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ASSESSMENT OF THE NATION AND THE PUNCH’S COVERAGE OF MAVRODI MONDIAL MOVEMENT (MMM) SAGA IN NIGERIA

CHAPTERONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1        Introduction
Since Nigeria’s independence in 1960, many unprecedented political and economic changes have shaped the country. These changes have in one way or the other affected the development and growth of the economy either favourably or adversely. The Nigerian economy itself has gone through ups and downs. However, the history of the gloomy days seem to outweigh the history of the rainy days for the economy in the long run. According to the African Development Bank (ADB) Group (Asogwa, Etim, Etukafia, Akpanuko, and Ntiedo, 2017), Nigeria has had sluggish economic growth since the end of 2015 with the rate dropping to an estimated 3% in December 2015, leading the government to adopt expansionary budgetary system in 2016 with the aim of stimulating the economy. This sluggish growth is mainly attributed to a slowdown in economic activities which has been adversely impacted by inadequate supply of foreign exchange (Asogwa, Etim, Etukafia, Akpanuko, and Ntiedo, 2017). These foreign exchange restrictions has resulted in cuts in production and labour loss in manufacturing and banking sectors of the economy that lead to a high unemployment rate and reduction in business activities thus limiting the flow of funds in the economy (Emmanuel, 2016).
In addition, liquidity crises hit the economy, this was exacerbated by the implementation of Treasury Single Account (TSA) by the government in a bid to fight corruption. TSA was aimed at ensuring that government and its agencies maintained a single account for its transactions with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). This moped up liquidity in the banking system. As the liquidity crises continued, it systemically affected other business sectors in the economy and they started crippling into liquidity crises; banks could barely guarantee loans to various sectors of the economy like the oil and gas, construction, manufacturing and aviation industries. Many businesses closed down (perhaps relocate to neighbouring countries) as they could no longer access funds from the banks at ease, interest rate skyrocketed to a point that CBN issued a warning that seven Nigerian banks may need to merge, or require bail out from their foreign counterparts or brace up for a regional banking over the worsening liquidity problem while other banks recapitalised to mitigate the effect of the crises (NBS, 2015). This exacerbated unemployment rate and led to job loss, massive hunger and starvation in the economy. Ponzi schemes became a ready easy succour for poor living standard of Nigerians. It provided an easy alternative to survival with its promise of a high rate of returns on investment (Asogwa, Etim, Etukafia, Akpanuko, and Ntiedo, 2017). A number of these ‘easy money making’ ventures in the form of Ponzi sprang up. These stimulated the economy, people especially the youths even borrowed money to invest in the scheme as it seemed good. Based on this, the first hypotheses was developed to check if there is a relationship between Nigeria’s economy and the growth of Ponzi schemes.
As more people turned to this ‘quick fix’ systems to cushion the effect of the harsh economy resulting primarily from poor living standard caused by skyrocketing inflation, the economy was a little bit reflated. People generally had money to spend through the returns from the Ponzi and the banks were busy with customer either withdrawing their matured investment or initiating new ones through their deposits and transfers. The first set of people who went into the scheme benefited quite tremendously and was able to attract new members. Some of them built houses, bought cars and started many more business bearing little or no risk. As a result people became more liquid, they could easily augment for poor/irregular salary, high cost of living occasioned by the bad economy coupled with the economic recession currently ravaging the country. Based on this, the second hypotheses was developed to test the effect of Ponzi schemes on Nigerian economy.
1.2        Background to the Study
One of the objectives of newspapers is to understand the popular feeling and give expression to it; another is to arouse, among the people, certain desirable sentiments; the third is to fearlessly expose popular defects (Gandhi, 1946). Newspapers attempt to provide the facts and analysis that allows informed citizens to make effective and responsible decision in a complex, information-saturated society. The role of newspapers has evolved in response to the changing needs of their readers and is currently going through a softening of news in reaction to their media’s coverage of lifestyle, entertainment and so on. The press in developing countries, therefore, serves a multiplicity of purposes (Asemah, Nwammuo and Edegoh; 2014). It is a medium of news, the source of information about the world, national and local events and means of establishing mutual understanding. It is an instrument of education, contributing to the development of human resources and capital in promoting economic growth. It is a multiplier in the communication process, spreading, widely and rapidly, information which will aid national development (Asemah, Ogwo, and Ottah, 2013).
