Features
Tertiary Institutions And Sustainable Dev
In general terms, the envi
ronment can be conceived as a life-support system or “ecosystem” within which living organisms interact with the physical elements. The life-support system drives a number of ecological processes that shape climate, cleanse air and water, regulate water flow, recycle essential elements, create and regenerate soil, and keep the earth fit for life. In its natural setting, the environment functions as:
a source of raw materials and energy (non-renewable resources ); a provider of services such as the maintenance of climatic
system/stability and ecological cycle (renewable resources) including forest, agricultural land, water etc; and asinkforwaste.
But these functions of the ecosystem are under threat. Human activities are radically altering the ecological processes that make the planet unfit for life through pollution and the destruction or degradation of the ecosystems. Over the years, there have been many changes that have become noticeable in the global environment as a result of human intervention.
Key Environmental Challenges In Nigeria
The poor state of Nigeria’s environment becomes more glaring when put into sectoral perspectives in relation to the thematic issues of biodiversity; coastal and marine environment; human settlements and urbanization; deforestation; drought and desertification; floods and erosion; environmental pollution; and solid waste.
Biodiversity
Nigeria occupies a unique geographic position in Africa and the variability in climate and geographic features endows her with one of the richest biodiversity in the continent.
According to the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2006) document, Nigeria possesses more than 5,000 recorded species of plants, 22,090 species of animals, including insects and 889 species of birds, and 1,489 species of micro-organisms.
It is estimated that 0.4% of the plant species are threatened and 8.5% endangered, with 0.14% of the animals and insects threatened and 0.22% endangered.
Natural and human-made threats, socio-cultural problems as well as direct and indirect consequences of socio-economic development, particularly agriculture, have contributed to the erosion of biodiversity at all levels. Close to 96% of the original 20% forest cover has been cleared and only 2% of what remains is undisturbed. This has resulted in massive loss of the very rich and diverse forest flora and fauna, including indigenous tree species. Large parts of the savannah are also being ravaged by man-induced desertification, causing ecosystem impoverishment and biodiversity loss. The number of threatened and endangered species have also been on the increase.
Coastal and Marine Environment
Like many ecosystems in Nigeria, the marine and coastal area of the country is afflicted with many environmental problems that must be addressed for sustainable development. Industrialization, urban development, and oil and gas exploration and exploitation have infringed on the people and their environment, leading to the opening up of previously pristine ecosystems. This has resulted in the alteration of habitats, biodiversity loss, deforestation and pollution. While natural hazards, such as floods, are clearly responsible for some of the environmental impacts, industrial activities have no doubt aggravated the situation. There is a strong feeling in the region that the degree and rate of degradation are pushing the delta towards ecological disaster.
Pressures from unsustainable exploitation of coastal resources, population pressures, and climate change are causing widespread environmental problems in the coastal and marine areas. It makes the region to be one of the most environmentally ravaged areas of the world. Major areas of environmental challenges in the coastal and marine areas include pollution from oil spills, gas flaring, industrial and agricultural effluents, sewage and solid wastes; modification of ecosystem in the form of biodiversity loss, coastal erosion, flooding, deforestation, salt water intrusion and invasive/ exotic species; and depletion of fisheries resources.
Human Settlements and Urbanization
Rapidly growing urban centres in Nigeria pose a great challenge to ecosystem integrity and hence to public health. The environmental impact of urbanization in Nigeria is very high. In addition to stimulating major land use changes for housing, roads and industries, the cities consume large quantities of natural resources and affect ecosystem integrity.
Moreover, given their concentration of people and activities, and their greater levels of consumption, cities produce considerable waste and pollution. Urbanization also means greater dependence on transport systems, generating further pollution and environmental degradation. Urbanisation in Nigeria is responsible for many public health challenges – those related to water, environment, violence, injury, non-communicable diseases and other risk factors like tobacco and alcohol use, and unhealthy diet. Movements of people whether from rural to urban areas or from one country to another can alter the characteristic epidemiological disease profile, and at the same time new diseases appear or old ones re-emerge. If urbanization is well planned, then it might have less severe effects on environment and public health but if not well planned, it may lead to obvious threats.
Deforestation
The forest resources of Nigeria are under immense human pressure. Forest reserve cover is now about 6% of Nigeria’s landmass. This is considerably lower than forest estate covers of at least 25% that obtains in many other countries in line with international standards. The proportion is, however, reducing by the day as less than 1 % of forest areas cleared for domestic and commercial purposes get reforested. In the 1980s, about 400 hectares of forest and woodlands out of every 1000 hectares suffered from deforestation while only 26 hectares were reforested on an annual basis. According to Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the remaining forest area in Nigeria will likely disappear by 2020 if the current rate of forest depletion continues unabated. The southern rain forest, which covers only 2% of the total land area in Nigeria, is being depleted at an annual rate of 3.5%. Over 25,000 ha of the gazetted forest are being lost to deforestation annually. A major contributory factor for massive deforestation and devegetation is the almost total dependence of over 90% of rural population in Nigeria on the forest resources for livelihood and economic survival.
Drought and Desertification
Drought and desertification are twin environmental problems afflicting many parts of Nigeria. From all accounts, Nigeria is one of the most desertification-prone countries in Africa.
Significant physical and ecological impacts of drought and desertification are loss of biodiversity, rapid deterioration of the ecosystems, rapid deterioration in land cover and depletion of water availability through destruction of catchments and aquifers. There have also been changes in forest and land cover, species distribution, composition and biome distribution in the area, loss of ecological stability and soil erosion, all resulting in loss of soil fertility.
Drought and desertification bring about severe disruption of the socio-economic development of the affected areas. Persistent droughts, in particular, may result in failure of crops and death of livestock, eventually bringing about famine. Drought and desertification-induced changes in population dynamics may include increased migration from rural areas into the urban centers. This leads to greater pressure on the existing urban infrastructure, and subsequent social conflicts in the affected areas.
