The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria

  • Nigeria ratifies arms trade treaty

    Nigeria ratifies arms trade treaty

    Nigeria has joined other United Nations member states to sign the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) adopted in April.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Foreign Affairs Minister, Olugbenga Ashiru, who signed the treaty on Monday in New York.

    The statement, which was faxed to Abuja, stated that the ATT was the first international treaty regulating the global arms trade.

    Ashiru said that Nigeria was the first African country to sign and ratify the ATT and assured of the government’s commitment to the treaty.

    “Today Nigeria becomes the first African country to sign and ratify the ATT.

    “This landmark event represents our deep commitment to a treaty which establishes common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms.

    “We remain resolute and unyielding in our efforts to uphold the principle of ATT and in particular ensure that small arms and light weapons are appropriately transferred and access denied to terrorist groups and the likes,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the minister as saying in the statement.

    Ashiru said the treaty was valuable to the African continent, adding that it addressed the issues of arms trafficking and illicit trade.

    More than 60 states have so far signed the ATT.

     

  • Nigeria, Ghana drive Ecobank’s growth

    The profit of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) is driven largely by its Nigeria and Ghana operations, Afrinvest West Africa Plc has said.

    A half-year report of the ETI Group released on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange showed that the lender performed impressively in first half of 2013, with significant improvements in both top and bottom line results.

    The investment and research firm said Nigerian operations continue to drive the group’s activities, contributing 43 per cent of total revenue, followed by Ghana. Noticeable improvements can also be observed in other regional African countries i.e. Southern and Central African region, while the East Africa region was dampened by results from Kenya.

    “The 2012 consolidation of the group and the acquisition of Oceanic Bank has boosted the bank into the Tier-1 sphere of the Nigerian banking space and it continues to enjoy benefits of the inorganic expansion strategies of the group,” Afrinvest said.

    The bank’s revenue grew 19.4 per cent to N195.3 billion while bottom line or net profit grew 94.2 per cent to N26.9 billion. It said the increase can be attributed to performances in Net Interest Income (20.3 per cent year-on-year growth) and other operating income (27 per cent year-on-year growth).

    The Group’s Cost to Income ratio (CIR) moderated by 3.1 per cent from 58.1 per cent in half-year 2012 to 55 in half year 2013 compared to 72 per cent recorded for 2012 fiscal year.

    This brings to fore the Group’s conscious effort to curtail its cost in the near term. The recent inorganic expansion strategy (acquisition of Oceanic Bank) of the bank significantly grew the bank’s loan and deposit.

    The Group’s customers’ loan to deposit ratio grew three per cent from 63 per cent to 66 per cent in half year 2013 on the back of a 24 per cent increase in loans and advances to customers (N1.6 trillion from N1.3 trillion). There was also a marginal reduction in loans to banks, and an 18 per cent growth in deposits to N2.4 trillion.

    “The increased loan to deposit ratio and improved cost income ratio is indicative of the gradual synergies of the recent acquisition of Oceanic Bank and an improvement in the bank’s asset quality. We remain optimistic in the medium to long term on the prospects of ETI based on its diversified business model and the expected economics of scale. The aggressive expansion in the South, West and Central part of Africa buttressed our positive outlook,” it said.

     

  • Mikel out of Bafana tie

    Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel would not play in Wednesday’s Nelson Mandela Challenge between Nigeria and South Africa due to an infection, goal.com reports.

    The 26-year-old was expected to lead the African champions against their hosts at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, the site where he masterminded a 4-1 demolition of Mali in the Africa Cup of Nations last February.

    “Mikel has been withdrawn from the squad. He has a stomach bug,” goal.com quoted Keshi as saying to kickoff.com.

    He joins the duo of Emmanuel Emenike and Kenneth Omeruo who had earlier withdrawn from the game.

     

  • Demolition victims battle over N100m compensation

    Demolition victims battle over N100m compensation

    HOW was the money spent? Was it unduly shared among certain individuals? If so, who are those individuals?

    These are some of the questions the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is asking as some aggrieved ex-residents stormed the Commission entertaining complaints on the matter.

    Some victims of the demolition of Gosa village, Abuja have also been asking those questions since a High Court awarded them N100m compensation after their community was pulled down.

    Rather than providing relief for all concerned, the sharing of the N100m has generated controversy.

    The court had awarded the judgment against the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for demolishing the houses of the non-indigenes residing in Gosa village along Airport Road, in 2009.

    Since the judgment, there have been allegations and counter-allegations between the persons handling the sharing and the aggrieved non-indigenes.

    The aggrieved members, who claimed they were not given any money from the compensation sum, took the case to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), threatening to exploit all legal options available to them in order to get justice.

    They said executive committee they appointed in 2009 to lead the group has abandoned them and diverted a substantial sum of the compensation money for their selfish and financial gains to the detriment of some members.

    Leading the aggrieved members to NHRC, Mr. Michael Anene said: “My three-bedroom flat bungalow was demolished and I was only paid N30,000 while so many residents having lesser number of rooms got as much as N1.5 million and above.”

    “Many of us here have not even been paid a kobo while there are cases of some residents who were not affected by the demolition getting as much as N1.5 million each.”

    “We were also told that N25 million out of the money was given to FCTA officials. This is a great injustice. We took part in all the contributions to hire the barrister that won the case and now the barrister, whose account the N100 million was paid into, is now conniving with the executives to cheat us. We got information that N40 million is still remaining in his bank account.”

    “Let them come out and show to the whole world how the N100 million they got from the government was shared. It is only then that we will know if they paid money to ghosts. We will not rest until we get justice. All of them are now cruising around with the latest ‘Sienna’ space bus. They have also diverted our money into their various businesses. We are going to exploit all available legal actions on this matter until we get justice and these people are brought to book.”

    But the Secretary of the exco that shared the money, Prince Ajah Felix maintained that many of the aggrieved members opted out of the group when the first court case was lost at High Court in Lugbe in 2009.

    He said: “When we had this problem, we went to court through our lawyer. When we were contributing money, I know all of them. They are members of Gosa Residents Association. That is the name that we went to court with. So when we went to court, we lost the case at Lugbe High Court on the 25th of May, 2009.”

    “Then we went back and called for meeting on the 27th, and many people were aggrieved that we lost the case. Very few people came. We then decided that since we lost the case, we were not going to fold our hands, but try again.”

    “We approached our lawyer and told him we wanted to go further. Then on the 29th of May, we agreed to go to court with another name, Gosa Non-Indigenous Group. We were about eight that started it. Later on, other persons joined us. These people are among the people that refused to join the new group. When we got judgment, they now resurfaced.”

    Confirming the position of the Secretary on the matter, the lawyer that won the N100 million compensation, Barrister Godwin Ogboji, said: “The first time we went to court, the case was lost. It was the second case that was won and the compensation awarded. But many of those non-indigenes who took part in the first case lost interest and did not take part in the second case.”

    But an official of NHRC mediating in the matter, who does not want her name in print, was angry that the Secretary of the exco, Prince Ajah came to the meeting without any document or record to show how members have contributed to the course of the group.

    She said the procedure she wanted to adopt is to first establish those who are really entitled to the money before finding out the criteria used in sharing it.

    She said: “The aggrieved party said they were members of the group and their houses were also damaged and that they don’t understand the criteria for sharing the money as some people who took part in the sharing of the money were not affected by the demolition exercise.”

    “First of all, we want to know those who are entitled to that money, then the criteria used for the sharing. We need to see the records of payment that will show the payments made by members because you cannot say somebody who has been contributing money opted out of the group. It cannot continue to be argument, argument and hearsay, we need records.”

