25022021 - Way out of Nigeria’s security problems

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18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021 IT has long been public knowledge that most occupants of political offices in Nigeria send their children to schools abroad due to the virtual collapse of quality education in Nigeria. A non-resident scholar of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Matthew Page (who is described as “a Nigerian”), in a study titled: “West African Elites’ Spending on UK Schools and Universities: A Closer Look”, has accused Nigeria’s politically-exposed persons, PEPs, of perpetrating money laundering by using the education of their children and wards abroad as a conduit pipe. The report, which was commissioned by the United Kingdom government, according to its High Commissioner in Nigeria, Catriona Laing, was meant “to better understand the risk to the UK from illicit finance in West Africa. We will now consider the report’s Funding Nigerians’ education abroad with illicit funds finding and take a view on what if any further action is required”. Page’s report also accused the UK government of reluctance to acknowledge the shortcomings of its anti-money laundering policies or learn lessons from recent anticorruption failures, especially as many UK schools are clearly complicit in matriculating students linked to known or even convicted “kleptocrats”. We are waiting to see exactly what the UK government is going to do about this unwholesome finding which hurts both the UK and the victim countries. Nigeria bears the main brunt of public treasury fleecing to educate the children of PEPs abroad while virtually abandoning public-funded education. We suggest they start by monitoring the sources of funds being used to pay for the children and wards of these Nigerian PEPs and consider rusticating/deporting any student being sponsored with stolen or illicit public funds. The UK has an obligation to show its sincerity in commissioning the inquiry by the resolve with which it deals with the proven cases of money laundering. In spite of the much-vaunted “anticorruption wars” in Nigeria, the country has almost lost its capacity to bring culprits to book because of the nature of the system we run. Without the assistance of developed countries and international bodies, corruption in the topmost political circles in Nigeria virtually has no deterrence. The deterioration in the quality of education in Nigerian schools is greatly responsible for the poverty, underdevelopment and growing instability in Nigeria. It also affects advanced countries like the UK by way of the quantum of unwanted emigrants seeking better life. It is in the UK’s interest that Nigerian leaders are encouraged to educate the bulk of their children in well-funded and run domestic schools. OPINION The delusion of institutionalising online learning BY SEGUN IGE ALEARNING management system is an online learning platform or portal where lecturers upload lecture notes, slides, or videos on certain courses on the one hand, and where students download relevant materials, submit assignments and take whatever assessments, on the other hand. LMS is not actually a modern technique of learning. It’s been an integral part of every successful “management system” where learning is invariably mediated via socio-cyber space. Schools in Nigeria, in general, have not been digitally institutionalised and equipped to the point of meeting up with the demands of teaching and learning online. And as far as online learning is concerned, we’re extremely lagging behind because the foundation of our educational system wasn’t digital-driven, and we’re entrusted with the decades-to-come responsibility of recalibrating the education sector to the proper place of competence and performance. The new learning environment the pandemic has created is an indisputable social proof and indispensable fait accompli that students would not continually be physically gathering to learn for a long period of time, and the necessity of putting in place spatiallearning modes, models and platforms comes to the fore. It’s such a servile way of saying physical learning has come to an end. The deception of lecturers, who claim to be technological “know-hows” and have indeed been systematically bred and reared by the traditional ‘paper-and-pencil’ methodology of teaching and learning, is typically posing a great deal of threat to students who themselves have been endangered by such learning processes. The danger it presupposes is, of course, the overwhelming under-performance of students, who surely find it a herculean task coming to classes, let alone attending one Zoom lecture fluctuated by power outage and insufficient data, who are under duress and in a gruelling situation to grasp one thing or two. Such is the endemic problem students are achingly and perilously going through as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. But clearly, the fact that the students would not rarely observe social distancing, and what have you, is a selling point that really they could resume physical learning some way or other. That is not to say that the preventive protocols of the pandemic would not be observed. No! It would and it should! This stance should not be If we’re going online, then students should not have problems accessing the internet put in place by the managements problematically given, notably when one considers the same holds sway in churches and mosques. To me, I could dare to argue, with the measures and sanctions imposed on schools vis-à-vis religious bodies, how deteriorating we’re devaluating and denigrating the role education plays in national-building and national development. I perceive there couldn’t have been any pandemic greater than that. Education, not religion, is the lifeblood and spring of life of everything and anything we do – adding to or subtracting from the social norms, moral principles, and all-round success of a nation – depending on how we handle it. What’s the lot of students struggling to learn online, download avalanche