Opinion I Why Imolites Must Handle Imo With Care

By Fred Doc Nwaozor

The last time I checked, Imolites in their entirety were apparently filled with mixed feelings, perhaps owing to what transpired at the just concluded gubernatorial poll in the state.
And as I write, the aforementioned set of persons is still preoccupied with same feelings. In some quarters, some are engaged with discussions regarding the outcome of the said election. Whilst, in other areas, some are deeply concerned about what the fate of the state would entail after the next political transition.
As we variously undergo or participate in this myriad of discussions bordering on the impending interregnum, we are expected to think more of the interest of Imo or be more concerned about what would happen to the state as we pass through this circumstance.
This piece, therefore, is informed by the compelling need for each of us to candidly handle Imo with care; the need for us to guard the state with absolute care as we discuss, argue, wail, or rattle over the outcome of the state’s guber election that took place on 23rd February 2019.
Imo must be well guarded with all our might because there’s absolutely no other province we can truly call Imo. We mustn’t do anything to jeopardize the interest of the Eastern Heartland. Imo really cares about us, thus we are expected to boldly and proudly safeguard her welfare at all cost.
We might have felt shortchanged in one way or the other, but that isn’t enough reason to indulge in any activity that would in any way mar the interest or progress of the state in general. Irrespective of our grievances, we must not overlook the state’s interest as we react.
Imo as a state has been impartial concerning our wellbeing regardless of the circumstance, so we are required to reciprocate such a lofty gesture in whatever dealings we indulge ourselves in.
In view of the above facts, it would be pertinent to do anything we intend to do with all manner of maturity. We must be well-behaved and well-mannered in our inactions, actions or reactions. It’s only a mature attitude that can guarantee safety in any society.
For instance, considering a nuclear family as a society, it’s only mature behaviours invariably displayed by the man of the house that can guarantee peace or calmness in the home. Thus, if the man decides to behave childishly, he would have himself to be blamed in the long run.
So, if a man of a certain house truly wants his home to remain safe and become better, he mustn’t resort to selfish attitudes or behaviours that would jeopardize the overall interest of the family. He must be willing to place the interest of the family first before considering any personal interest.
The progress of any home is predicated on the way and manner it is being handled by its overall members. And in any family, the members remain the husband, wife and of course the children. Any of these individuals has a distinguished role to play towards ensuring that the family is well protected at all times.
Now, in the case of Imo as a state, it is the statutory duty of each of the citizens to handle it with absolute care and maturity if they actually look forward to embracing a calm, peaceful, harmonized and accommodating state.
Hence, those who want to react over their grievances as regards the outcome of the guber poll or any other election must do so with extreme maturity. We can’t afford to set Imo ablaze due to our individual motives.
What ought to be of paramount important to us as we react is the motives of Imo. The state has its own goals, and it’s noteworthy that her interest is for the good of all. This is the reason we must not relegate the state’s interest to the background as we argue or react on a daily basis.
Imo is seriously in need of our true care at this trial period. We shouldn’t betray her because she has hitherto given us enough. Her love for us has been enormous that we cannot afford to pay her back with betrayal or anything of such.
Let’s individually or collectively consider the state before taking any action. An injury to Imo is definitely and unarguably an injury to all irrespective of our respective statuses. Imo shouldn’t be brought down at a time we are expected to uplift her.
As we await the impending power transition, I enjoin us to remain calm and resilient even if we were not favoured by the outcome of the polls. We must comprehend that only one contender was expected to emerge victoriously at a particular poll, hence the need for us to be rational.
Whatever our interest was prior to the elections, at the moment, we are required to throw our support behind the person whom has been declared the winner of the competition by the electoral umpire. But if we wish to object the outcome, or the declaration, we must do so lawfully as stipulated in the Constitution.
Imo has so far gone too far to be truncated by a mere interest of a certain group embedded in the state. It’s on this premise I urge us not to shortchange the state as we go about with our support, objection or what have you, as the case may be. We need to sincerely think Imo in our various dealings; this is the only way we can witness a stronger entity called Imo.
No matter the level of provocation we might be experiencing right now, I must tell us without equivocation that our actions or reactions would solely determine the wellbeing of Imo at large, hence the compelling need to act or react maturely. Think about it!

