The Director-General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs Zubaida Umar, has urged members of staff to adopt modern technologies in emergency management.
Zubaida Umar, Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
Umar spoke on Monday, October 7, 2024, at the opening of the NEMA Customers Service Week titled “Above and Beyond” in Abuja.
She commended the resilience and perseverance of the workers in the face of challenges.
“In times of disasters and emergencies, your ability to remain calm, collected and focused on the needs of those affected is invaluable.
“The stories of saving lives, communities rebuilding, and hope restoration are a testament to your hard work and commitment to service.
“As we move forward, I urge you to continue seeking ways to improve our service delivery.’’
Umar said that the world was in an era where technology was changing the landscape of emergency management, from early warning systems to disaster mapping and response coordination tools.
“Let us embrace innovation and continuously improve our systems and processes to better serve the public.’’
Umar tasked the workforce on teamwork saying that it remained one of strongest assets of the agency.
According to her, the complexity of emergency situations requires collaboration across different departments and external partners.
“By working together, sharing knowledge and supporting each other, we can achieve even greater success in fulfilling our mission.
“As we celebrate Customer Service Week, let us reaffirm our commitment to working above and beyond in achieving excellence in service delivery, innovation and teamwork in all that we do.
“Together, we will continue to build a stronger and more responsive agency that stands ready to serve the people of this nation in their times of greatest need above and beyond their expectations,” she said.
In his remarks, the Mr Bello Danlami, the Information Officer of United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), commended NEMA for the quality of its services.
He said that the NEMA’s unwavering dedication to providing timely and essential services in the face of emergencies and crises was commendable.
“Your efforts make a significant impact on the lives of countless individuals across Nigeria, ensuring their safety and well-being during the most challenging times.
“At UNOCHA, we recognise the vital role that customer service plays in delivering humanitarian aid and we salute your professionalism, resilience and commitment to serving those in need.
“As we continue to collaborate in addressing humanitarian challenges, we look forward to building on the strong foundation of partnership that we share,” he said.
In her remarks, Mrs Nnenna Akajemeli, the National Coordinator, Service Compact with All Nigerians (SERVICOM), commended NEMA for the initiative.
She said that the celebration pointed out the importance of customer service.
Represented by the SERVCOM Officer, Ms Rebecca Abah, Akajemeli said that irrespective of shape or sizes, customer came first.
She said that developing and implementing plans to prepare communities for potential emergencies remained fundamental.
“Let us bear in mind that going “Above and Beyond” in satisfying our customers requires the commitment of all of us from the front desk to top management.
“Therefore, all hands must be on deck to ensure that quality service is provided for the benefit of all citizens at all times,” she said.
The Managing Director, The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria (SCiN), Osagie Okunbor, has received an “Award of Excellence to an Astute and Visionary Technocrat” from the newly instituted executive leadership of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN).
Executive Chairman, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Engineer Wole Ogunsanya (left), presenting the association Award for “Excellence to an Astute and Visionary Technocrat” to the Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor, at a ceremony in Lagos recently
Okunbor received the award in a short ceremony in Lagos, recently, where the PETAN executive, led by its chairman, Wole Ogunsanya, said: “The award is to acknowledge Country Chair’s leadership of Shell and the long running relationship between PETAN, PETAN member companies and Shell.”
Ogunsanya added: “Shell has been a leader in driving the growth of local capacity participation in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. Several of PETAN members had their first breakthroughs with Shell while even more are currently providing services to Shell Companies in Nigeria.”
“PETAN member companies pledge to consistently deliver quality products and services to Shell in particular.”
He also expressed appreciation for the Shell partnership with PETAN and the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in the Shell-PETAN Internship program that is giving young Nigerian graduates the opportunity to have a two-year on-the-job training in their respective disciplines, to enhance their employability.
“This programme has been a resounding success with several of the interns retained by the participating members,” Ogunsanya said.
Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Okunbor, thanked the PETAN delegation for the recognition. He said: “The growth of participation of indigenous companies in the oil and gas industry is a good thing. Shell companies in Nigeria retain the commitment to continue to create opportunities for Nigerian companies to participate in our business.
“For example, in 2023, SPDC, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) and Shell Nigeria Gas Limited (SNG) awarded $1.98 billion in contracts to Nigeria-registered companies, marking a 3% increase in value from the previous year. SCiN also directly employed more than 2,500 people (of whom 96% were Nigerian nationals) with over 9,000 contractors supporting operations.”
Okunbor reiterated that Shell has invested in game-changing businesses in Nigeria for over 60 years and will continue to power progress, positively impact lives, and unlock opportunities.
The Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) is an association of Nigerian indigenous technical oilfield service companies in the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry.
PETAN was formed in 1994 to bring together Nigerian oil & gas entrepreneurs to create a forum for the exchange of ideas with the major operators, industry stakeholders and policy makers. PETAN is celebrating its 30th anniversary in December 2024.
The Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev Nigeria) is pleased to express its full support for the recent decision by the Government of Lagos State to ban Single-Use Plastics (SUPs), which is seen as a monumental step in protecting the environment and public health. This ban, which follows the successful earlier ban on Styrofoam, reflects the state’s unwavering commitment to addressing the growing crisis of plastic pollution in the Lagos megacity.
Plastic waste pollution in Akobi Crescent, Lagos, Nigeria
Recognising that the National Plastic Waste Regulations 2023 by NESREA soon to be gazette enshrines a ban on similar single-use plastics effective from 2025. And noting that the Federal Executive Council recently approved the ban on SUPs in all Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs) recently with immediate effect. SRADev Nigeria also recognises the peculiarity of Lagos State as a major producer of SUPs with less than 20% recycling capacity should necessarily adopt stricter measures to curb the menace. Against this backdrop, SRADeV Nigeria being the foremost campaigner and advocate for a safer plastic free environment hereby wholly supports Lagos State’s outright ban on SUPs effective from January 2025 especially, as this is long overdue.
While the initial ban on Styrofoam raised concerns from businesses and stakeholders on time adequacy, we believe that enough awareness and consultation with the key stakeholders as well as consistent advocacy for a “Just transition” has been ongoing for the past four years.
It should be noted that many African cities with lesser severe plastic pollution challenges have taken similar moves in the past 10 years and Lagos State, a megacity, cannot continue to promote the circular economy paradigm and its climate change commitment side by side the current production and use of SUPs in 2024. Therefore, it is imperative and overtly timely for the state government to declare the phase-out of single-use plastics effective from January 2025, to ensure a cleaner and healthier future for all residents of Lagos.
Notwithstanding, majority of all the alternatives are available and where the alternatives are not readily available it means there should be no production of such plastics in view of their danger.
Noteworthy also, the whole world by December 2024, a new Global Plastic Treaty is going to be finalised in South Korea of which Nigeria is playing a very important role and the Treaty having a major focus on placing a ban on SUPs as well. Therefore, Nigeria has to go the way of the global community when it comes to SUPs. As you already know, single-use plastics are a leading contributor to environmental degradation, littering waterways, choking wildlife, and disrupting ecosystems in Lagos – a known Centre of Excellence.
In view of the impact of plastic pollution in Lagos state, the current cost of inaction and over production of SUPs has immensely contributed to the over-burdened land resource and waste management infrastructure in the state.
SRADev Nigeria and its allies (GAIA Nigeria) stand by the state government to adopt an enforcement strategy that prioritises plastic hotspots from production to use. Extensive aggressive awareness raising should be mounted in all major plastic hotspots and consumer outlets such as supermarkets, eateries and shopping malls et cetera before the end of the year 2024 to facilitate immediate voluntary compliance.
At SRADev, we believe this policy will spur innovation in alternative packaging and provide new opportunities for green businesses to adopt environmentally friendly practices. While we look forward to the state’s pragmatic steps to monitoring and enforcement, we remain committed to supporting the state government, local communities, and businesses throughout this transition, while ensuring that no one is left behind as we work together towards a greener future.
Dr. Leslie Adogame is Executive Director, Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev Nigeria)
The World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry and the U.S. National Medical Association have asked Nigeria to phase out the use of amalgam in dentistry. Amalgam contains 50% mercury, which poses a health and environmental risk.
Use of dental amalgam
In two separate correspondents dated September 20, 2024, and addressed to Muhammad Ali Pate, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, the organisations urged a fast transition to amalgam-free dentistry for Nigeria.
Graeme Munro-Hall, UK Dentist and Chief Dental Officer of the World Alliance, said: “As an author of a book about toxics in dentistry, as retired practicing dentist with a mercury-free practice for 40 years, and now as the chief dental officer of the worldwide coalition spearheading mercury-free dentistry for all, I urge the great nation of Nigeria to transition rapidly to an end date for dental amalgam.
“Amalgam is a health risk, a workplace hazard, and an environmental menace, which is why it occupies a major place in the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The alternatives are available, affordable, and effective. Large number of Nigerian dentists – we believe the majority – have already transitioned to mercury-free dentistry for their patients.”
