Avengers can’t blow up the “SUN”

….Renewable energy critical to tackling power crisis in the country- Stakeholder’s

 

Ugo Amadi

The yearning for better and improved power supply  for Nigerians has been in front burner for some time now,   While determinations are being made by subsistent governments to meet this all essential need, one of the major hitches to power supply has been the damning activities of vandals across the country.

It is pertinent to note that the destructive works of this vandals has subsequently brought the power generation to near zero in the past few months.  

It is against this backdrop of the worsening state of electricity supply in the country that stakeholders and energy experts has stressed the need for increased renewable energy in the nation’s power generation mix.

They also called for a consensus on the right energy mix for the country and the implementation of the renewable energy policy.Stressing that vandals can only blow up the gas pipeline but cannot blow up the SUN which is a resource from  renewable energy

The country has suffered a lot in the hands of this vandals and the economy is bleeding as a result of their nefarious activities.

The minister of state for Petroleum  Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, who spoke  recently at the National Association of energy Correspondent  conference on the topic: 'The Urgency of Now', revealed that about  3,000 cases of pipeline vandalism were recorded in the country from 2010 to 2015 while the country had recorded 1,600 incidents between January and June this year, representing over 50 per cent of the incidents that occurred in five years.

According to him the incidents of vandalism that occurred in the previous years had led to the loss of 643 million litres of petroleum products, amounting to N51.28 billion lost in 2015,  while 850 million standard cubic per day of gas has been shut in due to the Niger Delta crisis, which has led to power outage exposure of 2,700 megawatts to 3,000MW.

The minister further disclosed that the crisis has forced a drop in the country's crude oil production from nearly 2.3 million barrels per day to about 1.56 million bpd."In addition, the Niger Delta crisis has resulted in loss of lives, high cost of operations, fuel shortages and environmental degradation.

The  country has in recent time  lost over 2,100 megawatts of electricity in past few months as a result of vandalism of gas pipelines and many gas facilities have been vandalised. Some of them include; the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline ELPS A, from Warri which supplies gas toEgbin Power Plant .

According to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, BabatundeRajiFashola, the attack on the Nigeria gas company’s pipeline connected to Chevron Nigeria Limited’s facility at Escravos, “is costing the country a whopping N470 million daily.”

He said: “This attack has impacted negatively on the Olorunsogo Nigerian National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) plant with 600 megawatts capacity, as well as other power plants.

“The sabotaged gas pipeline which contributes to the Escravos Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) has led to a loss of 160 Million standard cubic feet of gas per day (mmsfcd) of gas daily, at a cost of $2.50 per thousand standard cubic feet. This loss means about $400,000 loss to the country on a daily basis (N78, 800, 000 daily) in gas volume. This is in addition to losses to be incurred daily from affected Power generation ($1,988,223 or N391, 680, 000 daily). The total daily loss to the country is therefore estimated at N470, 479,931. Repairs of the damaged pipeline are estimated as costing ($609,137 or N120,000,000).”

Continuing, he said: “For instance, available records show that six incidences of vandalism from December 2014 to February 2015 which affected the Trans Forcados Pipeline (at Oben, Sapele, Oredo) and Escravos Lagos Pipeline System (CNL) led to a loss of 1,100 mmscfd. According to industry experts, a loss of 200 mmscd is equivalent to a Power reduction of 700MW.”

Unfortunately, the sabotage keeps crippling the nation’s economy as the government continues to record crude oil and product losses to vandalism. Consequently, funds need to be allocated to repairs of these pipelines when they happen; between January and December 2015, it was gathered that the NNPC spent N103.4 billion on pipeline repairs and management.

Furthermore, it is interesting to note that due to the series of pipeline vandalism, Nigeria has suffered setbacks in meeting its gas obligation to Ghana and other West African countries through the West Africa Gas Pipeline Company. It was learnt that Ghana has already started making alternative arrangements to get gas in order to provide regular electricity, which has been epileptic for several months due to the deficit in Nigeria’s supply. It is important that the government gets a grip on this menace in light of the damage it causes the nation.

It is on this note that  energy  experts and stakehohsers has canvassed seriously for renewable energy as an alternative to sustainable power supply in the country.

For the stakeholder’s renewable energy is critical to tackling power crisis in the country.

In a roundtable conference on Nigeria’s energy mix strategy and the future of renewable energy organised by the Nigeria Economic Summit Group(NESG) in partnership with Henrich Boll in Lagos, a Research Co-ordinator for Energy and Climate Policy, OekoInstitut, Dr. Felix Matthes, while sharing the German experience, said Germany had been able to significantly increase the use of renewable energy sources such as solar power.

According to him  Germany had been able to increase the contribution of renewable energy from 10 per cent in its energy mix to 30 per cent between 2005 and 2015 through on-grid and off-grid generation. Thus, renewable energy supplied almost all of Germany’s power demand for the first time, supplying 45,500MW out of the 45,800MW demand.

“Just as Germany has a key piece of legislation called the Renewable Energy Act, that is driving its energy transition, Nigeria has its own Renewable Energy Policy that was launched in April 2015. Critical elements of both policies are similar and my thought would be for us as a collective to set out to implement policy.

