The Nation Newspaper

Tag: POWER

  • Power: Concerns over govt’s move to end ‘crazy’ billing

    On May 1, the Meter Asset Providers (MAPs), a scheme by the Federal Government to end crazy billing, began operation. Assistant Editor EMEKA UGWUANYI x-rays the initiative.

    The Meter Asset Provider (MAP) Regulation, which came into force on April 3, 2018, enabled the creation of the Meter Asset Providers (MAPs) – a new set of service providers, to fast-track the closure of the metering gap currently affecting over five million customers in the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). Besides, the metering scheme will ensure that electricity customers only pay for what they actually consume.

    According to the Head, Public Affairs Department of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Agency (NERC), Dr Usman Abba Arabi, under the MAP regulation, customer classes shall be amended to ensure that customers only pay for meters when a meter is physically installed in their premises. But at stakeholders’ meeting held in Lagos, NERC said the MAP licensee must meter the customer not later than 10 working days after such customer has paid for the meter. “Rollout of meters shall commence no later than the 1st of May 2019.  Customers of DisCos should expect from the commencement of rollout date for meters to be installed in their premises within 10 working days of making payment to MAPs in accordance with section 18 (3) of the MAP Regulations 2018,” the Commission said.

    The electricity bill of customers provided with a meter under the new regulatory framework shall comprise of two parts – energy charge and metering service charge. The payment of metering service charge will be removed from the customer electricity bill upon the full amortisation of the meter asset over its useful life. All faulty meters are expected to be repaired or replaced free of charge within two working days, except in instances where it is established that the customer is responsible for the damaged meter.

    In pursuit of promoting local content, the new MAP regulation mandates the investors to acquire a minimum of 30 per cent of their metering volume from indigenous meter manufacturers. This local content threshold may be adjusted by the NERC from time to time in line with the verified manufacturing volume of local manufacturers, he said, adding that the 11 electricity distribution companies (DisCos) are expected to engage the services of MAPs towards the achievement of their three-year metering targets prescribed by the Commission. In other words, the MAP scheme is programmed to completely meter all unmetered customers within three years.

    The performance of Meter Service Providers shall be governed by the provisions of the Meter Asset Regulation, technical codes of the electricity industry, and a Meter Services Agreement/Service Level Agreement signed with the distribution companies.

    Arabi also stated that the NERC, in line with the powers drawn from the MAP Regulations, in May 2018, approved 22 firms to participate in the meter procurement process but noted that the approval of these 22 companies does not foreclose other interested applicants from getting the NERC’s ‘No Objection’ as it is a continuous exercise.

    He said: “The Commission, having conducted due diligence on the supporting documents to the applications submitted by interested investors, has granted successful applicants ‘No Objection’ to participate in the procurement process for meter assets provision in accordance with section 8 (4)  of the Meter Assets Providers Regulations, 2018.

    “Companies granted ‘No Objection’ include Huawei Technology Company Nigeria Limited; Bilview Energy Limited; Chintech Electro Nigeria Limited; Holley Metering Limited; Meron Nigeria Limited; Integrated Power Limited; MBH Power Limited; Trimani Engineering Limited; Sapropel Energy Resources Limited; Megawatt Distribution International Limited; Unistar Hi-Tech Systems Limited; and MOMAS Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company Limited.

    “Others are Imperial Infrastructure Development Company Limited; Ratio Consulting Limited; Protogy Global Services Limited; Paktim Metering Nigeria Limited; Sabrud Consortium Nigeria Limited; Tinuten Nigeria Limited; Kayz Consortium Limited; BTS Power Limited; CIG Metering Assets Nigeria Limited and Cresthill Energy Limited.”

    The Nation, however, learnt that currently, the number of companies that have gotten NERC’s ‘No Objection’ to participate in MAPs has risen to about 36 including, Armese Consulting Limited, Chris Ejik International Agencies Limited, Mojec International Limited, CWG Plc, Integrated Resources Limited, Consolidated Infrastructure Group Limited, FLT Energy System Limited, G-Unit Engineering Limited, Inlaks Power Solution Limited, Turbo Energy Limited and New Hampshire Capital Limited.

    The General Manager, Finance and Management Services, NERC, Abdulkadir Shettima, told The Nation that the MAP Regulation mandates electricity distribution companies to engage meter assets providers who fund purchase, installation and replacement of meters to meet DisCos metering obligations to their customers. This is to ensure that all electricity customers are metered thereby reducing incidences of estimated electricity billing to the barest minimum.

    According to him, the DisCos through a competitive process will select the meter service provider/s of their choice. The regulatory agency, however, ensures that such MAP licensees’ companies do not have any affiliation or relationship to the DisCos that they will work with. Besides, NERC hired best-qualified auditors that checked the books of bidders (MAP licensees) that bid to participate in a metering scheme to ensure they (licensees) have financial and technical competencies, Shettima added.

    He also noted that the DisCos are mandated by the MAP Regulation to embark on a robust sensitization programme of the customers through the media – print, radio, television, social media and the use of flyers, among others. The MAP Regulation directed the DisCos to publish the names of their Meter Service Providers in two national newspapers. The sensitisation programme will make customers know the MAP licensees that will serve them. The sensitization programme will also let the customers know the meter deployment plan and what the customers are supposed to do.

    Shettima stated that contrary to rumours making the rounds that DisCos are expressing lukewarm attitude to complying with the publication of their successful MAP licensees and other information the customers ought to know, DisCos must as statutory obligations comply fully with the sensitization programme or face financial sanctions.

    Read also: Nigeria may take 2,000 years to get adequate electricity

    On the cost of the meters to be installed by the MAP licensees, which is fixed at N36,991.50 for single phase meters and N67,055.85 for three-phase meters respectively, he said the Commission didn’t just fix the prices from nowhere. According to him, out of the 36 successful bids received, the NERC selected the six lowest prices, got the average and that is how we arrived at the prices of the meters.

    “MAPs shall charge an upfront amount of N36,991.50 for single phase meters and N67,055.85 for three-phase meters respectively. These costs of meters are inclusive of supply, installation, maintenance and replacement of meters over its technical life,” the Regulation stipulated. The Commission shall monitor closely the rollout plan of distribution licensees and overall compliance with the regulation and various service agreements by the MAP and electricity distribution licensees, it added.

    DisCos and their MAPs’ licencees

    In line with Section 4(3) of the MAP Regulation 2018, which requires all the DisCos to engage MAPs that would assist as investors in closing the metering gap and thus eliminate the practice of estimated billing in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, NERC has issued permit to the following DisCos to work with these MAPs.

    Ikeja Electric – Mojec International Limited, which will supply 399,790 meters, Consolidated Infrastructure Group Limited – 397,922 meters and New Hamshire Capital Limited – 276,699 meters.

    Benin Electricity Distribution Company – FLT Energy System Limited, G-Unit Engineering Limited, Inlaks Power Solution Limited, Sabrud Consortium Nigeria Limited and Turbo Energy Limited to provide meters within its franchise.

    Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Plc – Armese Consulting Limited and Holley Metering Limited

    Yola Electricity Distribution Company – Chris Ejik International Agencies Limited

    Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Plc – Mojec International Limited

    Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc, appointed CWG Plc, Integrated Resources Limited, Mojec International Limited, Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company Limited, New Hampshire Capital Limited, Protogy Global Services Limited and Tinuten Nigeria Limited respectively to provide meters within their respective franchise under MAP.

    Rights of DisCos

    Pursuant to the provisions of the metering code, meter reading, billing and collection regulations, the DisCo shall have access to customer meters installed by the MAP, will have right to use data derived from customer meters for monitoring, billing planning and any other related activities.

