Two Presidential aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 election, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Kaduna state governor, Ahmed Makarfi have said that the focus of all those contending to fly the flag the PDP is to focus on the objective of defeating President Muhammadu Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC) in next year’s general election. The two PDP presidential contenders spoke today, Saturday when Atiku paid courtesy visit on Makarfi at his Kaduna residence in continuation of his nationwide consultations ahead of the party’s primaries next month. Atiku described his visit significant and special, adding: “I feel it is absolutely necessary being a colleague and also the former chairman of the party who actually brought about the current structure of the party and leadership into existence. “First of all, to put it on record and to also commend your leadership, for the fact that you were able to, at a very critical time in the history of this political party steer the affairs of the party. That you presided over the emergence of the leadership in a very democratic process clearly shows your leadership qualities that we must all acknowledge and commend. “So, I came to publicly pronounce that and to commend your leadership and to tell you that I hold you in very high esteem. The fact that you have been able to do that clearly also indicates that you have a lot of potentials to offer to this country that cannot be taken away from you. “Again, here you have another historic role to play, having belonged to the same political set with me that ushered in democracy in 1999. I believe that since we are still active and healthy, we still have the responsibility that the democracy that we brought back can be sustained in a manner that will bring about progress, development and unity of the country. “I will like to appeal to you that we continue to work together like we have done before in this country so that we can sustain our democratic process which should lead us to progress and developmet for the benefit of our people. ” We are now at crossroads in this country, because you can definitely acknowledge since the return of democracy we have not had a worst period than now in terms of economy, security, or unity; this is the worst since 1999. I think and believe that if we work together, we will return this country back to the path of peace, stability, progress and development.” Responding, Senator Makarfi welcomed Atiku home, recalling the early meetings and struggles between 1998 and 1999, the critical meetings that took place at Atiku’ residence when the two of them were governor-elect. Makarfi admired the dogged spirit of his guest, commending for returning to the PDP without asking for any concession, adding “as a democrat who likes to work for what he earns, you have been working hard which is very commendable. I give you credit for that. ” As you mentioned, this should be seen as a collective issue because we all have our individual interests but our interests should be subsumed by the larger collective interest, and even within that collective interest, the issue of justice, fairness, equity and the need to really do what is in the overall best interest of everybody. “You are capable. As one of the candidates that are seeking to fly the flag of the party, we have a lot of capable candidates in the PDP but even among all the capable, for me, I am a team player who can work and settle on whatever way with others.”
Heads of State, Governments and delegations from 52 African countries, which includes Nigeria and the People’s, Republic of China met in Beijing, under the auspices of the Forum on China and Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
The tri-annual summit was held with the theme: “China and Africa: Towards an Even Stronger Community with a Shared Future through Win-Win Cooperation.”
President Muhammadu Buhari led a strong delegation from the public and private sector that included senators, state governors and the Ministers of Finance, Transportation, Power, Works and Housing, Budget and National Planning, Petroleum and Industry, Trade and Investment, and Minister of State, Aviation.
The gains for Nigeria from the recent FOCAC, which alternates its meetings between China and Africa every three years, can be summed up in three ways: Nigeria as a member of FOCAC; Nigeria-China bilateral engagement and Nigerian Government–Chinese business partnerships.
At the summit, which attracted multiple benefits for Nigeria, members agreed to bind themselves to the Belt and Road Initiative of the Chinese government, which essentially seeks to promote collectively, among one another, extensive consultation, cooperation and ensure shared gains.
Essentially, this translates into closer connection in policy, infrastructure, trade, finance and people-to-people ties. All members will share development opportunities and promote cultural exchanges.
Going forward, Africa and China will form a stronger synergy in world bodies such as the UN, World Trade Organisation and G77+China. They will align themselves in pursuit of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Agenda 2063 of the African Union and support individual national development strategies.
Overall, this should generate more resources for everyone, expand markets and create space for African development and broaden its economic prospects. To realise this, African countries have agreed to participate in November this year in China’s first-ever International Import–Export Expo in Shanghai.
It is important to note that China has categorically stated their commitment to non-interference in the internal affairs of members, as well as pledged to support development efforts without political strings attached. This should answer mostly Western critics who doubt the sincerity of China.
In line with the general principles of the accord, Nigeria, with few African countries, were preferentially treated to bilateral meetings. The Chinese and Nigerian government met exclusively to discuss matters of mutual benefits. The leaders of both countries witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by their foreign ministers, captured as “One Belt, One Road (OBOR)’’.
There was the signing of USD 328 million financing agreement for the National Information and Communication Technology Infrastructure Backbone by the Nigerian Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and Wang Xiaotoa, Director-General, China International Development Cooperation Agency.
As for more specific takeaways from the bilateral meetings, Nigeria received blessings of the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping for the building of the country’s largest hydroelectric power plant in Mambila. Work on the power project will commence on the site in early 2019.
When President Xi announced a USD 60 billion to finance aid and infrastructure projects in Africa at the FOCAC Summit in Johannesburg in 2015, Nigeria joined other countries to draw from the funds for critical infrastructure that included railways, roads and power.