Floods and Erosion
Flooding is a common occurrence in many parts of Nigeria. Generally, floods result mostly from heavy and high intensity rainfall, coupled with poor watershed management. Human activities such as unplanned rapid urbanization, blockage of river/drainage channels, land clearing for agricultural purposes, poor dam construction and deforestation may contribute to flooding. In general, urban floods are more common in towns located on flat and low-lying terrain or where adequate provisions have not been made for surface drainages or drainages have been blocked by municipal wastes and eroded soil sediments.
To be continued
Benibo, Director-General/CEO of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), delivered this papaer in Port Harcourt recently.
Erosion of various types, including sheet, rill and gully, is affecting nearly all parts of Nigeria. Coastal erosion is becoming very intensified as a result of human activities such as damming of rivers, construction of harbour protecting structures and jetties like in the Lagos Bar beach, sand mining, dredging activities, and deforestation of coastal vegetation. Sea level rise as well as localized subsidence also exacerbates the rates of coastal erosion.
In general, erosion results in the depletion offarmlands, loss of forest resources and reduction in agricultural outputs. It also results in loss of land resources for other developmental purposes, destruction of properties and social amenities, as well as loss oflives.
Environmental Pollution
Environmental pollution in Nigeria is much greater in magnitude today than in previous decades as a result of the high rate of population growth and urbanisation, modernisation of agriculture, especially in the growing use of agrochemicals, the introduction of obsolete and polluting technologies and consumer products, and the ineffectiveness of some of the institutional,logistical and policy arrangements that have been put in place over the years to tackle the menace.
The dominant types of pollution in Nigeria are air, water, soil and noise pollution. Industries were the major sources of pollutants in Nigeria in 1980s and 1990s when well over 5,000 industrial facilities and 10,000 small scale industries were in operation on the Nigerian landscape. Constantly, smoke from factory chimneys and dust are spewed into the air, untreated industrial effluent discharged directly into open drainage channels and some industries bury expired chemicals and hazardous waste in their backyards or dump them haphazardly, thereby threatening water quality in rivers and wells.
These contraptions have become the new and widespread sources of pollution in Nigeria. The major pollutants from automobiles, motorcycles and electric generators are carbon emissions into the atmosphere, with excessive noise from all three. Additionally, expended oil and battery acid are dumped haphazardly within and on the outskirts of towns.
Pollution from oil exploration activities in the Niger Delta remains unabated. Oil spills from leaking underground pipelines and storage tanks are a regular occurrence, rendering vast tracts ofland and water bodies unproductive in the region.
In addition, pollution from gas flaring goes on daily. The resultant heat stress and acid rain continue to degrade the ecosystem.
Pollution of air, water and soil in Nigeria also comes from extensive use of fertilisers on farms, dumping of expired and contraband chemicals and pesticides in the country, improper storage and handling of chemicals as well as improper disposal of hospital and municipal wastes.
An emerging and rapidly growing source of pollution is electronic or e-waste from developed countries being dumped in Nigeria. This form of waste consists of old computers and other electronic gadgets which are laced with deadly chemicals and toxins. The poor regularly sort through waste dumps to scavenge for anything they could sell and so unwittingly expose themselves to toxic hazards and health risks.
Solid Waste
The problem of solid waste disposal has become one of the most intractable environmental problems facing many cities in Nigeria. On the whole, solid waste disposal creates environmental problems in two main ways. First, much of it is not collected in major cities, and the rate of waste collection is generally between 30 – 50%. The remainder is usually burned or dumped haphazardly in illegal landfills or streets, where it creates health hazards and blocks drains, contributing to urban flooding.
The situation is compounded by a number of factors including: indiscriminate dumping of waste without adherence to existing laws; unplanned siting of waste dumps; preponderance of non-biodegradable materials such as plastic bags and containers in waste materials; rampant sewage leakages; and increasing dumping of e-waste and medical waste in the country.
Sustainable Development
The term “Sustainable Development” rose to significance after it was first used by the Brundtland Commission in its 1987 Report, ‘Our Common Future’, in response to its mandate by the United Nations General Assembly to take stock of the earth and make recommendations for a sustained future. The Report defines Sustainable Development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. Sustainable development calls for improving the quality of life for humanity without increasing the use of natural resources beyond the earth’s carrying capacity. Efforts to achieve sustainable development require the integration of action in three key areas: economic growth and equity; conserving natural resources and the environment; and social development.
Some Key United Nations Conferences Deepening
The Understanding Of Sustainable Development
Over the years, some major global initiatives have been carried out, including United Nations Environmental Conferences, to further deepen the meaning and understanding of sustainable development. The outcome of these conferences included Action Plans and Political Declarations whose implementation at national, regional and global levels have further clarified the concept of sustainable development.
The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment
The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm in 1972, was the first most important event in the growth of environmental consciousness. It came about because public pressure, backed by scientific findings about the impacts of industrial emissions, persistent pesticides and other pollutants in the late 1960s, stimulated the necessary political will. “The Action Plan for the Human Environment” adopted by the Stockholm Conference, and the establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in the same year; gave global environmentalism further impetus and effective expression in the international community, as well as prepared the ground for the evolution of the concept of sustainable development.
The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)
“The Agenda 21” adopted atthe United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) otherwise called the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992, heralded-a new approach to environment and development, and further deepened the meaning and understanding of sustainable development. The Earth Summit Action Plan (The Agenda 21) provides guidelines and strategies for achieving sustainable development in various sectors of national, regional and global development in the z r’ Century. The Earth Summit also produced the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development containing 27 Principles to guide the transition to sustainable development in the 21st Century. The Rio Declaration has continued to be relevant at global, regional and national levels and has guided several negotiations and facilitated consensus building on critical environmental and developmental issues to date.
The United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)
The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2002, reaffirmed the global community’s commitment to ‘full implementation’ of Agenda 21, alongside achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and other international agreements. The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI), adopted at WSSD, sets out new commitments and priorities for action on sustainable development. While expressing continued support for the goals of Agenda 21, the document specifies concrete means of overcoming problems that have hampered the implementation of Agenda 21, with a renewed focus on those activities that can be realized in each priority area. In addition, the WSSD served as a platform for the launch of new partnership initiatives to promote sustainable development.
