The Nation Newspaper

Tag: missing

  • LABAF: Dino’s book missing

    Two questions and two answers got me thinking deeply about books and people who write books in a week that the 19th Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF) 2017 celebrated books with a big buzz.

    On the eve of the book festival, Leke Baiyewu’s interview with Senator Dino Melaye appeared in Sunday Punch, November 5. The embattled federal lawmaker who represents Kogi West Senatorial District answered two questions on his book, which was launched in Abuja on May 15.

    A picture of the book presentation: “The event which took place at the Yar’adua Centre, Abuja had in attendance, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremmadu, Speaker House of Representative, Yakubu Dogara, former First Lady, Patience Jonathan, Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Bello Mohammed, his Labour and Productivity counterpart, Dr. Chris Ngige and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr. Anyim Pius Anyim.” A report said: “over N27 million was realised…the representative of Aliko Dangote launched the book with the sum of N10 million.”

    Melaye’s book, titled Antidotes for Corruption: The Nigerian Story, has an interesting story.  Some days after, a report said the book was ”yet to grace the shelves of any bookstore, 11 days after its introduction to the public on May 15. At the launch, the author had announced that the book, whose cover price is N50, 000, would be available in Abuja bookstores that same week.”

    Other events overtook the book launch, particularly Melaye’s struggle to save his seat in the Senate in the face of a determined move by his constituents to recall him. Then the book came up in an interview.

    Bayeiwu asked: “You recently authored and published a book on corruption. Why did you venture into writing?” Melaye answered: ”You cannot cure a disease if you don’t diagnose it. You cannot fight corruption without educating people on corruption. Because of my passion to fight corruption, I decided to go into research and put together my experience as an anti-corruption crusader in form of a book that I called ‘Antidotes for Corruption’ so that Nigerians can understand the level of corruption. I mentioned names and characters in that book. You cannot ‘restitute’, ameliorate, palliate or correct without exposition.”

     Next question: “How acceptable is the book in terms of sale?”  Answer: “As I speak to you, I have sold over 100,000 copies. I travelled recently to Germany and I took 500 copies along with me. I have been called that the copies have been exhausted. I went to Russia with 100 copies. As I speak to you, they’ve all been sold. I sent 1,000 copies to the United Kingdom; they’ve been completely sold. I sent 2,500 copies to five states in (the United States of) America and they are still demanding more. I want to believe that it has been properly received. Within the country here, I have also made huge sales. I am laughing all the way to the bank.”

    There may well be something to laugh about, and it may well be Melaye’s fantastic account of his book’s success. Also, the writing process that produced this book is something to wonder about.  This is how a report presented the writing process: “The Secretary Planning Committee of the book launch, Mr. Babatunde Faniyan in his welcome speech said when Dino first made it clear to him that he wanted to write a book of up to 800 pages he shrugged off the idea thinking it was a mere wishful thought. He said: “In fact I was right there with him when he started from scratch. Basically he put his thoughts into words and spoke into a tape recorder which was subsequently transcribed, typed out and edited.” According to him, sometimes Dino would go quiet for months. He said: “At a time, we would not communicate for a while and other matters of life would take precedence. Then suddenly we would be back to the business of this book.”

    It is said that the book “is divided into 14 chapters with 600 pages.” The publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, was quoted as saying:  “We have been looking for that book in bookstores in Abuja; it has not been made available because we can’t afford it. It is N50, 000 — just to buy cut and paste of newspaper articles.”

    During stimulating LABAF sessions at Freedom Park, Lagos, I wondered why the organisers did not feature Melaye and his book.  There is no doubt that he would have attracted greater public attention to the book festival.

    LABAF 2017, November 6 – 12, was dedicated to Niyi Osundare, the internationally recognised multiple award-winning poet and social critic.  According to the organisers, “It is conceived and designed as a campaign for Literacy and Human Capital Development through such interactive events as reading sessions, conversations (around books and ideas in the context of national and global polity), exhibitions of books (and other publications), art and craft, Children/Students/ Youths creative workshops and mentoring; live music, drama, dance and poetry performances.”  The focus this year was “Eruptions: Global Fractures and our common Humanity.”

    Was Melaye aware of LABAF?  Why was his book not there? A book about a cure for corruption, which has been described as a killer disease that could kill Nigeria, should be made available and affordable.

    The information provided by the author that he had sold over 100,000 copies, including a high number abroad, should encourage local writers who need evidence that writing can bring big money. As a publicity stunt, Melaye could travel across the country with his book, and hold mentoring sessions on how to write a book that sells well.

