Epileptic or Uncertain Education Calendar; A Drag On National Development

Written by Paul I. Adujie Esq.

 

 

Nigerians and Nigeria must urgently act to correct the current epileptic or uncertain higher education calendar and schedules, in order to attain Nigeria's desire for critical national development, progress and advancement as a nation.

 

It is sadly, and regrettably the case, that the preceding 30 years in Nigeria has witnessed regressions, particularly in the higher education sector, this is primarily due to strikes or industrial actions by academic and non-academic employees in Nigeria's higher education sector.

 

Salaries, compensation packages and general under-funding have been adduced and attributed as reasons, and arguments by sundry employees of higher education in Nigeria on the one hand, and unreasonable demands wrapped with intransigence, have been attributed as reasons why the Federal Government of Nigeria has been unable, or unwilling to meet the various demands by these aforementioned employees of Nigeria's higher education sector.

 

All told, and, in the final analyses, Nigerians and Nigeria suffer from these deadlocks and impasses between employees in the Nigeria higher education and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

 

In my view therefore, it is almost irrelevant, as to whose doorsteps lies the persisting problem of irregular, epileptic and uncertain calendar for higher education in Nigeria. The only important thing is to have the unsavory situation rectified promptly! Nigeria's progress is for the most part dependent on how we manage our education sector and as a consequence, Nigeria's development and advancement, is equally dependent on how we manage our education sector.

 

Thus far, the management of Nigeria higher education is appalling,  particularly so, given the fact that universities close arbitrarily and often, and students, parents and our nation are left in limbo.

 

 

These avoidable interruptions leave students, parents, employees etc with physical and psychological scars, which are jarring and marring in the long-term.

 

These scars are the frequent aftermaths of indefinite closures of schools, which have become so rampant in Nigeria

 

Calendar for universities have become so unpredictably-unreliable, students enrolled in four-year courses now graduate in twice or multiple number required years, and some in Nigeria still think this acceptable or normal?

 

 It is the case that  rice generally cooks in approximately 20 minutes, analogously, education has set timetable worldwide, a gestation period which is certain and predictable and as such, known to all.

 

 But some in Nigeria, have made higher education timetable unknowable, and graduations uncertain and as a consequence, too many lives are interrupted, rice in Nigeria must cook intermittently, for hours as some now insists!

 

A Nigerian student with excellent grades can no longer predict or forecast graduation date and National Youths Service Corps deployment. A Nigerian law graduate can no longer predict when there will admission to Law School, as Law Schools are full. A Nigerian graduate medicine and surgery can no longer predict when (housemanship) internship will be undertake, as strike lingers.

 

As a matter of fact, absence of vision and foresight led medical students in Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma in Edo State, as well as, medical student in Niger Delta University at Amassoma to spend 13 years instead of the normal 6 to 7 years to earn medical degrees! Both medical schools lacked accreditation for quite a long time!

One can only imagine the costs, financial, psychological and deprivation of professional growth and development for the individuals and for our nation! These were certainly avoidable, accreditation should have been contemplated before and during the first five years of those medical schools! Poor or lack of planning is responsible for all these, same reasons why some of Nigeria's medical schools graduates are being shunned by some nations.  

 

As a result of these lackadaisical administration and management of higher education in Nigeria these days, a young man or woman with hard work and excellent academic record can no longer plot career his or her trajectory, due to no personal fault of the student with excellent grades, but merely because higher education calendar in Nigeria is now fitful and uncertain.

In effect therefore, being a great student with excellent grades in does not guarantee or ensure that a student enrolled in a Nigerian University graduates on schedule as it should be.

 

These are harrowing experiences for the individuals students-victims, their parents, family particularly, these are also national tragedies.

 

The woeful failure of Nigeria in the arena of higher education planning, has now led to a situation in which, Ghana, Kenya, other African nations and in fact, America and Europe are the destinations for Nigerians who can afford foreign higher education in nations where higher education calendars are predictable, foreseeable and reliable!

 

In these contexts, or circumstances, (and all things being equal), Nigeria ought, and should be playing the role for Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, but sadly, these nations are now playing or serving Nigerians who can afford the financial burden of higher education abroad!

 

Clearly, there is a major crisis in our higher education,  (there are crises) including inadequate funding, inadequate commitment and inadequate research and inadequate impact (translation) of classroom knowledge for bettering human condition in Nigeria.

 

It is a shame that some Nigerians have managed to inflict these setbacks upon millions of fellow Nigerians and Nigeria. Some have cynically suggested that, the notable nonchalance by some in leadership, is due to the fact that their children and relatives are overseas attending schools in nations with stable school calendars.

 

Similar cynical arguments have been made regarding the parlous state of Nigeria's healthcare system; as leaders able to fly overseas to treat headaches, malaria or just "go-and-rest-abroad" why worry or bother with fixing the problems in the public health sector?

 

How many other nations allow her higher sector to grind to a halt? How many other nations permits entire health care system wanton neglect? I know of a Federal Medical Center (FMC) which never has electricity!

 

How does anyone connected to these higher education crises sleep at night? How can this be happening to Nigeria? How can we be fiddling as our house burn? Why has Nigeria regressed or degenerated in so many ways?

 

 

Some sectors of Nigerian national life is so decayed, that any nation or entity, acting as an external enemy to Nigeria, which is sworn to harm Nigeria and or is hostile to Nigeria's national interests, could not have done worse!

 

On the matter of higher education crises, it is unacceptable and plainly intolerable that, any well-meaning Nigerian person(s) at helms, have ignored and neglected to act, despite the inordinate and ceaseless closures of our universities for several months!

 

The most unfortunate thing of it all is that, this interruption is not the first in recent national memory and judging by how the abnormal is normal in Nigeria, this current interruption may not be the last! This is extremely abnormal, and it quite a shock that tongues not wagging over this national emergency.

 

Nigerians should, and must, ask the crucial question, who does epileptic and uncertain higher education calendar in Nigeria serve? I make bold to assert the fact that, it does not serve Nigerians and Nigeria!

