BusinessDay 16 Jun 2019

BDSUNDAY BUSINESS DAY

www.businessday.ng Sunday 16 June 2019

Niger Delta requires $500m to remediate over 3,000 oil spill damage – Study

p.15

42 Page

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s promise:

“I will rid Apapa of gridlock in the first 60 days of my government.”

Market & Commodities Monitor Brent Oil

5yr Bond

$62.01

0.08 14.63%

Gold

10yr Bond

$1,344.80

0.00 14.66%

Cocoa

20yr Bond

00.00 14.60%

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Nigeria’s democracy has stagnated since 1999 – Ajaero

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Vol 1, No. 268 N300

??Cement, banks, oil & gas top as p.17

listed firms pay N783bn dividends

pp.34 41.

20 years of democracy:

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How elite conspiracy hampers Nigeria’s progress ZEBULON AGOMUO, OBINNA EMELIKE & INIOBONG IWOK

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he elite group in Nigeria has been called upon to allow governance to positively affect the poor masses of the country. The call is against the backdrop of the damning

assessment of the 20 years of democratic experience in the country, which is said to have left a greater number of citizens poorer and more disadvantaged than they were before the country’s return to civil rule in 1999.

Some observers who made the call alleged that successive administrations have ended up creating pockets of individual

super-rich and political dynasties in the country rather than spreading the wealth of Nigeria.

Majeed Dahiru, a public affairs analyst, said the issue of the emergence of political dynasties and elite conspirators in the Nigerian political space is only a symptom of a big ailment, and that ailment is the Nigerian political system fundamentally

premised on sentiments of geography, ethnicity and religion, which he noted are exploited by the elite.

“It is these sentiments that the leaders take advantage of to convert our political process into a criminal franchise, which has led to state capture for selfContinues on page 2

inside

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BDSUNDAY 19

PROLOGUE

Apapa: ‘Walking through the valley of shadow of death’

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ince 2013, a journey to or from Apapa (a city in Lagos that houses Nigeria’s two busiest seaports), has consistently been a risky venture.

The menace of container-bearing trucks and petroleum products tankers on that route has led many Nigerians to their early graves, while a large number of other victims remain permanently confined to their beds as a result of mortal injuries they

sustained in some of the life-threatening accidents that have become rampant on Apapa roads.

Whether you are coming from Mile 2 or Ijora end, it is a story akin to the biblical expression of “walking through the valley of shadow of death”. Past and present efforts of various levels of government have not availed much, though hope is high, with the commitment by the new administration in Lagos State to end the menace in 60 days, which remains 42 days from today.

Remembering Ras Kimono, who was never ‘Under Pressure’ P.25

Child-beggars on the rise in Lagos P.41

With $127m in earnings, Messi tops list of highest paid athletes P.42

The EU Election Observation Mission addressing a press conference in Abuja Saturday, saying that Nigeria’s 2019 polls were not transparent. The observer mission had last Monday, issued a preliminary report, saying that Nigeria’s presidential and National Assembly elections held on Saturday, February 23, was “marked by serious operational challenges”.

The statement signed by the EU Chief Observer, Maria Arena, pointed out that although the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) “operated in a difficult environment”, it “made a number of improvements since 2015, including the introduction of continuous accreditation and voting”. Arena, however, noted that there were “serious shortcomings in INEC’s operations” and Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman there was the need “for regular communication and transparency”.

Damning: EU knocks INEC over 2019 elections Says polls marked by severe operational, transparency shortcomings, violence 150 killed during exercise Condemns illegal removal of Onnoghen

Innocent Odoh, Abuja

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he European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to the 2019

general election in Nigeria has said that the elections were marked by severe operational and transparency shortcomings, violence that claimed about 150

lives and low voter turnout.

Head of the EU EOM to Nigeria, Maria Arena, disclosed this during the presentation of the EU final report on the elections

in a press conference in Abuja on Saturday. She said that the mission concluded that the systemic failings seen in the elections, and Continues on page 2

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Damning: EU knocks INEC over...

