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  • Onnoghen, Wike, Adejumo, others push for judicial independence

    Dignitaries and stakeholders thronged Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, to inaugurate a multi-million naira four-storey courthouse donated to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) by the Rivers State Government. Eric Ikhilae reports.

    Dignitaries and major stakeholders in the Judiciary recently gathered  in  Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, to inaugurate the new National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) division in the state.

    It was built and donated to the court by the Rivers State Government.

    Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen, Court of Appeal President Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, NICN President Justice Babatunde Adejumo, and Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike were among the dignitaries.

    Taraba State Governor Dairius Isiaku, Rivers State’s Chief Judge Justice Adama Iyayi-Lamikanra, and former Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) President O. C. J. Okocha (SAN) were also present.

    The occasion was an opportunity to reflect on the state of the Judiciary. Chief Justice Onnoghen, Justice Iyayi-Lamikanra, Wike and Okocha decried increasing cases of attacks on the courts in state as well as disregard of court decisions by government agencies and officials across the country.

    The CJN, particularly, stressed the importance of an independent and virile Judiciary in the sustenance of democracy.

    Chief Justice Onnoghen noted that no society, inhabited by individuals with varied orientation and beliefs, is immune to disagreements and challenges.

    He, however, asserted: “The solution to our numerous problems lies in adherence to the principle of rule of law. If we do that, for four years consistently, you will see that things will fall back into places.”

    Chief Justice Onnoghen, who also stressed the need for everyone to abide by the law, observed that the Constitution has provided both designated and special functions to everyone in the country.

    He added:  “If we are to adhere to these functions and discharge them to the satisfaction of our conscience, then within a short while, you will see that people will begin to realise that certain things should not be done in a democratic system.

    “For instance, how can you contemplate blocking the entrance of a court or closing down a court in a civilised democracy? That is not done. How can you deprive the Judiciary of the funds intended to make it function as it should?

    “The Judiciary ought to be empowered. We need the assistance of all. The judges have to be free and fair. I keep on telling them that they must remain firm and fair, but courageous.

    “You know one thing, a man of integrity cannot be intimidated. You don’t expect a man with integrity to be subservient. No. It is wrong for you to think that way, because time is his witness. Sacrifices are to be made if we are to come out of the woods.’’

    An elated CJN hailed the  state government for improving on judicial infrastructure and providing judicial officers with conducive environment and improved facilities to function.

    He urged other states to emulate “the Rivers example” by ensuring adequate funding and facilities for the Judiciary to function.

    Wike said his administration’s decision to improve on the infrastructure of federal courts in the state was not out of its love for profligacy, but for the realisation that the people of Rivers State are the primary beneficiaries of the services to be rendered by the courts, irrespective of its owner.

    He noted that his administration was welcomed by a weather-beaten Judiciary, left in ruins by the immediate past administration, who left courts in the state shot for over one year.

    Wike said, being mindful of the importance of a functional justice administration system in a democracy, his administration took it upon itself to restore the court system in the state to its appropriate state to enable it function to the benefit of the people.

    “We have no regret about the resources we have deployed for this purpose as long as the interests of the people of Rivers State are duly served,” Wike said, and promised to ensure the continued maintenance of all facilities in the new NICN court complex.

    He regretted what he described as the threat to judicial independence and  stressed the need for the sustenance of the independence of the Judiciary.

    Wike urged judges and other judicial officers to always be guided by the law, their conscience and oath of office in dispensing justice irrespective persons and interests.

    Justice Adejumo, who told the history of the humble beginning of the NICN’s division in Port-Harcourt, regretted the negative impact of the closure of courts in Rivers State, during the last days of the immediate past administration, on the court’s activities.

    The NICN President, who said the court complex surpassed his expectation, however, cautioned that the court would not be swayed by the state’s gesture to pervert justice in its favour or stray from its tenet of ensuring justice to whom justice is due irrespective whose ox is gored.

    He told the gathering how he brought to Wike’s attention the many benefits that would be derived by the state and its people, from a functional NICN division in the state capital.

    Adejumo added that when he approached Wike for assistance, there were about 950 cases pending before the Port Harcourt division, “and I drew his attention to the risk and cost to the litigants and lawyers in the state.

    “He (Wike) promised to provide a befitting court for us within 12 months. I thought he was joking. But, here we are today. We thank you, we thank you, we salute you. This is a federal court. You owe no duty investing the state’s resources in providing this edifice for us.

    “But, let me put it on record unequivocally, that this is the first time, in the history of our court, that any state Chief Executive will do what you have done. It will linger on forever in our memory at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, that a man called Wike came, he saw and conquered,” the NICN president said.

    He acknowledged the quality of work done in the court complex, the facilities provided, including the fixtures and fittings. He said  the government went beyond his expectation.

    Adejumo, before ending his speech, accede to the request by the state Solicitor-General, Mrs. Florence Fiberesima, which Okocha amplified, that  cases which emanated from the division, but currently being heard in adjoining divisions, be promptly returned to the newly commissioned Port Harcourt division.

    He added that, not only will the new court complex be put to use from the next Legal Year, beginning from September, he has directed the deployment of four judges to the Port-Harcourt division to occupy the four courtrooms in the new court house.

    Okocha, who expressed delight about the size and magnitude of the structure, said: “I have always believed that our temples of justice must be housed in imposing and majestic edifices, such as the one before us today; so that everyone, who comes here to transact business, will know that something great, something good and something important is happening in  this building.

    He hailed the governor for improving on judicial infrastructure in the state. Okocha noted that the government has also worked on the state High Court headquarters building in Port Harcourt and the buildings housing the Port Harcourt divisions of the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal.

    Okocha restated the request by Mrs. Fiberesima that all cases from the Port-Harcourt division, currently pending in other divisions, be returned to the newly commissioned Port-Harcourt complex.

    Justice Iyayi-Lamikanra thanked the governor for his many positive gestures to the state Judiciary, which she said had not only improved on the working condition of judicial officers, but had also enhanced the pace of justice administration in the state.

