The Nation Newspaper

Tag: noise

  • Curbing the menace of noise pollution

    Curbing the menace of noise pollution

    • By Faith Oluwadamilola Obamodi

    Sir: Nigeria’s struggle with noise pollution has been a persistent issue, culminating in a significant response with the enactment of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) Act of 2007 and the National Environmental Noise Standards and Control Regulations of 2009.

    These legislative frameworks were designed to address the escalating noise levels in urban areas, which have become sources of both social unrest and public health concerns. Noise pollution in Nigeria is not a recent phenomenon. The rapid urbanization, coupled with the explosive growth of commercial activities and a population exceeding 200 million, has turned cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt into hubs of relentless noise.

    From the blaring horns of vehicles to the loudspeakers used by religious institutions and street hawkers, the cacophony has become nearly inescapable. Over the years, citizens have voiced increasing frustration with this constant noise, which has been linked to adverse health effects such as hearing loss, stress, and, most notably, sleep disturbances.

    The Nigerian anti-noise pollution initiatives aim to reduce noise levels in urban centres to align with the standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO). These initiatives focus on three key areas: regulation and enforcement, public awareness, and technological measures. However, the success of these initiatives hinges largely on effective implementation—a challenge that has proven difficult for Nigeria. The country has a history of weak enforcement of environmental laws, often marred by corruption, resource limitations, and public apathy. The enforcement of noise pollution laws is particularly complex due to the diverse and ubiquitous nature of noise sources.

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    Religious institutions, for instance, are among the most significant contributors to noise pollution in Nigeria. The use of loudspeakers during worship, especially in densely populated areas, has sparked numerous complaints. However, regulating these institutions requires delicate negotiations to avoid backlash from religious communities. Similarly, businesses such as markets and street vendors also contribute to noise pollution.

    Enforcing regulations on these businesses is challenging without offering proper incentives and support, as such measures could threaten their livelihoods. Nigeria’s anti-noise pollution initiatives are a crucial step toward addressing a long-ignored environmental issue. Despite the significant challenges, particularly in enforcement and garnering public cooperation, the potential benefits make the effort worthwhile.

    To achieve its goals, the government must adopt a comprehensive approach that combines regulation, education, and community engagement. With sustained commitment and a willingness to address the socioeconomic factors involved, Nigeria could make a significant impact in creating a quieter, healthier, and more liveable environment for all its citizens.

    •Faith Oluwadamilola Obamodi,

    Veritas University, Abuja.

  • Between Aisha’s ‘noise’ and Buhari’s silence

    SIR: Aisha Buhari has created a niche for herself as an exceptional wife of a president by her audacious assertion against corrupt practices visible enough for her to decipher. She blew the lid off the cleavages of cabals adding dead weight to the strides her husband, President Muhammadu Buhari is trying to make in repositioning Nigeria and fight against corruption. She was at a time, emphatic that her husband will return from medical vacation to chase away the hyenas and the jackals from the animal farm called the presidency. Now she has locked horns with management of State House clinic over poor service delivery.

    Most people berate her audacity, insisting she is supposed to be anonymous, others feel she is trying to control her husband. The cabals think she is a witch, determined to stop them from taking their own chunk of the “national cake”. She has indeed turned herself to a whistle blower, taking her role to a new height every day, in desperate effort to save her husband from looming shame.

    Her revelation on the State House clinic only confirms fears of most rational Nigerians over the way and manner scarce resources are siphoned by key officials under the Buhari led administration. Considering the allocation of N4.2bn in two years to keep the place operational, it is shocking the clinic does not have a serviceable X-ray machine. Her observation is not only an indictment on officials in charge but a pointer to security risk on the life of our president who has been managing health issues. Those who squandered the state house clinic funds must be treated as terrorists.

    The silence of President Buhari over gazillion of corruption allegations is making critics think popular opinion about his integrity is overrated. While the observations of Aisha is based on what she can see, there are many systemic acts of corruption allegedly perpetuated under the administration of Buhari buried with propaganda, blackmail of past administration, which many right thinking Nigerians are beginning to get irritated about. The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Professor Itse Sagay asserted that leaders of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), are promoting corruption, adding that the National Assembly is enjoying from proceeds of corruption. He was promptly attacked and threatened fire and brimstone by those who were his loyal fans while he was taking swipe at corrupt officials of the immediate past administration.

    The wife of president Buhari has refused to turn a blind eye to the traffic of corruption moving before her on daily bases while the culprits smile happily to the banks with outrageous stash in their accounts. She knows that her husband is the one to carry the leaking sewage at the expiration of his tenure(s) in office. She is aware of the fact that those biting him and at the same time blowing breeze on his wound will be the first to cast stones once Buhari is out of power. Knowing her husband very well, she knows he will be the least affluent while the increasingly powerful cabals will be supper rich. She knows that her husband will be silenced and allowed to carry the basket of shame alone.

    Sadly, president Buhari is too silent, too casual about myriads of allegations flying around those close to him. The case of former or suspended SGF, Babachir Lawal who the Senate exposed over N270m IDP grass cutting scandal is fresh despite silence from the presidency. A report has been submitted to the President as Nigerians await pronouncements, which is rather taking too long. Nigerians will not forget the allegation against Abba Kyari, the president’s Chief of Staff over N500m bribery by MTN.

    There are many unfortunate cases where the present change administration has refused to convince the people they are capable of bringing Nigeria from the brinks of systemic corruption, waste, administrative laxity among other inherited and self-induced challenges. Under the present circumstance, we can only pray that the voices of the Aisha’s break the silence of the Buhari’s.

     

    • Israel A. Ebije,

    Abuja.

  • Noise, noise everywhere

    •Oyo State government has done well to act against noise pollution   

    All too often, when the issue of pollution is mentioned, the average Nigerian’s mind reflexively goes to such features as refuse collection and waste management, perennial floods that practically paralyse many states during heavy rains or the leakage of harmful elements into water distribution systems, thus endangering the lives of innocent citizens across our urban areas. All these are undoubtedly sources of environmental pollution with negative consequences for the physical, psychological, emotional and mental well being of those exposed daily to the menace.  However a no less insidious and damaging form of pollution is noise, which also has deleterious implications for the economy and the productivity of workers in the public, private as well as informal sectors of the economy.

    It is against this background that we commend the Oyo State government, which not only sealed three churches in Ibadan for noise pollution, but has gone ahead to give a 14-day ultimatum for all religious bodies in the state, including churches and mosques, as well as shops selling music and videos to dismantle their external loud speakers or face the sanction of the law.

