The House of Representatives has queried the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) over 1014 projects under the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), including an e-Library project that was carried out to the tune of over N2 billion.

 The House frowned at a request by the Commission for N700 billion to ensure that 27 million Nigerian who do not currently have access to telecommunication get coverage.

 This was as the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, along with other officials appeared before the House Ad-hoc Committee investigating the failure and inability of the Commission to promote widespread availability mobile telecommunication network service throughout Nigeria as well as accruals and utilisation of funds in the USFP.

The Committee chaired by Hon Bamidele Salam, pointed out that there was no specific description of what was done in the contracts and they were captured in a manner that they would be hard to track, alleging that 80 per cent of the projects had no specific location.

 The Committee requested that the NCC should provide the specific addresses and project description and specifications for each of the contracts that were awarded and listed in the 91-page document it submitted, by 2pm today.

It noted that most of the contractors also had no addresses specified on the document.

The lawmakers also queried the Commission for unilaterally deciding how much money goes to the USPF, saying that, “There is a list of contracts awarded by the USPF since inception provided for us here, which is about 1014 various contracts on which a few observations have been made.

“There is also the submission of the annual audited report of the USPF which has been from 2007 till date, but a few years missing from the audited reports.

“A few observations have been raised out of that and I want members to let us address those issues so they can take the answers holistically.”

 The Committee has also summoned the Minister of Telecommunications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, the Accountant General of the Federation, the Auditor General as well Chief Executive Officers of telecommunication companies over the issue.

They were summoned to appear before the Committee alongside the NCC on Wednesday, May 10, 2023.

Danbatta while responding said the USPF regulations stipulates that the Commission would determine the contributions from time to time.

 But the lawmakers argued that a regulation made by the NCC cannot supersede its enabling Act.

 Hon. Mark Gbillah said “The challenge is that the NCC has given itself the power to annually decide what it is going to annually allocate to USPF.

“Looking at the documents presented, administrative expenses rose from N19 million to N127 million. The expenditure on staff rose exponentially. Let me say that it is important for the NCC to let us know the premise on which you annually determine allocate the USPF or otherwise and what annual allocation they have proposed and implemented from inception till date.

“We need to know what the funds have been used for. For instance, the e-library alone you spent over N2 billion. How functional is the library based on the amount that have been allocated to them when a lot more should have been allocated in my opinion to the deployment of Base Transceiver Stations to have more coverage across the country?”

Another lawmaker queried why in 2015, despite the staff strength reducing from 48 to 45, there was an almost 100 percent increase from N434 million to N824 million.

Earlier in his response, said, “In 2013, there was a consultancy driven by the NCC to identify clusters of access gaps in the country. 207 clusters of access gaps according to that study and in these clusters of access gaps there were about 37 million Nigerians.

“Since then, through the Commission’s efforts, the number of people without access had been reduced to 27 million. What we have done to bring telecom services to people living in rural, unserved and underserved areas of this country, totalling 37 million people courtesy of the consultancy that was conducted in 2013.

“By 2019, we succeeded in reducing the clusters of access gaps to a 114 through the deployment of the necessary infrastructure needed to bring services to people living in rural, unserved and underserved areas of the country.

“This deployment of infrastructure are the base transceiver stations. I am going to give information about the base transceiver stations we have so far. This resulted in the reduction of Nigerians in those clusters from 37 million to 31 million in 2019. By 2022 we had reduced the clusters of access gaps to 97 from 207 in 2013.”

[ThisDay]

IT wasn’t surprising that His Eminence, Archbishop Emeritus of the Abuja Catholic Archdiocese, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, took his turn on the swipes that the unbridled brats of the ruling APC appear to have reserved for eminent Nigerians who are suspected not to worship at the altar of their political god. Hosted by Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, His Eminence was asked his thoughts on the political situation in the country now that “the elections have come and gone”.

