Daily Archives: October 22, 2013

As GE’s Investment Showcases US Interest in Nigeria

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With General Electric now playing a major role in the advancement of Nigeria’s Industrial sector and the overall economy, Crusoe Osagie writes that the United States now appears ready to contend with nations like China and India in reaping the attractive returns in Nigeria’s difficult operating environment
 
Apart from the major oil companies Mobil and Chevron and all the ancillary businesses these two oil and gas giants have brought to Nigeria, large corporations of United States origin have not been known to pitch their tents in this country.
This is not to say that large US corporations do not do business in Nigeria. Microsoft, Apple, Google, Intel, Coca Cola, Procter and Gamble, among others, all have their bases in Nigeria but only to the extent that it would allow them trade.
Apart from Procter and Gamble, which runs a factory in Ibadan, Oyo State, the others pretty much just set up administrative offices in Lagos and coordinate sales and marketing activities remotely for their companies from there.
But elementary economics teaches us that no nation actually transforms industrially when all it gets from advanced economies are trading outlets. Before technology can be transferred, large corporations from great nations liken the United States of America and Britain must have roots on the ground.
 
They must set up high-tech manufacturing plants operated in conjunction with local engineers and transfer knowledge. They must have beyond virtual presence in the country; they must risk something, actually.
This understanding is what has made the renewed presence of US technology giant General Electric’s fresh investment in the Nigerian economy quite novel. With the kind of investment now being injected by the company, it is clear that GE and indeed the entire United States, belief in the future and survival of the Nigerian state and its economy.
GE has been in Nigeria for many decades and over the course of these decades, the company has built a very large platform that covers all sectors of GE businesses across the globe – Oil and Gas, Power and Water, Energy Management, Aviation, Healthcare, Transportation, GE Capital and Home & Business Solutions.
GE businesses in Nigeria represent the biggest GE platform on the continent of Africa where about one third of the entire GE Africa business comes out of Nigeria. In the past two years, the company has renewed focus in Nigeria with businesses spanning across major infrastructure sectors. 
 
GE footprint in Nigeria consists of about 400 employees with offices in Lagos and Abuja; it also has service facilities in Port-Harcourt and Onne and currently serves over 100 public and private sector customers and partners in Nigeria.
To demonstrate its commitment to Vision 20:2020 GE in 2012 expanded its landmark country-to-company agreement with the federal government of Nigeria by  signing investment MoUs for project development in power, healthcare, and transportation sectors of the economy essentially to expand local capabilities and stimulate a total infrastructure overhaul.
 
Landmark Achievements
The Calabar Manufacturing Plant is GE’s $1 billion investment in a service and manufacturing facility in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. This is its biggest investment in sub-Saharan Africa till date, and only the second of its kind in the world.
This $1 billion investment is over the next five years and it is aimed at strengthening the firm’s local presence with the new service and manufacturing facility, as well as an additional investment in its service workshops at Port Harcourt and Onne, Rivers State.
The company’s investment plan include a $250 million capital expenditure that will make Nigeria a regional hub for manufacturing, service, and innovation with an improved ability to support a broader range of product lines in power generation as well as oil and gas exploration and production. The company will also spend an additional $800 million over the next 5 years in local sourcing of goods/ services, labour, staff welfare and training.
The planned investment is expected to create 2,300 jobs, 300 of which will be direct employees and the remaining 2,000 indirect jobs created through GE suppliers that will support its expanded operations.
The manufacturing giants also plan to build a training facility on its manufacturing site to ensure on-going employee development. The company will provide one-year to four-year training programmes locally and internationally for repair engineers, welders, fabricators, machinists and special processing.
The company is collaborating with Cross River state educational and community leaders to implement curriculum, instructor development and equipment enhancements that will support the development of top notch vocational school graduates.
Nigerians will make up 90 per cent of the staff and management of the planned manufacturing facility while GE’s local supplier base is expected to increase from 10 to 100 local suppliers and this investment will significantly increase the local content of GE’s operations in Nigeria by increasing local ownership of equipment, in-country project execution expertise and use of local legal, financial and engineering services.
The company has held three supplier fairs in Lagos, Abuja and Calabar where over 80 local engineering companies were assessed. Following this assessment and verification, the first set of 10 companies whose capabilities met GE’s needs for the planned facility were brought on-boarded into the supplier development programme.
The local supplier fairs are also being supplemented with international fairs in Amsterdam, China and Houston to attract tag-along investments by GE’s global network of suppliers in Europe, Asia and the Americas, with the added benefit that these investments will accelerate skills and technology transfer through joint ventures with Nigerian companies.
GE Global Supply Chain Lead, Phil Griffith, noted “this investment will significantly increase the local content of our operations in Nigeria by increasing local ownership of equipment, in-country project execution expertise and use of local legal, financial advisory and engineering services. When this project is completed, our annual spending on these basic services that will be locally sourced is expected to increase to over $60 million.”
 
GE and Nigeria’s Power Sector
The company signed an MoU with the federal government to help develop an additional 10,000 Megawatts of power over the next ten years, a show of serious commitment. GE will make equity commitment as well as project development expertise to repower existing brown field facilities.
The Papalanto (Phase II) thermal power plant, incorporated into the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP) with the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, has a current installed capacity of 335 megawatts (MW). The plant’s output is strategic to Nigeria’s national electricity grid, which targets generated output of 10,000 MW within two years and 40,000MW by 2020, as part of the Nigerian government’s drive to boost the country’s power supply.
To achieve these targets, GE Power & Water has supplied four gas turbines to Papalanto, and addressed project management and synchronisation challenges. As a prime mover-supplier on 90 per cent of new power generation sites, GE Power & Water is demonstrating its ability and track record of, harnessing skills and building capacity to address the power generation needs of Nigeria. These capabilities will be essential in strengthening continued partnerships and promoting greater investment in Nigeria.
About 60 per cent of all the installed power generating capacity in Nigeria today is GE technology, so it has a very long history of building the foundations of where the power sector industry is today and in fulfillment of the Power MoU it has partnered local companies namely- Transcorp, Geometric, Honeywell, Oats Global and Ibom through a Joint Development Agreement to bring incremental power to the national grid.
 
