The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian news

  • Siege on smugglers’ paradise

    One week into the “Exercise Swift Response’, the heat bites harder on Nigeria’s neighbouring countries, as economic activities are gradually grinding to a halt, MUYIWA LUCAS reports

    Travellers on the Seme-Krake route have tales of woes to tell. The rigorous stop-and-search operation at all the over 12 roadblocks counted between Igboelerin and Seme axis presents more than enough pains for commuters. The roadblocks, mounted by men of the Customs, Immigrations, the police and Army, have created long queues of vehicles and passengers who ply the route. There are long queues of vehicles and human traffic arising from the intensive check at the Igbaji checkpoint.

    With the intense searching, and security operatives pursuing smugglers into unconventional roads to effect the arrest, activities at the Seme-Krake border in the last week have further buttressed the position that smuggling activities are what makes the axis tick.

    Nigerians, as well as other nationals at the border, have continued to groan in hardship over the ongoing exercise. From the Okada riders, transporters, currency traders (black market) to Cross-Border traders, tales of woes is on everybody’s lips.

    When The Nation visited the Seme-Krake border on Wednesday, economic activities were at its lowest ebb. At the border post, the Customs scanner section remained closed, while petrol attendants at the ConOil filling station at the border were on holiday.

    A visit to the ECOWAS building in Seme revealed the extremely low level of economic activities. At the immigration section of the building, less than 15 travellers were seen processing their travel documents either into or out of the country. Pedestrians trying to go through the border without valid travel documents were turned back at both ends.

    Over 1000 trucks carrying different goods were also seen parked at the huge landmass around the ECOWAS building. The trucks were those waiting for clearance but the restriction of movement at the border. At the scanning section of the Customs, not a single consignment was seen, just as trucks parked at the examination bay of the Service were left unattended to. As a result of this, banking activities at the border is also suffering. With no duties to be paid, and travel restricted, the First Bank office at the border remained virtually on holiday yesterday.

    A truck driver, Ibrahim Zana, said he and his colleagues have been stranded at the border since the restriction of movement commenced. He explained that some perishable items some of his colleagues conveyed from Benin republic have gone bad. He added that one of his colleagues require medical attention but cannot get the same because they have run out of cash.

    Official position

    Joseph Attah, Deputy Comptroller, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and National Public Relations Officer, said: “The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), which is coordinating the exercise is already recording large numbers of seizures and arrests from the four sectors comprising the Northwest, Northcentral, South-West, and Southsouth geopolitical zones. As at 26th August 2019, 33 illegal migrants have been arrested while seizures include: 3,560-50kg bags of parboiled foreign rice; 59 bags of NpI (fertilizer); 15 vehicles; 12 drums filled with PMS; three engine boats; 61 drums of groundnut oil; four trucks; 75 gallons of PMS; 29 motorcycles; six gallons of vegetable oil; 70 jerricans of PMS; among other items,” he said in a statement.

    or Attah, this feat is a positive for the operation, which is barely a week old and seen as a strong resolve by the Nigerian security agencies to better secure the country’s territorial integrity, particularly the land and marine borders against transborder security concerns. The exercise has led to the partial closure or restriction in movement between the country’s borders and those of the Republic of Benin, Niger and Chad as well as that of the Central African country of Cameroon.

    The exercise, led by the NCS and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), in collaboration with the Armed Forces as well as the police and other Security and Intelligence agencies, may have started yielding dividend in terms of securing the country’s borders, but it has continued to inflict pains on the economy of not only Nigeria but also that of other neighbouring countries whose economy depends on that of Nigeria. The joint exercise is taking place in four geopolitical zones, namely; Southsouth, Southwest, Northcentral and Northwest.

    Ripple effect

    A peep across the border towards the Krake (Benin Republic) end also shows the near-comatose economic activity on the side. A Nigerian traveller from Togo, shortly after completing his documentation at the Nigerian Immigration, told The Nation that business activities from Togo are at a standstill. He said several trucks are parked at the entry points of the two countries of Togo and Benin Republic, waiting to enter Nigeria with their consignment.

    Security sources at the Seme-Krake border told The Nation that the ongoing exercise has further shown that Nigeria is the main economic power of its neighbours. For instance, the sources explained that the ripple effect of the exercise in Nigeria has taken a toll on the price of petrol in the Benin Republic, which is said to have risen by about 150 per cent.

    Already, sources from across the various borders warn that if the border closure continues, the Bennoise, Nigeriens and Chadians economies will be the worse for it. The situation is believed will be worse off in Republic of Benin, where the people are said to be getting agitated over the closure. This is for no other reason but the dwindling fortunes of their income.

    Sources in security circles told this reporter that the flagrant disrespect for trade agreement led the Federal Government to decide on her borders. For instance, it is believed that the country had taken advantage of their business relationship with importers from Niger and Chad, both landlocked countries, to allow their transit cargos, particular, foreign parboiled rice, which pass through Benin Terminal, Cotonou and Bollere seaport, to end up in the Nigerian market. This has weakened the government’s resolve on the ban on foreign importation of some commodities into the country and disrupting the policy on local rice production.

    t is worthy of note that the volume of rice importation into the Republic of Benin had risen over time. The country’s rice imports are handled by four multinational companies and between 20 to 30 smaller small rice importers. These importers include African Agro Foods, with Headquarters in Pan Lebanese Group, Dubai, United Arab Emirate, UAE, Di Fezi Fils, Sonam linked to the Stallion Group in Dubai, which also have an operational base in Lagos, and ABC Enterprises.

