Business

President Buhari And Traffic Rules: Matters Arising

Published

9 years ago

June 5, 2015

Obeying traffic rules in most Nigerian cites seems to be a herculean task for road users, as most motorists see it as time- wasting and in some cases, unnecessary.

It is somewhat commonplace to find motorists flouting traffic rules flagrantly even in the face of danger, as most of them are seemingly unaware of the import of traffic light, for instance, while others, who are seemingly aware of it, tend to disregard it.

Observers, however, heap the blame on traffic wardens and law enforcement agents who control traffic at various points for not apprehending motorists who flout traffic regulations.

They insist that the traffic officers ought to be more proactive in their approach to work.

They, nonetheless, believe that the country’s deteriorating traffic situation will be brought under control by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari which was inaugurated on May 29.

Such expectations are hinged on the recent action of Buhari, who as president-elect on May 7, ordered all security personnel attached to him as well as his official escorts to obey traffic rules.

Perceptive analysts, however, insist that while the directive is commendable, it will be somewhat foolhardy for any president to give and sustain such an order.

Mr Akinwande Lewis, a lawyer, said that no matter how liberal Buhari wanted to be, he should be mindful of the implications of his directive on strict obedience of traffic rules by his security personnel and escorts.

“The president’s safety should not be toyed with; his security should be paramount and taken seriously. We should not forget the basic fact that not all Nigerians will love President Buhari and his policies,’’ he said.

However, Mr Ibrahim Paiko, another lawyer, said that the president’s gesture was merely symbolic, adding that his directive aptly signified that the days of impunity were gone.

“President Buhari’s action is, however, not strange, as he has all along been known as a ‘no-nonsense man’; other government officials should take a cue from his action and follow suit,’’ he said.

Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) to the President, said that the order was a demonstration of Buhari’s leadership style.

He said that obedience to the law would be the guiding philosophy of the Buhari-administration because if there was no leadership by example, the citizens would be encouraged to emulate their leaders’ lawlessness.

Shehu’s sentiments appear logical, as Buhari has repeatedly said that arrogance of power, lawlessness and disregard for citizens’ rights would have no place in his government.

Buhari stressed that for leaders to garner’s the people’s respect, they must obey the laws, adding that whenever leaders treated the country’s laws with contempt, they would inadvertently send the wrong message to the citizens.

Buhari bemoaned a situation where citizens “are punished at traffic points and public roads because of the arrogant lawlessness of the leaders’’, insisting that such situation was totally unacceptable.

He reiterated that in a democracy, leaders ought to refrain from inflicting inconveniences and other unbearable ordeals on the citizens for their own comfort.

The president said that the security personnel attached to him must be in tune with his philosophy of “bringing the rule of law to bear on the conduct of leaders during their movements on public roads’’.

Nevertheless, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, a former Minister of External Affairs, rejected the president’s sentiments, insisting that his directive could be quite risky and inimical to the country’s interests.

In an open letter to Buhari when he was the president-elect, Akinyemi underscored the need for Buhari to take his personal security seriously in the overall interest of the country.

He called on Buhari to rescind his decision, saying that he should be very mindful of the current security threats facing the country.

He emphasised that there was nowhere in the world where the motorcade of a president or prime minister was subjected to traffic regulations.

Akinyemi recalled the events leading to the assassination a former Head of State, Gen. Murtala Mohammed, in 1976 in order to elucidate his viewpoint.

He said that Mohammed, who jettisoned the use of motorcade and security escorts, was gunned down by some coupists when his car was held up in traffic at a road junction in Obalende, Lagos.

“Nigeria and the world have become a more dangerous place than in 1976 when Gen. Mohammed was assassinated.

“You would also recall the attempt on your life just last year when your motorcade was attacked in Kaduna

“There is no country in the world where the motorcade of a president or prime minister or head of state is subject to traffic regulations.

“I have just watched the motorcade of the British Prime Minister on his way to Buckingham Palace; traffic was stopped and his outriders ensured that the motorcade was not impeded.

