Features
Periscoping NULGE’s Housing Scheme
Rivers State NULGE President, Comrade Franklin AjUNWO
The idea for housing is
actually divine; this divine ideology runs through the glowing and inspirational pages of the Holy Writ – The Bible. In the first book – Genesis, for instance, Noah received divine instruction to build an Ark – an
Ark that will provide not just comfort, but a roof over the heads of its occupants – to escape the Great Deluge; to provide refuge while the catastrophic deluge lasts.
Although the earth man since from Eden has always had a place of abode -with roof over his head, but the first man credited in Bible history as having erected an habitable structure with a roof is Noah (Gen. 6).
From what the divine Book tags the days of Noah’ till now, the story has not changed. Infact in Isaiah, chapter 65, verse 21, the Bible is so definite and emphatic on this : “And they shall build houses and inhabit them”, it screemed ! So the earthman is under compelation to “build houses and inhabit them”!
Over time, man has headed to this divine injunction by his creator and even discovered the need to build houses for others to inhabit. Human history is replete with this superfluous truism. And this has grown beyond the reigns of individuals to families, groups of individuals that operate under the aegis of associations with various appellations, corporate bodies, governments and International organizations. They are all driven by a common goal – to meet the housing needs and aspirations of humanity.
In Nigeria, it is on record that such groups, associations and governments at the federal. state and local levels have made in-road in this area. In the 1990s for example, Nigerians were treated to a policy on housing, tagged: ‘Housing For All by the Year 2000′ by the government at the centre. Although it never really achieved its set objective of providing ‘Housing For All’, the efforts of government was however applauded.
Also, way back in the late 1970s, to underscore the importance of housing, one of the political parties that came on stream at the time – the National Party of Nigeria, NPN – used ‘house’ as one of its symbols and include it in its manifesto as a cardinal principle of the party. Its 1979 electioneering campaigns which produced Alhaji Shehu Shagari as president was based essentially on welfarist . programmes like provision of housing for the masses.
Years later, the incumbent administration in Rvers state, from inception in 2007 left no one in doubt about the direction it has chosen in Housing delivery, as it made housing one of the cardinal points and pillars of the administration- thus consolidating on the gains of successive administrations in the state on housing.
Underlying its resolve on Housing, the government says explicitly: “Our vision is to provide indigenes and residents of Rivers state access to decent and affordable housing accommodation “, adding “Our mission is to ensure the deliivery/provision of decent and affordable housing for all in Rivers State in partnership with the private sector”, explaining further that their “mandate is to provide a minimum of 4,000 units of social housing annually, sites and services scheme, and create an enabling environment for private sector participation in housing delivery in Rives state”.
The Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi administration vigorously pursued this vision on housing and successfully provided permanent abode for some of its teeming residents in Port Harcourt. On this, the Iriebe housing estate easily comes to mind.
With the same conviction that the importance of housing cannot be over emphasized, the umbrella organization of local government workers in the state – the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), under its present leadership recently took concrete steps at providing accommodation for its teeming members across the 23 local government areas in the state.
The Sir Barr. Franklin Ajunwo-Ied union told its members recently in Port Harcourt that it is driven by vision and burden to toe that path.
Ajunwo said, on assumption of office as state president, a major problem plaguing their members is accommodation inspite of effort at the state level to meet the yawning aspiration of the citizenry in this regard. His words: “ On assumption of office, I discovered that our members lacked good accommodation so I resolved there and then to work assiduously towards tackling this problem: I discovered that the efforts of the state government in providing accommodation, as commendable as it is, is not enough to meet our members’ housing needs so I resolved to tackle the lack of accommodation frontally”.
“The result is what we have now – a well-thought-out plan on housing strictly for NULGE members; the land acquired for the purpose is big enough to accommodate as many members as possible, on completion of the project”, he added.
