Your Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo,
You have, no doubt, a reputation to protect against agencies under your supervisions that are engaged in unethical practices and gross misconduct including corruption, nepotism and victimizations of civil servants while dropping your name in their misdemeanour.

As a respected Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), a distinguished professor in law, you are admired for your humility, simplicity, charisma and accomplishments in life.

I write this memo to draw your attention as the Chairman Governing Board of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC) and that Governing Council of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), by virtue of your office, as the Vice President of Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Let’s me first draw your attention to a recent worrisome development when a Niger Delta lady, Bolouere Opukiri was sacked from Presidential Amnesty Office for allegedly criticizing you. It was claimed that she had described you ‘a novice’ in the social media for travelling out of the country at a time President Muhammadu Buhari was receiving medical treatment in London and tension was flaring between the executive and the legislature when you were Acting President. The dismissal of South-South lady was triggered after a subtle query was issued by one of your aides to her boss (Link: https://goo.gl/UkX3kV).

Your Excellency, as you are aware, a widow from North-Eastern Nigeria and a chartered Accountant of repute, Mrs. Maryam Danna Mohammed was also wrongfully sacked as the General Manager Audit of NDPHC after she exposed some irregularities in the agency (Link: https://goo.gl/H1UKht).

Described as an anti-corruption crusader and whistle-blower, Danna’s case was reviewed by the Attorney General of Federation, Abubakar Malami who recommended her reinstatement (Link: https://goo.gl/oPWFso). The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria also passed a resolution for her immediate reinstatement after a public hearing (Link: https://goo.gl/ZWyAed). Surprisingly, neither the legal advice from the number one Law Officer of the Federation, nor the resolution of the Federal Legislators were honored or obeyed as your Office that supervises NDPHC is yet to reinstate the innocent Northern woman.

Your Excellency sir, more disturbing are the scandalous activities taking place in NEMA, another agency under your supervision. The House of Representatives’ Committee on Disaster Management spent months at public hearing in unravelling some sickening corrupt practices under the current Director General of NEMA, Engr. Mustapha Maihaja (Link: https://goo.gl/yriC5p).

Some of the allegations against the NEMA boss included but not limited to the following: Payment of N400 million Demurrage for N414mn Chinese Donated Rice; diversion of over N15 billion fund approved for food intervention in North East, Flood Intervention in 16 States and relief for Libya returnees (Link: https://goo.gl/d5wwC7) .

In less than a year of his tenure Maihaja has grounded major operational tools of NEMA including Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU), Emergency Response Vehicles, Air Ambulance and the Helicopters.

It may interest Your Excellency, to note that when Goodluck Jonathan and Namadi Sambo were Vice Presidents and Chairmen of NEMA’s Councils at different times, their names were never mischievously dropped for ulterior motives because the agency’s bosses then AVM Mohammed Audu-Bida (Rtd) and Mohammed Sani-Sidi took responsibilities for daily activities and media enquiries. Those periods, NEMA organised capacity building programmes for emergency workers; trained volunteers, attended swiftly to victims of disasters, provided timely relief materials to distressed people; undertook regular assessments of disaster scenes, acquired and utilized modern tools for emergency response including Mobile ambulances and Multipurpose Emergence Response Vans among others. The morale and enthusiasm of staff were never dampened but high with motivational incentives.

Unfortunately, in less than one year of the appointment of the current NEMA’s boss, Engr. Mustapha Maihaja none of the recent past glories is functioning optimally. Your Excellency sir, your swift intervention last year curtailed the indefinite strike when you compelled Maihaja to negotiate with NEMA workers at a meeting held with officials of the Ministry of Labour. Most of the agreements reached at the meeting are yet to be implemented. For the first time in the history of NEMA, the staffs of the emergency agency are currently on a nationwide strike as you read this (Link: https://goo.gl/XiuymP).

Like the case of Maryam Danna of NDPHC, when some Account Officers raised eyebrow on the unethical practices in NEMA, rather than become sober and change his attitudes, Maihaja recommended and suspended top management officers of the agency and redeployed Account Staffs to other Departments and Zones. In fact, it is a case of a hunter being hunted as the same NEMA boss relentlessly sent names of directors and other officers of NEMA to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigation and prosecution on baseless allegations (Link: https://goo.gl/Kv1Ex6).

Concerned about the arbitrary and illegal suspension of innocent and competent NEMA officers who have spent over 10 years in the service, the House Committee on Emergency Management of the National Assembly passed a resolution for their immediate reinstatement. Your Excellency, Mr Vice President, the suspended NEMA directors and officers are yet to be recalled and reinstated (Link: https://goo.gl/3nNF2V).

Your Excellency Sir, the panful irony in these sad developments, especially for some of us that could read between the line is that your name and office is constantly being mentioned in this unfathomable arbitrariness and dirty politics. The unfair dismissal of Bolouere Opukiri Boro from Presidential Amnesty office, the wrongful termination of the appointment of Mrs Maryam Danna from NDPHC and the unlawful suspension of NEMA directors from office among others were all linked to your exalted office which can rubbish your reputation as a legal luminary who knows the law of due process.

Your Excellency, may I strongly suggest to you, as a man of God and lawyer, to assign an independent panel to review and scrutinize some of those cases to realise terrible mistakes made in the name of your office. If these mistakes are not corrected, I am sorry to say that your name may go out in history as the Vice President who chairs boards of agencies that victimise and destroy the career of innocent and competent public officers through illegal and arbitrary means by his political appointees in deliberate effort to cover up their mess.

Yushau A. Shuaib
www.YAShuaib.com
yashuaib@yahoo.com
Abuja

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I received a strange call one night from a foreign telephone number requesting a confirmation over distributions of relief materials at a residence of a top politician. The caller said he had pictures to buttress the incident.

As the spokesperson of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), I confirmed the story but insisted that the beneficiaries of the relief items were internally displaced persons (IDPs) and poor Nigerians at a residence of a community leader.

Since the story could be wrongly interpreted over the genuine humanitarian efforts, I appealed to the caller to consider the plight of the beneficiaries rather than the person whose facility was used for the distribution. He magnanimously dropped the story.

The caller was the Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore who now wants to throw his hat into the ring of presidency come 2019.