    We support the state government’s decision even though it may not go down well with some religious organisations that feel the more noise they make, the more adherents they win. Indeed, the state government must not relent in its efforts at curbing noise pollution in those areas where the laws can easily be enforced. We urge the churches and mosques in particular – the worst culprits – to adhere to the commissioner’s advice to acquire acoustic furniture and internal speakers in addition to putting in place padding walls with the aim of reducing or eliminating the nuisance of noise in their environment.

    Those religious groups that install external speakers as a way of proselytizing and winning converts must realise the folly of such obtrusive tactics. For, in most cases, residents of the communities plagued by their noisy evangelism come to be resentful of religions that they perceive as acting in ways inimical to their peace.

    Incidentally, Lagos State, the country’s commercial capital and industrial hub had also long before now taken steps to reduce to the barest minimum the incidence of noise pollution in the state. This is certainly a no mean task given the huge population of the state, the density of vehicular traffic on its roads and the number of large markets for diverse commodities that dot its landscape. In 2015, credible statistical figures indicate that there were 1,527 reported cases of noise pollution in the state with 57 engendering medical concerns.

    Indeed, the Lagos State government had earlier imposed a fine of N500, 000 as sanctions against any individual or group that flouted its anti-noise policy. Under the Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) tenure as governor, for instance, the administration instituted a ‘horn-free day’ during which motorists were encouraged not to hoot their horns on a particular day. Unsurprisingly, the otherwise well meant policy had minimal impact and has been unsustainable.

    In an interview, consultant ear surgeon, Emmanuel Abayomi Oduwole, pointed out that “Exposure to noise should not be greater than 90 decibels for eight hours per day and five days in a week” warning that anything above that level could lead to permanent hearing loss. What is most dangerous, the expert said, is that the hearing loss may proceed gradually and imperceptibly with the victim completely unaware until it may be too late.

    Some doctors have also warned that prolonged exposure to loud noise can result in ailments like epilepsy and cardiovascular disease. A relatively less noisy environment, on the other hand, can improve quality of life as well as boost life expectancy.

  • Oyo govt to sanction churches, mosques, others for noise pollution

    Oyo govt to sanction churches, mosques, others for noise pollution

    •Three churches sealed as pastor harasses commissioner

    Oyo State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Chief Isaac Ishola, at the weekend narrated his ordeals in the hands of the General Overseer of a new generation church while attempting to seal off the church for violating environmental laws.

    The commissioner said the General Overseer allegedly molested, harassed and insulted him on the church premises to prevent the sealing of the church.

    Three churches were reportedly sealed off for alleged noise pollution and violating the government’s prescribed noise level.

    Speaking with The Nation in his office at the weekend, the commissioner warned against violation of noise regulation laws.

    He noted that the ministry would no longer tolerate what he called the impunity among religious bodies that were fond of exceeding the prescribed noise level.

    Ishola said: “…I was insulted and harassed (at the weekend) by a pastor, the owner of one of the sealed churches. He refused to comply with the state noise regulations. The pastor refused to attend a meeting when called. In fact, the pastor came out, pounced on me and said I could not seal the church because if I did, it would close my destiny. And I told him that I am a Christian too, but ‘you cannot use Christianity to disturb the peace’ of others…”

    The commissioner urged religious bodies to remove speakers mounted on their buildings, saying doing so violated government’s laws regulating noise in the environment.

    According to him, anybody who refuses to comply will be arrested and the premises sealed, in line with the laws regulating noise in the state.

  • Dangers of noise pollution

    SIR: Most of us, in reality, are partially deaf. And the major cause is noise pollution, an evil which causes many health and social problems. Noise pollution is an unwanted, disturbing sound that causes a nuisance in the eye – or ear – of the beholder.

    Operators of commercial grinding machines, music shops, hawkers who use megaphones, noisy vehicles, motorcycles, barking dogs, overly loud music from within the home an noisy aircraft, among others, are harbingers of noise pollution. Then the location of worship centres which use noisy public address system in residential neighbourhoods, especially at odd hours of the day or night, has compounded the problem.

    Sustained noise over a period of time can engender deafness in the form of gradual losses in hearing. This is the most common loss among the young ones who enjoy listening to music from the Walkman-type radios, CD players, as well as MP3s. The problem may not have been noticed here, but in those countries where those products come from, it is already an issue, even if the manufacturers are still putting up an argument that it is not their products but wrong use that causes hearing loss.

    How does noise-induced hearing loss occur?

    Loud noise assaults the delicate hair cells of the inner ear. Noise-induced hearing loss typically occurs gradually and without pain. After exposure to loud noise, a person may experience ringing in the ears or difficulty in hearing. This is called a “temporary threshold shift.” After a few hours (or in some cases, a few days), this temporary shift in hearing can become permanent. Once permanent hearing has occurred, it is not possible to restore hearing.

    And this is where the danger is: noise-induced hearing loss is permanent. One is not saying here, however, that hearing loss is the only effect of noise pollution. Annoyance and aggression, (quick temper), hypertension, high stress levels, sleep disturbances and other harmful effects such as forgetfulness, severe depression and, at times, panic attacks are all traceable to noise pollution.

    As the nation spends a huge portion of its health budget yearly fighting these health problems, it amounts to sparing cause and fighting effect. It means what we are doing is curing without paying attention to prevention. Yet prevention, they say, is better than cure.

    We need to wake up to the realities of modern nationhood. There is an urgent need to realize that noise is as potent as other forms of environmental pollution, be they air, water or physical pollution. Time has come for the government, through the Ministry of Environment at the state and federal levels, to start addressing the issue of unwanted noise. The Ministry of Urban Planning must be part of it because a lot of noise emanates from urban planlessness in the sense of allowing unregulated siting of worship centres in purely residential neighbourhoods.

     

    • Tina Fawole,

    tinafawole@yahoo.com

  • LASEPA seals off 70 facilities for noise pollution

    The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has sealed off Sporta Suites Hotel and Restaurant in Magodo, Lagos, for alleged non-compliance with environmental laws.

    The hotel was part of the 70 of such facilities that were sealed off as a result of noise pollution allegations levelled against them.

    Also sealed were about 13 religious houses and a plastic recycling company located in different parts of the state on account of noise and air pollution.

    LASEPA’s General Manager, Rasheed Adebola Shabi said the exercise was part of an ongoing war against noise and air pollution in Lagos State.