According to him, the Children’s Amendment to the treaty that entered into force 12 months ago calls for each Party to end amalgam for children and for pregnant women and for breastfeeding women.
He disclosed that amalgam use is declining in Africa: banned in Gabon, Tanzania on a five-year phase out date, Mauritius, Tunisia and Zambia ended amalgam in use for children, and Benin ended amalgam in the military.
Munro-Hall called on Nigeria to be prepared for the new era of mercury-free dentistry.
The U.S. National Medical Association that represents America’s African-American physicians disclosed that its official policy is opposition to mercury in medical devices and in dentistry, and that it backs the call for the full phase out of dental amalgam.
In the letter, chair of the association, Mark A. Mitchell, said: “America’s Black Doctors’ organisation urges amalgam phase out for Nigeria. The Black physicians in America stand with African governments acting to end dental amalgam.”
Mitchell added: “Once asking only for the phase down of dental amalgam, the Minamata Convention has shifted focus to phase OUT of amalgam. First, the Children’s Amendment, adopted at COP4 and entering into legal force in September 2024, requires governments to adopt policies that lead to the end of amalgam for children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding women. Second, at COP5 the Parties unanimously inserted into the treaty the phase out of amalgam by 2030 as its goal.
“Modern dentistry is mercury-free dentistry. Amalgam, 50% mercury, is a risk to patients and dental workers, and a contributing cause to poisoning fish which children eat. Moreover, dental amalgam is an environmental injustice. Increasingly, middle-class consumers do not receive amalgam. We must lift all boats – end amalgam for all.”
Amara Nwuneli, a Nigerian founder of the youth-led climate education NGO “Preserve Our Roots”, has emerged winner of Under 17’s category of the Canon Young Champion of the Year Award at the 2024 Global Good Awards.
Amara Nwuneli
Jahaan Arora and Shri Akshayaa Lakshmikumar, the founder of “HERglobal”, an international nonprofit working to destigmatise women’s health, primarily in Uganda, both won the Under 25’s category.
The announcement of this year’s Global Good Awards was made at the awards ceremony which took place at BMA House, headquarters of the British Medical Association in London, amongst the 17 categories Company of Year, which went to Octopus Energy and Wild World, going to South West Peatland Project.
For the fifth consecutive year, the Canon Young Champion category of the Global Good Awards, the only youth dedicated category, recognised inspiring young leaders from across the world. The category was originally inspired by the Canon Young People Programme, which gives young people the knowledge, skills and confidence to tackle the sustainability issues that matter to them using creativity and critical thinking.
To determine this year’s Canon Young Champion of the Year Award winner, a panel of judges gathered in London, including Executive Director at UN Global Compact Network UK, Steve Kenzie; 2023 Canon Young Champion of the Year finalist, Jodie Bailey-Ho; and photographer and Canon Ambassador, Laura El Tantawy. In addition to her judging position Laura will provide a masterclass in storytelling for this year’s winners, helping to support the photography and communication of the initiatives young leaders are running.
This year’s Canon Young Champions will each receive a Canon EOS R50 Content Creator Kit and will take part in a masterclass with Laura. Shortlisted finalists will also receive certificate, sustainably made medal and a joint masterclass with Laura.
“It is essential for organisations like Canon to play their part in supporting and recognizing the personal development and progress of young changemakers and by collaborating with the Global Good Awards, we work to achieve this goal. Something that stood out to me in the Canon Young Champion applications this year is that each finalist has set up at least one programme or a series of programmes to combat issues that affect their community and their peers. I congratulate this year’s Canon Young Champions for their exceptional work supporting their communities across the world,” says Adam Pensotti, Head of the Canon Young People Programme and Social Initiatives.
Under 17’s category winner, Amara Nwuneli
Amara from Nigeria is the founder of Preserve Our Roots, a by-youth, for-youth NGO and Social Movement engaging a global audience in climate education and action. Waking up to find her home flooded in Lagos, Nigeria, motivated Amara to support the rebuilding of schools damaged by floods and engage in fundraising drives for marginalised communities lacking access to climate education.
Amara said: “I am not just a climate activist. I am not just a Philanthropist or student. I am not just a daughter, dancer, poet, or avid nature freak. I am a representation of my natural world and my ancestors that once inhabited it. I truly believe in the power of youth because I have seen with my own eyes the change, I have been able to make through my story and the stories I help tell. have been blessed with the opportunity to see the magnitude of which a simple idea can positively impact people’s lives.”