 

The arbitrary interruptions of school calendars, or the closure of schools, high rate of unemployment etc are national emergencies which should shock the conscience of all reasonable persons (with conscience of course)!

 

I often feel a personal affront and insult, when anyone refers to Nigeria as the sleeping giant, but, the uncertain calendar for higher education in Nigeria gives ample ammunitions and fodder to would-be critics and detractors of Nigeria

 

Many have expected Nigeria, and particularly, the higher education sector to have fared better, given the fact that Nigeria in past four years, has had the quadruple-fortunes of four prominent public servants, whose primary background, pedigree or predicate is, in academia, in the persons of the Late former President Yar'Adua, and now,  our current President Goodluck Jonathan, also quite interestingly, Professor Raquatu El-Rufai as Minister of Education, and then, the veteran of higher education, Professor Julius Okojie of National Universities Commission, NUC!

 

Where in all these, did Nigeria go wrong? How could Nigeria go wrong in matters of higher education, with all these fine academicians at the helms? It is surely stranger than fiction! This cannot be said to be beguiling or be Nigeria's best moment.

 

 

As a matter of urgency, a national emergency as well, President Goodluck Jonathan should add Nigeria's education sector to his portfolio, because education has that critical-crucial-importance similar to Defense and Energy,  which some presidents frequently add to their commander-in-chief titles. President Obasanjo chose to add Petroleum Resources administration-management, to his presidential duties in this manner, and functioned as such.

 

Should it not be assumed, that Mr. YarAdua, Mr. Jonathan, Mrs. El-Rufai, and Mr. Okojie, all, perfectly understand and eloquently speak the language of higher education? And as such, they know and understand ASUU and sundry?Where indeed, did Nigeria go wrong on matter critical national development, particularly, in the higher education sector?  At whose doorsteps shall lay all these?

 

But the urgent mission here, is not about blames or who is wrong or right, it is  all about prompt, immediate and urgent end or solution to this impasse or deadlock! The parties, Federal Government and ASUU must shield-sheath their swords, contain and restrain contempt or disdain, but hold their noses and negotiate a immediate solution, to this national hemorrhage.

 

Frequent interruptions of Nigeria's higher education calendar is stunting, stifling and strangulating of education, and naturally, Nigeria's aspiration for national development, progress, advancement and greatness of nation. Epileptic or Uncertain Education Calendar; A Drag On National Development

Written by Paul I. Adujie Esq.

 

 

Nigerians and Nigeria must urgently act to correct the current epileptic or uncertain higher education calendar and schedules, in order to attain Nigeria's desire for critical national development, progress and advancement as a nation.

 

It is sadly, and regrettably the case, that the preceding 30 years in Nigeria has witnessed regressions, particularly in the higher education sector, this is primarily due to strikes or industrial actions by academic and non-academic employees in Nigeria's higher education sector.

 

Salaries, compensation packages and general under-funding have been adduced and attributed as reasons, and arguments by sundry employees of higher education in Nigeria on the one hand, and unreasonable demands wrapped with intransigence, have been attributed as reasons why the Federal Government of Nigeria has been unable, or unwilling to meet the various demands by these aforementioned employees of Nigeria's higher education sector.

 

All told, and, in the final analyses, Nigerians and Nigeria suffer from these deadlocks and impasses between employees in the Nigeria higher education and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

 

In my view therefore, it is almost irrelevant, as to whose doorsteps lies the persisting problem of irregular, epileptic and uncertain calendar for higher education in Nigeria. The only important thing is to have the unsavory situation rectified promptly! Nigeria's progress is for the most part dependent on how we manage our education sector and as a consequence, Nigeria's development and advancement, is equally dependent on how we manage our education sector.

 

Thus far, the management of Nigeria higher education is appalling,  particularly so, given the fact that universities close arbitrarily and often, and students, parents and our nation are left in limbo.

 

 

These avoidable interruptions leave students, parents, employees etc with physical and psychological scars, which are jarring and marring in the long-term.

 

These scars are the frequent aftermaths of indefinite closures of schools, which have become so rampant in Nigeria

 

Calendar for universities have become so unpredictably-unreliable, students enrolled in four-year courses now graduate in twice or multiple number required years, and some in Nigeria still think this acceptable or normal?

 

 It is the case that  rice generally cooks in approximately 20 minutes, analogously, education has set timetable worldwide, a gestation period which is certain and predictable and as such, known to all.

 

 But some in Nigeria, have made higher education timetable unknowable, and graduations uncertain and as a consequence, too many lives are interrupted, rice in Nigeria must cook intermittently, for hours as some now insists!

 

A Nigerian student with excellent grades can no longer predict or forecast graduation date and National Youths Service Corps deployment. A Nigerian law graduate can no longer predict when there will admission to Law School, as Law Schools are full. A Nigerian graduate medicine and surgery can no longer predict when (housemanship) internship will be undertake, as strike lingers.

 

As a matter of fact, absence of vision and foresight led medical students in Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma in Edo State, as well as, medical student in Niger Delta University at Amassoma to spend 13 years instead of the normal 6 to 7 years to earn medical degrees! Both medical schools lacked accreditation for quite a long time!

One can only imagine the costs, financial, psychological and deprivation of professional growth and development for the individuals and for our nation! These were certainly avoidable, accreditation should have been contemplated before and during the first five years of those medical schools! Poor or lack of planning is responsible for all these, same reasons why some of Nigeria's medical schools graduates are being shunned by some nations.  

 

As a result of these lackadaisical administration and management of higher education in Nigeria these days, a young man or woman with hard work and excellent academic record can no longer plot career his or her trajectory, due to no personal fault of the student with excellent grades, but merely because higher education calendar in Nigeria is now fitful and uncertain.

In effect therefore, being a great student with excellent grades in does not guarantee or ensure that a student enrolled in a Nigerian University graduates on schedule as it should be.

 

These are harrowing experiences for the individuals students-victims, their parents, family particularly, these are also national tragedies.