Transportation Sector
Beginning, GE entered into an agreement to support the modernisation and expansion of Nigeria’s locomotive fleet with the supply of twenty five locomotives, which are helping to drive the economy today.
Also, in partnership with the federal government and the Nigerian Sovereign Wealth Fund, the company is now in the process of confirming the feasibility of localising a locomotive assembly in Nigeria to meet the expected explosion in cross-country and cross-border freight shipment as Nigeria’s economy and regional trade continue to grow.
Such an investment will confirm Nigeria as a regional logistic hub and centre-of-excellence for rail transport technology. The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) chose GE as a strategic partner in its renewed commitment to rebuilding its rail assets.
 
Health Care, Oil and Gas
Another example is in the Healthcare sector where GE has partnered Me Cure Healthcare Limited, in delivering healthcare infrastructure. This year, the company opened a state-of-the-art facility located in Lagos that offers diagnostic services utilising GE equipment. In Nigeria, adhering to the country’s Local Content Law that require welding to be performed exclusively in Nigeria, GE sent welders for training on specialty connectors and pipes.
Last year, a state of the art gas testing tank was built and two new 75 tonne cranes installed at the GE Oil & Gas site in Onne River states. The tank was the first of such testing facilities in the country. This investment meant a 20-strong Nigerian ‘New Generation’ technical team at Onne could start work on the first ever part assembly of high technology subsea mining equipment known as “Christmas trees”.
In recognition of these giant strides, GE Oil and Gas Subsea Systems business achieved a Nigerian Content Equipment Certificate. Valid for 12 months, the certification is only awarded to companies who demonstrate good progress in the development of manufacturing capabilities in Nigeria.
 

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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NIGERIA: LADOL Invests $350m in Egina FPSO Integration

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Following the necessary approval obtained from the Federal Government, Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics (LADOL), a leading indigenous offshore logistics service provider has said it is investing $350million for the integration of the Floating Production Storage Offshore (FPSO) vessel for the Egina deep-water oil field being developed by the French oil major, Total Upstream Nigeria Limited.
The project, which is being handled by LADOL in a joint venture with South Korean giant, Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) would ensure in-country integration of FPSO for the first time in Nigeria.
 
The Managing Director of LADOL, Dr Amy Jadesimi, said her company’s competence in handling the first-of- its-kind project in Africa, was no longer in doubt as government has granted the joint venture all necessary approvals to commence work in earnest.
Jadesimi noted that the choice of her company for the unique project was informed by its track record in servicing major oil and gas companies’ logistics requirements, citing the final integration of the famous Chevron’s Agbami oil field facility as one of her company’s milestones.
 
According to her, series of findings and vessel simulation carried out along the Apapa ports coastline has revealed that apart from being the only fully indigenous-owned body of its kind in the country, LADOL base is most ideal site in Nigeria for berthing a vessel the size of an FPSO.
She noted that LADOL which is an International Ships and Ports Security (ISPS) certified facility has all relevant government agencies’ permanently present in the Zone.
They include the Nigerian Export and processing Zones Authority, Nigerian Customs Service, Nigerian Immigration Service and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
“LADOL is already servicing oil and gas majors, contractors and service companies. The largest FPSO in Nigeria – Agbami – was supported by and from LADOL”, she said.
Describing the process of getting government’s nod to commence on the project as “a long, costly and difficult road to success”, Jadesimi listed the various approvals to include: Designation as Deep Offshore Logistics Base, part of Apapa Port, NPA Approval for SaNTA – Training Facility in LADOL which was obtained in January 2013, as well as NPA’s Preliminary Approval for FPSO Facility in LADOL, also received in December 2011.
She revealed that other necessary approvals and hurdles included NEPZA Planning Approval for FPSO Facility which came in Nov 2011; NPA Planning Approval for FPSO Fabrication Yard in August 2013; NPA Planning Approval for FPSO Quay for Integration in October 2013 following which the detailed design was completed in August 2013.
 
Apart from the series of approvals, she said her company had to sign 19 separate agreements with Samsung over three years with the active involvement of seven separate world class Nigerian and international lawyers, financial advisors and consultants.
“Our total Investment in FPSO Facility at LADOL to-date is $102.5 million. This does not bother us as the only 100per cent Nigerian logistics base owner in Nigeria and the only one to develop a facility from a zero value Greenfield NPA site into a $500 million world class base” she added.
 
Jadesimi pointed out that following the success recorded in the first phase of the company’s development, “LADOL is now expanding its facilities and it’s proven Business model of private indigenous Nigerian lead development of facilities, into Bayelsa State as well as extending its facility in Lagos with a $500 million additional investment.
“LADOL’s joint venture with Samsung to build Nigeria’s first and only Africa’s only FPSO facility will make Nigeria Africa maritime and oil and gas hub, creating 100,000 jobs” she said.
 

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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BPE Explains Delay in Regularisation of PHCN Casuals

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The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has said the initial counter-directive issued to casual workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) by executives of their various unions was responsible for the delay in regularising their employment status with the utility company.

Director General, BPE, Benjamin Dikki, told reporters on the sidelines of the just-concluded Nigeria International Power Expo and Conference in Abuja that the bureau had just started the process of authenticating the profiles of the casual workers because the union leaders had asked the workers not to engage with the government until they were directed to do so.

Dikki informed that the BPE had started with the biometric verification of the workers until the unions gave the counter-directive, but added that the process had commenced with request for names and profiles of casual workers from the various successor companies of PHCN.

“There is also the issue of the casuals who are to be regularised, there has been some delay in the regularisation because, initially labour told them not to cooperate; they at one point said, don’t interact with the government, we will give you directives and that delayed the process of doing biometric captures for the casuals.

“We have done some but some were afraid and we now need information on these casuals from the PHCN companies so that we can continue with the biometric on them, so that they will be paid,” Dikki said in response to a question on the status of the casual workers.
He added: “I want to assure every one of them that this is being done but I also want to flag out that there are some people that have issues; like we have about 6000 people of the staff and we have cleared, verified and audited 38,000 with biometric capture and all the details, their money is in the process or already credited with their benefits.