    Melaye is a lucky writer who is blessed with friends in high positions and high-profile connections. He got people who probably won’t read his book to buy it at a high price, which is what happened at the book launch. As for the copies he claims to have sold in other countries, the figures are thought-provoking.   Given the claimed success of this book, it should not be surprising if Melaye is thinking of writing another one, possibly about his experiences in the ongoing drama to recall him.  Something Melaye should think about: He needs to take advantage of book events, and should consider participating in the next LABAF, hopefully with a new book.

  • Family seeks help over missing son

    Family seeks help over missing son

    THE family of a missing 35-year-old man Shola Fatade yesterday appealed to Nigerians to help search for him. Fatade, according to the family  is black in completion, of average height and a bit plump. He is from Abeokuta in Ogun State and speaks both English and Yoruba language.

    He works in Apapa and lives at 9 Bakare Street, Ahmadiya, Ijaiye Ojokoro, Lagos State.

    The family’s spokesperson, Mrs Remi Omosanya told The Nation that Fatade got missing on August 24.

    She said Fatade left his home for work as usual, about 5am last August 24.

    She said: “Since that day, we have not seen him. He usually calls his neighbour to inform them any day he would not return home from work, so that they would lock the gate.

    “On August 24, he called one of his neighbours at night to tell him he was not coming home that night. No one thought he would be missing after the call, because it was not his first time of calling a neighbour that he would not come home, whenever he is closing late from work.

    “Usually, whenever he calls that he is not coming home, he would come home the following morning to take his bath and change his clothes, before going back to work”.

    She said the case has been reported to the police, adding that his neighbours, colleagues at work and friends have all joined in the search for him.

    One of Fatade’s neighbours, Mr Clement Odigie, said Fatade only sleeps at work when he closes late.

    “It was about three days later that we realised he was missing, when one of the neighbours noticed that he has not been at home since he called on August 24. His mother and his girlfriend also came to the house to look for him when his numbers were not going through. We went to his work place to find him, but they told us that they saw him last that August 24, and his phones; 09094186606 and 08037119907 have since then been switched off.

    He described him as a calm person that does not look for trouble.

  • 12 die, three missing as boat capsizes

    12 die, three missing as boat capsizes

    •Lagos urges respect for Court order on waterways

    Twelve persons died yesterday when a boat capsized at Ilashe in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State.

    Three others are missing.

    The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), which confirmed the casualty figure, said the boat was overloaded.

    In a statement, LASWA Managing Director Abisola Kamson said four rescued passengers were in hospital, adding that search-and-rescue was ongoing.

    Commiserating with the bereaved families, he said, the mishap had again brought to the fore the need for the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to respect the Court of Appeal’s verdict which upheld the state government’s powers to control its intra-inland waterways.

    The statement reads: “An unfortunate incident occurred at Ilashe today, Sunday, August 20, arising from overloading of passengers on a Banana boat taking off from an illegal Jetty which has become a perennial issue of the Lagos State Government to rid our waterfront areas of illegal operators.

    “We sympathise with the families of the deceased as nine lives were lost in the mishap and four peoples in the hospital.

    “The LASWA rescue team has been on ground and search is still ongoing. This brings to fore again the need for NIWA to allow the judgement of the Appeal Court granting Lagos control of her waterways to take effect without hindrance.

    “It is a matter for regret that ever since the judgement was pronounced, NIWA has ejected all state water guards monitoring standards from all federal owned jetties. In spite of this, the government of Lagos State aligns to the safety of citizens on the waterways. All Lagosians are enjoined to wear standard life jackets at all times on our waterways.”

  • Wife to husband: produce our son missing for seven years

    A woman, Mrs. Mojirayo Arokoyo, has told the Igando Customary Court in Lagos to compel her husband to disclose the whereabouts of their son, a medical student, who has been missing for seven years.

    Mojirayo, a 53-year-old caterer, made the appeal while giving evidence in a divorce suit filed by her husband, Mr. Michael Arokoyo, who is seeking the dissolution of their 33 years marriage.

    The petitioner wanted divorce on the grounds of lack of care.

    The mother of four, however, said it was her husband who distanced himself from the family, especially the children.

    She alleged that there was a time her husband called their second child to come and see him and since then he was yet to be found.

    Her words: “My husband called our son, who was studying medicine at the university to come and see him and up till today, he could not be found.

    “It is seven years now that the boy, who is supposed to be 29-year-old this year, disappeared.

    “Efforts by me to find him proved unsuccessful. Your lordship, please help me ask my husband what he did to my son.

    “He does not care about the welfare of our children.

    “He does not even know where the children are schooling nor does he pay their school fees. I pay the fees.”

    The respondent said she satisfied her husband in all ways.

    She implored the court not to grant her husband’s wish for the dissolution of their marriage “because I still love him.”

    Arokoyo had told the court that his wife, with whom he had four children, did not take care of him.

    “I live like a bachelor. I wash my clothes, cook for myself,” the man said.

