The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerians

  • OBJ’s letter: Nigerians await President’s reply

    SIR: The letter by the ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo asking President Goodluck Jonathan to wake up, as it were, from the slumber land, did not throw up any surprise to Nigerians, especially to those who have keenly followed this regime. It suffices also to state that the contents of the letter have not disclosed any new fact to what Nigerians already know, as far as one is concerned, save for the allegation that the Presidency now turns itself to “nest of killers” by “training of snipers and other armed personnel secretly and clandestinely”.

    The ex-President’s labelling of President Jonathan as a clannish “Ijaw man” whose attitudes have created ethnic divisions in the country is not questionable. The duo of Edwin Clark and Asari Dokubo know very much about this. Not too long ago the ex-militant (Asari Dokubo) threatened, to the delight of the Presidency, to make the country ungovernable in 2015 if his fellow kinsman, President Jonathan, was not re-elected into office. In the same vein, some South-south “elders” while on a visit to Edwin Clark recently, threatened to go nude if the president failed to contest the 2015 election and so many other inflammatory statements from the president’s kinsmen threatening other parts of the country of the consequences they would face come 2015. So, the ex-President has not added to the existing knowledge as far as this issue is concerned; or have we not witnessed in recent times the preferential treatments some of these persons from “Ijaw Nation” have received from the nation’s seat of power?

    The ex-President also accused the President in that letter of lacking in honour for not keeping to the “promise” he made with some persons to run for single term in office. It seems the former president does not know his estranged political son too well when it comes to keeping to promises; for if there was one thing this administration has gained popularity for, it is its penchant for breach of every gentleman agreement. Perhaps, the Academic Staff of Union of Universities (ASUU) would offer better explanation to this assertion. The president’s 2015 ambition is not only “fatally morally flawed” (as Obasanjo put it), it is equally fatally legally flawed, as our grundnorm, the 1999 Constitution (as amended) permits only twice taking of oath of office. One is not unaware that the judiciary is trying to give the president some legal backing. However, the fatality of that legality flaw cannot be cured by such impetus.

    The allegation of corruption raised in the letter by the ex-President against the administration is an open secret which every Nigerian knows. Nigerians know too well that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation under the present administration reeks of graft. Presently the corporation is yet to explain the allegation of non remittance of $49.8bn into the federation account from January 2012 to July 2013. The pension scheme scandal, the oil subsidy fraud, the sudden disappearance of N500bn from the SURE-P account and other numerous corrupt scandals are all classical instances of squandering of the nation’s resources which the president indirectly has condoned by not taking decisive actions against the characters behind them. This was the frustration the Speaker of the House of Representatives was trying to address recently when he accused the Presidency of doing little or nothing to curb this menace.

    As we wait patiently for the President’s reply, it is important to state that Nigerians will not want to hear such things as “when you were there, what did you do?” Or “you do not have the moral right to criticise this government”. If these are the contents of the anticipated reply from the president, it is better he does not reply at all. This time around, the Presidency should tackle the message and not the messenger. Agreed that the ex-President does not have the moral justification to level such allegations against President Jonathan, in view of his antecedents, but it suffices to say that the issues raised in that letter are too grievous and germane to be ignored, therefore, Nigerians urge the president to reply to those issues as soon as possible.

     

    • Barrister Okoro Gabriel,

    Lagos

  • Predictions, forecasts and our youths

    Predictions, forecasts and our youths

    In January 2005, it was widely reported that the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) predicted that Nigeria would no longer be in existence by 2015. The CIA received criticisms and bashing from most Nigerians who rubbished the ‘prediction’. When the Boko Haram (BH) insurgency started, we all suddenly became political and security analysts as we tried to analyse the prediction using BH as a point of reference.

    Since the release of the purported American prognosis, there is hardly any other day you do not have commentaries in leading newspapers and the broadcast media about it. Prominent political leaders even keyed into it, using it when it suits them to showcase their contrived patriotism.

    With the conflation of the crises rocking the PDP (which led to five Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aggressive permutations for the politics of 2015, more people are talking about this supposed American prediction. The prediction also came alive vividly during our 12th Campuslife capacity building workshop held last weekend.

    One of our workshop speakers, Mrs. Adesuwa Ifedi, country director of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) Nigeria, in her presentation, dubbed the present generation the “Caleb generation”. Borrowing from the story of Caleb and Joshua in The Bible, Mrs. Ifedi pointed out that Caleb, alongside his colleague Joshua, differed from their 10 colleagues who formed the party of spies sent out by Moses to explore the promised land. Because of his boldness, foresight and determination, he was able to convince Moses and the Israelites that they are able to occupy the promised land despite the fact that the inhabitants were more powerful than they were.