During my dilemma with Dr, Ngozi Onkonjo-Iweala, before I was forced out of the public service in 2013, Sowore was out in full force in my defence through regular coverage of my plights and strong editorials in SaharaReporters. When I crossed over to the other side as the Media Consultant to Nigeria’s security apparatuses, we balanced our relationship, and in fact, Sowore has been one of the great pillars of support in managing security reports.

It was during my engagement with the security system that I discovered that Sowore has credible informants from virtually every sensitive unit of government. The system as at that time tolerated some of his excesses and never threatened his businesses. Most influential media personalities including reporters were closely monitored for their safety and protection. Meanwhile, on few occasions, the system interfered ‘intelligently’ with his platforms to prove its technical capability. In fact, his media outfit and few others were used as guinea-pigs to test-run latest acquired intelligence facilities against stubborn online and social media. Surprisingly, Sowore would never make noise about those secret interferences, even though I personally intervened when his platforms, in few instances were compromised.

The system was aware that Sowore has large volumes of sensitive and sometimes classified information on virtually every who-is-who in security and political circles. He has been very considerate in managing the information in his disposal especially on privacy and national security.

While he doesn’t spare top political and security top shots for wrongdoings, he is always careful in not attacking the institutions and innocent operators within the structures.

I could mention several instances where Sowore had protected the reputation of Nigeria’s security from public ridicule and embarrassment. His occasional private warnings and technical advice on issues towards safeguarding national security were heeded while his medium too deliberately self-censored information leakages that could be injurious to Nigeria’s territorial integrity.

The renowned Defence Spokesperson, General Chris Olukolade (Rtd), could testify to some of the amazing support from Sahara Reporters that he once told me “This Sowore of Sahara Reporters is an interesting enigma in every sense.”

Because I was involved, he has turned down invitations and snubbed the receptions from many top public functionaries because of his radical disposition. He neither visited public offices nor sought help from public officers at least as at May 2015. Surprisingly, he never made noise about the calibre of personalities that he rejected their hands of fellowship. He is also choosy and reluctant to accept legitimate business patronages and advert placements from politicians, public officers and suspicious businessmen.

My relationship with him was never rosy. We have the occasional cat-and-mouse game since I am neither an activist nor a full-term journalist that could damn the consequence of contentious media reports. I am a public relations person that believe some information are not publishable for stability, especially on privacy and national security. PR as a profession, unlike citizen journalism, has ethical standards and regulations. Our mutual friends, especially Musikilu Mojeed of Premium Times, do intervene occasionally when we (this writer and Sowore) engaged in hot exchanges of words privately on burning issues.

I am aware that he has damning dossiers on many top public officers, he has been conscious of releasing information that could compromise national security. In fact, till date, some system officials seek his intervention on self-censorship and other strategic support.

In my interaction with Sowore, one could see his sincerity and passion for a better Nigeria where there will be economic stability, political progress and social harmony where the rich and the powerful cannot intimidate and harass the poor and the weak. He means what he says even though he is too radical and naughty in his views.

Sahara Reporters online media does not attack the poor and the weak. The medium merely exposes the powerful and the rich for their dirty antics and deals. It uses its influence to hold public officers accountable through investigative reports and editorial contents. His true friends remain the like minds in activism, the oppressed masses and the voiceless.

On a personal note, I am highly indebted to Sowore of Sahara Reporters for being part of the few individuals who stood by us when it really mattered and ensured he gave us a platform free of charge for PR stuffs. I will definitely donate to his campaign funding since he never accepted a kobo for the services he has so far rendered to us.

Meanwhile, I won’t know if I can vote for a very blunt and an extremely radical activist as Nigeria’s President at this very critical time even though Sowore has demonstrated fine PR skills in his exchange of words with Communication Minister, Barrister Adebayo Shittu recently.

Yushau A. Shuaib
Author “An Encounter with the Spymaster”
www.YAShuaib.com
yashuaib@yahoo.com

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Tompolo of Niger Delta: Between Dialogue and Confrontation

By Yushau A. Shuaib
“NEMA Registers 3500 Displaced People in Warri”

The above quotation was the title of a press release I issued as the spokesperson of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on June 25, 2009 after the completion of our assignment in setting up Internally Displaced Person’s (IDPs) camp in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West, Delta State.

The NEMA’s intervention followed a clash between the military-led Joint Task Force (JTF) and Tompolo-led Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) which had claimed responsibility for the deaths of some soldiers and displacements of citizens.

Even though the military endorsed our passage to the creek in May 2009, some of us were scared stiff of the possibility of being captured by militants on a suspicion of being government’s spies. Surprisingly we were well-received by community leaders and local government council officials which was then under the Chairmanship of younger brother to Government Tompolo, the most wanted Militant Leader . To our amazement, we discovered some Hausa-Fulani folks within the hinterland who had adopted Ijaw-land as home away from home, speaking the local dialect fluently and even enjoying the locally brewed gin!

It was a scary adventure for NEMA responders as we persuaded women and children to come out from their hideouts in the bush. Their plights were better imagined as we had to close down some schools and health centres and converted them to IDP camps. Some pregnant women delivered babies in the thick forest; their men languished in the bush and stayed on water as thousands other displaced persons had scattered into the neighbouring states of Bayelsa, Edo, Ondo and Rivers.

While the Nigerian troops were still hunting for the militants, NEMA’s reports and intelligent information from other sources, persuaded the peace-loving President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, a Muslim Northerner from Katsina State to endorse the Amnesty Agreement.

The elusive Tompolo and other ex-militant leaders emerged from their hideouts and agreed to the Amnesty programmes in the Presidential Villa  as they surrendered their sophisticated weapons and were eventually pardoned by Yar’Adua’s government.

The risky decision of President Yar’Adua in embracing dialogues and approving the Amnesty for the Niger Delta militants rather than confrontation through military might, quickly stabilised the region, boosted the volume of crude oil production, steadied supply of gas to electricity power stations, increased revenue to the Federation Account and ensured engagement of many youths of that region in various productive ventures including capacity building programmes at home and abroad.

Precisely seven years after, we are back to the old story as militants have staged a resurgence of hostilities through a new group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) which is attracting global media attention by destructions of oil facilities in the region. This unfortunate development is coming at a period when Nigerian troops are contending with Boko Haram menace in the North-East.

The activities of NDA and other similar groups are reminiscence of Pre-Yar’Adua’s Amnesty when the militants engaged in abductions of oil workers, especially the expatriates; rampant sea-piracy; destructions of oil facilities and killing of ordinary citizens and security personnel.