The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20 Summit)
The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20 Summit) held in 2012, upheld the Rio Principles and the resolutions of the Earth Summit while adopting an Outcome Document, ‘The Future We Want’ in furtherance to earlier commitments towards sustainable development and a green economy. “The Future We Want” provides a global framework to protect ecosystem integrity through holistic and integrated approaches ensuring effective balancing of the social, economic and environmental pillars of development, including poverty eradication, social inclusiveness and equity. In all the above global actions to operationalize sustainable development, a lot of emphasis has been placed on education for sustainable development.
EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (ESD)
Education is essential to achieving sustainable development. It is crucial to the ability of the citizens to create solutions and find new paths to a better future. The citizens need to understand the environmental implications of all the actions they take, and learn their way to sustainability. Our current knowledge base does not contain the solutions to contemporary global environmental, societal and economic problems.
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) promotes efforts to rethink educational programmes and systems within the context of sustainable development. It affects all components of education, such as, legislation, policy, finance, curriculum, instruction, learning, assessment, etc. It calls for lifelong learning and recognizes the fact that the educational needs of people change overtheir lifetime.
The strategy of ESD concept is to equip people with knowledge and skills in sustainable development, making them more competent and confident while at the same time increasing their opportunities for leading healthy and productive lifestyles in harmony with nature and with concern for social values, gender equity and cultural diversity. It also empowers the citizenry to effectively play a key role in environmental governance and contribute to sustainable development.
THE KEY ELEMENT SOFESD:
are based on the principles and values that underlie sustainable development; deal with the well-being of all four dimensions of sustainability – environment, society, culture and economy; use a variety of pedagogical techniques that promote participatory learning and higher-order thinking skills; promote lifelong learning; are locally relevant and culturally appropriate; are based on local needs, perceptions and conditions, but acknowledge that fulfilling local needs often has international effects and consequences; engage formal, non-formal and informal education; accommodate the evolving nature of the concept of sustainability; address content, taking into account context, global issues and local priorities; build civil capacity for community-based decision-making, social tolerance, environmental stewardship, an adaptable workforce, and a good quality of life; are interdisciplinary. No single discipline can claim ESD for itself; all disciplines can contribute to ESD.
The Belgrade Charter And The Tblisi Resolutions On Environmental Education
The Belgrade Charter and the Tblisi Resolutions on Environmental Education laid the foundation for the current thinking on education for sustainable development. Following the recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Human Environment in Stockholm in 1972, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) launched an ‘International Environmental Education Programme’ (lEEP) aimed at fostering the exchange of information and experience in the field of nvironmental education. Under the auspices of the lEEP, an International Workshop on Environmental Education was held in Belgrade in 1975, which led to the adoption of ‘The Belgrade Charter-A Global Framework for Environmental Education’.
As enunciated in the Belgrade Charter, environmental education should include among its primary objectives, measures for assisting individuals and groups to: Acquire awareness of, and sensitivity to the total environment and its associated problems; Acquire basic understanding of the total environment, its associated problems, and humanity’s critically responsible presence and role in it; Acquire social values, strong feelings of concern for the environment, and motivation for actively participating in its protection and improvement; Acquire skills necessary for solving environmental problems; Evaluate environmental measures’ and education programmes in terms of ecological, political, economic, social, aesthetic and cultural criteria; Develop a sense of responsibility and urgency regarding environmental problems, and ensure that appropriate actions are taken to solve these problems.
The Principles of the Belgrade Charter state that environmental education should: Consider the environment in its totality – natural and man-made, ecological, political, economic, technological, social, legislative, cultural and aesthetic; Be a continuous lifelong process, both in school and out of school;
Be interdisciplinary in its approach; Emphasize active participation in preventing and solving environmental problems; Examine major environmental issues from a world-wide viewpoint, while paying due regard to regional differences; Focus on current and future environmental situations; Examine all development and growth from an environmental perspective; Promote the value and necessity of local, national and international co-operation in the solution of environmental problems. Two years after the Belgrade Charter, the UNESCOUNEP Intergovernmental Conference on Environmental Education was held in Tblisi in 1977. One of the Resolutions of the Tblisi Conference stresses that environmental education should strive to enable individuals and communities understand the complexities of the natural and man-made environments arising from the interaction of their biological, physical, chemical, social, economic, cultural, ethical and political aspects, besides acquiring the knowledge, values, attitudes and practical skills needed to participating in a responsible and effective manner in the anticipation and solving of environmental problems and in the management of environmental quality.
United Nations Decade Of Education For Sustainable Development (DESD}
In recognition of the importance of ESD, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2005-2014, the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD). UNESCO leads the Decade and has developed an International Implementation Scheme for the Decade. The goals of the Decade are to provide an opportunity for refining and promoting the vision of, and transition to, sustainable development – through all forms of education, public awareness and training; and to give an enhanced profile to the important role of education and learning in sustainable development.
The specific objectives of the Decade are to: facilitate networking linkages, exchange and interaction among stakeholders in ESD; foster increased quality of teaching and learning in ESD; help countries make progress towards and attain the Millennium Development Goals through ESD efforts; and provide countries with new opportunities to incorporate ESD into education reform efforts.
The Role And Opportunities Of Tertiary Institutions In Nigeria
Environmental sustainability has become an increasingly important issue all over the world, the role of tertiary institutions in environmental sustainability initiatives is becoming more and more prevalent. Sustainable development through higher education provides a pivotal role in nation building. Tertiary institutions have the capacity to give quick responses to different societal problems, including those relating to the environment. Beyond teaching and learning on environmental issues, there is an emerging consensus that tertiary institutions can also model sustainable practices. Such education contributes strongly to sustainable development by training and expanding young minds in researching solutions to the environmental challenges.
Tertiary institutions are unique and have their own traditions and culture. They are familiar with their surroundings. They can use their repository of knowledge and expertise to address various societal problems. The tertiary institutions can help protect the environment and achieve sustainable development through the implementation of various programmes under the umbrella of education for sustainable development.