    She said the decision to build an edifice for the NICN was not only a manifestation of the governor’s desire to extend development beyond the institutions of the state, but a clear demonstration of his inflicting support to effective justice delivery

    The state’s Chief Judge expressed gratitude to the CJN for his prompt intervention when State High Court headquarters was attached on May 11, this year “by some unscrupulous litigants and criminal elements, who attempted to close down the court headquarters.”

    The incident, she said, reminded one of the closure of the court from June 10, 2014 to May 27 May 2015, and until 29 May 2015, when Wike opened it for business on assuming office.

    The court complex Mrs. Fibere-sima, in her opening remarks, took the gathering through the court’s complex when she gave a detailed description of the structure and its composition.

    She said the construction of the building lasted 15 months from March 1, 2017 when ground breaking ceremony was done.

    The state’s Solicitor General said the ground floor of the four-storey building has the main entrance foyer, two lifts; judges’ entrance, with a lift;  a car park, restaurant, a kitchen and room for electrical appliances. The floor, she added also houses the security house, a 400kva power generating set and a 500kva transformer.

    The first floor, she said, consists of a meeting room, a Registry, a clinic, lawyers’ lounge, the litigation room, an office, a library, a convenience and data room.

    Mrs. Fiberesima explained that the second and third floors house the four courtrooms, with two each per floor.

    She added: “Both floors also contain judges’ chambers, rest rooms, offices of courts’ Secretaries and Registrars, etc.”

    The fourth floor has  two legal research rooms, general administration office; offices for the Head of Administration, the Head of Account, Head of Division and the Secretary.”

    She said the absence, before now, of a conducive work environment for the NICN in the state had occasioned hardship on on litigants and lawyers, who had to always travel to other jurisdictions like Enugu, Bayelsa, Calabar and Owrri, with the attendant cost and risk, to have their cases heard.

    Mrs Fiberesima noted that “with the commissioning of this befitting edifice,  these problems been effectively resolved’’.

  • Unemployment: Push to reverse jobless growth

    Nigeria’s population is projected to hit 410 million by 2050. This will rank her as the world’s third largest populated country. Experts say there is no better time than now for federal and state governments, in collaboration with the private sector, to prioritise implementation of policies that will drive productivity growth in agriculture, manufacturing and services sectors. According to them, doing so while also investing in human capital development and infrastructure can reverse Nigeria’s paradox of jobless growth. Assistant Editor CHIKODI OKEREOCHA reports.

    Nigeria boasts strong economic growth, which averaged 6.5 per cent between 2000 and 2017. Ordinarily, this should translate into a significant improvement in job creation and overall standard of living of Nigerians. Sadly, this hasn’t been the case. Despite the widely reported real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, unemployment figures remain high and poverty literarily walks on four toes.

    For instance, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) put Nigeria’s unemployment and underemployment rates at all-time high of 18.8 per cent and 21.2 per cent, respectively, for third quarter 2017. The NBS specifically said between January and September 2017 alone, 4.07 million Nigerians were jobless, bringing the number of unemployed people to 15.9 million.

    What is responsible for the rising unemployment and underemployment rates, despite recording high growth in recent years. Why have poverty and its associated social disorder and growing insecurity refused to abate? Were policies targeted at job creation and caging the unemployment monster not properly thought through?

    More importantly, what are the options available to sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest economy and most populous country to reverse the paradox that exists between her GDP growth rate and rising unemployment?

    A report by multinational professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) attributed the high unemployment rate to slow pace of job creation, noting that, in recent years, job creation and the quality of jobs have been marred by a slowdown in economic growth and the recession.

    PwC in the report titled “Structural Transformation and Jobless Growth in Nigeria” stated, for instance, that the pace of job creation in Nigeria has been considerably weaker than labour force growth, pointing out that between 2010 and 2017, average job growth was 1.6 per cent, weaker than labour force growth of 3.9 per cent.

    To reduce the unemployment rate, the report, obtained by The Nation, said an estimated employment growth of at least 4 to 5 per cent was required. “This would translate to at least three (3) million new jobs annually,” it added.

    PwC’s concern over raising the nation’s employment growth rate stemmed from the projection that the population will rise from an estimated 206 million in 2018 to 410 million by 2050.

    With a projection that this will make Nigeria the third largest populated country globally, PwC was emphatic that the implementation of policies that would deliver inclusive growth and engender a productive labour force has never been this imperative.

     

    Informal sector is key to job creation

    The Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), the Federal Government’s medium-term Economic Plan, which was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari in April 2017, charts a course for the economy over the next four years (2017–2020).

    Its vision was to restore economic growth, invest in Nigerians, and build a globally competitive economy. And as part of investing in Nigerians, the ERGP set an ambitious target of creating 3.7 million jobs per annum over the four-year period (2017–2020), culminating in 15 million jobs by 2020.

    However, achieving this target and tackling Nigeria’s growing job market crisis is no tea party. For PwC, the informal sector holds promises of creating more high productivity jobs capable of boosting incomes and reducing poverty.

    It noted, for instance, that the informal economy, which is usually associated with weak productivity growth, is large in Nigeria and accounted for an estimated 41.4 per cent of GDP and 68.0 per cent of jobs created between 2013 and 2016.

    The report said based on trends observed in recent years, the informal sector continues to absorb the largest proportion of Nigeria’s workforce, accounting for 73.7 per cent of jobs created in 2016, up from 54.0 per cent in 2013.

    “This sharp increase in new jobs created in the informal sector was associated with a decline in the share of jobs created in the formal and public sectors from 37 .2 per cent and 8.8 per cent in 2013 to 29.9 per cent and 0.0 per cent, respectively, in 2016.

    According to the NBS, informal jobs are jobs generated by individuals or businesses employing less than 10 persons or businesses operating with little or no structure.

     

    Structural reforms also

    The PwC report, which was authored by Partner & Chief Economist Dr. Andrew S Nevin, Economist Adedayo Akinbiyi, and Junior Economist Dayo Bakare, said reducing unemployment through services-led growth was a critical success factor.

    They, however, noted that there is need for structural reforms to lay the foundation for long-term sustainable growth in the broader economy and the services sector.

