as well as offering medical services in Ayetoro,  headquarters of Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

    He said: “On the ground, we have 1,300 bags of rice and 600 bags of fertiliser.  Our party members are benefiting 30 percent of the palliatives, and then the market women, whose coordinator is the Iyaloja will also benefit. The Christian  Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Muslim Communities will not be left out.

    “We will also reach out to individual leaders in the five LGs. Our Baales and traditional rulers are also beneficiaries. What we have done is to at least ensure that representatives of the identified groups are on the ground to receive on behalf of their members.

    The Olubadan of Ibadanland urged Christians to emulate the virtues of Jesus Christ.

    The attributes, according to the monarch, include love, forgiveness, provision for the needy, tolerance, and peace.

    Oba   Olakulehin’s message was given at his palace in  Oke Aremo, Ibadan.

    Stressing the need to love one another, the monarch stated that lack of genuine love amongst citizens was  ‘’the bane of our society and indeed the world. ‘’

    He stressed the need for a Christ-driven love across the world in order to eliminate all the vices and injustice pervading in  the society.

    Fayemi urged  Nigerians to remain hopeful and committed to building a better nation despite the challenges of the past year.

    The former governor, in a statement  by his media office, described the season as a time for hope, renewal, and reflection.

    He highlighted the importance of looking back on the country’s struggles and determining to forge ahead.

    “The past year has tested our national resilience,” Fayemi, a former chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, noted.

    He added  “We have confronted economic difficulties, security concerns, and social upheavals that have left many struggling to make ends meet. Yet, amid these challenges, the strength, resourcefulness, and enduring spirit of Nigerians have continued to shine brightly.”

    He called on Nigerians to embrace the message of Christmas—love, compassion, and sacrifice—and draw inspiration from the sacrifices of Jesus Christ by becoming their brother’s keeper and supporting the vulnerable members of our communities..

    Ngige, a one time governor of Anambra State, called for prayer for the nation to overcome all its challenges. 

    According to him, the holiness and solemnity of Christmas also offer an opportunity for quiet reflection by Nigerians on their individual lives and the future of the nation.

    Ngige described Christ as good news worth celebrating globally and year after year, regardless of the challenges confronting humanity. 

    According to him, notwithstanding that Jesus Christ was born under humble circumstances, he remained a phenomenal figure in the history of Christendom and humanity in general.

    The former minister urged Christians to emulate Christ and use the period of His birth to show care, compassion, and love to others, especially the less privileged in the society.

    The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA)  called on all Nigerians to prioritise their health during the holiday.

    NACA  Director General (DG) Ilori, who said Christmas is a time for joy and celebration, stressed thatit also presents an opportunity to make informed and responsible decisions about one’s health.

    “We urge everyone to take advantage of the free and confidential HIV testing services available across the country,”  Ilori said in a statement by the agency’s spokesperson, Toyin Aderibigbe. 

    CDS praises troops’ resilience in anti-terrorism war

    CDS  Musa urged members of the Armed Forces to use the Christmas period for reflection on the immeasurable love of God for them and members of their families. 

    Gen.Musa also enjoined them ‘’to ensure the year 2025 is defined by positive changes in the security narratives in all our theatres of operations.” 

    To other Nigerians, the CDS said they should continue to abide by the teachings of love, forgiveness, and togetherness as exemplified by Jesus Christ.

    In a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Brig-Gen. Tukur Gusau, the CDS noted that the birth of Jesus Christ  heralded good tidings and hope to the hopeless.

    The statement reads : “The CDS noted that the year has been eventful, dotted with few incidents. Despite all these, Almighty God has been gracious and merciful unto us as we are alive to witness another Christmas celebration. 

    “We do remember with a heavy heart that some of our colleagues who started the year with us, lost their lives in the process of keeping our nation safe from all forms of insecurity occasioned by the activities of terrorists, bandits, and other non-state actors.

    “As a mark of respect to our colleagues who paid the supreme price, the CDS urged our troops to ensure the year 2025 is defined by positive changes in the security narratives in all our theatres of operations.”    Gen. Musa also acknowledged troops’ resilience, and their will to fight in various theatres of operations across the nation.

    He saluted their ‘’courage and sacrifices in securing the lives and prosperity of our dear country,’’ and assured that the Armed Forces would continue to align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

  • The Economics of Good Hope

    The Economics of Good Hope

    • How the system corrects itself

    It is another Easter period. The columnist wishes our readers well as the nation journeys through unprecedented economic turbulence and adverse political weather. As distilled in human history and no matter by what name the season is called, this is the season of hope and renewal. Hope springs eternal in the human heart. Without hope and the possibility of renewal, humanity is lost.

    As exampled by the sterling life of Jesus Christ himself, Easter is also the season of charity and compassion and the empathy that goes with it. These are the higher virtues that distinguish humankind from the lower species. Without them, the human society becomes an unlivable animal conflatum with human beasts and other strange carnivores roaming freely and widely in search of their next victim.

      The economics of hope is predicated on the prodigious capacity of human beings as rational Homo Economicus to act in their own enlightened self- interest or to rouse in self-correction when the handshake has gone beyond the elbow. 

       For example, when startling technological advances and disruptive sciences bring about dramatic inequality of political power and its economic configurations across nations, races, classes, gender and religions, other contrary and countervailing forces rise to the occasion to claw back some of the lost ground or bring about some desired parity.

    This is why our contemporary world is in such turmoil as nations, races, classes, religions and even genders square it off in a struggle for equality and self-validation. Any wonder then when it is asserted that this age will be remembered as the epoch when humanity finally lost its idyllic innocence?

