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  • Flood, flood… Go away

    Residents of many coastal communities in Nigeria are afraid as Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) warns that the worst is yet to come, writes OLATUNDE ODEBIYI

    Pupils in four schools in Auyo Local Government Area of Jigawa State have been forced to say at home. No thanks to days of incessant rainfalls, which have submerged roads leading to the four schools.

    The Education Secretary in the area, Alhaji Ibrahim Dauda, said the schools are Unik-Babba Junior Secondary School, Unik-Gana Primary School, Afarmo Secondary School and Guyu Primary school.

    The official said the situation was compounded by high water level in Kafin-Hausa River flowing into the affected areas.

    “The access roads leading to schools in Guyu and Afarmo have been submerged by the flood; you can only access them using a boat.

    “But in the case of Unik-Babba and Unik-Gana schools, apart from the inaccessible roads, the buildings have also been submerged, making learning impossible,“ Dauda said.

    The situation had also affected the Federal Government Homegrown School Feeding Programme in the area as cooks hired could not supply meals to pupils.

    He said the matter had been reported to the local government council for prompt actions.

    But the worst may not have come for the schools and others in the area. The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) says more flood incidents would be experienced due to high rainfall intensity of long duration.  The Southern part of the country, the agency added, will feel the brunt more.

    NIHSA Director-General Clement Nze said relevant stakeholders, especially individuals and state governments, have failed to heed the warning issued before the onset of flooding season across the country.

    “Going by the prediction by Nigerian Meteorological Agency`s (NiMet), during the 2019 seasonal rainfall prediction, which they said there will be late onset of rainy season in Nigeria this year and early cessation.

    “In orders words, rainfall will start very late and will end early, it is expected that by 26 of this month, rainfall will cease in Katsina and Sokoto and begin to move down to the south.

    “But in the southern parts of Nigeria rainfall will still continue to fall up till November and even December in places like Bayelsa, Rivers even Delta will be experiencing rainfall up to late November.

    “In that case, this is the main reason why we are gathered here today, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, has been closely monitoring the many flooding incidents taking place across the country with the attendant loss of lives and property.

    “This means that relevant stakeholders, especially individuals and state governments, failed to heed our warnings issued before the onset of flooding season in the country.

    “The agency is concerned about the non-adherence to flood predictions for 2019, thereby resulting in avoidable flooding incidents, leading to loss of lives, property, disruption of economic activities and loss of several hectares of agricultural lands,” he said.

    Nze added that as at Monday, the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon is still impounding water, adding that it was not yet certain if there would be release of water from the dam in 2019.

    He said that river Benue was rising steadily, due to local rainfall with attendant heavy inflows from the tributaries of the river.

    He explained that the steady rising would likely cause river flooding in Adamawa, Taraba and Benue states.

    “State so far affected by various degrees of flooding are Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kwara Adamawa, Benue, Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe, Kogi, Nasarawa.

    “Also, Anambra, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Abia, Cross River, Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Ekiti and Oyo, including FCT.

    “More than 100 local government areas within the states listed below are counting their losses,’’ he said.

    According to him, river flooding as well as coastal flooding have come to stay as floods from the upper catchment of the Niger Basin had arrived the country.

    “Therefore, state and local governments should endeavour to remove structures built within the floodplains, clear blocked drains, culverts and other waterways,’’ he said.

    The fear of flood on Tuesday made the Lekki Estate Residents and Stakeholders Association (LERSA) intensify efforts to reduce the flooding in the area ahead of the September-October rain projections.  LERSA President James Emadoye called for the completion of the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

    “Lagos generally is below sea level. Lekki which is a large area is very close to the sea shore, so we have to do all we can to ensure we have a good environment.

    “We have done a lot of work among various estates to ensure the rains does not wash us away and we expect a better situation than what we had earlier in the year.

    “People at this end are really suffering and when there is downpour, it takes about three hours to move from Abraham Adesanya to Sangotedo or further to Abijo Crown Estate.

    “We therefore plead with the state government to resume work immediately in order to justify the toll being collected for over 12 years and bring succour to residents,” Emadoye said.

    The South West II Zonal Coordinator of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Mr Rufus Onimisi, believes effective refuse collection system will help curb highway flooding in Lagos State.

    Onimisi told  the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that some residents of Lagos used open manholes, gutters and other drainage channels as refuse dumps thereby clogging weep holes and other road drainage networks.

    He explained that the resultant effect of indiscriminate refuse disposal had blocked drainage channels.

    “The problem of flooding of our highways usually caused by  blocked drains can be checked if there is an adequate and effective refuse collection mechanism.

    “Waste management should be holistic from point of generation to final disposal,’’ he said.

    Onimisi said FERMA, out of its limited resources, had been cleaning weep holes and other highway drainage channels across the state.

