Category: Features

Trade Modernisation Project as tool to combat trade-related corruption

By Martha Agas

Generally, one menace countries seeking to facilitate ease of doing business to generate revenue, especially through direct foreign investment, face, is corruption along the chain of service delivery.

Analysts have, thus, argue that the first step to boost international trade is to deal with corruption and other sharp practices that could hurt investors’ confidence.

They have always emphasised the need for transparency, accountability and the need to establish deep trust,  particularly in global trade.

Analysts believe that a deep trust in the trade operations processes will encourage and attract investors to the country, with their activities boosting the country’s economic profile and facilitating implementation of more developmental projects.

Even though the World Bank’s Annual Ease of  Doing Business Report states that Nigeria has greatly improved  in the ease of doing business, ranking 131 out of 190 countries in 2020, stakeholders still observe that there are many factors impeding business operations in the country.

They say top on the list is corruption, with public officials often accused of often taking advantage of administrative bureaucracies to force trade operators to give bribes to expedite the lengthy chain of  procedures.

The say that the labyrinthine bureaucracy, lack of transparency and inefficiency have continuously created fertile ground for corrupt practices.

Similarly, reports by LEAP and NOI polls indicate that 85 per cent of Nigerians believe that the prevalence of corruption in the country is responsible  for the difficulty in the ease of doing business.

Stakeholders have noted that corruption is impeding trade operations at land borders and sea ports accross the country, while business operators are reported to constantly complain on dealing with too many government agencies and illegal clearing agents, who make corrupt demands or arbitrary fees during port calls.

Even though the Trade Policy of Nigeria(TPN) 2023 to 2027, hinges on government’s commitment to an open and transparent trade policy, and is described as a significant effort to promote trade as a tool for economic growth and development, achieving this goal  requires deliberate efforts to address constraints such as corruption.

To salvage the situation, trade modernisation offers a beacon of hope in the fight to address the menace.

By leveraging technology, streamlining processes, and enhancing transparency, Nigeria can significantly reduce the opportunities for corruption and create a more efficient and fair trade environment.

It is in line with this that the Public Private Patnership (PPP) of Trade Modernisation Project, which has three phases, was embarked upon in 2022.

The project is a 20-year concesssion, with the execution agreement signed on May 30, 2022, between the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) Board, and the Trade Modernisation Project(TMP) Ltd.

The TMP is the automation of the business processes of the NCS. It seeks to simplify and enhance the experience  of stakeholders in the trade value chain.

It is aimed at making it easy to obtain export and import clearances. It will also ease the payment of duties and the release of goods.

In summary, it is a long-term rescue plan aimed at  ensuring predictable and transparent processes  and procedures for imports, exports and transit trade.

The project will deploy a software described as the Unified Customs Management system(UCMS),  allowing trade operators  the advantage of  monitoring all stages of their transactions.

According to the Head of Business Processes for the project, Mr Usman Abba, the system is an improvement over the current system, with enhanced features that use Artificial Intelligence(AI)  to assist in the classification and validation of documents  or data that is being uploaded.

He also mentioned that it includes   third-party sources for verifying documents, which simplifies the work of customs officers in terms of registration and document processing.

In time past, stakeholders had sought such a rescue plan.

In 2020, for instance, Dr Muda Yusuf, the former Director General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry,  highlighted the need for Nigeria to transit to automated processes.

At a webinar on corruption in the cargo clearance at the Nigeria port, he said  that delays and  the cost of  border trade operations could be reduced if manual processes were automated.

The General Manager of TMP Ltd, Ahmed Ogunshola, while throwing more light on the project, said recently that it creates a foundation for improving NCS’ services, which include improving revenue generation, facilitating trade development and minimising corruption in trade facilitation.

Experts have noted that such digital systems help to reduce human interaction, thereby by minimising opportunities for corrupt practices, and increasing transparency in customs operations.

A tech expert, Ibrahim Yahaya, has said that if properly implemented, TMP would unify custom activities and management, and effectively combat corrupt practices within the system.

He added that it would also help  ensure transparency and efficiency in the discharge of NCS’ activities, especially in verifying the issuance of fake customs duties documents.

“Mostly, we see a lot of fake customs duties documents, while the mode of production and issuance is obsolete.

“ Traditionally, it makes it easy for people to manipulate, but automation will help in addressing that; it will improve efficiency.

“I belive that there is AI in the system. It will help to predict an estimated target for government revenue, and if there is any deficiency. it would address it,” he said.

Stakeholders say that the TMP is a beacon to combat corruption in trade operations, and they are excited that the UCMS is to be inaugurated so that they start reaping the benefits.

The President of the Nigerian Association of Master  Mariners, Capt.Tajudeen Alao, believes that TMP will facilitate quicker cargo clearance at the nation’s ports, boost Internally Generated Revenue and enhance the country’s global visibility.

With the backlog of clearances being a concern  for operators due  to extended clearing times, resulting in increased cost, TMP managers say that 200 containers can be scanned within an hour using the gantry scanner, which the project will deploy.

This is in addition to helping traders comprehensively monitor all processes and avoid  falling prey to agents extorting them even after customs clearance.

An ex-ray of the process indicates that it is transparent as  it gives traders full visibility in the system to know the specific  documents being worked upon, who is handling them,  the amount required for customs charges, the causes of any other delays in the transaction, and how to follow up to address them.

With its clear features, analysts believe that TMP will address the agitation by stakeholders for the reduction of desks that importers pass through – for several weeks – to clear their goods, which has become a window to indulge in corrupt practices.

Simply put, the time allotted to assess documents uploaded to the system could be shortened by half with the deployment of the new system.

