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Oil Firms And Niger Delta Dev

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Of all the stakeholders in the Niger Delta region, the multi-national oil companies should take the greater blame for the environmental devastation resulting from several decades of oil exploration and exploitation. In their search for the black gold, they have combed the swamps and ravaged the mangroves; polluted the rivers and rlvulcts; scorched the farmlands and left the people gasping for breath just like the fish 111 the region, which have been suffocated by oil spills.
With this unflattering track record, one would expect the oil companies to throw their full weight behind efforts to revive and regenerate the environment for a people that have been so unjustly treated. Given the enormous impact of their activities on the environment. they arc expected to be at the forefront in the critical task of urgently developing the oil basin that has suffered so much neglect in the past. It is. In fact, in their interest to develop the region where they operate in order to guarantee peace, which is very necessary for them to continue with their work.
Rather than lead the assault on underdevelopment and injustice, some of the oil companies are busy throwing spanners in the works. For fifty-one years, they have planted more Christmas trees (capped oil wells) than those that would yield economic benefits. It is, indeed baffling to learn that the oil companies are defaulting in the discharge of their statutory obligations to government agencies charged with the responsibility of developing the Niger Delta. The recent disclosure that oil firms owe the Niger Delta Development Commission. NDDC, a whooping N7.55 billion came to many as a rude shock.
According to the Managing Director of the commission, Mr. Chibuzor Ugwoha, the Foreign oil companies operating in the Niger Delta have accumulated $50 million in unpaid royalties to the NDDC This, he said, is besides other statutory return, payable in naira, which the oil firms have also not remitted to the commission. Ugwoha, said the 200 audit report of the Nigeria Extractive Industry ‘Transparency Initiative (NEITI) show that some of the oil firms did not remit the funds. Which represented part of the three per cent of their total budget which they arc legally obliged to pay to the NDDC every year.
He said: “We are equally aware that a certain amount of money due to the commission from the government is yet to be paid and that makes development difficult because we need a lot of money to be able to develop the region. Those who know the terrain of the region will agree with me that where it is possible to construct one kilometer of road in some please with less challenges, it takes far more to build roads in the liger Delta because of the terrain”.
He stated that the commission was committed to a comprehensive development and transformation of the region, which he believes would ultimately curb the activities of militants. He said: “President Umaru Yar’ Adua had on August 6 during the inauguration of the new Board of the NDDC charged us that the region should be transformed and that we should focus specifically onll1aJor projects that would impact on the lives of the people so that problems that had lingered in the region will be
Things of the past. However, these cannot be achieved without adequate funding as part of the funds due to the NDDC is yet to be remitted from the contributions on the part of oil companies and industries that operate in the Niger Delta”.
Certainly the NDDC needs to be adequately funded to enable it confront the challenges of developing the region that gives Nigeria its oil wealth. All the key stakeholders, which include the three tiers of government and the oil companies. have a responsibility to support the NDDC as the agency driving the implementation of the Niger Delta Regional Devc1opment Master Plan. Records show that the commission has only received 30 per cent of its expected revenue since inception in 2001. The statutory allocations to the commission have consistent been withheld for inexplicable reasons.
