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What really is the way out of our economic quagmire?

We have heard before that government has no business running business; we've also heard that the private sector should be involved in how the economy is run. The recent kites flown about selling certain government assets have come from representatives of both the private sector and government. Aliko Dangote suggested only a few days ago to the Federal government to sell off NNPC's 49.0% stake in the Nigerian liquefied national gas.

Those opposed to selling government assets to generate funds have hammered on the issue of failed sales, concessions or partnerships in the past. The more recent sale of power installations haven't yielded the expected improvements in electricity generation and distribution; the sale of NITEL and other government run ventures remain shrouded in controversy and remain unproductive. Most people don't forget to mention mummified projects such as the refineries and steel companies. We cannot also forget the transient revival and subsequent cremation of Virgin's relationship with Nigeria. It appears we have killed and will kill anything we get our hands on.

Should the NLNG be 'tossed?' Margaret Thatcher sold off the British government's less than 40.0% stake in British Petroleum following a worldwide stock market collapse in October 1987. She also initiated the sale of many of corporations or companies run by the government or with significant shares. Mine pits have been sold off since then despite prolonged strike actions by labour unions and formerly government owned Airports are now operated by private companies.

The ever vibrant Heathrow airport is owned by Heathrow airport holdings which currently has majority shares in the custody of a Spanish company. Another airport, the Gatwick international was bought over in 2009 by a company with a Yoruba man Adebayo Ogunlesi as chairman. The Heathrow airport holdings did the selling of Gatwick and other UK airports under its administration but won a bid to acquire an airport in Hungary not too long ago; this I believe highlights the dynamics of private sector participation in business. John F. Kennedy is owned and leased out by the City of New York. Perhaps the Lagos state government can acquire the Murtala Muhammed international airport in Ikeja following the recent announcement of plans by the FG to concession practically all airports in the land.

There are other assets many Nigerians think should be sold. Many sports arenas across the nation are only useful for the periodic religious programs and entertainment shows. With our abysmal showing at international sports competitions, the uninformed would think our sports people came from a nation with only secondary school sports pavilions as training facilities. It's common knowledge that we have next to zero maintenance culture; one wonders how much these facilities would command after valuation. Some people have opined that the National assembly should be sold off which is actually a very good joke however other assets or whatever is left of them exist such as the National Arts theatre and other moribund structures left standing in Lagos after Ibrahim Babaginda took the nation's capital to Abuja. A good number of those structures remain fallow and disintegrating while Nigerians sleep and work under inhumane conditions. Unfortunately there are those who constantly receive wages for working at these collapsed places. I'm not sure there's another country which can be used to adequately define waste.

I'm certain there are many doctors who will support calls to sell off government hospitals for better efficiency but I'm not certain there'd be as much support with respect to educational institutions. The fear of tomorrow and the quest for self preservation will prompt resistance like PENGASSAN is currently threatening. Like someone pointed out on radio, many of these individuals who direct the affairs of this unions belong to unproductive institutions yet get paid on a regular basis. Rupert Murdoch was met by stiff resistance in 1986 and a 54 weeks strike of newspaper workers ensued due to his introduction of technology into the newspaper production business. The job once done by over 6000 people now took just over a tenth of that number to do even more efficiently. Despite offered compensations, the unions embarked on the unsuccessful strike and that union like the others that revolted during Thatcher's 11 years reign got decimated.

Why Thatcher? Nigeria was structured like the British colonial system with the nation mirroring structures inherent in the United kingdom. With the benefit of hindsight, Margaret Thatcher's hard stance and resoluteness in pursuing her economic reform despite episodes of inflation, high and prolonged job losses, low manufacturing output, violent protests, 1979 to 1981 recession and calls for her resignation yielded some positive results. I'm not sure the UK has suffered a great deal from that privatization era but I may be wrong.

It is true that our recent ventures at privatization have failed woefully and it's completely valid for Nigerians to be skeptical about conceding the nation's assets to potentially those who have directly or indirectly plundered the nation. The evidence of the past failure should indict the past administrations but somehow they get a free pass because we shouldn't talk ill of the dead.

