President Muhammadu Buhari has called on the African leaders under the auspices of African Union (AU) to curb the flow of financial support from sponsors to Boko Haram terrorists.
Speaking at the meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Saturday, under the theme, “Towards a Comprehensive Approach to Combat the Transnational Threat to Terrorism,” the President said: “the need to curb the flow of terrorism financing cannot be over-emphasised. Concerted efforts must be made to not only dismantle the network between transnational organised crimes and terrorist organisations, but also to block the payment of ransom to terrorist groups.”
The Nigerian President assured that his country remained committed to supporting counter terrorism efforts within the African Union and the United Nations, while recalling the UN Resolution 1373 which stressed that “any person who participates in the financing, planning, preparation or perpetration of terrorist acts should be brought to justice.”
He called for resolute and coordinated initiatives by developing an African Union data base of persons or groups and entities involved in terrorist acts for use by law enforcement agents even as he sadi: “Nigeria believes that the timely establishment of this tool at the continental level will be strategic in this fight.”
President Buhari expressed Nigeria’s grave concern over the increasing threats posed by transnational terrorism and the attendant humanitarian crisis, also condemned in the strongest terms the continued activities of the terrorist groups in Africa, and around the world.
He called for more concerted action by the African body and the international community to address the global scourge.
In doing that, the President noted that the conditions that are conducive to the spread of extremism, radicalisation and terrorism must first be addressed. Similarly, he said collaborative measures must be taken to disrupt the recruitment of terrorists, their financing networks and the movement of foreign fighters.
President Buhari disclosed that Nigeria has enacted domestic anti-terrorism laws that also deal with related issues such as kidnapping, drug peddling and gun-running. He, however, noted that, “Terrorism cannot be defeated only through military force and law enforcement measures. We need to adopt a multifaceted approach of good governance, economic development and creation of job opportunities for our youth.”
Linking terrorist activities to climate change, the President reiterated Nigeria’s “important call for global action to support the recharging of the Lake Chad Basin,” which has shrunk by over 80 per cent and has impacted negatively on the livelihood of millions of people in the countries of the Basin.
“There is considerable evidence that the environmental state of the Lake contributed to the radicalisation of jobless youth who joined Boko Haram.”
In their submissions, the Chairperson of the AU Peace and Security Council, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, the African Union Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, and the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, agreed on the real threat of transnational terrorism, and the need for global efforts to curb the negative trend. [myad]
Prof. Yesmi Osinbajo attended World Wconomic Forum
In our government we’re not talking about 2019. We are focused at this point on ensuring that we deliver on our promises. We have a four year term for now and that’s what we’re focused on and that’s what the president is also focused on.
In an interview with an American basic cable, internet and satellite business news television channel (CNBC), at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo spoke on some of the achievements of the Muhammadu Buhari administration. He emphasized the commitment of Buhari to ensuring that the government delivers on its electoral promises despite the call on him to contest for a second term in 2019.
CNBC: The good thing for Nigeria is that you have been listed in the top ten countries of ease of doing business. What difference does that make coming to this conference here in Davos?
Osinbajo: Well I think the major thing is that we have some acknowledgement from the world especially the World Bank that Nigeria is a place that’s open for business and as you said, we were listed in the top ten reforming countries in the ease of doing business so this very good for us and a lot of investors are looking our way on account of the fact that they see positive development in terms of creating a better environment for business. We’ve also recently released our incentive regime a publication which details all of the available incentives across sectors of the economy. It’s a bullish period in terms of attracting business and we are excited.
CNBC: Speaking about sectors of the economy I know that one of Nigeria’s great dreams is to start growing its own food again after years of importing with oil money. How is that going?
Osinbajo: That’s going very well indeed. What we’ve found for example just to take rice as an example: between rice and wheat we were importing almost $3 billion worth of that particular produce but today we are possibly one of the largest growers of paddy rice. Milling is a bit of a problem but we will be self-sufficient in rice production we hope by early 2019. At the moment we are doing exceedingly well. Imports of rice have gone down by as much as 80 per cent and that is one of the major food imports that we have. We are also looking at other areas such as sorghum, millet and all of those areas where there is also a great deal of activity and a great deal of agricultural growth. At the same time agriculture also means more jobs, so many more jobs are being created in the agricultural areas.
CNBC: In these times as well, you’re seeing great buoyancy in the stock market and your foreign reserves have also been increasing. How’s that going?
Osinbajo: Excellent. Foreign reserves are at $40 billion which is the highest in about 4 or 5 years and we’re also seeing a great deal of progress with respect to investment but this is going very well indeed. We are quite happy with the capital market. It’s been listed as possibly the best performing capital market in the world. We hope to be able to sustain that bullishness in the capital market.
CNBC: Infrastructure is also a big story as well, particularly in the power front. Are you going to use some of these foreign reserves to help build up Nigeria’s infrastructure? What spending are you planning?