    The 65-year-old petitioner said his wife was stubborn, adding that she assaulted him.

    “My wife is stubborn, she does not respect me. There was a day she slapped me. I beat her up and she fainted,” he said.

    The petitioner said Mojirayo goes out at will and comes back anytime she likes.

    “She can leave home and return after two weeks without letting me know her whereabouts,” he said.

    The husband said things were moving on fine for them until when he was no longer working.

    He said his wife suddenly became hostile.

    According to him, his wife had turned their children against him.

    He asked the court to dissolve the marriage, saying he no longer loved her.

    The Court President, Mr. Adegboyega Omilola, adjourned the case till September 26 for judgment.

  • HELP! Our kinsmen are still missing!

    HELP! Our kinsmen are still missing!

    RESIDENTS of Esuk Utan community in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, woke up to a horror they never imagined on Sunday. A tank farm fire outbreak claimed no fewer than 11 lives, injured many other people and destroyed properties worth millions of naira. Worst hit by the fire incident was the community’s fishing settlement on the waterfront.

    The Calabar Free Zone Enterprise in Esuk Utan Community is host to several tank farms belonging to different companies. The fire outbreak, The Nation gathered, resulted from some illegal activities in one of the tank farms.

    It was learnt that a vessel was supplying premium motor spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol to two of the tank farms around 2 am. The ship, which was on the river downhill, was supplying the product through pipes that passed through the premises of both tank farms. The distance between the ship and the tank farm was said to be about one kilometre.

    While the supply was going on, a staff of one of the tank farms, who it was gathered was not supposed to be on duty on the night, opened the pipes inside their premises to siphon petrol. Something went wrong in the process and the pressure knocked him down. He died on the spot.

    The incident resulted in free flow of petrol which then filled the premises and flowed into gutters back into the river and into the upland host community, Esuk Utan. This was around 4 am. Some members of the community who perceived the smell of petrol woke up only to find that a stream of the product flowing through their gutters. They then decided to scoop some. Unfortunately, a spark occurred in the scramble for the highly flammable product, setting off a fire that killed some of them on the spot.

    The fire followed the path of the petrol through the gutters back to the vessel that supplied it, but the men on board managed to stop the fire from engulfing the vessel, using sophisticated fire fighting equipment. But the Esuk Utan fishing community located not far away from the vessel was not that lucky. The settlement, which also serves as a fish market, was razed. Seven of the residents lost their lives on the spot, according to eyewitnesses. Several wooden canoes and engine boats were also caught in the inferno.

    When our reporter visited the community, the strong smell of petrol still hung in the air. Members of the fishing community lamented that since the incident occurred, no one had come to see how they were faring. They complained that the incident had polluted the water and ruined their fishing business. They complained that petroleum spillage on the water has been frequent while their complaints over the years have fallen on deaf ears. They said besides the seven people that died in the community, some others were still missing. They also lamented that with their fishing equipment, engine boats and canoes razed in the incident, they had nothing to fall back on to sustain their source of livelihood.

    Narrating the community’s experience, the leader of the fishing community, Chief Edet Okwung, who spoke through the youth leader and fisherman, Mr Akpan Sunday Obeten, said: “It was around 4 am on Sunday morning when the incident occurred. We heard serious explosions and did not understand where it came from. In fact, I thought it was the Biafra and Nigeria war as I have been hearing that they want to divide the country. The explosions continued and there was fire everywhere. We ran to the river and I tried to escape in the canoe with my small boy, but I saw fire in the river. We had to run back. So many people who did not know ran into the fire as they were trying to escape. Many people who were coming back from their fishing expedition also ran into the fire and died.

    “We thank God it happened during a low tide. If it was high tide, the water would be coming towards the village and not one person would have escaped it. Everybody in this community would have been killed.

    “Since the incident, no one has come to offer any assistance. Even the company that caused this problem has not come to see us. It burnt our boats and fishing materials to ashes and no one has come to see how we are faring. Nothing has been done since we do not have anybody who can fight for us.

    “There is still petrol on our waters, and it has affected our business. A lot of fishes have died because of the spillage. So many fishes inside our fish traps also died because of the spillage.

    “So many spillages have happened here. This incident is not the first here, but when we run to the companies for assistance, we get nothing from them. This is not the first or second time. The government should assist us. We have even gone to court over the spillage problem. The companies have never come here to clean up or compensate or even talk to us.”

    The Secretary of the fishing community, Mr Harry Kanu, also said: “It has been spilling and the companies have been doing nothing about it. Now this one has spilled and killed so many people. We are still putting our heads together to see the way forward, to see how we can approach the matter so that we get the right attention.

    “If the companies comply by compensating us on this particular matter, I don’t think there is any need to go to court. But if they neglect us, that is when we would take a step forward. They should come and compensate us for all the damages done. And for the people that died they should come and compensate the families.

