Sustaining Reliable Population Via IT

SUSTAINING A RELIABLE POPULATION VIA IT

       Population unarguably remains the most integral part of the anticipated developmental stride of any society. It is so, because, it’s one of the major factors that determine the society’s net worth. It’s noteworthy that, it is only human population that bears such idiosyncrasy.

       Two prime factors – natural and human resources, determine the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of every nation. It’s pertinent to acknowledge that the aforementioned recipes are interwoven. Natural resources obviously require human resources before it could be harnessed. Thus, without the latter, the former would remain crude or useless. This is the reason discerning leaders of any nation fiercely safeguard as well as sustain the nation’s human resources.

       A country’s resources can only be adequately managed by ensuring effective and efficient sustenance of its human population. Towards a holistic sustenance of a given population, it’s imperative to note the rudimentary factors that affect population growth, which are: birthrate, death rate, and migration. Having carried out the census of a country’s population, there’s need to checkmate the above factors in order to subsequently boast of a robust and reliable database.

      The point is that, a reliable population record cannot be sustained without involving Information Technology (IT). Ranging from census to update, each of the exercises involved requires proper utilization of IT for laudable functionality. Owing to the overwhelming impact of IT on every activity pertaining to population management, it’s high time the National Population Commission (NPC) started deploying its use in the agency’s day-to-day obligations.

      It’s appalling that the NPC cannot even boast of a reliable database as regards Nigeria’s population, let alone sustaining it. The authority needs to comprehend that the nation requires a standard population record with a view to boosting its socio-economic status, and such can never be obtained without a substantive database. Among all, a database cannot currently be considered viable if IT isn’t utilized. In other words, the concerned quarters are expected to embrace IT wholeheartedly, considering that it is the only way forward.

       In view of the above, our pattern of population census must be reviewed in earnest. Hence, as the 2017 population census is fast approaching, I enjoin the NPC to strategize in order to ensure that IT is fully inculcated in the overall scheme, so that, at the end of the national exercise, the country can boast of a comprehensive IT-based population database. Prior to the commencement of the exercise, the NPC should endeavour to establish an independent IT-oriented department/unit. The unit ought to be entitled to a well-experienced indigenous director.

       ‘Independent’, in the sense that the unit must have all the required resources to avoid intrusion. ‘Well-experienced’, in the sense that the prospective personnel must possess a convincing IT expertise. And, ‘indigenous’, in the sense that he/she must be a full-fledged Nigerian; being indigenous would enable him/her to regularly carryout the concernment diligently and with all required manner of patriotism. The unit should equally constitute personnel that are knowledgeable enough in the field of ICT. Inter alia, there should be an agency that would oversee/monitor the day-to-day running of the unit toward ensuring efficiency.

      After conducting the census, there would be need for constant and consistent thorough update of the database, and such needs to be done by the IT unit. The records need to be updated by subsequently observing the earlier mentioned fundamental factors that affect population. A tactical approach ought to be employed toward ensuring that the overall birthrate and death-rate occurring in the country is regularly gathered, regardless of the locality where the event took place. Hence, every maternity and mortuary operating across the federation must be duly certified by the NPC whereby every child delivery or corpse deposition, as the case may be, would be instantly reported to the commission via the respective ICT departments of the said centres.

       To this end, in event of home child-delivery, such case needs to be reported to any nearest maternity for onward documentation. Similarly, whenever one dies and his/her corpse isn’t taken to the mortuary, the bereaved family is required to report such incident to a closest mortuary. This implies that henceforth, any maternity or mortuary that isn’t recognized or approved by the NPC must be shut down indefinitely; such monitoring would equally require setting up of a mobile committee by the commission that would regularly oversee the existence cum activity of all maternities and mortuaries.    

       Regarding migration, the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) alongside Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) is meant to work hand-in-hand with the NPC. The cooperation would help to invariably update the latter on immigration cum emigration matters. The proposed relationship would be effective and easy by involving ICT. Moreover, the NPC’s IT-department ought to continually make use of world-class softwares. The softwares must be designed by the department’s staff for privacy sake. The unit should also have classic anti-hacking softwares as well as experts.     
       All in all, an all-inclusive statistics of Nigeria’s population can only be properly sustained via the effort of IT. Since the country possesses all it takes to make the project feasible, let’s not hesitate in applying the resources. Think about it! 

  

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

(TheMediaAmbassador)

-ICT/Engineering Consultant, Researcher, Blogger, Analyst & Activist-

Founder/CEO, Docfred (Nig.) Ent. - Owerri

____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

http://frednwaozor.blogspot.com

Twitter: @mediambassador        

Harnessing Natural Resources Toward Greater Nationhood

HARNESSING NATURAL RESOURCES TOWARDS GREATER NATIONHOOD

      Some of the common natural resources on earth are land, water, sunlight, atmosphere, wind, coupled with animal life and vegetation. A natural resource may exist as a separate entity like fresh water and air as well as a living organism such as fish, or it might exist in an alternate form, which must be processed to obtain the required resource to include petroleum, metal, ores, and most forms of energy. Some, including air and sunlight, can be found everywhere, and are known as ‘ubiquitous resources’. Whilst, most resources only occur in restricted areas, and are referred to as ‘localized resources’.