The NDDC Act states c1earl) how the commission shall be funded. Section 14 (2) provides that “there shall be paid and credited to the fund established pursuant to subsection II of this section: (a ) of from the Federal Government the equivalent or 15 per cent of the total monthly allocation due to the member states of the commission from the federation account, this being the contribution of the Federal Government to the commission: (b) three per cent of the total annual budget of any oil-producing company operating onshore and offshore in the Niger Delta area. Including gas processing companies: (c) 50 per cent of monies due to member states of’ the commission from the ecological fund … ‘“ and other sources such as grants and loans.
Contrary to the provisions of’ the Act, some of’ the oil companies have not been paying the three per cent of their annual budget as required by law. The records show, that they deduct first charges bc1c.m; calculating the three per cent from the balance. It is more like cutting the nose to spite the face, given that what they spend for the development of” the Niger Delta is for their own good at the end of” the day.
The oil companies tell anyone that cares to listen that they are doing their best to be good corporate citizens and that they arc socially responsible of’ course, they know that it is in their best interest to have a peaceful relationship with their host communities. J However, despite this realization, many of them arc not doing enough to show that they are truly committed to the development of their host communities. Building a bloc of classroom here and another clinic there can at hest be descried as no more than sheer tokenism.
Apart from statutory requirements, the oil companies also have moral and .social responsibilities to fulfill. The oil workers arc the ones sharing the same neighborhood with the villagers. They cannot in good conscience he enjoying potable water while the villagers around them arc drinking polluted water or enjoying uninterrupted supply of electricity while their hosts arc in perpetual darkness or for them to live in mansions while the indigenous neighbours live in hovels
“It is even wrong for the oil companies to think that they arc doing their host communities a 1~I\’our h) allowing them to share their facilities with them. In fact such pecks arc not enough compensation for the despoliation of’ their environment. In addition to hand-outs. the oil companies have moral obligations to replenish the lands they arc destroying.
The truth is that oil companies no longer operate freely in the Niger Delta. The NDDC on the other hand does not suffer from this encumbrance, apparently because of its track record of working hands in gloves with the people at the grassroots. Obviously. The commission is well positioned to assist the oil companies to win the hearts and minds of the oil-bearing communities where they operate.
As Mr. Agwoha rightly said, it is not only the oil companies that have faded in meeting the statutory obligations to the commission. According to him, the Federal Government is equally culpable, as the interventionist agency was getting only 10 per cent from it instead of 15 per cent during the Obasanjo administration. This resulted in the much-talked about N326 billion debt that it owed the commission.
President Musa Yar’ Adua. known for his avowed respect for the rule of law, should promptly pay up the outstanding debt. This would strengthen the hands of the new board to actualize his vision for the rapid development of the Niger Delta.
Mr Agbu writes from Port Harcourt.

