His voice was tremulous on the phone that afternoon. But, after stating the purpose of his call, his anger, disappointment, irritation and frustration – all boldly reflected in his voice – seemed understandable.

Mr Benjamin Osibodu, a United States-based Nigerian, told our correspondent that sometime in 2017, he facilitated the donation of 30,000 books by the World Bank to schools in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, an initiative he said he was deeply excited about.



“I made the move hoping that officials of both the state and local government would be excited at the prospect of having such books contributing to the development of education in the state as well as lifting the burden of buying textbooks off indigent parents,” he said.

But, sadly, all his enthusiasm and expectation had paled into frustration and disappointment, because since about a year ago when the container arrived in the country, the local and state governments had abandoned the container at the port.

He lamented that all attempts to get the local and state governments to clear the container through customs, and more importantly, distribute the books to schools in the local government, had proved abortive. And beyond the seeming reluctance of the government to clear the container through customs, Osibodu lamented that the World Bank officials who facilitated the donation of the books already doubted his integrity and intentions.

Narrating the development to Saturday PUNCH, Osibodu, who is an indigene of Ilishan, explained that he initiated the process at the World Bank headquarters in Washington DC in March 2017.

He explained, “When I met the officials, they told me what the process was and that they would need all the schools that would benefit from it. When I came to Nigeria, I met the chairman of Ikenne Local Government, Mr Rotimi Akinsanya, and I requested for a list of all the schools in the local government.

“When I went back to the United States, I passed the list to the World Bank. The officials told me that the World Bank donate books to a lot of countries and that it’s based on rotation, so ours might take a while. But they said they would let me know when they were ready.

“About one year after, specifically, March 2018, they called me that the container was ready. And about that time, I needed to come to Nigeria, so I was able to meet with the chairman and tell him that the container would soon be in the country, and he said there was no problem. So, I later went back to the US.”

According to Osibodu, the ship berthed in Nigeria in June 2018 and he said he immediately informed the chairman so they could clear the container through customs.



He continued, “But for some time, I didn’t hear from him again, and the next time I visited Nigeria, I found that the chairman hadn’t done anything significant to clear the container through customs, which had been lying idle at the port.

“So, I asked him what we needed to do to clear the container and he said he would notify the office of the vice-president. He said he was in touch with an aide to the vice-president, and I asked myself what the container had to do with the vice-president, perhaps because he’s from that local government. I felt it wasn’t necessary, but it was his suggestion.

“When I saw that nothing was being done, I spoke with the person and volunteered to visit him in Abuja to facilitate how the container would be clear through customs but he said I shouldn’t bother and that he would take care of it. But nothing came out of it.

“After waiting for about three weeks, I went to see the Commissioner for Education and I explained everything to him. The commissioner said the state government should have been informed about it earlier, but I don’t think that was for me to do. And I told him to forget about what the chairman didn’t do so that we could focus on what to do. He said he had to take it to the governor, who would give a directive on what to be done about it.”

Undeterred by the reluctance of the officials to intervene in a project they should embrace swiftly, Osibodu said he went to the Secretary to the State Government.

He added, “Don’t forget that it’s not easy to see these people, but thank God for the little connections here and there. When I met the SSG, he was perplexed that the chairman didn’t inform the state government about it. So, I told him to let us put that aside and get this container cleared through customs.”

Osibodu lamented that his responsibility was to facilitate the supply and shipping of the books for the use of pupils in the state, hoping the government should be able to fast-track the clearing of the container through customs and ensure the prompt distribution of the books to schools.

“At the end of the day, I was thoroughly embarrassed by the way these people acted, because as of now, that container is still at the port. In fact, at a point, the local government chairman stopped communicating with me. I would call him and he wouldn’t answer the call. If I sent him messages, he wouldn’t respond,” he said.

Troubled by the enormous pressure he had come under from the World Bank, Osibodu said he was constrained to appeal to good-hearted Nigerians, especially Ogun State citizens, to prevail on both the local and state governments to ensure the clearing of the books through customs at the port.

“Having met with the commissioner of education and the SSG with none of them seeming to be personally concerned enough to do something, I’m appealing to Ogun State government to ensure that the books are released for the use of pupils in Ogun State.

“Ogun State should be a shining light to other states in Nigeria. For a state that produced icons like Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, and Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who was from that local government, it is quite shocking that those presently at the helm of affairs are unconcerned about the importance of books.

“I’m appealing for the intervention of the Vice-President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, who is from the same Ikenne Local Government Area. For the sake of the future of Ogun State, the pupils need to read and access the world of opportunity to learn and grow, and so I’m calling on people who can to help,” he said.

Findings by our correspondent revealed that further delay in clearing the container through customs could lead to the container being seized and auctioned (as overtime containers) by the Nigeria Customs Service, in addition to the risk of the shipment being rerouted to another developing country where the books would be judiciously used.

To make sure his efforts didn’t go to waste, Osibodu said he went to Tin Can Island Port, where he was told he would need to get clearance from Abuja. “The Commander for Lagos was happy with the initiative, but he said he didn’t have the power to release it, without clearance from Abuja,” he said.

He added, “It’s as if we were going back and forth, whereas World Bank was putting pressure on me as regard the books. They still sent me a mail recently and I have not been able to respond, because I’m terribly embarrassed. The saving grace is that they got their office in Nigeria involved all along.

“These people (World Bank Group) spent a lot of money to send that container to Nigeria and it seems like Nigeria doesn’t care. Imagine having 30,000 books lying there at the port, doing nothing, when there are pupils who need them.”

