WATERESWAYS

Economic experts have implored government and other relevant stakeholders in the maritime sector, to explore the great potentials in the Nigerian maritime industry towards making the nation's economy more vibrant and competitive and progressive.
In today's news analysis correspondent underscores the enormous economic benefits of a well maximized maritime sector in Nigeria.
It is a well known fact that Nigeria as a country is richly blessed with vast mass of water bodies, linking internal and external geographical zones.
During the colonial era, the British made good used of the Nigerian waterways to export agricultural produce to the outside world.
However since independence in 1960, the Nigerian government has not been able to harness the nation's maritime sector for economic growth and development, probably due to inadequate political will, bad governance and insecurity in the waterways among others.
There is therefore the need for a proactive approach towards utilizing the Nigerian maritime base since the waterways remain veritable channels for transporting goods and services locally and internationally.
Therefore, government needs to create a more effective platform to influence private investors involvement in opening up the the Nigerian waterways to allow for bigger vessels to move in and out of the country.
Inland waterways have been the best channels of transporting heavy goods and services in large quantities all over the world, and Nigeria can not afford to be an exception.
In Delta State for instance, Warri, Koko, Sapele and the Burutu Sea Ports are moribund with Warri port operating below capacity.
If the four Delta State sea ports are made to function optimally as they were in the past, they will no doubt boost the economy of the State, especially in the riverine areas.
Although militancy created perceived insecurity in the areas leading to a slow pace of development, however the prevailing peace in the State's waterways calls for an urgent need for government and other stakeholders to focus attention on reviving the waterways towards making them more competitives.
The Federal Government through the ministry of transport, needs to be more serious about developing the maritime sector instead of politicizing the issue.
Furthermore, their is the need to beef up security in the nation's waterways to help curtail maritime crimes such as sea piracy, kidnapping and crude oil theft among others.
This no doubt will help enhance the smooth and free flow of goods and services in the Nigerian waterways.
The effective utilization of the nation's maritime sector will not only boost and grow Nigeria's Gross Domestic Product GDP but it will also help to sustain the prevailing peace in the riverine communities as many riverine dwellers will be gainfully engaged  

OVER SPEEDING

Over speeding has been identified as one of the major causes of road accidents that has led to losses of lives and property as well as disfigured many.
In reducing these road crashes caused by over speeding, the federal government in 2016 announced October 1. as the date for fall compliance to install speed limit device in their vehicles.
Correspondent in today's news analysis writes on the importance of the speed limit device to motorists and all road users vis a vis the compliance by transportation lines and private car owners.
Over the years the Nigerian roads have recorded many form of road crashes or fatal accidents, which cost victims their lives and lost of property.
Statistic shown that apart from bad roads, lack of adherence to traffic signs, over speeding amount for fifty percent of road crashes or accidents
This disturbing trend on our roads prompted the federal road safety corps FRSC and other relevant stakeholders to hold several meetings on the possible ways of reducing accidents cause by over speeding on our roads.
Relying on research findings the stakeholders came up with the idea of installing speed limit device 0n vehicles , as one way of curbing road crashes and save lives.
According to safety experts, speed limit device which is mostly used in developed countries, is to regulate the speed of a vehicle within a specific kilometer per hours.
The speed limit device which usually come in different sizes are to be installed in lorries, trucks, tankers, buses and small cars that ply the Nigerian road.
These safety experts have warned that the speed limit device are only to be installed by certified vendors and implored vehicle owners not to engage the services of quack in installing the speed limit device.
Passengers purchasing commercials vehicles are advice to ensure they only board vehicles with speed limit device install on it, so as to guarantee safe trip to their destinations.
It is pertinent to note that aside safety of lives and reduce of road crashes, the speed limit device also ensures low operational cost of vehicles as well as low consumption of fuel.
But since the introduction of speed limit device, how many vehicles plying the Nigerian road have actually adhered to it ?.
We still see drivers over speeding most especially on the highways sometimes leading to accidents.
But these drivers that have not complied to the speed limit device should note that the installation of the device in their vehicles is not to witch hunt them or the transportation lines but to ensure driving sanity on the roads.
Although some drivers had complained about the high sales of the speed limit device, calling on government to subsidize the price but as they wait for government to do that, they should also note that no amount can substitute for safety of lives.
So the earlier we start complying the better for all.
Many Nigerians will say that our safety religiously is in the hands of God or Allah but the true is that you and i have role to play in making safety a reality on our roads.
    