Continued from page 1 the relatively low levels of voter

participation, show the need for fundamental electoral Reforms.

“Such reforms needs political leadership that is dedicated to the rights of Nigerian citizens, and an inclusive process of national dialogue involving state institutions, parties, civil society and the media,” Arena said. She added that “This needs to be urgently undertaken to allow time for debate, legislative changes and implementation well in advance of the next election.”

The EU noted however, that the elections were competitive, saying that parties were able to campaign and civil society enhanced accountability. Leading parties, the EU EOM said, were at fault in not reining in acts of violence and intimidation by their supporters, and abuse of in-

cumbency at federal and state levels.

The EU EOM’s report stated that, except for federal radio, state media primarily served the interests of the president or the governor at state level. Journalists were subject to harassment, and scrutiny of the electoral process was at times compromised with some independent observers being obstructed in their work, including by security agencies.

The EU EOM noted that INEC worked in a difficult environment and made some improvements, such as simplifying voting procedures.

However, “considerableweaknesses remained. Operational deficiencies led to the postponement of the elections, there were insufficient checks and transparency in the results process, as well as a general lack of public communication and information.

“The elections became increasingly marred by violence and intimi-

Abia’s new speaker pledges vibrant, people-oriented legislation UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia

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he newly elected Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Chinedum Orji has pledged to ensure that the 7th House becomes vibrant, resultoriented and endeavour to make the people the centre-point of all actions and decisions of the House.

Orji, the immediate past Majority Leader, Abia House of Assembly and PDP lawmaker, representing Umuahia Central State Constituency, was elected the Speaker, Abia House of Assembly unopposed by 24-member House through a voice vote after being nominated by Munachim Alozie, (PDP, Ugwunagbo) and seconded by Ginger Onwusibe (PDP, Isiala Ngwa North).

The House in the same manner, elected Ifeanyi Uchendu (PDP Ohafia)astheDeputySpeakerwhileSolomon Akpulonu (PDP Obingwa East) was selected as Majority Leader.

Others are Paul Taribo (PDP Deputy Majority Leader), Abraham Oba (APGA,AbaCentral),MinorityLeader, Chukwudi Chijioke (APC, Bende North) as Deputy Minority Leader.

Also Munachim Alozie (PDP, Ugwunagbo) emerged as the Chief Whip; while Chukwudi Apugo (PDP, Umuahia East) emerged as the Deputy Chief Whip.

Orji, the new Speaker, in his maid-

en speech promised to lead a vibrant and result-oriented assembly, adding that it would also provide a sound and strong oversight functions that would lead to the accelerated development of the state.

“This 7th House shall provide very soundandstrongoversightfunctions, signifying that the era of disobeying laws and resolutions passed by the Abia House of Assembly is over; similarly, the era of non-implementation of the directives and visions of the executive headed by our Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu is now over,” he said.

He therefore, warned public office holders in the state to sit up, stressing that “appropriate sanctions will be metedouttoanyofficialofgovernment foundnottobehelpingthegovernorto actualise his visions for Abia State.

He reminded members that the major role of the House should be the protection and preservation of the equity and justice already entrenched in the state and symbolised by the current governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu.

“Ithereforecallonall5thcolumnists andagentsofconfusiontosheathetheir swords and allow us to face the task before us. Let no one attempt to sow seeds of discord among us members and between the Legislature and Executive.Anysuchattemptswillbedead onarrivalasitisnotwhatwehavecome here to do,” he threatened.

Port Harcourt Mall commiserates with victims, reassures customers of safety

Iniobong Iwok

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he management of the Port Harcourt Mall has commiserated with the injured people in the gas explosion that happened last Wednesday, June 12.

In a statement by the Mall Manager, Chioma Okorie in Port Harcourt, Rivers State at the weekend, she said that the management had done an extensive analysis of the situation alongside other agencies of government, assuring customers that the mall was safe.

Okorie noted that the commitment of the management and the

staff of the mall towards safety was the reason such incident had not occurred in the last five years the mall had been in operation.

