By Olowogboyega Oyebade
Do you know that we give much of our best to public celebrations of ourselves? Do you know that we can still share charity on these occasions? Do you know that the First Lady of this State, Mrs Kafayat Oyetola did just that last week to mark her birthday? Are you aware that, rather than inviting musicians to throw a signature party for the strong and the mighty, she just invited a team of surgeons to do free surgeries for scores of patients who needed such attention? Do you know that this rare gesture of charity served to complement the revolution her husband is doing in the health sector of the State, rehabilitating nine general hospitals and 332 health centres, one in each ward, all at the same time? What a good way to teach a new lesson?
Do you know Comrade Amitolu Shittu, the Director-General of De-Raufs, a social protection organization for good governance and the current chairman of PCRC in the State of Osun? Are you aware that this thorough-bred revolutionary does not give in to demagoguery? Do you know that he had taught us a new lesson before and has capped it with another lesson? Do you know the first lesson? Are you aware that the largest crowd in his birthday ceremonies are always the poorest of the poor? Do you know that he would invite them, sew new clothes to thousands of them and feed thousands of them for a whole day in his estate? And now the second lesson. Are you aware that when thousands of people were condemning police institution over the killing of Kolade in Lagos, Comrade Amitolu still found a heart of appreciation for a distinguished police officer who served our State diligently? You care to know more? Come along.Theprayer of Martin Luther King (Jnr.) cuts in:
“When I die, don’t build a monument to me. Don’t bestow me degrees from great universities. Just clothe the naked. Say that I tried to house the homeless. Let people say that I tried to feed the hungry.”
Do you know that Mr Fimihan Adeoye, the Osun State Commissioner of Police has been transferred? Do you know that this man is a personification of what an excellent police officer should be? Do you know that everybody knows that he is sober and calm every time, not permissive, not corrupt, not trigger-happy and not power-drunk? Do you know that knows where his men should be at every given time and what they have to do? Do you know that under his watch our State was adjudged the most peaceful State in Nigeria? Do you know that Comrade Amitolu Shittu, the Chairman of PCRC and all his members thought it wise to honour this police missionary with a civic reception? Do you know that the ‘Comrade Amitolu Initiative’ to honour a committed police officer will boost the morale of other officers and the police institution that they are on the radar of the public? Do you know that this is an excellent way to promote the much-needed peace and security in our country? Do you know that 2019 calls for a serious paradigm shifts in our thinking? Come along.
Do you know Godwin Emefele, the iconic out-going Governor of Central Bank? Are you aware that when such institutions talk, they do not play to the gallery? Do you know that he predicted in early January, a fragile economic outlook like one convalescing from a protracted health challenge for 2019? Do you know that the signs are just adding up and all of us have to cooperate with government to make the transit easier? Do you know that we need more public support for our security agencies to stem down the negative statistics? Come along, please.
Do you know that the business environment in 2018 contended with high interest rate, weak GDP growth, weak consumer demand, deficient infrastructure, energy issues, traffic gridlock on Lagos port roads and insecurity in some parts of the country, among others? Are you aware that at the close of 2018there was a sharp decline in oil price to $54 per barrel, from a peak of $86 in early October of that year, posing a risk to the stability of the macro-economy? Are you aware of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showing that the Nigerian economy grew by 1.81% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2018 which was lower than the IMF and Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) growth forecasts of 2.1% and 4.1% respectively for 2018? Do you know that the GDP growth of 1.81%, which was far below 3% annual population growth remains a cause for concern due to its ominous implications for welfare and poverty conditions in the country for 2018? Are you aware that from these crystal-balls, book-makers can easily predict 2019?