“Given that there is so much going on in our traditional energy space, coupled with grid issues, it is clear that we have to actively consider decentralised renewable energy generation as a key to resolving our energy challenges.”

On  tackling the nation’s energy constraint, there was a need to agree on appropriate total energy mix for the next few years as well as the targets to attain the agreed mix. If and when we achieve a consensus on the right energy mix comes the role that policy will play in getting us to this destination, as well as the strategic plans to implement the policy and a framework to monitor implementation.

Renewable energy is energy that comes from resources which are naturally replenished on a human timescale such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat.

 Renewable energy replaces conventional fuels in four distinct areas: electricity generation, air and water heating/cooling, motor fuels, and rural (off-grid) energy services. Renewable energy is one of the means of tackling the global challenges of climate change. It is now being seen by many people around the world as a cost-effective development solution for developed countries and a developing country such as Nigeria.

A report released by international development organisation Oxfam argues that renewable energy is in fact a more affordable energy source than coal for poor people in developing countries around the world.

The report argues that as a result of the changing energy landscape around the world, the decreasing price of renewable energies, and the often remote location of the majority of people who don’t have access to electricity, renewable energy may actually offer a more reliable and effective energy source.

According to the report of Dr Simon Bradshaw, “Four out of five people without electricity live in rural areas that are often not connected to a centralised energy grid, so local, renewable energy solutions offer a much more affordable, practical and healthy solution. In Nigeria, there is rapid population growth, increase in industrial activities and more energy is consumed, resulting in environmental pollution and economic difficulties.

 There is need for renewable energy resources utilization globally. For example, the country has adequate fuel supplies (world’s sixth largest exporter of crude oil) yet more than 70 percent of its inhabitants do not have access to electricity for their domestic needs. Renewable energy penetration in Nigeria is still in its nascent stage. .

Solar energy in Nigeria is majorly used in urban areas for street lighting, while in some rural areas it is used for irrigation project and water pumping.

 The country has a target in 2007 to produce 7% of its 2025 energy needs from renewable with solar and hydro as the major priority

Nigeria has the potential to exploit its abundant solar energy resources considering its geographic location around the equatorial sun-belt. The country receives abundant sunshine all year round ranging from 6.70kwh/m2/day in Borno State to roughly 4.06kwh/m2/d to 5.86kwh/m2/d in locations such as Calabar in Cross Rivers State. The Federal Capital Territory has a daily horizontal solar radiation ranging from a high of 6.07/kwh/m2/d to a low of 4.42/kwh/m2/d during the month of August.

This level of solar radiation across the country can support huge deployment of solar power infrastructures designed to primarily feed in to the regional power distribution entities. The size of the area currently occupied by the insurgents in Borno State can supply sufficient power required by the entire country if well harnessed.

Despite the glaring economic constraints of solar power generation, its limited competitiveness, a low capacity factor, in addition to high cost of PV cells, renewable power sources mainly solar power development can support peak time energy consumption and can add considerable capacity directly to the national grid or embedded network of distribution enclaves.

Worldwide investments in renewable technologies amounted to more than US$214 billion in 2013, with countries like China and the United States heavily investing in wind, hydro, solar and biofuels. In the USA, the Obama administration has made significant progress at encouraging investment in solar power under Power Africa Initiative.

Industry watchers have noted that, there is need for the Federal government to look at existing policies on renewable, energy take full advantage of it to boost her power generating capacity. This has become necessary in view of its great roles to our national development. We all know that the issue of power utilization is very sacrosanct to the socio-economic and technological growth of Nigeria.

Also, it is good to observe that many electricity consumers in Nigeria are now gradually shifting from high energy consuming electric bulbs to low energy saving bulbs in most residential and commercial outfits.  Recently Kaduna state government banned high energy bulb in the state.

It will interest you that in the power sector, a reasonable improvement could be made through investment in renewable energy by collaborating with relevant private organizations and international bodies. So Government must play a useful role in promoting renewable energy technologies by initiating surveys and studies to establish their potential in both urban and rural areas.

Just like the Indian and Chinese governments which have pursued vigorously policies to encourage deployment of grid connected solar power plants ,ourdistribution companies (DISCOS) in Nigeria can  procure certain amount of electricity from renewable sources.

The use of renewable energy is renewable and sustainable and will never run out. It is constantly being replenished from natural resources. They have security of supply, unlike fossil fuels, which are negotiated on the international market and subjected to international competition, sometimes even resulting in wars and shortages. Renewable energy facilities generally require less maintenance than traditional generators. Their fuel being derived from natural and available resources reduces the costs of operation.

Renewable energy business leads to job creation for thousands of people involved in it. For example, if there are 80 utility-scale solar energy projects that represent about 56,000 megawatts of new electric power that will mean about 20 thousand permanent jobs. It is important that our governments take steps immediately to extend and expand the renewable energy sector of our country.

Renewable energy is clean and pollution-free and is therefore a sustainable natural form of energy. Unlike the nuclear and fossil fuels plants which belong to big companies, governments, or state-owned enterprises.

