Opinion

By Tonnie Iredia
 

One thing the flamboyant electioneering campaigns leading to the 2023 presidential elections did not expatiate upon was how the first budget of the new administration would be funded to meet the lofty campaign promises.

The expectations became heightened when it became obvious that the inauguration of a new Nigerian President on May 29, 2023 did not come along with a magic wand to arrest the country’s deteriorating economy. Instead, the strategies designed by the new President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu only emphasized some future relief to be preceded by immediate severe pain on citizens. The first signs that the supposed future relief was achievable emerged a few days ago following the news of a huge increase in revenue generation by the Nigeria Customs Service NCS. According to media reports, the Service pulled off a spectacular performance to collect the sum of N1,347,675,608,972.75 in the first quarter of 2024.
 
The impressive outing by the NCS must have gladdened many hearts but to those who are familiar with the antecedents of the current leadership of the Service, it didn’t come as a surprise. Some analysts are even looking forward to greater achievements during the tenure of Bashir Adewale Adeniyi who was recently picked as Comptroller General of Customs by President Bola Tinubu.  Industry watchers are generally agreed that in every respect, Adeniyi is a square peg in a square hole. For the no less than 3 decades that he has been in service, he has become known for achieving great things. Some 4 years ago for instance, he was singled out for an award in appreciation of his pivotal supervision of the seizure of $8,065,612 million cash at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos in January 2020.
 
By his posture, CG Adeniyi effortlessly makes a case for our agencies to be headed by intelligent and professional career officers who had over the years been prepared for the Chief Executive position. In which case, they would   have acquired many years of cognate experience by passing through several critical segments of the relevant entity. Such officers best know the strengths and weaknesses of their organizations; they know what button to push, who to deploy to where and when and how to make progress by not just increasing activities but also by blocking loopholes through which all gains normally vanish within seconds. Organizations such as the Customs Service should therefore never be where to post loyalists or where to reward friends and relations who know nothing about the peculiar nuances of the institution concerned.
 
But no matter the institution, modern trends suggest that the best way to successfully run an organization is to realize the inevitability of technology which now serves as the redeeming feature of humanity. In this age of technology, it is no longer reasonable to rely on analogue platforms to achieve sustainable progress. CG Adeniyi being a strategic researcher and communicator must have among other things quickly discarded the physical pursuit of smugglers in favour of aerial surveillance just as he must have followed global realities by installing ICT and other digital facilities for operations especially smart scanning machines in airports. What is certain is that because technology changes daily making it possible for yesterday’s kits to show signs of obsolescence even before they are unparked, identifying the latest facilities that can place operations above criminals is now an imperative.
 
Remarkably, the new Customs administration did not wait for the media to begin to speculate on its activities when it decided on its own that every societal institution owes accountability to the public for whose sake it was established. It is hoped that all government agencies would emulate the NCS by institutionalizing the practice of occasional media briefings in furtherance of public enlightenment. Those who operate differently have so much to lose because by the time the media speculates on their activities warranting rejoinders from them, the first casualty is institutional reputation especially at a point of collective frustration caused by overbearing inflation. If the NCS has made 122.35 percent progress in its revenue generation compared with same time last year, what have others done? 
 
They need to let us know because the world is now in the age of open government. The narratives of a deceitful colonial era in which operatives were only to be seen but not heard are no longer fashionable. Nigeria must progress into becoming one of the world’s greatest communicating nations. The reverse bears anarchy like the recent situation in Kaduna state where some party stalwarts were unhappy with Governor Uba Sani for revealing the huge debts and heavy contractual liabilities inherited by his administration. More annoying is the alleged suspension of the woman leader of the state chapter of the APC, Maryam Suleiman for berating Governor Sani who supposedly rubbished the former Governor. Penalizing a citizen for expressing an opinion should only happen in a dictatorship and not a democracy.
 
Government officials at all levels ought to perform well and at the same time inspire public confidence by taking the people along. At the federal level, the repeated assurances by President Tinubu that the buck stops at his desk cannot be used by agency heads to undermine accountability to the public. In fact, Tinubu’s acceptance of vicarious liability presupposes that he is ready to fire all those not performing. This is because a time for economic depression is the best time for activities here and there – not speeches but actions that have quick wins. At the beginning of this administration, there was a lot of public expectations from the Immigration Service due to the proactive posture of Tunji Ojo, the Interior Minister. So, when can Nigerians apply and seamlessly pick up their international passports? Last week, the story was that efforts were being made to print our passports locally. Is that an objective that falls within the realm of rocket science?
 
