Kaduna resident cry out for help

Kaduna residents, Zaria Christians seek help

By Tony Akowe

The curfew in Kaduna State over the violence that trailed the presidential election result has caused shortage of food and other essentials among the residents .The government order for residents to remain indoor till further notice has begun to take its toll on the residents who did not prepare for the restriction that began on Monday.
It was gathered that most residents did not have enough money and food to last for a few days when the curfew was imposed and have not been able to go out to get their needs.
As the mayhem spread to Kafanchan and Zonka in southern parts of the state, Christians in Zaria have complained of being under siege.
They said they had  not been able to get food and water, and other essential needs, since markets and shops have been closed.
In Sabo area of Kaduna metropolis, security agents chased away those who attempted to sell foodstuff, apparently to prevent looting by criminals.
Chairman of the state chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Tunde Bakare said in a telephone interview that over 10 churches were burnt in Zaria and several people killed by rioters.
He said most of the affected churches were in the Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic quarters and the Samaru and Kongo campuses of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
According to him, the curfew has not deterred hoodlums from prowling the streets with knives, sticks, bows and arrows, attacking people and burning homes.
He noted that because the security agents were not instructed to shoot, the hoodlums engaged only used tear gas and whips to chase them away.
According to the clergyman, the most challenging time for them is during the night when they regroup and unleash terror, making it impossible for security operatives to apprehend them.
Bakare said: “When the police chase them, they regroup later. The security people have done well, but it appears they have not been given decisive instructions to deal with them.”
In Kafanchan and Zonkwa, heavy fighting between Christians and Muslims was said to have begun at 8pm on Monday till noon yesterday.
Sources said those involved in the fight may have been brought into the area.

Local content Development Act… one year after

Olusola Bello

The signing of the Local Content Development Act by President Goodluck Jonathan a year ago was a landmark event in the oil and gas industry. It was a forerunner to subsequent bold steps taken by his administration to integrate the nation's oil and gas industry with the local economy. By insisting on what oil companies must do in the country, we are also creating opportunities for training, knowledge- sharing and technology transfer; opportunities for investment in tab yards, facilities to support industry operations; opportunities for Nigerians to own equipment, marine vessels and rigs and other equipment used in the industry. These opportunities are key to rapid and sustainable growth of the nation's economy.
Operators in the industry say one year implementation efforts have not achieved much, though it has rekindled our fillip to create capacity in human, infrastructure, facilities and other areas required to execute increased activities in Nigeria thereby retaining higher value in the country from industry operations.
According to them, by the implementation, the country is bringing back the country's jobs which have been exported to foreign economies for a very long time at the expense of the national economic development.

With the return of peace to the once restive oil-bearing areas of the Niger Delta, there are even greater prospects now for the industry to better serve the economy and provide the sectoral linkages that drive productivity.
Analysts believe that the industry must work with government and community leaders to sustain the Amnesty programme and continuously address the negative impacts arising from oil production. This strategy is already ensuring access to the oil fields with consequential boost in oil production and opening up the industry for new projects and investments on which the aspirations on Nigerian Content could be further realised.
According to Diezani Alison-Madueke, minister of Petroleum Resources, one year is a relatively short time in the oil and gas industry, but the establishment of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) by the Act with clearly defined functions and powers has certainly introduced new dynamics in the implementation of Nigerian Content in the Industry.
"Already, there is measurable and continuous growth in quantum of work being placed in Nigerian yards, contracts awarded to Nigerian companies, increasing awareness by Nigerians and indoctrination on mindset change in the short time of implementing the Act provisions by the Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

To be sure, there have also been challenges in implementation emanating mainly from capability limitations.
"The progress we make and the benefits to industry will ultimately depend on how well we tackle the challenges which are bound to arise from time to time in the course of doing our business under this new framework. The fact that the Board is carrying the major stakeholders along in most of its activities is a positive testimony to the spirit of collaboration and partnership that President Jonathan's administration is known for."
There was an initial apprehension as regards the Act, but there seems to be  better understanding of the issues  involved by other stakeholders and because of this, they would have worked assiduously to build capacity in critical areas identified by several studies to ensure that the requirements of the Act do not impede the operation of the industry.
The minister, however, clarified that the Nigerian Content Act is not designed to nationalise foreign assets or to indigenise the industry. Rather, by domiciling services and building local capacity, there will be certainty of supply for industry projects and support for life cycle operations.
"Government has taken a firm stand on this strategy, mindful of the fact that the initial cost increase associated with Nigerian Content will result in savings in the medium term when the key inputs are available in Nigeria," the minister said.

She further stated that "we cannot pretend that these aspirations will be realised simply by the enactment of an Act, rather, the route to success on Nigerian Content lies in evolving a practical implementation framework that balances the interest of investors in the sector with our national interests."
To this end, she pledged in her capacity as chairman of the Governing Council of the Board that the implementation would be fair and firm, structured and result-oriented.
"For the avoidance of doubt, I will restate the targets I set for the Board to pursue with the collaboration of key industry stakeholders, especially the major operators," she said.
According to the minister, such targets include:   (1). Retention of $10 billion out of $20 billion average annual Industry expenditure.
(2). Creation of over 30,000 direct employment and training opportunities.
(3). Establishment of three to four new pipe mills to service industry demands.
(4).Development of one or two dockyards and utilisation of existing shipyards.
(5). Indigenes to own 240 out of 400 marine vessels supporting industry.
Alison-Madueke noted that the "result of all this is that the initial apprehension in the wake of the Act is yielding to better understanding and we must work assiduously to build capacity in critical areas."