Insecurity and the four wisemen: Historic, or a “footnote”? (1)
Just like teaching, engineering, and other professions, the military is a noble profession. Frankly, the military - Army, Navy and Air Force - is one of the noblest professions ever known to man. The military by its very nature builds warriors to protect and defend the nation against all forms of threats. If you are not prepared to serve, to kill or to be killed in combat – or even while carrying out routine tasks on a military duty post or in a mess in peacetime – then do not bother applying to join the military.
Can you possibly imagine all that I have stated above for a job description? The moment a civilian takes the military oath of enlistment and becomes a soldier, sailor or airman, that becomes his or her reality. The reality is that Mr President has appointed new service chiefs - the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), and their counterparts in our Navy and Air Force.
This article is not about expanding the account of the Biblical Magi (wisemen) which was recounted in the Gospel according to Saint Matthew. It is about worsening insecurity and what we need to do as a country in order to guarantee security of citizens. I refer to the newly appointed service chiefs as “wisemen.” Why do I refer to them as “wisemen”, you may ask? It is because of the experience, leadership, wisdom, judgement and professionalism which these distinguished senior military officers will bring to bear singly and collectively in the performance of their responsibilities.
Honestly, I do not envy the newly appointed service chiefs. They are coming onboard to head their respective organizations when the dynamics of the battlefield are changing rapidly. The battlefield has not been linear; it is asymmetric. Unfortunately, there is no front or rear boundary on the battlefield. In the military, the phrase “asymmetric warfare,” refers to battles fought between opponents whose relative military power, strategy or tactics differ considerably. These service chiefs are appointed at a time when there are rising cases of banditry and mindless killings in the country. Today, as I write, Boko Haram (BH) insurgents and bandits are operating in harmony against the military and citizens. These criminal gangs are in a collaborative effort to perpetrate terror on innocent citizens of our country.
Since 2009, Boko Haram BH and smaller armed groups has wreaked havoc on our country either for religious beliefs or economic gains such that national security is heavily challenged. It is very sad!
BH has gone global. It is no more the local insurgents operating in the Northern part of the country. BH and bandits in tow have gone viral with their criminal activities. Yet, all Nigerians look up to the military to end the war against insurgency and banditry.
The security that can be provided by the military is only a single component of national security. All things being equal, the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) can only provide military security. That is, the AFN when motivated with the required training and logistics will exhibit the capability to defend our country, and/or deter military aggression.
There are other components of national security, which the military may likely not provide for 200 million people such as, food security, health security, educational security, and environmental security. Others include community security, energy security, border security, and cybersecurity etcetera. These national security components are closely linked to all elements of national power. But we must ask: Are all these components of national security currently doing well in our country? Not quite.
In the past twelve years or thereabout, the country has not been able to develop a stable pattern of economic and political growth because our national security is challenged. If we glance through the entire national security spectrum, it could be seen that many components have not constantly experienced growth in the past few years. The reasons for poor performance in a few of these sectors are numerous. Demand and supply shocks arising from the COVID – 19 pandemic had hit the Nigerian economy badly coupled with the country’s financial crisis that has lingered for some time. Unemployment rate is high, while inflation rate spikes. However, we observed with regrets that banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, herdsmen and farmers clashes have taken their toll on national security one way or the other. Thus, there has been no significant development in the country because national security is challenged.
I congratulate the service chiefs. Certainly, the appointment of a service chief is not a chieftaincy title. A service chief is the leader of a complex organization with defence equipment worth billions of dollars. And in war, officers and men of subordinate ranks are to be led in order to achieve strategic military objectives, not political objectives. Political objectives of the war against insurgents can only be achieved by political leadership using all elements of national power. This will only happen if there is political will. If there is no political will, success in the war against BH insurgents and bandits would be a dream irrespective of the capabilities possessed by the country. (To be continued)
‘ In the past twelve years or thereabout, the country has not been able to develop a stable pattern of economic and political growth because our national security is challenged
Edible oils are an essential component of many dishes consumed in Nigeria. The country is the fifth largest producer of one of the most popular edible oils in the world, palm oil, accounting for 1.5 percent of global production, behind Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Colombia. Despite the size of the edible oils market, there are multiple challenges that plague the industry, preventing it from reaching optimal levels of production and profit.
A myriad of issues with the Nigerian edible oil industry were identified in an assessment conducted by Technoserve, a global non-profit organization that designs and implements market-led interventions to address development challenges in the agriculture and food processing sectors. Among them, the wide presence of poor quality edible oils due to insufficient regulatory mechanisms, which are either illegally imported or domestically produced and unbranded. These poor quality oils account for approximately 70 percent of all consumed products in Nigeria. At the same time, infrastructural challenges, poor road networks and sporadic power supply, result in limited access to raw materials, and these factors inevitably increase production costs. When this is contextualized against the backdrop of the ongoing economic crisis, the reduced purchasing power of consumers makes cheaper but poorer quality oils even more appealing to consumers.