    Enugu

    Many residents of four communities of Okpu Ekoli, Amabiriba, Amagu and Amaeze in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State have been displaced by flood in the area.

    The residents pleaded with the state government on Monday when a member representing the area in the State House of Assembly, Mr Chinedu Okwu, visited them to assess the level of damage caused by the flood.

    A resident, Mr Gilbert Ogadi, said the people were surprised to witness that the communities were flooded because such unfortunate incident had not occurred in the last 30 years.

    Ogadi said the flood destroyed many things, including farmlands, livestock, uprooted economic trees and other means of livelihood and appealed for urgent assistant from  the state government.

    Another resident whose house was affected, Mrs Patricia Nwonye, said: “Everything was fine until around 2a.m. this morning, when l was woken by the flood, which has brought pain to us.’’

    “Aside losing my entire savings; the flood also killed my livestock and collapsed one of my buildings. We have been rendered homeless by the incident. Please come to our aid,’’ she said.

    The Chairman of Aninri Local Government Area, Mr Ezekiel Chukwu, described the flood as “an unfortunate incident’’ that befell the local government but assured that the council would provide succour to the affected people.

    Plateau

    In Plateau, fund is hampering the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). The agency’s Director, Search and Rescue, Mrs Juni Bala, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos that the agency had conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the needs of the affected communities.

    “Recently, we experienced incidences of flood in some local governments in the state. We have Shendam, some parts of Pankshin Local Government; Mangu Local Government, Quan Pan Local Government; Kanam Local Government and Jos East Local Government areas. We first experienced flash flood in Jos North.

    “We have undertaken an on-the-spot assessment 0f these areas that were affected by flooding and we have submitted a report to government.

    “It is not quite long that we sent the report, we are waiting for the response,’’ she said.

    Bala explained that the agency did not have funds of its own to address the situation, and that it was when government went through the report, approved and released the funds that the agency would be able to assist the victims.

    She said apart from assisting the victims with food and other materials including farm equipments, the agency would also encourage the local governments to develop a contingency plan on how to attend to emergencies.

    She said the aim of the contingency plan was to enable the local governments to assist the victims first before help would come from the state and national emergencies.

    “The flood also affected people that farm near the river banks; we are suggesting that we will educate them to also educate their people not to farm close to the rivers.

    “Because the experience is basically that of people that were farming by the river, the flood experienced this year, there were no houses, just farmlands that were affected by the flood,’’ she said.

    Bala advised the people not to live and farm in flood prone areas, and should instead venture into dry season farming.

  • NECA lauds Buhari over Economic Advisory Council

    Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has praised the Federal Government for constituting the Economic Advisory Council.

    Its Director-General, Mr. Timothy Olawale, lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for overhauling the management of the economy.

    He described the composition of the council as very robust, with seasoned professionals with expertise in areas, such as fiscal policy, monetary, industrial policy, trade and energy economics.

    He said: “At a time like this, the country needs to fight head on the ills of poverty, unemployment and achieve significant economic growth. As a nation, we have never been short of ideas or policies. The crux is necessary reforms and implementations of the policies in the country, especially in creating enabling environment for businesses to thrive and contribute their quota to National Development through job creation, among others.

    “With the council reporting directly to Mr. President, this will allow them (the Council) to focus on execution and achievement of targets set by the Presidency”.

    However, Olawale said in previous administrations, the Economic Advisory Council of this type usually had consultations regularly with the Organised Private Sector in Nigeria (OPSN) on sectoral issues.

    “We will implore this Council to embrace the consultative fellowship in achieving the desired goal of economic development,” he said.

    Olawale called on the government and Nigerians to give the council the needed support to effectively deliver on the assignment.

  • ‘Early diagnosis key to controlling chronic diseases’

    The Chief Operating Officer of ECHOLAB Radiology and Laboratory Services, Dr. Abimbola Jimoh, has advised Nigerians to embrace regular medical checkups, saying early diagnosis is key to reducing the burden of chronic diseases in the country.

    She stressed that by getting the correct health services and screenings, doctors are able to detect potential health conditions or diseases early before they become a threat, advising that early diagnosis and treatment are important steps towards living a longer and healthier life.

    This was contained in Jimoh’s address at a doctors’ forum organised by ECHOLAB where medical practitioners gathered to deliberate on major health issues affecting Nigerians. The event was also part of activities to mark the opening of a new ultra-modern diagnostic centre in Victoria Island, Lagos, by the laboratory giant.

    “Early diagnosis ensures that a disease is treatable and well controlled. But when you discover a disease when it has already damaged body organs, then the prognosis at that point is poor. For instance, renal disease has trends that should have been picked up earlier. That’s why we are on this campaign to encourage people to check themselves out early enough. Routine medical investigation is key such that diseases are picked out early and addressed quickly so the individual can have a good quality of life rather than allow complications,” she said.