Do you know that inflation rate began to rise in August 2018 with headline inflation of 11.26% in October 2018?Do you know that the 2018 World Bank Ease of Doing Business report ranked Nigeria 146 out of 190 countries, a report that showed that the country took a step backwards from the 145th position it ranked in 2017? Do you know that all these vagaries have telling effects on the economic outlook of Nigeria in 2019 and the Human Development Index? Are you aware that Nigerian ports were classified among the worst ports in the world in 2018 due to challenges bordering on delay of import and export processes, heavy human and vehicular congestion to and within the ports, difficulty in gaining access to the ports due to bad roads and security concerns? Do you know that all these drawbacks have telling effects on the prosperity or otherwise of the ordinary man in anywhere he lives in this country? Do you know that all these indicators render prostrate the Nigerian economy which remains fragile with the high dependence on oil sector for revenue and foreign exchange earnings? And when the economy is prostrate, do you know that the security architecture is over-stretched as break-downs of law and order become a routine rather than an exception? What are the effects?
And one more news! Do you know that on Friday 5th April, 2019, the Debt Management Office of Nigeria announced that Nigeria’s Public Debt Grows by 12.25% and the debt profile has reached N24.387tn? Do you know that if you divide this figure by 203 million people which is the current population of Nigeria, you can easily get the debt-over-hang per capita? Are you aware that a breakdown of the debts showed that external debt stood at N7.759.23 trillion ($22bn), while domestic component stood at N16.627.84 trillion ($56bn)? Do you know that the Federal Government loans accounted for 78 per cent of the figure, while States and the FCT accounted for 22 per cent? Are you aware that the Federal Government has an external debt stock of N6.4 trillion while the domestic component stood at N17.11 trillion? Do you know that all the States and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja have external debt of N1.25trillion and N3.85 trillion domestic debt, or a total of N5.15trillion? Do you know that this is the time to grow the economy to reduce insecurity? Do you know that insecurity and poverty are two of a kind, cohabiting to induce each other? Do you know that this is the time to undertake more project-tied borrowing from concessional sources?
Do you know that the government needs to focus on the management of risks associated with the Debt Stock to mitigate debt service costs to give a breathing space to leverage on development initiatives already propelled in the power sector, railway, second Niger Bridge, Ajaokuta Initiative, social protection programme, combatting security challenge, maintaining food security and tackling unemployment issues? Do you know that we need to borrow more through Federal Government Bonds, Sukuk, Green Bonds and Savings Bonds as they are cheaper and are longer-termed funds for infrastructure? Do you know that if we check our debt-over-hang per capita in relation to our GDP, do you know that we still have the resilience to borrow more to fix the much-needed infrastructure in power sector, education, health, housing, technology and agriculture? Do you know that this is the time to have more people in the tax net? Do you know that as we take this initiatives to jump-start our economy, if the problems of criminality and general insecurity are not addressed, we would have excursed in vain, to a fool’s paradise? Do you know that when the economy of a country is challenged and there is atmosphere of insecurity, poverty, hunger, riots and diseases will be the willing companions of the people, smoking good life out of them? Do you know that we have to avoid getting to the tipping edge of a failed State occasioned by insecurity and poverty?
Do you know that the rising spate of crimes has been impacting negatively on our economy and the quality of life? Do you know that critical voices are now showing concern? Do you know Muhammad Ibrahim Biu, the National Publicity Secretary of Arewa Consultative Forum? Are you aware that he has called on the Federal Government to do the needful to halt the descent to the status of a failed State as far as security of life and property is concerned? Do you know that his press statement lamented the increasing spate of kidnapping and killings in the country, particularly in the north? Are you aware that the body called for serious deployment of troops to the affected States, Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina and Kaduna States and highways to repel attacks and bring perpetrators to book? Do you know that this body sees this vicious and unacceptable criminality as a serious challenge to the place of government, our military, other security agencies and the entire populace? The statement reads:
“Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and indeed Nigerians are worried and disturbed with reports of spate of kidnappings of innocent people on the highways and frequent attacks on villages by some armed bandits which have led to the death of hundreds of innocent lives particularly in the Northern part of the country. The recent frequent kidnappings and attacks on the people, especially along Kaduna/Abuja express highway and many villages in Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina and Kaduna states as well as many parts of the country is cruel, barbaric and inhuman…. The establishment of Military Joint Task Force and other security operational command bases in Zamfara, Sokotoand other flash-point States to combat the bandits activities in the region need to redouble their efforts in order to put an end to this daily loss of innocent lives and destruction of property. …The Police Force should deploy more troops to the affected states and highways to not only repel attacks but go after the perpetrators and bring them to book. ”
Have you ever tested the popular axiom that a hungry man is an angry man? Do you know that hunger is the gateway to all diseases and crimes? Do you know that sustained hunger could be caused by either or the combination of food supply disruptions, war, plagues or adverse weather? Do you feed the hungry? When last did you do that? Are you aware that Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) declared in 2017 that there were about 821 million people afflicted with hunger in the world? Do you know that at the global level, much of the world’s hunger relief efforts are coordinated by the UN, and geared towards achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal for “Zero hunger”?