Renewable energy can be set up in small units and is suitable for community management and ownership. In Nigeria, this has particular relevance since the electricity grid does not extend to remote areas.

The use of renewable energy will go a long way in providing light to many villages and semi towns. Solar panels used for generating electricity The implementation of renewable energy technologies will help to address the environmental concerns that emerged due to greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide (CO2), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), oxides of sulfur (SOx), and particulate matters as a result of power generation from oil, natural gas, and coal.

A variety of renewable energy resources provide a flexible array of options for their use. Emissions from fossil fuels, for example, reach beyond the local and national levels to affect the global environment and contribute to climate change. The poorest people often live in the most ecologically sensitive and vulnerable physical locations. These areas may be the most affected by the predictable effects of climate change such as an increased frequency of extreme events, for example floods, drought, rising sea levels, and melting ice caps. The risks facing poor people are often increased by the unsustainable use of biomass resources.

Solar energy for instance has the greatest potential to contribute enormous amount of low carbon energy in Nigeria through solar PV and solar thermal process. It may be transformed directly into heat using solar collectors or directly to electricity using solar PV cells. It is estimated that when 1% of Nigeria’s land area is covered with a solar technology of 5% efficiency, about 333,480MW of electricity may be produced at about 26% capacity factor. This electricity generation capacity will be more than enough for the country, up to 2050, that will conveniently support 11% -13% economic growth rates as envisioned by vision 20:2020.

Solar energy is capital intensive but it is an area we can explore to meet up with the energy needs of the Nigerian people. As a developing country, we can start from somewhere. All Federal, State and Local government schools, Colleges, Polytechnics, Universities and Ministries can adopt the use of solar energy. This could be achieved by devoting a certain percentage of their budget towards solar energy project. In the next 2 to 5 years, some improvement could be made that can take us to the next level..

There is no gainsaying that Alternative energy sources are at present the only panacea that will ‘bail the cat’ as seen practised by many other countries including neighbouring Kenya, Ethiopia and South Africa which the Bloomberg New Energy Finance has confirmed is leading in the renewable energy revolution in Africa, leaving Nigeria, the “Giant of Africa behind.” Renewable energy sources are still the best and wonderful option because they are limitless.

Energy crisis in Nigeria has become a norm for several decades and is the bane of her economic development. There is an extreme electricity deficiency in Nigeria and the causes of this deficiency are related to financial, sociopolitical, and structural issues

As a matter of fact , Nigerians will not run out of them as we may do the fossils fuels. Also, it is not only the declining levels of fossil fuels that is the only major concern to make Nigeria adapt and switch to the use of renewable energy sources, climate change, which is caused as a result of carbon emissions and environmental pollution is drawing world attention and forcing national governments to formulate policies that will make their nations adapt to the use of renewable energy sources to cut environmental pollution to a barest minimum, because global warming has become a major issue and problem of the world today and in the future.

Nigeria need not be lagging behind in towing this viable path that other visionary and proactive nations are towing to save their countries from impending energy cataclysm.

Long-term investments in renewable energies like solar and wind have the potential to contribute significantly to the electricity deficiency.The theoretical framework of the energy policy outlined by the Nigerian government seems promising, but there is a discontinuity, however, between implementation and theory.

The Federal Ministries of Environment and Power and the Energy Commission of Nigeria should implement their blueprints of renewable energy technologies in at least, direct capturing of the excess solar energy, abundant in Nigeria.

From the NIMET’s info sheet, Nigeria is endowed with an annual daily sunshine that is averagely 6.25 hours, which is ranging between about 3.5 hours at the coastal areas of the northern boundary of the nations and also has an annual average daily solar radiation of about 3.5 KWm2/day in the coastal area which is in the southern part and 7.0 KWm2/ day at the northern boundary.

Nigeria receives about 4909.212 kWh of energy from the sun which is equivalent to about 1.082 million tonnes of oil; this is about 4000 times the current crude oil production per day, and also put at about 13 thousand times of daily natural gas production based on energy unit.

Majority of Nigerians are not aware about the environmental impacts and economic benefits of adopting renewable energy. The public awareness of the renewable energy technologies is generally low.

Consequently, the Nigerian public does not have much influence that will compel the government to formulate decisive policies and initiatives that will enhance and promote the application, development, dissemination and diffusion of renewable energy technologies and resources in the Nigerian energy market.

The environment will surely benefit from the elimination of fossil fuels, which will also boost most sectors of the economy. This is where it becomes the business of the general public in Nigeria to urge the government to divest to renewable energy to better the socio economic lives of the citizens and enhance the economy of the nation.

FG should look beyond oil and engage private sector urgently to save Nigeria- ZINOX BOSS ….Says it’s too late to devalue Naira

FG should look beyond oil and  engage private sector urgently to save Nigeria- ZINOX BOSS

….Says  it’s too late to devalue Naira

Leo Stan Ekeh‎ is the chairman of Zinox Group.Nigeria’s foremost integrated Information and Communication Technology (ICT) conglomerate Ekeh is a serial digital entrepreneur, and a man who carries around with him an infectious passion for the Nigerian project, especially with regards to seeing the country take its rightful place in the comity of industrialized nations by leveraging on the limitless opportunities in the ICT sub-sector. ‎Speaking to ICT journalists in Lagos, he bares his mind on a number of issues including the current economic climate, Naira devaluation,  the education sector and much more.