Osinbajo: For infrastructure we are doing quite a bit. First with respect to power we are now doing something in the order of between 7000MW and 9000MW. Now, we expect that with improvements in transmission and distribution that will be able to make an impact. At the moment the impact isn’t as wide or as deep as we want it to be. We want the power sector and the consumer to feel that impact and that has a lot to do with the investments in transmission and distribution which we are doing. We want to get to the last mile, to the consumer.
With respect to rail, we’re doing a lot of work in rail. We’re doing the Lagos – Kano rail with the new standard gauge. That has already started with the Lagos – Ibadan end of it. We’re investing close to $10 billion, we’re getting some funding from the Chinese with counterpart funding from Nigeria. We have already provided counterpart funding and they are providing their own part of that resource. We are also doing the Lagos – Calabar train route which we expect will open up the whole of the Delta area, going up to the South East and the South South regions.
That’s also something we’re doing in the area of infrastructure. Roads are big for us. We’re working very hard on railway and of course power.
CNBC: How much do you plan to increase the investment in places like Lagos which is highly congested as we know?
Osinbajo: Well the Lagos State government – as you know we are a federal state, has its own plans. I know they are interested in doing a fourth mainland bridge. I haven’t heard of any new developments in terms of a metro infrastructure at this time but I know that they’re trying to open up new roads especially a fourth mainland bridge which will be a major road route around the city, going into the outlying areas of the city to greater Lagos. I think that that will happen but one of the things we’re doing is that in the standard gauge rail we’ll be going through portions of Lagos all down the South West from the port areas.
This is really important especially from the point of view of movement of petroleum products and goods from the port area because the railway actually starts from the Apapa port and then goes out to the outlying areas all through the South West and then up North. That will improve general transport logistics.
CNBC: And what about social investment spending for the people on the ground in Nigeria?
Osinbajo: Since 2016 we’re probably investing in the most ambitious social investment project that the country has ever seen. We’re putting N500 billion in the budget, we did it in the last budget, we’re hoping that we’ll be able to engage 500,000 unemployed graduates. We’ll be able to give micro credit loans, conditional cash transfers also to the poorest of the poor.
So, our social investment scheme is really very important. Philosophically for us it’s also a question of not just talking about macro-economic policy. We are concerned about social policy.
Social policy is crucial because we think that in order to achieve the inclusive growth we’ve been talking about we must find a way of accounting for the vast majority of our people who still are in one form of deprivation or the other and that’s why this social investment scheme is extremely important and we hope that we’ll be able to improve on the numbers in terms of the social investment itself and also to see incremental improvements in those who are coming out of poverty.
CNBC: Last but not least, there’s an election coming up in Nigeria. I understand from my sources that the present President Buhari is going to stand again as president. How do you think the election year is going to play out?
Osinbajo: The president has said that he is entirely focused on this term. He wants to ensure that he’s able to deliver on as many of the promises that have been made. So, he’s actually completely focused. In our government we’re not talking about 2019. We are focused at this point on ensuring that we deliver on our promises. We have a four year term for now and that’s what we’re focused on and that’s what the president is also focused on.[myad]
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has approved 90 Tour Operator Companies for the 2018 Muslim Hajj operations.
A statement from the commission said that the 90 companies were found suitable for the operations out of 144 that went through pre- qualification exercise recently.
The statement said that the committee, set up by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Barrister Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammad, screened the 144 Tour Operator Companies.
According to the Head of Tour Operators Unit of the Commission, Alidu Shutti, the companies were examined based on their past performance, validity of their IATA, tax clearance, Corporate Affairs Certificates as well as inputs from relevant government agencies.
The Commission has opened its doors to the 54 companies that did not meet the criteria to appeal on the outcome of the exercise to the Chairman/CEO before next weekFriday, February 2.[myad]
President of the United States of America, Donald Trump has said that until he became politician, he never knew that the press is this nasty, mean, vicous and fake.
The U.S. President, who spoke today, Friday at a special closing session of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, said: “it was not until I became a politician, that I realised how nasty, how mean, how vicious and how fake the press can be.”
He did not see anything wrong in him putting America first just like Presidents of other countries.
“As president of the United States, I will always put America First, just like the leaders of other countries should put their countries first also. But America First does not mean America alone.
“America is a cutting-edge economy, but our immigration system is stuck in the past,” he added. “We must replace our current system of extended-family chain migration with a merit-based system of admissions that selects new arrivals based on their ability to contribute to our economy, to support themselves financially, and to strengthen our country.”
On the issue of defense, President Trump said: “to make the world safer from rogue regimes, terrorism, and revisionist powers, we are asking our friends and allies to invest in their own defenses and to meet their financial obligations. Our common security requires everyone to contribute their fair share.”
In reference to NATO, the U.S. strong man underlined the efforts to put “maximum pressure to de-nuke the Korean peninsula.
“We continue to call on partners to confront Iran’s support for terrorists and to block Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon.”