Under 25’s winner Shri Akshayaa Lakshmikumar
Shri, joint winner of the Under 25’s category, is the founder of HERglobal, an international nonprofit dedicated to destigmatising women’s health on an international scale. Her focus is primarily on cervical cancer prevention and screening through educational awareness campaigns with major hospitals, access to free screening in rural communities, free HPV vaccination for young girls, and empowering women to act of their health.
So far Shri’s work is primarily in Uganda, but HERglobal is rapidly expanding to other countries. HERglobal takes a unique, hands-on approach to women’s health advocacy and ensures that our method of communication and initiative is accessible, inclusive, and beneficial to the women we work to support.
Under 25’s winner, Jahaan Arora
Jahan was recognised as the joint winner of the Under 25’s category. He launched multiple initiatives, including the 1 million meals programme, where 6,000 children collected grain donating half a million meals to 1,000 orphans in his local village in India.
He said: “I was so touched at our last school visit, where a child wrote and recited to me a poem about hunger and another shared how an eight-year-old child like him can now make a difference to hunger. It’s quite overwhelming, and empowering.”
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has announced a slight decrease in River Benue’s water levels in recent days, lowering the risk of severe flooding.
NIHSA’s Director General, Mr Umar Mohammed
NIHSA’s Director-General, Mr Umar Mohammed, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, October 5, 2024, in Abuja.
Mohammed reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to monitoring the water levels of the nation’s major rivers and tributaries, as part of its overall flood management strategy in Nigeria.
He urged citizens to remain vigilant due to unpredictable climate conditions and to continue observing flood preparedness protocols.
“NIHSA is working closely with the authorities and management of Lagdo Dam regarding water releases, and the agency is committed to monitoring water levels at critical stations,” he said.
NIHSA’s 2024 Annual Flood Outlook reveals that 148 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across 31 states are at high risk of flooding.
The affected states include Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Kebbi.
Others are Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba and Yobe.
In Nigeria, where healthcare access is a challenge for many, the growing threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is particularly worrisome.
Nigerian women in Boki
Women, who are often the primary caregivers in their families and communities, bear the brunt of this crisis.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses or other microorganisms no longer respond to medications that were once effective in treating infections.
This phenomenon makes common illnesses harder to treat, increasing the risk of severe illness and death.
Whether managing their health or that of their children, women are frequently exposed to infections and rely heavily on antibiotics, making them more vulnerable to the consequences of AMR.
The implications are dire, as experts say that AMR not only jeopardises individual health but also poses significant threats to public health and socio-economic stability, especially in low-resource settings such as Nigeria.
In spite of being a global issue, the impact of AMR on women in Nigeria is often overlooked.
It affects not only maternal health but also their daily caregiving responsibilities.
The socio-economic implications are immense, particularly in rural communities where women lack access to quality healthcare and are often unaware of the dangers posed by antibiotic misuse.
This ignorance compounds the problem as women may rely on ineffective or outdated treatments, further exacerbating AMR.
When 32-year-old Mrs Hauwa Maigari fell ill with what she thought was a simple Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), she didn’t expect her journey to recovery to stretch into months of pain, frustration and fear.
Living in rural Bwari in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), she relied on a local pharmacist for antibiotics. However, the medication didn’t work.
“I thought it was just a delay in recovery, but I kept feeling worse,” she recalled.
Her condition worsened because the bacteria causing the infection were resistant to the antibiotics available in her community.
As a mother of three and a farmer, her responsibilities didn’t allow her the luxury of prolonged illness, yet she found herself growing weaker each day.
“I had to borrow money to travel to the Federal Medical Hospital in Jabi, but by the time I got proper treatment, I was already very sick,” she recounted.
Maigari’s story is just one example of how AMR is threatening the health and well-being of Nigerian women.
From common infections such as UTIs to more serious complications during pregnancy and childbirth, women are on the frontlines of this global health crisis.
WHO warned that over 700,000 people die annually due to drug-resistant infections.
The number is projected to rise to 10 million by 2050 if there is no action.
In Nigeria, where healthcare infrastructure is weak and access to treatment is not easy, AMR poses a great challenge.
According to a 2022 Lancet publication, 4.95 million deaths globally in 2019 were associated with AMR, with the highest death rate in Western Africa, at 27.3 deaths per 100,000.
WHO has identified 15 priority antibiotic-resistant pathogens, four of which have been found in Nigeria. The rising incidence of these pathogens underscores the urgent need for effective surveillance and intervention.
The economic implications of AMR are staggering. By 2050, AMR could cost between 300 billion dollars and one trillion dollars annually worldwide due to increased healthcare costs, prolonged hospital stays and intensive treatments.
