The Nation Newspaper

Tag: roadmap

  • Refining roadmap

    Refining roadmap

    Beyond settling marketers’ debt, what are we doing about local refineries?

    IF the latest alarm by marketers over a lingering $1billion debt is any measure, it is that the ghost of fuel subsidy, which for years drew the nation to the edge, is neither dead nor buried. Last week, this newspaper reported the Independent Petroleum Products Importers (IPPIs) as raising alarm over its members’ huge indebtedness to banks as a result of the Federal Government’s failure to pay them for fuel imported into the country. Aside hampering their ability to further bring in products, the marketers say that the huge indebtedness “is threatening the operations of the affected banks and the nation’s financial industry”.
    The marketers’ story is certainly a familiar one. They were, under the Jonathan administration, given the mandate to import and supply petrol to the market with a guarantee that the Federal Government would refund the difference between the landing cost and the selling price of petrol. As the marketers pointed out in their communique last week: ”A key term of the government’s contract with IPPIs is that the subsidy payments shall be paid to IPPIs within 45days of discharge of petrol cargo. It was also agreed that after 45 days, the government shall pay the interest charges on the loans taken by the IPPIs to finance the importation of cargoes of petrol”. These liabilities for which many of the Letters of Credit were established since 2014 currently stands at $1billion, to which N160billion is said to have accrued in interest.
    If we are any alarmed that the issue of the debts have been allowed to drag for so long in apparent breach of the mutual understanding between the parties, more frightening is that the same government pretends to be oblivious of the grave implications of the huge potentially non-performing assets on the balance sheets of the lending banks. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sounded the alarm on the surge in non-performing loans mid last year: “The industry ratio of non-performing loans net of provision to capital increased significantly to 30.9 per cent at end-June 2016 from 5.9 per cent at end-December 2015, depicting weak capacity of the sector to withstand the adverse impact of non-performing loans”. Interestingly, the surge was attributed to loans made out to fuel importers.
    The question is: how does the Federal Government expect these marketers to liquidate their loans in the face of such dereliction on its part? Does it bother it that the development can imperil the banking industry as a whole? How does this bode well for the efforts to stabilise product supply? It is hard to imagine that this is happening at a time the government claims to be seeking active partnership of the marketers to guarantee uninterrupted flow of products.
    We urge the government to act swiftly to put an end to the matter and save the financial services industry. Except the government has reasons to doubt their claims, it should settle all verified claims promptly.
    We cannot but raise question about the status of the initiatives being undertaken by the government to reduce the quantum of fuel imports which is at the heart of the crisis. Presently, the price of household Kerosene has hit the roof; ditto aviation fuel whose shortage currently threatens to cripple aviation services. To the extent that all of these derive from the current regime of importation, Nigerians have long said that they cannot wait to see the cycle come to an end.
    But the Federal Government, unfortunately, has not been forthcoming with measures to address the problems. What about the much-advertised collaboration with International Oil Companies on co-location of refineries? Is the government still pursuing that route? What exactly is the current state of the four refineries and the plans to hand them over to private entities for management? To the extent that the government has not been forthright on these initiatives, the impression is being created of a government lulled to sleep in expectation of the coming of the planned 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Refineries and Petrochemicals Complex. That cannot be right. Surely, Nigerians deserve to be let into the specific details of what the government is doing as well as the timelines in the short, medium and the long term, to take the country out of the fuel-import dependence cycle.

  • FG rolls out 10-point roadmap to revive economy

    FG rolls out 10-point roadmap to revive economy

    The federal government has outlined a 10-point fiscal roadmap to reset the economy to a path of growth.
    The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun revealed the outline when she represented Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the annual dinner of the Lagos Business School.
    She itemised the fiscal policies and actions to be rolled out to tackle the key barriers to growth.
    Adeosun noted that “the Federal Government’s Fiscal Roadmap is addressing barriers to growth that will drive productivity, generate jobs and broaden wealth creating opportunities to achieve inclusive growth.”
    She stated that the Muhammadu Buhari administration is determined to convert Nigeria to a productive economy rather than one that is consumption driven. “To do so, government would tackle the infrastructure deficit to unlock productivity, improve business competitiveness and create employment.”
    She stated that “Government would actively partner with the private sector to achieve this by use of a number of new funding platforms. These include the Road Trust Fund, which will develop potentially ‘tollable’ roads, and the Family Homes Fund which is an ongoing PPP initiative for funding of affordable housing.”
    In addition, she detailed a revision to the Tax provision that allows companies to receive tax relief for investment in roads on a collective basis. She explained that the existing provision that enabled companies to claim relief for road projects had only been taken advantage of by two companies, Lafarge and Dangote Cement. This was because few companies were large enough to fund roads alone.
    The revision she said “would now allow collective tax relief such that companies will be able to jointly fund roads, subject to approval by FIRS and the Ministry of Works, and share the tax credit. This would be particularly attractive to firms in clusters such as industrial estates, many of which are plagued by poor road conditions.”
    The Minister also outlined measures planned to deal with the problem of hidden liabilities, which were affecting the banking sector and efforts to revive the economy.
    Adeosun explained that the conversion from cash accounting to IPSAS (International Public Sector Accounting Standards) had unveiled unrecorded debts owed to contractors, oil marketers, exporters, electricity distribution companies and others. “These liabilities were estimated at N2.2 trillion and would be addressed with a 10 year Promissory Note Issuance programme in conjunction with the Central Bank of Nigeria. This measure would be subject to a rigorous audit process of all claims to ensure validity and mitigate against fraud and the impact of past corrupt practices.”
    Henceforth, the Minister said that measures would be put in place to prevent recurrence of such a problem by ensuring that contracts are managed in a manner that firms have assurance over when they would be paid. She cited the fact that many contractors were owed as a reason that many of those recently paid by government were slow in remobilising to site: “Some contractors had not been paid in the past four years and in some cases the banks they were owing refused them access to the funds released, causing delays”. She explained further that those receiving the Promissory Notes would be expected to provide a material discount to government. The issuance was a solution to a long term problem that was ‘a drag on economic activity’.
    Adeosun concluded by assuring that, “despite the current economic challenges facing the Nigerian economy, the outlook is positive due to the strong fundamentals of Nigeria and the ongoing reform programme.”
    She reiterated that government is determined to create an enabling environment and put in place supportive policies to return to growth in 2017 including greater alignment of monetary and fiscal policies.