    While asking a question, one of our students pointed to the 2015 purported CIA report. Mrs. Ifedi wanted to know if he had also seen the June 2010 report by McKinsey and Co on the potential of African economies – including Nigeria – and how they will grow by 2020. As the exchange between speaker and student went on, it became apparent that the student was more comfortable in believing the CIA ‘report’ than McKinsey’s because he believed that events in the country point dangerously to that prediction coming true.

    I need to point out here that not even the denial by the former United State’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Terrence McCulley in February, this year was able to douse the flame of the report. McCulley had said in an interaction with journalists in Ibadan: “No US government official predicted that Nigeria will break up by 2015. That statement must have emanated from a private agency, but clearly not from the government. I must state at this point that the US is interested in Nigeria as a very important country in Africa. We have been impressed by the role played by Nigeria in the peace process in the sub-region. Let me say a bit about the forecast here. Titled: “Lions on the move: The progress and potential of African economies”, it examined the sources behind Africa’s economic growth acceleration since 2000, analysed the prospects for future growth, and identified some of the most compelling business opportunities ahead. It also developed a framework for understanding of how growth challenges and opportunities will differ for Africa’s 53 individual countries.

    Because of the ruckus it created, I reviewed the document last year. The 17-page report turned out to be a summary of the outcome of a one-day conference of ‘US experts on Africa’ convened in January 2005 and sponsored by the country’s National Intelligence Council to discuss likely trends in Sub-Saharan Africa over the next 15 years. This document titled, ‘Mapping sub-Saharan Africa’s future’ is freely available on the Internet.

    My concern is this: like my student, some Nigerians still use the “report” as the “road map” for the future of our country. Just like the altercation that went on between the speaker and the student, some Nigerians are not taking the McKinsey’s report serious because they are like Caleb’s 10 other colleagues that the Bible did not even mention their names.

    Because of time Mrs. Ifedi did not go into details, but rightly pointed out her fears – which are mine as well – that the forecast may come true, but it would be foreigners that would reap the benefits and not Nigerians.

    Why did the researchers believe things will improve in Africa? They said Africa’s collective Gross Demestic Product (GDP) in 2008 stood at $1.6 trillion, roughly equal to Brazil’s or Russia’s. Africa’s combined consumer spending in 2008 was put at $860 billion and the number of new mobile phone was put at 316 million subscribers. Africa also have 60 per cent share of the world’s total amount of uncultivated, arable land. The number of African companies with revenues of at least $3 billion was put at 20.

    So, what would things look like by 2020? The reports forecast states that Africa’s collective GDP will rise to $2.6 trillion in 2020, consumer spending will rise to $1.4 trillion, there will be 1.1 billion Africans of working age in 2040, 128 million households would have discretionary income by 2020 and 50 per cent of Africans would be living in cities by 2030. Can you begin to see the potential if it materialises?

    Despite this report, most Nigerians are concerned with the purported CIA report about the breakup of the country. But just like our speaker pointed out at the workshop, there are questions we should ask ourselves: why are Nigerians in Diaspora returning home? I make bold to answer that they are seeing the potential we are not seeing because of our cynicism that nothing can work in the country. I’m afraid that her prediction may come true –as is becoming quite evident – with the takeover of the commanding height of our economy by foreign concerns while we look on helplessly.

    Perhaps I need to point out that Africa’s economic pulse has quickened, infusing the continent with a new commercial vibrancy. Agreed, many of the 53 individual African economies face serious challenges, including poverty, leadership, disease, and high infant mortality. Yet, Africa’s collective GDP has been rising since 2008. As I pointed out to the students, it’s high time they started preparing themselves for the future.

    Thank you Coca-Cola Nigeria and NBC Campuslife started as a four-page pull out in August 2007 through the determination and doggedness of an Amazon and initiator/pioneer editor, the late Mrs. Ngozi Agbo. Overtime, it grew to a 10-page weekly pull out that it is today. Through her determination and courage, Ngozi was able to singlehandedly convince Coca-Cola Nigeria and Nigeria Bottling Company to start sponsoring the segment.

    The Coca-Cola System has thus been sponsoring the pages for six years and they deserve commendation for this. Since the pullout made its debut, it has remained the leading national publication amongst Nigerian undergraduates as well as other students, both at the postgraduate and pre-tertiary levels. Campuslife is also a trailblazer. Since it hit the news stand, almost all newspapers in Nigeria now have segments dedicated to campus issue, thanks to the vision and foresight of Ngozi.