The former president of the Christian Association of Nigeria responded as follows: “You started by saying that the elections have come and gone, I’m just wondering: is the election over? I am saying this because, according to the Electoral Law, the election is not over until it is over, and there are cases in court that have not been disposed of. That is why we are in an anomalous situation. We have a declared president-elect whose election is being challenged, and the courts are handling it.

I think I am entitled to take the position that I am still waiting for the courts to tell me who won the election. That is why I said we are in an anomalous situation, and I am one of those who have been saying that it doesn’t make much sense to be swearing in people when they are still in court. I know it has happened with governors, but the outcome has really not been the best of all cases.

I think we ought to review our election process; so we do have a winner who will be sworn in and whom everybody would rally around. My problem is that the whole system of our election must be properly reviewed so that it will be easier for winners to emerge according to the wishes of the people. It is a pity that it is taking longer for the court to come to its decision. It is not right to have a system that is constantly contested. We should find out why every election is being contested.” 

These opening tips of the iceberg of a 43-minute, 38-second interview, which addressed myriads of national issues, were what the hawks of the ruling party needed, like Herodias and her daughter did to John the Baptist, to literally demand that the head of the man of God be brought in on a platter for allegedly daring their own Herod.

If the opinion of a reasonable person remains the standard test of judicial inquiry to determine public opinion, only a negligible percentage of Nigerian society will see anything wrong with the thoughts just expressed by the eminent Catholic cleric. Cardinal Onaiyekan was quite mild and diplomatic in his view; several millions of his compatriots do not subscribe to the notion of a president-elect.

Most realistic and reasonable Nigerians and the world community are  actually waiting for the courts to tell them who won the election. In other words, the preponderance of reasonable opinion is that it does not make much sense to swear in people when they are still in court; in this case, a president who will be inaugurated by the oath of office administered by the Chief Justice before whose courts the election is still being contested. 

Only a negligible fraction of the population is taken in by the theories of separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary in a country where the president is the most powerful under the foisted military Constitution. Truth be told, our courts, particularly in recent times, have not fared well in the opinion of the public, especially in political cases. When the politician whose election is being questioned is in the Nigerian presidential seat, the judiciary is more in dire straits, as it is expected not only to do justice but that justice must also be seen to have been done.

The apprehension that those who insist that the cases be dispensed with before inauguration are promoters of an interim government is the other side of the same coin, with those seeking undue advantage in their candidate being sworn in to oversee the affairs of the nation when the process of his election is being subjected to constitutional test in court.

None of the two can lay claim to legitimacy in the opinion of reasonable people in society. The APC inadvertently recognised Onaiyekan as “a statesman who doubles as a man of God should strive to be fair to all”. His only offence is that he “didn’t say the same thing when Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan, and Buhari were all sworn in as presidents when their cases were still before the courts”. 

They failed to acknowledge that Nigerian society has at least moved from the era of Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan, and Buhari, when election cases could continue ad infinitum, to the era where the Constitution has been amended to peg the time for the determination of election cases. Thus, like Onaiyekan, those who reason that the processes should be exhausted before inauguration are only urging that the progress made so far be followed to its logical conclusion. After all, there is no law that says we must extend the determination of the cases beyond the inauguration. Those bemoaning the conclusion of the cases before the inauguration knew what they were doing when they deliberately sabotaged the technological devices which would have guaranteed the credibility of the election and made verification easier for the determination of disputes.  

That was why, rather than show remorse for embarrassing Nigerians and our friends, they found solace abroad, shamelessly distorting facts about the election and using their influence to misinterpret our Constitution so as to justify their motives. Nothing is more brash than the hogwash of telling the eminent clergy man that “you have chosen to single out this President-Elect @officialABAT this time around because the candidate you and your other religious brethren openly supported lost the election and you all feel humiliated and embarrassed”.

