Prof Turner Timinipre Isoun, was Minister of Science and Technology. He is currently the chairman of Niger Delta Wet Lands Centre as well as Nigeria Communication Satellite, NICOMSAT. Iin this interview with journalists in Abuja, he expressed optimism that with the launching of NICOMSAT, Nigeria was set to produce bandwidth for international consumption. John Oba was there for LEADERSHIP. Excerpt:
WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THE CURRENT ISSUE ON FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL BY THE JONATHAN ADMINISTRATION?
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y take is very simple but I will like to bring my background in Science and Technology and innovation to bear. The issue is that for the past 50 years, we ran away from addressing the main issue which is capacity building and Technology. In 1960, we built our first refinery in Port-Harcourt, the Indians, too built their refinery at the same time we did. The second set of refineries in India were built by Indians themselves. But in Nigeria, the second set of refineries were built in Warri and Kaduna by the foreigners that built the first. 50 years later, even the maintenance of these refineries in Nigeria was being carried out by these foreigners. In order words, we have refused to develop our capacity to design, build and maintain our refineries. But if we had developed that capacity with the raw materials (crude oil) and are able to build our refineries, the issue of petroleum subsidy would not have arisen today.
Today, many countries like Kuwait and others refine their crude by themselves thereby making the price of their fuel to be as low as N40 per liter in those countries. We could have done too. But we failed. We cannot run away from this reality. We also cannot continue to subsidise.? It is a problem we have carried over which must be solved now or else we will face it in the future.
My answer is that we need to address the issue now. The mitigation is one major issue we will have to battle with. On the mitigation, let me remind us that our past presidents, name them; Babangida, Obasanjo, Buhari, all tried to remove this subsidy at one point or the other, yet it keeps hunting us. But then, we must either solve it permanently once and for all and face the pain now or remove it gradually and it will continue to hurt us. If we must solve it now, we must put some human face to the effort. That means, we must put some mitigation on ground to alleviate the pains that comes with the removal of the fuel subsidy. I think that is what President Jonathan is trying to put in place in the area of providing about 1,600 buses to cushion the effort of transportation cost to Nigerians.
Secondly, government should increase salaries, ensure that the healthcare sector is well developed so that there can be adequate health facilities for all Nigerians anywhere in the country especially the youth. The issue of better education, the aspect of food and security must be guaranteed while youth empowerment? most take a centre stage. All these should be included in the package as palliative measures by government.
Nigerians must realise that there is no easy road to development just like the Indians and Chinese, we must put our minds and work hard so that we can also produce.
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MANY NIGERIANS DO NOT TRUST THE GOVERNMENT TO PROPERLY UTILISE THE MONEY FROM DEREGULATION, HOW WOULD YOU REACT TO THIS??
The issue is that Nigerians have never trusted their government over the years? and this has been ongoing. However, we must start somewhere, for once let us trust this government and set mile stones and target and give the Jonathan administration the next three years. He should be able to establish refineries, bring down the prices of fuel and effect some other positive changes.? I am sure by the time people start seeing all these they will believe the government.
NIGERIANS WANT JONATHAN TO PUNISH ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE SHADY DEAL, THE CARTELS, DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?
Look, the issue there is that of corruption. You must understand that corruption is a global problem and not just a Nigerian thing.? In fighting corruption, many of these countries ensure that the laws of the land are properly obeyed and that there are no sacred cows. This we must do because the Europeans and Americans are no better humans than Nigerians. The difference is that, they have and know laws that will punish or reward those who break the law. In Nigeria such laws must be put in place properly and we must go after those who have broken the laws.
The government must do this as it fights corruption, insecurity and embark on production seriously.
On productivity, I emphasis that you cannot give what you don’t have and you cannot expect to reap when you did not sow. Therefore,we must produce. That is where science and technology must play its part. We must engage in a pragmatic approach. Well, if I employ a driver, for example, I must at this time, increase his salary so that he can meet up with the high cost of living.
YOUR ADVICE TO LABOUR AND YOUTH ACTIVIST AND PROTESTERS?
My advice to labour is to call off the strike now and stop the protest or they may run into the issue of credibility.
Business men and women, drivers, market women survive on daily profit and where that is not coming forth, they will change direction and turn their back. On the part of government, they should make some concessions with labour. Jonathan is not fighting Nigerians and Nigerians are not fighting Jonathan. The president has said he had no plan to inflict pain on Nigerians
AS CHAIRMAN OF NICOMSAT, WHAT IS THE FINANCIAL BENEFIT NIGERIANS SHOULD BE EXPECTING FROM THE NIGERIA COMMUNICATION SATTELITE RECENTLY LAUNCHED??
I earlier spoke about some of the benefits. Looking at the telecommunication revolution in Nigeria, I hate to say that the bulk of the money in it is being sent out. The operators, MTN, GLO, AIRTEL,are taking this money out. There is very little we are producing. But with Nicomsat, we are producing a product and that product is bandwidth. For the first time Nigeria is producing an international commodity called bandwidth, just like the crude oil. It will interest you to know that we created this out of our minds; it is a product of Nigeria minds. We are controlling the product. For the first time we are bringing to bear a Mobile telephone revolution and the ICT revolution. This will also serve as a source of job creation for the youth.
However, we need to have a backup satellite, part of the money accruing from the subsidy removal should be used for us to develop that backup satellite two and three to be able to develope so that we can guarantee that for the next 15 to 20 years Nigerians are making an international product and selling it to the world and creating wealth for Nigeria
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