Comrade Nwaozor, is the National Coordinator,
Right Thinkers Movement

Tech I CBN's Move On Moribund Textile Industry

By Fred Nwaozor

In a few decades ago, Nigeria as a nation could boldly and proudly boast of a globally-recognized textile industry, which was then conspicuously the pride of the citizenry economic wise.
The Nigeria’s textile industry, which was the third largest on the African continent – following Egypt and South Africa, used to employ over 350,000 individuals when all the textile mills were functional.
The aforementioned figure as regards workforce was about 25% of the overall workers in the Nigeria’s manufacturing sector. It was of an indisputable note that the said industry was then the second highest employer of labour, following the country’s civil service.
Between 1985-1991, record has it that the sector had an annual growth rate of 67%. Survey showed that the number of mills in operation as at then was about 180 and they were all reportedly doing very well, especially the Kaduna Textile Limited (KTL) and Nigerian Textile Mills (NTM) in Lagos, which were the oldest having been established as at 1957.
It’s therefore needless to assert that the now comatose textile industry was one of the booming subsectors of the nation’s economy during the post-independent era. The current pathetic state of the industry could not be unrelated to the level of neglect experienced by it in recent times owing to the overwhelming dependence on oil revenue.
The obvious decline in, or depreciating effect of, the textile industry could be aptly traced to influx of cheaper textile fabrics from China and India, among others, sold at prices the local mills can’t compete with. This ugly trend has resulted in a drastic downfall of the industry.
It would be recalled that in 2010, the Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government (FG) placed ban on importation of textile fabrics. This approach – like other restrictive trade policies as at then – failed to yield the needed result.
Rather than bringing relieve in the industry as expected, the above measure regrettably ended up making the ‘smuggling industry’ to grow more wings. This unfortunate resultant effect made it possible for continued influx of textile materials into the country. It’s noteworthy that at the moment these materials have virtually zero revenue for the government’s coffer.
In a bid to alleviate the excruciating effects of the present realities, in early March 2019, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) led by Mr. Godwin Emefiele made a frantic move on the moribund textile industry by adding textile materials to the list of the currently restricted items regarding foreign exchange (forex).
It would be recalled that 41 items were initially on the list, not until late last year – precisely December 10 – when the apex bank announced to the public that it had yielded to recommendations to add fertilizer to the existing list, and the item was consequently added making the total number as at then to be 42.
This implies that by subsequently including textile materials to the list, the items barred from direct access to forex have presently been increased to 43, and we have equally been reliably informed that the items would soon be up to 50.
Mr. Emefiele who disclosed this latest development penultimate month while in a meeting with the textile industry stakeholders, informed that the restriction would awaken the sleepy industry and ensure that the required growth was actualized.
The CBN’s boss, however, disclosed that – as part of the apex bank’s intervention for the industry – it would currently support the importation of cotton lint for use in textile factories with a view that the concerned importers shall start sourcing all the needed cottons locally, commencing from 2020.
He further stated that as part of the CBN’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, the bank would also assist local growers of cotton towards enabling them meet the entire need of the textile industry domiciled in the Nigerian State. Additionally, he notified that the Mother bank would support the Nigeria’s cotton farmers to source high yield cotton seedlings with a view to meeting global benchmarks.
It’s worthy of note that the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), alongside the Senior Staff Association of Textile (SSAT), has applauded the Emefiele-led CBN over its restriction of forex to textile importers, saying it would go a long way in rejuvenating the moribund industry.
In a related reaction, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has however cautioned the FG over the strong move. In his statement, the Director-General of the body Mr. Musa Yusuf opined that there was need for a strategic approach before such policy pronouncement is made.
Mr. Yusuf argued that given the position of Nigeria in Africa as a leader in fashion, the range of fabrics being produced by the Nigerian textile industry could not favourably support the industry in terms of the quantity and quality required by the consumers. He therefore urged the government to reconsider the CBN’s ‘harsh’ move.
In his swift response to the argument, Mr. Emefiele clarified that the recent measures as announced by the apex bank were targeted to revive the Cotton, Garment and Textile sector. According to the boss, “the measures were well thought out to reposition the sector for job creation and economic growth”.
To assert the least, the recent inclusion of the textile materials into the list of restricted items regarding forex couldn’t have come at a better time than now when the textile industry is almost going into extinction and the FG is intensifying its diversification mantra.
It suffices to enthuse that the frantic move is, without equivocation, a welcome development and a round peg in a round hole. I’m even of the candid view that the austerity measure ought to have been implemented long before now. If it were initiated earlier prior to this time, we probably may at the moment be witnessing a slight or colossal improvement in the affected subsector.
Nevertheless, it would be imperative to appraise a few facts that are likely to serve as barrier in regard to the anticipated progress of the policy in question. Taking into cognizance the about-to-be discussed parameters would enable the concerned authorities to aptly and timely arrive at the desired destination.
Knowing full well that epileptic power supply has hitherto been an overwhelming plight in the manufacturing sector at large, it’s preposterous to remind the FG that efforts need to be thoroughly intensified towards boosting the said source of energy. This will help tremendously to encourage the prospective cotton millers.
Similarly, towards encouraging the cotton growers, the farmers ought to be made to easily assess funds or low-interest loans to enable each of them purchase the needed machinery. It’s not anymore news that the continual deployment of crude pattern of cultivation and harvest has overtime bedevilled the Nigeria’s agricultural sector in general.
In the same vein, the governments at all levels should equally assist in providing adequate irrigation system for the farmers domiciled in their respective jurisdictions. The enabling environment must holistically be provided by the governments for business to strive.
Inter alia, acknowledging that policies of this kind are often, in the long run, frustrated by the forex black markets littered all over the country as well as importation smugglers, the FG must seriously implement measures to tactically checkmate these markets and our various borders, respectively.
The CBN’s move to resuscitate the Nigeria’s moribund textile industry is unequivocally a lofty one, but the relevant authorities mustn’t hesitate to do the needful towards making the policy yield a concrete result in the nearest future. Think about it!

