Get the latest Codewit World News: Nigeria News and information on the latest top stories, business, sports , Nollywood and entertainment headlines, and analysis from Codewit Nigeria News
MUCH has been made about the discovery of improvised explosive devices, bombs, and guns in an abandoned Lagos building belonging to the Bayelsa State Government that the impression could be created that the ownership of the building was more important that the import of the discovery.
Terrorists and other criminals find comfort in abandoned buildings. We had so warned in an editorial earlier in the year about the waste and illegal uses of abandoned buildings, many of them belonging to governments.
Abandoned buildings pose a combination of risks. Their use for criminal activities is only one of them. There are hundreds of thousands of uncompleted or abandoned buildings in Lagos and our other towns and cities, some on the verge of collapsing. They belong to federal, state, local governments, corporations, or individuals.
In the case of governments, the buildings form part of a bigger national malaise of unplanned projects, their poor funding, and supervision. At the individual level, ambitious developers who run out of funds, die, or are otherwise incapacitated also account for abandoned buildings.
If construction stops, within days, the building is stealthily occupied, first at nights, and later, it becomes a rooming house for all kinds of characters. Illegal immigrants, vandals, vagrants and criminal elements find abandoned buildings useful as bases for their nefarious activities.
They are hardly challenged. Abandoned buildings also accommodate illegal immigrants who pour into our country assured of free accommodation. Many unemployed people, who have lost means to secure housing, use these buildings. What is certain is that crimes are never far from those surroundings.
The search for criminal hideouts should include vehicles, many of which their owners abandon for years and nobody cares how others use them. Criminals would remain unrelenting in inventing new ways of protecting their activities.
Legislations and effective planning regulations could be helpful in dealing with abandoned buildings. The statutes should be enforceable. Given our current security conundrum, there should be an all-out effort to ensure that uncompleted buildings are properly policed to avoid their being used as criminal hideouts.
The recent arrest of nine suspected terrorists, including a Chadian, in the Ijora Badia area of Lagos metropolis, in the Bayelsa abandoned building – they had lived there for years – again shows the security challenges abandoned building pose.
Security agencies should remain ahead of criminals. For now, the best efforts of the security agencies are still behind the criminals’. Security agencies therefore need more intelligence to uncover the tracks of the criminals.
It would be more effective to block supplies of arms to criminals than discovering where they hide their arms. All these call for a more intensified approach to the war against terror.
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.
The alleged killing of two cows through poisoning in Mafan village, Fadan Atakar Chiefdom of Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State, set off an orgy that led to the killing of 19 people, and the destruction of four villages between last Saturday and Sunday, according to the Chairman of Kaura Local Government Area, Mr. Kumai Badun.
Also, 10 people were critically injured in the violence. They were taken to Jankwano ECWA Church Hospital, Jos and Kaura General Hospital for treatment, Badu added.
According to him, no fewer than 5000 people from the four affected communities have become refugees and are camped in two places, Fadan Atakar, and Zangan.
The Public Relations Officer of Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Mallam Abubakar Adamu, confirmed the development, saying as at Friday, the number of refugees at the two camps was 500, but the number was bound to rise.
The Kaduna State Police spokesman, Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, Aminu Lawan, corroborated the story, but said he had not been briefed on the casualty figure by the Area Commander in charge of the affected area.
Speaking to Vanguard from one of the camps at Model Primary School, Fadan Atakar, Badu said it was the first time Atakar ever came under Fulani attack.
Narrating what led to the violence, Badu said: “There was a young man, Aboi Stephen (21), in Mafan who had been complaining that some cattle have been grazing in his dry season farm. I was told that the cattle destroyed a good portion of the farm, and that there was no end in sight to the destruction. Only the Fulanis own cattle there.
“About two weeks ago, two Fulani cows were found dead, apparently of poison. The owner of the cows was said to have publicly warned Aboi of the grave consequences of his action. I don’t know if it was Aboi that poisoned the cows, or even if they died of poisoning.
“Then one day, Aboi was found missing. After a search by the villages they found his corpse which had deep machete cuts and his throat was slit open.
