The Nation Newspaper

Tag: overdue

  • A deadline long overdue

    A deadline long overdue

    Truck drivers get 48 hours to vacate Lagos bridges”, ran The Nation lead headline of March 8.  That is an ultimatum long, long overdue — and in those unending snakes of containerized trailers, tankers and allied articulated trucks, you see in stark ugliness the toxic nature of Nigerian citizenship.

    Yeah, there is always the call that the “government” is irresponsible, useless and insensitive.  That might well be.  But that government has a merry partner in citizens, who though daily bawl and bark at “how useless” the government is, nevertheless, by their own daily conducts, demonstrate they can outbid the hated government in these hated traits.  Sad.

    Look over all Lagos, now experiencing a refuse crisis.  Yes, perhaps the Lagos government erred on its own part by not mastering its new waste disposal system before transiting from the old one.

    Still, is this an excuse for rational citizens — adults supposed to be responsible — to dump refuse bang on road medians? Does that also justify the alleged sabotage by lobbies bent on frustrating the new system, simply because they feel thrown out of their comfort zones?

    Indeed, under those refuse lay buried the humanity and rationality of many denizens of this teeming metropolis.  It is such mighty shame.

    Yes, over the years, subsequent federal governments, especially from the military era, had milked Apapa Ports for choice revenue.  But they have dismally failed to put in adequate investments, especially in rail, to transport those revenue-spinning imports, with relatively low sweat — rail.

    That grand failure had led to a progressive cannibalization of Apapa Roads, such that both the Tin Can Island axis, as well as roads leading in and out of the premier Apapa Ports complex have comprehensively failed.  The roads bear just too much weight, and the wear-and-tear is just logical.

    That crisis has come to a head these past three months or so.  Even then, it is matched by the ugliness of the Nigerian citizenry, particularly when the issue is the urban public space.  It is an utter jungle out there, just like a set of British public school boys, who got marooned on an island, and turned near-instant savages, in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies.

    Indeed, it’s an ugly urban jungle of metal and concrete, with a serpentine curve of endless trucks and trailers, parked over every available space, including aging bridges, snaking from Tincan to Mile 2, and from Apapa Ports, over the delicate Ijora Causeway, to Western Avenue, spanning the National Stadium, Surulere , to Ojuelegba and even threatening the Ikorodu Road-Western Avenue link flyover.  What madness!

    That is why the March 7 ultimatum, taking effect from today (February 9), couldn’t have come at a better time.  Even better: not only were  critical stakeholders consulted before handing down the ultimatum, two parking bays, one at Orile Iganmu that can take 3,500 tankers and another, that can take 2,700 containerized trucks, though the news story did not mention the location.

    After the deadline, the authorities should move in to clear any recalcitrant trailers parked at wrong places, especially those that have seized the bridges and holding bays, despite the very possibility of collapse and even, as the military authorities alerted, possible terrorist attacks.

    While the government must take its full share of the blame, citizens too must take responsibility — and get punished — for irrational actions.  That a country faces a crisis is no licence for its people to merrily descend into savages.

    That is the current situation is Lagos.  Sad.

     

     

  • CAN president to Buhari: Nigeria overdue for restructuring

    CAN president to Buhari: Nigeria overdue for restructuring

    The President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle, has thrown his weight behind those calling for the restructuring of the country.

    It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, in his New Year message, has rejected the quest for restructuring which has polarised the polity over how to go about it.

    Ayokunle who also doubled as the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, yesterday in Abuja at the International Workers’ Retreat of the Convention said, at 57, the country is due for restructuring but said it must be done without fear of favour to all the divides.

    Said he: “There is the need to update how we govern ourselves, thus, re-structuring the nation after 57 years is a welcome development. It must be done without bias or prejudice to religion, ethnicity, class or group affiliation.

    “We must develop our home-grown democracy. The present system is a hybrid of the American and British system. It is not working well for us.”

    He quoted Revelations 21:24-26, “The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor (glory) into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.”

    The cleric said it is clear that every nation in the world has her glory adding, “Nigeria is not left out. Our glory is our pride as a nation”.

