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  • How has the judiciary fared?

    Fifty-nine years after Nigeria got independence from British rule, how has the Judiciary fared? Has it lived up to its billing as ‘the last hope of the common man?’ ADEBISI ONANUGA and ROBERT EGBE highlight some of the landmark judicial decisions that have boosted nation building and helped the judiciary contribute to national cohesion and development

    The judiciary can be said to be the most experienced of the three arms of government. The reason is simple: Whether under military rule or a democracy, the courts have always been on hand to moderate relationships between the government and the governed.

    What many are also not aware, is that the judiciary, or at least forms of it, is also probably the oldest arm of government run by indigenous Nigerians.

     Evolution of the Judiciary in Nigeria

    In an article titled, “The evolution of ideal Nigerian Judiciary in the new Millennium”, Yusuf Ali (SAN) stated that the judiciary has a history of four distinct eras, namely, the period before 1842, 1845-1912, 1914 to 1953 and 1954 to date.

    Before 1842

    Before the advent of the Europeans, the indigenous people of Nigeria had different methods of dispute resolution.

    Among the Yoruba and Ibo, the system revolved around their traditional institutions. The Yoruba referred contentious matters to the head of the family. If he could not settle the dispute, the matter was taken to the head of the compound until a solution could be found up to the level of the King. Similarly systems existed among the Ibo.

    In the North, the system was based on the Islamic legal system, the Sharia, the hub of which was the Alkali system and the emir was the ultimate appellate judge.

    1845-1912

    After 1842, Yusuf stated that the power to administer and dispense justice in Nigeria was mainly vested in native courts. These courts in dispensing  justice, fashioned out systems of taxation, civil laws and procedure, penal law and sentencing policies including death sentence. It should be noted that these Native Courts are the forerunners of the present Customary Area and Sharia Courts.

    With the advent of the colonialists in the Southern part of Nigeria between 1843-1913, the British through a combination of Foreign Jurisdiction Act of 1843 and 1893 established law under which various courts were set up.

    In 1854, the earliest courts called the Courts of Equity were established by the British in the Southern parts of Nigeria particularly Brass, Benin, Okrika and Opobo. The principal agents of trading firms, consular or other administrative officers constituted this court of equity, they acted as the judges.

    Simultaneous in exercise with the courts of equity and consular courts were courts that were established by the Royal Niger Company. By a Royal Charter granted in 1886, the company had the power to govern and administer justice in its areas of operations, until the Charter was revoked in 1899.

    Despite the establishment of British Courts, native courts were still allowed to function, in so far as the native law and custom they administered were not repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience.

    According to him, in 1863, by Ordinance No 11 of 1863, the Supreme Court of Lagos was established, it had both civil and criminal jurisdiction.

    In 1900, via the Supreme Court Proclamation Order No. 6, a Supreme Court was established for the Southern Nigerian protectorate. The Court exercised same powers and jurisdictions as were vested in Her Majesty’s High Court of Justice in England.

    The common law, the doctrines of equity and status of general application in England were to be administered in the court in so far as local circumstances permitted.

    Before 1892, Sharia Law in all its ramification was operative in most parts of Northern Nigeria. By the Northern Nigeria Order in Council of 1899, the British Crown claimed that by treaty, grant, usage, sufferance and other lawful means, Her Majesty had power and jurisdiction in the Northern territory.

    1914 to 1953

    According to Yusuf, when in 1914, the Northern and Southern Protectorate of Nigeria were amalgamated, Provincial Courts were abolished and in its place were established high courts which consisted of Chief Judges, Judges and assistant Judges. Below these High Courts were Magistrate Courts. Native Courts will remain at the bottom of the judicial hierarchy. The Supreme Court exercised appellate jurisdiction over the High Courts. Between 1934 and 1954 appeals from the Supreme Court went to the West African Court of Appeal. Appeals from the West African Court of Appeal went to the Privy Council. However from 1954, appeals from the Supreme Court of Nigeria went directly to the Privy Council.

    The Era 1954 to date

    In 1954, a Federal Supreme Court was established and was presided over by a Chief Justice of the Federation. Nigeria then consisted of three regions, each had a High Court presided over by a Chief Justice. Appeals from each of the High Court of the regions went to the Federal Supreme Court, while appeals from Magistrate Courts, Customary or Native Courts Grade A went to the regional High Courts.

    When in 1967, Nigeria became a Federation of 12 States each with its own state judiciary, the Western State via the Court of Appeal Edict, No 15 of 1969 established a Regional Court of Appeal as a result of which the Supreme Court ceased to have direct jurisdiction to hear and determine appeals in any matter from the high court of the state (including appeals in any proceeding pending in any court in the State) except in any case in which notice of appeal to the Supreme Court had been filed as 1st  June 1967.

    In 1970, 19 states were created in 1976 via the Constitution (Amendment No 2) Decree No 42 of 1976. Its function among others was to hear and determine appeals from the State High Courts. The law setting up the Western Court of Appeal was replaced.

    Presently under the 1999 Constitution, the Courts recognised as constituting the judiciary are the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the Federal High Court, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, the Customary Court of Appeal, Abuja, the States High Courts, the Sharia Court of Appeal of the States and the Customary Court of Appeal of the states. These courts are vested with the functions or duties of dispensing justice, in accordance with jurisdiction vested in them. It should be noted that the establishment of a Sharia Court of Appeal or Customary Court of Appeal by a state is optional.

    Historical cases that shaped national life from 1960 to date

    Following the evolution of the judicial system, the courts have delivered and  will continue to deliver several landmark judgments that will determine how Nigerians co-exist. They affect all spheres of life, including business, human rights, politics, etc. Some of them are:

    Darman Vs Minister of Internal Affairs

    Perhaps, one of the court cases that became historical in the period under review was the suit challenging the deportation of Alhaji Abdurrahman Shugaba Darman by the Federal Government.

    The incident happened during the tenure of President Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN).

    Darman was a politician from Borno State, and a contemporary of the late Sir Ahmadu Bello. He was a founding member of the Great Nigeria People’s Party and was elected as a member of the Borno State House of Assembly in 1979 where he also became the House Majority Leader.

    Deportation: Immigration officers, on January 24, 1980, arrested Darman on the strength of a deportation order signed by the then Federal Minister of internal affairs Alhaji Bello Maitama. The deportation order entitled ‘Shugaba Abdurrahman Darman’s Deportation Order 1980’, stated amongst other things that “…Shugaba Abdurrahman Darman at present in Nigeria ought to be classified as a prohibited immigrant” and also that he be deported from Nigeria by the first available means….”.

    Darman was promptly deported to a village in Chad. In  response to the public outcry against the deportation, the government instituted a one-man tribunal of inquiry presided over by Justice P.C Okanbo. The NPN government and President Shehu Shagari in particular were quite concerned about the negative press that the issue was generating and also about allusions in the press to the partiality of the tribunal.

    Darman’s troubles had allegedly started as a result of his being regarded as a threat by the ruling party of the time, the NPN.