Curriculum Design And Programme Development
The framework of the curricula should cover the necessary information regarding environmental issues. In developing the programme, the university should make extensive enquiries regarding what is the need of the regulators and the regulated community so that the students on graduation will fit in perfectly in any sector. Curriculum design should be problem-solving oriented. The students should get acquainted with all the skills and information related to environment. The curriculum should motivate the students to participate and solve environmental problems. Research And Development
Research is one of the integral parts of higher education. It is an investigative parameter of getting new information or looking for new ideas for the development of man and the society.
Research in various aspects of environmental protection and sustainable development at tertiary institutions can go a long way in the protection of the environment and human health. The research may focus on specific topical issue or issues that affect the local community, the state or the entire country. It must also be in the fields where the university has competence, expertise and manpower. Well thought-out and properly supervised students’ projects can result in new solutions for addressing environmental problems.
Outreach
Tertiary institutions should embark on outreach programmes. The purpose of such outreach programmes is to create enduring partnerships between the institutions and communities in order to share knowledge and information, as well as to build capacity to identify, analyse, assess and solve specific problems. In addition, participation in outreach programmes can enhance the research and teaching capacity of the institutions and at the same time contribute to the development of the local communities.
Development Of Centres Of Excellence
The tertiary institution should identify its areas of strength and comparative advantage, in terms of geographical location, localized environmental problems, faculty expertise and experience, target audience, materials and equipment, as well as possible sources of funding. It is better that an institution is well known and recognized in one particular area of special expertise and competence than trying to do all and not being recognized in any area. Like the popular adage, “Jack of all trade and master of none” Because the issues in environmental protection and sustainable development are so broad, an institution can easily find a niche in a particular subject or issue and be well recognized in that area at local, national, and even at international levels. Such institution will always be sought after when the need arises.
Organisation And Participation In Conferences, Workshops And Seminars
Tertiary institutions have a responsibility to articulate and disseminate new scientific knowledge and information bearing on environment and sustainable development, to society at large through various fora, such as roundtable discussions, conferences, seminars and dialogue between scientists and other stakeholders, including citizens and policy makers. Such events can lead to further ideas and knowledge that will help society progress along the path of sustainable development. There is need for continuous organisation and participation in relevant conferences, workshops and seminars. The faculty should be familiar with the rudiments of organizing successful seminars and workshops, including the preparation of concept notes for such conferences and seminars. Students should be properly tutored on how to prepare and present technical papers, including the use of ICT and multimedia. Such presentations create an impressive impact and also make it easier for the audience to understand and appreciate the issues.
Publications And Communications
If a tertiary institution does not tell the world what it is doing, the tendency is that the information on any research breakthroughs and other excellent programmes and activities of the institution will not be known. The public and private sectors who may need that information do not know what is happening within the four walls of the institutions unless they are told. There is need for tertiary institutions to encourage their faculties to publish and communicate the outcome of their research and other academic activities and programmes.
Such communications should be properly channeled to the appropriate target audience.
Consultancy And Expert Advisory Services
The tertiary institutions are repository of knowledge and expertise. They should reinvigorate and expand their consultancy services and expert advisory programmes in the area of environment and sustainable development. Such outfit should be visible and proactive. To-date, only about four tertiary institutions have applied to NESREA for accreditation as Environmental Consultants. The tertiary institutions should take advantage of their fundamental role as fulcrum of knowledge and conurbation of experts in diversified fields to promote multisectoral and multidisciplinary collaboration within and among the different faculties and colleges.
The institutions are in a better and informed position to provide expert advice to governments and private sector on topical environmental matters. They should make public statements, prepare and present memoranda at public hearings, on issues bearing on the environment.
Sabbaticals And Short-term Attachment Programmes
Tertiary institutions should have a programme whereby members of faculty can spend sabbaticals or some brieftime in a relevant government agency or industry to work on issues bearing on the environment and sustainable development.
Such a programme provides a win-win situation both for the faculty and for the government agency or industry.
Serving As Role Models For Sustainable Development
Tertiary institutions can use their campuses as models for a sustainable society, based on interactions with various stakeholders in the society through academic research and educational processes. The university can provide avenues in which to test new sustainability-relevant knowledge in a social context such as the development of “sustainable” or “green” campuses, use of renewal energy and implementation of sustainable waste management. By serving as test models for society at large, the tertiary institution can help foster in its students, the attitude and skills necessary to achieve a sustainable society in the future. Thus, the sustainable campus can serve as both an experiment in progress and an ideal tool for educating future generations.
Establishment Of Partnerships And Networks
Tertiary institutions can establish partnerships and networks among themselves at country level and with other tertiary institutions at international level. Such partnerships can provide a common platform to enhance interdisciplinary cooperation among tertiary institutions and research centers within and outside the country through such initiatives as student exchange, faculty exchange and joint research projects.
Models developed by these universities in different areas to address common issues, reflect each region’s economic, social and cultural conditions. Together, the work from each participating institution can provide the composite of a global model that incorporates regional diversity.
Conclusion
The concept of sustainable development has been explained or described in so many ways in scientific literature. A concept made popular by the Brundtland Commission in 1987 has grown to occupy a large body ofliterature both in content and context.
Nigeria is a large country endowed with rich natural resources and biodiversity, and at the same time facing various environmental challenges. Achieving sustainable development at country level would require proper management and control of our environment. It will also require sustainable exploration and exploitation of our vast natural resources.
There is therefore, need to evolve a formal environmental education system that can build the capacity of those who will be entrusted with the protection of the environment and management of our natural resources.
Our tertiary institutions have critical role to play in this regard. There is need for design and development of problem-solving and result oriented environmental programmes in our institutions.
Our tertiary institutions should embrace the innovations in sustainable environmental education and come up with specific programmes that suit their individual peculiarities and circumstances.
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) will be very willing to partner with the College of Graduate Studies of the University of Port Harcourt in the implementation of environmental sustainability programmes in the University.
I thank you.
Dr. Ngeri Benebo
Features
Contributory Pension Scheme: Time For Review
For decades, Nigeria grappled with a pension crisis that left countless retirees in financial insecurity and despair. The unfunded pension system led to delayed payments and inadequate retirement funds, especially for public sector employees. In response, the federal government, under the leadership of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, enacted the Pension Reform Act of 2004, introducing a contributory pension scheme (CPS) designed to overhaul the system and secure a dignified retirement for Nigerian workers.
