₦airaland Forum

A member of the House of Representatives, Mr Essien Ayi contends that it is injustice to abandon the people of Bakassi while the North-east continues to get all the attention. He spoke with Bassey Inyang

The people of Bakassi have been left without a homeland since the handing over of their land to Cameroon in 2008. What do you think should be done to address their plight?

The only option left after doing a lot of research, is for the creation of the Bakassi Development Commission. That commission should have a life span of about 10 years, and I believe that within 10 years, we should be able to rebuild Bakassi, and resettle the people properly.

What is happening in Bakassi today is not as a result of the making of the people of Bakassi, but it is as a result of the poor handling by the government and their team of lawyers at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). I sincerely believe that the issue was not handled properly. People were more interested in how much they can make. Over $600 million was spent on pursing the Bakassi issue in the time of president Obasanjo which we lost.

What annoys me most is that the country is very busy trying to rebuild the North-east. The devastation of the North-east has been the product of the so called Boko Haram who are Nigerians, and after Nigerians had destroyed Nigeria, the government is bent on rebuilding that area to the extent of setting up a North-east Development Commission. But, the Bakassi that was ceded, not because of the making of the people of Bakassi, government is not doing anything about it.

I feel so bad. And sometimes I wonder whether we are all Nigerians, because if we are Nigerians, we should be treated equally. But when you give preferential treatment to certain areas, probably because the president happens to come from that area or because they are of the same religion, I feel that the issue of restructuring should not be treated kindly.

We must pursue restructuring in all ramifications because all the wealth has been taken from us, and we are not seeing anything. Look at the roads, very soon the rainy season will set in, and you will not be able to pass the Calabar-Itu road.
All the wealth are taken from here, yet all the concentration is on the north, and then they say we are one Nigeria, we are not, we must restructure.

I have put it as four motions before now, and that is the motion for the stopping of ceding of Bakassi, the motion for the proper resettlement of Bakassi people, motion for the review of the ICJ judgment. They were moved by me, and at the end when everything had failed, I moved a motion for a referendum for the people of Bakassi to decide where they want to belong; and if they say they want to belong to Cameroon, so be it or if they say they want to be in Nigeria, so be it. All those motions passed through, but none was implemented by the government and now we are saying it is the Bakassi Development Commission. It is either they give us the commission or we decide whether we will belong to Nigeria or not. I am moving this as a bill, and it is going through the first reading.

How would you react to comments from many quarters that the regimes of President Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan failed the Bakassi people?

Obasanjo deceived us that Biya said he had election in 2005, and if Bakassi was ceded to Nigeria it would affect his election. And after his election, when he won, he went to the UN (United Nations), and demanded the ceding and they ceded Bakassi.

Jonathan invited us after my motion on a review of the judgment was passed by the house because the ICJ judgment said that after 10 years you can ask for a review. They invited us to the villa and David Mark, Senator Ndoma-Egba and others were there, and it was agreed that we should go for the review. I remember (Mohammed) Adoke (then Attorney General of the Federation) saying that he did not have enough facts. But, Liyel Imoke said the state has the facts. But, to my greatest surprise, a day after, Adoke said the time was too short for him to compile the review and that was where they killed the matter. And I know he said so because he had interest.

Are you saying the establishment of North-east Development Commission is a further demonstration of injustice against the Bakassi people?

Now the people of Bakassi are there suffering, but the concentration is on the development of North-east. Every day you wake up, you will hear herdsmen have killed and destroyed, Boko Haram have killed and abducted. But they are putting up resources to build what the same Nigerians from the northern part of Nigeria have destroyed to the detriment of the people of Bakassi who never had a hand in their predicament and they say we are one Nigeria. How can we be one Nigeria? It is either we restructure or we take decision and we will split.

What words do you have for the Ndoma-Egbas over interment of the late matriarch of their family?

I was sent by the speaker (Yakubu Dogara) to represent him. It is good for them to celebrate the death of their mother because it is always a good thing for a child to bury the parents rather than the reverse. He is very proud of them that they have been able to give their mother a befitting burial.

He is proud and happy with them. He sympathizes with them, and they should be consoled that their mother lived a fulfilled life.

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All the wealth are taken from here, yet all the concentration is on the north, and then they say we are one Nigeria, we are not, we must restructure.

By Godfrey Bivbere

Export of agricultural produce from the Inland Container Depot, ICD, in Kaduna has commenced,  Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC, has said.