    A breakdown of these companies share of rice import into the Benin Republic indicate that African Agro Foods Imports 360, 000 MT or 30 percent of the rice needed in the country; Di Fezi Fils, 300, 000 MT or 24 percent; Sonam, 240,00 MT and 20 percent ABC enterprises, 10,000 MT or one percent while other rice importers bring into the country 290,000 or 24 percent of the total rice imports of the country.

    ith a small population, experts explained that the country can’t consume such volume of rice. Since June 2015, market watchers say, rice imports into the Benin Republic has increased tremendously, finding its way into the Nigerian market notwithstanding that the Central Bank of Nigerian (CBN), led by Godwin Emefiele, included the prohibition of foreign exchange to rice and 43 other products. Virtually all the parboiled rice imports into the Republic of Benin are smuggled into the Nigerian market through unapproved routes.

    A Nigerian returning from Togo, en route Benin, who simply identified himself as Fatai, explained that the economy of Togo and Benin Republic are already in comatose as a result of the situation. He disclosed that some consignment of bulk rice cargoes that had arrived at the Benin terminal and Bollere ports are still waiting to be discharged. He said practically all the warehouses in the two countries are filled with rice awaiting evacuation to Nigeria.

    Similarly, across the other regions, a report by The Value News, an online publication, has it that indigenes of the Border Communities in the Northwest and Northeast are also severely hit by the exercise. The report says that from Matamaye, Magarya, Babura, Mai mujiya, Tikim, and other Border communities in Kano and Jigawa states which fall within the Zandar region directly linking Niger and Nigeria in the south, are now a shadow of itself: low economic activities of buying and selling of traded goods.

    According to the report, Nigerien traders’ major worries was that between Wednesday, August 23 when the exercise starts and now, they have not been able to access the ancient city of Kano, which is the commercial nerve centre of northern Nigeria, to buy goods because of the tight security. It is imperative to say that it is only from these border communities that transit cargoes from Benin could be supplied Niger.

    A bureau de change operator, who identified himself as Gilli, a resident of Amaimujiya, a border community, said his business had been at the lowest ebb since last Wednesday when the exercise began.

    ‘’My Bureau de Change business has virtually closed because of lack of patronage,’’ he said.

    Nigerians also cry

    he lawmaker representing Badagry constituency in the House of Representatives, Babatunde Hunpe, has urged residents to remain calm and supportive over the ongoing Joint Border Security Exercise in the area.

    “It is not only the Seme border that is affected by the Federal Government’s directive, but it also affects many communities in 25 states across Nigeria. I want to appeal to my people to let peace reign by going about their normal daily activities peacefully. Badagry communities should cooperate with the special task force created by the Federal Government to enable them to achieve their aims,” Hunpe said.

    Ignoring the ECOWAS treaty?

    But while the focus is on security, the promoters of the partial closure of the border, or restriction of movement at the border, as Attah prefers to call it, seem to have ignored the breach of trade agreements between ECOWAS countries.

    Trade and market integration are at the heart of ECOWAS’ aims and objectives. Article (3) of the Revised Treaty of ECOWAS stipulates the removal of trade barriers and harmonisation of trade policies for the establishment of a Free Trade Area, a Customs Union, a Common Market and an eventual culmination into a Monetary and Economic Union in West Africa.

    The ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) adopted in 1979 with an agreement on agricultural, artisanal handicrafts and unprocessed products, and extended to industrial products in 1990, is the main framework for trade and market integration in ECOWAS as it addresses protocols on the free movement of goods, persons and transportation. The ETLS main pursuit of consolidating the free trade area is guided by the National Approval Committees that informs the member States.

    For this purpose, ECOWAS established an ETLS website to ease harmonisation and usage of it. In this regard, ECOWAS thus implemented a Customs and Connectivity programme to simplify the movement of goods in the region. The ECOWAS Common External Tariff has thus been operational since 2015. Moreover, member states are increasingly implementing the ECOWAS Single Customs Declaration Form for their customs administrations. The World Bank-sponsored Abidjan-Lagos Trade and Transport Facilitation Programme for Benin and Nigeria is one such example. Burkina Faso and Togo are likewise operationalising the scheme. Nevertheless, there are said to be challenged in regards to poor domestication of the ETLS, which needs to addressed for deepened trade and market integration in the ECOWAS region.

    But how long will this calmness remain given the increasing economic hardship being experienced? Are there no means of ensuring security while trade continues? Time, only time, will tell.

     

     

  • What NNPC/Shell partnership does for society

    Aside exploring and producing oil and gas, Shell companies in Nigeria – Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) – and their senior partner, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, have been undertaking key activities to ensure the well-being of Nigerians. In this report, EMEKA UGWUANYI looks at critical interventions of the oil giant in the health sector and the need for other firms to follow suit.

    Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is considered very important by corporate organisations, especially in the oil and gas industry. Besides their core competences which is exploring, producing and processing hydrocarbons, giving back to the society where they operate has become part of formal and informal aspects of their operations. This responsibility, sometimes, goes beyond their host communities to national or humanitarian issues, such as finding  solutions to the increasing cases of cancer, preventions of diseases at Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and training of medical personnel. Such interventions have not only helped the not-so-rich Nigerians to access quality health care but have also substantially reduced export of  much-needed foreign exchange through medical tourism.

    For instance, SNEPCO recognises the value of a healthy nation and has adopted a targeted approach to improve access to health and strengthen health care system in the country. Over the last few years, SNEPCo has demonstrated its commitment by investing in shared value community care and sustainable health initiatives, including medical emergency, centre of excellence and strengthening health facilities.

    Only recently, the NNPC/SNEPCo partnership installed a new cutting-edge cancer treatment machine at the National Hospital, Abuja, which, according to the hopital, Chief Medical Director, Dr. Jaf Momoh, would reduce patients’ treatment waiting time from 16 to two minutes.

    The cancer machine ‘Elekta Synergy LINAC’, which offers unique radiation therapy technique that shapes the radiation dose to the tumour with very little or no adverse effect on other organs, was inaugurated by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo through Federal Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Alhaji Abdullahi Mashi.

    The project aims at establishing a sustainable Centre of Excellence in Cancer Care, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and National Hospital, Abuja. It targets early identification and treatment of cancer to improve access to affordable quality treatment for the average Nigerian.

    Historically, Nigeria has six government- designated centres of oncology and only one of its nine radiotherapy centres are fully functional (UCH Ibadan), despite the existence of another (Abuja) requiring upgrade for full functionality.

    According to World Health Organisation (WHO), cancer remains a leading public health issue affecting one in 20 Nigerians (WHO 2002). In 2017, SNEPCo partnered the Federal Ministry of Health to improve the capacity of the National Hospital, Abuja to provide effective and efficient health services in the prevention and treatment of cancer as part of its corporate social investment strategy. The mantra for the centre is “investment to reach- the right people; right equipment/infrastructure; right skills and right processes”.

    In 2015, SPDC joint venture trained 300 midwives to support the government’s effort in getting more skilled health workers to rural communities in six states of the Niger Delta region. The initiative was carried out in collaboration with the governments of the beneficiary states – Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Imo, Abia and Akwa Ibom.

    Also, SPDC last month delivered the Oloibiri Health Programme (OHP), an integrated health project for Oloibiri and adjoining communities in Ogbia Local Government area of Bayelsa State. The project included the remodelling and equipment of General Hospital in Kolo.

    According to the Managing Director of SPDC and Country Chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor, the OHP is part of the three programmes by Shell in commemoration of Nigeria’s centenary celebrations in 2014. Besides the remodelled General Hospital, Kolo, the first phase projects of OHP that have been inaugurated are: a water treatment plant; medical laboratory equipment at the College of Health Technology, Otuogidi; and a dental chair at the Demonstration Clinic, Otuogidi.

    The second phase includes the Oloibiri Health Campus at Oloibiri Town, comprising the Oloibiri Health-for-Life Centre, Ward Health Centre, and a Knowledge Management and Research Centre.

    Other components of the second phase are the 0.4km Oloibiri Access Road to the Health-for-life Centre and the establishment of the Oloibiri Health Foundation to drive the  sustainability of the projects.

    Okunbor noted that the third phase would be the establishment of the Ogbia Health Insurance Scheme to be modelled after the successful pilot health insurance scheme catalysed by the SPDC joint venture in partnership with Rivers State Government at the Obio Cottage Hospital in Port Harcourt. Phases 2 and 3 are planned for completion by the end of the year, he added.

    In 2016, SNEPCo led a multi-stakeholder framing workshop of government, academia and health development bodies to identify gaps in the healthcare system and define development opportunities to address the gaps. This workshop culminated to become SNEPCo’s health priorities for intervention with five signature health intervention projects: Lagos Medical Emergency Response Improvement Programme (Lagos MERIP), Health System Strengthening project at Ogijo Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in Ogun State, Integrated Humanitarian Assistance Project (IHAP) for IDPs in Dikwa, Borno State, Centre for Cancer Care project at the National Hospital, Abuja, Community care programmes tagged “Health in Motion” across Nigeria.

    With the investment in health, SNEPCo aims to improve access to quality health in rural and semi-urban locations by supporting the provision of integrated services, reducing out-of-pocket expenses for health care and up-skilling the capacity of health care providers, delivering excellent initiatives to bridge the gaps and reduce mortality incidents around cancer care in the country, supporting the establishment of an efficient, effective and sustainable medical emergency response for health. These objectives are achieved through the implementation of strategic programmes.

    In the Ogijo PHC System Strengthening Project, SNEPCo partnered the Ogun State Government to improve access to health care and quality health services, using the maternal and child health for the various communities served by Ogijo PHC. This project was an offshoot of the “ARAYA” project, which covered six PHCs in the state. The project led to the construction of a model comprehensive PHC for Ogijo community, donation of medical equipment/furnishing of the PHC, capacity building for health workers, improvement in drug revolving scheme and medical emergency care. The establishment of a sustainble community-based health insurance prgramme is some of the long-term plans for Ogijo.

