“Is Lekki going under?”…Iri Ji Anambra 2023: cultures and traditions going north…Ebonyi is 2023 leader on fiscal performance…plus other stories and reports

Photos of The Week 

Nigeria’s profligacy in focus

 

Naira’s continued nose dive

No insecurity in the South East

“South East Ambassador”, Nwanya Ochs, is perhaps indicating that December is just one month away!  Those who are not going home for Christmas, perhaps, have other reasons – ufodu e meet ro up!

“Is Lekki going under?

Lagos State government has urged communities on the fringe of the Ogun River to relocate immediately, warning that there could be heavy flooding following heavy rainfall and the opening of the Oyan dam by the Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority.

The State’s Ministry of Environment in a statement signed by the Commissioner, Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, listed the areas likely to be affected to include Alagbole, Meiran, Maidan, Kara, Isheri-Olowora, Agiliti, Owode-Onirin, Owode-Elede, Agboyi I, Agboyi II, Ajegunle, Itowolo, Majidun, Ibeshe, Baiyeku, Maidan, Lekki-Ajah and the Lagos Lagoon boundaries. 

Wahab, said following the incidence of flooding already being experienced in the neighbourhood of Ajegunle, Kara, the flooding was likely to become worse.

The Commissioner said an alert issued by the Ogun Osun River Basin Authority on the operation of Ouan Dam had advised all residents of the Ogun River bank to relocate immediately. 

The alert showed rainfall and average water released monthly for years 2021, 2022 and 2023 till mid-October, warning of possible inundation by flooding which was already happening.

Wahab, said comparatively with year 2021, total rainfall was 969mm while for 2022, it was 1,140mm, saying when compared with the first 10 months of this year, rainfall amounted to 1,410.1mm which was a significant rise.

In addition, for the amount of water spilled by the River Basin Authority for the whole of 2021, it amounted to 1,140mcm, while for 2022, the amount of water spilled was slightly higher at 1,475.6mcm while for the 10 months of this year, a very significant 2,274 has been released with 532.2mcm and 348.7mcm released in September and October respectfully.

According to the statistical table released by the River Basin Authority, the amount of rainfall recorded from January to October 2023 (1,410.0mm) indicated that most of the rainfall in the area had fallen.

Likewise, the volume of water released from January to October 15, 2023, was more than the average synthesised Annual Flow volume of 1770Mcm against a Gross Storage of 27+90Mcm.

He stated that the utmost concern of the state government was safety of lives and properties of residents, which he said explained the urgent call for relocation by those affected, adding that safety of lives and properties was paramount.

Wahab added that the alert became necessary because there was much water to be expected in October 2023, in addition to the heavy downpours usually associated with the months of September and December every year along Ogun River Basin and other related predictions and warning from Nigeria Metrological Services (NIMET), Nigeria Hydrological Services (NIHSA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)and other related Agencies. 

Renewed Hope: FG’s ₦25,000 a Month Palliative

(A contribution by Dr Ifediora C. Amobi; our Special Correspondent)

This week the Federal Government commenced the disbursement of ₦25,000 a month, for 3 months to 15 million households nationwide. This is the President’s Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, one of the palliatives to cushion the harsh effects following the fuel subsidy removal. After the 3 months, the government would have spent ₦1.125 trillion (US $1 billion) on an average of 400,000 households per state and the FCT. 

It is easy to applaud this policy on the surface however, it also raises a number of pertinent questions. Is the goal to lift a percentage of the 15 million out of poverty after 3 months? Is it to appease Labour and prevent a national strike? How will the 15 million be identified? Do States have or have even updated their Social Registers? Will every State be provided for 400,000 household beneficiaries or will some get more while others get less? (In 2022, the Anambra State Cash Transfer Unit disclosed that the FG paid ₦83.2 million to 16,636 households – quite short of the expected 400,000). What happens after the 3 months? Could the ₦1.125 trillion have been used better?

These questions are important because by February 2024, food and fuel prices would have almost doubled, the Naira would have depreciated even further to $/₦1,600, the unemployment pool would have increased significantly, and any salary or wage adjustment would have zero effect in enhancing consumer spending. The short-term outlook is bleak.

One thing is for sure, the beneficiaries of the programme will likely not be able to invest their ₦75,000 rather it will all be consumed, eaten up by the rising inflation. So, will they be better off after the holiday celebrations? Obviously not! And for those who travelled to Abuja to pick up their ₦25,000 check for the first month, will they get reimbursed for two-way transportation which can be as high as ₦12,000?

Considering that it costs Nigeria ₦5 billion every month to take care of the displaced persons in IDP camps in the North East, I ask again, could the ₦1.125 trillion have been better utilized? Nigeria has a primary school enrollment of almost 50 million pupils, with 30 million in public schools. That ₦1.125 trillion Conditional Cash Transfer amount can give all the children of the 15 million households free primary education for two full academic years with change to spare! This one solution will renew hope and will achieve a more national development objective than any inefficient and ineffective short-lived cash disbursement mechanism.

Iri Ji Anambra 2023:  cultures and traditions going north

“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible” – Audrey Hepburn

For over several years now, every effort to hold a State-wide Iri Ji (New Yam) Festival in Anambra has always come to nought.  In the eight years that I served on the internal branding committees of the Government, tried as we did, we failed to get go on the matter of a State-wide new yam festival; the nays (as a tough minded optimist and one that has won several brand battles, I wasn’t one of them) would always argue that you cannot bring all the traditional rulers together, for one reason or the other.