TAXATION

The inadequate collection of internally generated revenues IGR, in Nigeria, has been identified as a major factor militating against economic and infrastructural development in the country.
In today's news analysis correspondent underscores the importance of effective and efficient taxation system to socio economic development in Nigeria.
Taxation is a system of revenue generation by government.
It is a compulsory levy imposed by government on individuals or businesses to enable it perform it legitimate functions to the society.
The revenue collect from taxes is used for infrastructural projects such as basic social amenities as well as security and payment of salaries of civil servants among others.
Taxation worldwide is a way of ascertaining citizens sense of responsibility towards the society.
By paying taxes, citizens are making monies available to the government and its agencies to run the country.
However not much attention is paid to raising funds through taxation, probably because of over dependence on oil wealth.
The fall in the price of crude oil in the global market has necessitated the search for alternative sources of revenues and tax is one of such ways.
But Nigerians are reluctant to pay taxes because governments does not show enough evidence of what the previous taxes are used for.
Another challenges facing taxation in Nigeria is the poor taxation system at the federal, state and local government levels, in terms of collection and remittance.
The non remittance of taxes by some tax officials coupled with tax invasion by some corporate organizations in the rural and urban areas are factors hindering effective taxation in the country.
Statistics however reveals that Nigeria is among countries of the world with low tax generation rate, a situation which leads to government borrowing or relying on a rise in crude oil price.
Economists are of the view that effective utilization of taxes collected will help to boost government's revenue thereby reducing borrowing.
Prudent spending of tax payer's monies on infrastrutural projects, basic social amenities, security, prompt payment of civil servants' salaries, among others will go a long way in spurring Nigerians to paying their taxes regularly.
Government at the federal, state and local levels should fashion out ways by which Nigerians can conveniently pay their taxes, either electronically or through the banks rather than paying through revenue collectors.
That way the issue of fake and fraudulent revenue collectors who go about with fake receipts to collect taxes from people will be eradicated thereby leading to transparency and accountability in the Nigerian taxation system.
The need to intensify awareness campaigns on the importance of paying tax should be communicated in different Nigeria languages and broadcast on radio and television stations, so as to involve everyone in tax payment.
If the nation's economy must be boosted, then the issues raised in this work must be considered seriously.          

STRESS

Stress has been identified as one of the major causes of sudden death worldwide.
But what exactly is stress, what are its consequences and how can it be managed ?.
These are some of the questions which our correspondent tries to provide answers to in today's news analysis.
Stress is a mental pressure or worry caused by various problems in one's life.
It is a common knowledge that life itself is full of thoughts, demands, expectations, meeting deadlines, frustrations, making ends meet among others.
But if not properly managed, stress can affect one's central nervous system which can lead to bodily or mental breakdown or sometimes death.
It is a psychological fact that when a person is under pressure, he or she can not perform optimally or think straight.
Every profession or craft has it own peculiar challenges or hazards.
However some persons are privileged to work with a well defined schedule in a conducive work place while others are not so lucky.
It is instructive to note that stress in a work place could be cause by poor emoluments compared to the work load, inadequate working materials or equipment to get the task done as well as long overtime without a commensurate pay at the end.
In Nigeria stress is hardly noticed by those suffering from it and this portend danger because when stress become overwhelming it can negatively affect one's health, mood, quality life among others.
If not properly manage stress can lead to hypertension, stroke, fever, mental disorder, bodily pains, low productivity among other deadly consequences.
Research findings has shown that people can actually control or manage stress but unfortunately many Nigerians tends to cope with or control stress in ways that only help to compound the problem.
These crops of Nigerians are in the habit of drinking alcohol at the end of a stressful or hectic day, fill their stomachs with junk  or heavy foods, smoke cigarettes, sit in front of television all day watching worthless programmes or sometimes spend longer time with their computers or smart phones doing nothing productive.
In addition some used pills or hard drugs to help relax their nerves, thinking that they will get out better by so doing.
However stress experts have recommended relaxation, regular exercise, dieting, positive mental attitude, abstinence from habits such as smoking, alcoholism, hard drugs as well as regular medical check ups as ways of effectively managing stress.
Government and other relevant employers of labor also have roles to play in reducing stress among workers, such as making sure that workers are well paid and promptly, provide them with adequate working materials or equipment as well as create a conducive working environments for them to work.
Workers on their parts should make good use of their time off or vacations, so as to refresh themselves, engage in productive ventures during holidays, read the right books and also upgrade and develop themselves ahead of resumption.
Stress they say is inevitable but adherence to the various stress management techniques or scientific recommendations can go a long way to solving the problems.            

ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY

January 15 every year is observed as Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Nigeria.
The day is set aside by the Nigerian Government to celebrate military heroes, who served to ensure peace in the country.
In today's news analysis correspondent underscores the significance of the day vis a vis stakeholders roles in ensuring sustainable peace in the Nigerian project.
Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration is an annual event organized to honour members of the Nigerian Armed Forces who fought in the first and second world wars, those that have retired and the ones that are still serving in various peace keeping missions worldwide as well as those who fought in the Nigerian Civil War.
The day is also used to to celebrate both the dead and living heroes of the Nigerian Armed Forces, including those who suffered various deprivations and deformities among others losses as a result of war.
The day was initially marked on the 11th of November every year to coincide with the popular "Poppy Day" or eleven eleven for the first and second world war veterans in all commonwealth countries.
However in Nigeria, some significant historical developments such as the surrender of the Biafran troops to the Nigerian troops on January 15, 1970 and brought about change in date from November 11 to January 15 every year.
The surrendering of the Brafran troops to the Nigerian troops signalled the end of the Nigerian civil war which almost tore apart the unity, peace and progress of the country.
Since that historical achievement by the Nigerian troops, the date now became a national ritual where military personnel, including the Army, Navy, Air forces, the Nigerian legion, Politicians and a cross section of  the society converge on different centers across the country to celebrate the day and give honour to the fallen and living heroes who sacrificed and still continue to sacrifice their lives to protect the lives of others.
The event which is held at the Federal, State and Local Government levels, features several activities such as the release of pigeons to symbolize peace, laying of wreaths at cenotaph of an unknown soldier, inspecting of parades, gun salute among others.
Prayers were also offered in churches and mosques to commit the peace and unity of the nation to God.
It is worthy of note that the Nigerian military has helped in dislodging Boko Haram from the Sambisa forest.
However, this achievement is not significant enough for them to rest on their oars but rather step up their efforts in combating the cattle rustling menace, fulani and herdsmen clashes, militancy in the Niger Delta Region, frequent clashes between the christian and muslems in the Northern part of the country as well as other conflict that are capable of dividing the nation.
Government for its part has roles to play in ensuring that the military succeeds in its security task by providing funds for the acquisition of modern ammunition, prompt payment of soldier's allowances among others.
In addition, the officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces should be frequently trained within and outside Nigeria.
Government should also ensure that the soldiers are properly kitted to boost their moral at the battle front.
Furthermore top ranking officers should endeavor to release benefits and entitlements to junior colleagues, especially those in the battle front, so as to help boost their moral and confidence.
Their is also the need for the Nigerian populaces, religions leaders and other stakeholders to assist the military to maintain the peace by refraining from acts and utterances that can undermine public peace in Nigeria.
Moreso, the celebration of this event should serve as a clarion call to overnment to promptly pay up allowances and entitlements of military pensioners as well as make policies that will affect the lives of families of fallen but gallant military officers and men positively.  
As Nigerians irrespective of their origins, political affiliations, tribal and religious backgrounds celebrate the day, it is important for all to join in allowing peace to prevail in the land so as to bring about growth and development to the Nigerian society.    