In Nigeria, where seven out of 10 people access antibiotics outside licensed facilities, overprescription and misuse of these drugs heighten the crisis.
The situation is further aggravated by the misuse of antimicrobials in animals, particularly in food production, leading to residues in products such as milk and meat.
Experts say these residues pose health risks such as cancer and allergies to consumers, further complicating the landscape of public health.
Pregnant women are especially vulnerable to the consequences of AMR. Experts warn that infections during pregnancy can lead to serious complications, and without effective antibiotics, the risks increase significantly.
Conditions such as UTIs, which are common during pregnancy, can escalate into severe infections if not treated properly.
The rise in antibiotic resistance makes routine medical treatments riskier for both mother and child.
Many women in Nigeria face challenges in accessing timely medical care during pregnancy due to financial constraints, cultural barriers, or long distances to healthcare centres.
These delays, experts warn, can cause infections to worsen, requiring stronger and more expensive antibiotics that may no longer be effective.
According to the WHO, Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, with an estimated 512 deaths per 100,000 live births.
AMR exacerbates this issue, as infections, once easily treated with antibiotics, are now harder to manage, placing additional strain on already overburdened healthcare services and threatening progress in maternal health.
Health stakeholders have estimated that drug-resistant infections contribute to, at least, 20 per cent of maternal deaths, a worrisome figure considering the country’s already high maternal mortality rate.
“AMR is not just a medical issue but a social and gendered crisis,” says Dr Abiodun Egwuenu, AMR Programme Manager at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
Egwuenu says Nigerian women are more vulnerable to AMR due to social, economic and cultural factors.
She adds that access to quality healthcare is limited, especially in rural areas, where women often bear the brunt of caregiving responsibilities.
“In many communities, misuse of antibiotics is common due to the scarcity of healthcare services, further increasing the risk of drug-resistant infections,” she says.
Dr Zainab Mohammed, a gynaecologist in Kano State, explains how AMR is dangerous for pregnant women.
“Infections during pregnancy, such as sepsis, can become deadly if antibiotics are ineffective.
“We have seen cases where both mother and baby suffer because the drugs no longer work,” Mohammed says.
The emotional toll on families is profound, as women including Mrs Chidinma Nwankwo, often endure prolonged periods of illness, causing anxiety and distress on their loved ones.
“Every day was a battle.
“I worried not just for my health but for my children. What if I couldn’t care for them? What if I didn’t make it,” Nwankwo narrates.
This fear is a common thread among women facing AMR, showing the urgent need for effective solutions.
Healthcare workers, many of whom are women, face additional risks from AMR.
Mrs Kadijat Aminu, a nurse from Bauchi State, expresses concerns about drug-resistant infections spreading in hospitals.
“Sometimes, we don’t have enough protective equipment. It is scary because we are exposed every day,” Aminu says.
The emotional and physical effects on healthcare workers are much as they navigate the challenges of treating patients with infections that may not respond to available treatments.
Many Nigerian women, especially those in rural areas, face economic and cultural barriers to accessing healthcare.
Infections often go untreated or poorly managed due to limited access to vaccines, pre-natal care and medications.
Some women, including Mrs Chidinma Nwosu, a trader at Garki International Market, FCT, often resort to sharing antibiotics with friends or family members because they can’t afford proper medical treatment, exacerbating the AMR crisis.
Another factor is the overuse of antibiotics in livestock.
In many cases, these drugs are used to promote animal growth, leading to resistant bacteria that affect both animals and humans.
The cycle of misuse and resistance continues, as women in agricultural communities bear the burden of these practices.
Dr Abiodun Egwuenu argues that AMR is a gendered crisis that requires targeted solutions.
“Nigerian women need better access to healthcare and education on antibiotic misuse.
“Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is key to ensuring that women receive the care they need without facing financial hardship,” Egwuenu says.
She urges that policymakers should prioritise women’s health in their strategies to combat AMR, recognising that empowered women can drive positive change in their communities.
Ms Irene Adogboba, a public health specialist, emphasises the intersection of gender, AMR and UHC, urging that women should be at the centre of discussions on AMR.
“Women make up over 70 per cent of the global healthcare workforce but are often excluded from decision-making processes.
“Their voices must be amplified to ensure effective strategies are implemented,” says Adogboba.
Dr Olayinka Umar-Farouk, Deputy Project Director of Risk Communication at Breakthrough ACTION Nigeria, notes that the 2024 UN High-Level Meeting on AMR provided an opportunity to prioritise gender in AMR strategies.