There are concerns expressed by some ex-militants that the Amnesty Programme may soon be jettisoned by Buhari’s administration as the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig. Gen Paul Boroh (rtd), recently disclosed that the programme is very expensive and cannot be sustained in perpetuity.

Coupled with that fear are the unfounded allegations that the current administration is after ex-militant leaders who supported Goodluck Jonathan in the last presidential election. Some are even claiming that the prosecution of Tompolo by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over corrupt practices is political witch-hunting.

There are certainly those that are not comfortable with military threats to ‘crush’ Niger Delta militants like Boko Haram Terrorists considering the fact that Nigerian troops are already overstretched as they engage in war on terror in the North-East. The Niger Delta creek is also precariously impenetrable terrain. Such threats, according to some critics, portray the government as adopting confrontational stance rather than diplomatic approach at addressing the youth restiveness.

In the face of military threats to crush the vandals, it is the unidentified militants that are currently ‘crushing’ and crippling Nigeria’s economy through the destructions of oil installations that provide gas for domestic power generation and crude oil for export. For instance, after the attack on the Nigeria Gas Company’s pipeline in January 2016, the Minister of Power and Works, Raji Fashola announced that the country was losing N470m daily. On the other hand, the Minister of State for Petroleum and Managing Director of NNPC, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, also disclosed that Nigeria losses 800,000 barrels of crude oil daily  due to pipeline vandalism which easily translates to the revenue loss of over N7bn daily.

And just recently the Ad-hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft Prevention and Control of the National Economic Council (NEC)  revealed that the Federal Government does not have adequate operational vessels to patrol and secure the network of pipelines in the Niger Delta.

While we must condemn the destruction of oil facilities by the Niger Delta militants, the government should tread a political line through dialogues. President Buhari should ignore any misleading advice as some zealots would rather want our President to act like a no-nonsense cowboy in Hollywood movies. At over 70 years, President Buhari does not have that youthful strength and excessive power of military dictatorship to re-enact forceful compliance to orders because of democratic ethos.

As the father of the nation, Buhari should employ humane and thoughtful strategies that would not exacerbate the already tense political and economic situations in the country. He should demonstrate exemplary leadership qualities through compassionate disposition and diplomatic overtures to the belligerent militants whose sponsors are yet to be identified.

Since the most wanted Niger Delta militant, Government Tompolo, has issued Open Letters , appealing to President Muhamadu Buhari to intervene on his plight, the government should temper justice with mercy and capitalise on that and woo other leaders in the region for amicable solutions to the crises.

After fruitful dialogues government should work out concrete structures that would permanently address the plight of people whose environment provides the chunk of our national revenue. The government should also pursue aggressive economic diversification programmes for other geopolitical zones towards economic self-reliant and sustenance.

Yushau A. Shuaib
www.yashuaib.com
yashuaib@yahoo.com
Abuja

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My family members could not dissuade me from the trip that hopefully would provide me another opportunity to assess one of the Boko Haram worst-hit cities in Nigeria.

The flight was smooth from Abuja to Maiduguri but I was glued to the window to see if I would sight soldiers and terrorists engaging in shoot-out… At the same time, the dreadful feeling that Boko Haram members could shoot down our aircraft with their home manufactured rockets lurked in a corner of the mind.

Driving into the town, it was easy to observe that the city wasn’t bubbling as most roads were deserted, exotic mansions abandoned and fine hotels had low patronage even with their generous discounts on accommodation.

I used the opportunity of the seminar to interact with some of the highly patriotic and exceptional Nigerian journalists who have been covering the war on terror with great responsibility. For the national interest, they have observed self-censorship against sensational reporting.

On a visit to the Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps, the sights of orphans and widows were quite disturbing even though NEMA and other stakeholders are taking good care of them.

Passing through security check-points, the sacrifice of Nigerian troops, especially young soldiers in their zeal and determination to defeat Boko Haram terrorists was obvious from their faces. While some of them are bachelors with parents, others are married with children they left at home to defend Nigeria.

Incidentally, almost everyone was concerned about the Presidential directive for the military to end Boko Haram this December. During the inauguration of his service chiefs on July 13, 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari directed the military to end the Boko Haram terrorism in three months.

Immediately after the directive, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno led service and security chiefs to the frontline to seek the cooperation of community leaders, traditional rulers and pressure groups to support the new drive against war on terror. He also visited and commiserated with IDPs and reassured them that the war would soon be over.

The Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai has not led from the back, he was in the warfront by actively participating in some of the operations where terrorists were either captured or killed. He has so far spent most of his time on the battle field. The Chief of Air Staff, Air Mashall Sadique Abubakar has personally commanded fighter jets in the war on terror to motivate fighter-pilots into putting in their best.

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin has ensured effective coordination and cohesion in the operation so far through mechanism of inter-agency collaboration, even as the Chief Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas has also confirmed that Special Forces from the Navy are actively involved in the operation.

The military has so far destroyed dozens of Boko Haram camps and freed more than 1,000 kidnap victims since inauguration of President Buhari. Nevertheless, there is the fear that the military may not be able to end Boko Haram by the deadline. The Executive Secretary of Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), Air Commodore Anas recently disclosed that there is nothing wrong in imposing targets on the military but due to the asymmetric warfare which Boko Haram is prosecuting against civilian “soft targets” the December deadline is unrealistic.

There are also worrisome reports of fresh kidnap of dozens of girls and burning of buildings in Bam Village of Yobe State; reported missing and fleeing soldiers in Galtumari town in Borno State; destruction of military base in Gulak, Adamawa and media allegations that terrorists snatched military trucks, artillery guns that were bought by the previous administration.

During private conversations with stakeholders, many expressed beliefs that concerted efforts are required through credible intelligence to address the insecurity in the North-East.

Beyond ‘body languages’ theory and political grandstanding, others were of the opinion that some tougher actions taken by the past administration could be deployed in curtailing the excesses of terrorists. For instance, a journalist observed that even though many doubted the sincerity of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki when he sought and obtained approval for postponement of 2015 general election to enable the military to degrade Boko Haram and ensure maximum security of voters, all known terrorists’ camps were destroyed before the emergence of new government on May 29; Sambisa Forest was stormed by “Special ‘M’ forces” and about 300 kidnapped women and children were freed; 22 terrorist occupied towns in three states were recovered; and Boko Haram could not disrupt the elections.