She assured customers that the mall was a safe place where various family bonding activities could take place,whilecustomerscouldgetquality products from all the stores in the mall.

According to the statement, “the management of the Mall empathises with all the victims of the unfortunate incident that happened recently. We have undertaken an extensive analysis of the situation alongside other agencies of government and we can assure our customers that the mall is safe for our teeming customers.

dation, with the role of the security agencies becoming more contentious as the process progressed. The EU EOM reported that this damaged the integrity of the electoral process and may deter future participation.

During collation of the federal results, EU observers directly witnessed or received reports of intimidation of INEC officials in 20 states,” the report said.

Elaborating further on the violence, Deputy Head of the EU Mission, Hannah Roberts said that the EU Mission recorded about 150 deaths during the elections which she said was not definitive but obtained through cross referencing from media reports and EU observers in various places.

The reports said that while the legal framework broadly provides for democratic elections and some improvements were made to the Constitution,variouslegalshortcomings remained, including in relation to the use of smart card readers. The EU EOM also noted the suspension

of the chief justice by the president a few weeks before the elections, which it said was seen to lack due process and reportedly undermined judicial independence.

Other issues highlighted in the report include: conflicting and late rulings on electoral disputes that undermined opportunity for remedy and created uncertainty; the dysfunctional regulation of political finance; very few electoral offences resulting in arrest or prosecution; problems with the collection of permanent voter cards; and the further fall in the number of women elected.

Positively, however, the report noted that parties and candidates were able to campaign, with freedoms of assembly, expression and movement largely respected. The EU EOM also emphasised the effective role played by civil society organisations in promoting election reform and positively contributing to the accountability of the process.

The report makes 30 recommendations for consideration, but priori-

How elite conspiracy hampers...

Continued from page 1 service. That is why you see

dynasties emerging, rising and falling and fighting among themselves for the control of the Nigerian resources,” he said.

Analysts believe that the elite class may have done more harm than good in the nation’s political space. According to them, the elite who are found in all the sectors of the nation’s economy, have captured the Nigerian state and now determine the direction of its affairs.

Olisa Agbakoba, speaking with BDSUNDAY, noted that one of the major drawbacks to the development of Nigeria had to do with the “elite conspiracy.”

Warning against the conspiracy of the elite and its resolve to frustrate reform agenda and policies of government that positively impact the masses,Agbakobasaid:“The‘elite’,includes peopleinhighpositioninthechurches, traditional institutions, professions and businesses, among others. They represent a small percentage of Nige-

rians but exert tremendous influence, with a view to state capture. This class is very dissatisfied about the ideological change of your government. They see new agenda as a threat to their privileges. They are the greatest roadblocks to your economic and political policy agenda.”

Agbakoba, who noted that the Nigeria’s political landscape is still very problematic, said: “We are still not a nation. Many Nigerians feel alienated and disconnected. The consequences are all too clear. The situation is made worse by the powerful elite class, controlling the system.”

A political analyst who spoke with BDSUNDAY on condition of anonymity said that though the elite are found in different political parties, they work hand-in-glove to impoverish the masses.

“In the last 20 years, some politicians have changed parties about three to four times. They move from one party to the other only when their interest is no longer served and not because of the interest of the masses”, the analyst said.

tises the following seven: Strengthen INEC procedures for the collation of results to improve integrity and confidence in electoral outcomes; Establish requirements in law for full results transparency, with data easily accessible to the public; Considerably strengthen INEC’s organisational and operational capacity, as well as its Internal communication.

Other high priority recommendation include; The inter-agency body responsible for electoral security to work more transparently; And inclusively, with regular consultations with political parties and civil society; Introduce a legal requirement for political parties to have a minimum representation of women among candidates; Electoral tribunals to also cover pre-election cases in order to improve access to remedy and to avoid petitions being taken to different courts at the same time and Reform the licensing system for the broadcast media to provide for media pluralism and diversity in all of Nigeria’s states.

