All the billions flying here and there can truly make anyone dizzy. Perhaps the rented crowd lining up behind thieves are themselves so dizzy that they are not able to exactly tell what this is really about. We are talking about billions of dollars, trillions of Naira made away with, stolen, diverted to fund phantom and fictitious contracts in less than three years; and some are wailing and whining, alleging witch-hunt. For some reason, the media has been playing up the 2.2 billion dollar component of the heist that you might think that is all that this is about. I had fallen for that that too, as this exercise started out as one to consider to a few things we could have done with two billion dollars to improve the quality of life of our people. Then I decided to check up the figures. So far, total extra budgetary interventions, as collated by the committee which probed the arms, was found to be N643.8 billion, while the foreign currency component was $2.2 billion. In other words, we are talking of over one trillion naira. There is a report of 53 failed contracts valued at $2.3 billion dollars and N13 billion; phantom contracts worth 2.2 billion naira, 1.6 billion dollars and 9.9 million euros; and 132 million dollars and 9 million euros transferred out of the country under instructions for purposes not ascertained. So, in all, what are we talking about?
If you are not feeling dizzy at this point, I give you kudos. I am lost myself, not knowing where to start, as this was initially about utilising 400 billion naira, but as I can see, we have before us at least a trillion naira that could have been put into good use. The painful bit about this is the impression often given that our problem is that lack of resources, when we all know that is the least of our problems. It is even more annoying that once the talk shifts to doing just a little for the poor, all kinds of pretend-Economists come, daggers-drawn, to tell us how unsustainable such a policy is. They have been lining up to shout down the plan to make the payment of five thousand naira to the most vulnerable among us. Where will the money come from? Giving handout does not make any sense. What can be done with five thousand naira?
Our own Segun Adeniyi derisively dismisses five thousand naira as money for recharge cards. Perhaps it is for him and the privileged class, but it is a lot of money for Bala. The total value of goods in his wheel-barrow is less than two thousand naira, so five thousand cannot be recharge card money, for him. For Mama Efe who sells ‘Boli’ and roasted yam down the road, she will definitely thank God for a monthly five thousand naira to help increase her stock. Chinedu who moves in between cars in traffic, hawking handkerchiefs, understands what five thousand naira can do, seeing that his total stock is valued at less than three thousand naira. He has friends who started out with only a fifty naira bag of sachet water, gotten through credit facility from the distributor. Many of our mothers trade with less than five thousand naira, yet miraculously manage to put food on the table for their families
One of the challenges we have today is not simply that of policy makers being too far away from the people, opinion moulders are sometimes too distant to be able to feel the pulse of the people. Now that some of our Columnists write from the cosy corners of private jets and privileged tables of the high and mighty, it is understandable that they are no longer able to tell what five thousand naira will do for the people at the lowest end of the pool in the informal sector.
Nigeria is definitely not Finland, but it cannot be completely unknown to economics, as often led to believe, that a society will seek to put a bit of cushion at the back of its most vulnerable, as it is being contemplated here, if even today, Finland’s government is drawing up plans to give every one of its citizens a basic monthly income of 800 euros. Some commentators miss the point when they argue that government has no business making that token payment; that it is better for it to concentrate on creating an enabling environment for job and wealth creation. Are we saying the two cannot be done together? Where were the commentators when government bailed out banks and other sectors with trillions of naira from our commonwealth? What is wrong with bailing out the poor? We have not talked about the impact such direct payment will make on the economy of the poor. We have not even considered the sense in the conditional cash transfer that links payment to maternal and child healthcare.
How much does it cost to give children in public schools a meal a day? How much is five thousand naira for the most vulnerable 20 million Nigerians, compared to what has been made away with by a few Nigerians, over the few years? I will rather Nigeria, for once, risks putting a little into the hands of the poor. Let us take $2 billion from what was alleged to have been made away with. At N200 a dollar, that is N400 billion. Now with only N400 billion, we can procure basic health insurance premium from private Health Management Organisations (HMOs) at N20,000 per head for 20 million Nigerians. That way, we would have pulled additional 20 million Nigerians into the health insurance net, assuring them of immediate, regular access to health care, which will make great and immediate impact on the quality of life and productivity in the country.