    Such reforms, according to the experts, include business environment reforms, which are necessary to improve the ease of doing business, sustain macroeconomic stability, and attract investments.

    They also specifically recommended improving human capital development, providing enabling infrastructure and intellectual property rights, noting that they are necessary ingredients to drive growth and productivity in the services sector.

     

    Human capital

    development is imperative

    According to experts, the services sector relies on high-skilled workers to drive high productivity sectors which include Information and Communications Technology (ICT), medical services and other professional services.

    Similarly, traditional services sectors such as transportation, accommodation and food services, rely on semi-skilled labour such as cooks, technicians, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, amongst others.

    “Improving human capital for these categories of workers would require increased spending on vocational centres, apprenticeships and technical colleges to improve skills,” PwC said, noting that in Nigeria, firms cite the low quality human capital as a key constraint to doing business.

    The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Mr. Ahmed Kuru, also emphasised the need to invest in human capital, noting that this will raise workers’ productivity due to upgraded skills and better education.

    Kuru, who was Guest Speaker at the 2018 Institute of Directors (IoD) Fellows’ Luncheon, which held in Lagos, in a paper titled “Determinants of Growth in Transition Economies…,” also said it will empower workers with capacity for new ideas and innovations.

    He said countries that have made sustained progress invested heavily in enhancing the stock of skills of its labour force by prioritizing early childhood quality education, training and provision of health care.

    “The concept of human capital is even more important for labour-surplus countries. These countries are naturally endowed with surplus labour due to high birth rate. For example, the surplus labour in China, India, Brazil and Nigeria far outweigh the physical capital such as machinery, plant and equipment.

    “This human resource can be transformed into human capital via education, training, and improved health care delivery,” Karu said.

    Besides, human capital, he further said, “Provides the resources for the development and deepening of other areas of intellectual assets such as research/development, and training. It is interesting to note how China transformed its raw labour into human capital.

    To develop adequate human capital, PwC said there needs to be a ramp up in investment in education, through increased funding for schools, and public research and technological institutes.

    It, however, stated that given the poor state of public finances, where spending on education was allotted only 7.0 per cent of the federal budget in 2018, unlocking investment in education would require increased participation from the private sector.

    Beyond investing in education, the Director General, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Mr. Segun Oshinowo, said time has come to completely overhaul the programmes and courses being run by Nigerian universities if the country must tackle the unemployment menace head on.

    While pointing out that this will help bring the universities up to speed with current realities in the labour market and the economy generally, Oshinowo observed that courses being offered in Nigerian universities were designed over a century ago by the colonial masters and are therefore, obsolete.

    The NECA DG, who spoke at a recent event in Lagos, also advocated for a change of mindset by youths from white collar jobs to vocational and skill-oriented jobs relevant to Nigeria of today.

     

    Infrastructure is game changer

    According to World Bank, telecommunications infrastructure and reliable power supply are the most crucial for services-led growth, aside quality human capital.

    However, Nigeria suffers chronic deficits in these areas. Telecommunications infrastructure is weak. As a result, broadband penetration is low at 21 per cent, lower than 58.6 per cent and 52.6 per cent in South Africa and Egypt, respectively.

    Similarly, there is a widening power infrastructure deficit, given that Nigeria’s installed power generating capacity is low at 10 gigawatts (GW), when compared with over 39 GW and 47 GW in Egypt and South Africa, respectively.

    “To cover the shortfall in infrastructure, significant private investments in utility infrastructure such as telecommunications, power and transport is required.

    “To attract investment, policies have to be consistent, while regulations need to allow market-reflective pricing, which guarantees cost recovery and contract enforcement between the private and public sector. These reforms are necessary to boost competition and promote efficiencies,” the PwC report said.

    The consensus of development experts particularly those in the labour market space is that the private sector, in collaboration with the public sector (federal, state and local governments), must prioritize investment in infrastructure and human capital development.

    They also recommend plugging the productivity gap in the agric sector to enhance value chain development and boost the growth momentum in the sector.

     

  • Stakeholders push for review of ‘faulty’ policy

    Unless the Federal Government supports the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to  review the nation’s shipping policy, foreign companies will continue to benefit from it at expense of indigenous firms, stakeholders have said.

    The policy, they  said, can hinder the Cabotage Law implementation. They urged Minister of Transport Rotimi Amaechi to champion the revew of the policy to boost revenue generation.

    Speaking at a forum organised by importers and clearing agents in Lagos, Sea Logistics Managing Director Mr. Rufus Olanipekun expressed concern that foreign shipping lines would continue to exploit the country because of what he called the selfish interest of a few and lack of a shipping policy that identifies the strategic challenges of the sector.

    Olanipekun said there had been lapses in enforcing the Cabotage Law and domesticating international treaties and conventions in the sector.

    He regretted that the Cabotage regime was yet to be implemented to meet stakeholders’expectations.

    Olanipekun also said there was a  gap between the Act and the system, which is yet to empower indigenous operators to take advantage of the law.

    The Federal Government’s performance on trade facilitation, high port charges, infrastructure, safety at sea, protection of the marine environment and enhancement of maritime law and security, Olanipekun said, is below expectation. He added that the ports were performing below expectation and that government agencies, such as NIMASA, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Shippers Council, needed to be strengthened to carry out their core responsibilities.

    He said the Federal Government should do more to reduce piracy and armed robbery on the waterways.

    Another stakeholder and JM Investment Chairman, Mr James Joseph, said conspiracy was hindering the Cabotage Law implementation.

    Its implementation would have been easier, but for conspiracy between some officials of the Ministry of Transport and foreign ship owners, Joseph said.

    He said the law could be easily implemented, if the Minister of Transport mustered enough political will to do so.

    “The minister of Transport needs to see to the full implementation of the Cabotage law before he leaves office. We are aware that some individuals within and outside the government are trying to frustrate the implementation.

    “My suggestion to the minister is that he should make sure every ship that calls at the ports first declare arrival to the NPA, NIMASA and the Navy. By doing  so, it would become easier to implement the law,” he said, adding that poor policy implementation  is the bane of the sector.