Answering questions from the Tide on this all-important project, Ajunwo expressed a sense of satisfaction over the successful acquisition of a large expanse of land in the state capital. With the C of 0 in the kitty of the association, The TIDE learnt that the stage is now virtually set for the foundation-laying ceremony of the estate, which will be performed before the year runs out and that all hands in NULGE will be on deck before the completion of Ajunwo’s current second term.
Strategically located few kilometres from the University of Port Harcourt, along the popular East-West road, the land is sandwitched between the serene environment of Alakahia and the burstling Choba community, the choice of location makes it accessible to would-be owners of houses in the estate and the general public at large, and good enough for residential and business purposes.
At a time that ‘housing’, like power remains a protracted problem in the country, with not a few Nigerians living in unhygienic conditions in ghettos where houses are predominantly sub-standard with some comparable to where animals dwell – without toilet and bath facilities, many see this latest move by NULGE as a welcome development, a respite to the large population that are under the debilitating crunch of housing malaise or outrightly living without accommodation.
From feelers, not a few have expressed satisfaction with this innovation of the Barr. Ajunwo leadership in NULGE.
Currently, the generality of NULGE members are ecstatic about the move. At a time that many in public offices and positions of authority generally are busy amazing stupendous wealth for themselves; with their cronies carting away even the crunches and denying the masses their constitutionally-enshrined and well-deserved right to good governance. Even outside the precincts of NULGE, this move by NULGE leadership has become a swan-song in some quarters.
The Tide learnt that the foundation-laying ceremony would be performed any moment. With determination on the part of the Franklin Ajunwo-Ied leadership to vigorously implement this policy and ensure its completion in record time – before the expiration of his present second term in office (as NULGE state president), a new chapter has indeed been opened in the annals of the union and Local Government administration in the state – for unmistakably, it is the first time in the history of NULGE for an housing estate to be planned and being executed. (NULGE is as old as the Local Government system in the country). Therefore for NULGE, history is being made.
Curiously, The Tide sought to know from Barr. Ajunwo why it has taken NULGE such a long time to conceive an housing estate for its members, considering the fact that the establishment of Local Government administration in the country has spanned across decades, and he was swift in his reply.
“It’s not that previous administration of the union were not doing any thing to move the union forward, it’s just that each administration has its focus on what it considers its priority and delivered such to the union. For us, it is the Housing estate that is our top-most priority in this my second term as president”, he told The Tide, adding, “In my first term, we recorded meaningful achievements – we placed emphasis on staff welfare and ensured that the backlog of salaries we inherited were cleared; that staff received their salaries and allowances as at when due; we’re up-to-date in the payment of salaries and allowances, and no staff is being owed.
While we continue to lay emphasis on staff welfare, we decided to take up housing, seeing that most of our members don’t have houses of their own, and those who have, live in sub standard houses so we decided to come to their rescue and put smiles on their faces”.
Responding to a question by The Tide on how affordable the houses would be, against the backdrop that most housing schemes across the country are beyond the reach of low income earners, as their prices shot up beyond the roof top. Ajunwo snapped, very affordable”, adding “The houses are envisioned for those at the grassroots and as you well know, our members are those at the grassroots. The union will subsidize the prices as much as possible to make it affordable for our members”.
The estate, Ajunwo said, is designed to provide amenities required in estates of such magnitude to make life comfortable for the occupants, assuring that the contract for the construction of the estate will be handled by a responsible construction company and NULGE was not leaving anything to chance. Thus, facilities like transformers, water treatment plant, borehole, interlocking stone, road network, drainages, landscaping, flowers, swimming pool, cre’che as well as security through corporate guards, would be a common sight as fully- detached houses on the wide expanse of land hold sway.
With the feat achieved, many believe that it will go down in history that Ajinwo has scored another (first’ in Local’Government unionism and administration in the country, with the Rivers State Nulge setting the pace for others to follow.
On completion of his tenure therefore, he would have succeeded in writing his name in gold in the hearts of the beneficiaries and others.
Coming at a time that Local Government allocations are being reportedly shared with reckless abandon between some chairmen and their cronies, after the payment of staff salaries in some cases, many see this giant people- oriented step and selfless contribution to human and societal development as commendable and a big relief.