    The fiscal roadmap is detailed in the attached 10-point plan:
    Fiscal Roadmap 2017
    Fiscal Policy Initiative
    Expected Impact
    1. Recognise inherited debt profile after a robust audit process:
    • Introduce promissory note programme to finance verified liabilities
    • Issue debt certificates to contractors, Ministries, Departments & Agencies (MDAs), and State Governments
    • Improve cash flow of businesses
    •Improve Banks’ Non-Performing Loans (NPLs)
    • Free up Banks’ balance sheet for lending to private sector
    •Improve government’s business interaction with the private sector

    2. Mobilise private capital to complement Government spending on infrastructure:
    •Roads Trust Fund
    •Family Homes Fund
    •Extend infrastructure tax relief to a collective model to attract clusters of corporate entities
    •Expand the provision of infrastructure
    •Drive growth of non-oil sector.
    • Drive economic growth
    3. Strengthen fiscal/monetary handshake:
    • Replace administrative measures on list of 41-items with fiscal measures to reduce demand pressure in parallel market
    • Encourage domestic food production through specific incentives e.g. accelerated depreciation on food manufacturing equipment and Zero (0%) duty on green houses
    •Planned revitalisation of refineries
    • Increase Diaspora remittances via participation in the buyer support scheme for the Family Homes Fund
    •Reduce demand for US Dollars
    •Increase supply of US Dollars
    4. Incentivise exports:
    •Restructure the Export Expansion Grant (EEG) to a tax credit system
    •Rationalise tariffs and waivers in key export sectors
    •Encourage/incentivise non-oil exports
    •Drive import substitution
    5. Encourage investment in specific sectors through fiscal incentives:
    •Accelerated depreciation on equipment in strategic sectors e.g. food processing, mining and power
    •Rationalise tariffs and waivers in priority sectors
    •Drive investment in strategic sectors
    6. Continue expansion of fiscal space through revenue enhancement and cost consolidation:
    •Customs Single Window (being implemented through a Private Public Partnership (PPP) scheme)
    • Template for non-allowable expenses for government agencies.
    • Overhead cost control by the Efficiency Unit
    • Continuous risk based audit by the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit
    • Revenue enhancement
    •Cost containment
    7. Improve fiscal discipline at Sub-National level:
    •Extension of efficiency unit at Sub-National level
    •Fast track municipal bond issues to deepen the bond market
    •Conversion to International Public Sector Accounting Standards by all State Governments.
    •Improved fiscal position at Sub-National level
    8. Enable and accelerate Recoveries process:
    • Whistle-blower scheme
    • Centralised database on recovered assets
    •Asset tracing
    •Professional management of recovered assets
    • Increased efficiency of Recoveries process
    •Increased budgetary funding availability from Recoveries
    9. Rebalance debt portfolio to extend maturity and optimise debt service cost:
    •Rebalance public debt portfolio with increased external borrowing (60:40 target)
    •Extend maturity profile of public debt portfolio
    •Deploy long-term debt instruments including Infrastructure and Retail Bonds
    •Maximise use of concessionary loans
    •Rebalanced debt profile withimproved debt service to revenue ratio
    10. Catalyse Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) growth through specific measures to improve capacity and access to finance:
    •Development Bank of Nigeria (US$1.3bn)
    •Increase share of business awarded to MSMEs from Government contracts
    •Tax harmonisation and tax incentives
    •Accelerated depreciation

  • WHF previews global ‘Roadmap’ to tackle cholesterol

    WHF previews global ‘Roadmap’ to tackle cholesterol

    The World Heart Federations (WHF) has previewed the global Cholesterol Roadmap dedicated to achieving the 25% reduction in cardiovascular disease by 2025.

    The Roadmap previewed on Sunday at the 2016 American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions in New Orleans, USA is aimed at reducing cholesterol in secondary and primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and in patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia.

    According to a statement, the World Health Federations (WHF) in the Roadmap called for more awareness of healthier lifestyles and diet, increased screening and testing for cholesterol in communities and more effective initiation of statin treatment and adherence to drug treatments in primary and secondary prevention of CVD.

    WHF also advocated for better detection and treatment of patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH)*; better physician education and support; and reform of drug availability and affordability.

    The Cholesterol Roadmap forms part of a series produced by WHF to help meet targets set by the World Health Organization (WHO) to reduce premature deaths from non-communicable diseases, includingcardiovascular disease (CVD), by 25% by 2025. Reducing the risk of cholesterol-related CVD has an essential role to play in achieving this goal.

    Previous WHF Roadmaps have focused on secondary prevention, hypertension (primary prevention), tobacco control, rheumatic heart disease and non-valvular atrial fibrillation, the most common form of cardiac arrhythmia.

    Professor David Wood, President Elect of the World Heart Federation, said: “Our Roadmap initiative aims to help international efforts to beat cardiovascular disease. We have focused on the main CVD risk areas and produced the Roadmaps to help support individual countries in implementing appropriate health measures.”

    Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that is found in all cells of the body. If too much bad LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol builds up in the arteries, it can restrict blood flow to the heart, brain and the rest of the body, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

    Cholesterol levels vary enormously between populations around the world, a result of both diet and genetic predisposition, and the traditional Mediterranean diet will lower average cholesterol levels, a WHO indicator** to achieve ’25 by 25′.

    For primary prevention WHO recommends a total risk approach to identify people at high risk of having a heart attack and stroke, taking account of all the major risk factors including blood cholesterol, but most people are unaware of their cholesterol levels or their overall cardiovascular risk.

    For patients who have already developed CVD reducing cholesterol is central to secondary prevention. But a large treatment gap exists in proportions of patients achieving national targets for cholesterol lowering despite the overwhelming evidence that statins reduce risk and improve life expectancy.

    Carlos Castro, Executive Director of the patients’ heart health association, PACO said: “There are more than 17 million deaths caused by cardiovascular disease each year. High levels of cholesterol are known to increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. We hope by tackling the ‘roadblocks’ with the solutions set out in this Roadmap we can reduce the number of deaths.”

  • Will agriculture roadmap put food on the table?

    Will agriculture roadmap put food on the table?

    The much hyped agriculture sector roadmap otherwise referred to as the Green Alternative recently initiated by the Federal Government to fast-track the development of the nation’s huge agricultural potential has continued to generate mixed feelings. In this report, Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf examines the issues

    Like Molière, the famous French playwright, most Nigerians, it does appear, are saying that it’s not fine words but good food they need to stay alive.

    The foregoing becomes apposite in describing the growing level of despondency being expressed by the populace as they rue the ever increasing hardship, especially the cost of foodstuffs which has literally become priced out of the reach of the common man.

    Thus the recent introduction of the agriculture roadmap by the Federal Government, laudable as it is, in the estimation of the vast majority of Nigerians, hardly translates to food on the table at least, in the interim.