Can you imagine what N400 billion pumped into the health sector will do to grow that sector? Can you imagine how many thousands of jobs that will be created, how that will put money in the hands of health care workers, hospitals, insurance companies and even the banks, not to talk of its overall effect on the economy? Needless to say that in tackling our social problems, there are a myriad of economic opportunities that can help drive an all-round, inclusive development of the economy.
With N400 billion, we can guarantee 20 million Nigerian children, at N20,000 per head (estimated market price for 2 shots), rotavirus vaccination to protect them against diarrhoea. Now, consider the fact that the vaccine is being administered to children in India for $1 and the opportunities and cost savings that will come as we bulk-purchase on the generic drugs being administered in India, it means we will be able to go beyond rotavirus. We can administer vaccines such as Pneumococcal conjugate, MMR, Meningococcal conjugate, Chicken-pox and others on millions of Nigerian children, who, at the moment, are not immunised against many of these childhood killer diseases, as these vaccines are excluded from the NPI immunisation list.
The children are denied the best start in life, simply because your heroes stole the country blind, will not forget, when tomorrow comes, how their tomorrow was stolen yesterday. Those snoring in their cosy corners today, might be the first victims of a tomorrow, not moulded into shape by the hands in control, today. A token 500 billion naira voted for social investment in 2016 is only an urgent, tiny first step in the direction of pulling up those at the bottom of the pyramid.
Unfortunately, too many people are lost to their party, ethnic and religious affiliations to be able to think clearly. Billions of dollars frittered away mean little to them. N2.1 billion from the commonwealth in the hands of one man, in pretence of running a “multi-media campaign” for a political party is nothing. They are too lost to get it. They cannot see the link between the mismanagement and corruption of yesterday and the exchange rate today. Perhaps when we begin to ask questions from those who claimed to have coordinated the economy only yesterday, we will begin to get somewhere.
Some ask us why we write. We do because we understand how corruption adversely affects us all. We write because it affects us, if not directly, it does indirectly affect us. Soldiers who might have been alive today, looking forward to Christmas died, unnecessarily. Children, who need not die, are dying, due to lack of access to basic healthcare. Yet some are lining up behind those whose actions and inaction led us to where we are. They think that because they can afford the luxuries of life for themselves and their immediate families, all is well. Myopia only takes the fool so far. The children denied the best start in life, simply because your heroes stole the country blind, will not forget, when tomorrow comes, how their tomorrow was stolen yesterday. Those snoring in their cosy corners today, might be the first victims of a tomorrow, not moulded into shape by the hands in control, today. A token 500 billion naira voted for social investment in 2016 is only an urgent, tiny first step in the direction of pulling up those at the bottom of the pyramid.
Simbo Olorunfemi works for a Nigerian Communications Consultancy. [myad]
The Senate has called on the federal government to urgently put machinery in place to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Company. The Senate said that the move will create employment for local craft men, physically challenged at home and abroad and professionals in all fields. The Senate also advised the federal government to commence the immediate rehabilitation of rail line and dredging of the water ways linking Ajaokuta. The chamber also mandated its committee on power and steel development to henceforth undertake a holistic investigation of the reasons Ajaokuta Steel Company and other steel plants in Nigeria that are not operational and consequently advance recommendations for their effective take-off. According to Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West), who moved the motion, the country has in the past nine years spent whopping a N2.1 trillion to import steel into the country. While lamenting that the steel sector spends over N500 billion annually on steel importation, Melaye said if the steel sector is revived, it will have the capacity to rival the oil sector. He lamented that despite the huge sums expended on the steel sector in less than a decade, the sector has continued to be bedevilled by multifarious challenges. [myad]
The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Ikunyi Awaji-Ibani has resigned his position as Speaker.