    I want to seize this opportunity to acknowledge some individuals who have been at the forefront of this project. I would like to identify Mr. Clem Ugorji, Public Affairs and Communications Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria; Mrs. Yanju Olomola, External Affairs Director, (NBC); Ms. Yomi Onakoya, Corporate Communications Manager (NBC); Mr. Emeka Mba, Community Affairs Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria and Ms. Bisi Aweda, Communications Officer (NBC).

    Thank you all for providing the platform to positively impacting on a generation of Nigerian undergraduates who would be eternally grateful for your support through the capacity building workshop/Awards held twice every year.

  • 14 MATCHES WITHOUT PAY: Nigerians may drag Turkish club to FIFA

    14 MATCHES WITHOUT PAY: Nigerians may drag Turkish club to FIFA

    Turkish second division team Kahramanmarasspor have yet to pay their players including Nigeria’s Izu Azuka and Ganiyu Oseni. Kahramanmaraspor are yet to pay a dime to the players since the beginning of the season.

    A top source close to the Turkish team told MTNFootball.com that the situation is so bad that the players are ready to take their cases to FIFA.

    “The situation in Kahramanmaraspor is very bad as the players are yet to get a dime since the beginning of the season. The club didn’t show any sign of seriousness as they have not paid any form of entitlement this season. That is bad and the players are looking at taking their case to FIFA,” the source told MTNFootball.com.

    The newly promoted side are second from bottom on the league table with seven points from 14 matches. Azuka and Oseni joined the team during the summer transfer window.

    The Turkish team terminated contract of two other Nigerians, Chibuzor Madu and Razaq Adegbite, at the beginning of the season.

     

  • KESHI PLEADS: Nigerians should support us

    KESHI PLEADS: Nigerians should support us

    Super Eagles chief coach Stephen Keshi has pleaded with every Nigerian to support the team in its quest to excel at the 2014 World Cup beginning with the opening game against Iran on June 16.

    Disclosing this at the end of the Draw’s conference in Brazil on Friday night, Keshi said: “I’m not sure it’s an easy group (Group F: Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria). It all depends on how well you prepare.

    “Nigerians should stand by us, believe in the team, give them their full support. Right now, I’m majorly concerned about the CHAN (Championship of African Nations). We have three weeks to prepare for the competition,” Keshi said.

    Asked what he felt about other African nations’ chances at the Mundial, the Big Boss said: “It’s not about big names, I feel Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana can do it.”

  • 2015: ‘Nigerians must reject INEC’s ineptitude’

    Nigerians must not allow a repeat of the Anambra State experience during the 2015 general election, human rights lawyer Bamidele Aturu has said.

    He said the compromised governorship election is an indication of what to come from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and must be rejected.

    “Our people must brace up for 2015. We must defend our votes; politicians won’t do that for us. That is the lesson,” Aturu said.

    On the proposed national conference, the lawyer said neither the latter-day advocates of a dialogue nor those who used to clamour for its talk-shop variant among the ruling class really want the kind of meeting that people desire and deserve.

    “Genuine national conference can only mean a negation of what the mainstream politicians stand for, such as privatisation of public assets, systematic looting of public resources, culture of impunity, electoral fraud and unrestrained acts of corruption.

    “I believe they are wise enough not to bring forth their own gravedigger, except unwittingly,” Aturu said.

    According to him, there can be no serious national conference that is not sovereign.

    The conference, he said, must be sovereign in the sense that its decisions are not subject to alteration or amendment by any other authority, executive, legislative or judicial.

    “It follows that its outcome has to be subjected to a national referendum and not taken to the National Assembly dominated by those whose interests conflict with those of our people.

    “Second, the conference is sovereign in the sense that it determines its agenda all by itself. It drafts and plays its own script and not that of anyone else.

    “The other point that we need to note about a genuine national conference is that it is not organised by state resources. It is not a per diem based conference where people jostle for allowances. Such conferences abound in this country.

    “All one needs to do is to visit all the five star hotels and see how our resources are being wasted on frivolous conferences that are part and parcel of the problems of our country.

    “Organisations, groups and ethnic nationalities that want to participate in a genuine National Conference must fund themselves.

    “But above all, true national conference is not a gift; it is the product of serious mobilisation by the people and their organisations. I certainly do not see how the proposed National Conference fit the bill of a genuine National Conference.