    It will have the right to query data from customer meters for audit purposes and evaluating consistency, accuracy and integrity. The DisCo shall treat cases of unauthorized access and meter tampering in accordance with existing laws and Regulations.

    The DisCo shall include a metering service charge as a clear item on the billing of its customers provided with meters under a metering service charge (MSA) with MAPs and shall be separate from the energy charge. The metering service charge shall be based on the outcome of the procurement process for the MAP and subject to the approval of the Commission.

    Obligations of DisCos

    To develop a meter deployment plan towards the achievement of its metering targets stipulated by the Commission. *Plan and execute a transparent and competitive procurement process for the engagement of MAPs that will supply and install meters within their franchise area. *Execute a Metering Service Agreement with successful MAPs for the deployment of meters based on the DisCo’s meter deployment plan.

    *Provide a payment structure and security acceptable to the MAP in line with the terms of the MSA.

    *Provide relevant information to the MAP in a timely manner to enable it to carry out its obligations under the contract. *Timely disbursement in full to MAPs the aggregated metering service charge paid by all customers supplied with meters under an MSA.  *Liability for the payment of applicable metering service charge for customers affected by a prolonged service outage exceeding two weeks. *The metering service charge paid by all customers shall be ring-fenced in a dedicated account for the purpose of timely payment to MAPs.

    Rights of the MAPs

    *Legal ownership of the meter asset until fully amortized through the payment of a metering service charge by beneficiary customers. *Right to be paid in full the aggregated metering service charge paid by customers during the billing cycle. *Access to customer premises to enable it to carry out its operations with respect to the meter asset in compliance with the metering code, meter reading, billing and collection regulations and any other applicable regulation of the Commission. *MAPs shall be granted access to viewing rights to the vending platform associated with meters asset supplied under the MSA.

    Obligations of MAPs to DisCo

    *Conformity with all specifications for the meter asset and the standard of installation. *Obtain all necessary certifications and approvals for meters in line with extant codes, regulations and industry requirements. *Engage only certified meter service providers for the deployment of meters in line with the provisions of the MSA.

    MAPs’ obligations to customers

    *Periodic inspection of meters to ensure integrity and reading accuracy. Where required, the MAP shall arrange for the testing and calibration of customer meters in line with the provisions of the metering code. *The MAP shall repair or replace faulty meters within two working days of being notified of such faults. *Where a MAP fails to repair or replace a meter within two working days of a report by the customer or DisCo, the customer shall not be liable for the payment of metering service charge for the billing period unless such delays were as a result of inaccessibility to the customer’s premises.

    *In the event of a prolonged delay in repairing or replacing a defective meter asset, the DisCo and MAP shall agree on an appropriate compensation to the DisCo for loss of revenue. *The MAP shall perform its obligation to customers according to service standards set out in a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the DisCo.

    MAPs’ Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

    *A Service Level Agreement shall be executed between the MAP and DisCo to provide for Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the MAP. The scope and responsibility for meter maintenance activities and revenue protection shall be as agreed between the parties under the MSA/SLA. The KPIs agreed between the parties to the SLA shall be filed with the Commission. The provisions of the Meter Reading, Billing and Collections and the Metering Code shall be the basis for benchmarking.

    Customers’ rights

    *All customers are eligible for the installation of an appropriate meter to accurately determine energy consumption and to provide for energy accounting. In line with the provisions of the Metering Code, a customer’s meter shall be repaired or replaced by the MAP within two working days.

    *A customer’s meter shall be repaired or replaced at no additional cost within the amortization period of the asset unless the damage was as a result of the willful action of the customer. Where there is a dispute on the responsibility for the damage of a meter asset, the customer has a right to fair resolution in line with the Metering Code and other applicable Regulations and the MAP shall provide a meter pending the resolution of the dispute.

    *Where it is established that the customer willfully damaged a meter, the MAP shall replace the meter based on upfront payment by the customer or other mutually agreed terms of payment.

    *Where the MAP is unable to provide a replacement meter within a billing period, an average of the last three months billing/vending shall be applied for the purpose of determining customer’s energy consumption.

    *Where a customer relocates within the franchise area, the customer shall apply to the DisCo for the transfer of services including applicable credits for energy.

    Customers’ obligations

    *The customer shall provide access for the provision of meters for their premises in line with the installation requirements of the DisCo. A customer shall be denied service by a DisCo on account of refusal to allow for the installation of a meter by a MAP.  *The customer shall ensure the safety of the meter and shall not tamper with or remove it, nor permit access thereto except by duly authorized MAP staff or agents of the MAP or DisCo.

    Upon the installation of a meter by a MAP, the customer has no obligation to pay for metering service charge through the DisCo at the time of payment for energy unless financed upfront in full by the customer. The payment for metering service charge by the customer to the MAP shall cease upon full amortization of the meter asset over its technical life assumed in the procurement process for the MAP.

    *Where a customer fails to pay for a metering service charge in any given month or months, the cumulative metering service charge shall be deducted upon the subsequent payment.

    *In line with guidelines for asset enumeration by DisCo, customers’ meters are associated with feeders and distribution transformers and shall not be moved by customers.

    Customers’ financing of meters

    *Where a customer elects to pay for a meter asset upfront under these Regulations, such a customer shall not be liable for the payment of metering service charge through the DisCo.

    *The amount payable to the MAP by a customer electing to pay upfront shall be the efficient cost of the meter asset and its installation cost as determined by the procurement process for the MAP conducted by the DisCo.

    *The MAP shall install the meter at the premises of the customer within 10 working days of the receipt of full payment by the customer. The authorization by the DisCo to pay for the meter shall only be issued after certifying the readiness of the premises for a safe and secure installation of the meter asset

    Cost structure

    *The cost structure of Metering Service Charge covers the cost of providing the meter asset and the ongoing costs of operating and maintaining the meter. The cost structure provides a transparent way of billing metering costs so that Customers only pay for own metering services.

    MAPs licensees, DisCos and local manufacturers to work mutually

    The MAP regulation made provision for local content policy in order to guarantee and strengthen the government’s resolve to encourage the participation of local entities in the sector. Section 9 of the Regulations stipulates that MAPs shall source a minimum of 30 per cent of their contracted metering volumes from local meter manufacturing companies in Nigeria. It noted that further changes to the minimum local content thresholds shall be as specified in the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Local Content Regulations.

    “This position taken by the Regulation is highly commendable as the participation of the local business entities in critical sectors of the economy is vital in increasing the capacity, sustenance and localization of technical knowledge of the sector and minimizing the appropriation of crucial resources that would have been spent to import such services,” NERC said.

    The Chairman of Momas Electricity Meter Manufacturing Company Limited (MEMMCOL), Kola Balogun, told The Nation that all the stakeholders in the MAP metering scheme – DisCos, MAP licencees and local meter manufacturers will work mutually. However, he noted that local meter manufacturers have the capacity to supply 70 per cent of the entire metering gap and that NERC should increase the 30 per cent local content provision in the Regulation to 70 per cent.

    Customers’ sensitisation programme

    The DisCos, for instance, Abuja DisCo and Ikeja Electric, have begun to sensitise their customers through radio programmes, distribution of flyers and issuance of press releases.

    The spokesman of Ikeja Electric, Felix Ofulue, issued a statement on frequently asked questions on MAP.

    He said: “These are companies licensed by the Regulator to procure and install meters for customers of electricity distribution companies. Ikeja Electric will commence MAP in May 2019.  In line with NERC regulations, customers are expected to pay for meters. The payment for the meter by the customer can either be upfront or in instalments.  A single-phase meter costs N38,850 and a three-phase meter costs N70,350. These are all inclusive of VAT. Customers who cannot afford to pay for their meters upfront can pay in instalments. The instalment payment is by regulation referred to as the Monthly Metering Service Charge (MSC) and will continue until full amortization of the meter asset cost, as agreed with the MAPs.”

