Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) Weekly Subject Experts’ Presentation was held at Hall C, TY Buratai Block, Abuja. There were three presentations for the day made by Subject Experts on, West Africa and Gulf of Guinea, Nigeria and Southern Africa.
The first presentation was made by Maj Gen OO Adeleke (Rtd) subject expert on West Africa and Gulf of Guinea, his presentation focused on, Tika Enhances Orphanage Capacity With Key Renovations in Senegal. The DAILY SABAH reported on 31 Jan 2025 that The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) had carried out improvements at the Ginddi Orphanage and Rehabilitation Center for Children in Senegal, increasing the facility’s capacity. Following the completion of the project, which is under the Senegal Ministry of Family and Solidarity in the capital Dakar, an inauguration ceremony was held.
The ceremony was attended by Senegal’s Minister of Family and Solidarity Maimouna Dieye, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Dakar Nur Sağman, TIKA’s Dakar Coordinator Fuat Canan, officials and children residing at the orphanage. Dieye expressed satisfaction with the collaboration between the Ministry of Family and Solidarity and TIKA and thanked Sağman for her support for projects aimed at women and children. The orphanage, which accommodates around 90 children, now has a mini playground in its garden, along with improved courtyard lighting. The center received 10 new wooden bunk beds, 50 mattresses, 100 bedding sets and 30 blankets, while 20 unused bunk beds were repaired. This increased the center’s capacity to accommodate orphaned children.
In his analysis and lessons for Nigeria Maj Gen OO Adeleke (Rtd) noted that, Orphanages in Nigeria have found it difficult to have access to sustainable funding. Although some are supported by the government, it is noteworthy that many orphanages have to source funding/sponsorship from religious institutions and influential individuals (Muhammad). The most recent of such donations in Nigeria that got the attention of social media was the 300million Naira donation by Davido, a Nigerian-based artist whose real name is David Adeleke, to orphanages across Nigeria in February 2022.
Aliyu outlines the common issues and challenges of orphanages in Nigeria to include: Overpopulation: Many existing orphanage homes are seriously understaffed. People that work with orphaned children are spread thin as they are trying to pay enough attention to all the children. They are overworked, underpaid and exhausted, because working with children is no small feat.
Funding: Many orphanage homes in Nigeria do not receive enough money to satisfy even the basic needs of children. Some orphanages in the country, especially those in the rural areas, do not have electricity, plumbing and other necessary facilities. The buildings are often in terrible condition and unfit for living. It is therefore necessary for the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to allocate more government funds to orphanages for better facilities, healthcare, education, and nutrition.
He recommended that the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in conjunction with the Nigerian Police Force should ensure the proper enforcement and strict registration and monitoring of orphanages to ensure compliance with child welfare standards.
The second presentation was made by Brig Gen UJ Makbere subject expert on Nigeria, his presentation centred on, Banks Risk USSD Disconnection over Outstanding Debts. PUNCH Newspapers reported on 27 Jan 25, that Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), including MTN and Airtel, have threatened to suspend dedicated text message services for banks unless the financial institutions settle their outstanding debts to telecom providers. This development follows an order issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on 15 Jan 25, instructing the disconnection of Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) services for defaulting banks. According to the report, the directive mandated nine banks to clear their debts by 27 Jan 25 or risk losing access to their USSD codes. This critical service facilitates mobile banking transactions for millions of Nigerians without internet access.
While some banks have reportedly made payments in compliance with regulatory directives from the NCC and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), telecom operators claim that a few institutions are yet to settle their debts. In an interview with PUNCH on Sunday, 26 Jan 25, the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, Gbenga Adebayo, confirmed that some banks were complying with the regulatory intervention. However, he noted that a few banks remained in default, warning that disconnection would proceed in accordance with the established protocol. “A number of them are complying in line with the regulatory intervention made by the CBN and NCC. We still have a few hard debtors who haven’t complied, but when the time comes, according to the protocol of that circular, we are going to disconnect,” Adebayo stated.