    According to him, “When we gained independence from Britain in 1960, it was a turning point in our history and a breakthrough for the nation’s glory to burst forth. Our glory shone brighter and brighter after independence as we became the foremost nation in Africa and indeed among the black race.

    “However, at a point, the glory began to fade and we are yet to recover that glory. If we must bring back the glory of Nigeria and rise to more glory as a nation, then effective participation is compulsory for all Christians”.

    CAN President, in a statement issued by his Special Assistant (Media and Communications), Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, and obtained by The Nation disabused the minds of Christians who are avoiding politics as a plague because it is dirty to have a rethink and embrace it if they wanted to make impact on the political scene.

    The CAN boss said: “The practice of separation of State and Church must be redefined. While the State must not be allowed to control the Church, the Church must influence the State through Christians who are in position of power.

    “To get to a position of power, there is need for election especially in a democratic setting like ours. We must be involved in all facets of politics. Politics is not a dirty game as many have come to believe, but those who play politics are the ones who are dirty.

    “For politically conscious people, join a political party, and be a card-carrying member. Register to vote when called to do so by INEC. Participate actively at the ward level of your party, attend meetings, and contribute meaningfully during discussions. Vote and encourage others to vote during election period. Do not stay back at home and watch TV, play football or sleep. Monitor and protect your vote.”

    Speaking further he said, “Sidon look approach will not help us as Christians. Mike Murdock said, ‘Never complain about what you permit’. If we do not participate actively in politics, then we do not have the right to complain about the type of leaders that are presented by political parties to be voted for and voted into various offices”.

    According to him, “This year, God is interested in our nation and us. Throughout the Bible, we see God intervening, leading and instructing men on how to lead their nations. He is urging us as Christians to be involved in the governing process of our nation. Nigeria is at the center of God’s plan for the human race”.

    On the nation building, Ayokunle said, “If nation building in the 21st century is to be successful, the importance of democratic values, civic culture and civil society that develop and sustain them, the importance of increasing social, political, and economic equality, and of human development, rather than just economic development, are key in any successful strategy for long-term democratic nation-building.

    On the ongoing genocide in Benue and Taraba States, the CAN Leader prayed for peace in the areas, he asked God to comfort the bereaved, heal those recuperating in the hospitals and challenged the government and the security agencies to live up to the expectation.

    He said: “Those bloodletting could have been avoided if our political leaders and the heads of the security agencies are alive to their responsibilities. This is why the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has been consistently calling on them to live up to the billings.

     

     

    “What is happening in the North-Central of the country is a shame, ungodly, wicked and ungodly. It is high time we stopped it before we are thrown into another needless civil war”.

     

  • ‘Ogoni clean-up long overdue’

    ‘Ogoni clean-up long overdue’

    Normalcy will soon return to Ogoniland in Rivers State, following the Federal Government’s approval of N2.1billon for its clean up.

    The planned clean-up will boost socio-economic activities in the area, experts have said.

    Director in charge of Environment, Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CHERD), Mr. Obodoekwe Stevn and the Business Development Manager, Cerase Environment Services, Mrs. Gloria Igboji said Ogoniland clean-up was overdue. They added that President Muhammadu Buhari took the right step in endorsing measures that would fast-track the implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) report on Ogoniland.

    Stevn noted that oil spills have destroyed human and natural habitats in Ogoniland, adding that the inhabitants of the area would go back to their traditional occupations of fishing and farming after the clean-up of their land and waters.

    He said once the money was approved by the Federal Government and it is well utilised, socio–economic activities in the area and others in the Niger-Delta, would come back to life.

    Stevn said Ogoni sons and daughters had lost touch with  nature, following the destruction of their waters and land by oil spills.

    His words: “Efforts have been made in the past to clean up Ogoniland and further help the people reclaim their natural habitats but to no avail.  However, all hopes are not lost as the government is planning to do a major clean-up in the area. The restoration of aquatic lives and others in Ogoniland depends on how well the government utilises the N2.1billion it has approved for the project.”

    Also, Igboji said  Ogoniland residents’attitude and that of other oil producing areas in the Niger Delta, use of wrong chemicals by contractors hired by oil companies to clean up the land and others, delayed the remediation and clean-up process introduced by Shell and other International Oil Companies (IOCs).