    At the unveiling of the agricultural sector roadmap, known as The Green Alternative, for promotion of agriculture from 2016-2020, in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, which the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo presided over, he maintained that the move to diversify the economy through the agriculture sector had become inevitable due to the huge food importation bill and the need to create jobs for the teeming population of youth in the country.

    “There is no question at all that if we get agriculture right, we will get our economy right. The great clarity, ‘The Green Alternative, sets out strategies to resolve these challenges and particularly impressed that the roadmap does not dismiss the agric policies ‘building on the successes of the agricultural agenda’.

    “This particular issue of alignment is crucial. For instance, there is no way we can encourage agriculture than to encourage food production when we allow unbridled importation of the same things we are trying to produce.

    “Still on the issue of policy of alignment, as part of our 500,000 teacher corps that we will be engaging 100, 000 of them that will be trained as extension workers for our farms. “I, hereby, launch the Agriculture Sector Roadmap: The Green Alternative; Agriculture Promotion Policy 2016-2020.”

    A snapshot of the agriculture roadmap

    A cursory view of the agriculture roadmap  obtained by The Nation as published on the website of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, showed that it’s a 129-page document.

    As contained in the document tagged: “The Green Alternative” the policy intends to amongst other things, raise agriculture’s share of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 23 per cent; increase the share of labour force to 70 per cent; agricultural activity mix by 85 per cent crop production with a 15 per cent increase in livestock and other non-crop.

    It also seeks to enhance the country’s foreign exchange (forex) earning capacity through agricultural exports by growing the agriculture’s share of non-oil exports earnings to 75 per cent.

    The roadmap will also facilitate the government’s capacity to meet its obligations to the citizenry on food security, safety and quality nutrition as well as increase budgetary provision for the agriculture sector by 2.0 per cent.

    Mixed feelings over the new policy regime

    There has been a welter of criticism against the new initiative of the Federal Government by stakeholders who hold the view and very strongly too that the  idea, however well-intentioned, may not work as previous experience has shown.

    Speaking in an interview with The Nation, Dr. Austin Nweze, a political economist of the Pan Atlantic University, Lagos Business School, said the country has never been bereft of ideas but what is however lacking is the capacity to ensure that the ideas crystallise.

    “The idea could be excellent on paper but short on implementation,” he said.

    While acknowledging the fact that successive governments have fashioned out one initiative or the other for the agriculture sector, such interventions have not translated into something concrete, he stressed.

    Waxing philosophical, Nweze said it is rather disheartening to note that agriculture which is supposed to be the nation’s greatest strength is her weakest links.

    Despite the nation’s rich agricultural endowment, Nweze said Nigerians spent $20 billion annually on importation of food.

    The country, he further noted, is the largest importer of hard red and white wheat from the United States, and the world’s second largest importer of rice, with the cost put at N356 billion annually.

    Huge sums are also spent annually to import agro-industrial raw materials that the country has great potential to produce.

    Policy documents by past administrations, he observed, are literally gathering dusts on the shelves in the ministry because of the lack of continuity in the system.

    According to him, it is practically difficult to differentiate between the Green Alternative and similar policies by previous administrations. earlier ones. Whether it is the Operation Feed the Nation launched by the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo in 1976, the Green Revolution launched by the Second Republic President Shehu Shagari in 1980, the Directorate for Food, Road, and Rural Infrastructure launched by the regime of former military president Ibrahim Babangida in 1986, or the Agricultural Transformation Agenda launched by the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration in 2011, self-sufficiency in food is one fundamental target that the various governments have set themselves. But self-sufficiency in food has eluded the country so far.

    “What the government can do differently this time around is marshal out action plans backed by a strong political will and let’s see how far it can take us.”

    Mr. Adamson Imoh, a produce merchant is on the same page with Nweze.

    Much as he agrees that the initiative is great, he would rather the government not interfere at all.

    “The Federal Government needs to do away with its role and influence, and allow the states formulate and execute their own agricultural programmes according to their peculiar situations. That’s the way to go.”

     

    Making a case for the agriculture roadmap

    Expectedly, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, whose ministry has the singular mandate to achieve the many deliverables of the initiative is quite optimistic that the new policy holds the key to unlock the huge potentials of the sector.

    Ogbeh, who spoke during the formal launch of the programme in Abuja said the roadmap for the sector was all encompassing and would salvage the economy from collapse.

    “In this policy, you will see us navigating through the agricultural terrain, trucking on virtually every aspect. The emphasis on ‘Green’ is to capture the essence, spirit and orientation of this new policy/strategy document,”said an elated Ogbeh.

    Echoing similar sentiments, Mr. Auta Appeh, Special Adviser, International Donor Funding to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, who spoke in an interview with The Nation in Lagos recently, said the whole essence of the roadmap is to provide a template for the smooth-running of the sector.

    Going back in time, Appeh recalled that the previous administration did certain things right and put agriculture in the map but like everything human, there is still room for improvement.

    “When we came in, we realised that there were too many value chains. They had over 13 crops that they were going to target. The discovery is that all these programmes are not new. We found these bottlenecks and we said to ourselves, how do you unbundle these bottlenecks? What are the risks the government needs to take to achieve a little bit of success story even if it’s 10 percent or 20% and then work out the modalities to get more people involved?”

    However, as a clear departure from what hitherto obtained, he said henceforth, all the activities would now be streamlined in line with the mission and vision of the new policy regime. “We have come up with three pillars to pigeon hole all the things that they had which were a success which people couldn’t get a grasp on.”

    Expatiating, he said, the first task, of course, is to drive more research in the sector in order to open up new vistas of opportunities as well as empower both the rural and the farming communities and to promote financing.

    “So we’ve to now look for willing state governments and local governments who will pay their contributory funding and who would take agriculture serious and make sure that this research goes to them and make sure that access to financing that we’re promoting goes there.

    Of course, we have to make sure that they get the lobbying support for the interministerial collaboration.”

    The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, he stressed, is also hoping to form a synergy of cooperation among other ministries in order to achieve the desired objectives of the roadmap.

    “For instance, the Federal Ministry of Environment, the electricity, the roads, healthcare delivery must work in sync with the ideals and vision of the ministry to achieve the desired objective. Nothing can be done in isolation. These are all interlaid. To make a successful farmer, you have to provide all these. So basically, what we did was take a step back and then plan and tell you this is how we’re going to go about it. If you truly take your time and look through it, nothing is new under the sun.”

    While emphasising that the roadmap shares similar goals with past initiatives like the Operation Feed the Nation in the 70s, he however said what is unique about the present policy document oil and was launched to the public. There was no rocket science to it. Nothing was reinvented. Only that it was streamlined for better understanding and accountability.”

