SECURING NATIONAL GAS ASSETS

The long road to securing oil and gas assets is highly dependent on our valuation of and readiness to trade off the lost income versus the cost of securing these assets.

In order to secure the assets, we could deploy a two pronged strategy of digital methods through a combination of fibre optic cables and sensors placed on the pipelines in addition to human surveillance employed as a compliment to these digital tools.

The gas resource for instance is of extreme import to a vibrantly dependable power sector, it would be most valuable to our economic development if this vital resource is secured so that the power plants cited in various locations can get gas to fire their turbines and get the much needed power to the Nigerian populace and the real productive sector. Not only will this light up the nation it will also help cut cost of production in the largest economy in Africa. 

Why would lighting up and cutting cost be important?

The households would be able to get electricity to power their preferred lifestyles and control their costs on energy by proper metering expectedly, substitute other sources of energy with electricity converted into other means. 

The real productive sector on the other hand will have cut costs by about 70%. The consequences will be felt not only at the production costs levels but also the savings will be passed on to the final consumer through reduced prices. Nigeria's products in the international market given the devaluation, becomes more attractive thus increasing the much needed non oil revenues. 

Technology has improved over the years and the oil and gas has not been left behind in this forward movement. The convergence of telecommunications technology with security has improved surveillance of oil and gas assets, improved measurements of materials/resources thereby helping to curbing the theft of our national commonwealth especially at the Upstream and the midstream sectors of the oil and gas industry. Therefore, the quantum loss of revenue suffered by Nigeria as a result of theft of Oil and gas products would be curbed thus resulting in more revenues to the coffers of the federation, While accountability is  brought into governance as a result of the transparency that this method of surveillance offers when deployed.

Going forward, certain decisions must be taken upfront . First and foremost, the already existing pipeline network must be laced with sensors for monitoring the old oil and gas pipelines while secondly, a deliberate policy be put in place mandating all new pipelines projects are accompanied with robust fibre optic cabling technology to serve the same purpose of monitoring integrity of installations as well as movement of materials and products. These, once done will create countless jobs directly in the oil and gas sector as well as telecommunications industry while indirectly creating more jobs indirectly by empowering businesses to create more jobs thus improving Nigerian content in these industries. 

Another gain would be the symbiotic relationship that would be brokered between the oil and gas and the telecommunications whose network of pipelines will also serve as s cured tunnels for the fibre optic cables thus improving the much preached digital penetration. The benefits of which shall among other things crash the cost of telecommunications especially broadband.

Households have immense benefits when Nigeria gets it right in oil and gas. Immediately, there is more revenue for government to expend in the provision of good governance, public infrastructures, etc. Remotely, a cleaner source of affordable energy becomes available. This is not to forget environmental protection as a direct fallout of gathering the previously flared gas, channeling them to more productive, cost-effective uses and freeing up jet A1 or kerosene for the aviation industry. Again this reduces the cost of fueling for the aviation companies leaving the customer with huge gains at the end of the day.

In a nut shell, Nigeria would be the preferred investment destination, cost of doing business will crash, cost of living will follow and jobs would be created. When these are achieved the balance of payment issues, exchange rate issues and foreign reserves will fizzle into thin air.

 

Tertiary Education in Nigeria the Triangle (ASUU, FGN and Funding)

There comes a time in the history of a nation when the need to appraise our strategies become imperative for us to progress.
The ongoing ASUU nationwide industrial action calls to mind the need to quickly conduct a litmus test of our national strategies vis a vis the engagements with trade unions. While it is necessary to develop a sound Human Capital Base, it is of utmost importance to also strike an equilibrium between human resources and industry. That is to say, for there to be an army of highly skilled and educated workforce without jobs to do will be putting a keg of gun power on a flaming hot cooker.
Consequently, it must be put in perspective the fact that while there is the need to increase on a year to year basis budgetary allocations to education, it must be done sustainably such that other critical sectors do not suffer - particularly "Industry". 
Quite important to note also are some facts begging for explanations, principally among which are:

- The Education Trust Fund (ETF) contributions which is a certain percentage of profit made by companies doing business in Nigeria needs to be properly accounted for and administered by persons of integrity drawn from the Academia;

- The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) contributions also a portion of payroll of certain categories of companies doing business in Nigeria must like its "senior cousin" be administered by people drawn from the academic system at the various levels of tertiary training;