 

The woeful failure of Nigeria in the arena of higher education planning, has now led to a situation in which, Ghana, Kenya, other African nations and in fact, America and Europe are the destinations for Nigerians who can afford foreign higher education in nations where higher education calendars are predictable, foreseeable and reliable!

 

In these contexts, or circumstances, (and all things being equal), Nigeria ought, and should be playing the role for Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, but sadly, these nations are now playing or serving Nigerians who can afford the financial burden of higher education abroad!

 

Clearly, there is a major crisis in our higher education,  (there are crises) including inadequate funding, inadequate commitment and inadequate research and inadequate impact (translation) of classroom knowledge for bettering human condition in Nigeria.

 

It is a shame that some Nigerians have managed to inflict these setbacks upon millions of fellow Nigerians and Nigeria. Some have cynically suggested that, the notable nonchalance by some in leadership, is due to the fact that their children and relatives are overseas attending schools in nations with stable school calendars.

 

Similar cynical arguments have been made regarding the parlous state of Nigeria's healthcare system; as leaders able to fly overseas to treat headaches, malaria or just "go-and-rest-abroad" why worry or bother with fixing the problems in the public health sector?

 

How many other nations allow her higher sector to grind to a halt? How many other nations permits entire health care system wanton neglect? I know of a Federal Medical Center (FMC) which never has electricity!

 

How does anyone connected to these higher education crises sleep at night? How can this be happening to Nigeria? How can we be fiddling as our house burn? Why has Nigeria regressed or degenerated in so many ways?

 

 

Some sectors of Nigerian national life is so decayed, that any nation or entity, acting as an external enemy to Nigeria, which is sworn to harm Nigeria and or is hostile to Nigeria's national interests, could not have done worse!

 

On the matter of higher education crises, it is unacceptable and plainly intolerable that, any well-meaning Nigerian person(s) at helms, have ignored and neglected to act, despite the inordinate and ceaseless closures of our universities for several months!

 

The most unfortunate thing of it all is that, this interruption is not the first in recent national memory and judging by how the abnormal is normal in Nigeria, this current interruption may not be the last! This is extremely abnormal, and it quite a shock that tongues not wagging over this national emergency.

 

Nigerians should, and must, ask the crucial question, who does epileptic and uncertain higher education calendar in Nigeria serve? I make bold to assert the fact that, it does not serve Nigerians and Nigeria!

 

The arbitrary interruptions of school calendars, or the closure of schools, high rate of unemployment etc are national emergencies which should shock the conscience of all reasonable persons (with conscience of course)!

 

I often feel a personal affront and insult, when anyone refers to Nigeria as the sleeping giant, but, the uncertain calendar for higher education in Nigeria gives ample ammunitions and fodder to would-be critics and detractors of Nigeria

 

Many have expected Nigeria, and particularly, the higher education sector to have fared better, given the fact that Nigeria in past four years, has had the quadruple-fortunes of four prominent public servants, whose primary background, pedigree or predicate is, in academia, in the persons of the Late former President Yar'Adua, and now,  our current President Goodluck Jonathan, also quite interestingly, Professor Raquatu El-Rufai as Minister of Education, and then, the veteran of higher education, Professor Julius Okojie of National Universities Commission, NUC!

 

Where in all these, did Nigeria go wrong? How could Nigeria go wrong in matters of higher education, with all these fine academicians at the helms? It is surely stranger than fiction! This cannot be said to be beguiling or be Nigeria's best moment.

 

 

As a matter of urgency, a national emergency as well, President Goodluck Jonathan should add Nigeria's education sector to his portfolio, because education has that critical-crucial-importance similar to Defense and Energy,  which some presidents frequently add to their commander-in-chief titles. President Obasanjo chose to add Petroleum Resources administration-management, to his presidential duties in this manner, and functioned as such.

 

Should it not be assumed, that Mr. YarAdua, Mr. Jonathan, Mrs. El-Rufai, and Mr. Okojie, all, perfectly understand and eloquently speak the language of higher education? And as such, they know and understand ASUU and sundry?Where indeed, did Nigeria go wrong on matter critical national development, particularly, in the higher education sector?  At whose doorsteps shall lay all these?

 

But the urgent mission here, is not about blames or who is wrong or right, it is  all about prompt, immediate and urgent end or solution to this impasse or deadlock! The parties, Federal Government and ASUU must shield-sheath their swords, contain and restrain contempt or disdain, but hold their noses and negotiate a immediate solution, to this national hemorrhage.

 

Frequent interruptions of Nigeria's higher education calendar is stunting, stifling and strangulating of education, and naturally, Nigeria's aspiration for national development, progress, advancement and greatness of nation.

South Africa Massacre By Government Forces; What Is Change And Progress Anyway?

South Africa Massacre By Government Forces; What Is Change And Progress Anyway?

Written by Paul I. Adujie Esq.

It is reasonable to assert that so much have changed in South Africa and progress has been made there since the attainment of majority rule with the end of Apartheid minority rule.

But a South Africa in which protesting workers are mauled and mowed down by South Africa forces as if swathing mosquitoes or pests, is no one's idea of change and progress in both political and economic terms.

The horrors and murderous brutality meted upon protesting workers in the Lonmin-Marikana Mines massacre, is reminiscent of the heinous apartheid days in South Africa. No one thought it possible, to ever again see such senseless extra judicial murders by agents of South African government in post-apartheid South Africa!

Rivalry between unions, unruly and rancorous protesters is no excuse. Nothing could justify the wanton massacre of 34 South African citizens by government forces. It reeks of vengeance and vendetta stemming from the death of two police officers since the onset of the protests. It does look like revenge and payback by police for the strikers!

South African government forces, in full public glare, killed 34 and injured 78 citizens for exercising their constitutional and legitimate right to assemble and protest, this is clearly unacceptable! What were these government forces thinking or why were they not doing any thinking?

It is the case that bad things happen everywhere, but given the vivid horrors of apartheid era egregious behavior of South African government agents, and equally bearing in mind the very public attempt at cleansing South Africa's collective national memory.

And what was considered to be South Africa's bold attempt at national reconciliation and healing through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission etc, it is gulling, to see or be witness to the global shame and embarrassment of shooting.