“The 6,000 that we have, some of them raised questions about the computation of their entitlements; we calculated the entitlements of all PHCN staff and gave them a benefit statement with detailed breakdown of all their entitlements which they have to sign that the computation is correct, it is that 38,000 that have signed that we have asked the office of the accountant general to pay but the 6000 have a couple of issues which ranges from complaints on incorrect date of engagement, incongruent identity to which we are working to rectify and as soon as we clarify that, we will pay them.”

He explained that every PHCN staff would get entitlement and there was absolutely no reason for any apprehension. According to him, instead of overheating the system by making sweeping statements, labour, which is stakeholder in this process could verify from the office of the accountant general of the federation the amount of money deposited with it.

“Labour should also contribute in making this thing succeed; it will not help if all these hyperbole are constantly used by labour to heat up the polity. We have given them the list of the 6,000 and casual workers and said, this people this is why we have not taken their names for payment, they have various issues, we have also distributed the list to the CEOs of the various successor companies and asked them to inform them of the reasons why they have not gone for payment just to avoid unnecessary apprehensions.”

The National Union Electricity Employees (NUEE) had at one time stated that the PHCN had over 10,000 casual workers within its contract employment that would be regularised so that they will partake in the payment of severance benefits in the privatisation process.
The biometric exercise would be conducted to identify and ascertain the actual number of casual workers with the PHCN.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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UNDP, SON Collaborate to Wipe out Energy-consuming Bulbs

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The Director General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Joseph Odumodu, has announced that the United Nations Industrial Development Programme (UNDP) is collaborating with Nigeria to curb the use of high-energy-consuming bulbs in the country.
 
Odumodu spoke at the recent celebration of the World Standards Day held at the Electrical Dealers’ Association of Nigeria (EDAN) auditorium, Alaba International market, Ojo, Lagos.
 
Speaking on the celebration’ theme ‘The effect of sub-standard electric bulbs on the Nigeria economy’ Odumodu said Nigeria was changing over to the use of energy saving bulbs in place of the preponderant high energy consuming bulbs in circulation, which has great negative effect on the lives and pockets of Nigerians, especially those living in the rural communities.
 
He continued by saying that the President Goodluck Jonathan administration had made effort in curbing the adverse effect of poor electricity generation and distribution by privatising the power sector, and added that the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) were all working together with SON in making sure that electric bulb that are brought into the country meets the required standard.
 
Odumodu said “the diligent application of international standards which are the results of the consensus views of the world’s leading experts in the industry sector ranging from energy utilities and energy efficiency to transportation, management systems, climate change, healthcare, safety as well as information and communication technology ICT provides the required opportunities for solutions to various developmental issues across the globe particularly for economies such as ours.”
 
He added that Nigerian experts, under the coordination of SON, were taking active parts in the development of these international standards which are used as a benchmark upon which the development of national standards for products and systems are based.
He beckoned on the general electric dealers and the Electric Dealers Association of Nigeria (EDAN) to ensure that Nigerians have access to only electric bulbs and lightings that are fit and offer value for money.
 
The SON boss added that the agency has continually engaged in consumers and other stakeholders alike in the six point agenda namely compliance monitoring; capacity building, global relevance, consumer engagement; developing competitiveness of locally made goods and media engagement to drive home the SON zero tolerance to substandard products initiatives.
 
The chairman of EDAN Mr. Paul Okenwa, thanked Odumodu for partnering the association and bringing his campaign to the grassroots, adding that the fight for standard products should not be seen as victimisation, but as a way to ensure that consumers get value for their money.
 
He however stressed that government and the agencies concerned should go deeper into investigating the influx of sub standard products instead of shifting the whole blame on importers who are at times deceived by the exporters who have turned Nigeria into a dumping ground

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Oil Firms Must Sign MoU with Host Communities, A’ Ibom Insists

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The Akwa Ibom State Government has directed three oil firms operating Marginal Oil Fields offshore in the state, the Oriental Energy Resources Ltd, AFREN Services Ltd, and its sister firm, AMNI to commence the process of signing memorandum of understanding with the host communities over sustainable development and peace in the areas.
 
The state Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Chief Eno-Obong Uwah, made the call when the three firms jointly presented scholarship grant to 211 students from the two local government areas studying in various universities across the country.
The three firms are exploiting oil in Eastern Obolo and Mbo local government areas of the state.
 
The commissioner, who was represented by a director in the ministry, Mr. Samuel Akpan, noted while many oil companies operating in the state had signed the document with their host communities, Oriental Energy Resources, AFREN Services Ltd and Amni were yet to do so.
He however lauded the oil firms for the scholarship and urged them to extend the scholarship scheme to other part of the state to ensure their presents are felt in the state in term of erecting permanent structures and offices.
Uwah implored the beneficiaries of the scholarship award to work hard as the scheme was aimed at boosting capacity development in the areas.
Earlier, the oil firms had said the scholarship scheme was initiated as part of efforts by oil companies to improve human capacity development of their host communities.
 
A breakdown of the 2013 awards showed that 50 undergraduates and 14 postgraduate students benefited from Eastern Obolo local government area, while 157 undergraduates got from Mob local government area.
Community Relations Manager of the oil firms, Mr. Blessing Okpowo, who presented the scholarship grant to beneficiaries, disclosed that the scholarship programme started in 2008 and accordingly tasked beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity given them.
He said the oil firms would not hesitate to withdraw the scholarship grant from any of them who fumble in the course of study as annual assessment would be carried out to ascertain their performances.
 
In addition to the scholarship, Okpowo disclosed that the oil firms equally trained 60 youths annually who could not make it educationally in various skill acquisition programmes.
At the end of one-year intensive training, he said complete set of start-up pack and the sum of N200,000 would be given to each of the participant to settle down to practice.
 