It is public knowledge that some of the towns recovered from terrorists during the administration of Goodluck Jonathan include Abadam, Askira, Baga, Bama, Biu, Damboa, Gwoza, Hong, Konduga, Kukawa, Marte, Madagali, Michika, Monguno, Mubi, and others. In fact an official statement by the Defence Headquarters on March 16, 2015, with reference no: DHQ/ABJ/901/32/DDI announced the routing of terrorists from Bama after massive casualty was inflicted on the terrorists before the remnant fled. The statement further stated that the Chadian partners in the MNJTF were mandated to pursue the terrorists who were heading for the borders after being dislodged from Bama. Gujba, Gulani, Goniri, Buni Yadi were all retaken by Nigerian troops within the month, the statement concluded. It seems Nigerians have forgotten all these.

If the military failed to meet the December deadline, we shouldn’t blame the previous administration of Jonathan or the current government of Buhari but should encourage the military to improve the tempo. Afterall, the Nigerian troops have succeeded in the past and are succeeding now. We should therefore avoid taking actions that would rubbish the integrity of critical institutions including security and the media.

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Yushau A. Shuaib with First Class Igbo Traditional Ruler, the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Chike Edozien during a special event in the King’s Palace in 1993

Exactly 20 years ago in October 1993, I received the Best Writer and Researcher Award while serving as a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Delta State. Impressed by some of my writings and research efforts, Governor Olorogun Felix Ibru consequently offered me automatic employment in the Government House, Asaba as Public Relations Officer in the state Civil Service.

A few months later, another double award of automatic scholarship and NYSC National Honours Award was announced for me by the Federal Government of Nigeria. The honour by the Federal Government also went with an offer of automatic employment in the federal civil service that was not subject to either federal character principle or space availability.

Since then I had found myself working in various organisations as either Press Secretary or Head of Public Relations as I continued to write official Press Releases and personal opinion articles. Some of those organisations include Federal Ministries of Information, Finance, Health, National Assembly, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), National Press Centre and finally National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

Since April 2013 when I was recalled from NEMA due to the influence of Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who had earlier spoken to me on phone alleging that I accused her wrongly in one of my writings, I had made up my mind about the civil service that I had served diligently and professionally without allowing myself to be influenced or intimidated by anyone.

In the course of these past months, my salary was suddenly stopped without any official notification to that effect. I had been summoned, issued letters of queries and confronted with verbal threats in the vain hope that I would retract the write-up and tender an apology. Of course, I stood my grounds in the same way that I had politely declined the minister’s request during the telephone conversation.

Finally on Thursday October 3, 2013, I received a letter of retirement from the Federal Civil Service, which was backdated to June 20, 2013. Though the letter erroneously referred to me as Assistant Chief Information Officer (ACIO) (because as of fact, I had been promoted a Chief Information Officer (CIO) with effect from January 1, 2012), it contained the charge that I was retired for criticising a public officer.

After consultation with my family members, all of who believe that my life is more precious than political and administrative scheming, I accepted my disengagement from the civil service effective today (October 9, 2013) leaving my traducers in the ultimate court of the creator.

I must extend my gratitude to the government of the state where I started my journey in the civil service and its people and to the Federal Government for finding me worthy to be a civil servant of the Federal Republic and allowing me to serve in various capacities in the last twenty years. I have received tremendous support and encouragement from editors of both mainstream media and publishers of online media across the country all of who also showed keen interest in the recent development. I will never be able to show enough gratitude to you all.

I understand the weaknesses inherent in the public service but must express tremendous appreciation for the concern and understanding displayed by some officers in the public service and top members of the Federal Civil Service Commission. For personal reasons, I declined to accede to their friendly advice that I should take certain actions that might enable me keep my job in the service but which I believe would assail my conscience.

Finally, I thank all my colleagues, friends and admirers who have been my pillars of support. I put my trust in God Almighty and rest assured in the solemn belief that Nigeria shall be great.

Yushau Shuaib

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The debate over whether the government and the media are friends or foes was rekindled at a recent interactive seminar on Responsibility to Report (R2R) organised by the Development Research and Project Centre with funding from the Dutch Government in Abuja.

The seminar was similar to the recently concluded National Civil-Military Dialogue, where the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki sought the cooperation and understanding of Nigerians on the ongoing military’s intervention in fighting insurgency in the country.

Unlike the Military-Civilian where former Heads of States and top public functionaries were in attendance, participants at Responsibility to Report were mostly spokespersons from emergency response agencies like the military, police, NEMA and volunteers. The media too were adequately represented with editors, producers and bloggers in attendance.

I had the privilege to be one of the facilitators that included Abdul Raufu Mustapha of Oxford University, and Ms. Femke Van Zeiji from The Netherlands.

Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye the respected Mass Communication scholar, was the Keynote Speaker who dropped the bombshell that triggered a lively interaction throughout the programme. While attempting to be neutral in his assessment of the relationship between the government and the media, the academic dwelt on the power of the media, its influence in the society and the inherent loophole in the freedom of information law among others.

The Editor-in-Chief of Premium Times, Dapo Olorunyomi, who was also a facilitator agreed with most of the arguments raised by the Professor and further echoed non-transparent nature of government and the alleged shabbiness in the implementation of freedom of information law in Nigeria.

They both reinforced the general belief that the media is powerful as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, while I also responded that the government seems to be more powerful because all the other Estates: the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary are within its realm (government.)

While the two argued that government and the Media cannot be permanent Friends but LOYAL OPPONENTS, I advanced the view that the spokespersons in government can be friends with the media on behalf of their organisations through mutual respect and dignified reciprocal relationship.

Professor Akinfeleye emphatically supported the submission of former America President, Thomas Jefferson who said that if he was to choose between a Government without a Press, or a Press without a Government, he would not hesitate to choose the latter! This submission I argued, cannot hold if every person is investigating and probing into one another as a reporter, without a law by legislators to protect the people, and the existence of the judiciary to adjudicate over disputes and the executive arm to check excesses and unethical practices. Such a society, I pointed out can only exist in a jungle, where there are no rules of law but animalistic interpersonal relationship.

There is no problem with any government. Antics of some characters in government create the negative perceptions about public institutions. Added to the unbecoming and petty behaviours of some officials in government is the reality that public information management is very weak largely due to unskilled manpower, ill-equipped departments and political interference where a seeming straightforward and truthful information is deliberately distorted for egocentric ambitions of principals. In fact the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) could not have been a necessity if the public information officers have been allowed to discharge their roles responsibly and professionally.