World Trade Organization (WTO) Director General, Roberto Azevedo at the World Economic Forum on Thursday, called on countries to refrain from taking measures towards protectionism, in reference to Trump.
This was even as the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), warned President Trump over the real possibility of nuclear war, urging the international community not to ignore the nuclear threat.
“We are very concerned about Trump’s new policy on nuclear weapons. It lowers the threshold of using nuclear weapons. It develops more usable nuclear weapons,” Beatrice Fihn, ICAN executive director, told Anadolu Agency in an exclusive interview on Thursday in Davos, Switzerland.
On Thursday, a group of scientists moved the “doomsday clock” 30 seconds closer to midnightThursday, citing the looming threats of nuclear conflict and climate change.
The clock has now advanced to two minutes to midnight, a metaphor for the end of humanity. It is now “the closest the Clock has ever been to Doomsday,” matching only the height of the Cold War, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists said.
Over 3,000 participants from more than 110 countries and more than 340 public figures, including more than 70 heads of state and government and 45 heads of international organisations, are attending the Davos Economic Forum. (Anadolu Agency)
The Kaduna State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has mounted pressure on the former governor of the State, Ahmed Makarfi to contest the 2019 presidential election.
The stakeholders of the party, in a major re-grouping after the 2015 elections, described the former Kaduna governor, who is now a Senator of the Federal Republic, as the “best material” for the nation’s top job.
Former Kaduna governor Ramalan Yero, in an address at the meeting, said that the PDP is proud of Makarfi’s performance during the trying period of the party, when he served as the chairman of its National Caretaker Committee.
He said that Makarfi’s ability to organize a successful National Convention was also a proof that he was a good manager of situations.
“Clearly, Makarfi is the best man for the top job after successfully leading the party out of the crises that almost confined it to the dust bins of history,” he said.
Ramalan later called for a voice endorsement and received a thunderous support for the former governor.
Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele has described those involved in cryptocurrency, which is now making waves on the internet as gamblers.
In an interview, Emefiele warned: “Cryptocurrency or bitcoin is like a gamble, and there is a need for everybody to be very careful. We cannot as a Central Bank give support to situations where people risk savings to ‘gamble.’
On the possibility of future regulation of cryptocurrency, the CBN boss said, “I have asked my colleagues in the research and monetary-policy department to study the market and get to know what the issues are. The Central Bank may in future make some very concrete pronouncements as to the direction.”
Emefiele’s warning is consistent with a circular issued by the CBN last year, warning banks and other Financial Institutions (OFLs) not to use, hold, or trade digital currencies. It cautioned financial institutions to ensure that digital exchange customers must have effective Anti-Money Laundering/Combating The Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) controls to enable them comply with customer identification, verification and transaction monitoring requirements.
Similarly, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), issued a statement last year, advising Nigerians to exercise extreme caution with regard to using digital currency as a vehicle of investment.
Data from Local Bitcoins, a Bitcoin start-up company, showed that Nigeria came second in the world’s peer-to-peer (P2P) Bitcoin transactions last year outpacing major European countries, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
Cryptocurrencies are not issued or backed by any bank or government, nor are individual digital currency valuable as a commodity. Cryptocurrency are traded on online exchanges and transferred anywhere in the world, allowing holders to skirt currency controls.
Unlocking developing countries’ potentialities for business and investment growth would always certainly depend on learning from past mistakes and creating the right policy frameworks to drive expansion and sustainability. Political players in Africa have a lot to learn about making the people’s interest the centre-piece of business policies by creating a level-play ground for all, irrespective of political leanings and peregrinations. There is an urgent need to put an end to the detrimental and rabid primordial sentiments that pervade Africa and inhibit the ease of doing business on the continent. Forward-looking governments globally would necessarily attune themselves to expanding the frontiers of ensuring the ease of doing business. A number of executive orders along that line were issued last year by the federal government under the acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, a development which received national and international plaudits. Take a look at this: Washington Post has been a source of almost constant irritation for the US president, Donald Trump – a torn in his flesh. This tabloid is owned by Jeff Bezos who is, officially, the richest man on the planet, as of today. Bezos definitely cannot be a friend of Trump, not in the current situation. But guess what, Bezos’s rising wealth is “a result of a surge in the value of Amazon shares – fuelled by a stock market rally that owes much to Trump’s corporate tax cuts, which came into force at the start of the year,” according to The Guardian. In Nigeria, Mr. Segun Adebutu, the multi-talented Nigerian business magnate does not need to be a friend of the president or promoter of any party in power for his multi-million dollars investment in the energy landscape to flourish. That is how a nation should work. Do you know that Bezos is also investing $33 million to fund college scholarships for 1,000 undocumented immigrant (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals – DACA) high school students who live in the US – a development that Trump may not like? But the nation’s interest is more important than that of the President. While Nigeria’s energy sector is plagued by several problems, largely caused by the undue influence of political power players and lack of best practices, it was a comment by former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the commissioning of Adebutu’s “new wonder” – Petrolex’s multi-million dollar tank farm in Ibefun, Ogun State, last year, that should get us thinking. With Professor Osinbajo in attendance, Obasanjo urged the federal government and Nigerians to leverage on the tank farm to tackle supply and distribution