Nigeria deports 28 South Africans as row deepens

•Moro

Twenty-eight South Africans were denied entry into Lagos – a tit for tat that has deepened the row between the two countries.

South Africa last Friday deported 125 Nigerians from the Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johanesburg after denying them entry into the country for allegedly possessing fake yellow fever certificates. The Federal Government frowned at the action.

The 28 passengers flew into the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos aboard a South African Airways flight at about 9.30pm.

They were expected to be deported last night or this morning.

A source said: "The Federal Government decided to deny these 28 South Africans entry because of invalid documents and relevant health certificate clearance.

"We are also deporting them back to South Africa. The Presidency has been notified of this action.

"We will no longer overlook certain procedures which we have condoned in the spirit of African brotherhood."

Earlier yesterday, Nigeria had threatened to retaliate South Africa’s maltreatment of Nigerians.

Interior Minister Albo Moro said: "I want to assure you on one thing. The Federal Government has the capacity to reciprocate appropriately if it is found that (the deportation) was not done in good faith."

He added: "At the moment, Nigeria maintains a very cordial diplomatic relations with South Africa and I can assure you that we will react appropriately if it is found that South Africa has taken unfriendly action against Nigeria.

Moro spoke to reporters at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Also yesterday, the Federal Government summoned the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Kingsley Mambolo.

Besides, the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru, to appear before it today to clarify Nigeria’s relationship with other African countries.

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, asked the Federal Government to apply the principle of reciprocity in dealing with South Africa.

Mambolo was at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to explain why South Africa maltreated Nigerian travellers last Friday.

According to sources, when he got to the Ministry at about 3pm, Mambolo was asked to see the Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi, instead of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: "When the South African High Commissioner got to the Ministry, the Permanent Secretary was directed to ask him to explain why 125 Nigerians were deported without diplomatic courtesy.

"He spent about an hour interacting with the Permanent Secretary, but Nigeria was not convinced about the explanation given by South Africa.

"We are demanding unreserved apology from South Africa for this ill-treatment of Nigerian travellers or else, we will take more drastic actions."

Ashiru confirmed the invitation of the High Commissioner but he declined further comments.

The Minister is to appear before the House Committee today to clarify Nigeria’ relationship with its African countries.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, said it was disturbed by the series of negative attacks on Nigerians and its embassies, especially in the sub region.

Elendu-Ukeje recalled the recent lock-up of some Nigerians in Togo without any explanation to the Nigerian government.

She said: "We are indeed worried about all these indignation and scorn Nigerians are subjected to all over the world, especially by sister African nations. This calls for a review of our relationship with these countries.

"So, we have invited the Minister of Foreign Affairs to a meeting on Tuesday to come and explain to us, our relationship with these countries and why Nigerians are being subjected to ridicule all over the world," she said.

To Mrs Dabiri-Erewa, the illegal deportation of 125 Nigerians by the South African government is "inhuman".

In a statement in Abuja, she faulted the "continuous unwarranted hostilities against Nigerians by the South Africa government".

She said: "It is pathetic that 125 Nigerians, the highest so far, which include women and children, were delayed for 24 hours without water and food in an inhuman condition before being bundled back to Nigeria".

"Do Nigeria ask South Africans to fill Yellow card when coming to Nigeria? Even then, passengers must have passed through this process while applying for visa in the Embassy. Why treat Nigerians with scorn and indignation. This is really appalling.

"Is this the way to pay Nigeria back with their kind gesture? This is unfair and un-African."

Mrs Dabiri-Erewa also recalled how South African businesses, such as MTN and Multi-Choice – owner of DSTV - among others, are thriving in Nigeria better than any part of Africa without any form of molestation from Nigerian government.

The lawmaker recalled how the South African government stopped charging Nigerians deportation fees when Nigeria Embassy in South Africa under the High Commissioner Mohammed Marwa introduced it.

She said: "I call on the Federal Government to protect her citizens by applying the law of reciprocity to South Africans coming to Nigeria by introducing the same stringent treatment meted to Nigerians going to South Africa."

Speaking on Nigeria’s Porous border, Moro said: "It is unfair to say that we don’t know the category of persons that enter Nigeria. Nigeria, like any other big country, has this problem of border porousity. I agree with you that Nigeria’s border as vast as it is, is porous to some extent but that is not to say that we don’t know the category of people that enter Nigeria."

