Ahmed Buhari is the CEO of Skylar, Inc., a Lagos-based ICT company. More importantly, he is a young presidential aspirant who is gearing to contest in the 2019 general elections against incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari. He shares with NATHANIEL AKHIGBE his thoughts about how Nigeria got into the present tight corner and what he would do differently if elected president. Excerpts:
What is your assessment of the performance of President Buhari’s administration so far?
I would like to assess the administration based on its campaign promises and also some of the challenges it met on ground. This administration has its own flaws and successes, but we must also analyse if its approach towards tackling some of the pressing issues will yield results or not. Nigerians have been extremely patient with this administration and it is an indication that we truly want to be successful as a people and are prepared to go through the rough times with the hope of a brighter future, but a lot is not adding up.
In 2015 we were presented with the ‘fuel subsidy’ saga yet again and this time around Nigerians allowed the government to get away with it after many months of fuel scarcity. This administration assured us that if we allow for the removal of fuel subsidy we would no longer experience fuel scarcity, but that has not been the case. I want Nigerians all over to know that there is no such thing as fuel subsidy and that it is just racketeering. The numerous accusations on the NNPC and the unfortunate intimacy it has with the executive arm of government that has made all cases brought against the corporation meet brick walls is not just puzzling but most unfortunate. I believe the government must stop befriending the corporation and put the plight of the Nigerian people first. Some agencies and parastatals have remitted revenue generated in 2017 in the following order: Nigerian Ports Authority – N1.2 trillion; Federal Inland Revenue Service – N2.3 trillion (in taxes collected); Value Added Tax (VAT) earnings – N2 trillion; Nigeria Customs – N1 trillion. But what is most baffling is to know that a major contributor to our revenue generation, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), is yet to make any announcement, let alone remitting. This administration must stop talking about its inability to service the N7 trillion budget if we can clearly see that all these revenues have been and can be generated. There must be more transparency, accountability, efficiency, improved body language form the executive arm of government so as to earn the trust of the Nigerian people and, maybe, then we can begin to understand what the fight against corruption truly means.
The other area we must look at is its promise to fix the power sector. I would like to suggest to this administration to give rights to states that have existing generation plants to generate and distribute. Now that it is obvious government does not have the capacity to meet our demand for power, then it must remove its hands from the business and just become a regulatory body observing activities and ensuring that due processes are duly followed. I will also suggest to this administration to revisit the privatisation contracts and deals and ensure that the distribution companies have the technical and financial capacity. Where they are found wanting, government must intervene and find new partners or support them appropriately. It is appalling when you see distribution companies manipulating their customers to buy transformers and wires to help resolve some technical situations. If we cannot get the power sector functioning the way we have designed the telecoms, then the expected service might never be received. The government should also learn to take criticism and work on becoming better.
What steps do you think the regime took or failed to take that led to the economic recession? If you were the president, what would you have done differently?
This administration failed from inception to recognise that we were in a recession long before it admitted it. As usual, our poor data management system made it difficult to see clearly the handwriting on the wall before we were hit by the recession. Failure to understand that and sustain the economy at that crucial time led to most of what we are currently experiencing: from job losses to businesses shutting down and the depreciation of the naira against the dollar. The indecision to appoint ministers to steer the economy for over six months also contributed largely to the halt in economic activities and a decrease in confidence from international businesses that were looking to come into the Nigerian business space while most of the ones who were already in our business space began to develop cold feet.
The Treasury Single Account (TSA) is a good idea but the administration, while working hard to sustain it thereby mopping up the system, failed to realise the demand for forex and eventually made the dollar expensive. In my opinion, the government waited too long and a situation that could very well be managed got out of hand. We must not forget that shortly before the administration assumed office, the dollar was already floating around N186 to $1. The mere fact that we were in an election period from 2014 to 2015 with some loose cash here and there made demand for importation high, at the same time politicians had a lot of money and refused to allow it go into the system because of the uncertainties in the political arena. Others who were willing to spend the loose cash at their disposal were making purchases uncontrollably which then led to a rise in inflation.
Unemployment level in Nigeria at the moment is very alarming. If you were elected president, what would you do to change the situation?
The unemployment situation in the country is directly correlated with the shutdown of businesses and the low level of confidence the international community has for Nigeria recently. Our strategy for job creation and a reduction in the unemployment indices is a focus on some sectors. We are going to be focusing on agriculture and solid minerals, Information Technology (IT), and education. Our agricultural plan has the potential of creating half a million jobs in the first two years. We intend to revolutionise the agricultural sector by introducing highly-equipped mechanised farming and unlike the eagerness perceived from our Ministry of Agriculture, we will not be in a hurry to export unprocessed products. My administration will be focused on ensuring that no tuber of yam leaves the shores of this country simply because we want to realise foreign exchange. We must understand that for every tuber of yam that we export, we are exporting jobs. When you understand that the by-products of yam are used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, you will have a rethink before exporting unprocessed products. We must exhaust the entire value chain, not just stopping at the farm gates. We must begin to create jobs from the farm gate to the processing plants, then to the storage plant, and then we create openings around branding, packaging and transportation to the end user. We should ensure price control mechanisms are clearly addressed so that Nigerians can purchase commodities at the same price all year round. When all these are met, then we can go ahead and export for better value. Our agricultural plan for jobs will address National Youth Corp members, giving them the opportunity to be part of the supply value chain by creating optional vocational programmes that broaden their horizons on the possibilities embedded in agriculture. Our manifesto also clearly addresses jobs that will be created from solid minerals. We must not forget that the richest man in Africa makes his billions from solid minerals. We will ensure that the marble and tiles imported from China and Spain are sourced from within instead. We must rejuvenate the ceramic industry and tell the Nigerian people what the true mineral deposit quantity in Zamfara, Kebbi and Niger States amount to. Transparency, efficiency and accountability must all be incorporated into our economic reforms. Information Technology is the new frontier. As an IT entrepreneur, I know exactly what our focus on this industry can contribute to employment and income generation and poverty reduction. ICT enables people and enterprises to capture economic opportunities by increasing process efficiency, promoting participation in expanded economic networks, and creating opportunities for employment. ICT enhances the economic productivity across region and geographic location. For instance, ICTs can enhance rural productivity. ICT enables solution sharing between local people and communities, providing access to practical information on small business accounting, weather trends and farming best practices, for example. Timely access to market information via communications networks also helps farmers make appropriate decisions about what crops to plant and where to sell their produce and buy inputs. The number of young people today in Nigeria who are able to use ICT to proffer solutions as well as make a living for themselves is amazing. We must ensure that we make electricity and internet hubs available to enable aspiring tech-preneurs explore and develop the new Nigeria.