According to the pundit, Nigeria’s problem is entrenched and may continue to be so for many years to come as long as the political class continues to play selfish roles. He believes that the poverty level in the country may have provided a veritable opportunity for the rich politicians to have their way.

“Before the elections, we heard some people say that the youth population in the country would give them the number they needed to win election; they claimed that it was time for power to shift from the older generation to younger generation, but you and I knew what happened at the end of the day,” the observer said, adding, “Before we knew it, most of the youth had been bought over by moneybags politicians. And some of the politicians who claimed they were working for the poor masses abandoned their parties and began to sing new tunes. You never trust the Nigerian politician.”

To break the ugly circle, Agbakoba suggested that it was high time the Nigerian masses confronted the elite.

“You need to do so, by entering into an alliance with Civil Society and the Nigerian people,” he said.

Wike blasts Nigerian politicians

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overnor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has been quoted as saying as a politician, he was aware that people were in the habit of betraying those who trusted them, adding that it was necessary to be careful while dealing with politicians.

Wike, who made the observation during a solidarity visit by Anglican Bishops of the Province of the Niger Delta to his office in Port Harcourt, said it was difficult to trust any politician “totally” because circumstances always determined their positions on issues.

“I am not carried away by all the congratulatory and goodwill messages. The Bishop of Ikwerre knows one man called Mpi; Mpi said when you are moving and you hear footsteps, watch whether the footsteps are with you or they are stepping back,’ Wike said.

“So, as a politician, one group of people you must watch very carefully are the politicians. They are

easily swayed. Some believe; when they believe, they believe.

“Something can entice politicians and they can change. If you watch what happened at the National Assembly, you can see that this is the attitude of politicians. You see the party has a position; before you know it, they are selling out themselves for one plate of porridge. This one has a case and he wants them to withdraw the case,” he further said.

Governor Wike said that some persons were lacking principles and they simply used politics as a coverup for their unprincipled acts.

Speaking further, Wike said: “These things we know and we are guided by it. I will never let my guard down to say everybody is with me.

The only person I can be comfortable with at all times is God; if it is a human being, no. It is difficult for me to give 100 percent trust that a man will continuetobelikethisorlikethat.Theonly person that cannot change is God. “For human beings, they can

always change. That is why they are human beings. You can trust a human being, but be careful to open your eyes because anything can happen.”

The Rivers governor state pointed out that in protecting the interest of Rivers State, he would never bow to anybody.

“I will not go to bow to anybody; I will defend the interest of our state.

As far as God lives, this state will remain a Christian State,” he added.

The Archbishop of the Anglican Province of the Niger Delta, Most Rev Tunde Adeleye, said the battle was not yet over, hence Wike must always remain vigilant.

According to the Archbishop, Adeleye: “When you are winning a battle and the people are drumming and you are dancing, my people say look back from time to time whether the drummers are following you or you are just hearing the sound of the drum. The battle is not complete until it has been completed.”

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News

Bago congratulates Gbajabiamila, Wase ...Thanks colleagues, Nigerians James Kwen, Abuja

U

mar Bago, member representing Chanchaga Federal Constituency of Niger State in the House of Representatives, has congratulated Femi Gbajabiamila on his emergence as the speaker of the House.

Bago, who was the main chal-

lenger of Gbajabiamila in the speakership race, also congratulated Ahmed Wase, member representing Wase Federal Constituency of Plateau State on his election as the deputy speaker of the House.

He expressed the willingness to lend his vision to the entire House leadership to enable the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and the government of President Muhammadu Buhari

realise its Next Level agenda for the country.

Victor Ogene, spokesman of Hon. Bago Campaign Organisation, in a statement at the weekend appreciated members of the House, civil society organisations, the media and all Nigerians for their support towards the aspiration of Bago to preside over the Green Chamber of the National Assembly.

“The election has come and gone and we give all glory to God. For us, it was a friendly contest to deepen our democracy and propagate the gospel of unity.

Members on June 11, 2019 eventually made their choice and as loyal party man, we will have to respect and live with that.