‘Global acknowledgment is Nollywood‘s problem’

Dr. Dul Johnson is a writer whose second collection of stories entitled: Why Women Won’t make It to Heaven, is stirring controversy. He is also an award-winning film scriptwriter and director. He now lectures at the Bingham University, Karu, Nasarawa State. He shares his views on creative writing, Nollywood and more with Evelyn Osagie.

Your work, Why Women Won’t Make It to Heaven is still the butt of debates. 

(Laughs) Actually, I was helping women in that story. I wanted, for those of them who want to go to heaven, to see how they could try to shape their lives and mend their ways. The book is a collection of short stories. But not all of them were about women; it’s just the title story.

How did you come about the title?

Because it is the first story in the collection, and in the absence of a title, that was the best thing that I could come up with. Let me confess. I did not choose the title, one of my students did and I felt it was a good idea since it is a lead story and it worked.

Has there been any backlash from the womenfolk?

Yes. They have actually sat me down at a reading in Abuja. I remember the hall was filled with women. They wanted to tear me to pieces. But they were not able because a good number of them had read the story and I think I was able to defend myself as well. And may be, because, I was able to help them see themselves as they hope to make heaven.

What if there is no heaven?

I’m not saying they won’t make it to heaven. I’m only saying if they did what the story talked about, they wouldn’t make heaven. But if they found a way to avoid those things that chuckle women, then they would be able to make it to heaven. Have you read the story? 

It’s just about women, the kind of time they spend doing all their unnecessary things; like putting on lipstick; they spend like an hour trying to comb a second head, for instance. All of those I think constitute waste of time. And I just imagined that if there was going to be a bell ringing for people to rush to heaven, then, perhaps 95 per cent of them won’t get there because by the time they finish all of that stuff and start off, the gate would have been closed.

With the title, one could deduce you are a Christian...

I am but I don’t think that informed my choice. If you talk about going to heaven, the Muslim also talks about going to heaven. I think even the traditionalist believes there is a place where people go when they leave this world. 

Should we also expect one on men?

Yes. Like women, men also have problems that can prevent them from going to heaven. And if I do find time to do the story in future… you see, it would be set in one of the places you won’t expect good guys to be. And I’d have three or four men living in a world – I mean it’d all be in their head (the kind of happenings in that place) – and by the time they wake up from their day-dream, time has completely gone and they would not be able to achieve whatever they would have wanted to. So, that’s the frame of the story, but it refused to write itself, and there is nothing I can do about it. I keep promising women that some day, they would see the flipside of Why women Won’t Make It to Heaven. 

What is new; in your next book are you going to be attacking women?

This is a very didactic story, a very difficult story to talk about. It’s actually amazing that in all the problems, the crisis, the killings, the horrors that people experience, something can come out of it. I read a story by one of my former students – an excellent story set in a Nigerian city where crises have taken place. The story is reliving the life of a young boy who witnessed all of that. I’m also working on a story that takes its life from the Plateau crisis; things I have observed from my own locality and from Jos and other places. There was a need to do a story that would help people understand the kind of problems we create for ourselves. The story is not going out well as the things I saw because I’m trying to fictionalise the realities and it’s a bit difficult. Being fiction, it makes it the more difficult. 

How far have you gone with it?

I have gone 10 chapters.

Are you close to completing it?

The whole thing is about 15 chapters. I have revised 10 chapters. In terms of volume, I will say I have achieved quite a bit, but the problem is whether in terms of achieving what I wanted to get in how far I have gone. Sometimes I think that I have achieved a great deal, sometimes I feel defeated; I think I have wasted my time, but I think we all felt the same way so I don’t think it’s peculiar to me.

It sounds a great idea.

That’s part of the problem, because stories are not great ideas; stories are living things that could go either way.

It is believed that many Nigerians have a poor reading culture. What are the chances that your message will get to those it is meant for?

I made a mistake by using the word, didactic. I withdraw it. You see, every story teaches something, every story says something to the reader and if 10 readers are able to see that there is a problem the way we treat certain groups of people or individuals, I would have made my point. Every writer will be glad if there will be 10 million readers. Unfortunately, it is not the case with Nigeria, but then let me also not put the blame on the readers. Suppose the story is not as interesting as people will like to read, will I blame them? If it turns out to be an interesting story, I think there will be readers for it, whether they are Nigerians, Ugandans or Americans. 