“It is a complex coming together of different aspects in terms of being efficient, which includes human efficiency, system efficiency in terms of hardware and software,” a key player at the Lagos port recently observed, while craving anonymity.

“We have made significant progress with respect to the deliverables of the project,” he added.

To curb leakages in revenue collection and drive trade reforms, transparency in creating a trustworthy trade environment is crucial, analysts say.

They also point out that corruption at various stages of the trade process can significantly increase costs and deter both domestic and foreign businesses from engaging in trade activities.

While stakeholders are receptive to the gains of the TMP, even though it is still at its first phase, observers hope that the implementation will be smooth and not follow the typical scenario of  many initiatives that were full of errors, hitches, and not sustained.

It is hoped that the PPP would increase revenue accruals as the project is expected to generate in excess of 250 billion dollars for Nigeria with the concessionaire investing 3.2 billion dollars to deliver the project over  the 20-year period.(NANFeatures)

*** If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria.

Corruption as bane of women in politics, economic leadership spaces

By Dorcas Jonah, News Agency of Nigeria NAN

Mrs Abimbola Ojo, a hardworking and competent confidential secretary, has remained stagnated for over 10 years, while others recruited after her, in a federal ministry, are forging ahead, getting juicy positions in the ministry.

Ojo was told to pay some money or engage in illicit relationship to guarantee that her name on the promotion list.

She refused. The consequence is that her career has stagnated. She was depressed and eventually resigned without financial compensation.

This is the fate of many women, in public and private sectors of the economy and in political groups.

Available statistics indicate that the national average of women’s political participation in Nigeria has remained 6.7 per cent in elective and appointive positions.

This is below the Global Average of 22.5 per cent, Africa Regional Average
of 23.4 per cent and West African Sub Regional Average of 15 per cent.

Statistic has also indicated that the number of women elected to the National Assembly in 2023 is the lowest since 2003 when 24 women were elected.

The 2007 general elections produced the highest number of women in the National Assembly with 34 elected. The second lowest number was recorded in 2011 and repeated in the 2015 elections with 29. The lowest was in 1999 with only 15 women elected.

In 2023 National Assembly elections, recorded 14 female members in the lower chamber and three in the upper chamber.

President Bola Tinubu also appointed eight female ministers in his cabinet.
Nigeria is rated as one of the worst countries with poor female representation in parliament worldwide.

The Nigerian government has taken some steps to combat corruption, such as establishing anti-corruption agencies, but progress has been limited.

Many women have been frustrated, abused and discriminated against because of the corrupt and immoral practices in the economic and political spheres.

They are curtailed from attaining leadership position, even when they are better and have charisma than their male counterparts.

According to the United Nations, Women’s equal participation and leadership in politics and economy, is essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

However, the UN data shows that women are underrepresented, at all levels of decision-making worldwide while achieving gender parity in all sectors, requires implementation of strategies.

Samuels Isopi, European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, equally frowned at poor participation of women in politics, in Nigeria.

Isopi, represented by the EU Deputy Head of Mission to Nigeria, Zissimos Vergos, expressed his reservations at a two-day roundtable on women’s inclusion in politics, recently held in Abuja

The programme was in commemoration of the International Women’s Week.

“In Nigeria, the advocacy for women’s political participation has been long drawn. In Spite of the very dynamic interventions by women groups and other key stakeholders, their representation remains in steady decline.

“For example, women’s representation in the 10th National Assembly is 7.4 per cent out of a total of 469 combined seats in the Senate and House of Representatives.” she said.

Isopi opined that there is strong evidence that, as more women are elected into office, there is an increase in policy making that emphasizes quality of life, and reflects the priorities of families, women, and marginalised groups.

“We must, therefore, strive for a society where every woman does not just feel safe enough to survive, but empowered enough to thrive,” she said.

According to Samson Itodo, Executive Director, Yiaga Africa, corruption impacted on women’s leadership, women’s representation and women’s participation in three ways.

Itodo said that when corruption is rampant in a society, it creates inequality, both in political and economic space, and women are at a disadvantage and unable to garner the kind of resources that they require.

In Nigeria, contesting for public office involved lots of money and women are not able to achieve this because a few persons have decided to strip women of that opportunity.

”Beyond the fact that corruption is a cancer, it disempowers women because they are unable to access resources.

According to him, once women are disempowered economically, they are unable to exert or participate actively in civic life.

Another dimension where corruption impacted on women is when it becomes the order of the day..

Under such circumstance, jobs that rightfully belong women to empower themselves are not available to them.

”This, I think is the fundamental problem and challenge that we have. So, when you think about how corruption affects women and women leadership, this is actually a classic example.

”Often, when women expose corruption they are intimidated because they are considered, ‘a weaker sex’ and they cannot withstand pressure,” he said.

Itodo said the situation was a negative stereotype about women, adding that, where courageous women have spoken against corruption, the society actually tends to frown at them and punished them for doing so.

He said injustices and structural inequalities in the Nigeria’s politics needed to be reversed, either through the instrumentality of law, through socialisation or accountability.

The Head of Department, Women and Youth, Nigeria Labour Congress, Mrs Rita Goyit, said corruption runs through every level of the Nigerian government.

Goyit said that corruption runs from top to bottom, including contract fraud, through petty bribery, money laundering schemes, embezzlement, among others.

She said most time the monies and other resources that were meant for development infrastructure are diverted by individuals or groups.

“This is not right because everything that is given to you is done in trust, whatever position you are holding is in trust for the people to be used for the good of everybody.

“ But corruption has made it in such a way that those things, instead of being used for the good of others, have been diverted to be used for the good of some individuals.