Ifeatu Agbu

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Proposed ‘12-4’ Education Policy: How Sustainable?

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Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, Thursday  February 6, 2025, triggered curiosity among stakeholders of the Education sector in Nigeria as he announced his proposal to phase out Nigeria’s current 6-3-3-4 education system and introduce a compulsory 12-year uninterrupted basic and 4-year  Tertiary education model. Though on Friday February 7, the Federal Government said it was not true that the the 6-3-3-4 system is scrapped, some of the seven-fold “speculated” benefits of the proposed 12-4 system to Nigeria according to Alausa are: Elimination of financial and systemic barriers that often lead to school dropouts;  exposing students to vocational and entrepreneurial skills at an earlier stage, equipping them with practical knowledge and preparing them for both higher education and the workforce; implementing a uniform curriculum nationwide, ensuring consistent educational standards across States;  Enhancing Economic Development  by equipping young people with relevant skills, the reform is expected to reduce child labour and increase employability, contributing to Nigeria’s economic and social development; setting 16 years as the minimum entry age for tertiary education, ensuring students are mentally and emotionally prepared for higher learning.
Considering the benefits the system seems to offer, as outlined by  the Minister of Education, one is tempted to pat the back, of the National Council of Education, the highest policy making body on Education. While the introduction of the new system seems good, if the explanation of the Minister of Education is anything to go by, one would ask what was wrong with the 6-3-3-4 system that evident deficiencies could not be remedied? Policy instability and implementation remain the bane of Nigeria’s educational system. When the Universal Basic Education was introduced to replace the Universal Primary Education, stakeholders in the education sector thought that policy would remedy the clogs and deficiencies associated with the Universal Primary Education. But years after the introduction of the policy, there is no significant improvement in the education sector. Rather, the sector is bedevilled by a miscellany of hydra-headed problems. For instance, the Universal Basic Education midwifed the abolition of First School Leaving Certificate Examination and its certification in most states of Nigeria, even though First School Leaving Certificate is being required by some employers of labour to determine the age of applicants and not as a parameter for job placement and promotion.
The Universal Basic Education system which was a nine-year unbroken academic process lacked the manpower, equipment and facilities to drive implementation of the system. The absence of the necessary requirements for smooth take-off and consequent  holistic achievement of the policy thrust of the Universal Basic Education made the essence of the policy dead on arrival. Another loop in the system was the seeming complexities in the transition to the Senior Secondary School level. The system makes it mandatory for a student who has undergone nine years of basic education to sit for a qualifying examination to the Senior Secondary level into that same School. If the applicant passed the Junior Secondary Schools Examination, their parents were forced to pay admission fees and meet other requirements before they are enrolled. The Universal Basic Education encumbered unnecessarily on parents’ scarce finances while Principals and teachers leverage on the systemic defects to rip off parents or amass so much money for themselves with impunity.
While Nigeria’s Universal Basic Education policy was patterned after developed nations of the world, and said to be “a best practice in the world”, it never worked after all in Nigeria. If it had worked as the then Minister of Education lulled consumers of education to believe, there would not have been need for the proposed new policy christened: 12-4. What works in other nations of the world does not seem to work in Nigeria, why? The reason is not far-fetched: the will to make it work is elusive. The Federal Government does not work the policy through deliberate and intentional  gross under funding of the Education sector against the United Nations’ prescription on the percentage of annual budget nation should allocate to the Education sector. Though the current Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa has painstakingly given reasons why the National Council of Education considered the 12-4 system a comparatively preferable policy to the 6-3-3-4 system, it may still not attain its envisioned peak in operations because of the twin systemic problem of bare-faced corruption and underfunding of the Education sector.
Alausa also advanced Global competitiveness as an advantage of the 12-4 policy. According to him,  “many developed nations already operate a 12-year basic education system. Aligning Nigeria’s education system with international standards which will enhance the global competitiveness of Nigerian students and improve educational outcomes”. But without being pessimistic, that the 12-4 system is a working model in developed climes  is not a guarantee that it will work in Nigeria. Nigeria is a Third World country, struggling with development, suffocating under the unpleasant euphoria of corruption. The corruption-infested system which seems to allow public funds to be misappropriated, siphoned, outrightly embezzled, by some public servants, sorting, certificate purchase in some tertiary institutions, cannot produce and actualise the quality and best practices of the policy as envisioned by Dr. Alausa.
Nigeria is a rich nation no doubt, with more than 44 mineral resources and abundant human resources, yet her people live in abject poverty. Like the Bible’s Jericho, the “land is pleasant but the water is bitter,” is the experience of Nigeria and Nigeria’s teeming poor. Someone has said, if you bring any of the nations Nigerian politicians travel to on medical or relaxation tourism to run Nigeria, the taps that are dry will flow, the comatose economy will revive, the darkness-ridden homes will be illuminated. Are the benefits of the proposed 12-4 System as outlined mere hype or window dressing?  Would the 12-4 Policy be  better than the 6-3-3-4 System? Only time will reveal.

Igbiki Benibo

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As Amaechi  Dedicates Award To Wike… 

