The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria

  • Bye…EMT; enter EAC

    President Muhammadu Buhari may have set a new economic tone for his administration when Monday last week, he replaced the Economic Management Team (EMT) headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo with a new body – Economic Advisory Council (EAC), headed by Prof Doyin Salami. Other members of the EAC are: Dr Mohammed Sagagi (vice-chairman); Prof Ode Ojowu; Dr Shehu Yahaya; Dr Iyabo Masha; Prof Chukwuma Soludo; Mr Bismark Rewane; and Dr Mohammed Adaya Salisu (secretary). The new body, according to presidential spokesman Femi Adesina will report directly to the president.

    The EAC, he said, will “advise the President on economic policy matters, including fiscal analysis, economic growth and a range of internal and global economic issues, working with the relevant cabinet members and heads of monetary and fiscal agencies”. Aside monthly technical sessions and scheduled quarterly meetings with the president, he also disclosed that the chairman may “request for unscheduled meetings if the need arises.”

    Expectedly, the move has generated controversies – much of it – we daresay are needless. In the first place, it remains entirely the prerogative of the president to put in place such advisory bodies as he might deem necessary in the discharge of the burden of governance so long as these are within the ambit of the relevant statutes.  Secondly, having been in the saddle in the last four years, the president must have reflected on the overall impact of the former team’s activities vis-à-vis the administration’s stated goals, hence he came to the inevitable conclusion that fresh hands are needed at this point in time.

    Thirdly, for a presidency often accused of insularity, it certainly marks a new dawn that it is now seen as pooling ‘outsiders’ – albeit individuals regarded as being among the nation’s brightest and best – into the policy-making orbit. Here, it bears stating also that whatever perceived autonomy said to have been enjoyed by the former EMT was only within the latitude permitted by the president as the chief executive.

    Without necessarily passing any judgment on the former team, the relevant question is whether a new team is what is needed at this time. Here, it is sufficient that the president has concluded that he needs one. Although, he did not as much say why the previous team had to go, it is not difficult to speculate on. Fact is, the efforts put in by his administration in the last four years have not translated to much economic growth. Despite generous claims of achievements in the area of economic diversification, non-oil contributions remain modest even as oil still retains a substantial share of the growth equation.

    The famed potential of agriculture remains to be demonstrated as the sector is yet to truly live up to its billing. The same with manufacturing; any talk of backward integration has been extremely modest; to compound the misery of the sector, our manufacturing companies, unable to make forays into export markets, have long been reduced to perennially sourcing for foreign exchange generated by other players. The summary of course is that our economy remains uncompetitive. As a result, unemployment, particularly of the youth, has remained alarmingly high.

    The situation would ordinarily compel fresh, if not entirely unconventional ideas. And to the extent that the president is assumed to know where he’s headed, he deserves the benefit of the doubt.

    However, as it is all too often the case, constituting an A-team to advise is only the minor part; allowing them the freedom to discharge their duties, or even accepting their expert recommendations is a different ball game altogether. By requiring that the EAC report directly to him, our understanding is that the president seeks to communicate the priority that he places on its assignment, which is perfectly in order. We expect that nothing should be done to either frustrate or truncate this desire. In the end, what Nigerians want is the measurable impact of their expert advice on the economy, and ultimately, their well-being.

  • Ministers’ score card

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo a few days ago declared at the Annual National Management Conference of the Institute of Management in Abuja that all the ministers recently appointed will render their first performance report to the Presidency in December 2019. Having been given specific mandates, the vice president believes the ministers have their duties cut out for them.

    The presidential election took place on February 23, 2019. The ministers were inaugurated on August 21, almost four months after the president and the vice president were inaugurated on May 29. The stark reality that virtually all sectors of the Nigerian economy are suffering from endemic management failure was highlighted by the vice president. A good observation, we must agree.

    We totally align with Prof. Osinbajo that the ministers must hit the ground running. We also commend the idea of keeping them on their toes and for them to be subjected to regular evaluation to determine those to continue and the ones to be dropped. Nigeria at this point in time must be treated as though in the economic emergency ward, literally.

    However, we must point out that the lateness in nominating these ministers was a bit worrisome, both to the local and external economic watchers. We are in a world that works with the speed of light and actions and words of policy makers matter every minute. The speed with which the ministers should have been appointed would have made some difference and had some psychological impact on them and equally made them realise the sense of urgency needed.

    Read Also: To new ministers: Start as you mean to go on

    While we applaud the idea of accountability at that level and the need to make ministers responsive and responsibly accountable, we also acknowledge that barely four months on their duty posts might be too short a time for some comprehensive and valid evaluation of their performance. We believe that standing on past administrations’ style of blindly nominating ministers for Senate screening without their knowing their portfolio is an ill-wind that blows no one any good.

    Most of the ministers were posted to territories they have some real learning to do and a December performance card period might not truly show their performance capabilities. This however does not imply we disagree with the proposal. We commend any step that can elicit a sense of purpose and accountability, not only from ministers but from all public servants, including those in the states and local councils.

    Like the vice president rightly observed, there is a total endemic sectoral decay, but a stampeded evaluation might be counterproductive. We suggest that, like the ministers were told during their two-day pre-inauguration retreat, the real economic situation of the country must propel them to swift and committed action. They must be advised to be less partisan and see the country as deserving of their total allegiance and commitment.

    We equally believe that there must be an internal mechanism of monitoring such that immediacy of corrective measures is possible, to save the economy from drowning further. Those ministers that seem too lethargic to move on with the progressive economic rejuvenating steps must be dropped and more dynamic and upwardly mobile people appointed in their stead.

    Nigeria has an abundance of natural and human resources; so, she has no business being the poverty capital of the world. The periodic evaluation is welcome in ways that do not appear like hurrying into perdition. Consistency in policy execution seems to be alien to past administrations in the country. The government must not be permissive with ministers but must not rush the evaluation processes in ways that might be counterproductive.

    Being chosen from more than a hundred million Nigerians must be seen as a rare honour and an opportunity to truly serve and not to be served or be upgraded to untouchables. We urge the Presidency to remain consistent in evaluating the ministers’ productivity transparently. That way, those involved would realise that their image is at stake and might be persuaded to be more focused.

  • Judiciary to-do list for new legal year

    Judges have resumed for the 2019/2020 legal year after a long vacation.They must deal with challenges such as congested dockets, archaic filing methods, obsolete procedures and other factors that cause delays. ADEBISI ONANUGA,ERIC IKHILAE and ROBERT EGBE highlight tasks before the judiciary.