“Some of these individuals are people who are able to, in quotes, ‘steal those monies or tax those monies or loot the money as the way we saw is corruption,” she said.

Goyit said that in Nigeria corruption has become endemic, because there was no aspect of life that corruption has not affected.

“ It has affected our well-being as citizens, because money meant for our good is not used. It has affected development, infrastructure.

“ So, people take it away and all of that. It has even affected our democracy as it were,” she said.

Goyit said Nigerian women and youth were yet to feel the impact of the activities of the Ministry of Labour and Employment because they had been marginalised in that sector.

According to her, we expect that in terms of other trapezoidal or bipartite relationships, there should be some capacity building so that we’ll be able to understand one another.

Similarly, Dr Comfort Adokwe, Deputy Director, Centre for Gender Studies, said corruption hinders economic progress and good governance.

She said that Nigerian women have historically faced substantial obstacles to attaining positions of economic and political leadership.

Adokwe said corruption has also eroded public trust in the political process, discouraging many women from seeking leadership positions.

The perception that advancement requires engaging in corrupt practices deters women, who often face greater social stigma for doing so, Adokwe said.

She said corrupt officials also employ various means to impede or undermine women candidates.

The Executive Director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC), Auwal Rafsanjani, said that corruption undermined the integrity of women who want to participate in the social economic development in Nigeria.

He said political participation has been commercialised, privatised, in a way that it was given to the highest bidder, a situation he said, had deprived many women from realising their political dreams.

He said women are being marginalised because they were not interested to engage in political violence.

“Many women do not believe that they have to sell their body to get involved in the political environment that is why they have been isolated.

“Also many women who want to do things professionally have also been ambushed by men’’, he said.

Rafsanjani said the implication would be more poverty for women as they continue to be undermined from participating in the socio-economic and political development.

The ease of doing business has not also been unfavorable to women because they are operating from the informal sector where most of them don’t have access to credit facilities.

”Neither are they able to access any government programmes that will enhance their businesses because they are reluctant to give bribes to get contracts.

”They cannot get contracts even when they are legitimately qualified to get those contracts.

“So these are fundamental challenges that corruption has brought into undermining women’s political and economic participation in Nigeria’’, Rafsanjani he said.

Corruption remains a significant barrier to women’s participation in economic and political leadership in Nigeria.

Anti-corruption crusaders say to address this requires a multi -faceted approach which includes fair access to opportunities and resources, transparency, accountability, and gender-sensitive policies, institutional reforms and societal norms.

Strong legal frameworks, transparent institutions, and a culture of accountability and integrity at all levels of society will also help to elevate women into leadership roles that can also help drive anti-corruption efforts. (NANFeatures)

(This investigation is for the GENDER, THE AGENDA project for Gender Strategy Advancement International (GSAI) supported by the Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), and the MacArthur Foundation)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.

Kenya clashes, Bolivia’s failed coup show perils of economic hardship

Promoting inclusivity for PWDs through access to public buildings

By Diana Omueza, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

In 2018 the Nigerian government passed the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities Prohibition Act, bringing to end the struggle for a legal framework for the integration of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the country.

The National Commission for Persons With Disabilities (NCPWD) estimates that there are 35.1 million persons currently living with disabilities in Nigeria.

Nigeria is one of the first countries in Africa to sign a Disability Rights Act. Series of legislation have since taken place at the national and sub-national levels for the promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities in the country.

The Disability Act provides for the full integration of PWDs into the society, establishes the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities and, vests in the commission the responsibilities for their education, health care, social, economic and civil rights; and for related matters.

The Act among other provisions also states that from the date of its passage, “there shall be a transitory period of five years within which all public buildings and structures, whether immovable, moveable or automobile which where inaccessible to PWDs shall be modified to be accessible and usable by PWDS including persons on wheelchairs“.

The spirit of that section of the Acct is to ensure that PWDs have access to physical environments and buildings on an equal basis with others.

However, several years after the passage of the Act, in spite the imposition of sanctions in the form of fines and imprisonment for defaulters, access to public buildings still remains a major challenge for PWDs.

A recent research carried out by the Inclusive Friends Association (IFA), a disability advocacy group, revealed that disability budgeting may be an issue impeding the modification of public buildings for the benefits of PWDs.

The research, which assessed five government Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ascertain their compliance with the disability Act, showed the lack of critical physical accessibility features for PWDs.

“Some of the MDAs with multiple storeys, PWD employees are restricted to the ground floor as there are no lifts/stair-lifts in the buildings, and none of the MDAs has an accessible toilet, even though the general toilets are somewhat inaccessible the PWDs’’, the document said

It further said that: “18.1% of PWDs believe that the MDAs are not accessible to persons with disabilities, 36.4% believe they are largely accessible and 45.5% believe they are somewhat accessible.”

Similarly a report by the Whistlers showed that the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja which accommodates not less than five MDAs in each bloc has no ramps leading to the elevator area.

According to the report, only one or two MDAs have ramps that lead to the elevator, while persons on wheelchair are usually assisted to get into the elevator area in other parts of the complex.

Similar studies show substantial non-compliance to the provisions of the Act. This calls for concern.

However, a 2023 survey conducted by the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), ranked Lagos State as top of states which exceeded the required criteria for implementing the access to infrastructure and other services for PWDs.

The survey, which was carried out to assess the level of implementation of the Act and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) criteria across different Nigerian states, saw a lot of states lagging.

Mr Christian Agbo, Chairman of the National Association of Persons with Disability, Abuja Chapter, attributed non-compliance to the Act to the failure institutions responsible for creating awareness about it to effectively discharge their responsibilities.