“We therefore, formally congratulate the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and the Dep-

uty Speaker, Rt. Hon. Idris Wase on their elections. While wishing them well, we hereby pledge the support of our principal, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago to work with them and give all the support they would need from him to evolve and pursue populist and people-oriented policies and programmes for the good of the House and Nigerians at large,” Ogene stated.

Abia sacks civil servants on extension of service UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia

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overnor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has directed all public servants who are on extension of service in the state to vacate their offices on or before the end of this month (June).

A press statement from the Office of Head of Service warned all Heads of Finance Department MDAs to desist from pay-rolling the affected workers or face the full weight of the law. Onyii Wamah, the HOS, ordered Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Ministries and Non-Ministerial Departments

and Bureaux to ensure that all staffers on extension of service comply with this directive.

Wamah directed that all the public servants on extension of service are mandated to hand over all government property in their possession to the most senior officers in their respective establishments on or before June 30, 2019.

The Abia HOS disclosed that the affected workers would have left the service since May 28, 2019, but for the magnanimity of Governor Ikpeazu who granted that they should leave their offices not later than June 30, to enable them prepare fully and hand over accordingly.

Abiodun Appoints Talabi, Salisu as Ogun SSG, COS

L-R: Shola Adeyemo, public relations/marketing manager, Transcorp Hilton Abuja; Okaima Ohizua, executive director, Transcorp Hotels plc, and Kevin Brett, GM, Transcorp Hilton, during the 100 years celebration of Transcorp Hilton in Abuja. Picture by Tunde Adeniyi

RAZAQ AYINLA, Abeokuta

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overnor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state has appointed former head of banking operations, retail banking and corporate services at the Guarantee Trust Bank (GTBank), Olatokunbo Joseph Talabi as the Secretary to the State Government and information and communications expert, Shuaib Afolabi Salish as Chief of Staff.

Talabi, who hails from IjebuOde in Ogun east senatorial district, same senatorial district where Governor Dapo Abiodun also originates from, is the Chairman of Superflux International Limited, a Lagos-based security printing firm.

A press statement signed and issued in Abeokuta, the state capital on Saturday by Kunle Somorin, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, indicated the new SSG comes to the job with a rich private sector background as a business development professional, banker and entrepreneur.

According to Somorin, the 57-year-old Talabi holds a 1987 Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Lagos. He also trained at the Citibank School of Banking, Long Island, New York.

With over 30 years management experience, the new SSG

Salisu

Talabi

is also a boardroom guru, chairing 6 (six) corporate bodies and serving on the board of 7 (seven) other institutions, including those of Bitflux Communications, Olabisi Onabanjo University Development Foundation, ATCO Limited, Fate Foundation and the City of Knowledge Academy.

The Chief of Staff, Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, who is fondly SAS, hails from the Odeda local government area in Ogun central senatorial district and holds a 1986 second class (upper) degree in Computer Science from the University of Lagos; from where he also got two Masters degrees - an MBA in 2003 and MSc in Computer Science in 2012.

He led the World Bank project that midwifed the transport sector transformation in Lagos state and was a main ICT consultant in Edo, Ekiti, Kano states and the FCT at different times.

In his previous “incarnation”, Salisu was a banker at the defunct Equitorial Trust Bank and Pacific Merchant Bank.

The 55 year old CoS had an early career in the Oil and Gas sector and worked variously for Total and Mobil Oil.

N30m fraud: EFCC arraigns herbalist who impersonates Baru, Adesina Innocent Odoh, Abuja

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he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Ilorin Zonal Office has arraigned a 31-year-old herbalist, Jamiu Isiaka on a four-count charge in a Kwara State High Court, before Justice M. Abdulgafar for impersonating the group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru and the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina and duping a Korean national in the process.

According to a statement issued by the Acting Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Tony Orilade, the suspect, with others at large, allegedly used the names of the senior government officials to scam a South Korean national, Keun Sig Kim to the tune ofN30million (Thirty Million Naira)under a false pretence of securing for him an NNPC

approval/marketing form and license certificate to buy crude oil in Nigeria.