of petroleum products in the country. He expressed deep concerns based on his experience of the impediments associated with investing in Africa, especially in Nigeria, even as he insisted: “We should make use of this facility. If not utilised, it will be a waste to the nation and a waste of investment put into it. Government should support private sector initiative….Private sector initiative without government support will amount to nothing. I will urge Segun Adebutu to hold the government on their promise to help private sector initiative.” The former president is experienced enough to know how a government’s negative actions could badly affect businesses. Remarkably, Adetubu has shown such uncanny capacity, wisdom, drive and purposefulness to sit at the top of big global players like Richard Branson of Virgin Atlantic and Jeff Bezos of Amazon. The difference, however, is the friendly and conducive business climates and supporting infrastructure that allow these other players to soar to any heights. More than 70% of problems that inhibit business growth in a place like Nigeria are eliminated in other climes. It is, therefore, difficult to navigate the complex Nigerian energy landscape, laced with several impediments and mines, without government’s support. But despite these challenges, if you think investing in the Nigerian troubled streams is pure folly, then you are probably underestimating the vision, vigilance and audacity of Segun Adebutu’s rising potentialities to be a dominant player in Africa. Unlike a few other business players who have risen to regional prominence through a back-to-back support from political power brokers, Adebutu has not been seen around Abuja’s corridors of power that much to be labeled “state-made.” In essence, the audacity that comes with such massive and patriotic investments has, no doubt, factored in how to mitigate challenges. With its vast richness in oil and natural resources, Nigeria still remains a key nation on the global oil chessboard of the 21st century and holds a strategic position as, arguably, the leader of the black race. Pivotal to the country’s strive to wriggle out of its numerous challenges is the active involvement of patriotic and visionary private sector players. The big foray of Adebutu into the downstream sector with a mega world-class tank farm, in addition to a refinery that will come on stream in a few years, readily comes to mind as one of those strategic private investments that we need to solve problems and unlock more potentialities in the downstream sector. It is expected that the country will speed up reforms in the oil industry with the recent passage of the first phase of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB), which is awaiting the assent of the President. Private players like Adebutu would be able to add greater value to the sector and grow their investments with limitless possibilities. And when fully operational, it is hoped that the law will help to institute best practices in the industry, overhaul the sector and put Nigeria in a good stead to attract more investments. There is about $2 trillion oil investments expected in Africa by 2036 that Nigerian can significantly tap into. The onerous task of nation-building is, by far, beyond the government or the lawmakers alone. As a matter of fact, it is a collective effort – a responsibility Adebutu himself has come to demonstrate by words and deeds. To commit an investment worth over $330 million in a nation where the ease of doing business is 145 in global index, is indicative of a great level of love of country, sacrifice and patriotism. This outstanding investment is more than validating it as “a solution-driven company….positioned to drive increased efficiency and consistent value creation across the West African downstream oil and gas value chain through strategic investments and the delivery of superior quality products and services.” That Petrolex has come to create over “10,000 new direct and indirect jobs,” when the unemployment figure in Nigeria is becoming unbearable, hitting 16 million, is great news. Adebutu is an irrepressible philanthropist; that his company’s extensive social investment programme would impact more than two million lives, and will maintain a very healthy balance with the environment, is a beautiful music to the ear. The people of Lagos have every reason to be happy too: the tank farm is “equipped with state-of-the-art technology that can help to decongest Apapa and Ibafo tanker traffic by 60%, thereby eliminating hazards associated with storage and transportation of petroleum products in those areas.” In a few years, if business-support infrastructure can improve in Nigeria and we can fully reform the energy sector and put in place best practices that allow investments to thrive unhindered, someone like Adebutu will compete favourably with the best of the world. He has got what it takes with his rising chains of businesses. Aside being the Chief Executive Officer of Petrolex, this consummate businessman sits atop several other companies and the popular Premier Lotto Nigeria Limited as the Executive Director. He also has business interests in shipping, construction, real estate, agriculture and entertainment. Very encouraging to see Adebutu urging other private investors and entrepreneurs to follow suit by going to Ibefun in Ogun state, where Petrolex mega oil city is located, to invest their capitals. He knows that no nation or society can develop without the private investors. Businesses create jobs and pay taxes; and, this should make it natural for government to want to help them to thrive. The government really does not need any persuasion to do what is right. If government supports Adebutu to become our own Jeff Bezoz, the country will be the better for it.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has intervened in the Retail Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS) of the inter-bank Foreign Exchange Market to the tune of $304,400,000.00. Figures obtained from the Bank indicate that the sum, as in previous interventions, were in favour of interests in the agricultural, airlines, petroleum products and raw materials and machinery sectors. The Bank’s Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, Isaac Okorafor, confirmed the figures, saying that the objective of the CBN is to boost liquidity, production and trade. He explained that the CBN would continue to ensure liquidity in the interbank sector of the market as well as sustain its interventions in order to drive economic growth and guarantee market stability. Okorafor expressed optimism that the Nigerian economy stood to gain massively from the Bank’s forex management strategy as could be seen in the accretion to the foreign reserves, which now stands at over $40 billion. Meanwhile, the naira exchanged for N361/$1 in the BDC segment of the market today, Friday.