    For the IHAP for IDPs, it was in response to this humanitarian crisis. SNEPCo, in partnership with Family Health International (FHI 360) – a global relief agency providing humanitarian assistance to IDPs in the Northeast and the Borno State government, co-designed a two-year humanitarian relief programme aimed at providing IDPs in newly liberated areas in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State with health care, food, water, sanitation, livelihood support, education and shelter materials.

    In addition, the programme was also designed to improve the well-being of vulnerable groups through the provision of PHC services; psychosocial support; integrated gender-based violence support and resilience training.

    Since 2014, the Northeast has experienced several spikes in conflict due to intensified activities by the Boko Haram insugents, which coupled with counter-insurgency efforts by the  military, led to a severe humanitarian crisis and significant displacement. Dikwa, a newly liberated LGA in Bornu State, experienced high influx of internally displaced persons in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

    Through the IHAP initiative, SNEPCo has touched lives and redefined hope to the people in Dikwa. A fully functional PHC in Dikwa was upgraded and equipped which hitherto was absent in the LGA. More than 50,000 in Dikwa benefited from a broad range of activities that cut across health, security, water, sanitation, hygiene and nutrition services. Over 44,960 persons have benefitted from services at the SNEPCo-supported PHC in Dikwa, with over 826 children delivered.

    In addition to this, 22,527 people in the community have been educated on gender-based violence (GBV), leading to reduction in discrimination of GBV victims and improved assimilation of victims back into the society. 618 girls/women also received GBV support, with 111 provided dignity kits, among others.

    For the Lagos Medical Emergency Response Improvement Programme (MERIP), in view of the fact that medical emergencies can be life-threatening, timely and effective Medical Emergency Response (MER) saves lives, reduces injuries and disabilities and improve the prognosis of rehabilitation.

    MER is a major gap in health care delivery in Nigeria; however, Lagos State desires to not only bridge the gaps but to excel in this sector. In the last five years, SNEPCo has been working with the Lagos State government to improve the quality of medical emergency response.

    In response to the weak system, its initial LASAMBUS project has transited to MERIP. It aims to strengthen medical emergency response system for the state in partnership with  stakeholders through the establishment of safety, effectiveness, efficiency, time bound and equity model.

    The Lagos MERIP has produced a DVD in English and local dialect to provide guidance on how to act in an emergency for public awareness, trained 60 medical staff in first aid skills, mentoring and supervision of LASAMBUS staff since 2015, procured a vehicle and two tricycle ambulances, provided training to General Hospital, Odan staff to improve customer satisfaction and staff attitude. SNEPCo’s aspiration is to make Lagos better equipped to manage emergencies and reduce the mortalities associated with poor response time and mismanagement of medical emergencies.

    On the Community Care Programme (CCP), in 2016, SNEPCo launched its community care programme. The objective of the programme is to provide quality free health care to people in far-flung and under-served communities who will otherwise have had difficulty affording/accessing it. Most recently, the programme extended its services to include cancer screening for women (breast, cervical) and for men (prostate). A total of 117 men have been screened for prostate cancer; 1,602 women screened for breast and 1,572 women for cervical cancer in 2017. 34 had breast lumps, 13 were positive to VIA; 7 had cryotheraphy treatment immediately while others were referred. This has provided some of the country’s least financially buoyant population with opportunities for early diagnosis and treatment. The community care programme is also able to link patients diagnosed in the field to referral facilities for further treatment/follow-ups. Since inception, the community care programme has been implemented in four communities Lagos (Lagos Island, Agege and Ojota) and Abuja (Gida Mangoro) reaching more than 13,000 people, embedding health care culture at the grassroots.

    SNEPCo supports two static health facilities in Nigeria – Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital in Anambra State and Ogijo Health Centre in Ogun State. In 2014, SNEPCo invested N300 million to upgrade and provide equipment to institute a kidney dialysis and breast screening centre at Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital. The choice of Iyi-Enu was born out of the hospital’s record as one of the oldest hospitals in the Southeast after its establishment in 1907 and its large patient pool and the commitment of the management in rendering health care services to the people. Today, the Iyi-Enu kidney dialysis and breast screening centre stands tall as it has screened over 879 since 2016 and capable of managing medical emergencies.

    Last year, SNEPCo invested millions of naira to rebuild and rehabilitate the Ogijo Primary Health care centre. The rehabilitation involves the renovation of the infrastructure as well as provision of equipment, installation, training of medical personnel and provision of medical consumables.

    On health insurance, health insurance in the country is relatively expensive when compared with the earning power of the average Nigerian and the calibre of jobs that provide health insurance to their employees.

    However, SNEPCo is collaborating with the government, the community and Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) to bring community health insurance to the people. It’s usually a pro-poor programme, which improves access to affordable quality to the people at affordable yeraly premium.

    In 2016, SNEPCo launched its first Health Insurance Programme at Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital. Today, it covers 410 individuals in Ogidi community, who can access various services at a yearly subscription of N20,000.

    Capacity development is at the very core of these interventions- ensuring that the healthcare personnel are better trained and positioned to delivery across all streams.

    Several medical donations have been made to support infant health and surgical medicine. Notable amongst these are the donations of incubators and other health equipment to the health centre at the SOS Village, Isolo, Lagos and Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital and in partnership with BEARS Foundation to perform 50 congenital cleft lip and palate reconstructive surgeries.