    “About seven people died from this community. Some people are still missing as we speak. The fire caught some people and they dived into the river and died there because they could not swim. There are people missing right now that we cannot account for.

    “What I think should be done is that after compensating the dwellers here and those that lost their people, the government should step in and try to give the companies guidelines on how to operate, because spillage is affecting aquatic life here. Many fishes have been dying. Many times, we see that the fishes in our fish traps have died. When the water ebbs, you see dead fish along the shore of the river.

    “Anytime there is spillage, all the fish in the water would die. It is affecting our business and also our health, because when there is spillage like that, we cannot even get water from the stream. So it is hazardous to our health too.”

    Mr Effiong Kalu, who lost his elder brother, Ekpenyong, in the fire threatened legal action.

    He said: “We did not even know. All of us were sleeping. Some people were coming back from fishing when we started perceiving the smell of petrol. We started running, then suddenly we heard explosions. We tried to run by crossing the river with our boats, but that was when we saw the fire in the water. It was everywhere.

    “My brother was coming back from fishing when he met the fire that killed him. There are people that have been floating in the water who we do not recognise. We have seen two. Since we don’t know them, we cannot retrieve their bodies so that we would not have problems.

    “We do not know how many people are missing right now because this is a fishing community and many people come here to fish from other places. So, right now, we have no idea how many, but some people are missing. I would be taking the company to court since the company has not come to tell us anything. That is why we want to make this move.”

    Also narrating his experience, another fisherman from the community, Mr Bassey Edet, said: “We were sleeping and some of our brothers were fishing. It was around 3 am. Suddenly, we heard the smell of fuel and fuel was floating on the water. After some time, we heard an explosion. The fire exploded from the top and came down to where we were staying. The fire came down, killed our brothers and destroyed our boats. There was fire everywhere and it was so high.

    “As it is, there is still petrol on the water. It has killed a lot of fish and destroyed our boats. We cannot do any fishing around here and our boats have all been destroyed. The government should appreciate the families of those who lost loved ones.

    “They should produce our fishing equipment, because we lost all our fishing equipment. They should also do something about the spill on our water that is affecting our business and our health. Nobody has come here to do anything to alleviate our suffering.”

    A council member of Esuk Utan Community, Elder Bassey Edem Bassey, called for assistance for the community.

    He said: “We want to call on the state and federal governments, other voluntary organisations and NGOs to come to the aid of our community as it has been happening in other states and communities and government has been intervening and helping.

    “I can recall what happened at Nyaghassang at the viewing centre, where so many souls were lost and government intervened and compensated the families. Government should also come to our aid and see how they can help us in this community.

    “Also government should invite the community to a roundtable discussion, because on a daily basis, we keep having spillage. Government should see how it can compensate the residents of this environment who are affected by this spillage.

    “Government should do something because we are all Nigerians. They should do something to stop the spillage because it kills fishes and spoil our materials. It does not only stop in this environment. Because it is water, it may go up and down and affect other communities.”

    The Managing Director of the Nigeria Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA), Mr Emmanuel Jime, has donated the sum of N2 million for the treatment of survivors of the incident at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).

    He said an investigation would be launched and anyone found culpable would be sanctioned by NEPZA according to the law.

    The Chief Medical Director of UCTH, Dr Thomas Agan, who had appealed for more support to take care of the victims, said so far, 10 of the victims had died.

    “Six were brought in dead when the incident occurred. Eleven were managed with very severe burns between 50 and 90 per cent, which is quite extensive. Four of them as at today are dead and seven are alive with various degrees of burns,” Agan said.

    Also, the Management of Calabar Free Trade Zone (CFTZ) has commended fire fighting workers in the zone for effectively extinguishing the fire at the tank farm.

    In a meeting of the zone’s management with investors, Jime, through the General Manager of CFTZ, Engr. Godwin Ekpe, commended the fire fighters for their effort in extinguishing the fire and avoiding a more colossal loss.

  • Missing five-year-old found in septic tank

    A missing five-year-old boy, Desmond Rabome, has been found dead in a septic tank in an uncompleted building in Ushaffa community, Bwari Area Council, Abuja.

    Little Desmond, who was taken in by his paternal aunt, Mrs. Joy Odufo, in February, after the death of his mother, reportedly went missing about 6.30pm on Wednesday, June 28.

    This attracted pity from some residents who assisted in searching for him.

    Mrs. Odufo, who is Desmond’s father’s elder sister, said the matter was reported at the Ushaffa police station, but nothing was done.

    She told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday that the boy was later found dead in a septic tank, at an uncompleted building, near her store, on June 29.

    A neighbour, Mr. Ikenna Ojobor,  however, alleged carelessness on the part of the boy’s guardians.