    “It is just a jamboree for the elite to spend some more dollars and enjoy themselves. But do I then say that it should be avoided? No.

    “Patriotic organisations and progressive citizens, who have the time, should do everything possible to use the platform to show that it is nothing but a deceptive jamboree and journey that leads to more confusion.

    “As I have said elsewhere, who knows, the contradictions that abound may just accelerate the process of our peoples’ freedom in spite of the permutations of its convokers,” Aturu said.

    Aturu regretted that the privatisation of the power sector has not yielded any results.

    What we have everywhere as we speak are generators and not light from the cabal that hijacked our power sector. Cabal everywhere.

    “We have cabal in the oil industry, cabal in the power sector, cabal in politics, cabal in the judiciary – remember the shameful collaboration of senior members of the judiciary in throwing out Justice Isa Ayo Salami for doing nothing – cabal in the legal profession. This is indeed a cabalised nation.

    “The workers must brace up for another struggle this time around, no matter how unpopular it may be. The struggle is to retake PHCN from the cabal.

    “We do not say that they should not come and invest their resources and build power plants et cetera. But it is immoral to take what belongs to us and sack two-thirds of our brothers and sisters and then generate darkness. That is utterly unacceptable.”

     

  • ‘How Nigerians are transforming multilevel marketing’

    ‘How Nigerians are transforming multilevel marketing’

    The resilient and enterprising nature of Nigerians has elevated them to exceptional levels of performance in multi-level marketing business. Ranked in the 4th position among over 150 countries where one of the foremost multi-level marketing companies – Forever Living Products, operates worldwide, Nigeria retains the largest market share and networkers in Africa today.

    Nigerians also hold five seats in the exclusive “Global Leadership Team” of FLP International, in recognition of their overall performance in the company’s Marketing Plan.

    There are 20 seats presently in this class of FLP distributors worldwide. And this is the reason why Nigeria is looked upon at the FLP head quarters in the USA as a potential leader in the world.

    Speaking after an exhaustive special training and recognition event at the Forever Complex, Ikeja recently, visiting FLP International Vice President, Africa, Mr. Gary Shreeve, said he was always inspired by each visit to the country and the success that is being achieved.

    “Forever Living Products has been doing business here in Nigeria for more than 10 years. Nigeria is, without doubt, our number one market in all of Africa. It is our number four in the world. The people are fantastic; they are energetic and loving. The people are very resilient. While I can understand that life could be difficult at times, the perseverance and determination of the Nigerian, makes them overcome uncommon obstacles. Nigerians continue to work hard and triumph and achieve success.”

    He described Nigeria’s success in FLP as exceptional and praised the commitment and fairness of the management in Lagos for the outstanding performance that has put other countries at edge as to what next Nigeria could come up with.

    “We, at the headquarters in the United States love Caroline and Cornelius Tay, who oversee the operations here. They are great people. They have been in charge of our business here for about six years now and they have done a fantastic job. Under their direction, the company has grown considerably; we have helped more people with our fantastic products; we are changing lives with the opportunities we offer. With their guidance and direction here in Nigeria, they are doing a fantastic job”, Shreeve said.

    In 2010, FLP International launched the Eagle Manager Incentive, an incentive for managers to work towards some particular goals within the company. Since that launch, there has been so much success in Nigeria with the Eagle Managers Incentive.

    Distributors all over the country have been so excited and passionate about the incentive that Nigeria emerged the number one country in terms of the number of Eagle Managers produced annually throughout Africa. The country also has emerged the number one country in sales.

    According to Shreeve, “The Eagle Managers Incentive has grown in popularity and all FLP Managers now strive and work hard to achieve it. Financially, our sales have gone up as our Nigerian distributors continue to share our unique products and the opportunities with more and more people throughout the country.”

    Shreeve also reiterated the commitment of FLP International founder, Mr. Rex Maughan to help more people in Nigeria achieve their dreams.

    “We are looking for greater and bigger things. Nigerians have a lot of hope and dreams and what we want to do in Forever is to help them achieve those things. We have just been very successful, but in life, you can always do better; you can always do more. And for us, in Forever, what that means is that we want to help more people”.

    Earlier in a training session, Shreeve said the nation’s distributors were blessed to have outstanding Global Leaders like Oma and Tony Attah; Justina and John Ekperigin; Maria and Clement Idigo; Kike and David Apeji, because they are always ready to share their success stories with fresh distributors. The rise of Nigeria in Forever had brought special interest from people around the world. The FLP International Vice President urged all distributors in Nigeria to take advantage of the awesome management who had provided a conducive environment for all engaged the FLP business.