“Upon that discovery, women and children mobilised to the palace of the chief of Atakar, Chief Tobias Nkom-Wada accusing him of inviting the Fulani into Atakar land in the first place. They vandalised the palace and the chief is now living in his personal house in Tachire.
“On seeing what the women and children did, the Fulanis started moving out en mass to their kin in Kanawuri areas of Plateau State, which also has some Atakar speaking villages.
“On their way, they shot a young man that same day in Kanawuri area. That pitched them against the Atakar in Plateau State and they fought for days. The fighting led to the burning of some Atakar villages.
They affected ones had to move to this Local Government, where we open the first refugee camp for them. at Mifi. But, we have merged it with the other two, because it was too vulnerable.
When the Army moved in last week, the Fulanis left Kanawuri in Plateau, state back to this place with their arms.
“Last Saturday, by 3pm. They attacked Mafan, Zalang, Taliki and Zangkan villages up those hills, while able bodied men had gone to the farms or the market. They went on unchallenged from 3pm on Saturday, till Sunday morning.
“When the Army arrived the scene on Sunday morning the Officer in charge told me that they counted 19 bodies. All the Houses in the villages have been burnt.
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.
AT the sixth edition of her Town Hall meeting, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, the immediate past First Lady of Lagos State and wife of the national leader of the ACN, Mrs. OluremiTinubu asserted that the formation of All Progressives Congress, APC, is a divine opportunity to save the country (Daily Sun Tuesday 19 March 2013).
Her rather hifalutin thesis rested on her claim that APC is “a broad coalition of progressively minded politicians on a mission to rescue Nigeria from the present slow pace of development”.
This article does not intend to interrogate her definition of “progressively minded politicians” But so far, suffice to say that by their conducts we shall know them!
It is the usual political game the world over for the opposition to find faults with the policies of a ruling party and try to catch votes by blaming a ruling party for everything wrong in the country.
In Nigeria’s case, because we have had a history of dominant political parties the opposition has often assumed a holier-than-thou posture to exploit the gullibility of the electorate by casting the ruling party as the devil.
The dominance of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has naturally elicited frustration among the opposition parties. This frustration is often expressed in such lamentation as “the PDP has been the problem of Nigeria in the last 12 years!” But if you have observed keenly, you would have noticed that the dominance of parties either at the national level or at states levels has often created osmatic flow from the opposition to the ruling parties.
That is, where a party is in power, the opposition deserts its “divine calling” and joins the ruling party to “chop”. The hypocrisy in Nigerian politics has been that where the osmatic flow is from the opposition to the ruling PDP, it is greeted with excoriation while those who decamp from the PDP to join the opposition are passed off as “progressives”.
The opposition paper, The Nation, last week gloatingly quoted a Board of Trustee member of the PDP, Kashim Imam, as promising at the 61st birthday dinner for the ACN national leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that once APC is registered, over 50 per cent of PDP members will defect to the APC.
Before Imam’s projection, it had been speculated that nine PDP Governors would decamp to the APC. My reading of these speculations is that someone is trying to persuade me that once those PDP members responsible for all the failings of the country in the last 12 years decamp to the opposition APC, they become “progressives” with the “divine opportunity” to save Nigeria.
In other words, the progressiveness of the APC will not be denatured by the influx of a polyglot of PDP non-progressives of yesterday! Should I allow myself to be so persuaded? I think not!
It is obvious that Imam’s grouse, like that of other members of the proposed APC, has to do specifically and exclusively with the politics of the occupation of Aso Villa in 2015 and not with any broader ideological commitment. Indeed, it should be clear that all the posturing, tergiversation and political peregrination are all about power; raw power to capture the resources of the country and any combination or strategy that procures power will do!
That is why we witness so much politics and little governance. And the politicians make no pretences about their motive. Since that is so, we need to ask what makes the difference between the PDP “devils” and the yet-to-come APC “angels”.
The difference is the same, except in name. There is nothing ideological whatsoever that distinguishes APC from PDP. The reason is simple. Majority of those touting the APC nirvana had their roots in the PDP.
