Your Excellency, It is with deep respect for you and the belief in potential greatness of Nigeria that I am writing you this letter. I have no doubt that you mean well for this country and it’s people.
I have always maintained that good intention is one thing, success in delivering the high expectation is another thing entirely, especially in a political system of government coupled with the corrupt nature of most government agencies, institutions and establishments in Nigeria.
Therefore, from the very beginning of this administration it was obvious that the government needs to significantly depart from existing institutional structures responsible for implementing government policies and programmes and to introduce new people-oriented strategies, particularly in the area of infrastructural development.
Like most Nigerians, my expectation was that with your decades of experience in government you should have comprehensively analyzed the challenges facing the country sector by sector as well as the need to establish a PTF-like structure to fast-track the monumental infrastructural deficiency in the country.
This is more or less like the infrastructural development blueprint “NEW DEAL” which was implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the great economy depression of 1930s in the United States of America.
A strategy which latter became the foundation of economic success of America as we now know it today. Another option was to adequately equip existing institutions to perform similar function of implementation and building of infrastructure with sufficient presence in the six geopolitical zones of the country.
NOT dishing out contracts as political patronage or compensation; a status-quo that has obviously failed us. However, the cost of development would be significantly reduced in addition to creating massive jobs in the process and more importantly institutionalizing a structure that would outlive your government to continue with the function of maintenance which remains missing in our national development philosophy.
In politics you don’t just take the right decision or do the right thing when you need to, but you should also be seen doing it. With all due respect sir, the government has not fully utilized its political powers in regard to development and transforming the system substantially.
This is not to discredit existing framework but to add to it including the need for a comprehensive national planning in collaboration with state governments. It is on this note that I wish to briefly bring your attention to the following. On corruption. Your government needs to immediately engage the office of the chief justice of Nigeria on the need to establish a process of accelerated trial for ALL corruption related cases.
Through a presidencial order, mandate every government ministry, agency and institution to submit details of their financial transactions once every four months to the EFCC as clearance before any funds will be further released to them to ensure “Accountability;” Establish a single framework through which infrastructural development will be coordinated for efficient evaluation and implementation while encouraging developmental idea of using In-house development process, especially in road construction and maintenance, housing development, water supply, schools and hospital construction which will all reduce cost, provide job on massive scale and reduce the element of POLITICAL CONTRACTOCRACY “corruption” Your Excellency, with the availability of all size and categories of oil refineries including Modullers readily available for sale all over the world, more so, at very affordable price due to the low price of crude oil internationally, ready for shipment and assembly to any other part of the world both federal and state governments, particularly, oil producing states must look into this option in order to end the challenge of importing refined products once and for all.
Any other state government can also take up the responsibility and investment opportunity to establish a refinery in its home state. If crude oil can be shipped all the way to China, Europe and America for refining before being shipped back into the country as various finished products, why not Sokoto, Kano state or even FCT Abuja?
This time around, even if it means to operate the refineries outside the NNPC structure and control or a joint venture with some private companies then so be it. In addition, the cost of a single month of importing refined products will be more than enough to acquire, ship and install the refines.
Also, the cost of awarding contracts for building ten key economically important roads will as well be more than enough to fully equip “Infrastructural Development Company” to build all the roads in this country as well as other critical infrastructure at a very low cost while exploring other options of using cement pavement and interlocking in road construction as well as introducing more innovation into our infrastructural development process.
Sir, in reality even if fully implimented by all government institutions and parties involved in whatever “Contract”, the entire provisions on “due process” does not in any way solve the actual problems associated with development in the country like budget padding, lack of prioritization of projects, poor quality delivery, over inflated cost of projects, ghost projects, delays in delivery, abandonment of projects, kickback syndrome, bureaucratic bottlenecks and other corrupt practices, will ALL still thrive right in the face of the so call due process. Establish a social support programme whereby the government will provide different kinds of economic support services to workersing class Nigerians at affordable price.
For example, housing, cars, business financing, foodstuff s, etc could be provided while deduction can be made directly from their salaries on a monthly basis. State governments should also be encouraged to join the programme.
With the large pool of unemployed youths it is logical to design a programme of entrepreneural businesses across the country and attach interested applicants to them as apprenticesin order to directly learn from them over a given period of time before they can later seek loan to establish their businesses.
On education, ALL serving NYSC members should be posted to primary and secondary schools in rural communities ONLY. Direct ALL government schools and higher institutions to reduce their tuition fees including the cost of NECO, JAMB, NABTEB, etc. This is possible given recent revelation of how much some of these institutions make annually and what was actually remitted to the government.
Pursue an aggressive policy of mechanizing the agricultural sector of the economy such that research institutes will be practically involved by establishing new mechanized farms across the federation.
The process is to be funded through the CBN and should include exploring new farm lands that are not in use at the moment for all kinds of plants and animal production. Encourage every state government to make available substantial land mass dedicated to “INDUSTRIAL PARK” for business developers and industries available at very affordable price. Institute a committee of professionals to review the corruption infested, inhuman National Pension Scheme that is sending our senior citizens to early graves.
Equally, direct the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission to conduct a downward review of salaries and emolument of all political offices in the country. Provide a low interest loan, specifically for existing businesses wishing to expand their production capacity across the country in order to immediately increase productivity and create employment opportunities across the country.
Via our diplomatic presence around the world, explore a proactive process of inviting foreign companies that do not have substantial hold on our market to expand their business to the country while providing diverse incentives in the process. Mr President, my greatest fear for this country is that should you fail in laying a good foundation for the country, we may have to reonsider the belief of optimism for the country.
Finally, the opportunity to develop virtually every sector of the economy is huge even without borrowing a dime externally. It is all about exploring a comprehensive, multifaceted approach and God willing we would succeed in no time. “May God save us from our enemies within and without” Mohammed writes