    She continued, pointing at the Secretary: “The reason why we said a member of the executive should come is because we wanted documents and record so that we can be talking with facts. So coming here without any document is not right. You think we are playing here. Whatever we are saying now is sentiments. We want to see the records for us to proceed.”

    Ordering for the details of the home and office addresses of the Secretary to be obtained by her staff, she said: “We have compelling powers, we can arrest, and we have other powers we can exercise at any time. I demand that you give me copies of these transactions by 22nd of August 2013, whether your chairman is in Sokoto or Maiduguri.”

    She also faulted the Secretary’s remark that the first case was taking to court by Gosa Residents Association and not by Gosa Non-Indigenous Legitimate Landlords.

    She maintained that the documents submitted to her earlier by the lawyer who won the judgment showed that the name of the first group that went to court was representing Gosa Non-Indigenous Legitimate Landlords and not the Gosa Residents Association being claimed by the exco that shared the money.

    “So your story is not true.” She stated concerning the change of name, while holding out the document.

    Another NHRC staff queried: “If they say these people opted out, how come some of them were paid some money when they got the judgment sum? Some were given N30,000 compensation.”

    Reacting to the fears by some aggrieved members that the Secretary to the exco that shared the money may tamper with the documents in his possession before producing it at the NHRC, the lawyer of the aggrieved members, Barrister Emmanuel Okpanku said: “It is important for us to warn ourselves here that forgery is a crime. When you forge documents, you will go to Kuje prison.”

    While the two sides have been directed to appear for another meeting on the 22nd of this month, it is hoped that everybody will get justice and fairness at the end of the day.

    Since those seeking to benefit from equity must come with clean hands, it is very paramount for the true financial members of the group to be established because one cannot reap where he did not sow.

    Efforts should not only be made to obtain the detailed records of the group including financial transactions and minutes of meetings right from inception, whether as Gosa Residents Association or Gosa Non-Indigenous Legitimate Landlords, the documents and records should be properly scrutinized for forgery.

    The allegation that the Secretary of the group was suspended for about a year by the exco for altering members’ money contribution lists for financial gains in the past should also be thoroughly looked into to ensure that what is being brought to the table is the true and correct lists of payments by members.

    This case should be made to show to Nigerians, who are yet to know, that fighting corruption is not only with government officials, but also the ordinary man on the street.

    As the exco was said to have settled about 100 ex-residents with the compensation money, investigations into this must go beyond paper work alone by arranging a physical roll call where the aggrieved members will be present to assist in identifying ‘ghost’, ‘hired’ and ‘ineligible’ beneficiaries.

    Anyone found culpable, either in forgery of documents or diversion and misappropriation of any part of the N100 million compensation awarded by the court should be prosecuted and made to face the full wrath of the law.

     

  • ‘Mediocrity has ruined Nigeria’

    ‘Mediocrity has ruined Nigeria’

    Mr. Akindeji Falaki of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has said that Nigeria has failed to reach its potential because it compromises excellence.

    Mr. Falaki stated this while presenting his lecture entitled “Academic Excellence; a Panacea for National Development,” at the 12th Annual Graduation ceremony of the Unity Group of Schools in Kubwa.

    However, the Proprietress of the school, Mrs. Olufemi Akanni has debunked the notion that teaching is for the jobless, even as she said that it is a profession.

    Mr. Falaki said: “It is an undisputable fact that Nigeria has failed to reach its potential because we, as a people, have compromised on excellence and have, at best, celebrated averages and many times preferred mediocrity and half measures, putting square pegs in round holes.

    “We have not only elevated mediocrity but also punished excellence to the background.”

    He further explained that education is the vehicle for attaining national growth and development in a peaceful atmosphere.

    Mr. Falaki, who said the country’s developmental goals revolve around security of lives and property, good healthcare and quality education for the citizens, opportunities for the youth to fulfill their dreams, stable electricity and sustained democracy, expressed his dissatisfaction that Nigerians have been denied all these necessities of life.

    He advised the school management not only to base the award of academic excellence on the best student but also on the most improved student.

    “The most inspiring academic excellence stories are not those where a student tops the class all through, but that when an initially not-so-good students ends up being the best,” he said.

    He, however, advised the graduating students to strive to be honest in all aspects of their lives, adding that they should work to achieve their highest academic potential without resorting to dishonest means.

    “Cheating is a formed habit which can be carried over to your professional and personal life. It will make your degree less valuable and diminish your self- respect,” he said.

    Also speaking, Mrs. Akanni advised the teachers to be committed to their duties.

    “Teaching is a profession and not for people who cannot get employment. Teachers are greatly celebrated. Celebrate yourself also. Be up to date and carry yourself with great esteem,” she said.

    She urged the graduating students to associate with old students through social media, saying that in near future, they will need one another’s help and services. “If you don’t believe me, ask the politicians,” she said.

    The 59 graduating students from both junior and senior classes were advised to shun all forms of social vices.

    “You are going far away from home. Please, don’t join bad gangs; be careful who your friend is. Set a high standard for yourselves and stay focused on your life ambitions. Avoid destiny destroyers,” she added.

    Lamenting over the kind of care given to children by their parents, she said: “It is amazing to say the least that high school students come with tattered uniforms to school. Yet, they come with blackberry, Samsung and android kinds of sophisticated phones. I implore parents to be a little more careful in pampering our children. Give them what they need and not what will distract and eventually destroy them.

    “Children’s needs at this stage, is good food, good clothing and good education, among other things.

     

  • Democracy and socio-economic imbalance in Nigeria: The role of law

    Democracy and socio-economic imbalance in Nigeria: The role of law

    Non-justiciable Nature of Socio-Economic Rights

    Socio-economic rights are

    required for democracy to

    thrive in any country (thus giving it socio-economic balance). These rights are only present on paper in Nigeria and are, thus at best, ineffectual.  This is because of the provisions of section 6 (6) (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As amended). Chapter II of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (As Amended) covers sections 13 to 24 and deals with socio-economic rights. In this Chapter, the duties and obligations of the Nigerian Government are clearly stated. For instance, Section 14 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (As Amended) state thus:

    “14. The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a State based on the principles of democracy and social justice.

    It is hereby, accordingly, declared that:

    (a) sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this Constitution derives all its powers and authority;

    (b) the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government: and

    (c) the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.

    I feel particularly compelled to refer to Section 18 which states thus:

    18. Government shall direct its policy towards ensuring that there are equal and adequate educational  opportunities at all levels.

    Government shall promote science and technology

    Government shall strive to eradicate illiteracy; and to this end Government shall as and when    practicable provide

    (a) free, compulsory and universal primary education;

    (b) free secondary education

    (c) free university education; and

    (d) free adult literacy programme.

    By reason of the non-justiciable nature of these rights, Nigerians have been tacitly deprived of socio-economic rights. If Section 14 states that sovereignty belongs to the people but the same section is declared non-justiciable, should we really begin to wonder why there is socio-economic imbalance in Nigeria? The truth is that the non-justiciability of socio-economic rights absolves the government of its responsibility to the Nigerian populace. These rights are of course guaranteed by democracy but in the absence of an express and effective provision giving life to them, they merely serve aesthetic and cosmetic purposes. In the absence of any concrete provision therefore, illiteracy, poverty, unemployment and other vices continue to reign unchecked because the government cannot be sued either for its part in creating them or for its inability to curb their advent. We must borrow a leaf from either South Africa, India or Pakistan.  In South Africa, socio-economic rights are justiciable while in India and Pakistan the courts have given such provisions very liberal interpretations and they are therefore justiciable.  Civil and political rights cannot be realized in isolation of economic, social and cultural rights. Indeed, these rights form the basis upon which all other rights are predicated. What we need in Nigeria is public interest litigation and the review of the issue of locus standi.  In the case of the first generation of rights (fundamental human rights) the Rules of court have relaxed the requirement of standing.