Agbo, who uses wheelchair for mobility, said even government-owned media organisations have failed to sensitise the public to the need to make public buildings accessible to PWDs.

“The media and agencies responsible for the sensitisation of the public on the Act and its provisions are doing little in this regard.

“Shockingly, even the National Orientation Agencies (NOA) under the Federal Ministry of Information and Orientation which I believe has the core mandate of disseminating this information is not accessible to us.

“The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the foremost news outlet in the country, has no ramp for PWDs to gain access to the building, though I am aware there is an elevator there.

“So if these public buildings where we should get some succour and support are not accessible, you can imagine what the rest public buildings are like,“ he said.

He urged the media and journalists to contribute their quota by mainstreaming disability issues in their reportages, especially in the area of access to public buildings.

Agbo also called on the Ministry of Works and Housing, saddled with the responsibility to engage other government organisations to ensure that public buildings are dully modified.

He also called on the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities responsible for implementing the Act to live up to its mandates.

Mr Jake Epelle, the Executive Director, Albino Foundation, also called for awareness creation about the Act and urged PWDs and organisations of PWDs to intensify efforts on awareness creation and advocacies to ensure compliance to the legislation.

Mrs Grace Jerry, Executive Director, Inclusive Friends Association (IFA), a disability advocacy group, recommended that MDAs develop implementation policies and strategies to ensure implementation of the law, especially with the provisions on physical accessibility.

Jerry also appealed to the government demonstrated enough political will to ensure implementation of the provision of the Ac.

Mr David Anyaele, the then Executive Director of the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), attributed the unimpressive report and low implementation of the Act to lack of adequate awareness of its provisions.

“In terms of access to public buildings and transportation facilities among my community of persons with disabilities, it has remains weak.

“Both government and privately owned transportation facilities are not accessible to persons with disabilities,” he said.

Anyaele also said absence of political will, ignorance of the important players in policy making, and lack of funding for disability-related issues and institutions such as the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, had continued to hinder the implementation of the law.

While PWDs in Nigeria saw a significant degree of institutional relief five years ago when the bill was assented to, unfortunately it is yet to garner momentum in its implementation and execution.

PWDs still face major barriers excluding them from society such as lack of access to public transportation, social stigma and discrimination, educational barriers, employment disparities, and financial constraints which called for concern.

Stakeholders across board believe that accessibility and inclusion is not just about lifts and ramps, but a society where all barriers are removed for PWDs. (NANfeatures)

 **if used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.

When stakeholders converged on Banjul to affirm nuclear test rejection

By Fortune Abang, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Stakeholders gathered in Banjul, The Gambia, for a two-day African regional workshop organized by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) from May 31 to June 1, 2024.

The workshop brought together 27 attendees from 23 countries, including both diplomatic and technical representatives.

During the two-day event, participants emphasised the significance of African countries’ adherence to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) for ensuring peace and security across the region.

Topics discussed included strategies to increase support for and achieve universal adoption of the CTBT in Africa, as well as ways to build momentum towards its entry into force.

There was call to Africa Heads of State and Governments to advance the ratification and national implementation of the Treaty.

The CTBT, a multilateral agreement opened for signature in September 1996, has since been signed by 187 nations and ratified by 178, prohibiting any nuclear weapons test anywhere in the world by anyone.

The workshop also focused on ensuring that all States Signatories benefit from Treaty membership, whether through using the data collected by the organization’s state-of-the-art verification regime or accessing capacity building and training opportunities.

It followed other regional and sub-regional outreach events held in Cairo, Egypt; Nairobi, Kenya; Rabat, Morocco; Niamey, Niger; Abuja, Nigeria; Dakar, Senegal; Pretoria, South Africa; and Tunis, Tunisia, among others.

During the workshop, suggestions were made on how to better contribute to the International Monitoring System (IMS), a technical platform of CTBTO’s verification regime that detects nuclear test explosions globally.

Others called for capacity building programmes and training initiatives to promote States signatories’ access to IMS data and International Data Centre (IDC) products for civil and scientific applications, such as earthquake warnings and climate change research.

CTBTO Executive Secretary Robert Floyd emphasised the importance of the ban on nuclear testing for the African region, highlighting the Treaty’s International Monitoring System’s capability to detect any nuclear.

He disclosed that the CTBT has not yet formally entered into force, requiring ratification from 9 remaining countries from a list of 44, including China, the United States, and Russia.

He said that entry into force would unlock the Treaty’s full verification tools, including the ability to conduct on-site inspections to confirm the nature of any suspected nuclear test.

Floyd emphasised the devastating impact of nuclear weapons, citing the Hiroshima bombing as an example, and encouraged African countries to ratify the CTBT, noting that Africa’s 35 IMS stations are actively monitoring global seismic activity.

He praised Africa’s role in building consensus for the Treaty’s adoption by the UN General Assembly and highlighted the importance of complete adherence to the CTBT for realising a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Africa.

Similarly, Mr Dawda Jallow, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice of The Gambia, said the regional workshop would help the stakeholders to discuss and advance the nuclear testing ban policy objective within the region.

He said The Gambia’s ratification of the Treaty in 2022 demonstrated commitment to nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, as well as dedication to a safer and more peaceful world.

According to him, the challenges Africans faced today required collective efforts through dialogue and diplomacy with relevant support to the CTBT.

Jallow said: “The CTBT’s primary aim is to prevent nuclear testing, but it can also have civil and scientific applications.”

“The verification regime established by the CTBT offers valuable data and tools that can be utilised for purposes, such as climate change research, disaster prevention, including Tsunami warning.”

“These capabilities provide additional benefits to countries like The Gambia and also have the potential of generating positive outcomes across various sectors of economy.”