“We must address the unique challenges faced by women in the healthcare system and create pathways for their involvement in decision-making processes,” she urges.
Umar-Farouk believes that AMR is not just a medical issue but a social and gendered crisis that disproportionately affects women.
“If Nigeria is to combat AMR effectively, women must be empowered both as patients and as leaders within the healthcare system.
“With better access to healthcare, education on antibiotic misuse, and stronger support systems, Nigeria can start to turn the tide on this growing threat,” she says.
Analysts are convinced that the time to act is now, urging policymakers, healthcare providers and communities to collaborate to address AMR.
They believe that by prioritising women’s health and well-being, governments will protect lives and ensure a healthier future for generations to come.
Every life lost to infections that were once easily treatable is a stark reminder of the urgent need for action.
There is need to work together to combat AMR, safeguard public health and build a resilient healthcare system for all Nigerians.
Nigeria must key into global financial inclusion and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) must lead in the awareness that may help Nigeria achieve this.
Delegates at the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) Conference in Lokoja, Kogi State
The charge was handed down to GOCOP by Yusuf Mamman, Nigeria’s former ambassador to Spain, chairman of the 2024 Annual General Conference of GOCOP that held from October 2 to 3, at Reverton Hotel in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.
This is as Maureen Chigbo, GOCOP President, has charged new members to join in the task of ridding the online media space of fake news.
The 8th annual conference has the theme, “Nigeria: Tackling Insecurity, Power Deficit, and Transitioning to Digital Economy.” The keynote speaker was Liyel Imoke, former governor of Cross River State, while Gov Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State was chief host.
In his opening remarks, the former ambassador said Nigeria cards rarely get recognised abroad, regretting that this has led to many hardships.
Mamman said the global financial system has gone cashless and Nigeria must be integrated, saying failure to get integrated could lead to what he called cyber balkanisation.
He admitted that Nigerian youths spend huge sums on data but wondered if this huge spending ever goes to seeking knowledge. “There is knowledge out there on the internet where people can learn most things to improve themselves, but we must be sure that is where the huge data being poured into the internet by Nigerian youths is going to.
“There is what I regard as the biggest university in the world; ‘University of Youtube’. This has caused huge transition in every aspect of life.”
He noted that many technologies including the Post and Telecommunication (P&T) system and photography have since transited to new techs.
The former ambassador noted that IT has caused quantum leaps which he said has also brought threats in the form of misinformation. His worry thus is how Nigeria can safeguard morality and reduce sensationalism.
To GOCOP, the former Ambassador pointed to availability of multiple platforms. He urged GOCOP to find a way to embrace them to be relevant in the industry. He said GOCOP must find how to transit from online journalism to a kind of media convergence system where Youtube, he said, is king.
He urged Nigerians not to wish online space away, saying: “If you don’t want to get wet, don’t get into the water.”
He said the digital media world is now about “like, comment, and share”.
He commended the GOCOP members for sustaining the journey for eight years now and recalled the early days of GOCOP. He said the new media is opening new frontiers and this is opening new opportunities and challenges. He said IT is an evolutionary process but as deep and wide as an ocean.
In her welcome remarks, the GOCOP President who commended the host government, past presidents of the Guild, said the fight against fake news has persuaded GOCOP to enthrone strict membership screening as well as the ombudsman system. GOCOP, she added, has also joined national media industry ombudsman system to escalate cases that may be beyond the GOCOP.
Some GOCOP partners delivered goodwill messages. The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) was represented by the Corporate Communications Division through Teleola Oyeleke, who commended GOCOP for sustaining the Guild, saying it was evidence of seriousness of the members.
He said: “We regard you as one of NCDMB’s critical stakeholders. That is why the board has been partnering this organisation. We are glad to partner you people both as a group and as individual publishers.”
He called on GOCOP to continue to support local content development, saying Nigeria is leading the drive in Africa.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) was represented by Dr Omoniyi Ibietan, Head of Media Relations, who said the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Commission, Dr Aminu Maida, held GOCOP in high esteem.
He said the digital space and role of online publishing were critical and now a reality. “You are important, not just for popularising the NCC but for opening the democratic space. We are improving investment and productivity of the nation. That is why constructive ideas are always welcome to the NCC.”
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, has sought support for the administration of President Bola Tinubu to deliver the reforms in the power sector as well as his other reform programmes for the benefit of Nigerians.
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai
In a message delivered at the 8th Annual Conference of Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Thursday, October 3, 2024, Buratai said that providing effective solutions to the myriads of problems in the power sector would encourage investors to Nigeria.
