How businesses can survive in Nigeria – Ex perm sec

To make the business environment favourable to businessmen and other investors in Nigeria, a call has gone out to the President to see how he can stabilize the price of naira against the Dollars.

Ezeogo Jones Udeogu, a retired permanent secretary, from the Commission of Finance, Abia State, one-time Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning, who retired in 2010 and left for business, disclosed this in his Igbere in Bende LGA country home, stating “If the Dollar can come down a little bit, it will be ok for us.

“Last year when there was instability in the dollar, it affected everything, since March last year, the Dollar has been stable and business has really picked up and this is the cause of developments.

On the current fuel scarcity, Ezeogo Udeogu, said that the current fuel issue was not deliberate to undue Christians as they celebrated last year’s Christmas, stating “I do not believe in that. People should adopt proper planning during festive periods like this to avoid being caught off-guard, not late planning.

“Fuel shortage during the season was inappropriate and therefore sabotage, but all is still based on improper planning at all levels from the family to the federal government.

“The Federal Government said it has fuel, but people are stockpiling it and selling at night and heighten the price”.

Advising the Federal Government on fuel scarcity, he said “Next time, the federal government should plan ahead, while the Federal Government should also supply fuel to the NNPCs and then shut up the independent marketers who hoard the fuel”.

Ezeogo Udeogu, who was talking during the Ezumezu Igbere (as hosted by Ugwu Ebiri II of Igbere}, said “This year is the “afo ukwu” (big year) of Igbere, otherwise called Ezumezu Igbere is done every three years.

It is a retirement ceremony where the oldest age grade retires from active community service, which is from helping in the development of the society.

According to him, Igbere has thirteen villages that make up the clan, hence thirteen age grades, disclosing that when the oldest ones retire, a new age grade is born the same year, making it thirteen again.

“The aim of all these is for community development, such that in three years of Afo Ukwu, all Igbere citizens would clamour to come home to build or to renovate his house and assist people also.

So, when our forefathers had the conception of the Ezumezu thing every three years, they had the intention that this festival would spur every Igbere son back home, make one be careful how he spends the money he generates and when you invest in the village, it is good, hence the ability of one to talk to his age grade anyhow, thus making members not to spend his money on frivolities.

This age grade system in Igbere, he said is a means of development. “Every three years, you must try to come back home, arrange your house, amend your house and put in efforts to solve the little problems in the house.

“This 2017, the new age grade, Oganihu Age Grade is retiring, and the age bracket is always between 65 and 80 years. The age grade system has actually helped Igbere.

The only bridge we have was built through the age grade system, as well as our daily market, health centre, library, the first secondary school on Igbere and many more”.

The Igbere Welfare Union, he disclosed gives age grades names and “before the oldest retires, they must do one or two or three projects that they can be identified with and named after the age grade”.

By Sunday Nwakanma – Umuahia