As the race for the office of the first citizen of Nigeria approach its climax, we review some policies that notably characterized the incumbent administration, with the hope of re-evaluation for relevant changes where necessary.
Firstly, we take a look at the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE P) program, its feasibility and full implementation:
Under the
SURE P program, the total subsidy receivable annually was estimated at over $1
trillion, based on an average crude price of $90 initially (now $60 per barrel). A part
of this fund is expected to go to the Federal, State, Local governments, and
the Federation accounts.
Some SURE P
projects includes: Social safety, Niger – delta development project, road
infrastructure projects, urban mass transit, vocational training, list of rail
projects, standard bridges, state irrigation projects, hydro power projects,
improving existing local refineries capacity, and building new ones. etc.
Remarkably, Christopher
Kolade was appointed chairman of this program, but humbly resigned when the integrity
of the program came under questioning, a situation he could not put up with.
Between 2012 and 2013, It was reported that SURE-P Board spent over N178 billion on four major roads and two bridges across the country, these are the Abuja-Abaji-Lokoja road, and the Kano roads. Other roads reportedly contracted were the Maiduguri road, the Enugu - Onitsha road, and Benin, Shagamu, Ore road. The two bridges expected to be constructed are Second Niger Bridge and the Oweto Bridge, linking Benue and Nasarawa States, all of which are being constructed mostly with SURE-P funds.
It is of interest to note here that these SURE P projects are
a replicate of what the government should provide for the masses under normal
circumstances.
Yet, in spite of Fuel subsidy savings, implementation of many SURE P projects across the nation, as proposed, is a million dollar question that members of the committee should answer, as one might need
a magnifying glass to see some of the amenities the committee lay claim to.
One noticeable thing on some of these SURE P sites are signs, and perhaps a tractor or other instrument on these locations for months ( to indicate the contractors are at work).
Yet people die every day on our major roads, mostly due to bad spots on some of the federal roads, most of the public hospitals lack adequate facilities, well trained medical personnel, and stuffed with out dated drugs, supplied by contractors with no medical background. Most rural communities are currently cut off from the outside world, as there is no access road or bridge to link them up.
The refinery project was not speared as information made available by the Federal Ministry of
Finance revealed that research and analysis show that even if all the country’s refineries 'in the country' were to operate at full capacity, there would still be a petrol supply gap of 15 million litres per day. Therefore, importation WILL remain inevitable until additional refining capacities are built through the on-going Greenfield Refinery Project, adding that discussions were engaged in, with prospective investors who are willing to provide Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to build additional refineries in the country to ensure domestic self sufficiency and the export of refined petroleum products within the next few years.
An 18 September, 2012 edition of This Day Newspaper reported that following the corporation’s inability to meet the May 13, 2011 date, the CSCEC had extended the MoU by one year. The renewal of the MoU was contained in a memo dated May 13, 2012 addressed to the then Group Managing Director (GMD) of the NNPC, Mr. Austeen Oniwon.
The memo signed by the company’s Vice President Overseas Operations, Yu Zhend, noted that the extension was granted based on NNPC’s assurance that feasibility studies for the three refineries would be carried out in July 2011.
The one paragraph memo reportedly read: “Further to your request to extend the May 13, 2010 MoU between the NNPC and CSCEC for one year, we have held discussions with our board and advised Detailed Feasibility Studies (DFS) will be ready in July. Although our board would have preferred a three months extension (because of the need to commence loan negotiations, we accept your request to renew the MoU till May 13, 2012.”
The rest of the subsidy embezzlement saga is best known by Nigerians.
All we hear in the dailies are figures of amount supposedly spent on invisible projects, amounts thought a far cry compared to pictures we see of some of these constructed facilities.
However, vocational trainings conducted and SMEs support, are SURE P nationwide programs that remain feasible, and worth commending, as many Nigerians have benefited from it.
Never the less, one is forced to ask, are representatives of the civil society, and the rest SURE P committee members up on their feet about this challenge, or are they getting payed for just lodging in five star hotels in Abuja?
Are Nigerians supposed to, as usual swallow this bitter pill, better still watch
helplessly as the administration blame factors for not enabling them fulfill their promises. Someone has got to take responsibility for this.
If the SURE
P program is not working, who is to be blamed, if not the President?
If they is
no electricity in the country, who is to be blamed, if not the President?
When contractors
are not keeping up to their delivery promises, who do we blame, if not the President?
The present administration seems to blame everybody, for everything, but themselves. There is need for President Goodluck Jonathan to start taking responsibility for these actions, because the masses believed in, and voted him into power, he is supposed to be in-charge, not some committee members or contractors. The onus is on him to conduct investigations, sack those found wanting, and appoint credible people in their place.
Nigeria and The Challenges of Insecurity: Boko – Haram abducted over 200 girls from a school hostel in Chibok, Bornu state, they are still killing and abducting people (mostly women) in Northern Nigeria, who should take the blame, if not the President; not a state governor
in a state of emergency situation, take a clue from the Obasanjo administration, where a military administrator was appointed to manage a similar situation in Plateau state.
On the recent sentencing of military men for mutiny, who do we really blame for
their actions? How do you expect the military to fight insurgents armed to the teeth with
some of the latest ammunition, with very light bullet vests and AK 47 guns, most of which are held together with cell tapes?
Mr.
President, a situation where ex-militants are contracted to take over the defense and security of a nation, by purchasing weapons and armory for the nation’s Army and Navy is totally not accepted anywhere in the world.
On Power Distribution: In the history of Nigeria, no one ethnic group has wielded the
four powers of economic, political,
commerce and intelligentsia.
During the Shagari administration, while the North had the political power, the
economic and intelligentsia powers rested in the West, they were the opposition, they dominantly criticized the
government, and the East had Commerce.
When Olusegun Obasanjo came into power, the West had the political, economic and
intelligentsia, but Obasanjo balanced this situation by empowering his vice
president. Atiku was in-charge
of the economy, which enabled him dish it out, to gain control of the
governors, a leverage he used to fight the Obasanjo's second term agenda. The Jim Ovias
and Tony Elumelus, all from the South were empowered to run the economy, during this era, so many big names from the Niger-Delta region rose up in the oil
sector.
Although it
is viewed as an unwritten constitution, distribution of power is a norm which was believed to be embraced by
all, and put into consideration in administrations over the years.
When the present administration got into power by divine Hand, the nation woke up to discover that all the powers were concentrated in one region.
Areas of the
constitution where even ex-military presidents dared to thread, the present
administration seems to have threaded, without thinking of its future
implications on Niger–Deltans.
After the
present administration, what will the South be remembered for, where does the
hope for a future ‘Niger-delta’ President rest, in the hands of ex – militants
and guns? Come on, this region which is blessed with men and women of high
intellect, is definitely more than what it is currently being reduced to.
If a leader
uses his intelligence to better improve the nation, it is okay, but when this
intelligence is used for ambitions where the sovereignty of the nation, and well being of a good number of the masses does not fit into, then it is
subject to be questioned.