      There are very few resources that are considered inexhaustible – these are solar radiation, geothermal energy, and air, though access to pure air may not be possible. The vast majority of resources are theoretically exhaustible, which means they have a finite quantity and can be depleted if improperly managed; a good example of this is petroleum. Such finite resources required a sound policy and regulation, to be implemented by the concerned government, towards their preservation.

       It’s pertinent to acknowledge that every manmade product consists of one or two natural resources. Suffice it to say that everything required or used by mankind constitute of, at least, a natural resource. In most cases, some of these resources such as air and water, are directly utilized or consumed by man without processing them. Such phenomenon proves beyond doubts that humankind cannot survive or strive successfully, as the case may be, without natural resources. This assertion is not unconnected with the reason every rational government makes frantic effort toward adequate use and preservation of the natural resources found within its country.

      In Nigeria, hundreds of natural resources are abound, in which each state including Abuja is a beneficiary. Some of these resources are petroleum, tantalite, lead, zinc, glass-sand, copper, gemstone, crystal, oil/gas, bitumen, phosphate, gold, coal, clay, salt, gypsum, iron-ore, uranium, and limestone, in addition to sunlight, wind, land, water, vegetation and air that are ubiquitous in nature.

     Some of the aforementioned substances can enable any country to massively embark on agriculture, and attain to any desired height. Nigeria does not possess just land, but a well fertile land that can produce crops in any quantity and quality. Its vegetation and atmosphere is equally invariably good enough to raise every kind of animal life, including wildlife. Though crop and livestock farming used to be the talk of the day in the Nigerian society, it’s sad to note that currently such lucrative occupation is being relegated to the background owing to over-reliance on mono-resource, petroleum.

      Moreover, proper utilization of clay alone can take the country’s tourism industry, that’s presently moribund, to enviable heights. Same is applicable to the use of other similar compounds or metals that are in abundance across the federation, to include uranium, limestone, and gold. In the same vein, it is disheartening that an essential mineral resource like coal has, over the decades, been swept under the carpet; coal can be used to produce energy, both in the form of heat and electricity.

      It’s mind-boggling to hear that a country like Nigeria that can boast of abundant sunlight, wind and what have you, is still battling on how to generate steady and reliable electricity, whilst countries like U.S.A blessed with just limited amount of the resources, are experiencing uninterruptible power supply. Away from energy; it could be observed that our forest reserves that could produce enough timber for importation, are currently wearing a pathetic physiognomy as a result of docile policies.

      Indeed, Nigeria is densely endowed with various lucrative natural resources, but it’s very sad that the governments at all levels are not doing enough as regards the adequate use and conservation of the resources; hence, this calls for drastic turnaround via deployment of genuine political will. Now that the sale of oil and gas is no longer booming, it’s high time we retraced our steps toward ensuring that each of the available resources is thoroughly harnessed for the needed economic emancipation.

      Crude oil ought to also be regularly renewed. We can clean used oil by using pretty conventional refinery technologies. The first step is vacuum distillation, which dewaters the oil. Then, we do wiped-film evaporation; this essentially separates out all the contaminants and additives. Finally, it would go through a hydro-treating process, which infuses hydrogen back into the hydrogen molecules and makes it a very high quality re-refined oil. This routine can be sustained via a sound policy.

      The government really needs to ensure adequate conservation and sustenance of these natural resources, through implementation of strict and viable policies cum laws, and their proper enforcement. Most of these policies such as Land Use and Forests Reserve acts, which were duly upheld in the past, are presently abused or overlooked. We need to revive them, make amends where necessary, as well as introduce new ones, towards attaining a greater nationhood. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

(TheMediaAmbassador)

-ICT/Engineering Consultant, Researcher, Blogger, Analyst & Activist-

Founder/CEO, Docfred (Nig.) Ent. - Owerri

____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

http://frednwaozor.blogspot.com 

Twitter: @mediambassador                         

      

Much ado about Confab report, Restructuring

MUCH ADO ABOUT CONFAB REPORT, RESTRUCTURING

      The last time I checked, many Nigerians in various fields of endeavour were emphatically calling for restructuring of the Nigerian state. Prior to this clamour, hundreds of thousands of individuals cum groups across the country had been equally calling on the Federal Government (FG) to ensure thorough implementation of the report of the National Conference (Confab) with a view to restoring various lingering socio-economic cum political quagmires.

       It would be recalled that, in 2014, following several agitations by the citizens, the FG under the leadership of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan thought it wise to institute a national conference. Consequently, the proposed conference was inaugurated on 17^th March 2014 in Abuja, the Capital Territory. It’s noteworthy that about 492 delegates, that represented a cross-section of Nigerians including professional bodies, were present at the event which was graciously chaired by Justice Idris Kutigi (rtd.).