On Naira Devaluation

Notwithstanding the recent call by the United states for the devaluation of the naira, Chairman of Zinox Group, Nigeria’s foremost integrated Information and Communication Technology (ICT) conglomerate, Leo Stan Ekeh has lent his voice to the on-going debate over the calls for the devaluation of the local currency, noting that prevailing circumstances in the nation’s fiscal and monetary framework aligned to developments in the global oil market makes devaluation a needless venture at this material time.

Since the turn of the year, the country has had to contend with reduced government earnings from the sale of crude oil, with the current administration especially hard-hit by the dwindling prices of the commodity in the global market, prompting the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to impose strict forex rules to save its reserves while battling the pressure from various quarters to devalue the naira.

For me  it is too late to devalue the naira as the move will only serve to further impoverish the masses and plunge the country into a state of hyper-inflation. What do you think would happen to already stretched wage earners? Would their salaries be linked to rate of inflation as is the standard globally? As I speak a lot of states cannot pay the minimum monthly salary.

If devaluation happened mid-last year it would have made sense and encouraged in-flows from investors but devaluing now would compound our already difficult situation and investors will only wait in anticipation of a further devaluation. It will rubbish our currency forever and strengthen the purchasing power of our trading partners,” he said.

Interestingly our company is one of the casualties of the current forex scarcity with increasing difficulty to meet overseas business obligations,  and I believes Nigerians and Nigerian corporates have reasonably adjusted to the realities of the hard times with pains as most people are now  prioritizing critical needs which should be the case most times. In my view, the dire situation has most importantly impacted common sense which is not too common in many Nigerians.

So, It’s too late to devalue the naira at this point in time. I can see reason behind the refusal of the President to consider devaluation as it is a move that will certainly erode the buying power of the middle class and push millions of Nigeria already living below the poverty line into abject penury. The country is hugely dependent on imports as it were and with the status quo ante, any attempt to devalue the currency will only usher in inflation and leave the country at the mercy of the vested interests in the global economic set-up who have been voluble in their calls for devaluation.”

Rather than consider devaluing the currency, I counseled the government to explore other options which will shore up the value of the naira and make the country less dependent on imports as it used to be in the past.

We should rather focus our collective energies on workable ideas and a sound framework on which to base the diversification of our present mono-economy to re-ignite the country’s hitherto-forgotten status as a continental exporter.

This is the time to refurbish our school system and save from remittance of fees for the millions of Nigerians who do not have option than to school abroad. This is the time to create knowledge incubators around the country which does not cost much to empower Nigerians to create digital wealth which has near zero-incubation period. It is the time for us develop industrial clusters in major productive zones to supply the needs of Nigeria and reduce importation.

Also, I  predict that if oil prices rebound to at least $50 per barrel, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari will be one of the best placed in the history of the country to positively impact the lives of Nigerians. Trust me, at $50 per barrel the quality of life of today’s Nigerians may be better than when oil prices reached record highs of $115 per barrel because Nigerians now have a new mind-set to live real and well which wasn’t the case until few months ago. If the prices inches to at least $50 per barrel, I am confident that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari will be in a better position from a financial stand-point to positively impact the lives of Nigerians and guarantee rapid infrastructural development.

I affirmed that this belief is down to the new-found air of accountability and probity in the polity coupled with the conscious effort to block leakages in the system which has strengthened the country’s capacity and empowered most of our critical institutions.

ICT as a Game-Changer in a Nation’s Economic Development.

That’s correct. I have always told anyone who cared to listen that the way to go when it comes to taking Nigeria to the level of development we so urgently crave is by building a knowledge economy. In this 21st century, no one has a business being poor especially considering the proliferation of Information and Communication Technology tools and the internet which has put the world at everyone’s finger-tips.

Today, you no longer have to physically leave your environment to gain access to formal education.

With a computer and access to the internet, a variety of degrees can be acquired at your convenience. So is access to new information on business intelligence, ideas and concepts which could radically change one’s circumstances. Information is power and it is at everyone’s disposal at the speed of light these days so what business do we still have as a nation being classified as a Third World or developing country? Many years ago, I had realized that the power to liberate millions of our youths lay in the internet and associated technologies hence the decision behind our “Computerize Nigeria” project which we launched in 2001.

The idea is to provide affordable access to ICT tools and processes which, among other things, promoted the digital re-tooling of individuals, institutions and corporate entities as well as the launch of the first computer ownership scheme in Nigeria.

Imagine every Nigerian being able to own a computer which with he or she can access the internet and avail themselves of the huge well of information and intelligence that is evidently manifest therein.

Before long, you will have built a knowledge economy of highly literate and sound-thinking people who can stand on their own and take meaningful decisions in business and life which will undoubtedly rub off on the nation’s fortunes. Understandably, all these will have to go hand-in-hand with improved access to education which is the foundational basis for every developed economy

Today, the  Zinox Group’s investment in Xputer – a 21st century digital software company –is timely and in line with the ambition of building the single largest 360 degrees ICT conglomerate in Africa out of Nigeria and creating platforms for current and future Nigerian whiz-kids to alter their destinies.