      In Gaza, Ukraine, Russia, Myanmar, normally sedate Canada, America, Australia and many postcolonial nations in Africa particularly Nigeria, an explosive mix of national, racial, religious and economic forces are up in arms against each other. As these forces link up in violent confrontation and multi-sector hostilities, it begins to feel as if a new type of global war without symmetry or synchrony is upon humanity. When the cloud has cleared, the world will be created anew.

       This is why in societies where people have been through the worst example of feudal bondage, where they have been subjected to political, economic and spiritual subordination, something always gives eventually no matter how long it takes.  The emancipation of subjugated people does not take forever.

      In some cases, it is visionary and farsighted members of the old oligarchy who lead the charge for reform which makes it far less contentious and conflict-ridden. But when and where the situation is allowed to deteriorate to a point where adversarial classes seize the momentum things can get very nasty and bloodcurdling indeed.

      The originating thesis and title of this piece is not original. It is taken from the December 2021 edition of Prospect, the agenda-setting and cerebral London-based magazine with the same cover title. Why it is being foregrounded in this column almost two and a half years later is as interesting and sobering. It is a story of renewal and hope and is worth retelling on its own merit.

      In December 2020 upon returning to London after a short trip to the US, yours sincerely had stopped over as usual at a famous news retailer at Heathrow Airport to buy the latest newsmagazines to tide one over during the Christmas period. Among these was the magazine, Prospect, a cogitative tavern for intellectual gourmets. It promised to be a big literary feast leavened by quiet meditation and introspection. But it was not to be. The columnist succumbed to the dreaded Covid-19 plague.

      It was quite an irony. At that point in time, the scourge of Covid-19 had significantly abated in many parts of the world except in America where it retained the status of a pandemic rather than an endemic. The dreaded plague still laid its icy claws on America. It was a severely cold early December in New York. With the streets entirely deserted, this magnificent conurbation of humanity felt dreary and eerily unwelcoming; a snow mausoleum of the dead and the dying.

      It was an appropriate punishment for heedless wanderlust, what is known in the northern parts of Nigeria as Sokugo or the wandering disease. One must have succumbed to the disease while aimlessly ambling about the precincts of the hotel in boredom and disorientation. But it did not manifest immediately since one was able to scale the compulsory medical hurdle of passing the Covid-19 test.

      Before then, one had thought of himself as an untouchable phenomenon having earlier in the year survived a grim four-month medical internment in England as the pandemic ravaged and razed the entire world. It was a scene out of the apocalypse, like the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust. Nothing seemed to be moving.

      London streets were empty and evacuated of humanity giving the impression of some post-human commune in all its grim surreality. It might have been due to hyperactive imagination, but one was convinced of a faint cadaverous smell about, like the sanitized stench of overwhelmed and overfilled morgues. The body froze as the daily news from Nigerian broke the story of luminaries who had succumbed at home. It began to feel like some endgame for the human species.

    It was a memorable moment for humanity which also showcased the human capacity for heroism and empathy. One watched in dreadful silence as television footage showed images of the serving British Prime minister, Boris Johnson, unconscious and fitfully breathing as he was wheeled in to the Emergency Ward.

       Yours sincerely believed he knew the precise moment the dreaded virus struck. It was while taking a stroll around the 153rd Street in Jamaica, Queens. One felt a clump suddenly fastened to the back of the skull like a blind bat in a dark alleyway. But one had shrugged it off as a product of fear and morbid imagining.

      Few days after arriving in London, it was clear that this was no longer something to be shrugged off as the virus kicked in and took strong hold. It was a phenomenal battle between human will and sheer mortality. It began with severe bodily ache and a feverish condition which soon deteriorated into a hallucinatory haze which made it impossible to even doze off. At this point, one began to experience what felt like out of body experiences. Despite all this, one insisted that all was well to all solicitous inquiries.

      The tie-breaker came about the sixth day. With the whole body palpitating and the hands shaking uncontrollably, one had attempted to make a cup of tea for himself. It ended in a fiasco with the whole cup spilling on the floor of the kitchen. While furtively trying to mop up without raising any alarm one felt an overpowering urge to lie peacefully on the floor and one succumbed.

      In what felt like an eternity later, one was roused by the loud cry of our host, our son, who always believed that his father was a cat with a thousand lives.

      “I see, you have been deceiving me about your real condition. I will now call for the ambulance!!” the affrighted young man yelled as he headed for the phone. In a spectacular burst of energy about this equivalent of a death sentence, one had leapt up almost hitting the ceiling of the kitchen.

       “I am not going to the hospital!! Don’t you ever call the ambulance!” I screamed. As every right thinking person knows, it is always the last call for a person over sixty five to be taken to the hospital as a Covid-19 patient in those days. The medical personnel will just put you aside and ply you with enough analgesics for ease of passage to the great beyond.

    Read Also: Subsidy: Be hopeful, Tinubu has good plans for Nigeria – Braithwaite

      It is a medical tradition known as triage which owes its origins to a Napoleon era military surgeon of the same name. It is like a needs-tested mode of treatment, whereby in circumstances of huge and sudden casualties such as you find in wars, priority of medical attention must be given to younger soldiers who are able to make a quick recovery and return to the battle field rather than fretting over old people who are already on their way out anyway.

      Sounds very nice and comforting to old people, doesn’t it? We must thank the almighty for the surviving traits of communal and communitarian living in Africa which compel us to take care of our old people as well as the poor and needy.

      This may change over time as African postcolonial societies take on a more complex form. We must enjoy it while it lasts. One of the incontestable and unassailable cruelties of the modern capitalist societies is the way old age is faintly criminalized and old people regarded as surplus to requirement. They even steal their gratuities, gratuitously so to say.

      It is a great irony, but suffice it to add that the threat of being taken to hospital was the best treatment one had for covid-19. The balance of forces between human will and man-made adversities dramatically altered in the next few days. Recovery was so swift and irreversible that the following week one was able to stage a dramatic return to Lagos after finally passing the covid-19 test.

