BVN, SIM Registration et al: Towards an information based Society

It is commendable that the government through some of its agencies decided to get basic information of the most part of the citizenry through some of the most widely used services: communication and banking. Thank God it wasn’t the States’ Water Corporation that attempted to demand registration; at least we know the government can get some things right. What is however not sure are some questions like: what is to be done with this data? How is the data to be managed? How often should it be updated? What legal issues arise from any mismanagement or error of same? Since #change commenced we can ask questions and analyze issues in the light of the letter and spirit of the law, principles and precedents in the name of “keeping tabs with good governance”.

So let us talk about the SIM Registration. To a large extent we can claim that it has been somewhat effective: the registration process that is. We queued, gave our details and got relay messages that said the registration was successful. Impressively, years later, an application “True Caller” was developed using the data. It would track such information and display the name of an unknown number calling, even with its un-functionality sometimes (at least we can manage; we are Nigerians). We have heard in recent times the way the communication service providers have been subpoenaed to give evidence in court by printed records of conversations of registered owners of lines. We have also read of the heavy fines imposed on the pioneer communication service provider, which is currently rocking our boat of FDI attraction (these are issues for another day). The Nigerian Communication Commission had published some of the reasons for the registration. With the key one being security, it wor

ks a great deal in a very little way against the fight on terrorism in the country. Since my registration till now, I have changed address twice. Yet I have not updated with my service provider. Before you judge me as being the major problem of the country as we are quick to doing, we should also not forget that we are a lot to be judged. Without justifying my irresponsibility, I recommend that service providers should do periodic checks on their subscribers to ensure information is up to date instead of raining our phones, running down our batteries and a lot of times distracting our attention with those 5-digit messages and 6 digit line calls to advertise one new product or the other that we are really not interested in.

Most importantly, there should be more awareness as to the utilization of this data, verification of same and connection with other amenities subscribed for by such an individual. I should be able to link my electricity distribution account, or television service with my line and also my water corporation subscription. This way, it would be worth it, doing a police report for an “ordinary” SIM Card that gets missing.

On BVN Registration; it was a sordid experience for so many who had their accounts restricted for having not done the BVN registration or even having done same, had complications. The frustrating part for some is the fact that some of the issues cannot even be resolved by the banks they registered with, because the Central Bank has not given directives on those issues, so they claim. Now let us assess this situation properly. According to basic banking law, one of the undeniable duties of the banker in the banker – customer relationship is the duty to provide the customer his money which he deposited with the banker, whenever he demands for the money provided that such time is within banking hours. Put succinctly the duty to honor customers’ cheque(s). The restriction placed on accounts not duly registered is as to withdrawal, while moneys can still be deposited into the account. The danger is thus for an ignorant customer who hardly withdraws cash and needs cash urgently only to be told his account is restricted, meanwhile he receives text messages regularly on the amounts lodged in. upon demand and subsequent denial, an action may arise. Due diligence on the part of the bank is to ensure that measures are in place to allow and compel the customer to comply with industry regulations. Of course the peculiarity of the Nigerian situation would demand more. If the accounts were restricted from even depositing, it would create a better scenario for the bank to avoid liability. Maybe we can float a class action for breach of banker-customer duty on the banks on this basic principle; at least let us here what the defense would be. If the CBN claims that over 5 million accounts were blocked in a country that claims to have more under-banked population then the effectiveness of the more than one year BVN campaign runs into questioning. Regardless however, the average Nigerian citizen is skeptical about giving information that he is not sure of its security especially with the realities of wikileaks, Boko Haram and Identity theft in our world.

Since the Obasanjo regime, there have been moves, approved budgetary allocations towards the issuance of national identity cards. The National Identity Management Commission got my data since August 2014 and promised to send me a message once my card is ready, and here I am still presenting my University ID Card when I have to cash a cheque. The innovative Lagos state under the leadership of Governor BRF introduced the LASRRA (Lagos State Residents’ Registration Agency. I doubt Lagosians know about this registration.

Whether effective or not effective, we need to know how this data is managed. We need an automated process of registration. Clusters are no longer encouraged in the country with such incidences as the Ebola break out, riots, and other dangerous attacks we are prone to in recent times. ID Cards should be issued with a sensible collection process, not one I have to bribe my way to collect; the already gathered data should be wide spread across agencies and service providers. I should have an identity number that I can provide when booking an online flight, registering a business name, or even applying for admission to a university, that would allow access to my full data as last updated by me. That way, services are faster, customer satisfaction is easier and everyone is happy to have registered. Internet hacking is not new in the world, the agencies in charge should guard properly the information and bear liability in the event of a negligent leak.  