Improving Access to Education and Building the Knowledge Economy

Education is the bedrock of development, as you have rightly mentioned. While I commend the efforts of previous administrations, it is worth stating that more needs to be done to raise the dwindling standards.

Contemporary realities make it evidently imperative for the government to beam its focus on the education sector as a matter of urgency and the time is now.

The recent budget presentation made by the President which saw an increase in the allocation to education thankfully seems to have taken into cognizance the need to urgently intervene in the sector. Nevertheless, while allocating 5.5% of the budget which amounts to 396 billion and represents the largest sectoral allocation, is a big step in the right direction, more still needs to be done in expanding access to formal education for millions of our youths.

Today, many parents find it hard to support or see their children through school especially at the tertiary level owing to obvious economic challenges and the spiraling cost of access.

This is one area the government should focus on, with a view to finding means of reducing the impacts on especially indigent and economically vulnerable parents. Furthermore, the government needs to do more in the area of reviving our institutions to average standards which is not rocket science, moreso when you consider that what obtains at the moment is at best a watered-down version of what some of us were exposed to back then.

The  Economy, Prevailing Downturn, Falling Price of Crude Oil, Forex

Well, I have always been an optimist. I believe the Nigerian economy can never shut down totally, by God’s grace.

However, the shocks and gaps in the economy at the moment represent our current realities and we must find creative ways to navigate this harsh economic climate. The unprecedented fall in the price of crude oil is a global phenomenon which not even the smartest economist could have predicted.

The only regret is the fact that successive governments failed to save for the present rainy day we are experiencing when prices were at their peak.

Having said that, we must always look forward. I sincerely believe that the current administration has the requisite political will and capacity to see the country through this storm and the new mindset of Nigerians to get things done properly also helps. I also believe that the organized private sector holds the key to a way out of the present quagmire.

As a matter of urgency, President Buhari should engage the private sector to save Nigeria. The three levels of the sector drives over 80% of Nigeria’s economy and certainly, we can only move forward when the government carries them along. Recall that in the run-up to last year’s elections, President Buhari met with representatives of the private sector in Lagos to present his party’s economic plans. This and other engagements certainly went a long way in contributing to his victory at the polls. ‎

It is my considered opinion that the time is right for the President to enlist the support of the sector in finding a way out of the current economic challenges by restating the vision and focus of the government as well as its sincerity to turn around the economy, as eloquently outlined during the electioneering period. In so doing, the President can secure the support of the sector for the vision and plans of his government. For instance, by reaching out to large corporates, influential businessmen and individuals, and even some of our big churches with huge reserves abroad, the government can find a way out of the foreign exchange challenges. These establishments and individuals can lend the government through promissory notes at an interest rate of, say 1.5% per year which will be the highest anywhere in the world and repay gradually over a period of one year. The government can raise money through this means which will provide the needed foreign exchange to enable it meet the numerous commitments and also help it navigate and offset the low price of crude oil in the global market.

Government, on its own part, can reward the private sector by giving them a chance to have a say in government and by looking into some of the challenges being faced by the sector in terms of confiscation of goods by some agencies, multiple taxation from the tiers of government, unconducive business environment especially as they are the custodian of power and they should be accountable to the people who elects them to office.

I am confident that in 18 months, the current challenges will be solved and the economy will rebound.

Massive Job Cuts and Losses Being Experienced

I am sure no employer will be happy to embark on retrenchment, right-sizing or down-sizing, as the case may be. It is a reaction to the prevailing circumstances as businesses try their best to remain afloat. Government agencies are also not left out as they are also heavily involved. Down-sizing or job cuts have a huge, negative multiplier effect on the economy as it not only affects the individual who is laid off but also affects families and other dependents while creating a myriad of social problems. Statistically speaking, there are well over 23 million unemployed and under-employed Nigerians who are looking up to the government to provide employment opportunities for them.

Although little can be done by businesses but the President can appeal to large corporates and even small and medium companies to leverage on reserves by also offering some tax incentives for the next 18 months so that employees are not unnecessarily retrenched in the short term. This is the time for shareholders to cut their dividend expectation for the economy to survive because if there is no economy, we do not have a business. I frankly believe things shall turn around sooner than is being speculated.

Next Big Sector for Employment

I have been saying it in the last 20 years. It is technology, technology and technology. If past administrations invested heavily in this sector, the ICT sector would be earning more revenue than oil with solid hopes of prosperity for the majority, mostly for those from poor homes who have the brain power. Do we expect miracles from oil? The answer is no. Global statistics has shown credible trend in countries resolving their employment challenges through structured investment in the ICT sector. Is it that our leaders and their advisers are too blind to see future measureable wealth? The Devices, Software, Solution and E-commerce sector could employ well over 45 million Nigerians with solid future and could also bring a minimum revenue of $150billion every year. I am not sure what we are still waiting for to save this nation. Is it not a shame we are all waiting for oil prices to move up for the nation to survive? We are ignoring what we have control of and putting all our hopes on nature in this 21st century.