      After plenary session of the historic outing that lasted for months, twenty committees were inaugurated among the attendees. The committees included, public finance and revenue generation; political restructuring and forms of government; national security; devolution of power; politics and governance; environment; social welfare; law, judiciary, human rights and legal reform; public service; transportation; agriculture; society, labour and sports; electoral matters; foreign policy and diaspora matters; energy; land tenure matters and national boundary; trade and investment; religion; as well as science, technology and development.

      At the end, the Confab, which was originally billed to last three months but was granted about a month extension, came up with pertinent and mind-blowing resolutions towards settling the nation’s myriad problems. The report (resolutions), which was presented to former President Jonathan on 21^st August 2014, recommended mainly as follows: that,

v The current system of 774 local authorities should be scrapped.

v More 18 states should be created.

v National income going to the FG should be reduced, thereby increasing that of the states.

v There should be modified presidential system of government that combines the presidential and parliamentary systems.

v Power should be shared and rotated at all levels of government.

      The report, which bore more than 600 distinct resolutions and produced a 10,335-page work, contained issues ranging from the contentious revenue-sharing formula to the divisive political structure of the acclaimed giant of Africa. However, it’s equally pertinent to note that about #7 billion was utilized for the Confab.

       Now, an average Nigerian citizen is deeply concerned over the much-talk-about proposed restructuring as well as the ‘awaited’ implementation of the Confab’s report. From my painstaking view, the prime problem with Nigerians remains that we overstress issues. We often tend to use ‘noisemaking’ to qualify our intent, even when the intent is laudable. Which rational being in Nigeria is yet to realize that the country requires restructuring? It depends on the perspective we are looking at it.

       From a general context, to restructure simply means ‘to organize differently’. In other words, restructuring is the act of organizing the operational mechanism, or other structures, of a given institution/society for the purpose of making it more viable or better organized for its current needs. Going by this brief definition, there’s no gain reiterating that Nigeria deserves to be restructured. People are of the view that the proposed restructuring is targeted toward disintegrating Nigeria; that is a fallacy, or a misconception. Restructuring is arguably a way forward in the present Nigerian situation; hence, such campaign ought not to be overstressed.

       Raising much ado over such laudable idea would make people to abuse its potential efficacy. When some things of national interest are being suggested, courtesy demands that we go back to the drawing board in order to cross-examine the essence of such mantra as well as its anticipated impact. The point is that, all the facets of the country, to include social, economic, and political, are yearning for lobotomy, and such measure can only be actualized via restructuring. Sure, restructuring would help to strengthen the country’s national unity contrary to the ongoing presumptions in some quarters.

       Considering the Confab’s report; may I ask, what was really so special about the 2014 National Conference? Prior to the Confab, I categorically made it clear that the proposed conference wouldn’t solve the country’s numerous problems; rather, may end up constituting more harm. As far as I’m concerned, the conference in question only ended up squandering the funds that would have been channeled into other crucial matters of national interest. #7 billion wasn’t #7 million; it was a whole lot of money. Besides, the duties carried out by the Confab’s delegates could be exercised by the federal legislators; I pointed this very issue out, but no one heeded my advice.

       Talking about the report; was there any consequential resolution reached by the august assembly that was different from what discerning Nigerians had been clamouring for prior to the inauguration of the assembly? Before the Confab, who didn’t know that Nigeria was yearning for additional states; who didn’t know that Nigeria needed true federalism; who was yet to realize that power needed to be shared or rotated among the electorate, at all levels of government; or, who was yet to acknowledge that Nigeria needed to review most of her fiscal policies?

       The Confab even suggested that we scrap the existing Local Government (LG) system that was established with the sole aim of taking the government closer to the people, forgetting that why the LG system is presently seemingly moribund is as a result of corruption among the various state governments’ officials.

       It’s even more worrisome to acknowledge that the said conference suffered a derivation fiasco owing to ethnic interests among the delegates. It’s not anymore news that various well-meaning Nigerians had rigorously solicited for a return to the First Republic paradigm when regions controlled 50 per cent of their respective resources, 30 per cent was shared among all the regions, whilst 20 per cent went to the FG.

       It was against this background that the Southern delegates suggested that the current derivation demand should be reduced to 18 per cent. Similarly, the Northern delegates advocated for 5 per cent revenue allocation toward rehabilitation of the North-East region ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgency. There was agitation that the areas outside the North-East with similar challenge should be included as one of the beneficiaries of the 5%, but the Northern delegates frantically kicked against the agitation, thereby causing the derivation proposal to suffer a setback.  

      We really need to stop overstressing the Confab report, thus concentrate on the ongoing call for restructuring. Nigeria acknowledges her plight; hence, no one comprehends the plight more than she does. He who wears the shoes knows where it pinches most. In other words, we don’t need further analysis or directive before realizing how to address the lingering anomalies. We are required to fiercely hold the bull by the horn, and quit from indulging in frivolous and retrogressive debates to avoid causing more harm to the system.

       In essence, our problem can only be adequately solved if we embrace reality. Sure, the predicaments are glaring, so are the remedies. Think about it!    

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

(TheMediaAmbassador)

-Researcher, Blogger, Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-

Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research

& Career Development - Owerri

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador