The Tiv/Fulani Herdsmen Crisis

We have refrained and turned a blind eye to the inaction of the Federal government of Nigeria as regards the killings of Nigerians resident in Benue State on the pretext that the role of security is to be fulfilled by the State government.

Despite understanding the unwillingness of the state government to fall out of favor with the Federal APC controlled Government, It is clear that enough has not been done to secure the lives of innocent Nigerians living in Benue State.

The recent news that stated that the killings were being carried out by armed robbers cannot be substantiated. The excuse provided by the Nigeria police in an attempt to change the coloration of ethnic/religious and political killings going on in Benue state does not hold water.

having said this, it is a call to the State Government to take up its role of securing lives and property without fear or favor.

The times have changed. We can no longer sleep with too eyes closed. Benue state has to wake up to the realities of security. The state has to be on guard, watchful and observant and take full control of all activities within its territory.

Innovation cannot be ruled out. State government ought to take immediate decisive actions to assure the lives of the Benue farmers whose livelihood are continually being threatened by unknown gunmen..

The international community should also do not pay a blind eye. The visits by the Ambassador of the United States to the state governor is commendable. without threats to any one in particular, injustice in one place is injustice everywhere, the sooner this crisis is niped in the bud and normalcy returns to these communities the better. We expect more as regards the outcome of the such a visit.

Lastly, The admonition of the state governor to the indegenes calling for peace despite these attacks on the state indegenes and particularly well meaning Nigeria is also commendable. However, the Government needs to do more to ensure security than by merely seeking to pacify and calm the nerves of the people with words.

LWNW Editor, Damian writes from Abuja, Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory.

Happy Valentine Days in arrears.

from all of us @

LNW

Nigeria.

2017

How should government handle the issue of illegal refineries in the Niger Delta.

How should government handle the issue of illegal refineries in the Niger Delta.

A government can only make a decision in light of the options that are available to it. We are aware that any rational government would always act in the interest consistent with the needs of its people and for the greater good of the majority.

Having ascertained this fact, the approach that the Nigerian Government should take as regards illegal refineries would be consistent with its value for the utmost good of everyone one.

I don’t feel adequate to comment on the issues of the Niger delta, however from the point of view which I perceive this situation, I am confident that I will take a different view if given access other factors and other elements of which I may not be privy to at the moment.

My approach would be revolutionary. However, I would endeavor to avoid any major decisions that would cause unrest and create a volatile situation of worsen the low quality of life of the people of that region.

The current law of Nigeria prevents illegal mining and activities in the Niger Delta. However, the law permits companies to collect a mining license from the Federal Government. The intention of this is to ensure that only competent organisations engage in mining activities. As good as this approach may be, government should ensure that at least 50 percent of all mining activities are carried out by local companies while the remaining 50percemt is shared by outsiders. And it is important that the 50-percent local miners do both exploration and refining within in the confines of the state thereby producing jobs for the populace especially the youth.

The issue of illegal refineries should be eliminated by ensuring that mining licenses are accessible to the local populace and indigenes are encouraged to take up courses in the area of petroleum engineering and related course to graduate and come and take up jobs in such sectors with special treatment given to indigenes of the area.

Government should also strengthen the law enforcement agencies such as the NDLEA, the JTF, and other federal agencies whose duty is to enforce and ensure compliance with standards in the area.

We have highlighted, education, assessable license and empowerment of security agencies as three approaches government should use to address the issue of illegal refineries. These are the short-term, medium term and long term approaches. 

State governments should also create a fund for state-run as well as locally run-refineries to create jobs for the indigenes of the state. It is sad to note, that there are communities within which there are no indigenous refineries yet the people are the owners of the resources. Therefore, state-run and local government run refineries should be encouraged. Governments (including state and local governments) should create long term plans for the wellbeing of its people

Nigeria Economy 2017. Satisfactory?

Are you satisfied with the present economy of the Nigerian nation?

Anyone with a right thinking mind looking at the economic indices of Nigeria in 2017 cannot give a positive response to the state of the Nigerian economy for now.