    Kingsley Ibe is barely two years at the Bar, but he is already familiar with some of the shortcomings of the judicial system.

    The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) alumnus and First Class graduate of the Nigerian Law School, who ditched his dream of becoming an astronaut for a law career, is displeased with some of the things he has observed about the profession.

    He said: “Cases unnecessarily last in court for many years… The incessant adjournments, extension of time to file papers, frivolous applications and other unnecessary procedures make litigation cost much time.

    “Another problem, more of a problem of the judiciary as an arm of government, is that most court rooms are so uncomfortable. Some are even dilapidated. You cannot imagine a Government House or a Legislative Chamber that way. The court premises and rooms are not compartible with the pride of the profession.”

    Ibe’s observations are nothing new. The judicial system has several challenges, some of which are decades old. They include judicial delay, perceived corruption, and dependence on the Executive for funding, among others.

    All of these have added to a generally low level of litigants’ trust in the system, not only in Nigeria, but across the continent. Distrust of judicial system is not a Nigerian thing.

    A  2017 survey by Afrobarometer, which collects samples from respondents across 36 African countries, suggested that just over half of the people on the continent have faith in the integrity of judges and their local courts. It found that Africans are more trusting of religious and traditional leaders than courts.

    In the survey, only 38 percent of respondents said they trusted courts in Nigeria.

    Afrobarometer’s figures are comparable with that of the World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index 2019.

    In 2019, the World Justice Project named Denmark as the country with the best judicial system in the world, measured by rule of law – for the fifth time in a row. No African country made the top 60.

    The index is based on 48 parameters, measuring the level of corruption, human rights, state openness and criminal justice system, among others.

    It ranked Nigeria’s criminal justice system as 12 out of 30 in Africa and 72 out of 126 in the world.

    Tasks before the Nigerian Judiciary

    Upon resumption from the annual vacation, superior courts in Nigeria usually hold valedictory court sessions and judges’ conferences. Both events serve as platforms for the courts to review their performances in the previous year and strategise for improved outing in the new legal year.

    As the courts settle for the 2019/2020 legal year, there are several pending issues the judicial sector must attend to, should it desire to improve on the court’s performance and stakeholders’ satisfaction.

    Judicial delay

    The long period it often takes for some cases to be concluded is something Seyi Sowemimo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), knows well.

    At a recent event on the length of court judgments, Sowemimo said: “You have cases in our court that are five years old, 15 years old, 20 years old and they have not reached the judgment stage. It is not the judgment itself that gives us the problem because even the constitution says you have to deliver it within three months.”

    He said the main issue was how to create a system that allowed judges to deal with cases within one or two years.

    Sowemimo also observed that “a number of the problems we have which result in delay in trial of cases, a lot of it (are) on the part of lawyers, adjournments and frivolous appeals.

    “I’m yet to see a trial process in Nigeria where documents are tendered without some objection or the other, even when they have been front-loaded. That is what takes a lot of our time. “

    He went on: “But I believe that it is not the judgments that are our problem, we need not dispense with lengthy judgments, we should rather address those other issues which delay the trial of cases especially on the part of lawyers, adjournments and sometimes also on the part of judges, because we realise that after we have come from a long vacation, the next thing you hear is that they’re having judges’ conference and the next day, there are other things.

    “So, before you even have the first three months of the legal year, you find that you’re already in Christmas period, so these are the things which delay. There has to be attitudinal changes.”

    Stakeholders have, over the years, noted that other causes of delay in the court system are inadequate deployment of technology in court operations. Judges still record proceedings in long hand; processes are served manually, hearing notices and other communication activities between law chambers and the courts are still conducted manually.

    To address this, observers have advised court heads to work on ways to improve infrastructure and work tools; deploy more technologies and come up with a deadline for judges to cease to record proceedings in long hand.

    They further suggested that the National Judicial Council (NJC) should make information and communication technology proficiency a key condition in the recruitment of new judges.

    Ibe also advocated a change in attitudes and amendment of Rules of Court.

    He said: “First of all, I will change our attitude towards litigation. Even the Rules of courts, as they are, don’t help the situation. I will start addressing the problem from there. The Rules should set a good timetable for cases. All necessary papers could be put in within a specific period, after which hearing commences for a few days, depending on the nature of the case, after which lawyers address the court and the court adjourns for judgment.”

    Protection of judicial sanctity and integrity

    That judicial integrity and sanctity need protecting is not in doubt. The judicial profession is a conservative one.  As courts strategise for the new year, stakeholders have advised court heads to evolve new ways of addressing the growing threat to judicial sanctity and integrity.

    They noted the effects of many incidents, including rising unethical conduct among judicial officials, on public confidence in the court system.

    Observers spoke of the need for a further review of the judges’ recruitment process to ensure that only lawyers with passion for the Bench and commitment to duty are engaged.

    They equally suggested that besides working to prevent future occurrences, court heads should address pending cases of infraction that appeared to have been glossed over. They cited the case of the fourth most senior member of the Supreme Court’s Bench, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta.

    Justice Ngwuta’s status has become an item of discussion in judicial circle, particularly among officers and senior lawyers, who have expressed concern over the reluctance of the Supreme Court and the NJC to act on the issue.

    Justice Ngwuta has not sat in open court since November 4, 2016 following a directive by the NJC that judicial officers, who were being investigated on corruption related allegations, should cease to perform judicial functions until the conclusion of investigation.

    He was one of the two Justices of the Supreme Court, whose houses were raided by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on October 7 and 8, 2016.

    While his colleague Justice John Okoro resumed duties shortly after the raid, Ngwuta was charged to court.

    He was first arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on corruption-related charges, and later arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), for his alleged failure to declare some of his assets. Both charges were filed by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

    On March 23, 2018, the Federal High Court upheld his challenge of the competence of the charge and discharged him.

    Justice John Tsoho, in a ruling, relied on the Court of Appeal decision in the appeal by Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa (of the Federal High Court). He held that it was wrong to subject Justice Ngwuta to trial before his court, without first subjecting him to the disciplinary procedure of the NJC.

    On May 15, 2018, the CCT also held in like manner and struck out the charge against Justice Ngwuta.