of lecture slides and materials which are largely untaught, amid unstable internet access, erratic power supply and exorbitant purchase of data from telecommunications network service providers? To be sure, the lecturers would admit that, because of how stochastic and sterile the operational system is in adapting to the “new normal,” going virtual is technically a will-o’- the-wisp. In other words, it’s a sheer waste of time, on the one hand, trying the impossible in an excessively monolithic environment and, on the other, the preference for physical learning could be overtly overemphasised. The bottom line is the online learning is not working for them! Students are seriously going to be on the receiving end, after all. The new measure seems to favour the lecturers who have generally been monochromatically programmed, nay in tabula rasa, in coming for late classes. The students, sometimes or most of the time, would be the ones running after them, reminding them, calling them, wasting their precious airtime and time in holding a diluted, prevaricated, soporific, jejune, ‘story-telling,’ ‘song-singing,’ mumbojumbo class. The narrative would essentially have been rather hooked to the sinker, thanks to the pandemic. Mostly, such is the pervasive scene of higher institutions of learning. Well, these lecturers themselves have been side-cheeked of their salaries, overtime, particularly with the Federal Government’s indefatigable enrolling of the new Integrated Payroll and Personal Information System mode of payment, which really denied certain senior staffers of their rights, regardless of the daggers-drawn altercation of one worldwithout-end Memorandum of Understanding. Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com The solution to this is to ensure the labourers get paid and the learners get quality education. And quality education is integrating, not IPPIS, but computer-assisted standards of learning the pandemic has envisioned for us. Period! It’s a good thing that now we’re embracing Zoom, Telegram, and the like, to hold two-orso hour classes. But beyond that, we need to start funding and supporting our social-science and engineering departments; encouraging and sponsoring them to compete with their global peers; and making use of and promoting our domestically-produced technological inventions locally and internationally. That’s what could squarely cement the synergy between the parents, the President, those in loco parentis, and those in statu pupillari. If we’re going online, then students should not have problems accessing the internet put in place by the managements. Remember, it’s a “management system,” not “student system.” They should not be deeply sorrowful and regretful ever coming to school, namely, the freshers. Some of these students absolutely depend on this that they use it to take tests, submit assignments, and eventually and if possible, take exams. It would be so, so catastrophic for them if they in the end see the outcome. It’s not ideal to use their ‘pocketmoney’ on data that’s largely predictably going to shatter their hopes on crucial days. That would be abundantly outrageous. And if we’re going physical, which is what’s presumably going to work if the former is not, we should strictly adhere to the safety measures put in place in preventing COVID-19. Simple! And as though they’re babes, they’ve been baby-seated in baby-walkers, while the babes themselves are physically learning in school every now and then. Continues online: www.vanguardngr.com •Ige, a freelance journalist, wrote via, igesegunadebayo5@gmail.com
ENERGY Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021 — 19 FG considers new options to deliver prepaid meters By Udeme Akpan THE Federal Govern ment has started considering new options in delivering prepaid meters to 60 per cent of consumers still being exploited through estimated billing in Nigeria. In its ‘Consultation Paper on the Review of Meter Asset Provider’ obtained by Vanguard, yesterday, Sanusi Garba, Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, disclosed that the three options include: allowing the implementation of both the National Mass Metering Programme, NMMP and Meter Asset Provider, MAP metering frameworks to run concurrently, continuing with the current MAP framework with meters procured under the NMMP supplied only through MAPs (by being off-takers from the local manufacturers/assemblers); and winding down the MAP framework and allow the DisCos to procure meters directly from local manufacturers/assemblers (or as procured by the WB), and enter into new contracts for the installation and maintenance of such meters. The Chairman, who noted that the options have their merits and demerits, stated: “Under the concurrent framework all customers are expected to pay their bills without any specific reference to metering charge. The metering component shall be embedded in the energy charge. The payment framework under the MAP-NMMP concurrent implementation option shall require all customers on the same tariff classification in a DisCo to pay a uniform energy tariff that includes a metering cost that would en- CURRENCY BUYING SELLING US DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL RAND 379 379.5 380 533.8973 534.6017 535.306 460.6366 461.2443 461.852 420.8773 421.4325 421.9878 3.6006 3.6054 3.6101 0.6819 0.6919 0.7019 545.9805 546.7008 547.4211 58.6297 58.7075 58.7853 101.0505 101.1838 101.3171 25.8178 25.8519 25.8859 CBN Exchange rate as at 24/02/2021 able DisCos recover the cost of meter and other associated expenses for the repayment of the NMMP facility and the services provided by MAP. “The repayment of the NMMP facility would be a second line charge against DisCos’ monthly collections in accordance with the term sheet for the financing. This option recognises the continued role of MAPs and the DisCos while strengthening the securitisation of payment to MAPs through a third line charge against the DisCos’ monthly revenues. This option maintains all other provisions of the Meter Service Agreement (“MSA”) except where both parties choose