With the naira at 530 to a dollar and the economy in a recession, one cannot say that the economy is doing well. To the question of satisfaction, the government should do more particularly the National Economic Council led by the Vice President and other seasoned technocrats like the British trained Minister of Economy and Finance.

Government is aware that Nigerians are suffering under the weight of the economy with prices skyrocketing and wages remaining thesame or in some instances being cut because organisations cannot afford to pay salaries.

As a graduate with 3 years work experience in the non-for-profit sector, the call from the civil society and the government to my colleagues, young professionals is expand your reach and diversify to the informal sector and start your own business or learn a skill - barbing, bead making, farming etc. As for me, I cannot after (spending 10years of my life and time,) studying at the university level to go and turn and pick up a clipper to start barbing in the name of a skill. No sir. Thats not right. Not for me, nor for any well trained intellectual in Nigeria. This is not pride, this is simply decency and refusal to be abused or dispised. as I always say, we cannot be generals thinking strategically and be privates, thinking tactically and majors thinking operationally all at thesame time.

Generals need majors and privates to what they are, and in so doing, they can win the war.

After 10 years of learning to be an expert thinker, leader manager, and a new generation leader who has integrity and character and not just skill to go and become a barber, or a farmer (at a subsistence level) is outrightly demeaning both to myself and those who trained me at the higher instutition to be a problem solver and a solutions provider.

I may under no circumstance consider such a fact. seeing the economic potentials of these ideas, However, for the teaming young people probably with a WASSCE, NCE, NECO, OND, in terms of qualification and exposure I may permit but not to an intellectual at a university level.

For the sake of the youth in this present economic recession, lets say He has a very wealthy uncle who is willing to support him, how many wealthy uncles of legitimate means would give out a capital in a recession to a youth with no experience to run a barber shop, or setup a farmer, fishery or other Small Businesses/Agro -allied business.

ON TH E WAR FORWARD.

To address the teaming, over qualified youths, we, are not ignorant of the ernomosity of the task of governance in Nigeria and in general. However constrained, government must recognized that the people, the masses are also constrained. The people have no one else to turn to, but to government and in the cases where thy cannot, to crys to the Almighty.

Government owes a duty to the people to bring them out of the recession and assure them of security both of life and of wellbeing(welfare). 

Here are a few suggestions on the way forward

1. Strengthen agricultural cooperatives at the local government levels as well as the Ward/Area Councils in the Federal Capital for provision of loans, extension services, lands for farming and equipment to the youths - namley those with the qualifications named above.

2. Encourage mechanized agriculture and training/extension

3. Provide Fertilizers and other other chemicals for farmers.

4. Create markets and Quotas for Exports(collection Points) that is required from local governments each season to meet for export to other countries.

5. Build Local Government and State Owned and Massive Federal Owned Granaries, fed by the state andlocal government granaries for storage and meeting exportquotas

6. Encourage Small and medium scale enterprises.

These few actions can provide a level of cushion for Nigerians at such a time as this. Export can assist in re-ordering the Naira and creating a favorable balance of trade which has potential to lift the country out of the current recession.

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Increasing your 30percent output by an additional 10 percent.

Rome they say was never built in a day, and I add, it was built even without the latest android or IBM techonogy. The sucess of enterprises is not dependent on technology as much as on the staff and the techniqiues they employ. However, in the modern age, technology plays a key advantage and hence presents a competitive advantage to those who possess thesame. However, we have been able to identify a few ideas that should be in place to improve the efficiency, output and performance of corporate teams and organisations.

Train staff.: Highly skilled staff are crucial. it therefore is improtant to ensure that staff are constantly trained to utilize the best methodologies and skills to carry out their duties and tasks.

Utilize latest resources and Technologies: The rate of technology rate and change is at a geometric proportion. Organisations that still retain old methods and practises may find that their counterparts are more efficient, effective and utilize less resrouces in accomplishing some of their most basic task. Therefore, teams must always identify and utilize the best financial, technological and material resources.

Provide the Best compensation: When staff are not paid or compesated adequately, they become dissatisfied and natrually too seek for more engaging and financially rewarding opportunities. To retain the best, you must be ready to pay and maintain with the best reward packages.