CULTURAL VALUE

Nigerian traditional values system and norms have being facing some challenges accentuated by non adherence to it, thereby pushing it almost into extinction, except proactive measures and urgent steps are taken to address the situation.
 In today's news analysis correspondent write on the need to revive the cultural heritage and values system of Nigeria towards building a better society.
In time past, the Nigeria traditional value system was characterized by respect for elders, good moral values, communal life, fear of the gobs, dignity of labor,cultural sense of pride and exemplary character, to mention but a few.
Unfortunately,these traditional values and cultural norms are today deteriorating very fast, a situation which many attributed to the influence of Western Civilization.
 Scholars of African History have argued that in the olden days the people who deviated from societal norms were sanctioned to serve as a deterrent to others.
The African scholars maintained that the need to protect the image of a family and also comply with societal norms was paramount in every community in Nigeria.
Before the advent of British the Nigerian traditional system was well structured to ensure sanity, law and order, high sense of responsibility.
With the introduction of western culture, Nigerians now act, react and behave like Europeans and Americans in virtually everything, forgetting their own core traditional values.
Why it may be plausible to argue that Western Civilization has some positive effects, Nigerians needs to draw inspiration from the interface into Africa and Western cultures, towards preventing the traditional values and norms that have defined Africans as a people.
One way to effectively strike a balance between the Africa Culture and Western civilization is for Nigerians to get the good aspects of either cultures and maximize them for societal development.
Another area of note, is the inability of the Nigerian child to speak his native language fluently, cook traditional delicacies and dress in his native attires.
These diminishing traditional values have been blamed on the family front, where parents and guardians hardly have the time to teach their kids and wards native customs and traditions, how to speak their native language and prepare native delicacies as well as how to dress traditionally among others.
The way forward in getting the home front right, is for parents and guardians to adopt the old practice where traditional folk tales depicting high moral values are told to children in the evenings and also ensures that english language is not spoken at home as well as to encourage the children to always prepare native meals among others.
The school also has a role to play by ensuring that teachers who teach vernacular or native languages should compel their pupils or students to interact in the native language being taught in the class.
In that way, children who are indigenes of that locality and those who are non indigenes will learn more about that language.
The ministry of education, should make it compulsory for schools to organize cultural festivals frequently rather than just once in an academic year.
The media who are the forth estate of the realm, should also create traditional programmes on radio and television.
If Nigeria must revive the almost eroded Nigerian traditional values and norms all hands must be on deck.                     

RECKLESS DRIVING

Reckless driving has been a major traffic problem on many Nigerian roads, accentuated by indiscriminate parking of vehicles on the roads, which most times lead to traffic jams and accidents.
In today's news analysis correspondent writes on the dangers of reckless driving and indiscriminate parking of vehicles on motor roads.
Traffic regulation is done through traffic lights, safety rules and regulations towards ensuring sanity on our roads and also to ease vehicular movement and reduce road accidents and death.
To achieve this, the Federal and State Governments set up various roads safety agencies such as the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, the Vehicle Inspection Office, VIO, the Traffic Department of The Nigerian Police, the Delta State Traffic Management Authority, DESTMA and its counterpart in Lagos State, LASTMA.
In spite of these efforts, most Nigeria motorists have continued to drive recklessly on our highways.
Reckless driving and indiscriminate parking of vehicles are major traffic violations, a display of carelessness and lack of concern for others road users, as evidenced by over speeding, heavy gridlock and sometimes accidents.
Bad driving habits can also be attributed to failed portions on our roads as drivers try to avoid them by maneuvering their ways, using the better parts of the road as it is seen in most bad roads in Warri, Sapele, Asaba among others major Cities.
In addition, reckless driving are caused by impatience on the parts of drivers and when they are trying to avoid failed portions on our roads.
The situation is even worse when broken down vehicles are abandoned on the roads, while some vehicles are indiscriminately parked on very busy roads, thereby causing traffic chaos.
Statistics have shown that most of the road accidents in Nigeria are traceable to reckless driving and indiscriminate parking of vehicles.
However bad roads should not be used as an excuse for lawlessness on the roads, as motorists are expected to adhere to simple driving rules and obey highway codes with a high sense of maturity when plying the roads.
Traffic offenders should be punished while relevant government authorities should rehabilitate bad roads and also put measures in place to control over speeding on our roads.
Furthermore, Nigeria drivers should endeavor to install speed limit device in their vehicles.
The habits of making calls while driving should be discouraged and the culture of using the seat belts should be encouraged.
Motorists should be educated and enlightened on the dangers of reckless driving through regular seminars in motor parks and also through radio and television jingles.
If you think road safety is too hard to adhere to, then try accidents.     

