Pull Down The Wall

Nigerians from all parts of the country, across sectoral, cultural, religious and political divides are strongly against any form of separation or division of the federation. The scares of the Odumegwu Ojukwu led Biafra civil war is still very fresh in our memory.

Insinuations recently by Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gaddafi calling for a split of Nigerian into Christian south and Muslim north was largely seen as repulsive and condemnable. Federal government’s spontaneous reaction and recall of the Ambassador to Libya Alhaji Aliu Mohammed, was supported by both Christian and Muslim leaders.

Obviously, Nigerians want to remain as one indivisible entity. However, there are calls for a sovereign national conference to bring about a truly federal constitution. Nigeria is regarded by a school of thought as a mere ‘geographical expression” of the British Colonial masters, brought about by the amalgamation of the north and south when leadership was conceded to the Muslim north under Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa. The British Colonialist did not follow a genuine process of unification as there was no call for a referendum therefore the absense of a consensus amongst the federating regions. This lack of sincerity of purpose on the part of the colonial masters and the lack of consensus by the different sections in the Nigerian state left us as strange bed fellows.

Nigeria is made up of diverse religious, tribal, sectional and political groupings. The killings in March 2010 of over 500 children, women and the elderly in a village in Jos Plateau in Northern Nigeria, by suspected Fulani hardsmen, was suspected to have religious inclinations. The United Nations constituted investigation into the killings fearing possible genocide.

It has become more imperative for us to seek a permanent solution to the frequent riots and clashes amongst different tribes, religious groups  in the country. It is important for us to also start to de-emphasizing those things that causes separation amongst us and consolidate those things that brings us together as a people.

The promotion of one Nigeria by the National Orientation Agency and the Rebranding Nigeria Project along cultural and political lines should be given prominence. Those attributes that tend to divide us should be masked and relegated.

For Nigeria to remain as one indivisible nation, the contraption called ‘three major tribes’ should be eliminated from our body polity. Emphasis should be on majority vote and not majority tribe. This will effectively detribalize the polity. Same applies to religion. Government should stop using tax payers money to fund religion. Rather, it should fund a new cultural revolution aimed at promoting the unity of all tribes and cultures.

Recent accusations leveled against Multi-Choice’s African Magic channel by the Igbo Youths Congress that the network is marginalizing the Igbos by not showing their local movies while giving Hausa and Yoruba films considerable prominence. Such agitations are solemn pointers to this demon called ‘three major tribe. The separation of a people along tribal lines stirs up nothing but conflicts and distrust amongst the people.

You can envisage what will happen when Multi-Choice creates an Igbo channel, people from other parts of the country will start their own agitation as well, and we will never get to the bottom of it. The solution to this, I believe is the creation of a single Movie Magic channel that broadcast films from all parts of the country regardless of region, provided they meet the required standards.

Nigeria needs to step up. I advocate a new ‘One Nigeria’ campaign that will promote peace and justice amongst the. Creating a truly one-people, one-nation ideology whereby we will no longer count tribes but votes. A new society whereby the Muslim and the Christian will become equal. Let us create an harmonious society devoid of acrimony and rancor.

When East and West Germany wanted to unify, one of the most impactful of all the things they did to achieve their reunification was the historic pulling-down of the Berlin Wall. What are our own Berlin Walls that we need to pull down?

If Nigeria were to be a man

If Nigeria were to be a man, he would live in a one room wooden ramshackle in Gbondu waterfront in Port Harcourt, with no toilet, no ventilation, and in a mud-filled, garbage littered pedestals that can not take even a bicycle. Yet he would have a satellite dish hunged over his roof of rusty dilapidated metal sheets and a hummer jeep parked out on the streets.

A weird mixture of poverty and affluence is what you see all around you, under the bridge at Ojuelegba, you see families so poor they receive alms even from beggars. They can neither feed nor afford the rent of a single room even in the slums of Ajegunle. Their children, some of school age, roam the streets begging for alms in the heavy traffic, running after flashy luxury cars, often wound-up and driven by people living in high-brew areas the likes of Ikoyi and Lekki.

This unhealthy cacophony of extreme poverty and flamboyance in our towns and cities all around the country is infuriating at the least, and can be attributed to the vexation being expressed by these deprived population in the form of brutal robberies, militancy,  kidnapping and aggression towards those perceived to be the ‘rich’ in the society, and who are often accused of amassing illegal wealth through corruption, importation of fake and substandard products or outright stealing from government treasury.