In the last 24 months, China has given Nigeria support in scholarships, military trainings and security assistance, agriculture and concessionary loans to fund infrastructure. Nigeria has attracted more than USD 5 billion finance and more is still under discussion with the government of China.
With a further USD 60 billion announced for the next three years by President Xi, Nigeria should hope to make more progress in closing its infrastructure deficit.
At the Johannesburg summit, President Xi announced RMB 100 million in humanitarian and military assistance to Nigeria in the fight against terrorism. At this summit, he promised a further sum of RMB 50 million for the same purpose. President Xi promised to open China’s market for agricultural products from Nigeria and widen cooperation between the two nations in media, sports and culture. He noted that several Nigerian footballers in China were idolised by fans. The Chinese leader also promised to step up cooperation in intelligence and military training.
While commending President Buhari for taking measures to fight terrorism and insecurity, President Xi said the Nigerian leader was decisive in dealing with terrorism. “You are resolute–the same attitude as China,” he said.
President Xi told President Buhari that he would support the reform of the UN “to increase the voice of developing countries in Africa”. He equally promised continued support for Nigeria’s infrastructure projects, citing the country’s railway modernisation project; Lekki Deep Sea Pot; Zungeru Power Project; Abuja Light Rail; ICT and infrastructure backbone and Abuja Water supply as laudable developmental projects.
The Chinese leader announced the establishment of a “manufacturing section” so that Nigeria can gain from China’s leading role in the world. “In some we lead, in others we need to catch up,” he added.
On a parting note, President Xi told President Buhari that he was fully cognisant of the status and influence of Nigeria in Africa, saying, “We will step up cooperation and will provide assistance. The relationship between China and Nigeria is as best as ever, given the deeper mutual trust. China will continue to stand with Nigeria.”
President Buhari was also accord the honour of a state banquet by the Chinese Premier Li, who assured the Nigerian leader that China was ready “to press ahead” with infrastructure, including the Mambila hydroelectric power project. He, like President Xi, requested for “thorough feasibility and sustainability studies.”
Among the several outcomes of the engagements of President Buhari and his delegation at the FOCAC Beijing summit were the many agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) signed between the Nigerian Government and Chinese businesses, and between Nigerian businesses and their Chinese counterparts.
The Nigerian delegation was able to sign thirteen agreements during the summit out of 25, with more to be signed by the Nigeria Investment Promotion Council and the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of the Federation.
In all, more than USD 10 billion agreements were signed. Others, still under discussion will be quantified upon the conclusion of discussions by various parties. Among those that have been signed, in agreements or MOUs include that entered between the China National Petroleum Corporation, which has agreed to secure funding for the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Ajaokuta – Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline to cost USD 2.8 billion. The agreement entered by the Ministry of Industries, Trade and Investment with Shandong Ruyi International Fashion Industry for USD 2 billion, for a first-ever cotton value chain; that is from cotton growing to ginning, spinning, textile manufacture and garment with Katsina, Kano, Abia and Lagos States as the chosen locations.
Another Chinese conglomerate, Capegate Integrated is into an MOU worth USD 1.5 billion for energy and organic fertilizer that will cover Abuja, Niger, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Kano to generate:
300 MW of electricity
500,000 tonnes of organic fertilizer
60,000,000 litres of oil from pyrolysis
Create up to 10,000 jobs
400 garbage collection trucks, various types of city
sanitation equipment and
One million (1,000,000) waste bins to be deployed.
The NNPC entered another agreement with Nanni Good Fortune Heavy Industries Group and Capegate Group for a USD 400 million investments across six states to allow for:
90 litres of ethanol
64 MW of power
72,000 tonnes of sugar per annum
10,000 tonnes of animal farm per annum
5,500 direct employment
The Nanni Industries and Capegate Group submitted an MOU to the NIPC for an investment in 15,000 hectares of Cassava Ethanol in the South-west, and another project of the same value and scale in the South-east.
Among other agreements that the NNPC signed was one with Obax-Complant Consortium and another with Capegate-Nanning Consortium that targets 10 biofuel complexes nationwide. NNPC’s Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru said through these ventures, Nigeria is giving effect to her aspiration for the exploitation of renewable fuel sources.
Edo State Government, as reported widely, had signed for the construction of the Benin River Port; the Benin Industrial Park and a 550 Barrels per day modular refinery. A funding MOU between Huawei technologies and the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by Galaxy Backbone for the training of 1,000 Nigerian government officials to acquire basic ICT knowledge and skills has been forwarded to the Ministry of Justice.
Huawei also plans the annual training of 10,000 Nigerians in ICT, with a wider and deeper training of 5,000 out of this number who, upon certification by Huawei will be employable anywhere in the world. Another attractive MOU signed was that by KhromeMonkey Nigeria Limited, behind whom is Leadership newspapers owner, Sam Nda-Isaiah and Shenzen Right Net Technology Limited.