  • Legitimacy, power and democracy

    In politics  and indeed in any  democracy, winning power  is one thing.  Securing  that power  however  is  another  matter. Ensuring  that power is won  and  won in the right  way and manner is the  main  ingredient  of  legitimacy  and the  rule  of  law. Some  world  leaders  are  locked  in a  grip  of  a fight  to protect  the power  that they  won at elections  and  are  as it were fighting for their  political  lives  as such.  Others  have such overwhelming victories at elections that  their  legitimacy  is assured  if not  already  taken  for granted. In effect  then the acquisition  of  power  in elections and the keeping or loss  of it thereafter is the crux  of our discussion  today.

    Nothing illustrates our  topic  today  more  vividly  than  two events,  first  in Osun  State  in  Nigeria  last week,  as  well as the Mueller Report in the US which  literally cleared US  President Donald  Trump  of collusion  with  Russia  in winning  the US  2016 Presidential  election.  The  two  events  are also  two sides  of the same coin. One  removed  legitimacy  from the Osun State incumbent governor  Olugboyega  Oyetola  in  Osogbo  the other in Washington affirmed  the legitimacy of the American president’s election  two  years  ago . .  We  shall  examine the two  events alongside  Brexit  Adventures  and Deals of UK PM  Theresa  May in clinging to  the legitimacy  of the Brexit Referendum at  all  costs and branding those  MPs  opposing her  as anti  democracy  and against    the  declared  interests  of the British  people.  We also  examine the challenge posed to the new  mandate of President Muhammadu  Buhari  of  the APC  by  the  court case  brought  after the election by his defeated  opponent  who  gave figures purportedly from INEC  server thereby  claiming to have won the  2019 presidential  elections in Nigeria.

    It  is well known  that the legitimacy  of an elections  flounders when  the  integrity  of  its fairness  and  legality  is successfully  assailed in a court  of  law.  Yet  it is not only in a court  of  law  that electoral  integrity  can  be  attacked  or undermined. Public  opinion  too  can drag  legitimacy  in the  mud as the CNN, Washington Post  and New  York  Times  have shown  the US President over alleged  Russian Collusion  in  the  last two  years.

    Belief  in the legal  system  or its opposite  can  also  tax  the legitimacy  of any newly  elected leader when  post  election  legal battles  begin as is the case  in both  Osun  and the last presidential  elections in  Nigeria. In  all  these  scenarios  and in any political  system,  legitimacy,  the affirmation and conclusion  that  a leader has been  elected in a free and fair election  according to the electoral  rules  is the icing on the cake in any democracy  in our  world as we know it  today.

    We  go back  to the Osun  guber  election  where  the Court ruled that the incumbent  governor  Olugboyega Oyetola  should vacate  office and his  opponent  Ademola  Adeleke  who  lost  the election earlier should  be given a fresh  mandate  certificate  by INEC  which appears  to  be a straight  forward  situation.  Until  INEC announced  that it would  not do this yet  because the displaced incumbent  governor  has 21  days to  appeal  according to the law.

    Which  he has done, meaning  the status quo remains  and the incumbent  governor remains  in  office  till  the  case is decided in the Supreme  Court  at a time no  one can  certainly  predic. That  simply  means that the incumbent  governor’s  legitimacy  is fractured  even  as he rules  as governor  in borrowed  robes. Unless of course  the  Supreme  Court  overturns  the verdict  that stripped  him  of  legitimacy  later. For  now  according to our  law,  the new  winner must brood  over what  he  thinks  is  his stolen  mandate  and legitimacy.  Certainly  he  and his supporters must  think  of  the law  as an  ass  in this  case, at  least  for now. But  if  the  Court  of  Appeal  or  Supreme  Court  affirms his  verdict  and  he assumes  his  mandate  he  can  certainly refer  gladly  to the legal  saying that says the mills  of  justice may grind  slowly  but they grind  exceedingly  fine.

    Certainly  Donald  Trump  can  also echo  the  view  point on the mills  of justice  on his clearance  by the Mueller  Inquiry  on Russian  Collusion. But  one  must commend  the doughty US  President for  the fierce way  he  defended his  mandate  and legitimacy  all along.  Undoubtedly  if  he  had  been  quiet  I doubt  if  the decision  would have  favoured  him. He  fought  the  anti  Trump Press with  a huge barrage of tweets  never  seen  or  used  before by any  President in the US or  even  our entire world.  His counter  Charge of  ‘fake news’  and’ witch  hunt’  were  catch phrases  he used  to blackmail  his media  opponents  and to secure his  legitimacy  which  the Russian Collusion charge  threatened mightily. He  has my  grudging  admiration  in this  regard  as well as my  pity on what he has been  made to go through  since his election.  He  is certainly  a good  lesson  for  Political  Science and  politicians  on how  world  leaders  should  fight  for their mandates  and power, secured in a free  and fair  election in any democracy.

    Let  us  now  look  at  the Brexit  issue  and especially  the role of the British  PM, Theresa May  on her  many  deals  that Parliament never  bought till  she pitched in  her resignation as the ultimate price of approval. She  has  thus    literally    given  her head on a platter  of  gold  for  a lamentable  reason  and a  pitiable  excuse. In  a way  she has turned  legitimacy  and democracy  on their  heads by insisting on the Brexit  Result  of  a  Referendum that the British  people now no  longer want. In  insisting on that Brexit  Result  she  is  pursuing  a false  legitimacy  for  which history  would  judge  her harshly  as unduly rigid  and frigid  or even  blind  on the direction of  public  opinion and the true wishes of the British  people on  Brexit.  She  has taxed  the patience  of MPs, the  loquacious  but    brilliant  Speaker, the taciturn EU leaders  and she  has  lost  her  leadership  role cheaply  and quite deservedly  for  the  wrong  reasons  including that the British  people  must  fall  on their  sword  for  voting Brexit. Her  act  is a wonderful  and unbelievable one in  how  to be a  poor  first  amongst equal  in the Cabinet  System  that  has been the backbone  and  legitimacy of  the  British  Parliamentary Democracy  that  has  now  crashed  with  her handling of  Brexit.

    It  is not sad  at  all  in my view  to see her exit as  PM over Brexit. Good  riddance would  indeed  be an understatement. On  the  presidential  election    appeal, the  charge  by the spokesman  of  the ruling  APC  that  it was criminal  for the PDP  to access  the server of INEC    to  collate  a result  different from that  announced by INEC  as election  results for  the presidential election makes interesting  reading.  First  the APC  Spokesman  is a well  known  lawyer  and should  know that the  case  is already in  court  and commenting on it is  subjudice. But  since  he  has broached  a crucial  issue  one  must  ask if  it is wrong  to  access

    election  results on a public server  especially  in an election. The issue  at stake is the integrity  of  the figures. That  is what APC  should dispute and  INEC  should  affirm or  disprove.

    Nigerians are  watching  to  see that justice  is  done one way or the other.  That  is the mark  of  legitimacy  in any  democracy  and Nigeria is not an exception. Once  again, long live the  Federal Republic  of Nigeria.

  • Elections, power and democracy

    The much  awaited  2019  elections  have come and gone and the APC is still  the ruling party  and President  Muhammadu  Buhari  is still  in power  even  though  his defeated opponent has gone to the courts  to  contest  his electoral  victory. That  in  a nutshell puts Nigeria in the league of nations  where  the rule of  law prevails  and  constitutionalism,  transparency  and accountability  are  the indices  of  the  march  into  democracy, the prevailing norm  and ideology  of  our  time.  Really  in  spite of  all  the problems which  beleaguered  our 2019  elections  I  feel proud  of the fact that it has come  and gone  peacefully  and the transition and Inauguration  are  up  and  coming.  I  say  this sincerely without  any  sarcasm  and insincerity  and you will  soon see  why.