Asemah, Ogwo, Ottah (2013, p.3) say:
Newspapers were destined to play a crucial role in shaping ideas and sensibilities and that the press hold undertake this responsibility with a sense of mission. He says that a newspaper was not an assembly line-production or a factory made commodity. There cannot be an alternative to a well-planned managerial strategy. The press should inform, provoked bate, and even entertain. But it should refrain from distorting factor sensationalizing events to attract readership. Restraint is needed while reporting sensitive incidents. While, zealously guarding facts, a newspaper should have an imprint of ideas on the conscience of its readers. Such deeply-embedded ideas will inspire people to meet a crisis situation. Pointing out that language newspaper has greater and more variegated role to play,
Asemah, Ogwo, and Ottah (2013) say the responsibility of the media is commensurate with its larger role in the socio-political milieu of the country.
Ponzi scheme, named after Charles Ponzi, an Italian immigrant to United State, is a fraudulent investment operation where the operator, an individual or organization, pays returns to its investors from new capital paid to the operators by new investors, rather than from profit earned through legitimate sources (Business Day, 2017). Operators of Ponzi Schemes usually entice new investors by offering higher returns than other investments, in the form of short-term returns that are either abnormally high or unusually consistent. Ponzi Schemes have been around for a while, way back to the seventies. It comes in different forms and shapes. They boom and bust, disappear for a season, and then return in full force in another shape and form (Asogwa, Etim, Etukafia, Akpanuko, and Ntiedo, 2017).
In 2007, in the ancient city of Ibadan, Pennywise and Wealth Solutions started a Ponzi scheme in Nigeria popularly known as ‘Wonder Banks’. Pennywise and Wealth Solutions started with a promise of over 50 percent returns on investment. Not many people took the bait at the beginning, but overtime, with testimonies from those that invested, people from all works of life flooded the offices of these two ‘wonder banks’, and barely six months after, the whole scheme collapsed like a pack of cards (Eme, and Chukwurah, 2015). A lot of people committed suicide after the collapse, and billions of naira were lost. The structure employed by these ‘Wonder banks” was an inverted pyramid scheme that required continued in flow of investment in order to pay off the old members while it could no longer sustain itself by paying the new members and thereafter collapsed with billions of naira gone down the drain (Eme, and Chukwurah, 2015).
Ponzi Schemes occasionally begin as legitimate businesses, until the business fails to achieve the returns expected (ERGP, 2017). The business becomes a Ponzi scheme if it then continues under fraudulent terms. Whatever the initial situation, the perpetuation of the high returns requires a never-increasing flow of money from new investors to sustain the scheme (ERGP, 2017).
According to Oduwole (2015, p.7), “there is a naval launch of Ponzi Schemes in Nigeria with MMM leading the race”. MMM is a Russian company established in 1989 by Sergei Mavrodi, his brother Vyacheslav Mavrodi and Olga Melnikova. The name of the company was taken from the first letters of the three founders ’surnames (Oduwole, 2015). Initially, the company imported computers and office equipment. In January 1992, Russia Police accused MMM of tax evasion, leading to the collapse of MMM bank, and causing the company to have difficulty obtaining financing to support its operations. Faced with difficulties in funding its foreign trade, the company switched to the financial sector. It offered American stocks to Russian investors, but met with little success. Later, MMM Invest was created for the purpose of collecting vouchers during privatization. This effort was similarly unsuccessful (Oduwole, 2015). MMM created its successful Ponzi scheme in 1994. The company started attracting money from private investors, promising annual returns of up to one thousand percent. It is unclear whether a Ponzi scheme was Mavrodi’s initial intention, in as much as such extravagant returns might have been possible during the Russian hyperinflation in such commerce as import-export (Ogunro, 2014).
The media, especially the newspaper, has assumed the position of eminence in the present world and this explains why it is perceived as the nexus that controls the overall socio-economic and political development of the society. Perhaps, the acceptance of this truth explains why Golding (1977) cited by Oboh (2004) opines that it is meaningless to discuss any social institution such as mass media as though it operates in isolation. This is because there is a symbiotic relationship between the media and the society thus leading to the interconnectivity of the political, social and economic development of the people in a particular community (Oboh, 2004). The economic development and socio-political stability of any society are predicated upon the policies and programs put in place by the political class.