Do you know that in April 2012, the Food Assistance Convention, the world’s first legally binding international agreement on food aid, was signed? Are you aware that in May, 2012, the Copenhagen Consensus recommended that efforts to combat hunger and malnutrition should be the first priority for politicians and private sector philanthropists looking to maximize the effectiveness of aid spending? Do you know that globally, there are an estimated 68.5 million displaced people, including 40.0 million internally displaced people, 25.4 million refugees, and 3.1 million asylum seekers? Do you know that studies have revealed that hunger was a cause and a consequence of these forced migrations through dangerousSeas, Oceans, Deserts and borders around the world? Do you know that the hungry people need a shoulder to lean on? Goal 2 of the Sustainable Development Goals interludes: “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture”
Do you know that the Nigerian statistics at the recent United Nations General Assembly was not looking up in the presentation of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) led by Auwal Musa? Do you know that nearly 1,000 Nigerian children die of malnutrition-related causes every day – a total of 361,000 annually? Do you know that we have an approximated 2.1 million Nigerian under five children affected by malnutrition and that Nigeria accounts for one tenth of the global total? Do you know that the prevalence of chronic malnutrition among women of child-bearing age in Nigeria was put at 11.6 per cent, with 14.2 per cent of overweight women of child-bearing age and 5.7 per cent obese women in the same child-bearing bracket?
Do you know what it takes to be hungry? Are you aware that many Nigerians cannot say: ‘Bless this food, oh Lord’ for thrice a day? Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation’s Global Report on Food Crisis 2019released on Wednesday, April 3, in Brussels? Do you know that, according to the report, no fewer than 113 million people experienced high levels of food insecurity in the world’s most severe food crises in 2018? Do you know that the food crises were primarily caused by conflict and climate-related disasters? Are you aware that the report further showed that nearly two-thirds of those facing acute hunger were in just eight countries? Guess what? Do you know that the countries are: Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen? Do you know that the affected countries in terms of severity of food crises were: Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, the Syrian Arab Republic, the Sudan, South Sudan and Nigeria? Are you aware that these eight countries accounted for two thirds of the total number of people facing acute food insecurity – amounting to nearly 72 million people? And now the bad news!
Do you know that the short-term outlook of food insecurity for 2019 showed that Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, the Syrian Arab Republic, the Sudan, South Sudan and Nigeria are expected to remain among the world’s most severe food crises in 2019? Do you know that severe hunger continues to ravage thousands of lives in the war-torn North Eastern parts of Nigeria? Do you know that large segments of populations in most of these countries risk falling into Emergency levels of acute food insecurity? The report adds:
“In the 16 states of northern Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, the number of people in ‘Crisis’ and ‘Emergency’ decreased by 40% between June and August 2017 and 2018 to 5.3 million. At the peak of the lean season three million were acutely food insecure in the three north-eastern states affected by the Boko Haram insurgency where protracted conflict and mass displacement disrupted agriculture, trade, markets and livelihoods, and pushed up food prices. …We must act at scale across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus to build the resilience of affected and vulnerable populations. To save lives, we also have to save livelihoods.”