One of the “progressives” in the ACN today and active promoter of the APC, Chief Tom Ikimi, was the man Nigerians detested for rationalising Gen. Sani Abacha’s judicial murder of Ken Saro-Wiwa. He later returned as the man whose baritone voice yesterday intoned: “Obaasanjoo, Obaasanjoo…Ekweme, Ekweme, Obaasanjoo” at the Eagle Square at the PDP Presidential primary!
That is how Nigerian progressives are made. Two feet, enemy; four feet friend! Take another typical example. When former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was in the PDP, he was savaged by the opposition as part of the “band of devils” that plagued the country for 12 years. When he fell out with PDP and joined the opposition to form the AC, he became a hero and a “progressive”. But when he was squeezed out of the AC as a result of its enclave ideology, and had to run back to PDP, he became a “devil” once again.
Let us go to the National Assembly where you have members of the parties promoting the APC. Is there any discernible conduct so far that separates the “angelic” opposition parties from the ruling PDP “devils”? None whatsoever. On all matters frustrating Nigerians, the entire members of the National Assembly are ranged against the people as one evil machine! Is it that the ACN, ANPP, CPC and the fractious APGA legislators are unaware that Nigerians are incensed by the statutory kickback called constituency projects?
Is it moral to arm-twist the Executive to approve for you money that has no place in the constitution so that you can play big man in your community and “donate” some of it to us as wheelbarrows, shovels and head pans? Did members of these “angelic confraternity” distance themselves from the opprobrium of Herman Hembe’s alleged indiscretion for which he has been standing trial?
Did any of the opposition parties distance itself from the persecution of Arunma Oteh for her audacity to confront Hembe? Did the opposition parties in the National Assembly ever stand up to be counted among the angels in Lawan Farouk’s Otedola gate? Did all of them not close ranks over the scandal and even tried to blackmail the Executive by accusing it of trying to remove the House leadership?
If you scratched AshiwajuTinubu today, he would tell you that a National Conference, restructuring of the polity and true/fiscal federalism is answer to the nation’s woes. Incidentally, Mrs. Tinubu is a member of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review. As the wife of the leader of ACN, one had expected her to take a stand, like many members of her party, that a National Conference is the most credible route to a participatory and inclusive constitution making.
But when the National Assembly embarked on the now deadlocked but money guzzling fruitless constitution amendment, we did not hear or see her stand up to show the difference between her party and the PDP; or have they abandoned that position? Ironically too, it is an ACN member, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who leads the arm-twisting of the Executive on some the issues Nigerians frown at while members of the “ruling” PDP just follow his lead in the demonisation of their party.
It is an APGA member and former editor of a national magazine, Mr. Ogene, that rationalises the hounding of Arunma Oteh for exposing Mr. Hembe. The point is that the ideological posturing on which the proponents of the APC base their “divine opportunity to save the country” appears to stop at the car park of the National Assembly!
ALL the parties appear united and complicit in the rot, and none has the moral high ground to accuse the other. It may not make any difference if and when the opposition captures power. Nigerian politicians belong to the same ethnic group and one political party ideologically united against the Nigerian people. And salvation will only come from the Nigerian people.
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.
There appears to be no end to the political crisis brewing in Imo State over the bribery allegation which led to the impeachment of the former Deputy Governor, Mr. Jude Agbaso.
The family of the former Deputy Governor have alleged that the Forensic Auditors they employed have traced the missing N458 million to the accounts of the contractor, JPROS, in the United Arab Emirate, Dubai and Lebanon.
The startling revelation came from the older brother to the former Deputy Governor, Mr. Martin Agbaso, who addressed the press Thursday on the matter.
He said the family had taken the initiative to employ forensic experts in the case because of their desperate need to clear its name from the deliberate attempt to tarnish it.
He equally presented copies of his younger brother’s call log obtained from MTN, noting that no contact was established between his brother and the contractor during the period in question and reiterated that the former Deputy Governor’s impasse was politically motivated.