to make amendments to the agreements. “The MAPs are thus required to make arrangements for the procurement, financing, delivery and installation of meters in line with approved deployment plans and the MSA. Customers who choose not to wait to receive meters based on the deployment schedule of the NMMP shall continue to have the option of making upfront payments for meters which will be installed within a maximum period of ten working days. Such customers shall be NPA records 6.6% decline in vessel call MARITIME refunded by the DisCos through energy credits. “However, it is imperative to note that this option is an exception as all MAPs are required to deploy meters in accordance with the agreed meter roll out plan and consistent with the MAP framework. There shall be no option for meter acquisition through the payment of a monthly meter service charge. In the determination of rates payable by customers, the Commission shall take into account the blend of “cost of debt” on account of the concessionary financing to DisCos under the NMMP.” “The increase in registered customers was, in addition to the new connection, due largely to the ongoing customer enumeration exercise by DisCos through which unregistered consumers of electricity were brought unto the DisCos’ billing platform. Similarly, the increase in metered customers was attributed to the roll-out of meters under the MAP scheme. The Abuja, Benin, and Eko DisCos had metered more than 50% of their registered electricity customers as of 30 June 2020.” United Capital’s profit up by 61% to N7.95 billion By Godwin Oritse Reflecting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the maritimes sector, the number ships that sailed into the nation’s port (vessel call) fell by 6.6 per cent, year-on-year, (y/y) to 3972 in 2020 from 4251 in 2019. Similarly, the volume of goods imported into the country, or c a r g o throughput 137.80 -0.50 fell by 2.2 per cent y/ 1,835.00 -1.00 y to 78.4 million 17.15 +0.14 metric tonnes (MT) in 2020 from 66.84 +1.47 80.2 million MT in 63.73 +0.90 2019. Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza B a l a - Usman, disclosed this yesterday while addressing maritime correspondents in a virtual forum. She said, “In 2019, we had a total of 4,251 vessels that called into our ports, according to the ship traffic data. In 2020, we had 3972. So, we had a drop. In terms of cargo throughput, we had 78.4 million metric tonnes in 2020 while in 2019 the nation recorded 80.2 million MT in 2019.” Speaking on the new truck park initiative designed to ease traffic around port access roads and drive down port cost, she said: “We will address the challenges we have with the movement of the barges themselves, to sequence it and make sure that the harbour master is in control of the activities. We will also develop a Standard Operating procedure on barge operations.” Bala-Usman warned trucks to desist from parking along the port corridors, noting that they could not drive into the ports to receive a cargo without using the e-call up app. She explained that the process is free, inclusive of on-boarding but the truckers would pay when they are exiting the truck park though it would not be operational till February 27. United Capital Plc, has recorded 61 per cent growth in Profit Before Tax, PBT to N7.95 billion for the year ended December 2020 from N4.95 billion in 2019. Consequently, the company recorded a 57 per cent increase in Profit After Tax, PAT which rose to N7.81 billion N4.97 billion in 2019. The marked increase in profitability was inspired by a 50 percent growth in gross earnings which rose N12.87 billion in 2020, from N8.59 billion in 2019. Furthermore, United Capital recorded a 48 per cent increase in total assets to N224.75 billion in 2020 from N150.46 billion in the 2019; while shareholders’ funds grew to N24.43 billion rising by 25 per cent from 19.59 billion a year earlier. Consequently, the Directors of United Capital have proposed a dividend of 70 kobo per share, amounting to a total of N4.2 billion dividend to be paid upon ratification by shareholders at its forthcoming Annual General Meeting, AGM. The 70kobo dividend per share, which is higher than the 50k per share declared in 2019, is payable to shareholders whose names appear on the Register of Members at the close of business on March 5, 2021. The Group Chief Executive Officer, United Capital Plc, Mr. Peter Ashade, expressed delight on the performance, which according to him is cheering news despite the challenges that most companies faced in the year 2020. He said, “I am pleased to inform all stakeholders that United Capital delivered impressive returns amid the unprecedented environment worsened by the pandemic during the 2020 financial year with remarkable double-digit growth in revenue, PBT and PAT and solid performance across key business parameters. “This empowers us to adopt a more positive outlook for the year 2021 as we navigate the tough terrain compounded by a second wave of the COVID- 19 pandemic among other severe economic challenges,” Ashade noted. WorldRemit backs CBN on new USD bank account opening process By Nkiruka NNorom MONEY MARKET WorldRemit, a crossborder digital payments service, has expressed support for directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) mandating banks in Nigeria to facilitate money transfers by opening domiciliary accounts for those who currently do not have one. Commenting on this development, Gbenga Okejimi, Country Manager, Nigeria and Ghana, at WorldRemit, said: “We are very pleased by the CBN’s decision to mandate Nigerian banks to help citizens who do not have a dollar account by automatically providing this facility on their behalf. This development will make all the difference to those who receive support from family and friends abroad. “For our part, we are excited by the fact that we can continue to enable the transfer of remittances to more people across Nigeria while also supporting the Nigerian government in its efforts to strengthen the economy. C M Y
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