A study and adherence to basic principles of Public Relations could be a clear guide for spokespersons rather than the fire brigade approach and combatant posture of such image managers to simple issue management.

Therefore spokespersons, as the intermediaries between the government and the media, should not only rely on prerequisite and relevant qualifications and experiences but should have humane temperaments and friendly dispositions while discharging their responsibilities.

While a well-trained and well-behaved public officer can easily court friendship of the media and earn the respect of the public, journalists too should imbibe the PR instinct and principle by initiating cordial relationships with officers in government to minimise mutual suspicions and misgivings.

At the end of the seminar, participants issued Guidelines for Communication in Times of Conflict for Government, Media and Civil Society in which they recommended that the media should always separate facts from opinion while urging journalists to be mindful of public and national interest in providing honest, factual and accurate information at all times.

While participants agreed that there are presently neither laws nor regulatory bodies to monitor and check online and Social Media in Nigeria, they strongly recommended capacity building and training on the use of latest technology for effective communication by those in government and the media.

Public officers and spokespersons were advised to establish and sustain a mutually respectful relationship with the media, which should be professional and transparent.

On the other hand, media owners were urged to improve the working conditions of their employees, while journalists were cautioned that “regardless of the circumstances, they should not expect, accept or offer inducements to publish reports.”

The interactive session was not only lively, the active participation of Director Defence Information, Brig-General Chris Olukolade and Police Force Public Relations Officer Frank E. Mba at the event created the enablement for frank and sincere talks between the spokespersons in government and the representatives of the media that included online bloggers.

One message is clear: whether in government or out of government we must protect and promote public and national interests for the economic growth not minding the misdemeanour of few individuals in the media or in public office.

The message in all these which was also conveyed at the Civil-Military Dialogue is the need for harmonious relationship in Nigeria where the citizens live peaceful without fear of misrepresentation which could lead to hatred and unwarranted attacks.

This article by Yushau A. Shuaib has been published by online partnering media and these print media: Economic Confidential Daily Trust, National Mirror, Blueprint, People Daily, Punch, Thisday, Guardian, Nigerian Tribune and Vanguard in July 2013

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President Jonathan- Picture by YAShuaib

By Yushau A. Shuaib
While addressing the nation in a broadcast over the unprecedented flood disaster that ravaged many communities in Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan’s eyes and head movement, betrayed the fact that he was reading from a prepared text, though there was no sign of a speech on his table.

His stiffness said it all. He neither gesticulated nor moved parts of his body as he is wont to in normal discussions and addresses to the rhythm of the broadcast. Aside from the motion of his mouth as he uttered the words and the intermittent sounds of billions of Naira donations to some federal institutions and states, the broadcast was a mere dictation session.

However, an opportunity to study the natural moods of the President to the devastation away from the dictates of protocol, came when he undertook a tour of some selected states affected by the flood. He was accompanied on the tour by Minister of Environment, Hajia Hadiza Mailafiya and Director General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Muhammad Sani-Sidi among others.

The tour was indeed an opportunity to see him move in flesh and react naturally in his interaction with victims. He responded directly to their plights and walked under the sun to inspect the internally displaced persons’ (IDPs) camps. Uncharacteristically, there were few body guards and security men accompanying him. In fact, any displaced person could easily walk to him and hold his hands as if it is not the same almighty Nigerian leader. The atmosphere was quite convivial.

In all the states he had visited, President Jonathan encouraged leaders of the IDPs to voice out their minds openly on their plights. In response, victims narrated how they lost their homes, livestock and farmlands. They gave gory tales of deaths, missing persons and submerged markets, schools, police stations and places of worship.

In Kogi for instance, President Jonathan was in a melancholic mood. His mien fell further when mothers brought newly born babies to him. He also learnt that some men committed suicide following losses of loved ones and lifelong investments. He admonished victims to desist from taking extreme decisions. He said: “please, don’t commit suicide. You have a government that will assist you. Even, if you borrow money from banks, don’t worry, when the flood is over, we will know how to deal with it. Be rest assured that the government will take care of the situation.’’

In Adamawa State, he disclosed that the government plans to construct more buffer dams on rivers Niger and Benue to check the menace of flooding in communities along the river banks and from neighbouring countries. He disclosed that the flood this year was a natural phenomenon due to climate change occasioned by global warming and pointed out that government would take steps to prevent a future re-occurrence.

In Delta State, President Jonathan inspected a camp, equipped with a skills acquisition centre where displaced persons were learning trades, artwork, music, drama, hair dressing and computer skills. While he believed that such facilities could make them useful after leaving the camp he disclosed that the government had initiated measures for proper resettlement of flood victims.

While addressing displaced persons in Anambra, he advised them not to worry as the Federal Government was collaborating with sympathetic groups and individuals to make life better for them after leaving the camp.

In Rivers and Bayelsa states, President Jonathan confessed that the flood disaster, which destroyed property worth billions of naira, was beyond the capacity of the Federal Government to solely remedy. He therefore solicited the supports of development partners and international bodies.

In Taraba State, while assuring that the European Union and the World Bank have indicated their readiness to assist Nigeria, the President stated that the water level was gradually reducing. He gave the assurance that government would provide farmers with maturing seedlings that would guarantee early harvest of farm produce as an antidote to the much anticipated food crisis.

President Goodluck Jonathan cuddles a baba at IDP Camp for flood victims- Pic by YAShuaib

In all the states he had visited, President Jonathan allowed governors to present their opening address and thereafter, stood and listened attentively to the victims. His responses were calm, re-assuring and warm as he sometimes cuddled new born babies while addressing the mostly women and children victims.

The President had also explained that the inauguration of a high power committee on Flood Relief Fund co-headed by billionaire businessman, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and human rights activist, Chief Olisa Agbakoba was to raise funds, which will mitigate the effects of the devastation. He explained that membership of the committee included “individuals who could not steal people’s money because they include philanthropists and advocates of transparency and accountability who will not also condone injustice.”