We must however not forget to pay tribute to two private sector leaders, namely Allen Onyema and Aliko Dangote that are bringing messages of hope to the homes of citizens. But for Dangote, life would have been much harder at the rate the price of Automative Gas Oil (diesel) was rising and rising. Happily, Dangote Petroleum Refinery has now forced down the pump price of the product to around N1,225 from about N1, 700 per litre. Similarly, Allen Onyema has used his airline, Air Peace to halt the conspiracy of the west to kill the naira. With his entry into the Lagos-London route, all carriers hitherto exploiting Nigerians are now in disarray. It is hoped that other business owners and executives would emulate Dangote and Onyema so that Nigeria can rise again. It is therefore not too much for government to formally commend the two patriots to strengthen them to keep hope alive.
 
A time like this when people are striving to survive is certainly not the time for any Nigerian business to maximize profit.  It is therefore unfortunate that our power distribution companies have convinced themselves that this is the best time to raise tariffs. It is worse that they are able to persuade their regulator to accept a rise by as much as 300 percent. If precedent is anything to go by, the arrangement of categorising consumers into bands will as usual, lead to profiteering. It will be recalled that during the Buhari administration, metres paid for by government to be freely distributed to consumers were surreptitiously sold by the DISCOS. With some consumers already claiming to have been short-changed, on band categorization, there is no better time than now for the regulator to operate with a human face.
 
It would be against the run of play if public sector agencies are waiting to be prompted to up their performances so as to give room for the rest of us to breathe.  May be the Nigeria Custom Service should take the lead again; this time not just in revenue generation but in curbing insider abuses. It is unfair that agencies extort huge sums of money from citizens in addition to approved payments before offering the service for which they were employed. CG Adeniyi would leave his name in gold if he can use technology to sanitize all the processes and procedures for obtaining services from customs operatives. Many citizens would be relieved if other Nigerian service provider executives can similarly act.
 

Nigeria is a special place. When the news broke that Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives raided the headquarters of Dangote Group, as part of investigations into possible misuse of foreign currency, I had expected that during the next trading day on the Nigerian stock exchange, the values of Dangote Cement and other companies in the Group would struggle.

But you know what? Investors did not care. It was similar to what happened when APC named Aliko Dangote as part of Buhari’s reelection committee member in 2019. On that one, investors did not pay attention also.

If this information does not move markets in Nigeria, what are investors trading on then? In the United States, Dangote properties would have suffered huge losses. But in Nigeria, just like in elections, no one cares about anything.

“We went to the head office of Dangote Group today to look into their books on the ongoing investigation on the abuse of the extant laws that govern the foreign exchange transaction during the tenure of Godwin Emefiele as CBN governor,” one of the sources told Reuters.

“Here, we are talking about multiple exchange rates and others. It is an ongoing investigation and it was the turn of Dangote Group today,”

Sure, they do not re-price in near-real time, but over weeks and months, they do re-price. That simply shows the level of our stock market development. It is not driven by data and most times, it is all about herding and speculations. Once in, they tune off, and even a possible criminal investigation in a company does not constitute risk! What a nation!

Count yourself lucky of being a Nigerian because you can get away with most things!

Gentlemen of the press members of the civil society groups. We wish to use this medium to commend the New EFCC boss Mr. Ola Olukoyede as the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for the work done so far since his assumption of office.

We have it on good grounds the committed effort put in place for the recovery of funds stolen and prosecution of looters and the ongoing activities of the EFCC, to ensure all diverted public funds are recovered.

Transparency Advocacy for Developments Initiative (TADI) as an advocate for good governance, transparency and probity would continue to give the agency necessary support to attain its objectives of sanitizing the nation’s public offices.

We want to draw the attention of the New EFCC boss to ensured he and his team avoid been used to intimidate, embarrass citizens instead to do due diligence in order to sustain the reputation and dignity of the commission.

On the current exercise of the commission and effort to recover public funds diverted to private accounts by some enemies of the state.

We wish to state clearly that the tools of the graft agency should be use for what is in the interest of the nation and not to be use to intimidate, Oppress, embarrass or to serve as pay back time to citizens that have distinguished themselves while in public office in the verge to serve their father land.

We also called on the media to do due diligence in reportage and balancing of information at their disposal for national unity and peaceful co-existence of Nigerians.