The council explained that hibiscus (used in making local drink known as zobo); ginger and garlic are currently being exported through the facility to Egypt and some West African countries.

Speaking with Vanguard on the issue, Kaduna Area Officer, Bala Adamu, said claims that port operations had not started at the facility was not correct as they received about 20 containers by rail from the port in Lagos recently.

According to Adamu, “it is even the export that we are actually now trying to concentrate on. We are educating people in Kaduna. We have received some consignments heading for Egypt.  Some people exported hibiscus which is used for making zobo drink and others are sesame seeds and ginger.

“The task is enormous and you cannot get it right at once considering the fact that this is a new concept and, of course, people have not yet embraced it.

“In the last two years, we have been intensifying efforts on export. It has yielded positive results but there is more that needs to be done, especially people in the hinterland.”

MrHowto:
He has something to say. He has pointed out the problems. But where are the solutions?

A more decentralized police structure, with certain level of local government and state discretionary authority in dealing with criminal activity will prove a lot more efficient and effective.

The state must develop a stricter immigration policy and must filter every individual who seeks to cross the border in to our country.

Finally, there is a case for stronger border security. Through the adoption of modern technology, building of walls and the meticulous manning of borders,

In its 2016 report, The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), a leading source of news, data and analysis of internally displaced persons worldwide, revealed that one million nine hundred and fifty-five thousand persons were internally displaced within Nigeria at the end of December 2016.

Sadly, that number is on an unimpeded rise. In-fact, in its 2017 mid-term report, a hundred and forty-two thousand people were displaced between January and June of that year alone, owing to several conflicts and violence. That Nigeria has more internally displaced persons than south-Sudan and war-torn Yemen in the aforementioned report is a direct indictment on our internal security architecture and should amplify the call for security reforms.

As at today, the Nigerian military are currently engaged in peace keeping missions in 20 of the 36 states of the federation. Relatively safe highways like the 162km stretch from Abuja to Kaduna has suddenly become a haven for kidnappings, robberies and rustling. Entire communities are sacked by bandits, farmlands are recklessly destroyed, herd of cattle brazenly stolen, women viciously raped and several young men gruesomely murdered in cold blood. It is common knowledge that about 350 million light arms are in the country today most of which are in the hands of blood thirsty barbarians who delight in mayhem.

What is worse, is that the food centers of our dear country are strategically being targeted, thereby threatening our collective food security. Marte in Borno state used to be a major producer of beans and onions, Taraba state a major producer of yams and Benue state the 4th largest producer of yams and the largest producer of oranges, have recorded colossal loss of lives and farmlands, hence, discouraging farming communities from tilling the ground.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations already estimates that about 5.1 million Nigerians, particularly in the north eastern part of the country are severely food insecure. We must turn this despair around or otherwise risk a total collapse of law and order where people will seek to survive by any means necessary as it was in the wild wild west.
Whether we choose to admit it or not, this country is bleeding and its internal security apparatus is approaching a shameful collapse. If the blood of the innocent could truly cry out, we all should have had our ear drums beaten to a numb. There is an urgent need to turn the corner and here is how;

Firstly, there needs to be a fundamental shift from the thinking that more funding for guns and rocket launchers will solve insecurity. It is that thinking that informed the request of a billion dollars by the president to fight insecurity. The one-billion-dollar loan to fight insecurity isn’t a bad think in itself, but if money could solve insecurity then the Americans would have defeated the Taliban after spending over 700 billion dollars and fifteen years fighting, yet they have only gone stronger. The president is better off investing over a billion dollars in the economy of the north to revamp the lack chad basin, build modern irrigational systems and provide a safety security net for the most vulnerable.

We must readdress the remuneration packages of the brave men and women in uniform to truly reflect the risks they take to secure the lives and properties off all Nigerians. A situation where neighboring countries like Chad and Niger pay their police officers much more than we do will only continue to reinforce a lack of commitment and professionalism from our officers. Nobody is willing to die for a country that treats them with contempt and very little regard.

Secondly, there is a need to overhaul the infrastructure and curriculum of our police training colleges to prepare our police force to effectively respond to 21st century crime. There needs to be a strong link between the academic institutions and our police colleges in other to transform our police force to an intelligence driven institution. This will require new and targeted funding aimed at research and developing information and technological capabilities.