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In a surprising turn of events, former Minister of Transportation, Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, dedicated an award to his long-time political rival, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, at the induction of the first set of medical graduands into the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).  Amaechi, who was honoured with an award of appreciation for his contributions to the development of education in Rivers State University (RSU) by the university management,  said he dedicated the award to  Nyesom Wike because he refused to abandon the College of Medical Sciences of the Rivers State University (RSU) while he (Wike)  served as governor of the Rivers State.
The former Minister of Transportation under former President Muhammadu Buhari  initiated the college project during his tenure as governor of the state, but could not complete it before the end of his tenure in 2015. The Wike-led administration continued with the project until 2018 when the college matriculated its first set of medical students. By completing the project, Governor Nyesom Wike’s administration demonstrated its commitment to promoting  the growth of quality healthcare sector and providing  training for qualified medical doctors and other health professionals.  His decision to ensure that the investment made by his  predecessor’s administration was not wasted was in  cognisance of the fact  that the people of Rivers State could benefit from the project. Such  resolve does not only  highlight the importance of continuity in governance it is a reminder of  the need for politicians to work together for the greater good.
Meanwhile, Amaechi’s gesture, coming from a politician who has had a well-documented history of disagreements with Wike, is a testament to his  character and leadership quality. Instead of basking in the glory and europhoria of his achievement, Amaechi chose to dedicate the award to Wike, acknowledging the latter’s efforts in completing the medical college.This act of magnanimity is a breath of fresh air in Nigeria’s politics, where rivalry and mudslinging are often the norm. Amaechi’s gesture shows that even in the face of intense political rivalry, it is possible to put aside differences and acknowledge the contributions of others. Amaechi’s decision to dedicate the award to Wike is also a testament to his commitment to the development of Rivers State. By recognizsing Wike’s efforts in completing the medical college, Amaechi also  acknowledges  the importance of continuity in governance and the need for politicians to work together for the greater good
In a country where politics is often characterised by bitterness and rivalry, Amaechi’s gesture  of dedicating an award to his political rival, Nyesom Wike, is a significant departure from the typical bitter and rivalry-driven politics that often characterised Nigerian politics.
To state the obvious, this  is a significant departure from the typical bitter and rivalry-driven politics that often characterise Nigerian politics.  It is a timely reminder that there is more to politics than just winning elections. It is a  lesson in sportsmanship  as well as  a demonstration of leadership. Amaechi’s ability to put aside his personal differences with Wike and acknowledge the latter’s contributions  is an indication that  politicians have a responsibility to work together for the greater good and to put the interests of their constituents above their personal differences. As Rivers State continues to grapple with the challenges of development, this remarkable  gesture  remains a beacon of hope. It shows that even in the face of intense political rivalry, it is possible to find common ground and work together for the greater good.
This writer figures out a lesson in sportsmanship and a demonstration of  commitment to the development of Rivers State. As Nigeria continues to navigate the complexities of politics and governance, Amaechi’s gesture serves as a beacon of hope for a more collaborative and inclusive approach to politics. It also  sends a powerful message to Nigerians that politics does not have to be a zero-sum game  where one person’s gain must come at the expense of another. Rather, it shows that politics here is specifically for initiating the College of Medical Sciences during his tenure as governor,   specifically for initiating the College of Medical Sciences during his tenure as governor,  and can work together, acknowledge each other’s contributions, and focus on achieving common goal. By dedicating the award to Wike, Amaechi  has demonstrated a high level of sportsmanship, which is a rare commodity in Nigerian politis. Sportsmanship involves being gracious in victory and defeat.
This act of sportsmanship is also a demonstration of leadership. Effective leaders are able to rise above petty squabbles and personal differences to achieve greater goals. By dedicating the award to Wike, Amaechi showed that he is a leader who is committed to the development of Rivers State and is willing to work with others to achieve that goal.

Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi

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 2050: Expectations For Poultry Enterprise