We hereby pledged our unalloyed support to the current administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his quest to reorganise the nation’s economy prosperity for Nigerians under his renewed hope agenda.

God bless Nigeria

Dorcas Egwuje

As Nigerians gear up to celebrate the joyous occasion of Christmas, the rising prices of foodstuffs and fuel are casting a shadow over the festivities. The economic challenges faced by many Nigerians are making it increasingly difficult to fully embrace the spirit of the season.

Christmas, a time of togetherness and giving, holds significant cultural and religious importance for Nigerians. However, the cost of foodstuffs tends to soar during this period due to increased demand and market dynamics. This surge in prices is making it challenging for individuals and families to afford the necessary ingredients for traditional meals and celebrations.

The impact of rising food prices is particularly felt by low-income households, who already struggle to meet their basic needs. The inability to provide for loved ones and participate fully in the festivities can dampen the holiday spirit for many Nigerians.

In addition to the rising cost of food, the price of fuel is also a cause for concern during the Christmas season. Transportation plays a crucial role in enabling people to travel and reunite with their families. However, higher fuel prices translate into increased transportation costs, making it more difficult for individuals to visit their loved ones or travel to celebrate the holiday together.

This situation is especially burdensome for those who live far away from their families or have limited financial resources. The economic inequalities exacerbated by these rising prices can hinder the enjoyment of the holiday season for many Nigerians.

Efforts to alleviate the impact of rising prices during Christmas include government interventions such as price controls, subsidies, or social welfare programs. These measures aim to ensure that essential food items remain affordable for all Nigerians, regardless of their economic circumstances.

Furthermore, communities are coming together to support one another during these challenging times. Initiatives such as food drives, community kitchens, and resource sharing are being organized to ensure that everyone can experience the joy of Christmas, even in the face of economic difficulties.

As Nigerians navigate the festive season, it is crucial for both the government and communities to work hand in hand to find sustainable solutions. By addressing the rising prices of foodstuffs and fuel, they can ensure that the spirit of Christmas remains alive and accessible to all, fostering a sense of unity and togetherness.

In conclusion, while Christmas is a time of celebration and joy, the rising prices of foodstuffs and fuel are posing significant challenges for Nigerians. The economic hardships faced by many are hindering their ability to fully embrace the festive season. It is imperative for stakeholders to collaborate and implement measures that alleviate the burden on individuals, ensuring that the spirit of Christmas shines through, even in the face of economic adversity.

By Tonnie Iredia
 
Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state (2015-2023) left no one in doubt that he had enormous capacity for project development. No other governor in the history of Nigeria ever evolved his type of schedule for the daily commissioning of projects for several months without stop. His penchant for saying things as they are, no matter who is hurt, may have earned him several political enemies but no one disputes his well-deserved award of ‘Mr Project’ first bestowed on him by former vice president Yemi Osinbajo. It was against this backdrop that his appointment as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT by president Bola Tinubu provoked great expectations of Abuja almost immediately wearing a new look along with consequential collateral damage of demolitions of buildings erected on illegally acquired land or without approved building plans.
 
Wike lived up to expectation as his first move revealed his determination to eliminate every distortion to the Abuja master plan and make the city befitting as Nigeria’s capital. At his maiden news conference, he confirmed his readiness to tackle all unplanned structures that can compromise urban development. To all those who have contributed to distorting the master plan he said “be you a Minister of anywhere, be you an ambassador, if you know you have developed where you were not supposed to develop, your house must go down. Those who have taken over the green areas to build, sorry, our parks must come back, the green areas must come back.” A few weeks later, FCT’s Department of Development Control identified thousands of illegal buildings for demolition in no less than 30 locations in the territory.
 
In fairness to Wike, the policy of demolitions in the FCT was not started by him. Former FCT Minister, Nasir El Rufai had in fact been more identified as the ‘demolition man.’ During his tenure, Nasir according to Mohammed Alkali, the then general counsel of the Federal Capital Territory Authority destroyed over 75,000 houses and other public property. El Rufai himself found time to explain that he had no regrets for doing what he did notwithstanding his stepping on several toes adding that he took the drastic actions to save Abuja from being turned into a slum by influential persons in the corridors of power. According to the former minister, rich and powerful elements in the military and politics had with the connivance of others cornered choice plots in the city through the back door.
 