    SNEPCo also equipped and supported a neonatal hearing screening programme at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital in Kwara State. These initiatives support the government in delivering effective health care with the communities taking ownership of the facilities and programmes.

    SNEPCo continues to identify potential areas of collaboration with government, non-governmental and community stakeholders.

  • One ‘Kanu’ for a thousand ‘fraudsters’ (I)

    United States of America’s Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI recently released a list of 77 Nigerians resident in the U.S. that it had indicted for cyber fraud. The bureau indicated also that investigations are continuing and that the possibility that there may be here in Nigeria is not foreclosed. And it was cheering to hear one of President Buhari’s media aides, my friend and colleague Garba Shehu, on national television pledging Nigeria’s cooperate with the United States including, whenever necessary, to extradite any of her nationals implicated in this new but fast spreading species of international crime called ‘cyber fraud’. And ‘why not?’ If Nigeria cannot take care of her home-grown thieving rodents which she now exports abroad, she must not be niggardly with the charity of her cooperation to nip in the bud, the existential threat posed at home and abroad to unsuspecting transactors by this lazy, avidly greedy strain of criminals skilled electronically at stealing others’ hard-earned purses and coming home with the flashy, peacock flamboyance of celebrated nouveau riches to throw their filthy lucre at clubs and in the hallowed houses of worship –and which they do often in a most despicably profligate manner that taunts society, offends her morality and then instigate the youths to a form of wealth-seeking that draws no line between the lawful and the criminal or the permissible and the sinful.

    And just as I was weighing the possibility of doing a piece on the extradition relationship between Nigeria and the United States, another friend and colleague of mine, Gbenga Oni-Olusola somewhere on his Facebook wall, was wondering why America –with whom Nigeria enjoys an excellent entente cordiale- should not be helping her extradite her lone, irritable fugitive currently hibernating in that country, namely Nnamdi Kanu –leader of the outlawed terrorist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB? And to which I also wondered ‘why not?’ Especially considering the fact that ‘extradition’ in international law –not being regulated by a United Nations instrument- is supposed to be a mutually-beneficial treaty of reciprocity between and among nations to bring their fugitives to justice who have either committed grave offences under their national laws or who may have committed any of the offences listed under the Geneva Convention which are of serious concern to the international community, namely genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes against peace and the crimes of aggression. Thus generally given the principle of sovereign equality of states, no country is obligated to surrender especially her nationals to another state, –except such obligation by which it has freely bound itself under an extradition treaty, subject to the principle of pacta sunt servanda – enforcing the sanctity of ‘international agreements’. And it is the absence of a universal instrument commanding a duty of cooperation with extradition requests that has caused a wave of mutually beneficial treaties signed bilaterally or multi-laterally between and among nations. Reason it is defined as a ‘cooperative law enforcement practice’ regulated by treaties of ‘reciprocity’.

    Extradition is not a gratuity. It is ‘give-and-take’. Yet it can be marred by the self-aggrandizement of one or the mutually-grandstanding of two signatories to an existing treaty. Nations bear a duty of cooperation with the extradition requests of countries with whom they have covenanted to exchange fugitives (so they do not do unto those that which they would not want those to do unto them). But they also enjoy the right to renege on their treaty obligations in deference again to their right under the principle of reciprocity (so that they may ‘do unto those that which those have done unto them). Because the moral is clear under treaties of extradition that no country’s fugitive is more irritable or extraditable than another’s. Your fugitive hiding in our country is no more extraditable than ours hiding in yours. The presumption being that they have both violated national or international laws. Yet our fugitive becomes even more justifiably extraditable if from the sanctuary you have provided him, he persists in his treasonable and seditious acts against our country. Or why should we extradite to you a national of ours who has merely stolen from a numerable number of your citizens when you will not extradite to us our national who, from the comfort of your sanctuary, continues to endanger the peace and security of an entire nation? It may be ab-normal in social relationships to trade ‘a Roland for an Oliver’, but in international law and especially under treaties of extradition, trading ‘Rolands for Olivers’ is the veritable norm.

    Unfortunately, the history of Nigeria-U.S. extradition relations does not reveal a mutually beneficial journey of ‘give-and-take’ or even a rebuffing odyssey of mutual non-cooperation. Rather it reveals a non-reciprocal, self-denigrating, one-sided posture whereby Nigeria has always been the one falling head-over-heels to extend to the United States gratuitous extradition ‘rights’ and privileges. Nigeria-U.S. extradition relationship dates back 80 years ago with the signing in December 22, 1931 of an extradition treaty which would enter into force four years later in June 24, 1935. And since then it is said that Nigeria has extradited countless number of fugitives –both Nigerians and Americans- to the United States for offences ranging from drug, advance fee fraud and terrorism. Most recent of these was in August 28, 2013 by a court-ordered extradition to the U.S. of one Lawal Olaniyi Babafemi for providing support to al-Qaida in the recruitment of members. Plus Nigeria has been falling head over heels in the last few years hoping to ingratiate America with the planned extradition of Buriji Kashamu, a Nigerian senator from the Southwest accused of drug-dealing -even as it is alleged that there was no official request to that effect by the United States. And now even before the United States communicates a formal request to Nigeria for the extradition, ironically, of yet-to-be-determined cyber crime accomplices to the indicted 77, we are proudly offering to extradite.