Ensure strict adherence to procedures and protocols. Discipline is said to be the soul of the army. Strict adherance to procedures and protocols is crucial for organisations that want to grow and last long. Violations of protocols and standards must be met with the adequate frown and disciplinary action. This ensures that the organisation is constantly performing at maximum efficiency.

With these few points, corporations and organisations can be sure to improve their output and scale their performance to remain competitive and remain that the edge of their industries.

Editorial - Increasing 30percent Output and Performance:

Recently at a forum of some leading professionals, I had the privilege of engaging some of the thought leaders and opinion leaders in the Nigerian ICT sector. Unfortunately, the discuss stemmed around the poor efforts of government in tackling the economy. This is very common among Nigerian professionals who are quick to blame the external environment when it comes growth and improvement even in sectors where the government is not a key driver.

In my remarks, I opined that the onus for drive as much as having the government playing a crucial role, also depended on the capacity of players in the sector. As it always is, the economy is never in a constant state, as much as every system is always in a state of constant flux. This means that the ever changing circumstance of systems means that players ought to be in a state where they are constantly able to keep up with the pace and the degree of change in those systems.

However, there are timeless principles that ensure that despite the degree of change, output and performance can be kept on a standard level.

I intend to share 4 of some key principles that are crucial to ensuring that output and performance are kept constant.

1.       Consistency.

Consistency is one key ingredient in enhancing performance. A consistent approach ensures that output can be predicted, measured and controlled. An absence of a consistent activity, such as record keeping, will eliminate the possibility of being able to measure and determine areas for improvement.

2.       Repetition

In a society that frowns at boredom, and gets easily dissatisfied with repetition, repetition is a crucial factor in gaining mastery. A lot of times, corporations are quick to adopt a new approach but do not stay on that approach long enough, or do not maintain that activity for a given duration, this prevents them from gaining mastery and are quick to blame some of the new systems without recognizing that mastery is gained with time.

3.       Standardization.

A standardized approach ensures uniformity and improves communication. A poor approach to standardization will result in confusion, misunderstanding and misinterpretation. Corporations that are aware of the importance of key roles that activities such as communication, performance monitoring, enumeration and actively work to ensure uniformity and conformity to acceptable operating standards are better positioned to see results.

4.       Values.

Values are important to corporations. Leading organizations that remain true to values can withstand external disruptions and can stand the test of time. Corporations that are quick to change core values with the stems of time may become overwhelmed and even loose their fundamental existence. This can be seen in the survival even in very disruptive environments, cultures and remain true and consistent to their values.. cultures that can be termed traditional. One wonders how such cultures for example are able to survivie and remain in the face of change and constant flux. This is nothing more than staying and remain true to identified values. It is also of note, values are determined by individuals, cultures and corporations based on what they see fit. There are no right or wrong values. These are just values.

*** A note to Nigeria public Adminsitrators on building institutions. Institutions are built not by concrete and mortar, or brick, institutions are built by holding and staying true to those crucial never breaking, unchanging values.. What makes the NPF for example, what she is, not just her massive Louis Edet house, but its commitment its core values regardless of where the Louis Edet house situates. What will make the Nigeria state rise will be its consistency, faithful service, loyalty of its people, and commitment to work hard despite circumstances and situations.

Editorial - LNWN on Media and Politics today

Politics and the Media today
Local News Watch Nigeria aims to make two statements about the budget released and the Presidential Media Chat that was all over twitter last night.

Firstly, the National Budget which ran on air also revealed that even in Africa, the governed can now have a say on the direction that government goes. The budget was presented to the 8th National Assembly for consideration. The focus of government expenditure would be on Health, Security and Education with education receiving the largest share of expenditure. Government funding will come from oil, internal generated revenue and from borrowed funds. The budget would represent the largest budget of Nigeria in recent history. Proponents of the budget suggest that the budget is a war-time budget therefore would carry a lot of expenses especially for military expenditure.

Secondly, For those who did not watch national television, the President of the FRN, Mohamed Buhari had an interactive session with the media and the public were allowed to throw in questions via social media. The democratization of information can be seen where citizens can now openly make statements to government on how governance is carried out and those in power may be able to reply and provide answers. Key issues discussed include the security situation and thegovernment's anti corruption crusade