     

    (d) Corruption:

    Corruption is a common word in the vocabulary of most Nigerian citizens. Almost all levels of Nigerian society have been perverted by corruption. It has been described as being endemic and a sub-culture in Nigeria. Section 98 of the Criminal Code has defined corruption as: “the receiving or offering of some benefits, rewards or inducement to sway or deflect a person employed in the public service from the honest and impartial discharge of his duties”.

    However in real application corruption applies to both public and private sectors.

    In Nigeria, a major cause of corruption is ethnicity otherwise called tribalism in Nigeria. Friends and kinsmen seeking favors from officials may impose difficult strains on the ethical disposition of the official. Many Nigerians having a kinsman as a government official may see such a government official as holding necessary avenues for their personal gain10. Corruption is one of the major causes of socio-economic imbalance as well as the political problems besetting Nigeria. It is a sickness difficult to cure once it infects. It is an evil that spreads terror amongst citizens who are its victims and comforts those who use it as a means to acquire wealth.

    Despite the government’s concerted efforts to combat corruption through the establishment of various anti-corruption agencies e.g Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), this endemic problem still persists. Lack of continuity and change in policy framework, lack of political will, low level of public enlightenment and the politicization of policies are some of the factors why most of the anti-corruption agencies can not completely eradicate or reduce the level of corruption.

    Noteworthy also is the socio-cultural constraint towards the fight against corruption. Some communities traditionally encourage gratification and this affects the members of such communities in discharging their functions in bureaucratic organizations. Without the eradication of corruption, the future is bleak. Any country with a high level of corruption cannot attain socio-economic balance. Though corruption is a universal problem, other countries afflicted by it have been able to attain development because they have adequate punitive structures/measures in place. One proposed solution to this endemic problem is for an overall social re-orientation through public enlightenment programmes and campaigns to build up a national consciousness against corruption in the minds of every Nigerian citizen.

    The Role of Law in the fight against corruption cannot be over-emphasized. The Independence of the Judiciary, Supremacy of judicial pronouncements, equality of citizens before the law and the subjection of all social norms to judicial interpretation will be steps in the right direction. There should be a determined approach towards the elimination of institutional weaknesses that promote corruption in the public sector. Professionalism is an avenue where professional associations can effectively discipline their members by the withdrawal of practising licences. The fear of withdrawal of licences will not allow professionals employed by organizations to engage in corrupt practices.

     

    3.     Socio-economic imbalance in Nigeria; effects.

     

    The current socio-economic problems being experienced in the country could be linked to the long years of military rule, but this is fast becoming a lazy man’s argument. Since the advent of uninterrupted democratic governance in Nigeria in 1999, Nigeria has not fared as well as experts believe it should, economically or socially and this is not entirely the fault of the military; the civilian governments should shoulder their fair share of the blame as well. The effects of socio-economic imbalance are self-evident. They include the following;

     

    (a)  Illiteracy.

     

    The value of education, in any society, cannot be over-emphasized. It is no secret that the countries with the highest number of educated individuals take the lead in every major organization from the European Union to the United Nations Organisation. In Nigeria, education which is an important factor in economic growth and development8 and which was one of the platforms upon which such a promising country was built, has lost its glamour due to inadequate funding, lack of planning, poor management, lack of infrastructure and poor quality of teachers at all levels, among others, thus leading to the creation of a new group of educated illiterates. It does not help that more and more Nigerians seem inclined to taking the short-cut to success, instead of the patient build-up that education demands.

    Formulations and implementation of educational policies in Nigeria Dayo Odukoya, Ph.D Education & Development Consultant ERNWACA, University of Lagos, Nigeria

    This has further worsened the already fragile security situation in the country. Ethnic, economic and religious militia now hold sway in some parts of the country and while we may not have an ‘Arab Spring’ anytime soon, there is certainly a growing discontent, particularly among our misinformed youth, some of whom pay less attention to education these days, but many of whom could not even afford basic education, if they were to pay attention to it. Free public education means that knowledge is widely diffused among the people and would go a long way in clearing the ignorance that today’s youth suffer from. Unfortunately, however the rising cost of education in Nigeria, and the non-availability of free education in most parts of Nigeria have combined to ensure that the astronomical number of uneducated Nigerians will not be significantly reduced anytime soon. The increasing number of uneducated and unemployed Nigerians is alarming and should be a major cause for worry. About 56 million Nigerians are believed to be illiterate9. In the North in particular, the situation is critical and the region lags behind the rest of Nigeria in this regard. What does an uneducated, unemployed person think about? I am afraid we are starting to find out.

     

    (b)  High Rate of Unemployment

     

    It is rather ironic that while Nigeria continues to post impressive financial figures, majority of its citizens live in abject poverty. To cut a long story short, Nigeria has grown richer without making majority of Nigerians any richer. Jobs have suddenly become scarce or totally unavailable. Unemployed people quite naturally flirt with poverty and it does not take too long for a life of crime to beckon. It appears as though the Nigerian population is growing at a rate much faster than the country’s ability to create jobs. When illiteracy and unemployment marry as in the case of husband and wife, the children they gave birth to will certainly include but not limited to poverty, riots, insurgencies and kidnapping.

     

    (c)  Poverty

     

    Poverty is every government’s greatest fear. It is a situation in which an individual lives on less than $1.00 (One dollar) per day. A dollar as we know exchanges for N160.00 (One Hundred and Sixty Naira). The horrors of such a state are best imagined. In Nigeria, about 51.6% of the population live on less than a dollar per day10. This however is the lot of many Nigerians.

    The challenges of mass illiteracy in Nigeria- BEN ADOGA, Nigerian Pilot, Thursday, June 20, 2013

    Press briefing by the statistician-general of the federation/Chief Executive, National Bureau of Statistics, Dr. Yemi Kale held at the conference room, 5th floor, Nbs Headquarters, Central Business District, Abuja on Monday, 13th February, 2012.

    Poverty more than any other factor is the greatest effect of socio-economic imbalance as it breeds angry groups of individuals who are more than ready to do great harm to others.

     

    (d) Insurgency

     

    This is a logical consequence of socio-economic imbalance in any country. The ‘have-nots’ mobilize against the ‘haves’, who are represented by the government and other affluent personalities. Insurgency is said to occur when individuals take up arms against the state. This has occurred in quite a number of countries like Libya and Egypt with tragic consequences. It nearly occurred in England as well but was unsuccessful due to the fact that impoverished individuals constitute the minority. In a country like Nigeria where the “have-nots” far outnumber the “haves”, coordinated insurgencies have proved to be quite damaging. The activities of the Boko Haram sect as well as the Niger-Delta Militants not too long ago have given us a glimpse of what we would experience if all uneducated, unemployed and impoverished Nigerians were to take up arms against the government. Grappling with the sectional insurgents has been tasking enough for the government with lots of collateral damage in-between. This is a major effect of socio-economic imbalance. There was a placard at a riot some years back which read: Very soon the poor shall have nothing to eat except the rich. I hope it never comes to that.