Efforts to address these challenges have often been impeded by market fragmentation and a lack of sector-wide accurate data, which has curtailed evidence-based interventions in the sector. Additionally, there are only a handful of larger producers like PZ Wilmar Ltd, Presco Plc, and Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc, for example. There is also limited data or information on the sector available from the often small-scale processors that account for over 80 percent of local edible oil production.
To encourage local production and maximise profits in the sector, the federal government banned the importation of crude vegetable oils in 2007 but lifted the ban just a year later. Similar steps were taken in 2019, with the government shutting Nigeria’s land borders to all imports, in order to tackle smuggling and further boost local production in the agriculture sector; they were reopened in December 2020. These protectionist measures are particularly advantageous to small and medium sized edible oil processors, who struggle to compete with cheaper oils smuggled across the border and larger processors. However, the earlier referenced studies also showed significant levels of non-compliance with national mandatory micronutrient fortification standards.
Currently, some processors forgo fortification of products due to perceived cost implications, despite there being evidence that inclusion of these micronutrients account for only a fraction of operating costs. Nevertheless, fortification premixes are typically imported, and local currency devaluations have increased their cost considerably in recent times. Larger processors are better positioned to offset the cost of the fortification process, but smaller processors do not have the same advantage and must pass the cost onto their consumers who will abandon expensive albeit healthier edible oil products for cheaper alternatives to stretch the value of their Naira. Due to the gap in understanding the nutritional value of product selection, market traders and consumers at the bottom of the purchasing pyramid, have little incentive to spend more on adequately fortified foods.
To surmount some of the challenges facing them, smallholder farmers and processors in the edible oils sector have organised under the Vegetable and Edible Oil Producers Association of Nigeria, VEOPAN. Working collectively, through VEOPAN’S leadership Chief Okey Okoro, these processors have a greater chance of successfully articulating their challenges and advocating as a body, to relevant government departments, agencies as well as regulators for better terms and business environment policies that address their challenges. In addition to engaging directly with government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAS), VEOPAN has identified some beneficial partnerships and programmes for increased leverage. One of these is Technoserve’s Strengthening African Processors of Fortified Foods (SAPFF) programme, which works with a range of food processors in Kenya, Tanzania and Nigeria to build capacity in food fortification with essential micronutrients, by providing the technical support, tools and systems to promote industry self-regulation. The programme also works with regulators to enhance the enabling environment for improved micronutrient fortification.
This partnership is strategically important because of the increased visibility it provides when dealing with government entities, as well as the tailored technical support offered collectively and individually to members. The SAPFF programme incorporates the Micronutrient Fortification Index (MFI), an industry-led scheme that provides commercial incentives for adherence to a set of agreed upon quality benchmarks- inclusive of fortification practices. The MFI offers a solution to the challenges of quality and technical capacity, which make compliance with fortification standards difficult. Industrywide improvements in compliance with the mandatory fortification standards serve to strengthen VEOPAN’S position in engagements with government entities for necessary policy changes that positively impact the sector, and subsequently the nutritional status of consumers. VEOPAN recognises the medium as an integral contribution to the long-term benefits of such partnerships; increased productivity within the sector and economy, and access to suitably fortified products for all Nigerian consumers.
The new upsurge in COVID-19 confirmed cases should not only prompt the federal and state governments to take more actions in the fight against the deadly virus, but also encourage Nigerians to comply fully with preventive measures as a complementary effort at combating the disease.
One of such important preventive measures is the use of face masks. Ironically, however, Nigerians complied to the use of facemasks when the number of COVID-19 cases in Nigeria was still low.
But with cases in their thousands now, most people have developed an uncaring attitude towards the preventive measure. Now, for one reason or another, they wear masks below the chin. Many do not even wear any mask at all.
This is made worse by the laxity on the part of security agencies that should enforce the use of facemasks in public places. Only formal organisations seem to mandate their employees to mask-up within office vicinity. But who mandates them when they are out?
The use of masks is part of a comprehensive package of the prevention and control measures that can limit the spread of certain respiratory viral diseases, including COVID-19. Masks can be used either for protection of healthy persons – worn to protect themselves when in contact with an infected individual. It is also used as a source of control in which case it is worn by an infected individual to prevent onward transmission.
COVID-19 has been primarily regarded as a respiratory disease and the spectrum of infection with this virus can range from people with very mild, nonrespiratory symptoms to severe and acute respiratory illness, sepsis with organ dysfunction and death. Some people who are infected have reported no symptoms at all.
Interactions with people are inevitable on a daily basis and research has proven that tiny respiratory droplets produced when people talk can linger in the air for about eight minutes. In this situation, while social distancing has been emphasised as a necessary measure, researchers have found that masking policies correlate with fewer COVID-19 cases, estimating that widespread uptake of the use of masks could considerably limit infections. This places masks as a very effective way to curb infections.