“It is not about your personal safety, it is about Nigeria’s national security. We cannot continue to take chances with the peace and stability of Nigeria and depend on God to bail us out.

“General, please reconsider your decision, not for your sake but for the sake of Nigeria,” Akinyemi added.

However, an Abuja-based lawyer, Prof. Akinseye George (SAN), picked holes in the ex-minister’s arguments, saying that by obeying traffic rules, Buhari would set a good precedent for all Nigerians.

He rejected Akinyemi’s reference to the Murtala assassination saga, saying that the killing, which took place during the military era, could never occur in a democratic setting.

He said that Buhari, by this action, had shown utmost respect for the rule of law, describing the action as a powerful signal to all Nigerians, particularly leaders and affluent citizens who were fond of violating traffic rules.

“This is good and laudable, it shows fidelity to the law; the directive is a sign of purposeful and exemplary leadership because one of the problems facing this country is that big men don’t obey the law,’’ he said.

George said that the era of impunity was gone, urging Nigerians to join hands together with Buhari in efforts to bring the country out of the doldrums.

Sharing similar sentiments, Mr Bamidele Fatai, a public affairs analyst, said that if the president obeyed traffic laws, all Nigerians would have no other option than to emulate him in that direction.

He argued that incidents such as Gen. Murtala’s assassination could be avoided if presidential motorcades were well-equipped so as to forestall any security breach.

Fatai, however, conceded that Gen. Murtala’s assignation represented one of the darkest chapters of Nigerian history but added that Nigerians would never allow such a dastardly act to occur again.

“I think the solution is in our leaders themselves, if they keep their promises and rule in line with the people’s expectations, such kinds of criminality would end.

“I know President Buhari is very wise; before he gave that directive, he would have weighed all the implications. We should just wish him success in his administration and agenda for this country,” he said.

Mr Jerry Obaseki, a political analyst, echoed Akinyemi’s viewpoint, insisting that heads of state and government everywhere in the world would never obey traffic regulations for glaring security reasons.

He, however, expressed the hope that the president’s National Security Adviser would warn him about the security implications of his decision to obey traffic regulations.

“We need the president alive to enable him to effect the positive changes we have been yearning for ever since Nigeria’s independence 55 years ago,’’ Obaseki said.

“We must not allow sentiments to becloud our judgment; detractors and fifth columnists are always around; the president should be aware of this fact and always strive to play safe, said Mr Kunle Ogunlesi, a banker.

“He should not allow his popularity to becloud his judgement in all the nation-building processes; his safety is important to all Nigerians,’’ he added.

All in all, analysts are of the view that President Buhari should always be conscious of the need to examine the security implications of all his actions, irrespective of their purpose or intent.

Ogunshola writes for News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Business