Tomorrow, January 27, it would be exactly two years since Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello was sworn-in as governor of Kogi State. Ever since he was sworn-in, Governor Yahaya Bello has engaged in the serious business of governance. He has seen and experienced first hand what it takes to govern one of the most volatile states in Nigeria. During his inaugural ceremony at the confluence stadium, Lokoja, the state capital, Bello declared: “we are ready for action,” adding: “we must and will be that generation of Leaders who made the entirety Kogi’s Resources work for the entirety of Kogi’s People.”
Of course, just like many new Nigerian leaders with tall and beautiful ideas of turning society into Eldorado until they eventually face the reality of governance, Bello’s vision is no different. Two years down the line of implementing his big vision for the confluence state, concerned Kogites and others Nigerians are asking, how is the ‘New Direction’ government of Yahaya Bello has so far fared on various fronts of governance? Has he able to deliver his promises? Surely, let’s the available facts speak for him without bias.
In a write up published before the inauguration of the current administration, titled: “Challenges and Opportunities awaiting Bello as Wada hands over a troubled state, I painstakingly outlined many challenges that would likely confront the ‘New Direction’ government which I acknowledged as surmountable with rights people around Bello. In the piece, political instability, bad state’s economy and rising wave of insecurity among others were some of the examined challenges inherited by Gov Bello’s administration. Also discussed, is what I tagged the ‘Golden opportunities’ which the Bello’s government is blessed with. Today, virtually all the predictions are coming to pass.
Bello and economy
It’s an undeniable fact that on assumption of office in January 2016, Bello met a terrible state of the economy, with a devastating structure. The state, which was generally regarded as civil servant state with over 80,000 workforce was facing a serious threat of total collapse. The former governor of the state, Capt. Idris Ichala Wada, had earlier lamented before he handed over power to Yahaya Bello that the average total annual revenue accruing to the state from federation account and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) was about N80 billion but that 90 percent of it goes into salaries while the state was left with only 5billion. As such, Bello met the state with workers owed several months of salaries, while internal and external debts were left blooming, yet infrastructures across the state were in a state of dismal. As if that was not enough, internally generated revenue was very meager with over-bloated wage bill. Also, a decline in monthly allocation from federal government to the state occasioned by the national economic recession that nearly shut the nation down.
Of course, no sane and serious government that want the state to move forward would allow such undesirable trend to continue without finding a workable solution to the problem. For this reason, Bello quickly undertook staff audit to save his government from the impending collapse. Also, it would be recalled that part of the reason why the bailout fund was not released to the previous government was the inability to determine the real state’s workforce that will assure the federal government that such fund will not go into the ghost individuals when released.
Furthermore, in concurrent with the staff screening exercise, Bello engaged in an aggressive push for an increased IGR for the state by granting autonomy to the state Board of Internal Revenue Service, renovated their offices across the state, built a befitting multi-story corporate headquarters for the Board, equipped it with personnel and facilities for improved performance.
As a result, just in November last year, the Executive Chairman of Kogi State Internal Revenue Service, Dr. Yakubu Oseni revealed that the state’s IGR has increased to 1 billion naira adding that, “before we took over, the state was generating N300 million monthly…” It’s also evidently visible that Infrastructure across the state is recording a new look as several projects are under construction while some have been completed. For instance, all dilapidated roads across the state capital have been renovated while the long-abandoned advanced Diagnosis Center has been completed. In late 2016, Bello flagged off 10 billion road projects across the three senatorial districts of the State; and in August last year, the governor also flagged-off the construction of over 200 blocks of classrooms in 80 primary schools across the 21 local government of the state. Also, as a transportation business man himself, Bello remodeled the state transport service and acquired more buses to boost its operation. Currently, some major towns and the state capital have been given a facelift with solar powered street-lights, while the demolished roundabouts are being quietly reconstructed among other developments across the state. Security under Bello
There is no doubt that the state was fast becoming a hub for all forms of criminalities before Bello took over office last two years. Since his assumption as the Chief security officer of the confluence state, he has significantly strengthened the security architecture of the state; improved intelligence gathering; beef-up security personnel by building Army Forward Operational Base to check security threat in the state and equipped police to clampdown kidnappers, armed robbers and other forms of criminalities across the state. Governor Bello ensured that all security personnel alleged to have been compromised by some individuals were quickly redeployed from the state. Also, in his wisdom, he ensured that all bushes along the federal highways across the state that served as hideout for armed robbers and criminals are cleared regularly. As a matter of fact, this is the first time such idea is being utilized to stem the incessant cases of armed robbery on the Nigerian highways. The ‘New Direction’ government has also tackled the incessant herdsmen/farmers clashes with diplomacy. Bello also boosted community policing by recruiting youths and equipping the local vigilante service with 260 Motorcycles and 10 trucks to check-mate crimes in the state. And, just recently, the state government inaugurated Kogi Geographic Information Center to further strengthening the security of life and property in the state. As a matter of fact, today, there is relative peace and security in the state as compared to the situation before he assumed office in 2016.