    She said the inhabitants of Ogoniland were sure of a good life now that the government had shown interest in cleaning the area.

    “Effective deployment of fund by the government is needed to make the remediation programme work.  The people in Ogoniland cannot wait to see their lands and waters cleaned up. They have been expecting it in order to improve their lifestyles,” she added.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the establishment of Hydrocarbon Pollution and Restoration Project (HYPREP) governing council.

    The president, through his spokesperson, Femi Adesina, said the council would be composed as follows: the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, one representative; Federal Ministry of Environment, a representative; Impacted State (Rivers), one representative; oil companies and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation( NNPC), four representatives; Ogoniland, two representatives among others.

    He also approved the composition of a Board of Trustees for the HYPREP Trust Fund as follows: Federal Government, one representative; NNPC, one representative; IOCs, one representative; Ogoniland, and a representative  of the United Nations.

  • Atan overdue for a bank

    SIR: Atan Ota is a frontline town in Ado Odo-Ota Local Government in Ogun State brimming with some 300,000 inhabitants. It lies right on the international route linking Nigeria with the Republic of Benin. A hub of business activities, Atan, for short, is swarming with workers even in the heart of Lagos State, artisans, petty traders, small and medium scale industrialists and others who are into various business concerns. The population of the settlement keeps increasing as more and more people move in from Lagos to build residential blocks.

    A significantly peaceful community, Atan is surrounded by communities of farmers of various specialization and sizes. There are those into poultry, fishery, piggery and crop farming, all on a commercial scale. Of significance also, is the long abandoned Lagos – Sokoto highway designed to link the south-western Nigeria with its counterpart in the far north-west. The project connects Atan from Agbara en route to Sokoto.

    For any banking transaction, an Atan resident would have to travel some seven kilometres westward to Owode where there are two frontline commercial banks’ branches lying beside each other. The option is to move some 20 kilometres or so eastward towards Sango, stopping at Cannan-land. Yet, this much more smaller community hosts, at least, a branch of three commercial banks and a flourishing micro-finance bank.

    It is, of course, understood that the establishment of a bank is guided by certain factors. Cardinal among these is the prospects for profit, premised on the population and volume of commercial activities as well as security. In the area of security, Atan is as safe as any average Nigerian community. As regards potentials for profit, there is no doubt that any organisation worth   being called a bank should have no problem opening a branch in Atan in view of the volume of daily business transactions and the regular influx of people into the sprawling settlement.

    What is more, a banking facility in Atan Ota would serve other fast growing settlements like Iju, Onibuku, Idedo and Obere on the east flank; Ajilete to the west and Ajegunle, Olorunleke and Alapoti to its southwest.

    Funnso Ogunlade

    akinmuyiwa@yahoo.com

  • Why national conference is overdue

    SIR: The Nigerian situation often defies any explanation and sometimes calls our rationality to question. It confirms the notion that in the midst of mad people, a lone sane man becomes the insane. Or how else do we explain why a simple call for a conference becomes such an uphill task?

    While we prefer to hold dialogues with sectional groups, we neglect to hold a conference that embraces everyone. For so long, particularly since the military incursion/ (mis)adventure into our body politic, there has been a lot of agitation for a National conference to resolve the various contradictions of the Nigerian state. Yet in 2013, a year before the centenary, and despite the fact that the Nigerian state has been wobbling and tottering from pillar to post without making headway, we are yet to sit down together and holistically find solutions to our problems. We prefer ad hoc and sectional solutions that have no mileage.

    The fears of people who do not want a conference is that such a conference will lead to the dissolution of Nigeria, even though everything points to the contrary view- that it is in fact the absence of such a conference that will spell the doom of Nigeria.

    As powerful as the USSR was when the time came for it to break apart it did. Would it not be better to break apart than be kept together by force of arms against our will? Since we are supposed to be in a democracy, the option should always be available. Be that as it may, who says that a conference will lead to disintegration anyway? There some people who are adept at using this prospect as a scare tactic to have their way, particularly those who are benefitting from this warped and convoluted Nigerian federalism.