Furthermore, we must rethink the existing command and control structure of security agencies particularly the police. A more decentralized police structure, with certain level of local government and state discretionary authority in dealing with criminal activity will prove a lot more efficient and effective. Such a command structure will improve the response time of the police, improve intelligence gathering and enable them to act decisively when the need arises.

Finally, there is a case for stronger border security. Through the adoption of modern technology, building of walls and the meticulous manning of borders, the Nigerian state must by every means necessary protect its territorial integrity. The state must develop a stricter immigration policy and must filter every individual who seeks to cross the border in to our country. It is foolishness to build houses without doors. The Nigerian state needs new doors to keep bandits out and we need them now!

ADAMU GARBA 2019 Presidential Aspirant

Assess clean coal technology options for mining and power generation capable of achieving goals and targets set in Paris Accord on a sustainable basis.

Undertake a high-level assessment of the viability of an integrated mining and power project that takes cognisance of macroeconomic realities, electricity tariffs, sector liquidity, funding sources, adequacy of commercial framework, risks and mitigation strategies etc.

it is taking Nigeria a whooping $15 billion to build less than three kilometres 2nd Niger bridge that traversed Onitsha in Anambra State and Asaba in Delta State.

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSULTING SERVICES

TO CONDUCT A COMPARATIVE COST STUDY FOR DEVELOPING AN ENVIRONMENTALLY AND SOCIALLY FRIENDLY COAL INDUSTRY FOR POWER AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION IN NIGERIA

 
Sector:          Energy

Title:             Consultant

The African Development Bank (AfDB) is in the process of recruiting a Consultant to conduct a comparative cost study for developing an environmentally and socially friendly coal industry for power and industrial application in Nigeria.

 
The services included under this assignment are as follows:

Ascertain the financial, economic and technical feasibilities of an integrated coal and power project in Nigeria, including the entire range of industrial uses and applications of coal besides its use as a fuel for power generation, and the amount of coal that would be required for the project;

 
Undertake a high-level assessment of the investment required for coal to power and industrial application, investors universe and their appetite for Nigeria;

 
Assess clean coal technology options for mining and power generation capable of achieving goals and targets set in Paris Accord on a sustainable basis. This will also involve identifying and assessing countries, such as Japan, that have found cost effective and economic ways to better utilize coal resources and obtain clean coal at coal mines and the use of mining technology to support better productivity and safety;


Undertake a high-level assessment of the viability of an integrated mining and power project that takes cognisance of macroeconomic realities, electricity tariffs, sector liquidity, funding sources, adequacy of commercial framework, risks and mitigation strategies etc.

 
Assess all the capital and production costs involved in developing a coal mining operation in an environmentally, socially, and cost friendly way and achieving sustainable coal development. Specifically, the focus should be on the potential environmental and social impacts and required mitigation as well as potential costs

 
Conduct a report validation/ dissemination workshop to receive comments before the submission of final report.


Shortlisted candidates will be provided with the Terms of Reference that contains more detailed information about project objectives, scope of work, deliverables and other related issues.

 
Qualification

 
The experience required of the Consultant is as detailed below:

Minimum education to Masters/MBA level in Economics, Finance, Law, Engineering, and other relevant disciplines with work experience of not less than fifteen (15) years in the mining and energy sector particularly in conducting regulatory planning and management in the mining, energy, utility, or infrastructure sector. Relevant experience in the coal industry will be an added advantage.

 
Strong familiarity with the Nigerian power sector policies, legislation, regulation, and strategies and experience in dealing with these issues is essential. Ability to analyze other sector legislation and regulations to design strategies is an added advantage

 
Strong knowledge of spreadsheet modelling (advanced Microsoft Excel) essentialExperience of dealing with Nigerian energy issues is essentialA strong communicator with good inter-personal skills.

 
Assumption of duties and Duration of Contract

The successful applicant may be expected to assume duties in June 1, 2018 or earlier. The duration of the contract is three (3) months.

Eligibility criteria, establishment of the short-list and the selection procedure shall be in accordance with the African Development Bank’s “Rules and Procedures for the use of Consultants May 2008 edition, revised July 2012” which is available on the Bank’s website at http://www.afdb.org.

Interested consultant may obtain further information at the address below from Monday to Friday during office hours (8.30 a.m. – 5.30 p.m.).

Expressions of interest must be delivered to the address below not later than Monday, May 7, 2018 at 5.30 p.m. and indicate “Individual Consultant Services”.