 As a film maker, how would you compare the storylines featured in Nollywood with creative writing?

Maybe we shouldn’t dare to talk about that. I saw one or two films that were really good. I was very proud of the films, like the one done by an ex-student at film institute. It was a beautiful story and very well shot. I was very proud. The jury was quite impressed and that made me feel that at some point we will be able to tell good stories in our films. A lot of them don’t tell stories; but take ideas which have not really been given form; and shoot them as films. There are great stories coming out of Nigeria. And we have asked why filmmakers don’t use these existing stories to make films. And I have discussed those issues with my fellow filmmakers; but that has not come to be. The excuse has always been there is no copyright to turn a story into film, but I don’t believe that. I know Tunde Kelani is pretty well turning existing stories into films. And everybody acknowledges the fact that his films are different. So, our filmmakers can begin to look at stories that have already been published, the storyline would improve. As writers, we know how it takes to craft a story. So the stories that go to the films are not stories. And if they move from ideas to stories, they have failed to get to the level of film scripts. But there is hope. I have seen hope in other festivals such as AMAA. 

But in spite of all these, Nollywood has global acknowledgment…

…That is the problem! It is very well acknowledged in the world. But we have been put in our own class. And it is okay, but like a friend of mine once said we were sitting down here like professors of medicine waiting for good equipment to be set up, meanwhile, the quacks have already set up small clinics and they are making all the money and killing people. But if there are interesting stories to tell, are we able to turn them to films? That is the point I’m making. You see, you watch a Nigerian film and you can stay in the toilet and follow the film. You can be in the kitchen cooking and follow the film. You don’t need to apply your brain. I think that good films require that you meet them halfway; like a good story. If you read a good story, you have to take yourself into it before you can appreciate it. It is not like it is served to you as wine. That is the problem I see in it. We were told that we were the third largest film producing nation; how many awards have we won internationally with those films produced?

As a lecturer cum writer, what is your take on residency and its effect on creative writing?

All writers think that this is even belated. Because this is an idea that had been practiced and enjoyed all over the world for a very long time but then it can never be too late in Nigeria. We have always needed it and I think it’s a wonderful idea. We have always thought that ANA should have had something like this. Every time we go for convention, we argued about the writers’ village. This is the idea. We need a place where writers can go to. I think it’s really good an idea that we have the Ebedi Residency.

Does Nigeria need $7.9bn loan?