Bello and ethnic politics
Kogi, a microscopic of Nigeria has witnessed unprecedented political instability since its creation. The state, which was created in 1991 by General Ibrahim Babangida Military administration, composes of multi-ethnic groups with three dominant ethnic groups just like Nigeria. Since its creation, there have been a recurrent power struggles among the three dominant ethnic groups, notably, Ebira, Igala, and Okun. However, one section has consistently commanded superiority over others which over the years resulted in unending political upheaval. The recent shift of power from the acclaimed largest ethnic group in a circumstance that remains mysterious has further left the state in a political volatility.
For those who are conversant with the Nigerian politics would acknowledge the current uproar being generated in Kogi state under the present administration as not unusual. It’s understandable that whenever political power accidentally shifted from the so-called dominant ethnic group, it usually induces political instability and unnecessary tension.
For instance, when Jonathan accidentally emerged President of Nigeria, there was persistent pandemonium in the nation’s polity. When Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa of Southern Kaduna also inadvertently catapulted to number one citizen of the state, Kaduna almost went on flame until the man eventually died in a bizarre plane crash with former national security adviser, Andrew Azazi. And, when Garba Umar of Taraba replaced the brain-damaged late former governor of Taraba state, Danbaba Sutai, hell was almost let-losing in Taraba metropolis. These are a textbook examples of politics of ethnic dominant that has taken root in the Nigerian political settings.
However, what might somewhat differentiate the current Kogi state scenario from the above examples is that the central senatorial district of the state who is the present accidental beneficiary of power shift is not really a minority in the state, but flawed census figures created that impression. And, the hard-line inclusive leadership style of Governor Bello may likely alter the narrative of politics of ethnic dominance in Nigeria.
Governor Yahaya Bello, a 42-years-old chartered accountant has learned fast the art of inclusive leadership. Ever since his assumption, he has consistently ensured that equity, fairness, inclusiveness are his guiding principle of governance.
Projects, appointments, and other state’s benefits are equitably shared, spread across the state. He ensures a good relationship with some opposition politicians, crushing political godfathers, empowered traditional institutions, and strengthened community dialogue. As a matter of fact, Bello is bridging the gaps of ethno-religious divides with his inclusive style of leadership.
The drawback
Man is fallible no matter how much he may try to be perfect in his dealings. Bello is not different. As such, considering the environment in which Bello rode to power and the nature and character of the state, he is somewhat trying his best.
However, there are numerous areas in which the governor has erred and needs to be corrected as a matter of urgency. One of such is the worrisome screening exercise saga.
When the governor commenced the exercise in the early stage of his administration, many well-meaning Nigerians applauded him for venturing into such difficult task, even when his faith at the election tribunal was not yet decided. Many Nigerians, including this writer, had thought the exercise (the longest in the history of Nigeria), when finally completed will permanently put to rest the decade-long problem of non-payment of workers’ salaries in the state. But, the reverse seems to be the case as genuine workers are still being paid in percentage and some are owed months of salaries.
Also, it’s surprising that despite the enormous supports from President Muhammadu Buhari led federal government on agriculture, the state remained backward in the sector. I have witnessed how Kogi citizens are consistently directed to register via an online platform for agricultural aid from state government, yet none has been granted to the people especially the real farmers at the grassroots who mobilised themselves for the programme. However, it’s encouraging that recently, the state government launched what it called ‘Confluence Rice’, which the governor described as “a great success in ensuring self-sufficient in food production in the state” but available facts show that such claim does not actually reflect the reality of Agricultural sector in the state. For instance, since the launching of ‘Confluence Rice’, many Kogites are still searching the markets frantically to purchase the product but nowhere to be found. Little wonder, some Nigerians have described it as deceptive.
Moreover, it’s disheartening that the take-off of the well-conceived industrial park that would have put the state on the path of industrial revolution and massively engaged youths in the state was abruptly cancelled without any convincing reason.
The recent opening of a multi-million naira mansion by the Governor, in his hometown, Okene with fanfare portrays his government in bad light, even though we cannot accuse him of using public fund to finance his house project. But with the condition of the majority of workers and Kogi citizens in general, such action suggests that the Governor is playing with the sensitivity of the masses who are still wallowing in a state of hunger.