Also speaking, the representative of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Dr. Joshua Ndoho, said the scholarship grant instituted by the oil firms was in line with transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan under the educational sector, because education is the bedrock of development in the country.
He said the development was not only about infrastructure, but involved people and lauded the communities for the peaceful relationship with the oil companies.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Jonathan, Sambo, Tukur to Lead PDP Campaign

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President Goodluck Jonathan in company of his deputy, Alhaji Namadi Sambo; National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and some of the president's aides are to personally lead the campaign of the PDP slated for this weekend in Anambra State as the November 16 governorship election draws closer.
 
Also, last weekend, candidate of the PDP, Nicholas Ukachukwu, stormed Awka, the state capital, to a tumultuous welcome amidst fanfare by party faithful.
 
Although the state of the PDP candidate for the election had hitherto remained contentious and subject to court adjudication between Ukachukwu and Tony Nwoye, factional PDP chairman, Ken Emeakayi, said the PDP had finally forwarded Ukachukwu's name to the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) as its candidate.
 
It is against this backdrop that President Jonathan, his aides, PDP governors, ministers, ambassadors, party stalwarts and notable Nigerians have elected to be in Awka coming weekend for the commencement of the party’s campaign.
 
Emeakayi, while addressing PDP supporters who had gathered at the state capital on Saturday to receive Ukachukwu, at the Emmaus House premises, said Tukur and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) took the decision on Thursday and Friday respectively.
 
He claimed to have attended the meeting alongside Nwoye, Ukachukwu, Arthur Eze, Senator Andy Uba and National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, in Abuja where Ukachukwu was given the mandate to fly the party’s flag.
 
“Our job is code named 'Operation deliver your booth and not your ward'. I have been waiting to see the person who will deliver PDP to victory and that moment is here. During the meeting with Tukur and others including all those who vied for the governorship ticket of our great party in the state, we were told that we had a candidate in state whose name appeared on the list of the INEC.
 
“That is why I am here to introduce him to all of you who have been patient all the while.  His name is Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu (Ikukuoma-Wind of glory) and his deputy is a prince in Onitsha and a lawyer, Prince Dr. Harold Ekwerekwu," the chairman said.
 
In his brief remark, Ukachukwu, who was dressed in a flowing babanriga, a cap and a black pair of shoes to match, beamed with smiles as he told the crowd that he was overwhelmed and announced that the president and the PDP big wigs would soon be in the state to commence the PDP campaigns.
 
Ukachukwu who was full of praises of the president promised to introduce free education and scholarship scheme in the state once he becomes the governor, adding that his focal point would be security, job creation, peace for all citizens, while agriculture and business loan would be given to all citizens.
 
He also inaugurated all PDP members as potential campaign coordinators, canvassers and grassroots mobilisers, saying he has all it takes to govern an "A" state like Anambra, and to take her to the next level.
 
He seized the opportunity of the occasion to distribute job placement forms from the federal government in conjunction with the SURE-P programme of the government, free of charge, adding that the Jonathan administration has done well for the people and would continue to do more.
 
“You can see that no one losses. President Jonathan has done well for the county. He has made a lot of sacrifices for the unity of this country. His agenda is our agenda. He loves Anambra State. Everybody should work hard to ensure that our party triumphs at the polls,” he said.
 

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Group Accuses Atiku, G-7 Govs of Fanning Regional, Religious Sentiments

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The activities of a former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the Abubakar Baraje-led New Peoples Democratic Party (New PDP) and the seven governors under its wing, have been accused of fanning regional and religious sentiments capable of pushing Nigeria to the brink of disaster as it approaches the 2015 elections.
 
The Southern Kaduna PDP Unity Forum, under Senator Haruna Zego, which declared this yesterday, in the light of the developments in the PDP since the end of the National Special Convention in Abuja, said the polity was unnecessarily being overheated by the G-7 governors and their supporters.
The group added that the post-presidential election crises of 2011 could be a child’s play compared to what could happen in 2015 if the current actions of some politicians continue, urging politicians to put national interest above regional or ethnic considerations.
 
As a panacea to averting trouble in the land in the 2015 election year, the Southern Kaduna PDP Unity Forum, which is made up of 24 leaders of the 12 local government areas in the southern parts of Kaduna State, strongly advice all political parties to pick their candidates from the South-south of Nigeria.
 
“We recall that when this happened in 1999 and major parties picked their presidential candidates from the South-west (Olusegun Obansanjo and Olu Falae), the elections were tension-free and there was no threat to lives and property.
 
“Again in 2007, the two major parties picked their candidates from the North (Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and Umuru Ya’adua) there were violence-free elections. However, in 2011, we barely escaped war when we had a Northern and Southern candidate in the major parties (Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and President Goodluck Jonathan),” they said.
 
The group further said the gradual progress noticed in the banking, agricultural, Judiciary, transport and the recent privatisation in the power sector, amongst others has made them to declare their support for President, Goodluck Jonathan, leader of the party and the PDP under the chairmanship of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.
 
“The forum is proud to associate with the unquestionable loyalty and support the president enjoys from his vice-president, Namadi Sambo, at all times and in this matter. We also wish to state unambiguously that we remain loyal to Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, his deputy, Alhaji Nuhu Audu Bajoga and the PDP under the chairmanship of Chief A.G. Haruna, because they hold they best option for the stability of the PDP and the country.”
 

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Nigeria’s Declining Governance Rating

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Nigeria’s poor rating in the Mo Ibrahim Index for African Governance despite the boisterous statistics often paraded by government and its agencies, is another setback for the President Goodluck Jonathan transformation agenda, write Shola Oyeyipo and Ojo M. Maduekwe
 
It was a bad news for Nigeria last week when the Mo Ibrahim Index for African Governance rated it lower than its previous position in the ranking scale. The latest rating, for Nigeria, was made worse by the fact that no African leader was qualified for the 2013 prize of the initiative, the fourth time in a row. Out of the 52 African countries rated by the Foundation, Nigeria ranked the 41st position.
 
With the latest ranking, Nigeria fell eight places since 2000, and scored 43.4 per cent, lower than the African average of 51.6 per cent. What this meant was that governance impact improved marginally by 0.8 per cent since 2000, coming 13th out of 16 in the West African region as rated by the Foundation. Another proof of her dismal performance, according to reports, was evident in the fact that she scored lower than even the regional average of 52.5 per cent for West Africa.
 