    To  appreciate  what we have achieved  as a nation  on these elections  you  just  have  to  look at events in many  nations of the world  today  which  just went through elections or  are contemplating new  ones,  to know that  we  have achieved our  own indoor  miracle in landing in one piece  as a nation. Even  as the winners  and victors  celebrate  and the losers  count their losses and moan  in silence, wondering why their  luck  deserted  them  so much, this time  around. We  are  lucky  that  Nigerians  feel a sense  of relief  that the elections  have come  and gone  and  we are still  at  peace with each other despite the gloomy  predictions of  some so  called civilized nations and observers  who  have  come to  view  our elections as tourists in a foreign  zoo  in Africa.

    When  indeed  their own  brand of politics  and  values especially  on gay  rights  and sexual  equality  have turned their  environment into an arena of  cultural  Marxism versus  the rest, in a way  and manner  that shows  the decay  and decadence of  the democracy  they sold  so  gladly  to  us at  colonialism  and  globalization.

    I  therefore  want  to  highlight political  events in the US, Britain,  and    Venezuela  to show  that  comparatively  we have managed our politics  and elections  better  than  these  places. And like the lizard  that    landed flat  on its stomach  from  a great height  proverbially  said,  we  can  congratulate  ourselves  even if  no  one is going to applaud  our  electoral  feat.  Which again  I  say  with  all  seriousness is  no  mean  feat.

    Let  us  look  at  America  or  the United  States  of  America  [USA] which  some  have dubbed the Divided States of  America  [DSA] because  of  the deep  division  in the American  society  since the election of President Donald  Trump  in the 2016  presidential elections two  years  ago.  I  read  an  article recently in which the writer  was appealing  to liberal  and conservative democrats alike    in the US  to try and see  the other  side’s  point of  view instead of  seeing  those  with a different  point of view as devils incarnate.  The  writer  in particular  frowned  at  the slander, insult  and ridicule  with which  a section of the American  press covers the presidency  of  Donald  Trump  who  too believes  that  the press  is Public Enemy  No  1  and  has  tarnished  their professional  integrity  by calling them  fake news. The  point  I am  making is that two years  after their  presidential  elections Americans  are still at each others’  throat  over Russian meddling in the election  even  as they prepare  for  the  approaching  2020 presidential  elections. Yet  the US embassy  in  Nigeria  behaved as the international  albeit    unofficial  referee  of  our  2015 elections in which  power changed hands  and the 2019  election in which  power  was  consolidated,  with  Nigeria  maintaining  its head  as a nation  and  living up  to its motto of unity in diversity.

    In  Britain  where  Brexit  holds  sway in terms of  political discourse  and confusion, one  can  only feel  sorry  for Parliamentary  democracy  because the Brexit debate  and debacle has  shown  the Achilles  heel  of this  type  of  democracy. Indeed the  British  Parliament  has overreached itself  and has shown that  too many debates    lead  to  verbosity  and that  in the end breeds  confusion  and  leadership  misdirection. The  British  PM’s Brexit  Plan,  amended and not, has  been  defeated  several  times and yet  she is  planning another one even  though the Opposition leader  has suggested  a  general  election to choose  a government that    knows  what  it should  do  on Brexit.  Quite  interesting was the veiled  threat  by the Speaker  that  he would  veto a discussion on the PM’s  next  Brexit  Plan  if he sees  that the plan was just  the earlier debated  one  with  just  a change  of words.

    Worse  still  was  the observation by  an  MP  that  the PM said  it would be undemocratic to have  another referendum on leaving the EU or  not. Yet the PM did  not  see  it  undemocratic  to bring a defeated Brexit  Plan  for  debate  twice  or thrice. Again  the lesson  is that Britain  bungled a democratic  process  that was uncalled  for  because some of its  party  leaders  have  a false sense  of  Britain’s  importance  and relevance  in  the world. Yet despite  the  appalling  failing  voice  of its PM  in  Parliament no one  especially  no  gentlemen dared  query  her physical  capability for  leadership  because  that would be sexist  challenge.  That is  how  far  British  civilization  has  led itself  even  as they too sent observers  to  watch  our elections when  they  do  not know what they  want to do with the result  they  voted  for  with  Brexit.  Really,  charity  could  begin at home in Britain.

    In  Venezuela  there  is  confusion after  the last  presidential elections  of 2018  which the Speaker of the National  Assembly claimed  was rigged  and  which  the incumbent  President Nicolas Maduro  claimed  he won.  The Speaker Juain Guuado    proclaimed himself president  and the EU  and  US  have  recognized  him  as Interim  President  while  the incumbent  president  has thanked the military  for  standing by him and keeping him in  power.  Venezuela is  a socialist    country  and  China, Russia and  Turkey  are backing  the incumbent  and newly  elected  president.    Since  the election over 3m  Venezuelans  have fled    the  country.  So there is no peace in Venezuela  since their  last  election  in 2018 as they have two  internationally  recognized  presidents.

    In  effect  then  while  we  may  moan  about  our  many  electoral shortcomings  and  inadequacies  over these 2019  elections, we as a nation can  thank  God    for the peaceful elections we  just  went through.  This  does  not mean  we have swept  our  problems with our peculiar brand of democracy where  might is right  under the table. It  is a way  of thanking  God  that it could have been  worse. Once again, long live  the Federal  Republic  of  Nigeria.

  • Power, infrastructure should take centre stage

    Members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) contended with the typical constraints of the business environment in 2018. The high interest rate, weak GDP growth, dearth of infrastructure, particularly power supply, among others, resulted in high production cost and slowed down the manufacturing sector’s capacity utilisation. But, operators are optimistic of a better outing in 2019, because of the huge emphasis on infrastructure development, especially power, as well as Nigeria’s potentially robust economy with a large market, abundant natural resources and a productive population. CHIKODI OKEREOCHA and OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE report.

    The economy’s fragility was in full glare in 2018, but prospects of a better outlook this year are also too obvious to ignore. For a start, the recovery of oil price for most part of last year, no doubt, boosted Nigeria’s macro-economic fundamentals. But the momentum was rather short-lived.

    This followed a sharp drop in oil price to $54 per barrel, from a peak of $86 in early October. This, understandably, posed a risk to the nation’s macro-economic stability, leaving operators in diverse sectors, especially members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) worried.

    The Director-General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), Mr. Muda Yusuf, put the situation in perspective. He said the economy remained fragile with the high dependence on oil for revenue and foreign exchange earnings.

    He said although oil revenues increased with recovering oil prices in 2018, the impact on the economy was subdued by the huge foreign exchange commitments to petroleum product importations and the inherent subsidy.

    The LCCI chief also said the high debt service obligations were also major constraints to the economy’s growth. ”With the limited progress in the ongoing effort to diversify government revenue sources, the performance of the oil and gas sector would remain a critical factor that would shape the outlook for the economy in 2019,” he said.

    Yusuf in his projection for 2019 added that given the challenging economic conditions, key policy reforms would be imperative to support and sustain macro-economic stability.

    He listed the envisaged reforms that would put the economy on the path of sustainable recovery in 2019 to include, among others, a foreign exchange management framework that reflects the market fundamentals, the acceleration of the economic diversification agenda, normalisation of Lagos ports environment, the oil and gas sector reform and especially the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

    Others are the reduction in the cost of governance at all levels; improvements in the domestic revenue to reduce volatilities of government revenues, among others.