The revelations also showed that one of Okorocha’s special advisers and Chairman, Committee on Monitoring and Implementation of Road Projects, Mr. MacDonald Akano, was on the board of the company and also its second largest shareholder.
Records at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), showed that Akano was put on the board of the company at about the same time the execution and mobilisation for the contract in question took place.
The report presented by Agbaso showed that, “Mr. Dina first paid the sum of N325 million into the Three Brother’s Concept Ltd GTB Account.
“The money was used to raise the sum of US$1,930,00 (one million, nine hundred and thirty thousand dollars), which was subsequently transferred through Dubai on February 21, 2012 to Mr. Joseph Dina’s account no: LB5500140000230 23 00179018010 with the Kaslik Branch of Blom Bank Sal in Lebanon.
“The purpose of the transfer as stated in the transfer document was ‘to import construction equipment’.
“The second tranche of N133,000,000 (one million and thirty-three million naira) was similarly paid into the IHSAN BDG Ltd’s account no: 1015334698 with UBA by Mr. Dina.
“Again, the money was used to raise $800,000 (eight hundred thousand dollars) and transferred to Mr. Dina’s Account no: AE6020000003637 4395130 with HSBC Middle East Ltd at Dubai Internet City, Sheik Zayed Rd, Dubai. “So while Mr. Dina was accusing the (former) Deputy Governor of Imo State, Mr. Jude Agbaso, of demanding and receiving a bribe of N458 million, the said money had been converted by Mr. Dina himself and his associates and paid into Mr. Dina’s foreign accounts in Lebanon and Dubai.”
On the ownership of the companies, he said “The Three Brother’s Concept Ltd runs a Bureau De Change and its directors are Abdulahi Lawal, Ahmadu Yanusa, Karimu Usman, Umar Abubakar and Yakubu Abdulahi. Its current shareholders are Abdulahi Lawal, Umar Abubakar and Yakubu Abdulahi. Jude Agbaso, the (former) deputy governor of Imo State, is not one of them. “The directors of Ishan Bureau De Change are Alhaji Inuwa Sabo, Abdulahi Tasiu Maikano, Haruna Saidu and Mallam Sule. The five gentlemen are also the shareholders. Again, Jude Agbaso, the (former) Deputy Governor of Imo State is not one of them.
“The directors who are also the only shareholders of JPROS Nigeria Ltd, the company whose MD is falsely accusing the (former) Deputy Governor of bribery are Joseph Dina, Aline Dina, Jean Samir Aoun and Mr. MacDonald Akano, the Special Adviser to Governor Rochas Okorocha and the Chairman of the Committee on Monitoring and Implementation of Road Projects in Imo State. “Isn’t it fascinating to discover that a Director and major shareholder; indeed, the second highest shareholder in the company involved in this ugly defamation of character and wicked attempt to destroy the good name and image of the (former) Deputy Governor, is a member of Governor Okorocha’s inner circle.
“Isn’t it even more fascinating that to know that Akano stood quietly and loyally beside Mr. Dina as he blackmailed and slandered the (former) deputy governor before the members of the state House of Assembly, knowing well that his company, JPROS, was the guilty party in the matter”.
He added: “Governor Okorocha has the power as the governor of Imo State to do whatever he likes and as he deems fit. But he does not have the power to tarnish the image of my family and what is uppermost now is to clear my family name”.
Agbaso said the report of the Forensic Auditors had been handed over to the appropriate quarters, including the police and the Department of State Security (DSS) for necessary action.
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.
LAGOS State Police Command’s manhunt for the robbery gang that, three weeks ago, raided Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, killing two policemen and injuring several others, has led to the arrest of some members of the gang, Vanguard learnt yesterday.
Information available to Vanguard revealed that the suspects were arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja, who took over investigations, following a directive from the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar.
The operatives, who acted on a tip-off, as gathered, arrested the bandits from their respective hideouts within Lagos.
So far, the suspects were said to have confessed during interrogation on how they planned and carried out the operation.
Vanguard gathered that the suspects first raided the airport in February 2012, where N700 million was carted away.