  • A review of Adamu Adamu’s education roadmap

    A review of Adamu Adamu’s education roadmap

    Presently, it looks like the harvest from investment in education is a long-term one, a people desperate for relief from socio-economic hardship are unlikely to wait on; just as a government looking for low-hanging fruits to assuage the feeling of the people may be unlikely to adopt it as an early option.

    That was the scenario in which Education Minister Mallam Adamu Adamu recently presented a Roadmap for the transformation an underused sector, which should be a critical success factor for sustainable national development. Yet, we cannot run away from a growing world-wide acceptance of the vital role of education.

    Messrs E. Orji Kingdom and Job Maekae elaborated on this in their paper, “The Role of Education in National Development: The Nigerian Experience,” in the European Scientific Journal.

    “A nation develops in relation to its achievement in education,” they noted. “This explains why contemporary world attention has focused on education as an instrument of launching nations into the world of science and technology and with consequential hope of human advancement in terms of living conditions and development of the environment.

    “This is because, education, in the life of a nation, is the live wire of its industries and also the foundation of moral regeneration and revival of its people. It is also the force and bulwark of any nation’s defence and it has been observed that no nation rises above the level of its education. Seeing education in this perspective calls for proper funding from federal, state and local governments to make the sector produce the desired results which will stimulate national development.”

    All that and more is what Education Minister, Mallam Adamu Adamu seeks to achieve, even when the Federal Government’s 2016 budget allocated only eight per cent to the education sector against the stipulated 26 per cent approved by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the sector.

    Presenting a draft Roadmap of the Ministry – Education for Change: A Ministerial Strategic Plan (2016-2019) – recently, he agreed that “No nation can achieve economic prosperity without a sound and functional education system.”

    That “Education is at the heart of all national development efforts; and, in recognizing that, the Muhammadu Buhari Administration believes that Nigeria’s education system must prepare its children for responsibilities of citizenship and national development.”

    Every good roadmap provides a clear situation report (where we are) which the document has done. The picture looks relatively bad, but not unmindful of the challenges it faces, Mallam Adamu, described by some observers as a minister with a steely willpower, assured that, “The ministry of Education under my stewardship will confront these problems with all the seriousness, commitment and strong political will to ensure that we address them once and for all.

    Allowing these problems to persist is akin to surrendering the fate of our country to ignorance; we cannot afford to do that.”

    Where we are:

    Child Education

    • About 25.3 million students at all levels of education are out- of- school in the country.
    • With 11.4 million out-of-school children, Nigeria has the highest out-of-school children in the world.
    • More than 50 per cent of in-school children are not learning because they cannot read or write.
    • About 63 per cent of children who live in rural areas cannot read at all.
    • Around 84 per cent of children in the lowest economic quartile cannot read at all.
    • There is inadequate teacher training and support.
    • Proliferation of unregulated non-state schools.
    • Near absence of reliable data to support education administration and planning.
    • Lack of support for girl-child education.

    Teacher Quality

    The minister said the teaching profession had declined and there was need to ensure professionalism to improve the quality of education.

    The quality of teachers produced by teacher education institutions and their classroom performance are generally unsatisfactory. For example, about 44 per cent of primary school teachers in the country are unqualified as they do not possess the prescribed minimum teaching qualification (NCE) for teaching.

    Mallam Adamu said, “Teacher education itself is dying simply because non-professionals have now become teachers.

    “Therefore, the professionalisation and registration of teachers will help make sure that the profession is reorganised with quacks kicked out.”

    “So nobody should be employed as a teacher if he or she does not have a teaching qualification; there is no magic if you are not qualified as a teacher: you cannot teach.”

    According to the Minister, teaching qualification means the person has undergone the course of philosophy of education and the method of teaching.

    Adult Literacy

    The document notes that despite various attempts to drastically reduce mass illiteracy in Nigeria, adult illiteracy levels in Nigeria is at about 57 per cent, and there are chances that the about 10 million school-age Nigerian children who are currently out of school would join the adult illiteracy population if care is not taken.

    Basic and Secondary Education Curriculum

    The situation analysis in the Roadmap shows there is a lot of work to be done to bring it to acceptable global standards

    Technical and Vocational Education and Training

    Although countries such as India, Brazil and Singapore have used this platform for technological advancement and economic boom, the document admits that the state of technical education in Nigeria shows an urgent need of repositioning to yield similar benefits.

    Tertiary Education

    The Roadmap shows  that in addition to bringing this equally vital stage of education up to speed, there is an urgent need to address the ‘crisis’ at the point of access – a bottleneck which allows only 17 per cent of those qualified to and seeking placement in public universities to be admitted. It also identified “equity” as a problem that requires attention. As a result of these, there has been a proliferation of states and private universities, some of which people describe as glorified secondary schools.

    A Test of Courage

    It is in the face of these and other challenges that the Roadmap is seen as a courageous attempt to uplift the overall level of education. Indeed, the strategic plan was built on 9 pillars, based on the core strategic and measurable goals that need to be attained. For each of them, there are clearly defined objectives as well as strategies for their achievement. The pillars are:

    • Addressing the out- of- school children phenomenon;
    • Strengthening basic and secondary school education;
    • Teacher education, capacity building and professional development;
    • Adult literacy and special needs education;
    • Education data and planning;
    • Curriculum and benchmark minimum academic standard
    • Technical and vocational education and training;
    • Quality and access in higher education; and
    • E-learning

    The added beauty of the strategic plan is the detailed action plan for each broad challenge, with clear targets, action parties and timelines.

    Adamu, however, made it clear that the draft Roadmap is “not complete, rather it is meant to stimulate a robust critique. Through our collective efforts, we can translate this written document to become the `change on ground’ that we are all waiting for.”

    He also stated that at the end of the critique meeting by all stakeholders, a finalised document would be presented to the National Council of Education for approval and endorsement.

    Urging for all hands to be on deck for a successful plan implementation, he reiterated that it is the collective responsibility of all stakeholders to address the challenges and salvage the system to return education to the path of excellence, enjoining them to own and implement the plan.

    “No doubt, the successful implementation of any plan requires concerted effort by all levels of government, stakeholders, community leaders, religious leaders, civil society organisations, development partners and the media,” Mallam Adamu said.

    But some stakeholders have been quick to recall how factors like funding, political distraction and bottlenecks, sectoral competition for scarce resources, corruption by key stakeholders and policy discontinuity interplay to derail lovely strategic plans for development in the country.