NRGI  report says NNPC Withheld N824.7 Billion Oil Revenue in 6 Months of Buhari's Govt

Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI)  new report recently released and made available to Daily Champion has shown that despite President Muhammadu Buhari's attempt at ensuring transparency in the oil sector, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, still withholds billions in oil revenues from the government account.

According to the report by the Natural Resource Governance Institute, a UK-based natural resources accountability group, titled "NNPC still holds blank check" said that within the first six months of the Buhari administration, the NNPC withheld over $4.2 billion (about N824.7 billion) out of a total of $6.3 billion (N1.24 trillion)

Interestingly the sum of $1.4 billion earnings from Nigeria's regular crude oil exports for the period; $3.4 billion from domestic crude oil sales, and $1.5 billion from oil sold from the corporation's upstream subsidiary, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC oil fields, withheld  revenues represented about 66 per cent of the total revenue.

The report said only $2.1 billion (about N413.7 billion) was transferred to the Federation Account.

The group said the unremitted revenues for the six months was about 14 per cent more than the amount withheld by the corporation under the Goodluck Jonathan administration in the first half of 2015, and about 12 per cent higher than the share withheld in 2013 and 2014.

The report said the figure of unremitted oil revenues in 2015 contrasted sharply with 2005 figures, which showed the state owned corporation remitted about 68 per cent of its total oil sale earnings to the Federation Account and kept only 32 per cent that year.

The report said while part of the withheld funds was used for servicing Nigeria's share of the joint venture operating obligations, the NNPC did not fully explain what the other retained revenues from domestic crude and NPDC oil sales were used for.

In general, the report said despite the on-going reforms in the oil sector, the NNPC under the present administration was still retaining a major share of oil sale earnings and spending at will.

Some of the reforms by the Buhari government, the report noted, have cut the number of passive, well connected middlemen that pocketed billions of oil revenues, while the administration has cancelled costly, unbalanced NNPC swap contracts as well as seek more efficient replacements.

The report lamented that recent announcements on NNPC reforms and the latest drafts of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, failed to adequately address how NNPC and the government would share future oil revenues

"Until government establishes a clear, legally enforceable rule governing which revenues NNPC can keep and how they can be spent, oil sector corruption and waste could return to their prior devastating levels once the president (Buhari) leaves, or prices rise," the report noted.

While encouraging government to push ahead with its reform plans for the oil sector, NRGI stressed the need for NNPC to adopt new financial controls and transparency measures for its subsidiaries, especially bordering on the several billion revenues retained each year from NPDC operations and its oil trading and marketing subsidiaries.

The Institute also called for the immediate replacement of the 445,000 barrels per day crude oil allocation for domestic refining with a fit-for-purpose mechanism for supplies to the country's four refineries.

"The government should move to curb the corporation's discretionary, unaccountable use of much-needed public funds. Until the government instates clear rules for NNPC financing, both the controversies and the underlying revenue leakages will persist," the report said.

Describing the NPDC as one of the Nigerian petroleum sector's "great black boxes", the report said some of the oil from the company's fields went to its strategic alliance partners, two of which were paid in oil for purportedly shouldering the company's financial obligations.

From the production of an average of 30,000 barrels per day of Okono grade crude during the period, the report said NNPC retained all earnings ( about $12.3 billion over the past decade) from the offshore Oil Mining Lease (OML) 119 owned wholly by NPDC

 However industry watchers has noted that  oil sector corruption and waste could return to their prior devastating levels once Buhari leaves or crude oil prices rise again

THE LEGEND OF THE “MEGABYTES”- LEO STAN EKEH @ 60

BY: UGO AMADI

.“People often become what they believe themselves to be. If I believe I cannot do something, it makes me incapable of doing it. But when I believe I can, then I acquire the ability to do it even if I didn’t have it in the beginning.” – Mahatma Gandhi

This was the propelling statement that inspired Leo Stan Ekeh, our legend of  ICT industry  in Nigeria, when he abandoned his Masters’ Degree in BUSINESS LAW after 8months at what is known today as London Metropolitan University. He used his school fees to launch his first Company Task Systems Ltd. with which he caused digital revolution in Nigeria by pioneering Desktop Publishing and Computer Graphics in West Africa.

As Leo Stan clocks 60 years, he brims with fulfillment of purpose even though  his parents did not see a future in IT in Africa .

Today, Leo Stan Ekeh is a trailblazer, beacon of optimism, Legend of “megabyte’, astute businessman and great Icon who will forever be remembered by his family, friends, associates and great digital world. As a matter of fact, words cannot convey their love, respect and admiration for this finest Nigeria’s classic businessman.

He is a motivating aphorism example, as well as an aide memoire to all that direction is not the function of sight but a combination of sight, insight and hindsight. Thus, individuals can awaken the giants within them in order to accomplish life’s purpose.

Leo Stan was young but optimistic. He had a vision, he understood what needed to be done – he had the skills, work ethics and dedication to conquer the world of ICT. He can be described as a man of  diligence who optimizes the “I can do spirit”. This has enabled him stimulate and surmount all the industries he bestrides.