This partnership will lead to setting up of Amanbo Nigeria, a business-to-business-consumer (B2B2C) platform and portal that would enable Nigerian exporters to trade with Chinese importers and vice-versa. This partnership holds tremendous opportunities for Nigeria in terms of creating thousands jobs, if not millions as core and support services to the platforms such as warehousing all over the country, logistics, distributorships, customer services, shipping services, credit facilities for small businesses etc. The estimated trade potential of the platform within the first three years given the current trade relationship with China is USD 500 million. This is expected to continue to grow, creating millions of jobs for Nigerians.
From addressing the FOCAC as FCOWAS Chairman, and doing so as President of Nigeria, to having 30 minutes discussions with President Xi Jinping and another 60 minutes with Premier Li, to addressing a room filled with influential Chinese businessmen and women, President Buhari’s six-day engagement in China had turned out to be really eventful, successful and highly rewarding.
Garba Shehu is the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Media and Publicity.
Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has ascribed the lingering insecurity and killings in some states to the failure of state and local governments in the area, and therefore asked the federal government to declare a state of emergency in those states.
He mentioned the states as Plateau, Benue, Zamfara and Taraba.
Speaking to newsmen today at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the minister condemned the renewed killing of people in some local government areas of Plateau in the past few days, even as he criticized those apportioning blame on the federal government over the persistent crisis in the Plateau.
He insisted that the state and local government authorities should be held responsible for the problem, adding: “collapse of local government administration had contributed immensely to the inability of the security personnel to arrest the problems.
“The Plateau crisis can be traced to many years of inaction by previous and current administrations in Plateau state despite the Federal Government’s efforts to address the problem.
“It is disheartening that Plateau state has been witnessing killings of innocent citizens in the last four to five days and this is very annoying and disturbing to the government and inhabitants of the state.
“I alerted the Federal Executive Council on Sept. 5 on the need to take drastic and emergency measures to tackle the crisis because the local and state governments have failed in their responsibility of offering useful information to security agents despite the huge resources being spent on security.
“It has, therefore, become imperative for the federal government to declare state of emergency in Plateau and other troubled states across the country so as to put a stop to the killings.”
The Sports Minister identified lack of dedicated leadership at both local and state levels as main factor responsible for the inability of the combined efforts of the security personnel to check the killings in Plateau, Benue, Taraba, Zamfara and other troubled states.
He advocated for the re-reintroduction of Crises Resolution Committee at the local government level.
“But security personnel alone cannot achieve much in addressing the problem without the support and cooperation of the state and local governments as well as the local communities
“There is the need for collaboration between all the three tiers of government, the local communities and Youth Councils in order to find a lasting solution to the crisis.”
Director, Strategic Communications of President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation, Barrister Festus Keyamo, has said that those who are criticizing the purchase of nomination form by some Nigerians for President Buhari at N45 million are misquoting the law simply because it was Buhari that was involved.
He said: “same people that said nothing last week when a group ‘donated’ nomination FORMS to a ‘crying’ opposition aspirant are now descending on PMB & misquoting the law. It’s more honorable to openly support a candidate of your choice than hiding behind one finger & looking ridiculous.”
In a series of tweets today, Friday, Keyamo said that those who are criticizing the purchase of nomination form for President Buhari at N45 million are misquoting the law.
According to him, the section they quoted “limits CASH (not material) donations in respect of CANDIDATES to N1m. PMB is not a CANDIDATE. He’s an aspiring ASPIRANT. He becomes an ASPIRANT only when he submits his Forms to his Party,”
“The situation we have in Nig is that the REAL oppressors of the masses are struggling to pose as their saviours whilst they seek to paint the REAL saviours as the oppressors. They’re using fake news, propaganda, etc, to paint this picture. All they want is to sneak back to power.
“Some of us are prepared to be misunderstood, abused & maligned by a few for d position we have taken today about the future of our country because we see behind the scenes and WE KNOW THE TRUTH.
“It is better to be vindicated by posterity than to be applauded wrongly at the moment “Let’s be clear that d present govt may not have gotten EVERY decision right or taken EVERY step right since 2015, but we urge Nigs. to put the sincerity & personal integrity of Mr. President on an overall scale against those of his opponents in 2019 and see where the scale tilts.” The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had, yesterday, Thursday, said that President Buhari can no longer play the pro-poor gimmick which his followers have always presented to Nigerians and that the purchase of the N45 million All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Nomination form for President Muhammadu Buhari was a worn-out stunt, smacking of fraud and shame.
The party in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, berated the ruling party for the outrageous cost of its nomination forms even as it accused it of abandoning Nigerians to languish in penury just as it called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to note that the purchase of the N45 million form by the group directly violates section 91 (9) of the Electoral Act which provides that “no individual or other entity shall donate more than One million naira (#1,000,000) to any candidate.”
“Our people are daily confronted by the flaunting of affluence and material wealth by the President and those around him, while betraying and abandoning millions of poor Nigerians who, unfortunately, put their trust in him in 2015.
“Nigerians are aware that the very expensive personal effects, including posh jewelries daily paraded by his close relatives betrayed the gimmick of using an unregistered group, pieced together to execute another failed pro-poor stunt to sway Nigerians.