Very soon, like they did for Ayo Adebanjo and Obasanjo, they will tell the world not only that Onaiyekan is supporting Peter Obi but also find an Igbo mother or father for him to drive home their theory. Like the Cardinal, several well-meaning personalities have expressed opinions about the capacities and needs of the tribunals to end the petitions before the inauguration.

These include Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association; the Afenifere, and several civil society organisations. Cardinal Onaiyekan has proven a credible and courageous voice in national affairs. On several occasions, he did not spare the Obasanjo administration, especially when the notion of a third term agenda gained momentum in national discourse. Unlike these intolerant brats, at no time did OBJ or that administration descend on the Kabba Kogi State- born religious leader.  

In the course of the Channels TV interview, he actually reminded his audience thus: “If you allow me to explain why I am talking the way I am, I belong to a church that has the principle that politics is based on the whole idea that leadership is service, that politics is a noble but difficult art; not everybody should be in politics, but those who go into politics should not go thinking of their own convenience but be ready to sacrifice themselves for the common good to the glory of God”.

Continuing, he said: “Religion is an asset for the good of the people. I am a Catholic and a Cardinal, I have no apology about who I am”. May the shadow of my Lord, the Cardinal John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, never grow less. By these your stripes, may our nation be healed. 

Nigeria, we hail thee.

Ebiseni is the Secretary General, Afenifere and South-West Coordinator, OBIDATTI Campaign Organisation.

“…But the Nigerian government always disappoints, and that is precisely what they are doing in Sudan…” Reuben Abati may 4,2023

Let me state upfront that I am a parent to one of the just evacuated students trapped in the war torn Sudan. His mother and me were hugely relieved when the Max Airline flight 611 from Azwan in Egypt touched down at the pilgrims wing of the Nmandi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja by 10.45am on Sunday May 7,2023.

Reuben Abati’s recent and viral treatise titled “Nigeria: Stranded in Sudan” made a compelling read, I should admit. It was a brilliant exposition on the forces and interests at play in the current internecine carnage in that beleaguered nation.

Most of his insights were astounding. He actually hit the bull’s eye. A lot of it were, however, bull, completely off mark, especially where he dismissed, in unflattering diction, the efforts of the Nigerian Government encapsulated in several agencies involved in the evacuation exercise.

He was spot on, for example, in identifying Sudan’s strategic location around the Red Sea and its “rich resources in gold and oil reserves as well as gum Arabic” as irresistible allure to these foreign master puppeteers fueling this conflict, causing loss of lives, indescribable destitution and displacing hundreds of thousands of people. 

The raison d’etre of the raging hostilities, according to Abati, and he was right, is the continued scramble for Africa by the great powers of the West.

We are witnessing a full-blown proxy war. Indeed, scholars, historians and even subjective journalists like Abati are agreed that Africa’s vast natural resources and effeminate political leadership, have made the continent vulnerable to predatory nations of the world.

At this precise moment literally tens of thousands of people are scampering across that vast arid country crossing borders into South Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia, Egypt and Central Africa Republic, for safety. Some of these listed countries are strife ridden!

Within seven days of the conflict, over 400 people reportedly perished in that country, which has, for long, been battling punishing sanctions, imposed by the West.

According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, 334,000 have been internally displaced and another 100,000 made to flee the country.

Abati queried the slow response of the authorities, comparing Nigeria’s sluggish pace with America’s rapid response in the evacuation of her citizens.

Comparing Nigeria with the US however, is otiose. Here, I should say that he demonstrated a certain degree of naiveté in international politics and in conflict situations.

The US merely rescued an estimated 70 embassy staff in a helicopter mission by its elite SEAL. An estimated 16,000 US private citizens are left to their devices.

The government said, “It was too dangerous” to get its citizens out at the time Nigeria was organizing to evacuate an estimated 3,500 citizens most of them students at no charge

There is an estimated three to five million Nigerians in Sudan. Nigeria might have being slow to start the evacuation but it has covered sufficient grounds in moving the displaced from the main theatre of war in Khartoum as he rightly expressed.
The US has a military base in neighboring Djibouti. It is less than 1,200 kilo metres to Khartoum. By air, it is two hours.