    Ojobor said most residents were fond of him because he was an adorable and playful kid, though he could be a little unruly.

    “From what I know about Desmond, he was very likable; I only blame his guardians for failing to take proper care of him.

    “The death of the young boy was felt by all. This is a lesson for other parents; it is the negligence of Desmond’s guardians that led to his death, Ojobor said.

    A community leader, Mr. Sumaila Sabo, advised that Desmond’s remains be buried where it was found since the cause of death was unknown.

    “I will advise the family to discuss with the owner of the uncompleted building, and bury the body in the environment where it was found,” Sabo said.

    But the Investigative Police Officer (IPO), who pleaded for anonymity, said Mrs. Odufo only reported that the boy went, missing and not his death.

    “We were only told that the child was missing in Ushaffa, we have not heard anything concerning the boy’s death.

    “We will do everything necessary to investigate the matter properly, since it is a juvenile case, and bring the offender(s) to book,” she said.

  • Why Nigeria is missing on $20b global miners’ profit chart

    If policy pronouncements were the only drivers of a strong and virile sector, the mining and extractive-related industry would have been sufficiently stimulated to pull the Nigerian economy out the worst recession in three decades.

    More than any other sector, mining has witnessed several policy responses in the Federal Government’s desperate bid to diversify the economy since 2014 when oil prices crashed at the global market.

    The tumbling oil prices resulted into huge revenue losses in Nigeria. The crash in the value of the Naira compounded the economic woes, thus pushing the country into recession.

    But as ambitious as the various policies look, the government has not been able to muster the needed political will to translate them into concrete actions.

    The government’s strategic plan to exploit the enormous but largely untapped potential in the mining industry to diversify the economy raised the hopes of an early rebound of the economy.

    But, despite the launch of the roadmap for the development of the mining sector since April 2012, the document has remained on paper.

    The blueprint was, among others, expected to rebuild the minerals, mining and related processing industry, rebuild market confidence in minerals and mining sector and win over domestic users of industrial minerals that are currently imported. Unfortunately, the strategic actions contained in the roadmap are yet to be implemented.

    The roadmap was not the only policy intervention that put industry operators in an expectant mood, The Nation learnt also learnt that the federal authority has given franchise to states desiring permission to exploit mineral resources in their domains.

    To encourage the states, the Federal Government went a step further, approving the payment of 13 per cent derivation from mining revenue to the 36 states of the federation and a N30 billion intervention fund for the mining sector.

    According to Mines & Steel Development Minister Kayode Fayemi explained that the fund would focus more on exploration, which, according to him, was at the heart of mining.

    He added that the intervention fund was in fulfilment of the administration’s campaign promise to diversify the economy with emphasis on agriculture and mining. The minister has also inaugurated the long-awaited Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) Board. The Board has a mandate to address the barrage of challenges holding the sector down.

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo also announced a fortnight ago that the Federal Government has initiated the process of raising $600 million for the development of the solid mineral sector.

    Osinbajo, who spoke at the opening of the National Mining Summit in Abuja, said the fund would be raised through the Nigerian Sovereign Wealth Investment Authority (NSWIA) and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

    He said: “We are working with the NSWIA, the NSE and others to assemble a $600 million investment fund for the sector. Internationally, we have secured $150 million in funding from the World Bank for the minerals sector’s economic diversification.

    “This will provide technical assistance in restructuring and operationalisation of the SMDF. The SMDF will make finance available to artisanal and small mining operators through mining finance and lease institutions.

    “The mining sector is a priority for the Nigerian Government and a crucial part of our economic growth and diversification agenda. The President (Muhammadu Buhari) has seized every opportunity over the last two years to highlight the diversification vision and central role of the mining sector in it.”

    Observers believe that the intended objectives of the policy responses have not yet manifested because of what they call government’s lack of political will to push the diversification policy through.

    Some industry players and analysts, who spoke with The Nation, expressed concerns that the government’s failure to transform its diversification intention into concrete and practical actions was seriously hurting efforts at riding on the sector’s back to rebound the economy, create jobs and grow the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    Obiora Akabogu, a Lagos-based, observed that Nigeria has not been moving fast enough in the area of diversification. Describing the slow pace of diversification anchored on the minerals sector as “suicidal,” he said the requisite political will to translate policy statements into concrete actions was evidently lacking.

    A Partner and Head of Mining, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Nigeria, a consulting firm, Mr. Cyril Azobu, also said that despite the launch of the roadmap for the development of the mining sector since April 2012, it has remained on paper.

    “It’s time to begin to put these things into action. We have to put some political will around all these. It’s a long term thing, but we have to start now,” Azobu said.

     

    Counting the costs

    Statistics have shown that 44 solid mineral deposits abound across the 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

    According to experts, some of the deposits found to be in commercial quantities include: coal, tin, iron ore, columbite, limestone, gold, gypsum, kaolin, lead, zinc and bitumen.