Why do you want to be president of Nigeria and what do you think has prepared you for the job?
In 2016, I decided to stop standing on the sidelines and pass comments of displeasure. I decided to understand why as a country we have continually failed to progress alongside other aspiring nations. I decided that the only way to make a difference is to participate in the process that gives us our leaders. I also want to use this movement to motivate as many young Nigerians as possible to get involved in leadership and politics. Constitutionally, I have the right to contest for the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and my vision is to have a unified country where the people are secure, power is decentralised and economically viable. I want to run a government where the lost hope of the younger generation is restored, fears of the older generations are erased, dignity and prosperity of our dear country regained and Nigeria becomes the giant of Africa and the best economy in the world. All this can be achieved if we adopt a technologically-driven system.
Would you be contesting the 2019 presidential election and under which political party?
Yes, I will be contesting in the 2019 general elections and we will be holding a press conference next month to announce our political party.
Emmanuel Macron was elected president of France in 2017 at the age of 39. What, in your opinion, is the reason young Nigerians like you are not interested in politics?
Oh yes! The Nigerian youths are fully ready. I have been to every state in Nigeria in the last two years and there is hunger for something different. Mostly, it is yearnings for a new breed of politicians. We all want to see a better Nigeria in our lifetime and many young people have made their declarations to aspire for different offices. I will like to appeal on our behalf that media houses like you grant us audience so that our effort can be felt and appreciated. Remember that the French media was highly instrumental in selling the Macron mandate.
Let’s talks about your company, Skylar Business Solutions. The main goal of Skylar is to help its clients implement, upgrade and maintain state-of-the-art application packages. How challenging and successful has it been actualising this mandate?
I would say it has come with its own challenges, as with every business. Nothing good comes easier. But overall, through our commitment and dedication to this goal, as well as our passion for this goal, we have been able to record huge gains and success. As you well know, we are in an industry that focuses on implementation, upgrade and maintenance of application packages for various businesses, and this usually demands that one be flexible in his or her approach to meeting the needs of these clients. At Skylar, we embrace this demand. We have been able to design a system that allows us to be adaptable in our business approach, thus ensuring that the needs of our clients always come first. This has been of benefit to both our clients and Skylar as a whole.
Skylar is also involved in many other things, such as electronic document management solution, file tracking, website development, high storage equipment, among others. How do you manage this multiplicity?
Skylar is an Information Technology (IT) company incorporated in Nigeria. Therefore, we deal with products and services related to IT and all the ones you have mentioned are encapsulated under IT, in addition to software development, production scanner supply, network infrastructure, e-business applications, database services, school management systems, ICT trainings, among others. We at Skylar concern ourselves with commitment, dedication, time and hard work required to ensure that our products/services are topnotch and have the capabilities of fulfilling the needs of our customers. In return, we are appreciated and our level of integrity is boosted.
You are also involved in human resource management. What can you tell us about hiring and firing in an economy in recession?
In this recession, human resource management is a sensitive and key task to carry out. The recessive economy has prompted organisations to reduce costs to the lowest level possible which in return triggered the high rate of staff lay-off and perhaps low rate of recruitment. Nowadays, most organisations would rather hire someone who is experienced and significantly versed in two or more different skills related to the services they offer than have someone who is experienced in just a particular skill set. This is a critical issue. The government ought to look into this and assist these businesses by providing measures that would assist them. Some measures could include simplifying tax laws; providing a fair legal system and bankruptcy system to enable failed businesses come back up; giving businesses property rights to the information and intellectual goods they create; providing, encouraging and supporting businesses financially from different sectors; and training more entrepreneurs. I believe that with these in place, we would see businesses improving and even creating an impact to the government.
In many parts of the world, several jobs are done from the employees’ location, thanks to technological advancement. But employers in Nigeria are yet to acknowledge that hours wasted in traffic could be properly channelled to employers’ advantage if certain departments are allowed to work from home. What is your understanding of this situation?
It is true that modern-day technology has made it easy to work from the comfort of your home or, better still, from anywhere. This is one thing which is yet to be accepted fully in Nigeria. The tradition here in Nigeria is that everyone is expected to be at his/her place of work at a particular time and that is the reason why we get to see the early morning rush to work which causes much traffic and long time wasted in traffic, especially in a city like Lagos. Personally, I believe if we begin to appreciate the power of modern-day technology and what it offers, things would work out so easily, effectively and efficiently. For instance, Skylar newly developed a mobile/web application called “Marketing Mobility App” which would make operations easy for a marketer and his employer. This application helps you locate different companies, keep track of how much work has been done for the day and also generate a report based on the work done. This way, the marketer is able to manage his time properly, know how effective his marketing strategies are. On the other hand, the employer would be able to keep track of who is actually working and bringing results to the organisation.