Dr Oumar Touray, President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, said Africa has been a driving force in nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.

He said this was particularly through the Treaty of Pelindaba, which established a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (NWFZ) in the region.

“This workshop is important to uniting African countries towards achieving a shared future, advancing the CTBT and reinforcing our collective resolve to prevent nuclear proliferation and promote global security.”

“Today, we are gathered to contribute to a cause that not only affects our continents, but the entire world.”

“This workshop is a testament to our shared dedication towards achieving sustainable peace and cooperation in Africa and beyond”, Touray said.

Mako Sitali, a senior Geo-scientist at Namibia’s CTBT National Data Centre (NDC) extolled the workshop to have provided platform for knowledge sharing on gains of nuclear testing ban.

“I believe in teamwork. Being in a room with so much regional expertise was a fantastic opportunity to learn from each other and collaborate. This is a crucial first step towards realising our vision of a world without nuclear tests”, Sitali said.

The stakeholders agreed that the proposed 2025 workshop scheduled to be hosted in Latin America and the Caribbean or the Pacific will benefit all signatories to the Treaty.

This, they agreed, will be achieved through capacity building, especially those interested in engaging in dialogue against nuclear weapons testing.

This will also ensure the safety and protection of the environment from nuclear weapons tests, aid in disaster management.

It will also serve various other civil and scientific purposes. It aims to establish a world without nuclear tests and create barriers against further development and proliferation of nuclear weapons. (NANFeatures)

**If used please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria.

Tinubu and the Ajaokuta steel company completion challenge

By Martha Agas, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

The Ajaokuta Steel Company Ltd (ASCL), as the name implies, is located in Ajaokuta, in the north central state of Kogi. It sits on 24,000 hectares of land and was established in 1979 by the government of President Shehu Shagari.

It was meant to drive Nigeria’s modernity through industrialisation. The steel plant is not just a rolling mill but an integrated iron and steel plant with about 43 units.

By design, it has four rolling mills: the Billet Mills, the Light section Mill (LSM), the Wire Rod Mill and the Medium section and Structural Mill.

They are all envisaged to facilitate numerous socio economic benefits to the country and enhance the nation’s productive capacity through its integration with other industrial sectors.

This is in addition to serving as a means of saving and earning foreign exchange.

Besides supplying materials for infrastructure development, the plant is expected to produce 10,000 direct jobs in its first phase. The multiplier effect is projected to generate an additional 500,000 indirect jobs.

Before the Shagari administration was ousted by the junta in1983, it was 84 per cent completed and by 1994, it was 98 per cent completed.

However, the project  could not continue due to a lack of funds, mismanagement and legal battles.

Unfortunately, what was meant to be Nigeria`s pride, 40 years later, remains in  a comatose as efforts by past governments  to complete its construction and resuscitate the then functional parts yielded no result.

While previous efforts and promises to resuscitate the plant may seems cliché, President Bola Tinubu`s assured that a significant difference would be seen before his tenure expires.

This aligns with his vision of the renewed hope agenda which has economic diversification as one of its major flanks.

The target is to grow the economy of Nigeria to more than one trillion dollars by the end of its first term.

When Tinubu took the helm of the nation`s affairs on May 29, 2023, he promised to remodel Nigeria`s economy to bolster growth and development.

He also said that his industrial policy would utilise the full range of fiscal measures to promote domestic manufacturing and lessen import dependency.

To achieve this feat, he embarked on reforms and initiatives aimed at rejuvenating the economy and promoting industrialisation in Nigeria.

However, for this to happen, the iron and steel industry must be priortised and fully developed because of its crucial role in achieving this feat.

The president emphasised the importance of a revitalised steel industry, as a catalyst for robust economic growth and a gateway to immense opportunities for Nigeria’s vast pool of talented entrepreneurs.

In line with this, the president established the Ministry of Steel Development in August 2023, to champion the vision and work on the improvement of all steel and metallic resources in the country for economic growth.

The ministry`s mandates include to resuscitate the Ajaokuta steel company and the National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) Itakpe, and also to revive the steel industry.

The move is also in keeping to his campaign promise of resuscitating the Ajaokuta Steel Company by the end of his second term, aimed at creating 500,000 jobs to lift Nigerians out of poverty.

For a company that has been in comatose for 40 years, resuscitating it requires courage and political will which the Tinubu administration appears to have.

Experts estimate that a minimum of two billion dollars is required to resuscitate it.

Discussions with the original equipment builders of the steel plant, Russian company, Tyamzhpromexport (TPE) to complete the job they started 45 years ago are on-going.

Although the Chinese, Indian and Arab companies have indicated interest, to handle the job, the Russian consortium, comprising a team from Russia’s TPE/Rostec, Novostal, and Nigeria’s Proforce, are chiselling out a blueprint for the revival of the plant.

To demonstrate his commitment to the resuscitation, Tinubu appointed an indigene of Kogi, Prince Shuiabu Audu, as the Minister of Steel Development.

It is projected that his success would be a source of pride to Nigeria, and particularly to his kinsmen, whom he would not want to disappoint.

When Audu took office, he said the ministry would adopt a collegiate approach to reviving the plant by exploring all realistic means.

One of the approaches is a three-year roadmap of short and medium term plans.

Under the arrangement, due to the substantial amount involved, the units would be concessioned to investors with core competence to manage them.

At the ministerial sector update on the performance of the Tinubu`s administration, Audu said he directed that while navigating through resolving broader issues, the challenges that could be resolved in immediate term should be addressed.

In line with the directive, the minister set in motion the revival of the Light Mill Section (LSM) of the plant, projected to produce 400,000 metric tonnes of iron rods per annum.