    Added to this basket of challenges is the need for the states and local councils to not only understand the urgency of the plan, but to discharge their responsibilities with the passion of all other key stakeholders. With some states unable to pay salaries, causing teacher-frustration, and frequent strikes at various levels, some of the challenges look a bit more complicated.

    All those add to the test of the steely will and determination of Mallam Adamu Adamu and his team. But the country has only one way to go – to join other countries, including her contemporaries, which showcase education as a key success factor in national development. As pointed out earlier, “no nation rises above the level of its education.”

     

    • Daniels, a journalist and author, was a teacher

     

  • Roadmap on gender equality climate change coming

    Roadmap on gender equality climate change coming

    A roadmap to ensure that Nigeria addresses gender equality in climate change initiatives is  underway.

    The Minister for the Environment, Hajia Amina Mohammed, made this known at a two-day National Consultative Workshop by the Federal Ministry of Environment’s Department of Climate Change in collaboration with Women Environment Programme (WEP) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Office, Abuja.

    This is in line with the more than 50 decisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which  recognise and supports the integration of gender considerations.

    To this end, the country is to implement the Paris Accord and Nigeria’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), as the federal authorities have begun moves for the creation of a National Gender Roadmap on climate change, which will mainstream gender concerns into national policies, plans and programmes at all levels.

    The decision also includes programmes and reporting mechanisms designed to support and promote countries’ mitigation efforts like the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)- which offers developed countries an opportunity to earn credit by implementing emissions reduction projects in developing nations.

    The workshop is aimed at showcasing how gender dimension will support the implementation of the Paris Agreement, so as to build resilient and more sustainable societies.

    Besides, it is also expected to define a post COP21 agenda for the implementation of the Paris Agreement that will be supported by the creation of a Gender National Roadmap on climate change.

    Mohammed said the workshop would enable the ministry develop innovative ways of allowing gender take front stage in addressing climate change problems in the short, medium and long term.

    “We must also develop and implement specific plans to fill the gaps in adaptation, capacity building, education, access to safe, affordable, available and sustainable technologies, and decision making schemes for rural women,” Mohammed said.

    Women, she noted, are not only vulnerable to climate change, but are effective actors or agents of change in relation to both mitigation and adaptation.

    Said she: “Women’s responsibilities in households and communities, as stewards of natural and household resources, positions them well to contribute to livelihood strategies adapted to changing environmental realities.”

    UNDP Resident Representative, Opia Kumah noted that climate change will continue to expand the gap between men and women in most vulnerable communities due to the various roles and responsibilities they play in their communities.

    The UNDP representative said there was a need to identify gender -sensitive strategies that ensure that no one was left behind in the work towards implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and an African solution to a collective global challenges.

    Kumah said the consultative process would create an opportunity for a better understanding of the link between gender and climate change, and more importantly, Nigeria’s commitment for implementation of the INDC to focus on community based organisations and groups that implement and take action with a gender sensitive lens.

    “We have to work in a real spirit of partnership where stakeholders concerned – local women, communities, NGOs and private sector, collaborate and develop equitable climate change adaptation strategies and responses to ensure sustainable development for Nigeria,” he said.

    The acting Director, Department of Climate Change, Dr. Yerima Tarfa said that the programme aims to bring together key stakeholders from MDA’s, CSO’s, NGO’s and gender experts to develop ways to increase gender participation in climate negotiations and other related issues.

  • Fashola’s roadmap

    Fashola’s roadmap

    •2,000 mega watts more; Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, 2nd Niger Bridge are priority projects

    The unveiling ,last week, of the short-term plans of the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing by its helmsman, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, cannot but be regarded as a signpost of what to come. Though a mere blueprint yet, the timeliness of it and the depth and range of policy input as well as the choice of priority projects would seem like the encapsulation of the dreams and aspirations of majority of Nigerians.

    Covering three components of the new mega ministry, Fashola and his team highlight the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the 2nd Niger Bridge and the need to pump up power generation by 2,000mega watts in the next 15 months. Again, there is a caveat that the proposal and inherent time frames are subject to further approvals and availability of funds; it is most salutary that we have a concise roadmap that articulates our urgent needs and captures many of the things we yearn for.

    Some instances will suffice. In works, the rehabilitation and expansion of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, perhaps the busiest highway in the land, which had been much mishandled by previous governments, would resume immediately. The 2nd Niger Bridge, which links the north and west of Nigeria to the southeast and south-south and which is a subject of much intrigue and politicking, has also been ticked off as a priority project. All roads connecting states would be attended to as well.

    Although it was indicated that tolling might return on these federal highways so as to ensure regular maintenance, we believe many Nigerians would gladly pay a token to ply smooth, quality roads.

    On electricity, apart from a plan to quickly increase generating capacity, the blueprint explores an innovative approach that would allow power to be channelled to industrial areas across the country where need is most crucial. These high-end commercial consumers can in turn, pay a little more and help sustain the system.

    And on the housing end, there is a grand plan to build, in the short run, 40 blocks of houses in each state. This would comprise 12 flats per block making a total of 480 flats per state and a cumulative 17,760 across the country. Governors would be expected to partner this project which will not only provide accommodation but boost artisanal economy across the country.

    Here is how the minister captures the immediate impact of the project on the economy: “This will mean at a minimum of four doors and two windows (very conservatively) per home, a demand for 71,040 doors and 35,520 windows nationwide in one year. We will encourage these to be made in Nigeria…”

    “The demand for those who will make and fix the doors and windows, hinges, the wood polish and the paint and tiles suggests the onset of jobs and change for our artisans and workers who are the real builders of every economy.”

    The foregoing are just highlights but as can be gleaned, the inherent quality of thought is markedly different from what we have always had. For instance, for about 16 years, we were told that mass housing was no longer feasible, thus government did not have any mass housing unit to its name over this period. Instead, all sorts of mortgage schemes and private ventures were developed. But they were largely opaque arrangements and the houses were usually for the super rich. Now for the first time since President Shehu Shagari’s Second Republic, the Federal Government is poised to provide houses for medium and low income earners across the country.

    It is the same situation in the power sector which has bled the economy in the last one and half decades with little results to show. This short-term strategy carried out transparently and with accountability seems sure to usher desired results and galvanise the sector. As regards roads, apart from the flagship projects, the ministry has determined to start off with all the roads linking the 36 states and to give priority to near-completed projects.

    Again, as noted in the document that everything will depend on budget, it is noteworthy that while some other ministers are still plodding their way around their offices, Mr. Fashola and his team have already shown us the beautiful road ahead.