“Since President Buhari has not publicly disowned the purchase of the form by the group, the PDP charges INEC to, within the next 24 hours, hold him culpable and make him to face the appropriate sanctions for the violation of electoral laws,” the statement read “Some mischievous persons are reading S. 91(9) of the Electoral Act upside down.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has injected the sum $303.91 million into the interbank retail Secondary Market Intervention Sales. This is in addition to the sale of CNY 46.58 million in the spot and short-tenored forwards.
The figures obtained from the CBN today, Friday showed that the US dollar-denominated interventions were only for concerns in the agricultural and raw materials sectors.
The Director of Corporate Communications at the CBN, Isaac Okorafor, said that the exercise which was in tune with the CBN guidelines, were for the payment of Renminbi denominated Letters of Credit for agriculture as well as raw materials. He added that the sales in the Chinese Yuan were through a combination of spot and short-tenored forwards, arising from bids received from authorized dealers.
He said that availability of Renminbi will ease pressure on the Nigerian foreign exchange market, attributing the relative stability in the foreign exchange market to the intervention of the CBN as well as the sustained increase in crude oil prices in the international market.
According to Okorafor, the apex bank would remain committed to ensuring that all the sectors continue to enjoy access to the needed foreign exchange by Nigerians.
It will be recalled that the bank, on Tuesday, September 4, intervened to the tune of $210 million to cater for requests in the wholesale segment of the forex market.
Meanwhile, $1 exchanged for N361 at the Bureau de Change (BDC) segment of the foreign exchange market, while CNY 1 exchanged for N53.35.
Following the earth tremor in Mpape, Gwarimpa and Garki districts of Abuja, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has directed the suspension of further quarrying and mining activities and borehole drilling in the affected these areas, pending the outcome of investigations on the root causes of the incidents.
The Minister who gave this order when he paid an on-the-spot visit to Mpape, the epicentre of reported incident of earth tremor in parts of Abuja recently, said that Preliminary reports indicate that the activities of rock blasting from quarrying, mining activities, as well as proliferation of borehole drilling were the likely causes of these tremors. Consequently, he stressed, it became necessary to suspend all quarrying activities in various sites of Abuja, especially Mpape, Garki, Gwarimpa and contiguous areas.
Speakin, on behalf of the Minister, the FCT Permanent Secretary, Chinyeaka Ohaa, assured residents of the areas that geological experts have given hope that Abuja was not on the line of any major seismic danger.
Musa Bello asked residents to go about their normal businesses as his Administration is engaging both local and international geological experts to unravel the root causes of the tremors.
Meanwhile the District Head of Mpape, Malam Abubakar Ibrahim Gimba as well as the Chairman of Mpape Residents Associations, Ameh Christian have recounted the experience of the tremors.
They thanked the FCT Administration for its prompt response to the incident while acknowledging the presence of the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
At the level of small talk and humour, you could hardly get the better of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of Edo State, currently, national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. But for a former national trade union leader of awesome repute, more at home with focused dialogue, analysis and action, this trend of interaction could pall easily.
Cut to the bone, Oshiomhole’s tough-guy image evolved over decades of challenging trade unionism and often bruising engagements with recalcitrant governments – both military and democratic. This unwittingly feeds a perception that the Edo-born leader, now a mainstream national politician is a fellow to be leery of. When this scenario interfaces a milieu where national interest often comes a poor second to personal, sectional and other untoward agenda, both the messenger and his message become objects of suspicion and fear, for friends and foes alike. This arguably sums up Oshiomhole’s apparent public relations quandary.
Perhaps not surprisingly, a little less than three months after he formally took the baton of leadership of APC from Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, his approach to leadership has come under serious public scrutiny, especially because of what pundits see as a belligerent style he is perceived to have adopted. But much of this scrutiny is ungoverned by good faith.
His now famous warning to two ministers (the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige and Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, to inaugurate all the boards under their ministries immediately), the rhetoric during the Ekiti State governorship election, his reaction to the gale of defections, the controversy over the choice of primary method adopted, and the dissolution of some state excos, among others have made some party members jittery as to his capacity to mediate genuine reconciliation in the ruling party ahead of 2019 general elections.
It could also be recalled that the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Lasun Yusuff, who was angered by the outcome of the Osun State governorship primary election which he lost, warned that Oshiomhole would destroy the party with his leadership style. There is more.
Although Oshiomhole made considerable overt and covert efforts to stop the eventual defection of Senate President Bukola Saraki, Governors Abdulfattah Ahmed, Kwara; Ortom, Benue; and Aminu Tambuwal, Sokoto, the 15 senators, and 37 members of the House of Representatives, his interventions did not succeed. Rocket science is not needed here to understand the underlying dynamics of these defections. The politicians had already made up their minds to leave for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to pursue their ambitions even before Oshiomhole’s mandate came on-stream.
Significantly, a common thread undergirding all these scenarios leans heavily on personal interest. They have pretty little connection to party interest or ultimately national interest. These primordial agenda unfortunately form the key conceptual planks of politicking in Nigeria.