    He was a charismatic politician who attracted large crowds at political rallies; the crowds were drawn to his speeches in which he criticised the ruling NPN government. The government claimed that Shugaba’s father was a Chadian hence he was bundled up and deported to a village in Chad.

    During the subsequent court case filed by the GNPP- led legal team of Chief D. O.A Oguntoye, to challenge the deportation order, the government brought a Chadian woman, weeping profusely, who claimed that Shugaba was her biological son whom she wanted back.

    Shugaba denied knowing the woman and claimed that his mother was alive and well known in Maiduguri even though her sight was now poor.

    The Maiduguri High Court ruled in Shugaba’s favour in the case of “Shugaba Darman vs Federal Minister of Internal Affairs and Others”, revoked the deportation order and awarded damages to the tune of N350,000 to Shugaba. The government appealed the verdict at the Court of Appeal in Kaduna and lost. The Supreme Court also ruled in Shugaba’s favour in a unanimous judgment by the four justices led by Justice Coker.

    The case was later overtaken by the subsequent military coup and no compensation was paid. Shugaba  later forgave the Shagari- led government for his deportation.

    The Awolowo v. Shagari case was a lawsuit between Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Alhaji Shehu Shagari in which Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s petition challenged the declaration of Shehu Shagari as the president-elect of the August 11, 1979, presidential election.

     Awolowo v. Shagari

    One of the most contentious cases in Nigerian judicial history is the one involving Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

    The suit was a presidential election petition between the Appellant, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Alhaji Shehu Shagari of the NPN, where the court was required to interpret Section 34 A (i) (ii) of Electoral Decree No 73 of 1977.

    According to the results announced on August 16, 1979 by the Federal Electoral commission (FEDECO), Shehu Shagari scored 5, 688, 857 votes nation-wide whilst Obafemi Awolowo had 4, 916, 651.

    Awolowo, the applicant, did not dispute these figures but rather contended that Shagari’s scores were in-sufficient, because the law required a returned candidate must fulfil two conditions simultaneously; namely to have the highest number of votes, which Shagari had, but also have “…not less than one quarter of the votes cast at the election in each of at least two thirds of all the (19) states within the federation.” – which Shagari did not have, according to Awolowo.

    By the declared results agreed, Shehu Shagari got 25% of the votes cast in 12 states; namely: Bauchi, Bendel, Borno, Cross River, Gongola, Kaduna, Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Rivers and Sokoto. The 13th state was the issue. It was Kano State – where Shagari scored 243,423 votes, equivalent to 19.4% of the 1,220,763 votes cast in total.

    On those agreed facts, the applicant prayed the Nigerian Supreme Court to declare as follows:- that although Shagari received 5,688,857 nationwide at the said election, Shagari still had less than 25% of the votes cast at the election in each of at least two thirds of all (19) states in the federation, and, the Election Tribunal was wrong to declare, based on the result in Kano State, that “…. 25% of two-thirds of the votes in Kano State is 203, 460.5 votes….,” and, therefore:

    “The Supreme Court should now determine that the said Alhaji Shehu Shagari was not duly elected or returned and that his election or return was void.”

    The applicant argued that the phrase “…in each of at least two thirds of all the states within the federation.” means thirteen (13) states because there is nothing either in the Electoral Decree of 1977 or the Electoral (Amendment) Decree of 1978 authorising fractionalisation of a state for the purpose of determining two thirds of its votes.

    Further, he contended that insofar as fractionalisation of a state in this context is un-lawful, the phrase should instead be interpreted to mean that a candidate must score 25% of the votes in at least 13 out of the then 19 states in Nigeria.

    It was wrong logic to determine two thirds of the votes in Kano by dividing the 1,220,763 total votes cast in Kano by two-thirds to arrive at 813, 842, and then declare Shagari’s own votes of 243,423 in Kano as greater than 25% of the total votes cast in Kano, since that will be tantamount to Shagari’s return as validly elected on the basis of one-sixth of the total votes in Kano State, contrary to law, he argued.

    “The phrase ‘………in each of at least two thirds of all the states within the federation’ does not mean ‘in each of at least two thirds of all the votes within the federation’ “, Awolowo averred, “because states are not equivalent to votes in that phrase by any literal interpretation”.

    But Shagari, the respondent disagreed and contrarily argued that the word “states” indeed means votes within that phrase.

    Shagari submitted that his own total score of 243,423 in Kano State should therefore be held constant, whilst scaling down the total votes of 1,220,763 cast in all of Kano State by one third, to thereafter calculate and approve that he indeed scored 25% of the votes in Kano State.

    Chief Justice Fatai Williams, who read the lead judgment of the Supreme Court observed that the Electoral Law as phrased was a “clumsily worded section”, but then rather oddly said “this clumsily worded section” is (nevertheless) “devoid of any semantic ambiguity”.

    The court held that “Shehu Shagari won two-third of the total votes cast, having polled a total votes of 11.9 million votes ahead of Obafemi Awolowo who polled a total votes of 4.9 million out of a total 16.8 million with cast.”

    Court prohibits law mandating policewoman to seek commissioner’s consent for marriage

    Perhaps more historical is the federal high court decision which declared unconstitutional an archaic law, Regulation 124 of the Police Act on May 16, 2012.

    Justice Steven Adah made the declaration while delivering judgment in a suit filed by the Women Empowerment and Legal Aid Initiative (WELA) challenging the constitutional validity of Regulation 124 made pursuant to the Police Act (Cap P19 ) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

    The act stipulates: “A woman Police Officer who is desirous of marrying must first apply in writing to the Commissioner of Police for the State Command in which she is serving, requesting permission to marry and giving name, address and occupation of the person she intends to marry. Permission will be granted for the marriage if the intended husband is of good character and the woman police officer has served in the force for a period of not less than three years.”

    ln her submissions to the court which led to the historical judgment, WELA Executive Director, Mrs. Funmi Falana, had argued that it was illegal to ban a woman police officer for three years before entering into a marriage and that seeking permission of a Police Commissioner is an infraction of her fundamental right to dignity and freedom of choice.

    Falana had argued further since a male police officer is not subjected to the same inhibitions Regulation 124 is inconsistent with section 42 of the Constitution and Article 2 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights which have prohibited discrimination on the basis of sex.

    Falana urged the Federal High Court to expunge Regulation 124 from the Police Act as it is not reasonably justifiable in a democratic society like Nigeria which has domesticated the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and ratified the  Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People Rights on the  Rights of Women in Africa and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

    Responding, the Attorney-General of the Federation through his Counsel, Mr. B.R. Ashiru maintained that Regulation 124 is designed to protect women police officers from falling into the hands of criminals.

    Ashiru further submitted that the purpose of the law is to prevent women police officers from marrying men of bad character.

    He also defended the three-year ban on the ground that it is meant to ensure that a woman police officer is not pregnant “during the rigorous training she must undergo after her employment”.

    Delivering judgment in the matter, Justice Adah rejected the arguments of the respondent.