  • Ambode unveils roadmap for Lagos

    Ambode unveils roadmap for Lagos

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, at his maiden Quarterly Town Hall Meeting with the people, gave an insight into the journey so far and how he intends to deliver dividends of democracy to Lagosians. MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE, who was at the event, reports.

    THE Abesan Mini Stadium/Playground, Abesan Estate, Ipaja, Lagos was filled to capacity with members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the disabled, clergy, market women, youths, transporters, council workers, artisans and traditional rulers.

    It was the maiden Quarterly Town Hall Meeting of Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode with the people at the grassroots. This is in line with his electoral promise to run an open door policy, anchored on accountability and probity.

    Being the first of its kind, the people were enthusiastic to hear from government what had transpired since Ambode assumed leadership in the past four months.

    Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos West Senatorial District, which hosted the edition, wore a new look. People rolled out the drums to make the occasion memorable.

    Reflecting on the importance of quarterly briefing, Ambode said government has decided to change from the traditional ‘100 days address’ to interactive quarterly report. He said it was one of the platforms designed to enable the people participate in government activities.

    According to him, the town hall meeting will enable the people together rub minds on salient issues bordering on the overall improvement and development of our state.

    The meeting would also be rotate in the three senatorial districts in the state. This he said would make the people at the grassroots major players in governance.

    “Today, we have started with the west axis in Abesan, the next quarter will be the Central axis of Lagos. This way, every part of the state will have an opportunity to engage to engage with my administration.”

    Ambode expressed optimism that efforts to position the state as one of the best economies in the world was on course. He said: “Our vision is to make Lagos globally competitive in all sectors.

    “We are on the way building a Lagos that is safe, clean and prosperous. Lagos will become the land of opportunities, offering prosperity for all as we surmount the challenges.”

    Buttressing the giant stride made by the APC, led administration, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Fola Adeyemi, said government had laid the foundation for people-oriented programme.

    He explained that the programme would reposition the state and make it the bride of investors. “I can assure you that this is the right man for the job. He is not leaving any stone unturned to make the state better and prosperous.”

    The meeting afforded the people the opportunity to raise questions on the impact of government policies. Some of the questions, which border on youth unemployment, roads construction, banning the use of loud speakers for prayer, street trading and banning of heavy duty vehicles from plying Lagos roads during the day, were put before the governor.

    He said the order restricting the movement of some of the vehicles was sacrosanct. According to him, government could only protect Lagosians, except they were willing to obey the rules and regulations.

    He said the ban on the use of loud speakers was to ensure that Lagosians enjoy their peace when they are supposed to rest. He appealed to the people to cooperate with the law enforcement agents in the discharge of their duties.

    One of the stakeholders, Comrade Kabir Olusola, urged government to look into the plight of youths seeking employment.

    He said job seekers were asked to get a letter from influential members of the society before they could be considered for employment.

    Olusola noted that this had worsened the plight of youths in the state. “I think it is wrong for some of us who do not have the connection or contact to be asked to produce letters signed by influential people before we can be employed.”

    Responding to this, Ambode said Lagosians were free to seek means of livelihood, if they have the prerequisite qualification. “I don’t think it is right for anyone to make such demand. Anyway, people are free to get the job they want without getting any letter from influential members of the society.’’

    The Iyaloja of Ikeja Market Association, Alhaja Adia Apeno, asked Ambode to tackle the menace of bad roads in the state. She said if the road were in good shape, the cost of goods in the market will be affordable.

    She said transporters were taking advantage of the bad roads to increase their charges on the goods being conveyed to the markets.

    The governor said the budget will take care of any shortcoming on the roads. He said his administration has been working on some federal and state roads across the state.

    He listed the Agege Motor road, Herbert Macauley Way, Yaba, Murtala Mohammed Way, Isolo, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Isaac John Road, GRA, Ikaja, Billy Street, Aswani Road, Isolo, Yekini Street, Shogunle, Oshodi, Apapa Road, Ebute Metta etc as some of the roads the government had worked on.

    He explained that government is determined to ensure that the roads are in good condition and motorable. ‘’In the last three months, I have taken a tour of some major roads to ascertain their state and this has helped to have a fair assessment of our roads.’’

    The governor expressed satisfaction with the school health programme, saying that about 4,890 pupils from eight primary schools in six local government benefited in the first quarter.

    According to him, two new molecule machines were installed at the Isolo General Hospital and the Ikorodu General Hospital. This was done with the collaboration of the Federal Ministry of Health and National AIDS Control Agency.

    The molecule machines could be used to detect persons infested with Tuberculosis within two hours when the test is carried out.

    As part of efforts to promote a healthy Lagos State, Ambode said 31 resident doctors were employed.

    Ambode thanked the business community for their support, collaboration and donation to the wellbeing of the citizens of Lagos.

    He said the Organised Private Sector (OPS) donated toward the Security Trust Fund. ‘’The recent fund raising of almost N1 billion from the OPS is strong indication of your confidence in our administration to tackle security in the state.’’

    He commended the civil servants for their dedication to duty. He said right from the onset, government promised to offer continuity programme.

    He said: “My knowledge of the civil service as the engine room of any government, we chose to commence this journey by repositioning the state civil service in order to make it more efficient and cost effective, with a vision of delivering better service to the citizenry.

    “We are building a civil service that is well structured with officials who have the right attitude, skills and are well motivated to deliver the goal of this administration.”

    Ambode said 20 Permanent Secretaries (PS) were appointed, following their tract records of excellent performance. He noted that it will create upward movement of career civil servants and also reward diligence, dedication and hard work.

    “I am happy to inform you that the PS have held the fort and kept the wheel of governance at a steady pace in the absence of commissioners and special advisers. I thank them for doing so,’’ Ambode said.     The governor promised to provide adequate security for the people, stressing that the security structure are being reviewed.

    “We are aware of pockets of violence and robberies that have swung into action to curb further incidents. We have established an integrated security and emergency control platform, all aimed to strengthen the security apparatus in the state.

    The governor said effort to stabilize the finance of the state was paramount. He said his determination to be accountable to the people of the state informed the cleansing the all the sectors.

    “One of the first key tasks was to stabilise the finances of the state. We embarked on financial re-engineering and reviewed the revenue and expenditure of the state.

    “These efforts coupled with the realignment of ministries, departments and agencies have saved the government of almost N3 billion every month. This has provided us with more funds to inject into capital projects.

    “This also provided us with the initial funds to establish the Employment Trust Fund which we promised our youths.’’

    He said a major landmark was the reduction of the cost of governance, noting that it has improved the quality of services to the people of the state.

    “We want a lean government with quality service delivery. Government is proud to declare that it has consistently met its obligation especially prompt payment of workers’ salaries without seeking any bailout from the Federal Government.