South Africans fought gallantly to decimate and eliminate the injustices and oppression of apartheid. South African workers were at the forefronts of these struggles for freedoms and struggles to end segregation based on race.

South African miners were indeed the arrowhead and recipient of the most egregious labor practices by apartheid era government and corporate entities.

The senseless killing of protesting workers, who were in fact running away and their backs turned, in flight from armed policemen, gave the impression that so much have changed in South Africa for South Africa, and sadly, so much have remained the same.

It is quite unfathomable that a post 1994 South African security forces would aim live bullets at protesting workers and shoot them!

These shootings and with the impunity in which they were carried out, begs the question, what indeed has really changed? What is the value of majority rule and what is the meaning of democracy for South African and indeed all Africans?

It does looks as if, the business of government in South Africa and all over Africa, is the protection of corporate wrongdoers. Governments in African nations seem quite dedicated to humiliating, killing and taking every actions unedifying of African citizens, so long as corporate profits for conglomerates are protected.

What exactly is the value of majority rule, democracy and a new South Africa in which South African citizens are murdered most heinously by agents of own government? This is human depravity beyond descriptions.

What is the benefit of democracy or prosperity in Nigeria, when oil majors are permitted to engage in environmental pollution and degradation, and every protest by well meaning Nigerian citizens is meant with violent overreaction on the part of Nigerian government in order to protect the oil majors and their obscene profits without corporate social responsibility.

What does it profit South African citizens, Nigerian citizens and indeed all African citizens, to be shot indiscriminately, despite all pretensions to political independence, majority rule and democracy on the African continent?

It would seem there is no change, no progress and there is no difference in attitudes and practices from colonial and apartheid days on the African continent, as the devaluation of the humanity of Africans has continued despite the change of guards

It is almost irrelevant who is in-charge politically in South Africa and much of the African continent, the color of political leadership may have change, but the change is perfunctory and nearly meaningless.

The brutality of government agents remains and impunity may have, or seem to have worsened in some in certain instances.

The late Justice Thurgood Marshall it was, quoted as saying that a venomous snake is a snake regardless of its color! In whose service therefore, are African political leadership, in the service of the people, African citizens or in the service of multinationals in obeisance of "mother countries".

  If it is argued that there is change and progress, might we ask, change and progress and for whose benefit?

The shift of leadership to the hands of some Black faces from their colonial and apartheid predecessors or progenitors, is merely cosmetic perfuming of pigs or brutality. Extreme and abject poverty, sufferings, hardships remain the lot of most Africans.

How can anyone argue otherwise? The unmitigated violence by government agents in defense of oil companies and conglomerates which plunders and pollute the environment in Nigeria is the same as the maiming and killings in defense of South African mining conglomerates.

These violence and killings for profits are not different from apartheid era killings and maltreatment of workers or the indiscriminate killings of political opposition such as the Mau Mau in Kenya by the British colonial government?

But of course, there are no Africans, and in fact there are no reasonable persons anywhere, with preference for apartheid, colonialism or occupation, even so, it is relevant to ask whether anything has really changed , with real benefits for Africans in political and real economic terms?

The end of apartheid is supposed to have ushered in political and economic emancipation, including legal, social, economic and land reforms, but the wait continues!

The multinationals still do what they want, almost without regard to laws and rules; the government still kills and maims innocent citizens to protect corporate profits!

Majority rule, political independence and democracy have not changed much of anything for African citizens in real terms. South Africans are still and much of African peoples are still palpably poor, despite diamonds, gold, petroleum and much more, which are mined from Africa; Cry My Beloved Continent!

So much has changed, so much have remained the same, what price change, progress and democracy in Africa?

There are a few months remaining in 2012 and economic and social justice still elude the majority of African citizens and peoples. It is quite sad. It is lamentably sad.

Nigeria Flooding Is A National Security Emergency; It Is Time Deploy the Army, Navy, Air Force Etc

Written by Paul I. Adujie Esq.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday October 9, 2012 announced plans by the federal government of Nigeria to respond to the current ravages of floods throughout Nigeria.

The government has established a committee and in addition, billions of Naira has been slated to be spent in addressing the plethora of problems arising from this massive flooding.

Response to these floods so far is too slow and tepid at best and nonexistent at worst!

The proper thing for the president, the federal government and all strata of government in Nigeria to have done and should urgently undertake, is, a public demonstration of empathy and sympathy with millions of Nigerians who have suffered from these ongoing floods.

Secondly, the Army, Navy, the Air Force and other paramilitary assets and coordinates, should be massively deployed to serve as relief workforce as a matter of national priority!

It is the case that millions of Nigerians are suffering as victims of these floods. It is also the case that there are no evacuation plans by the various levels of government throughout Nigeria.

Nigeria's ability to manage crisis is being severely tested. Thousands of homes are underwater and waterlogged. Millions of Nigerians are stranded and helpless in Amassoma, in Yenagoa, in Otuoke etc all in Bayelsa State.

Millions of Nigerians are similarly stranded across the majority of states nationwide. The Purpose And Role of Government in Nigeria in the circumstances should be questioned by all reasonable persons.

There have been unnecessary delays in the local, state and national response to this unfolding flood crises.

It is foreseeable and even predictable that the next stage of this flood crises would cholera and other waterborne and water-related, these, in addition to inflation, soaring food prices and a complex web of national mess, which are being overlooked or underestimated presently.

The price of petrol has gone up in Bayelsa and Rivers States, and so has the price of foodstuffs and much else. It is quite reasonable to extrapolate these experiences in Bayelsa and Rivers to other parts of Nigeria.

The ravages of floods nationwide and its consequences are being replicated from state to state; this is so, even in states or parts of Nigeria which are not directly affected by the floods.

Direct and indirect effects are being felt across Nigeria. Floods have disrupted and continues to disrupt millions of lives in Nigeria. Movement of persons, goods and services have been severely curtailed. Interstate commerce has been halted as roads and highways have been submerged in majority of Nigeria.