Shall we not proceed to interrogate ourselves on how to salvage the 5.3 million Nigerians facing acute hunger in 2018? Do you know that comparatively, the number of Nigerians facing acute hunger in 2018 was equal to the entire population of Norway (5.3 million) and greater than the combined populations of of Qatar (2.5 million) and Namibia (2.47 million)? Do you know that the 2019 Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) reported that the number of people unable to meet their daily food needs without humanitarian assistance has been rising for several years? Do you know that data pooled from 15 agencies in the international humanitarian and development community showed that Nigeria, with particular reference to Zamfara,, Kaduna, Adamawa, Yobe, and BornoStates made Nigeria to be one of the eight countries that housed two-thirds of the 113 million people who faced acute hunger across the globe in 2018? Do you know that these eight countries accounted for two thirds of the total number of people facing acute food insecurity – amounting to nearly 72 million people which is equal to the populations of United Kingdom (66.7 million), Liberia (4.6 million) and Equitorial Guinea (1.2 million) all put together?. An excerpt from the report interludes: “Large segments of populations in most of these countries risk falling into Emergency (IPC/CH Phase 4) levels of acute food insecurity”.
Do you know that the report noted that these food crises across the world in 2018 were primarily driven by persistent instability in conflict-ridden regions and adverse climate events? The report disclosed that the crisis in Nigeria affected 16 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with 5.3 million people estimated to be “in crisis or worse”.
“At the peak of the lean season, three million were acutely food insecure in the three north-eastern states affected by the Boko Haram insurgency where protracted conflict and mass displacement disrupted agriculture, trade, markets and livelihoods, and pushed up food prices.Those worst-hit were identified to be three million people resident in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, northeastern states that have borne the brunt of a 10-year insurgency by terrorist group, Boko Haram. The group has killed around 30,000 people and displaced more than 2.5 million. Hunger is a recurrent problem for those living in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in the northeast. One of the factors identified for driving acute food insecurity in those States was intensified attacks on military checkpoints, worship centres and civilians which increased displacement as the country was hosting two million people in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in October 2018. Military operations and checkpoints were also noted to have disrupted agricultural production as well as markets and other livelihood activities.
The report reads further:
“While four households in five had access to farmland in Yobeand two in three in Adamawa, almost half of them were not able to cultivate. In Borno, two households in three had no access to farmland. In Adamawa, floods and conflicts between pastoralists and farmers also weakened household food security.”
It is to be regretted that conflict is expected to persist in the country and continue to have a direct impact on agricultural production and on the functioning of markets. This means large numbers of poor and/or displaced households in the northeast are expected to continue to remain heavily dependent on humanitarian assistance from the Dangotes of this world and other international donor organisations. Do you know that women and children are more precarious in this situation as family incomes deplete and they have to survive only on rations distributed in IDP Camps? Do you know that despite admitting how critical providing humanitarian assistance is to saving lives and alleviating human suffering in the affected areas, the World Food Programme (WFP) executive director, David Beasley, said it will not address the root causes of food crises in the war-torn areas in Nigeria?
Do you know what the body sees as the solution to the problem of Nigeria and its allies in the hunger-bracket to achieve a resilient, stable and hunger-free world? Wait for these! The Beasley of this world has counselled us that all conflicts must be de-escalated and ended. (This is a challenge to all security agencies) Women must be empowered now! (This is a challenge to all the First Ladies in all States) All children must be nourished and educated. (This is a challenge to all Governors and stakeholders.) All rural infrastructure must be improved. Social Protection programmes and all safety nets must be vigorously pursued. Lobatan!