In the breakdown, the Foundation premised Nigeria’s performance across four categories of governance: Safety & Rule of Law, Participation & Human Rights, Sustainable Economic Opportunity and Human Development. Nigeria, in the rankling, recorded a notable decline in its score for Participation & Human Rights. Participation & Human Rights measures the protection of human rights, civil and political participation, and gender issues. But the country’s showing improved in the Human Development category by emerging 33rd out of 52.
 
The Boko Haram insurgency, it is believed, was responsible for her very low score in the category of Safety & Rule of Law, where she was rated 42nd out of 52. But Nigeria got her highest rating in the Public Management sub-category, where she finished in 14th place out of 52 countries, but ranked lowest in the Personal Safety sub-category, emerging in the 49th position out of 52.
 
Coming almost 10 months after the Transparency International rated Nigeria the 35th most corrupt nation, the basis of which was founded on good governance, the Mo Ibrahim rating seemed a major setback for the President Goodluck Jonathan transformation agenda. Transparency International had in December last year posted Nigeria to the 35th position in its 2012 report, indicating that Nigeria scored 27 out of a maximum 100 marks to occupy the 139th place out of the 176 countries surveyed in the report.
 
That ranking automatically moved Nigeria up four places from its ranking of 143 out of the 183 nations surveyed by TI in the previous year. The country was ranked 134 out of 178 surveyed nations in 2010; 130 out of 180 nations in 2009; 121 out of 180 in 2008; 147 out of 180 countries in 2007; and 153 out of 180 surveyed nations in 2006.
 
But the federal government may not be as bothered about the rating when it said the marginal improvement was an indication that the Jonathan administration was fighting corruption head-on. In that 2012 Corruption Perception Index ranking, which changed from a 2011 score range of 0-10 to a range of 0–100 in terms of cleanliness in perception of corruption in the public sector, Nigeria was ranked 14th in West Africa, while Cape Verde was ranked 1st in the region and 39th globally with a score of 60.
 
Ghana was ranked second in West Africa with a global ranking of 64 and a score of 45, while Guinea came last in the sub-region with a global ranking of 154 and a score of 24 out of 100. The report also showed that countries like Togo, Mali, Niger and Benin fared better than Nigeria, having improved in their fight against graft.
 
Interestingly, it was not all the bad news for Nigeria in the week that just ended. Nigeria, after months of canvassing for an inclusion in the United Nations Security Council, last week, got elected to occupy one of the non-permanent seats on the council. Nigerian and four other candidates, endorsed by regional groups, faced no opposition, as there were no contested races for the first time in several years.
 
The five new non-permanent members were elected in the first round of voting by the 193-member General Assembly. Lithuania was the top vote-getter with 187 votes followed by Nigeria and Chile with 186 votes, Chad with 184 votes and Saudi Arabia with 176 votes. An excited President Jonathan had welcomed the development and conveyed Nigeria’s appreciation of the support of all member countries of the UN who voted for the country’s election.
 
In like manner, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had rated the country’s economy as strong. This disclosure by the IMF was captured in its World Economic Outlook (WEO) which was a part of the pre-meetings events of the 2013 IMF/World Bank annual meetings. The IMF explained that higher oil prices at the international market showed strong economic prospects for Nigeria despite the challenges the country is currently facing. The institution also projected a real gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 7.4 per cent for Nigeria in 2014, which is higher than its 6.2 per cent projection last year
 
There was also the rating of the Nigerian economy by a global rating agency, Fitch Ratings, which the presidency had already described as an acknowledgement of the landmark reforms being undertaken by the present administration. This, the presidency added, was an acknowledgment of government’s efforts in overhauling the power and agricultural sectors as well as the growing investors’ confidence in the Nigerian economy. The ratings had affirmed Nigeria’s long-term foreign and local currency IDRs and senior unsecured bond ratings  at ‘BB-‘ and ‘BB’ respectively, saying the country’s outlook remains stable.
 
“Nigerians will particularly note that the painstaking and transparent execution of critical components of the power sector road map launched by President Goodluck Jonathan shortly on assumption of office has been commended by economic experts and analysts, who described it as one of the largest singular privatisation exercise in the world,” said the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, while reacting to Fitch’s rating.
 
The president personally does not regard the ratings as such, hence Jonathan at a recent media chat described corruption perception in the country as exaggerated by the local media, adding that graft in the country was tolerable.
 
But such a defence, critics have argued, cannot adequately make up for the obvious dismal performance of the government as evident in critical sectors of the economy. Unfortunately, each time the government got a knock for poor showing in any sector of the economy, its spin doctors and related agents are quick to dispel it, while presenting boisterous data of improved economy that have hardly translated into any tangible results as well as improve the living standard of the growing population of the masses.
 
Placed side-by-side the impressive assessment of the economy by respectable international institutions, the question that comes to mind is why have all of these not reflected in the living standard of the average Nigerian, many of whom still live below a dollar per day? Instead, in parallel weight to the growing and stable economy is an ever increasing poverty rate and unemployment that’s among the worlds’ highest.
 
This, of course, bears weighty implications for Nigeria and indeed, Africa. Former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), Mr. Salim Ahmed Salim, and chairman of the Mo Ibrahim prize committee, projected that there would be no winner for the second straight year. The reason is simple: that they would not lower the bar of excellence required to win the lucrative prize.
 
The award which usually goes to a democratically elected African leaders who demonstrated exceptional leadership, served their mandated term and left office, did not find any leader worthy of the coveted prize, an indication of a steady decline in the quality of leadership in Africa, Nigeria inclusive.
 
Sadly, the Foundation has only awarded the annual prize three times since it was established in 2007; in addition to two special awards presented to South Africa's Nelson Mandela and South African former archbishop Desmond Tutu. The last laureate was former Cape Verde President Pedro Pires, who won in 2011.
 
Former Irish President, Mary Robinson, who is on the Foundation Board, defended the decision not to award the prize and questioned how often such a prize would have been awarded in Europe. "We couldn't find a leader of that excellence. We didn't ever expect that we would award it every year," Robinson said, technically concluding that there are not many good leaders on the continent.
 