    “No government agency needs to go to the jetty to arrest a ship. NIMASA, for instance, can ask any ship to tell her its point of loading. So, if it is offshore Lagos or offshore Cotonou, the agency can then verify if it is on the list of Cabotage registered vessels. Therefore, if the minister is determined, implementation should not be a problem,” he said.

    According to Joseph, ship owners must be supported with good policies by the government and banks to enable them buy vessels to carry out coastal trade.

    The Coastal and Inland Shipping Act, 2003, he said, is a protectionist law enacted to create exclusive areas of operation in the coastal trade for indigenous operators.

  • Osinbajo orders more push

    Osinbajo orders more push

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has condemned the appalling ambush, attack and abduction of soldiers, and civilians who were carrying out their duties at the Lake Chad Basin Frontier Exploration.

    The terrorist attack resulted in a number of deaths of hardworking and innocent Nigerians, and abduction of some Nigerians.

    According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, the Acting President, who said the objective of the patriotic exercise was to open up new areas for oil exploration for the common good of all Nigerians, commiserated with the families, relatives and associates of those who died in the despicable onslaught.

    He also wished the injured persons speedy recovery.

    The statement reads: “The Acting President after an emergency meeting with the Military chiefs on Thursday issued fresh directives to the Nigerian military and all security agencies to immediately scale up their efforts and activities in Borno State in order to maintain a strong, effective control of the situation and secure lives and property.

    “While commending the military for the progress already recorded with the rescue of some of the abducted, Prof. Osinbajo has also ordered the continuation of search and rescue missions to locate and ensure the freedom of all remaining abducted persons as soon as possible, using all available and expedient means in the circumstances.”

    Justice, the Acting President said, would be pursued for the victims and against those who engage in the unacceptable, criminal and terrorist conduct.

    Acting President Osinbajo also paid tribute to the resilience, courage and bravery of officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces for their gallant endeavours and sacrifices for the peace, security and territorial integrity of the country.

    He eulogised the soldiers who have paid the ultimate price in the mission and others linked to the insurgency.

    Osinbajo gave assurance that the welfare of the families of the soldiers will be prioritised.

    Osinbajo also commended the diligence of the management and staff of the NNPC, and the lecturers/consultants from the University of Maiduguri in pursuing the Federal Government’s resolve to grow the nation’s current crude oil reserve base through potential exploration in the Lake Chad Basin.

    He said that the government will by no means be dissuaded.

    Osinbajo said: “Some of these extraordinarily selfless Nigerians from the NNPC and the University Of Maiduguri put their lives on the line that we and generations to come will enjoy the resources of this land.  We will never forget that sacrifice.”

    Even though pockets of terrorists have been launching attacks recently in Borno State, the Acting President assured the people of the State, the region and all Nigerians, that the Federal Government is not only on top of the situation, but will define the end of the atrocities by both winning the war and winning the peace in the North-east.

  • A push for commercial agric

    A push for commercial agric

     A team of researchers from the Agricultural Policy Research in Africa (APRA), which is funded by the United Kingdom Department of International Development (DFID), is studying how policies can make commercial agriculture work for Nigerians. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    Chief Executive, Niji Group, Adeniji Kolawole, has proven that he is a valuable stakeholder in the agriculture sector. His is one of the success stories of an agripreneur, who specialises in the fabrication of machines.

    In the last 16 years, Niji Group, founded in 1991, has grown into a successful and award-winning supplier of metal-fabricated machines and services. Many farmers patronise his farm implements that process produce, such as cassava, maize and groundnuts.

    But his rise in his profession took a lot of hard work and years of dedication.

    He loves the land and loves seeing the rewards of what he sows.

    Around the country, governments and communities are adopting innovations that are improving the lives of millions. There are success stories across the agricultural sector involving individuals and cooperative farmers.

    These kind of stories  interest  APRA, a five-year research project,  which  run from 2016 to 2021

    The aim of the project is to produce new information and insights into different pathways to agricultural commercialisation in order to assess their impacts and outcomes on rural poverty, empowerment of women and girls, and food and nutrition security in Sub-Saharan Africa.

    APRA, which operates in Ghana, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania, hopes to find the best forms of commercialisation that are most effective in empowering women and girls, reducing rural poverty and improving food and nutrition security in Sub-Saharan Africa.

    It  held a workshop in Lagos with stakeholders in the agric sector to generate inputs for an upcoming research into commercialisation.

    Research Coordinator of the project for Ghana and Nigeria, Prof Joseph Yaro, said the programme would focus on four main objectives- generating high-quality evidence on pathways to agricultural commercialisation in Africa; using a rigorous mix of quantitative and qualitative methods; undertaking policy research on agricultural commercialisation to fill key evidence gaps and define policy options.

    It also include ensuring the sharing and uptake of research by a diverse range of stakeholders and strengthening the capacity of the research team, and associated partner institutions, to deliver policy-relevant research and advice.

    Yaro said the project seeks the  identify structures needed for development,which include, programmes for food security and the alleviation of poverty. The study, which will span at least five years, will seek to understand the different types of agric commercialisation pathways that can secure for the country and farmers optimal benefits.It will also look into the impact of the commercialisation methods in Nigeria on the livelihoods of farmers and also suggest to policy-makers the best methods to support.

    Country lead, APRA research team, Nigeria, Dr. Oluwafunmiso Olajide, said the APRA Consortium is focusing on five key outcomes of commercialisation including empowerment of women and girls; income and consumption poverty; inequality; employment rates and conditions; and food and nutrition security – across three complementary work streams. Work Stream 1 is examining the outcomes of different types of commercialisation and analysing people’s selection choices and their outcomes. Work Stream 2, she explained, is exploring longitudinal change over time and identifying various pathways of agricultural commercialisation and their outcomes.

    Work Stream 3, she  added,  is analysing key policy issues associated with changing patterns of agricultural commercialisation through six focused, multi-country, policy studies.

    In all, Olajide, who specialised in farming and rural systems economics, said the study  explore  pathways to agricultural commercialisation that are most effective in empowering women and girls, reducing rural poverty and improving food and nutrition security in Sub-Saharan Africa.