    He said over 70 churches, 25 mosques and 11 nightclubs have already been pencilled down to be sealed by the agency during the exercise.

    The facilities, Shabi said, were sealed off for allegedly not complying fully with the agency’s instruction on noise and air pollution, saying the enforcement was carried out after several warnings by the agency to the owners to abate the pollution were not heeded to.

    Shabi said LASEPA doesn’t seal off people’s property or facilities indiscriminately. He noted that before sealing off someone’s property, the agency must have given several warnings and failure to yield or comply with the warnings results in sealing off such property.

    Air and noise pollution/emissions, Shabi said, are parts of what the agency is kicking against.

    He said before any operation, residents of the area must have variously written petitions on the impact of noise pollution from places of worship, commercial bus drivers and those who use loud speakers while selling their wares.

    Shabi said research by LASEPA in the last two to three years, revealed that most of the religious houses do not have Lagos State approval to operate, adding that most hotels and club houses also do not have fiscal planning approval.

    “Before you can build any hotel anywhere in the world, there must be an environmental impact assessment.

    “There are people using trucks to sell their products with speakers to disturb the peace of Lagosians. Soon, we will begin to tow these trucks to get them off the streets,” he said.

    He added that Lagosians needed to live in peace and LASEPA would continue to fight for the peace of residents of Lagos.

    He further said the defaulters would be fined and compelled to sign an undertaking or put in place an action plan to forestall a recurrence, before the facilities would be unsealed.

    The operation took place in areas such as Ijaiye-Ojokoro, Meiran, Ogba, Aguda and Magodo, among others.

    Some of the affected churches included Celestial Church of Christ, (Ebenezer Parish), Abule Titun, Alakuko, Solution Life Ministry, Ogba, Aguda, Zoe Ministries Worldwide, Ojodu and The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Akiode.

  • Cassava bread: Lofty dream, much noise, little success

    Cassava bread: Lofty dream, much noise, little success

    In the beginning the noise was on high decibel that cassava bread will soon flood Nigerian markets. Today the hope has waned drastically as the dawn of reality has proved that it is more of illusion than reality despite billions of naira down the drain writes Sina Fadare.

    Perhaps, if the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo looks back at what has become of his former pet project, the cassava bread and inclusion of 40 percent of cassava flour into daily production of all confectioneries in the country, he will properly chuckle in his characteristic manner and shake his head in pity for his beloved country.

    The former president expressed his disappointment at how his successors made a mess of his pet project in his book, My Watch. Today despite the huge investment on the project, it is still in the limbo and the hope of having 40 per cent cassava flour for bread bakers remain an illusion. Former President Obasanjo during his tenure initiated the idea of cassava bread in order to promote  the cassava  value -chain by not only creating demands for its consumables, but  also  provide job opportunities for thousands of Nigerian youths who are roaming about  on the streets.

    Abbreviated dream

    Obasanjo approved and pursued the policy of 10 per cent cassava flour inclusion in bread baking and challenged flour mills and bread bakers in the country to cue into this laudable idea. However, the effort could not yield the desirable result before his exit.

    Seeing the potentials inherent in massive production of cassava, the former Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwumi  Adesina took a bold step by canvassing for a 40 per cent cassava flour inputs. Though Adesina had a tall dream, he insisted that if the dream could be actualised,  the country will be able to save about 30 per cent of money  spent on the importation of wheat, running into N200 billion.

    Part of the government plan was to impose a levy of 15 % on wheat grain imports, which will increase the effective duty from five to 20 %. The gain from the levy would be used to establish the Cassava Bread Development Fund under the Cassava Bread Wealth Development Fund.

    This led the Federal Government to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bank of Industry (BOI) to manage the N4.3 billion cassava bread fund that would support small and medium enterprises (SMEs), master bakers and large industrial cassava flour mills.

    The BOI and Bank of Agriculture (BOA) are to manage disbursement of the N9.9billion cassava bread fund released by President Goodluck Jonathan, according to Adesina.

    Out of this amount, N4.3 billion will be disbursed by the BOI to support SMEs who are involved in cassava processing, while the BOA is to manage N3.4 billion of the fund in collaboration with 13 key private stakeholders, he said.

    The Minister insisted that the fund will be 50 per cent grant, 50 per cent loan, adding that “it is a huge step forward in terms of supporting our farmers to produce more cassava.”

    The initial hiccups

    Investigation by The Nation revealed that the project almost crumbled with the same  velocity it started due to poor consultation by the Obasanjo regime with all the stakeholders  who are to be the pilot of the project. For instance, most of them read the policy on the pages of the newspapers without knowing what it contains and the sacrifice to be made.

    Though Obasanjo insisted that the private sector should be the nucleus of the project, unfortunately the concerned ministries (Agric, Industry and Commerce) failed to liaise with the relevant stakeholders particularly the flour mills who were supposed to play a vital role in the chain value.

    More embarrassing was the pronouncement by Obasanjo that the government’s targeted 40 per cent inclusion of cassava flour in the daily operation of all cassava mills in the country without thinking where to get the available improved cassava variety that can be used as flour which in turn serve as raw materials for the flour mills. Unfortunately the hype in the media suggested as if cassava bread will soon be on the table of all and sundry.

    Equally affected were the Master Bakers and Caterers Association of Nigerian who had to close shop immediately after government pronouncement, a situation that has thrown them into the waiting game of uncertainty.

    Speaking on the effect of the new policy, the President of the Association,   Simeon Abanulor said “20 per cent of master bakers have closed shops because of high cost of flour. Now, we buy a bag of wheat flour between N6000 and N7200, which is above what it used to be. Some with three lines (producing morning, afternoon and evening) have reduced their lines to two or one, while so many jobs have been lost because business has been so bad for us,” he said.

    He added, “We thought we are being the patient dog but this seems to be making us hungry. The minister said the deadline for machine supplies is January 20, 2014. But this is not the first time they are giving us deadline. I have been asking a lot of questions. Some bakers are accusing me of being bribed. They say either drop that 15 per cent levy so that the flour millers can go back to the former price or make the wealth funds benefits available to us.”

    Recounting their loss, Abanulor said the association is the second largest employer of labour, adding, “On the average, a bakery employs 15-70 staff. Any bakery that runs three lines must have not less than 20 staff.”

    If the Master Bakers are lamenting, the cassava farmers who were expected to plant the needed cassava for the project were not only frustrated but at a cross road because majority of them cannot access any fund dedicated to cassava farmers. This reporter went to six states of the federation (Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Lagos and Kwara) last year to feel their pulse; it was a tale of frustration and uncertainty.

    A cassava farmer in Owode village in Ede North area of   Osun State, Pa Ilori Akintade who has been a cassava farmer in the last 40 years regretted that despite all the chains of form given out to them to fill with the hope that money will come from the government; nothing was heard about it till today.

    According to him, the formation of cooperative societies in order to hasten the facilitation of the loan was futile, “Some of us even went to the extent of opening bank accounts with our cooperative names but we still could not access any fund as I am talking to you till today.”

    It was the same story of lamentation when The Nation spoke to some group of farmers in Igboho in Orelope local government area of Oke-Ogun in Oyo State. To Mr. Alani  Adewuni who decided to venture into tobacco farming when there was no help from anywhere, none of the  cassava farmers in the area has ever  benefitted from the Federal Government grants or soft loans.

    “Despite that this area is noted as the food basket of Oyo State, cassava farmers have not benefited anything from the government be it state or federal, all what we are hearing in the  media everyday is that a huge amount of money has been allocated to either cassava farmers or cotton farmers, but we did not see it. That is why some of the youths decided to embrace the British America Tobacco (BAT) grants to plant tobacco, if they have any other choice, they could have exploited it, he lamented.”

    Pa Jacob Olakitan shared Alani’s view saying that it takes extra energy and time to tender tobacco which he ventured into when he had no money to plant large scale cassava. “There is nobody who did not know me as a cassava farmer in this town, but today I only plant the little needed by my family since none of the government incentives to cassava farmers ever gets to us here.”

    Perhaps this confirmed the fear of Dr (Mrs.) Oluwatoyin  Oluwole of Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIRRO), Oshodi who posited at a stakeholder meeting in Lagos in 2014 that “the project could be of immense benefit to the nation if the necessary loose-ends are tightened especially in the areas of ensuring closely monitoring, ensuring  that the funds are not misappropriated, curbing smuggling, reduction of official bureaucracy that could bar the real beneficiaries – millers, small scale farmers, bakers and entrepreneurs – from accessing the funds and to make the desired impact, it is when this happens that I believe cassava bread can really add value to the economy.”

    Another major crisis was the issue of who to partake in the largesse if all the chips are down. Against the backdrop of previous experience when   such loans are seen as the national cake which can be taken without any solid channels to refund it, the affected government agencies, the Bank of Agric and Bank of Industry made use of the members of the affected associations (Master Bakers and Caterers Association of Nigeria and Cassava Growers Association of Nigeria) as beneficiaries with the association standing as their guarantor.

    This on its own created a lot of acrimony among the members of the associations, majority of who thought they have been schemed out.

    Reality on ground

    Though Adesina’s ambition seemed to be a tall dream, but he audaciously want to cut the country’s annual spending of about N625b importing wheat by 30 per cent which at the long run would save close to N200 billion annually in foreign exchange, unfortunately this became an illusion

    Contrary to the impression by the former minister  that a whopping N9.9 billion was released  by former President Jonathan, to both BOA and BOI to be  shared to all the stakeholders  on N4.5 billion each, in the value chain. The Nation found out that while a sum of N3 billion was released to the BOI, BOA got N2.4 billion to date.

    The Nation equally gathered that contrary to the belief that 10 per cent cassava was being mixed with the wheat flour in order to produce a cassava bread for the country, only 2.5 per cent of the cassava flour is feasible for now, though it can increase to 10 per cent later.

    The Chief Executive Officer of Honeywell Mills, Mr. Olarewaju Jaiyeola, said that the company is fully ready to integrate the 10 per cent high cassava yield flour in its production process   in order to key in, into the federal government’s policy on cassava bread, but it would be a gradual process.

    Jaiyeola who disclosed this after taken some journalists round the facilities provided by the company  to accommodate cassava flour in Lagos said the policy  has brought the ministry of agriculture closer to flour millers in the country  in a collaborative effort that has yielded  more economic benefits for the country at large especially in the area of employment generation.

    According to him, the government for the first time was able to back up the policy with a holistic approach in terms of collaborative efforts with the private sector in the value laden chain that includes the cassava farmers, the processors, the flour millers and the master bakers who have been producing wonderful results.

    The CEO noted that Honeywell Flour Mill has started with 2.5 per cent  cassava  flour inclusion in production with a view to increasing it to 10 per cent next year, adding that the gradual process is necessary in order to have a solid back up plan for greater performance in the not too distant a future.

    He explained that series of meetings were held with the people at the ministry of agriculture and the facts and opportunities were laid on the table for all to see, adding that on this basis that it was agreed that the process will be gradual since it has a lot of cost implications.

    “We went back to the drawing board to make sure that we incorporate cassava flour into our daily operation with additional machine into our fleets since it is all automated, therefore it costs the company close to a billion naira to make this realisable and based on this we were able to add 2.5 per cent of cassava flour to our operation. By this time next year, we ought to have moved to the 10 per cent cassava flour addition.

    “The expectation of government is that flour mills should add about 10 per cent of cassava flour to our operation; this will be gradual because we are mindful of all other variances and the cost implications. It is expected that this inclusion will assist the farmers to produce more cassava with a readymade market and by and large it will create employment opportunities,” he explained.

    Jaiyeola, who said that though there are some challenges especially in the area of sourcing for raw materials, however noted that by the time all the value chains are operational such a problem will become a thing of the past.

    “As long as people are more convinced about the policy and could see the turnover for those people that ventured into it, more investors will come in and the multiplier effect will solve the problem of unemployment.”

    He said the government also took a bold step by giving flour millers the opportunity to acquire some of the processing machines in their custody  and that  Honeywell benefited , with acquisition of about 500 hectares of land in the  states where these machines were located.

    According to him, this will go a long way to have a dependable cassava farm and monitor the quality of the cassava flours that are being used in our daily operation, “As of today a 50kg of cassava flour costs N8, 000 but by the time it was shuffled some of it are wasted and dumped into thrash bin.

    “The quality of cassava flour we are receiving is getting better each day, as time goes on and there are many people who are involved in processing, the quality will be better and millers will be able to reject any one that is not up to the expected quality.”

    Reacting to some of the window of opportunities   said to have been provided by the Federal Government   in terms of access to grants and loans from the BOI, Jayiyeola noted that this is another dimension that will go a long way to assist flour millers to achieve the inclusion of 10 per cent cassava flour in their daily operations.