- The continuous flight of Nigerian Students to foreign countries whose level of education is questionable must be checked and used as basis for political assessment. For instance the children of VCs, Rectors, Provosts, and he likes are all in foreign Tertiary institutions. This is also true for those highly placed in the private sector as well;
- The immediate cessation of the discrimination of certificates between first and foremost local and foreign and most importantly BSc and HND in the consideration of employment.
- The implementation of the scrapping of or renaming the certificates issued by Polytechnics;
- Of the total amount budgeted for education in the year 2013 Appropriation amounting to =N= 427,515,707,889.00 there is the urgent need to ensure that Accountability and Probity is assured by a task force drawn from the Ministry of Education and ASUU jointly;
Finally, there is the morale factor that must as a matter of urgency considered by the warring parties to the current trade dispute. The Students/Wards who are caught up in the crossfire. These are vulnerable and largely innocent young stars whose destinies are bing toyed with by the refusal of both ASUU and the FGN to sit at the table of discussion and come to a sustainable lasting solution.
Whatever the solution being considered, the government and ASUU must put in proper perspective the macroeconomic realities of Nigeria and in doing so the Hydrocarbon market indices factored into the economic equation of revenue while also the evil, bogus and criminal salaries being paid to the political class reviewed to fall in line with the so-called minimum wages for public servants. When these are done objectively then and only then can we as a people be taken seriously internationally and develop locally.

QUAIL EGGS AND HEALTH

In recent times it has become imperative that alternative remedies to the regular chemically engineered medication be sought particularly with prevalent cases of cancer (whose causes are yet to be know), reactions and the usual deficiency of vital minerals excluded from our regular meals among others, these and many other factors has brought to the fore natural sources of obtaining these all important minerals and vitamins in order to sufficiently supplement the shortfalls from our meals.

One age-long source is the Quail Birds & Eggs.

In Nigeria, the Hausa Language calls it "Salwa", the Edo's refer to it "Ekulete" while it is "Aparo" in the Yoruba tongue.

It is most popular as an alternative medical therapy with the Northerners who most probably have gained its medical value from their Arabian Ancestry. It is commonly used to tackle common ailments such as Arthritis (by pounding the Quail Egg Shell to powder and blended in honey), Diabetes (by consuming the Egg raw), and Improved Memory (by boiling the eggs as an addition to meal).

The most instructive research is culled up from www.quailfarm.co.uk. 

Below is a table of treatment regime as culled from the Quial Fam website.

Natural treatment practitioners recommend the following use of quail eggs as treatment or part of the treatment depending of the illness or condition:	Number of Quail Eggs to be used
For Children: The consumption of quail eggs is recommended for children whether cooked or raw for their physical and mental balance. Quail eggs help improving the IQ.
Growth stimulation and metabolism improvement	100eggs
Reactivate the nerves and central nervous system	120eggs
For the elderly: Quail eggs have brilliant regenerative effects on the body therefore are recommended for the elderly. It can calm down and/or cure many diseases attributed to old age, deficiency or excess nutrients in the body.
quail eggs help renewing the state of health and brings the body to equilibrium, combats the degenerative process and rejuvenates the body	240eggs
revives memory and protects nerve cells	120eggs
improves sexual potency	120eggs
reinforces organs weakened by physical work or stress	240eggs
fortifies the body	240eggs
Allergy treatment:
Asthma	240eggs
Skin rash	120eggs
Eczema conjunctivitis	120eggs
Allergic rhinitis	240eggs
Gastro intestinal tract disorder treatment:
Gastric ulcers	240eggs
Poor digestion	120eggs
Excess secretions of stomach acids	120eggs
Treatment of liver diseases:
Improves organ functions	240eggs
Treatment of Renal diseases:
Improves organ functions	240eggs
Treatment of heart diseases:
Improves the functioning of the heart in the case of coronary sclerosis	240eggs
Treatment of circulatory diseases:
anaemia	240eggs
arterial hypertension	240eggs
Treatment of metabolic diseases:
gouts	240eggs
obesity	240eggs
diabetes	240eggs
Treatment of nervous diseases:
neurasthenics	240eggs
nervous state	240eggs
Benefits of quail eggs during pregnancy and while breast feeding:
The consumption of quail eggs fortifies the woman’s body during pre and post natal periods as well as after surgery and radiotherapy. It also has beneficial effects on the foetus (physical and mental balance) and for the mother after delivery (physical rehabilitation and rejuvenation of cells). Quail eggs also improve the quality of breast milk.	240eggs
HIV, AIDS:
The consumption of quail eggs by HIV AIDS patients improves CD4	240eggs

Source:  http://www.quailfarm.co.uk/index.php/quail-and-health

"FUEL" STRAIGHT FROM THE BARREL

"FUEL" STRAIGHT FROM THE BARREL

The unfolding spectacle in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry is indeed interesting. While the gladiators trade time buying blames and throw punches in all directions it is the industry and the people that  suffer. 