    Jimoh decried Nigeria’s medical landscape which he said was littered with infrastructural decay, one of the causes of inaccurate diagnosis.

    She, however, added that ECHOLAB has come on stream to bridge the gap by leveraging technology to ensure prompt and accurate medical diagnosis for Nigerians.

    “We have gathered practitioners in the medical space here today to have a discussion on how to provide more qualitative medical services to Nigerians. We are leveraging opportunities to make our presence known via forums and participation in conferences as well as health related activities. We want to let Nigerians know that they can get world-class diagnostic services here in Nigeria.

    “At ECHOLAB, our radiology and pathology services are technology driven to ensure accurate and prompt diagnosis in line with global best practices. We are committed to total quality management systems which culminate into global best practice standard across all services, with one thing in mind: to ensure our quality is not compromised. The word ‘care’ in our tagline is what we take seriously,” she said.

    Issues discussed at the forum included the need for early, accurate, and prompt diagnosis, and adherence to best practices in the delivery of medical services. The doctors’ forum heralded the launch of the new  laboratory facility in Victoria Island, which provides full-scale pathology and radiology services, including CT and MRI scans.

    At the unveiling, Dr. Benson Ayodele Cole, chairman of ECHOLAB, said the technology-driven facility is a manifestation of the company’s strategic partnerships with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), MAN Capital, and Integrated Diagnostic Holdings (IDH) who hold the majority stake in the business. According to him, the three international partners provide ECHOLAB with the finance, equipment, and technological know-how needed to deliver world-class diagnostic services.

    Established in 1998, ECHOLAB, which started as Echo Scan in Kaduna to provide radiology and pathology services, runs 12 branches, some of which are private-public partnerships. It has stand-alone branches in six states.

  • Impact of pelvic infections on conception

    Pelvic infection (PID) is fairly a common illness especially in women who are under 50 who are within the reproductive age group. This is not to say that PID does not occur in over 50 years; it does but not as frequent. The reason for this disparity is seen in how PID develops as explained below. As the name implies, pelvic inflammatory disease is inflammation of the female pelvic area. The pelvic area is the space in both male and female that houses the reproductive organs of the respective genders.

    Why is the female vulnerable to PID? The very nature of the way and manner that the female reproductive organs are made and arranged within the pelvis makes the female more vulnerable to infections. Also, the way the female is made to perform her reproductive functions by being the recipient party in the reproductive process makes the deposit of sperms, germs and foreign body possible in the female pelvic cavity compared to the male gender.

    Impact of PID on fertility: PID may cause difficulty with sex. PID may cause blockade of the fallopian tubes, thus disallowing the sperms to meet the female egg leading to childlessness.

    What Causes PID? In general, PID is caused by infections. Most commonly, by infections that are sexually transmitted (STD) but not exclusively. Amongst the common causes are bacteria like chlamydia and gonorrheoa causing bacteria. Other bacteria that are really not classed as sexually transmitted are E.coli, staphylococcus and klebsiella. Thus, PID may be caused just by any bacteria such as tuberculous bacteria and one causing syphilis that finds itself to the reproductive tract of the female.  Also, less commonly, viruses may also cause PID. Rarely, PID may be due to chemical agents such as chemicals of whatever origin inserted by the individual female or during surgical procedure by the doctors.

    How the female could get PID:  A woman is at risk of getting PID if she has multiple sexual partners or even a single partner with infection. In such cases, risk of transfer of infection from one partner to the other is high. Childbirth, getting contraceptive device called IUCD, during surgery such as endometrial sampling of the womb lining, during abortion or miscarriage predispose women to PID.  For the woman, having sex before the age of 20 also carries the risk of PID. The infection from the vaginal migrates towards the cervix and tubes to other parts of the pelvis to spread the infection.

    What are the symptoms of PID?  You may not even have a symptom at all and you may never know you have PID until very late when complications have set in. Fever may occur in acute case of PID depending on the cause. Yet, in symptomatic persons, fever, pain in the abdomen, swelling of the lower abdomen and vomiting are what sufferers could experience along with vaginal discharge that may be offensive.

    When the doctor sees the patient, the sign could be one of severe tenderness in the abdomen along with swelling and vaginal discharge. In chronic PID, pain may endure and swelling and vaginal discharge. However, complications may have set in with collection of pus in pockets within the pelvis (pelvic abscess). Vaginal discharge may continue.

    Complications: The entire or parts of the reproductive tract may be damaged beyond repair; especially the tubes may become blocked, which may lead to infertility. Other organs may become matted and inseparable, thus causing continuing pain, swelling and discomfort. In both acute and chronic PID, sexual activity may become painful and difficult, leading more to fertility and relationship problems.  Even if pregnancy occurs, a woman suffering from PID risks having ectopic pregnancy.  PID may also cause oophoritis or inflammation of the ovary as well as salpingo-oophoritis.

