The Absence of Value

...i think is the beginning of chaos.
Random thoughts here. Mainly on Nigeria. In fact, all about Nigeria.

Competitive advantage is what sustains a set of people in the global context. This preaches survival of the fittest. To survive, nations develop framework within which they can preserve their lifestyle, reduce unanticipated shocks and (in worse case scenarios) prevent extinction. Some focus on anti-globalisation. They try to ensure that their citizens consume what they produce. The socio-economic-political system is tailored along towards actualising this vision. Others look within to point out their strength and build on it. Is it possible for an economic to survive when crude oil is its most significant source of life?

I wonder what efforts can be made improve competitiveness of Nigerian manufactured goods in the global market. There is a company that has been making cornflakes since I was young. They still use the same ugly yellow carton wrapper and no innovative twist has been added to the content (it does not come in strawberry flavour, and no one has thought of making "cornflakes with a twist of Nigerian Apple"; yet the produce in Jos). A competitor they have (Kelloggs) has diversified into other business that guarantee the sustainability of their brand (cartoon character development, education and school projects). I also wonder why the local manufacturers of sachet milk & juice don't think it all through before implementation. Why do you need a knife to open the sachet when you have sachets with perforated holes on its body?

Infrastructures are terrible. I am tired of chatting about power so let me think of the roads, street lightings and street signs. The roads badly connect you to places and have no indicative signs. I spent a lot of time repairing my car (with particular focus on the shock absorbing/braking).

I think the "police is your enemy". When dealing with them, I am either bribing, doing a physiological stunt (make them assume I am related to President Yar'Adua) or shouting. The LASMA guys writing up their shopping list when you "pass one way" (the route for oncoming vehicles).

I wonder why our roads look like a theme park's crash car scene (with car driven by badly trained clumsy baboons). Traits of this environment:

• The life objective of most people seem to be achieved when they overtake the next car and are willing to do so at all cost and aggression level
  
• Some struggle to come first (in some race they created out of staying too long in traffic) results in crashes. No human identification system or effective legal framework so people therefore must sort the issue out either by effective negotiation or jungle justice
  
• Ever shrinking facilities to satisfy the cars bought by the nouveau-rich, spending off the every increase price of oil
  
• The roads made to move people, animals, okadas, hawkers, broken down vehicles and vehicles in whatever direction they deem fit
• Transactions are always going on; purchasing, bribing the police, beggars and just people who assume they add value by nothing
  

Our existence appears to lack substance. Money is spent heavily on purchase on perishable items. Art & culture is just a ministry. Does not do anything to add value to our orientation, life expectation, ethics and codes for living.

We have problems accounting for the number of people in this country. Population of people in Lagos ranges from between 9 to 17 million (a venture that cost us millions to find out). How do we know how many people have AIDS?

I think we have too much hope. Instead of doing what is required to improve our environment, we spend a lot of time hoping that someone will do it. This create rooms for not so knowledgeable pastors and Imams to teach us "the way" (instead of receiving medical treatments for their migraines) and earn a living of it.

Nigeria is traders paradise. All we do is buy anything (I mean anything, people make profit from selling sand). Our insatiable appetite is financed by the revenue from crude oil sold in the market. All business activities are sustained by this inflow.

I will get back to work. I could rant about this all day. As a full fledged member of the rat race, I do this chore not to add value but to afford the things I need to survive. Mainly purchases from abroad.

If I am not careful those that come after me will do the same or be some third class citizen in the ruling world economy; that will happen if the demand for oil drops. Otherwise he/she could even be a mercenary that will fight for the freedom of the Nigerian people; I hope our situation will not get to that.

Till then, the cycle continues.....

Are you managing the lights?

It could be a result of my consultant training but I think a lot in structures. Even if we look deeper into chaos, there is always some form of order.
When I think of organizations, I always think of structures. I think of organizations as environments where the directors have an eye on bottom-line performance, profit maximizations, cost reductions, expansion and some sophisticated ideologies about how businesses should be run. Now, not everyone can think sophisticatedly but at least, some effort is being made.