Though these extremely affluent people are often fenced out by high perimeter estate walls or live in exclusive government reserved areas with security everywhere. And very often the poor share the same neighbourhood, ride on the same road, shop in the same market and suffer the effects of the same poor infrastructure such as power, water, roads and healthcare. It is impossible to separate the rich from the poor.

Nigeria's increasing poverty profile is not out of lack of resources but bad governance and corruption. The causes of poverty in Nigeria are well known and the consequential challenges are shared evenly by both the rich and the poor. Having known the problems, what is expected is to find solutions to these challenges. To the amazement of all, we even know the solutions, but the big worry is no one seems to be committed to effecting this change.

In reminding us of the solutions, good government will take the front burner. Equal rights and justice comes next. The later is very crucial to the survival of the nation as it determines our basic freedom and liberties. De-tribalizing our body polity is essential create mutual respect and peaceful co-existence amongst the various tribes in Nigeria.

It is evident that the ills of the society can be corrected by fighting and rebellion but by the re-engineering of our social disposition and laws governing us. The constitution we operate was impossed on us and was never constituted by the people taking cognisance of our diverse social, religious, cultural and ethnic interest. That needs to be done if we need to enjoy enduring peace and harmony.

I am therefore strongly in support of the review of the constitution in view of the agitations and calls by pro-democracy groups for a sovereign national conference, as against insistence by government for the constitution to be reviewed by the National Assemble. I recommend a combination of both by way of the submission of referandums by pro-democracy groups and the various regional groupings to the national assembly for compilation and review through a public deliberation which will give the various groups the opportunity to defend their proposals.

The outcome of such a deliberation will produce a mutual document that can now become a bill called ‘the review of the Nigeria Constitution Bill 2010.” It is only when this bill is passed into law that we can claim to have a New Constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.

Peace is what strenghtens a nation, war destroys it. In the heat of the struggle and agitations, let us remember our goal – one indivisible and virile nation, where peace and justice reign.

Solution to Fuel Subsidy Removal Impasse

The positions of the organised labour and civil society groups are quite clear and it is that government must revert to status quo the fuel pump-price. On the other hand, government is insisting that they will go ahead with the subsidy removal. These two strong positions between labour and government have created the present impasse. As usual, when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers and it is the poor masses who are the ones caught in the cross-fire.

To put a stop to the pains already inflicted on the populace by the sharp and sudden increase in prices of every conceivable item in the marketplace as a result of the fuel subsidy removal by federal government, and also stop immediately the labour imposed stoppage of commercial activities and it attendant hardship on the citizenry.

It is in the respect that I propose a compromise plan that will redeem the impasse and meet half-way both positions by labour and government; drive down prices of goods and services to pre-January fuel subsidy removal announcement by President Goodluck Jonathan, and take the striking labour workers and civil society groups away from the streets to the board room for continuation of dialogue.

My Proposals:

1.     That with immediate commencement, the federal government should instruct the NNPC to sell fuel to all commercial vehicles that are branded and registered under the national road transport workers union at the old pump price of N65.00 per litre in all NNPC Mega Stations across the country.

2.      By implication, the traffic in the mega stations will increase and to curtail that, sale of fuel by the mega stations to private vehicles should seize until the proposed palliatives by government for the subsidy removal are implemented and operational.

3.      Because of the anticipated congestion of the existing few NNPC Mega Stations across the country, the federal government should designate certain strategically located privately-owned filling stations in different parts of the country as NNPC Sales points which will sell only to commercial vehicles.

4.      The federal government should put in place a process to check abuses and corrupt tendencies  that may arise from commercial vehicle owners and filling station management by developing a database application to capture vehicle chassis numbers from the vehicle license registration particulars.

The database will also provide figures of total sales by vehicles and compute total accrued subvention for a period to be reimbursed as transport subsidy to individual NNPC Mega Station of designate outlets.

5.      The petrol attendants should be equipped with smart pocket devices with which they can within a few seconds capture the vehicle chassis number before dispensing fuel. The device will alert the petrol attendant of attempts of multiple purchases by the same vehicle in any of the designated NNPC Mega Stations and designate sales points across the country.

6.      The smart devices and database application must be low cost and easily manageable. If the federal government implement this proposal, by the very next day the strike will be called off and commercial activities will resume. And in another two weeks fuel will be available again at the old pump price of N65.00 per litre to commercial vehicles and life will return to normal. By so doing, the government would have effective sustained the fuel subsidy removal from the downstream sector and transfer some of it to the transport sector.