     

    (e)  Criminality

     

    Another inevitable fall-out of socio-economic imbalance is criminality. For individuals who are unemployed, illiterate and poor and who are unwilling to create jobs for themselves, a life of crime offers succour, because an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. It is in this life of crime that they can harass and inflict terror on the affluent minority, while keeping body and soul together. As far back as 2006, our crime rates were shocking with a healthy population in prisons11. The activities of criminals in turn, lead to insecurity12 and commercial stagnation (most business ventures close on time for fear of armed robbers). Criminality is certainly the scariest of the effects of socio-economic imbalance.

     

    (f)   International embarrassment

     

    Countries suffering from socio-economic imbalance are regularly at the fore-front of embarrassing international incidents. This is because of the inadvertent exportation of their socio-economic imbalance to other countries.

    International Centre for Prison Studies – World Prison Brief.

    12 Rising crime wave in Nigeria: US laments poor security response. Vanguard Newspaper March 15, 2013.

     

     

    The socio-economic imbalance is prevalent when a few Nigerians flaunt their wealth recklessly abroad while others struggle to survive (working in bakeries, working as night soil men and joining neighbourhood gangs) just to survive. Recently, two British citizens of Nigerian origin allegedly murdered a British soldier in Woolwich, Southern London. One of them, Michael Adebolajo had been a member of a Somali-dominated gang (Southern London is rumoured to be full of such gangs, their ranks filled with misguided, intoxicated Nigerians). While one may argue that the boys were British citizens, born and bred in Britain, their Nigerian connection cannot be severed. Their parents migrated from Nigeria in the 80s, quite possibly as part of the “brain drain” earlier mentioned. Some years back, a Nigerian was also hanged in Singapore for drug trafficking while Nigerians are deported on a regular basis from Europe and the U.S.A. In international circles, Nigeria regularly makes the news for the wrong reasons. Corruption, fraud “419”, and drug-dealing are fast becoming a Nigerian forte abroad with tighter immigration checks on those with green passports. With the socio-economic imbalance showing no signs of improving, and with Nigerians emigrating on a regular basis, we may have to brace ourselves for such embarrassing occurrences in future.

     

    (g) Weak Democracy

     

    Socio-economic imbalance invariably leads to a weak democracy. The reason for this is not far-fetched. The reason individuals submit to democracy is because they believe their rights will be guaranteed. Democracy is also expected to protect socio-economic rights. When this does not happen, the people lose confidence in the democratic government and may resort to other means to remove that government. This may include violent change of government. It is important to note that socio-economic imbalance is also responsible for the ‘politics of money’ that operates in Nigeria as against ‘politics of issues’.

     

    This is because Politics is the allocation of resources and if a country cannot operate a system that satisfactorily (to the satisfaction of the vast majority) allocates resources without rancour, then the plan is faulty from its substratum. There is a belief by some that the country is unable to organize elections acceptable by everyone as free and fair. Free and fair elections constitute the bedrock of democracy, the accepted form of government in most countries. When the majority of the populace believe that a country’s democracy cannot guarantee their rights, the basis for that democracy can be said to have been destroyed

     

    4.     Attaining Socio-Economic Balance in Nigeria Through Democracy; the Role of Law.

     

    It will be recalled that at the commencement of democratic practice in May 1999, two of the laws that challenged the level of corruption and economic crimes were the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Act and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Act.  Despite the protests by some states that ‘corruption’ was not in the exclusive legislative list, the provisions in Chapter Two of the Constitution proscribing the abolition of corruption and the powers of the National Assembly to enforce these provisions were the authority for the passage of the ICPC Act. The body that sprang from this Act, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) has been very active since its establishment.  It is therefore baffling that the government utilizes the provisions of Chapter II of the Constitution only when those provisions suit it. If the said Chapter can serve as the platform for the establishment of the ICPC, then there is no reason that Nigerians cannot benefit from all the provisions under the said chapter.

     

    In Nigeria, several legal instruments and policies have been used to address socio-economic imbalance.  For example, although some people may argue that the Federal Character Commission Act appears unconstitutional as it discriminates, this law has been used to address imbalance at the Federal level in terms of access to opportunities and positions. This is because Nigeria is a multi-cultural country with over 300 ethnic groups and languages. The moment there is socio-economic imbalance in the sense that one or more ethnic groups feel left out or marginalized, the embers of discontent and insurgency are fanned.

     

    The establishment of the Niger Delta Development Commission and the Hydro Power Development Commission in the year 2000 and 2010 respectively through their enabling laws, Niger Delta Development Commission Act13 and the Hydro Power Development Commission Act14  is part of the efforts of government to correct the socio-economic imbalance in Nigeria using the law as a catalyst. Section 1(3) of the NDDC Act 2000 clearly states that the head office of the Niger-Delta Development Commission shall be in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The provision states thus;

     

    13 2000.

    14 2010.

     

     

    “The Commission shall have its head office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State   and shall establish an office in each member state of the Commission”

     

    Its functions are as contained in section 7 of the Act which states thus:

     

    (1)

    (a)     formulate policies and guidelines for the development of the Niger-Delta, area;

    (b)     conceive, plan and implement, in accordance with the set rules and regulations, projects and programmes for the sustainable development of the Niger-Delta area in the filed of transportation including roads, jetties and waterways, health, education, employment, industrialisation, agriculture and fisheries, housing land urban development, water supply, electricity and telecommunications;

    (c)     cause the Niger-Delta area to be surveyed in order to ascertain measures which are necessary to promote in physical and socio-economic development;

    (d)     prepare master plans and schemes designed to promote the physical development of the Niger-Delta area and the estimates of the costs of implementing such master plans and schemes.

    (e)     implement all the measures approved for the development of the Niger-Delta area by the Federal Government and the member States of the Commission.

    (f)      identify factors inhibiting the development of the Niger-Delta area and assist the member States in the formulation and implementation of pollicies to ensure sound and efficient management of the resources of the Niger-Delta area;

    (g)     assess and report on any project being funded or carried out in the Niger-Delta area by oil and gas producing companies and any other company including non-governmental organisations land ensure that funds released for such projects are properly utilised;

    (h)     tackle ecological and environmental problems that arise from the exploration of oil mineral in the Niger-Delta area and advise the Federal Government and the member States on the prevention and control of oil spillages, gas flaring and environmental pollution;

    (i)      liaise with the various oil mineral and gas prospecting and producing companies on all matters of pollution prevention and control;

    (j)      executive such other works and perform such other functions which, in the opinion of the Commission, are required for the sustainable development of the Niger-Delta area and its peoples; and…….

     

    (2)      In exercising its functions and powers under this section, the Commission shall have regard to the varied and specific contributions of each Member State of the Commission to the total national production of oil and gas.

     

    (3)     The Commission shall be subject to the direction, control or supervision in the performance of its functions under this Act by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

     

    The location of the Commission in an oil producing state from the South-south region was ostensibly in recognition of the region’s production of the oil relied upon by all Nigerians. Due to the oil exploration and mining that goes on in the oil producing states of Nigeria, a lot of environmental degradation, at the hands of explorers and miners has occurred on their lands although they receive a percentage of the proceeds of crude oil sales. Their natural resources have been hard hit as their lands, natural source of water and wildlife have been steadily destroyed while the other regions benefit from the proceeds of crude oil sales without having to contend with the environmental degradation suffered by the oil producing states. The law of balance therefore necessitated that the region be adequately compensated in that regard.