       In ending, and this being the season of renewal and regeneration, we must reaffirm our faith and hope in the Economics of good hope and the fact that human society has a capacity for renewal and self-revalidation as a result of the inherent capacity of humankind to make a rational evaluation of their circumstances. When this human capacity is so hobbled by adverse national circumstances such as make rational choices impossible, a society plumbs the depth self-annihilation until a new group emerges.  Happy Easter to all our readers.

  • Mutual hope

    Mutual hope

    • NBA and INEC come together to prosecute electoral offenders

    Perhaps, there will be salvation for the reputation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), if the 1,076 electoral offenders indicted over the 2023 general elections are made to answer for their alleged offences. Should a sizeable number of them getconvicted and punished, the public would begin to hold politicians, party agents and the general public accountable for most of the malfeasance committed during elections. For now, only INEC carries the can, even when prominent persons who are not INEC staff,are caught on camera committing electoral offences.

    Interestingly, the body of lawyers has taken up the gauntlet to help the nation clean the electoral process. The report that 16 Senior Advocates of Nigeria ( SAN) and 187 lawyers have volunteered to prosecute the 1,076 suspects on behalf of INEC is heartwarming. It shows that the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) iswalking its talk of a promise to prosecute the offenderspro bono.

    INEC had given lack of capacity to prosecute the huge number of offenders, which prompted the NBA to offer free legal services as a patriotic duty to the fatherland. 

    Instructively, section 145(2) of the Electoral Act 2022 provides: “A prosecution under this act shall be undertaken by legal officers of the commission or any legal practitioner appointed by it.” The report indicates that INEC is also collaborating with the Police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), in this fight.

    We commend such collaboration and urge INEC to make the best use of it. Furthermore, the NBA is vetting the files, to ensure that cases are well investigated before prosecution under the appropriate laws of the land.

    Of the 36 states, Ebonyi came tops with 64 electoral offences, involving 216 suspects, followed by Edo with 22 cases involving 80 suspects. Then Anambra with 12 cases involving 66 suspects, followed by Kaduna with 11 cases and 36 suspects. Adamawa is fifth with 10 cases involving 17 suspects, while Kano, Rivers and Osun all have nine cases each, with 74, 68 and 47 suspects, respectively. The state with the least is Yobewhich has one case, with two suspects.

    Some of the listed electoral offences allegedly committed include “culpable homicide and unlawful possession of firearms”, “snatching and destroying of INEC items,” “being in possession of offensive weapons”, “misconduct at polling units and stealing of election results” among several others. A cursory look at some of the cases listed shows that they are not amongst the provisions of Electoral Offences in Part VII of the Electoral Act 2022.

    Read Also: 10 important things you need to know about Tinubu’s 2024 proposed ‘Budget of Renewed Hope’

    Thankfully, the NBA is vetting the files and returning those outside the jurisdiction of the Electoral Act to INEC, which we hope it will transfer to the police for necessary action. We view the provision in the Electoral Offences as substantially comprehensive, and if those who make a shame of our elections are apprehended and punished, the nation’s electoral process will be the better for it. Indeed, the provisions are substantially comprehensive.

    The provisions of Part VII of the Electoral Act, include section 114 which deals with “offences in relation to registration”, with liability on conviction to a maximum fine of one million naira or imprisonment for 12 months, or both. Section 115 deals with “offences in respect of nomination”, and on conviction, a maximum fine of N50 million or imprisonment for 10 years, or both. Section 117 deals with “improper use of voters card”, and provides for a maximum fine of one million naira or imprisonment for 12 months ,or both.

    Indeed, if the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 can be implemented, our elections would become a model in Africa and across the world. But, the problem is the political class, who are determined to win elections at all cost, and do not care what damage they do to the process. Also, part of the shenanigans are the security officials, who aid politicians in the brazen acts of electoral offences. Then the citizens who make themselves available either as thugs or receivers of the paltry sums offered in exchange for violence or votes.Of course, mostly with the connivance of criminal elements in INEC

    But there seems to be a new awakening against electoral offences, and we welcome it. The offer from the NBA through the national chairman, Mr YakubuMaikyau, portends a good omen to clean up our electoral process. Once a few of the culprits are made to answer for their sins, the confidence of Nigerians would return to the electoral process.

    We urge the INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to ensure his commission makes maximum use of the collaboration with NBA and the security agencies.

  • Realising vision of renewed hope

    Realising vision of renewed hope

    Dear Dr. A Adegoroye, thank you very much for making available to me the soft copy of your lead paper delivered on September 29, to mark the 63 anniversary of Nigeria’s independence.

    I note that the paper was anchored on twin-aspirations of Hope and Vision expressed by the present administration and apparent lack of progress in national development commensurate with the enormous human and material resources God has endowed Nigeria.

    The comparison of Nigeria’s shortcomings in relation to its peers at independence is apt and should always serve as a clarion call for sober reflection on where things went wrong. Nigeria had prepared national plans and visions like other countries. Why are they not achieving the same results?

    Indeed, a new administration always provides the opportunity to correct the failings of the past and for a nation to relaunch itself. You rightly called it a New Dawn and used the national symbol, the Eagle, as a metaphor of Nigeria being a country that has been incapacitated and wanting to be plumed to fly again.

    Various key decisions had consequently been taken by the new administration particularly on the economic front coupled with a restructuring of the government framework and a host of personnel appointments in key positions. In a way, it is left for those currently put in charge to deliver and the President has given ‘marching orders’ to the appointees to do so. Needless to say, positive results are anxiously being awaited and patience appears to be running out even though the administration is only a couple of months in the saddle.