Oshiomhole’s choice to lead the ruling party by its top echelon was not accidental. It is essentially to change that old, unseemly narrative, revamp the progressives’ vanguard and compel the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to revise its gratuitous assumptions and ponder its future, a hitherto unaccustomed footing.
He has indeed taken this responsibility very seriously. The position of national chairmanship of a political party carries considerable weight, especially in charting the course of progressive engagement with the critical elements in a democratic mix. That the inherent power of the office of the national chairman, its responsibility and authority have been watered down and often caged by forces out of sync with transformative politics doesn’t mean its occupant must jettison principled and disciplined conduct. The days of Chief Adisa Akinloye, national chairman of the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, of the Second Republic come to mind here.
In the evolution of the Nigerian state, it cannot be denied that Oshiomhole has played his own role and in the process honed administrative, governance and political skills that can help leverage the lot of the current ruling party, especially as it enters a period leading up to an important national election.
In the shark-infested waters of Nigeria’s politics, the former Edo State governor represents a powerful force feared by the opposition and false friends as well. Many of the allegations against his style fly in the face of objective analysis of the multi-hued challenges facing his party.
It’s hardly surprising then that since his assumption of office as APC national chairman, Oshiomhole has received strident flak from the opposition PDP. This is understandable given that his well-known strength, gung-ho oratory and organizational acumen pose a direct threat to their plot of retrieving power. Internal criticism is of course what the diminutive dynamite from Edo should take seriously, so far as they are sincere and objective.
Significantly, a consensus is emerging within APC that the former labour leader came at a ‘difficult’ period. According to the Director -General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mazi Osita Okechukwu as well as a political analyst, Elder Emmanuel Okoro, the position Oshiomhole met requires some combat and reconciliation as well.
In Okechukwu’s words: “I think the position he met on the ground requires some combat and reconciliation as well. So, he has to bring his own character to his administration. There is no way he can avoid that provided he works within the law.
“He is coming on the eve of a major general election. He has to draw up his arms. The only thing I will advise is that whatever he does, it should be within the law because we are running a constitutional democracy. Otherwise, you cannot change a man that is over 50. You can’t change him. He is a combatant person by nature.”
For Elder Okoro, the former governor of Edo State met the party under a very difficult situation that requires total inclusion of party chieftains adding that Oshiomhole needed a high-profile team to help him puncture the bottled-up grievances of the party chieftains across the country.
Clearly, Oshiomhole is not a saint. But the parameters for selecting the national chairmen of political parties in Nigeria do not specify sainthood as a key requirement. The choice of Oshiomhole as the new helmsman of the party became inevitable following the collapse of an obviously impossible reconciliation task placed on the shoulders of former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
His choice tacitly acknowledges the capacity of focused individuals to change their society for the better. For decades, he has provided clear, pragmatic leadership during periods of self-doubt by a citizenry under siege by patiently deploying the instrumentality of law to achieve what many thought were lost causes.
Today, Oshiomhole who has now been deservedly transformed into an active, circumspect and intellectually focused national political figure can do no less.
Mr. Chukwuma, a public affairs analyst, writes from Abuja.
Just recently, one of the biggest players in the manufacturing sector, Procter & Gamble Nigeria closed its $300m plant at Agbara in Ogun State just a year after it was opened amid fanfare by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, ostensibly to showcase some measure of success in government’s policy to grow the non-oil sector.
The company tried to downplay the disaster as a restructuring of its operations but P&G, which manufactures household goods including soap and diapers, had become the latest victim of the inclement economic environment that has defined the Muhammadu Buhari administration in its three plus years in power.
Not long ago, PZ Cussons (the UK-based consumer goods giant), released a statement to the UK stock market that blamed its significant profit drop to low liquidity in the economy. The company posited ‘macro-conditions in Nigeria have resulted in a sharp decline in Africa profits for the year and, hence, a disappointing result for the group.’
Indeed some 272 manufacturing and other plants have gone belly up in 2016 alone, under Buhari, who came into office on the back of promises to boost the economy and create jobs.
While this government has made a habit of blaming the nation’s woes on mismanagement by the past administration, it has come short of injecting fresh ideas on how to revamp the economy and position it to create the very jobs it has promised. On the contrary, jobs are disappearing by the day, with many companies closing or trimming their workforce just to stay afloat.
Perhaps the most critical factor responsible for this was the foreign exchange shock that hit corporate entities two years ago when government adjusted the rate sharply downwards ostensibly to protect our external reserves following the collapse of oil prices.
However, in a country where manufacturers are largely dependent on imported raw materials and machinery, stakeholders have criticised the refusal of government to adjust import tariffs to accommodate the higher cost of inputs. The result has been much tougher times for manufacturers which hold the key to the elusive industrialisation and associated benefits of job creation, increased purchasing power and eventual recovery and growth.
For an economy still yet to recover fully from recession, the golden standard would be for government to supply fiscal incentives or reliefs for the real sector. In this case, it has been the opposite, apparently fixated on boosting revenues, it held on to a punitive tariff regime and indeed introduced new excise duties in the food and beverages sector, which has seen companies such as Nigerian Breweries reporting profit declines in the second quarter of this year.