Take for instance the basic/standard measurements such as One Barrel of Crude Oil makes 19.5 gallons of Gasoline, which converts to 73.8 liters of petrol/gasoline, this fair and lay understanding of liquids will suffice. it is fair enough to conclude therefore, that the 445,000 barrels of crude allocated daily to NNPC will among other by-products have a total of 73.8 x 445,000 which amounts to 32.8 million litres daily of Petrol otherwise Premium Motor Spirit, 34.8 x 445,000 which comes to a total of 15.5 Million litres of Diesel, 15.52 x 445,000 summing up to 6.9 Million litres of Kerosene + jet A1. 

Against this background when the above data is logged against daily consumption of 34 Million Litres of PMS in Nigeria it leaves the nation with a deficit of about 1.2 Million litres which could be defrayed by the excess output from other products such as kerosene/jet A1, Diesel, Lubricants, etc.

These revelations were probably responsible for the recent House of Representative committee probe of the fuel subsidy regime (oil and gas industry) in Nigeria leading to the eventual adoption of 61 resolution proposed by the sub-committee as headed by Hon. Farouk Lawan. At the moment the resolutions have been submitted to the Presidency for necessary Executive actions.

Now if you were a Nigerian what would you do?

ELECTORAL FRAUDSTERS

The issue of elections and the numerous fraudulent activities of the actors/participants that trail elections in Nigeria at all levels is not just a concern but an embarrassment to the Nigerian state. Although the same actors (culprits) are the same people meant to deal with the plageu of social rape and worse than military coup, whose product is flagrant abuse of the entire process of governance, lack of accountability & probity should be and is indeed in all of its expression declaed a crime against the state.

When this is done, the stage would have been set for a fraud free electoral process. The implication is that Laws will be enacted and enforced against the parpetrators and their ground soldiers who not only unleash terror on the electorates, but inflict an irreversible injury on the nation called Nigeria, setting in motion a precedence of evil and misrule.

In several forum where issues of electoral fraud has been discoursed, some authorities have suggesteed that those hose election have been overturned as a result of evident malpractices should be banned from holding any political position and what ever have been spent by such illegal governments be refunded by them, others hold a slightly different opinion prying that these people be imprisoned. Yet another block believe these people should be sentenced to either life imprisonment or handed to the hang-man (capital punishment).

Whatever the shade of opinion one may hold, the most important thing is that, something must be done.

But the big question is WHO WILL BAIL THE CAT? We are in an obvious fix requiring urgent attention, but the worst of this predicament is the unfortunate reality that, the same people who are in the three arms and levels of gorvernment are the same people who actively participate in the entire process which makes it seem like the legel parlance which says 'a man shouldn't be a judge of his own cause'.

This is a daire situation. Nigerians must rise up to the occassion, demand urgent ammandments to the electoral act, demand urgent completion of the national identity card project, demand good gorvernance, accountability, set agenda for political/public office holders, and apply very traditional methods to erring publiuc officers.

However little, according to a respected activist (Festus Keyamo) do something about the smallest appearance of curruption and misrule. This is the only true way Nigeria can grow.

NIGERIA AT 48

Nigeria at 48 no news, same old story, FAILED PROMISES, DASHED HOPES and an ever increasing deceitful group of people (a cabal actually) who constitute themselves into a government against the will of the people.

Once upon a time Nigerians would look forward to the independence day celebration and draw from it inferences to help predict the tone of whoever is in government and also remember the people who had at one time or the other fought for the independence and unity of the largest African nation (at least for now). This was so because most times Nigerians were not very sure about the intention of people in government. But these days it is so easy because, from the very onset you can tell where the RULERS are heading from the way they got into government.

Coincidentally, while ruminating over and about the Nigerian question, I bumped into a book authored by Dr. Miles Munroe, in which he explored the question of purpose. He established how Purpose rules over everything "the very essence and reason for existence, the ends for which the means existed", then I came to the conclusion that the big problem Nigeria must tackle is one of discovering her purpose for existence and not bad leadership as we most often assume.

Why Nigeria?