It would take almost a month for the Nigerian Navy to berth its recently acquired logistics vessel “ NNS KADA” at Port Sudan to evacuate a mere 500 citizens and spend another 26 days to return.

NNS KADA is a multi purpose warship. It is equipped with a flight deck, Roro space, cargo deck, supply store and ammunition. She is the biggest war ship in West Africa and one of the biggest on the continent. Its maiden mission to Guinea Bissau was a resounding success.

By air to Khartoum is almost five hours. It makes greater sense therefore, to fly than to ask the Navy to mobilize from Lagos to Port Sudan in moments of emergencies like the one currently in Sudan.

I am certain that Abati is aware that in the event of war, evacuation process is often anchored on airfreight. That explains why the Americans stormed Khartoum in three MH-47 Chinook helicopters from Djibouti refueling in Ethiopia and flew for three hours to evacuate 70 embassy officials!

He wondered why it was costing the sum of $30k to hire a bus from Khartoum. This is war. It is ugly. It costs money. I am not justifying the cost. I am being realistic. In war, lives are wasted needlessly. How much more money? Abati ought to know this. He was in government, after all, as the mouthpiece of the President.

He should know that war economy is different. A fundamental economic principle of demand and supply says that if demand outstrips supply, there will be shortage and prices, will rise. We see that during festivals or fuel shortages. Every festive season, transporters hike fares, commuters and travellers lament. They still go on the voyage. How much more during war?

How much more in a country suffering suffocating economic sanctions? Sudan is delinked from the global financial circle.

Besides, navigating through the arid region of Sudan is a herculean task. The desert is known to literally “swallow’ vehicles in the event of a sandstorm or a blizzard. 

A retired soldier who served in a peacekeeping operation in Sudan educated me on the tough terrain.

According to him, a trip that normally lasts a day or two in Nigeria may take weeks in Sudan unless you are accustomed to navigating that landscape. Vehicular travel is risky. Apart from hostile natural elements, there are all manner of criminal elements dotting the landscape

The bus evacuating my son from Khartoum to Waidi Halfa got stuck in the sand and they had to dig it out wasting 10 hours in the process. Desert scorpions stung some of the volunteers in the effort to liberate the vehicle.

It was an indescribable feeling therefore,to have your kid home after days of anxiety as you daily come face-to-face with grisly details of a terrible sojourn and a misguided military action.

My son was just 7 months shy of bagging an MBBS at the Sudan International University in Khartoum. 

He would turn 22 in October, the month he would have written his final examination. Now, he faces an uncertain educational future. 

I witnessed, first hand, the supreme efforts put up by the federal government of Nigeria through its various agencies involved in the evacuation process. 

Several WhatsApp platforms united jumpy parents, nervous government officials, edgy students and curious journalists for the common purpose of sharing information on the debacle rocking Sudan presently.

One of such platforms was actually set up by the Nigeria Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) chaired by Mrs Abike Dabiri Erewa. 

Again, I witnessed, first hand, the grit of Dabiri Erewa. She was running from pillar to post answering questions, attending to inquiries, making occasional television appearances explaining and elucidating to largely unimpressed citizens.

She demonstrated an unusual grace in handling cantankerous parents and fabricators of fake stories. She shrugged off personal insults and waltzed through the thick wall of cynicism with the elegance of a ballerina. 

Mrs Dabiri-Erewa scored big with most parents in that group. I am one.

She constantly assured and reassured us even though some of us made the extra efforts to seek alternative sources of information. 

As a reporter myself, I was in touch with the foreign affairs minister, a calm technocrat, getting across to some officials at Nigerian embassies in Sudan and Cairo that I know personally.

