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Save Nigeria From Dumping Now, Industrialist Warns …Advocates Enforcement Of Standards
Nigeria must rise up and fight dumping to save its economy and prevent mass crisis that comes from continued loss of jobs for youths.
The warning came from an Italy-born naturalised Nigerian with 45 years professional career in electrical and electronic engineering, GiandomenicoMassari.
Massari heads a reputable manufacturing firm as well as a technical services company.
The National Vice President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Massari, also said Nigeria has everything it needs to become the new China, and thus, a global manufacturing hub.
Massari, a fellow of both electrical and electronic engineering professions with a doctorate degree in view, said manufacturing was the backbone of any serious economy.
In an interview with newsmen in his Trans-Amadi, Port Harcourt headquarters, the engineer argued that any developed country you admire has manufacturing as the backbone of the economy.
“This is supposed to be so with Nigeria that has all sorts of resources, from agricultural resources to minerals.”
Massari warned on the danger of ignoring dumping.
“Nigeria should not be allowed to become a dumping ground. This is the easiest way to destroy any economy and to kill jobs.”
He said few persons gain in a dumped economy but majority suffers; loss of jobs, forex crisis, inflation, crime and instability.
“Nigeria has been inundated with sub-standard products that do not add value to the economy.
“We need an economy that produces almost everything that is imported and in high quality. Nigeria already has high quality in some products; it means Nigeria can produce high quality in almost every product.”
He said Nigeria should target being an exporting country and should target how to replicate what is happening in China because Nigeria has all the potentials especially on labour and other resources.
To do this, he stated, “All stakeholders must work for same goal. It is not good for private interests to sabotage this path and divert the gains. This is where change must be targeted, creating public interest instead of private interest.
“There is need to sanitise things and boost manufacturing in Nigeria. This is not happening at the moment.”
He declared that Nigeria can even become a global hub of manufacturing; place investors can manufacture anything at cheap cost to create competitive products for both export and for the local market.
“This will bring benefits to the country not only by creating jobs but by creating values and foreign exchange (forex) that would be pouring into the country. By this, you are enriching the economy and the people. There should be an advocacy in this and all should rally round MAN as a major backbone for the economy.”
He said it was to push for Nigeria to be a manufacturing hub that he joined MAN since 1997.
“My reason to participate in the affairs of MAN is to boost the body that caters for manufacturers and to support it to boost manufacturing.
“The objective is to strive to manufacture high quality products and be also to make sure that all the systems involved in manufacturing are protected and developed.”
He said MAN was the umbrella body of all manufacturers, and the foremost body for the manufacturing sector.
“We, thus, chose to join MAN as the best way to carry out that role, not only for our company but for the benefits of manufacturing in Nigeria because when the benefits spread around Nigeria, it will touch everybody.”
Massari said he participated fully in the Rivers/Bayelsa chapter, and also in the council for many years.
In 2011, he was nominated and elected into MAN’s national council, he stated.
In 2017, he was nominated and elected as the acting chairman of the AkwaIbom/Cross River chapter and eventually converted to chairman.
On what he plans to pursue as National Vice President of MAN (East, Rivers, Bayelsa, AkwaIbom, Cross River, Abia, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, and Anambra states), Massari: “My duty is to carry all the chairmen along. They are the voice of their chapters. Together, we start pushing to the headquarters that will push to the FG and to every relevant body that has a duty to play in boosting manufacturing.”
He mentioned building a database as one major task before him. He said data is everything in the world of business and planning today.
“My first task is to build a database of members; what they do, what they can produce the certifications they have, etc. I have made it clear that this is what I want to start with. This is what investors want to look at to know what to support or where to invest or who to partner with. It is a lot of job to accomplish but let us start first.”
“With knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm flowing from him, many may wonder what would happen if state governments can think manufacturing/industrialisation and make it their cardinal targets; whether the zone would become the propelling zones for this industrial revolution.”
To get this off the steam, whether Masari would be prepared to organise an industry clinic for either the present or incoming governor, and hoping they would welcome the tips, the Italy-born technologist said, “I said it is about stakeholdership to build a rallying point for change. When I was chairman in AkwaIbom/Cross River chapter, we tried to network with the governments, sometimes successfully.
“We continue to try to make governments make friendly policies for manufacturing and for operations. It could be about patronising local products.’
He said one governor some time ago was instrumental in boosting manufacturing in Anambra State.
“I do not want to mention names. His administration started assisting industries there by providing infrastructure, buying their products, providing single digit loans that were later repaid, did Ease of Doing Business (EODB) policies, etc. Manufacturing increased exponentially. This was about understanding the potentials of manufacturing because of the value it brings; jobs, taxes, wealth, reduction of crime, etc. We need to see a leader in government that can see this and think this way.
“Yes, I plan to take my team of state chairmen of MAN to visit the state governments to stress these points and to seek partnerships and make sure that the benefits from such situations are understood.
“If the state governors understand the criticality of manufacturing and what they should do to cause it happen, they would be the enthusiastic drivers. Everybody will be the winner. That is the only way, otherwise, there will be problems”.
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.