    A member of the tribunal, Atedze William Agwaza, said in the ruling, “in resolving issues raised by parties in this application, it is hereby held that the defendant/applicant, though a public officer, is also a judicial officer, and subject first to the discipline and management of the NJC.

    “This is in line with Section 158(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). Paragraph 21 (b) of Part 1 of the 3rd Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the decision of the Court of Appeal in the case of Nganjiwa V. FRN (supra), which forms a precedent binding on this tribunal.

    “Our hands are, therefore, tied in the light of the aforesaid decision. Based on the above, the application of the defendant/applicant is found merited, and hereby granted. The defendant is hereby discharged accordingly,” Agwaza said.

    Since the decision by the CCT, Justice Ngwuta has not resumed judicial functions. He has not been sighted sitting as a member of any panel of the court.

    Need for transparency and accountability in the deployment of budgetary allocation

    One could be excused to assert that the Judiciary remains the most opaque sector of all, in view of its seeming predilection for acting behind closed doors. Beyond the announcement that a lump sum is allocated to the judiciary in the annual budget, nothing is known about its disbursement.

    The judiciary often exhibits a strange aversion to being scrutinised while, in most cases, it rejects requests made under the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act, by the media and civil society organisations, for details of how its budgetary allocations are expended.

    Need to uphold judicial independence, separation of power

    Court heads should also impress it on judicial officers that the fast- eroding public confidence in the judicial process results partly from the perception that the court is not independent.

    The various courts, observers often noted, should be more assertive in the new year, with more judges engaging in judicial activism and taking decisions that strengthen the democratic doctrines of rule of law and separation of powers.

    How Africa’s ‘second busiest judiciary’ plans to tackle the problem

    Judicial officers in the Lagos State Judiciary, often described as ‘Africa’s second busiest’, and arguably its most innovative, are aware of the problem.

    Chief Judge of Lagos State Justice Kazeem Alogba recently pledged to work towards transforming the sector. As part of his New Legal Year agenda, he has promised the establishment of a smart judiciary through the provision of a first-class judicial services, in line with international best practice, sustenance of the independence of the judiciary and reformation  of the administration of justice system.

     Smart judiciary

    Justice Alogba explained that the “smart judiciary” envisaged for Lagos would be achieved by deploying technology that would enable the courts to dispense complicated cases on time.

    He said: “We will be deploying more tools of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the provision of our services. In-video conferencing of court proceedings has already started and we will be doing more in this area.”

    Anti-corruption

    The CJ promised to continue in the stead of his predecessor, Justice Opeyemi Oke, in the fight against corruption.  He said he would embark on “rigorous training” for judicial staff to enhance capacity, promising that he would maintain zero tolerance for corruption within that arm of the government.

    Dearth of judges

    Justice Alogba lamented the dearth of judges in the state, pointing out that Lagos had 54 judges in its employment to dispense thousands of cases filed daily in courts. He planned to appoint more judges to deal with the high volume of cases. He also pleaded with the state’s Executive to increase funding of the judiciary for improved service delivery.

    Decongestion of courts

    One major problem confronting all levels of the courts in the country has been congestion of cases in the dockets of the judges which causes delay in justice administration.

    Addressing judges of the Federal High courts last Thursday, Acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, disclosed that judges of the court were overburdened with about 116,623 cases.

    He said in the last quarter alone, about 16,144 cases were filed of which 12,692 had been disposed off.

    He said the development was an attestation to inadequacy of judges at the courts, thereby slowing down the dispensation of justice. He noted that the record was an indication that more judges would be needed to speed up the wheel of justice delivery.

    The situation is not any way better in Lagos, with about 54 judges and 120 magistrates in a state with about 20 million people.

    Last year, former Justice Oke declared a state of emergency in the judiciary, following the evaluation of 2,886 old case files, including a 70-year-old case, under its Backlog Elimination Programme (BEP). The 70-year-old case, which was the oldest, sought to “seeking to enforce a judgment”.

    The BEP was designed to decongest the courts by re-evaluation of old cases and finding ways of resolving them through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) or accelerated hearing.

    Justice Oke noted that “delay has led to public ridicule of the judiciary which is supposed to be the hope of the common man. This delay, coupled with the continuous filing of new cases, has led to congestion of the court with a ridiculous number of backlog of cases, the result of which the courts are now in a state of emergency.”

    Lawyers’ expectation in the new legal year

    Lawyers’ expectations for a better judiciary in the new legal year are high as always.

    Dr Fassy Yusuf said the 2019/2020 Legal Year should witness the rejigging of the justice delivery system; court decongestion, technological refinement, effective service delivery and positive attitudinal change.

    He urged the judiciary to “polish its image and strategically communicate with all its stakeholders for understanding and empathy.

    “It must also establish a Watchdog mechanism for handling cases of infractions by judicial officers and workers.

    “Above all, the redemption of the sanctity of the judiciary must be sacrosanct. The temple of justice must never be desecrated again.”

    Administration of justice

    Executive Director, Crime Victims Foundation of Nigeria (CRIVIFON), Mrs. Gloria Egbuji, said her expectation for the new legal year is general improvement of administration of justice.

    She said she expected that experiences of the past years would “add up as a lesson  to the new year so that good things learnt will be improved upon and bad ones dropped.”

    According to Mrs. Egbuji, senior lawyers and Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) must continue to justify the expectations of the people on them, especially new SANs.

    She craved the highest standard of excellence from all lawyers, new wigs and old, given that enormous responsibilities are expected of them as “learned people “

    Mrs. Egbuji added: “I expect the senior lawyers to mentor and groom the younger ones and give them a sense of belonging. The bottom line here is that rule of law must be preserved and promoted at all times by all officers at the temple of justice.”

    Judicial independence

    The CRIVIFON Executive Director said the judiciary must “strive and make bold to maintain and regain its independence and full confidence of the masses

    “There should be no corrupt practices at the judiciary as these have damaging impact on the system. All erring officers must promptly be brought to book and the strategies provided by the national judicial policy strictly adhered to.

    “I also expect continuous legal education for the judges and lawyers to catch up with the dynamics of world issues. Service to community should be the key element for all judges in accordance with the judicial oath”.

    Mrs. Egbuji said the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) management, at state and national levels should, in the new legal year, ensure that the Bar is positioned above other professions. She added that there should be no internal political squabbling among the officers.

    Delay in justice administration

    She admonished Chief Justices (CJs) of the various levels of courts to take “a good look at the heavy caseloads in their courts and the delayed justice they are causing the litigants.”

    According to her, “the stringent bail conditions given to people that approach the criminal courts should be reviewed with a view to not always sending those brought to court as overnight cases to prison because that will negate the constitutional provision of being innocent until proven guilty, particularly in Lagos Judiciary.”

    Small claims court

    She further called for the establishment of more small claim courts, speedy enforcement of court orders and easier access to records for appeals.

    “Transparent services of court processes by court bailiffs/sheriffs” she said.

    Mrs. Egbuji further called for more reforms of the election tribunals for speedier delivery of judgments among others.

    She added: “Finally, I expect more provisions of legal aid to poor people who do not have access to justice. The Legal Aid Council can do better than what it is doing now. Many poor people are languishing in prison, awaiting trial because of poverty and no legal assistance.”

    The judiciary, she noted, must ensure that “cases that come to it are determined on their merits according to law.”

  • Jumia opens online store

    Jumia has unveiled an online store  in partnership with other top brands  in Lagos.

    Speaking during the launch, Jumia Nigeria Chief Executive Officer (CEO),  Juliet Anammah, said the Jumia Mall is dedicated to various brands on the website.

    She said: “This website helps consumers to find products that are 100 per cent authentic, to enjoy a return policy of 15 days on the platform, as well as a warranty on every product.

    “Consumers can also enjoy faster delivery because those brands have their products seated in our warehouse, and we are able to provide those products to consumers as fast as possible.

    “This means that anyone who has a shop can sell their products on the website.  People can browse and go directly to a particular brand section that they desire just the same way they go into a regular physical mall.

    “So, this is the same way we have a dedicated space on the website where they can access those brands directly. It means that if the brands are running an offer, they will find it offline as well as online. So the rest of the website is the marketplace.

    Read Also: ‘Jumia’ll leverage internet, data for growth’

    “We also have other things on the websites such as Jumia Global, which are items coming from abroad that can be found on this space as well.

    “So, if they want to go to the brand stores they go to Jumia Mall, and if they want to see the assortment coming from abroad the go to Jumia Global, but if they want to see the other products coming from small shops, then they can browse on the regular categories on the Jumia website.”

    Head of Mobile Category, Jumia Nigeria, Kolawole Osinowo the first thing that the firm has done with Jamal Mall is to ensure that the products coming in are either coming from the brand’s directly, or they are coming from the authorised distributor or reseller of the brands.

  • 100 exhibitors for auto parts show

    One hundred exhibitors from Nigeria and other countries are expected to converge on the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos for the West Africa Automotive Show (WAAS) in November.

    Besides displaying the latest developments and products in the spare parts and services sector, suppliers, dealers and manufacturers will be available to discuss best practice for the industry.

    Nigerian businesses, according to the organisers, BtoB Events, will account for about 30 per cent of exhibitors.

    There will be pavilions for Morocco and China, smaller groupings from Thailand, Egypt, Tunisia and India, and other countries.

    BtoB Events’ Managing Director Jamie Hill said: “We have a wealth of international exhibitors looking to bring high-tech equipment to Nigeria for the first time and a large number of local exhibitors are looking to expand their business and increase exports to surrounding countries,” he said.

    Lagos, Hill said, was picked to launch the show because it has capacity to become the automotive hub of the African continent with over 11.5 million vehicles on the roads.

    “With over 60 per cent of vehicles on the road being over 12 years old, there is a huge aftermarket industry. The need for high quality and affordable spare parts is becoming increasingly important,” he said, adding: “There is also a real hunger to boost the local assembly of vehicles across the country with the 2013 National Automotive Industry Development plan (NAIDP). With more assembly plants being set up, this, again, significantly increases the demand for spare parts. We are committed to supporting Nigeria to reach its forecast of having 70 per cent of new cars sold being assembled or manufactured domestically by 2050.”

  • Repositioning Maritime Academy for greater efficiency

    The Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Akwa Ibom State was established in 1979 to train shipboard officers, ratings and shore-based management personnel. After initial high performance, the Academy slumped into decadence. However, the tide is changing, reports MUYIWA LUCAS

    Ismail Aniemu, a maritime stakeholder of over 18 years, expressed surprise when he entered the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom State last week.

    His last visit was six months ago.  Since then, things have changed in the institution.

    Aniemu, the publisher of Journalngonline.com, a publication with bias for maritime industry, said: “I cannot believe what I am seeing. I hope I have not missed my way.”

    Indeed, the story of MAN, Oron elicits much more reaction given its sorry state until three years ago. For instance, in May 2009 the academy was criticised by the Director of Lagos Channel Management. He said the  Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) had found that the academy did not meet international standards.

    He listed the challenges to include lack of teaching facilities to handle the number of students, and unavailability of seafaring vessels on which students could complete their mandatory one-year sea term. Students seeking proper training had to attend the Regional Maritime University in Accra, Ghana. Captain Thomas Kemewerighe, a graduate of the academy, said Nigeria does not have people qualified to provide proper training. He said most of the graduates ended up as “okada riders”.

    Same year, the government announced that a project launched by the Federal Ministry of Transport, the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme, would send a first batch of 27 students to the Academy of Maritime Education and Training in India to study for a Bachelor in Science and Bachelor in Engineering  in marine-related subjects. Sadly, MAN Oron was not considered for this programme by the Indian institution.

    In August 2009, three human rights groups petitioned President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to investigate alleged cases of corruption and financial malpractices at the academy. They claimed that 43 students had died in avoidable circumstances in the past year.

    Determined to abate this scourge of disappointments and place the institution in the right stead, the government, after a thorough study  by an  Interim Management Committee (IMC) in 2017 of the Academy, came up with recommendations aimed at  restructuring and repositioning of the institution.  Subsequently, Commodore Emmanuel Effedua (retd) was appointed Rector of the institution.

    “The IMC, in its report, said the bane of the Academy, among others, was its poor academic environment, numerous abandoned projects and poor application of resources that they got from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). So, to get what we are looking for, we have to reverse those three identified anomalies. We have been able to complete those projects that have been abandoned. Now, I am correct on the appointment of Commodore Effedua as Rector of this school whose work has shown that his appointment is was done in the best interest of Nigerians,”  Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, said on May 6, this year, when he visited the school.

    Read Also: Maritime Academy: Promoting girl child education

    He added that his decision to visit the institution was motivated by the rapid transformation that the new Management has brought to the 41-year-old institution.