The media on its part report on the comments and views of the people about the activities of government, its agencies and non-governmental institutions. It is these reports that form the major ingredients in the formulation of public policies by the government. In the present world, apart from the four traditional functions of mass media (information, education, entertainment, and surveillance), the media have taken up a set of new roles that borders on enlightening the public on issue that affect them financially such as Mavrodi Mondial Movement (MMM) saga.
The mass media have had the rust upon it the responsibilities of increasing understanding of development issues; build up a solidarity in a common effort; and enlarge the capacity of the people to take charge of their own development need (McBride, 1981). This is the basis of Edwards (2000) remark that whatever the circumstances or nature of the society in which the media operate, they either succeed or fail to influence attitudinal change, alter perception, enhance behaviour and decision making process for good or bad depending on the type of government in power. Notwithstanding, it needs be mentioned that the media thrives well and make positive change in a democratic setting as presently practiced in most countries of the world including Nigeria. This study however aimed at determining The Punch and The Nations newspapers coverage of Mavro Mondial Movement (MMM) saga in Nigeria.

1.3        Statement of the Problem
The press has the responsibility to keep the audience informed on issues that are of importance to the society. Mavrodi Mondial Movement (MMM) is one of the important issues on the press. According to a study by  Asogwa, Etim, Etukafia, Akpanuko, and Ntiedo, (2017, p. 16), the press which has the responsibility to inform and mobilize the society has failed to tame the effect of the Ponzi scheme on innocent Nigerians especially the youths who see MMM as an opportunity to make money.
The MMM saga, according to Magaji (2017) has redefined the way Nigeria newspapers tackle issues that affects economy in Nigeria. The article that was entitled ‘MMM Nigeria Ponzi Scheme And The Curse of ‘Herd Mentality’ explained further that with Nigeria newspapers have increase the momentum to be up to date with the reigning issues in the country.
Studies on the press responsibility to keep the audience informed on happenings in the society abound but studies on Press reportage of Mavrodi Mondial Movement (MMM) in Nigeria are relatively low. However, in this study, the researcher investigated the extent to which The Nation and The Punch newspapers report MMM saga in Nigeria. This study find out the frequency of coverage, prominence, given to MMM and the direction the two newspapers reported MMM in Nigeria.
1.4        Research Questions
1.    How frequently did The Nation and The Punch newspapers report Mavrodi Mondial Movement (MMM) saga in Nigeria?
2.    What is the prominence given to reports on Mavrodi Mondial Movement (MMM) saga in Nigeria by The Nation and The Punch newspapers?
3.    What is the direction of The Nation and The Punch newspapers reports on Mavrodi Mondial Movement (MMM) saga in Nigeria?
1.5        Research Objectives
1.    To know how frequent The Punch and The Nation newspapers report Mavrodi Mondial Movement (MMM) saga in Nigeria.
2.    To know the level of prominence attached to reports on Mavrodi Mondial Movement (MMM) saga in Nigeria in term placement on the selected newspapers.
3.    To know the direction at which The Punch and The Nation newspapers reported Mavrodi Mondial Movement (MMM) saga in Nigeria.
1.6        Significance of the Study
Significance shows the impact a phenomenon has on an individual, group or society. Therefore the findings of this study will benefit not only the mass communication scholars but also benefit media professionals on how they can use the media to fight corruption. It will also enable government the need to give press enough freedom to perform their day to day activities.
The study will also help to preach against corruption and help journalists to know how important their roles are in the campaign against corruption in Nigeria.
1.7        Scope of the Study
This study will content analyze The Punch and The Nation newspapers in their reportage of Mavrodi Mondial Movement (MMM) saga in Nigeria from July 1, 2015  to December 31, 2016. The selection of these two newspapers is primarily based on the factors of their media ownership, national outlook and widespread reach.
1.8         Operational Definition of Terms
Mavrodi Mondial Movement MMM: A Ponzi scheme originated by a Russian named Sergei Mavrodi operated in Nigeria between 2015 to early 2017.
Ponzi: An investment scheme that gives investors (Nigerians) outrageous dividends or benefits on their investment far different from what is obtainable in an ideal financial market.




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