Meshack’s Drones (5): Posting Wahala

Now before you think this is a vent, or another unnecessary gist about dissatisfaction about national institutions and structures, just relax and be happy as you read my indifferent mindset about an inconsistent system and failures of national institutions. 

During my days at the Nigerian law school, the haze about the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) blew in and everyone was registering like it was rapture about to take place. I couldn’t be bothered because of a number of reasons I would be sharing and you would be a judge to whether I was right or wrong.

The NYSC has an online platform and a tweeter handle from which they disseminate information purported to have come from them. Up until this month, there have been clamors to scrap the institution because of the several security issues and how Corpers in the past have been used as pawns for ethnic struggles, religious fanaticism and maybe family rivalry. At inception, the intention was lofty: to get Nigerians to reintegrate. Inter-tribal marriages were fostered on this platform and a whole lot of other feats have been  achieved. So the argument that its purpose had been fulfilled was not in any way a wrong one. Nigerians have moved on to greater challenges that called for a different agenda and institution to carry it out. As much as I agreed with this, I couldn’t also discard the idea of the short military training, the networking options and inter-ethnic community that the NYSC stands for and has been beneficial to a whole lot of persons known and unknown.

So yes I have always looked forward to wear my Khaki, have a platoon, do endurance treks, meet new people, climb the ropes and snap that picture. But no, I never knew security would become such a problem to make some areas “un-go-able”. When the NYSC through its handle informed us of the new registration and posting process, I was happy. Not just about the fact that I could get to choose where I wanted to go, but also because for once, a national institution could come up with such an innovative idea that would check the concerns raised. The idea was on a first come first serve basis. So when a particular state got full, such state would not show on the prospective Corper’s registration page. This was how I got to choose Oyo, Kwara and Akwa Ibom states. Whilst everyone expressed their paranoia and every to me, I would calm them down with that phrase “we have chosen, they can’t send us to where we didn’t choose”. And when it happened, I was posted to Zamfara.

Fast forward the story to today, you can understand my shock, displeasure and sadness. Sad not just because I would thousands of miles from home, or that I am entering a zone where about 31 people were killed in July by the BH guys, but because once again I was fooled by the ardent belief in working national structures. I am disappointed again because I put in such unwavering faith in the process and hoped for nothing but what I had chosen, my Yola experience didn't teach me nothing. In that sadness comes some more level of expectancy though. I really want to see a changed Nigeria and I feel it is my opportunity to be that change. The first step like I said before is doing something extraordinary, allowing a little self inconvenience for the greater good. One thing is certain, dangers and risks never end and they are everywhere you turn no matter how you try to evade them. What good is it envisaging danger or scarcity or even irrelevance instead of unlocking the several juices and plans of positivity you can in search of a beautiful service year.

So here are somethings you can do when you find a place you are totally not satisfied with:

1.       Smile: do not frown your face, at least not so that anyone can see

2.       Check the date of resumption and know how long you have to make inquiries about the place

3.       Google, ask, and read about the place

4.       Check for hotels, malls, or tourist attractions in the state

5.       Know the cost of living in the state: accommodation, and feeding in choice areas

6.       Check to be sure there is a bible believing church in it, and take the contacts there, call them and introduce yourself and they would pray with you to take away your fears.

7.       Explore the redeployment option on the three available grounds: security, health or marriage.

These are the things I have done, and I think they can work for you! oh yeah and was I wrong to have been so at peace? Be the judge.

To a Friend, Mentor and G! on his Birthday… Oladeinbo Gilbert

Errr, You would have to pardon me, I never get what your exact names are, I am sure it’s the perks of being a Yoruba boy: I know there is Gilbert, Oladeinbo, Tinuke, Benson, the exact order, I don’t know. Not everyone strikes you with that height of wits, playfulness and mixed with a definite sense of purpose. But here is a big hearty cheer to that one person who has all three at first sight and contact; I forgot to add with really good looks. The description of his beauty is more than the down tone but I can’t do more considering the Anti-Gay laws and the fact that I really have no semblance to Bruce.