Key economic stakeholders such as the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) did not see the sense in the approved amendment to the excise duty rates for alcoholic beverages, spirits and tobacco and the plan to extend it to several other basic items.
LCCI Director General, Mr. Muda Yusuf, posited that such moves would further aggravate the poverty situation in a country where 60 per cent still live below the poverty line and undermine the general welfare of citizens.
Already, data from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria point weak recovery in that sector as output grew by 0.14 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2017 up from -2.54 per cent recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2016.
Manufacturers are still grappling with the same problems of capital, logistics problems, bad port access roads and transportation networks.
Many have not recovered from the currency depreciation of the past two years, which has kept operational expenses beyond control, forced them to raise prices and created room for the influx of all sorts of cheap alternatives form China and the rest of the world.
For manufacturers, this has been reflected in a rise in inventory – a confirmation of lower purchasing power that portends even more job losses, and lower private sector capacity to create jobs.
MAN data, showed that members’ inventory – unsold goods – totaled N321.12 billion in 2017 against N90.43 billion recorded in 2016; thus, indicating N230.77 billion or 255.19 percent increase over the period.
Yet, more taxes are being imposed on local firms.
Beyond the fiscal issues are the larger concerns of growing insecurity across the country and effects on the Agric and other sectors as well as foreign investments.
The Central Bank of Nigeria warned recently that Nigerians should prepare for higher food prices as a result of lower yield from the Agric sector where widespread violence have cut back farming activity. The net effect would be a reversal of the gains made in moderating inflation, which has declined for the past 15 months consecutively and higher cost for companies, which utilise local raw materials from the Agric sector.
Many companies have stopped doing business in the North largely because of the risks of getting the products to such markets and crippling poverty associated with huge displacement of populations and loss of means of livelihoods.
So far, there is little indication that government is on top of its game concerning the escalation of violence despite claims to the contrary.
Investors are moving out and looking outside Nigeria. Andela, a software development firm, partly funded by Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg is looking towards East Africa for more investments and new developers despite Zuck’s high profile visit to the Lagos campus last year.
As the 2019 elections draw near, manufacturers and indeed many businesses are worried that the focus would shift to politics and they will still be left struggling to keep head above water in an environment where the common refrain has been “No money”.
This indicates the need for new ideas in managing our economic space away from rhetoric and the slew of empty promises with which Nigerians have been inundated since 2015.
This, perhaps, is the option in 2019, which fortunately is throwing up the candidacy of Atiku Abubakar, the former vice president, who oversaw the fastest period of growth ever witnessed by Nigeria as the manager of the economy under President Olusegun Obasanjo.
It was Atiku, with his thorough understanding of the business world and the ability to bring in good talent, that laid the groundwork for the entry of foreign and local investors in key sectors of the economy including the restructuring of the insurance and banking sectors; telecommunications and power.
He has demonstrated a thorough understanding of the issues including the restructuring debate, which many others are dodging, and the agenda is to deliver meaningful and purposeful governance with higher efficiency in public service, real and equitable opportunities for young Nigerian, comprehensive public sector support for businesses at all levels and infrastructure that works.
Obviously, we need to chart a new course for this country under a more credible, accommodating, sincere and knowledgeable leadership. It’s really too late for experiments.
Ajibike Onajin is an entrepreneur and writes from Lagos
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has made it clear that he is sure of emerging as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ahead of the party’s October 6primaries.
Saraki, who spoke in Owerri, the Imo state capital, where he met with PDP stakeholders, asked Nigerians to stop President Muhammadu Buhari’s plan to continue in office beyond 2019.
The Senate President said that voting out Buhari is the “only way to ensure national unity and security.
“I will continue to fight for the masses. We have to change the leadership. We need a leadership that would ensure justice and fair distribution of national appointments. As a president, I will ensure everybody has a seat on his table. I will restore global reputation. Countries are built by handwork and vision.
“South East people are hardworking, their entrepreneurial spirit is wonderful. As a president, I will partner south East to emerge the next tiger of Africa in business. You don’t build what you don’t have. I, therefore, appeal to the delegates to vote wisely.
“We must change Buhari with a man that has capacity, integrity and vision in order to realise our potentials. I believe in restructuring that would give States opportunities to realise their potentials. I promoted made in Aba products.As a president, I will support local businesses and ensure property.
“We need to have a President that will ensure prosperity, nobody wants a hand out. I am committed to the development of Southeast because it is in the best interest of Nigeria. You need the President that has the youthfulness, the energy to deliver.”
Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, has shared some elective office on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including that of his successor as governor, which goes to the current national secretary of the party, Mai Mala Buni.
Other positions he shared go to the current Senate Majority Leader, Ahmed Lawan for Senatorial ticket, his current spokesman, Abdullahi Bego, for Jakusko/Bade Federal Constituency.