Kudos to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, and his administration for holding a successful State-wide 2023 new yam festival.

Speaking at the Festival, Governor Soludo advocated joint celebration of new yam for ndị Igbo of Eastern region extraction.  Governor Soludo stated that celebrating the Iri Ji Festival in unison will show the world that the Igbo has a wonderful culture, pointing out that it was the first time every local government in the state came together to celebrate.

He assured that the festival would be mainstreamed to be celebrated in coming the years, expressing optimism that next year would be greater. 

"Our culture is not just dance display but a totality of who we are, how we dress, how we talk, in terms of our core values. Our culture is an embodiment of who we are. It is a celebration of our hardwork"; the Governor said.

Governor Soludo used the occasion to highlight his administration's commitment to promoting Igbo culture and values, pointing out that his administration will  also continue to mainstream compassion and carrying each other along, leaving nobody behind. 

"This is evident in our education, health, youth development and palliatives given to cushion the effects of fuel Subsidy," he said.

On his part, the Chairman of Anambra State Traditional Rulers' Council, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, while applauding Governor Soludo and his wife, explained that the Anambra Traditional Rulers Council is in partnership with the South East Traditional Rulers Council and some groups of Archbishops to continue to promote the core principles and values of Igbo culture and tradition.

There was a display of cultural procession from representatives of all twenty-one local government areas in Anambra State.

Anaocha Council area which harvested the biggest yam among all the others local government areas, won the prize money.

UNN produces 1st indigenous 3D printing machine for plastic waste reuse

The Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has produced the first indigenous 3D printing machine to help control plastic waste pollution and encourage plastic waste reuse.

Prof. Paul Akor, Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department, UNN disclosed this in Nsukka on Saturday during a sensitization workshop on the use and disposal of plastics organised by the department in collaboration with Pan African University Life and Earth Science Institute, Ibadan 

Tagged; “Supporting Hubs and External Community Engagement, Innovation for African Universities: Circular Plastic Economy,” sponsored by the British Council.

Akor said that the 3D printing machine was developed with local e-waste (Electronic waste) which would in turn use filaments made from plastic waste, adding that it would offer a customizable material system that can be used to create both simple and complex materials.

Housing ministry, UN-Habitat plan nationwide slum upgrade

The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, on Saturday, expressed commitment to launch a nationwide urban renewal and slum upgrading programme.

The programme, in partnership with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, aims to improve living conditions in Nigeria’s urban areas and transform informal settlements into vibrant, integrated neighborhoods with access to essential services, while preventing the proliferation of slums.

Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, made this known during a meeting with a delegation of UN-Habitat, led by the Director, Regional Office for Africa, Oumar Sylla, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

The Minister, in a statement signed by the Deputy Director on information, Haiba Badamasi, observed that UN-Habitat’s new vision of “a better quality of life for all in an urbanising world” aligns fully with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, and called on the body to support the bold plans of the ministry to increase access to decent, quality, and affordable housing for all Nigerians, including those that fall within the low and medium-income segments of the country.

Ebonyi leads in BudgiT 2023 fiscal performance ranking

BudgIT, a prominent civic-tech organization dedicated to promoting fiscal transparency and accountability in Nigeria, has published its 2023 state of states report, in which Ebonyi state was ranked among the top three states.

BudgIT, through its annual analysis, assesses and ranks the fiscal performance of all 36 states from the most to the least sustainable.

It released the 2023 edition of its annual States of States report themed Subnational Healthcare Delivery for Improved Economic Development during the week

In the report, Ebonyi topped the chart by coming 2nd on both INDEXES C and D, and overall 3rd position out of the 36 States of the Federation.

Reacting to the report, Jude Chikadibia Okpor, the commissioner for Information described it as mind-blowing and called for celebration considering where the state was classified in previous years.

He said: “For the records and clarity, Ebonyi State’s decent performance across the various categories which propelled it to the overall best three needs to be highlighted to rest a possible debate that could emanate to challenge the reputable report. 

“For instance, on States Performance INDEX B, – States on this index have comparatively more public revenue left to implement the capital expenditure component of their budget after fulfilling repayment obligations to lenders – Ebonyi ranked 2nd out of 36 States of the federation. 

‘On State’s Performance on INDEX D, which are for states that give priority to investing in capital expenditure compared to their operating expenses – Ebonyi again, took 2nd position out of the 36 States.”

It was gathered that States that ranked low in the index have a financial strategy that prioritizes investment in their operating expenses over capital expenditure in the state.

The commissioner explained that such states are not sufficiently investing in improving the human capital development profile of the state.

He however noted that the government of Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru distinguished itself by taking the lead in this area.

He noted: “The report brings to the fore Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru’s disposition towards Human capital development.

‘It is right to state without equivocation that the 2023 BudgiT Report is another vocal pointer to the fact that Ebonyians made the right choice in Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru and their confidence in him is practically being justified.”

 

(A digest of latest reports on the Economy, Industry, Politics, Sports, and developments around the South East of Nigeria)

 

The Digest is on leave today!

 

 

 

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