And this is how I think a normal day at the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN, popularly called NEPA) would be.
I imagine the directors (wearing some expensive frames and dressed in pinstriped suit) arriving to the office in chauffeur driven cars and reading some foreign newspaper about power (that may be a bit imposing, but I think you get the picture). They rush into the office to discuss current realities and path a way forward. Issue on the agenda for today focuses on the power sharing agreement with the Chad republic; how it can exist within a self-sustainable framework. The meeting should be chaired by representatives from the World bank.
The lobby has managers and staff breezing into the office with documents and folders. Some are on the phones others are just walking fast into their offices. The hallway is littered with consultants in the lobby with their laptops (prepared for some PowerPoint presentations, or final delivery of business model).
We have engineers in one section reviewing AutoCAD printout and making suggestions. Most of the staffs have not gone home because they are three weeks behind the agreed deadline. Consultants are explaining certain issues to the managers (who do not agree with the point of view).
The finance office will be filled with clerks and low-level staff trying to clarify the use of certain funds. Every one has Excel opened on the screen (along with facebook and MSN/yahoo IM for recreation).
The inventory keepers are in the store managing inflow/outflows of equipments. He keeps looking into the invoice to clarify the accuracy of the transaction. The manger is trying to prepare a report for management that should be finished by 2pm.He is trying to figure out how he would attend tommorrow’s meeting in Abuja (as the consignment from Port Harcourt will arrive around 5pm and that takes over two days to offload). His assistants are busy gathering information on stock levels and relevant KPIs.
The HR department is working on compilation of additional staff requirement for the group. Around this time (end of November) preparation would be on its way to deciding the next round of staff promotion. Members of this department would have to work extra hard to estimate benefits and dues for staff (based on grades and department) before approval and disbursement (by the finance department).

But there is no light. We barely have five hours of light per day; as I write this blog in the financial capital of West Africa, The Lagos Islands, the generators are working with full blast. One complain that occurrences is that the problem is because we do not produce enough energy for the total population. I think the reason why our situation is in this epileptic state transcends just below requirement capacity, but also includes our lacking the right skills to manage actual production and distribution. I am really worried about the situation. I think all the focus on power generation by the present government will be in vain if there little or no focus on the fundamental problem to the epileptic light situation in Nigeria; Management.

Naturally Selecting our Future

For some reason I have been having some worrying interest in the concept of evolution. It might be something I used to engage my mind (as I sit in my office doing a job I really hate) but at least it helps me explain some facts I am trying to gain a grip on.

Forgive me if I don't use of the functionality which veterans in blog ville use (links to sites,pictures & complex fonts)

The article by Oliver Curry (a research associate in a research group in the Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science, at the London School of Economics and Political Science) is a whole lot of bull and fiction. But it tends to provide some form of logic on the part of our future of our race.

In order to prevent extinction, animals have developed techniques that provide the next generation with enough protection against what they perceive as a threat to their survival. The deer learnt to run faster just as the chameleon mutated to be able to vary the colour beneath its skin pigment and the tortoise developed shells. These traits are flaunted and used by the gender to attract a mating partner. For man, the process is much more complex. And this is how I think about it.

In order to attract a higher quality mate, a common evolutionary trait we developed was the beauty in symmetry. Having this trait, it gave us the ability to point out health in potential mate.
Natural selection began and healthy genes owners mated were provided with the first right to refuse.

In time, societies became more complex thus resulting in more stringent rule to stay on top. Societal values came into play in deciding potential mates. How this was done resulted from a development where the next generation is chosen by a balance mix of parents with symmetric traits and characteristics that push up the social ladder. Example, women with hips & breast that fits into the valuation profile of that society are termed as "sexy". By birth and looks the woman has earned her looks to push her generation through time.

Since the flow of money is a socially influenced, the best genes would control the most income. In time, individual with skills relevant go up the ladder. With a good understanding of money and social skills, they become armed with what is required to secure the future of the kids unborn. Money, heritage & a good education.

We fast forward to today. The result of many decision made in the past is becoming more evident. The disparity between the rich & the poor is getting wider. With this disparity, the possibility of a genetically class of haves & have-nots is becoming more apparent.The poor are so not because they cultivated subsistence living, but as a result issues stated earlier (symmetric look or skills). This affects how they appreciate things and their value system (separation their culture from the already accepted standard). These variation could generally result in some form of mutation. Naturally, it results to the divided groups settling into either upper and lower class (based on economic factors) and presenting some tough decisions to the off-springs those "migrating" from one class to the other.

Unconsciously, the society fate in history has been natural selected to the path of extinction.

One thing I feel is common about the evolution of species is extinction. Evolution results from a range of factors. I think our extinction will result from internal discord. A system divided within itself cannot stand.

Traditional wear in global politics: Does it make sense?

I watched a world debate on the importance of the BBC to the developing economy. The participants included some eminent professionals:

1. A Colombian university professor
2. An Afgan former Finance Minister,
   
3. The chairman of a natural resources company
   
4. A representative of the world bank
5. A Nigerian
   

I can't remember what he does because I spent more time looking at the designs on his Agbada (and trying to figure out how cool I would look on it). Everyone refered to him as "my Nigerian friend" (I think his agbada had something to do with that) .
He was articulate and was a force in the debate. But thats not the issue.
Besides, the chairman of the resource company, no other participant was from the West; yet they were all in suits.

My issue is what are our dignitaries trying to prove? There is an image that the Agbada portrays; it fails to exhibit professionalism, humility and self control. It depict a superfluous culture with no self imposed limits.The word is dress as you would like to be addressed! I have seen, on TV, a senator been interviewed and praise singers were doing their thing in the location!