    It is easy to see why the LCCI was pushing these far-reaching reforms. It was borne out of the economy, particularly the manufacturing sector’s lack-lustre performance in 2018 and hopes that if the reforms are conscientiously implemented they are the much-needed tonic to galvanise the manufacturing sector this year.

    For instance, capacity utilisation in the manufacturing sector slowed to 54.6 per cent in 2018, from 57.14 per cent in 2017, while the aggregate local sourcing of raw materials by the sector also dropped to about 57.87 per cent in 2018, from 63.21 per cent in 2017.

    The LCCI and indeed, other members of the OPS, including Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), as usual, contended with the typical constraints of the business environment.

    Some of them include high interest rate, weak Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, weak consumer demand, deficient infrastructure, particularly power, traffic gridlock on Lagos port roads and insecurity in some parts of the country.

    For instance, the perennial power supply shortage remained a pain in the neck of operators. According to Yusuf, the power situation posed severe challenges to the private sector operators, impacting adversely on productivity. He said throughout last year, the Chamber received complaints across sectors about high energy costs especially high expenditure on diesel, higher cost of and scarcity of gas, and payment demand by electricity distribution companies (Discos) for power that was not supplied.

    The LCCI DG further stated that the epileptic electricity supply took its toll on the bottom line of investors and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). In fact, some real sector companies, according to him, reported that they spend as much as 20-25 per cent of their total operating cost on provision of alternative power supply and payment to Discos. He also said the provision of power was at the heart of ease of doing business in Nigeria.

    Apart from inadequate power supply, other issues that contributed in forcing the industrial sector’s contribution to the GDP to decline from 24 per cent in first quarter 2018, to 21.97 per cent in third quarter 2018, included poor patronage of Made-in-Nigeria products, high inventory build up, which forced manufacturers to reduce volume of production; overlap and harassment of manufacturing companies by the regulatory/monitoring agencies at the federal and state governments with overlapping functions.

     

    The hopes, the expectations

    For NACCIMA and MAN, the capital expenditure component of the 2019 budget and government’s efforts to improve power supply by expanding the energy mix hold immense promises.

    For instance, the National President of NACCIMA, Iyalode Alaba Lawson, said steady and reliable power supply was crucial to the sustained growth of the manufacturing sector.

    “The power sector is of keen interest to the private sector especially to manufacturers. Though the power sector has had a boost in the area of generation, we are concerned about the issues of “stranded power” and the hampered capacity to distribute due to obsolete and inadequate transmission and distribution equipment,” she said.

    She therefore, called for more urgent steps to resolve these challenges especially in the areas of metering, reduction in estimated billing, transmission and distribution.

    “We nonetheless welcome the innovative solutions being put in place to resolve the issues surrounding power, such as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission mini-grid regulation and the Energising Economies Initiative (EEI) of the Rural Electrification Agency,” Lawson stated.

    She also said the capital component of the 2019 budget, if religiously implemented, will be the elixir to sustainably put the economy on the recovery track. “The Chamber looks forward to the prompt passage and implementation of the programmes and capital projects outlined in the 2019 budget,” Lawson said.

    The NACCIMA chief, who applauded the Federal Government and the National Assembly for the concerted efforts in ensuring that the budget cycle returns to the January to December period, however, wants government to redouble fforts in promoting agriculture to ensure food security and promote import substitution.

    The Federal Government, she also said, must redouble its efforts in improving infrastructure, such as power, roads and rails, as well as its efforts at improving the ease of doing business. These will bring about positive change in the manufacturing sector (as Nigeria is still a net importer in manufactured goods,” she added.

    She, however, expressed concern with regards to the $60 per barrel crude oil price benchmark on which government budgeted revenues are based, given the well known burst and boom cycle of crude oil prices and volatility of the crude oil market. “Indeed, the oil price is hovering around $53 per barrel in the past few days, this portends serious problems for the effective implementation of the budget,” she said.

    Lawson added that although, President Muhammadu Buhari had in his speech to the National Assembly given assurances that the administration will continue to monitor the international oil price situation and will respond to any changes in the international oil price outlook for 2019, NACCIMA was of the view that government should begin  to create contingency plans to source alternative non-debt funding for its budget expenditure.

    MAN also aligned with NACCIMA, urging the Federal Government to revisit the assumptions of the 2019 budget, particularly crude oil production and price. “The crude oil price has a $60 per barrel benchmark, while oil production has a 2.3 million barrel per day projection. These assumptions should be revisited to reflect present economic realities,” the Association said, in its review and projection for 2019.

    According to MAN, this was necessary to achieve sustainable economic growth and budgetary objectives of the fiscal proposals for this year. MAN also recommended that government ensure an upward review of education and health allocations before appropriation. It also called for caution in the country’s rising debt profile in view of the associated services charges and future economic burden that it would exert on the nation.

    Manufacturers further called for the cutting down on government recurrent expenditures to reduce fiscal deficit, borrowing and service charges. It also canvassed shedding the current borrowing size of the government in the domestic financial market so as not to completely crowd-out the private sector.

    To reposition the manufacturing sector for increased productivity and competitiveness in 2019, MAN also recommended the commencement of the implementation of the harmonised taxes and levies and to allow the Joint Tax Board (JTB) monitor and enforce compliance by states and local governments.

    The association also urged the government to re-classify the manufacturing sector into strategic gas users from the current commercial gas user’s classification. Besides, the Federal Government, it advised, should continue to entrench better foreign exchange rate management while allocation should tilt more to the industrial sector, including the SMEs, among others.

    Perhaps, as signs of better things to come this year, the Federal Government has announced the allocation of N42 billion allocation for the development of the Special Economic Zone Projects across the geopolitical zones to drive manufacturing/exports.

    Other major policy interventions that have positioned the sector for better performance this year include the N15 million allocation for the recapitalisation of Bank of Industry (BoI) and Bank of Agriculture (BoA); N10 billion grant to BoI to subsidise interest rate charged on loans to SMEs.

    More importantly perhaps, members of the OPS believe that Nigeria remains a potentially robust economy with a large market, abundant natural resources and a productive population. Many of them encouraged by Nigeria’s 180 million population and a growing middle class with spending power are eager to invest in Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest economy, with GDP size of $405 billion.

    However, as promising as this year may be, the possibility of a slowdown in economic activities may not be ruled out. Being an election year, the performance of the economy in 2019 would, to a large extent, depend on the transparency and credibility of the election.

    The fear is that distractions from political activities may slow down infrastructure spending and the performance of the manufacturing sector being a sector whose operations rely heavily on infrastructure.

    Besides, there are fears that inflation rate might slightly increase due to electioneering spending, resulting from heightened political activities and lack of proper policy coordination.

  • Power, decorum and focus

    The  presentation  of  Nigeria’s 2019  budget by the president  at  the National  Assembly this  week  lacked all  the decorum expected of  such an important duty of the two political institutions  of the presidency and the National  Assembly  involved in our presidential  system  based on the separation of powers. Really    have no doubt  in my mind  that the fault lies with the leadership of the NASS  especially  as the Speaker of the House of  Representatives  and the President of the Senate were not able to present the address at  the joint session  as required  by the protocol and decorum of budget  presentation in Nigeria since the return  to democratic  rule in Nigeria in 1999. Even  the normally taciturn president chided in the midst  of the cacophony  that all  present should  be above   such    a disturbing spectacle  because  the world was   watching.  That  really  is quite true  and I want  to add  that the world has seen  Nigerian  legislators  at large  and at work   and   the world  at  large is disgusted  and nauseated.