Nigeria is currently battling with surging COVID-19 cases and Lagos state, described as the disease epicentre, is so badly hit that the state and its citizens are rattled.
It remains in the best interest of the federal government to ensure strict compliance and that is why we are pleased with Federal Government’s decision to make wearing of masks in public places a national law.
This is a good step forward, else the country risks combating the virus for a longer than anticipated period, overwhelmed healthcare facilities, mass graves of Nigerians and ultimately a much slower economic recovery.
This is why we join other well meaning Nigerians and health officers to call on Nigerians to comply with the guidelines and preventive protocols. We are convinced that beyond individuals risking the lives of family members, not complying with masking policies will also delay business recovery and may further threaten individuals’ disposable income, throwing more people into poverty.
We hereby highlight some tips on how to wear a face mask, believing that the tips will help a great deal in stemming the rising rate of community transmission. It is advised that before putting on the mask, you wash your hands for, at least, 20 seconds with soap and water, or rub your hands together thoroughly with alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
It is also necessary to check for defects in the face mask, such as torn or broken loops. Pull the bottom of the mask over your mouth and chin. Be sure the mask fits snugly. Don’t touch the mask once in position. If the mask gets soiled or damp, replace it with a new one.
The fight against COVID-19 is a fight for all. For that reason, we encourage everyone to play his/ her part to ensure that the deadly virus is curbed and defeated. That the virus is real is not in doubt and we want to place on record that even if numbers being reported are not a true reflection of the facts on ground, they are the best we’ve got.
This explains our strong advice that the usage of face masks must be compulsory and enforced everywhere with stricter sanctions.
i-Fitness, Nigeria’s first and fast- growing fitness chain has disclosed that it has committed over N2 billion investment in Nigeria’s fitness industry.
This investment, it said, is set to instil the culture of health and wellness amongst Nigerians living in the urban communities, providing a network of convenient and affordable fitness centres.
This is also as the organisation opened its 10th branch in Magodo, Lagos. IFitness has over 8,000 members, creating over 200 jobs.
i-fitness, which has commenced expansion plans, is working on having more branches and creating another 180 jobs cutting across various functions, from sales, customer services, accounting, human resources etc before the year runs out.
Speaking during the opening of its new branch in Magodo, Foluso Ogunwale, Founder & CEO of i- Fitness; said the vision behind i-fitness is to be Africa’s most preferred fitness chain, creating a youthful, entertaining and functional fitness experience that promotes the culture of health and wellness in Nigeria.
Ogunwale said i-fitness plans to have at least one branch within a 5km radius of the urban cities in Nigeria and West Africa, adding that with the population size of Lagos and the need to massively promote the culture of health and wellness, its initial plan is to have 22 branches in Lagos alone.
He said i-fitness is projecting to have another 20,000 members by year-end and over 100,000 by 2024.
Speaking on the experience so far, he said, “It has been challenging and exciting at the same time. We started from a very small 150sqm outlet on Admiralty Lekki Phase 1 in 2015.
“Gradually, we grew the network, not just in number but also improving the look and feel, making the newer locations more youthful, more functional and World Class. The previous locations are constantly being renovated to meet up with the new standard too.”
He noted that since convenience is one of the values i- Fitness offers to its members, it operates a multi-location based system, which means that with one membership, members can have access to any of the branches.
“Affordability is also crucial. With multi- location access, group fitness classes, best-in-class fitness equipment our members have the flexibility to make monthly subscriptions from as low as N13,900.
“This is very different from what was obtainable 10 years back when fitness membership in a standard gym was as high as N700,000 per annum without monthly payment options. i-fitness is changing that landscape, we are making fitness common and more affordable,’
Ogunwale explained.
The CEO of I-fitness who advised people to make fitness a lifestyle recalled that according to a survey in 2018 by the World Health Organization, the average life expectancy of the Nigerian male is 54years and Female 55years, which is quite disturbing.
He assured that non-communicable diseases such as heart-related diseases, diabetes are largely avoidable if fitness (physical activity and nutrition) is checked.
“Paying attention to one’s health is not luxury, it is not something we do as a oneoff, it’s what we do all our days. At i-fitness, what we are doing is to make it fun, so that it becomes easier to adopt as a way of life.”
He said that exercise boosts the immune system as those who passed on from COVID are largely those with underlying medical issues; meaning the stronger one’s immune system, the more likely it is to survive a COVID infection.
“We are working to see i-fitness becoming the preferred fitness destination for the average urban youth; that is, we want to be the preferred neighbourhood gym for the average urban dweller.
“Making fitness common is crucial to us. The more common it gets, the more access there is to more Nigerians. No doubt, when people live a healthier lifestyle, they become more productive to themselves, more productive in their workplace, and more importantly, they are available to live happily with their family,” Ogunwale said.