As of November 2018, the estimate for clearing the container with lading number S314861401 through customs, had risen to about N4.5m. The sum covered the expenses for opening ‘Form M’ and PAAR, clearing agency fee, transport cost to Ikenne, estimated cost of shipping and terminal charges, which stood at N2,793,270 as of December 1, 2018.

Notably, the books were supplied under the Book Project of the World Bank Family Network, with the mission to assist in the education of children in developing countries through book donations. Under the scheme, the bank’s volunteers collect books, mainly school book and prepare them for shipping to developing countries’ public schools or community centres’ libraries, all sponsored by the World Bank.

He said against the wish of the bank, he had to go to the press, saying if government was not responding, someone somewhere might be able to do something if the story was published.

He added, “The bank said I shouldn’t do anything that would antagonise the government at any level because they cherish relationships and peaceful co-existence, but for me, all I want is for the books to get out and for them to get to the pupils, and I don’t want it to become political.

“It will be a shame if the books are left to rot in the nation’s port and Ogun State children are deprived of the rare opportunity to read the books which have the potential to transform the fortune of the nation.”

At the moment, Ogun State does not have Commissioners for Information and Education, Science and Technology, as they have both resigned, but the Chairman of Ikenne Local Government, Mr Rotimi Akinsanya, told Saturday PUNCH that he had tried his best on the matter.

He said, “Yes, he told me about the books and I bought into it, and that is the regret (I have). If you are giving us books, what we expect is that you bring the books to our doorsteps. It is not that I would go to the port to clear the books through customs.

“And even when it happened like that, I tried my best. I wrote letters here and there. If I had gone to Lagos and Abeokuta with you and the two of us even went to the port where we met some people and they gave us conditions and I continue to try my best. Yet, you say I’m nonchalant, what else do you want?

“If you want to give me something and that thing has not got to my hand, have you given it to me? I have read so many of his write-ups online and I didn’t find them palatable, so I have decided to sit back and watch.

“And like some people said, how sure am I that there are only books in the container? I know I have not done anything wrong and I don’t want people to dent my image. So, I don’t want to dwell too much on the issue.”

Meanwhile, when our correspondent contacted the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa, he said the details should be sent to him via text message, but as of press time, he had yet to reply the message.

And imagine the nonsense the Chairman is saying

Lol these politicians are only moved by shame. Maybe they should should have coordinated better. I guess they assumed the guy would clear the cargo himself and deliver it to their door step.

Amosun is still mourning

Contact anambra state government. They will clear the container in 4 days. But the books we be distributed to Anambra schools. Those guys love education like mad.

Gucciboss:
Contact anambra state government. They will clear the container in 4 days. But the books we be distributed to Anambra schools. Those guys love education like mad.

You just spoke my mind. The south west don't value education like the ìgbos do.

Trust Naija na

1) He must ve claimed from the beginning, he’s the one donating the book,whereas it’s from World Bank charity work.

2) He should ve cleared the container, a whole US base Naija, does not ve money to clear such containers and deliver it to the school.

3) Naija selfish politician tot the guy want to use the donation to over ride their popularity considering the time the container landed( campaign time)

4) Our politicians are so wicked in such a way that they don’t consider others in need, very selfish.

5) The chairman said he wasn’t sure if it’s only book is in that container, meaning they don’t trust ur movement.

6) Finally, u went to the World bank charity unit to hijack what would ve spread over Nigeria where education system were very poor.

You can also meet with Tinubu.

Facilitate donation of money , clothes, shoes, cars or any other items and see if the State and LG won't fight over ownership. They are trying to tell you books are not their priority sir.

Which kind talk be this.

You shipped the package to Nigeria now expecting local governments to clear it.. Are you serious?

Why starting what you cant finished?

Collins9156:
[s]Trust Naija na

1) He must ve claimed from the beginning, he’s the one donating the book,whereas it’s from World Bank charity work.

2) He should ve cleared the container, a whole US base Naija, does not ve money to clear such containers and deliver it to the school.

3) Naija selfish politician tot the guy want to use the donation to over ride their popularity considering the time the container landed( campaign time)

4) Our politicians are so wicked in such a way that they don’t consider others in need, very selfish.

5) The chairman said he wasn’t sure if it’s only book is in that container, meaning they don’t trust ur movement.

6) Finally, u went to the World bank charity unit to hijack what would ve spread over Nigeria where education system were very poor.

You can also meet with Tinubu.[/s]

It's too early in the day to be stupid.

helinues:
Which kind talk be this.

You shipped the package to Nigeria now expecting local governments to clear it.. Are you serious?

Why starting what you cant finished?

You think like the Ikenne local government chairman, that is, if your mental process can be called thinking.

If another state will clear it then give to them and remember to have all your deals in writing.

Yorubaskullmine:
You just spoke my mind. The south west don't value education like the ìgbos do.

Tell them

Collins9156:
Trust Naija na

1) He must ve claimed from the beginning, he’s the one donating the book,whereas it’s from World Bank charity work.

2) He should ve cleared the container, a whole US base Naija, does not ve money to clear such containers and deliver it to the school.

3) Naija selfish politician tot the guy want to use the donation to over ride their popularity considering the time the container landed( campaign time)

4) Our politicians are so wicked in such a way that they don’t consider others in need, very selfish.

5) The chairman said he wasn’t sure if it’s only book is in that container, meaning they don’t trust ur movement.

6) Finally, u went to the World bank charity unit to hijack what would ve spread over Nigeria where education system were very poor.

You can also meet with Tinubu.

It is not our politicians .. say Yoruba politicians and Yoruba don't value education lately... They have MC OLOMO as role model

helinues:
Which kind talk be this.

You shipped the package to Nigeria now expecting local governments to clear it.. Are you serious?

Why starting what you cant finished?

You must be a Yoruba man... You are thinking like one