With new leaders warming up to take the mantle of leadership at various levels in 2015, borrowing a leaf from Sir Dr Franklin Ajinwo-Ied NULGE to deliver dividends of democracy to the suffering and highly impoverished masses, which is what they (masses] crave for, will certainly not amount to asking for too much!
Justus Unye-Awaji
The importance of vocational training to the development of any nation cannot be over emphasised. Technical education experts define vocational education as any form of educational program or course that focuses on teaching the specific skills and knowledge required for a particular job or trade. Unlike traditional academic education, which is often broader and theoretical, vocational training is practical, hands-on, and tailored to prepare individuals for specific careers or industries. They also argue that the dearth of trained vocational and middle-level technical manpower represents a very serious gap in the development of third-world countries, including Nigeria. This argument, perhaps, underscores the Federal Government’s bold move towards educational reforms in Nigeria which includes the inculcation of vocational education into the schools curriculum as a way of equipping students with practical skills and enhancing their employability.
A recent statement released by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), indicated that the government has added 15 vocational subjects to the Basic Education curriculum. These additions which take effect from January, 2025, they said, are designed to promote hands-on learning and better prepare students for the job market. The new subjects include: Plumbing, tiling and floor works, POP installation, Event decoration and management, Bakery and Confectionery, Hairstyling, Makeup, Interior Design, GSM Repairs, Satellite/TV Antenna Installation. Others are: CCTV and intercom installation and maintenance, solar installation and maintenance, garment making, agriculture and processing, which covers crop production, beekeeping, horticulture, and livestock farming (e.g., poultry and rabbit rearing) and Basic Digital Literacy, incorporating IT and robotics.
The former Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, who earlier hinted on the new curriculum for basic schools during a meeting with stakeholders in Abuja, last October, said under the new curriculum, pupils in basic schools will be required to acquire at least two skills. According to the former minister, “The idea is that by the time children finish school, they should have at least two skills. Students should be able to finish school with a minimum of two skills so that they can have a very productive life. “The basis for the curriculum is the National Skills Framework, and it has been approved. It’s a very big project; it affects all schools in Nigeria, public and private.“Whether in the public sector or private sector, all schools are going to implement it. So, this is already determined. It doesn’t require anybody’s consent or any institution can depart from it.
Speaking on implementation, the Mamman said, “We do not expect comprehensive, full implementation from January because, when you roll out something new, there’s a lot of preparation that has to take place by the schools, acquiring new things, equipment, and small things that they will need,” adding that plans were underway to ensure teachers were well-equipped for the new curriculum. He also spoke on the benefits of the curriculum, noting that it would rekindle the desire of parents and students to acquire formal education. Hear him, “Some parents do not want to send their children to school. Right now, part of the problem why schooling has become unattractive is because people finish and there’s no change in their lives. “They cannot be employed. They can’t do anything on their own. So, parents question the value of spending money to send their children to school. “Now it’s going to change that game altogether.
And we have seen how these things resonate with parents. When they are successfully implemented, you will see students will want to run to school every morning. Parents want to take their children to school because they are learning practical things while in school.”The Acting Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, Dr Margret Lawani, had also disclosed during the same event that the newly introduced subjects fell under the vocational and entrepreneurship studies framework, which has been designed to expose pupils to various trades across multiple sectors. In the views of some vocational training experts, the decision to include vocational education into the basic school curriculum is plausible as it comes at a time when the nation’s education system is facing mounting criticism for its inability to adequately prepare students for real-world challenges.
They opined that by introducing vocational training at an early age, Nigeria has an opportunity to bridge the gap between formal education and practical skill acquisition. They however noted that the success of this initiative hinges on thoughtful implementation and sustained support. “The problem of Nigeria has never been a dearth of ideas or policies on how to move the country forward. In the past some educationists came up with the idea of 6-3-3-4 system of education whereby Students would be taught introductory technology and other forms of vocational skills at the junior secondary school level to better equip them for the real world in future. What happened to that brilliant idea? How many schools have well-equipped laboratories and well-trained teachers to handle these technical and vocational subjects? “The idea of setting up technical schools and polytechnics across the country is for them to serve as a grooming ground for young Nigerians in the area of technology.