    “We believe in this policy and the overall back up strategy. If this consistency can be maintained and all other value chains key in, it is a matter of time before cassava bread will flood the market,” he said

    Success story

    It is extremely difficult to measure the level of success achieved so far about cassava bread if compared with the amount of money spent on the project.  As of the last count, about N5.3 billion had been expended by both BOI and BOA.

    Speaking to this reporter at the headquarters of the BOA, Kaduna, the Chief Executive Officer and CEO of the bank, Mr. Babatunde Sadiku said the bank was mobilized to the tune of N2.4 billion to cultivate cassava tubers in the country.

    According to him, a total of 3,713 members of Cassava Growers Association (NGGA) benefited from the phase one of the project while about 3,699 others benefited from the second phase with a total of N2.3 billion dispensed all together.

    Sadiku explained that all the beneficiaries are chosen from NCGA who forwarded the names and all their particulars to the bank throughout the country, adding that “before approving and eventually distributing the monies to respective beneficiaries, due diligence have been carried out by NCGA and BOA branches that are scattered all over the country.”

    Speaking in the same vein, the Divisional Head, Large Enterprises, BOI, Mr. Joseph Babatunde noted that 193 beneficiaries have accessed the bank’s loan. According to him, 32 of this number are for high quality cassava while the rest 160 are master bakers across the country, adding that N2.2 billion has been disbursed so far.

    Babatunde explained that  the loan granted are managed by the branches of the bank all over the country, adding that the facility has rekindled the lost hope of making agriculture the hub of the nation’s economy at this critical period.

    Going to the field to verify some of the claims made by these banks about some of these beneficiaries, The Nation stumbled on a fish farmer in Kaduna who was able to tell his success story about the facility granted by BOA.

    Mr. Leo Akuwudiko, the Managing Director of King Star Farm in Kaduna told this reporter that he accessed N4.5 million from the bank for fish farming and was able to make a success of the project adding that without the intervention fund from BOA, it could have been difficult for him to raise such money.

    A graduate of Agric -Economics, he explained that apart from occasional flood which washed away his fish farm, it was an enterprise that can gave succour to Nigerian graduates roaming the streets.

    Speaking in the same vein, Mr. Joshua Ishola, popularly known in Kaduna as ‘Omo Jesu Nigeria Ltd’ is a fabricator who accessed N2.9 million from BOA to fabricate agricultural equipment in 2014.

    According to him, he has been in the business in the last 20 years producing equipment such as cassava peeling machine, cassava fryers, dryers and maize huller machine, “Most of the people patronizing us are local farmers who most of the times are not buoyant enough to buy this equipment unless government comes to their aid.”

    Ishola explained that the intervention role which the BOA is playing would encourage the younger ones to embrace agriculture but regretted that the interest rate was too high, “If the interest rate can come down to one digit figure, it will encourage a lot of people to take the risk and venture into agriculture, not that alone, at our end we would be able to employ more hands to assist us.”

    Perhaps to make sure that farmers are monitored and can access funds anywhere they are in the country, even at the remotest village; BOA has introduced a Green Cash model.

    Executive Director, Wholesale Finance, Alhaji Ahmadu Haruna Waziri, said the Green Cash will key into the cashless policy whereby any of the bank’s clients can transact businesses with minimal cash flow.

    According to him, it is e-banking system whereby all the clients can do their business with the bank in a fast and secured way within a twinkle of an eye, “You can use your mobile phone to transact all your businesses. You can also use internet transaction in addition to other e-banking businesses. It is a platform for us to provide our client a viable service at the remotest village you can get mobile telephone. People who are dealing in little flow of cash can easily be reached.”

    Waziri pointed out that “This Green Cash will allow them to access their fund in any part of the country even at the remotest village. We have sent marketers to the field to sensitise the people on the need to key into this concept. Now, we are at the process of recruiting agents that will serve as intermediary between the bank and the farmers. The agents will act as outlet to the services of the bank.”

    The renowned agric-business expert said, the first recruitment of the agents will be between one and two per each of the 774 local governments and will be saddled with the responsibility of transacting business with the bank clients without going to ATM stands.

    “The idea is that cash can be transferred to our customers through their phone numbers. The handling of the physical cash will be minimal. Outside the eco system, all other transactions can be done on the phone. The agent will be categorized into silver, bronze and gold the amount they are handling will determine their category.

    Challenges

    Perhaps the greatest challenge to cassava bread project was the poor enlightenment programme on the part of the federal government and the noise making about the project towards the end of Jonathan’s tenure as one of its success story whereas the project was at its teething level.

    However, most of the farmers who are not members of NCGA felt that they were shortchanged because they were edged out of the scheme. Speaking to The Nation, a cassava farmer in Owiwi village in Abeokuta North Local government area of Ogun State, Alhaji Eniola Gabriel lamented that it is high time the Federal Government stopped using the farmers in the country to enrich some of their cronies under the disguise of incentives to farmers.

    “It is almost a year now that the issue of grants to cassava farmers has been on, we were compelled to form cooperative societies based on what you are producing in order to have access to some of this grants, but nothing came out of this apart from the hype in the media, whereas the planting season is almost gone.”

    Speaking in the same vein, a farmer in Ido-Osi local government area of Ekiti State, who has been a cassava farmer in the last 20 years, Pa Joseph Ayanniyi regretted that “whenever I hear that people are talking about grants to farmers, it makes me laugh because it was the same old story and the funny aspect of this grant is that we hear it in the media every time, yet the farmers did not get anything.”

    Investigation by The Nation revealed that any farmer who did not register with the NCGA which has all their branches all over the country cannot be considered for BOA loans, a situation that does not go down well with majority of them.

    Aside this, the poor attitude that any loan from government is a national cake, that should not be refunded.  Babatunde of BOI noted that that is one of the challenges facing them on the field.

    According to him, there should be attitudinal change on the part of the beneficiaries who should see it as a revolving loan which should be returned as at when due so that others could benefit.

    The former Commissioner of Agriculture in Ekiti State, Mr. Babajide Arowosafe, regretted that most of this laudable agricultural policy from the federal government is killed by wrong approach at the point of execution.

    Speaking in the same vein, his former colleague in Ogun State, Mrs. Ronke Sokefun, observed that state ministries are not always involved in federal government’s  grants to farmers in the state because “they administer, if there is any at all directly.”