According to the Pension Reform Act, 2004, Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) is an arrangement where both the employer and the employee contribute portions of an employee’s monthly emolument towards the payment of the employee’s pension at retirement. The CPS covers employees in the public service of the Federation, Federal Capital Territory, States, Local Governments and private sector organisations with three or more employees.
Only Judicial Officers, members of the Armed Forces, the Intelligence and Secret Services of the Federation; retirees under any pension scheme existing before 30 June 2004; and employees who had three or less years to retire as at June 30, 2004 were exempted from the scheme.
The objectives of the CPS according to Section 2 of the Pension Reform Act, 2004, are to ensure that every retiree of the Nigerian Public Service receives his/her retirement entitlements as and when due; assist an improvident person to save against old age; and ensure a uniform set of rules and regulations on issues relating to the administration and payment of pension to retirees.
According to Section 85 of the Pension Reform Act, 2014, which effectively repealed the 2004 Act, “All contributions made under this Act shall be invested by the Pension Fund Administrators with objectives of safety and maintenance of fair returns on amount invested”.
Analysts and some retirees have questioned the usefulness of this section of the Act when the retirees are kept in the dark about the investments made with their contributions and hardly reap the dividend of the investment. A group of retirees known as Contributory Pensions Retirees Forum, recently described the CPS as a “modern day slavery; an instrument of economic annihilation of workers to death in abject poverty after retirement.”
According to them, the CPS denies retirees of a lump sum of their money after retirement and dispenses a paltry monthly pension to retirees across the board. They narrated the case of a retiree who served the Federal Government from July 15, 1981 and retired on July 15, 2016 on salary grade Level 14, having worked for a mandatory period of 35 years and attained the maximum age of 60 years.
For all the years he put in, the total balance standing to his credit was N6,745,823.34. Out of this, he was paid 25 per cent which amounted to N1,686,455.84 while the balance of 75 per cent was retained by Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) for investment in the capital market and other large institutions. The retiree has been receiving a paltry sum of N26,703.15 monthly since 2016 till date despite the huge profits declared every year from the investment.
“Unfortunately, the sad part of this is that every day prices of goods and services are on the increase. While workers and retirees under the old scheme – Defined Benefit Scheme had their salaries and pension increased across all levels, we in the CPS are abandoned to our fate. We do not get increase”, lamented a retiree.
A public affairs analyst, Bonny Harrison, described such treatment of the retirees, who spend their active years serving the country as unfair and inconsiderate, noting that such attitude will discourage the people still in service from putting in their best. “They may be lured into bribery and corruption, knowing that the country will not cater for them when they retire”, he opined.
Section 7, Sub Section 1, Paragraph (a) of the Pension Reform Act, 2014 provides that unlike the former Defined Benefit Scheme, the CPS is to be jointly funded by both the employer and the employee. Each worker has an individual Retirement Savings Account (RSA) with a Pension Fund Administrator (PFA).
It also made provision for state governments to migrate to the CPS and stipulates that employees contribute eight per cent of their monthly earnings, and employers add 10 per cent, totalling 18 per cent of the employee’s monthly income. The funds are managed under the oversight of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), with the aim of ensuring transparency and accountability.
Two decades down the road, getting the state governments to key into the scheme has been a Herculean task. Reports show that only about five out of the 36 states in the country have fully complied with the CPS Act. Some have not even enacted their CPS laws while some enacted the law without contributing anything to their workers’ RSA. PenCom and Pension fund operators have reportedly made frantic efforts to have them key into the scheme since 2014 but that yielded little or no results.
A recently retired civil servant in Rivers State narrated that the past governments in the states did not key in fully into the scheme. While the eight per cent of the employees’ salary was deducted, the government failed to contribute its own 10 per cent, thereby making retirees from the state ineligible to benefit from the CPS scheme.
The retiree was however glad that the total amount he contributed over the years was paid to him without any deduction and that the State government has put keying into the CPS on hold. He advised that the state government should not be part of the CPS as it is confusing and not favourable to government workers. “Contributory Pensions Scheme cannot work in our states where the governors run the states like their personal businesses. A governor today may decide to contribute and another governor tomorrow may choose not to. What happens to the retirees in such a situation? He queried.
Low compliance in the informal sector has also been noted as one of the challenges of the scheme. The informal sector, which represents over 80 per cent of Nigeria’s workforce, often lacks the structure or financial stability to commit to monthly contributions. Many informal workers are unaware of the benefits of joining the scheme, highlighting a gap in outreach and education.
Analysts have also observed that fluctuations, especially inflation, often erode the value of retirement savings. Although PFAs invest in various assets, ensuring inflation-adjusted returns remains challenging, impacting retirees’ purchasing power, they said.
They therefore, canvassed for a halt of the CPS or reforms and initiatives to make it effective and worth the while. These include:
Expansion of CPS outreach programmes and incentives, such as flexible contribution options to increase informal sector enrollment; improved awareness and education which will drive greater participation among self-employed and informal workers; increasing transparency in fund management and imposing stricter penalties for misconduct so as to improve public confidence; introducing innovative investment options like green bonds and infrastructure development projects to help pension funds achieve better returns.
Others are: a more aggressive investment strategy that offers inflation-protected returns, benefiting retirees in the long term by PenCom in order to mitigate inflation’s effects, and PenCom offering financial education to pensioners so as to help them manage their funds effectively. PenCom should offer financial planning resources, ensuring that retirees fully understand the structure and benefits of the CPS.
Analysts have also argued that for CPS to succeed and live up to its objective of being a cornerstone of economic stability and prosperity, embodying the hope of dignified and secured retirement for all, PenCom must wake up to her duty of ensuring that the retirees are not short-changed by the pension administrators and that non-complaint employers (that fail to make deductions) as stipulated in PRA 2014 are duly punished.
Calista Ezeaku
Features
Good Governance: Gov Fubara’s Eyes On The Ball Amid Distractions
The administration of Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, commenced on May 29, 2023, after the symbolic swearing-in ceremonies at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Elekahia, Port Harcourt. From that day, Governor Fubara hit the ground running to provide Rivers people strong, focused, purposeful and responsible leadership, prioritising the well-being of the State and its people with a renewed push for economic growth, people-centred infrastructure projects and social services.