    Treatment: Any pain located in the pelvis in a woman should be taken seriously and a visit to the doctor to determine if it’s PID or other causes of pain is important.  Almost certainly, some tests and physical examination of the victim will be carried out and appropriate treatment, including antibiotics and pain killer, given. The sexual partner(s) will also need to be treated to avoid re-transfer of infection.

    Prevention: Stick with one sexual partner who has no infection. Use condom if having additional sexual intercourse with a different sexual partner. The absolute prevention is abstinence from sex. Get your partner tested for STD before you start to have sex. You may also get screened annually for STDs.  Get to your doctor as soon as you have any of the symptoms that are discussed here.

    If you have been affected by the issues discussed in this article and you need clarification, kindly call 07087733114 or 08188343865 for support.

  • Minimum Wage stalemate: Labour chiefs blow hot

    Following the deadlocked meeting between the Federal Government and the Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council over the minimum wage early this week, the organised labour has threatened to embark on a strike, if the government fails to implement the proposed new wage, reports TOBA AGBOOLA

    Living in Nigeria is tough, especially for those born without a sliver spoon. While the cost of living is going up, inflation and double digit interest rates have further made a bad situation worse, thereby reducing the purchasing power of average citizens.

    To this end, people have to pay through their nose to get needed goods and services in an atmosphere where companies are paying peanuts to their workers. In a week or so, the salary is gone and yet there are mandatory needs yet to be met, making workers to rely on family assistance for survival.

    To correct this anomaly, the Federal Government and the labour unions agreed to N30,000 new minimum wage, an amount considered the minimum to meet some basic necessities of workers.

    Sadly, there are still disagreements over the wage implementation.

    The meeting between the  Federal Government and the Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council over the implementation of the N30,000 new minimum wage and the consequential adjustment in the workers’ salary suffered another setback as both parties failed to reach an agreement despite minor adjustments in their separate positions.

    The Federal Government had on May 14, this year inaugurated the Relativity/Consequential Adjustment Committee, which, in turn, set up a Technical Sub-Committee to work out the template for the adjustment of salaries of public sector employees.

    The negotiation on the consequential adjustment was earlier adjourned to September 4, to allow the government’s team brief President Muhammadu Buhari, and it was held on Monday, September 16.

    During the meeting, chaired by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, the government shifted from its earlier position of 9.5 per cent to 11 per cent for grade levels seven to 14 and 6.5 per cent from 5.5 per cent for levels 15 to 17.

    But the workers have insisted that the government should adjust the salaries of workers on grade levels 07 to 14 by 30 per cent and those on levels 15 to 17 by 25 per cent, having stepped down to 29 per cent from 30 per cent for grade levels 7 to 14 and 24 from 25 per cent for levels 15 to 17.

    However, the labour has expressed readiness to begin an industrial action any moment, following the impasse.

    Stakeholders react

    A civil servant, Solomon Michael, said: “I wish the Federal Government will conclude negotiations on the implementation of a new minimum wage so that I will know that my salary will rise to be able to cater for my kids.”

    The President, Medical and Health Workers Union, Biobelemoye Joshua, said the organised labour would not allow the government to use the minimum wage issue to score political point, as labour was ready to embark on the proposed strike.

    According to him, workers cannot afford to wait for the implementation of the new minimum wage in view of economic realities as their monthly take-home pay can no longer support their demands.

    “The issue of minimum wage is legitimate to the Nigerian worker. It is expected that five years down the line, employers are supposed to sit down with their employees represented by trade unions to review their wages. We are two years behind schedule on this. The dollar rate when the last minimum wage came into being was N150. It has now more than doubled that figure,” he said.

    Corroborating him, an analyst, Mr Salihu Lukman, said issues of minimum wage are popular largely because, in some ways, the benefits are far beyond the target beneficiaries. “This is because of the consequential effect of wage adjustments for other categories of workers and citizens as a result of increasing the minimum wage,’’ he explained.

    Labour, under the auspices of the Trade Union Side  (TUS) of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), said it would give no further notice to the Federal Government before millions of its members at the federal and 36 states public services commence strike over the non-implementation of the new wage and appropriate consequential adjustment.

    Expressing dismay over the turn of events, TUS Acting Chairman, Comrade Anchaver Simon, said it had become imperative to alert the public that efforts by the trade unions to persuade the government to implement the new N30,000 monthly national minimum wage signed into Law by President Muhammadu Buhari on April 18, this year with appropriate consequential adjustment, had been frustrated  by the government side.

    According to him, the government’s action was an open invitation for industrial action, since workers were already engulfed in fear and agitations whether their accumulated arrears would be paid when talks were finally concluded.