As Governor Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello clocks two years in office, there is a need for him to pause, reflect, and amend any areas some patriotic Nigerians have identified as loopholes in his government. Bello must ensure that he redouble his efforts in the areas of Agriculture, industry, education, and health-care. He should, as a matter of urgency, reconsider the take-off of the construction of the postponed Industrial Park in the state; sustain the momentum in securing the state from all security threats; integrate any previous administration’s policy that is useful for the masses; for instance, payment of WAEC fees for the secondary school students in the state. This is one policy of the previous administrations that requires commendation because it had helped thousands of downtrodden families in the past.
Bello must as well ensure that his government reduces its spending on social activities that have no sustainable impact on the masses. And, above all, he must, by all means, quickly resolve the unending lingering face-off between government and labour unions by prompt payment of all genuine workers in the state.
May God strengthen, protect, and guide him as he continues to steering the affairs of the State.
The Federal Government, through the minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, has ordered the nation’s security agencies to go after those propagating hate speeches, especially through the social media. The minister said that special attention would be given to notable Nigerians in the renewed crusade against hate speeches. In a statement in Abuja, Dan-Ali gave the directive at a meeting of the National Security Council presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, on Thursday. “The Honourable Minister expressed the need by the relevant security agencies to as a matter of urgency tackle the propagation of hate speeches especially through the social media particularly by some notable Nigerians.” The statement quoted the minister as saying that the Armed Forces is currently synergising with other security agencies through intelligence sharing and joint operations to address the various security challenges facing the country. In compliance with the presidential directive for the establishment of National Commission on the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons in the country, Dan-Ali said the ministry, in conjunction with the Office of the National Security Adviser, has set up a committee to work out modalities to transform the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons to a national commission. He was also quoted as saying that during the period under review, the Military Pension Verification Exercise was conducted in all the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory. The process, he said, enabled the Military Pension Board to update its data payroll and ensure financial savings for the government. He was also said to have briefed the council on the update of the presidential visit to the Royal Kingdom of Jordan from December 2-3, 2017. “The visit provided an avenue for implementation of agreement for the procurement of Excess Defence Articles from Jordan. “The Agreement entails rebuilding and modernisation of some of our military platforms,” the statement added. The minister thanked Buhari for his continuous funding of the Armed forces to perform its constitutional role especially now that Nigeria is fighting multiple security challenges. He also informed the council that in line with the decision of the present government to increase the strength of the Armed Forces to address manpower problem, the three services have in the last two years enlisted and recruited qualified Nigerians. He added that the ministry is building befitting accommodation for members of the Armed Forces in the six geopolitical zones. Similar accommodations, he said, were built by Defence Headquarters and inaugurated in Abuja last month. This, he added, has gone a long way to solving accommodation problem and boosting the morale of personnel serving in Abuja. Others who attended the meeting were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno; Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonishakin; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Usman; Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ahmed Abubakar; and the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.
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Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele has described those involved in cryptocurrency, which is now making waves on the internet as gamblers.
The Federal Government, through the minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, has ordered the nation’s security agencies to go after those propagating hate speeches, especially through the social media.
Segun Adebutu’s Audacity in Nigeria’s Troubled Streams, By Sufuyan Ojeifo and Ariyo Dare-Atoye
Unlocking developing countries’ potentialities for business and investment growth would always certainly depend on learning from past mistakes and creating the right policy frameworks to drive expansion and sustainability. Political players in Africa have a lot to learn about making the people’s interest the centre-piece of business policies by creating a level-play ground for all, irrespective of political leanings and peregrinations.
There is an urgent need to put an end to the detrimental and rabid primordial sentiments that pervade Africa and inhibit the ease of doing business on the continent. Forward-looking governments globally would necessarily attune themselves to expanding the frontiers of ensuring the ease of doing business.
A number of executive orders along that line were issued last year by the federal government under the acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, a development which received national and international plaudits.
Take a look at this: Washington Post has been a source of almost constant irritation for the US president, Donald Trump – a torn in his flesh. This tabloid is owned by Jeff Bezos who is, officially, the richest man on the planet, as of today. Bezos definitely cannot be a friend of Trump, not in the current situation. But guess what, Bezos’s rising wealth is “a result of a surge in the value of Amazon shares – fuelled by a stock market rally that owes much to Trump’s corporate tax cuts, which came into force at the start of the year,” according to The Guardian.
In Nigeria, Mr. Segun Adebutu, the multi-talented Nigerian business magnate does not need to be a friend of the president or promoter of any party in power for his multi-million dollars investment in the energy landscape to flourish. That is how a nation should work. Do you know that Bezos is also investing $33 million to fund college scholarships for 1,000 undocumented immigrant (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals – DACA) high school students who live in the US – a development that Trump may not like?
But the nation’s interest is more important than that of the President.