     The changing fortune

    In the 18 months that Effedua has been in control, stakeholders agreed that he had impacted significantly on the institution beyond what successive administrations achieved in the last three decades. For instance, before now, the academy had suffered fallen academic standards with competent lecturers seeking jobs with oil firms and other government agencies.

    Now, efforts are said to be in top gear to increase the academy’s training curriculum in line with the Manilla Convention (Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping, STCW). There was also the issue of bloated cadet’s enrolment that stretched the training manpower and facilities beyond their limits. This led to infrastructural decay with little or no attention paid to maintenance.

    Deplorable hostel facilities with crowded rooms not good for students’ habitation formed part of the inherited challenges begging for intervention. As many as 18 students stayed in rooms meant for four. Today, hostels and better accommodation are ready for students to occupy, following Amaechi’s order for improved hostel habitation of two students per room, starting from 2020.

    Indeed, a great deal of infrastruc-tural improvement, human capital overhaul, improved teaching and learning backed with technological aids and unprecedented degree of discipline now pervades the institution.

    As part of the drive to address infrastructural challenges and provide conducive accommodation for cadets and staff, the academy under this dispensation, has completed and inaugurated several abandoned project. A nautical science building that was abandoned for close to  15 years at foundation level has been completed and ready for use. What looked like a makeshift library being used with outdated literatures has been rebuilt with up to date reading materials in addition to high quality free books given to cadets.

    A modern lecturers briefing room and state-of-the-art lecture theatres fitted with teaching and learning aids have been put in place. Transportation and power system within the academy have also been boosted. The academy acquired one unit of 650KVA generator and two units of 250 KVA generator. These are, in addition to solar lightings, provided to illuminate the academy at night.

    The future is now

    Though his feats were louder than his voice, Effedua, in a chat with reporters, seems not done as he reeled out more milestones to be attained soonest in the four decades old institution.

    At a briefing, Effedua expressed readiness to produce ICT savvy, studious and up to standard graduates to meet industry and international standards. This is why cadets intake was reduced from 1, 800 to 256 for the 2018/19 academic session. Now, cadets are enjoying free mandatory courses with new Onboard Seatime training for National Diploma cadets.

    Also, under this dispensation, cadets are insured and nautical science students are being enrolled as members of Nautical Institute, United Kingdom while marine engineering students are also members of Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMAREST), UK.

    The enrolment is a further boost to their professional certification. On his watch, the academy went through some major reforms including financial audit, restructuring of departments and directorates, establishment of Directorate of Logistics, creation of course rules for lecturers and introduction of additional short courses.

    Other reforms include checking incidence of fake certificates with printing of new ones carrying security features thereby making them difficult to forge, improved capacity building agenda for staff and outsourcing cadets feeding to more qualified and competent catering outfits to achieve nutrition and hygiene.

    Improved funding

    Effedua added that the academy’s funding has improved in his administration. He described funds released from NIMASA as very commendable under its Director-General, Dr. Dakuku Peterside. In line with subsection 2B under Section 16 of the NIMASA Act, not less than five percent of collections made by agency is to be set aside for the academy as part of its statutory funding.

    According to him, paperwork sometimes delay release of the funds and the academy ends up not getting four-quarter collections  as expected yearly. This process has enabled the academy to January and September 2019, trained over 3000 students from International Oil Companies (IOCs), including Mobil. Such trainings given to IOC’s, has greatly improved MAN’s internally generated revenue (IGR).

    “We need more funding but we are not broke. We have saved money from our IGR with which we want to buy more simulators without any form of external financial support,” he said.

     Blocking leakages

    One early detection for the administration was the composition of its workforce. Eighty per cent of staff were from the host community contrary to Federal Character principle. Although Effedua said there were no intensions to sack them, the administration shall continue to recruit from other parts of the country to achieve some balance in future.

    As part of bringing solutions to chains of its problems, Effedua said: “I met a huge debt profile, which I inherited from a regime that had so much funds and I wondered why they didn’t pay. I have paid over 80 per cent of genuine claims brought  to me. I plugged revenue leakages by avoiding payment of suspected fraudulent claims, which after referring such claims to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), some of those making the claims never showed up again. In the past, funds were not properly channelled for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). It ended in private pockets and I came, determined to stop this. We don’t give money to individuals.’’

    CSR

    He explained that the institution has provided computers to the Oron-based Methodist Secondary School. What we did for them is standard and you may not see it in any university around. “This year, we bought 100 Joint Admission and Matriculation Boards(JAMB) forms for indigent students. We are going to buy for 200 students next year. The local hospital requests for 50 litres of diesel from pregnant women coming for delivery,” he further said.

    Challenges

    But much as the CSR is beneficial to the community, yet there are challenges from the community. “A group of trouble makers brought a casket to our gate as part of protests. They also fell big trees to block the access road into the community. In the face of this harassment, we were determined to do our work. Oron people are peaceful and accommodating only a few of them gave us challenge.

    The Rector summed up the feat so far achieved to the cooperation and support of his management team. He described them as wonderful and part of the academy’s success story.

  • Hyundai unveils 45 EV Concept

    Hyundai has introduced an electric vehicle concept named 45 EV Concept at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt.

    The vehicle signifies a new era of Hyundai’s automotive design, focused on electrification, autonomous technologies and intelligent design. The dramatic exterior of 45 excites the imagination, also drawing inspiration from the vehicle that first established Hyundai’s design DNA, the 1974 Pony Coupe Concept. The car’s name also owes itself in part to the 45-degree angles at the front and rear, forming a diamond-shaped silhouette that further foreshadows the design direction of future EV models.

    The concept strips away complexity, celebrating the clean lines and minimalistic structure of the original coupe concept. Combining heritage with vision, 45 incorporates the evolution of Hyundai’s ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ design language.

    According to Senior Vice President and the Head of Hyundai Design Centre, SangYup Lee, the 45 clearly reveals how Hyundai heads towards the future through heritage.

    Lee said: “Through the 45 built upon our design language ‘Sensuous Sportiness’, Hyundai wants to present our vision on how we want to reshape people’s in-car lifestyle in the era of electrification and autonomous driving.”

    The 45 reinterprets the concept’s distinctive lattice radiator grille with a ‘kinetic cube lamp’ design, while a fastback profile epitomises stability and dynamism, characteristics accentuated by the vehicle’s significant width and forward-oriented posture. The daylight opening (DLO) terminates in the fast angle of the C-pillar, which generates a feeling of dynamic forward motion even when standing still.