    A member  of the Research team, Dr  Kehinde Adesina Thomas, said  the project would focus on production of crops such as cocoa in Ogun and Osun states.

    He said the study hoped to make public its findings to ensure that all stakeholders in the agric production value chain understand the situation on the ground. The research, according to him, will use panel discussions with various agriculture stakeholders, longitudinal studies of different pathways of commercialisation and policy studies to assess outcomes such as employment rate and conditions, empowerment of women and children, among others.

    CommunityDevelopment Specialist, National Fadama Coordination Office, Abuja, Dr. Gbenga Arokoyo said  policy  should be designed  to use  commercialisation  to promote sustained growth in the agriculture sector. The policy, he added,  should  facilitate transition from subsistence production to high-value agricultural value chains that result in wealth creation.

    Collectively, he said policies should  transform the agriculture sector into a high performing one to improve food security and the fortunes of farmers and the economy as a whole.

    Looking back, Arokoyo said Nigeria has done  well through fadama to  contribute to national agricultural production and trade. While there are significant differences from state  to state, he said Nigeria is a bigger player at a national level.

    He identified some key constraints to reach its full potential, most notably,  weak infrastructure. General Manager, Shonga Farms Limited, Bayo Sangobiyi said the future of any food system and economy depends on the viability and sustainability of its farm businesses and workforce.

    He said  much of the increase in the productivity and competitiveness of the farm and food sectors  in Kwara State is the result of the entrepreneurship, hard work, and resilience of farms, farm laborers, and managers and employees.   The one-day workshop brought together stakeholders from the public and private sector.

  • Orji gives farming a push

    Orji gives farming a push

    Former Abia State Governor Theodore Orji has provided farming inputs for growers in his constituency.

    Orji, who now represents Abia Central District at the Senate, gave out fertiliser-spraying tools to farmers as he concluded the first phase of his constituency outreach.

    Speaking at the ceremony in Umuahia, he said he was simply demonstrating why his people sent him to the Senate, adding that he hoped beneficiaries would make judicious use of the equipment.

    He said, “This item is fertiliser-spraying equipment which is used to spray the farm with liquid fertiliser instead of the normal hand application of fertiliser.”

    The senator told the farmers to try the implement out on their farms to see if they work well, in which case, they should request for more.

    Orji said, “Those who will get any of the several empowerment items should use them judiciously, while those who may not get should wait for another outreach.

    “This programme is a continuous exercise, as there will be more empowerment programmes from me,” Senator Orji said.

    He noted that he is at the senate for their own good and that whenever anything comes out from the National Assembly which is meant for them, he will be there to get their own for them without any delay.

    The senator explained the essence of the programme, for which he set up a committee.

    He said, “I charged [the committee members] to go to the rural areas to get those who are really in need of the items and will make use of them and not those who will get them and turn around the next day to  sell them.”

    Earlier in his speech the chairman of the ceremony, Chief Uzodinma Okpara said that they are not surprised that their senator is empowering the people of his constituency, as he had done the same while he was the governor of the state.

    Okpara, the son of the late Premier of the defunct Eastern Nigeria recalled that while Orji was the governor he brought security, peace and political stability to the state, “which were the several reasons we decided to send him to the Senate”.

    He charged those who will benefit from the empowerment programme to make good use of the items to enable them to be self dependent and also help them to ensure that their families are well fed.

    In their various speeches Chief Allen Nwachukwu who spoke for Isiala Ngwa North and South and Osisioma council areas said that within the few months Orji has been at the senate, “He is doing this, then when he stays four years and more there will be a tremendous change in our  areas”.

    Col Austin Akobundu (rtd), who spoke for Umuahia North and South and Ikwuano council areas, described Orji as a senator very dear to their hearts and assured his people that more good things are still on the way with Orji as their senator.

    Governor Okezie Ikpeazu described Orji as the pillar of democracy and equity in the state, stressing that his political ingenuity led to his emergence as the governor of the state.

    Ikpeazu who was represented by Chief Henry Ikoh, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, said Orji’s empowerment programme is not a surprise to him.

    “It is part of dividends of democracy and I urge the beneficiaries to make good use of the items,” he said.

    Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Samuel Enyeribe thanked the senator for the gesture of which the physically challenged also benefitted.

    Some of the items given out to the people included two buses, 15  wheelchairs, 15 motorcycles, 21  sewing machines, 100 fertiliser spraying machines, eight tricycles, 21 grinding machines and 20 power generating sets.

  • Orji farming a push

    Orji farming a push

    Former Abia State Governor Theodore Orji has provided farming inputs for growers in his constituency.

    Orji, who now represents Abia Central District at the Senate, gave out fertiliser-spraying tools to farmers as he concluded the first phase of his constituency outreach.

    Speaking at the ceremony in Umuahia, he said he was simply demonstrating why his people sent him to the Senate, adding that he hoped beneficiaries would make judicious use of the equipment.

    He said, “This item is fertiliser-spraying equipment which is used to spray the farm with liquid fertiliser instead of the normal hand application of fertiliser.”

    The senator told the farmers to try the implement out on their farms to see if they work well, in which case, they should request for more.

    Orji said, “Those who will get any of the several empowerment items should use them judiciously, while those who may not get should wait for another outreach.

    “This programme is a continuous exercise, as there will be more empowerment programmes from me,” Senator Orji said.

    He noted that he is at the senate for their own good and that whenever anything comes out from the National Assembly which is meant for them, he will be there to get their own for them without any delay.

    The senator explained the essence of the programme, for which he set up a committee.

    He said, “I charged [the committee members] to go to the rural areas to get those who are really in need of the items and will make use of them and not those who will get them and turn around the next day to  sell them.”

    Earlier in his speech the chairman of the ceremony, Chief Uzodinma Okpara said that they are not surprised that their senator is empowering the people of his constituency, as he had done the same while he was the governor of the state.

    Okpara, the son of the late Premier of the defunct Eastern Nigeria recalled that while Orji was the governor he brought security, peace and political stability to the state, “which were the several reasons we decided to send him to the Senate”.

    He charged those who will benefit from the empowerment programme to make good use of the items to enable them to be self dependent and also help them to ensure that their families are well fed.