Some have suggested that we continue to increase our debt profile while some are convinced diversification in only a few months is the silver bullet. A few defiant ones are only opposed to this suggestion of asset sale because it involves the current administration. I do not think a 'All or none' rule will apply here. There are many points for and against this move which ought to generate continuous elaborate discussion instead of the reflex arc utterances in the public space. We should be focused on ensuring proper valuation of any and every asset we decide to sell; we should consider how Nigeria and Nigerians will benefit maximally from any venture. We should not get to 2029 and lament why we did not sell any asset which could have saved us.

We are in a desperate state at the moment; one which a former first lady is justified for having 20 million US dollars rightly earned from a petty trader mother with domiciliary accounts, as a leading pioneer in the Non governmental organization business and pocket money from her public servant husband who was governor and president.

Gridlocks, Ìbàdàn, Iléyá and other matters.

Let me tell you about my 'waka' yesterday.  We set out in the morning and observed that there were many stranded individuals looking to hitch rides out of Lagos at the Berger axis. I understand that severe traffic jams along the Lagos-Ibadan  expressway in the preceding days had prevented the return of the regular transport vehicles back to the state early enough.  The police were seen at Berger trying their best to ensure that there was no indiscriminate gathering of these  potential hitchhikers sufficient to slowdown traffic. 

It took a bit to get from Berger to the Mowe-MFM/ Redemption camp axis due to reconstruction work and the sheer volume of vehicular movement assured us of an eventful trip.  Reconstruction work remained nonexistent from Sagamu to Ajebo despite the claims of the past administration that the highway was part of their accomplishments. It took over one hour to break through Ajebo into Ibadan and most of that time was spent on one spot. A major diversion meant that one carriageway had to handle movement in two directions and it took a while for commonsense to prevail.  The Federal road safety corp and police were however on ground to save the day. While we waited, I observed that a few vehicles around had rams in their trunks. I wondered why people bought rams in Lagos only to ferry them out.  Are rams cheapest in Lagos or did their owners personally breed them? The long wait meant that some trunks were kept open to prevent suffocation of these animals and one man even cut some grass to feed his. 

It wasn't surprising to see Nigerians discard empty bottles, emptied food packs and other waste out of the vehicles they were in. It's typical of  many Nigerians to do so I must state.  Ibadan was just about the same it has been for many years now.  The major road leading from the end of the expressway was adorned with heaps of waste along the entire stretch. There was even some trading just proximal to a stockpile of waste and people passed by like it was nothing. It's  either of two things; folks in Ibadan cannot help it but generate and dispose refuse along their roads because it makes Ibadan beautiful or these people are indeed aware of this shortcoming but don't realise that they have a governor or local government officials in Oyo state to pressurise.  Is Governor Ajimobi not ashamed of the eyesore in his very backyard?  Did he fly in his Japanese investors a few weeks ago to mask the filth that has become characteristic of Ibadan? I'm sure the Japs must have still seen the mess on the ground;  there's no way that amount of litter will not be visible to anyone in the sky and in space. Some of the refuse heaps were set alight and some portions of the road divide had large ponds for breeding Aedes aegypti; Oyo state is playing with disease outbreaks and the government and people are doing nothing about it. 

My attention soon shifted to a container two vehicles in front of mine.  The large doors were flung open and a woman,  her luggage and three children were let down of the container even though the articulated vehicle upon which the container was set was still moving however slowly.  I was shocked that someone could arrange to ferry people across states packed like sardines in a shut container; it looked like the scene of a movie or documentary about human trafficking. The girl let down from the container even had her clothes pulled down to her waist suggesting that she must have endured a severely uncomfortable journey from Lagos inside the boiling container.  What happened next after a few seconds was stuff of movie proportions.  A young lad probably in his late teens clad in brownish native attire and carrying a black backpack fell off the moving container landing on his back and rolling over about two times before leaping back to his feet.  It was a miracle that the Peugeot  206 just ahead of us was not moving at a higher speed to knock out the fallen lad.  I'm not sure if it's just the fault of governments that lives aren't valued or if it's equally the fault of the people who take enormous risks just to save money or because of lack of funds in the first place;  I don't know.  