How has the government, both federal and states, supported these schools to succeed? So, our problem is lack of implementation, fragmented policies and lack of sustenance not lack of ideas”, posited one expert. He advised that for the new curriculum to bear positive fruits, the government must take time to sensitize heads and owners of schools, teachers, parents and pupils of both public and private schools on the importance of the subjects and assist the schools in acquiring the necessary equipment and tools for the smooth running of the curriculum. “These subjects being introduced cannot be taught only theoretically as we are used to in this country. They require regular practical classes which will cost some money. Government, via the ministries of education, must vote out money for these practical classes and be ready to supervise schools to ensure that they are doing the right thing,” he added
Noting the importance of vocational training in today’s Nigeria where the rate of unemployment is high, Mr. Abel Ikiriko, a basic technology teacher in a Private School at Trans Amadi, Port Harcourt, regretted that vocational training is often seen as a last resort for those who fail academically, leading to low enrolment. He said, “I say this because I am a teacher and I know what we see in school every day. When these vocational subjects are introduced, you will see parents who will go to their children’s schools to make trouble because the children are compelled to learn maybe Hairstyling or something like that. Every parent wants their children to be doctors, lawyers, engineers and other professions and never skilled persons because for our society, skilled jobs are for the dullards.” “One of the most pressing issues in our labor market is the skills gap. Employers often struggle to find workers with the right skills, despite high unemployment rates. Yet many youths are not willing to be trained in a vocation. They prefer to search for the unavailable white-collar jobs. So unfortunate,” he continued.
Ikiriko said that the inclusion of vocational training in primary schools has benefits that extend beyond future job prospects. “Hands-on activities help children develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity—skills that are essential in any field. Vocational subjects can also provide an alternative pathway for students who may not excel in traditional academic subjects, ensuring that no child is left behind in the education system. Moreover, these subjects can instill a sense of dignity in manual labor and shift societal perceptions about the value of skilled trades.”He advocated for public awareness campaigns so as to change perceptions about vocational education, and showcase its potential to lead to successful careers. Mrs. Meg Amadi, a mother of three pupils is concerned about the curriculum of the primary schools being overloaded, stressing that that is a potential risk.
According to her, primary school students are at a formative stage of their development, and overloading them with too many subjects could lead to cognitive fatigue. She maintained that careful planning is required to ensure that the new vocational subjects complement rather than compete with core academic learning; that they are seamlessly integrated into the broader curriculum without overwhelming students. To maximize the impact of this initiative, she offered the following suggestions: the government must invest in training and retraining teachers to deliver vocational subjects effectively, collaborating with vocational training institutes and NGOs for better result; government should begin with pilot programs in select schools to identify best practices and address challenges before scaling up nationwide; the private sector should be engaged to provide funding, equipment, and expertise for vocational training in schools.
Nonetheless, some analysts are of the view that the addition of 15 vocational subjects to the basic school curriculum is a visionary step toward transforming the nation’s education system and improving the nation’s economy. they hold that if implemented effectively, the initiative will equip young Nigerians with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world while fostering a culture of innovation and self-reliance. They said that with collaborative effort, strategic planning, and unwavering commitment from all stakeholders and the right execution, this bold move could serve as a model for other nations seeking to align education with the demands of the 21st century.
Calista Ezeaku
The importance of vocational training to the development of any nation cannot be over emphasised. Technical education experts define vocational education as any form of educational program or course that focuses on teaching the specific skills and knowledge required for a particular job or trade. Unlike traditional academic education, which is often broader and theoretical, vocational training is practical, hands-on, and tailored to prepare individuals for specific careers or industries. They also argue that the dearth of trained vocational and middle-level technical manpower represents a very serious gap in the development of third-world countries, including Nigeria. This argument, perhaps, underscores the Federal Government’s bold move towards educational reforms in Nigeria which includes the inculcation of vocational education into the schools curriculum as a way of equipping students with practical skills and enhancing their employability.