The governor said that the decision was taken today, Friday after a meeting of the leadership of the party at the state, local government and ward levels.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of youths from Yobe Zone A were said to have thronged the Government House, Damaturu to call on Ibrahim Gaidam, to contest for the Senate seat for Yobe Zone A.
The youths were received at the Government House by Abubakar Ali, the deputy governor.
The leader of the youths, Umar Kalli, said: “We believe that although Governor Gaidam is successfully completing his second term in office, we cannot allow him to go and rest.
“We need him in the Senate because we believe he is the best person who can represent our people there”.
A communique issued by the deputy governor Aliyu after a stakeholders’ meeting, also endorsed Gaidam for Senate in 2019.
“The meeting resolves that a discretion is given to HE Alh. (Dr.) Ibrahim Gaidam to present a competent and acceptable person as the Gubernatorial Flag bearer of our great party (APC) in the forthcoming 2019 general elections for our dear state.”
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Two Presidential aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 election, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Kaduna state governor, Ahmed Makarfi have said that the focus of all those contending to fly the flag the PDP is to focus on the objective of defeating President Muhammadu Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC) in next year’s general election.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has injected the sum $303.91 million into the interbank retail Secondary Market Intervention Sales. This is in addition to the sale of CNY 46.58 million in the spot and short-tenored forwards.
Following the earth tremor in Mpape, Gwarimpa and Garki districts of Abuja, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has directed the suspension of further quarrying and mining activities and borehole drilling in the affected these areas, pending the outcome of investigations on the root causes of the incidents.
At the level of small talk and humour, you could hardly get the better of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of Edo State, currently, national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. But for a former national trade union leader of awesome repute, more at home with focused dialogue, analysis and action, this trend of interaction could pall easily.
Just recently, one of the biggest players in the manufacturing sector, Procter & Gamble Nigeria closed its $300m plant at Agbara in Ogun State just a year after it was opened amid fanfare by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, ostensibly to showcase some measure of success in government’s policy to grow the non-oil sector.
Takeaways From Buhari’s FOCAC Beijing Summit, By Garba Shehu
Heads of State, Governments and delegations from 52 African countries, which includes Nigeria and the People’s, Republic of China met in Beijing, under the auspices of the Forum on China and Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
The tri-annual summit was held with the theme: “China and Africa: Towards an Even Stronger Community with a Shared Future through Win-Win Cooperation.”
President Muhammadu Buhari led a strong delegation from the public and private sector that included senators, state governors and the Ministers of Finance, Transportation, Power, Works and Housing, Budget and National Planning, Petroleum and Industry, Trade and Investment, and Minister of State, Aviation.
The gains for Nigeria from the recent FOCAC, which alternates its meetings between China and Africa every three years, can be summed up in three ways: Nigeria as a member of FOCAC; Nigeria-China bilateral engagement and Nigerian Government–Chinese business partnerships.
At the summit, which attracted multiple benefits for Nigeria, members agreed to bind themselves to the Belt and Road Initiative of the Chinese government, which essentially seeks to promote collectively, among one another, extensive consultation, cooperation and ensure shared gains.
Essentially, this translates into closer connection in policy, infrastructure, trade, finance and people-to-people ties. All members will share development opportunities and promote cultural exchanges.
Going forward, Africa and China will form a stronger synergy in world bodies such as the UN, World Trade Organisation and G77+China. They will align themselves in pursuit of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Agenda 2063 of the African Union and support individual national development strategies.
Overall, this should generate more resources for everyone, expand markets and create space for African development and broaden its economic prospects. To realise this, African countries have agreed to participate in November this year in China’s first-ever International Import–Export Expo in Shanghai.
It is important to note that China has categorically stated their commitment to non-interference in the internal affairs of members, as well as pledged to support development efforts without political strings attached. This should answer mostly Western critics who doubt the sincerity of China.
In line with the general principles of the accord, Nigeria, with few African countries, were preferentially treated to bilateral meetings. The Chinese and Nigerian government met exclusively to discuss matters of mutual benefits. The leaders of both countries witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by their foreign ministers, captured as “One Belt, One Road (OBOR)’’.
There was the signing of USD 328 million financing agreement for the National Information and Communication Technology Infrastructure Backbone by the Nigerian Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and Wang Xiaotoa, Director-General, China International Development Cooperation Agency.
As for more specific takeaways from the bilateral meetings, Nigeria received blessings of the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping for the building of the country’s largest hydroelectric power plant in Mambila. Work on the power project will commence on the site in early 2019.
When President Xi announced a USD 60 billion to finance aid and infrastructure projects in Africa at the FOCAC Summit in Johannesburg in 2015, Nigeria joined other countries to draw from the funds for critical infrastructure that included railways, roads and power.
In the last 24 months, China has given Nigeria support in scholarships, military trainings and security assistance, agriculture and concessionary loans to fund infrastructure. Nigeria has attracted more than USD 5 billion finance and more is still under discussion with the government of China.
With a further USD 60 billion announced for the next three years by President Xi, Nigeria should hope to make more progress in closing its infrastructure deficit.