    They said the government ought to have fast-tracked efforts at exploring and exploiting the mineral resources to exit recession.

    Despite its rich mineral endowment, no Nigeria company was among the world’s 40 largest listed mining countries that returned to profitability in 2016, with an aggregate net profit of $20 billion (about N6.29 trillion).

    A “Mine 2017 Report” released by the PwC’s said the market capitalisation of the top 40 miners rose 45 per cent to $714 billion.

    Energy, Utilities & Mining Industry Leader for PwC Africa, Michal Kotzé, said the report analysed the 40 companies by market capitalisation, and that the financial information for 2016 covered the periods April 1, 2015 to December 31, 2016, with each company’s results included for the 12-month financial reporting period that falls into this time frame.

    He said the rapidly rising commodity prices sparked renewed market optimism and improved credit ratings across the top 40 firms. Valuations also climbed, especially for the traditional miners, with the trend continuing through the first quarter of 2017 even as commodity prices remained flat.

    PwC Assurance Partner Andries Rossouw said: “Mining companies need to combine engineering excellence and know-how with a new open-mindedness to learn from advanced analytics and a need to embrace robotics and platforms that fundamentally challenge decades of doing things the same way …it is as much about behaviour as technology.”

     

    Projected GDP growth threatened

    There are fears that Nigeria may fail to meet some of its projections based on the emergence of a strong and virile mining sector, if the government failed to implement its policies on diversification of the economy to non-oil sectors, especially, mining.

    The solid minerals sector, on the average, contributes a paltry 0.46 per cent to the GDP, according to Azobu. Also, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has reported that the sector contributed only N113 billion to the nation’s coffers in five years.

    The sector’s which contributed N52 billion to the GDP in 2010 could only contribute N103 billion five years after.

    Observers say that swelling its GDP contribution by only 12 per cent was a far-cry for a sector that was a major contributor to the economy before the discovery of oil in the 1950s.

    Even with the current target of increasing the sector’s GDP contribution to 10 per cent by 2020, there is nothing to suggest that Nigeria will meet the target.

     

    Dearth of infrastructure as a sore point

    In a paper entitled: “Developing the Solid Minerals Sector: Quick Wins for the New Government”, Azobu listed adequate infrastructure, particularly a well-established transportation network as one of the requirements for a thriving mining industry.

    The facilities, he noted, are necessary for the movement of equipment to mining sites and the evacuation of minerals for sale and export.

    “Infrastructure is a key element for the success of any mining industry,” he said, noting that although, there are a number of infrastructure development initiatives in road and rail being embarked upon by the federal and state governments, such initiatives do not take into consideration planned linkage with existing or intended mining sites.

    Azobu said: “The linkage of mining sites via rail or roads, and the resultant ease of transportation of minerals for sale, would act as catalyst for the development of the solid minerals sector.”

    He further said the required raw materials for infrastructure development (e.g. Bitumen for road construction, iron ore to manufacture steel for rail construction) should be sourced internally.

    According to him, this will aid the development of local markets for these solid minerals. He noted that previous administrations recorded some success with regards to limestone for cement production.

    The PwC Nigeria Head of Mining therefore urged the federal government to take a holistic view regarding infrastructure development and mining sector plan. He also spoke of the need for the federal and state governments to develop and adopt a master plan for roads and rail.

    Azobu said: “All identified mining locations should be considered when drafting this master plan and it should be made mandatory for adoption by any level of government embarking on infrastructure development.”

     

    Hope rising for Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri rail line

    The recent developments in the rail sector appear to offer some hopes. Fayemi announced last week that the on-going Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri rail line will be ready by December.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the Development Partners and Donor Agencies’ Coordination Group on According to Dr. Fayemi, the project, being handled by the Ministry of Transport, was critical to the Federal Government’s effort to revive the Ajaokuta Steel plant and its iron feeder plant, NIOMCO.

    However, while most industry experts and stakeholders agree with Fayemi that an inclusive, well-articulated roadmap was imperative for rebuilding the mining industry, they argue that the pace of actual implementation of the strategic actions contained in the roadmap has been evidently slow.

    Akabogu said he expected that by now, the Presidency would have forwarded an executive bill to the National Assembly for modification or necessary amendment of the nation’s extant mining laws with a view to removing the hindrances to the maximisation of the potentials of the industry.

    The Petroleum Act 1969, for instance, stipulates “that all minerals belong to the Federal Government.” The 1999 Constitution (as amended) in Item 39 of the Second Schedule also reinforced this position by stating that: “All mines and minerals, including oil and gas fields, belong to the Federal Government.”