While Nigeria’s energy sector is plagued by several problems, largely caused by the undue influence of political power players and lack of best practices, it was a comment by former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the commissioning of Adebutu’s “new wonder” – Petrolex’s multi-million dollar tank farm in Ibefun, Ogun State, last year, that should get us thinking. With Professor Osinbajo in attendance, Obasanjo urged the federal government and Nigerians to leverage on the tank farm to tackle supply and distribution of petroleum products in the country.
He expressed deep concerns based on his experience of the impediments associated with investing in Africa, especially in Nigeria, even as he insisted: “We should make use of this facility. If not utilised, it will be a waste to the nation and a waste of investment put into it. Government should support private sector initiative….Private sector initiative without government support will amount to nothing. I will urge Segun Adebutu to hold the government on their promise to help private sector initiative.” The former president is experienced enough to know how a government’s negative actions could badly affect businesses.
Remarkably, Adetubu has shown such uncanny capacity, wisdom, drive and purposefulness to sit at the top of big global players like Richard Branson of Virgin Atlantic and Jeff Bezos of Amazon. The difference, however, is the friendly and conducive business climates and supporting infrastructure that allow these other players to soar to any heights.
More than 70% of problems that inhibit business growth in a place like Nigeria are eliminated in other climes. It is, therefore, difficult to navigate the complex Nigerian energy landscape, laced with several impediments and mines, without government’s support.
But despite these challenges, if you think investing in the Nigerian troubled streams is pure folly, then you are probably underestimating the vision, vigilance and audacity of Segun Adebutu’s rising potentialities to be a dominant player in Africa.
Unlike a few other business players who have risen to regional prominence through a back-to-back support from political power brokers, Adebutu has not been seen around Abuja’s corridors of power that much to be labeled “state-made.” In essence, the audacity that comes with such massive and patriotic investments has, no doubt, factored in how to mitigate challenges.
With its vast richness in oil and natural resources, Nigeria still remains a key nation on the global oil chessboard of the 21st century and holds a strategic position as, arguably, the leader of the black race.
Pivotal to the country’s strive to wriggle out of its numerous challenges is the active involvement of patriotic and visionary private sector players. The big foray of Adebutu into the downstream sector with a mega world-class tank farm, in addition to a refinery that will come on stream in a few years, readily comes to mind as one of those strategic private investments that we need to solve problems and unlock more potentialities in the downstream sector.
It is expected that the country will speed up reforms in the oil industry with the recent passage of the first phase of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB), which is awaiting the assent of the President. Private players like Adebutu would be able to add greater value to the sector and grow their investments with limitless possibilities.
And when fully operational, it is hoped that the law will help to institute best practices in the industry, overhaul the sector and put Nigeria in a good stead to attract more investments. There is about $2 trillion oil investments expected in Africa by 2036 that Nigerian can significantly tap into.
The onerous task of nation-building is, by far, beyond the government or the lawmakers alone. As a matter of fact, it is a collective effort – a responsibility Adebutu himself has come to demonstrate by words and deeds. To commit an investment worth over $330 million in a nation where the ease of doing business is 145 in global index, is indicative of a great level of love of country, sacrifice and patriotism.
This outstanding investment is more than validating it as “a solution-driven company….positioned to drive increased efficiency and consistent value creation across the West African downstream oil and gas value chain through strategic investments and the delivery of superior quality products and services.”
That Petrolex has come to create over “10,000 new direct and indirect jobs,” when the unemployment figure in Nigeria is becoming unbearable, hitting 16 million, is great news. Adebutu is an irrepressible philanthropist; that his company’s extensive social investment programme would impact more than two million lives, and will maintain a very healthy balance with the environment, is a beautiful music to the ear.
The people of Lagos have every reason to be happy too: the tank farm is “equipped with state-of-the-art technology that can help to decongest Apapa and Ibafo tanker traffic by 60%, thereby eliminating hazards associated with storage and transportation of petroleum products in those areas.”
In a few years, if business-support infrastructure can improve in Nigeria and we can fully reform the energy sector and put in place best practices that allow investments to thrive unhindered, someone like Adebutu will compete favourably with the best of the world. He has got what it takes with his rising chains of businesses. Aside being the Chief Executive Officer of Petrolex, this consummate businessman sits atop several other companies and the popular Premier Lotto Nigeria Limited as the Executive Director.
He also has business interests in shipping, construction, real estate, agriculture and entertainment.
Very encouraging to see Adebutu urging other private investors and entrepreneurs to follow suit by going to Ibefun in Ogun state, where Petrolex mega oil city is located, to invest their capitals. He knows that no nation or society can develop without the private investors. Businesses create jobs and pay taxes; and, this should make it natural for government to want to help them to thrive. The government really does not need any persuasion to do what is right. If government supports Adebutu to become our own Jeff Bezoz, the country will be the better for it.
Ojeifo and Dare-Atoye write from Abuja via ojwonderngr@yahoo.com[myad]