Ibani dropped the shocker at exactly 6:57pm today immediately after passing the N307b 2016 budget as presented by the state Governor, Nyesom Wike.
The Speaker did not give any reason but said “in life, there is time for everything.
“I was called to serve and I think I have served you well. At this juncture, I want to announce that I am stepping aside for reasons best known to me.” [myad]
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called on members nations to ban the use of full-face veil, known as Hijjab for Muslim women in Africa to stem the use of female bombers by the Boko Haram terrorist group. The organization stressed that a ban would go a long way to prevent attacks by female suicide bombers who pretend to be true Muslims whereas they are terrorist or agent of the insurgents.
In a statement yesterday, ECOWAS said: “Certain dress codes, such as the full-face veil, make identification difficult and hinder police operations.”
Boko Haram has used girls as suicide bombers by hiding explosives in loose-fitting clothes.
According to the body, the summit allowed Heads of State and Government also to exchange views on peace and security matters, particularly the new cross-border threats in the ECOWAS region.
Excerpts from the statement by ECOWAS reads: “The Authority reaffirms the importance of peace, security and stability for the economic development of the ECOWAS region. It reiterates its commitment to the standards and principles underpinning the peace and security architecture as set out in the protocol relating to the mechanism for conflict prevention, management, resolution, peacekeeping and security, as well as the Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance”.
“The Authority expresses deep concern over terrorism in the Sahel region and condemns in the strongest terms, the terrorist attack in Bamako on November 20, 2015, as well as the Boko Haram group’s recurrent terrorist acts in the Lake Chad Basin countries”.
“The Authority reaffirms its determination to relentlessly pursue the fight against terrorism and consequently underscores the need for a coordinated international struggle”.
“Similarly, the Heads of State and Government are of the view that certain dress codes, which make identification of the persons concerned difficult, may considerably hinder actions geared towards protecting people and properties. They, therefore, urge all Member States to take, in line with their national realities, appropriate measures to ban any dress code that may make it difficult to identify people.” [myad]
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, has said that the Nigerian judicial system is obsolete and needs a complete overhaul in order to ensure quick and inexpensive justice delivery. Justice Mohammed who spoke today in Abuja at the inauguration of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, said: “there is need for an overhaul of the Nigerian Judicial System in order to render it fit for the 21st century circumstances; there is need to ensure that justice is quick and inexpensive. “Litigation has become slow, costly and highly inflating, especially given their complexity, endless interlocutory applications and potential for acrimony.” The ADR centre is an arm of the NICN, which seeks to resolve disputes through a neutral mediator, devoid of litigations, with its agreements upheld as consent judgment. Justice Mohammed commended the NICN’s initiative and vision in instituting an ADR centre, which he noted was the first in the West African sub-region, adding that the centre would ensure swift dispensation of justice without acrimony. “It has now become abundantly clear that ADR offers a more flexible, people-oriented dispute resolution mechanism. “The ADR would help prevent widespread industrial relations crises if given adequate support.” The CJN further urged the NICN to employ capable mediators and build the capacity of the centre’s staff to ensure that the “wheels of justice move more freely.” Justice Mohammed expressed the hope that the centre would be a reference point for affordable and accessible justice for peaceful resolutions. Justice Babatunde Adejumo, the President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, gave the assurance that the centre would ensure adequate resolution of labour related issues. Adejumo said: “One pivotal aim for the centre is to assist parties in dispute to collaborate towards settling their disputes and arriving at a win-win or mutually acceptable agreement in less costly, speedy and efficient manner. “With the establishment of the court’s ADR centre, the court’s mission of an efficient, timely and just system of justice delivery will be further enhanced. “Our goal is to have matters determined within 12 months from the time of filing.” Adejumo said the centre’s headquarters is located in the NICN headquarters in Abuja, with zonal centres in Kano, Gombe, Ibadan, Enugu and Calabar. He said the court was making remarkable progress towards its vision to bring justice delivery to the door steps of the people at minimal cost, inconvenience and delay. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that representatives from the US Embassy, National Assembly, Anambra and Abia State Governments and the Nigerian Bar Association were present at the inauguration. Other guests at the event were the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomole. [myad]
An Enugu Catholic Priest, Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka visited President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday during which time he revealed that Nigeria will soon bounce back to glory.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after having about two hour private session with President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Father Mbaka said that the hardships and disturbances in the country were seasonal and that everything would soon pass away for a season of blessing.
