DR.EMI MEMBERE-OTAJI, former President of the Port Harcourt City Chamber and now National Vice President of the national body, NACCIMA, is a seasoned investor, medical practitioner and chairman of Princess Medical Centre as well as CEO of Elshcon Group involved in shipping, fabrications/ construction and oil services, etc. The Kalabari chief has been fielding questions on the likely burdens overstretching the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Apapa gridlock, and business life after the Covid-19 pandemic. Excerpts….
QUES: There is the view from some stakeholders that the CBN is overburdened, therefore much of the work of transforming the economy should also be shifted to fiscal authorities. Do you support this view?
ANS: I don’t totally support the view because the CBN’s monetary policy roles are quite distinct from government’s fiscal policy management. The apex Bank, however, seems overburdened and distracted with many other activities. Also the non-alignment between fiscal and monetary policy managements is impacting negatively on the nation’s economic growth.
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set standards for truck owners and drivers. Are you optimistic that the MoU will deliver effective services anchored on standard compliance?
The MOU between the Nigerian Shippers Council and FRSC is a good Idea, however, like most good ideas, implementation and sustenance will be where the issues will arise. Or else, the desirable effects will not be achieved and everything will return to the negative status quo.
Apapa gridlock has remained a serious problem that seems not to have solution because measures have been implemented to address it but all to no avail. Do you feel there is insincerity of purpose on the part of FG and concerned stakeholders in addressing it or we are not implementing it the right way?
Government and stakeholders know the right things to do, but having the political will to walk the talk as it should be, including taming the so called Nigerian factor and enforcing discipline, remain big challenges.
Port operators have called on the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to overhaul the E-call up system recently introduced to address traffic congestion along the Apapa ports because is alleged that the progress recorded so far might suffer setbacks by saboteurs. What is your take on this?
Again, it is a good idea, but if not properly enforced and supervised, it will not achieve the desirable effects on the long run.
Nigeria loses approximately $70 million to illegal fishing by the Chinese and European trawlers in our territorial waters. Sir, how can we ensure safety and security of the country’s territorial waters?
Nigeria being a Coastal State should enjoy huge benefits from economic activities and transportation from the waterways. As in other Coastal countries like us, International instruments, exist to protect the sea, the users, and equipment plying or stationed in these, like the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS74), International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL73/78), Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, IUU, International Convention for the Standards of Trainings, Certification and Watch-keeping (STWC95) and so on.
Enforcement of these international instruments is key to stopping or even significantly reducing illegal and unregulated fishing along our waters especially from foreign fishing vessels. In addition to our national crime prevention and punitive measures.
The later should also be vigorously and sincerely pursued to ensure safety and security in our waters. If insecurity off the coast of Somalia can be tamed today, a show of strong political will can also make the difference, not only off Nigeria’s waters but whole of the Gulf of Guinea.
The COVID -19 pandemic caused our economy to go into recession in 2020. With the current state of the economy, do you foresee positive growth in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the end of 2021?
Unfortunately our economy which was already on shaky grounds encountered the Covid-19 pandemic turbulence and went into economic recession. Even though the economy had a marginal GDP growth of 0.51 per cent in quarter one of 2021, the effect on the economy was barely notified in the lives of people, businesses and the various tiers of governments.
Year on year, I foresee a marginal GDP growth for 2021, provided more disruptions do not occur, the crude oil price does not fall drastically and there’s improved management of our fiscal policy.
How have you been able to navigate life’s journey as an entrepreneur, career professional and a father?
Life is a journey, with twists and turns. I, like most others, meander through, focused, calculated, learning from personal experiences and experiences of others; never giving up and being amenable to change. Being agile and poised for possible disruptions in different areas that can come unannounced. Since I attained the age of 60, I still try to push boundaries, but takeless risks and do not get easily excited or worked up over issues. I take my spirituality more seriously.
When you attained 60 years, you launched the five-star Princess Medic-Clinics (Multi-specialty Signature Hospital) in Port Harcourt, River State. How has the medical facility helped in improving healthcare delivery in the state?
The multi-specialty, Signature Wing, of the hospital built in 2018 with the support of Shell Nigeria’s Aspire Growth Fund has played and still playing the roles it was desired to achieve. Though with the turbulence of Covid-19 pandemic, barely one and half years of the hospital’s set up, with several national and state lockdowns, unemployment, companies right-sizing, increasing poverty of the people, fear of many people to visit hospitals except for emergency cases, we were affected though our high-end facilities like intensive care services, use of ventilators for Covid-19 negative patients, etc., came in handy. From 2021, however, business is picking up, even though some of the issues in the community, highlighted above have not significantly changed.
Are you optimistic in government’s ability to improve healthcare delivery in Nigeria or it should be handed over to private sector?
I am not optimistic in government’s ability to improve healthcare for many reasons. Some reasons are often highlighted by many Healthcare professional bodies, like poor funding, poor attitude of healthcare workers and the exodus of our healthcare workers abroad, among others.
Positionally, the private sector should be there to fill the huge gap of Healthcare needs but in the country they too have their numerous challenges. It is not good to leave Healthcare system in the hands of one sector. It should be a shared responsibility.
What are those things that have given you fulfillment in life as father, husband, and employer of labour?
I get fulfilled as a father, seeing my children make progress in life while abiding by the positive values we tried to put in them. I get fulfilled too in my family and others putting smiles, in my own little way on people. Providing a shoulder to lean on, as much as I can, again in my little way.
For my employees, I always tell them the opportunity is not just to put food on their tables, but they should see it as a training ground to develop themselves.
How do you relax considering the pressures of career?
At 63 years of age and even before now I spend more time exercising, reading, and being around people and places that I feel more relaxed and calms me.
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