Dark, slim and average heighted, his gait almost makes him taller than he actually is. He was on the other block, so I never got to see him until this evening. “That’s him” I got a nudge from Peller as he showed me the guru of the campus. He was swift, brisk and sharp, like he had twitches of duties he had just attended to and had more to do. Simply dressed, of course it was evening service how smashing could you look? That was when I realized I knew him all the while. He was in the choir and had this funny look when the lyrics went on. And then it was testimony time and he walked up to thank God for having his 5^th 5point GPA from the last semester. He was in 400 Level. Overwhelmed as I was I realized how one could be real, yet smart, humble and touched by divinity.

I began a semester long course of close observation of his lifestyle. It was the best course I ever took in Uni. And I was definitely the better for it. It wasn’t long before I also got a reflection from his mirror of almost perfection! I also joined the choir (not coz of him though! @Ojhordee made that happen); and I became a debater. He taught me my most effective stage fright dispeller. I won’t share it with you. I watched him sing, anchor school programs, debate, argue, fight for the students’ association’s progress, chair electoral committees, and also watched him graduate as best student overall, no one broke the record yet. There I realized how a person could have such a good heart replete with a resolve to be the best and squeeze out the positive energy for those around in great impact.

I didn’t know anything about his emotional life, it didn’t concern me but I know he had a publicly acclaimed bestie. I have one too (shout out to @blessingbaba). But one thing I was sure of was that he succeeded severally to maintain a healthy one because there was no time his head wasn’t giving him the right signals and requisite resources to make the right decisions. I also realized here, that no matter what it is: physical afflictions, high flying performances and work life balance come from supernatural grace and a strong determination to do the right thing.

His countenance was always cheerful; you would wonder where the energy was coming from. His analysis were top notch, you would wonder what wisdom is this. His support was encouraging; you would wonder what you have done to attract such encouragement. He was choosy about his friends, his words, and even location. Efficacy, excellence and amity were just his lifestyle and I am proud, happy and indeed privileged to know you, be your friend (yes I know I am) and interact with you.

People don’t know this, but celebrating stars whilst they yet glimmer shouldn’t be any different from when it glows. Stars are stars: they are magnificent and shiny, it’s only weather conditions, earth spins and galaxy positioning that affects their appearance per time. I celebrate Gilbert Oladeinbo Benson because he is such a star, a great man, a super destiny; yes soon to be Aviation Minister, and so much other things. Some day when you are old, rich, famous, I would be glad to appear to have identified with you and stayed as a friend for that long. I can only pray that your great aspirations keep you zealous and hearty until God’s exact plan for your life unfolds in your reality for family and friends to stay impacted.

God bless you and Happy Birthday Sir!!!

Meshack's Drones (4): Warri Connection

Happy new month from the desk of the ReadyWriter. My long absence has been occasioned by the usual Lagos hustle, plus the travels on the ever on-going constructions of the inter-state highways and of course the tons of words I have to read through and write in recent times. Whatever the case, the hunter is always happy his trap could catch something at the end of the week, it could have been worse. I am sure my ready readers can adapt the proverb to the situation. Today I share some lessons from one of my recent and interesting travel to a beautiful, ancient and small city called Warri.

Its been about 3 years since I last traveled to Warri. It is home for me because of the several extended family members that live there and are fond of me. Uncle and his family nicknamed me "Prof" because of the academic feats i achieved in primary and secondary schools (don't ask which, *i had an F9 in CRK). Maybe that's what influenced my decision to pursue academics and bag my professorship before i am 35. That dream I intend to follow with all passion and intent. As i travel through the annoyingly bad roads, in the initial anger of the delay, I remember my last journey with my brother. It was then when I had gone on holiday from the JSS1 break. Interestingly I wasn't going back to continue JSS2.I was going to continue JSS3 and he had told me the good news of how my school board had sat and made the decision with my mother's final consent. we talked about it all the way as we made our way through the ancient Benin City. By the time we approached the Benin-Ore road, he began to teach me some Advance Agric Science. Err, Agric was not my subject but he had a dream to have one of Africa's largest farms at the time. So i guess I was his first "intern" and right now I am trying to recollect the essence of that lecture. Yes it was some intense gist about green-ness. Way before the green movement began in the world. He explained the reason why the taller trees were greener than the shorter ones- the whole sunlight chemical interaction. My bro and I indeed had some nice growing up moments, and I am sure some of you don't know this green movement nor the reason why some trees are greener than some. Your opportunity to quickly Google and read it up.