    And so there remain high expectations on performance in delivery of goods and services. At the moment, the horizon is not too clear. There is a huge performance and credibility gap vis-a-vis pronouncements made while public anxiety remains high as the negative fallouts of the major policy pronouncements weigh heavily and unbearably on the people.

    Read Also: CJN: judiciary must embrace technology for efficiency

    You have tried to highlight several areas for due attention, some of which had been identified by the administration itself to include: moving away from heavy borrowing

    Tackling joblessness; tackling poverty; attraction of foreign investment including encouragement of Nigerians in the Diaspora to do so; correction of leadership deficiencies and non- observance of the rules that results incorruption and leakages of treasury; streamline functions to check duplication of functions arising from the enlarged Ministerial portfolios; coordination of government activities; competitive compensation; creation of a Foreign Service Board, and checking default in procurement contracts, etc.

    Among others, you proposed an increase in coordinating portfolios. While there is merit in creating a Board or Commission for the Foreign Service, the same cannot be said of additional coordinating portfolios. The induction or seminar for public servants and political appointees of which you had been an ardent advocate would have taken care of many of the points. Unfortunately, the forum is yet to take place. The fears expressed about duplication of functions arising from the restructured portfolios should also have been taken care of well before and not after the creation of the new bodies. As it is, the service is being confronted with the proverbial ‘putting the cart before the horse’.

    As at now, much is expected from the leadership of the government. If there is support of the Accounting Officers from the above in enforcement of Financial Regulations a lot of the financial abuses could be checked as there are rules only that they are strictly not being observed. For instance, benefits to certain posts have been monetized since the Obasanjo administration and yet there appears to be more costly ‘official’ vehicles bought and maintained at public expense in addition to incumbents drawing heavy perquisites. Hence monetisation had hardly achieved its intended objectives. Presidential Review panels could be set up to look into some of the naughty areas of abuses, the treasury leakages and financial mismanagements to tighten the loopholes while the government strives to increase the quantum of revenue.

    While some of the shortcomings you enumerated will hopefully be looked into in due time, there are few worrisome areas requiring urgency in action and positive results. These include: increase in oil production and export as one of the major sources of foreign exchange earnings; curbing increase in foreign exchange rate; reduction in rate of inflation; increase in and stabilisation of electricity supply; improvement in general security; curbing incidence of kidnapping and robbery, etc.

  • Rep: my win restores hope

    Rep: my win restores hope

    House of Representatives member representing Tarauni Federal Constituency of Kano State, Umar Zakari, has described his victory at the Appeal Court in Abuja as a restoration of the wishes of the people.

        Zakairi is of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP). His victory in the February elections was contested by his close rival.

     In a statement, Chieftain of the party, Olufemi Ajadi,  reinforced his belief in the judiciary as the hope of the common man.

    Ajadi assured Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, the Court of Appeal would also upturn the judgment of Kano State Governorship Election Tribunal that nullified his election.

    Read Also: Tinubu: I’m focused on lifting Nigeria to greatness

     He said: “The court has restored the hope of the people of Tarauni Federal Constituency, who in February elected Zakari as their representative in the National Assembly.”

     Ajadi, the governorship candidate of NNPP in Ogun State, urged Zakari to enrich Nigeria’s constitutional development, provide good representation for people of Tarauni and carry out the ideals of NNPP.

    He urged Yusuf to be calm and continue his work, saying the people were behind him.

     Ajadi hailed the presidential candidate of the party, Senator Musa Kwakwanso, noting the mature way he was  piloting affairs of the party.

  • Renewed Hope initiative: Breaking gender barriers with bytes

    Renewed Hope initiative: Breaking gender barriers with bytes

    • By Mubarak Umar

    A symphony of hope and empowerment reverberated through the heart of Nigeria as two visionary forces, First Lady of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Senator Remi Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Initiative” and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), united their efforts to orchestrate the awe-inspiring “Women ICT Training and Empowerment Programme” in Abuja.

    The closing ceremony of the maiden edition programme which took place three weeks ago at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, was to empower women through the strategic use of technology has garnered attention and praise for its innovative approach to addressing gender disparities and fostering women’s economic and social advancement.

    This convergence of the Renewed Hope Initiative and NITDA marks an epochal juncture where visionary leadership and pioneering technology intersect to mold a brighter future for Nigerian women.

    Senator Remi Tinubu has consistently championed women’s rights and empowerment. Her Renewed Hope Initiative, an embodiment of her tenacious spirit, has emerged as a lighthouse guiding countless women through the labyrinth of gender disparities.

    On the other hand, NITDA, a trailblazing government institution at the forefront of Nigeria’s technological evolution, has showcased its prowess in spearheading digital transformation. Recognizing the formidable impact of technological prowess in women’s empowerment, the agency’s alignment with the Renewed Hope Initiative radiates a resplendent promise of a tech-empowered tomorrow.

    Through meticulously designed training modules, participants are nurtured with technical acumen, digital dexterity, and digital marketing proficiencies, enabling them to traverse the dynamic terrain of the tech industry with finesse. The programme’s design resonates with a holistic approach that not only imparts technical skills but also fosters resilience and confidence, incubating a new breed of tech-savvy trailblazers.

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    The synergy between the Renewed Hope Initiative and NITDA cascades into a tapestry of strategic partnerships that exude excellence. This collaboration beckons prominent tech conglomerates and pioneering entrepreneurs to converge under a single banner, painting a vivid tableau of solidarity in the face of gender inequality.

    The First Lady’s appearance at the closing ceremony of Women ICT Training Empowerment Programme which took place at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, does not merely illuminate the path; it reshapes destinies. The empowering melodies of this initiative underscore Senator Remi Tinubu’s and NITDA’s commitment to pioneering change at the grassroots, enriching lives, and unlocking unparalleled opportunities.