    ”The Consequential Adjustment Committee two weeks ago agreed that the proposal of the TUS that salary of officers on grade levels 07-14 should be increased by 29 per cent and those of officers on grade levels 15-17 by 24 per cent vis-a-vis that of government side of 10 per cent for officers on Grade Levels 07-14, 5.5 per cent for those on Grade Level 15-17 should be forwarded to Buhari to see the patriotic position of labour and approved appropriate consequential adjustment accordingly.

    He said what had become clear was that the government side was not serious about paying millions of workers a new national minimum wage and adequate consequential adjustment but preferred taking the Trade Unions for a ride.

    He said as a responsible Trade Union, the TUS had given the government enough time to come to term with workers demand but it appeared that the only language necessary for government to act was a strike action.

    The union recalled that initially it recommended 66.6 per cent across board so as to maintain existing relativity in emoluments of public servants, but the government side argued that the wage bill would be too high.

    “Consequently, the TUS scaled its demand downward by suggesting that officers on grade levels 07-14 should receive 30 per cent pay rise while those on grade levels 15-17 should get 25 per cent, the government side proposed 9.5 per cent for grade levels 07-14 and five per cent for grade levels 15-17.

    “Both parties agreed thereafter to forward the two positions to the plenary session of the enlarged Consequential Adjustment Committee for consideration,” he said.

    The union leader stated that to their surprise, when the committee reconvened on June 27, this year, the government side introduced a strange clause and argued that the term of reference of the panel was to apply the subhead of emoluments contained in the 2019 Budget across board to pay the minimum wage which the TUS objected to.

    “It is difficult to understand why the political appointees who cart millions of naira away every month are determined that Nigerian workers must not get N30,000 monthly minimum wage with fair consequential adjustment.

    “As we write, Nigeria is rated the poorest country in the whole world and yet Government is refusing to implement a minimum wage for Nigerian workers to lift millions of citizens out of poverty,” he said.

    The Secretary of the JNPSNC, Alade Lawal, said labour would decide on the next line of action towards the issue of the minimum wage.

    He maintained that very soon, Nigerians would be informed on the next step to take.

    Lawal said: “The meeting is deadlocked; we found out that the Federal Government officials are not serious about it at all, we are suspecting foul play or a hidden agenda somewhere. So, we have decided to report the development to our principals, including the labour unions. Nigerians will be adequately briefed of our next line of action very shortly.”

    NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, warned that workers were disturbed over the delay in implementing the new minimum wage.

    Wabba said though the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) were not involved in the negotiations, they would step in if the disagreement on the modality for the implementation of the consequential adjustment persisted.

    Wabba said the workers had waited long enough, adding that people would want to see an end for its full implementation without further delay.

    Wabba stated that it was the desire of organised labour that this becomes a reality. “For anybody on that table to say that labour is the one delaying the process, he/she is not saying the obvious. This is because I learnt that the person that made the statement is the chairman of the technical committee; so clearly speaking, I think it is not in good faith,” he said.

    “I think also that workers are becoming very concerned, including the NLC because the process must actually have an end where workers will benefit. How can a worker or unions that are at the receiving end be the ones delaying the process.

    “`For us as a union we wanted this money to be in the workers’ pockets long before now,’’ he said.

    Former  General Secretary of NLC, Comrade Peter Ozo-Eson, also said the congress was keenly monitoring developments in states as regards the roll out of the implementation guidelines of the approved new minimum wage.

    “Having waited for so long, we feel that the government should do the needful and conclude the negotiations on the consequential adjustment to enable the commencement of implementation of the new minimum wage. Any bureaucratic delay will not be in the interest of labour peace,” he said.

  • How I will govern Bayelsa, by Lyon

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Chief David Lyon, spoke with Senior Correspondent Mike Odiegwu in Yenegoa, the state capital, on his ambition, his programmes, the preparations for the November 16 poll, and the challenges that will confront the state in post-Dickson period.

    Why do you want to become governor of Bayelsa State?

    Bayelsa State along with a few states are undergoing tremendous crisis of leadership. Bayelsa State is also undergoing great socio-economic and political crisis at this stage. My state is faced with the challenges of total power failure, neglected economic activities and it requires able and dedicated leadership. The state is looking for persons who will provide these amenities to its citizens. I have the requisite qualities, experience, exposure, discipline and the depth of commitment to provide the required leadership to my people in Bayelsa.

    What background prepared you for governance?

    I come from a family and community that is very conscious of its social responsibilities right from childhood. I have had this vision of participating in processes that will ameliorate harshness in our environment. Such  background has also prepared me to make sacrifices. I came from a setting that has given me the commitment to make life better for the generality of our people. I have been in politics since the Third Republic. I was a strong member of the defunct NRC. I contested then as a Councillor of my ward, but it was aborted by the then military government.