    Akabogu told The Nation that the extant provisions of the law has put the exploitation of solid minerals on the Exclusive Legislative List, meaning that only the Federal Government has the right to grant approval  for mining licences and to regulate the industry.

    Although, Fayemi said the states have been authorised to explore and exploit their mineral resources, experts insist that there is still the need for a proper review and amendment of the relevant mining laws to truly open up the industry.

    According to them, a review and amendment of the relevant mining laws was not only long overdue, but also a matter of urgent national importance following dwindling oil revenue and the need to diversify the economy away from its over-dependence on oil and gas.

     

    Flip-flop on artisanal mining

    Nigeria’s 0.46 per cent GDP contribution from mining of solid minerals, according to Azobu, is solely from the formal mining sector.

    He said between 80-85 per cent of current mining activities in Nigeria is through artisanal and small scale mining, which is largely informal and fraught with the use of crude equipment and extremely dangerous working practices.

    Besides, the sales channel is largely unofficial, and embedded with smuggling and distribution cartels, which hurts the nation’s economy in the form of revenue loss in taxes and royalties.

    It also exposes miners to uncontrolled risks, even as uncontrolled and non-systematic evacuation results in environmental degradation, erosion and excessive pollution, amongst other negative effects.

    “There is an urgent need to formalise the artisanal and small scale mining by formulating policies aimed at integrating informal artisanal miners into the formal mining sector”, Asobu said.

    He listed some of the benefits of such integration as; training and equipment supply; funding; possible absorption by bigger companies; and enlightenment on safe mining practices.

    During his visit to Rivers State, Osinbajo announced government’s plans to establish modular refineries to engage youths operating illegal oil refinery in the Niger Delta.

    He restated the commitment of the President Buhari-led administration to ensuring properly engaged of youths in the region.

    Observers view the initiative as a masterstroke to sustain the relative peace in the region where Niger Delta militants had disrupted oil production. The planned adaptation of illegal refineries scattered across the region to modular refineries will give the operators a sense of belonging, they said.

    The Chairman of  Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers & NUPENG) and Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) Committee, Hyginus Onuegbu, said that on the strength of the planned modular refineries’ proposal, Niger Delta youths have started organising themselves with a view to establishing refineries.

    “When the Acting President came to the Niger Delta, he made a promise about modular refinery. In fact, there was an association of modular refiners in Nigeria,” he told The Nation. A number of investors have reportedly indicated interest in investing in the project, which has prospects of attracting about $160 million investments.

     

    Pulling the rug off investors’ feet.

    As Niger Delta youths and prospective investors in the modular refinery business wait for the government to come out with modalities for the project take-off, the Federal Government backpedaled, declaring that it would no longer allow the proliferation of such refineries across the Niger Delta.

    The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, explained that having such refineries scattered across the length and breadth of the Niger Delta would worsen environmental degradation and gas flaring, which will increase the problems of the region.

    He spoke at the presentation of the report of the New Nigerian Oil and Gas Sector Governance Policy Consultation Workshop held in Aberdeen, Scotland. The workshop was organised by Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation, Europe, United Kingdom and North Aberdeen.

    According to Dr. Kachikwu, the government was considering a situation where modular refineries would be located only in areas where its products would be easily evacuated and where getting feedstock to them would not be cumbersome.

    He stated that the government was commissioning a broad study that would lead to the development of an intelligent plan for the construction of modular refineries in the region.

    The minister said: “It is important to clear a misconception, especially as it has to do with modular refineries. Setting up smaller modular refineries in so many places in the Niger Delta would worsen gas flares in the region and also bring about environmental challenges.

    “It is critical to develop an integrated approach and plan to modular refineries construction in the Niger Delta, ensure that they are properly optimised and are not scattered everywhere.”

    Kachikwu argued that the proliferation of such refineries would not provide significant economic benefits to the country.

    “The relative peace in the Niger Delta was because the Acting President went round the Niger Delta and had a truce with militants. And of course, they are waiting for the Federal Government to fulfil its own side of the agreement, which is the issue around modular refineries”, Onuegbu told The Nation.

    He urged the government to keep faith with its promise on the modular refineries, as according to him, sustaining the peace in the region was necessary to avoid the disruption in oil and gas operations.

     

    Glimmer of hope from coal industry

    The recent developments in the Enugu coal industry have shown that there will be light at the end of the tunnel.

    About a fortnight ago, the Federal Government announced that it had chosen the Simang Group of South Africa to work along with the Enugu State Government to revive the coal industry for the benefit of the Southeast geopolitical zone.

    The investors, led by Dr. Odilim Enwegbara of the Pan Africa Group and Stephen Paddy, Chairman of the Simang Group, explained that the principal objective of the investment drive was to use coal to generate electricity and then spin a chain of allied business activities for the benefit of the local economy.