    In their various speeches Chief Allen Nwachukwu who spoke for Isiala Ngwa North and South and Osisioma council areas said that within the few months Orji has been at the senate, “He is doing this, then when he stays four years and more there will be a tremendous change in our  areas”.

    Col Austin Akobundu (Retd) who spoke for Umuahia North and South and Ikwuano council areas described Orji as a senator very dear to their hearts and assured his people that more good things are still on the way with Orji as their senator.

    Governor Okezie Ikpeazu described Orji as the pillar of democracy and equity in the state, stressing that his political ingenuity led to his emergence as the governor of the state.

    Ikpeazu who was represented by Chief Henry Ikoh, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, said Orji’s empowerment programme is not a surprise to him.

    “It is part of dividends of democracy and I urge the beneficiaries to make good use of the items,” he said.

    Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Samuel Enyeribe thanked the senator for the gesture of which the physically challenged also benefitted.

    Some of the items given out to the people included two buses, 15  wheelchairs, 15 motorcycles, 21  sewing machines, 100 fertiliser spraying machines, eight tricycles, 21 grinding machines and 20 power generating sets.

  • PDP, APC in last minute push in Bayelsa

    PDP, APC in last minute push in Bayelsa

    As Bayelsa State warms up for governorship election, the two major paries, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), are not leaving anything to chance. Correspondent MIKE ODIEGWU writes on their last-minute mobilisation in the Southsouth state.

    The governorship election in Bayelsa State is expected to be a keen contest between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which currently occupies the Government House and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The PDP appears to be under pressure to retain the state. With its members jumping ship in droves, the ruling party in the Southsouth state has been gasping for breath. Apart from the mass exodus that hit the party shortly after former President Goodluck Jonathan was sent packing from the Aso Rock Villa, aides to Governor Seriake Dickson have been resigning and joining the APC.

    In fact, the APC has gradually become the toast of the people. People now brandish their brooms, wear APC branded T-shirts, fez caps and joyfully bear the campaign materials of the party. It is not strange for most beer parlours to reverberate with chants of the party’s change mantra.

    Some people even prefer to exchange pleasantries on the streets simply by shouting the change mantra of the APC. The party’s flags are hoisted everywhere, dwarfing the flags of the PDP. Almost everybody wants to join the broom revolution.

    Observers believe that many factors account for the overwhelming support the APC is receiving in the state. Apart from the fact that the PDP lost power at the centre, the leadership style of Dickson have not helped matters for the party; it has forced many people out of the party.

    Besides, the APC’s demeanour has been wonderful. The party was expected to implode after the crises that followed its primaries and the selection of the running mate to its governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva. But, the party leaders proved critics wrong. They buried their hatchet, remained united and focused on the bigger picture of wresting power from the PDP.

    The appointment of ministers by President Muhammadu Buhari was also timely and strategic. The state’s ministerial slot was given to a grassroot mobiliser and a deep strategic thinker, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri. The Ministry of Agriculture, handed down to Lokpobiri has been the campaign weapon of the APC. Following entrenched hunger and poverty in the state, the masses believe that Lokpobiri and the APC represent their future.

    To test its popularity and acceptance, the party decided to begin its campaign from Bayelsa West, the senatorial district of Lokpobiri and Dickson. The district consists of Sagbama and Ekeremor local government areas. While Dickson hails from Sagbama, Lokpobiri is from Ekeremor.

    The rally in Sagbama was overwhelming. Kinsmen of Dickson stormed the rally ground to shower Lokpobiri and his team with love. The minister, who is also the Director-General of the Sylva/Igiri Campaign Organisation (SICO), showed he had a firm grip of his senatorial district. The influence of Lokpobiri and Sylva further helped to deplete the ranks of the PDP. Members of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the PDP, aides of Governor Dickson and about 2000 PDP loyalists, dumped their party and publicly declared for the APC.

    The PDP SWC defectors were state Assistant Secretary, Ben Oliver; Assistant Organising Secretary, Miriam Kingsley, and Ex-Officio member, Diepreye Alagha. Also two aides of the governor, Oberighakuma Yousou and Ayobegha James, resigned their appointments and publicly shouted the change mantra of the APC.

    One of the defecting PDP executive members, Miriam Kingsley, drew sympathy from the crowd when she took to the microphone and narrated her ordeal in the hands of her former party. After initiating and singing a song of freedom with the crowd, she said: “I was in bondage, but now l am crossing over to Caanan. I am happy that l have seen the light. I will no longer go back to Pharoh”.

    The local government area stood still and massively identified with Lokpobiri, APC and the aspiration of Sylva. A mammoth crowd of party faithful and residents of Sagbama trooped to the Sagbama Secondary School playground, brandishing their brooms and singing songs of victory for Sylva and the APC.

    The national leadership of the party temporarily relocated to the Dickson’s local council to add colour to the event. Vehicles of different sizes, including Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) struggled for space with sea of heads elbowing one another to catch a glipmse of the event.

    Members of APC National Working Committee (NWC) were led by the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and the National Vice-Chairman and former Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni. Others who graced the occasion were a member of the national campaign committee and former Military Administrator, Lagos State, Buba Marwa and the APC National Organising Secretary, Mr. Osita Izunaso.

    The APC state Chairman, Chief Tiwe Oruminighe and members of his SWC, as well as many party stalwarts, including former acting Governor, Chief Nestor Binabo and a two-time member of the House of Representatives, Warman Ogoriba, were present at the event.

    Welcoming the guests,  Lokpobiri said the APC meant business. He said the recent survey showed that if elections should hold today, the party would win by 75 per cent. He said the state could not afford to be in the opposition.

    He added: “Are you not tired of hunger? We can’t manage another four years of hunger. The PDP is dead and the burial date is December 5. Pensioneers are dying in the state because the government owes them N20bn.”

    Before handing over the flag to Sylva, Odigie-Oyegun  joined other speakers in commending the people for enlisting in the revolution to salvage their collective destiny by December 5.

    He said the last time Bayelsa withnessed development was during the first tenure of Sylva. He lamented that Dickson could not give light, water and roads to his local council and appealed to the people to be patient and wait for the APC government.