WATSE INTO WEALTH

The failure of  government and other relevant authorities to convert wastes into wealth has been identified as one of the causes of dirty environments and attendant health hazards in Nigeria.
In today's news analysis correspondent underscores the socio-economic benefits of waste recycling to Nigerians and the environment.
Waste is a substance or anything that is discarded or disposed off after primary use or something that is considered worthless.
It is classified into different categories such as solid, liquid or organic wastes.
In developed countries of the world, waste are very useful and they are recycled into useful products, that is sold back to the markets, thereby generating income for their citizens and the government.
Such countries take advantages of these large population, which generate huge tons of wastes daily to boost their Gross Domestic Product GDP and create wealth for their citizens.
On the contrary, Nigeria as a country with a large population that generates many tons of wastes daily is still struggling to get it right, with wealth in forms of wastes littering everywhere .
Effective waste management is a major environmental issue in Nigeria's development discourse.
In developed countries wastes are sorted into different bags, both at homes, places of work and even in the markets, with the sole aim to sell them neatly to recycling firms, thereby generating little funds and also help in keeping the environment clean.
Furthermore, this practice creates wealth and also helps to sanitize the environment as well as eradicate health problems from the society.
On the other hand, organic wastes generated from the kitchens, restaurants and social events can be turned into manure to be used by farmers or the left over foods can be given to animals to feed on, rather than discarding them indiscriminately.
Such organic wastes can further be recycled into animals and poultry feeds, for those involved in fishery business, poultry and animal husbandry.
In addition, wastes from grasses and other vegetations can serve as foods for both terrestial and aquatic animals.
Now that government has placed much emphasis on Agriculture, Nigerians should exploit this opportunity by going into partime or full time farming, using organic wastes and grasses to feed animals and fertilize their farmlands.
This will no doubt help to boost food production in Nigeria and also help diversify the economy as well as reduce unemployment, hunger and crimes in the nation.
Nigerian government and investors should delve into the waste to wealth business by building recycling plants at strategic locations, so as to help collect wastes from that axes and recycle it into useful products.
Moreso, government should make policies and enact laws that will help promote the waste to wealth enterprise in all States of the Federation.
If well to do Nigerians can set up recycling plants that can transform waste into valuable commodities, then the nation's dependence on the oil sector will reduce and this will also help promote made in Nigeria products thereby strengthening the Nigerian naira.     