Comrade Nwaozor, the National Coordinator,
Right Thinkers Movement writes via
frednwaozor@gmail.com

Tech I The Collapsed Buildings In Lagos, Ibadan

By Fred Nwaozor

On 13th March 2019, Nigerians were shocked to their bone marrow when they were notified that a certain 3-storey building situated on the Victoria Island of Lagos State abruptly collapsed, thereby claiming about twenty lives and inflicting different degrees of injury on countless others.
It was consequently reported that the third floor of the collapsed structure was being occupied by primary school pupils who were already unfortunately present for their usual studies prior to the bad omen.
As if that wasn’t enough, barely forty eight hours after the ugly and unspeakable incident, it was learnt that another 3-storey building in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital equally collapsed unannounced, injuring a lot of Nigerians, though no life was reportedly lost.
Building collapse has conspicuously been a thing of tremendous worry and a recurring decimal in the contemporary Nigerian society over the last decade, that, only drastic attention is required towards addressing the societal menace.
The aberration, which has claimed hundreds of innocent souls, maimed thousands as well as rendered scores of families homeless, has caused a colossal harm to not just the engineering-technology sector but Nigeria at large. In some quarters, it has made most residents to now sleep with one eye open on a daily basis.
Statistics indicate that within the aforementioned period, countless buildings situated across Nigeria have collapsed unceremoniously as if a structure can be brought to the ground at any time by mere freeze or thunder storm.
In March 2006, the top nine floors of a 21-storey building belonging to the Bank of Industry, located on the famous Broad Street – still on the Lagos Island – caved in, killing two and injuring twenty-three others.
In August 2010, a 4-storey uncompleted building at Ikoli Street in Garki, Abuja brings the Federal Capital Territory’s name into the list, thus claimed not fewer than twenty-one lives and endangered nine.
Survey reveals that between 2012 and 2016 alone, Nigeria recorded about fifty-four building collapse. Though the unfortunate situation is not peculiar to the country, its recent alarming rate calls for an apt and urgent attention.
First, we need to comprehend the rudimentary factors that invariably constitute the quagmire. Building collapse is mainly attributed to substandard products, quackery, mediocrity, cheating, and/or soil texture cum topography, coupled with other environmental factors, as the case may be.
The dangers inherent in the use of substandard building materials cannot be overemphasized. These materials such as brick blocks, cement, sand, and rods, are not in any way meant to be used in constructing mere boys’ quarters let alone deploying their services in storey building constructions.
Regarding blocks, it’s either the cements used in the moulding weren’t good enough, or that the sand utilized was nothing to write home about. There are specified sands meant for moulding but most block industries don’t bother going for them, probably owing to the cost of conveying it to the moulding site.
Since people, especially those residing in cities are often in a hurry, they are invariably left with no option than to patronize such block firms as stipulated above, hence posing danger for the proposed structure.
Quackery and mediocrity cannot be left out. It’s worth noting, perhaps shocking, that most of those who claim to be structural engineers, architects, or what have you, never attended any engineering or architectural class even for a day let alone becoming professionals. These amateurs go about causing avoidable harm to their respective jurisdictions.
They are just mere quacks parading themselves as chartered technologists. Pathetically, some of them who had the privilege to pass through a higher institution didn’t obtain the required training or expertise, thereby constituting structural defects when contracted to handle a certain building project.
A sound and qualified contractor is expected to thoroughly inspect the site for the proposed building, adequately advise the prospective landlord, tactically implement the project, complete it within a stipulated period, as well as know what to do while converting a mere bungalow to a storey building. When any of these professional functions is missing, it becomes a burden to the affected building when purportedly completed.