According to Kim, “I transferredFour Thousand, Two Hundred and Eighty-five United States Dollars, Seventy-one cents only to the United Bank of Africa , account number 2107575870 in the name of one Jamiu Isiaka , an associate of Mr Shola Adeshina. It is noteworthy that this account particulars have been provided severally for me to make transfer to.”

During interrogation with the officials of the Commission, Isiaka claimed that he used the money to conduct sacrifice for the petitioner. He further claimed to have bought a vulture, skin of elephant, elephant intestine, skull of a lion and liver of gorilla among others.

Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Jamiu Isiaka (a.k.a Femi Adesina ) between the month of April and September 2018 in Ilorin, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court,

with intent to defraud, did obtain the total sum of $88,521,041 (Eighty Eight Thousand, Five Hundred And Twenty One Dollars, Forty-one cents] from a Korean national, Keun Sig Kim by false pretences that the monies was for the procurement of NNPC approval/marketing form and license certificate to buy crude oil in Nigeria, facts which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.” The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

In view of his not guilty plea, the prosecuting counsel, Andrew Akoja asked the court for a trial date and prayed that he be remanded in prison custody.

Justice Abdulgafar ordered the accused to be remanded in Mandala Prisons and adjourned the matter to June 19, 2019 for commencement of trial, the statement said.

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News PDP begs EU not to abandon Nigeria OWEDE AGBAJILEKE, Abuja

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he People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has begged the international community not to abandon Nigeria, saying that its next generation may not witness democracy going by the current events in the country.

The PDP Deputy National Chairman, Yemi Akinwonmi, who stated this when the European Union Election Observer delegation paid a visit to the party in Abuja, said the country is drifting into a military dictatorship. The EU observer mission was led by Maria Arena.

Speaking on behalf of the PDP national chairman, Uche Secondus, Akinwonmi said they invited the mission because “we have lost confidence in the Nigerian electoral process and it is unfortunate.”

He said: “Our doors are always open to you. If you leave us alone the generation coming after us may not witness democracy. We encourage you to come as a last hope of our democracy.”

While he assured that the party

would study and implement the recommendations of the EU team, he added “There is absolutely nothing to improve upon. We are drifting to the dark days of military junta.”

The deputy national chairman who accused INEC and the security agencies of compromising the electoral process, added that “when the trial begins at the election petition tribunal, we will show the world the atrocities that the ruling government did.”

He lamented that the poverty has taken over the polity, stressing that expatriates are leaving the country in droves.

Speaking earlier, Chief Observer of the EU delegation Maria Arena, who said there will always be room for improvement of democracy, noted that they made over 30 recommendations to how to improve the Democratic process in Nigeria.

She noted that there will be no improvement if there is non-political will, adding that there is need to start the process of reforms early, have very inclusive discussion and understanding from all electoral stakeholders as well as ensure more women get involved in the electoral process.

Taraba prison housing 500 instead of 150 inmates - Justice Tuktur Nathaniel Gbaoron

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onourable Justice Josephine Tuktur has decried the congestion of Taraba prison, saying that the facility is housing over 500 inmates instead of 150.

Tuktur made this known on Friday at the valedictory reception organised in her honour by the Nigerian Barr Association (NBA), Taraba State chapter.

She said the Nigerian prison located in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, was built to accommodate 150 inmates but it was now over congested with over 500 inmates.

She appealed to the Federal Government to extend or build a larger prison in order to solve the problem of accommodation of inmates.

“I want to appeal to the Federal Government through the state government to extend or build more prisons in Taraba State in order to solve the problem of congestion”.

Recounting her experience in her sixty five years of age, Tuktur

said it was worth appreciating God for his protection.

The Justice, who said she has built more courts and appointed Area upper court judges and magistrates through the aid of the state government, appealed to judicial staff to extend the cordial relationship she enjoyed from them during her service years to the new Chief Judge.