It would be recalled that a 10-man robbery gang, armed with sophisticated weapons, invaded the airport on March 13, 2013 at 9am and headed for the Bureau De Change, BDC, operators centre near the car park, firing indiscriminately.
During a shoot-out with a team of policemen attached to the airport, two policemen were reportedly gunned down while a member of the gang was also killed.
The fire fight, however, prevented the robbers from reaching their target. Vanguard gathered that the suspects may be paraded today.
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.
Late Chief Kingsley Wobo’s wife, Charity, who allegedly poisoned and tortured him to death in Mboshimini Community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State has been arrested by the police.
The 36-year-old suspect was reportedly arrested with one of her brothers, alleged to be an accomplice in the murder of Chief Wobo.
According to sources at the state Criminal Investigation Department, CID, the suspect did not act alone, as there were other suspects who assisted her in killing her husband. Apart from this, family sources also confirmed that the relation of the woman was arrested when he visited his sister in the police station.
“Her brother had gone to see the sister (Mrs. Wobo) in police custody when the daughter of the deceased who had noticed his face the night her father was killed ordered the police to arrest him.After his arrest, the police later recovered the late Wobo’s three telephone sets from him,’’ the family sources also said.
According to the source, there were reasons to believe that Chief Wobo’s death was premeditated as he was poisoned before being tortured and stabbed severally.
However, an elder brother of the deceased who identified himself as Mr. Wobo, said the family was awaiting an autopsy on the deceased as well as police investigation reports and would not jump into conclusion.
Chief Kingsley Wobo, a notable contractor in Port Harcourt, was reportedly stabbed to death after being poisoned about three weeks ago at his Mboshimini residence, with accusing fingers being pointed at the direction of his wife following alleged differences relating to late Wobo’s plans to take a second wife.
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.
MULTI-millionaire philanthropist and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Arthur Eze, has said that the only way to restore stability in the polity was to allow President Goodluck Jonathan a second tenure.
Eze, who addressed PDP supporters at Ukpo in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State after obtaining the party’s membership card, observed that the problem in PDP was often caused by those who, he said, were placing personal and regional interests above national interest.
He said: “I don’t know why our people find it difficult to understand issues properly. Maybe it is due to vested interests. We should always put the interest of the nation first and play down individual and regional interests. What we want in PDP is a lasting peace.
“Now that we are talking with everybody in the party, I want them to emphasise on those things that can ensure lasting peace.
“First, there must be support for President Jonathan in 2015 so that his zone, the South –South, will complete eight years in the presidency. The South West has already had its eight years.
“After Jonathan, the North should do its eight years and it will them be the turn of the South East. If we do not do it this way, there will be no end to the problem of which zone should produce the president at any point in time. What the zones require is patience and wait for their turns.”
Eze commended PDP leadership in the state, led by Prince Kenneth Emekayi, for working hard to ensure that peace returned to the party and urged members and stakeholders of PDP in the state to give the leadership their maxium support.
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.
THE rate of poverty in Nigeria is unarguably very high. In fact, the Bureau of Statistics in its latest report, estimates that a whopping 102 million Nigerians fall within the poverty bracket. The question is, how many of these less privileged Nigerians can borrow money from the bank at a 20 percent interest rate to either buy or build their own houses?
Against this backdrop, built environment experts are now campaigning for the direct intervention of the Federal Government in the mortgage sector so that interest rate on mortgage loans would not exceed a single digit.
Specifically, the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers NIESV, which has been in the vanguard of calls for a reform of the nation’s land tenure system, has joined the fray in campaigning for a reform of the country’s mortgage finance system.
Its president, Mr. Emeka Eleh said the reform has become very imperative in view of its multiplier effects on the economy.
“The Government must reform the mortgage finance system to ensure that mortgages are available at single digit interest rates. It would require a lot of shouting and that is what we want to champion from this March. We have been saying that Government has intervened in virtually every sector -the banking sector, SMEs, aviation, agriculture is a permanent intervention, people say the government even intervened in Nollywwod or whatever, so why can’t government intervene in housing.