    Receiving the investors at the Government House in Enugu, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi said he had always believed that coal would be a major catalyst to economic development of the Southeast in particular and the country in general.

    But observers have described the expected investment in coal as a drop in the ocean considering the quantum of mineral resources in the country. They urged the government to take advantage of the more than 44 minerals across the country to stimulate the economy.

     

    The way out

    Azobu urged the government to revisit the mining sector roadmap and take necessary action to ensure achievement of the set goals. He pointed out that the roadmap appears to have been treated as a theoretical exercise by either not setting realistic targets or not working to achieve them.

    He listed some of the major milestones set by the road map to include: increasing the sector’s contribution to the nation’s GDP from the current 0.46 per cent to 10 per cent by 2020 and facilitating the production of coal needed to fire coal-fired power plants that would contribute 30 per cent of the nation’s power generation by 2020.

  • ‘Missing’ ex-minister: Court to hear detained rep’s bail application tomorrow

    An Igbosere Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State will tomorrow hear the bail application by lawmaker representing Edu/Moro/Patigi Federal Constituency of Kwara State, Aliyu Ahman Pategi, who was remanded last Friday.

    Pategi was remanded in prison following his arraignment for failing to produce former Minister of State for Education, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, whom he stood surety for.

    Akinjide is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged conspiracy and laundering of N650 million.

    According to the EFCC, Akinjide collected the money from former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, in March 2015.

    It said Alison-Madueke received the N650 million as gratification from several firms, including Northern Belt Oil and Gas Company, Actus Integrated Investment Limited, Midwestern Oil and Gas Company Limited and Adesanya Leno Olaitan.

    The money was allegedly kept in Fidelity Bank Plc.

    Akinjide, former Managing Partner of commercial law firm Akinjide and Co., and a solicitor of England and Wales, was arrested last August.

    EFCC’s lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo told the court that Akinjide was granted bail last August, after Pategi stood as her surety on a N650 million bail bond, with a promise to produce her when needed.

    He said a 24-count charge of money laundering and conspiracy was brought against her before Justice Ayo Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Ibadan.

    But, according to Oyedepo, she failed to appear in court after more than three proceedings, despite service of the charges on her, following which the court threatened to dismiss the charge.

    Oyedepo said Akinjide has not been seen since and Pategi, despite repeated demands, failed to produce her.

    The lawyer prayed for an order directing Pategi to show cause for his failure to produce Akinjide, and why the N650 million should not be forfeited to the Federal Government.

    But Pategi, through his lawyer, Adenrele Adegborioye, applied for bail.

    Oyedepo said he was served the bail application in open court and needed time to respond to it.

  • EKSU student declared missing

    EKSU student declared missing

    The police in Ekiti State have declared a student of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Miss Adefunke Adewodun, missing.
    Adewodun, a student of Theatre and Media Arts, was last seen on campus and in her residence on April 24.
    Her mother, Mrs. Rosaline Adewodun, said her daughter spent her mid semester holiday with her in Ondo town before leaving for campus on April 23.
    The woman urged security agencies and the public to help her find her daughter.
    She said: “We have reported the matter to the police and we believe they will help us find my daughter.”
    Police spokesman Alberto Adeyemi, who confirmed the development, said the command had begun investigation.

  • Missing Unilag student’s body found in morgue

    Missing Unilag student’s body found in morgue

    The body of a University of Lagos (Unilag) undergraduate, who was declared missing about three weeks ago, has been found in a mortuary.

    Remilekun Odeleye was declared missing days after she went for a party on the Island but never returned.

    Unknown to her loved ones, the young woman was involved in a motor accident on Eko Bridge and her body deposited at the mortuary.

    According to her friends who took to social media to search for her, Odeleye left her hostel at Gbagada on April 1, with a friend for a party.

    They became worried when they couldn’t reach her on her mobile phone.

    It was gathered that her body was interred at the Atan cemetery in Yaba.

    One of her friends, Medese Dewumoh, who broke the news of her death on social media, lambasted those who alleged that she might have been killed by ritualists.

    Dewumoh wrote: “I thought you were missing babe. I tried to look everywhere for you but alas you had died in an accident the next day you left home. We thought you were missing, never knew you had gone to never come back. With tears in my eyes and pain in my heart, I pray you rest well because we are all going to die and yours came a little early. We are going to forever miss you baby, I am going to be strong not because I am capable but for you my happy soul, who loved with all her heart. You lived a short life but you touched my heart with your love and happiness. Now to you who live your life trolling, backstabbing, judging and saying hurtful things about people you know nothing about, I hope you are happy your wish came true. Yes she is dead but she was not a prey of what you thought and hoped it was. She died in an accident on Eko bridge April 1, and yes she was never a call girl or whatever name you all have for it. I hope this makes you sleep well tonight and makes you fulfilled.”