African Development Bank – Nigeria Country Department

Attn: Mr. Laté D. Lawson Zankli, Country Operations Manager

1521 Cadastral Zone A0, Off Memorial Close, Beside Silverbird Galleria

Central Business District

Abuja, Nigeria.

Tel: +234 (9) 462 1030/76 Ext. 7751

E-mail: l.lawson-zankli@afdb.org

By Nwabueze Okonkwo ONITSHA—A human rights group, Campaign for Democracy, CD, has described the 2nd Niger Bridge project as a subject of politics, insult and caricature to Ndigbo in particular, concerned citizens of the entire South East and South South zones of the country.

National Publicity Secretary of CD, Dede Uzor A. Uzor, who stated this while speaking to newsmen Monday in Onitsha, Anambra State, said whereas it took China only $1.5 million to build over 100 kilometres bridge, it is taking Nigeria a whooping $15 billion to build less than three kilometres 2nd Niger bridge that traversed Onitsha in Anambra State and Asaba in Delta State.

Uzor lamented that “for over 20 years now, beginning from 1999 when former President Olusegun Obasanjo awarded it and ruled for eight years, to between 2007 and 2009 when the late former President Umaru Yar’Adua took over and ruled for only two years, till the advent of former President Goodluck Jonathan who reigned for six years (2009 to 2015), work remained stagnant on  the bridge to the extent that not even up to 50 per cent had been completed.”

He also demanded that Federal Government should declare a state of emergency on Trunk ‘A’ roads in South East zone. He mentioned such roads as Enugu-Amansea-Awka-Onitsha road; Enugu-Okigwe-Port Harcourt Road; Urualla-Akokwa-Amaifeke Road with a spur to Banana Junction at Amaifeke Orlu to Owerri; Ihiala-Umuahia Road; and Nnewi-Okigwe Road, among others.

He said that due to the dilapidated nature of these roads, an average of seven lives per week or one life per day are lost in  auto accidents.

“Again, the Onitsha River Port has been so much politicized because it is located in Igbo land,” he said.

Avoid Oil Theft – Eket Monarch Begs Youths -As Amakpe Refinery Returns

The paramount Ruler of Eket, His Royal Majesty Edidem E. C. D Abia, the Attah Ekid 1, has called on the youths and people of Eket to co-operate with the investors of Amakpe Refinery as the company begins movement for operations.

Edidem Abia, in company of Chief Asua Amanam, CEO of Amakpe Refinery and others while addressing over 3000 youths, women and elders of Eket recently at the council secretariat said Amakpe Refinery has come to stay despite many years of set back.

“But the Refinery can only succeed with the support and co-operation of all stakeholders including you the youths through the protection of the pipeline and other facilities”, the Royal father said.

He said that everything has been put in place with the assistance of the Federal government to ensure that the construction of the 10,000 production capacity per day Refinery commences soon at Ikot Usokong in Eket Local government area.

Edidem Abia commended the resilience of Chief Asua Anamam who has not given up on the project on the face of mounting challenges over the years.

“We must embrace Amakpe Refinery as our collective property because we don’t want what is happening in other places in the Niger Delta to happen here”, Abia said.

“The Federal government is losing huge revenue from pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft in some parts of the Niger Delta, and we don’t want that to happen here when the Refinery finally kicks off production, we need the support of all”, he emphasized.

He poured encomiums on the State governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel for his industrialization drive and thanked him for the construction of the Eket Stadium which he said will promote sporting activities not only in Eket but Eket Federal constituency.

In his speech, the Managing Director and CEO of Amakpe Refinery, Chief Asua Amanam gave a run down of the journey so far in establishing the Refinery and assured the people that “construction of the Refinery will commence very soon”.

“I am in Nigeria to facilitate the procurement of the right of way for the pipeline from the site of the Refinery to the source of raw material, which is crude oil at Qua Iboe terminal. The Federal and State government has given us all the necessary support and we are ready to kick off installation”, Chief Amanam said.

He explained that the Refinery had long been fabricated in component parts in the United States of America, adding that what was needed was just installation and laying of pipes from source of raw material to the plant at Ikot Usokong, Eket.

The business mogul enumerated the huge economic benefits of having a Refinery in Akwa Ibom apart from the employment opportunities that will accrue, stressing that the downstream benefits of the Refinery will change the economic fortune of the State. He called on the people including women to form cooperative societies so as to benefit maximally from the corporate responsibility programs of the establishment.