The rest of my journey to Ilorin was less eventful,  there seems to have been some patch work done on the road from Ibadan to Oyo and the obstacle course that is the road from Oyo to Ogbomoso remained the same.  I couldn't help but wonder at the greenery and landscape of Oyo and what the state could do with their potential. Fulani herdsmen were seen on the road and in the bushes but I saw no rifles on them;  young boys who looked seven years old or less were also part of one particular herding party. I just wonder what Oyo ought to be raking in from agriculture alone; those in power there seem to be more optimistic about a huge  electronic advertisement structure at Iwo road which presently doesn't work and the rams being sold at the periphery of that space. 

There is recession no doubt but there was  plenty food on display for sale at Ogbomoso and the food no doubt appeared fresh.  Yam tubers,  fruits,  palm oil and coconuts were plenty;  it's high time our population got redistributed to provide enough mouths to consume such fresh food and fruits in places such as Ogbomoso. I'm sure that way,  the  adverse effect of the recession will be less palpable.  I'm surely helping myself with some farm produce on my return journey. I must commend whoever is responsible for an attempt to finally fix the portion of the road which cuts through Ogbomoso around the Baptist seminary axis leading up to the Federal government college Ogbomoso. The road was done before a few years ago but soon fell apart becoming a yam farm in the process.  The people there like in every part of Nigeria should arise and hold their elected officials responsible and ensure they do their jobs.  Political office is not meant to breed fattened calves who will do nothing but buy iPhone 7s  for their numerous girlfriends or for turning young men into mules for money laundering.  Even an unelected former first lady is laying claims to millions of dollars frozen by the Economic and financial crimes commission EFCC like it was money earned from being a football super agent involved in brokering a move for Messi from Barcelona to Real Madrid. 

The regular anti terrorism policemen who greet as we enter Ilorin were not in sight probably due to the high temperature at the time or due to the direct effects of the recession;  I do not know but the inspector general of police must hear that his men were not at their duty posts.  A huge banner welcoming senator Saraki was present on the road into Ilorin town;  I wonder what preparations at the airport was like. Saraki must fly and some people are asking for a reduction in the presidential fleet just like that o. It's alright. Happy festivities to Muslims in the land;  the sheer volume of travellers on the road and the trailer loads of livestock I saw entering Lagos tells me that recession is not only just a word but a myth. There should be no excuses for correct grub when I return o; you have been alerted and I wish you all well.

AREN'T WE ALL FOR CHANGE?

I wrote this http://jideakej.blogspot.com.ng/2014/11/top-bottom.html almost two years ago and my opinion has not changed about a Top-Bottom approach for changing the country.

The president during the week launched a campaign about change starting with Nigerians and he's been heavily criticized or mocked depending on the 'politico-sentimental' inclinations of the individuals concerned. I understand the reason(s) for the backlash especially with the risen cost of goods and services. Any sensible Nigerian will be outraged to find out like I did a few weeks ago at 'Census' Market in Surulere Lagos (where I do most of my shopping) that locally milled rice and the imported variant both cost ₦17,000 per bag.

I know a mere slogan like "Yes we can" or "Black lives matter" is not necessarily guaranteed to achieve the intended impact but that really is how movements start whether positive or negative. Even Trump's "Make America great again" is quite effective as we all can see.

Has President Buhari transferred the full responsibility to change Nigeria to regular Nigerians like some people have suggested? I do not think so. Many may not like his methods but the truth is that things are not like they used to be and that is indeed change already. It is such that even elitist Nigerians are not happy and this includes those who are supposed to be loyal to the president.

Is it not amazing when we hear individuals from both major parties say stuff like "the presidency has been hijacked" or "the president has surrounded himself with his older nephew and an overly devoted chief of staff?" Who did they expect him to have as his closest advisers? Dino Melaye or Doyin Okupe? They are those who have been with PMB for decades now especially when he lost back to back to back elections. They could have easily moved to the PDP to earn massively but did not, even PMB like certain members of the then APP/ANPP could have moved on to the PDP and become their flag bearer.