This new arrangement will remain until the proposed palliatives of new refineries and turn-around maintenance of existing ones are completed, reduction of the size of government, pay cut and review of allowances of National Assembly members, and senior government officials; introduction of low-cost fuel efficient mass transit system and invigoration of the fight against corruption.

Different Colours, One People

Different Colours, One People

Chevron News - January - April 2009, Pg. 4

By March Oyinki

Many years ago when the late South African reggae musician, Lucky Dube, sang "Different Colours, One People," it was to address an obvious diversity gap that existed at that time especially in his country where people were judged not by the content of their character but the colour of their skin. And the renowned musician simply tried to impress it on people that no society which practices racial discrimination enjoys peace.

The Oxford Dictionary defines diversity as variety; several different kind. Notwithstanding whether you are from a different race, tribe, profession or group, the ability to relate with others is important. And in a company, this is paramount for the purpose of growing and moving forward the organization. As the saying goes, "no matter how large a tree becomes, it can never make a forest."

In a company, diversity is not only about the appreciation of race or colour of skin, but also about the appreciation of the contributions of everyone and every job. It is an appreciation of what the leadership and the subordinate do. It is an appreciation of the work of the chief executive, the foreman, manager, and the messenger or cleaner. It is about not looking down on people because of the kind of jobs they do.

Let us try not to be like the arrogant professor who was "so intelligent" that he would mock anyone he thought was less knowledgeable. One day, as the story goes, the professor boarded a ferry to take him to the other side of town across the river. The journey began. As the boatman got to the middle of the river, a strong wind blew and the canoe swayed as the waves splashed the boat from side to side.

The professor, obviously afraid of drowning, asked the boatman, "when do you think we will get to the other side?"

"I don’t know," the boatman replied.

The professor, very furious, said, "You must be an idiot. What on earth do you know? There is nothing I’ve asked you that you have ever known. You don’t know how to calculate simple velocity, which is the change in distance divided by the change in time."

"I don’t no sir, I no go to school," said the old boatman in pidgin English.

At that moment, the wind got stronger, and the waves grew bigger and started hitting hard on the boat. Water started entering the canoe.

The professor now terrified, asked the boatman, "Are we going to drown?" The boatman replied, "It depends."

"Depends on what?" the professor asked.

"You know about ‘swimology?" the boatman asked. "No," said the professor, "And what does that mean?"

"Oh, then you are the biggest idiot," said the boatman. He hissed and took a dive into the river, leaving the professor in the boat to his fate.

The lesson of this story? It is impossible to be a master of everything. We must learn to respect and accommodate each other.

Effectiveness in the work place is not only about the talented individual, but in the harnessing of the different skills brought to the table by various individuals. In other words, there is no substitute for teamwork and mutual respect.

It is for this reason that diversity is one of Chevron’s core values as clearly stated in The Chevron Way: "We learn from and respect the cultures in which we work. We value and demonstrate respect for the uniqueness of individuals and the varied perspectives and talents they provide. We have an inclusive work environment and actively embrace a diversity of people, ideas, talents and experience."

Click to read original article

Nigeria's Swelling Market for Fruit Juice Concentrates and Mixes

Nigeria is a subsistence agrarian economy that depends largely on imports to meet its basic food requirements. The country imported $2.5 billion in food products in 2004, making it the largest single market for foreign agricultural products in sub-Saharan Africa.

U.S. agricultural exports to Nigeria that year totaled $444 million, up considerably from $322 million in 2003. Beverage bases (mostly fruit juice concentrates and pre-mixed products) accounted for approximately $1.4 million worth of U.S. sales in 2004.

In 2002, the government of Nigeria placed an import ban on a wide range of agricultural products to protect local industries and to conserve foreign exchange. Products banned for exports to Nigeria include: confectioneries, flavored yogurt dink, spaghetti and other noodles, fruit juices in retail packs, fruit juice drinks, fresh and dried fruits, table water (flavored sparkling and non-sparkling), non­alcoholic wines and beer, cocoa butter, powder and cakes; poultry and red meats, eggs and birds, maize, sorghum, millet, vegetable oils, fat and biscuits of any type. Prior to the ban, approximately 80 percent (about 170 million liters per year, valued at $255 million) of Nigeria's demand for fruit juice was filled by imports.

Domestic Capacity and Imports Buoyed by Demand Tidal Wave

The Nigerian fruit juice industry, producing far below capacity before the ban, increased production from just 12 percent in 2002 to over 75 percent by 2004. Demand for consumer fruit juice products, especially items in Tetra Pak containers and flexible bags, is now mostly met by domestic suppliers.