Earlier, Chief Asua Amanam unveiled a football trophy donated by the paramount ruler, Edidem E. C. D. Abia for the youths of Eket, Onna, Esit-Eket and Ibeno local government areas. The tournament initiated by Mr Victor Udofa is ongoing and will be completed on Sunday

Dignitaries present during the briefing included, Senator Helen Esuene, Gen Anthony Etukudo (Rt), Barr James Essien, company secretary of Amakpe Refinery, Clan Heads, government functionaries, women groups and youths.

Amakpe, OPAC refineries’ modules ready for installation

Two of the 10 licensed modular refineries – Amakpe Refinery meant to be located in Akwa Ibom State and OPAC Refinery to be based in Delta State – are ready for installation in Nigeria.

Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Nsima Ekere, said this in a statement. He added that the assets have their mini-refineries modules already fabricated, assembled and containerised overseas for shipment to the country.

The only solution to the nation’s lingering fuel crisis, Ekere said, rests in modular refineries where individuals can refine petroleum products in smaller scales.

He also said the refineries would create jobs and help ensure peace in the oil-rich Niger Delta region. He explained that the establishment of the refineries was significant as the facilities would boost fuel supply in the country with their capacity to refine 300,000 barrels of crude oil a day.

“According to him, two of the 10 refineries – Amakpe Refinery meant to be located in Akwa Ibom State and OPAC Refinery to be based in Delta State – have their mini-refineries modules already fabricated, assembled and containerised overseas, ready for shipment to Nigeria for installation,” the statement said.

3. Are you bullish or bearish on the next fifteen years for Nigeria? What would make you change your mind? What opportunities do you see? What are the challenges (and risk)?

Nigerians constituted about 40 per cent of foreigners arrested for drug crimes in the country last year, says the latest report by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

According to the data compiled by the central agency for the year 2017, out of the total 397 foreigners arrested in India for drug crimes, 157 were Nigerians, 95 were from Nepal, 46 from Myanmar and 13 from South Africa.

Nigerians, as per the data, constitute the highest and account for about 40 per cent of the foreigners arrested for such crimes last year.

The Narcotics Control Bureau, the enforcement agency tasked to coordinate efforts against drug menace, itself arrested 21 Nigerians, while the rest were apprehended by other departments, including various state police units.

A senior official in the anti-narcotics establishment said the figures reflect a trend of the involvement of Nigerians and those from other African countries in such crimes.

In 2016, he said, 68 Nigerians and 91 Nepalese nationals were arrested across the country for drug crimes, followed by 27 Myanmarese and five from South Africa.

"These figures (of arrests of foreign nationals) are by and large the same each year. We have found that the challenging and poor socio-economic conditions of those hailing from the African region are responsible for them being lured into such crimes," the official said.

"All these cases are also brought to the notice of local embassies or High Commissions of the respective countries as the proceedings under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) continue," he said.

The other countries whose nationals were arrested for drug crimes last year include Bolivia (7), Bangladesh (6), Sri Lanka (6), Uganda and Rwanda (5 each) and Venezuela (4) among others.

By Nwafor Sunday

Harvard, a renowned University in the world can be said to have mocked Nigeria when she asked in her assignment to  students, why Nigeria as a country has failed to thrive from 1960 to 1999, in respect to relative China and India, despite its endowment in human and natural resources.

The assignment which was tagged ‘Nigeria-Fates in Balance’ had the following questions asked by Harvard Business School, Executive Education Learning Nexus lecturer in his course tilled, ‘General Management and Program 24 Module IV’.

Read the assignment below:

Africa is growing. Seven of the ten fastest growing economies in the world are in Africa, and the continent’s largest economies are becoming less dependent on extractive commodities. The continent’s rising middle class has demonstrated a taste for consumer goods and technological innovation, and Africa’s population-currently more than a billion people –is booming and overwhelmingly young at a time when populations in other regions are shrinking and aging. Nigeria, Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest economy, epitomizes both the promise and the problems the continent face in the 21th century. The country had failed to thrive for its thirty years as an independent nation, despite having a developmental head start relative to countries like China and India, as well as hundreds of billions of dollars in oil revenue. Now, after pathbreaking reforms followed by signs retrenchment, Nigeria’s new President faced both vast opportunity and grave challenges. Would the country flourish or founder in this new era? We will analyze key reforms in Nigeria’s economy, significant political developments and the choices facing the country’s fast-growing private sector.