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WattAgNet.com, on the future of poultry, once wrote that by 2050, we will need to consider that routine work may be replaced by robotics or automation. There will most likely be total supply chain transparency with precision farming, total traceability and on-farm informatics. In the same vein, many years ago, Philip Wilkinson expressed his optimism about the future of poultry farming. He said that poultry, undoubtedly is going to be the leading meat protein to help feed an additional three billion people by 2050.Although his projection may not have meant so much to his listeners, Wilkinson’s assumption was borne out of his understanding of the discovery of animal product as the best bet  for adequate protein intake. The place of the poultry industry in providing the consumers’ bugging demand question has become highly indispensible that it is no longer out of place to foresee a high possibility of farm employees with doctorate degrees, hydroponics and mini-power stations becoming more common on poultry operations.
Protein, the second most abundant compound found in human body, plays many critical roles in keeping the body alive and healthy. It is not unlikely that very soon, dietary health foods may be prescribed as part of a disease prevention programme. From the contraction of the muscles which allows for body movement, to the contraction of specialised muscle that controls organ functions such as the heart, digestive movements and elimination of unwanted elements in the body, the place of protein in human body is said to be highly indispensible. Luckily, the free range organic poultry, ducks, turkeys and eggs from healthy chickens are usually handy for this purpose. No doubt, plant foods such as grains, nuts, beans and vegetables can supply the body with proteins, it is but a limited array of amino acids, animal product such as chicken, fish, beef, venison, duck, turkey and pork contain virtually all the essential amino acids needed to keep the body fit and healthy. This makes the poultry business a handy bridge between the need of a people and the availability of a solution to such need.
Wilkinson thus sees the poultry farmer as one in a position to answer the consumers’ bugging question of “what should we eat?” Of course, like the words of the President of the Barbados Egg and Poultry Producers Association (BEPPA), Wendell Clarke, in 2009, “local poultry producers are actually more than ready and willing to satisfy the needs of the local market”, but the question is, how enabling and encouraging is the economic climate under which the poultry farmer operates? No doubt, knowing the gap between the protein need or demand of the society and its existing available supply will aid in assessing the role of poultry farming towards the health and the wealth of the nation. It is in the realisation of the above fact, that the repositioning of the poultry industry in Rivers State becomes imperative. No matter how the poultry farmer struggles with continued industry volatility, even in the face of generally favourable environment, the need for flexibility and market orientation can never be overemphasised. This is to ensure that tasty, safe and enticing products grown in a manner consistent with consumers expectations, are delivered.
Therefore, if the poultry business be considered a handy bridge between the need of a people and the supply of the products, then the onus lies first on the industry to acquire a new mindset that will favour improvement in productivity. For us here in Rivers State, a state peculiar for  its burgeoning population and increasing demand for poultry products, we are found  at crossroads in the realm of poultry farming. While the potential for economic growth and food security is vast, numerous challenges plague the industry, necessitating urgent attention and strategic intervention. One of the primary issues confronting poultry farmers in Rivers State is the inconsistency in the supply chain. Fluctuating prices of feed, coupled with disruptions in the distribution network, often result in financial instability for farmers. Addressing this requires a comprehensive assessment of the supply chain and collaborative efforts between farmers and stakeholders to establish stability. Poultry farming faces constant threats from disease outbreaks. Avian influenza and other contagious diseases pose significant risks, leading to the loss of poultry stocks and economic setbacks for farmers.
There is an urgent need for the government to bolster disease control measures and provide support for farmers in the event of an outbreak. The escalating costs of inputs such as feed, vaccines, and energy are major hurdles for poultry businesses in Rivers State. A strategic approach to reducing these costs through subsidies, grants, or cooperative initiatives is crucial to sustaining the industry. There is no gainsaying that outdated and inadequate infrastructure hampers the efficiency of poultry farming. The absence of modern facilities for processing and storage limits the sector’s growth potential. Thus, government’s intervention is imperative to invest in and upgrade infrastructure to meet global standards. Talking of access to finance, this remains a significant challenge for small and medium-scale poultry farmers. Establishing dedicated financial schemes, low-interest loans, or grants tailored for the poultry sector would empower farmers to expand their operations and enhance productivity.
Poultry farmers often struggle with accessing markets and efficient distribution channels. Government support in creating market linkages, improving transportation infrastructure, and streamlining distribution networks will fortify the poultry value chain. The lack of updated knowledge and skills among farmers exacerbates challenges. Comprehensive training programmes and capacity-building initiatives can empower farmers with the necessary tools to adopt modern and sustainable practices. Environmental concerns, including waste management and water pollution, require immediate attention. Implementing eco-friendly practices and enforcing regulations to ensure sustainable farming methods is paramount for the long-term viability of poultry farming. Promoting local poultry breeds resilient to the region’s conditions can contribute to sustainable farming. Government incentives and awareness campaigns can encourage farmers to invest in indigenous breeds, fostering biodiversity and adaptability.
In all of these, creating awareness among consumers about the challenges faced by poultry farmers in Rivers State is essential. Public support and conscientious consumption can drive demand for locally produced poultry products, creating a more sustainable market. The dilemma faced by poultry farmers in Rivers State requires a multi-faceted approach involving government, private sector, and community collaboration. By addressing these challenges collectively, we can pave the way for a thriving and resilient poultry industry that contributes significantly to the state’s economic development and food security.

By: Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi

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