    I was elected youth president of my community under a tense option A4 election and I won as the youth president of my community, Olugbobiri, in 1996. I was appointed Chairman of Apoi Olodiama Local Government Development Center by the late Chief DSP Alamieyeiseigha government in 2002. I even contested the House of Assembly seat in my constituency, but later stepped down for former Speaker Kombowei Benson, who got the ticket of PDP through in-house harmonization initiated by the leadership of PDP. I was a bonafide and devoted member of the PDP in Bayelsa State, before I joined the APC party. In my business life, which is majorly in the oil and gas industry, by dint of hard work and Gods infinite blessings, I have crafted a niche as a global player. It has enabled me to touch many lives in every facet of human endeavor and to cap it all, I have been a good follower and a committed party man. I always have in mind that, if you want to be a good leader you must be a good follower.

    Life itself is a political experience. But, you can see that I have had political experience more than most of the so-called political gladiators. By dint of hard work and God’s blessing, I have excelled in the oil and gas business. By the grace of God, I am the highest private employer of labour in Bayelsa State across the local government areas. I have interacted with best economic giants in the world relating to oil and gas politics and lastly, I have worked with renowned political leaders in Bayelsa State closely. I have worked with leaders such as  former Governor Timipre Sylva, now Petroleum Minister, late Chief DSP Alamieyeiseigha, late Senator David Brigidi, Chief Francis Doukpola, and many others.

    Why do you think the APC, can win in Bayelsa?

    We came prepared and we have robust programmes of action. The problems of Bayelsa are legion. But, I would say our condition currently is that of unacceptable disunity, and abject poverty. I believe that most of our problems in Bayelsa are man made and natural. I have gone round the length and breadth of the state due to the nature of my business. I will assure you that each local government has its own peculiar problem. I have had discussions with various people, community leaders, experts, market women, students and workers. I have been able to work out a programme that will alleviate the suffering of the people. First and foremost, we must tackle the question of disunity, distrust, and division. These are internal and they must be solved first. I will make it a priority to involve every segment of the society. The issue of poverty must be addressed. That is the root cause of mutual distrust and disunity. Unemployment will be addressed.

    We will encourage new private investors and encourage existing ones to diversify. In Bayelsa State, people have abandoned the entrepreneurship spirit. We will change all that with more investment, more jobs, and more opportunities. We must also provide link roads and riverine transportation facilities. There will be rehabilitation of farmers and fishermen, whose occupations are almost becoming extinct. They will be granted soft loans. We will kick-start our rural infrastructural development, basic health facilities and opportunities for small scale industries in the rural areas. There will be new initiative on industrialisation and investment policies. We will ensure that our people are fully involved in the oil and gas, petro-chemical and other ancillary industries. The organised private sector will  work with the Bayelsa State government under my leadership.

    We will develop partnership that will be mutually rewarding. There will be realistic social welfare programmes to help the disabled, the unemployed, the aged and the children. Since much of the nation’s revenue comes from Bayelsa State and with the considerable ecological damage arising from oil explorations, with the difficult terrain because over 50 per cent of 50,000 square kilometers falls within the Niger Delta Basin, we will ensure the Federal Government and the oil companies are fully involved in these areas. We are going to be very serious in this regard. I believe every difficult situation presents an opportunity for initiatives. My mission will be to articulate the yearnings of our people and provide a purposeful, accountable and responsible leadership for Bayelsa State.

    My fellow party members are very conscious of their social responsibilities. What we are saying in APC is that, apart from commitment to social responsibilities, there must be an attendant commitment to free enterprise, free market and productivity. People must work hard and produce more. We believe in fiscal responsibilities and prudent management of the economy. The PDP places so much emphasis on left wing issues. I am not comfortable with that. I am for all means to enhance production and development of the entrepreneurship spirit.

    How will you convince the Federal Government and oil companies to get involve in all these plans?

    The problems obviously are beyond the scope of a state government. First and foremost, we will try to improve on the image of the state in the eyes of the Federal Government and fellow compatriots. We must be seen to be as members of united Nigerian society in all our thinking and ways of doing things. This will definitely bring the Federal Government and other interested partners to our most desired development in Bayelsa State.

    But, people complain that most Bayelsa people are lazy. How do you want to instill entrepreneurship spirit in them?

    It is not true that the spirit is not here in Bayelsa. In fact, it started here with our early contact with the Europeans. I believe the occupations of our people and their orientation are products of history. It is historical reality that our people are inclined towards civil service jobs, but it has not been always like that. The spirit of competition in our neighbours has always been seen here too. Our forefathers were great traders and successful merchants. Our recent history, however, locked us into a role of working in the civil service. What I will assure, however, is that we will revive this spirit and our commercial inclination. I will encourage self-reliance and productivity with the advantage of our seaports and vast oil and gas resources. We will try to encourage a generation of entrepreneurs who will not be cutting corners. With my experience in business, I know how and where to go about it. Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, has the potential of becoming an international oil and gas financial market.