Buratai, who was represented by Dr Mohammed Sam Abubakar, his Special Adviser on Research and Development, said he was optimistic that the President would get his new cabinet to transform the power sector.
Commenting on the theme of the conference titled “Nigeria: Tackling Insecurity, Power Deficit and Transitioning to Digital Economy”, he said it was relevant to Nigeria as it confronts insecurity that undermines social security.
He, therefore, suggested commitment to innovations essential to drive the collective course of the Nigerian nation. “We must use technology as catalysts to generate meaningful progress,’’ he said, adding, ‘Nigerians should support President Tinubu to deliver’’.
He said unless the present administration tackles the problem of miscreants destroying power holding infrastructures in certain parts of the country, such unwholesome practices could spread to the other parts of the country.
Meanwhile, Prof Rotimi Ajayi of the Department of Political Science, Federal University Lokoja, one of the panelists at the conference, said insecurity, power deficit and transitioning to digital economy are all related in terms of causative factors as well as the solutions to them.
But he said one thing that has been missing in the analysis of Nigeria’s problems is the question of leadership. While explaining that the governance process is faulty, he noted that this is also not about corruption alone but a combination of many factors.
“When I look at the configuration of the Nigerian population, the least thing that bothers them is digital education, they just want to eat and have access to their farms, so tackling the issue of insecurity is key and this rests solely on leadership,’’ he said.
“Nigeria no longer has followers; the citizens have become slaves. Unfortunately, people think access to government is an opportunity to bring home government resources,’’ he said.
He therefore urged online publishers to interrogate the governing process and ensure that the society does not only punish corruption but kicks against anything that glorifies it.
“This will lay the foundation for insecurity not to thrive,’’ he explained.
A former minister of power, who later served as governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, on Thursday, October 3, 2024, in Lokoja, Kogi State, stated that alleged “expenditure” of a phantom $16 billion on the power sector by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration never happened.
Liyel Imoke
Imoke, who was also Chairman of the Power Sector Technical Board under the Obasanjo administration, stated this as a matter of fact in his keynote at the 8th Annual Conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), themed: “Nigeria: Tackling insecurity, power deficit, and transitioning to digital economy.”
Admitting that the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), as it then was, was a monopoly, he said that electricity distribution was also a monopoly even as the execution of so many programmes faced various challenges.
He referred to the undue delay in implementation of the power sector reforms, which resulted from the probe of the claim of a phantom expenditure of $16 billion on the sector under the administration.
According to him: “The power sector probe took about two years. The delay led to huge cost overruns; doubling costs of various contracts awarded during my tenure. Several of these projects were delayed in completion. As we speak, we still have several IPP projects that are ongoing.”
He said that, at the end of the probe, they found out that there was no missing $16 billion but lamented that the alleged expenditure of the phantom $1 6 billion had been used as a political tool to criticise “those of us in government.”
Imoke fingered inadequate information as the trigger for the allegation, pointing out that, for instance, on his watch as Minister of Power, the actual spending was between $2 billion and $3 billion, much of which went to the original electric manufacturer.
The former power minister said that insecurity, power deficit, and the slowness in Nigeria’s transition to a full digital economy were challenges impeding national growth and development.
According to him: “These are challenges that impede our growth as a nation. They make us less globally competitive. If you look at electricity insecurity and digital economy and if we tackle these, we will be on our way to economic growth.”
He said to unlock Nigeria’s potential, the administration must tackle insecurity, noting that there had been insurgency and the emergence of Boko Haram, which split into ISWAP.
“We have experienced banditry, kidnapping, armed killings, mass kidnapping, and illegal mining. These days, we can’t go to a gathering of this magnitude without seeing someone who had been kidnapped before. This is one of our new realities,” he stated.
He implicated ethnic tension as a contributory cause of communal violence, adding that grievances in the Niger Delta caused a lot of insecurity in the region in the 2000s.
Imoke spoke about organised private crimes in the Gulf of Guinea, which created insecurity in the area and the separatist marginalisation in the southeast region, leading to agitation.
He stated that, for instance, between 2009 and 2020, insurgency by Boko Haram alone resulted in over 40,000 deaths.
Imoke listed poverty, high unemployment rate, which was in 1999 put at six per cent, in 2022 put at 22 per cent but which as of today is approaching 40 per cent, weak governance and corruption as well as climate change, as some of the factors that contributed or fuelled insecurity in the country.