My son too, being a students leader, was in constant communication with NEMA officials at the border with Egypt and embassy officials in Cairo before they were airlifted in the wee hours of Sunday 

I share totally Abati’s position on Egypt. I am of the considered opinion that we should have made it clear to that country what their action represented-hostility!• This experience is an eye opener. It dawned on me that NIDCOM is a spectator in the current rescue effort.

Statutorily, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management is the one calling the shots, funding the evacuation efforts and taking care of logistics.• And of course, the philanthropic gestures of industrial and aviation giants Aliko Dangote, Peace Air, Max and Azman airlines.

The airlines offered for free to lift stranded citizens in Sudan. They all walked their talk. Dangote offered the whopping sum of 100k to each returnee.

Corporate Nigeria demonstrated by the kind acts of these good spirited Nigerians that at critical moments, Nigerians would join hands together to compliment government efforts. Abati should borrow a leaf.

“Think impact rather than positions and titles” were the words of my great mentor to me.

In today’s fast-paced world, we are often driven by the need to succeed, which is not a bad thing. The drive for success, however, is quickly measured by certain standards – such as certifications, positions, titles, awards, recognition and so on (I am yet to know who set those standards, if you do find him or her, do let me know). Undoubtedly, these yardsticks could be a representation of the countless hours of hard work we put in to achieve our career goals.

Success in the workplace is a multifaceted concept that encompasses more than just achieving your goals or earning awards. As someone who has received recognition in my career – like being named one of the top 100 career women in Nigeria, and winning the Positive Role Model Award – I understand the importance of looking beyond these external markers of success. In times when I am not receiving an award or getting a certification, I have had to ask myself whether I still consider myself successful. And it’s a yes from me. More recently, I’ve been asking myself how I can prepare myself for greater relevance.

Success, in any career, is multifaceted, ever-evolving and never really a destination as often conceived. Success looks like finding fulfilment and satisfaction in what you do. It is best to identify what success means to you as an individual. For me, one of my definitions of success is growth. Growth in the navigation of the professional landscape, building relationships with colleagues and relevant global networks and adapting to changing circumstances. While accomplishments are essential, they are just one piece of the puzzle – milestones that we reach on the way to success.

Career success is not a linear path, and there is no one-size-fits-all definition. Success in the workplace is a combination of various factors, which includes your personal growth as an individual. How then, can one become more driven for success rather than for accomplishment?

Think Impact

I observed that from the biographies of many people I consider successful, their famous titles and positions came when they pursued a life of impact, seeking to make a positive change. Dr Ola Brown, the founder of Flying Doctors Nigeria, is an example. Her passion for improving access to healthcare in Africa has saved lives and earned her several global recognitions in the process, including the conferment of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) rank. When you are able to recognize the kind of impact you want to make, it will guide the kind of projects you want to be part of, the associations you want to keep and your resilience.

Be growth driven

The growth mindset is recognizing that it is you versus you, and the end game is to always be a better version of yourself. Sometimes growth isn’t about getting a higher paycheck or position, sometimes growth looks like adapting to change or stepping out of one’s comfort zone. Having a growth mindset helps you recognize that there is more and propels you to step out of your comfort zone and embrace new challenges. Think success, think growth.

Continuous Learning

According to research, successful people attribute their achievements to continuous learning. This may not be surprising in a world that is constantly evolving and rapidly changing. But here’s the thing, learning isn’t just about getting a degree or certification, as many think. Learning is a mindset, a way of acquiring new values/skills, and a willingness to embrace new ideas and perspectives. In fact, the most successful people understand that there is always more to learn, no matter how many accolades they may have to their name, recognising that accomplishments are milestones in a lifelong journey of growth and development. It is even more important not to lose the yearning to learn when we are faced with challenges and setbacks, sometimes, the most significant successes come from there. So, are you ready to unlock your full potential by making continuous learning a lifelong pursuit?

Understanding that career success is multifaceted is essential. Success is not just about what you achieve; it’s about who you become along the way.