These rods would be used for the construction of 30,000 KM of roads across the six geopolitical zones in the President`s first term.

This is part of the concrete road revolution of the renewed hope agenda of the president.

The construction is estimated to require seven million metric tonnes of iron rods over the four year period, about which Shuiabu mentioned talks have been held with the Minister of Works.

He added that Ajaokuta can produce 400,000 tonnes of it, and although it is a small amount, the president wants the company to supply some of the rods needed for Federal Government projects.

In realising this feat, the minister obtained presidential approval to raise private capital to restart the LSM.

“We are at the final stages of raising over N35 billion from a local financial institution, which is around 25 million US dollars to be able to restart the light section mill of the complex so that we can produce iron rods.

“The local financial institution has given us a final offer which I have done a cover letter and forwarded the relevant documents to the minister of finance to be able to take the financing on behalf of the federal government.

“This is through signed promissory notes that will be discounted and provided for the Ajaokuta mill to be able to get back on track in terms of the iron rods production.

“That light section mill has the capacity to produce up to 400,000 metric tonnes of iron rods per annum,“ he said.

He said that the Federal Government plans to establish Ajaokuta as a Free Trade Zone to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and to diversify the country`s economy.

“Part of the plan is to designate the 24,000 hectare land of Ajaokuta as an Industrial Park and create a Free Trade Zone to further attract Foreign Direct Investment’’, he said.

The second stage of the plant`s resuscitation involves producing military hardware.

The Federal Government has taken steps to begin the production of military hardware in the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, as the Ministries of Steel Development and Defence are set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the implementation.

The plant has engineering workshops with the capacity to manufacture hardware for the military under the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Act.

Stakeholders observe that the move is timely, considering Nigeria`s enormous security challenges.

The minister mentioned that the Metallurgical Development Centre in Jos has the capability to provide the Lead and Zinc required to produce military hardware such as rifles, vests, helmets and bullets, among other things in the Ajaokuta Steel Complex.

While these stages are in motion, discussions have begun on reviving the 110 megawatt power plant in Ajaokuta, which can supply power not only to the plant but also to the national grid.

Due to the difficulties in securing funds to implement the plan, the minister is spearheading some initiatives for public-private partnerships.

In this framework, the asset would serve as collateral, enabling private investors to provide financing and expertise to rehabilitate the power plant.

The potential investors include Transcorp Power, Niger Delta Power Holding and Reticulated Global Engineering.

But while these efforts are on-going, there are myths surrounding the delay in the completion of the plant.

Leaders of Geregu and Ajaokuta, the company’s host communities, said in the past that the non-completion was due to mystical forces arising from the neglect of the communities.

They still live with the unfulfilled promises made to them of road construction and rehabilitation, the repair of their schools and other developmental projects. They say the gods must be pacified to make any tangible progress.

The Chairman of Geregu Community Association, Alhaji Idris Aliyu, said that the ancestors are not happy because the agreement reached when the company acquired their lands in 1976 has not been implemented.

He urged that their bad roads be fixed and schools repaired as promised.

While these claims may not be empirical, it is important that all necessary land compensation be fulfilled and basic amenities provided for the communities.

After decades of delay, will Tinubu deliver on his promise or will the long wait continue? (NAN Features)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.

25 years of democracy: High survival hopes for struggling health sector

By Abujah Racheal, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

In the 25 years since Nigeria’s transition to democracy, the healthcare sector has experienced a journey marked by significant strides and but persistent challenges.

From policy reforms to personal stories of survival and resilience, the evolution of the health sector under this phase of democratic governance which commenced on May 29, 1999 reflects a complex interplay of hope and hardship.

Healthcare in Nigeria is managed collaboratively by the three levels of government, with private healthcare providers also playing a significant role.

Additionally, the use of traditional and complementary medicine has grown substantially in recent years.

Stakeholders in the sector have said that healthcare delivery in the country has progressively deteriorated due to a lack of political will from successive governments to address longstanding issues, including personnel and infrastructure gaps.

The situation directly impacts on productivity of citizens with rippling effects for the nation’s economic growth.

More than half of the Nigeria’s estimated 200 million population lives on less than N2, 600 a day. This places the country among the poorest in the world.

When Nigeria transitioned from military rule to a democratic government hopes were ignited and optimism rose for brighter future. This was palpable in the health sector.

In spite of the challenges over the past 25 years, the democratic governance has ushered in significant changes across various sectors, including health.

The introduction of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in 2005 was a beacon of hope for many Nigerians.

It was expected that in no distant time, most Nigerians, whether in private or public sector will have access health insurance.

However, as of February 2018, Nigeria was ranked 187 out of 191 countries in Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as an insignificant portion of the population was enrolled into the scheme.

The high reliance on out-of-pocket payments for healthcare results in significant household expenditures, with private spending constituting 74.85 per cent of total health expenditure, according to health economists.

Consequently, government spending accounts for only 25.15 per cent of all health expenditures in the nation.

Of the private health expenditure, about 70 per cent are out-of-pocket payments for services at both government and private facilities, according to available data.

In spite of having a huge number of health professionals, Nigeria has fewer health workers per population unit than needed. Many of the professionals migrate abroad due to poor welfare and other work conditions.

Mrs Grace Audu, a school teacher in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, said she was able to access healthcare for her family for the first time recently.

But there is hope at the grassroots level where some Primary Health Centres are meeting public expectations.

Audu said that the Primary Health Centre Under One Roof Initiative (PHCUOR) had translated to better equipment in many local health centres and the ability for them to handle basic medical needs, saving countless lives.