    All   the same it   is impossible to treat the misdemeanor of  our legislators in isolation in a global  village that we are in  nowadays. This is because  we  saw  in other  parts  of the world  particularly  two  places  known  for the recommended practice  and ethos of liberal  democracy   that  violent language and verbiage has become the norm  rather  than  the exception.  In  the British  Parliament,  reputedly the  Mother of All   Parliaments,  the leader  of the Opposition  was alleged to have called the PM Theresa  May  a stupid  woman during debate  on Brexit  and a vote of no confidence in the PM, and the leader of Opposition, Jeremy  Corbin   was asked  to apologise  and he refused. In  the case  of the US it  has  become common place to   call  the American President a liar and an  ignoramus  on all  issues regardless  of his authority    as   president.  Indeed     from all indications some media  houses  are  simply  waiting   for  the  conclusion of the  Muller  Inquiry  on  alleged  Russian  hacking of  US 2016 presidential   elections,  and the resumption  in January   of the  House  of Representatives, where  the  Democrats   have  a comfortable majority  from the last November Mid term elections,  before  calling for the impeachment of the American president.  Indeed  one can say  flatly  that  there is no love lost between  a section of the US press  that  President Trump  calls daily Fake  News and the office of the US President and White  House  occupied  by the US president.

    Yet  Nigeria’s  democracy  is  a hybrid  product of the two  democratic   political  systems of  Britain  and   the  UK,  both  of which  nations  are  experiencing such  democratic  stress, difficulties  and challenges  that it is no wonder  that  nowadays   they  doubt  the  results  of their elections and   referendum,  which  was  an  unthinkable  if not impossible development in the recent past. Of  course  it is such  fallouts from  the workings   or is it   failings, of democracy   in these  two nations  that  have  reverberated in the disrespectful audience  given  the Nigeria President  when  he came to present the 2019  budget in the NationaL  Assembly  last  week.   Let us now  look  at  the aborted budget presentation of the Nigerian  president  in the sedate  setting of the National  Assembly which  legislators  turned  into a   vociferous  and  truculent  market  place of political slogans, jeers  and boos of the Nigerian  president such  that  he had to leave the presentation in a hurry. We  shall  then round up with  the reluctance of the Leader of the Labor Party  to apologise  for   allegedly  calling the British  PM a  stupid  woman.

    As I  said  earlier here,  I  hold  the leadership of the National Assembly  responsible  for the lack of respect shown  the office of our  president when  he came to present the nation’s  budget.  This was a constitutional  function based on the legislative oversight   function of the NASS to  approve the budget. To  make the presentation so rowdy  such that the leadership of the NASS could  not make its presentation as required by protocol and decorum is as  if the leadership of the legislature has willingly cut its nose to spite  its face . I praised  this present  NASS  leadership  sometime at the height of the heady    party  defections  in  NASS  that rocked the   Nigerian polity  some time ago. This was at a time when the Senate and the House  of Representatives passed delayed bills dutifully in spite of differences  and disagreements with the presidency. I  hailed that as a good sign that our separation of   powers as a presidential system  was working  even  at a time that that of the US was in hiccups over  a  Supreme Court  confirmation process. I  take back  that  commendation given the shoddy  reception given  the president when  he came for budget presentation this week.  There  was so  much  confusion and bad blood  on display  even at  the beginning when the senator giving the opening Christian prayer forgot  to remove his cap  till the end of his  prayer.  The  commotion that followed  certainly  showed that God turned  a blind  eye  to the prayer and that   is   not a good omen  for the  budget and its implementation. That  too is not good for  millions of Nigerians looking forward for better  dividends of democracy from  the Nigerian  2019  budget  because when  elephants  fight, it is the ground that suffers. Again due to poor leadership  our  democracy  is on   tenterhooks even  as we head  giddily   to the 2019  general  and presidential  elections.

    With  regard  to the calling of  the British  PM stupid it would seem  that some mischief  makers  are trying to make  a mountain out  of a mole  hill. Even  if  Corbin said  stupid  it was under his breath and in frustration because the PM had the better of  him while mocking him to  look  at  his back  and see his un impressed Labor Party  members. Indeed the Opposition leader looked as if he saw  a ghost  at  the joke.  And  the PM,   even  if she heard ‘stupid’  was  nonchalant. But   she  was   gleefully   happy     that her joke  on   withering  party    support   had  riled  her very  bitter opponent on  Brexit   and would  have  let  bygones be bygones.  But    then  Theresa  May     had   a score   to settle    with   Jeremy  Corbin  on    Brexit   harassment.  So,    as said  of   the   arrogant   character in that   famous  book  ‘Pride  and  Prejudice ‘, the PM certainly   ‘possessed  enough malice to make herself  merry with the embarrassment‘ of the Opposition leader on the  Brexit   No  Confidence  vote. Once  again long live the  Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  • Power: Fashola got it all wrong

    Last week, Nigerians were surprised to hear the summary of our power supply challenges from the Honorable Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN). It was shocking because it did not acknowledge the true situation which is that the Federal Government of Nigeria has 40% stake in the Distribution Companies (Discos), Generating Companies (Gencos) and a 100% stake in Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) which is the major stumbling block in the power sector.

    The problem is shared 60/40 ratio. Yes, the businessmen lead at the front but what about the government’s angle?

    The consistent thing that has marked the last three years from the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing with regards to power supply has been false narratives.

    On the other hand, one of the most important issues affecting the sector’s success – a cost reflective tariff – gets almost no mention at all. How can the issues be fixed if we keep avoiding the major problem?

    The honourable minister may have forgotten, but before the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) was sold to its successor companies, followed by the devaluation of the Naira, energy was sold for between N25-N36/kWh which is equivalent to 18.4¢/kWh. This value is at par with many countries on the planet.

    The minister forgot to inform Nigerians that the Nigerian power sector is 100% import-dependent, hence the devaluation had a devastating effect on the sector’s revenue expense-wise but nothing changed on the income side despite the devaluation.

    Today, energy is sold for between N25-36/kWh which is now equivalent to 8.4¢/kWh. That is over 54% loss against a business which is 100% import dependent. How will they survive?

    I agree the current license holders may not be as technically savvy as we will prefer them to be but this single adverse financial challenge is sufficient to kill any form of investment in any sector regardless of the technical competence of its operators. They will continually be engaged in a losing struggle to recoup their initial investment as well as pay off the debts they owe banks and other sources from where they got funds from.

    The ministry has also not made concrete efforts to help check energy theft and by this, I am referring to sustainable and enforceable policies and not just cosmetic events that do not address the problem. While we expect the operators to adopt new systems and technologies to curb energy theft, as the representative of the government in the 60/40 relationship, I think they should be more interested in aligning government’s other institutions to help checkmate this practice.

    While I cannot question the honourable minister’s prowess in law and jurisprudence, a critical sector like the power sector needs a technical hand …preferably an electrical engineer. I believe this is the main reason why he has kept pushing a narrative of a phantom 2,000MW stranded power which is non-existent or an acclaimed accomplishment of 7,000 MW generation capacity whereas we already had the capacity to generate 6.2GW as at 2014 and yet we remain saddled with gas constraints and a weak wheeling network which has not improved substantially in the last four years.

    Before we go any further, here are some facts.

    As at 2013, Nigeria was wheeling 3,000MW-plus on the transmission grid. This is still the same average we are battling with in 2018. It is instructive and worrisome to say Nigeria has NOT wheeled 4000MW averagely in our 58 years of existence. The one-off incident where we wheeled over 5,000MW on only one day does not count.

    The data of the wheeled and generated energy since 2013 is available on NERC website captioned as daily energy watch (the daily updates have been discontinued).