    Innovative technology is inherent in 45’s details. At the bottom of the door, active LED lights show drivers how much longer they have before needing to recharge, even before they get in the car. Some tech features may influence forthcoming Hyundai production models, emphasising Hyundai’s open architecture for the future, and leaving room to include self-driving system applications. These include a hidden Camera Monitoring System (CMS), while self-cleaning side cameras replace traditional wing mirrors, ensuring perfect visibility at all times.

    Reimagining the in-car experience, the interior becomes a unique living space capable of transforming to accommodate a range of passenger lifestyle demands. Inspired by furniture designs, the minimalist cabin is fitted with an inviting fusion of wood, fabric and leather, creating a warm atmosphere that is both relaxing and spacious. Lounge chair-style rear seats and front seats can rotate to face other passengers, and swivel as occupants open the door for convenient entry and exit.

    The batteries in the fully electric 45 are set throughout the car’s ‘skateboard floor,’ contributing to its spacious interior. Clean lines, ergonomic placement of controls and ‘high-end electronics’ feel for the interior fixtures further enhance the feeling of space while reinforcing the simplistic modernity of 45’s design. Front-seat passengers can interact with the infotainment system via a projection-beam interface, replacing a single central touchscreen with a series of displays and functions integrated into the dashboard itself. Clever storage ideas include door mounted device pockets to hold tablets or PCs.

    The 45 embodies Hyundai’s ‘Style Set Free’ strategy for future mobility that emphasises personalisation of design and function. It was the centrepiece of Hyundai’s Frankfurt display, which showcased various future innovations in vehicle technology and integration of lifestyle applications.

  • Push for Nigerian flag carriers

    Since the liquidation of Nigeria Airways in 2004, attempts by the government to set up another national carrier, Nigeria Air, have been largely unsuccessful. Experts say aviation business, including airline ownership and management, is better left to the private sector. Is the idea of a national carrier going out of fashion? KELVIN OSA-OKUNBOR asks

    The Minister of Aviation’s pronouncement that  Nigeria Air remains a priority has triggered a huge debate in the sector on the necessity, or otherwise, of a national carrier.

    There is an agreement, however, by experts that Nigeria needs a functional carrier. The argument is whether it should be government- driven, or left in private hands.

    Nigeria Airways Limited, which operated for many years as a national carrier, failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians and was shut by government in 2004.

    Its experience in the 56 years of its existence showed that public ownership of airlines was no more fashionable. Nigeria Airways Limited was established in 1958 as a national carrier but liquidated  in 2004.

    In the last few decades, efforts by the government to achieve a national carrier after the collapse of Nigeria Airways Limited have not gathered any steam.

    Rather than dissipate energy on a national carrier, experts say the government should flow with the global trend of empowering private sector operators as flag carriers.

    The Federal Government approved N47.43 billion for the Nigeria Air project in the 2019 budget.

    Efforts by the government to partner with many organisations to deliver a national carrier since the dying days of the Nigeria Airways Limited have not yielded any positive result.

    From the failed Air Nigeria, which was to come out of Nigeria Airways to Nigerian Global Airlines promoted during the Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration to Nigerian Eagle Airlines and the latest Nigeria Air promoted by Minister of Aviation, Captain Hadi Sirika, none have been delivered.

    Given the huge capital flight by foreign carriers, can setting up a national carrier block such gap? Should the government go ahead with the project? This debate has engaged the attention of industry experts and stakeholders.

    Clamour for a national carrier

    President Muhammadu Buhari, on assumption of office on May 29, 2015, expressed concern over Nigeria’s lack of a national carrier .

    He said the establishment of such a carrier was not only justifiable by economic considerations, but for strategic national interest, national pride and job creation potential.

    The presidential interest was fueled by the unending challenges faced by domestic carriers after the N300 billion intervention fund did not yield positive results.

    Buhari said his administration would act quickly to redress the situation. He directed that the committee saddled with the task of setting up the national carrier to look into the causes of the failure of the Nigeria Airways and other private airlines before arriving at the model that will meet the aspirations of Nigerians.

    Last week, Minister of Aviation Captain Sirika said there was no going back on the project. He stated this when Transaction Advisers submitted the outcome of their research to the government. He said the national carrier was in the pipeline as the Transaction Advisers had concluded their baseline studies and were moving to the next level.

    Sirika said: “Every Nigerian is asking for the national carrier. That is why the project is on course.“

    It is against this background that some experts have called on the government to jettison the idea of a national carrier and embrace the model of private sector-led flag carriers obtainable in some countries across the globe.

    Some of them argued that the government as a regulator in the aviation sector had no business in setting up an airline, but should encourage private sector investors by creating a conducive environment for them to thrive.

    In an interview, Chairman of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) Captain Nogie Meggison said the government should have no business in setting up a national carrier, but empower existing private sector airlines as flag carriers.

    According to the leader of the umbrella body of indigenous carriers, the government should empower domestic carriers by reducing multiple aeronautical and airport charges to actualise the bilateral air services agreement it signed with many countries.

    What really is the difference between a national carrier and a flag carrier?

    Difference between national and flag carriers

    According to the experts, a national carrier is floated by the government as sole shareholder, to operate in the name of the government and represent the government in all aviation-related bilateral services agreements.

    But, a flag carrier is a privately- owned airline that, by agreement, is designated to represent a government and fly on behalf of the government, representing it on all bilateral-designated routes.

    Flag carriers

    Since the demise of the Nigeria Airways, many carriers, including Arik Air, Aero Contractors, Medview Airlines, Air Peace, Overland Airways and Dana Air have been playing the role of flag carriers, flying the country’s flag in many countries, where they are designated.

    Experts’ views

    A former Director of Human Resources at the defunct Virgin Nigeria, Victor Banjo, recently spared a thought for the proposed national carrier. He said the project lacked the requisite structure for success.

    He said the proposed national carrier would lack accountability, fairness, transparency and independence.

    He said: “From the outset, Nigeria Air was doomed to fail because the four pillars of corporate governance were missing. In terms of transparency, too much was shrouded in secrecy for a project a huge chunk of taxpayers’ money was to be committed, and time will tell if it will move from being premature to a stillborn.”

    But, Sabre Travel Solutions President, Gbenga Olowo, said the government should empower existing flag carriers, rather than dissipating energy and resources in setting a national carrier.