A recent statement released by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), indicated that the government has added 15 vocational subjects to the Basic Education curriculum. These additions which take effect from January, 2025, they said, are designed to promote hands-on learning and better prepare students for the job market. The new subjects include: Plumbing, tiling and floor works, POP installation, Event decoration and management, Bakery and Confectionery, Hairstyling, Makeup, Interior Design, GSM Repairs, Satellite/TV Antenna Installation. Others are: CCTV and intercom installation and maintenance, solar installation and maintenance, garment making, agriculture and processing, which covers crop production, beekeeping, horticulture, and livestock farming (e.g., poultry and rabbit rearing) and Basic Digital Literacy, incorporating IT and robotics.
The former Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, who earlier hinted on the new curriculum for basic schools during a meeting with stakeholders in Abuja, last October, said under the new curriculum, pupils in basic schools will be required to acquire at least two skills. According to the former minister, “The idea is that by the time children finish school, they should have at least two skills. Students should be able to finish school with a minimum of two skills so that they can have a very productive life. “The basis for the curriculum is the National Skills Framework, and it has been approved. It’s a very big project; it affects all schools in Nigeria, public and private.“Whether in the public sector or private sector, all schools are going to implement it. So, this is already determined. It doesn’t require anybody’s consent or any institution can depart from it.
Speaking on implementation, the Mamman said, “We do not expect comprehensive, full implementation from January because, when you roll out something new, there’s a lot of preparation that has to take place by the schools, acquiring new things, equipment, and small things that they will need,” adding that plans were underway to ensure teachers were well-equipped for the new curriculum. He also spoke on the benefits of the curriculum, noting that it would rekindle the desire of parents and students to acquire formal education. Hear him, “Some parents do not want to send their children to school. Right now, part of the problem why schooling has become unattractive is because people finish and there’s no change in their lives. “They cannot be employed. They can’t do anything on their own. So, parents question the value of spending money to send their children to school. “Now it’s going to change that game altogether.
And we have seen how these things resonate with parents. When they are successfully implemented, you will see students will want to run to school every morning. Parents want to take their children to school because they are learning practical things while in school.”The Acting Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, Dr Margret Lawani, had also disclosed during the same event that the newly introduced subjects fell under the vocational and entrepreneurship studies framework, which has been designed to expose pupils to various trades across multiple sectors. In the views of some vocational training experts, the decision to include vocational education into the basic school curriculum is plausible as it comes at a time when the nation’s education system is facing mounting criticism for its inability to adequately prepare students for real-world challenges.
They opined that by introducing vocational training at an early age, Nigeria has an opportunity to bridge the gap between formal education and practical skill acquisition. They however noted that the success of this initiative hinges on thoughtful implementation and sustained support. “The problem of Nigeria has never been a dearth of ideas or policies on how to move the country forward. In the past some educationists came up with the idea of 6-3-3-4 system of education whereby Students would be taught introductory technology and other forms of vocational skills at the junior secondary school level to better equip them for the real world in future. What happened to that brilliant idea? How many schools have well-equipped laboratories and well-trained teachers to handle these technical and vocational subjects? “The idea of setting up technical schools and polytechnics across the country is for them to serve as a grooming ground for young Nigerians in the area of technology.