     

    Like the NDDC Act, the HYYPADEC ACT seeks to achieve some semblance of socio-economic balance by situating the head office of the Commission in one of the Hydro- power producing states of the Federation (in the Northern part of Nigeria). Its membership comprises hydro-power producing states just like the Niger Delta Development Commission comprises oil producing states of the Federation. The Bill was sponsored to address the following issues raised by the communities in the hydro-power producing states;

     

    ·        Access to electricity for the communities;

    ·        Environmental degradation – loss of biodiversity etc.;

    ·        Flooding of the communities;

    ·        Poverty due to loss of livelihoods by the communities

    ·        Resettlement of communities

    ·        Provision of access to strategic commercial centres in order to revive the economy of these communities.

     

    Both Commissions seek to achieve socio-economic balance by ensuring that a larger part of the revenue derived from resources they produce for the country, is given back to them. One has its head office in the South, the other in the North. While this may further glorify the much maligned quota system, it is necessary if socio-economic balance is to be achieved. This is one of the ways through which the concept of law can aid in a country’s socio-economic balance.

    The role of law in attaining socio-economic balance in Nigeria therefore, cannot be overemphasized. As earlier stated, it is law that legitimizes a government. Law protects democracy. It is the presence of, and respect for law that preserves a country’s democracy. Similarly, it is only through the social engineering provided by Law that the socio-economic imbalance in the country can be addressed and corrected. It is Law that states how the state is to be governed and it is in this light that we seek to examine the role of law in respect of Nigeria’s nascent democracy, vis-à-vis the socio-economic imbalance experienced in the country.

     

    In discussing the role of law, I must refer again to the non-justiciability of Chapter II of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (As Amended) where most of the socio-economic rights are found. It goes without saying that most of the socio-economic rights enjoyed by Nigerians are “hand-outs” by the government and not what we would term “entitlements” legally speaking. The National Assembly might want to take another look at that particular conundrum. Nigerians would do wonders if they were afforded free water, free education etc, and the country would attain the levels of the likes of America where although education is not free, there is a high level of literacy and citizens are entitled to social security if they have no means of livelihood. If America is too far gone, then we might want to pattern our social-security program after Ghana or South-Africa (Nigerians have emigrated to these countries so they must be doing something right).There is the need for Nigeria’s legal system to pick up the gauntlet and address the country’s socio-economic problems. Law would play several roles in this instance and ensure the following:

     

     

    ·        The Rule of Law. This is self-explanatory. The Law reigns supreme.

     

    ·        Periodic Popular Elections. Elections are held as at when due.

     

     

    ·        A Legal Framework for the attainment of Socio-Economic Balance. This could also include some form of social security. We could take a look at the American Social Security system for guidance. In America, social security compasses several social welfare and social insurance programs15.

     

    ·        Tougher immigration laws. While this may present a bit of a problem due to our ECOWAS commitments which render it unnecessary for citizens of ECOWAS member states to obtain visas before visiting other member states, certain checks can still be made at the point of entry to ensure that aspiring visitors do not intend to rely on public funds. This ensures that the security system benefits Nigerians only and not Chadians and Nigeriens.

     

    ·        Constitutionalism. This simply connotes that the Constitution is followed to the last letter.

     

    ·        Separation of Powers16. There must be explicit constitutional limits, or checks, on concentrated power and those checks will only remain effective where there is some countervailing power to enforce them. Thus every concentrated power should be balanced by some other concentrated power in order to prevent any particular part of the government system from grasping excessive power and nullifying the constitutional checks.

     

    ·        The amendment of section 6 (6) (c) of the 1999 Constitution (As amended) to ensure that matters under Chapter II of the Constitution are made justiciable.

     

     

     

     

    15 ^ [42 USC 7] “US Code—Title 42—The Public Health and Welfare”. Archived from the original on October 12, 2006. Retrieved November 8, 2006

     

     

    16 Democracy: A Social Power Analysis By Dr. John S. Atlee, with Tom Atlee

     

    Law has been described as a means of social engineering by Dean Roscoe Pound and in no other instance is this definition more apt. By preparing a legal framework for the attainment of socio-economic balance, the Government would have nipped the growing insecurity in the country in the bud. Socio-economic rights would become justiciable and the government would feel obligated to address issues like poverty, unemployment and illiteracy as it could be sued for its part in creating them. Issues like resource control would be better addressed and no individual or group of individuals would feel deprived. No expenses should be spared here. A poor country may not be able to afford a good legal system, but without a good legal system, it may never become rich enough to afford such a system. Law is the glue that holds society together and the responsibility therefore falls on this much vaunted concept to somehow restore some balance to the Nigerian Socio-economic landscape.

     

    5.     Conclusion

     

    Domestic challenges, continue to undermine Nigeria’s constitutional democracy and its potential as a major economic and diplomatic power. Such challenges—insecurity, poverty, unemployment and low quality education —must be addressed if Nigeria’s democracy is to survive the test of time. In the meantime, Nigeria trudges along, socio-economically, like a drunken giant on the legs of a mosquito and is in need of a massive re-engineering.

     

    I have no doubt that our country is destined for great things as long as there is strict adherence to the rule of law and contradictory provisions in our laws are amended so as to eradicate illiteracy, poverty and criminality. The eradication of illiteracy, discrimination, poverty and criminality is what determines if a country is socio-economically balanced but this does not imply that these vices are totally absent in a fully developed society (after all, some misguided individuals in Woolwich, London, recently killed a serving soldier despite the existence of some semblance of socio-economic balance in the United Kingdom and there have been recent riots in Sweden and Turkey), it simply means they have been substantially curtailed. That way, insurgency, which is a consequence of socio-economic imbalance becomes a rare exception and not the norm. This is the aim of the law; to act as a catalyst for socio-economic balance.  It is hoped that when all is said and done, we would be able to say that we have attained socio-economic balance in Nigeria using the Constitution and legal instruments as catalysts.

     

    Thank you and God bless.

     

    Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, MFR, SAN, FCIArb. (UK).

    Honorary Bencher/Barrister at Lincoln’s Inn.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    NBA did not call for dissolution of Governors’ Forum.

    By Emeka Obegolu

     

    Following the critique and misrepresentations that trailed the  by  the NBA president, Okey Wali (SAN) for the Nigerian Governors Forun (NGF) to dissolve itself if it cannot resolve its crises and face the challenges of governance, the General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Associatrion (NBA) Emeka J’ P. Obegolu in this piece, examines the circumstances and true import of the NBA Presidents speech.

     

    Recently, Nigerian Newspapers, online publications and faceless bulk text messages have been awash with grave misrepresentation of the position of the  National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on the crises rocking the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF). The reading public have been “informed” that the NBA President, Okey Wali, SAN called for the proscription/banning/de-registration  or the scrapping of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum if they could not put their house in order. Nothing can be farther from the truth.

     

    Perhaps a brief narrative of the background of the proceedings at the NBA NEC Meeting held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State will suffice to throw more light and enlighten readers on the factual basis for the position that will be adopted by this writer. Let me also state that as the General Secretary of the NBA with the duty to record and keep records of the proceedings of NEC, I feel a sense of responsibility to set the records straight and afford our members, and indeed Nigerians the factual records for all of us to make our deductions there from.

     

    The NBA President, Okey Wali SAN, whilst making the traditional President’s speech to the NBA NEC traced the history of the Governors’ Forum to the United States of America (USA), where he identified the vision of the National Governors’ Association of the USA as a body formed to identify priority issues and deal with matters of Public Policy and Governance at both National and State levels. He listed the NGA’s interventionist schemes through working committees and special committees, all designed to raise the bar of good governance  for  the benefit of Americans.

     

    Coming home, the NBA President noted that the Nigerian Governors Forum has failed to model itself after the NGA where the whole idea derives from. He opined that the existence of such a body should be for altruistic reasons and as such in the best interest of the nation, Nigeria.

