“Honestly, I think the current government is trying. Only that I don’t think the government is trying enough.
” If I were to be in a position to advise the government today, I would advise the government to focus on things that would have direct impact on the public, like road and fuel. And it’s not difficult to solve these problems. All you need to do is for government to have a brainstorming section with the industry stakeholders; the key players and then be totally transparent.
“We must tell everybody, how much we are collecting, how much we are spending. This should be public information.
“For instance, we know that the US tax Authorities started around 1931/32, for the first time in collecting tax on fuel.
“We also know that in1956, they started putting it in a separate fund.
“By last year, it was $32 billion that was collected from fuel taxes.
“So, if you can have such data coming from the Nigerian government, then, any sane person can correctly advise them on what to do.
“So, our first problem is that, we don’t know what we should know, and we don’t even know that we don’t know and that is part of the problem”, he explained, affirming that while he had assisted the Mexican authorities and some other countries in getting started, he still strongly believe that Nigeria is blessed with capable tax experts get started too.
“I know we do. We can start with what we have. And some of us can lend helping hands as experts, if the need becomes compelling. But you don’t need to import experts.
The US Tax expert was however, greatly sad that the nation’s budget was yet to be passed, let alone go into implementation.
“This is crazy. How can you be talking of an unpassed budget in April. That’s gonna affect everybody. That’s gonna affect the economy. That’s gonna affect the GDP.
“Honestly, I don’t care whether it is the executive arm or the legislative arm that is causing the delay; what I am saying is that it is insane, that we don’t have a budget yet; and we are already in April, it is insane. It is crazy! And that is part of the problem!
“Sadly, this problem is not complicated to solve”, emphasizing that Nigeria must accommodate a change template.
“A lot of things are changing. While we are still focusing on basic knowledge to solve our elementary problems, some countries are already focusing on some sophisticated approaches to handle their own mobility problems.
“Everybody is talking about “Change”, ‘Change’; do we fully understand what ‘change’ really entails?
“You drive those changes. You move it. You innovate it. You imitate it. We are not only talking of innovation. We are talking of imitation. If something is being done correctly in the U.S, what stops us from imitating it here?
“Government has to move in and take it up. Government has to give direction. And government has to do this transparently!
“Government must take the lead in ensuring that it correctly diagnose the problem; before applying solution. Today, part of the problem is that government doesn’t even adequately know what the whole problem is. Does that make sense?
“So, if the government does not correctly understand what the problem is, how can it correctly solve the problem?
“I arrived into the country from the U.S some three days ago. And I don’t believe it, learning that we have the President and about 10 Governors and Ministers and several other top officials going to China. They are making the trip at a time there is fuel scarcity here. It is insane!
“There is crisis here. You have fuel problem here; and you have ten governors, similar numbers of ministers all heading to China, along with the President and some PAs etc including some advisers going to China”, he stated, even as he again acknowledged the good intentions and current efforts of the Government.
“I am aware the government trying. But, I will tell you this: it is only that the government is not trying enough.
“In 2008, when Barack Obama became the president; the U.S economy was not in recession, it was in depression. Deep recession is depression. You know what Obama did then?
“First, he focused on the problem. I say, he focused on the problem. He correctly analyse, diagnose the problem—before approaching it with solutions. I don’t think the government is doing just that here, in this case.
“So, my advice is that government must ensure it thorough understands the problem first; before attempting to attach solutions to them. Otherwise, they may always end up chasing the shadows.
“I appreciate the fact that the government came; and it is overwhelmed.
“But, the President campaigned four times, he ran to be president four times. Right?
“So, he did not become a President by accident. So what did he have in mind, especially, for gunning for it for four times?
“Four times? That is 16 years! He should be an expert from day one”, he submitted, before taking the last question, which was focused on his view in respect of the railway.
“Well, generally the railway issue falls under the broad transportation regime. If you were here with me at the beginning, you would recall I explained that transportation begins from the cradle to grave. Right?
“Day one: you are born! You must be transported; either from the hospital or somewhere, somehow by somebody.
“Similarly, the day you die, somebody, somewhere, even if it is an Okada, would carry your coffin to… This also is transportation.
“Our job is to apply and build up all forms of transportation into one functioning and highly efficient network!
“Now, do we have any Nigerian Airways or its equivalent here? No? Do we know how many Airways are coming to Nigeria daily? Yes? Did I hear you say yes?
“In which other areas of our transportation inadequacies are we also losing?
“This is the fulcrum of today’s discussion. Thank you!” he concluded.
Needless to say, Sulayman Marshall had received a tumultuous and well-deserved standing ovation from both the students and the academia, while as a revered expert, he handled a topic he knows like the back of his own hand!