How has the government, both federal and states, supported these schools to succeed? So, our problem is lack of implementation, fragmented policies and lack of sustenance not lack of ideas”, posited one expert. He advised that for the new curriculum to bear positive fruits, the government must take time to sensitize heads and owners of schools, teachers, parents and pupils of both public and private schools on the importance of the subjects and assist the schools in acquiring the necessary equipment and tools for the smooth running of the curriculum. “These subjects being introduced cannot be taught only theoretically as we are used to in this country. They require regular practical classes which will cost some money. Government, via the ministries of education, must vote out money for these practical classes and be ready to supervise schools to ensure that they are doing the right thing,” he added
Noting the importance of vocational training in today’s Nigeria where the rate of unemployment is high, Mr. Abel Ikiriko, a basic technology teacher in a Private School at Trans Amadi, Port Harcourt, regretted that vocational training is often seen as a last resort for those who fail academically, leading to low enrolment. He said, “I say this because I am a teacher and I know what we see in school every day. When these vocational subjects are introduced, you will see parents who will go to their children’s schools to make trouble because the children are compelled to learn maybe Hairstyling or something like that. Every parent wants their children to be doctors, lawyers, engineers and other professions and never skilled persons because for our society, skilled jobs are for the dullards.” “One of the most pressing issues in our labor market is the skills gap. Employers often struggle to find workers with the right skills, despite high unemployment rates. Yet many youths are not willing to be trained in a vocation. They prefer to search for the unavailable white-collar jobs. So unfortunate,” he continued.
Ikiriko said that the inclusion of vocational training in primary schools has benefits that extend beyond future job prospects. “Hands-on activities help children develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity—skills that are essential in any field. Vocational subjects can also provide an alternative pathway for students who may not excel in traditional academic subjects, ensuring that no child is left behind in the education system. Moreover, these subjects can instill a sense of dignity in manual labor and shift societal perceptions about the value of skilled trades.”He advocated for public awareness campaigns so as to change perceptions about vocational education, and showcase its potential to lead to successful careers. Mrs. Meg Amadi, a mother of three pupils is concerned about the curriculum of the primary schools being overloaded, stressing that that is a potential risk.
According to her, primary school students are at a formative stage of their development, and overloading them with too many subjects could lead to cognitive fatigue. She maintained that careful planning is required to ensure that the new vocational subjects complement rather than compete with core academic learning; that they are seamlessly integrated into the broader curriculum without overwhelming students. To maximize the impact of this initiative, she offered the following suggestions: the government must invest in training and retraining teachers to deliver vocational subjects effectively, collaborating with vocational training institutes and NGOs for better result; government should begin with pilot programs in select schools to identify best practices and address challenges before scaling up nationwide; the private sector should be engaged to provide funding, equipment, and expertise for vocational training in schools.
Nonetheless, some analysts are of the view that the addition of 15 vocational subjects to the basic school curriculum is a visionary step toward transforming the nation’s education system and improving the nation’s economy. they hold that if implemented effectively, the initiative will equip young Nigerians with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world while fostering a culture of innovation and self-reliance. They said that with collaborative effort, strategic planning, and unwavering commitment from all stakeholders and the right execution, this bold move could serve as a model for other nations seeking to align education with the demands of the 21st century.
Calista Ezeaku
For three decades or more, there has been a cessation of oil production activities in Ogoni land. But recent meeting of President Bola Tinubu with notable sons and groups may return Ogoni to renewed oil-production once again. Ogonis are weary of perennial neglect. Days after the meeting, President Tinubu gave a nod to the establishment of a University of Environmental Technology in Tai in the Ogoni area. He had earlier-on approved appointments into some federal boards in which some notable Ogonis were among the beneficiaries. The President’s actions and speeches so far have indicated good faith and good intentions. This has urged hard-nosed and irrepressible resistant leaders like Attorney Ledum Mitee, one-time President of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), to be in complete agreement with the return to oil production.
He was heard on the news calling on all well- meaning sons and daughters of Ogoniland to accept the offers coming their way. Many Ogonis however, are still doubtful about the President’s intentions. They have said it is all geared towards the Federal Government having access to the rich oil and gas deposits in Ogoni soil. There is also distrust by some who have yet to heal from past injustices inflicted on the land by previous governments in cahoots with the oil majors. Since 1993 when oil production stopped in Ogoni land following intensive protests from the Ogoni people, the Nigerian government and the oil majors stopped reaping from millions of dollars in proceeds from the oil and gas. Lawson Hayford, a veteran journalist, who has reported the Niger Delta for over four decades, particularly the Niger Delta and the Ogoni crisis, said Nigeria has lost revenue amounting to over N30 trillion for the 32 years that oil has not been mined in Ogoni land.