In his analysis and lessons for Nigeria Brig Gen UJ Makbere noted that, the evolution of USSD in Nigeria has significantly transformed the nation’s banking landscape. Initially utilized as a communication protocol within GSM networks, USSD has been repurposed to facilitate seamless financial transactions. As highlighted by Business Day (2023), eTranzact International Plc pioneered this innovation, introducing the first SMS banking product shortly after its establishment in 2003. This development laid the groundwork for subsequent USSD-based banking services. The widespread adoption of USSD banking has had a profound impact on Nigeria’s economy. USSD has become the single most important channel carrying the hope of achieving 80 percent financial inclusion.
Furthermore, the simplicity and accessibility of USSD have enabled banks to reach a broader customer base, thereby increasing their deposit mobilization and transaction volumes. However, the rapid expansion of USSD services has led to significant financial challenges for Nigerian banks. As noted by Leadership News in December 2024, a longstanding dispute over USSD infrastructure costs has resulted in a cumulative debt of N160 billion owed by banks to telecommunication companies. This debt accumulation has strained relationships between banks and telecom operators, leading to regulatory interventions. The CBN and the NCC have mandated banks to clear this debt, setting strict timelines for compliance.
He recommended that, the CBN should ensure stringent enforcement of laws to guarantee that all corporations fulfill their tax obligations within a time line and also the NCC in collaboration with CBN should ensure that consumer protection rights are guaranteed. This could be through enhanced information and intelligence sharing to address issues arising from USSD services and non-remittance of funds by banks.
The third presentation was made by Col OR Akerele (Rtd) subject expert on Southern Africa, his presentation focused on, Government Commended for Creating Favourable Environment for Investment. The Lusaka Times; a widely published newspaper in Zambia, on 27 Jan 25 commended the Zambian Government for Creating a Favourable Environment for Investment. This was also collaborated by the Agriculture Climate Action Foundation (ACAF). ACAF Executive Director, Oliver Bulaya said the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the Integrated Phosphate Products Beneficiation Plants, initiated by Sino Great Chemical Company in Lusaka makes a pivotal moment in Zambian Agricultural Landscape as the project could be a transformative step that promises to significantly reduce the cost of farming inputs in Zambia.
As an illustration, the local production of fertilizers are essential for enhancing agricultural productivity, aiding food security and economic growth. It will also reduce dependence on imports, thereby insulating the agricultural sector from global market volatility. It could also promote sustainable agriculture and create job opportunities, stimulating local economies and attracting foreign investment, especially in the agricultural sector. The central location of Zambia within the SADC as well combination of some identified strengths has made Zambia an ideal investment location. These identified strengths, include peace and a stable political system, a positive and investor friendly economic environment, security of investors with legislated rights to a full and market value compensation, abundant natural resources presenting excellent investment and trade opportunities.
In his analysis and lessons for Nigeria Col OR Akerele (Rtd) noted that, Nigeria does not actively promote outward direct investment. Instead, it focuses on promoting exports especially as a means of reducing reliance on oil exports and diversifying the sources of its foreign exchange earnings. Nigeria’s investment environment refers to the economic, political and social conditions that affects the investment market and the performance of financial instruments and the operations. Nigeria’s environment differ from that of other developed economies due to security concerns, exchange rate volatility, paucity of capital, inadequate access to finance, poor infrastructure, inflationary pressure, debits issues and inadequate fiscal and monetary incentives (Nnanna 2004).
However, the agricultural sector, real estate, mining, renewable energy, technology and communication presents some potentials for investment growth. Furthermore, major concerns regarding security, regulatory uncertainty and power supply uncertainty continued to deter many investors, making the Nigerian overall investment environment unfavourable and unfriendly. As a way forward, government has therefore taken various steps, initiatives and evolve polices to make Nigeria’s business environment favourable to investors. These efforts include: Increasing the ease of doing business, Availability of large market size, Availability of natural resources potentials, Agricultural Technology reforms, Power sector reforms to boost electricity and reduce cost of production and Growing the Tech sector.
He recommended that, the Ministry of Justice should ensure an efficient legal system through effective dispute resolution mechanisms and enforcement of contracts and also the Ministry of Education, through the Vocational Training Centres, Universities and Polytechnics should review academic courses and curriculum to enhance entrepreneurship training.