    One of the cornerstones of the initiative is an ingenious effort that aims to provide digital literacy training to thousands of women across the country in the near future. With technology being the driving force behind global progress, the initiative’s focus on digital skills, empowering women to shatter glass ceilings and access opportunities that were once beyond their reach.

    The initiative provided women with access to digital literacy training, enabling them to harness the power of the internet and technology. From basic computer skills to more advanced courses, these women are empowered to navigate the digital landscape confidently, not only to enhance employability but also equip them to make informed decisions in an increasingly digital world.

    Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Training Empowerment Programme, organised by NITDA in collaboration with Renewed Hope Initiative, Senator Tinubu emphasised the need for multi-sectoral partnerships to create a more inclusive and thriving digital future for Nigerian women.

    She recognised the immense and transformative power that technology wields, underscoring its profound impact in bridging disparities across diverse sectors, with a particular emphasis on the realm of technology itself.

    In an insightful reflection, she highlighted the significance of Nigeria’s ongoing digital transformation, underscoring that within this trajectory, it becomes an imperative of utmost importance to guarantee the active and meaningful inclusion of women.

    As the nation propels forward on its journey of digitalisation, the First Lady made it clear that women, who have historically been underrepresented in technology-related fields, must not be relegated or sidelined in this technological evolution.

    She believes that in a world where technology influence is ever-expanding, it is imperative that women are not only partakers but also key drivers of innovation, progress, and change. This empowerment initiative stands as a testament to the commitment of NITDA and Renewed Hope Initiative in nurturing a more equitable and dynamic tech landscape, where diversity thrives and opportunities are bound.

    Amidst the sea of nodding heads and affirmative gestures, it was clear that the attendees recognised the depth of commitment embedded within the First Lady’s words. Her call to harness the power of technology as a catalyst for change in dismantling traditional gender barriers was met with not just approval, but a shared determination to actively contribute to the cause. This collective sentiment of resonance underscored the profound impact that her speech had on all present.

    The First Lady’s dedication to women’s welfare has long been evident, but the Renewed Hope Initiative’s partnership with NITDA takes her advocacy to soaring heights, especially now that technology is the key to unlocking limitless potentials, which wants use multifaceted plan that combines innovation and empowerment to ensure that Nigerian women are not left behind.

    The training programme has brought together a coalition of like-minded individuals and organisations committed to the advancement of women’s inclusion in digital space. Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, and Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, have lauded First Lady’s visionary approach of tailoring the needs of Nigerian women, ensuring that women from all walks of life can access digital skills, upskill and pursue new horizons at their own pace.

    Furthermore, the distribution of laptops and financial support to the beneficiaries is more than just a symbolic gesture; it symbolises a tangible investment in the potential, capabilities, and aspirations of women in the realm of technology. Equipping them with the tools and resources they need, will amplify their voices, enhance their skills, and empower them to become active contributors to the digital revolution that is reshaping the world as we know it.

    As the partnership unfurls its wings, it is a clarion call for the nation to unite and applaud the remarkable collaboration between the visionary First Lady and the technological vanguards at NITDA. This remarkable partnership echoes a resounding message that women’s empowerment is not just a notion—it’s an imperative, an emancipation, and an unceasing symphony of hope.

    In an era where transformative leadership is the need of the hour, the First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative shines as a beacon of hope, illuminating the path to a more prosperous and inclusive Nigeria. As the initiative gathers momentum, it is not merely a programme; it is a movement that has the potential to redefine gender empowerment for generations to come.

  • Quick dial into renewed hope

    Quick dial into renewed hope

    The Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector is strategic to efforts aimed at leveraging digital infrastructure for effective governance.  Stakeholders say the new government is dialling the right numbers, LUCAS AJANAKU reports.

    During his inauguration speech,  President Bola Tinubu, among other commitments, said the administration will create one million digital jobs and end the era of punitive multiple taxation that has been asphyxiating micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and multinationals.

     The promise, expectedly, excited the telecom sector, which has been reeling under the yoke of about 40 different taxes and levies.

    The President has demonstrated his determination to walk his talk by upholding the suspension of the implementation of the five per cent excise duty on telecoms, popularly called telecom tax, and inaugurated the Taiwo Oyedele-led Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms.

     One of the ICT sector industry bills to get his presidential assent was the Data Protection Bill. It was signed into law and became the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB), thus strengthening the prospects of the country’s pursuit of Digital Economy.

     The NDPB National Commissioner, Dr Vincent Olatunji, said the singular action of the president raised new job prospects in millions.

    Olatunji applauded the president for renewing the hope of over 200 million Nigerians in the advancement of privacy rights and other fundamental freedoms in cyberspace and analogue transactions.

      “Nigeria has taken a giant leap forward in the global data race with the assent to Nigeria Data Protection Act by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The Act was signed on the 12th of June 2023.

     “The NDPB, pursuant to the express provisions of the new act, has transmuted into a full-fledged commission and it is mandated to among others: regulate the deployment of technological and organisational measures to enhance personal data protection; foster the development of personal data protection technologies, in accordance with recognised international best practices and applicable international law; conduct investigations into any violation of a requirement under the Act; impose penalties in respect of any violation of the provisions of the Act or subsidiary legislation made thereof; where necessary, accredit, license, and register suitable persons to provide data protection compliance services; issue regulations, rules, directives and guidance under the Act; and register data controllers and data processors of major importance,” NDPB explained.

     The bureau further said the Act is one of the strategic ways the president is fulfilling his campaign promise of creating one million jobs in the digital economy sector.

     About 500,000 jobs are expected to be created through the training of data protection officers and licensing of data protection compliance organisations to offer services to data controllers and processors.

     The appointment of Dr Bosun Tijani as the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy has been commended by stakeholders in the industry. They say it is a demonstration of the president’s knack for putting round pegs in round holes.