President Goodluck Jonathan has hinted of plans to borrown $7,905,690,000 or N1.89trillion, being the cumulative facilities offered by the World Bank, African Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, Exim Bank of China and Indian lines of credit to fund pipeline projects. But opinions are divided as to the propriety or otherwise of the decision, with many Nigerians asking, are these loans in the public interest? Reports Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf  -
TO borrow or not to borrow? That is the psychological question of the hour being hotly debated by Nigerians.
President Goodluck Jonathan recently sent separate letters to the Senate and House of Representatives requesting the approval of both chambers to borrow the sum of $7.9billion (about N1.89trillion), from the World Bank, African Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, Exim Bank of China and Indian lines of credit, for the funding of pipeline projects in the country. The loans are to be used to cover pipeline projects captured in the 2012 to 2014 External Borrowing Plan.
In one of the letters read by the Senate President, David Mark, President Goodluck Jonathan said, “The pipeline projects are at various stages of finalisation. Therefore, I present herewith a total external pipeline borrowing in the amount of $7,905,690,000 or $2.64billion a year, being the cumulative facilities offered by the World Bank, African Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, Exim Bank of China and Indian lines of credit.”
“In that regard, a number of projects have been designed to create employment opportunities with a view to growing the economy. We also urge the National Assembly to note that the objectives of the projects conform to the transformation agenda of our administration and cut across various sectors of the economy. The initiatives are meant to put the economy on track through growth and employment.”
Justifying the need for the loans, the President also informed the National Assembly that the initiative is geared towards the implementation of the transformation agenda of his administration and also aimed at driving growth, employment, which would ultimately put the economy back on track.
Implication
If the National Assembly approves the requests for the loans, Nigeria’s foreign debt will increase to $11.5billion. The Federal Government currently owes $3.5billion ($2.9billion from multilateral loans and $597.65million from other commercial sources).
Opposing views against borrowing
In the view of a social scientist, Mr. Gbenga Oyebanji, the pplan to borrow is an unwise decision considering the nation’s antecedence.
Going down memory lane, Oyebanji recalled that: “It was the crude oil price decline of late 70’s that made the then Shehu Shagari regime to apply to the International Monetary Fund for a three years extended facility loan of $2.3billion.”
The IMF, he recalled: “Gave over 17 conditions for such a loan and negotiations dragged on through the Buhari regime to Babangida’s regime, which started the hunger for debt in Nigeria. Debt spent on capital project makes economic sense but Nigeria’s case is cutting the nose to spite the face.”
Speaking further, he said: “In November 2005, Abuja won Paris club approval for debt relief that eliminated $18billion of debt in exchange for $12billion in payments, a total package worth $30billion of Nigeria’s total $37billion external debt by the then Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.”
Citing statistics from the Debt Management Office, the Lagos State University graduate said: “Between 2007-2012, Nigeria’s debt has grown to $40billion”, adding: “It took us 22 years to owe $37billion. It’s unbelievable that in five years, we are indebted to the tune of $40billion. 
Echoing similar sentiments, Taofik Buraimoh, a public affairs analyst, holds the view and very strongly too that the nation’s economic leaders are inadvertently living above their means, hence the craze for loans.
According to him, “When the 2011 budget was presented, projected revenue stood at about N3.2trn but projected expenditure was over N1.1trn. How can one live above his means without being a thief?
“Our current external debt is $5.6billion and serviced with N0.51billion. When $7.9billion debt is added, we shall owe $13.4billion. Proportionately, we shall service with N1.22trillion or 38.14% of our total revenue at current earnings. Whosoever consents to the passage of the request will be doing Nigerians of this generation and those yet unborn a lot of harm than good”, Buraimoh stressed.
Buraimoh, who fell short of calling the Jonatahn-led administration  a spendthrift, recalled that: “In his speech at the PDP presidential election primary, Mr. Atiku Abubarka accused Mr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of drawing down the external reserves from $20billion to $3billion within eight months of his reign as president of Nigeria. No one has refuted it.”
Proponents of loan
There are few discerning Nigerians who feel strongly that the groundswell of opposition over the Federal Government’s decision is missplaced. 
One of the proponents of borrowing is renowned economist, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu. Speaking with The Nation recently, he described as “scandalous” remarks by Nigerians rallying against loans from multilateral organisations as uncalled for and largely based on ignorance.
“Loans from such organisations as IMF, World Bank and others are cheap funds for anybody’s asking.” 
The loans, he stressed, are at ridiculously cheaper rates compared to conventional loans from banks.
Dr. Chris Onalo, Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Credit Administration is also on the same page with Kalu.
Speaking in a telephone interview with The Nation, Onalo, said, there is nothing wrong about borrowing at all.
“I think in the first instance, there is actually nothing wrong in government borrowing as long as the borrowing is development-driven. If they need to deliver development and raise the standard of the economy to a solid level there is nothing wrong in borrowing”, he said.
“Nigeria as a country is a member of many multilateral and development agencies and therefore must take advantage of its membership of these bodies to access funds that it has the basis to borrow because if we don’t take it, other nation may take it.”
He was however quick to add that: “The reason why Nigerians are skeptical of the borrowing is because of lack of transparency in borrowing.”
Canvassing support for borrowing, he said: “The truth is, we have a lot of development projects in Nigeria begging for funds. The internally generated funds may not be enough. Therefore government must go out to look for additional funds. To be a credit-worthy economy is not when you don’t borrow. An economy that is not borrwoing is a redundant and lazy economy. So, Nigeria must borrow because we have need for infrastructural development. 
“If you have to build good road networks, rail system, waterway transportation system, borrowing becomes necessary because with the level of infrastructural limitations we have, it shows that Nigeria is not in existence in the real sense of the word.”
“But like I said, we have got the problem of resource management. So far, although government is trying its best, their best is not good enough because of the problem of corruption which is endemic in the system. As much as these fears are not unfounded, we cannot sustain it. Even if we say people will decide to pocket about 40 per cent of monies borrowed, it is still better than not borrowing at all because local funds will be stressed.
“My advise therefore as a credit analyst, is that our leaders should show dividends of transparency. Our government should be ready to tackle this monster of corruption without fear or favour.”
Pray, are the authorities listening?