Things have really changed. In those days (2002), telephones were not allowed when travelling. the major reason was insecurity. That is why i totally agree BokoHaram did not start yesterday. Transport services would advice everyone to put off their phones for the entirety of the journey which was a standard 5 hours and or more. their reasoning was in order for us passengers not to be the pawns strategizing the envisaged highway robbery. No one could be trusted oh. If you were caught making a call, the suspicion from the other passengers' eyes would make you not eat and that in itself was more suspicion. On my way to Warri i chatted almost all through and had someone on the other side disturb all through. This doesn't mean we have fought the war totally against insecurity in the south. in fact rumors have it that it was the directive to stop Police check points that reduced the highway robberies to the minimum. Whether there is truth in that, I dont know and I would not test. Insecurity is not one apparatus that can go into my research test lab. Lets leave it for the Khaki men to do.

That reminds me of the sweetest part of the journey: the stop-to-eat oh sorry "Stop-Over" at Ore. Those canteens in the area have made a fortune, but I am sure the Yoruba party culture won't make them have much investment *runsaway*. Mummy never bought us food at Ore. we would have snacks and at the most bananas. Yes everyone thinks I should have starred in the Dawn of the Planet Apes Movie because of my love for bananas. If only they knew how much of a life saver my bananas were traveling to and fro Warri growing up. She claimed she never wanted us pressed on the road, she was non-tolerant to travel disturbances- baby cries, frequent toilet stops by passengers, driver misbehavior and such other matters connected thereto. The lesson this taught me growing up is that you can always achieve what you want, get satisfaction out of life without disturbing others from achieving theirs. You might only inconvenience yourself a little but it makes the world a better place. If everyone couldn't wait for everyone or tolerate somethings, then the world would be worse than the jungle. DEEP Right?

Talking passengers disturbed the journey so much. But this time, I talked. No, good talk. I was the hero that led the Bus through the best route that took us from Ikotun all the way to Shangisha, close to Berger, towards the outskirts of Lagos. Hehehe, like Moses, I had my fair share of heavy criticisms, uncertainties, annoyances and outbursts while I led, but the good part is it didn't last 400 years, just thirty minutes was enough for the struggle. You see that is why Nigeria is where it is today. Distrust of everyone for everyone. No one wants to give any one a chance for anything and that is why, the National security agency would rather show on national television new equipments bought in the combat against terrorism, than keep classified info and fight it once and for all. Even an amateur player of Call of Duty seeing those helicopters and ammunitions knows how to counter them upon sight not to talk of the Bros of the North. I would add distrust is not a virtue just as impatience is not. 

It might have seemed draggy, but yes that's how my 6 hour journey went. Full of reminiscing and lessons. A journey that should take not more than 3hours 45 minutes. I saw campaigns this year of the past administration making boast of how the roads have been fully constructed; i laughed as i went on this journey because a tiny part of me really wanted to see what the roads have become and i was disappointed. Please this is not a political rendition, it is all for the love of my Warri. I would share my in-Warri experiences soon... In the mean time remember the lessons in italics.

The Ready Writer

The Yola Bwari Switch

It is complementary hearing all the congratulatory messages. I wonder what kind of messages I would get when the excellent grades are reeled out. Scary as it is people never celebrated my finishing year 4 in the University. I remember finishing WAEC and walking back home without even one “Congratulation”. It has made me realize that it is true when they say the higher you go, the higher the pressure. So I sat in my brown and cream rugged apartment that night after the events of a yearlong legal immersion wondering if I had done ALL I was meant to do in Bwari.

I made a long mental list of friends and acquaintances, material acquisitions, spiritual services, but not so much memorable pleasures and I had the great relief sigh. I remember my last post before law school began. It was on my Yola Crisis and all the fears, thoughts and uncertainties raised. I could have gone there to touch more lives and had more memorable experiences. But then again, the other items on the list sure outweigh pleasures and that my dears was the sweetest part of the cookey.

Resolves, restraints and recues, I lived in Bwari with grace. Never visited Lovitos, slept in Elim once, never went to Kuchiko, Sundays at HOTR the Refuge were BLASTS for me, CLASFON was home and super duper great friends I won’t mention before the others I exclude would petition Google to close this my small space. You know I love lessons and so the Yola-Bwari Switch thought me one too deep never to throw away. It was that at all times, you always need a relationship to get to the point you want to. You can’t have everything but you can have everyone. A snap, a call, a visit or even a mere check up with that PING!!! Might just be all you need to move to that next rung of the ladder called life.