    Since he is a member of the ICT ecosystem, having run CcHub, Yaba, a Lagos community that is fast becoming Nigeria’s version of America’s Silicon Valley, they are optimistic he would bring to bear his wealth of experience, especially in nurturing tech start-ups.

     Like flies to bees, the ICT sector has started attracting global interest with the tech giant, Google and World Bank showing interest to deepen interaction with the country.

     First was Google execs’ meeting with the Mr President at the State House, Abuja. Led by its Global Vice President, Mr. Richard Gingras, acknowledged that Nigeria had creative and talented young people who are ready and motivated to learn, especially at this age of emerging technologies such Artificial Intelligence (AI), stressing that the tech giant has the capabilities and tools that the young people need to excel.

      “We are ready to work with you on your commitment to create one million digital jobs in Nigeria,” the President said.

     Google’s commitment aligns with the tech giant’s focus on Africa. According to Google in Africa, Africa is experiencing incredible change, presenting both opportunities and challenges. The continent is home to 19 of the top 20 fastest-growing countries on the globe, and its internet economy has the potential to grow to $180 billion by 2025.

    By the same year, more than half of Africa’s population will be under 25, creating an even more pressing need to generate economic opportunity.

     Google believes that African-led innovation will be key to meeting such needs, and Africa is already a place where innovation begins and spreads to the rest of the world.

     Google has long been committed to supporting this innovation and harnessing technology to support growth in Africa. Last year, our CEO Sundar Pichai announced that Google would invest $1 billion in Africa over five years focused on priorities identified in our “Digital Sprinters” report, including secure, affordable and environmentally sustainable digital infrastructure, a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, skilling to help people prepare for the jobs of the future, and technological innovation that unleashes new opportunities. “We’re partnering with policymakers, non-profits, local businesses, creators, and communities across the region to deliver on that commitment and help boost Africa’s digital transformation,” Pichai said.

     Tijani also said the Federal Government has secured a loan of $500million for a domestic funding program.

     The primary objective of this initiative, he explained, is to enhance innovation and entrepreneurship within the nation’s digital sector.

     Speaking at an event held in his honour in collaboration with the World Bank, the Minister said the country has gained access to  $500 million for domestic funding initiatives.

     Tijani outlined the Federal Government’s strategy to establish local funding capabilities within Nigeria, ensuring that it directly benefits authentic Nigerian enterprises. He also highlighted a partnership with the Bank of Industry (BoI) for this endeavour.

     Underscoring the significance of bolstering and championing local businesses, he said the aim is to guarantee that the beneficiaries of the initiative are genuinely Nigerian enterprises.

     His vision entails bringing domestic funding within the country, to nurture the growth and advancement of indigenous businesses. This, in turn, is envisioned to make a substantial contribution to the nation’s economic advancement.

     He assured the public that the initial cash designated for domestic funding signifies only the initial step, adding that more investors will be enlisted to increase the pool of resources available to support Nigerian innovators. Tijani reiterated that the government’s objective is to leverage the fund to attract further investment and expand opportunities for local entrepreneurs.

    “Part of my responsibilities is working with BoI to ensure that we domicile that funding locally in Nigeria, work with firms who manage and invest in businesses to ensure that those businesses that will benefit are true, real Nigerian businesses.

     “And what we are going to see is that the funding is available locally and in the coming months it is going to become larger and as these funds become larger we want to leverage that money as well. So the government is not just going to put half a billion and that’s it, it can actually bring more investors to heart as we have more money more of our innovators can have access to resources,” he said.

     World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri, also restated the bank’s dedication to eradicating poverty, enhancing livelihoods, and generating employment prospects for the youth of the nation.

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     Chaudhuri underlined the transformative potential inherent in harnessing digital technologies and delineated two pivotal areas of collaboration with Nigeria to actualise these aspirations.

     He highlighted the pivotal role of a digital national identification system as the cornerstone of the digital revolution. He elaborated that the World Bank is in close cooperation with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to ensure the successful implementation and registration of digital national IDs for the entire Nigerian populace.

     The World Bank representative shared that the ambitious objective is to equip a minimum of 148 million working-age individuals with digital national IDs by the midpoint of next year. This ambitious stride is set to make significant strides towards inclusivity and widespread accessibility.

     He said: “Our main mission here in Nigeria is to eliminate poverty, make lives better create jobs, for all Nigerian youth. One of the areas that we think have the greatest potential is the area of using digital technologies to transform. Now to do that it begins with having this digital national ID.

     “So one of the main partnerships we have is working with NIMC to ensure the rollout of the registration so that all 213/220 million Nigerians have a digital national ID, beginning of course with all people of working age and I think the target for that is at least 148 million people by the middle of next year.”

     Chaudhuri said the second aspect involves assisting Nigeria in spearheading the development of broadband infrastructure, as the absence of robust broadband connectivity could exacerbate a digital divide. Hence, their contribution revolves around endorsing favourable policies and regulations that encourage private sector investment in this domain, alongside the expansion of fiber optic networks.

     “One thing, for example, working with states is to persuade states to reduce the right of way fees and fiber. Cable operators have to pay more when they’re getting the land to ray the cable, All that is like the foundations and real potential comes from once you have the national ID all the technologies that apps that can be built on the weather to bring services to people, to people where they get people access to finance that all of that needs skills,” he said.

     The stakeholders, acting under the aegis of Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), and Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), have urged the President on security, foreign exchange (forex) and others as directs the ship of state.

     ATCON President, Tony Emoekpere said: “Of note also is the addition of “Innovation” to the title of the Ministry. It is a further pointer to the direction the government intends to take in the communication industry. Considering one of the promises of a million digital jobs, a lot of innovation is truly required.”