While most of the utterances and actions of President Jonathan over the flooding are commendable, the establishment of the Dangote’s committee should have been in consonance with the enabling laws. As former Chairman of the governing council of NEMA, the President would recall that there is a provision envisaging such development in the law that established NEMA: Act 12 as amended by Act 50 of 1999. Among other things the law empowers NEMA to “co-ordinate the activities of all voluntary organisations engaged in emergency relief operations in any part of the Federation; Receive financial and technical aid from international organisations and non-governmental agencies, for the purpose of disaster management in Nigeria; Collect emergency relief supply from local and foreign source and from International and non-Governmental Agencies; and distribute emergency relief materials to victims of natural or other disasters and assist in the rehabilitation of the victims, where necessary…”

In view of the above therefore, the government could delegate and designate the Dangote Committee, as National Fund Raisers, to assist in the mobilisation of funds for the relevant established agencies including State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMA) to manage the processes judiciously. The secretariat could be in NEMA. If government is still more concerned about the selected individuals, the President could nominate them into membership of NEMA governing council.

It does not augur well to relegate established statutory institutions to the background due to vague misgivings. No-one is infallible, our leaders need to be supported and guided appropriately to take rational decisions to better the society without entertaining any fear whatsoever.

This article by Yushau A. Shuaib has been published in the print edition of the New Nigerian October 22, Punch October 22, National Mirror October 22, People’s Daily October 23, Leadership October 24, Blueprint October 24, Vanguard October 24, Daily Trust October 25, and Daily Sun October29, 2012

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NEMA Helicopter

On September 23, 2010, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) hosted a preliminary meeting for a simulation exercise on presumed terrorist’s bomb explosions iat a very strategic place in Abuja.

The agency which has in its service officers from Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Nigerian Army, Navy and Airforce, had a full attendance at the meeting. Participants were drawn from military and paramilitary including NIA, the Police, Federal Fire Service (FFS), Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), State Security Service (SSS), Nigeria security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Hospitals, Red Cross and other stakeholders whose roles are crucial to disaster management in the country.

A simulation exercise is an act of imitating the behaviour of some situations for the purpose of training as well as for studying the level of preparedness in a case of the reality of the assumed incidence.

Air Commodore Alexander Bankole who is the Director Search and Rescue of NEMA triggered an alert for the exercise to test how officers in the field would respond to an emergency situation of bomb explosions in the capital city. The response was fairly successful in testing the level of preparedness of stakeholders.

Such simulations exercises have been successfully carried out on search and rescue effort to tackle emergencies during flooding, road accidents, plane crash, terrorist attacks among others. Ironically there was a case of a simulation becoming a reality like the aborted exercise in Port-Harcourt Airport where an aircraft for the exercise on landing, suddenly veered off into the bush. The officers on ground who were prepared for the exercise eventually saved the passengers who had been billed to dramatize for the simulation.

The recent Abuja bomb attacks on the day of the country’s 50th Independence Anniversary as claimed by Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), though caught the country by surprise, the response agencies timely and responsibly attended to the disaster saving more lives as well as moving survivals and corpses to hospitals. This incident came at the time the country is witnessing the climate change-induced tragedies.

A disaster is a sudden occurrence of event leading to loss of lives and properties. It disrupts normal societal activities with negative effects on human, materials and the environment where it occurs. A natural disaster occurs as a result of natural phenomenon and circumstances which is referred to as an ‘Act of God’ while a man-induced disaster results from human activities due to ignorance, deliberate instigation and nonchalant attitudes of those that could have addressed the occurrence of the incidents.

There have been massive floods in some Northern states where, for instance, speed boats were used to evacuate students of Usman Danfodio University to safety; when communities have been cut off due to collapsed bridges in Kebbi State with thousands of hectares of farmlands washed away or submerged in Jigawa State.

In the southern parts of the country, mud sliding and erosions have continued to pervert some communities in southern parts of the country: the menace of storms and degradation of lands in coastal communities have resulted to displaced people whose means of livelihood are destroyed.

Interestingly as properties worth billions of Naira are lost to natural disasters, fewer deaths are recorded. The government through NEMA has been very supportive with relief materials and rehabilitations of victims.

Man-made disasters are aggravated by poor governance, weak structures and non-enforced policies. The major emergency situations in Nigeria are man-made tragedies. In rural areas there are reported outbreaks of epidemics like contagious diseases affecting large number of people in specific geographical locations. For instance cholera, meningitis and Lassa fever have caused loss of lives in various communities in the country when preventive antidotes could have saved the situations.

Urban cities have continued to witness collapse of buildings due to weak structures, likewise, deplorable road conditions have resulted to loss of lives in our highways. Those calamities can be blamed on the shoulders of regulatory authorities who have the responsibilities to monitor and check the defects.

Similarly some groups and individuals have deliberately engaged in criminalities for economic gains and rebellions against the state to make some statements. The country has lost human and materials due to ethnic and religious crises; kidnapping of citizens and foreigners; destructions of pipelines to illegal siphon crude oil by bunkerers and local gangs which cause oil spillages and huge fire outbreaks; and the recent phenomena of planting of bombs in strategic places by undesirable elements.

Therefore whose responsibility is to check the menace of man-made disaster? The relevant stakeholders have roles to play through collaborative efforts and commitment towards timely interventions and response.

The concept of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is advocated for better awareness in managing disasters. Its measures are designed to protect livelihoods and the assets of communities and individuals from the impact of emergency situations through mitigation, preparedness and adequate awareness. DRR which is being championed in Nigeria by NEMA through capacity building and the creation of volunteer groups is a means of bridging the gap between development and humanitarian programmes that could strengthen livelihood, provide security and protect properties.

Awareness campaigns on preventive measures against hazards that could lead to disasters can go a long way with the support of media for massive sensitizations in their editorial. Educational institutions could also mainstream DRR into school curricula while response agencies and volunteer groups build their capacity through further training and workshop.

While the response agencies should be encouraged to intensify their collaborative efforts, there is the need for consistency across multiple stakeholders by providing a coherent, transparent and inclusive policy for disaster management. Nevertheless every citizen has a stake in ensuring that those calamities are prevented. At individual levels, we should report undesirable elements and strange activities that could cause hazards to appropriate authorities as well as taking proactive and practical steps to safeguard our society. We must build a culture of prevention by taking appropriate actions against potentials that easily trigger hazards in our society.

Nigeria is quite a blessed country that seems to be immune to major catastrophes like earthquakes, volcanoes, cyclones, cold and heat waves, landslides, mudslides as well as tsunami. Just imagine how other nations cope socially, economically and psychologically in the face of adverse effect of those monumental disasters.