    “In August, this administration approved the release payment of arrears of pensions owed to pensioners since 2010. We have, on monthly basis, consistently been presenting retirees on the Contributory Pension Scheme their bond certificates.’’

    He stated that government was reviewing its loans with its bankers with a view to restructure them. This, according to him, would free up funds for further infrastructural development.

    Ambode maintained that the administration had done institutional framework for the smooth running of government in the next three and half years.

    “What we have done can be as laying the foundation on which the service and programme of this government will be built. You cannot run a four-year marathon at top speed from the onset.

    “Like any other well bred CEO, I have put in place the ingredient needed to run a successful race. We will continue to woo investors to Lagos. We are assist businesses and creating environment for these investors to start business and employed people.’’

    Ambode said the administration is committed to serve and render good governance no matter the challenge. “However, we need your support and cooperation to enable us deliver on our lofty programme.

    “I want to assure you that our programme are well thought out and carefully designed to make life better for all the citizens while we do our best, I implore you to fulfill your side of the social contract by performing your civic responsibilities always.

    “Please pay your taxes willing. If you do your bit, we can achieve our set goals. The task ahead is enormous, but we must resolve to do our best for this state,’’ he said.

     

  • Expert advises NERC to retool power roadmap

    The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has been advised to retool the power sector roadmap such that the Distribution, Generation and the Transition Companies synergised and ensured that issues affecting adequate power generation in the country are given priority attention and resolved quickly.

    Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Power Systems (E&M) Services Limited, Bimbo Onafowokan, who gave this advice, said the roadmap would put all the problems in perspective and proffer solutions simultaneously

    He said if there is solution to those problems, they will be solving one problem and creating other problems elsewhere.

    He said the NERC as a regulatory body should put strong measures that would ensure that all the stakeholders performed by creating a platform for them to meet on regular basis, adding that they should be meeting at least once a month to share issues and set targets for themselves.

    Onafowokan, who spoke at the weekend in a telephone interview, said the distribution companies have board members that are equally responsive to the generation company’s board, stressing that in this vein they should in one way or the other share each other’s board so as to have seamless communication along the line.

    He said: “Each of those arms has different problems that are peculiar to it but at the same time you must solve the problems intact, if you don’t solve the distribution companies’ problem, generation companies still suffer, then there’s nothing for TCN, and if you solve the generation companies problem TCN has issues with expansion in transmitting, the distribution will not have anything to distribute,” he further explained.

    He said the roadmap does not address that, it does not create that seamless communication among the major players. “The regulatory body should look at the roadmap once again and all the agreements that was signed by privatised generation companies and see where they can create that seamless communications between the three chairs of the market such that they will be addressing problems simultaneously,”  he advised.

     

     

     

    He said the shortage of gas in the country is as a result of the fact that priority is being given to gas export. According to him, the major gas producing companies-the NLNG and the Brass LNG are majorly for export.

    He said though Nigeria flares about 75million cubic feet of gas per day and export about 35million cubic feet but for internal consumption the country is not making up to 6million cubic feet of gas per day due to vandalism.

    Chairman of NERC, Sam Amadi in a telephone call said there is what he called the Chief Executive Officers meeting which according to him holds every month

    He said the essence of the meeting is to bring all the Discos, Gencos and the TCN as well the Ministry of Power together to discuss issues and set agenda for the operating companies as way forward in the power sector.

  • Wanted: Safety roadmap against tanker accidents, fire

    Wanted: Safety roadmap against tanker accidents, fire

    No fewer than 80 persons have been killed and property worth millions of Naira destroyed in fuel tanker explosions in four states. Some state governments, transport experts and stakeholders are back to the drawing board for a solution to falling tankers and an end to the explosions, ADEYINKA ADERIBIGBE reports.

    ANAMBRA STATE Governor Willy Obiano couldn’t hide   his grief penultimate Sunday. He wept on seeing the carnage and charred remains of 69 persons, including an expectant mother and children who were burnt, after a petrol tanker rammed into the Asaba Motor Park in Onitsha, the Southeast commercial hub.

    Barely 48 hours later, a similar incident occurred in Lagos when a petrol laden tanker fell off the Iyana-Ipaja Bridge and exploded around 2a.m.

    Though no lives were lost, many lost virtually everything they had laboured for. Traders who keep daily proceeds in their shops lost their goods and money.

    A victim, Mrs Bisi Idowu, said: “I am naked now, with nothing in the world.”

    That night, fuel tankers also caught fire in Magbon, Badagry and Ojo.

    On June 5, at Idimu in Alimoso Local Government Area of Lagos State, another tanker exploded, destroying about 34 houses, 70 shops and one tricycle.  At Oribawa, Bus Stop on Lekki-Epe Expressway, 48 hours later, a similar incident occured.

    On June 3, 10 persons died when a petrol tanker rammed into the roadside market on Ilesa-Akure Road, following a brake failure. A similar incident was recorded in front of the Ambrose Alli University, in Ekpoma, Edo State.

     

    Tragic routine

     

    Falling petrol laden tankers are becoming a routine.

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said petrol tankers and articulated vehicles constituted over 70 percent of the terror on the roads. It identified over-speeding, drink driving, poorly maintained vehicles and bad road networks as some of the causes of accidents.

    A recent statistics showed that 70 percent of about 358 accidents between 1999 and 2002, involved articulated trucks. The survey said about 32 per cent of truck drivers are negligent, immature and inexperienced to handle the vehicles as they are below age 30.

     

    How did we get here?

     

    Economic growth was stunted. Public infrastructure, especially road and railway, suffered when the Federal Government’s National Economic Development Plan was stopped in the 70s because of the 30-month civil war.

    The abandonment of the railway service resulted in the government providing an easier route to cargo and passenger transportation.

    The unregulated scenario left all manner of operators engaging in transportation of goods, including flammable items like petroleum and gas products.

    FRSC said about 100,000 petroleum tankers are operating on the nation roads as at today.

    The collapse of other NNPC depots  also made Lagos, with a forest of 45 private tank farms,  the supplier of all the products needed across the country.

    A source in FRSC said if all tankers and trailers lined up in a single file from Apapa,  they would almost reach the Ibadan, Oyo State capital’s defunct toll gate.

    Derelict depots and    unsafe pipelines

     

    To avert petrol tanker accidents, transport experts averred that all the depots across the country must work.

    “If all depots in Kano, Borno, Warri and elsewhere work optimally, the products would be supplied by the pipelines through the depots and tankers would not need to travel far distances to load for end-point supplies, an expert advised.