Away from substandard products and quackery, soil texture or topography, as might be the case, has equally been a thing of great concern while discussing building collapse. Houses are usually built on swampy sites in reverie areas like Lagos and Port-Harcourt without carrying out the required preliminary design, thus leading to collapse in the nearest future.
The aforementioned type of land is not strong. They are sandy or loose, but contractors build on them using templates that are meant for better compacted lands. Sometimes the contractor would know what to do but rather than doing the needful, would be only interested in his money or what he stands to gain as long as the contract lasts. This aspect of cheating or insincerity is currently on the rampage in the present days’ Nigeria.
Similarly, an architect is expected to thoroughly ascertain the nature of the land where the proposed building is to be sited before putting up the required design. The kind of structure to be erected on a certain site is directly dependent on the type of soil or land topography. It’s even more appalling to realize that most of these structures are erected without a building plan.
There must be a plan before a proposed house or building is eventually built. And an eligible civil engineer is needed to inspect the design or building plan before it would be implemented by the site contractor who should be a builder or structural engineer. These professionals are meant to work hand-in-hand towards erecting a formidable structure.
The Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) must take a drastic and severe step toward ensuring that substandard materials are no longer smuggled into the country as it has reportedly been the case in recent times. Hence, our various borders need to be holistically strengthened headlong. The SON ought to also properly regulate the locally made ones.
On the other hand, relevant professional bodies, including the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), and Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), ought to respectively employ a stiff measure towards addressing the crisis.
When any building is under construction, they should in their, individual or collective, capacity endeavour to ascertain the contractor handling the project to ensure his credibility as well as inspect the site and plan being utilized.
And, if a building eventually falls, they must ascertain the root causes of the collapse and not hesitate to issue the apt sanction to the affected contractor if found guilty. They should equally go beyond sanctioning; any culpable individual ought to be arraigned without any fear or favour, so that, he will face the wrath of the law.
Inter alia, the authorities on physical planning or development control situated in the various states across the federation must be very proactive and professional in their respective dealings with prospective landlords and developers.
It has overtime been reported in various quarters that most of these government agencies often times pay attention to frivolities to the detriment of priorities. The concerned governments must therefore look inwards with a view to addressing this kind of illegitimate and uncalled acts.
Intending landlords are also advised to consult aptly whenever they intend to erect a building. Don’t just jump to any so-called contractor you find on your way. And if you succeeded in contracting any, endeavour to confirm his/her authenticity by enquiring from the relevant authorities.
Eligible structural contractors, on their part, ought to feel free to consult their colleagues for any professional assistance when need be. And, they ought to regularly be research-oriented towards enhancing their expertise.
All in all, every structural professional mustn’t be reminded that foundations and pillars remain the basic factors that determine the validity or wellbeing of any building, thus should be taken very seriously at all times. Think about it!

Comrade Nwaozor
(TheMediaAmbassador), is a Policy Analyst,
Rights Activist & Tech Expert -
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frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056
Twitter: @mediambassador