    The court held that Regulation 124 was illegal, null and void due to its inconsistency with Section 42 of the Constitution. Having declared it unconstitutional, the judge proceeded to annul Regulation 124 by virtue of Section 1(3) of the Constitution.

    Supreme Court upholds right of female child to inherit properties in Igboland

    On April 14, 2014, the Supreme Court voided the Igbo law and custom, which forbid a female from inheriting her late father’s estate, on the grounds that it is discriminatory and conflicts with the provision of the constitution.

    The court held that the practice conflicted with section 42(1)(a) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution. The judgment was on the appeal marked: SC.224/2004 filed by Mrs. Lois Chituru Ukeje (wife of the late Lazarus Ogbonna Ukeje) and their son, Enyinnaya Lazarus Ukeje against Mrs Gladys Ada Ukeje (the deceased’s daughter).

    Gladys had sued the deceased’s wife and son before the Lagos High Court, claiming to be one of the deceased’s children and sought to be included among those to administer their deceased’s father’s estate.

    The trial court found that he was a daughter to the deceased and that she was qualified to benefit from the estate of their father who died intestate in Lagos in1981.

    The Court of Appeal, Lagos to which Mrs. Lois Ukeje and Enyinnaya Ukeje appealed, upheld the decision of the trial court, prompting them to appeal to the Supreme Court.

    In its judgment, the Supreme Court held that the Court of Appeal, Lagos was right to have voided the Igbo’s native law and custom that disinherit female children.

    Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, who read the lead judgment, held that “no matter the circumstances of the birth of a female child, such a child is entitled to an inheritance from her later father’s estate.

    “Consequently, the Igbo customary law, which disentitles a female child from partaking in the sharing of her deceased father’s estate, is in breach of Section 42(1) and (2) of the Constitution, a fundamental rights provision guaranteed to every Nigerian.

    “The said discriminatory customary law is void as it conflicts with Section 42(1) and (2) of the Constitution. In the light of all that I have been saying, the appeal is dismissed. In the spirit of reconciliation, parties to bear their own costs,” Justice Rhodes-Vivour said.

    Justices Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, Claral Bata Ogunbiyi, Kumai Bayang Aka’ahs and John Inyang Okoro, who were part of the panel that heard the appeal, agreed with the lead judgment.

    Lagos State Waterways Authority & Ors v Incorporated Trustees of Association of Tourist Boat Operators &Ors

    Outcome: States have power to regulate inland waterways

    Who has the right to make laws/regulate intra state waterways/inland waterways; the National Assembly or the State House of Assembly?

    On July 18, 2017, the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos upheld the argument of Lagos State Attorney-General Adeniji Kazeem that by virtue of sections 4(2), 4(4)(a), Sections 315 and Items 36 and 64 of the Exclusive List of the Constitution, that power belongs to the states.

    The case, which is now before the Supreme Court, was instituted on May 22, 2012 at the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court by the Lagos State Waterways Authority and three others.

    The defendants/respondents were The Incorporated Trustees of Association of Tourist Boat Operators & Water Transportation in Nigeria, Incorporated Trustees Dredgers Association of Nigeria Transport, National Inland Waterways Corporation, Nigeria Maritime Standard And Safety Agency, Minister of Mines & Steel Development and Minister of Transport.

    The Appellate Court, in a unanimous decision, held that the Lagos State House of Assembly is competent to make laws in respect of the intra-Inland Waterways in Lagos State except inter-state waterways declared as international or interstate waterway under Item 5 in the 2nd Schedule to the National Inland Waterways Act.

    In the leading judgment of the court, Justice Hussein Mukhtar held: “Item 64 is couched in no narrower scope as it deals with water from such sources declared by the National Assembly to be sources affecting more than one State.

    “The inland waterways within Lagos State are not and cannot by any stretch of interpretation be covered by any item on the Exclusive Legislative List under Part 1 to the Second Schedule of the Constitution and I so hold.

    The court also held that “the authority of the Lagos State House of Assembly to legislate in respect of all intra-state inland water ways is not in doubt” and all other inland waterways within Lagos State are within the legislative competence of the Lagos State House of Assembly and any revenue accruable therefrom is payable to the Lagos State Waterways Authority.”

    CBN and Freedom of Information

    In 2011, Nigeria passed the Freedom of Information Act, which seeks to guarantee citizens’ access to public information.

    The law is revolutionary in the scope of information to which it grants access, and the safeguards contained therein are a welcome departure from the pervasive secrecy in Nigerian governance. The Lagos Federal High Court recently had the first opportunity to interpret and apply this law in Boniface Okezie v Central Bank of Nigeria.(1) The Central Bank is a government agency.

    On August 1, 2009, the Central Bank, exercising its powers under the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, fired the executive directors of five Nigerian banks for borderline fraudulent acts and mismanagement of bank resources.

    The affected bankers were also prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission which, in collaboration with the Central Bank, sought to recover some of the assets that they had allegedly stolen.

    However, there were questions about the manner in which the recovery of the assets was being handled, particularly the apparent lack of consideration for the rights of the affected banks’ shareholders.

    In 2012, the Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, represented by its president, Boniface Okezie, wrote to the Central Bank requesting information relating to the recovery of Oceanic International Bank Plc’s assets.

    The basis for the request was that taxpayers’ money was being used for the prosecution of the banks’ chiefs and the reform process. The association also believed the entire reform process to be a drain on the economy, benefiting only a few.

    When the Central Bank refused to disclose the information  requested by the association, a suit was instituted against it under the Freedom of Information Act. The association requested the court to compel the bank to publish its handling of approximately N191 billion’s worth of assets forfeited by Ibru.

    In a landmark ruling on the application of the Freedom of Information Act, the court held that the Central Bank, as a public institution, has a duty under the act to provide details of such information, and that the bank’s refusal to disclose the information on request by the association was unlawful.

    Justice Mohammed Idris ordered the bank to comply with the association’s request by releasing the information sought. Stressing that it was unlawful for the bank to withhold the information, the court observed that:

    “The Act is intended to promote transparency and prevent corruption, therefore all public institutions must ensure that they comply with the FOI Act in the interest of transparency, justice and development.”

    Liberalisation of party registration

    In Balarabe Musa v. INEC (2003) 10 WRN 1 the political space was liberalized when the Supreme Court struck down the stringent conditionalities imposed by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on new political parties.

    The right of private prosecution

    In Fawehinmi v. Akilu (1987) 2 NWLR (PT 67) 767 the  Supreme Court relaxed the anachronistic doctrine of locus standi so as to permit the private prosecution of criminal offences by concerned individuals on the ground that “we are all our brothers’ keepers.”

    The President, governors can be investigated

    In Fawehinmi v. Inspector-General of Police (2002) 23 WRN 1 the Supreme Court declared that public officers covered by the immunity clause in Section 308 of the Constitution can be investigated while in office.

  • New ‘epidemic’ sends hundreds of Queen’s College pupils home

    A new epidemic has sent hundreds of Queen’s College pupils home, the Nation learnt from the Parent’s Teachers Association Chairman, Mr John Ofobike.