Nigerians should realize that we have serious issues and enemies within who have been nurtured by corruption for decades now and these ones will do whatever it takes be it blackmail, violence or threats of violence, sabotage etc to ensure a return to status quo. They have attempted to or successfully blackmailed every president since 1999 and PMB will not be spared.

How do we justify the actions of a few who regularly got paid huge sums as amnesty for over 6years but who now sabotage oil installations and claim neglect? How do we justify Nigerians who continue to sow seeds of discord by generating false news which exploit our religious and ethnic fault lines? Nigerians see and read these things and do not raise objections or question saboteurs or warmongers. How do we think we will make progress like this?

Do we really think Nigeria will change just by President Buhari coming on air to make declarations? The same people condemning him now will still do so and call him a tyrant. The President is not all powerful, his major source of power is from the people who put him there. He cannot just wake up and meddle into the affairs of the legislative and judiciary arms of government (these arms have been more of a problem to Nigeria); that would be dictatorial. The President is made to appear weak when actions to stem insecurity and corruption in the land are resisted by the same Nigerians who have been repeatedly exploited by the minority elite in the land. "Leave our brother alone," "is he/she the only one who stole," "the fight is one sided," etc etc. Many times, the elites in search of status quo, control or attempt to control the media so that the people would turn against the government. This perhaps is one of the points which certain individuals appointed by the government to disseminate information attempt to convey albeit in very unfortunate, inappropriate and insensitive ways.

There should be a message in the newly adopted slogan especially for those of us who insist on a 'Top to Bottom' approach. The slogan may sound as a reversal of this circuit but the truth is that in every sector of Nigeria, there are those at the top and those at the bottom as rightly described by a former NSCDC spokesman who was interviewed a few years ago on Channels TV. There is always an 'Oga at the top' who should lead in the banking sector, civil service, sports, business, health sector, education etc. I'm certain that the president believes he has showed the way to go and read the riot act to his lieutenants. It is our collective duty to ensure this is relayed and supervised at every level.

What we have had in Nigeria is an oga at the top saying one thing and those who should ensure instructions got followed at the lower levels doing another thing. President Buhari needs help and support from the people, the serious governors need help also. Those in charge of our security need the people to assist them in identifying and preventing potential threats. We do not have the sufficient military man power to handle threats on many fronts simultaneously. I am not certain we have over 150,000 combatant soldiers to fight terror or internal conflicts across the nation at the same time so we should be careful with how we deliberately stoke fires or let ourselves be easy prey for opportunists who exploit our religious frailties or other like sentiments. We should not shout suspected herdsmen attacks where there is none or support separatist groups who only preach enmity or bomb oil and gas installations. If katakata burst, we no get enough fire fighters o and I'm sure most of us will run to China or Greenland for amnesty. Why should the Christian Association of Nigeria be raising unnecessary dust about the role of the Sultan of Sokoto in the 'declaration' of notable Islamic celebrations?

Our actions and inaction as a people can either develop or retard us; I don't believe it is too much to ask Nigerians to identity with this campaign to curb indiscipline and other vices we know render us chronically stunted.

This is how I ended my post two years ago and I believe it is still relevant;

"A top to bottom approach followed by a reciprocal bottom up change of behavior I believe is the way to curb corruption and limit its effect."

God bless all Nigerians.

WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT OUR FILTH?

You see,  I stood on the foot bridge at Oshodi on Wednesday afternoon and couldn't help but take these pictures. 

Why are we this filthy in Nigeria? We litter and dump refuse everywhere;  rail tracks, highways, drainages,  shared compounds, canals,  lagoons, markets etc. Gaise said in his song 'Little drops' about some Nigerians;  "o mu pure water,  o só sí gutter, àgbàrá dé o wá ń pariwo Fásholá" which translates to mean that a fellow drinks the content of a sachet of water and thereafter discards the undegradable material into the drainage system. Such a move eventually causes a flood in the rainy season leaving the perpetrator to scream the name of the governor and accuse him of failing in his duty. 