1. Why did Nigeria fail to thrive between 1960 to 1999, particularly relative to China and India?

2. How would you characterize former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s legacy?

3. Are you bullish or bearish on the next fifteen years for Nigeria? What would make you change your mind? What opportunities do you see? What are the challenges (and risk)?

Recall that the Cable News Network, CNN, in July mocked Nigeria in one of its edition of “The Global Public Square (GPS)”, a foreign affairs show anchored on CNN by Fareed Zakaria, when President Muhammadu Buhari travelled for his medical check-up and spent months.

CNN had asked, “The head of state from which country has not set foot in his homeland in over two months?”

It went ahead to tick an option with the name Nigeria as the correct answer. The options were given as Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Nigeria and Syria.

Despite Nigerians reaction and condemnation of  CNN’s publication, Harvard on the 17 day of April 2018, decided to key in among the platforms that see Nigeria as a failed country.

What is your opinion on this?

Despite this controversial tweet to the contrary, the unemployment rate is Nigeria is not actually that high on average. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the unemployment rate is 5.5 percent (the official unemployment rate for the last quarter is 19 percent). For comparison, Ethiopia’s was 5.4 percent, South Africa’s was 27.3 percent, and the U.S. unemployment rate stands at 4.9 percent. In his book Poor Numbers (2013), Morten Jerven has taught us to be skeptical about African statistics, with the exception of those from South Africa. Nevertheless, the World Bank figures are probably the best to be had, and they try to take into account the informal economy. The reality appears to be that Nigeria has an unemployment rate similar to that of other African states, while South Africa is the outlier.

However, despite a relatively low unemployment rate, most Nigerians are very poor—more than half of the population lives on two U.S. dollars per day or less. Unemployment is certainly an important driver of poverty in South Africa, but poor and unemployed South Africans benefit from a government safety net, and still have a higher standard of living than many employed Nigerians.

Within countries, there can be big regional differences in unemployment. As anybody who has been to Lagos knows, the city is a hive of activity, with literally everybody working at something. The shear energy released in Lagos is striking to outsiders. George Packer’s brilliant 2006 New Yorker profile of Lagos comments on the huge range of services offered. Lagosians are never idle. Their civil culture appears to be unsympathetic to beggars, with the important exception of those with visible physical infirmities for whom spontaneous charity of biblical proportions is common. In general, however, the only able-bodied beggars to be found in Lagos, with an estimated population of up to 22 million, are from other parts of Nigeria or West Africa.

Begging and unemployment are more common in the sharia states of the north. The giving of alms is seen as an important religious duty. Beggars are ubiquitous and have long been a part of the social and religious fabric of communities. Children enrolled in Islamic schools, known as madrassas, often split their day between begging and religious studies. The region is poor and generally getting poorer, the result of exploding population growth, climate change, and under-investment in almost everything. Those economic and social realities, coupled with local custom that is sympathetic to it (unlike in southern Nigeria), drive begging. Even before the Boko Haram insurrection, Bornu’s state capital, Maiduguri, was notorious all over West Africa as “the beggar maker.” The treatment of begging distinguishes sharia states from the rest of Nigeria. With respect to unemployment and begging, as with much else, regional differences in Nigeria are important.

By Chris Ochayi

ABUJA – The Federal Government, said, Wednesday that it is focusing on establishment of cattle ranching as solution to the protracted clashes between the herdsmen and farmers, which resulted in killings of several people and wanton destruction of properties by suspected herders across the country, especially, Benue, Plateau, Taraba and Adamawa States.

Minister of Interior, LT. Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazau, Retd, who made this known in Abuja, at the stakeholders’ dialogue on the eradication of herders-farmers conflict in Nigeria, said another measure put in place by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Interior is the establishment of Agro Rangers.

Danbazau, while speaking further at the dialogue organised by the Alumni Association of the National Institute, ANNI in collaboration with Presidential Committee on Small and light weapons, PRESCOM, regretted the incessant loss of lives, properties and environmental degradation occasioned the conflict.

Represented by the Deputy Commandant General of NSCDC, Dr. Mohammed Jega, the minister said, “In order to address the menace, the Federal Government has not relented its efforts in overcoming the insecurity challenges by proposing to establish cattle ranches “

According to the minister, “It has further been established that climate change, scarce resources, trans-boarder migration cause pastoralists mainly from other African countries to move through the North to other parts of Nigeria in search of grazing land for their livestock and this constitute the security challenge wa are facing today.