The Governor promised pragmatic steps to improve the ease of doing business and sustain a congenial fiscal policy to attract local and foreign direct investments to stimulate greater economic activities, partner with private sector to revive or establish viable industries to create jobs and wealth while encouraging commercial agriculture to achieve food sufficiency, security and improved living standards for residents of the State. He promised to invest in capital infrastructure projects, provide electricity supply and social housing to those in need, partner private sector to develop integrated multimodal public transportation system to advance mass mobility and access to socio-economic opportunities across the State, prioritise healthcare, education, and empower youth with relevant skills and opportunities to become economically active, productive and prosperous.
The Governor also promised to initiate policies to improve earning capacity and incomes of workers; ensure regular payment of wages, pensions, and gratuities; intensify training and promotion of civil servants; support and motivate security agencies to maintain law and order and keep communities, roads, neighbourhoods and waterways protected, safe and secure for businesses, residents, and visitors; while remaining bold and ambitious in decision-making, and resolute in defending, protecting and promoting the collective interest of Rivers State.
Indeed, Governor Fubara has shown capacity through meticulous leadership by diligently fulfilling his promises to Rivers people in all spheres of governance. For instance, in May, 2024, Rivers State Government held Economic and Investment Summit, the first of its kind in Nigeria. The summit subsequently birthed the signing of Executive Order No. 002 of 2024 empowering the establishment of Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency to give impetus to an Investment Agency that will coordinate the barrage of enquiries and business interests expressed by investors who now consider the State a destination of first choice.
Following the signing of the Executive Order, Governor Fubara established Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency to serve as one-stop-shop to handle all-related activities seamlessly for the prosperity and good governance of the State. It is not in doubt that the gains of the Economic and Investment Summit have started yielding results, given the array of investment inflows to the State of recent. Notable among them are the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) between the Rivers State Government, INTEC and OMENE Group of Companies as well as Senendib Capital Limited. The MoU with INTEC and OMENE Group of Companies is for the development of a $300million Waste-to-Wealth project, 200megawatts power plant, smart e-mobility, 20 tons of carbon capture and storage, and other innovations with a view to converting waste to wealth, generate electricity, boost employment opportunities as well as increase the State’s revenue base.
That of Senendib Capital Limited is for the protection and preservation of mangrove forest and ecosystems within the State, and the establishment of a Blue Carbon Credit Partnership, which will aid in tree planting, biochar production with a view to bringing about transformative shift in environmental and socio-economic gains aimed at increasing the State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), leveraging the State’s potentials in the Blue Economy. Indeed, there are other private sector investments in such area as agriculture, tourism, culture and arts, among others. Take the ongoing work on Songhai Integrated Farms; Port Harcourt Tourist Beach; and the move to revive Rex Lawson Cultural Centre, as some of those big initiatives.
However, in spite of these laudable achievements, enemies of the State have continued to spin negative media propaganda with the intent of demarketing the State and pitching Governor Fubara against President Bola Tinubu. Only recently, the social media space was awash with malicious reports that Governor Fubara has shut down the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and other oil companies’ operations in apparent retaliation for a Federal High Court judgment in respect of statutory allocations from the Federation Accounts to the State. This deliberate propaganda was published by an online platform: jeestauglahity.net, titled, “Breaking News: Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara Shuts Down NNPC and All Oil Companies in Rivers State, Declares No Allocation for Rivers State, No Oil for Nigeria”. What a hack job!
As if that was not enough, another social media report reared its ugly head, that Governor Fubara has imposed curfew on the State, as a result of the purported death of at least eight Nigerian soldiers in an imaginary gun battle between military personnel allegedly sponsored by former Governor Nyesom Wike, and the ‘forces’ of Governor Fubara, who were protecting Government House from Wike’s invaders. This time, the fake news was concocted by an online platform: https://africachinapresscentre.org, titled, “Heavy shooting, deaths reported as armed men attempt to seize power in Rivers”, authored by one Ikenna Emewu, and also credited to a mainstream newspaper “Daily Trust”. Another hack job, and deliberate attempt to distract, cause panic and chaos.
It is crystal clear that the negative media narratives are from the enemies of the State, who have been working as part of the propaganda machine of detractors of the Governor to paint the State Government in bad light, cause anarchy and destabilise the State. No doubt, these enemies of the State have been recruiting agents to use the media as tool to manipulate public opinion and perception, while also fabricating lies to create the impression that the Governor is at war with the Federal Government, and indeed, President Bola Tinubu, at a time the Governor has been working assiduously in synergy with security agencies to crush illegal oil bunkering, artisanal refining of crude oil and the scourge of pipeline vandalism, in order to help improve oil production for the nation to meet its crude sales obligations as well as continue to maintain the peace in the State.
But despite the negative media spinning and distractions from several litigations, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate leadership by remaining focused with his eyes on the ball, delivering good governance in line with his promises to Rivers people.
Governor Fubara has been playing the game in line with the axioms of Tony Robbins: ‘’the more focused you are, the more successful you will be’’. He has surrendered his faith to God, focusing on delivering democratic dividends to Rivers people. Because his eyes have been focused on the ball, the Governor had completed the 10.9km Aleto-Eteo-Ebubu Road; 15.24km Emohua-Tema Junction (Kalabari) Road; 21.5km Egbeda internal roads; 23km Omoku-Egbema dualised road; 27.5km Andoni section of Unity Road; 8.168km Emoh/Iyak/Ighom/Elok and Emoh/Egbolom roads; over 3km Chokocho-Igbodo road; despite the distractions. Conservatively, more than 121.308km roads have been completed and handed over to communities for public use without noise making.
And he is doing more! Only recently, during routine inspection of projects dotted across the State, the Governor gave construction giant, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, a marching order to complete the 9.7km Ogbakiri Town road which will connect about six communities in Emohua Local Government Area within the stipulated timeframe of eight months. The project is valued at about N15billion. Already, 30 per cent mobilization fee has been paid. Also, the 33.5km Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku dual carriage road with a river crossing bridge linking Ikwerre-Emohua-Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas is also progressing.