Paper Industry’s Economic Contribution Hits N398bn

Published

2 days ago

April 22, 2024

The Tide

The contribution of the paper industry rose to N398.8billion in 2023 from N356billion it recorded in 2022.
Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr. Musa Yusuf, disclosed this in a report released to mark the inauguration of World Envelopes Day in Lagos.
Marking the event, which also commemorated the 50th anniversary of envelope manufacturing firm, FAE Limited, Yusuf stated that the paper industry has a profound economic impact across all sectors of the economy.
He, however, noted that the growth in digital technology had greatly disrupted the sector, especially as a mode of communication.
“As of 2023, the value of the Nigerian paper industry was N398.8billion naira, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
“The value was N365bn in 2022; N363 billion in 2021; and N255billion in 2020. This is a significant contribution to our GDP. However, when compared to the size of our economy, which is estimated at N230trillion as of 2023, it is still very small”, the CPPE boss stated.
Yusuf said the paper industry had been largely in recession because of the digital technology disruptions and other macroeconomic headwinds, especially relating to exchange rate depreciation, forex liquidity crisis and high cost of fund and energy cost escalation.
He emphasised that the paper industry had a profound economic impact across all sectors of the economy, which underscored the need for government intervention in the sector.
In her opening remarks, the Managing Director of FAE Limited, Funlayo Bakare, described World Envelopes Day as the brainchild of the company, which sought to set aside April 16 as a day to celebrate the fundamental role envelopes play in daily communication.
“As we celebrate our golden jubilee, we are delighted to announce the inauguration of World Envelopes Day, to be celebrated annually on the 16th day of April.
“This is a pioneering initiative by FAE Ltd in accordance with our leadership position in the sector.
“The establishment of World Envelopes Day is to raise awareness about the importance of envelopes in various aspects of human endeavour, including personal correspondence, business transactions, and creative expressions”, she said.
The Publisher of The Guardian Newspaper, Maiden Ibru, who chaired the occasion, stressed the need to strike a balance between digitalisation and physical paper production, especially due to the indispensable role paper plays in cultural preservation.
Nigeria once had three paper mills: the Nigeria Paper Mill Limited, located in Jebba, Kwara State; the Nigerian Newsprint Manufacturing Company Limited, Oku-Iboku, Akwa Ibom State; and the Nigerian National Paper Manufacturing Company Limited in Ogun State.
The mills are no longer operational, and the country has had to depend on importation to make up for the shortfall.
The Asset Management Company of Nigeria has taken over the management of NNMC over unpaid debts.

Business

Aviation Union Threatens Strike Over Revenue Deduction

Published

2 days ago

April 22, 2024

The Tide

The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) has said it would embark on industrial action if the Federal Government refuses to exempt aviation agencies from a directive that seeks to deduct 50 per cent from their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
ATSSSAN disclosed this in a communique issued by its National Executive Council (NEC) after its National Economic Council meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The NEC, which had in attendance all 17 affiliates of ATSSSAN comprising all branch Chairmen, Secretaries, and national officers, reiterated calls for the exemption of the aviation agencies from the deduction of 50 per cent of their IGR under the Fiscal Responsibility Act.
The association said the agencies were not established for profit, hence stifling them of the required funds would jeopardise the effective performance of their safety and security mandates.
ATSSSAN warned that if the Federal Government insist on the deduction, it would compound the current financial state of the agencies, and “we may be forced to direct all aviation workers to down tools until the government reverses itself”.
Last year, the Federal Government directed the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to immediately commence the presidential directives on a 50 per cent automatic deduction from the IGR of Federal Government-owned enterprises.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, had issued a circular titled, “Re: Implementation of the Presidential Directives on 50 per cent Automatic Deduction from Internally Generated Revenue of Federal Government Owned Enterprises (FGOEs)”.
According to the circular, all partially-funded Federal Government agencies and parastatals (receiving capital or overhead allocation from the Federal Government’s budget) should remit 50 per cent of their gross IGR, while all statutory revenues, like tender fees, contractor’s registration, and sales of government assets, among others, should be remitted 100 per cent to the sub-recurrent account.
ATSSSAN stated its apprehension over what it perceives as deliberate efforts by certain private airlines to stop their employees from forming labour unions.
Citing Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution and international labor norms, the association contends that such actions constitute a violation of workers rights.
The statement, however, did not specify the airline operators suppressing workers from joining unions.
Part of the statement read, “The NEC-in-session calls on all employers in the private sector in the aviation industry to respect collective bargaining agreements in order to avert industrial crises at the workplace.
“NEC-in-session was seriously disturbed by the continuous willful acts by some private airlines towards frustrating the unionization of their employees, contrary to the letters and spirit of Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and relevant international conventions and laws”.
The association, therefore, called upon the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to uphold and enforce employees’ rights to unionise within the aviation industry.
It urged the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to orchestrate a dialogue involving all relevant stakeholders, including the non-compliant airlines and labour unions, under the auspices of the Labor Ministry.
At the meeting, other issues affecting workers, especially members’ welfare and working conditions, and the aviation industry at large were discussed, and positions and resolutions were taken.
The aviation group decried what it perceive as a dearth of avenues for career progression within government-owned aviation entities.