“The American government even intervened in housing; there are interventions in housing all over the world. Because of the multiplier effects of investments in housing, the benefits to the government are enormous because if you invest in housing and employment is created and the economy gets robust and people can build their houses, whatever subsidy government has given, can be gotten back through increase in economic activities and betterment of the lives of the people,” he said.
One how to bring down interest rate to a single digit, the NIESV President said government should use the same model of intervention adopted for small and medium enterprises, SMEs.
His words: “Our view is that government must intervene directly to bring down mortgage interest rates. The only way of having a single interest rate is by government’s direct intervention. Look at the way government funds SMEs. They will give you loan at maybe nine percent through a bank. The bank will now go to the Bank of Industry and the Bank of Industry will buy back the loan. If the bank gives you the loan at six percent, they (BOI) will buy back the loan at nine percent and the bank makes a spread of three percent. What it does is that people are able to borrow money under the SME scheme all over the country, not necessarily through BOI”.
Eleh insisted that the Federal Mortgage Bank should play the same type of role BOI is playing. “We are saying that the Federal Mortgage Bank , FMBN should play a strong role in fast-tracking liquidity for the mortgage industry. Federal Mortgage Bank has no business lending to anybody, whether he is a developer or a private person. Their role should be to create an environment for liquidity to exist in the market and we say that one way of doing so is for government to intervene directly in such a way that mortgage funds would be available and would be given out to Nigerians through the retail banks.
“When I say retail banks, I mean First Bank, UBA etc. They all have mortgage units. I am not discountenancing the Primary Mortgage Institutions, PMIs; what I am saying is that they (mortgages) should also be available to be given out through retail banks. That way, it is available all over the country. Let me give you a classic example, If the government comes out with N500 billion for investment in housing, they can say this money would be available through the Federal Mortgage Bank. If a bank gives out mortgages to Mr. A at six percent, they can sell the same mortgage to FMBN at nine percent.
“So, the individual is paying six percent while the bank will earn three percent. What it does is that the mortgages will be available all over the country. We know the effect of investment in housing on the economy, it means that employment will be created when more houses are built, it means that local governments will earn more money because people will pay tenement rates, it means that home ownership will improve and we are able to meet our MDG goals.
“Housing also has a way of boosting the macro-economy. What we are saying is that the benefits of what we are talking about cannot be quantified; of course the government is not losing because the money will come back because the banks don’t give loans to those they don’t know. The multiplier effects of that kind of investment in the sector which would be available all over the country, will be very immense for the country,” he posited.
Corroborating the views canvassed by the NIESV President, a Lagos-based construction cost expert, Mr. Obafemi Onashile called on the government to set aside an intervention or subsidy fund to enable banks give mortgages. Onashile who is a former Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, NIQS, explained that this is the practice all over the world.
Onashile who noted that mortgage interest rates currently oscillate between 14 and 15 percent declared: “Interest rate on mortgage loans should not exceed seven percent; if it does it becomes nonsensical and unattainable”.
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.
The Federal Government in a bid to curtail the epileptic power situation in the country has spent about N5 trillion ($31.45 billion) from 1999 till date. But it has only been able to increase the country’s electricity generating capacity by about 2,500 mega watts over the last 14 years.
This is a far cry compared to its peers — South Africa and Brazil. Brazil recorded an investment of $58 billion in its power sector between 1994 and 2008, while it currently produces about 100,000MW of electricity. South Africa on the other hand, currently produces about 40,000MW of electricity, with plans to invest additional $37 billion over the next couple of years to triple current capacity.
Investments in power since 1999 Between 1999 and 2013, Federal Government’s budgetary provisions for power stood at N2.8 trillion of which over N2.326 trillion went into the National Integrated Power Projects, NIPP and various power intervention projects. Specifically, yearly allocations as contained in statistics from the Budget.
However, these appropriations do not include investments by state governments, who have since been co-opted to intervene in their localities to improve the power supply situation, as according to the Nigerian Constitution, Power is exclusively the preserve of the Federal Government.