    The school had a water borne epidemic in 2017, which claimed three pupils and led to its closure for months during which its old students association rehabilitated its facilities.

    Ofobike said he could not tell the nature of the sickness but learnt from a parent whose ward had been treated at the hospital that the illness was caused by food and water bacterial infection.

    He said when he visited on Sunday, hundreds of girls were being given exeat to go home to be get treatment.

    He however noted that the principal, whom he claimed did not want the issue to be publicised, refused to allow him see the register of sick pupils.

    Read Also: Untreated fungal infection may lead to death – Expert

    He said: “I am not a doctor so I don’t know if the problem is caused by water but there is a problem already in the school and parents are calling me.

    “I was there on Sunday. So many children over 100 were waiting for exeat to go out. The sick bay was filled with children everywhere on the beds and benches.

    “You know when people are queuing for INEC registration, that was how it was. And these girls are in exam classes – SS3 and JSS3.

    “I went to the principal to tell her to alert the government but she did not want to aleart the government. The children are sick because the environment is unkempt.

    “I said let me look at the register at the sick bay. But the principal instructed the nurse not to allow me see the register – I who as the PTA Chairman am the father of all the girls in the school.

    “I was there when one parent brought his daughter. He showed me the medical report which stated that there is a bacterial infection for food and water. I have written the Federal Ministry of Education to report the matter.”

    When asked if the PTA had complained about the school being unkempt before or done anything to help salvage the situation, Ofobike said: “We have not seen this type before. I have been in the school for three years as a PTA Chairman so I know when the environment is unclean.

    “Again, PTA is not part of the school management team. The school does call our attention for assistance when necessary.’

    Regarding the symptoms the pupils exhibited, Ofobike said: “When I visited the school sick bay, the students complained of pain all over their body, cough, body temperature is high. I am not a doctor to know what the problems are.”

  • Ericsson to lose $1b to porous internal controls

    Ericsson has identified breaches of its Code of Business Ethics and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) which it blamed on several deficiencies, including a ‘failure to react to red flags and inadequate internal controls’. These, it said enabled a limited number of employees to actively circumvent internal controls for ‘illegitimate purposes’.

    While it said it has been co-operating voluntarily since 2013 with an investigation by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and, since 2015, with an investigation by the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) into its compliance with the FCPA and the process is still ongoing, it estimated that it will cost it an estimated $1billion.

    “While Ericsson cannot comment in detail on the ongoing process with the U.S. authorities, it can with current visibility estimate the cost and thus make a provision, which will impact the third quarter of 2019 results by SEK 12b.

    We have to recognise that the company has failed in the past and I can assure you that we work hard every day to build a stronger Ericsson, where ethics and compliance are cornerstones in how we conduct business. Over the past two years, we have made significant investments in our ethics and compliance program including our investigative capabilities and have taken actions against employees who have transgressed our values and standards.”

    Its Chairman, Board of Directors, Ronnie Leten, said: “This has been a formative process for the company. We have worked closely with the Executive Team in enhancing Ericsson’s ethics and compliance program. We are impressed by their conviction in addressing shortcomings and are confident in their ability to deliver on our strategy.”

    Based on a thorough internal and external assessment of its Ethics and Compliance programme, the company has implemented significant reforms to address identified gaps and further strengthen the programme. This work is still ongoing, and Ericsson will remain relentless in striving to improve and safeguard a strong ethical and compliance culture throughout the company.

  • Nigeria trudges on at 59

    SIR: As Nigeria celebrates 59 years of independence, the indisputable fact is that it currently grapples with challenges of security, economy and national unity. In 1960, Nigerians both in and out of the country celebrated the independence moment with an open mind in the hope that the nation will experience radical transformation and development.

    Six years after independence, the country went through various challenges most notable being the January 15, 1966 coup d’état at a point the structure of governance had barely developed. The consequences of the military intervention led to an unfortunate civil war of 1966 to 1970 which led to the death of thousands of Nigerians.

    After a series of several military interruptions at different times, the country returned to a civilian administration in 1999. This year, the country celebrated 20 years of uninterrupted democracy.

    Still, there are a lot of issues despite the improvements in the electoral process with electoral violence, desperation by politicians, vote-buying, logistic issues among others, a recurring factor.

    Worse still, Nigerian politicians continue to show that they are only interested in taking care of their personal interests rather than those that elected them. They have since succeeded in dividing the country along religious and ethnic lines. No longer are elections based on the capacity and ability of the person to deliver; rather most Nigerians appear to be more interested in seeing their kinsmen occupy the corridors of power. No wonder now that appointments into different ministries, departments, and agencies of government are based on where one comes from and religious consideration rather than merit.

    The level of insecurity has heightened the distrust among Nigerians. The security situation is getting worse with growing sophistication of ISWAP and, Boko Haram terrorists. Armed banditry in Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and Kaduna states, herders/farmers clashes and of course widespread of kidnapping especially along Kaduna-Abuja high way has since compounded the problem.

    The economy appears to be taking one step forward, two-steps backward with over 90.8 million Nigerians living below the poverty line. The industries are no longer functioning; foreign investors are afraid to invest and the level of unemployment is becoming a threat to our national security.

    Another cancer gnawing at Nigeria’s democracy and its unity is the issue of widespread hate and dangerous speech. This is not unconnected to the widespread access to social media platforms by Nigerians. Nigerian conversational space is suffused with hateful and damaging speeches threatening its corporate existence. Fake news and hate speeches circulating daily are heating up our political atmosphere and sowing seeds of discord among Nigerians.

    Despite these challenges or problems, the country trudges on. Nigerians should understand the wisdom of God who put us together as one country despite our differences.

    The government should provide a conducive atmosphere for participatory and inclusive governance. Doing so will tremendously assist the country to surmount its multi-faced problems. The government should also work hard to reduce the level of unemployment, insecurity and the threats to the unity of the country.

    Happy 59 independence anniversary and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    • Idris Mohammed, Abuja.

  • Save Satellite Town

    After 59 years of existence as a country, Nigeria is supposed to be celebrating laudable legacies. But instead, she is bogged down by basic existential challenges. Unfortunately, some of these challenges are manmade, and unless we change the way we treat ourselves and our national assets, we may continue tottering on the brink, when our nation’s contemporaries are leapfrogging to conquer space.

    Last Saturday, while journeying to participate at the official visit of the Rotary District Governor of District 9110 Nigeria, Dr. Jide Akeredolu, to the Rotary Club of Satellite Town, a drive that should take less than twenty minutes from Festac Town to Satellite Town, in Lagos, turned into a nightmare, necessitating the abandonment of the vehicle I was driving at a filing station, after wasting hours behind trailers and articulated vehicles.

    As the Assistant District Governor, seconded to supervise the club, I had to ride a motorbike, to ensure my boss doesn’t get there before me. The District Governor on his part journeyed for hours trying to navigate his way to the venue. Without any notice, a major exit artery off the expressway into the Satellite Town was blocked by a caterpillar, forcing the governor to pass the exit-road leading to the venue of the event.