“What is happening now is seasonal. It is just a harmattan period. In no distant time, this season will equally pass away. Nigeria will inhale better air.
“We are passing through a season of decay into another season of blessing.”
The clergyman assured Nigerians of success in spite of the troubles being encountered, likening it to the travails of King David in the Bible who was blessed by the Almighty as a man that was after God’s heart.
“I wish to assure Nigerians that in the midst of what is happening, we shall succeed because in First Samuel, Chapter 18, verse 5, when God made David to be successful, he was promoted.
“A time of promotion is coming for this land (nation) irrespective of what we are passing through.
“I pray for Nigeria’s success. We will succeed. I am singing a song of success. After all these, we will succeed.
“In First Samuel, Chapter 14, in verse 14, in everything that David did, he was successful.
“So in everything we will do, Nigerians are going to succeed.”
The priest said that his visit was to commend the country and its entire leadership into the hands of the Almighty God as well as pray for peace in the land and establish a permanent blessing on the citizens as they enter into the Yuletide.
“We wish to pray for spiritual revival. We wish to pray for economic revamp and for integral wellness and for moral probity in this country, commending the country to Emmanuel, Jesus, that is born.”
According to Mbaka, President Buhari is on a good mission and has a vision for the country, for which God will make the citizens proud to achieve.
He said that Nigerians would have cause to proclaim the greatness of God by the wonders He would do for the nation.
He gave the assurance that the God of Peace will enthrone peace in all geopolitical zones of the country.
Mbaka debunked the notion that he is a controversial person, saying: “I am always a happy man.
“People are free to say anything and I am also free to do what God wants me to do.
“Whoever wants to understand me as a controversial man there is no trouble.
“When God wants me to talk I talk, when He wants me to be silent, I am silent.” [myad]
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced a budget of N5.9 billion for the sporting activities next year.
This was contained in the budget template document the Federation submitted to the National Assembly and circulated to congress members during its 71st Annual General Assembly in Abuja.
The document revealed that while N1.5 billion would be spent on Super Eagles’ participation in the Championship of African Nations scheduled for Rwanda from January 16 to February 7, 2016, the amount would take care of the team’s camping and selection of players, qualifiers, overseas training tour as well as actual participation in the competition.
The Federation equally disclosed that the U-20 FIFA Women World Cup billed for Papua New Guinea from November 13 to December 3, would gulp N672 million, explaining that the amount would be spent on qualifier matches, overseas training tour and the competition.
For the preparations of the Dream Team VI for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, the Federation also revealed that it has earmarked about N369 million for the tournament, adding that Nigeria’s preparation and participation in the U-20 men’s Cup of Nations would gulp N620 million during the year.
It said that it has set aside N471 million to prosecute Beach football competition, tagged COPA Lagos, during the year, the Federation pointed out that a budget of about N651 million was reserved for the country’s preparation and participation in the U-17 Women World Cup in Jordan.
Allocating N920 million for Africa Women Championship in November, N220 million on Men and Women Federation Cup competition, the federation also set aside the sum of N115 million for the U-13 and U-15 Youth Championships at the grassroots, revealing that the AGA for 2016 would gulp an estimate of N54 million, while about N286 million would go for the payment of coaches’ salaries. [myad]
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked any governor who feels he cannot pay the N18, 000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers to honourable resign. The labour union explained that the wage was negotiated through what it called ‘a tripartite system.’