“Their movement has brought about clashes which is invariably affecting the level of food shortage thereby causing food insecirty and this further threatens the stability of our nation. Security is an integral part of livelihood and well being of he citizenry and we must ensure that these challenges are surmountable.

“The competition for scarce resources has often resulted into a more frequent and destructive conflict than ever. The decade of the 1990s has witnessed the highest number of armed conflicts most of which are consequences os struggle for natural resources.

“Herdsmen by nature are nomads who move from one place to another to rear their animals for economic and social survival particularly seeking a place to cater for his animals. Similarly, the social standing of an herdsman depends on the number of cattle poosessed, just the status of a man in the society rests on the number of properties on which his social class can be adjudged.

“Thus, the herdsman guards his cattle jealously. The incessant resource conflicts witnessed in that nation have resulted in loss of lives, properties and environmental degradation on the strength of this, communal conflicts over land resources are usually fierce with massive destruction of lives and properties as witnessed in states like Benue, Taraba, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Zamfara, Adamawa and Plateau, etc.”

Danbazau noted that, “In order to address the menace, the Federal Government has not relented its efforts in overcoming the insecurity challenges by proposing to establish cattle ranches. In 1966, the northern regional government of Nigeria initiated one of the first measures to respond to the crisis of herders/farmers by establishing cattle ranches but was abandoned by the previous governments.

“Another measure put in place by the Federal Goverrnment through the Ministry of Interior is the establishment of Agro Rangers. This responsibility is placed on the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, who are to secure and provide physical security in all the proposd cattle ranches centres nationwide.

“Also, the establishment of joint operation of the military, police and NSCDC is to put an end to the menace and protect Agro-Allied investment by both local and foreign investors.”

In his remarks, the Chairman of Presidential Committee on Small and light weapons, PRESCOM, Ambassador Emmanuel Imohe said, in view of what is happening today, Nigerians must sit together and talk to themselves with open minds in order to address the insecurity threats confronting the nation.

According to him, “It is as a result of the foregoing as well the further impact or threat of same that we, as Nigerians must sit together and talk to ourselves with open minds with a view to critically and constructively diagnosing this raging security threat in order to proffer enduring solution for the consideration of our government.”

Imohe also blamed the porous nature of Nigerian boarder with other west African countries for influx of illegal alliance and smuggling of deadly weapons into the country.

Realdeals:
The red lane is a mirage, will it pass over the existing narrow gauge or the new double standard gauge that is under construction in the same corridor? Even the CCECC handling the FG project are still looking to carve out route for track in places like Oshodi and Ikeja. It is congested.

The Blue Line is a 27 km rail road with thirteen stations from Okokomaiko to Marina

The Red line will be 30km long, and will run between Marina and Agbado.

By John Shiklam in Kaduna

The Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Barnabas Bala Bantex, has apologised over comments he made regarding the rejection of the $350 million World Bank loan request by the state government.

The Senate had rejected the $350 million World Bank loan, saying that the state already had an existing backlog of $231 million debt with a low internally generated revenue (IGR) status, adding that the facility would worsen the debt profile of the state.

The deputy governor, while representing Governor Nasir el-Rufai at the Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Barnawa, Kaduna chapter on Monday, had said that the World Bank would not grant loan to any state if Kaduna is not included.
Bantex had also in an interview with journalists after declaring the event opened, said: “The World Bank are bugged with a moral issue. How do we deal with not approving or not giving out a loan for which a state government is fully qualified and approve to others, who I wouldn’t say are less qualified. That is the moral issue facing the World Bank.”

However, in a statement he personally signed on Tuesday, the deputy governor said in trying to highlight the issues surrounding the loan, during the NBA programme, he inadvertently strayed beyond affirming his sense of outrage.
“I wish to clarify statements I made yesterday (Monday) at a ceremony of the Barnawa branch of the NBA, regarding the World Bank loan for Kaduna State.
“As Deputy-Governor of Kaduna State, I am understandably unimpressed by the specious and unbecoming arguments that certain senators employed to deny my state a loan for which the World Bank had adjudged it eminently qualified” Batex said in the statement entitled “Clarification of Statement on World Bank loan.”
He said: “This same Senate passed loan requests for other states, including some that the World Bank has not yet approved.
“I therefore decided to point out the moral burden involved in refusing to endorse a loan request that had been approved for Kaduna State by the World Bank since 20 June 2017.