    In fairness to the United Kingdom, U.K. she had once, in 1962 extradited to Nigeria a political fugitive, Anthony Enahoro under the ‘Commonwealth Transfer of Offenders Law, so that he be tried in Lagos for treasonable felony and conspiracy to effect an unlawful purpose against the Balewa Government. But there is hardly any record indicating that Nigeria has ever demanded or requested any extradition rights or privileges from the United States; as there is hardly any too indicating that the United States herself, in the spirit of bilateral reciprocity, has ever respected Nigeria enough to willfully –even if haughtily and benevolently- offer to her such rights or privileges. We have continued to give and give to America extradition gratuity that America has never ever reciprocated. On the contrary –even if with a bit of ironic arrogance- the U.S. State Department in 2009 had the ungrateful nerve to describe Nigeria’s extradition practice and procedure as constituting obstacle to U.S. anti-crime efforts. The report claimed that the U.S. has several extradition requests un-acceded to by Nigeria for years, even though it did not admit the many such requests that Nigeria had granted or may have even offered without the precondition of an official request. Nor has the report mentioned a single case in which Nigeria has ever benefited from the 80-year old extradition treaty relationship with the U.S.

    Nnamdi Kanu shuttles mostly between the United Kingdom and the United States. For all intents and purposes, he is no less eminently extraditable in 2019 than Anthony Enahoro was 58 years ago. They are both guilty of treasonable felony and conspiracy to effect an unlawful purpose against the government of their country. If we cannot dare to shelter an American or a British citizen who attempted –other than by the constitution- to bring about a violent change of government in his country, or worse even dare to allow them the liberty to use our territory persist in their felonious and seditious acts, why must U.K. and U.S. be entitled to that privilege? Even as unaffected as they were by the iniquities of Liberia’s Charles Tailor, these same so called friends of Nigeria would not allow Obasanjo keep for long an ousted brother head of an African state even though Nigeria’s eminent peace-keeping efforts in bringing a closure to Liberia’s civil war entitled her to that brotherly role. Between the U.S., U.K. and Nigeria there are enough enabling treaty laws and or bilateral and multi-lateral agreements to extradite Kanu to Nigeria. We have always proved our fidelity to the entente cordiale that binds us with the United States and the United Kingdom. They now have an excellent opportunity to prove their fidelity too. Let them give us just this one secessionist-terrorist, Kanu, and we’ll give them a thousand cyber fraudsters. Fair?

    • To be continued

     

  • ‘Building collapse a major challenge’

    The National President, Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Mr. Kunle Awobodu, has identified building collapse as the major challenge facing the construction industry.

    Speaking in Port Harcourt, he said the menace of building collapse has created doubts about the competency of practitioners and artisans in the international community.

    He said the menace was man-made and could be overcome, if there was genuine interest to right the wrong. “About 10 years ago, when I was the chairman of the NIOB in Lagos State, the frequency of building collapse in the state made the then Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, to set up a technical committee to reform the Physical Planning and Development Law of the state.

    “The committee developed a bill that was passed by the state House of Assembly and assented to by the governor in 2010, becoming the new Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law,” he said.

    Awobodu continued: “Promulgating the law was one hurdle crossed, but the implementation becomes a bigger hurdle.” According to him, compromise and corruption remained the bane in the fight against building collapse. He, however, noted that NIOB must sustain the efforts to ensure that buildings that are being constructed in Nigeria meet the required standard.

    He said if builders were complaining about that the construction sphere is replete with quackery, NIOB should proffer the solution that would encourage developers and clients to patronise trained builders.

    In view of this, he said, “Self-development and professional competency drive will be salient in the programme of this new NIOB administration.”

    Awobodu said the institute would embark on international collaborations to equip members with latest construction technology and improved construction methodology.

  • Expert: civil engineering more than structures, covers waste management

    You need to come to the environmental division,” Mrs Abiola Kosegbe told some Civil Engineering students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) last week.

    Mrs kosegbe, who was speaking at the Nigerian Institution of Civil engineering Students Affairs (NICESA) held at the Julius Berger Hall of the university last Thursday, said this when she noticed the students were wearing t-shirts that had “civil engineer” emblazoned on them, while their department is called “Civil and Engineering Department”.

    The first female chairman of Nigerian institute of environmental engineer (NIEE) Lagos chapter said  the students were neglecting a part of their training that dealt with the environment.

    Speaking on the theme: “The role of civil engineering in a developing economy: Bringing the students closer to the professional sector,” Mrs Kosegbe discussed about effective waste management, which she said was dependent on having adequate data about the population, “because population determine how well you can manage your waste.”

    She also said waste management requires an integrated system.

    Mrs Kosegbe advised the prospective engineers to be resourceful, think outside the box , and join the NIEE, which would be useful for them in the future – like when they go for NYSC.

    A student of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Coker Adeniran, also spoke about waste management.

    “It is not possible to have human in a place and not talk about how to treat the environment.  Waste is anything you do not need. It is important for us to manage our waste because of our health because when we do not manage our health there is a possibility that we will have health issue.  Therefore in order to have a sustainable environment there is a need to manage our waste. And also waste can be used to produce electricity. It will be good to Invest solid waste management in our country because it could improve the economy,” he said

    Coker also discussed the difficulty in recycling plastic bag; how Nigerians discharge their waste indiscriminately; and how to manage it.