I think stronger national statements can be made by designing policies that work!

Begging as a profession

In traffic yesterday around TBS, I came across two ladies both should be about my age(one blind and the other just her assistance). Out of boredom, I tried to think up the wider of meaning of this.

To imagine that her friend would think it more economically viable to beg speaks a lot about the state of the Nigeria youth & the economy. The rational society would have imagined that the able would go in search of a job towards catering for self and the disable. But it appears that her economic significance would not be complete without her blind boss. This statement is not to falter her for that action; I would make that economic decision if I were in her shoes. But that doesn't mean I condole it. I don't give them money because I believe that it helps stimulate their economy and create more "job" for future prospecting "beggar".

Beggars in today's Nigeria signify a failure of the state. It expresses the collective inabilities we have in protecting the weak.

The question now is, if you don't give money to the poor who will? I think the system will in time when it realizes how much of a threat to the survival of life as we know it having beggars on how everyday streets. When we realize the threat their kids (who will see opportunities but cannot figure out how to access it) are to the economic fabric of our society, we would be left with no other choice but to figure out a way of making them work!

I fear the coming anarchy!

Loose Cannons!

It worries me when I see the boys engaging in street trading. Not only do they provide an eyesore to the already worries some look of the Nigeria street,I think they may provide more damage than reward to the our overall life experience.
I would not deny the value they add can be tremendous. Along Falomo Bridge, I always get myself some plaintain chips that has the label "pepper" on it. Those are best and are not available anywhere else even at Shoprite. One thing I know is that the survival of these dude depends on the level of fitness they maintain. The chase moving vehicles day in day out trying to collect change or seal a deal in which return could be as little as N10 per unit item sold.

From their energy, performance and accent, common sense tells me the bulk of them are originally NOT Lagosians. They move in searching for greener pastures.

Take two things into account. Potential daily return N5000, and energy expended to seal a deal. Without some spritual guidiance or directional leaders, they are human ammunitions to execute some high level robbery operations and ensure the crime culture continues for a while. As they graduate to become criminals, the may replace their former spot with boys from the village (providing another round of potential Anini.

Maybe I am thinking too much.

Emergency Numbers

Just pulled this information from a blog I read:
The Lagos State Government in its effort to improve the security situation in the state has created some telephone numbers on which members of the public could make Emergency calls if they notice any security threat.The numbers are as follows:
4931260;
4978899;
4931261;
7745705.Multilinks subscribers are to call 100.
Remember to add 01 before the number if you are calling from GSM lines"

Dailing these number in an "emergency" will take a while you know!

The Ideal Economy

The ideal economy I think of is one where every one works for everyone. Every one gets paid based on value he or she can add and capacity to invest in areas where activities would create more opportunities for people in the lower class.

At the bottom of the food chain,lies the lower class. Their earning is based on the value they add to the system in terms of providing services that people in other classes don't have the time to do. They add little value as all activities they do can be done even better by the players in the engine room (only it will be a waste of time as those players could be doing other more productive more ventures). No one should pay them for their capacity to invest as most investment decision they will make will focus on goods for immediate consumption. Thus their activities will improperly balance the economy.

The engine room is the middle class. The fact that they are willing to dedicate their time, effort and talent towards making things provides the capacity for the society to achieve what it wants to achieve. The earn based on the relative size of value added to the system.

People in the upper echelon are very useful. They have experienced life at the lower leg of the ladder. So they make decisions on what, where and how with regards to how this organization will live their lives. They always need to keep in mind all the possible variable that could affect any decision made. They are entitled to earning based on value added by their subordinates and their ability to make wise investment decision.

In this society, every body makes purchasing decision that are rational and are consistent with ideologies that focuses on efficient use and growth of resources.

On the macro level, the players are the government, the banks, firms and the institution.

Government put in place regulations that reflect the collective views of people that make of the society. It focuses on trying to ensure that the collective values of the people are upheld, and the society runs in an orderly manner.

The banks collect all excess cash that unit individual do not have present use of. They invest wisely to make profit and build capacity for use by the firm.

The firm actually produces what the society should consume. The firm could be either private or public (depending on how the economy of that society can distribute the provision of that service). They are funded either by the banks or by sales of shares (purchased by banks, and people in the society). This ownership structure ensures that the governance of the organization focuses on service delivery, profit and less on private interest.

The institutions trains individuals on the skills the society requires to achieve its objective. They are consistently liaise with other arms of the macro economy to ensure that the skill set is right to provide what the society needs.

The managers of the economy should always be thinking about what is in the best interest of the economy as a whole (and less for themselves, as they already have the people at the lower end of the ladder looking to that).

Obviously if I need to put more details into all these, I would have a book (and not a blog).
This generally is how I think an ideal economy can run.