    According to her, “the grants for cassava growers and master bakers is not popular in Ogun State, we are yet to see those that benefitted.”

    If the Cassava Adding Value for Africa (CAVA), phase 1 that encompassed Nigeria, Tanzania Uganda and Malawi with a grant of $13.6million and managed by a Nigerian, Dr Kolawole Adebayo, could record minimal success, what happens to the one embarked upon by the federal government seems to be the question on the lips of every Nigerians.

    The Director of Grants Management at the Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAB), Abeokuta and the Project Manager of the Cassava Adding Value for Africa, Dr. Adebayo while speaking in his office noted that poor execution is always the bane of grants disbursement coming from the federal government.

    He argued that the major threat to cassava bread could be traced to the politicisation of government’s good policy. According to him, “Government’s policies work around political timelines and that’s a major issue, if we could get our policy to work outside political timelines, I think that will help us a lot so that once we start a policy for good or for bad, let it outlive a timeline before revision.”

    With the situation on ground, it is obvious that cassava bread will take a long time to get to the table of Nigerians despite the hype and noise about its flooding the market as alternative to wheat bread.

    To Babatunde, the development is gradual putting into consideration that it will take time before all the components could provide the desired result.  “But the fundamental is that the project has revived hope and raised awareness that there will be a better tomorrow.”

    Meanwhile, Nigerians are waiting to taste and eat the much fabled cassava bread.

  • Lagos tackles noise pollution

    Acoustics experts have warned that unless the government enforces laws that will prevent noise pollution, many individuals may become deaf. CHINAKA OKORO and WALE ADEPOJU write that the government should establish a monitoring team in the Ministry of the Environment to ensure strict compliance with environmental laws. 

    Noise is our enemy. It is not only loud enemy of our ears; it is also an enemy to the environment as it pollutes our surroundings. Constant exposure to loud noise, experts say, affects our auditory system; especially when it is above the normal 85 decibels (dBs). Noise above the normal decibels is capable of perforating our ear membranes which can result in temporary hearing loss.

    There are many individuals who suffer from aural disorders caused by noise pollution. This disorder apparently manifests in the damage of the auricle as an initial sign.

    Experts contend that noise is one of the most dangerous and silent environmental pollutions as its effects on human body system could lead to death.

    •Horn speakers used by churches, mosques and music sellers
    •Horn speakers used by churches, mosques and music sellers

    Mindful of the health hazards associated with noise, the Lagos State Government has come down hard on some sources of noise pollution. This it did by closing or sealing off some churches and mosques from which deafening noises emanate. Such are worship centres that use ahuja speakers to conduct their services.

    Officials of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) have been receiving no fewer than 50 telephone calls and 20 text messages daily about noise, mostly emanating from churches that use horn speakers in residential areas.

    Recently, the agency shut down some places of worship after series of complaints from residents, whose lives have been affected by ceaseless noise. The state could not have done anything less as the problem has become a recurring issue.

    Head, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Adebola Shabi who said “the environment was critical to the lives of the citizens”, noted that “the need to effect a reduction in the level of noise generated by churches, mosques, music centres and others became necessary because noise could be dangerous to human health as it leads to impaired hearing capability.”

    Continuing, he said: “We have sealed off about 55 premises because the last enforcement we carried out, 33 premises were sealed off. “I gave approval for the closure of 22 premises later, making a total of 55 premises so far sealed off.

    Noise pollution is a problem many are grappling with in Lagos. The blaring from record sellers, hooting from commercial bus operators and loud music from hawking vans, especially local herbs sellers as well as loud noise from worship centres are some of the pollutants which have given Lagos the noisy city tag.

    “In the next five years, if there is no stringent policy on location of religious houses, there will be so many problems.”

    The LASEPA boss said the sealed churches would be allowed to re-open after paying fines ranging from N50, 000 and above.

    Director of Clinical Services and Training (DCST), Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Dr Ayoade Adedokun said the state, which is densely populated, is trying hard to ensure that the environment is protected against unwanted noise.

    “So, the step taken by the government is a laudable one. Reducing noise pollution should be everybody’s responsibility. It should not be left for government alone,” he said.

    Dr Adedokun said noise pollution is not limited to the streets alone as many are suffering from hearing loss because of the kind of jobs they do.

    Head, Eye, Nose and Throat (ENT) Department Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Dr Vincent A. Adekoya  said noise is the frequency or intensity of sound level when above 80-90 decibels, which is deleterious to the ear.

    “Noise pollution is a hallmark of all developing and industrialising countries. It creates a situation where able-bodied men work in industries with heavy-duty machines and are exposed to a noise level above 80-90 decibels for over eight hours a day,” he said.

    Dr. Adekoya said the above situation leads to social acusis, which is a condition where the individual has become used to accumulative noise. This invariably constitutes either temporary noise-induced threshold shift or noise-induced permanent threshold shift.

    Dr Adekoya
    Dr Adekoya

    Noting that the ear is not just for hearing but also for maintaining body balance, Dr Adekoya said temporary noise-induced threshold could be cured while noise-induced permanent threshold shift cannot be cured.

    Some people, he said, can come down with hearing loss due to ear trauma, which can occur when people’s ears are exposed to more than 80 or 90 decibels of noise or sound.

    “This kind of hearing loss is common among factory workers where obsolete heavy equipment or machines are used. These tools produce loud noises which affect people’s hearing,” Adekoya said.

    Related to this, he said, is exposure to acoustic trauma which he said results from sudden noise due to explosion and which causes the perforation of the ear membrane.

    “Acute acoustic trauma caused by single intensive sound can perforate the ear membrane; causing either conservative or surgical aural situation,” he said, adding that “ conservative aural impairment is a situation when the perforated or damaged ear membrane does not heal on its own, which is a factor of either small or huge perforation or damage.”

    Classifying hearing into normal and abnormal, Dr Adekoya said: “If it is abnormal, it is mild, moderate, moderately severe, severe or profound. People are not categorised as ‘deaf’ unless the state of their hearing loss has become profound.”

    He further explained: “Normal hearing level is 0-25 decibels; mild hearing loss is from 26-40 decibels, moderate hearing loss is from 41-55 decibels and moderately severe hearing loss is from 56-70 decibels. Severe hearing loss starts from 71-90 decibels and profound hearing loss is greater than 90 decibels. This is a situation in which an individual could be referred to as a deaf person.”

    Excessive noise above 80 decibels, he said, can cause harm to the ear and as such causes deafness. Noise-induced hearing loss can be caused by outside (e.g. trains) or inside (e.g. music) noise.