Those apart, the index also found that 94 percent of Africa's population lives in countries that have witnessed an overall improvement in governance since 2000 and showed a widening span in performance between the best and worst governed countries. The top five countries stayed the same, with Mauritius topping the index scoring 83 out of 100. Botswana (78) has overtaken Cape Verde (77), ahead of the Seychelles (75) and South Africa (71). Somalia remained at the bottom with a score of just eight, way behind Democratic Republic of Congo (31), Eritrea (32), Central African Republic (33) and Chad (33).
 
The index's biggest risers since 2000 are Liberia, up 25 points to 50 points, currently ranked 29; Angola up 18 points to 45, ranked 39 and Sierra Leone up 15 points to 48 and ranked 31.The biggest falls since 2000 are Madagascar down 12 points to 46, now at 37th position; Eritrea down six points to 32, now at 50th position and Guinea-Bissau down two points to 37 and now at 46th position.
 
A disappointed Salim however noted that "Neither Afro-pessimism nor Afro-optimism does justice to modern Africa. This is now the age of Afro-realism- an honest outlook on our continent. It's about a celebration of its achievements but also a pragmatic acknowledgment of the challenges that lie ahead."
 
Against this backdrop, the Nigerian government and her economy have continued to be subjected to critical analyses in recent times, one of which is the Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal 2012 Index of Economic Freedom which ranked the country 116. There is also the 2010 KOF Index of globalisation that ranked Nigerian 93. In the World Bank 2012 Ease of doing Business Index, Nigeria ranked 133.
 
Looking at Nigeria’s health indicators, the International Food Policy Research Institute 2011 Global Hunger Index ranked Nigeria 40. Assessing politics in Nigeria, Fund for Peace 2012 in its Failed State Index, ranked Nigeria 14. On the Reporters Without Borders 2011-2012 Press Freedom Index, Nigeria ranked 126 while on the Economist Intelligence Unit 2011 Democracy, Index Nigeria ranked 119.
 
On the Property Rights Alliance 2008 International Property Rights Index, Nigeria ranked 107, while on the Economist Intelligence Unit: Quality-of-life Index, the country ranked 108 but on the Economist Intelligence Unit: 2013 Where-to-be-born Index, Nigeria ranked 80 out of 80.
 
Such poor index ratings have not stifled Nigeria from brandishing whatever could enhance her image. The Standard and Poors, an international rating agency, which noted that the Nigerian economy remains strong with a stable macro-economic outlook had pointed to an improvement and gave the country an impressive BB minus rating. Indeed, this had increased the adrenalin of the advocates of the present administration.
 
Speaking recently at the Annual Meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC, the United States, during a joint press briefing with the Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said the rating had also confirmed the Fitch rating of 2012, which put Nigerian economy in the positive light.
 
“We have the outcome of the 2013 rating which is a very positive one; the rating confirms the ongoing rating stance which is BB minus with a stable outlook. So, they have confirmed that the rating we had last year stands, which means that many positive things are happening in this economy.
 
“They have also acknowledged the challenges we have of course and they have looked at those, but the summary is that in spite of these challenges, they think that the Nigerian economy is strong and the macro-economic indicators strong. The monetary policy and fiscal stance are strong enough for us to maintain a very good rating we had before,” she said.
 
On the fiscal side, she noted that the rating agency said Nigeria’s GDP growth would remain strong in 2013 through 2016 buoyed by non-oil sector growth.
 
"The agency also views the economy positively in the light of the redeemed N1.7 trillion Non-Performing Loans purchased by the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), which will be finally written off its books," Iweala said.
Standard and Poors also underscored the non-oil sector development, especially growth in agriculture, retail, telecoms and power as positive.
 
The CBN Governor, on his part, said the agency’s assessment of the Nigerian economy aligns with the difficult global economic environment, which had seen countries like the United States being downgraded. He said the external factors were almost beyond policy control, but that the current stable rating would be upgraded if the current fiscal and monetary policies were maintained and institutions further strengthened.
 
But many Nigerians think otherwise. They are of the opinion that the average Nigerian is not feeling the impact of governance. Poverty, they say, is still widespread, while the number of out-of-school population among the youths is high. Infrastructure deficit affects the everyday living of the people while insecurity is an all time high.
 
This was reflected in the rating by National Human Development Reports for Nigeria 2013, which puts the nation at 153 on its
Human Development Index. In fact, this rating is directly contrary to the MO Ibrahim rating, which showed improvement in Nigeria's human development index. The ranking specifically looked at life expectancy at birth, which was put at 52.3 years; years of schooling of adults put at 5.2 years. The inequality-adjusted HDI value was put at 0.276 while multidimensional poverty index was put at %0.310.
Each year since 1990, the Human Development Report has published the Human Development Index (HDI) which was introduced as an alternative to conventional measures of national development, such as level of income and the rate of economic growth. The HDI represents a push for a broader definition of well-being and provides a composite measure of three basic dimensions of human development: health, education and income.
 
Nigeria's HDI is 0.471, which gives the country a rank of 153 out of 187 countries with comparable data. The HDI of Sub-Saharan Africa as a region increased from 0.366 in 1980 to 0.475 today, placing Nigeria below the regional average. The HDI trends tell an important story both at the national and regional level and highlight the wide gaps in the well-being and life chances that continue to divide nations in the global village.
 
The competing figures and rating notwithstanding, many Nigerians still nurse a sense of disappointment. National women leader, Veteran Group for Operation Clean Crusade (VGOCC), Mrs. Funmi Olade Ajayi, said government must look beyond mere statistics in addressing the arrays of problems confronting Nigerians.
 
"Poverty, caused by widespread corruption is never reflected in the statistics that the federal government presents. For as long as people live below poverty line, especially in a country as Nigeria where there are numerous natural resources, such government has failed the people. The numerous unfavourable indexes with which Nigeria is known are not by any means targeted at debasing us, rather, they are the true reflection of our original plights that need urgent correction," she said.
 