Call it what you like: friendship, acquaintance, love, intimacy, family, boo-ship or bae-ship, whatever, we are all flesh, blood and bones acting and reacting to the waves, situations and circumstances of the earth. So whether you hate or love, keep that someone around you. Whether you like or not, show someone care when you can and have to. Whether it is true or false, attempt to say hello and if that is all that comes take a walk. But never spend a day or a decade alone coz you will stink dirtier than the BOOZE from the gutter. SELAH!!!

Meshack’s Drones (2): Inter-Social Skills

I remember when I prepared my first CV ever. I was going to get a job as a French tutor in some relatively big boys secondary school near my house in Ejigbo, Lagos state. Amidst the litany of certificates I had rained the two paged CV with, I added a column that had the title “skills”. I carefully filled in “I-n-t-e-r-p-e-r-s-o-n-a-l skill”. Yes, it was faster to write the skill because I was practically trying to understand the meaning of the word. I checked it up and I think it meant something in the line of eerrrr a skill that involves relationships between people.

But I was wrong and I rightly misrepresented. As much as people liked me and I liked people I was quite the shy type. I would run away from everything called gatherings and public speaking; I would rehearse speeches and gestures when I had to talk to that fine girl down the street that attended the university I wanted to go to. Yeah well I had not used a phone more than a year before then. I liked calls and did very well texting. So maybe I had a correct notion though. I had a funny Facebook account that had a couple of friends. Oh the wonders I did with that account. I stalked, I deleted annoying friends and I searched for the old friends I had crushes on. Yeah I had a lot of crushes coz my shy-personal-skills didn’t make me talk when I had to.

Years went by, and I got my blackberry. Wow… that thing was a life saver. It helped me cut down on my calls drastically and there were months I would go without instituting a single call but I was in contact with my world. By my first four months I had a contact list of about 100 happy chatterers. There were several classifications: from Friends, to Classmates, to Oldies and even Randoms. Don’t ask me which you were. As time went on, my charter-tele (not clientele) had increased so much I had to cut it down. Facebook was booming and I also decided after some persuasion by fellow charterers to extend my charming presence to the Tweeting world. Sooner than I thought I caught a hold on the vocabulary and tricks.

I had moved from physical shyness to finding a point of expression. Where I could say every-and- anything I wanted to say every time I needed to. I could persuade, dissuade and close any deal online. I could quarrel, love, get angry, happy and even hangout online. I had built up the inter-social skill and it was robust and I could go on with it for so long. But I wonder just how it will look like on my CV. But who cares…..

Meshack’s Drones (1): Starting new things

I am thinking I should start by giving a disclaimer of bore or irrelevance but I shouldn’t, I want you glued here so let’s just skip all the introduction and start. Being the first on this platform, I should say what it is about. I rant, and read rants a lot and so these rants might come more than once in a day. Sometimes I might be in trouble and not rant, but just know that I am cooking up something good for your reading pleasure, thinking faculties and action motivation. These drones would be about just any and everything that applies to everyday youthful living. You might catch some insights, revelations, advice or even rebuke with some of them. Feel free to comment on any of them whenever and feel compelled to share them too if they reveal mysteries to you (lol).

Starting new things could pump so much excitement in you at the mere thought like your first day at college. It could also be as scary as the moment where you are to defend your final year thesis in front of an external panel of experts. It could be interesting and catchy like the Caitlyn Jenner haze. I definitely would agree if the new experience would instill much expectation like the APC’s take over of the political system in Nigeria with so many uncertainties. Whether it is adrenaline pumping, scare, interest, or the hesitation you feel, it shouldn’t also be kept “unstarted”.

Top in the news today is the inauguration of Nigeria’s 8^th Senate. That is a new thing in the country. It behooves on us Nigerians now to accept it, frustrate it or enjoy the several shoots from the various party chiefs.

The usual comparison between most African countries is with the United States of America. The 8^th Congress of the USA in the early 1800s was a great one. Major deals, impeachment, election and legislations were made within the period and I really hope our hopes and expectations would not be dashed by this 8^th senate. As much as they portend to make laws for the peace and good governance of Nigeria, it is also a time to see coherence and collaboration with the executive and show the people the taste of what “good governance” is. Nigerians should not go sleeping though. Let us put on our thinking caps, evaluate every single move and think of the consequences before commenting or dragging it to the mud in frustration all in the name of constructive criticisms. Who am I to give all these advice though? I’m just another Nigerian with a little tinkle of gleaming hopes for the better future we collectively desire.

Action Point: Read the news, think, research on new things, dispel your fears and start!!!

You Will Succeed!!!