He also listed proliferation of small arms and violent crimes across the country as a sore thumb, lamenting that there were more arms with some non-state actors put in their hands by desperate politicians and which at the end of elections, were not retrieved from them and on which they now depended to survive.
Saying that hope was not lost, Imoke declared that successive administrations had succeeded in degrading Boko Haram and recovering territories in the Northeast hitherto seized by the group.
According to him, “The military was able to degrade the group and reclaim the areas in the Northeast around Maiduguri.”
He listed other successes as the decrease in Boko Haram insurgency and deaths by 23 per cent according to the global terrorism index, adding that “there is also reduction of militancy in the Niger Delta as there is no more MEND in the region.”
He continued: “Oil production has significantly rebounded until recently because during the era of MEND, oil production dropped below 1.5 m barrels per day.
“There is anti-piracy measure launched through NIMASA and international collaborators to reduce the piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. Piracy decreased by 58 per cent between 2020 and 2021 in the Gulf of Guinea.
“In the Southeast, the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu is an achievement in the region…Nigerian government has increased its surveillance measures; its counter insurgency operation has been used in combating terrorism. We now have drone technology and others to attack security issues across the board. The persistent Boko Haram issue has been watered down, but there is a humanitarian issue. About 2.7m people have been affected. The UN said that 350,000 people have died as a result of insurgency.”
He, however, noted that Herder-farmers’ conflict was still ongoing, pointing out that over 2,600 people were reportedly killed in 2021 alone.
The former Cross River State governor said that continued separatist agitation had led to the death of police officers as well as IPoB members, adding that there had been extra judicial killings and arbitrary arrests, among others.
He said a multifaceted approach was required to effectively tackle security issues in Nigeria, recommending among others community policing, which should be legally regulated, deployment of vigilance groups in securing the communities, and giving consideration to decentralisation of security rather than centralisation that has not worked.
He also established a nexus between security and economy, arguing that “until we can address the state of our economy, we will not be able to address security issues effectively.”
He stated that education, skill acquisition, entrepreneurship training, and access to SMES funding were key, adding that a strong and comprehensive rural development programme was necessary to address banditry and farmer-herder conflicts.
“I am a strong believer in peace and mediation. If the government can establish dialogue platforms between farmers and herders, it would reduce competition over land,” he said.
He also said that the procurement process must be transparent, and resources should be deployed in the welfare and training of security personnel, adding that the nation’s judicial system must be able to tackle impunity.
While dwelling on power deficit, Imoke said that there was a lack of continuation of policies and programmes, pointing out that “your predecessor is your most valuable material. We always assume that our predecessor did not know anything, and there is a tendency to want to start afresh. It is important for me to always go back to my predecessor to ask for guidance.”
Admitting that electricity problem in Nigeria is the most humongous problem ever, Imoke said that with over 200 million Nigerians, the country’s installed capacity was like 13,000 megawatts. He said: “It sounds like good news, but we only manage to distribute an average of 4,000 megawatts whereas there are potential distributable 20,000 megawatts.”
He reeled out some sobering comparative statistics about per capita electricity consumption by Nigeria and some countries on the African continent based on recent data.
According to the data referred to by Imoke, “Nigeria per capita electricity consumption is between 150 and 200 kilowatts hours per year (kilowatts hour is the amount of electricity delivered to each household in the country in a year); Ghana is between 800 and 1000 kilowatts hour per year; South Africa is between 4000 and 5000 kilowatts hours per year while Ivory coast is between 500 and 600 kilowatts hour per year.”
Imoke lamented the Nigerian situation, adding that “these tell you the strengths of industrial bases of these countries.”
He, however, noted that despite numerous reforms in Nigeria, the power sector had continued to struggle.
Imoke asked if there was a solution in the face of growing demand? He resolved the question somewhat in the negative, pointing out that with the exponential growth in Nigerian’s population, there was a concomitant rising demand on the electricity supply.
On the transitioning to digital economy, Imoke said the growth in e-commerce platforms like Jumia and others was allowing for competition and efficiency.
According to him: “We are in the fourth industrial revolution, and it is a digital revolution. We missed out on the first, second, and third industrial revolutions. It is for us now as a nation, with a deliberateness of government policy, not to lose out on the fourth industrial revolution.
“All the three sectors-security, power and digital economy – are critical to our growth. The three are intertwined challenges that Nigerian must address to unlock her potential.
“With the collective effort of all, Nigerian can truly emerge as a global leader. Let us seize this moment to build a secure, electrified, and digitalized Nigerian that offers prosperity, growth, and development to all.”