Former Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Tom Ohikere, shared similar perspective. He believed that bad leadership is more prevalent than good leadership, which he said had culminated into characteristic nature of governance such as: "total system collapse, misplaced priority, corruption and poverty."

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Delta Central By-election: Emerhor Calls for Cancellation of Result

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The All Progressives Congress (APC)  candidate for the Delta Central senatorial district by-election, Chief O’tega Emerhor, has called for the cancellation of the poll held on October 12.
 
Emerhor said he would explore all legal avenues open to him to ensure that justice is done to ensure that the process is repeated.
 
But the governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Udiughan has urged the opposition group to accept defeat at the poll.
 
Emerhor, however, argued  that no election known to electoral laws took place in the Delta Central, adding that what took place was a militarised operation calculated to deprive voters of their right to vote and to provide the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the opportunity to select a senator.
 
The APC candidate called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the election and undertake a re-run immediately.
 
In a full page advertorial made in THISDAY Newspaper,  Emerhor  said the home of the PDP deputy governor and one John Oguma, were not the ones used for the massive thumb printing of ballot papers in Ughelli South as earlier alleged.
 
He added that his party had found out that those high profile locations were avoided for obvious reasons, saying the thump printing plan was a lot more comprehensive as key local, state officials and party stalwarts were all mobilised into the exercise across the senatorial district, using varied pre-assigned locations.
 
“We have gathered all of the evidences including videotapes and will be making same public in due course,” he said.
 
According to him,  “The plot for this sham election was simple: Lock down the senatorial district with the military allowing no movement by the opposition parties; provide security personnel to key PDP functionaries who then moved to disrupt voting; disperse and intimidate voters and opposition agents and cart away election materials for thump printing in pre-determined locations.
 
“In strongholds of opposition parties, the PDP conspired with INEC and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to delay or refuse to carry out voting exercise. They then later carted away materials for thump printing and falsification of results.
 
“Later at night at the collation centre, the brute force of the security forces was used to keep away opposition party agents to allow the PDP write and allocate results to themselves and to the other parties.”
 
Emerhor alleged that the final results were signed by only PDP, the only party allowed into the collation centre, and the only party that witnessed the announcement of the results at about 2a.m. on, October 13.
 
“The tragedy of this so-called election is that INEC became an onlooker while the PDP and employees of the state government engaged by INEC as ad hoc staff ran away with the process. Independent monitors and indeed, INEC staff themselves have testified to this that INEC lost control of the process to the Delta State PDP government.
 
“We noticed that Channels Television appeared to have been hoodwinked to keep showing the scene of my voting in Evwreni Ward as evidence of peaceful voting. How come the PDP cannot provide more video evidence of peaceful election in any other location than my voting? Don’t they have picture of peaceful voting in any other location other than my ward?
 
“In conclusion, our position is that this is not an issue of malpractices arising from an election which is meant for questioning at an election tribunal. INEC, based on all that transpired, is required to make a judgement and to answer a fundamental question as to whether election as envisaged by our electoral law did take place on October 12. Our answer to this question is an emphatic No. This is why we are calling on INEC to cancel the purported election and undertake a re-run.”
 
But Uduaghan has dismissed the complaints of the opposition parties and urged them to accept defeat and work for the progress of the state.
 
Uduaghan, who stated this at the weekend, in Warri, at the wedding reception for Mr and Mrs Enahoro Ugbesia, son of Senator  Odion  Ugbesia of Edo State, said Delta State was controlled by PDP and as such, no other political party could secure electoral victory in the state.
 
 
He emphasised that the PDP umbrella is large enough for all Deltans, stating that if the election was to be held again, the PDP would record resounding victory as he did not join in the campaign train that saw the emergence of Chief Emmanuel Aguariavwado as Senator-elect.
 
“If they do the election a hundred times, we will beat them, they are not on ground, they should accept the result,” the governor said, at the event which was attended by the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, Senators, politicians and top government officials.
 
 
He congratulated the couple and urged them to believe in God, disclosing that, “the best teacher in every marriage is the marriage itself.”
 

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Agagu and Oduah: Moral Hollowness of a Catechist (I)

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Chris Aligbe gives insight into some of the ills of Nigeria’s aviation sector
In my spare time, I always tune in to the DSTV Channels showing Nigerian and African movies. I do so because the plots are usually abstractions from our society. They mirror the valueless times and the moral decadence in which we live and then pull us back to our value-laden past, when families and individuals prided themselves in their high moral standing. One of the movies featured a young Catechist (Francis Duru) who put an “innocent” girl acted by Chioma Chukwuka-Akpotha in a family way, denied her and got her thrown into the streets. But nemesis caught up with him when the truth was discovered and he was forced to marry her in conformity with the cherished values of the Christian faith.
 
The second was one in which Hilda Dokubo, playing a royalty role, asked one of her Chiefs this question: “Chief, if your character meets your reputation in the street, will they recognise each other?” This was awesome. The question arose because the character of the chief played out in secret was not only utterly despicable but at complete variance with his public reputation as a High Chief.
Pained by the unfortunate Associated Airline’s crash in spite of the great strides we have made in repositioning our aviation industry in the areas of airspace infrastructure and management and in regulation, I came across Fani-Kayode’s article titled “Rumours of Sacrifice, Agagu and Stella Oduah”, in which he reflected on President Jonathan, the PDP and some Aviation Ministers, past and present including himself, using the accident as a rider. 
 
In his judgmental reflections, every person from the President to all the Ministers but himself, was unfit as it were; unknowledgeable and underperformed.
 
Professing his excellent knowledge of the aviation industry, Fani-Kayode said: “…there is far more to aviation than beautifying airports…”  In his catechism, he catalogues safety of passengers, airworthiness of airplanes, solemn and avowed commitment to discipline, professionalism and efficiency of the aviation Parastatals as the sine qua non for success.  He further contended that whenever there is an air crash for whatever reason, the Minister should accept responsibility, offer to resign, failing which she should be redeployed or sacked.
 