    Sylva, who received the party’s flag amidst jubiliation called for a minute silence for the late former Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and the late APC stalwart and former PDP Chairman, Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd). He likened the APC train to the Biblical Noah’s Ark, saying persons who failed to enter the ark would be swallowed by the Opuabadi (sea).

    He said when voted in, his administration would bring prosperity to the state and end the era of poverty and hardship. He said: “A new day is dawning over Bayelsa. We are going to bring prosperity and empowernment to you people, especially the youths. It is our responsiblity to look after the youths”.

    He said the APC government would be about the people and that the youths particularly would play active roles in his government. He said the first thing his administration will do is to embark on quick-win jobs to empower the people and reduce the scourge of unemployment.

    He vowed to stop the over-taxation of civil servants, saying it was inhuman to centre development around the salaries of civil servants. Sylva also dispelled speculations that if he wins, he would relocate the College of Education to his town where it was sited before Dickson took it to his council.

    He said: “I am not going to do that. I am going to show him (the governor) that l am not vindictive and vengeful like him. I love my people and l know that my people love me. There are some unfinished projects that we are going to finish. I am going to guarantee you 24-hour power supply in Yenagoa before the end of my tenure.”

    When the campaign train berthed at Ekeremor, Lokpobiri’s local council, it was a homecoming for the minister. All communities in the local government became disciples of the APC. Lokpobiri, Sylva and his running-mate, Chief Wilberforce Igiri, were warmly received by the mammoth crowd of residents and party faithful.

    All the communities visited by Sylva and his campaign team were agog as residents stormed out of their homes to identify with the party and Sylva’s aspiration. Lokpobiri and his team spent time visiting Agoro, Toru-Ndoro, Pere-Torugbene, Alaibiri and Ekeremor Main Town, all in Ekeremor council. They were given royal blessings by the traditional ruler of each community.

    All the communities in Lokpobiri’s domain wore the colours of the APC, as campain materials, including banners littered the area. APC flags of different sizes were hoisted and used to beautify the coastal communities, including the waterways and islands.

    Women, men and youths in each community, who proudly adorned the Sylva and Igiri campaign T-shirts, waited patiently for the arrival of the APC team. Some of them also proudly hung their APC membership cards. When Sylva arrived Ekeremor town, the community of Lokpobiri, the people gave him a heroic welcome and heralded his arrival by firing cannons.

    The APC standard bearer, Lokpobiri and other party chieftains moved round the community to exchange pleasantries with residents. At the campaign ground, over 1000 members of the PDP declared for the APC.

    At the Ekeremor campaign ground, the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate in the December 5 governorship poll, Chief Christopher Enai, surprised the crowd, when he climbed the podium to endorse Sylva. He told the people that Sylva is the best out of all the contestants.

    Enai also asked the people to return the state to the path of development, by voting for Sylva and the APC.

    He said with the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, from Ekeremor, the state would be better positioned for development if an APC government emerged on December 5.

  • A push to stop forex abuse

    A push to stop forex abuse

    The use of foreign exchange (forex) to import commodities that could be produced locally and rising cases of forex speculation are giving the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) headache. Last week in Lagos, CBN met with banks’ helmsmen, forex operators and other captains of industry to address the matter. It also spelt out sanctions to defaulters, writes COLLINS NWEZE.

    The coming weeks will be tough for forex speculators and importers, who misuse dollar allocations from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to import commodities that could be produced locally. That was the verdict of the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, when he met with stakeholders in Lagos last week.

    The urgent nature of the meeting  implied that activities of speculators and importers are hurting the naira, foreign exchange reserves and the economy.

    Giving the large dependence of Nigeria on oil and the level of importation of non-oil products, less dollar inflow from oil exports and high import bills have threatened external reserves with attendant impact on domestic currency.

    Emefiele was quick to point out that the correlation between the crude oil price, exchange rate and reserves and how forex abuse has made the CBN’s role in defending the naira difficult.

    He said between June 30 and December 31, last year, price of Bonny Light dropped by 50.7 per cent from $112.78 per barrel to $55.57 per barrel. It further recorded 15 per cent decline between December 31, last year and January 23, this year from $55.57 per barrel to $42.22 per barrel.

    Also, he said the foreign reserve dropped by 12.3 per cent from $39.07 billion in July last year to $34.26 billion on January 22, while the naira depreciated by eight per cent and 13 per cent at the official and Interbank Markets last year respectively. The naira also depreciated by 5.6 per cent at the interbank markets as at January 23, this year.

    These declines in macroeconomic indicators, he said, showed that as crude oil price rises, external reserves increase. It also proved that exchange rate appreciates with increase in external reserves and that external reserves dwindle as crude oil prices decline, which may lead to a depreciation of the naira.

    To save the naira, reserves and protect the economy, Emefiele insisted that abuse of the forex must stop and has therefore, taken some steps to achieve this objective.

     

    Steps taken

    Emefiele told the stakeholders at the meeting that the CBN would no longer allow rice importers to access forex from the CBN, if the pressure on the naira does not recede. He regretted that so much forex was being wasted on importation of products that could be produced locally.

    He stressed the need for local production of most of the commodities that are presently imported into the country, in order to strengthen the naira and develop the country.

    “In the course of time, we are not going to ban the importation of rice, but we are not going to provide foreign exchange if you are going to import rice into the country. So if you are interested in rice, I will advise that you go into the production of rice. If you want to use your dollar that you have kept somewhere, there is no problem but at some point we will not allocate foreign exchange for you to import rice. The same way, we will graduate it to other products,” Emefiele said.

    While dispelling fears of a further devaluation of the naira and the ability of the CBN to continue to defend the currency, he, however, gave the assurance that the apex bank would continue to provide foreign exchange for legitimate investors and businesses.

    The CBN boss insisted that Nigeria had survived an oil price crash with $10 billion in foreign reserves, adding that at $34.2 billion, Nigeria’s reserve is enough to scale through the present oil price crisis.