    Mr. Shreeve warned Nigerian distributors to be wary of competition from South Africa, and Turkey. Although he said the advantage here is that Nigeria has more Eagle Managers than all countries in Africa put together, he added that Nigeria remained the fastest growing country in the fastest growing continent.

    He was optimistic that the country was capable of beating India to the third position at the next Global Rally taking place in London in April 2014.

    “Work to leave a legacy”, he told distributors, adding, “Time waits for no one. You require discipline, hard work and determination and the understanding of the company’s policy to excel in this business”.

    He urged all FLP distributors to acquire good knowledge of the products, so they can share, retail and use them more efficiently. “You have got to be the product of the product”, he emphasised.

    According to Mr. Shreeve, 2013 is the best year to qualify for the FLP Global Rally of 2014, as stipulations for qualification were more relaxed and achievable with minimum effort. He also revealed that so much had been put in place by the USA headquarters to ensure that distributors have a great time during the global event in London.

    Aside the Global Rally and Eagle Manager incentives, Mr. Shreeve said there are also car incentives, Chairman’s bonus and others all available to hard working distributors in Nigeria. “I urge you to work hard and close this year strong, as the party is just beginning for Nigeria in the FLP family.”

  • Moses to Nigerians: Believe in me

    Moses to Nigerians: Believe in me

    Liverpool of England forward Victor Moses has called on Nigerians to believe in him and his teammates as they battle Ethiopia for a Brazil 2014 ticket in today`s World Cup return leg playoff in Calabar.

    The Nigeria international, who is one of the players nominated for the BBC African Player of the Year award, also confirmed that the team was in top shape despite the flight hitches most of them faced while coming to Calabar.

    “I am always ready to give my best any time for my country, no matter the challenges. We are in top shape and qualifying for the World Cup will be terrific,” he told SportingLife.

    Although looking forward to scoring against the Ethiopians, Moses was, however, not sure how many goals the team would score.

    “I will be delighted to get on the score sheet because such goals are really special,” he said.

    Moses scored one of the goals that sent Ethiopia out of the Africa Cup of Nations in January in the group stage.

  • Transactions hit N2tr as more Nigerians embrace e-banking

    Transactions hit N2tr as more Nigerians embrace e-banking

    Despite initial doubts, more Nigerians are embrac-ing electronic banking, provoking an impressive growth in transactions.

    According to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the value of electronic transactions increased from N1.67 trillion in 2011 to N2.09 trillion,last year.

    From 355.2 million units, the volume shot up to 382.6 million units within the review period. The CBN said the figure reflected an increase of 7.7 per cent and 25.4 per cent, for value and volume.

    Data on various e-payment channels for the period under review indicated that automated teller machines (ATMs) remained the most patronised, accounting for 98.1 per cent, followed by point-of-sale (PoS) terminals at 0.7 per cent.

    Also, web and mobile payments accounted for 0.6 per cent each. Similarly, in value terms, ATM accounted for 94.7 per cent, PoS 2.3 per cent, while web and mobile payments averaged 1.5 per cent each.

    It said the volume and value of ATM transactions amounted to 375,487,756 and N1.98 trillion. These reflected an increase of 8.1 per cent and 27.1 per cent over the volume and value of 347,569,999 and N1,561.75 billion attained, in 2011.

    The volume of mobile payments decreased by 37.0 per cent to 2,297,688 from 3,649,374, while the value increased by 65.8 per cent to N31.50 billion, from N19 billion.

    Also, the apex bank explained that the value of transactions at the inter-bank funds market declined by 45.7 per cent to N23,811.91 billion. The development was attributed largely to improved liquidity in the banking system.

    Also, the breakdown of the volume of transactions at the inter-bank funds market showed that the inter-bank call and the open-buy-back (OBB) segments declined by 61.2 and 49.8 per cent respectively from their levels of N37.7 trillion and N6.1 trillion in the preceding year.

    Inter-bank call transactions accounted for 61.4 per cent of the total, while OBB accounted for the balance of 38.6 per cent.

     

  • Fear of food insecurity grips Nigerians

    Fear of food insecurity grips Nigerians

    Good prices are rising– no thanks to insecurity and lack of financial muscle by many Nigerians.

    For instance, rice has hit record N12,500 per bag, triggering a panic among consumers.

    The Nation learnt the increase in prices of other staple products such as fish, bread, meat, cereals, chicken, yam, onions, beans, vegetable oil, tomatoes, groundnut oil and others are expected to rise as the insurgency in some parts of the North affects traders. .