This article by Yushau A. Shuaib originally appeared in October 2010 in some national media including Economic Confidential, the Punch, Leadership, Daily Trust, New Nigerian, Thisday, Daily Independent, Vanguard and Sunday Tribune.

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NEMA Helicopter

Nigeria has continued to witness series of embarrassing disasters and emergency situations that are largely man-made; for instance youth militancy, communal clashes, religious conflicts, fire outbreaks, road accidents, kidnapping and robberies. The magnitudes of the carnages usually overwhelm response agencies responsible for managing and mitigating such situations.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) an organization charged with the responsibility of managing disasters and emergencies in Nigeria becomes the major focus when members of its staff on humanitarian duties recently escaped violent attacks from warring parties during the Jos crisis in which an ambulance belonging to the organization was completely burnt. Another of such incident was that of the communal clash between neighbouring villages in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States along the Adeng River, Ikpanya in Ibiono Local Government Area.

While these incidents were yet to be addressed, an aircraft hired by NEMA for mock rescue exercise crash-landed in Port-Harcourt International Airport. Rescue workers on the ground that had actually been on the standby for the mock exercise instead found themselves dealing with real emergency and saved all the passengers and crew from death.

While the passengers of the plane crash were being evacuated by the proactive response agencies on the ground, another disaster occurred in Kanti Kwari, the largest textile market in Kano state. The only available NEMA rescue helicopter was quickly dispatched from Abuja to assist the beleaguered fire-fighters in the ancient city. People on ground were marveled and thrilled by the helicopter that was dispensing fire extinguishing chemical from the air and at the same time rescuing trapped victims, a typical scene from Hollywood movie.

The failed simulation exercise in Port-Harcourt was one of the series of the practical trainings NEMA organises to ascertain the level of preparedness of response agencies in the face of natural and man-made disasters. The purpose of the simulation (mock) exercise is to test the capabilities of the first response agencies in the event of an air crash within the airport vicinity where both national and international passengers may be involved. The agency also uses such opportunities to study response capability in medical response, equipment holding, media and information management towards the same goals; safety of lives and properties. Similar exercises in the past were successfully staged at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja and other locations across Nigeria, including simulated road accidents. Participants at such exercises included fire fighters, health workers, security personnel and emergency agencies. The response agencies include Federal safety Commission (FRSC), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Read Cross, the Army among others.

During one of the simulation exercises, the Director General of NEMA, AVM Mohammed Audu-Bida (Rtd) emphasised that class room training are mere theoretical while simulation exercises provide practical experiences, and this would help to test the capability and ability of officers in responding to life-threatening situation professionally and promptly. Recently the agency invited some Israeli emergency experts to train some Nigerian personnel on search and rescue operation during plane crash, Ship wreck, fire incidences, flood situations and other disaster scenarios that could happen in any part of the country.

Victims of the fire incident in Kano are already clamouring for compensation from government. If they had heeded the several warnings and campaigns by NEMA to insure their goods, by now they would enjoyed peace of mind and recovered from the losses by benefiting from such insurance policies.

The occurrence of disasters and emergencies in the country has increased in both frequency and intensity due to increase in population. Most times market fire are attributed to shop-owners’ carelessness in handling electrical appliances, faulty electric wiring and storage of inflammable substances in unsafe manners. Billions of Naira and human lives have been lost to the inferno with most victims failing to recover financially and physically afterwards. It is against this background that the NEMA conceived the idea of evolving an insurance scheme for both structures and the individual shops in those markets tagged Market Shop Owners Insurance Scheme in 2009. It worked out affordable insurance cover for patronage of shop owners with insurance firms so that in the event of major fire incidents, victims are guaranteed of immediate, adequate and satisfactory compensation to enable them recover quickly from their losses. It is common knowledge that the best fire fighting technique is prevention and the best strategy for recovery is insurance cover.

It is the responsibility of the market authorities to insure the markets while the traders insure their wares and properties, by this, market authorities will receive claims to restore the market structure in earnest while the traders will use their claims to bounce back to business. This is the best recovery strategy from market fire disasters all over the world.

Unfortunately with the campaign across the country, only few market owners in Lagos, Ibadan and Kaduna have bought into the initiatives. Those who have insured their individual shops and properties would not have been in desperate moves to rescue their wares and got consumed in the inferno like an Igbo chieftaincy title holder who died in Kano fire while attempting to retrieve his wares worth millions of Naira.

While the Federal Government has been making efforts through NEMA to promote disaster resilience in the country, the states must also be actively involved to achieve the desired objectives through the establishment of their respective State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs). The local agencies are required to response to disasters within the capacity of the states and request for Federal assistance only in overwhelming circumstances. Only few states have so far established functional offices with well-trained staffs for emergency services.

The sustainability of emergency response service in the country requires active commitments of States and Local Governments to mobilize and train the people at the communities including volunteers. The involvement of trained volunteer groups in Kano fire was quite encouraging and commendable as the situation did not escalate to mass-looting or leading to past incidence of attacks on innocent residents.

This article by Yushau A. Shuaib was originally published in March 2010 by the Economic confidential, Daily Trust, Vanguard, Leadership, Champion, People Daily and Nigerian Tribune

The post The Plane Crash and Fire-Outbreak in Nigeria appeared first on YAShuaib.

This writer recently had an opportunity of travelling, on special humanitarian assignment, to Warri South West Local Government Council in Nigeria where the Nigerian military engaged the Niger Delta militants in arms raids after the latter’s abduction of some military personnel. The media have reported large scale destruction and casualties from the fracas, based on information obtained from members of the affected communities or from the militants themselves, especially from a group called, Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) that has continued to claim responsibility for pipeline vandalisation, hostage taking and other similar outbursts signifying criminality.

The opportunity to travel to the creek was provided when I joined a team from Nigeria’s National Emergency Management agency (NEMA) which is statutorily empowered to manage disasters including distribution of emergency materials to victims of natural and man-induced disasters and assist in the rehabilitation of the victims. It is also mandated to liaise with State Emergency Management Committees to assess and monitor the distribution of relief. In addition it coordinates the activities of all voluntary organisations engaged in emergency relief operations in all parts of the federation.