Born  from a good background on February 22, 1956, in Ubomiri, Mbaitoli LGA, Imo State to Late Chief and Mrs. Ebenezer Ekeh, with three brothers and two sisters.  

Fortified with foremost education from some of the world’s leading institutions, Leo Stan was ready to conquer his world. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Punjab University, India . Ekeh believes that studying in India was a great turning point in his life because he found the economy of India a realistic economy.

 After his university education in India, Ekeh opted to study at the Cork City University, Ireland, and later transferred to Nottingham University, UK, earning a degree in risk management.

Through his first company, Task Systems Limited, he was one of the few who pioneered Desktop Publishing and Computer Graphics in Nigeria. He computerized 95 percent of the Print Media, Publishing Houses and Advertising Agencies in Nigeria. Task Systems Limited has consistently won outstanding industry Awards as Best Partner Award for Compaq, HP, Microsoft, American Power Solution, APC etc. for over 20 years.

 Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh pioneered IT Solutions in West Africa through his company ITEC Solutions Limited through which he has delivered the largest IT Solutions ever, from an indigenous firm to the Nigerian Corporate Market.

As a man with a golden touch, Leo Stan also pioneered IT Distribution in West Africa through Technology Distributions Limited, TD, which has emerged the Number 1 ICT distribution company in West Africa. TD has consistently won for ten years the highest industry Awards and recognitions for market penetration, revenue, and preferred partner status to become the most decorated ICT Distributor in West Africa.

Furthermore, Leo Stan Ekeh scored another first in 2001 when he set up Zinox Technologies Limited to manufacture Zinox Computers, Nigeria’s First Internationally Certified Branded Computers. Leo Stan’s Zinox Computer has some innovative features, which include - the Naira sign, and a Power Supply designed to contain the erratic nature of electric power in Nigeria. It was the first ever internationally certified branded computer OEM in West Africa.

 He ensured that at launch Zinox Computers already had the WHQL certification, the first in sub-Saharan Africa; consolidated 5 years later with the attainment of the NIS ISO 2000: 9001 QMS Certification. In October 2013, the company announced the production of its computer tablet line named Zipad.

Leo Stan Ekeh has a record of incisive entrepreneurship and his vision to computerize Nigeria has rewritten the history of Information Technology in the Third World. Mr. Ekeh who believes that no one is destined to be poor in this knowledge century has been the main driver of digital knowledge democracy in Africa.

As Chairman of the Zinox Group, one of his legacies is to alter positively the destiny of many poor Nigerians through his knowledge democracy platforms. The most integrated Information Technology Group in the whole of Africa, the Zinox Group has shown multiple competencies in manufacturing, solutions delivery and logistics.

The Group salvaged the 2006 Voters’ registration exercise by delivering 12,000 systems to INEC in 3 weeks. Again in 2011, under his leadership, the Group has been responsible for the technology backbone for the 2011 voters’ registration through the supply of 80,000 DDC Machines in 35 days; an awesome accomplishment for an indigenous firm in Nigeria or anywhere in the world.

Another disruptive move was to offer solutions to the oil and gas sector of the economy. It was at this point that Steve Job enhanced the Graphics Interface of Apple with User Interface which limited it initially from being used in the corporate sector as an alternative to IBM, which gave Leo Stan the impetus to expand into the rare corporate sector.

As a matter of fact nothing makes a legend more memorable than the right combination of a distinguished talent bringing the performance and purpose to life. Leo Stan Ekeh has earned over 85 Awards amongst which are - Icon of Hope Award by President Olusegun Obasanjo on the 1st of October 2002 for his exemplary Digital vision and as a Model for modern Nigeria.

He was given the award of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) for his insightful digital private enterprise; and pioneer ICT Personality of the year by the Nigeria Computer Society – the Umbrella body of all Computer Associations in Nigeria.

A Fellow of the Nigeria Law School, Fellow of the Nigeria Computer Society, the legend has over six Doctor of Science Degrees (Honoris causa) from FUTO, UNIJOS, FUAM, IMSU etc.

One of the most respected, assiduous, brilliant and most hunted after persona in both international and local ICT events, the Legend Leo Stan Ekeh is Microsoft Inc. Global Adviser and mentor to many upcoming small businesses in Nigeria.

Not resting on his achievements, Leo Stan has an aspiration to erect the biggest and largest  ICT corporation in sub Saharan Africa and Africa as a whole thus with his Group investment in Xputer, a 21st century Software company.

Expediently, his chain of ICT groups has undoubtedly taking a premiere position in ICT industry with Task Systems Ltd dealing in ICT Distribution (Technology Distributions), Digital Hardware manufacturing and Hybrid ICT solutions, Retail (Yudala by relationship), Enterprise Digital Internet Hub (Zinox Telecoms Ltd, Nigeria and Ashour Corporation, Dubai) .

Furthermore, Passionate about taking young people out of the street, Leo Stan Ekeh has strategically though YUDALA “YUBOSE” the latest and fast growing online and offline retail shop created a platform that will create over 200 young millionaires in the next few years.