Writing in the Southern Examiner, Hayford said, “While oil exploration and production in the Niger Delta region began in the late 1950s, operations were suspended in Ogoniland in the early 1990s due to disruptions from local public unrests with oil fields and installations remaining largely dormant for about 34 years, leading to a loss of revenue of over N30 trillion. “There are a total of 96 oil wells connected to five flow stations across the four local government areas of Khana, Gokana, Tai, and Eleme in Ogoniland. They were being operated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC of Nigeria, a subsidiary of the Royal Dutch Shell.” That story is presently being rewritten by the remediation efforts of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) and the work of Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, its Project Coordinator.
“Over 50 communities are now enjoying potable water.” As though this was not magic enough, contractors are working hard toward mangrove regeneration not to leave out empowerment programmes for women and people with disabilities. These are stories too good to be true. In addition, the Petroleum Industry Act has also been introduced to take care of some basic needs of the oil communities, especially by tying development of the communities to the operational budgets of the oil companies. The establishment of a host community development trust as a condition for oil mining license holders regarding community development, may well be the magic wand required to turn things around for the Ogonis. A trying present is most likely to give way to a prosperous future. The future of the land and peoples of oil-bearing communities appear brighter with possibilities within this framework.
Environmentalist and lawyer, Iniro Wills, however, strongly thinks that the community-friendly clause in the PIA is only a tiny drop that cannot quench the thirst of the people’s appetite. Only time will tell. A lot of work needs to be done to bring every party in the Ogoni scenario to the table. Some groups are yet to agree with the return of oil production in Ogoniland, while others do not quite agree with the modus operandi adopted to initiate the process. They would all need to be brought together to ventilate their positions so that everyone is taken along together. Last Saturday, the committee that emerged to kickstart a process of the consultations initiated by President Tinubu convened a meeting at Freed Centre, Bori in the heart of Ogoniland. Though it was well attended, proceedings had to be hurried as a group of protesters stormed the venue.
Blessing Wikina, a long time public communications expert from Ogoni however, noted that the Bori meeting was a good landing. He said he was there. He dismissed the slanted reports about the meeting which he said were done to create social media content. He said in his social media handle that the committee deliberately avoided founding the consultations along old ‘loyalty blocs’ and ‘groups of people with entitlement blood.’ “Every Ogoni was to attend as an individual, not as a member of a camp. This approach meant no one would claim success or failure.”
Several factions exist in Ogoniland, including the leading pressure group, MOSOP, and they all need to get involved in the consultations, including those sulking for not being invited to the Abuja parley with the President.
Factional MOSO President, Fegalo Nsuke, recalled how MOSOP championed the Ogoni struggle from the beginning and wondered why MOSOP was not invited to Abuja or the Bori meeting. Hayford said, “sidelining MOSOP in the move to re-enter Ogoniland for oil and gas production could create distrust in the hearts of the Ogoni people, cautioning against rushing the process in order not to generate tension, anxiety and crisis in the landscape of Ogoni area.” Certain that the current process led by President Tinubu would yield good fruit for the Ogoni, Wikina says, he silently prays that “this oil resumption comes sooner, so that our people will participate in productive ventures around our oil economy…..and get benefits like our brothers in Orashi area, Bonny axis, etc.”
He cast a glance at the Bodo-Bonny road that will link mainland Nigeria with the vital island port of Bonny that is passing through Ogoniland. “Shall we wait, watch, as vehicles drive through here, to where lucrative oil businesses are happening…without our involvement? Every party will have to sheathe their sword and embrace the ongoing consultation process that will lead to a prosperous future for the land and the people.
Dagogo Josiah, Olayinka Coker and Emmanuel Obe
Josiah, Coker and Obe wrote in from Port Harcourt.