    “There should be a rational management policy that will be strictly implemented in order for us to see that there is a whole lot that can be delivered from waste management,” he said.

    Mr Gabriel Ojo, managing partner /Director of Sanni , Ojo & partners consulting limited spoke about the records of failed buildings , additional common knowledge failures , causes of failures, illustration of problems and solutions.

    The causes of failures are:lack of patronage of qualified, competent professional, lack of adequate capacity combined with lack of enforcement of the building /planning controls by the relevant government agencies , lack of adequate regulations generally.

    Professor K.O Aiyesimoju chief host of the conference, said that the training of engineer is not just in the academic institution but what they learn during their industrial training.

    He also spoke about the problem of IT placement and also said that the IT will be increased from six to nine months.

    Also speaking, the Host of the conference Dr Isaac Akiije said “You are like raw material that will become products.  Once you get it right in the University, you will get it right out there.

  • Pastor ‘stabs’ mum to death

    A 30-year-old man on Tuesday allegedly stabbed his mother,

    Mrs. Grace Anaka, to death at Ifite Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    The suspect, Nwabueze Anaka, said to be a pastor in one of the new generation churches in the area, allegedly committed the crime at the family compound in the early hours of Tuesday.

    Read Also: Man stabs mum to death in Mushin

    The Nation gathered that the suspect took to his heels immediately he allegedly killed his mother.

    The reason for the dastardly act could not be ascertained last night.

    Confirming the incident, police spokesman Haruna Mohammed said the deceased was stabbed with a dagger.

    He said the case was being investigated, while efforts were on to arrest the fleeing suspect.

  • Lisabi Day: Alake appoints Oodua forum into organising committee

    The Alake of Egbaland, Oba (Dr.) Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, has appointed the Oodua Consultative Forum (OCF) into the organising committee of the 2020 Lisabi Day celebration holding February.

    Oba Gbadebo made the appointment at the weekend when OCF executives and members led by their President-General Worldwide, Oyemade Adebisi, paid homage to him at the Ake Palace, Abeokuta, Ogun State, according to a statement by Publicity Secretary, OCF Ogun State, Prince Taiwo Nodiru.

    The OCF is a non-partisan umbrella body of Yoruba in Nigeria and worldwide. It pursues the overall development of the Yoruba Race in Nigeria and wherever peoples of Yoruba origin are found.

    The Alake, who received the OCF executives alongside his Council of Egba High Chiefs, urged the socio-cultural group to continue to uphold the culture and tradition of the Yoruba race in Nigeria and globally. He enjoined the OCF to make the 2020 Lisabi Festival the most successful and memorable ever.

    Read Also: Firms plan festival to raise N10m scholarship for students

    The OCF delegation to the palace included the group’s Co-founder/National Treasurer, Basorun Gboyega Somoye, National Financial Secretary, Mrs. Tawakalit Bamidele Osigbesan-Dada, Chairman, OCF Ogun State, Engr. Habeeb Aregbesola and Women Leader, OCF Ogun State, Mrs. Titilayo Balogun, who delivered the group’s vote of thanks to the Alake.

    Oba Gbadebo also pledged to donate a befitting secretariat to the OCF in Abeokuta and support the group’s welfare programme for the Yoruba race.

    Oyemade, who was admitted into the Lisabi Club of Nigeria at the occasion, reiterated the OCF’s mission and vision, stressing the group’s resolve to protect the lives, liberty, business, property and allied interests of all Yoruba in Nigeria and globally.

    Aregbesola assured them of the OCF’s cooperation with all tiers of government in the gateway state and Nigeria in the nation-building process.

  • Oyetola greets residents on Osun’s 28th anniversary

    Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has congratulated residents on the occasion of 28th anniversary of its creation.

    In a statement personally signed by him, the governor noted that even though the government has every reason to roll out the drums in celebration, it has decided to make it a low-key, owing to the prevailing economic situation in the country.

    He played glowing tributes to the state’s founding fathers, including his predecessors in office, for laying what he called a “solid foundation,” upon which successive administrations have continued to build on.

    Oyetola noted that the people too have spoken with a loud voice to the world that they are a people of unrivalled culture, ingenuity and hard work, adding that “we have kept faith with the vision of our founding fathers to sustainably build Ipinle Omoluabi – State of the Virtuous.”

    The governor also noted that his administration is one of continuity, saying that is why it has continued the transformation of Osun from where the last administration left off.

    The governor said the administration’s policies and programmes are driven by citizens’ needs, which were harvested during the thank you tour/town hall meetings, where the people presented their yearnings and aspirations to the government.

    Read Also: Oyetola to use culture, tradition to develop tourism

    He noted that the exercise was further validated by the United Kingdom Department for International Development’s (DFID) funded Citizens’ Needs Assessment exercise in Osun. He explained that every responsible government must make people’s demands the basis of its policies and implementation.

    The governor noted that, so far, the administration has demonstrated that it is one that can be trusted by the people at home and in the Diaspora, considering that it has begun fulfilling the promises made to the people, despite the initial litigation’s distraction that lasted about eight months.

    Oyetola said: “We promised to pay full salary to all our workers, we have not defaulted. We promised to pay our pensioners; we have also not defaulted.