    A national conference is being advocated because it is the ultimate solution to conflicting interests. Even if there is a war, the only way to end it ultimately is through a conference between conflicting parties. We can already see some warmongers among us- those advocating that the ’North’ must get the presidency or that Jonathan must get a second term. Both parties are promising that hell will be let loose should their wish fail to materialize.

    Where does that leave the rest of us? Sending the current ruling party- PDP out of governance and replacing it with opposition such as APC or such other party will not offer a lasting solution to our problem. The resolution of the structural deficiency of Nigeria should take precedence over politics, particularly the politics of 2015 elections. There is humongous danger ahead if we pay scant attention to this but invest most of our time and resources in fighting for the control of federal government in 2015.

    Even though a lot of people mouth the need for a conference, and some polls have actually recorded that the preponderance of Nigerians want a conference. Four out of the six zones of the federation at one time or the other agreed to have a conference but as usual in Nigeria’s brand of democracy, the wish of two zones prevailed over four.

    It is disheartening that Nigeria that boasts of some of the most educated, widely read and sophisticated people in the world cannot fashion a successful system of governance for itself but let the morons lead it by the nose to war instead of dialogue. Where and what then is the essence of its ‘greatness’? The thought of the catastrophe that lies ahead if we continue the way we are going should be enough to make us shudder enough to amend our ways as soon as possible- even right now.

    • Tokunbo Ajasin

    tokunbo.ajasin@atayese.org

  • A Nigerian Spring – Long Overdue

    A Nigerian Spring – Long Overdue

    I was a visiting professor in Paris last fall and it was the first day of class. I was making copies for my 10:30 class at the faculty lounge where two female professors were kibitzing by the coffee machine.

    “Oh, yeah,” one said. “Soon as I learned he’s Nigerian, I discounted everything he’d said as fraud.”

    “Smart move,” agreed the other, nodding, “nothing good’s ever come out of that country. …”

    I cringed, held my breath and skedaddled on to my classroom, where my students wanted to know my nationality. I’m American. “Bot Professa,” an African student’s hand flew up, “ware you from originally? I hear the voice of Africa.”

    I inhaled deeply, chuckled but ignored that question.

    When I left Nigeria for the United States in 1980, the plan was to earn an M.B.A., a doctorate in economics, and then return. It was my moral obligation to help develop my country, whose oil wealth financed my education. An M.B.A., a Ph.D. and 32 years later, I’m still here, abroad. In 1992, when I applied for a position at my alma mater, the University of Ibadan, the dean replied, “Why on earth would you want to return when everybody’s trying to escape?” No one’s been paid for over three months, he explained, and universities are on strike half the time.

    Twenty years later, Nigeria can still bring the crazy.

    In 1980, the naira had a very favorable exchange rate against the dollar. En route to the United States, I stopped over in London. All along King’s Road, the shopkeepers beckoned: “Nigerian? Welcome. Come inside.” I was proud to be from Nigeria and was offended when the country was confused with Niger. But, today, if I can pass for someone from Niger — sadly, I would be glad.

    Is there a person on the planet who remains unfamiliar with the Nigerian e-mail scam? As a Nigerian living abroad, I’ve become embarrassed — indeed scared — after learning that in February 2003 a Czech victim of an Internet fraud murdered an innocent Nigerian in Prague.

    That isn’t the scariest narrative — not by a long shot. In recent years, Nigerians abroad have been warned: “Don’t come home. Just send money.” But if one must, say, attend a wedding, a funeral or take a chieftaincy title, it is necessary to hire prearranged police protection from the moment you land at the airport until the moment you depart.

    Last summer, my ailing 87-year-old mother, worried that her days are numbered, called a family reunion for Christmas. My three U.S.-based siblings and I made plans to return home with all our kids. At the last minute, my brother sent an e-mail canceling the reunion. “What?” my daughter said, her glass of iced tea slipping out of her hands and shattering on the tile floor. Uncle Tony can’t guarantee our safety in Nigeria, I explained.

    “What about hired armed security like the last time?” she inquired. I showed her the link to the news report my brother had sent headlined, “Gunmen Kill U.S. Returnee in Enugu,” his hometown in Nigeria.