• Largest Black African Nation (with the least contribution to world development)
• The world’s 7th largest supplier of crude Oil (yet without a functional petrochemical refinery and insufficient fuel for our tanks)
• 36 States (only a means of expanding the opportunities for their likes to hold on to power)
• Over 700 tribes (forced into one national identity)
• Rich arable land (yet incapable of supporting or producing enough food for her population)
• Blessed with a people that possess an unusual drive for success (yet lacking good schools for her teaming population)
• Have stayed together even after a civil war (but managing to nurse a relationship with her federating units)
• Biggest contributor of Men and Resources to Peace keeping operations in the continent (yet unable to tackle the Militants in the Niger Delta Region)
• About the largest gap between the rich and the poor amidst abundance and opulence (with over 60% of her people impoverished and wallowing in abject poverty)
• Embraced privatization (but sold only to a few overlords fronting for those in government-past and present)

These are but a few of the inexhaustible list of features that defines the uniqueness of our great motherland, where constant repression of opposition and oppression of the middle and lower class is order of the day with a deliberate intention to force the re-emerging middle class into extinction.

Just the other day the Central Bank (C.B.N.) governor was sensitizing the nation in preparation for the deployment of the next face of Economic and financial reforms (RE-DENOMINATION) as approved by the former president only for him to receive a message to appear before the new government to explain why he must deploy the next phase without fresh approval.

The current financial crises rocking the world (USA, Europe and Japan particularly) was predicted to have serious negative impact on Nigeria’s Economy whose stock market is still in shock following a sudden price depreciation which coincided with the summer holiday period making evident the gluttony of the rich to enjoy themselves outside the shores of the country even at the obvious detriment of the mass whose blood and sweat they exploit to generate these resources. As one commentator rightly puts it “despite all the foreign trips embarked upon by the ruling class, they still have not learnt any tangible lesson to bring back home for our national development” and I am tempted to add they only learn better ways to steal more money and recharge their appetite for illegality.

Perhaps the entire nation should in their little corners resolve to make a little difference even as the Lagos local government polls is around the corner. Just maybe we can start from bottom to top at least the Lagos state government has show commitment to real development which carries with it usually short-run discomforts.

Again I say let us seek to define the purpose of our corporate existence otherwise we have no need to have being in the first place.

ATTRIBUTES OF THE ROASTER

ATTRIBUTES OF THE ROASTER

RE-CAP

Previously (2 posts back) I attempted establishing certain facts governing the area of prosperity and poverty.

I went as far as breaking down into elements the prosperity equation.

Further I established the reality that ideas rule our world of today and named the basic attributes a man must possess to be able to tap into the endless world of ideas possibilities.

SPECIFICS

Prerequisites for economically viable ideation are:

1. Knowledge
2. Expression
3. Conversion

The HUNTER is of no value without the ROASTER and vice versa.

The ultimate is to be both a roaster and a hunter.

ATTRIBUTE 1

• INTERGRITY- the quality of being honest and having high moral principles.

[It is a selling strategy- FITNESS TO STANDARD]

• It has no substitute, let your YES be yes and your NO be no.

ATTRIBUTE 2

• RISK TAKING- a major determinant of returns on investment is the RISK ELEMENT inherent in any investment project.

• The fear of the unknown and uncertainty rob many of prosperity.

ATTRIBUTE 3

• PERSISTENCE – the staying power, doing something continuously despite difficulty.

• You must be ready to persevere such that when the storms of life and business challenges come you will stand the test of time.

ATTRIBUTE 4

• CHANGE AGENT – you must be ready to spearhead a new era, regardless of oppositions. Be a crusader of a new dawn.

• [This is a SURVIVAL STRATEGY- FITNESS TO LATENT NEED]

• Bearing in mind that humans generally do not like change and will do all within their power to frustrate it.

ATTRIBUTES 5

• WINNING ATTITUDE – Being positive and OPTIMISTIC even when the chips are down.

• Focusing on what you desire rather than what situation presents.

ATTRIBUTES 6

• PEOPLE CENTRISM – care for and about the next man, being your neighbour and brother’s keeper.

• [this is an EXPANSION STRATEGY- FITNESS TO NEED]

• Attending to identified needs is the shortest route to wealth creation, because when you find a need and meet it you’ve added value which the beneficiary/consumer is ready to pay for.

ATTRIBUTES 7

• PROFESSIONALISM – skill and high standard of behaviour.

• Sometimes you are tempted to water down your standard because you want to secure a deal. NO COMPROMISE on standard. But be sure not to out-price yourself in business transactions.

ATTRIBUTE 8

• GOD LOVING – this is applied Christianity. This is quite different from RELIGIOUS EXERCISE AND RITUALS.