The PHCUOR policy is a national policy that was approved in May 2011 at the session of the 54^th National Council of Health to reduce fragmentation and improve PHC performance thus contributing to better health outcomes.

It aligns with the National Health Act (NHAct) of 2014.

Increased investment in health infrastructure has also transformed many local health centres and hospitals.

The renovated Waddiya PHC in Niger State, in the North Central region of the country, for instance, meant that Mrs Amina Salihu, could be safely delivered of her baby in her hometown rather than traveling to urban areas.

Such improvements, while uneven, have had a profound impact on many families across the country.

Democratic governance has opened more doors for international partnerships.

Programmes supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF have brought critical resources to the fight against diseases like malaria and HIV/AIDS.

Mr Samuel Idoko, lives in a village in Otukpa, Benue, received treated mosquito bednets and antimalarial treatment through such programmes. They have been pivotal in reducing the burden of the disease.

Successful health campaigns have also made significant strides in disease eradication. The 2020 declaration of Nigeria as polio-free country is a testament to these efforts.

Children like Mrs Fatima Maigari’s daughter in Kaduna State no longer face the threat of polio, allowing them to run and play freely, embodying the tangible benefits of sustained public health campaigns.

In spite of these improvements, many Nigerians still encounter significant challenges due to inadequate funding of the health sector.

Mr John Dasat, a nurse in Bwari, Federal Capital Territory, healthcare centres often faces shortage of essential medical supplies, making it difficult to provide adequate care to his patients.

The not impressive budgetary allocation to the health sector continues to be a major challenge. So, some of the best hands have to seek greener pasture.

Dr Chioma Chibuzor, a physician, shared her frustration over losing colleagues to better-paying jobs overseas, leaving her and others with more workloads and low morale.

This “brain drain“ exacerbates the shortage of medical personnel, especially in rural areas.

Corruption remains a formidable obstacle. Part of the funds meant for health improvements often disappear, leaving facilities in disrepair.

Mrs Mary Jimoh, a health advocate, speaks of her efforts to promote transparency and accountability, knowing that each misallocated or misapplied fund directly affects the lives of many Nigerians.

Accessibility to quality healthcare remains uneven. In remote areas like where Mrs Ile Adeojo lives in Kogi, where health centres are few and far between.

Adeojo said that the villagers usually travel long distances to receive even basic medical services, highlighting the stark disparities in healthcare access between urban and rural populations.

Nigeria has attempted major health reforms over the past 15 years, including programmes to strengthen primary health care and improve health financing and governance.

Reforms, such as the National Health Act and the National Health Insurance Authority Act|, aimed to address fundamental issues in the health sector.

However, in spite of being successfully adopted, they face significant challenges in implementation.

The health sector is enshrined in the concurrent list. This ordinarily should make its management easier. However, this is not the case as the seeming fragmentation of authority within the health sector made coordinated action difficult and costly.

This issue has often led to inefficiencies and overlaps in responsibilities, hindering the effective implementation of health reforms.

In spite of these initiatives, success has been limited because politicians seem less interested investing in public health.

One significant initiative is the Saving One Million Lives (SOML) programmme, launched in 2012 to strengthen PHC.

The programme focuses on improving maternal and child health, vaccination rates, and the overall quality of primary health services.

Nigeria has one of the worst maternal health ratios in the world.

In 2019, the World Health Organisation estimated the maternal mortality ratio to be over 800 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births with a neonatal mortality rate of 33 per 1000 live births.

In spite of its ambitious goals, the implementation of SOML has faced challenges, particularly due to the fragmented health governance structure and insufficient political support.

The 2014 passage of the National Health Act, particularly the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) component, was another milestone aimed at achieving UHC.

The BHCPF was designed to provide a basic package of health services to all Nigerians, especially the most vulnerable populations.

However, its implementation has been slow, due largely to political and institutional barriers.

Dr Mustapha Lecky, Chairman of the Health System Reform Coalition of Nigeria (HSRCN), underscored the importance of strengthening primary health care.

“Reinforcing the PHC system is essential for improving healthcare access, especially in rural areas.

“This involves better training for health workers, improved facilities, and consistent supply of essential medicines and equipment,” Lecky said.

Dr Aminu Magashi, Coordinator of the Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN), said combating was critical to effective healthcare delivery.

“Implementing robust anti-corruption measures within the health sector is necessary to ensure that funds are used appropriately and efficiently,” he said.

Magashi underlined the need for increased health funding.

According to him, Nigeria must prioritise health in its budgetary allocations to ensure sufficient resources for infrastructure, supplies, and personnel welfare.

“Without this commitment, progress will remain stunted,” he said.

Mrs Helen Ibrahim, a retired nurse with over 35 years of experience provides a critical perspective on the journey so far.

Reflecting on the changes brought by democracy, she there had been gains and concerns.

“Back in the 80s and early 90s, the healthcare system was struggling under military rule.

“We had limited resources, out-dated equipment, and morale was low. When democracy came, there was a palpable sense of hope.

“We started seeing improvements in infrastructure and an influx of foreign aid, which really helped,” said.

Ibrahim, however, noted certain challenges have persisted.

“One of the biggest challenges we have faced is the brain drain. Many of my colleagues left for better opportunities abroad.

“The government needs to do more to retain healthcare professionals,” she said.

According to Ibrahim, corruption is like a disease itself.

“Funds that should go to improving facilities and services often end up in the wrong hands’’, she alleges, adding that: `this has to change if we are to see real progress’.

She, however, said it was gladdening that the young generation of healthcare workers were dedicated.

She described them as passionate and willing to fight for better conditions.

“With the right support and reforms, I believe Nigeria’s health sector can reach its full potential,” she said. (NANFeatures)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.