    What is your take on the security situation in Bayelsa?

    First and foremost, security is everybody’s problem. Everybody must show concern. I believe that most security problems arise from unemployment, poverty and illiteracy. We shall formulate a security architecture that will embrace all traditional rulers, community leaders, political leaders, young and old from individual communities and local governments, combined with the support of our conventional security operatives, we will have our desire security problem solved. You should know that one of my main business concerns in the oil and gas sector is to provide security and surveillance for the protection of oil and gas facilities, which by the grace of God, I have tremendous knowledge of. We will bring various experiences and expertise to bare to ensure adequate security. Peace and love must reign in Bayelsa State where everybody will have equal opportunity and prosperity.

    How do you respond to those who say you came from a wealthy background and that you lack requisite academic qualifications to be a governor?

    Everybody in Bayelsa State confronts poverty on the widest scale everyday. I grew up in this environment. Growing up as a school boy at St. Gabriel State School, Olugbobiri, I walked to school bare-footed. I attended Community Secondary School, Olugbobiri. I went to Port Harcourt and attended Rivers State College of Education when it was affiliated to the University of Ibadan. So, you can see I have requisite academic qualifications. My commitment to the poor is one that comes from direct exposure to poverty and harsh terrain. It will be impossible to talk of a Bayelsa man or woman, who has not experienced poverty or hardship. Go to the various communities, you will see the problems. I know this state first hand. I have gone everywhere and I grew up here. My parents grew here. The question of not experiencing poverty is not true at all.

  • Suspects’ conviction will help review $9.6b P&ID judgement, says Malami

    Barely a few hours after the conviction of some suspects, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami(SAN), on Thursday said Nigeria has basis to seek review of the $9.6billion judgment against it.

    He said Nigeria will meet with its legal consortium early next week in UK in preparation for the case listed for 26th September.

    Malami, who made his views known in a terse statement through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Umar Gwandu, said the nation now has a judicial proof of fraud.

    Read Also:  P&ID agents admit fraud, tax evasion charges

    The statement said: “The implication of today’s conviction is that Nigeria has a judicial proof of fraud and corruption as a foundation of the relationship that gave rise to a purported liability in the arbitral award.

    “A liability that is rooted in fraud and corruption cannot stand judicial enforceability. Nigeria now has a cogent ground for setting aside the liability.

    “Nigeria is expected to review its strategy in view of unfolding developments as it relates to conviction of some of the suspects that have admitted fraud and corrupt practices in the transaction that gave rise to purported award.

    “Nigeria is meeting with its legal consortium early next week in UK in preparation for the case listed for 26th September.”

  • Nigeria may not celebrate 100th Independence anniversary – Bisi Akande

    Former National Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Bisi Akande shocked guests at a book presentation in his honour when he declared that Nigeria may never celebrate 100th anniversary.

    The guests, who were earlier mesmerised by speeches from Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola, his Ondo State counterpart, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu and University of Lagos Vice Chancellor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, were left dumbstruck.

    They, however, took solace in Chief Akande’s suggestive ways out.

    The mild drama played out on Thursday at the public presentation of the book titled “The Bisi Akande Phenomenon: Governance, Economics and Politics”, at the Jelili Adebisi Omotola Hall C, University of Lagos, Akoka.

    Akande identified three factors sabotaging the progress of the nation.

    He said they are education, military decree-based laws and religion.

    According to him, until all these three are looked at and addressed, Nigeria may not celebrate 100th anniversary.

    He recalled how Nigeria was a place to be over five decades ago.

    The former governor of Osun State said: “Fifty years ago, Nigeria was most enjoyable; we had freedom of what a true democracy was supposed to be, at least individually, I don’t know about the government then. But today, it appears everybody live in fear.

    “I think the phenomenon of the country must be examined around three things. First, our education – It seems to me that Nigeria’s education is colonial. It ended only literacy without numeracy.

    “Education of a community that is not science-based can never be technologically based. And a community without technology cannot be industrial and when you are not industrial, you may end up in poverty.

    “Secondly, I think our laws are military decree-based and military decree based laws cannot be used to sustain democracy. As long as we remain or we use these military decree based laws, our democracy will never prosper.

    “Thirdly, our religions are mostly imported and because of that, we seem neither to be good Christians, nor good Muslims or good atheists.

    “We merely live in fear and when there are problems, we have no laboratories to go, we all retire to churches and mosques for vigils.

    “A country that remains like this may celebrate 60th anniversary of Independence but may never celebrate 100th anniversary.