The union’s President, Ayunba Wabba, who spoke to newsmen today in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital shortly after his condolence visit to NLC vice president, Issa Aremu on the death of his wife, said: “they have been misinforming the people about the N18, 000 minimum wage. Minimum wage is not fixed, it was negotiated through a tripartite system; ten state governors represented the governors, federal government and organized private sector were also represented. It was a tripartite process of collective bargaining.
“We had looked at all the indices of ability to pay. It is a law and anybody that refuses to pay is breaking the law of Nigeria and we advise any such governor to resign.
“Why is it that the salary of councilors to the highest political office all over the country despite their inability to pay is the same? If there is economic challenge why should it be the workers that will bear the burden? Councilors in least economic viable to the most economic viable states in the country earn the same salaries. So who are they fooling?
“Can they continue to fool us? When the resources were there workers were not enjoying. Now that there is a challenge in the system why the burden should be shifted only to the workers? That is not acceptable to us. This is like a battle for us as we must continue to insist that workers should work in dignity and there must be dignity in labour.”
On the war against corruption, Comrade Wabba said: “the ongoing probe is not unexpected. Since the inception of current democracy people have assisted themselves with our commonwealth. I am sure if we are able to recover these resources from local, state to federal governments, we will have more than enough to fix our system and everybody will enjoy.
“Now they don’t steal in millions; we hear of billions these days. They will buy houses they cannot use. They will buy houses in Nigeria, Dubai and United Kingdom. How many houses will a person sleep in at a particular night? Therefore, it is vanity for politicians to continue to loot even what they cannot use.” [myad]
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has granted bail to former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, but with stringent conditions, one of which is the deposit of his international passport. Four others standing trial for alleged money laundering and criminal breach of trust were also granted bail.
Others standing trial over a 19-count charge preferred against them include, a former director of finance at the office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu, a former Group General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Aminu Baba Kusa and two firms, Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Reference Hospital.
Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf granted bail to the accused persons on the sum of N250 Million on the condition that they produce a surety each who must be a serving or retired civil servant not lower than the rank of a director.
The civil servant must also show possession of a property within the FCT worth the same amount, the judge ordered.
All the accused were also asked to deposit copies of their iinternational passports with the ccourt registrar. They are to alsonotify the court of any travel arrangement outside the FCT.
Mr. Dasuki is accused of mis-spending about $2.1 billion meant for the purchase of weapons for the fight against extremist group, Boko Haram.
Punch Nigeria Limited, publishers of the PUNCH titles, has pulled out of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) under the chairmanship of Nduka Obaigbena.
In a letter which the company, dated Thursday, December 17 and signed by its chairman, Wale Aboderin, Punch said: “After a careful review of recent, and still unfolding, developments, Punch Nigeria Limited is suspending its membership of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria until further notice. This suspension takes effect immediately
“The public will recall the criminal charges leveled against a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, and several other alleged accomplices.
“These charges border on the diversion of public funds, totaling $2.1 billion, allocated for the purchase of arms to prosecute the war against terrorism.
“The revelations indicate that the sum of N120 million was disbursed in murky circumstances to some member-companies of NPAN, ostensibly as compensation for the losses they incurred in June 2014 when armed soldiers seized newspapers and newspaper distribution vans.
“The source of this money and the manner of its receipt, allegedly through a company called General Hydrocarbons, which is unknown to NPAN, have raised public concerns about the integrity of the press in Nigeria.
“The unfolding scandal has equally cast a shadow on the reputation of the mass media,” the paper said.
PUNCH also said it had always held that state-sponsored attacks against the media should be challenged in the open, boldly and vigorously.