Bringing succour to widows through empowerment, right policy actions

By Abiemwense Moru, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

In recognition of the challenges of widowhood, the United Nations set aside June 23 as the International Widows’ Day. Through resolution A/RES/65/189 the UN, since 2011, has celebrated widows in appreciated of the obstacles and challenges they face.

“Despite the fact that there are more than 258 million widows around the world, widows have historically been left unseen, unsupported, and unmeasured in our societies’’, the UN said in a report to mark 2024 edition of the Day.

Widows in Africa are faced with heavy burdens placed on their shoulder after the demise of their husbands.

These burdens do not only come as the trauma of losing their spouses but include those imposed on them by some relatives of the deceased resulting in maltreatment and lack of care.

Following the demise of their husbands, most widows abruptly become the bread winners, a task which many of them find excruciatingly difficult to cope with.

Some even become poor because they are deprived of inheriting property left behind by the departed husbands.

Because they have lost their breadwinners, it becomes important to equip the widows with life skills that can help them earn some money as they try to fill the gap left behind by their late husbands.

Whether in rural or in urban areas the challenges faced by widows are enormous, and require concerted efforts by stakeholders to address. Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have been in the forefront in that regard.

For instance Rasaq Okulaja Empowerment Initiative and Helpline Social Support Initiative, according to reports, have empowered 60 widows with self-sustaining skills in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The widows were trained on tie and dye, soap, turban and snacks making among other skills, during a second memorial empowerment and exhibition programme by the NGOs in Abuja.

The President of Helpline Social Support Initiative, Dr Jumai Ahmadu, said the empowerment is also to give the widows and young girls an opportunity to be a better version of themselves.

She advised the beneficiaries not to be ashamed of what they were doing to support themselves financially.

To get the full benefits of the acquired skills, Ahmadu advised the widows to group themselves into clusters to enable them share facilities, access financial support and organise step down trainings to other vulnerable groups.

“Try to be a better version of yourself and improve yourself at all times and form clusters so that you can work as a team and easily connect with customers.

“I promise that next year, we will expand this exhibition and take it to the Old Parade Ground, Garki to accommodate more participants,” she said.

Similarly, another NGO, Women at the Well of Living Water Foundation, Adamawa chapter, empowered 10 widows and struggling families with foodstuff to alleviate hunger.

Jessica Edmund, the Founder of the NGO said during the distribution of the items in Yola, that the move was to alleviate the sufferings of the beneficiaries, following the current inflation in prices of food items.

Edmund, who was represented by Kate Ransom-Stephen, the Adamawa Coordinator of the Foundation, said: “today, we are here to help people with foodstuff and teach them how to catch fish to succeed in life.

“Knowing that the situation is hard that is why we are here to cushion the effects of hunger among our people.”

In Borno, Gov. Babagana  Zulum supervised the distribution of N250 million to no fewer than 25,000 widows and vulnerable women through the Borno Renaissance Microfinance Bank in Gwoza Local Government Area of the state.

The distribution took place in four centres, including the Central Stadium, Mega Primary School, Government Secondary School and Government Day Secondary School, all in Gwoza town.

Zulum said that the distribution was to support women who were victims of the Boko Haram insurgents, some of whom had lost their husbands due to the crisis.

“No fewer than 25,000 women benefited from today’s distribution exercise; each of them received N10,000 through the microfinance Bank; we have facilitated the opening of Bank accounts to them to drive financial inclusion.

”Gradually, we intend to cover all the 27 Local Government Areas and ensure that a sizable number of the population have bank accounts,” Zulum said.

Also, to address the plight of widows in Ebonyi, Gov. Francis Nwifuru reiterated that his administration would continue to prioritise the welfare of the elderly people and widows in the state.

Nwifuru gave the assurance at the Christian Ecumenical Centre, Abakaliki, during the elders and widows party in Abakaliki.

The governor reiterated his stance to better the lots of people, especially the elders, widows and other less privileged ones.

The governor acknowledged the current economic realities, its effects on the widows and elderly and pledged an upward review of their welfare.

“I assure you that I am with you, I am for you and I will work for you.”

However, the Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA), Ogun 1 Command Chapter, has under taken steps to address the immediate needs of some widows in the state.

Mrs Grace Ogunnesan, the Acting Chairperson of COWA, said during the distribution of food items Idiroko, Ogun, that association was committed to ameliorating the plight of widows in their midst.

Faith-based organisations are also central in mitigating the plight of widows.

Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Obinyan, advises that rather than put widows in difficult situations through socio-cultural practices, the society should seeks ways of mitigating their daily challenges.

Obinyan, the Parish Priest of St. Francis Catholic Church, Ekewan road, Benin, spoke during the distribution of  money, cloths and food items to widows and indigent parishioners.

Addressing the problems of widows and issues surrounding widowhood requires more than handouts to those affected.

It requires efforts that aimed at removing violation of rights of widows such as right to the assets of their late husband and in some instances, lack of access to their children.

This calls for the enactment and implementation of the laws that guarantees the rights of widows.

In the meantime Obinyan urges politicians to intensify efforts to provide social welfare programmes that would directly impact on the citizens and guarantee a decent standard of living in the state.

He advised leaders and governments at all levels not to focus only on physical infrastructure, but to ensure a corresponding investment in poverty reduction and youth empowerment.

“Government needs to build and revamp ailing industries in agriculture, textile, health, housing, recreation, waste management and recycling to boost job opportunities.

“Good governance also encompasses policies that promote food security and farmers interest,” he said.

It is believed that such actions would properly equip women with the required skills and wealth to meet the challenges of widowhood in the face of odds that test their resilience.  (NANFeatures)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.