    He canvassed an urgent de-centralisation of the loading of petroleum products by the Federal Government to reduce pressure, especially on the Lagos roads.

    The Executive Secretary of the Major Oil Marketers Association (MOMAN), Mr Obafemi Olawore, who spoke in the same vein, flayed the situation where Lagos remains the only loading depots for all petroleum tankers in the country.

    He said the situation where 100,000 tankers come to Lagos to lift the product is not only cumbersome and unhealthy, but over-stretches the state’s road infrastructure.

    It also leads to weariness on the part of the drivers who are under pressure by their employers to deliver timely and on schedule.

    Similar view was canvassed by the FRSC Lagos Sector Commander Mr Hyginus Omeje, who urged the Federal Government to revisit all challenges inhibiting the effective functioning of all NNPC depots with the aim of finding a lasting solution to them.

    The pipelines, he said, must also be adequately utilised and policed for effective supply of the products to all the depots in the country.

     

    A panel and summit

     

    Because it remains the nation’s economic capital (hosting the busiest gateways either by air or sea), Lagos, which controls about 70 percent of Nigeria’s industrial and commercial activities has continued to attract articulated vehicles and trucks.

    Mr Ayo Ogunbiyi, a staff of the Lagos State government contends that a state housing 22 industrial estates, 2,000 industrial complexes, a Free Export Trade Zone (FETZ), 10,000 commercial complexes, representing 60 percent of the nation’s industrial and commercial ventures, 70 percent of national maritime cargo freight, and 50 percent of nation’s petroleum products consumption, needs to be proactive in preventing accidents.

    In his work; “Lagos fire, articulated vehicles and road accidents,” Ogunbiyi argued that since increased influx would bring more accidents and fire explosion government need to plan.

    That was exactly what the state Governor Mr Akinwumi Ambode decided to do when he set up a committee to probe the accidents.

    Those accidents, Ambode said,  must be tackled and those culpable prosecuted.

    Ambode urged strict compliance with the traffic law and directed total enforcement of the law.

    He asked the Secretary to the State Government Mr Tunji Bello’s 10-man panel to investigate the immediate and remote causes of tanker explosions.

    He charged the committee to prepare guidelines for the ethical conduct for tankers and articulated vehicles drivers and to task insurance operators to come up with new policies aimed at protecting the victims.

    The FRSC said it would also be organising a national summit for tanker drivers and owners at Abuja.

    The Lagos and Ogun Zonal Commander, Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM) Nse Obong Akpabio, who disclosed this said the crashes are worrisome, and the Corps Marshal Boboye Oyeyemi, has ordered full investigation and total enforcement.

    He said the summit with the theme: “Haulage operations for national development,” is to address the ugly trend of tanker crashes in the country.

    Akpabio urged tanker owners to train their employees and improve the maintenance of their vehicles.

    He said all old articulated vehicles must also be removed from the roads.

     

    Workable suggestions

     

    Besides the effective optimisation of the depots, Olawore challenged the Federal Government to fix all inter-state road networks, and ensure these roads have appropriate road infrastructure fittings such as reflective signs and markings.

    State governments should also complement this by fixing the inner roads, making movement easy for all motorists.

    He said all the three tiers of government must not relent, but increase their spend on the provision of safe, motorable roads across the country.

    He equally canvassed the return of  tank wagon train services, adding that the train ought to be optimised as it could carry more products out of the Ports from where it could be redistributed to other parts of the country.

    According to him, since two years ago when the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) acquired 40 oil bearing tank wagons, they are yet to  be put to use.

    He said because each wagons carries 100,000 litres of petroleum products, it is evident that wagons would go a long way in resolving the carnage on the road.

    Olawore equally called on the Federal Government to address the concentration of tank farms in Lagos.

    According to him, since the standard global practice is to relocate the ports to more remote areas anytime communal activities are catching up with it, it would not be bad idea if federal government begin to consider the relocation of the ports and the tank farms from Apapa to deflood the area and reduce the exposure of residence along the axis to danger.

    He called for the strict enforcement of all traffic laws on errant drivers and owners of the vehicles by all state governments.

    Olawore called for the duplication of drivers institute such as it exist in Lagos across the country for the regular training and retraining of all professional drivers including  petroleum tanker drivers.

    He equally canvassed strict compliance to speed limit by tanker drivers, whether on intercity highways or intracity road network.

    The MOMAN chief, called for regular health checks, including eye tests for all drivers and their assistants, even as he challenged them to always observe rest to avoid fatigue on the road. The drivers must regularly be subjected to tolerance training.

    He said on no account should any driver hand the steering over to his assistant as this have been known to be reasons behind many accident cases in the past.

    Olawore called on vehicle owners to ensure regular maintenance of their vehicle. “The maintenance is not only about the engine, other aspects includes the electrical workings, new good tyres, good wipers, headlamps and rear lamps on the vehicles. Owners must also install a tracking device on all their vehicles,” he said.

    PTD spokesman Comrade  Adebayo Atanda said the PTD leadership has directed that no driver should henceforth drive at night.

    According to him, this is to further assist emergency responders as it is usually easier and quicker to respond to any emergency at daytime than if it happens at night.

    Secondly, he said “all drivers have been told to refuse to sit behind the wheel of a vehicle which is not fit for the roads.”

    He said PTD is ready to work with the VIOs in all states to weed out old tankers and ensure they are promptly removed from the road.

    Atanda who said the association is equally committed to reducing the carnage on the roads, challenged the government to fix the roads before taking their anger on the drivers for accidents which might have been prevented had the roads been good.

    NEMA’s Southwest Media Coordinator Mr Ibrahim Farinloye said there is need for massive citizenship education on how to react to emergencies.

    According to him, rather than helping the situation, the massing of people at scenes of incidents are drawbacks for emergency responders as it hinders evacuation and safety operations.

    “We need to begin to sensitise the people on what to do in case of emergencies. How do they respond, how can they help those in distress, and who to call. Most times getting to the scene of incident becomes hazardous even to emergency responders as such places would have been taken over by miscreants,” Farinloye said.

     

    Conclusion

     

    Even as the government also considers the role of the citizens in helping to minimise the trauma of tanker accident and attendant explosion, there is also the need to ensure harsh punishment is meted out to reckless drivers to serve as deterrent.

    Since issues of negligence such as reckless driving, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, fatigue, and inexperience among others are at the heart of over 80 percent of the crashes, stiff penalties ought to be meted out to drivers and their employers and owners whose costly mistakes have caused others untold hardship.

    ‘If all depots in Kano, Borno, Warri and elsewhere work optimally, the products would be supplied by the pipelines through the depots and tankers would not need to travel far distances to load for end-point supplies’