    To him, existing flag carriers should be supported through policies that enable them forge alliances as global players .

    His words: “This is easily achievable through economic policy of cooperation, collaborations, mergers and acquisitions; review of all existing Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) through periodic schedules for equity and immediate reversal of all multiple entry points in Nigeria to single entry points.”

    On his part, African Aviation Services Limited Chief Executive Officer Nick Fadugba said though the idea of a national carrier was welcome, but for it to succeed, it would need a sound business plan, strategic industry partners, adequate funding, an experienced management team, well-trained staff, a fleet of modern aircraft, a comprehensive route network, on-time performance, good customer service and no government involvement.

    The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Nnolim Nnaji, has said Nigeria needs strong flag carriers to enable it play on the continental sphere.

    Nnaji said the country had remained passive in the continental aviation market in recent years, despite its huge daily passenger traffic. However, to him, floating a fully government-owned airline might not be an alternative.

    According to him, the committee will work closely with the Federal Government to ensure that competent local airlines are supported to assume the status of flag carriers and operate internationally.

    An aviation analyst and member, Aviation Round Table, Olumide Ohunayo, said setting up a national carrier was not the best option, but empowerment of existing flag carriers to enable Nigeria actualise its over 75 bilateral air services agreements.

    He said: “We are on the verge of starting a new national carrier after many false starts, from Air Nigeria in 1993 to Nigeria Air in 2018. Twenty-six years, and we are still going round in circles. During this period, the best we got for our efforts was Virgin Nigeria, which within six years had all certifications and numerous offers for partnership.

    “We are toeing that line with the new national carrier project of acquiring five aircraft and flying to international destinations almost immediately without any base or foundation, just the government’s support without requisite funding.

    “If having a national carrier is felt to be a must, then the cost, risk and lessons from other airlines should be seriously considered.”

    More reactions

    Flag carriers said they could do more if they get the necessary support from the government . The support, they said, could come in the form of reducing multiple charges, improved air navigation infrastructure, establishment of aircraft maintenance facility and more involvement in international aero politics.

    On his part, Chairman of Air Peace Allen Onyema said: “However, we need more support from th government. We need to be protected from multiple taxation and the debilitating effects of poor airport infrastructure. We need the government to review the multiple designations given to foreign airlines operating into the country.

    “We need the government to appreciate the contributions of indigenous airlines. We have been exposed to unrelenting hostility. We need the government to help us play the international aero politics that have been working against Nigerian airlines for a long time. Countries protect their airlines against marauding foreign airlines. The local airlines provide jobs for the citizens of their countries hence, the immense protection they get. Recently, Airlines in America complained against the several frequencies given to the heavily-subsidised Gulf states’ airlines. The US Government responded with measures that deterred those Gulf airlines. The US Government needed to protect US jobs by protecting their indigenous airlines.

    “You do not need a national carrier to do the needful. You do not need a national carrier to protect your indigenous businesses. Why did the government want to establish a national airline in the first place?”

    Onyema continued: “Government was rightly worried that no Nigerian indigenous airline was doing well on the international scene. The government noticed a very serious imbalance in our BASA protocols and wanted to bridge it. So government went into it for a reason. Though there were genuine reasons for that plan to set up an airline, it was the belief of not only indigenous airlines but also the discerning aviation world that Nigeria should rather find out why its indigenous airlines have not been able to plug the hole. All we need is total support of our government and we will all get there. National carrier is no longer an idea the world over

    “America with its economic might and aviation prowess (manufacturers of world’s most popular planes) does not have a national carrier. They have flag carriers in Delta Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines and a host of others flying the flag of America. Britain does not have a national carrier any longer. British Airways is no longer a national carrier since the 80s.

    “Nigeria Airways was a failed airline, it died just as other national carriers worldwide,” he said.

    How the government could assist flag carriers

    Legal luminary Olisa Agbakoba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), a few years ago mooted the idea of a “Fly Nigeria Act” which prescribes that all government officials flying on its bill must patronise Nigerian flag carriers.

    He said that was one of the ways the government could retain huge funds taken out by foreign carriers in tickets sales.

    Agbakoba said other countries, including United States initiated the Fly America Act to support US carriers.

    Besides Agbakoba, other industry players, including former spokesman of  Nigeria Airways Limited, Mr Chris Aligbe, said such legislative instrument would empower indigenous flag carriers.

  • Addressing incessant fall of articulated trucks

    It is about time the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) addressed the issue of incessant fall of petroleum and containerised trucks, writes ADEYINKA ADERIBIGBE

    The fall, last Thursday, of a fuel tanker on the Otedola Bridge, Lagos, the second this year, and the attendant lock down of roads abutting the area, is the latest wake up call Federal Government agencies, especially the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FSRC), must take on the issue of safety compliance, particularly by truck drivers, to the front burner.

    The accident, which occurred  about 10am, caused a jam that locked down almost the greater parts of Mainland Lagos for the day. It lasted into the wee hours of Friday, with agony tales by road users.

    A motorist, Thomas Damilare, on Lagos Traffic Radio (LTR), lamented that he spent seven hours from his Victoria Island office to his Mowe, Ogun State home, instead of the usual one hour.

    Though no life was lost in the accident, the traffic snarl it caused was, for hundreds of people caught in it, enough nightmare.

    It was not the first time such would happen on that road, accidents are a regular feature, locking out motorists and commuters, especially those living along that corridor.

    Of all road users, it seems articulated vehicle drivers have almost become untouchables. They break the law and some of them drive with reckless abandon. Also, many of the trucks have long passed their service life and  have become a mere contraption and an accident waiting to happen.

    Take for example the container laden trailer that got stuck on the Iganmu Bridge last Thursday. The trailer exiting the port could not ascend the bridge. It blocked the road, causing a heavy traffic, until it was evacuated.

    June 27, last year, was a day many would not forget in a hurry in Lagos. Nine persons died and about 54 vehicles were lost to a massive fire from a petroleum tanker that exploded on the same Otedola Bridge.

    The FRSC said the recurrent falling of articulated vehicles, with the attendant killing of innocent citizens, was worrisome.

    The agency assured Nigerians that it was working to end the ugly trend.

    The Corps Public Education Officer, Mr Bisi Kazeem, said FRSC was concerned with the frequency and fatality from tanker crashes, especially when such involved spillage of fuel and resultant inferno.