Nigeria road arteries are now clogged. And the direct translation of this is that, millions of Nigerians will not have their foods and other basic necessities delivered. Lives in Nigeria are be interrupted and disrupted.

Nigeria is not at war, and yet, so many federal roads are closed for days and endlessly!

This is a national emergency and it is a national security issue, it is in fact existential and government at all levels in Nigeria should see it and treat it and tackle it as such!

Nigeria Flooding Is A National Security Emergency; It Is Time Deploy the Army, Navy, Air Force Etc

Nigeria Flooding Is A National Security Emergency; It Is Time Deploy the Army, Navy, Air Force Etc Written by Paul I. Adujie Esq. President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday October 9, 2012 announced plans by the federal government of Nigeria to respond to the current ravages of floods throughout Nigeria. The government has established a committee and in addition, billions of Naira has been slated to be spent in addressing the plethora of problems arising from this massive flooding. Response to these floods so far is too slow and tepid at best and nonexistent at worst! The proper thing for the president, the federal government and all strata of government in Nigeria to have done and should urgently undertake, is, a public demonstration of empathy and sympathy with millions of Nigerians who have suffered from these ongoing floods. Secondly, the Army, Navy, the Air Force and other paramilitary assets and coordinates, should be massively deployed to serve as relief workforce as a matter of national priority! It is the case that millions of Nigerians are suffering as victims of these floods. It is also the case that there are no evacuation plans by the various levels of government throughout Nigeria. Nigeria's ability to manage crisis is being severely tested. Thousands of homes are underwater and waterlogged. Millions of Nigerians are stranded and helpless in Amassoma, in Yenagoa, in Otuoke etc all in Bayelsa State. Millions of Nigerians are similarly stranded across the majority of states nationwide. The Purpose And Role of Government in Nigeria in the circumstances should be questioned by all reasonable persons. There have been unnecessary delays in the local, state and national response to this unfolding flood crises. It is foreseeable and even predictable that the next stage of this flood crises would cholera and other waterborne and water-related, these, in addition to inflation, soaring food prices and a complex web of national mess, which are being overlooked or underestimated presently. The price of petrol has gone up in Bayelsa and Rivers States, and so has the price of foodstuffs and much else. It is quite reasonable to extrapolate these experiences in Bayelsa and Rivers to other parts of Nigeria. The ravages of floods nationwide and its consequences are being replicated from state to state; this is so, even in states or parts of Nigeria which are not directly affected by the floods. Direct and indirect effects are being felt across Nigeria. Floods have disrupted and continues to disrupt millions of lives in Nigeria. Movement of persons, goods and services have been severely curtailed. Interstate commerce has been halted as roads and highways have been submerged in majority of Nigeria. Nigeria road arteries are now clogged. And the direct translation of this is that, millions of Nigerians will not have their foods and other basic necessities delivered. Lives in Nigeria are be interrupted and disrupted. Nigeria is not at war, and yet, so many federal roads are closed for days and endlessly! This is a national emergency and it is a national security issue, it is in fact existential and government at all levels in Nigeria should see it and treat it and tackle it as such!

Nigeria Is Under Water Or Waterlogged!

Nigeria Is Underwater or Waterlogged! Written by Paul I. Adujie Esq. Nigeria is under water! Nigeria is literally underwater! 22 out of 36 federating states of Nigeria are rapidly being submerged. I recently wrote two articles in which I discussed the parlous condition of roads, highways and byways in Nigeria. In the first article, titled, "Nigeria, What Is The Role And Purpose Of Government?" http://www.modernghana.com/news/419209/1/nigeria-what-is-the-purpose-and-role-of-government.html and the second article was titled, "Port Harcourt Bridge Collapse; Emblematic Of Public Infrastructures In Nigeria" http://www.modernghana.com/news/419647/1/port-harcourt-bridge-collapse-emblematic-of-public.html The theme of above referenced articles centered on the planning, execution or implementation of Nigeria public infrastructures, with particular emphasis on the centrality of roads, highways and bridges as focus. Since then, what looked at the time as isolated incidents in Lokoja, Okene and some parts of Bayelsa State, have quickly become a national emergency. Nigeria is rife with speculations now, to the effect that the nation and government of Cameroon has decided to teach Nigeria and Nigerians a bit of lesson in war waged with water. And so it goes that Nigeria's neighbor with which we share a common border in the easternmost part, Cameroon, a nation with which Nigeria also share common history and culture war with water. This speculation regarding an orchestrated and choreographed war with water by Cameroon remains to be confirmed or proven. But what is beyond dispute, and it is the open secret, which is the poor state of roads, highways and bridges in Nigeria. What is observable and discernible to the ordinary eye, so far is, merely the flooding from seasonal happenstances without any domestic or Cameroonian or some other foreign conspiracies to be found in current floods ravaging Nigeria nationwide! It is mere human ineptness and wanton neglect wrapped in poor planning, marinated and sautéed in extreme lack of vision! The onset of the current floods deluges across the majority of Nigeria's federating 36 states. Rains and floods are foreseeable and even predictable. Purposeful government, and planners with a modicum of foresight would take measures to forestall damage and destruction. The Role and Purpose of Government in Nigeria of which I wondered loudly about recently, is now being put to the highest scrutiny as these floods ravages are spreading nationwide. And it is glaringly clear to all observers now, that many Nigerian roads are too poorly constructed. The flimsiest of floods have rendered roads vehicular-impassable. These present conditions which were precipitated by recent flood events, were clearly foreseeable, preventable and avoidable. Any reasonable or even cursory examination, would have reveal erosions and floods paths, which would of course should have required planners and contractors to deploy measures and resources to tackle what is now rapidly becoming a national disaster or catastrophe. In "Port Harcourt Bridge Collapse; Emblematic Of Public Infrastructures In Nigeria" I articulated the following "In South-South and South-East, the roadways are at their worst during the raining seasons and rain is a fact of life in these parts, it is incessant, an honest construction efforts therefore require a delicate balancing act in materials and timing of work." "These roads should be elevated above water levels and there must be adequate and sufficient grading, compacting and compressing of earth, cement, lots of cement and then gravels and asphalt!" "But sadly, the current mode (of roads and highways constructions) require earth movers mowing the topsoil and pouring asphalt and when the rains come, these feeble-flimsies are all washed away and this creates more opportunity for more contracts… a revolving door and road-tripping rolled-into-one!" The above statements are now more prescient, poignant and profound, in light of enormity and magnitude of harm, damage and displacements and dislocations which have been inflicted upon millions of Nigerians, as a direct result preventable flooding! The federal road between Warri through Patani which leads onwards to Bayelsa State is now closed and cordoned off by floods. It is the same for the so-called East-West Road which leads connects Bayelsa to Rivers States. The world already knows about the flood havocs in Okene, Lokoja, a major road artery to Abuja our nation's capital! Millions of Nigerians are now grappling with the consequences of poor public planning regarding our infrastructures by way of roads and bridges which are now off limits to all Nigerians. Floods are foreseeable and preventable... floods are liable to occur, depending on the geographical location, or terrain and topography. These are observable and discoverable natural phenomenon. What the strata of governments in Nigeria do, were Nigeria in locations such as Mississippi in the USA, or Amsterdam, in Holland or Florence and Sicily in Italy? There is an unfolding national disaster, and catastrophe which could severely test the, patience, the will and tolerance and endurance of Nigerians with food prices already rising so high nationwide. This nationwide disaster could be so cataclysmic and it could quickly convince Nigerians that our government at all levels are not fulfilling their purposes and roles as required and expected in a democracy. Enterprising unemployed in Delta State and elsewhere in Nigeria, where flooding has become a fact of daily life, have now resorted to helping to push stranded vehicles out of waterlogged ditches, potholes and gullies on what used to be Nigeria's poor excuse for highways before the floods. Federal highways are now controlled by the neglected unemployed youth, for a fee. And so, sundry Area Boys and others, have joined in to fill the vacuum, in the profound absence by traffic wardens, police personnel, Federal Roads Safety Corps and sundry uniformed military and paramilitary, who ought to control traffic and or manage the crisis which is rapidly enveloping Nigeria through floods! The movements of goods and services, and everything connected with interstate commerce have come to a complete halt. Life in Nigeria has come to a grinding stop. Price of foodstuff have risen sharply, and in some accounts, prices of goods and services have quadrupled due to increased travel or transportation costs arising from road closures. And all of these begs the question, What Is The Role And Purpose of Government In Nigeria?

Port Harcourt Bridge Collapse; Emblematic Of Public Infrastructures In Nigeria Written by Paul I. Adujie Esq. As I wrote to complain and gripe about the traffic mayhem and gridlocks on Nigerian roads last week, and more particularly so, about the traffic standstill in Choba Port Harcourt, a bridge on a major road artery in Port Harcourt actually collapsed soon after! I suspect the collapse is an exemplar of dearth of quality in construction, a lack of quality constructions both private and public structures in Nigeria. Across the world, I have traveled on bridges which are 300 years old, and yet, the collapsed bridge in Port Harcourt is a miserly 10 year old bridge! I am not an engineer, but, I know and have seen bridges and roadways built to be suitable for the locale upon which such bridges are erected; therefore, no excuses are acceptable to reasonable persons! I have traveled widely in the Americas including the Caribbean and through Europe, I have seen airports, roads and bridge built on lands reclaimed from waterlogged terrains. And to this extent, building great roads in waterlogged terrains such as in Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom States etc, is surely not rocket science! It is a national disgrace and public shame that the bridge which collapsed in Port Harcourt is less than ten years old! Most bridges in New York are over one hundred years old! What quality of workmanship or perverse satisfaction is there to glean from the demise of that Port Harcourt bridge? Roadways, highways, bridges and airports have been built in Amsterdam, Holland, in the Mississippi Delta, USA, in Florence and Sicily, Italy etc, places where building any structures are quite challenging as any! And as a result, rivers, seas and heavy body of waters, adequate measures ought and should be taken from onset of all physical structures. What then is it, that our local and foreign counterparts who are in-charge of Nigerian roads, bridges and other public infrastructures miss or don’t get? Great bridges, roads, highways, airports and other monumental infrastructures have been erected or built on lands reclaimed from rivers and seas worldwide. There is nothing unique, special or peculiar about road constructions in Nigeria! All that is required is that, builders know the topography and terrain, then plan and execute projects suitable and sustainable. There are too many roads, bridges and other sundry public infrastructures in Nigeria lacking structural integrity. These are almost always painfully obvious, both private and public structures. Why are too many overpaid contractors allowed to cut corners? Whatever happened to integrity in these processes? Why can’t our construction engineers engage in Best-Practices? Know local terrains and the particular and peculiar challenges! Bidding for road constructions should not be a one size-fits-all-per-mile proposition. Localities and terrain challenges or extent of difficulties should be taken into consideration, always. Nigerian engineers and their foreign counterparts working on constructions of Nigerian roads and highways most probably know exactly what they are doing. The poor construction outcomes to which we all bear witness in Nigeria nationwide are a result poor planning, poor supervision and lackadaisical attitudes; this, in addition to conflict of interests and cozy relationship between government officials and contractors. There are said to be incestuous relationships between government officials and the constructions companies and their proxies or fronts… they conspire, connive and collude to do repeated disservice to the Nigerian public which they are supposed to serve. In South-South and South-East, the roadways are at their worst during the raining seasons and rain is a fact of life in these parts, it is incessant, an honest construction efforts therefore require a delicate balancing act in materials and timing of work. These roads should be elevated above water levels and there must be adequate and sufficient grading, compacting and compressing of earth, cement, lots of cement and then gravels and asphalt! But sadly, the current mode require earth movers mowing the topsoil and pouring asphalt and when the rains come, these feeble-flimsies are all washed away and this creates more opportunity for more contracts… a revolving door and road-tripping rolled-into-one! There exist, a classic case of most insidious incestuous relationship borne of and wrapped in, planned obsolescence. The contractors do sloppy, and shoddy work, and they are poorly supervised if at all, by their friends in government, and then, as the sloppy-shoddy work fall apart, voila, there are new sets of contracts! Hence Lagos-Benin-Ore has been in perpetual construction since all of my adult years! Does anyone remember the number of years in which major highways in Nigeria have been continuously under contract? Are there ever timeline performance and staggered payments hinged on performance? Are there penalty clauses or even punitive damages against these construction companies depending on their pace of completion of these Nigerian roads projects? Emohua after Ebah dead body seen at eleven AM still there at 5PM along the East-West Roadway, corpse still there, after a full day, and we are not anarchic or at war? Terrible roads impinges on commerce, economic activities and by extension of simple extrapolation, national development, there is therefore a direct correlation between as slow anemic economic growth and the parlous state of our roads! Lagos-Ore-Benin road and Port Harcourt Yenagoa-East-West Road are case studies in endless repairs and delinquent contractors A Nigerian upon learning of the Port Harcourt bridge collapse, encapsulate her feelings in the following choice-words “Collapsing, disgraceful, disgusting, dilapidated, stressful, deplorable, nightmarish and, very bad, are probably the right adjectives to describe the present state of some federal highways in the south-east geo-political zone of Africa’s (most populous)nation, Nigeria.” This bridge collapse represents, yet another failure on part of the government. And for so many millions of Nigerians who have to travel on these treacherous, extremely hazardous roads, the collapse is one more incident too many on our roads! And just when I thought the bridge collapse in Port Harcourt was distressing enough, coupled with my recent experience in Choba Port Harcourt, and the corpse left on the roadway at Emuoha etc. Unfortunately, there are more tales of woes on Nigerian roads! My lawyer friend could not get a flight from Abuja and he chose road travel to Yenagoa. His experience was not more beguiling than mine and that of millions of Nigerians on Nigerian highways. He told me that he left Abuja by chartered car and upon passing Lokoja and nearing Okene, whole road was flooded, what Nigerian Newspapers have collectively referred to or dubbed as The "Kogi Floods" and Bayelsa bound vehicular traffic were stuck, while Abuja bound traffic were re-routed through a bush path. Abuja bound traffic passed, but, the Bayelsa were stuck after lokoja… near Okene until next morning, for 14 hours in traffic, then he and others have to find lodging accommodation until next morning. He eventually left Okene at 7AM on Sunday, arriving Yenagoa at 1:30PM, this is a journey which began on Saturday at 7:00AM from Abuja to Yenagoa should have ended at about 5:00PM in Bayelsa on Saturday! Meanwhile, a hefty contract have been long awarded for dredging to prevent this River Niger floods which have repeatedly caused these percolating waters on federal roads between Lokoja and Okene, this contract is said to be Naira-heavy, a trillion Naira, and yet, Nigerians in their millions continue to suffer extremely. A trip from Abuja to Okene should beabout 1hour and 45 minutes, but instead of 1 hour 45minutes, it took 14 hours and a sleepover! We can only imagine the physical, emotional, and financial implications of all these on the individual, as well as the mechanical stress on the vehicles. Commerce, the movement of goods and services are severely disrupted and so are family lives throughout Nigeria; all thanks to terrible roadways in Nigeria! There ought to be research, statistics and detailed assessments on the overall or global impact of all these on the Nigerian economy, and the impact of all these on national development.