    In September, the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has warned that Sahel states in the North are faced with severe food insecurity. The release mentions, “Poor families have used up their food stocks and are facing high food prices awaiting the next harvest.”

    Alarmingly, it points out that over 1.4 million children in the region are at risk of severe malnutrition in 2013.

    In certain products regrettably, the country’s ambitious Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) seems to have been hijacked by unscrupulous operators across the country’s borders.

    Ssince the implementation of high tariffs for rice importation, legal imports have come to a standstill, creating a massive demand from staple consumers. In the absence of local paddy production to meet this demand, smugglers have been having a field day, moving in rice through the borders.

    The common routes include Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Benin where there are zero or negligible duties.

    Reports said more than 2.5 million tonnes of rice was imported into these countries since Nigeria’s implementation of the new tariffs at 110 per cent. As a result, the Federal Government and terminal operators are losing billions of naira in unpaid Customs duty and levies, as well as handling charges. The Deputy Comptroller General of Customs (DCG) in charge of Enforcement, SakaYinusa recently said the importation should be through approved seaports to ensure adequate payment of import duties, levies and other charges. He disclosed that Nigeria loses an estimated N1 billion on contraband rice daily, which translates to N356 billion yearly.

    A report suggests that the rampant smuggling further compounded the woes of local rice millers operating in a high cost environment – devoid of infrastructure such as potable water, power and good road networks – with sparse funding.

    The nation is also reeling from the severe impact caused by the Boko Haram activities. The Chairman, Borno State Farmers Association, MuhammedNamadi, said “hundreds of farmers have been killed or forced to abandon rice and other crops ready for harvesting or just planted.”

    He spoke in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital and a former insurgent stronghold. Without immediate relief, farmers in Borno, who already live with abject poverty, insecurity and isolation, could also face widespread hunger.

    He said: “We have suffered a great deal as farmers in the last three years. Many young and old farmers have been forced to leave their farms.”

    Nearly 20,000 farmers have been driven from their land by both the insurgency and the military crackdown since President Goodluck Jonathan in May declared a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. Jonathan is seeking an extension of the emergency.

    In June, the Chad Basin Development Authority reported that 10,000 hectares (24,700 acres) of rice paddies had been abandoned at the peak of harvesting season.Large-scale investments made into the farming and milling industries by private businesses are also in jeopardy, following Nigeria Customs Service ’ inability to protect the industry from the vagaries of smugglers. Small farmers consume most of the paddy produced in the nation on a sustenance basis.

    The new agricultural policy that was aimed at protecting the local rice industry interests seems now to be helping smugglers make a fortune. The millers face unfair competition from smugglers, making their large investments unviable and effectively stalling any new expansion plans in the country.

    Indian parboiled rice costs about $430 per MT and Thailand rice is around $550 per MT. Comparatively, rice paddy in Kano is at a high $480 per MT, while in other places, such as Ebonyi, it is at a prohibitive $ 540 per MT. The price of local finished rice is around N16,000 per 50kg, whereas the imported rice is sold at an affordable N 8,000 per Kg, until the tariffs were increased significantly.

    The Managing Director, Attajiri Rice Mill Sokoto, Alhaji NuraAttajiri, said: “Most of the people that collect agricultural loans from government for paddy rice production are not genuine farmers. I strongly believe that it will take some time for Nigerian farmers to meet local demand and this can be achieved only if government is determined to put in mechanisms to ensure that only genuine farmers are empowered.”

    The President, Rice Distributors Association of Nigeria (RIDAN), Esther Olufunmilayo, urged government to review the impact of its policy on the economy, arguing that tariff hike imposition without tangible transformation of the local rice value chain defeats government’s rice self-sufficiency goal.

  • ‘Nigerians pay lowest taxes’

    Any country wishing to have good roads, an effective healthcare delivery, potable water and good transportation system should pay taxes, a tax expert has said.

    Dr Abdul Wahab Ibraheem, the Managing Director of Integrated Consultancy Management Accounting (ICMA), spoke at the Ikeja Golf Club during his 60th birthday, which the club hosted.

    His speech centred on the essence of taxes to infrastructural development.

    He said countries with high taxes enjoy higher infrastructural development than those with low tax payment.

    Dr Ibraheem said Nigerians were among the lowest tax payers in the world.

    The expert noted that besides a country with the lowest tax rates, Nigeria also lacked a tax payment culture.

    According to him, this is because Nigerians are not motivated to pay taxes.