    Please find some relevant links listed below and data pulled from Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission “Daily Energy” watch which was discontinued by NERC in Jan 2017. Also in these links are the Energy report for 2017 and Q1 of 2018; NNPC monthly report and TCN System Operators daily report from 2014. These reports contradict information you have pushed to the Nigerian public in the last three years. I doubt that the minister can know more than the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

    1. http://nerc.gov.ng/index.php/library/documents/NERC-Reports/NERC-Quarterly-Reports/NERC-First-Quarter-Report-2018/

    2.http://nnpcgroup.com/NNPCBusiness/BusinessInformation/PerformanceData/MonthlyPerformanceData/tabid/617/FolderID/211/Default.aspx

    1. https://www.nsong.org/Library.aspx

    Any other figure other than the statistics listed below is wrong and misleading.

    1. Nigeria as at 2013 was wheeling 3,292MW averagely that is 28,837,920MWh of Energy in 2013.
    2. Nigeria as at 2014 was wheeling 3,330MW averagely that is 29,170,800MWh of Energy in 2014
    3. Nigeria as at 2015 was wheeling 3,529MW averagely that is 30,914,040MWh of Energy in 2015
    4. Nigeria as at 2016 was wheeling 3,188MW averagely that is 27,926,880MWh of Energy in 2016
    5. Nigeria as at 2017 was wheeling 3,619MW averagely that is 31,702,440MWh of Energy in 2017
    6. Nigeria as at March 2018 wheeled 3,942MW averagely that is 28,514,720MWh which has since returned to the same position in 2014.

    More importantly, our electricity consumption per capita has dropped because it is recorded against our population.

    Please note there are losses associated with wheeling and distribution and we also export electricity.

    Also of interest is that the figures above are not what get to Nigerians. There is at least 8% loss on wheeling and distribution and another 10% is exported to our neighbours leaving Nigerians to battle with less than 3,000MW. This is 58 years after independence.

    Honourable minister anyone that tells you making power is rocket science is NOT okay.

    All over Africa, nations are building power plants in record time and Egypt just unveiled a 14.4GW plant in 27.5 months for less than $6.5 billion.

     

    • Mohammed an energy expert writes from Lagos.

  • Elitism, power and cowardice

    A book  launch  by  the    ruling  elites or  oligarchy  in Nigeria, a reluctance  to accept  defeat in the November 6 Mid Term primaries in  the  US,    a  statement  by the Governor  of Ekiti State  that  President  Muhammadu  Buhari  saved  the Yorubas from  political  oblivion  through  juicy  ministerial  appointments form  the kernel  of our discussion today. I  intend to show that these  events highlight in each unique  way  the manner  that the ruling class  in modern  societies cling to power  tenaciously and desperately in a way  and manner  that  beggars  description. Preservation  and survival are  the working slogans of global oligarchies  and we shall  show how  and why  in the last  week these  elites  overlook  any grievance, insults and misdemeanor as long as it does not threaten or  seek  to  withdraw  or dismantle their hold on power or  the status quo.

    We  start  with the book  launch  of Nigeria’s last  President, Goodluck  Jonathan  aptly  titled  -My  Transition  Hours ‘  attended by the ruling class in Nigeria and at which the Chairmen  of the two major  parties took  pictures  together  and  the Chairman of the occasion,  former  President  Olusegun  Obasanjo  asked Nigerians not to hand power over to thugs and hooligans. The  book itself  which  I have not read but have read about, was  really  about  how Jonathan took  the decision  to concede  defeat in  2015  after  the results showed  he  had  lost. And that  in the views of the Nigerian  ruling class    literally made him a prime candidate for the Nobel  Prize for  Peace in Nigeria. It  is a view point  that  I wish  to disagree with  and  go  on to call an act  of cowardice  that  lacks genuine leadership  credentials  of principle  and  responsibility. Indeed it is an abdication of power based on faulty intelligence which has been  used as a future  bargaining  chip  and I will  illustrate  with some portions of the book in the news media.

    According to the book the former Head of State  had gotten intelligence report that  hinted  that Nigeria would  have collapsed if he didn’t concede defeat. He  mentioned the riots that followed the results of the 2011  election that he won  and during which his opponent, now the incumbent president  had  said in 2013 that  the dogs  and the baboons  would  be soaked in blood if the outcome of the 2015  election was the same as 2011. Yet  the incumbent President was represented at the occasion by the Secretary  to the Government and  commended the author  of the book  the former President.  Again this is an author who  while in office diverted  arms  funds meant to fight Boko  Haram to  campaign purposes and whose  aides  and accomplices  are facing  various court  cases to explain their source of funds. Also  according to  Kashim  Shettima, the Governor  of Borno State  who called the book ‘an elementary  book of fiction’ Jonathan  did  not act on a report of  an inquiry set up by himself on the abducted Chibok girls which  indicted him and his advisers and aides of negligence  and inaction on initial intelligence  warnings on the Chibok  girls abduction.

    So  how  can a leader whose administration used security  funds  for campaign, and mishandled the Chibok  abduction  suddenly  become  a hero  because he  conceded defeat in an  election in which he said in the same book  that  there were justifiable  grounds  for him to  reject  the  results  but he was determined  that Nigeria  would not  disintegrate  under  his watch. Which  simply says  that he  had put  personal  achievement over what  is right  and just,  to preserve  the status  quo , which

    is the objective  of all oligarchs  and elites globally.

    In  the US Mid  Term elections history  would  have been  made if Stacy  Abrams, the Democratic Party  candidate,  a woman  had won the Governorship elections but  that was not  to  be . Of  relevance to our discussion here is that even  after a recount the  loser refused  to concede  defeat and congratulate the so  called  winner and  insisted  that  there  was no  legitimacy  in the  victory. She has been deemed as not politically  correct in her position but  I see her view  point. The  flaw  in the  electoral  arrangement favored her opponent  Brian  Kemp  a Republican who  was Secretary of State for Georgia and whose office was in charge of elections but  who  did not resign that office  while contesting for the office of governor with her. That  too  was like was being a judge in one’s case and is a clear  case of conflict  of interest  and her decision not to concede,  but  to  hurl  the charge of illegitimacy  instead  at the result,  is not only  justifiable but  bold and in the public interest.

    We  now  look at  the statement credited to the Ekiti  State Governor Kayode  Fayemi  that but for the President in Aso  Villa Muhammadu Buhari, the Yorubas of the Southwest  would have gone into political oblivion.  According to him Buhari gave Yorubas people the key Minsteries of Power, Housing and Works, and Health to Yorubas. and the Yorubas of the Southwest should reward him with  reelection. Which  to  me is quite logical  and acceptable  and  which  showed like I said last week  that  tribalism  would play a huge part in this 2019  elections.  Actually  Governor Fayemi is  a blessed oligarch of the APC mould who  has known the dark  and sweet uses of  Federal  might in the way he lost  and regained power in the State House  at  Ado  Ekiti.  Of course  his opponent and sparing partner  in their two Rumble  in the Jungle,  Ayo  Fayose now knows all that glitters is not gold  and that No  Condition is Permanent. Once again, long live the Federal Republic  of Nigeria.

  • Elections, migration  and power

    It  sounds far  fetched to link migration of people  with  the quest for power in any  democracy. This is because on the face of it migrants are like gypsies who never stay put and are not likely to be around or registered for elections if and when due. I  remember  a favorite  quotation of mine  that  I  pasted  on the wall of my room at  Unife  that  says ‘Time,  you  old gypsy man, will  you not stay, put  up your caravan, just for one day?  But  that  now is an ancient myth. Nowadays in the  global  village we live in migrants dominate  global politics  in a way  and manner  never  seen before.  In  recent times it was a phenomenon  started by the invasion of Iraq in  2003 in the Middle East but  it blossomed into the violence of the Arab Spring in 2011  and crystallised  in    a desperate  avalanche  of  migrants  heading to Europe, fleeing the war  in Syria to dislodge its president.