Nigeria, What Is The Purpose And Role Of Government?

Nigeria, What Is The Purpose And Role Of Government? Written by Paul I. Adujie Esq. Is there government in Nigeria? Where are the organs of governments in Nigeria? Local, state and federal? What are the purpose and functions of government, at municipal, or local, state and federal government levels? What is the role of government in the lives of Nigerians? Government is profoundly absent in the lives of a majority of millions of Nigerians. But why? Why is government so profoundly absent in the lives of Nigerians or why are various levels government in Nigeria not modulating Nigerian lives? Why is government not performing its basic or elemental functions? These were the questions on every lips this weekend as a friend and I, traversed Bayelsa and Rivers States On Saturday September 15, 2012, a friend and I, including hundreds of thousands of other Nigerians in their thousands, "enjoyed" and "basked" in the standstill traffic that is Choba, Port Harcourt in Rivers State What is the matter with Nigerian federal, state and local governments? Why has all strata of governments in Nigeria abandoned Nigerians? This sense of utter neglect and shameless abandonment were the unanimous assessment of all who endured the road torture and chaos which is now commonplace in Nigeria. The Port Harcourt Yenagoa road is quite possibly the worst road axis in Nigeria, and this is beyond dispute, this week proved it twice! First, there was the incident in which a tractor-trailer with loads or consignment of timber, overturned spilled its goods on the highway, and there was no efforts by any agency of our governments to clear the mess and so the road was clogged and impassable for about 72 hours. And there was no crane or heavy equipment to move the tractor-trailer and the dumped goods away from the highway in order to unclog it! And so it were, that for over three days, Nigerians in their hundreds of thousands endured the indignity of having to wallow through three-feet high mounds of mud or portor-portor to get there from here on the East-West Road axis. Why does the Federal Roads Safety Corps not have heavy equipment and tow vehicles to remove broken, damaged and or vehicles involved in accident out of public streets and highways? Why is there no presence of traffic wardens, traffic police, soldiers and other sundry uniformed services to clear clogged roads and to direct traffic on our roads, to assure easy ebb and flow of traffic as a national duty? Why is it that municipal, or local, state and federal levels of government do not see it fit, to attach importance to the flow of economic activities and reduce the loss of man-hours, by ensuring that traffic flows? Why would all levels and strata of government in Nigeria exhibit lack of concerns when economic activities grind to a halt as road arteries are clogged and economic activities are frozen to a frigid pulp? Why would any reasonable government, local, state or federal and any combinations therewith, ignore the unbearable mental stress and unnecessary tension borne by a majority of her citizens traffic logjams on a daily basis and as a matter of fact, a nationwide phenomenon? And allow life to grind to a complete halt? Nigeria is not at war, and yet, worse things seems to manage to happen in Nigeria than in war zones where governmental authority is absent and anarchy is the rule! What is the purpose of government in Nigeria if it cannot even It cannot repair roads, it cannot operate water supply or clear garbage from public space? It is becoming glaringly clear that government in Nigeria cannot control traffic, as exemplified by the blockage of a major roadway as a timber-trailer overturned in the first road incident which is explained above Then, in quick succession, there was a second incident of road chaos in Nigeria this week, in which I personally bore witness, as I endured untold sufferings and extreme hardships, it was the road chaos at Choba junction, Choba, the community made famous by the establishment of the University of Port Harcourt. Traffic on Saturday was miserable and the palpable misery was made worse and multiplied by a factor of a million, with the absence of traffic wardens, regular police or any uniformed agent. No agency of any levels of the Nigerian governmental apparatuses were in sight of represented in any manner or form! It was shameful and equally heartbreaking! Nigerians road users were abandoned by all levels of what ought to be the government organs in our nation. Nigerians were left to their own devices! The rule of the jungle prevailed. Might became right and it was the survival of the fittest and most audacious. Every motorist became federal government and survival became the ability to intimidate other road users, either through sheer arrogance or size of vehicle or a combination of both. There were complete absence of government as objective arbiter or referee ... and the motorist did not know and or, they were unwilling to exhibit rules of the road courtesies to each other and standstills were the norm! There were six illegal lanes heading to either direction, East or West and North or South! A majority of the motorists behaved like maniacs and lunatics simultaneously! But why are Nigerian roads is such disrepairs and poorly maintained? Why are there no efforts to control or officiate public behaviors on our highways? Why are all levels of government so