    Ogbo Edoga had returned from the United States to attend the meeting of an organisation of Nigerian professionals in the United States to raise funds for an ultramodern medical diagnostic center in his ancestral village. On his way, he was robbed and shot and killed with an AK-47. He had hired police protection, as had many Nigerians who visited our motherland only to be robbed and murdered. The lucky ones got kidnapped and released after their families paid a huge ransom. And now, Mom’s joined the choir: “Don’t come home.”

    Here’s what is shameful: This is the Nigeria that has been one of the world’s top 10 oil exporters for decades; the presumed “Giant of Africa” when I was leaving in 1980. But three decades later, despite a half-century of billions of petrodollar inflow, in March 2011, at a World Bank-O.E.C.D. conference in Paris, I found myself sliding down my chair to hide my face behind my laptop as a fellow economist explained why Nigeria was excluded in a comparative study thusly: Since Nigeria (with South Africa) dominates the Sub-Saharan African economy and since Nigeria does so poorly at wealth creation, if included, it would render Sub-Saharan Africa’s genuine savings dwarfish vis-à-vis East Asia and Latin America.

    Here’s the thing: One doesn’t need a Ph.D. in economics to understand the correlation between poverty and today’s high crime rate in Nigeria. When corrupt politicians persistently embezzle public funds rather than produce proper policies, the result is a stagnant economy and its attendant human misery — high unemployment and massive poverty. Marginalised youths resort to Internet scams, kidnapping, or join Boko Haram. When the police go unpaid for months, the citizens become the logical prey.

    That’s where Nigeria is today. It will not change until we, the people, join in a mass outrage against corruption, demand transparent accounting of our oil revenues and economic justice. Only then will an honest leadership emerge to invest a fair share of the oil revenues in capital in such a way as to permanently raise the consumption level of the masses. Otherwise we Nigerian expatriates — the most educated immigrant group in the United States — will remain in exile, and Nigeria will remain a breeding ground for terrorism.

    Is there an Honest Ernest among Nigerians who is able to galvanise us? Can something that good come out of Nigeria? That’s a palm reader’s guess.

     

  • Osaze’s first child overdue

    Osaze’s first child overdue

    The waiting game for Osaze Odemwingie’s first child contiues as latest reports from the United Kingdom suggest that the date for ‘Odemwingie junior’s’ arrival is already overdue.

    The Nigeria international was looking forward to the birth of his first ‘son’ before now but reports now reveal that his wife, Sarah, is still awaiting their first child, seven days after due date.

    “My son will be born around January 11,” recalled Odemwingie, who has had a difficult relationship with Keshi and predecessor Samson Siasia. “So, it was a difficult call for me to go away to the training camp, come back for one day for the birth and go again. It is clear now that my days with the ‘Super Eagles’ are over,” hinted the Baggies and Eagles forward after his ouster from AFCON 2013 squad.

    Meanwhile, Osaze is keen to speak to Queens Park Rangers about his possible transfer this January.

    The saga of the Hoops’ interest in the 31-year-old rumbled on Thursday afternoon with news that the Nigeria international would like to hear the London club’s offer.

    But West Brom are determined to stand firm and continue to insist Osaze is not for sale after rejecting a bid of around £2million from Loftus Road last week.

    QPR boss Harry Redknapp hinted on Tuesday that he was ready to abandon his pursuit of Osaze and Hawthorns team-mate Jonas Olsson after sealing an £8m deal for Loic Remy and lining up a £7m swoop for his fellow Frenchman, Yann M’Vila.

    But Rangers are still monitoring Osaze amid stories in London that the former Lokomotiv Moscow man would consider submitting a transfer request to force through a move.

    Those reports remain unconfirmed but the Express & Star understands Osaze would be interested in speaking to the big-spending Premier League strugglers.

    They are believed to be paying Remy around £80,000 per week and could offer Odemwingie a substantial increase on his current weekly Hawthorns pay-packet, which is in excess of £35,000.

    However, Baggies boss Steve Clarke has been steadfast in his refusal to entertain selling Odemwingie, Olsson, or any of his other first-team regulars.