At the Johannesburg summit, President Xi announced RMB 100 million in humanitarian and military assistance to Nigeria in the fight against terrorism. At this summit, he promised a further sum of RMB 50 million for the same purpose. President Xi promised to open China’s market for agricultural products from Nigeria and widen cooperation between the two nations in media, sports and culture. He noted that several Nigerian footballers in China were idolised by fans. The Chinese leader also promised to step up cooperation in intelligence and military training.
While commending President Buhari for taking measures to fight terrorism and insecurity, President Xi said the Nigerian leader was decisive in dealing with terrorism. “You are resolute–the same attitude as China,” he said.
President Xi told President Buhari that he would support the reform of the UN “to increase the voice of developing countries in Africa”. He equally promised continued support for Nigeria’s infrastructure projects, citing the country’s railway modernisation project; Lekki Deep Sea Pot; Zungeru Power Project; Abuja Light Rail; ICT and infrastructure backbone and Abuja Water supply as laudable developmental projects.
The Chinese leader announced the establishment of a “manufacturing section” so that Nigeria can gain from China’s leading role in the world. “In some we lead, in others we need to catch up,” he added.
On a parting note, President Xi told President Buhari that he was fully cognisant of the status and influence of Nigeria in Africa, saying, “We will step up cooperation and will provide assistance. The relationship between China and Nigeria is as best as ever, given the deeper mutual trust. China will continue to stand with Nigeria.”
President Buhari was also accord the honour of a state banquet by the Chinese Premier Li, who assured the Nigerian leader that China was ready “to press ahead” with infrastructure, including the Mambila hydroelectric power project. He, like President Xi, requested for “thorough feasibility and sustainability studies.”
Among the several outcomes of the engagements of President Buhari and his delegation at the FOCAC Beijing summit were the many agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) signed between the Nigerian Government and Chinese businesses, and between Nigerian businesses and their Chinese counterparts.
The Nigerian delegation was able to sign thirteen agreements during the summit out of 25, with more to be signed by the Nigeria Investment Promotion Council and the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of the Federation.
In all, more than USD 10 billion agreements were signed. Others, still under discussion will be quantified upon the conclusion of discussions by various parties. Among those that have been signed, in agreements or MOUs include that entered between the China National Petroleum Corporation, which has agreed to secure funding for the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Ajaokuta – Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline to cost USD 2.8 billion. The agreement entered by the Ministry of Industries, Trade and Investment with Shandong Ruyi International Fashion Industry for USD 2 billion, for a first-ever cotton value chain; that is from cotton growing to ginning, spinning, textile manufacture and garment with Katsina, Kano, Abia and Lagos States as the chosen locations.
Another Chinese conglomerate, Capegate Integrated is into an MOU worth USD 1.5 billion for energy and organic fertilizer that will cover Abuja, Niger, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Kano to generate:
sanitation equipment and
The NNPC entered another agreement with Nanni Good Fortune Heavy Industries Group and Capegate Group for a USD 400 million investments across six states to allow for:
The Nanni Industries and Capegate Group submitted an MOU to the NIPC for an investment in 15,000 hectares of Cassava Ethanol in the South-west, and another project of the same value and scale in the South-east.
Among other agreements that the NNPC signed was one with Obax-Complant Consortium and another with Capegate-Nanning Consortium that targets 10 biofuel complexes nationwide. NNPC’s Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru said through these ventures, Nigeria is giving effect to her aspiration for the exploitation of renewable fuel sources.
Edo State Government, as reported widely, had signed for the construction of the Benin River Port; the Benin Industrial Park and a 550 Barrels per day modular refinery. A funding MOU between Huawei technologies and the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by Galaxy Backbone for the training of 1,000 Nigerian government officials to acquire basic ICT knowledge and skills has been forwarded to the Ministry of Justice.
Huawei also plans the annual training of 10,000 Nigerians in ICT, with a wider and deeper training of 5,000 out of this number who, upon certification by Huawei will be employable anywhere in the world. Another attractive MOU signed was that by KhromeMonkey Nigeria Limited, behind whom is Leadership newspapers owner, Sam Nda-Isaiah and Shenzen Right Net Technology Limited.
This partnership will lead to setting up of Amanbo Nigeria, a business-to-business-consumer (B2B2C) platform and portal that would enable Nigerian exporters to trade with Chinese importers and vice-versa. This partnership holds tremendous opportunities for Nigeria in terms of creating thousands jobs, if not millions as core and support services to the platforms such as warehousing all over the country, logistics, distributorships, customer services, shipping services, credit facilities for small businesses etc. The estimated trade potential of the platform within the first three years given the current trade relationship with China is USD 500 million. This is expected to continue to grow, creating millions of jobs for Nigerians.
From addressing the FOCAC as FCOWAS Chairman, and doing so as President of Nigeria, to having 30 minutes discussions with President Xi Jinping and another 60 minutes with Premier Li, to addressing a room filled with influential Chinese businessmen and women, President Buhari’s six-day engagement in China had turned out to be really eventful, successful and highly rewarding.
Garba Shehu is the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Media and Publicity.