    “We promised to rebuild, remodel and, in some cases, carry out total rehabilitation of existing school buildings in series four classrooms, five classrooms, six classrooms, eight classrooms, 10, 15 and 20 classrooms at a maximum of 50 pupils/students per class, to cater for communities at 200, 250, 300, 400, 500, 750 pupils per school. We have commissioned completed projects in that regard in Telemu and Morinu,  in Olaoluwa and Iwo local government areas respectively.

    “Our work as a government so far points to one fact: better days ahead.

    “We have also reconstructed and equipped 11 fire service stations, with 14 fire fighting vehicles to give confidence to the firefighters in the discharge of their life and property saving duties. We did that because security is meaningless without safety,” the governor said.

    The governor also noted that Osun, which has been known for peace since its creation in 1991, only last year, won the nation’s Most Peaceful State Award.

    To further sustain the status of being the most peaceful state in the country, the governor said the state is partnering with other Southwest states to strengthen security in the region and that soon, the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN) will commence operation to fortify the area.

    “We are contributing 20 Armoured Personnel Carriers and other ideas and logistics to further guarantee the security of lives and property of the citizens in our state and region,” Oyetola added.

    He also said the government’s modest efforts at revamping the state’s health sector earned it a second place in the World Bank’s Save One Million Lives (SOML) initiative.

    To this end, the governor noted, 120-bed ward and 30 doctors’ quarters at the state specialist hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo, is under construction, including massive rehabilitation work going on in the place.

  • Abia crawling at 28, says APGA

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State has said the state was still crawling at 28, contrary to claims by the Okezie Ikpeazu-led administration that it had achieved appreciable progress.

    A statement yesterday by the Publicity Secretary, Ebere Uzoukwa, said the state is still crawling at 28. The party blamed past administrations and the incumbent government for the woes the state and its citizens have been subjected to as a result of poor and bad governance.

    The statement reads: “We, therefore, wish to reiterate that Abia, as envisioned and created, has not sojourned towards meeting the aspiration and dream of the founding fathers. Our problems, as a people and entity, are expressly and unarguably traced to poor and mundane leadership.

    Read Also: Ikpeazu: I will complete projects in my second term

    “It is incontrovertible that after 28 years, Abia has remained sickly and stagnant without conspicuously registering economic gains and strides of development as well as social advancement. The most recent and successive administrations have colossally failed in all endeavours to drive the vision upon which Abia was created.

    “This occasion of 28 years anniversary, therefore, calls for sober reflection given the fact that nothing at all suggests celebration of any kind. The situation, as bad as it is, also given the obvious failures of the present PDP administration led by Okezie Ikpeazu, should elicit the consciousness to collectively fight bad governance bedeviling our dear state to pave way for development and progress…”

  • Insecurity: Enugu to deploy forest guards

    Enugu State on Tuesday became the first state to commence the implementation of deployment of forest guards to stem an upsurge of insecurity.

    States in the Southeast had agreed to recruit and deploy guards in the forests.

    Enugu as one of the safest in the country, recently experienced a spate of kidnapping and killings as a result of which Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi took the proactive step of recruiting guards to secure the forests in the state where the security threat is prevalent.

    A meeting hosted yesterday by Governor Ugwuanyi with top officials and security chiefs in attendance, was used to finalise the new security plan and the endorsement of 1, 700 Forest Guards.

    At the meeting were also members of the House of Assembly led by Speaker Edward Ubosi, the 17 local government council chairmen and the director, Department of State Services (DSS).

    Read Also: Southwest gets nod to establish security outfit

    For the guards, 3,963 applications were received, out of which 2,646 were shortlisted and screened. The state has engaged 879 while the remaining 821 applicants are being screened for the next batch.

    The meeting also approved the purchase of 260 security vehicles, one for each of the 260 wards. There will also be 260 motorcycles made available for all the wards while communication gadgets will also be provided.

    It was learnt that the state government will establish the ministry of security affairs to coordinate the activities, supervise intelligence gathering and interventions within the new Enugu State security architecture.

    Methodist Church Prelate Dr. Samuel Uche applauded Governor Ugwuanyi’s effort to sustain the state as one of the most peaceful.

    Dr. Uche hailed the recruitment of 1,700 Forest Guards by the government.

    He hoped they would be “specially trained and equipped with arms and ammunition to fish out miscreants in Enugu State.”

    Speaking when he led leaders and members of the Church on a visit to Ugwuanyi, the Prelate said “Enugu is growing astronomically and spiritually” and described the governor as “a man of peace, a good man, a trailblazing governor and lover of people, who ensures serenity, tranquility and equability”.

    He is “an ecumenical and friendly governor”, he added, and prayed for God to strengthen him and “grant you unending wisdom to govern your people aright”.

    He also prayed against the security challenges in the state and the country, asking God “that the activities of these bandits will stop henceforth in Jesus Name”.

    The governor thanked him for his prayers for his family and the state as well as the strong and credible voice he lent to the debate on insecurity, youth unemployment, masses welfare, among others in the country.

    “We urge you to continue to inspire patriotism, national rebirth, constitutional leadership and responsible citizenship for sustainable peace, unity and national development consistent with the mandate of the Church”, Ugwuanyi added