    While the service lane of the expressway from around Ojo barracks down to Festac 3rd gate, is a nightmare, the inner roads of Satellite Town is worse than a nightmare. It is hell on earth. All the inner roads are spectacles of craters and emergency ponds. Whether you are driving on the inner roads of the federal government owned estate or the nearby communities, you are bound to wonder whether that part of Lagos has been at war for decades.

    Embarrassingly, some of the nations that Nigeria rubbed shoulders with in the 1960s, after she gained independence from Great Britain have so much to show off each time they celebrate their independence anniversary. Whether in the economy, military, science or technology, many of them have made significant achievements, and some are rubbing shoulders with the first world countries in science and technology.

    If Nigeria cannot compete in science and technology, it should not be a laggard in maintaining motorable roads, which does not require much exertion. The present leaders should at least maintain the infrastructure developed when Nigeria had the resources from the oil boom, such as the Satellite Town. It should also worry about the public health challenges that come with motorist staying for hours on the traffic.

    If the federal government has abandoned the Satellite Town which it built, the Lagos state government and the local government that controls the area should not abandon the people in the estate and its environs. The level of neglect is so palpable that a visitor would think there is no government office within the estate. So, I was surprised that a local council area has its office within the estate, and yet the entire area is looking like a dungeon.

    But Satellite was not always like that. It was developed as an adjunct to the Festac Town built to host African Nations to the Festival of Arts and Culture in 1977, when our central bank was over flowing with foreign exchange. In a record time, the federal government built the famous Festac Town, where it quartered participants and treated them to a lavish party. Part of the benefit of the African party was arguably the best planned estate in Africa at a time.

    Since Nigeria was awash with petro dollars, the federal authorities decided to build an adjunct to that town. So, a smaller but equally well laid out town was built across the West African trans-highway leading to Benin Republic, which became known as the Satellite Town. That smaller town, though less sophisticated in planning and execution than Festac Town, hosts the Central Bank of Nigeria Estate and several other estates owned by major oil companies and other industries in the 1980s.

    It is inside these enormous housing estates and adjunct communities that the Rotary Club of Satellite Town is tucked in. As the District Governor Akeredolu noted during the club’s presentation of exercise books and grants to selected students of the Satellite senior secoundary and Navy Town senior secoundary schools last Saturday, the Satellite communities have the potential to host a large Rotary Club. But that is not the case, and there is no doubt that the decay of Satellite Town had affected the health of the club, founded in 1982.

    So, those who allowed the town to dilapidate have not only downgraded the quality of life in the estate, they are also denying the residents the benefits that could come from hosting a vibrant Rotary club with all the attendant benefits. To restore the lost glory, the federal government, owners of the major estate in the Satellite town must lead the way. They should be supported by the state and local council authorities, since the extensions have more or less interwoven with the original federal government estate.

    The local council authority should borrow a leaf from the Amuwo-Odofin local council, which maintains the inner roads in Festac Town, even though the estate is owned by the Federal Housing Authority, a federal government agency. A planned urban renewal program is an emergency that would do everybody a lot of good. Whether for the enhancement of the value of the huge investment in housing in the area, or the quality of life of the residents, or general public health, the three levels of government and the residents association should work together to renew Satellite Town.

    The Federal Ministry of Works, which behaves like an irresponsible landowner must mend its waywardness. While allowing the estate to become an eyesore, it still collects levies on transactions on properties it owns in the estate. It even collects development levy, yet there is no iota of development going on. Without equivocation, one can say that if those Africans who marveled at the   beauty of Festac and Satellite Towns when Nigeria showed off its economic prowess in 1977 and beyound should visit now, they will be ashamed at the level of decadence and backwardness of the estate.

    I urge all government authorities to emulate the Rotary Club of Satellite Town, led by Rotarian Vera Nwagu, who despite their environmental challenges, still find a place in their heart to engage in doing public good. Other public spirited individuals resident in Satellite Town and its environs must seek out where the club meets and join them. As one of the best managed international non-governmental organizations with enormous potentials, Rotary stands in good stead to show how to save Satellite Town.

  • Which agency certifies drivers?

    If the government’s desire is to reduce carnage on the roads, the argument about who has the mandate to regulate drivers’ licence is needless and avoidable, writes ADEYINKA ADERIBIGBE

    Road safety experts have carpeted as needless, the query on the Federal Roads Safety Commission’s (FRSC) power to regulate the training of drivers or the issuance of drivers licence.

    The Chairman, Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NIIT) Zaria, Olorogun John Onojeharho in the Punch last Friday, had queried the FRSC’s right to issue licences. He alleged that it operates quack driving schools to train drivers.

    But the agency said the FRSC Establishment Act 2007 as amended, gave it the statutory right to train and certify drivers.

    Its spokesman Bisi Kazeem, debunking the “erroneous insinuation,” at the weekend, said drivers’ certification is part of the FRSC’s responsibility. “Our responsibility is to ensure that drivers, motorists, and motorcyclists education are trained on how to operate their vehicles before they apply for the National Drivers Licence,” he said.

    He said FRSC has no driving school but certifies privately run driving schools to ensure compliance to standards.

    He said FRSC derives its mandate from Section 10 (3)c of the FRSC Establishment Act 2007: “To educate drivers, motorists and members of the public generally on the proper use of the highways.”

    Put in broader perspective, according to Kazeem,”education and training are interchangeable where learning or education is synonymous with training, which means a process by which someone is taught a skill that is needed for an art, profession, or job.”

    According to him, the FRSC, as the agency charged with the safety of lives and property on the roads has not only been educating fleet operators on the minimum safety standards, it has continued to regulate the establishment and certification of driving schools that are registered to train drivers on the operation of vehicles and the proper use of roads.

    The beginning

    Prior to 1988, the Federal Government had no concrete or sustained policy to address the carnage on  the roads. Earlier attempts to manage carnage on the roads were limited to isolated attempts by some states of the federation and institutions.

    One of the earliest pioneers of road safety initiative, according to Wikipedia, was the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) between 1960 and 1965. Following on its heels, was the Nigerian Army’s Annual Road Safety Week which started in 1972.

    The National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), established in 1974, was the Federal Military Government’s first real attempt at promoting road safety. It was however short lived. In 1977, the military administration in old Oyo State, established the Oyo State Road Safety Corps (OSRSC), which instilled some road discipline and achieved significant improvements in road safety in the state. The Corps was disbanded by the military government in 1983.

    In February 1988, the Federal Government established the Federal Road Safety Commission through Decree No. 45 of the 1988 as amended by Decree 35 of 1992, referred to in the statute books as the FRSC Act cap 141 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN), passed by the National Assembly as Federal Road Safety Corps (establishment) Act 2007.

    It has, among other statutory functions, the duty of making the highway safe for motorists and other road users, eliminate or minimise accidents on the highways and advising the Federal and state governments, including the Federal Capital Territory Administration and relevant governmental agencies on the localities where such works and devices are required, and educating motorists and members of the public on the importance of discipline on the highway.