Are you aware of miserable countries? Do you know that Nigeria ranked the sixth among miserable countries in the world, according to a research by an economist from John Hopkins University in Baltimore, United States, Steve Hanke? Do you know that Hanke’s survey reveals that Venezuela tops the list of miserable countries in the world and held the title ingloriously consecutively since 2015? Do you know that Argentina is number 2 while Nigeria occupies the 6th position? Do you know why? Are you aware that the National Emergency Management Agency declared national disasters in twelve States affected by the widespread flooding across the country in 2018? Do you know that almost 2 million people have been affected and over 350,000 are indicated to be in need of emergency assistance across the affected States?Do you know that the affected areas are along the Benue and Niger floodplains? Do you know that the areas affected by flooding, insurgency and communal conflicts recorded harvests below average? Do you know that rice, maize and cassava were the crops worst-affected by flooding in 2018?
Do you know that as of July 2018 in Nigeria, the Food Security Sector has more than 61 partners active in the Food Security Sector (46% NNGOs, 13% government bodies, 34% INGOs, 7% UN agencies), including the President’s Committee on the Northeast Initiative (PCNI), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the State Emergency Management Agency(SEMA),AgriculturalDevelopmentPrograms(ADP)of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States and National Bureau of Statistics?
Do you know that there are certain solutions we have to try? Do you know that we have to securing land and water rights for the people in war-ravaged zones for agricultural purposes? Do you know that the farmers and herdsmen clashes are pointing to two major directions of land right and water right? How long shall we kill ourselves to get these rights guaranteed as Nigerians? Do you know that we have to gradually lower subsidies and create a positive macroeconomic framework to jump-start the economy? Do you know that there must be massive investment in agricultural technology to promote a more efficient use of land, water and energy along the path of effective value chain? Do you know that we have to collectively prevent over-use of natural resources through monitoring strategies for water, land and energy and agricultural systems? Do you know that we must create improvement of the access to education for women and the strengthening of their reproductive rights to address demographic change? Do you know that we have to collectively increase incomes of productive workers, reduce social and economic inequality and promotion of sustainable lifestyles instead of lavishing money on birthday, baby-wash, house-warming, ceremonial wedding and burial? Do you know that we have to mitigate climate change and adapt a reorientation of agriculture? Do you know that we need more of bio-technology now to minimize waste and create meaningful value-chain? Do you know that we need to control the rising production of bio-fuels so as to reduce the soaring prices of food items that go into its production? Do you know that this is the time for all Universities in Nigeria to come together to give us the breed of cow and other livestock that will be too heavy to wander from the North to the South? Do you know that this is the time for our universities to give us solar-driven machines to harrow, ridge and harvest instead of celebrating life-long industrial strikes? Do you know that this is the only way to get us out of the misery index?
The time to remove Nigeria from the list of countries in the misery index is now. It has been predicted for year 2019 that Venezuela is going to be the most miserable economy in 2019 with inflation projected to come in at over 6,000,000% in 2019. Zimbabwe and Argentina come in as the second and third most miserable countries in 2019. Nigeria still occupies the 6th position in the Global Misery Index. To remove us from this ignoble place, we must work on the ease of doing business, engage in productive investments in solid minerals and agriculture, promoting welfare and quality of life, especially food prices, cost of healthcare, improved transportation system, power supply, access to quality education and security of lives and property. It is against this background that we must salute the Federal Executive Council for approving the creation of additional 60,000 jobs. The social protection programmes and massive investment in infrastructure should continue. The fight against corruption must go on. The issue of internal security is gradually getting out of hands. While we are encouraging the security agencies to up the gear, nothing is condescending to our sovereignty if we seek for external assistance. This is a global village, after all. What goes on in Zamfara, Kaduna, and Bornoare just a millimeter to a tip near the edge of an abyss.
We seize this medium to appreciate Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, the Governor of the State for approving the payment of grants to all schools in the State to promote education. We appreciate all the good works going on in the hospitals and health centres and the massive infrastructure going on in the entire State. The entire workers of the State rejoice with the First Lady of our State, MrsKafayat Oyetola on her birthday celebration marked to support the poor in the State. Long Live!