Business

NCDMB Rakes In $1m Return On NEDOGAS Investment

Published

2 days ago

April 22, 2024

The Tide

Management of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) says it has received a cheque of $1 million from Nedogas Development Company Limited (NDCL).
A statement made available to newsmen by the Directorate of Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination of the Board said the sum received was part of the return on investment (ROI) on one of its strategic investments.
The statement added that: “The cheque was presented by the Chairman of the company, Engr. Emeka Ene, when he visited the Nigerian Content Tower in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, where he was received by the NCDMB’s Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, and other members of the Board’s management.
“Nedogas Development Company Limited (NDCL) is a joint venture company between Xenergi Limited and NCDMB Capacity Development Intervention Company.
“As part of the project, Nedogas NDCL constructed and commissioned a 300 MMscfd Capacity Kwale Gas Gathering (KGG) and injection facility located in the Umusam Community, near Kwale in Delta State, Niger Delta, Nigeria.
“The KGG Facility was designed to handle stranded gas resources in Nigeria’s OML56 oil province by providing the opportunity for independent operators in the area to monetize natural gas from their fields through the gas gathering, compression, injection and metering infrastructure of the KGG for quick market access.
“Nedogas is one of the several strategic and successful investments of the NCDMB funded from the Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF), in line with the Board’s mandate to build capacity and catalyze local projects in the Nigerian oil and gas industry as enshrined under the Nigeran Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act”.
In his remarks, according to the statement, the NCDMB Executive Secretary stated that the success story of NEDOGAS at Kwale, Delta State, could be replicated in other oil and gas producing communities to minimise gas flaring, saying that Ogbe also declared the Board’s readiness to continue collaborating with the company.
“Their model should be extended to other parts of the country where gas flaring is continuing.They have shown that with the modular system, we can quickly remove flaring from our operations in Nigeria.
“The NCDMB had continued to receive briefings from its investment partners. We’re still waiting for them to come back with success stories. Some of them are near completion and have not started operations yet”, the NCDMB’s Executive Secretary said.
In his remarks, Chairman of NEDOGAS, Mr. Emeka Ene, conveyed the company’s excitement in returning part of the credit and profit, adding that it was a proof that the NCDMB’s investment was a success and they are getting back that investment, adding that the firm looks forward to further collaboration with the NCDMB to expand its scope.
Responding, the NCDMB boss said the Board was now doing effectively and practically and tangibly what it was set up for, saying its mandate was to impact the economy by direct interventions.
“That’s the way the economy can grow, improve the gas infrastructure in such a way that’s sustainable despite the tight economic conditions”, he said.
He added that, “the value propositions of the Nedogas project include total eradication of flared gas and conversation of environmental pollutants into products of value and creation of a strategic gas gathering hub and injection node for quick access to market for gas owners to monetize gas”.
Other benefits, according to Ogbe, include the provision of alternative gas supply to western flank of the OB3 line to add to the volumes of economic sustainability and increase in Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“The partnership with NEDOGAS is one of NCDMB’s 15 strategic investments geared towards actualizing the Federal Government’s aspirations in key areas of the oil and gas industry.
“Most of the projects were targeted at actualizing the Federal Government’s Decade of Gas programme.
“Some of NCDMB’s notable third-party investments include Waltermith’s 5000 barrels per day (bpd) modular refinery in Imo State, Azikel Group12,000 bpd hydro-skimming modular refinery in Gbarain, Bayelsa State, and Duport Midstream’s 2,500bpd modular refinery in Edo State.
“Other investments of the Board include Better Gas Energy for LPG terminal and gas distribution, partnership with Rungas Prime Industries Limited to establish a cooking gas cylinders manufacturing plant in Polaku, Bayelsa State, and Alaro City in Lagos and the partnership with Butane Energy to deepen LPG utilization in the North”, he stated.
The Executive Secretary also noted that there was the partnership with BUNORR Integrated Energy Limited in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to produce 48,000 litres of base oil per day and partnership with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited, Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical Company Limited, and DSV Engineering to establish a 10,000 Ton Methanol Production Plant, Odioama, in the Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.