    “The important thing is that anyone who needs foreign exchange for legitimate purposes will get their forex. Even when the interbank is unable to meet the demands in the market, the CBN will, from time to time, step in. We will provide the foreign exchange that is needed to meet everybody’s legitimate demand,” the CBN boss said.

     

    Sanctions for defaulters

    Emefiele also threatened to withdraw the foreign exchange dealing licences of banks that engage in speculative demand for the dollar at the forex market. He said the speculative activities had led to artificial demand for the dollar and an unnecessary pressure on the naira.

    “We will not hesitate to suspend the dealing licences of banks speculating on the dollar. Companies caught involved in sharp practices under the guise of seeking dollars to import items into the country will lose their licences,” he said.

    Emefiele, who described currency speculative activities as sharp practices, said the CBN would not shy away from dealing with the unpatriotic behaviour because they could make the nation “plunder its external reserves and throw the country into crisis.”

    For the CBN boss, frontloading demand for forex and other speculative practices have made the CBN to come up with certain measures aimed at stabilising the forex markets.

    They include the review of banks’ foreign currency net open position, weekly forex sales to Bureau de Change operators, and increased scrutiny of items to been imported with the forex purchased from the banks. But, he insisted that local production of imported commodities remained the best way out of the quagmire.

    Emefiele said the demand pressure needed to stop and that people engaging in speculative activities would lose money.

     

    Stakeholders speak

    The President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, said his company was planning to be the major seller of foreign exchange after the CBN by 2018. He also disclosed that Nigerian would be the biggest exporter of urea and ammonia by 2017.

    He said: “Based on our plans we will be the highest foreign exchange seller in the market by the first quarter of 2018, and it’s not from just refinery alone”. Dangote will be investing about $9 billion to build a refinery expected to produce 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

    Dangote also said the country could not continue to import consumables and “things that we don’t even need.” He urged Nigerians to get involved in manufacturing not only for local consumption, but also for export.

    He advised the business community to support the government and the country by seeking to export commodities rather than import perpetually. “We need to set a foundation for the country’s revenue base. We need to become an exporting country after which we can then allow the naira to float without supporting it,” Dangote said.

    A former Chairman of Diamond Bank Plc, Pascal Dozie, said the current challenges in the economy presented the best time for wise investors. He, however, advised the government on the need to restructure the economy, while urging the CBN to encourage fiscal authorities to ensure that the economy was diversified and that unnecessary expenditures are curtailed. “If there is no corresponding action from the fiscal authorities, the CBN will continue to be under pressure,” he said.

    President, Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe said bureaux de change operators take issues bothering on the economy very seriously. He said his members would do everything needed to bring respite to the naira.

    He also praised Emefiele for raising the weekly dollar allocation to BDCs from $15,000 to $30,000, adding that such policy would help them remain in business and support the economy.

    Michael Okoro, a stockbroker based in Lagos, said the CBN has shown absolute commitment to dealing with dwindling fortune of the naira.

    The official devaluation of the naira, he said, allowed the Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS) to move within the range that straddles the interbank foreign exchange rate. “While the market reaction to the RDAS move in the near-term will be important, we think that these measures deal as comprehensively as possible with the challenges facing Nigeria.

    “While Nigeria cannot do much to influence the oil price, the combination of measures sends a powerful signal to all stakeholders on the CBN’s intent to do what it can to preserve macroeconomic stability,” he said.

     

    Regulation of BDCs

    The CBN has for long, been making changes in BDC subsector. On June 23, last year, the CBN, among other things, raised the minimum capital requirement of BDCs to N35 million from N10 million. It raised the mandatory caution deposit to N35 million from $10,000. Again, on July 7 last year, the apex bank extended the deadline from July 15 to July 31, in response to appeals and intervention of ABCON and both chambers of the National Assembly.

    CBN’s Director, Financial Policy and Regulation, Kelvin Amugo, said interest would be paid on the mandatory caution deposit of N35 million, based on the savings account rate. The CBN, Amugo said, would, on expiration of the deadline, cease to fund any BDC that failed to comply with the fresh requirements.

    The CBN had recently given approval to additional 102 Bureau De Change (BDC) operators, bringing the total to 2,544 since the recapitalisation deadline lapsed in July last year.

    The apex bank last August, published a list of 2,442 licensed BDCs, which it said, had complied with its new capital requirements of N35 million as at July 31, last year.

    There were 3,208 registered BDCs before the expiration of the deadline. The CBN had in June, announced a new minimum capital requirement of N35 million for the operation of BDCs, up from the N10 million.

    To ensure that forex dealers comply with the new capital requirements, the CBN had extended the deadline to July 31, last year. The forex dealers were previously given a deadline of July 15, last year. The apex bank had also stated that interest would be paid on the mandatory cautionary deposit of N35 million, based on banking industry savings account rate.

    It, among other requirements, reviewed the mandatory cautionary deposit for BDCs upward to N35 million. The regulator had pointed out that on the expiration of the deadline on July 31, last year, that it would cease to fund any BDC that failed to comply with the new requirements, adding that “only BDCs that meet the new requirements would qualify to be engaged as agent by the licenced international money transfer operators for inward and outward transfer business in Nigeria.

    The CBN has also directed that all importations involving electronics, finished products, information technology, generators, telecommunication equipment, and invisible transactions would henceforth be funded from the interbank foreign exchange market only. The policy was to maintain the existing stability in forex market and strengthen the various policy measures, already initiated by the regulator.

     

  • What and where? : Operation PUSH in Lagos

    The annual operation PUSH service of Christ Baptist Church Alimosho holds today.

    The theme of the service, which ends on August 23rd, is “power as of old.”

    The Senior Pastor of the Church, Rev Sunday Adeyemo, said the programme starts at 10pm and ends at 3am daily.

    Prophet Adetuberu of CAC, Ishashi, Akute; Rev Sunday Oduola of Overcomers’ Baptist Church, Ejigbo and Brother Wilson Balogun of Foursquare Gospel Church Ejigbo are expected to minister at the programme.

    Adeyemo said the programme, which is expected to involve prayer sessions and deliverance ministrations, holds in the church auditorium at 46, Akiwowo Street,Alimosho, Lagos.