    That  led to the emergence of ISIS  and the massive Arab influx  into Europe through Greece and Italy as  well  as Hungary. That  has had  a massive influence on  recent  elections and distribution of power in European  nations based on those for and those against migration. We shall  see  more of that later. It  is the import of  migration on past  and coming elections in both the US  and  Nigeria  that  attract  my attention today and since elections involve  voters in a nation I  want  to discuss the  issue of census and  migration  and how both will impact the 2019 presidential  elections  in  Nigeria as well  as the 2020 presidential  elections in  the  US.  In  Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari  came to power  in  2015  on a crest of popularity based on his reputation for discipline, integrity and  huge potential  and experience  to fight corruption  and  create  security in the face of  persistent  Boko  Haram  terrorism. In the US, President Donald  Trump  came to power on a bandwagon of anti establishment and anti  political  correctness and  the nationalist creed which  he finally agreed this week  to – Make  America Great Again. Both  leaders  and gentlemen  are to defend  their records and performance in their two nations in 2019  in Nigeria and 2020  in the US respectively. Both  of course  are confident they  have done well but they  have not become complacent about it. They  are  both looking at the population and its shifts in terms of migration and registration of voters as well as both the increased enfranchisement as well as disenfranchisement of voters,  if  possible so that they can get more votes than their contestants and  competitors  to stay in power for another term of office. That  is the crux of the matter  we shall  look at  today.

    In  Nigeria the Boko  Haram menace is still on  but  the President feels that the  terrorists have been cut to size  and are operating more like guerrillas. He  feels that the fact that they  are not involved in regular battle shows that they have been vanquished. Yet they  still  use  girls as suicide  bombers to kill innocent people in Maiduguri  near Army barracks.  Boko  Haram  still operates in the former  North  East  from where six  states  were carved out after the census of  1974 put the population at 15m. The states are Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba, Yobe.  The  North  East of Nigeria is a vast  area but it is very  arid and there  was great controversy  that it could sustain  the census  figure  given  for it then  and even more  so  now. Especially  now  that we  have the Fulani Herdsmen migration for  water  to the south  and the clashes between  the Fulani  herdsmen  and  farmers  who  have been killed and maimed in states like Benue and  Plateau so  much  that the governor of Benue left the ruling party because of lack of support from Abuja. Although the presidency  has attributed the Fulani herdsmen and farmers clash to the search for water  and  the influx of non Nigerians from Libya  after the collapse of the Gaddafi  regime there  is no denying that the tension between the Fulani herdsmen and farmers will affect the security and voting turn out in the affected areas in both North East  and Middle Belt of Nigeria. It  is pertinent that the Fulani  herdsmen umbrella organization  has stated clearly that it is in support of the reelection of the incumbent president which makes the organization not only a migrant welfare body  but a powerful political  organ  on its own. But  the organization should look at what it is up against in the main opponent of the president in PDP’s  Abubakar  Atiku  and his running  mate  Peter Obi  a  former governor  from the East  and  an  Igbo.

    In  terms of  migration in Nigeria, not many ethnic groups can  match the Igbos. Whilst  the Fulani  herdsmen or cattle Fulani  are looking for water down south with or without grazing rights,  the Igbos are all  over  Nigeria  looking for  business in the North especially  and mostly in Lagos. A  true census in Lagos  state  will show  the population strength of  the Igbos  and if that  is translated to voting rights, it is bound to favor any party they belong to. So  the  Atiku/ Obi  PDP ticket  is a potent one that  the

    APC must  strategise  to confront and contain and  the ruling  party needs to dust  off not only census figures on migration in Nigeria but also  sales figures of major marketing companies who  know where their consumers are all over the nation. Such  data  may  be more productive  and votes yielding than  campaign  promises this time around.

    Interestingly  the 2020  census in the US  is  already  being targeted by the Republicans so  that they  can get  rid  of migrants  so that  they  cannot  vote for  the Democrats who  are the usual party of such migrants and blacks –  that is if you believe  the Liberals or Democratic  Party of the US. This is because a new form on census form  asks  for citizenship  and the Democrats say  this is not necessary. I remember reading  an article by the Obama Administration Attorney  General  Eric  Holder  that said census is for those  living in the nation for planning and economic purposes and not for citizens.  Now  with  Trump’s ant migration war it  tallies  that  the Republicans will want to get the votes by cutting off  illegal migrants who may not want to expose themselves by  coming  to  vote. Which  really is difficult  to  understand  for a Nigerian like me who thinks that if you are not a Nigerian  you  should  not vote.

    Yet  in Nigeria all  residents turn out to vote at  our  voting centers including  mostly Okada riders and security  maigads  from Niger,  Chad    and neighboring  nations, who  at times outnumber their  Nigerian  bosses  and  other  bona fide  Nigerians  at polling stations at election time. So  really  who is doing the right thing here between the US  and Nigeria?  I  wonder  what  the professors at  INEC  have to  say  on this as we approach  the 2019 elections. That is if it is not too late. Once again long live the Federal  Republic of Nigeria.

  • FEC sets up panel to investigate tremor in Abuja 

    The Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday set up a ministerial committee to investigate the tremor witnessed in some parts of Abuja last week.

    The Minister of FCT, Mohammed Bello briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.

    Read Also:Residents panic as fresh tremor rocks Abuja

    According to him, the committee has four ministries including Science and Technology, Power, Works and Housing, Mines and Steel, and FCT.

    Stressing that there is no cause for alarm in the FCT, he said the Council is awaiting comprehensive report from the committee on the issue.

    He said that the order stopping blasting and other related works in the city stands until a decision is taken after the committee’s report.

    Details Later…

  • NLC to Nigerians: resist those who seek power at all costs

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged Nigerians to resist the manipulations of a selfish few, who seek power at all costs for selfish reason.

    It wanted citizens to challenge those who polarised the country, stressing that “as Nigerians, we have no country other than this; we can have no better freedom than in our country.”

    In its Eid-el-Kabir message to Muslims and other Nigerians, signed by its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, NLC said Nigerians, whether Muslims or non-Muslims, must imbibe the spirit of give and take, the spirit of love of God and love for their neighbours.

    It said there was no other time than now to strengthen the bond of unity “that holds us together and the shared values that stand us on the high pedestal in the community of nations.”

    The statement reads: “On behalf of the Nigeria Labour Congress, we wish to congratulate and celebrate with our Muslim brethren on the occasion of this Eid-el-Kabir. The occasion symbolises sacrifice, discipline, faith, the spirit of give and take, love of God and love for our neighbours, obedience to and total submission to God our creator.

    “In the light of this, we take this opportunity to appeal to Nigerians, not only Muslims, to imbibe the spirit of Eid-el-Kabir.

    “No time is more auspicious than now for us to imbibe these qualities, especially now that we have challenges in the polity, including frightening political disputations, loss of lives due to conflicts across the country, resurgence of suspicions, sectarian/hate tendencies,  violence and threat to our oneness and sovereignty.

    “This moment avails us a great opportunity to strengthen the bonds that hold us together and the shared values that stand us on the high pedestal in the community of nations.

    “We ordinary Nigerians should not lend ourselves to the machinations of a selfish few, who seek power at all costs, not for the benefit of Nigerians, but for themselves.

    “We should rise with a common resolve to challenge those people and those things that polarise us. We have no other country than this. We can have no better freedom than in our country.

    “Let us unite to fight those things that keep us down. Eid-el-Kabir offers an opportunity for reflection. Once again, we wish all of us, especially our Muslim brethren, a happy celebration.”