    Clarke is willing to listen to offers for unsettled midfielder Graham Dorrans but has insisted the rest of his senior players are ‘not for sale’ with the Baggies rejecting a bid for Osaze and a £5m offer from Rangers for defender Jonas Olsson.

    Odemwingie, who has 18 months remaining on his current deal, is braced for a hectic week.

    But West Brom are not ready to cave in easily to any transfer bids and defender Gareth McAuley has welcomed the club’s stance.

    McAuley said: “Everyone knows the club is run properly and don’t have to sell their best players to make ends meet.

    “That’s great for the club, for the fans, and group of players we have here. I don’t think it is a distraction. The lads are professionals.”

  • ‘Eagles overdue for another title’

    ‘Eagles overdue for another title’

    Super Eagles defender Azubuike Egwuekwe has declared that Nigeria are long overdue for another AFCON title after their last conquest in 1994.

    The Jos-born star told MTNFootball.com in an exclusive interview the Eagles will outclass Burkina Faso and Ethiopia on their way out of Group C of next year’s tournament.

    The man-mountain central defender, who has been the most consistent player from the NPL in the national team since coach Stephen Keshi took charge last year, also revealed how the misfortunes that affected his footballing brothers almost cut short his own career.

    He has been appointed new skipper of Warri Wolves and said he will not play for another club in the NPL, while his dream league is the German Bundesliga.

    How was it making your debut for the Super Eagles?

    Egwuekwe: I felt great; it was a dream come true for me.

    Which have been your best games for Nigeria so far?

    I would pick two. The friendly against Peru in Lima and then the AFCON qualifier against Liberia away in Monrovia.

    Nigeria have been drawn in the same group as defending champions Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia. How would you rate this group?

    It is an easy group. Zambia are the only team who will give us a bit of a tough time, but Ethiopia and Burkina Faso are nowhere close to us. I see us progressing to the next stage from the group as leaders. I am not underrating these teams, but we are not in same class.

    How has it been as a regular player of the Eagles?

    Honestly, it is a big surprise to me. If anyone had told me by this time last year that I would be playing for the Eagles, I would have disagreed.

    I have always dreamt to play for my country, but I didn’t think it would come this early. I give God the glory and thank coach Stephen Keshi for giving me the chance.

    How has it been in training camp with the foreign-based pros?

    It has been encouraging so far. There is no discrimination between us. We are just like one big family. In fact, my friends in the Eagles are Efe Ambrose, Ahmed Musa and Obiora Nwankwo. There is no difference at all in camp between the players.

    What have you learnt playing alongside skipper Joseph Yobo, Ambrose and Elderson Echiejile in the Eagles?

    Playing alongside these top players has been great, particularly Yobo. It has been a big experience for me. I have learnt a lot from them.

    Which game has been your toughest?

    That is our match against Liberia in Monrovia in September. We arrived two days before the game and our hotel was close to the stadium, people were at the stadium singing, I could not sleep. It was a tough game.

    What are the clubs you have played for?

    I played for Adamawa United, OUK and NPA.

    Which league do you wish to feature in?

    I love the German Bundesliga and would be on top of the world if I could play there.

    Who are your role models?

    Uche Okechukwu and (Nemanja) Vidic of Manchester United.

    Where will you play next season?

    Warri Wolves. I can’t leave Wolves for any team in Nigeria. I am a Warri Wolves player.

    How did your parents first react to your choice of football as a career?

    It was so difficult for me to play football because my father didn’t want me to because of the experiences of two of my older brothers who also chose to play football.

    What were their experiences?

    We are four boys in my family and the first-born chose football and was poisoned while playing for Greater Tomorrow. My father spent a lot of money before he survived. The second boy was playing for NIPOST FC of Jos and there he got injured; he almost lost his life.

    So, when I came with the same thing, hell was let loose that at a time my father threatened to disown me if I didn’t stop playing football.

    But I would jump fences to attend trainings. I did that for about three years before I joined a professional team, even at that he still told me to quit.

    Rather reluctantly, he has started accepting that I was born to play football because now he has been hearing about my exploits.

    What are your targets for AFCON 2013?

    The trophy. It has been a long time this has happened for Nigeria and I wish to be part of the team to do it.