    Its other responsibilities are: Clearing obstructions on any part of the highways, educating drivers, motorists and other members of the public on the proper use of the highways, designing and producing the driver’s license to be used by various categories of vehicle operators, determining, from time to time, the requirements to be satisfied by an applicant for a driver’s licence and designing and producing vehicle number plates.

    It is also mandated to standardise highway traffic codes, educate drivers, motorists and other members of the public generally on the proper use of the highways,  give prompt care and attention to victims of accidents and conducting researches into causes of motor accidents and methods of preventing them and putting into use the result of such research.

    The FRSC is also to determine and enforce speed limits for all categories of roads and vehicles and controlling the use of speed limiting devices, cooperate with bodies or agencies or groups in road safety activities or in prevention of accidents on the highways, making regulations in pursuance of any of the functions assigned to the Corps, regulate the use of sirens, flashers and beacon lights on vehicles other than ambulances and vehicles belonging to the Armed Forces, Nigeria Police, Fire Service and other Paramilitary agencies, providing roadside and mobile clinics for the treatment of accident victims free of charge.

    Other mandates are to regulate the use of mobile phones by motorists, regulating the use of seat belts and other safety devices, regulating the use of motorcycles on the highways, maintaining the validity period for drivers’ licences which shall be three years subject to renewal at the expiration of the validity period.

    Needless controversy

    A safety expert who prefers anonymity, carpeted the NIIT chief’s unprovoked jab at the FRSC. According to him, the law which empowers the Corps to regulate safety could not have excluded from it the power to certify trainees.

    The Chief Executive Officer of Arrive Alive Road Safety Initiative (AARSI) Mr Ike Okonkwo said the FRSC has become a global brand that should be supported to continue to do everything to promote road safety.

    Okonkwo, who regarded the antagonism by the NIIT chief as needless and avoidable, said the impact of the FRSC is such that at the global summit of the United Nations (UN) in 2011, the UN, among other resolutions, urged member nations to emulate Nigeria and have a focal agency in charge of road safety.

    According to him, 1.3 million people reportedly died on global roads in 2011, and such an agency was to lead moves to reduce it by 50 percent in a decade.

    Okonkwo said AARSI, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) owned by Chevron, First Bank, Zenith Bank and Diamond Bank, has been working with the Corps  to keep the roads safe, adding that FRSC has maintained the lead in educating, training and certifying drivers wishing to drive on the roads.

    Can motorcyclist fly plane

    Safety Without Borders Executive Director Mr Patrick Adenusi wondered why anyone would fight FRSC over the certification of drivers.

    According to him, if no one would fly a plane whose pilot is a motorcyclist, why should anyone not be concerned that drivers who would ply the roads are trained and certified to use the roads.

    “If FRSC says it won’t do it because they are not empowered by law to train drivers or issue drivers licence, then the number of people dying on our roads, which is put at 5,000 could as well continue to rise.”

    He said arguments for pulling the rug off the feet of FRSC are self-serving. “No one should pick any hole at who regulates drivers in Nigeria,” he said, adding that over the years, the FRSC has continued to serve as quality control by ensuring that driving schools churn out only trained drivers, while those seeking renewals were mandated to undergo retraining to ensure that everyone keyed into the agenda to reduce road carnage.

    He said in his relationship with the Corps over the years, he has never heard the Corps own or run a driving school as alleged by the NIIT chief.

    According to him, though issuance of drivers licence is within the purview of the Motor Vehicle Administration Agencies (MVAA), the tripartite arrangement evolved over time, which saw the FRSC, MVAA and VIO manage the training, and certification of drivers should not be jettisoned.

    “The tripartite arrangement of driving licence issuance, which has always seen the FRSC, VIO and MVAA work together, has been working perfectly for Nigeria. In other jurisdiction, motor vehicle administration is saddled with drivers certification and drivers licence issuance, but our MVAA here are not as engaging and skilful as MVAA administration in America, which explains why FRSC should continue to play the leading role in sanitising the process through which drivers are certified to use the road and which type of vehicles they are certified to use.”

    According to him, “One should not forget that the main reason for certification is to reduce  deaths by road accidents, which going by WHO estimates of 30,000 deaths yearly, would have seen a growth rather than a reduction of global death statistics as a result of accidents.

  • Envisioning a new Nigeria at 59

    For those that witnessed our independence; their mind would be filled with crowded memories; memories of the projected destination envisaged. The memory of the attractive flowers of violet turned unattractive, the memory of kindness melting away, the memory of closely knitted cultures now faltering like a pack of cards…The memory of decorum turning delirium …

    Today the freedom we had has metamorphosed into distress; innocent people from the Northeast cannot sleep with one eye closed, the people in the Northwest are closely monitoring the activities of the bandits, the southern parts of Nigeria are beginning to witness the aftermath of lingering crisis in the north.

    Today the charming dinners we had is turning into harrowing dinners.

    Today what we have is the rich getting richer, the middle class are getting squeezed out and the poor are pregnant with triplet of anxiety, fear and hatred. These savage offspring are born daily and are dangling terror in most parts of the country.

    Today, the pattering rain of cash has dwindled and the glittering oil is shrinking yet the smoke of insecurity bellowed to every nook and cranny of the country.

    Today the descendants of the birds that squeaked on top of the treetops during our independence are howling for lack of food.

    Today, can our leaders look back and say they have fought a good fight without remorse for their past deeds? Today, can we sincerely say with confidence that our crop of youths are ready to take on the mantle of leadership?

    Today, the heir of the frogs that croaked are crying accent of mercy.

    Today we have the likes of typhoons, landslides and earthquakes that were once alien to us signaling the earth is changing. Today with the climate change, no one is sure of anything; it is a looming threat that we must be prepared for.

    Today the masses are clamoring for restructuring because of the present knotted structure.

    My eyes mist whenever I recite a phrase in our national anthem, the labor of our heroes past, shall never be in vain  and I pray that our fallen heroes’ effort shall not be in vain. On the other hand, I feel quite nostalgic for the recitation of O God of creation , Direct our noble Cause, Guide our leaders right , help our Youth the truth to know…but the questions is, are our youths dissecting the wheat from the chaff?

    How do the people living in the prone parts of the Northeast raise children when their environment is precarious and their future uncertain?

    It’s unfortunate to say that our preceding sailors who were supposed to sail us safely to our projected destination were struck by strong wind and we have since being sailing on turbulent waters.

    The probing question is, when did we get it all wrong? We cannot look back further than after the oil was discovered in Oloibiri in the now Bayelsa State. Like a pirouette dance, oil money started to flow and we forgot about streams of resources at our beck and call. Today, oil extraction remains the biggest divider among us yet a unifying factor. The rubber plantation was not in short supply, cocoa money performed wonders and groundnut pyramids reached the sky.  We should not forget at this period we had vegetables, lemons, cassava, cotton, coffee, papayas, and hibiscus, among others with a congenial weather to go with it. What other things could we have asked for?