absent? Nigeria is not at war as was Sierra Leone, Liberia, Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and now Syria! The billion Naira question therefore is, why are so many Nigerian highways impassable and in palpable disrepairs? Why are federal highways shamefully under endless constructions? Why are municipal or local authorities and their state counterpart so unconcerned about traffic jams, which are mostly induced by bad roads, potholes and floods? Why are various strata of governments in Nigeria so splendidly uninterested in the immeasurable suffering on our roadways? Nigerian roads may have caused mental illness in hundreds of thousands of Nigerians already! The terrible state of disrepair and dearth of maintenance of Nigerian roads have cause incalculable damage to many vehicles and exacted the ultimate price in death tolls of hundreds of thousands of Nigerians who are killed on our highways due to lack of maintenance and perpetual state of constructions of and on our roads! I went on a road trip from Yenagoa in Bayelsa to Ode in Ekiti State the roads were rough all the way, except for a smooth patch from Warri to Benin City. The rest of the travel through multiple states, were unmitigated torture. Miserable roads, all! Nigerians are so hardworking compared to any national that I have interacted with, bar none! But our government, at all levels behave like robber barons and absentee landlords! Nigerians have in their millions constituted themselves into 180 million substitute-federal governments, providing own electricity through millions of electricity generators. Nigerian citizens are constantly filling the voids created by profound absence by governments at local, state, and federal levels! Nigerians have provided own water-boards through water-bore-holes self-help. Nigerians also have become adept at producing its own policing and safety and security services through hiring of own security personnel and building and living in homes that are actually fortresses and iron-cages in the name of safety and security of persons and properties, thereby offending all senses of beauty and aesthetics! Now, I suspect that Nigerians are at the cusps of building private roads! It is already happening incrementally! There are now throngs of unemployed citizens constituting themselves into mob- for-hire, for motorists in distress on Nigerian highways, and at a fee of course! These throngs of "helpers" will push your vehicle if it falls into potholes which are so common on Nigerian roads, be it in metropolis or highways. They will push, shove, repair and do whatever necessary to rescue at a fee, any motorist in bad roads induced car-mess or car troubles! There are simply no good roads in Nigeria! But why is this so, and why must this remain so? How can Nigerians achieve optimum economic growth and development given these obstacles and impediment to free movements of goods and services from point A to point B within Nigeria without the currently strenuously arduous efforts? Life spans of vehicles are considerably reduced due to the poor state of roads in Nigeria... from the exhaust pipe to the tires, axle, wheels alignment and balancing etc. Travel for business and recreation in Nigeria is made pointlessly and needlessly exacting and tortuous as a consequence of our terrible roads! Too many things in Nigeria are outrageous, outlandish and bizarre. Too many things are extremely abnormal and yet Nigerians smile and pray through them all. Nigerian roads are a case study in the orchestrated, choreographed and organized chaos of how life is lived in Nigeria! Millions of Nigerians pray and claim that they cover dangers and obvious risks with the blood of Jesus, as they embark on trips over terrible roads, instead of demanding insisting on government actions! In the midst of the anarchy at the end of over two frustrating, agitating and most aggravating hours stuck in the space, and seeing no symbol of authority such as a traffic warden, police officer, or members of Federal Roads Safety Corps member, FERMA, the Nigerian Army, Navy, the Air Force or any uniformed symbol of government at any level! There was no spontaneous protest even though the heartache was palpable and yet, Nigerians managed to be calm in place, despite and instead of displaying seething rage! Everyone bore the burdens quietly, apparently covering extreme angers with the blood of Jesus as well? Nigerians are not docile or are they? Invariably or as should be expected, many motorists resorted to "self-help" by creating additional lanes going north and south, these illegal lanes in themselves created additional crises and intensified the chaos which already subsisted. Many Nigerians should be asking and are indeed asking, What Does Government Do! And so, after spending more than two hours on the same spot at the notorious road traffic chaos which also known as Choba in Port Harcourt, the vexing question on every lip therefore became; What Exactly Is The Purpose And Role of Government in Nigeria? The value of the Naira is in the doldrums, unemployment rate has skyrocketed, electricity generation and transmission in dire straits, Nigerian roads are impassably terrible and the list goes on! What can the strata of governments in Nigeria control? Naira value? Road traffic? Garbage removal? Unemployment? What does government in Nigeria do well, effectively and efficiently? What Exactly Is The Purpose And Role of Government in Nigeria?