    According to him, the FRSC has sustained tanker safety awareness campaign over the past few years.

    His words: “The majority of the tankers are old and rickety, requiring replacement. Secondy is that some of them operate without safety valves, coupled with the state of well-being of the drivers. All these drawbacks are addressed by the Corps campaign.”

    Kazeem said there were efforts to evolve a fleet renewal scheme, a public-private sector initiative between the government and relevant petroleum tankers unions, to create opportunities for the purchase of  new tankers to replace rickety ones.

    At a summit by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stakeholders, including the Corps, Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) of the Nigeria Union Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) and Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) agreed that the Federal Government must provide access to new fleet, if Nigeria must overcome the challenges besetting haulage.

    In the interim, the corps, in the last three years, had been deploying men to fuel depots and facilities across the country to ensure that tankers to load wet cargoes meet minimum safety standards before they are allowed to do so.

    The standards, according to Kazeem, are the possession of safety valves to prevent fuel spillage, if the tanker falls.

    “We are also working with the leadership of the tanker unions to ensure periodic training and retraining of tanker drivers, including issues of their health status and eye test,” he said.

    He added that the Safe-to-load Policy, introduced by the Corps Marshal, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, in 2017, was to ensure that there’s no spillage of any flammable products, thereby protecting the cargo for transloading and preventing carnage.

    Kazeem revealed that the corps was working with the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) to ensure that articulated vehicles were tested and given regular checks to remove unfit vehicles from the road.

    “This effort will help in taking expired and bad vehicles off our roads,” Kazeem said.

    At a the first inaugural lecture of the Lagos State University School of Transport Studies (LASU-SOT), Oyeyemi said he had to softpedal on enforcement of standards, especially of expired trucks because of their importance to the economy.

    Oyeyemi argued that had the Corps fully enforced the law, 70 per cent of articulated trucks on the roads would have been taken off because they have “expired engines”.

    A trailer head costs between N30 and N50 million.

    On the average, none of the articulated vehicles on the roads are below 30 years.

    To manage the trucks’ menace, the Corps has introduced measures such as the deployment of special patrol operations, mobile courts and others, to manage the situation until the economy is strong enough to grow that sub-sector.

    However, checks revealed that most tanker drivers lacked knowledge of basic safety tips and traffic regulations that could aid their movement on the road. Besides, many of them are too young. They struggle for space with smaller vehicles.

    Faced with this reality, the Corps said it has put in place aggressive  campaigns for drivers.

    At its last meeting with Dangote Group, the Corps advocated the establishment of more driving schools, especially for articulated vehicle drivers. Such schools, it argued, would go a long way in  teaching them modern driving techniques.

    Admittedly, FRSC has intensified its public enlightenment campaigns, training and retraining, seminars and workshops for drivers of articulated vehicles.

    “The Corps is highly committed to public enlightenment/education campaigns due to its impact on road traffic crash reduction on our roads,” Kazeem said.

    “In as much as the Corps is on its toes day and night to salvage the situation, it is important to say here that some articulated truck drivers also tend to be recalcitrant on the road, especially in areas where our men are not on patrol.The behavioural pattern of some of this difficult tanker drivers calls for concern and that is why the Corps is taking campaigns to their door steps to ensure that their orientation is changed,’’ he added.

  • The next level anthem

    Sir: It was John F. Kennedy who said, “Things do not just happen, things are made to happen.”

    When most kings ascend the throne of their forefathers, they do not stir ripples in the waters for fear it could trigger a wave that might capsize their fledgling rule. In other words, they see but seldom talk; talk but seldom walk. It is only a wise king that knows that a crown of gold is useless if the people do not respect its wearer.  The Next Level anthem beggars description.

    Image makers have vested interests in manufacturing publicity for their principals; after all, relevance is the name of the game. Defending the present administration is herculean because even the blind can see the handwriting on the wall. The Next Level Anthem will make an excellent material for a Nollywood blockbuster.

    You may be forgiven if your first impression about the Next Level mantra was paradise on earth. It is a systematic and well thought out agenda oxygenated to impoverish the masses and turn them into robots. It is therefore a no-brainer that things are transforming from bad to worse.

    The claim by the federal government that shutting border has frustrated smuggling is a welcome development but should not be an excuse to injure innocent Nigerians. Nigerians should not be punished because of poor and compromised border security as the development has triggered inflation (prices of goods are now reaching the clouds). Closing of border should be holistic (not closing south leaving north) with adequate provisions made to cushion the effect.

    For an administration that elevates politics over policy, implementation is her greatest undoing because of vested interests. What is the assurance that the advice of the newly formed Economic Advisory Council will be carried out by the president when he is surrounded by a strong cabal?

    There is a common defect among policy analysts and decision makers of the federal government. This gap has to be closed. The revised 7.5% Value added Tax, CBN cashless policy and the composition of the Economic Advisory Council are all economic catalysts but adequate palliative provisions ought to be made to cushion the resultant effect on the poor masses.

    It is unfair to talk about VAT increase when N30,000 minimum wage implementation is yet to see the light of the day. In a nation where there are countless number of out-of-school children and many live below one dollar per day, imposing unnecessary tax increase is most unfortunate. The CBN forex restrictions on some imported products should be extended to foreign education and medical trips abroad in order to use the Nigerian content initiative to fix local hospitals and public schools and make them attractive so that those who cannot afford (medical or educational) trips abroad can also enjoy good healthcare and sound education in a country they are joint heirs to. Perhaps, this is one of the reasons why some sister nations do not value Nigeria and her citizens despite being the giant of Africa.

    Solving security and electricity challenges should be paramount. But how does one achieve this in a country where a sitting chief executive officer of a state took a selfie with bandits brandishing arms?

    It is sad that Nigeria is going on a borrowing spree when N100billion has been earmarked for the National Livestock Transformation Scheme despite the mutual suspicion and public outcry over the RUGA racket. Perhaps, these developments are some of the reasons why the 2020 budget is yet to be passed.

    The federal government should mandate the CBN to as a matter of urgent public importance, suspend these anti-people, anti-economy and pro-poverty policies in order not to frustrate the ease of doing business. The Senate should concur with the House of Representatives by taking a stand against these policies before it becomes law.

    Nigeria at this challenging time needs leadership that will inject pro-people innovations, and game-changing ideas to improve the international image of the country and bring honour to her citizenry.

    • Ikechukwu Agada,

    <bishopagada@yahoo.com>