     

    Okey Wali, SAN concluded thus “The NBA calls on our Governors to quickly resolve their crisis and get on with the business of governance which was why they have been elected Governors. If they cannot resolve their crisis very quickly, and face delivery of democracy dividends to their electorates, they must dissolve the body and stop this distraction as sooner than later, Nigerians will call on them, in or out of Government to give account of their stewardship.”

    Page 7, of the Presidential address.

     

    The NBA NEC thereafter adopted this presidential speech as a NEC resolution. By the adoption, the call became the NBA’s call to the NGF and no longer Okey Wali SAN’s call.

     

    Now, the underlined portion of the statement is instructive for the purpose of the argument – “Whether Okey Wali/NBA has become undemocratic, unlawful, anti-constitution or anti-masses” The allegations differ depending on the person making the allegation and the interest he or she wishes to serve.

     

    The call by the NBA is for the NGF to self-dissolve where the forum finds it difficult to live up to its own expectations and objectives. Self-dissolution of Associations registered by Trustee is provided under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, specifically, Section 608.

     

    The NBA President also mentioned his inability to comment on the NGF Electoral dispute due to the pendency of a suit before a court of competent jurisdiction where the election is a subject matter, thereby reiterating the time honoured doctrine of ‘lis pendis’ that protects the sanity of courts and its processes.

     

    NBA acknowledges the freedom of association as enshrined in our constitution and cannot call on an external body to dissolve the NGF, as that would be unconstitutional.

     

    We therefore urge very senior lawyers and commentators to always read speeches of NBA president as the chief spokesperson of the NBA before attempting to critique it and even then appropriate channels of critique and/or dissent should be followed to avoid dragging our profession into the political arena and inviting opprobrium to our Association.

     

     

     

     

     

    Part of cover

    Judicial corruption is  a cancer that every society must strive to eliminate.

     

    Mr. Desmond U. M. Yamah is the chairman of the Abuja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). In this interview, he bares his mind on the challenges of Bar leadership, welfare of lawyers, fighting corruption in the Judiciary and sundry national issues. Legal Editor, JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU, met him. Excerpts:

    You have been the chairman of the NBA Abuja branch for six months now, what has  been the challenges of this office?

    The office of the chairman of NBA Abuja branch is tasking and quite challenging. This is a branch that has about 10,000 members and with that kind of number, we are trying to reach out to make every member feel the impact and importance of the NBA in the personal lives and professional lives also.

    How are you going about this?

    We have embarked on a series of trainings for the branch in order to build the capacity of members in various fields  of law practice, for instance legislative advocacy. We are trying to acquire  basic knowledge in the art of drafting ,the idea of this is to ensure that  many of our members to take advantage of the knowledge and skills to do work for members of the National Assembly in terms of initiating  and proposing bills for members and even private member bills. We are also working on the areas of human rights because human rights violations are quite rampant in Abuja. A lot of the rights of the people are being violated, especially by the security agencies and some other organisations. We are trying to streghten the capacity of our human rights committee to be able to deal with these challenges. W e are also looking at the area of improving the judiciary and also trying very hard to acquire  a Bar Centre  for the branch. These are some of the key priority areas that we are looking at and in some of these  areas, the structures have been put in place, we are looking at the next six months to be able to have tangible achievements from the administration.

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria,  Justice Aloma Miriam  Mukhtar  has taken some bold steps to rid the judiciary of corruption, what is your reaction to this?

    The fight against corruption in the judiciary by the CJN is a welcome development. Every lawyer, every sane human being knows that any jurisdiction where the judiciary is corrupt, it is as dangerous as having a mad man with a loaded AK 47 loose on the streets. Judicial corruption is such a cancer that every society must strive to eliminate.  We support the fight against corruption by the CJN and if you look at events of the recent past, some people may seem to misunderstand our position.

    What has been your position?

    Our position has been  that where there have been established cases of judicial corruption,  such judicial officers must be  brought to justice because they destroy the lives of people, the destroy the rights of people, they destroy the interest of [people, they destroy the wealth of people  by making pronouncement  that are not in accord with the sense of justice. In as much as we support the fight against corruption, our position has always been that, the fight should be done in such a way as not to destroy the institution. Judicial corruption is like eroding  public confidence in the judicial system.

     

    How do we go about this?

    For instance today, many lawyers and their clients, litigants prefer to explore option of petition as against  appeal when they loose  cases.  No matter how clever a judge wants to be, when giving judgements for which he has been compromised, every average lawyer will know that the judgement is not in accord with established precedents. The law requires that a judge does not give judgement at his whims and caprices, not the way he feels or desires, no.  A judge gives judgement   based on established precedents and rule of law and every decisions reached by a judge, he must give reasons as to why he reached that decisions or conclusions. And when these reasons are weighed against the facts of the case, it is always very easy to know whether a judge has perverted judgement or not.  Now, a situation where people decide to write frivolous petitions against judges is unfair because it distracts judges from doing their jobs. This is not acceptable in a civilised judicial system. A situation where judges are intimidated, when they give judgements in line with what they think the people will say as against what they believe is the justice of the case, is not also acceptable.

     

    What is your suggestion about this?

    A judge must be courageous, this  is one of the major attributes of a good judge.  Judge must be fair, the judge must be principled,  he must be fearless in applying the law  and in reaching the decisions that he makes. But today, the judiciary is highly intimidated, we now have an instance where a judge of the Federal High Court, openly said in the open court, I do not know the ruling that I should give now, whichever ruling I give now, I am likely to be taken to the National Judicial Council (NJC). When we have a scenario like this, then the institution is seriously threatened and we cannot destroy the institution we seek to protect eliminating corrupt judges. So, there must be established guidelines, the must be established principles of bringing to justice judges that are corrupt. The trend now is that when lawyers loose a case, instead of going  on appeal, they write an appeal against a judge, for giving judgement against me, I will destroy him. We now have a situation where litigants openly threaten judges, most people make frivolous allegations against judges even there in the court.

    How do we resolve this?

    My advice on this is, let fight this cause in such a  way that corrupt judges are eliminated from the system and judges who are not corrupt, are also protected  against destructive allegations that threaten his career.

    It is widely believed that the standard of legal education in the country has fallen abysmally, consequently, people have called for law to be made a second degree programme, what is your reaction to this?

    Well, it depends on how you look at it. Law is a profession  like  wine that  gets better  with age. Now, looking at law, looking at the standard of education generally in the country, and looking at what you presume to be falling standards, a lot of factors are responsible for this. What are the conditions of our universities today, what are the conditions of the faculties of law in the universities, what are the qualifications of the lecturers that you have in these  faculties. Now, in arriving at that conclusion that the standard of  legal education is falling, you take a number of these factors into consideration, the educational sector has been thoroughly neglected by the government. Recently, I had a cause to visit the secondary school which I left in 1990, when I got there, the science laboratory which we used there then is no longer in existence, the school library is no longer in existence,  this is a Federal Government College, then how do you expect the pupils to read and become great scholars. Consequently, if you go to some law faculties today, you cannot find ordinary internet facilities.  Online research facilities are not there, the average lawyer cannot do research on the internet, how do expect rising standards of legal education in this circumstance?

    What is your advice in this circumstance?