    Deafness, he said, can be mild, profound or severe, adding that people who come down with the latter can be restored with an amplifier or microphone inserted into their ears. But if this cannot address their problem, they may have a cochlear implantation.

    The causes of hearing loss, he said, are congenital. This means that the person was born with it. Others are caused by infections such as mumps and measles as well as drugs.

    But how would the loud enemies of our ears be permanently curbed? Again, how would government sustain the tempo in its quest to curtail noise pollution? We believe that the bold move to reduce noise pollution which the government has started would be sustained through the establishment, in the state’s Ministry of the Environment, of a strong monitoring team to ensure strict compliance to environmental laws.

    For Dr Adekoya, the most effective methods of preventing noise pollution and aural damage are through what he called ear conservation programme, hazard identification and engineering control, among others.

    The ENT expert also said the problem could be prevented if expectant mothers attend complete ante-natal programmes as well as delivered of their babies at good health facilities.

    Advising that audiometric tests should be made compulsory to determine the level of ear damage in an individual, Dr Adekoya urged factory owners to “carry out audiometric tests for their staff once a year in order to check hyper acusis.”

    He said high noise levels can contribute to negative cardiovascular effects in man and an increased incidence of coronary artery disease.

    He urged the Federal Government to put in place a policy that will help in minimising noise in public places, especially in residential areas.

    An undergraduate at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Mr Aliu Muraina said shutting down of noisy churches and other places of worship was a welcome development.

    He said there is too much of noise pollution not only in Lagos but also in Nigeria as a whole.

    “Some people should not be suffering from excessive noise because it would affect their health. Anything that would affect the environment should be controlled,” he said.

    Continuing, he said: “Government should not only evolve environmental laws but should also enforce them. It should ensure that churches and mosques do not make use of loud speakers to transmit their teachings.  Those who sell music should be forced to reduce the volume of their speakers while sampling pieces of music for sale.

    “Poor urban planning may also give rise to noise pollution. This is because locating industrial areas and religious buildings in residential zones can result in noise pollution,” he said.

    However, Mrs Ijeoma Olatunbosun, a lawyer, said the shutting down of some noisy worship centres was not right.

    She said: “This is uncalled for. I have read the papers and I did not see or hear that necessary notices were issued to them on this matter. Besides, I am not aware that there are laws covering where places of worship should be located in Lagos State or Nigeria as a whole.

    “Also, before churches are built in any location, approved building plans are usually given before such can be built or set up. The government is also giving the approval for where to locate these churches or places of worship. So, what are we saying?”

    Continuing, she said: “Regarding the N50, 000 or more the government is collecting as fine; I would like to know if it is to make the churches noise-proof or to stop them from having their services?”

     

  • Disquiet in UNILAG over noise policy

    Disquiet in UNILAG over noise policy

    There has been an outburst of anger by students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) over the introduction of a policy to reduce noise pollution on the campus. Students believe the policy attacks freedom of religion, but the management says there is no cause for alarm. KAWTHAR BABATUNDE (300-Level Petroleum and Gas Engineering) and CHIMA AZUBUIKE (400-Level Philosophy) report.

    Its location in the commercial nerve-centre of the country makes the University of Lagos (UNILAG) prone to noise. Apart from the constant noise from the engines of countless vehicles that ply the campus, extracurricular activities have also become a source of disturbance in the school. But, the management does not want noise on its campus.

    This led to the introduction of a policy by the authorities to reduce noise. On July 8, the school issued a directive banning noisy activities on the campus. The order was contained in a memo, a copy of which was sent to the Students Union Government (SUG). It restricts social activities to specific areas on the campus, but the decision seems to be generating concerns among students’ groups.

    According to the memo, all religious activities are, henceforth, prohibited in academic areas, and such activities must be confined to the premises of the mosque and church.

    •The university Central Mosque
    •The university Central Mosque

    The content of the memo has generated reactions, especially from religious bodies. Some Muslim and Christian students believe the ‘no-noise policy’ is a direct clampdown on their activities. Some students, however, see it as a way of restructuring and maintaining orderliness on the campus.

    A 500-Level Computer Engineering student, who simply gave his name as Mujidah, said: “I doubt if the directive would be effective, but I honestly think it would restore order in the school. It is improper to hold noisy activities just anywhere on campus.”

    Before the management’s memo, religious activities were held at every available place in the academic area. Places, such as Amphi-theatre, SUG block and the main auditorium extension used to be busy with fellowships. Open places at faculties of Science, Social Sciences and Business Administration. The directive bars these activities.

    Registering its opposition to the policy, Michael  Liyansan, a 500-Level Engineering student and University Joint Christian Fellowship (UJCF) leader, enjoined members to embark on a seven-day fasting and prayer, saying “the Kingdom of God must reign in UNILAG”.

    The body, which has about 50 fellowship groups within its fold, said it would be impossible for all fellowships with members from various denominations to worship at the same place.

    Christian students wondered why the school registered many fellowships if it would not allow them to worship. They said the directive was an attack on religious freedom. They alleged that the policy was a desperate attempt to islamise the school, accusing the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Rahamon Bello, and the SUG president, Abiodun Martins, as masterminds.

    “This is Nigeria where nobody cares about noise. So, I think there must be an underlying motive to the policy,” says Mayowa, a 300-Level student.

    Reacting, Martins said there was no truth in the allegation that the policy was to islamise the school, stressing that the SUG was not consulted before the management took the decision.

    According to him, the no-noise policy predated the inauguration of the union leaders last year, the SUG only helped to create awareness about it among students.

    A student, who identified himself as John, said he had embarked on seven days fasting and payers to make the management change the decision. He said: “It is wrong for anyone to think that the SUG knew about the management’s decision. Some of the provisions have been found shocking, because all fellowships cannot hold their programmes in the chapels. It is not spacious enough.”

    A 300-Level Petroleum and Gas Engineering student, who gave her name as Mary, said the management should reconsider its decision since the policy was introduced in the interest of students, who are now opposed to it.

    She said: “They should put the interest of the student at heart and encourage them to go about their religious activities without disturbing others. This no-noise policy won’t work.”

    Although leaders of the institution’s chapter of Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) are yet to issue a statement on the development, it appears their silence is not an indication that they agree with the policy.

    When contacted, the MSSN Amir, Abdulrashid Adeoye, a 400-Level Integrated Science Education student, said the body had received no official letter from the management on the policy, but said the Muslim students would meet with the Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Prof Tunde Babawale, over the matter.