If building demolitions were restricted to the FCT one would have attributed the trend to the special nature of the location as the most developed part of Nigeria with huge infrastructural facilities. But then, demolitions were also taking place in other cities. In kano state, the new administration of governor Abba Yusuf wasted no time in rolling out bulldozers to begin the demolition of private buildings, which he had earlier declared during his campaigns, as illegal structures erected during the tenure of his predecessor, Abdullahi Ganduje. Abba had actually anchored his campaign on a promise of mass demolitions if he got elected as he accused the previous administration of splintering public assets, specifically land, and selling them to its cronies.
 
In Ogun state, many expect demolitions because the government had earlier marked several houses and directed their owners to remove them. According to Ola Oresanya who had served as Commissioner for Environment, the affected houses were built on drainage channels that were obstructing the flow of water. The government had warned that any owner who waited for official demolition would have to refund to government, tax payers’ monies incurred in removing the buildings. The Ogun state government has indeed, continued to express concerns over the impact of urban flooding in such parts of the state as Ikenne Local Government Area.  Like Ogun, Lagos state which has had a rather large share of demolitions and evictions in Nigeria, insists that structures built on drainage channels would be demolished.
 
Both the owners of demolished buildings and government spend ample time canvassing each other’s perspective. Here, the government which has organs of mass communication to propagate its viewpoint has expectedly had the upper hand. The major justification which government officials keep making is that the demolitions are usually done in the public interest. Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, in Lagos State probably beat everybody to it last Wednesday when he shared a photo of a house built on a canal in the state obstructing the free flow of water. But we caution against overblowing the story because not every demolished building was erected on a canal or some sort of drainage channel.
 
Some 5 months ago, a popular newspaper had used one of its editorials to condemn the immediate past administration in kano state for allegedly carving out plots from the grounds of public schools, hospitals and utilities, and selling or distributing them to government officials and their relatives in the state. Such plots which were reportedly taken out of school football fields, and also in-between classroom blocks, for the construction of shops for commercial activities cannot be justified. It is generally believed that right from the days of the Maroko saga in Lagos state, the motivation for the acquisition of plots and the demolitions of buildings in certain Nigeria cities is obviously not altruistic as government officials would want the public to believe.
 
The constant resort by some Nigerians to illegal acquisition of land or the construction of buildings, without appropriate approvals, is unacceptable. But if the people miss that point, a greater miss is the failure of the government to provide shelter for its citizens as seen in the huge figure of housing deficit in the country. In his ‘Hierarchy of Needs’, the legendary psychologist, Robert Maslow, had persuasively described shelter as a basic right. Interestingly, the Nigerian government despite Section 43 of our constitution which sees citizens’ shelter as a right, is yet to accept it as its duty to the people. Citizens ought to be motivated rather dissuaded from getting sheltered. Indeed, the sanctity of the subject as clothed in the next Section 44 of the same constitution abhors compulsory acquisition without compensation.
 
The real missing point in Nigeria’s demolitions is the failure of government to sanction insider abuses. To start with, government at the point of enforcement has a habit of not separating citizens in possession of approvals from those who have none. Once demolition is pronounced by the political head; everyone, the innocent and the guilty suffer same fate. Besides, many approvals which turn out to be phony were the handiwork of public lands and housing officials serving or retired. Nothing is known to have been done to them. If government was ‘demolishing’ such deviants from work the way they send bulldozers to penalize acclaimed wrong owners, building demolitions would have since been drastically reduced. But it is never so; instead such perverse personnel remain at work and more often than not, advance to the highest grade thereby encouraging the growth of such cabals and perpetuating their misconduct.
 
If other leaders claim not to know, minister Nyesom Wike cannot because he has made public how such officials had attempted to extort funds from him even as governor of Rivers state. It is therefore obvious that no one can really claim ignorance of the existence of the cabals because their methodologies and operational patterns hardly change. Why for instance is it that buildings get demolished several decades after they had been completed and occupied? Where were those who become super active during demolitions when such buildings were at foundation levels? Is it not an open secret that the real meaning of sign X placed on any building to stop further work is for the owners to visit the enforcement officials for settlement? 
 
Some demolitions may no doubt be inevitable. But in such cases, government must proceed and function with a human face.  All those involved in the breaches necessitating demolitions which should include government officials should be equally sanctioned. Since we are in a democracy, punitive and ‘surprise demolitions’ such as midnight actions should be avoided even where court approvals have been secured. Victims should never be given grounds to imagine any form of discrimination.  We all desire beautiful cities, just as we all deserve affordable shelter.
 
December 3, 2023