    As we celebrate our independence today, it is a period of reflection where the affluence in our midst  who lives in an environment where they don’t have to think of electricity bill, they don’t have to think of what to eat, they don’t have to think of  what to wear, and don’t have to think of where to lay their heads think of the poor who are married to squalor living in a place they don’t want to live, a place surrounded by roaches, smells of urine billowing  from the backyards as if they are back-tracked to eight decades ago where all that were available were free range of toilets in the backyard. Some of them sleep on pallets and do not need repellant to keep rats away from romancing their toes at night… poverty.

    According to the Nigeria Economic Report released in July by the World Bank, poverty still remains significant at 33.1% in Nigeria as half of the population are now living in degrading poverty. There have been steps at poverty alleviation, for instance, in 1972, National Accelerated Food production programme and the Nigerian Agricultural and Cooperative Bank was created. In 1976, Operation Feed the Nation; it was to teach the farmers how to use modern farming tools. In 1979, Green Revolution Programme came on board where emphasis was laid on reducing food importation and increase local food production. In 1986, the Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI)  was established by General Babangida administration  to tackle the issue of rural development and rural transformation. That same year, the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) was created. In 1993, Family Support Programme  and the Family Economic Advancement Programme was established. The National Agricultural Land Development Agency (NALDA), the Rural Employment Programme (REP) were also established. Today the federal government has continued to roll out efforts at ameliorating poverty in the country with the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP),the N-Power programme designed to reduce youth unemployment with focus on young-graduates and non-graduates with skills, tools and livelihood to enable them advance from unemployment to employment, entrepreneurship and innovation. Despite all these efforts, there is still a lot of work to be done.

    What is the missing link?

    The developed world are talking about electric cars, artificial intelligence decentralization, Crptocurrencies, the semantic web linked data, block-chain technology, renewable energy, self-driving cars among others. A developing country like Nigeria is still talking about building good roads, provision of electricity, telephone and water supply. We are highly religious country waiting for God to solve all our problems. We are always gazing skyward to receive everything from Him. We seem helpless and hapless; frightened like chicken who heard the roar of the wind, flapped, squawked and hid under decrepit barnyard. We pile up debt for our children’s children instead of riches. It’s unfortunate that we don’t truly know what we are capable of achieving if we put our act together.

    Until we begin to harness our true potential, until we begin to design reality rather than merely reacting to it, until will do away with standards and structures that are absurdly ambiguous and riddled with loopholes, we will continue to dance around the question unanswered.

    It is my staunch belief that Nigerians are an incredibly talented people. Give them lemons and they will make lemonade. My question to you as we celebrate independence today is that when a story of Nigeria is being told, will yours be a tale of selflessness or selfishness?

    • Anjorin writes from Lagos.

  • Boosting farm produce with Green house alternative

    Greenhouse farms is becoming the alternative that is making agriculture more attractive to local farmers, especially those with some means. OSAGIE OTABOR writes about one such farms which would soon begin to earn big, exporting tomatoes and pepper

    The quest by the Federal Government to move the economy from oil dependent is gradually producing results. More Nigerians are seeing the wisdom in returning to agriculture. The Buhari administration is promoting agriculture as the nation’s new economy. In Edo State, agriculture is gaining ground as the first GreenHouse Farm is set to export tomatoes and pepper. Last year, the Wells Hosa Greenhouse Farm, owned by billionaire Captain Hosa Okunbo, showcased to the world its first harvest of vegetables, tomatoes and pepper. But the ban on importation of inorganic fertiliser is threatening the existence of the farm.

    Sitting on a 26-hectare, the Wells Hosa Greenhouse grows the roma, cherry and beef tomatoes, bell peppers, albanaro peppers and cucumbers. The crops are not grown on soil, but on coconut fibre, through the adoption of hydroponic technology. There are 14 greenhouses on the farm. To ensure an all-year round harvest, the greenhouses are divided to serve the cycle from nursery to harvest.

    Farm’s General Manager Franklin Owegie, who conducted reporters round the farm, said proper sterilisation is carried out to avoid diseases or pests affecting the plants.

    Owegie explained that the tomatoes and pepper grown on the farm were originally cultivated in Mexico but with the use of technology, they were successfully grown in Edo State. He said computerised irrigation, fertilisation and pest control are important to achieve optimal plant growth and higher yield compared with the traditional open field method of producing tomatoes and pepper.

    He said: “As you observed, we sterilised your cars before you drive in. Before workers or anybody enters any of the greenhouses, they must be sterilised. All the nutrients the plants need are prepared and supplied through the irrigation system. Each plant has its own drip point so the plant gets the nutrients it needs.

    “This is the first successful hydroponic green house in Nigeria. It has been working since August last year and we are still expanding. For us, this is like a pilot project. We harvest twice a week, there is no scarce season, it is an all -ear round harvest.

    “Instead of using natural ground where you have all the challenges, rather we are growing it with all the nutrients and giving it all the fertilisers it requires unlike how it is done in the open field.

    “All we are doing by creating a controlled environment is to have better yields. The plant doesn’t have to interact with the soil to avoid all the diseases. With this, we have high yield, we harvest all-year round and that is one of the advantages. It is expensive but, however, greenhouse farming can meet the food needs of Nigerians.

    “The good thing is that whatever you are planting you are surely going to meet the food needs of the people, it is just like investing in solar energy which has high investment but at the end of the day you get your return on investment.

    “Our nutrition solution centre is equipped with modern gadgets where the mixtures for nutrients are done. The fertiliser centre is also where the PH of the nutrition solution mixture is done.”

    The ban on the importation of inorganic fertilisers has forced the cost of production at the farm to increase in astrometric progression. As the crops do not grow on soil, all the required nutrients are from chemicals and inorganic fertilisers and they must be supplied in the right quantity. Non- availability of inorganic fertilisers might lead to  loss of jobs at the farm.

    Managing Director of Wells Hosa Greenhouse farms Mr. Bright Okunbo said greenhouse farmers in Nigeria may be forced out of business, if alternatives to get inorganic fertilisers are not available.

    According to him, “the most challenges we have observed in the past one year is getting the right input when it comes to chemicals and fertiliser at the right time and from the right sources. When we started the farm, we got NAFDAC’s permit to import inorganic fertilisers and end user certificate to enable importation of inorganic fertilisers, which is one of our major input for our irrigation system. Even if it took us a lot of process to have that done, but when we did, we were able to import any time we wanted within that one year period when the licences were valid.

    “Currently, with the new ban on importation of inorganic fertilisers, no bank will issue Form M for you to import. Most of the inorganic fertilisers are not available in Nigeria. That is our major challenge right now. Without those fertilisers and right chemicals, we will not be able to operate. There is no substitute for this. I cannot use organic fertilisers to run my farm because I am not planting on soil. I don’t have anything that will be pulling the micro nutrient or microorganism that is available in the soils. This is different because I have to introduce  every micro, macro nutrients and inorganic fertilisers by myself in the right quantity. If I don’t do all of these, I will not be able to operate. That is our biggest challenge.