The company however cited an example of the redress it sought over similar circumstance two decades ago.
“It was for this reason that we instituted an action against the federal government at the Federal High Court, Lagos, on June 13, 1994.
“Among other reliefs, the company sought compensation for the June 11, 1994 invasion of our premises by a combined team of policemen and State Security Service agents who shut down our operations and detained our staff.
“Suffice to say that the case is currently at the Supreme Court where the federal government is seeking to overturn the judgment of Justice T.A. Odunowo, who declared the invasion illegal and awarded PUNCH the sum of N25m in damages.”
The company said it had for long held a position that the relationship between an independent press association and the government should be properly defined to preserve, at all times, the independence of the press and the sacred duty of the mass media as the watchdog of society.
“This informed our decision to promptly refuse to file any backdoor claim for compensation for the losses we incurred during the military assault of June 2014.
“PUNCH’s reputation, integrity, independence and high ethical standards are well known.
“Our readers trust their newspaper and believe that our editorial content is not influenced by pecuniary, political or personal interests.
“PUNCH remains committed to the vision of its founding fathers and the best traditions of a free press.
“We believe in an independent and unfettered mass media, trusted by the public and all stakeholders.
“We have sustained losses, suffered closures and endured privations in the past for our beliefs.
“We have remained, and will remain, steadfast in the defence of the ideals of responsible journalism; hence, our decision.
“We reiterate the need to rebuild and refocus the NPAN as a vibrant, independent business association and pressure group, funded only by its member-organisations.
“We will ONLY reconsider our withdrawal from NPAN when the critical issues which we, and other concerned stakeholders, have raised are addressed.”
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The Senate has called on the federal government to urgently put machinery in place to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Company. The Senate said that the move will create employment for local craft men, physically challenged at home and abroad and professionals in all fields.
What Can 2 Billions Dollars Do For Nigeria’s Poor? By Simbo Olorunfemi
If you are not feeling dizzy at this point, I give you kudos. I am lost myself, not knowing where to start, as this was initially about utilising 400 billion naira, but as I can see, we have before us at least a trillion naira that could have been put into good use. The painful bit about this is the impression often given that our problem is that lack of resources, when we all know that is the least of our problems. It is even more annoying that once the talk shifts to doing just a little for the poor, all kinds of pretend-Economists come, daggers-drawn, to tell us how unsustainable such a policy is. They have been lining up to shout down the plan to make the payment of five thousand naira to the most vulnerable among us. Where will the money come from? Giving handout does not make any sense. What can be done with five thousand naira?
Our own Segun Adeniyi derisively dismisses five thousand naira as money for recharge cards. Perhaps it is for him and the privileged class, but it is a lot of money for Bala. The total value of goods in his wheel-barrow is less than two thousand naira, so five thousand cannot be recharge card money, for him. For Mama Efe who sells ‘Boli’ and roasted yam down the road, she will definitely thank God for a monthly five thousand naira to help increase her stock. Chinedu who moves in between cars in traffic, hawking handkerchiefs, understands what five thousand naira can do, seeing that his total stock is valued at less than three thousand naira. He has friends who started out with only a fifty naira bag of sachet water, gotten through credit facility from the distributor. Many of our mothers trade with less than five thousand naira, yet miraculously manage to put food on the table for their families
One of the challenges we have today is not simply that of policy makers being too far away from the people, opinion moulders are sometimes too distant to be able to feel the pulse of the people. Now that some of our Columnists write from the cosy corners of private jets and privileged tables of the high and mighty, it is understandable that they are no longer able to tell what five thousand naira will do for the people at the lowest end of the pool in the informal sector.