Before embarking on his long trip in self-adulation, Fani-Kayode unguardedly pokes fun at President Jonathan, not for what he has done but for his would-be inability to sack Stella Oduah, even if 1000 people get killed in six months in air crashes under her.
Turning the search light unto himself, Fani-Kayode eulogises self for being the only Minister since 2002 whose tenure did not experience any air crash. He claims that this was due “to hard-work, prayer and the grace of God”.
 
After taking a brush at his sworn foe and predecessor, Professor Borishade under whose tenure the devastating air crashes of 2005 and 2006 in which 453 fatalities occurred, again Fani-Kayode pointed out how, from the point he took over from Borishade, he turned off the switch of crashes as it were by putting a stop to them, thus breaking what he referred to as a “cycle” of air crashes that occur every 10 years.
 
In further effort at self-reconstruction, Fani-Kayode puts on a self-designed cloak of impeccable reputation in worldly and otherworldly knowledge in aviation matters and management.  He further pushes self-reconstruction to the outer limits of arrogance when he refers all of us to his website to benefit from his “well researched” papers on aviation and the impact of the ethereal and spiritual on air crashes.
 
Expressing anger over social media comments on late Agagu, he acknowledges that Dr. Agagu’s tenure did not witness any air crash.  Incidentally, Agagu ran aviation for about two years from 1999 to 2001 longer than Fani-Kayode’s seven months, and within the same Obasanjo era.  However, in order to retain his reputation of being the only Minister whose tenure never experienced air crashes, Fani-Kayode has to start his count from 2002 to date rather than 1999.
 
      If I had not been in aviation, I would have yearned for the return of Fan-Kayode’s “golden era” in our aviation sector. But I know that since 1988 when I left the Ministry of Information to join the Democrat Newspapers and, subsequently to Nigeria Airways in 1989, I have been a very close and avid watcher of the aviation industry. For close to 25 years, I have neither been physically nor psychologically away.
 
More critically, because of personal interest in the Obasanjo era in aviation during which Nigeria Airways was liquidated and over three thousand staff, quite a number, of whom have now died, were thrown out without their benefits up till today, followed the performance of every Minister, from Agagu and Chikwe under whose tenures I worked, to Yuguda, Borisade, Fani-Kayode, Diezeani/Hyatt, Omotoba, and Njeze to Oduah the present Minister.
 
       The history is not too distant and the records of legacies and ignoble roles of each Minister are available. 
       My first encounter with Fani-Kayode was during the aviation stakeholders meeting called by Obasanjo to address the challenges of the industry in the aftermath of the crashes of 2005/2006. The meeting was held at the Villa Conference Hall. That fateful day, Obasanjo was raging with anger and, rightfully emotionally laden. Borishade was the Minister then. In a fit of anger, Obasanjo literally sacked the then Director-General of NCAA, Engr Fidelis Onyeyiri, a first-class Maintenance Licenced Engineer.
 
When he said to Borishade at the middle of Onyeyiri’s brief, “Minister, if these are the type of people you have in aviation, I am sorry you have no person.”  Then, Obasanjo handed down bans on ADC and Sosoliso and surprisingly sanctioned Chanchangi that had no issue but left Bellview whose crash in 2005 was not only as devastating as others but also will remain one of the three classics in the cover up of evidence to sub-plant accident investigations in the history of aviation accidents in our country.
 
All of us present were stunned. Fani-Kayode, then Special Assistant to Obasanjo, was also there. At the end of the meeting, as we walked out, the Bellview case was the talking point. Unfortunately, there was a daring man who voiced out his anger loudly, alleging ethnic bias.  Fani-Kayode who was close by not only challenged and engaged him but also threw caution and the expected public conduct of his office to the wind, when in spite of his flowing agbada charged at the man for a physical combat.  It took two gentlemen to restrain him from physically attacking the man by pushing him into his waiting car.
 
Nobody could decipher why Obasanjo did what he did; could it be a once-in-life descent into ethnic pedestal for a man not known in life to be so inclined? This was to be fathomed in later months when we all came to realise that Fani-Kayode and the owner-manager of Bellview, Kayode Odukoya, were deeply intimate and that what happened was a precursor to what was to become the “Bellview accident investigation saga”.
 
Before Fani-Kayode became aviation minister, he was on a local flight from Lagos to Abuja with his armed Aide, who refused to surrender his gun and live ammunition to aviation security officers in accordance with standard best global practices.  Fani-Kayode did not intervene to put his Aide on track. The then Airport Manager, the most senior and highly professional Airport Manager in FAAN then, Taiwo Okuiga, quietly informed the pilot of the flight that an armed passenger was on board.  The pilot shut the engine and ordered every passenger down for security screening. The Aide was forced to surrender his weapon.
 
When Fani-Kayode assumed duty as Aviation Minister, his first decision was the transfer of Okuiga to Yola airport, which was not receiving flights. This was his punishment for exhibiting the highest level of professionalism in the area of security and safety of passengers as approved by ICAO and as enunciated by Fani-Kayode in his catechism of “safety of passengers, discipline and professionalism” as the hallmark of his tenure in aviation.
 
At the time Fani-Kayode assumed duty as Aviation Minister in 2006, the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) then headed by Engineer Angus Ozoka had virtually concluded investigations into the Bellview crash in Lisa Village, Ogun State in 2005. The Report by the Bureau under Ozoka unambiguously indicted Bellview Management for grievous malpractices, corner-cutting, untoward procedures, unethical practices and culpable negligence and the Airworthiness Directorate of the NCAA headed by Engineer Oduselu for poor oversight and negligence.
 
The Pilot was also found not to have been technically sound in his decision. Ozoka’s report was so devastating that if accepted, all those involved would never ever again qualify to operate any airline in any sane environment.  More critically, the Report would have given rise to extensive litigations whose consequences are difficult to imagine. 
 
But the highly performing Minister would not allow this Report to pass because his dear friend, the Owner/Manager of Bellview would be embarrassingly exposed and indicted.  He rejected the Report, an action that the AIB Act forbids.  To cover himself for this despicable act which no Minister before and after him has never done, Fani-Kayode told Nigerians that he rejected the report because he had evidence that the crash was caused by an explosive planted in the aircraft. This was the height of either mischief or ignorance and unbecoming.
 
*TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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