    My thinking is that it is not making it a second or third degree programme that will improve the standard, you can have a first degree in a university that is not  properly equipped  and you come out worse than somebody the graduated from a well equipped secondary school. Consequently, you can take law as a first degree course in an academic environment that is properly equipped and you come out better than somebody who has practised law for more than 10 years. What we need to address, is the state of infrastructures in our universities and in our Law School. We need to look at the quality of lecturers that we have in those institutions, this underscores the need for us to have Law Faculties that are properly equipped with state of the art facilities where you have  regular supplies  of current editions of Law Reports, legal textbooks and high quality teachers as lecturers, who are properly and well remunerated, teachers who are encouraged and who are committed to the course of legal education. Where  teachers are not well paid, where adequate facilities are not provided for them to teach, where students do not have access to quality legal materials to enhance their study, we will continue to have these  challenges even  if  you make law a third degree  programme.  So, it is not making law a second degree course that will improve the standards of legal education,  but the quality of our tertiary  institutions and the preparedness of the institutions in turning out good students.

    Alternative Disputes Resolution Mechanisms (ADR) has been described as a faster mode of resolving commercial disputes, how come that we still have a lot of commercial disputes in our courts in spite  of the high level  of ADR practice in the country?

    Well, ADR is a very important component  of the judicial process in commercial  disputes resolution, because it helps the parties to reconcile and erode all forms of bitterness. It helps to reduce the workloads  in the court system, Many people will say that it is fast, many people will also say that it has a lot of advantages, but for any society to enjoy the advantages of ADR, the practitioners of ADR need to have quality education in the fields of ADR, I have seen so many situations where people  who have gone for ADR with the intention of speedy resolution of their disputes regretted ever going there because the panel members  failed or deliberately refused to write and deliver their awards after sitting and sometimes you find out that because  they  are not directly liable  to anybody,  they hand out awards that are perverse. I have seen a situation where an award that was given by an ADR panel was a big disappointment. Now, the challenge or disadvantage here is that you have to back to the court system again to seek to set aside the award, this is like going back to the drawing board.

    How do we resolve this?

    I want to appeal to the Institutes to exercise major control over their members, some of them are not giving the Institutes very good names. The concept is a good one, the advantages are numerous but the practice in Nigeria today is undergoing a lot of challenges. I always believe that there is always room for improvements, once we have credible members of the institutes who deliver credible awards in line with the provisions of the law and their conscience,  I think ADR is a wonderful alternative.

     

     

     

  • Prof. Wanjala weeps for Nigeria

    His eyes must have misted as he beheld the musty edifice of shame at Iganmu in the Mainland of Lagos. The National Arts Theatre which in 1977 was a symbol of Nigeria’s emerging power and influence in Africa and the world has withered into utter dereliction and abandon. For many years, the Theatre, Nigeria’s showpiece architecture and cultural hotspot had become at best, the hub of drunkards and at worst a paradise for miscreant and marauders.

    This is Nigeria’s sad reality that must have evoked tears from a visiting Kenyan professor, Chris Wanjala. The don who was in Nigeria for the conference of the Nigerian Oral Literature Association, NOLA, had lamented: “I was here in 1977 when we had FESTAC and it was built anew then. It had several compartments where plays and cultural activities were being performed in so many places. It represented a centre for the promotion of the arts and culture across the continent. Ironically, there has been so many controversies around the National Theatre, talking about its neglect and all … its neglect over the years is a tragedy because that is what we, in Kenya and across Africa are emulating. It is even (more) a loss to us than to Nigerians because we have always felt that is how we want to organise our own cultural institutions. It is a shame.”

    Wanjala is a poet, novelist and a Professor of Literature at the University of Nairobi since 1985. Author of a recent novel, Drums of Death, he is cited as being deeply aware of the disruption of traditional rural culture by modernity. This, of course, explains Wanjala’s agony over an edifice that ought to have been the fulcrum of Black and Africa’s arts and culture. After the staging of a great arts and culture festival in 1977, more ordered countries would have latched unto that template to convert Nigeria into the centre for Black and African culture. A less philistine government and people would have developed the National Theatre, 37 years after, into a cultural tourist centre of global renown; outposts and mini sites would have sprung up across the country to harness our rich cultural endowments. Many tertiary institutions from across the world would have been affiliated to it to benefit from a rich archive and documentation trove. It was designed to be the centre of excellence for creative art, design, traditional music, drama, folklore and more.

    Prof. Wanjala probably expected all this as he visited Nigeria and hurried to that poetic edifice of sublime presence situated at the crossroads of Iganmu, by the brackish water where Lagos Mainland meets Lagos Island. The scholar was shocked; he didn’t believe what he beheld, the ugly remains of a Theatre he probably had boasted about in his country as a model. “This is where there is a tragedy,” he echoed, “Our leaders have become even (more) brainwashed than the people they are leading. In other words, they put so much value on economic issues and other sectors where they get handout from.”

    If Prof. Wanjala had look closer, he would have seen the pockmarks of philistinism all around the country and he would have noticed that this theatre of shame is only a metaphor for how we live today. It is emblematic of the regression which has been our national narrative since in the last few decades. If only our leaders paid attention to “economic issue”, a lot would have been different but they have paid attention to nothing of substance. That is why the national telephony broke down, national carrier crashed, power quenched, energy sector stymied, education failed – name it, anything the Federal Government ought to tend to in the last three decades has been left in a sorry state. If only Wanjala has seen the old Federal Secretariat at Ikoyi, Lagos… what monumental waste!

     

     

  • Nigeria, Brazil bilateral trade volume hits $9b

    The volume of bilateral trade between Nigeria and Brazil in the last four years has hit $9.1 billion, Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Brazil, Ambassador Kayode Garrick, has said.

    Garrick who spoke at a quarterly breakfast meeting organised by the Nigerian-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NBCCI), in Lagos, last week, said the trade balance which constantly has been in favour of Nigeria, is traceable to the Brazilian importation of crude oil.

    “Brazilian exports to Nigeria are mainly sugar, rice, vehicles and spare parts, chemical products, aircrafts, paper, iron and steel, machinery among others,” he said, adding that there was need for Nigeria to tap from the Brazilian experience in various areas of development.

    “Today, Brazil is the world’s sixth largest economy by nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and one of the fastest growing major economies in the world with an average annual GDP growth rate of over five per cent.”

    He said a few years ago, Brazil was a net food importer like Nigeria, but today, she feeds herself and exports to various parts of the world, suggesting that the country borrows a leaf from the Brazilian agricultural model.

    “The Bi-National Commission set up by the two countries during the recent state visit to Nigeria by the Brazilian President, Ms. Dilma Rousseff, is a practical effort by the two governments to boost economic and cultural relationship,” he said.

    He said the NBCC1 is providing the vehicle for the realisation of this effort, adding that the Chamber plans to embark on a trade mission to Brazil in November. The mission will cover agricultural and agro-allied, technology, infrastructure, power, mining, oil and gas, construction, commerce, aviation, finance/banking, women empowerment, among others.

     

     

    He said the NBCCI is inviting high net-worth companies and individuals in the country to take advantage of the planned mission to secure business deals with Brazilian conglomerates, who are willing and eager to do business with Nigeria.

  • Nigeria can become technology hub in Africa – Chairman, Memmcol Nig. Ltd

    Nigeria can become technology hub in Africa – Chairman, Memmcol Nig. Ltd

    NIGERIA has the potential to become the technology hub in sub-Sahara Africa and beyond, Mr. Kola Balogun, chairman, Memmcol Nigeria Limited, has said.

    Balogun expressed this optimism during his acceptance speech shortly after receiving the prestigious Gold Service Merit Award by the Centre for Democratic Governance in Africa (CDGA) and Excellence Awards by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) at his company’s corporate headquarters in Ibafo, Ogun State.