    “I think until all these three are looked at and addressed, or let me use the word; restructured.

    “All these ethnic restructuring, political restructuring and so on, I believe in them but they are not difficult to restructure like the three I told you.”

  • FG, States and LGs shares N720.880b for August 2019

    The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), at it’s meeting on Thursday, chaired by the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris FCNA,  shared a total of N720.880 billion to the three tiers of government for the month of August 2019.

    The N720.880 billion comprised revenue from Value Added Tax (VAT), Exchange Gain and gross statutory revenue.

    The gross statutory revenue for the month of August 2019 was N631.796 billion.

    It was lower than the N674.365 billion received in the previous month by N42.569 billion.

    Revenue from Value Added Tax (VAT) was N88.082 billion as against N94.159 billion in the previous month, resulting in a decrease of N6.077 billion. Exchange Gain yielded total revenue of N1.002 billion.

    Read Also: FAAC shares N769.523b JULY 2019 revenue to Fed Govt, States and LGAs

    A communique by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) indicated that from the total revenue of N720.880 billion, the Federal Government received N301.804 billion, the States received N188.925 billion, and the Local Government Councils received N142.654 billion.

    The Oil Producing States received N43.513 billion as 13% derivation revenue and the Revenue Generating Agencies received N43.984 billion as cost of revenue collection. In addition, the meeting agreed to share N20 billion from Forex Equalization fund.

    A breakdown of the distribution showed that from the gross statutory revenue of N631.796 billion, the Federal Government received N288.638 billion, the States received N146.401 billion, the Local Government Councils received N112.869 billion, the Oil Producing States received N43.426 billion as 13% derivation revenue and the Revenue Collecting Agencies received N40.461billion as cost of collection.

    From the Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N88.082 billion, the Federal Government received N12.684 billion, the States received N42.280 billion, the Local Government Councils received N29.596 billion and the Revenue Generating Agencies received N3.523 billion.

    The communiqué stated that for the month of August 2019, revenues from Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) and Companies Income Tax (CIT) recorded significant increases while Royalties, Import and Excise Duties and Value Added Tax (VAT) decreased substantially.

    However, the N20 billion naira from forex Equalization fund will be added to the N720.880 billion and share accordingly and will bring the Gross to N740,880

    The balance in the Excess Crude Account is $328.122 million as at 19th September 2019.

  • Many trapped, one missing as flood wrecks havoc in Ibadan

    A middle-aged man whose identity was still unknown was washed away on Thursday night by flood at Oluyole, in Ibadan South West Local Government area of Oyo state following a torrential downpour in the city.

    Many areas of the city were flooded, while scores of people were said to have been trapped when bridges and culverts were rendered impassable by the surging flood.

    A lot of roads, bridges, and culverts were damaged, while some people lost their personal belongings.

    Other areas that were affected by the flood are Alaro, Zartech, Oluyole extension, Idi-Ayunre, Olodo, New Garagge , parts of Gbekuba area, Apata, and Omi Adio , in Ido Local Government Area of the state.

    At Alaro, Zartech area of Oluyole extension, the only bridge that links the people to the city was completely submerged by water, while many residents were prevented from gaining access to their homes.

    The victim of about six hours rain was said to have been washed away by the flood when he attempted to cross a submerged bridge at the Sumal area of Oluyole Industrial extension .

    People were seen around the area early Thursday still searching for the victim, however, the water level was still on the high side, yet to subside.

    According to eyewitness account, efforts of rescuer were undermined by the heavy downpour, as sympathisers were prevented from searching for the victim due to the rising level of water.

    The state government has sympathised with the victims of the flood , and promised to do everything possible to mitigate such occurrence in the future.

    Read Also: PHOTOS: Court of Appeal Abuja flooded

    The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources , Hon. Kehinde Ayoola who spoke with The Nation yesterday on the flood disaster admitted that there were damages to bridges, culverts and roads by the flashes of flood on Wednesday , but said he was yet to receive report of the missing person.

    ” The area you just mentioned, the Alaro area, Oluyole extension area, yes, there were flashes of flood there and it also happened at Joyce B , at Olodo area of Egbeda, and at an area called Jenriyin , Kute community , in Lagelu Local Government Area. So, we have been there to make an on the spot assessment, and we have taken note of what to be done to the hydrological infrastructures there in those places .

    ” For example, culverts, bridges and water channels, we have taken note of what the government can do. And we have also appealed to our people that they should stop dropping refuse in waterways , we have also appealed to them not to wade through water floods and they should always evacuate anywhere when there is heavy rain and flood. The government is on top of the situation.

    ” There are damages to bridges, culverts and roads, fine, yes that is true, and water entered people’s homes, we sympathise with such people and we are doing everything humanly possible to ensure this doesn’t occur again, ” he stated.