“If the World Bank’s positive assessment of the finances of a state is deemed irrelevant by the Senate, why would it accept the assessments made of other states by the same bank?”

According to him, “If the House of Representatives endorsed the loan based on the facts before the honourable members, why should the Senate let the frustrations of a few individuals lead them to abandon facts for sentiment?
“In trying to highlight these points, I inadvertently strayed beyond affirming my sense of outrage.

“It is certainly not for me to suggest how the World Bank chooses to relate with the Federal Government of Nigeria and its subnational entities.
“In fact, we do not wish the unfair treatment meted out to us on any other state or entity that is seeking development finance to build human capital and enhance their economic prospects.

“I regret the insinuations that came in off-the-cuff remarks I made after delivering the governor’s prepared text at the NBA event.
“It is neither my view nor that of the Kaduna State Government. These views have already been well articulated by the governor and the commissioner for finance.”

Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Ladi Lawanson. says the state government has achieved 95 per cent completion of the ongoing Blue Line rail construction spanning Mile 2 on the mainland to Marina on the island.

Lawanson said this on Tuesday at a media briefing to mark the three years in office of Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode.

He said construction had been focused on National Theatre-Marina segment which had attained 65 per cent completion.

“We have achieved 95 per cent completion of the blue line rail in Lagos State and currently we are focusing on National Theatre-Marina segment.

“Ongoing works include boring of piles, construction of pile caps, pre-inspection of pier positions to determine underground utilities as well as boring of piles across the Lagoon,” Lawanson said.

According to him, all bailey beams have been completed at Marina while fabrication of steel cages and casing, painting of reinforcement with anti-rust, seawall strengthening and the removal of shipwrecks in the lagoon are on course.

The commissioner said the state through Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transportation Agency (LAMATA) had procured a Single Electric Unit (EMU) rolling stick of 2T+2M.

This, he said, was in line with the current thinking of the environment, adding the EMU is already on site awaiting final testing and certification.

Lawanson said the state government had received the Right of Way approval from the Federal Government for the 37-km Agbado-Marina rail routes.

He said discussions were being held with Marina Express Train Services Ltd for its development.

The commissioner said the project development agreement of the company was being reviewed before the commencement of the project.

NAN

QuotaSystem:
Isn't it funny that the same people that claim they don't need the presidency "because it has not benefited the regions that have held it", suddenly start having migraine headache and running stomach when ports and railways are being located in the North and West?

Confused people.

Truthcat:
You this diseased almanjiri needs to upgrade your begging bowl to a bucket, as a matter of fact two buckets, one for your emir so his clothes won't start gathering flies as would have been the case with Niger republic and Chad if they weren't fleecing Nigeria. The feeding bottle is coming down, and watch poverty kill you faster.

Truthcat:
[s]Copy and paste iddiot, you've finally run out something to say? Why not go and treat your many ailments, and paranoia being the major one? Almanjiri parasite.[/s]

Truthcat:
[s]You dumb lazy arse, paranoia is already having a better part of you, and you will drop dead when we wean you off the feeding bottle, but the evil that will really land you the fatal blow is your backward life. You are a confirmed pig living in mud.[/s]

Truthcat:
[s]For freeloaders like you, paranoia is inevitable. Your forefathers relied on inheritance from the Britain when mine were working to make mine better, and you will soon join your brothers in Niger republic and Chad for your new songhai nation, iddiot![/s]

Truthcat:
[s]You dumb lazy arse, paranoia is already having a better part of you, and you will drop dead when we wean you off the feeding bottle, but the evil that will really land you the fatal blow is your backward life. You are a confirmed pig living in mud.[/s]

Truthcat:
[s]You dumb lazy arse, paranoia is already having a better part of you, and you will drop dead when we wean you off the feeding bottle, but the evil that will really land you the fatal blow is your backward life. You are a confirmed pig living in mud.[/s]

Truthcat:
[s]Your leaders who are running from pillars to post already know what time it is, you are just an irrelevant rat on the internet?

It only means you are dumber than I previously thought if you think your region will still have access to mine the way things are going. Who needs useless Almanjiri parasites roaming free among humans. You eranko lasan together with your leaders are on going down, and you will pay for every sin you committed against Yorubaland to your generations unborn.[/s]

Truthcat:
[s]You parasitic maalu can keep bleating. You haven't answered my question on what then happens to your dry ports when your access to my ports and borders are cut off. Your diseased blood sucking lineage will soon have the feeding bottle taken away from you soon.[/s]