    According to Balogun, who boast of over two decades experience in the field of engineering, what Nigeria needs to take its rightful place in the comity of technologically advanced nations of the world, is good policy framework to support local expertise as well as commitment by all tiers of government.

    Going down memory lane, Balogun recalled that he had to endure a lot of humiliation and disappoints from major technology incubation companies across the world in his quest to build the first metering manufacturing company in sub-Sahara Africa.

    “Most of the so-called technologically advanced countries of the world like Germany, USA and a host of others want to keep third world countries like Nigeria perpetual technology slaves. That is why they refused to allow technology transfer from their base to other countries. But I refused to bow in the face of this challenge and at the end of it all; we were able to build the first metering manufacturing plant in sub-Sahara Africa,” he recalled.

    Expatiating, he said it was heartening to note that his company has been able to improve on the metering technology available in the world by building a template which allows for seamless payment among other upgrades.

    An elated Balogun who reiterated the need for government support, said his company has also developed a seamless technology for the production of computer motherboards, sim cards, electronic panels, among others.

    Speaking earlier, Dr. Dafe Akpocha, Director-General, Centre for Democratic Governance in Africa (CDGA), while presenting the award to Balogun, said the centre was persuaded by the selfless service demonstrated by the recipient, who he described as “A silent achiever and good ambassador of Nigeria and indeed Africa.”

    In her remarks, Ms. Esther Gbonkumor, Chief Executive Officer, ST Global Resources Limited, shortly after embarking on a facility tour of the company, said she was impressed with the level of work of going on and assured that she would do everything humanly possible to pull the right strings in order to further develop the company.

    “I can see the future of Nigeria here. Memmcol Nigeria Ltd is a manifestation of the can-do spirit only common to Nigerians. The company needs to be supported in every way possible,” said Ms. Gbonkumor, who is related to the Nigeria’s First Lady.

  • How flammable is Nigeria?

    How flammable is Nigeria?

    Nobody wants to leave Nigeria for as long as the oil continues to flow, regardless of predictions from prophets inside and scientists outside the country.

    In the last two days, leading politicians in our country have been reacting to predictions that Nigeria stands the chance of internal combustion. In 2013 (a few weeks ago), the United States’ Army College suggested that nothing in recent times has changed the prediction in 2003 by the US Intelligence community that Nigeria might break by 2015. Local geopolitical forecasters have also been worrying that Boko Haram also has the capacity to accelerate Nigeria’s disintegration. But in response to the end of Ramadan celebration (Eid-el Fitr), President Jonathan and one of the founding leaders of All Progressives Congress (APC), have taken their time to reassure Nigerians that there is no cause for alarm, despite the country’s appearance of flammability.

    In his own message to the country’s Muslims, President Jonathan reassures citizens of the country’s stability and ‘unbreakability’: “We are not even exploiting our diversity because of the myopic views about situations. Christians and Muslims are brothers and sisters and we must live together. Those who are predicting that this country will separate based on our fault-lines as at the time of amalgamation by 2015, they will know that these predictions will not be true.” Correspondingly, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu called for prayers to ensure that “the predictions of doom, hardship, political instability and religious intolerance will not come to fruition,” adding: “Nigeria is not a broken case. It is redeemable and only the people can make this change happen by voting right and wisely.” Nigerians must feel encouraged that two of the country’s leading politicians are not cowed by predictions about the country’s break-up.

    A recent book by John-Andrew McNeish and Owen Logan, titled Flammable Societies: Studies on the socio-economics of Oil and Gas includes an essay by Femi Folorunso: “A country without a State?: Governmentality, Knowledge and Labour in Nigeria.” Flammable is used in the book to refer to the socio-economics of oil and gas. But Folorunso in his own essay uses flammable in two senses: metonymic and metaphoric. He addresses the metonymic dimension by underscoring the impact of exploitation of oil and gas on the life of the average Nigerian. He also uses ‘flammable’ connotatively when he addresses the theme of a country without a state, a political space that appears bound to failure because of bad governance.

    Predictions cannot break a country. It is the action or inaction of those charged to govern a country that can cause its disintegration. Nigerians have no reason to be afraid of predictions coming from home or abroad about the future of the country. Several soothsayers and prophets in Nigeria have predicted doom for too long, without any of their predictions coming to pass, particularly predictions by religious prophets who are wont to laying claims to prescience and clairvoyance. Nigerians have gotten used to local Cassandras whose forecasts of doom for politicians and the polity have generally come to naught.

    What Nigerians have not gotten used to are predictions from outside the country by professional analysts who attempt to bring the predictive power of science on their forecasts. The prediction in 2003 from the U.S. Intelligence community and the latest one from the U.S. Army College must have gotten the attention of Nigeria’s leaders. When the 2003 prediction first came out, General Olusegun Obasanjo dismissed it as nothing for anyone to worry about. Again, the recent one from the U.S. Army College seems to have gotten to our leaders. This explains why two of the country’s most important politicians, Jonathan and Tinubu, have chosen to use this year’s end of Ramadan festivities to reassure citizens not to panic and to remain as optimistic about the territorial integrity of their country as they have always been since 1960.

    Citizens ought to know by now that Nigeria cannot disintegrate, despite the recurrence of political, social, and economic storms the country experiences intermittently. The reasons are not far to fathom. oil and gas, natural causes of combustion, serve as lubricants to oil and grease the creaky joints of the Nigerian State-nation. There are two sides to the coin of greasing of the engine of the Nigerian State. On the one hand, members of the ruling class derive too much benefit from oil and proceeds of oil for them to want to push the country into the sea. Those from various parts of the country who own oil blocks and have acquired property in prime lands in different parts of the country from oil and gas know better than they show when they threaten fire and brimstone. The saying that Nigeria knows how to avoid disaster and disintegration is not an exaggeration. Most of the country’s political and cultural leaders know where their bread is buttered. Many of them will even be afraid to want to rule a Nigeria without petroleum.

    On the other hand, the average Nigerian is able to live on just one dollar per day, not because of efforts by the government, but as a result of the existence of oil and gas in the country! Without oil and with the kind of government the country has been saddled with since the 1970s, it would not have been possible for any Nigerian to eat on a daily basis a loaf of bread or a plate of rice without any form of protein. The little that trickles down from the class that perceives itself as the owner of Nigeria is another thing that has prevented disintegration. It is not surprising when scholars raise the issue of Resource Curse in relation to Nigeria’s petroleum and mismanagement of the country that both leaders and followers retort with: “Thank God there is oil.” Nobody wants to leave Nigeria for as long as the oil continues to flow, regardless of predictions from prophets inside and scientists outside the country. And no matter how hard the polity is heated or security is challenged by Boko Haram, Niger Delta militants, and even the country’s Kidnappers Incorporated, nothing untoward is likely to happen to our republic of petroleum. Nigerians have reasons to believe their president when he says there is no cause for alarm. They should know that it is a waste of intellectual and emotional energy to think or write that Nigeria is on the brink, on account of its many crises of bad governance and under-development.

    The country’s political rulers and their cultural counterparts know that it does not matter what they do or not do, the country has come to stay, for as long as oil flows from the wombs of the land and its adjoining sea. Our leaders know that they do not need to respond to what Femi Folorunso characterises as the impact of governance on sovereignty, citizenship, and development in a country troubled by resource curse. Even citizens themselves have been numbed or dumbed down by the manna from petroleum and gas. It appears that nobody needs to worry about anything, for as long as Nigeria is able to sell enough oil to lubricate the engine of its continuity as a state-nation. The country’s (taken for granted) territorial integrity will be further guaranteed by free and fair election in 2015, if only to give citizens unfettered choice to choose those to govern them.