Why do we litter?  Can we stop littering by simply listening to repeated radio jingles or do we need a form of iron fist to enforce discipline?  

I am of the opinion that many Nigerians are already cast in their ways and it is nearly impossible to remould us;  I believe that some force is required to handle this unfortunate situation because we have been used to filthy environments for decades now and won't suddenly desist by listening to jingles and appeals. My opinion. 

The mentality that government or whatever applicable authority would clean up the mess we generate needs to be jettisoned.  We as a people must realise that it is equally our responsibility to control waste generation and evacuation where we live,  work,  worship or just hang out.  I can't understand why anyone will consume food or drink in his car and then discard associated paper,  plastic bags or bottles out of fast moving vehicles or into drainages. Children more often than not copy the acts of their parents so a child who litters will most likely have a dirt distributing parent.  We need to train our children both at home and in schools. 

Our environmental laws should be enforced and there should be punishment for breaking such laws. It's not enough for locals at coastal communities to extort fun seekers at beaches while they have no sense of duty to ensure that their source of revenue is kept clean. We have to continuously educate our people on appropriate waste disposal practices and the possibility for recycling.  

I understand that a lot is down to governments at all levels but as individuals, we have a lot to do to ensure that our micro spheres of influence are adequately policed to ensure that we collectively cut down on our waste generation and to reinforce a culture of cleanliness. 

Littering around a rail track?  That is sad.  If we exposed all of our behind in the media; we wouldn't even object to the revival of the "war against indiscipline" as put forward by the president.  We all surely need that discipline.

ABOUT A WORD.

You see, I decided to check what was trending on twitter this evening and saw Kemi Adeosun was. 

I wondered why so I decided to check it out. I didn't bother to dig too deep but the summary of it was that some folks including many supposed to be cerebral slated the finance minister for allegedly dismissing Nigeria's status of recession as "just a word." Some folks asked for her resignation while more 'eloquent' ones demanded for her sack by the president. 

Some were very angry because she appeared to dismiss the 'suffering' of the masses by saying "recession is just a word" while others stated it more accurately "recession is a word" but these ones were still equally angry. 

So I saw this tweet by one fellow who I understand worked with someone associated with the last administration and now a social media celebrity or something like that.  I'm kind of glad I didn't get to know him while in the university of Ibadan. Well the dude now runs an online propaganda outfit where he gets to write a lot about members of the present administration and also publish statements from the likes of Diezani Madueke explaining her financial activities and stuff like that. 

You see,  this guy tweeted the link to an article on his online paper which was about how Mrs Adeosun denied she made the statement through an aide and how a twitter profile allegedly operated by her tweeted the same words and then deleted it before editing the bio and some other nonsense like that.  There are some tweets which indicate that the mentioned twitter account does not actually belong to the minister.  The story also had a youtube video link to a speech delivered by the minister at a town hall meeting in Abuja early in August https://youtu.be/tZcwG36gq3Y. This is their proof that the minister is a fraud, insensitive and deserving of a sack. 

I read the article and watched the video; I'm still amazed that supposedly sensible people reacted negatively to the "recession is a word" comment.  What exactly is the problem with some Nigerians?  Are they just defiant or just deeply flawed and bereft of comprehending things accurately in context? 

I replied the tweet by this twitter intellectual and asked him if the matter on Adeosun's statement and the video was what he tagged "Scandal." I asked him to "get a grip" but he replied and told me to read the article in order to get a grip. I replied that I indeed read his "lame" article and then asked if that was the best he could have come up with.  MrFixNigeria then slammed his hammer and declared my banishment into twitter 'blockdom.' He blocked me from both his personal handle and that of his online machine and I'm left to wither as a destitute in Cyberia. 

Well, that fellow has tomorrow to deal with. I'm sure he'll come forward seeking public office and will use his exploits over the past 5years as leverage but social media will be there to remind the electorate that he'd not be worth it. 

For those who have constantly asked why we have struggles as a nation;  you may do well to watch the "recession is a word" video and pay rapt attention to every word spoken by the minister.  Hopefully the impervious ceiling blocking the download of commonsense to many Nigerians will come crashing down.

Hopefully.