     He urged the President on solutions to the fundamental challenges facing the industry, especially at the physical layer – infrastructure, which if unresolved, would not allow success in the application layers where most of the digital jobs reside. There is great need to develop, secure and enable further expansion of communication infrastructure in the country, he said.

     He said: “With a solid infrastructure base, innovative digital services which can take advantage of the growing Digital Economy can be further developed and expanded to all areas of the country especially the unserved and underserved areas.

     “Issues ranging from funding, security and permits still bedevil the industry although several strides have been made especially by the regulating bodies chiefly NCC as well as National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and now the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC).”

     The group urged the government to create a special forex window for operators in the industry; passing into an Act, the Critical National Infrastructure Bill; implementation of agreement between Governors Forum and mobile network operators (MNOs) on RoW and the issues of multiple taxation/regulation.

     “The success of the new minister is our success. A recommendation is to constitute an Industry Think Tank Team to help him fast track growth and development in the sector. He needs expertise of industry Associations to embark on projects, and programmes that would speed up the growth, efficiency and effectiveness of the Nigerian telecom and ICT sector,” ATCON said, adding that members were ready to work with the Federal Government for impact.

     NCS President, Prof Adesina Sodiya, stressed the need to develop the strength of the nation in the area of IT. He said the country has not been doing well in manufacturing small items such as USB cables. He said the minister should build capacity in this respect.

     According to him, Nigeria has strength in software development. He therefore urged the minister to build on this strength the way the Indians did and today, they are all over the world leading the IT sphere.

     In the area of creating jobs, he said thegovernment must encourage the creation of soft skills, not necessarily the creation of brick and mortar jobs, the type created for secondary school leavers. He urged the minister to encourage skills acquisition, the type that young Nigerians could be engaged in from home, working for multinational companies abroad.

     He cited skills in emerging technologies such as AI, robotics, data analytics and many more, adding that he should also prioritise digitising governance. He said there is no reason why railway tickets could not be obtained online within the comfort of the homes of intending travellers.

     Sodiya also urged the minister not to limit his expertise to the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy alone, rather, he should allow his impact to be felt in the health, agriculture, education, sports and other sectors of the economy because the way to go globally is digital.

     Chairman, Zinox Group, Leo Stan-Ekeh, said the Federal Government should build hubs in tertiary institutions to accelerate soft skills acquisition and satisfy the curiosity of the youthful population of the country.

     Stan-Ekeh, who expressed confidence in the ability of President Tinubu to drive genuine data because of its importance to national planning, said emphasis must also be on the creation of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) which is said to be the growth engine of modern economies.

     ALTON Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, urged the minister to preserve the independence of the regulatory body for sustainable growth. He also raised alarm over the burden of multiple taxes.

      “At present, the telecommunications companies in Nigeria are overburdened with over 39 different taxes and levies, the bulk of which are multiple or excessive. If this new tax is added to existing taxes, it will effectively increase Nigeria’s corporate income tax rate to about 36 per cent which is one of the highest rates in the world.

     “This will not give a good image about our country and give the impression that our Campaign for ease of doing business in Nigeria is not genuine,” he had warned when the government had moved to impose a five per cent excise duty on the telecoms sector.

  • Don’t lose hope, Adeola urges Nigerians

    Senator Solomon Adeola (APC,Lagos West) yesterday asked his supporters not to lose hope in Nigeria’s  electoral process as challenges such as the postponement of the presidential and national assembly elections  often dog nascent democracy. Adeola who recently concluded a campaign tour of the 10 Local Government areas and 18 LCDAs  in the zone, expressed optimism of being re-elected.

    He urged his supporters not to be demoralized as delay is not denial. He said: “I have been a victim of this kind of postponement twice in the past in 2011 and 2015 and on each occasion I came out victorious for House of Representatives seat and Senate respectively. This election will not be different as victoria ascerta next Saturday.”

    Senator Adeola restated his call for the electorate to vote for APC and its candidates in all election as it is inconceivable and would be disastrous for Nigeria to return PDP back to power under any guise after 16 years of mis-governance and looting of nation resources.

  • Hope: The motif of this season

    SIR, Eventful, exalting, tumultuous, ireful, intriguing; indeed, it was a year! Thank God we are seeing its end. Many (young and old, male and female, righteous and rough) who were swallowed by the year never knew it was going to be their last year in this existential calendric space predicated on vagaries and uncertainties. From the first to the umpteenth, goodbye!

    The myriad lessons of 2018 should never be forgotten in a hurry. I would only highlight four that personally impressed me. The gubernatorial election that happened in Ekiti gave a humbling narrative that ‘mighty’ men still fall and “whatever has a beginning, must have an end.” Ekiti electorate now knows their true friend. Nigerians must have learnt to always patiently debunk rumours after many were fooled by Nnamdi Kanu, the elusive sophist that peddled a lie claiming President Muhammadu Buhari is dead and Nigeria is being governed by a lookalike. The Nigerian electorate more than ever has learnt from Olusegun Obasanjo and some highly reverred religious leaders the need to be more cynical about the motives of Nigerian elite. Discernment tells yours sincerely that they are overly greedy.

    2019, welcome!

    It is customary for people to give predictions, prophecies, forecasts, etc. in this season. As it unfolds, we are bound to see events, some conventional, absurd, good, bad, and ugly. We have just begun another journey into uncertainties. However, one thing I palpably feel and see in my compatriots and in people around the world is hope. Hope is rife and does work.