The few large food processing companies have developed or increased production for local consumption and export to neighboring countries. New firms are reported to be investing in Tetra Pak production lines. Small scale manufacturers of bottled fruit drinks have also boosted capacity.

Meanwhile, Nigeria's demand for imported fruit juice concentrates and pre-mixes has grown from 1,500 metric tons in 2002 to 17,000 metric tons by 2004 - an astounding 1,033­percent increase. This figure is expected to reach 20,000 metric tons valued at $30 million by the end of 2005. The import growth can be attributed partly to Nigeria lowering its tariff on concentrates and pre-mixes from 40 to 10 percent in 2002.

Fruit juice concentrate in aseptic packs and pre-mixes are preferred by local suppliers. Products are often placed in cold storage and transported in reefer containers at temperatures of not above -18 degrees

centigrade.              .

About 20 million Nigerians, approximately 15 percent of the country's population of more than 133 million, constitute the target market for fruit juice products. Consumption should increase as households begin to use products at home more frequently.

AII these factors mean that U.S. exporters have an excellent opportunity to enter this market. New-to-market U.S. fruit juice concentrate exporters can enter the market through local buyers who may be processors or agents. NAFDAC, Nigeria's food regulatory agency, requires that all foreign exporters of food and agricultural products be represented by a government-registered Nigerian firm that will handle product registration and marketing.

Click on link to read PDF version

By March Oyinki
FAS Worldwide, a publication of The United States Department of Agriculture
December 2005

$3.5m US Gr ant for Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre

By March Oyinki

Crossroad Magazine

Nigerian Army will no longer face grueling hardship and long wait at the pension office after retirement. A $3.5 million U.S. grant is making it possible for retirees of the armed forces to receive adequate

training in management, computer skills, fish farming, soap making, welding, carpentry and a variety of other small scale trades that will empower them to earn a decent living as responsible members of society.

This change is the result of a collaborative program between theU.S. Department of Labor and the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Center (NAFRC), Oshodi. During his August 2001 visit to Nigeria,

former President Bill Clinton an-nounced a U.S. government program to revitalize the Resettlement Center through the U.S. Agency for International Development. Over the last four years, the U.S. government has provided funding averaging US$1 million annually for the upgrade of training equipment, provision of hostels and the introduction of new technology and livestock farming.

The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos organized a media tour to showcase new developments at the complex. NAFRC Camp Commandant Air Vice Marshal Emmanuel Aquasua told reporters that “The center had been neglected seriously in the past several years, and until this life-line came, the institution was in a state of serious disrepair. Infrastructure had decayed seriously and the finances to keep the institution worthy of its name were not there.”

With funding from the United States government, and technical support from Aurora Associates international (a U.S. based consultancy firm over-seeing the NAFRC project in Nigeria), the center can now possesses state of the art HIV/AIDS screening equipment. The center also has a well-equipped computer training school that is fully air-conditioned.

During the tour of the complex,  the president of Aurora Associates International Jim Statman, showed reporters one of four power generating plants provided by the U.S.  Government to help boost power supply to the center. “We are also constructing a new hostel building to provide accommodation for the trainees of the center,” said Statman.

“One very remarkable thing is that every cent spent in this center is accounted for, and in all the years we have been here, not a single missing item has been recorded. This is so because adequate protective measures are put in place to secure the equipment before they are released for use,” he added.

When one of the reporters during a question and answer session asked if there is any possibility for a Nigerian firm to take over the management of the project from Aurora Associates International, Major Abdulahi Musa, Public Relations Officer of the Center said a decision will be taken by the appropriate authories at the right time.

Click to read original article

LEAP: Lagos Commits More

By March Oyinki

Crossroads Magazine, Pg.14, March 2004

U.S. Consulate General, Lagos

Stakeholders in the Lagos programs of the U.S. Literacy Enhancement Assistance Program (LEAP) met last month in Ikeja and recorded major successes. First, the State Primary Education Board made a strong commitment to expand LEAP's activities within the State and to supplement U.S. government funding with Lagos state funds. Second, representatives from the newly created Bariga Local Government Authority (LGA) outlined their plans to use funds made available by the LGA to participate in the LEAP programs.

LEAP convenes a state forum annually for government officials, parents and teachers to track the U.S. literacy program's progress and address new issues in achieving the goal of quality basic education for al l. LEAP aims to improve student literacy numeracy, improve school facilities, train teachers and provide school materials to both public and religious sc h ools throughout Nigeria .