    “As it stands, I have no alternative to the problem right now. There just has to be a way where we can either have a company that produces these fertilisers in Nigeria or open up the borders and allow importation of these fertilisers. With this development, our workers’ job is not only at stake, my job and the company is at stake. If I cannot import and there is no alternative, then there is a huge problem.

    “I am just hoping that this will last for a short time for government can look at ways we can have access to it so that pioneers like us can have access to the input that we need.

    “We have started talking to the relevant authority and we are looking at all the alternatives to get out of this predicament. I am, however, optimistic that government will do something urgent because we are not the only greenhouse farm in Nigeria affected by this. I think there is need to protect this and as one of the non-oil sector that contribute to the nation’s development. I don’t think government will want greenhouse technology to pull out of business in Nigeria”.

    Bright, however, stated that the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has been supportive in trying to see how the farm can get to export level so it can generate foreign exchange. He said the National Agency of Quarantine Services has certified the products of Wells Hosa okay for export.

    “Some policies are making it favourable for us to get to the status to export outside of the country. The people know our product. They know it is distinct. They know it is different from others. Anybody that has used our tomatoes for stew know the difference between Hosa Wells tomatoes and others in the market. They are willing to pay a little more than what they pay for regular tomatoes because they are getting value in … taste and quality. The yellow orange albanaro pepper we introduced to the market is distinct. When we first introduced it, the people were a little hesitant to try something new but as I speak, I don’t have my harvest sitting on the ground. I harvest twice in a week and before I am through with the harvesting, customers are waiting to get them.’’

    On the future of Wells Hosa Green House farm, Bright said they hoped to replicate the greenhouse facility in different geo-political zones.

    “The Green House can be established anywhere. Edo State is one of the most difficult places to establish a Green House farm because of the heavy rainfall. During the rainy season, it is always cloudy, there is less radiation, it affects the size and quantity of the produce. We have been able to mitigate that problem here in Edo. If I am doing this good in the worst place, then if I take the Green House to Abuja, Kaduna, then I will do …better. We want to establish different Green Houses across the country where we can grow other crops other than just tomatoes and pepper. We now grow the Roma tomatoes, the bell pepper, the cherry tomatoes, beef tomatoes and albanaro pepper.”

  • Siasia’s 80-year-old mum: My ordeal in kidnappers’ den

    She wept like a baby, tears rolling down freely from her eyes before a battery of television cameras and a horde of reporters.

    The 80 years old grandmother was reliving her 75 days experience in the custody of her abductors, who freed her on Sunday.

    “It was terrible,” she said asking: “Why do they like to kidnap me?”

    Madam Beauty Uguoere Siasia inadvertently answered the question, saying, “They said my son is a millionaire.”

    The abductors of the mother of former Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia are  ready to make money from what has become a lucrative business —kidnapping for ransom.

    It was the second time she was being kidnapped. The first time in November 2015, she was released after 12 days in captivity. Perhaps, those who did it then made a haul and returned or it is a new team seeking new avenue.

    Read Also: Siasia’s mother’s 59 days in captivity

    Around 2a.m on July 19, some armed men stormed her home in Odoni, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

    They took her away.  They demanded ransom which her son did not have.

    Siasia is one of Nigeria’s most successful footballers and coach.

    As a striker, he scored some of the most memorable goals for the country as a member of the golden generation of the national team that represented the country in its maiden appearance at the FIFA World Cup, USA 1994.

    Siasia scored Nigeria’s goal against Diego Maradona-led Argentina team in the group stage. After retirement, he went into coaching, taking the Under-23 team to enviable heights before he was upgraded as coach of the Super Eagles.

    Madam Siasia said after whisking her away to an unknown place, her assailants fed her with garri and bought drugs for her.

    Admitting that they “took care” of her by not beating her and sometimes preparing soup for everybody in their camp to eat

    She said: “I was in my house when they came to kidnap me. They took me to their place. They took care of me. I was sick and they bought me drugs. They cooked and gave to me. They didn’t beat me. There were days that there was no food. Those days they drank garri and gave me garri to drink as well.

    ”Sometimes, they cooked soup, prepared garri and we ate. But on Sunday, they told me we had stayed for too long and they were tired of our problem. They carried us on a flying boat and dropped us in a village. I don’t know the name of the village.

    ”They carried us to their chairman’s place. I don’t know the man. But they called him Seifa. As I am talking to you, I am not well. Before they took me, I was ill. I wanted to go to the hospital”.

    On the type of house where she was kept, Madam Siasia said: They put us in a small house and use tarpaulin to cover the top.”

    But another victim who was abducted when he took some undisclosed amount of money to the kidnappers, was not lucky. He had a raw deal in the hands of the abductors.

    According to him, on getting to where they directed him, gunmen surrounded his boat, blindfolded him and took him away.

    He recollected: “Where they kept us was very bad. I didn’t see anything there and I didn’t recognise anybody because before I got to the place, they blindfolded me.

    ”But the place was rough. We slept on benches. There was no foam. At times, they fed us with garri and beans. We used oil to eat garri. Sometimes, they cooked yellow soup and any how they cooked it you will eat because you want to live.

    ”I was in a critical condition. They were fond of beating me, maybe, because I am a man. They would beat me morning, afternoon and night. They would tie me before I sleep. Even if mosquitoes were biting me, I couldn’t chase them away.

    They kept four people to guide me. I suffered a lot”.

    Yesterday, Bayelsa State Police Commissioner Uche Anozia visited Madam Siasia at her residence. Police spokesman Asimni Buswait said:  ”The police command wishes to inform the general public that Mrs Beauty Siasia, who was kidnapped on 15 July, has been released in the early hours of Sunday, Sept. 29,” the statement said.

    The statement added that the victim was in a stable condition and had volunteered useful information that would assist the police in their investigation.

  • Nigeria should be beacon of hope, democracy, freedom – Atiku

    The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has said that Nigeria should be the beacon of hope, democracy and freedom, not only to the African continent but to the black Diaspora all over the world.

    In a statement released via his official twitter page, to commemorate Nigeria’s 59th independence, he said Nigeria belongs to all and Nigerians have a role to play in making the nation great.

    He said: “You see, when we put Nigeria first, we not only revive the Nigerian Dream, we also revive unity & faith, peace & progress, which were the ideals our founding fathers had in mind when they came together to put forward this new & independent nation 59 years ago on October 1, 1960”.

    Atiku, however, lamented the issues plaguing the nation, saying that “all is not well”.

    He berated the attack on the judiciary, level of extreme poverty in the country, clampdown on freedom of the press and other issues.

    Read Also: Atiku: Any enquiry into God’s work?

    He said rather than calling for prayers, he charged all Nigerians to believe in the betterment of the nation.

    He said: “So, rather than just call for prayers today, I am calling on all Nigerians to believe in Nigeria’s betterment, to work for Nigeria’s betterment, and to insist that no one in Nigeria, no matter how highly placed, shall be bigger than the laws of our land.

    “We all have a duty to support and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria against all enemies, foreign and domestic. And this we must do, so help us God,” he added