As at the time the crisis began the Director General of NEMA, AVM Mohammed Audu-Bida, a retired airforce general with military experience in humanitarian and rescue missions in Iraq and Liberia among other countries was in the USA for an official summit. But interestingly as an emergency officer who is regularly in touch with his principal officers for any untoward development in the country, directed the deployment of a team comprising staff from Abuja, Enugu and Port-Harcourt zonal offices. Against all odds, the team moved into the area to assess the situation for humanitarian interventions.

In the first day of our arrival there was no shooting wheresoever though the people in the communities ran away on sighting us until we were able to convince those courageous enough about our humanitarian mission. We let them know that NEMA does not discriminate against distressed people as only security personnel can determine criminals from innocents. After a lot of persuasions and healthy interactions, they accepted our overture. We started to reach out to the community leaders, youth leaders, women and children to assure them of the government commitment to guarantee their safety. The ordinary people of those communities looked innocent, humble and friendly from the negative impression created on them by various criminal activities being reported about the citizens. Though the officials of the local government were not available until a day after when we met a Legislative Leader of the council, Mrs Rose Tulu who took us round to meet some of the displaced people.

As much as there were anxieties in the air, the ordinary people we saw were in high spirit. In fact some social services were uninterrupted including the schools except the general hospital in the council which was deserted a day before our arrival when it was alleged that some soldiers forced the people and the doctor away. We also saw some men enjoying themselves with kegs of local palm wine, while other businesses went on.

Since the displaced people were scattered in different locations, we had to close a primary school to establish the first Internally Displaced People Camp (IDPC)which had a strategic proximity to most of the affected communities. We ensure foodstuffs were immediately provided while reassuring the people of their safety.

It was after we created a temporary office within the camp that teams from the Red Cross and Doctor-Without-Border came in and we held a meeting to assess the situation and on how to provide succour to the people.

Since in an emergency, speedy actions are required for effective humanitarian services, thus computers and phones became the office and documents to receive directives and carry out orders which facilitated a quick provision of bags of rice, beans, gari, salts, tea and cans of cooking oil. We also constructed emergency toilets. Unfortunately NEMA trucks from Enugu conveying mattresses, blankets, rubber mats, clothing, disinfectants, buckets and children shoes were arbitrarily intercepted by some security personnel on the highways which delayed the arrival of the relief items.

We were informed by the community leaders that 25 communities were affected with most of the displaced people being reluctant to move to the designated camp for fear of reprisal attacks. We received a shock when we received a report that a woman who was leaving her hideout to meet us delivered a baby in the bush. Arrangement was made for her treatment and provision of the materials she needed.

Because of the sensitivity and urgency of our assignment, Audu-Bida cut short his oversea assignment and flew to Warri to assess and supervise distributions of additional relief materials to the displayed and distressed people. Some of the women in the camp pleaded with NEMA boss to intervene in ensuring that the Joint Task Force allow them access their remote communities which were blocked by the military. They said that as much as NEMA’s gesture of providing relief materials and social amenities is a welcome development, home to them would always be the home than life in the camp or any other hideout.

He also met Barrister Kingsley Otuaro, the Chairman of the Delta State Relief and Rehabilitation Committee and his members, and held a consultation with the community leaders, including the Chairman of the council George Ekpemupolo, who is said to be a brother to the most wanted man, Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo. George who looked lanky and worried had emerged from his hiding to express his worry on the plight of his people.

Based on the discussions, our team led by NEMA Boss visited the headquarters of Joint Task Force (JTF) to appeal for adequate security for the displaced people as the agency may open up more camps if necessary in areas worst affected by the crisis. He particularly sought the assistance of the task force to guarantee supplies of relief materials to displaced people in various communities and ensured the safety of lives and properties. He said being a retired general in the Air-Force himself, NEMA would not interfere in the mandate and rescue operations of the taskforce in their current mission, he urged them to ensure that innocent victims were not caught in the cross-fire. He stated that the concern of NEMA was not about just distributing the materials but to ensure that the displaced peoples were secured and reunited with their families as soon possible.

The Maritime Component Commander of the Task Force who received the NEMA delegation, Commodore Azubuike Ajuonu, while appreciating the efforts of NEMA in reaching the displaced with relief materials said that the military would not shift its position in the search and rescue operations until they locate the missing officers and men of the Nigerian Army that were abducted by the militants. He added that it was unbecoming and regrettable that Nigerian soldiers who risk their lives to protect the nation’s integrity were being hunted by criminal gangs in the Niger Delta just because the army had been tolerating them all these while. He said the excessive criminality of the youths through kidnapping, sea-pirates, blackmail, extortion and killing of innocent Nigerians and foreigners was embarrassing the nation and its people which must end.

The Task force was later magnanimous enough to concede to NEMA’s request as relief materials were delivered through a special committee comprising journalists, police red cross, SEMA and volunteer women to creeks of Gbaramatu Kingdom, especially in such communities as Opedebobor, Dobiyo, Ogborodo, Azama, Oporoza, Enekoroa, Igoba, Krutie and Kunukuruma. The committee used jetties in the various communities.

The government of Nigeria has shown concerns, including the Office of the Vice President Goodluck Jonathan that supervises NEMA in ensuring that innocent lives are protected and catered for adequately. Unfortunately we cannot verify and authenticate figures of casualties except that of the displaced people, who mostly come to the camp to eat, get relief materials and go out again.

I discovered to my bewilderment beautiful mansions built in the midst of some shanties, which I learnt were owned by individuals, some said including the militants. Warri is a big town, including its surrounding communities that have impressive road networks and other social infrastructures. I learnt contractors for projects in any areas must pay special fees to some leaders and special levies to area boys who behave like militants or the projects that would benefit the community would be abandoned whether mobilisation fees paid or not.

It was not surprising that the name of the most wanted militant is Chief Government Tompolo, because every gunrunner and person in possession or illegal arms in this part of the country here is a government and lord who can charge illegal levies arbitrary. I won’t confirm the alleged complicity of government officials and even some security personnel in making the so-called militants daring combatants by creating reciprocal relationships for selfish motives which now seems to consume the integrity of our nation. I am not authorised to deny baseless allegations or confirmed fictitious figures of casualties and level of destructions. But most of the information in the public domain are naked propaganda which are mostly exaggerated by parties in the conflict.

This article by Yushau A. Shuaib was originally published in Economic Confidential June, New Nigerian June 2, Nigerian Tribune June 7, Vanguard June8, Daily Sun June 9, Daily Independent June 11, Champion June, The National Life June 13 and Leadership June 14, 2009

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