Two major signature projects: the 50.15km Port Harcourt Daul Carriage Ring Road that traverses six local government areas, namely Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, Etche, Eleme, and Okrika, is ongoing at six sections of the road; and the 12.5km Trans-Kalabari Road project, is also ongoing. Both projects had been evaded by previous administrations because of their complex and difficult terrains and huge costs. Work is now progressing on both.
Other legacy projects include the over 3km Opobo Ring Road; 12km Okehi-Eberi-Omuma road; 5km Okania-Ogbogoro road; 14.6km Eberi-Umuakali-Omodu Road linking Rivers and Abia states; 13.3km Bori internal roads; and 17.5km Egbeda/Omerelu Road. These have been completed. The Kalaibiama section of the 5.2km Kalaibiama/Epellema Road with spurs has been completed while work is ongoing on the Epellema section with bridge.
Also, the 16.5km Rumuokurusi-Igbo-Etche Road; 25.4km Ahoada/Omoku Dual Carriageway (Phase 2); 15.2km Uyakama/ Obodhi/Ozochi Road; 13.52km Ngo Atlantic-Oyorokoto Road with spurs; and 6.5km Woji-Aleto-Alesa-Refinery link road with 200 meters bridge and many other road infrastructure projects are advancing, even with the distractions. Indeed, the people have high hopes because the contractors have promised to deliver on schedule. More than 257.64km roads are under construction, and almost all are funded from state revenue (IGR and FAAC allocations) without borrowing.
In his bid to decongest the City of Port Harcourt and extend municipal activities to other parts of the State, Governor Fubara, had in August, flagged off the construction of the New Port City in Eleme, Eleme Local Government Area. The New Port City, which is akin to a mega smart port city, is a joint venture between the Rivers State Government and Rainbow Heritage Group Limited geared towards realigning the State with modern developmental realities. This is in addition to the 20,000 housing units project for low-income earners, being executed by the Rivers State Government and Pricewise Home Nigeria Limited/TAF Africa Global at Mbodo, Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government Area. The project is progressing smoothly and aims at meeting the Governor’s aspiration to provide affordable homes for low-income earners under the social housing policy of the Government.
Governor Fubara is also keeping to his avowed promise to civil servants in the State. In October, he graciously approved the sum of N85,000.00 as Minimum Wage to workers under the State Government employ, and promised that implementation will take effect November, 2024. As civil servants were receiving alert for their November salaries, the new minimum wage was boldly implemented, and the whole State has been in a jubilation mood since then. In fact, the Governor was the first in the nation to pay the new minimum wage to workers, and the impact has been monumental on the lives of Rivers people.
This is as the promotion of civil servants for 2023/2024 is ongoing after the initial promotion that saw Rivers civil servants being promoted to their current grade levels after over 10 years of stagnation. Pensioners are also not left out in the scheme of things as the Governor had increased the N1billion monthly allocation to offset the backlog of pension and gratuity to retired civil servants to N2billion. The move is to clear the backlog as well as ensure effective implementation of payment of gratuities and pensions to retired civil servants. How else do you describe good governance?
Also recently, Governor Fubara donated 100 vehicles to the Rivers State Command of Nigeria Police Force, with the aim of tackling insecurity and boosting response time to emergencies. Sister agencies such as Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), among others, including military and para-military formations have also received support from the Government. This is in fulfilment of the Governor’s promise to support and motivate security agencies to deliver on their mandate to the people of the State.
Of course, Governor Fubara is keeping to his oath never to renege on his promise to deliver only the best projects to Rivers people and provide standard social services, while utilising scarce resources judiciously for the betterment and overall interest of the people. This is because, since assumption of office, he has, through meticulous and frugal management of State resources, embarked on impactful projects aimed at fulfilling his social contract with Rivers people without the usual pomp and pageantry, and noise making as some publicity-conscious public officials do. Even the BudgIT 2024 Fiscal Performance Ranking put Rivers tops among 35 other states in transparency and accountability, a testament to the Governor’s prudence and diligent application of scarce resources in delivering good governance to Rivers people.
Amid the noise and political distractions, Governor Fubara has truly had his eyes on the ball. He has been focused. He has been committed to the Rivers First project. He believes and is working to achieve a brighter future for Rivers State.
Nelson Chukwudi
Chukwudi is the Chief Press Secretary to the Rivers State Governor, and writes from Port Harcourt.
Features
Will Drug Trafficking Ever End ?
From the fore going, the fight against drug trafficking should be treated as an international challenge with open collaboration, if the world leadership must win the fight!.
The circumstances or should I say the improvement on drug related activities are modifying and updating on daily basis. A close friend of mine in the United States of America who recently visited Jamaica, came with a lot of complicated information about drug trafficking and transaction. Being a qualified Nurse in US and on a visit to the Reggae Country (Jamaica), she said she was put aback when a man approached her and introduced himself as a Pharmacist. According to her, she immediately picked interest due to her professional background. To her, a business partner is birthed. But she was shocked to the narrows on learning that drug dealers or traffickers and subriquited Pharmacist in that Country. From her account, they ( The Jamaican Pharmacists), are the first set to people to meet and greet you at the Airport. No government or authority challenges them in the open due to the sophisticated nature of their transportation
Come to think of it, who would want to attack a Pharmacist on duty? Nigerians are not left out in the improvement on drug deal. A chat with a confident in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA) Rivers State Command, so revealed. The Officer draw my attention to the movement of Dispatch Riders. He said part of the reasons they ride with almost speed equivalent of the thunder lightning, is to meet up with the appointment of delivering hard drug consignment to a client of theirs. According to him, those guys popularly referred to as Yahoo Boys are the ones who now payroll dispatch riders so that they can deliver their consignment ( hard drugs) on schedule no matter the sort of traffic or weather condition. The fear of loosing rich clients and that of the unknown treatment that may come of the Boys, as the officer puts it, drives the Riders crazy thus the reason to speed even at the expense of their lives.