    In less than 50 days from now, the Nigerian electorate will go to the polls. Interestingly, all the aspirants that I have seen are hopeful. Let us take few examples. President Buhari rode into office in 2015 on the horse of moral rectitude. Humanly, he tried to fulfill his promises that he made to Nigerians. What can a mere mortal who is not Hercules do in cleaning up Nigeria in the midst of greedy parliamentarians and mephistophelean adjudicators in a democratic system? Yet, even with meagre revenues, we have N-Power, school feeding, revitalised infrastructure, stabilized fuel price, revamped agriculture, war on graft, etc. as results of his forthrightness in keeping to his promises. However, competing conspirators aiming to assume his office continue to question his integrity claiming that his probity is exaggerated as he ‘deodorizes’ those in his tent while witch-hunting those against him. PMB relies in the hope that he has done things that could re-install him.

    Atiku Abubakar has compassionately consistently said and still saying: “Give me Nigeria, or I die.” He has “against hope believed in hope;” but never like our Father, Abraham. His estranged (but now appeased) principal had told us many sordid details about his character. It occurs to us that Atiku is a man of hope that has no character of hope.

    Omoyele Sowore – an intelligent young courageous daring digital presidential aspirant who has an endearing profile that includes being a resolute voice in M.K.O. Abiola’s struggle and establishing Sahara Reporters, an online news platform that has taken investigative journalism a step higher – is also hopeful of becoming the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Not only him, Donald Duke, Oby Ezekwesili, Kingsley Moghalu, Fela Durotoye, Chris Okotie are shiny lights in the race. Discernment tells yours sincerely that they would serve well (or even better) in the National Assembly. The chunk of the project Rebranding Nigeria is there. They are needed there. Tell anyone you know amongst them this.

    With the growing widespread attention given to solar energy, Nigerians are hopeful that electricity would be fixed in this year. They are hopeful of a healthy economy. University students are hopeful that ASUU would check its incessant strike. Parents and guardians hope for a better educational system. Jobless graduates in millions hope to be gainfully employed. I pray and hope that insurgency will be a thing of the past. For Nigerians, there are many hopes to hope about. The vast majority of my compatriots are happy optimists.

    Others around the world have many things to hope about too. The Brits hope to see the end of BREXIT. Americans hope to see a changed Donald Trump. The world hopes to see justice in Jamal Khasoggi’s case.

    Surely, 2019 will bring great things to us. Nature, with its paradoxes, would take its course. We will cry. We will laugh. I hope we progress.

     

    • Babatunde Adigun, University of Uyo.

  • Hope as Imo community gets modular refinery

    As Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu lays the foundation blocks of a modular refinery in Ibigwe community, Imo State, residents look forward to jobs and a reduction of criminality in their area, reports OKODILI NDIDI

    The prospect of hosting the country’s first Modular Refinery has thrown Ibigwe community in Ohaji-Egbema Council Area of Imo State into celebration. Nothing much has been heard about the sleepy community despite the abundant mineral resources deposited in it.

    But the fortune of the community has taken a sudden leap with the ground-breaking ceremony of the modular refinery which will become operational by April 2020.

    The refinery, which is being built by a private oil company, Waltersmith Refining and Petrochemical Company, is expected to produce 5,000 barrels of refined products per day.

    Before now Ibigwe community, like every other oil-bearing community, was bedeviled by high rate of militancy and criminality, often perpetrated by unemployed youths, who insist on a chunk of the oil money.

    With the modular refinery underway, hope is rising for the people of the community in anticipation of the jobs that will be created by the time the refinery becomes fully operational.

    This expectation was not hidden at the groundbreaking ceremony performed by the Minister of Petroleum (State), Ibe Kachikwu, when the youths, women and men from the community turned out in large number to witness the historic event.

    Apart from that, the Modular Refinery, on completion, will be the highest job creating investment in the whole of the oil-producing communities in Imo State.

    The project is being partnered by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) with 30 percent equity and financed by the African Finance Corporation with an 18 month completion period.

    Speaking on the occasion, Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, an engineer, expressed the commitment of the board in making sure that the project was completed on schedule.

    He described the project as a very important milestone sequel to the signing of the Shareholders Agreement and the Share Subscription Agreement with Waltersmith in June 2018.

    Wabote expressed happiness that in less than few months, the project has progressed from the designs, regulatory approvals, legal framework, commercial evaluations, financial construct, and other important paper works to actual physical development on site.

    He said that more of this partnership is needed as part of the board’s initiatives to increase the Nigerian Content in the oil and gas sector to 70 per cent within the next 10years, adding that beyond NCDMB’s interventions in the local supply chain for in-country capacity utilisation, the board has broadened its focus to include in-country resource utilisation.

    In his welcome address, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Waltersmith Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited, Abdulrazaq Isa, said that the ground breaking event was a milestone for indigenous participation in the country’s downstream sector.

    He said that the company, established as an indigenous in 1996, was awarded the Ibigwe field located in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 16 (now Oil Operating License 2004) in 2003 after participating in the marginal fields licensing rounds specifically designed for indigenous companies.

    According to him, the company has successfully operated the field through a farm-out agreement executed in 2004 with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and its joint venture partners, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and had successfully operated the field ramping up production from an initial capacity of 500 bopd to 7,000 bopd.

    Performing the groundbreaking ceremony, Kachukwu, reiterated the commitment of the present administration to ensuring that the importation of petroleum products is eliminated by repairing the nation’s four refineries before the end of 2019.

    He said “it would be sad if by the end of 2019, Nigeria is still importing fuel from abroad”, stressing that the policy of this administration is go back to refining about 20 per cent of our crude which will move to 50 per cent in the next five years”.

    Commenting on the project, the traditional ruler of Ochia autonomous community, Eze Ekwueme Paulinus Ekwueme, said it will create employment and wealth for the people.

    He assured that the host communities will support and cooperate with the government and other relevant agencies to ensure a hitch-free operation.

    The monarch however urged the Federal Government to ensure that host communities are allowed to participate in the activities of the oil companies in their domain, pledging to do everything possible to ensure that there is peaceful coexistence between the host communities and the oil companies operating in the area.