NEW YEAR RESOLUTION

At the start of every new year, people usually set goals for themselves and these goals are commonly referred to as New Year Resolutions.
In today's news analysis, correspondent examine the concept of new year resolution and the sincerity among Nigerians in keeping to their new year resolutions.
New year resolution as a practice can be traced to the ancient time.
Some Historians had it that new year resolution is a tradition that is most common in the Western Hemisphere and also in the Eastern Hemisphere, in which a person resolves to change an undesired triat or behaviour.
The Babylonians in the olden days also made promises to their gods at the start of each year, that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts.
The Romans on their parts began each year by making promises to their god known as JANUS,for whom the month of January was name.
While in the Medieval era, the Knights took the peacock vow at the end of the Christmas season each year to reaffirm their commitment to chivalry.
Indeed, in every new year celebration, people often think retrospectively, reflecting on their actions and inaction as well as seek for human and divine forgiveness of sins or wrong doings in the out gone year.
In today's Nigeria society, many Christians at cross over services plan for the year ahead through prayers, while others write down or say it orally what they intend to do in the new year.
The concept of new year resolution no doubt help people to critique themselves for improvement.
Nigerians irrespective of their religions, tribes or political affiliations also make different new year resolutions, which include getting rid of bad habits or practices such as smoking, alcoholism and drunkeness, fornication, crime, corruption and other vices.
Others resolved to get married, own a house, lose weight through exercises and dieting, be more financially prudent as well as engage in more productive ventures among others.
However it has been observed that some Nigerians set aside or jettison their new year resolutions after the euphoria of the yuletide within the first quarter of the new year.
The inability to keep to the new year resolutions can be blamed on making beautiful but unrealizable resolutions  while others fail because of prevailing societal realities such as economic recessions or inflation.
To avoid failed new year resolutions, it is important that people should critically examine prevailing situations before setting goals, so as not to disappoint themselves at the long run.
It is also imperative for one to write down one's resolution on a clean sheet of paper and paste on the wall where it can easily be read as a reminder.
It is very imperative for one to have a positive mentality or attitudes towards actualizing one's set goals or resolutions.
Procrastination is a negative attitude and it can kill people's set goals.
A resolution not carried out immediately may eventually fade away due to delay.
For instance, delay in the implementation of development policies by public office holders has been blamed for the socio-economic challenges facing the Nigerian masses today.
Moreso, a project contract not executed timely may cost more in future due to inflation indices and this may lead to such a project being abandoned or revoked at the expense of the beneficiaries.
As the saying goes "early to bed, early to rise" and "a stitch in time saves nine".         

VOTERS' REGISTRATION

The inability of some Nigerians within the voting age to register during voters registration has been identified as one of the challenges facing the Nigerian voting system.
In today's news analysis, correspondent underscores the benefits of voters registratin in Nigeria.
A voter is a citizen who is eligible to vote in an election while registration simply means the process of registering voters electronically or manually.
Voter registration is therefore a process of documenting citizen's names and other details in an electronic or manual data base of the nation's electoral body.
Voter registration is the right of every eligible citizen to participate in the choice of those to stare the governance of their country.
Voter registration is therefore one of the cornerstones of any democratic processes, that promotes free and fair elections.
For eligible citizens to vote and be voted for, there must be a comprehensive and inclusive voter's register.
The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, has commenced another round of the continuous voters registration exercise across the country with the aim of registering those who are now of voting age and those above but are yet to be registered.
The on going voters registration exercise has witnessed some challenges such as ineffective co-ordination by some INEC officials, lackadaisical attitudes by some INEC officials to work, inadequate voter registration centers, ignorance on the part of many Nigerians on where, when and how to get registered amongst others.
Voters registration, no doubt helps the electoral agency to ascertain the total number of registered voters towards ensuring that only registered voters, vote on election days and disallow those not registered from voting.
Despite these benefits to the nation's electoral system, many Nigerians still see voter registration as an exercise that does not concern them, yet they complain about bad governance and incompetent political office holders after elections, in which they disenfranchised themselves by not being registered.
Indeed, voter registration is the first step for eligible Nigerians to empower themselves to elect politicians of their choice and by extension determine the governance of their nation.
Unfortuately, many Nigerians complain after elections, even when they failed to vote because they did not register, while some registered ones stay at home on e;ection day, thereby denying themselves of the opportunity to choose good leaders.
Therefore, Nigerians who are eighteen yeats and above but are yet to register, should seize the opportunity of the on going voters registration exercise to empower themselves for the forthcoming political elections.
Nigerians should not see a voter's card as their power to run bank transactions alone, but as their right to determine the political landscape of Nigeria.
INEC on its part shold look at possible ways to increase the number of voters registration centers to accommodate more eligible voters and also run jungles on radio and television to help sensitize Nigerians who are yet to register.
Furthermore, Nigerians who have registered but are yet to collect their Permanent Voters Cards, should go to their Local Government Secretariats or where they registered to collect their PVCs.
Those who misplaced or damaged their voters cards should apply for a replacement, to enable them exercise their franchise on the day of election.
If you are not registered you cannot vote, and if you do not vote, you should not complain after elections.
The time to register is now