The account of a prominent Party Promoter, Wayne Anthony, as obtained online recently, also pointed out that ‘No Legislation Will Stop Clubbers From Doing Drugs’ Party promoter, Wayne Anthony, arrived in Ibiza, a Spanish Island in 1988, at the same time as dance music and the party drug ecstasy. Despite hallucinating badly enough to make him give up the lifestyle forever, he says laws will never stop clubbers taking drugs. “I don’t think you can control these things,” said former party promoter Wayne Anthony. He arrived in Ibiza in 1988 and began setting up club nights and raves in some of the island’s most iconic venues. In the years that followed, the sleepy Spanish island turned into a raver’s haven of clubbing and hedonism, with party drugs like ecstasy commonly found. “What Ibiza represented was this beautiful, hot island which was visually stunning and we knew you could party there quite legally,” said Wayne. “You didn’t have to look over your shoulder. You could just be as free as you possibly could be.”
That freedom came with a price. Along with the lavish clubs, all-day-benders and hot Spanish sun came drug cartels and crime. The city transformed into one the world’s most vibrant party capitals, “fuelled by a dangerous and lucrative drugs trade which drew as many criminals to its shores as it did party animals”. Wayne, one of the contributors to the documentary, spoke to Sky News ahead of its release.”I’m not going to sit here and say the cartels aren’t there. They are all there and they’ve been there from the ’90s,” said Wayne. But he said most people tried to ignore the organised crime going on around them. According to Wayne, clubbers usually took the approach of: “‘Give me 10 E’s . Behind the scenes of the filming of Ibiza Narcos with Wayne Anthony. Behind the scenes of the filming of Ibiza Narcos with Wayne Anthony. Hallucinating giant spiders Although he described the Balearic island as the “motherland”, it was eventually a bad experience with drugs that convinced Wayne it was time to leave Ibiza.
He’d been partying for days when he realised he’d taken too many drugs. A friend told him to drink cough medicine, dangerous advice that he now says could have killed him. “I saw the worst hallucination I’ve ever seen in all of my life. I ended up locking myself in the villa with all the shutters down. When he sobered up, he realised he had “come to the end” of his party life on the island. “I never looked back. I never took another drug. I got away from the club world.” ‘I don’t think you’re going to be able to stop it’ Despite his life-changing experience, he doesn’t think criminalising drugs is a good idea – or particularly effective. “If you’re old enough to vote for who’s going to be a world leader, if you’re old enough to put your name down on debt for 25 years, I feel like you should be old enough to govern what you put inside your own body, you know?” said Wayne.
Back to Nigeria, some illicit drugs worth over N30billion seized at Onne Port in Rivers State.
This blood chilling development forced the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency at the Onne Port, following what authorities described as repeated incidents of importation of dangerous cargo, including arms and ammunition through the said port. To this effect, the government said it was immediately implementing emergency protocols at Onne Port for the next three months by conducting thorough examinations of all suspected containers in the premises.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, in charge of the port via a press conference, said it henceforth, unveiled the seizures of illicit goods by the Nigeria Customs Service, Area 2 Command, Onne in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State. In defence for his action, Adeniyi said the recurring incidents posed a threat to national security, adding that the health of citizens at the Onne Port is increasingly being used as a destination for dangerous and illicit cargo, describing it as a disturbing trend.
The customs boss stated, “Earlier today, I joined numerous stakeholders to take a significant step towards the cause of trade facilitation through the inauguration of upgraded facilities provided by the West Africa Container Terminal, Onne. “As I express delight that trade facilitation is getting traction in Onne Port, I cannot help but call your attention to a grave concern. This has to do with the repeated incidents of national security breaches unfolding in Onne Port. I appreciate your presence, as we all have a shared responsibility in safeguarding our national security. As we are all aware, the policy thrust of Mr President supports the re-energising of our business environment to drive faster import clearance and grow our capacity for exports, Our emphasis has been to promote initiatives that speak to Trade facilitation and economic development. “It is a matter of regret that criminal elements in the international supply chain are exploiting our pro-trade stance to commit atrocities bordering on national security breaches”.
“The attempts to test our will through the importation of dangerous cargo through this port has necessitated the declaration of a state of emergency in Onne Port, coming on the heels of a seizure of a huge cache of arms a couple of months ago. It is disheartening that perpetrators have not backed down on their illegal acts. Recent intelligence and seizures have revealed a disturbing trend; Onne Port is increasingly being used as a destination for dangerous and illicit cargo. The scale and nature of these illegal importations pose a significant threat to our national security and the health of our citizens. Today, we are here to showcase yet another series of significant seizures made by the diligent officers of the Area 2 Command. On display are twelve containers of illicit goods intercepted through a combination of intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, and meticulous physical examination. Seizures on Display include: Three (3) x 40-feet containers: Containing 562,600 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine and 3,150 pieces of chilly cutters, with a Paid Duty Value (DPV) of N4,716,573,846.
“Others are, three x 40-feet containers containing 380,000 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine, 24,480,000 tablets of Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride, 5,350,000 tablets of Tapentadol and Carisoprodol, and other items, with a DPV of N17,432,506,000 were seized”.
According to the report, more seized items were, “Five (5) x 40-feet containers; Containing 892,400 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine, 1,300,000 tablets of 50mg Really Extra Diclofenac, 7,250,000 tablets of 5mg Trodol Benzhexol, and other items, with a DPV of N8, 128,568,295,90. This very action of the Nigeria Customs Service, further complicated the hope of how soon the fight against drug trafficking could be brought to a halt owing to its high profile nature.
Another hair-raising report of the illicit drug deal has it that when NDLEA bursted a Snake-Guarded Shrine Used For Storing Illicit Drugs sometime ago in Edo State. This very news report was published in The Tide Newspaper on June 24, 2024. According to the report, NDLEA said its operatives uncovered a shrine, guarded by a snake, being used for storing illicit drugs, during an operation in Edo State. The Agency in a statement by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, added that its operatives discovered a specially constructed large hole in a wall, hidden behind wallpapers and fetish objects used for drug storage. It further noted that methamphetamine, Loud, Colorado and Arizona, all strong strains of cannabis with a total weight of 8.743kg among others, were recovered from the shrine.
To be cont’d
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