Recalled that the House of Representatives in 2008, confirmed that the Federal Government approved the sum of N2.544 trillion ($16 billion) for the power sector between 1999 and 2007, which led to a public outcry, as there was hardly anything to show for it, as the lights got dimmer instead of brighter.
The uproar led to further investigations in which it was discovered that only able to disburse N2.067 trillion ($13 billion) was disbursed in the eight year period, representing more than 81 percent funding.
Also, a Presidential Review Panel on the National Integrated Power Project, NIPP, in a presentation to the National Economic Council, NEC, in 2009, revealed that as at 2007, the NIPP got N1.627 trillion, plus the N318 billion Federal Government’s counterpart funding for the Mambilla Hydro Power project, and N222.6 billion ($1.4 billion) for additional nine turbines.
The panel however revealed that only N489.72 billion ($3.08 billion) was funded and scrutinised with advance payment guarantees from first class Nigerian banks and Letters of Credits issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. It also stated that over N238.5 billion ($1.5 billion) of the sum was still in the custody of the banks as at then.
In addition, Mr. James Olotu, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Niger Delta Power Holding Company, NDPHC, last year disclosed that the Federal Government is spending N1.26 trillion on 10 National Integrated Power Projects across the country.
He said about N492.4 billion ($3.12 billion) was budgeted for the first phase of the project, which started in 2006 and ended in 2007. This allocation covered seven power projects, while N920 billion ($5.82 billion) was budgeted to be utilized in the second phase starting from 2007. Olotu further disclosed that the funds were kept in the custody of JP Morgan and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, while N882.4 billion had been disbursed to the NDPHC till date.
According to him, four of the projects had been completed, while six others are at various stages of completion. He said; “In totality, Nigerians have contributed $8 billion to build 10 power generation plants, which after completion, will give a total of 4,774MW.
“We are also building substations, transmission and distribution lines, as well as gas pipelines to ensure that the plants get gas when they are completed.”
He listed the completed projects as: Omotosho in Ondo State – 451MW Alaoji, Abia State – 1,074MW Sapele, Delta State – 451MW Olorunsogo, Ogun State – 750MW
Those close to completion are: Ihovbor power project in Edo State – 451MW Geregu, Kogi State – 434MW Egbema, Imo State – 338MW Gbarain, Bayelsa State – 225MW Omoku, Rivers State – 225MW Calabar, Cross River State – 561MW
Concerns over funds’ utilisation Despite the huge budgetary provisions, the House of Representatives’ Committee on Power still expressed concern over the poor utilisation of funds appropriated for the sector.
Mr. Patrick Ikhariale, the Committee Chairman disclosed that whereas the sum of N75 billion was appropriated less than half or N34.7 billion or 46 percent was released to the Ministry of Finance, while only N19.7 billion (56 percent) was utilised by the Ministry of Power.
He argued that this implies that the Ministry did not require as much funding as it demanded, especially as it lacked the capacity to implement its capital budget.
This contrasts sharply with constant claims by the ministry that the country required at least $10billion annually for 10 years to get power right.
2,500MW added since 1999 Despite these huge investments, Nigeria has only been able to increase its electricity generating capacity from about 2,000MW in 1999 to about 4,500MW as at today.
There appears to be no end in sight to the sufferings of Nigerians as power supply remains epileptic at an average of between three to four hours daily.
Equally, industries, particularly the small and medium scale, SME sub-sect have closed shop on account of lack electricity to power their operations. Even businesses in operation record their highest operating costs from electricity, as many invest in multiple generating sets to run their tools.
Commenting on the funds allocated to the power sector and its impact on power generation, Mr. Michael Olawale-Cole, President and Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Institute of Management, expressed concern that despite the huge allocation to the sector over the years, power generation is yet to record significant improvement.
He said, “Government’s sundry attempts at generating adequate power for the nation in the recent past have ended disastrously what with the scandals of monumental misappropriation of funds that trailed the various NIPPs across the country.
“There is no guarantee that the situation is going to change for the better in the near future,” adding that “the country seems to be at crossroads with the issue of power generation at the moment.”