Nigeria is definitely not Finland, but it cannot be completely unknown to economics, as often led to believe, that a society will seek to put a bit of cushion at the back of its most vulnerable, as it is being contemplated here, if even today, Finland’s government is drawing up plans to give every one of its citizens a basic monthly income of 800 euros. Some commentators miss the point when they argue that government has no business making that token payment; that it is better for it to concentrate on creating an enabling environment for job and wealth creation. Are we saying the two cannot be done together? Where were the commentators when government bailed out banks and other sectors with trillions of naira from our commonwealth? What is wrong with bailing out the poor? We have not talked about the impact such direct payment will make on the economy of the poor. We have not even considered the sense in the conditional cash transfer that links payment to maternal and child healthcare.
How much does it cost to give children in public schools a meal a day? How much is five thousand naira for the most vulnerable 20 million Nigerians, compared to what has been made away with by a few Nigerians, over the few years? I will rather Nigeria, for once, risks putting a little into the hands of the poor. Let us take $2 billion from what was alleged to have been made away with. At N200 a dollar, that is N400 billion. Now with only N400 billion, we can procure basic health insurance premium from private Health Management Organisations (HMOs) at N20,000 per head for 20 million Nigerians. That way, we would have pulled additional 20 million Nigerians into the health insurance net, assuring them of immediate, regular access to health care, which will make great and immediate impact on the quality of life and productivity in the country.
Can you imagine what N400 billion pumped into the health sector will do to grow that sector? Can you imagine how many thousands of jobs that will be created, how that will put money in the hands of health care workers, hospitals, insurance companies and even the banks, not to talk of its overall effect on the economy? Needless to say that in tackling our social problems, there are a myriad of economic opportunities that can help drive an all-round, inclusive development of the economy.
With N400 billion, we can guarantee 20 million Nigerian children, at N20,000 per head (estimated market price for 2 shots), rotavirus vaccination to protect them against diarrhoea. Now, consider the fact that the vaccine is being administered to children in India for $1 and the opportunities and cost savings that will come as we bulk-purchase on the generic drugs being administered in India, it means we will be able to go beyond rotavirus. We can administer vaccines such as Pneumococcal conjugate, MMR, Meningococcal conjugate, Chicken-pox and others on millions of Nigerian children, who, at the moment, are not immunised against many of these childhood killer diseases, as these vaccines are excluded from the NPI immunisation list.
The children are denied the best start in life, simply because your heroes stole the country blind, will not forget, when tomorrow comes, how their tomorrow was stolen yesterday. Those snoring in their cosy corners today, might be the first victims of a tomorrow, not moulded into shape by the hands in control, today. A token 500 billion naira voted for social investment in 2016 is only an urgent, tiny first step in the direction of pulling up those at the bottom of the pyramid.
Unfortunately, too many people are lost to their party, ethnic and religious affiliations to be able to think clearly. Billions of dollars frittered away mean little to them. N2.1 billion from the commonwealth in the hands of one man, in pretence of running a “multi-media campaign” for a political party is nothing. They are too lost to get it. They cannot see the link between the mismanagement and corruption of yesterday and the exchange rate today. Perhaps when we begin to ask questions from those who claimed to have coordinated the economy only yesterday, we will begin to get somewhere.
Some ask us why we write. We do because we understand how corruption adversely affects us all. We write because it affects us, if not directly, it does indirectly affect us. Soldiers who might have been alive today, looking forward to Christmas died, unnecessarily. Children, who need not die, are dying, due to lack of access to basic healthcare. Yet some are lining up behind those whose actions and inaction led us to where we are. They think that because they can afford the luxuries of life for themselves and their immediate families, all is well. Myopia only takes the fool so far. The children denied the best start in life, simply because your heroes stole the country blind, will not forget, when tomorrow comes, how their tomorrow was stolen yesterday. Those snoring in their cosy corners today, might be the first victims of a tomorrow, not moulded into shape by the hands in control, today. A token 500 billion naira voted for social investment in 2016 is only an urgent, tiny first step in the direction of pulling up those at the bottom of the pyramid.
Simbo Olorunfemi works for a Nigerian Communications Consultancy. [myad]