From America With A Warning

Everyday, at every opportunity, the obvious leadership deficit in the system is lamented.
Poor leadership is not onlyor always about the sitting president or governors. It is about the ability and readiness of Nigerians to embrace their duties and discharge themresponsibly, responsively and deliver the highest standard of result in the world. Most Nigerians currently occupying positions of leadership and governance are well educated. They studied in the best tertiary institutions in Nigeria and abroad or at least have been exposed to the ways that more advanced or civilised societies operate their systems.

Gone are the days when cattle rearers andal majiriteachers who barely understood the English language (let alone speak it) were made ministers. There is no part of the country that cannot boast of some of the best in academic or professional training.
In spite of this, rather thanan improved standard of leadership output, what we see most of the time is like child's play compared to what obtained immediately before and after independence. On Monday, June 10th 2013, we opened the newspapers and read screaming headlines on a diplomatic note forwarded by the American Embassy in Nigeria through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Federal Government.
It warned that the United States of America in conjunction with its allies would stop patronising Nigeria ports if, after ninety days, the sorry state of security in the nation's ports were not improved to comply with the International Ships and Ports Facility Security Code (ISPS).

After the 9/11 terror attack on the US, part of steps the country took to prevent terrorist attacks was to ensure the establishment of the ISPS around the world. To implement the new Code, the Federal Government in2004 dissolved the Presidential Committee on Maritime Safety (PICOMS) and handed over the job to the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA). Just like the PICOMS before it, NIMASA simply sat on its palms and allowed the rot to continue until US Coast Guard came a few months ago to investigate securityarrangements at the Nigeria ports and went back to report it was a non-starter.
It took this ultimatum by the US for President Goodluck Jonathan to prevail on officials in charge of security at the ports to get going. I found it very laughable and a great pity when the General Manager in chargeof security at the Nigerian Ports Authority, retired Col. Jamil Tahir, said the NPA has "swung into action" following the US warning and presidential kick on the butt. So, his NPA, NIMASA and all the security agencies that helpto slow down port operations and grease the wheel of corruption at the ports would not do their work unless a foreign power breathes down their neck?

This reminds us of what happened to our airports during the years that General Sani Abacha held sway over this country. The situation at the airports were so bad that the US decertified Nigeria by ensuring that no aircraft from Nigeria was allowed to fly directly intothe US, while America-originating flights could not come directly to Nigeria.
As usual, this was the tonic we needed to begin frantic reforms. Eventually, in December 2010, the US was satisfied with our efforts and gave Nigeria Category One Certification. The then Director General of the Nigerian Civic Aviation Authority, Dr. Harold Demuren, was wildly exhilarated, and so were most industry
stakeholders. It was almost like the euphoria that a servant exhibits when given a pat on the back by his master.
Demuren continued to celebrate what he believed was an enviable personal achievement until when, suddenly the Dana Airlines plane crashed. And that was the beginning of the end of Demuren's days in
office.

Let us thank the USA for helping prod our leaders from time to time to get up and do their jobs in critical areas of our economy, especially where American security interests are involved.
Since America won't push us in areas not connected to their interests, we may never be able to clean up and modernise our major international gateways at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja and the ports at Apapa, Tin Can, Warri, Koko, Port Harcourt and Calabar.

It is unbelievable that the road leading to the MMIA is overgrown with weeds and unlit at night, thus presenting the first time visitor to Nigeria with the most unflattering impression of our backwardness and
carelessness to security matters.
It is also inconceivable that Apapa and Tin Can, the primary economic gateways, have the worst road networks, with poorly serviced trailers and tankers blocking everywhere without regulation. Law enforcement agents are allover the place, in their uniforms, yet, there is no order.

These agents are there to fill their pockets and ensure that their vessels or those of their friends and relations go free after fouling the laws.
Apapa, the nation's foremost economic link to the world out there is almost like a district without governance. Neither the Federal Government nor the LagosState Government is ready to do their duties
to the city. Everybody is only interested in what he can get for himself out of Apapa.
As this is no business of America's, there is no hope for Apapa! Best performing Minister? Adesina
I have been watching the Ministerial Platform organized by the Federal Government to showcase the achievements of the President Goodluck Jonathan regime in the past two years. For me, most of them have done well. Among the outstanding were Mike Onolememen (Works), Stella Oduah (Aviation), Idris Umar (Transport, especially railways), Segun Aganga (Investment), and Okonjo-Iweala (Finance).

Former Power Minister, Barth Nnaji, was running tops on my list until he was unceremoniously sent home. And since then, the power sector has gone back to where it belongs: among the dogs.
My most performing Minister is Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina (Agriculture). He killed fertiliser racketeering, ensured the floods of 2012 did not bring us hunger and is developing value chains ina rapidly revitalised sector.
Bravo, all, including President Jona himself.