He argued that “Once the issue of power generation and distribution is resolved, the nation’s firm match to greatness will be guaranteed.”
Underscoring how critical power is to economic growth, Prof. Rahamon Bello, Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, lamented that in spite of the abundant energy resources in the country and significant government investments in the sector over the last ten years, electricity supply remains a serious challenge to Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
He said majority of Nigeria’s power infrastructure were built in the 1970s and 1980s and due to a freeze in investment in the sector, lack of maintenance and adequate expansion of the facilities over the years, Nigeria had to contend with epileptic and erratic power supply.
According to him, as at today, less than 50 per cent of Nigeria’s population has access to the national grid due to inadequate transmission and distribution networks.
Impact of power on economic development Steady power is essential for national development, especially as it positively influences socio economic activities as well as the living standard of citizens.
In addition, ageing and poorly maintained infrastructure, weak network configuration and overloaded transformers, result in frequent system collapse, high transmission and distribution losses among others.
Analysts are of the view that lack of access to electric power, and modern energy in general, also has a negative effect on productivity and has limited the economic opportunities available to developing countries including Nigeria.
This, they said, is compounded by the poor state of existing infrastructure, which creates the dual challenge of finding resources for maintenance of existing facilities and also to build new power plants.
They contend that improving access to modern energy is a necessary condition for boosting growth and reducing poverty in not only Nigeria but Africa in general.
In comparison to other countries, Nigeria’s installed capacity is grossly inadequate. As at 2010, only about 3,700 megawatts was available for a population of 140 million people due to various reasons including gas supply constraints, inadequate maintenance of equipment that stems from procurement constraints, dearth of skilled maintenance personnel and the dependence on imports of parts and foreign experts to carry out repairs and overhauls.
Bello, who is a Professor of Chemical Engineering, noted that in 2000, power generation capacity was as low as 1,500MW, due, mainly to lack of investment in maintenance and expansion programmes on existing power plants.
Way forward Even as the implementation of the Power Sector Reform Programme is well advanced, Bello called for appropriate commercial framework to support private investments to the sector.
He maintained that to proceed with the reform programme, it is necessary to develop a comprehensive action plan to holistically implement the programme as encapsulated in the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, EPSRA, 2005
He further advocated for a feasible incentive scheme backed by policy to encourage private sector investment in generation and distribution.
“Financial institutions and market systems that will support power procurement between generation companies and distribution companies should be put in place. Empowerment should be given to the office of the market operator to commence shadow trading,” Bello added.
On his part, Olawale-Cole said, “It is a common knowledge that Nigeria has been backward in the areas of successful start-up businesses, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and industrialisation generally which are the core catalysts for real national development due to poor power generation.
“Many companies have continued to operate at just break-even point and below installed capacity while the ones that cannot cope under the harsh operating climate occasioned by ever-mounting overhead costs have since closed shop or relocated to smaller neighbouring countries where there is steadier power supply.”
He also reiterated that security is key to future investments in the economy, while calling on the citizenry to support government’s efforts in order to move the country to the next level.
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.
AS part of this year’s Easter celebration, Governor Peter Obi has visited some hospitals in Anambra State where he interacted with the sick and settled the hospital bills of indigent patients who were discharged long ago, but could not pay the bills.
At the Holy Rosary Hospital, Waterside, Onitsha, the governor paid the bills of 10 poor people that had been discharged but could not leave the hospital premises because of their inability to pay the bills, as well as 15 other women that were delivered of new born babies.
Obi said at the occasion that beyond Easter celebration, the gesture was a way of identifying with the people and letting them know that their governor felt for them at all times.
According to him, the feeling he had for the people informed his efforts to improve the healthcare delivery in the state to enable the health institutions serve the people better.
He said further that the collaboration with the church was informed by the fact that they treated the people of the state and that their charges were affordable as they were more of charity organisations.
One of those that benefitted from the governor’s gesture, Sergeant Kevin Osai extolled Obi for his commitment to the promotion of the welfare of the people.
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.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