According to him, ‘the next mega wealth of Nigeria’s future is online not in oil and gas thus, Nigerians and the government should key into it”. Interestingly, he has been in the fore front of Digital emancipation of Africans. He encouraged Apple Computers, Hewlett Packard, Compaq, Microsoft, Lenovo etc. come into Nigeria to establish offices.

Also within Zinox, there are digital Internet hub called Zinox Telecom which is streaming online content using the group’s robust broadband infrastructure to about 226 tertiary schools and over 1,000 secondary institutions and other strategic corporate organisations in the country.

 He has served the Federal Government in several strategic Presidential Committees including the most strategic seven-man Committee under President Obasanjo administration – “The Nigeria Thinkers”. This was the strategy and tact committee headed by the President that visualized the Nigerian global road map and possible dominance in select sectors in Africa and the world.

As our Legend - Leo Stan celebrates his birthday, we trust God Almighty to continuously grant him good health, wisdom and many more years so that humanity will continue to draw from his wealth of knowledge, candor, diligent, and incomparable leadership.

Personally speaking, Leo Stan has inspired and influenced my work ethics and dedication. He will always remain a true champion and a legend of the “Megabytes” in ICT industry.

A true inspiration for many to follow, a devout Christian and family man; Leo Stan is married to Chioma and they have five wonderful children.

He is also a philanthropist of repute who gives out nearly half of his earnings yearly for the betterment of mankind and in line with his covenant with his God. Indeed LEO STAN EKEH is our Legend.

JukemTech announces ”Enclinc” a complete hospital management solution for medical practitioners

ugo Amadi

JukemTech announces ”Enclinc” a complete hospital management solution for medical practitioners

In a bid to providing a better medical management solution, JukemTech ltd services has  announced the launch of Enclinic a Complete Hospital Management solution for medical practioners.

In a Press statement made available to newsmen  in Lagos, JUKEM Technology Ltd, CEO, Justin Tochukwu said that Enclinic was designed to improve the quality and management of clinical care and hospital health care management in other to mitigate the hassles and stress involved in managing typical healthcare facilities

According to him, managing a hospital is far from being an easy task; it’s one of the toughest jobs around, to say the least! If you happen to be a healthcare professional, you would know the perfection and precision needed to manage a healthcare facility.

Justin noted that every day a large number of people inquire, consult, register, enlist and discharge patients and carry out medical tests at hospitals. So it’s a huge task to keep all financial and historical medical records up-to-date without the aid of a customized application package.He stressed that having Enclinic Hospital management software in place can be of a great help which effectively handles all management task internally or externally.
He emphasized that the software helps to handle the entire administration of hospitals and healthcare facilities. 

Typically, Enclinc includes various modules that help doctors manage their assignments and schedules, carry out patient registration, maintain store inventory records, keep track of medicine, administration, prescriptions, nursing and financial information, including final billing & payments and much more. After implementing and integrating Enclinc software into the system, patient care and hospital administration becomes an easy job.

‘’In a word, it sets a standard for patient care, making it more constant and reliable. Information kiosks put up at leading health care facilities make use of this system. These kiosks serve as an information source for patients and their family members by helping them to know more about their illnesses and conditions as well as the treatments available. Justin stated

Also another advantage of having Enclinic , according to JukemTech  CEO is that the Hospital Management Software  plays a crucial role in cost control by enhancing productivity and efficiency. Inventory and personnel costs are minimized through the avoidance of repetitions and duplications.

The software can also help reduce delays and confusion, which are caused by missing or incomplete records. This application can also be looked upon as a management tool, which offers the functionality of amassing different kinds of data into usable reports.

He noted that as far as the security of the patient and protection of administrative information is concerned, Enclinc hospital management software offers unparalleled performance. With its security modules, department-specific information can be accessed and guarded as and where needed.
Enclinc hospital management system is essential for all healthcare establishments, be it hospitals and nursing homes, health clinics, rehabilitation centres, caregiver facilities or doctors’ chambers, outpatient clinics, dispensaries, independent pathology laboratories etc.

The installation of this software results in improvement in administrative functions and hence better patient care, which is the prime focus of any healthcare outfit.
 
The Setup of the software include, Windows XP/7/8/10.Compatible, 4 Unique users per Clinic, Licensed to one clinic per location .it also gives Explicit patient registration ,Full patient database, Quick patient Search, Super fast advance search, Patients Data analysis

Also it has , No limit to number of appointments, Manage appointments for practioners, View next available appointment dates, Flexible booking setup, Synchronizes with your calendar, Manage treatment course ,Accesses first visit, current visit and past visit , Create and manages payments, Choose from over 50,000 widely recommended drugs , Add dosage, frequency and instructions , Add extra medications to the list using our Master form,Also instructions can be added or modified according to your preference.

JukemTech Ltd is an information technology company that specializes in web development, Mobile App Development, Software development; along with customized application development and consulting services, at JukemTecH we adapt and implement innovative solutions that aids individuals, organizations and government bodies achieve their goals faster, easier and efficiently through, providing the much needed resources, skills and knowledge.