    Abdulrashid said: “Several activities of MSSN will be affected by the policy, but as a students’ body, we will always support the management’s good decision. It is not good to have noise in academic environment. The school management should have officially informed all religious bodies on campus, because we are mostly affected.”

    He doubted if there would be full compliance with the policy.

    Meanwhile, the SUG parliament clerk, Adeyanju Adeonipekun, said there would be an emergency sitting of students’ representatives and those of religious groups to discuss the practicability of the policy.

    At the time of this report, the meeting had not taken place. However, some members of the union met with the DSA to state students’ position on the matter.

    Mustapha Tijani, the Deputy Speaker of the union, said students’ opinions should have been sought before the decision was reached.

    The Deputy Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr Karo Ogbinaka, dismissed insinuations that the policy was targeted at religious bodies. Instead, the school was following the directive of teh National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Government Visitation Panel, which advised the management to reduce the level of noise in academic areas in line with best practice.

    Ogbinaka also said there was no truth in the rumour that the policy would islamise the school. He said: “Granted, the Vice-Chancellor is a Muslim, but there are more Christian members in the top management team. How possible is it for anyone to place one religion above the other?”

  • Ogun: Between noise and development

    In a free and fair electoral contest, all the politicians that have now made destructive criticisms their stock-in-trade will be taken to the cleaners by Senator Ibikunle Amosun. I repeat, if the 2015 poll is open, free and fair, Amosun will defeat these noise-makers in their own wards. Most of them will even lose their polling booths to Amosun. I challenge any of these politicians to an electoral contest in their own wards today; their humiliation will be resounding and rout complete in the number of votes Amosun will garner. Either in Ogun Central, East or West, Amosun will secure a landslide victory. The art of disinformation and negative portrayal of the governor will not earn them a single vote.

    I am appalled and galled by the amount of calculated lies being dished out to the public by those politicians that cannot even beat Amosun in their own polling booths.

    What they do not know is that Amosun is a grassroots politician par excellence. I do not yet know in the current Ogun of a politician that has what may be described as fanatical support of the masses than him. Perhaps, they do not know. Amosun is not the type of politician that usually announces his visit to any part of the state. He tours the nooks and crannies of Ogun regularly, and the spontaneous affection that is displayed towards the governor is unprecedented. I only recall such during the era of the Action Group and Unity Party of Nigeria.So, the noise in the newspapers by these purveyors of mendacity will not help them.

    By the grace of the Almighty and votes of the overwhelming majority of the people of Ogun who pray for the governor day and night and appreciate his selfless sacrifice to this state, Amosun will secure a landslide in 2015 election.

    I have heard this story again and again. There was a man so close to Amosun. In fact, Amosun was said to be at his beck and call. But due to the hurdles thrown in the way of Amosun in his bid to become the governor of Ogun State since 2007 by the then power-mongers, he abandoned him during his most trying moments. He believed Amosun would never become the governor. But Amosun eventually became the governor. Ordinarily, he should not forgive such a man. But to the shock and consternation of many, Amosun forgave the man and brought him into the fold. He was not the only one so treated. As Amosun usually says, “We are humans; we are not God; if God has done this for us, who then are we?”

    Amosun also accepts correction, once, like any human being, he makes mistakes. His often-quoted remark is, “He that cannot be counselled cannot be saved.” I can hardly recall a time when Amosun refused to hold the weekly meeting of the State Executive Council. In fact, he regards it as an article of faith. He firmly believes that two heads are better than one. Sometimes he holds the meeting twice weekly or even three times if a situation demands it. You also need to see the governor how he treats elders – utmost respect is the watchword; the quintessential Yoruba-man. He’s a man of peace and will continue to seek reconciliation with all as far as it is in the interest of the good people of Ogun State.

    Amosun is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. That means financial prudence is his watchword. Like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, he is obsessed with getting value for money. Human kindness flows in the heart. Most often in the rural areas, the governor will ask his convoy to stop so he can speak with a farmer or market woman. On countless times, he will buy the produce on the head of the farmer or market woman and reward them handsomely. This has been the character of Amosun long before he became the governor, and this is still Amosun. In terms of rapport with the grassroots, if anything has changed, the relationship has even been cemented, now that he is the governor.

    Rather than steal the money of the people of Ogun, like some would do and some actually did during their time, he embarked on those landmark projects that would benefit the masses of the state. Who are the beneficiaries of Amosun’s free education policy, from nursery to secondary levels? The masses, of course. By the way,it is important to mention that the last time the people of Ogun enjoyed free education was over 30 years ago, under the leadership of Chief Olabisi Onabanjo. Who are the beneficiaries of the 107km international standard Ilara-ijoun road, cutting across four local councils and hundreds of out-of-the-way villages? The grassroots, of course. Who are recipients of about 500km rural roads across the state? Who are the beneficiaries of the first international standard roads and first flyover bridges in all the three senatorial districts of the state? The masses and children of the masses who reside in these cities. Who are the beneficiaries of Gbomoro and Araya (the free health schemes)? The masses. When Amosun invested security which has now ended the era insecurity all over the state and of banks regularly closing business on account of insecurity, on whose behalf did he do so?

    I have heard the charge that Amosun is weak; that he is paying billions of naira as arrears of salaries, pension and gratuity of workers inherited from the past government rather than concentrate on his own term, from May, 2011. This is not a sign of weakness but a product of human kindness, responsive and responsible government. Yes, it is true that Amosun does not owe any worker a kobo; in fact, he pays the highest minimum wage, across board, in Nigeria. Amosun’s argument remains that if people have worked for the state, even though they were not paid by that government, he would do everything possible to offset such debts. And so, after a complete overhaul, just for example, it is discovered that the past government, owed staff of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) N2.6 billion in salaries and allowances (just one institution alone!), and Amosun has offset about N1.5billion of the debt.  Can you imagine what state-of-the-art lecture hall that can be built with N1.5 billion? Notwithstanding, the governor recently slashed the fees of the students of the institution (and nine others in the state) by 60% after the initial reduction early in the life of the administration, thereby fulfilling his pledge to the people that “as the finances of the state improve, they all shall be the beneficiaries.”

    Whereas, these spent politicians have voted for noise-making in the media, the Amosun administration has chosen development.And if God is with you and the people are on your side, who then can be against you?

    • Soyombo writes from Abeokuta, Ogun State