Taraba State Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku in his speech described, Justice Josephine Tuktur’s exit as a moment of sober.

He applauded her pivotal roles played in the state during her service years and urged the incoming once to emulate her.

Tuktur maintained that the justice still has a lot of service years as the state government will call upon her when the need arises, just as she said she still have dreams.

He further disclosed that all the requests made by the retired justice will be considered as soon as funds are made available.

Meanwhile, an acting Chief Justice has already been sworn in following the exit of Justice Tuktur.

L-R: Hannah Roberts, EU deputy chief observer, Maria Arena, chief observer EU Election Observer and Mahmood Yakubu,chairman INEC during the presentation of 2019 Nigeria general election reports to the INEC chairman in Abuja. Picture by TUNDE ADENIYI.

After Buhari, there may be no more APC, says Onyebueke MIKE ABANG, Calabar

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idelix Onyebueke, a legal expert and constitutional lawyer, has predicted that the fortunes enjoyed by the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), shall cease to exist after the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Onyebueke said the goodwill enjoyed by the party in 2019 general election will no more be there after the tenure of the President in 2023.

Speaking to BDSUNDAY in an exclusive interview in his office, the legal luminary also predicted

that before 2023, both APC and the opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) shall come together to form another party that will take over power .

“Buhari brought life to APC, if not, they couldn’t have gotten up to eight states in the 2019 general election and the way he handles the party, is the same way he handles the affairs of the country,” he said.

According to Onyebueke, “Reasonable people in this country have said that there is no alternative to Buhari and he knows how to use power. He understands Nigeria very well; he is doing it at his own pace.”

On the recommendation to the

President for the creation of state police by the executive secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Tony Ojukwu-led Presidential Committee, Oyebueke said the system will create more grassroots criminals than the governors are doing now “State police is not the issue, if the police wants to do their jobs, they will do it; the police chiefs are not sincere, when we watch them giving change to drivers and nothing happens. We are not yet ripe for state and local government police, if not, you will see more of political assassinations across the country,” he said.

Abdulrazaq assures commitment to fix Kwara, lauds Buhari on June 12 SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin

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wara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has assured Kwarans that his administration was committed to revamping and making the state a better place for every resident.

Abdulrazaq, who stated this on Friday at the event commemorating the June 12 Democracy Day in Ilorin, the capital city, pledged to run an inclusive government.

“Let me reiterate that my government will carry the good people of Kwara State along in this journey of renewed hope and prosperity and never are we going to disappoint you on our campaign promises.

“I promise to run an inclusive government in order to carry everyone along. No matter your age, sex or tribe, as long as you reside in

Kwara State, we will make Kwara a conducive working environment for you,” he said.

The governor, however, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his courage to accord June 12 the national recognition it deserves, and his support for the Kwara liberation struggle.

Abdulrazaq said: “Nigerians of good conscience have lauded President Buhari for finally recognising the June 12 as Democracy Day. “We in Kwara State also owe Mr. President a debt of gratitude for standing firm on his resolve that people’s votes must count in the last election. In the past, Kwarans had often voted to reject tyranny and a suffocating hold on their destiny but they always had their mandates brazenly stolen with nobody to resist such oppression. We thank Mr. President for standing for truth and justice.”

In his opening remarks, Bashir

Bolarinwa, the state chairman of the APC, thanked Buhari for “his show of magnanimity for making June 12 a reality.”

Similarly, Isa Aremu, former governorship aspirant, drew a similarity between the June 12 and the struggle of Kwarans, describing AbdulRazaq as a governor of destiny.

Apart from Abiola and others, he called on Buhari to immortalise other heroes of the June 12 struggle, including the late Comrade Ola Oni, Pa Anthony Enahoro, Abraham Adesanya, and Frank Kokori, among others. Kola Abiola, a businessman and son of the acclaimed winner of the June 12 presidential polls, informed that it took 25 years to get Abuja to recognise and honour the mandate of his late father.

He added that the greatest legacy to the struggle is for Nigerians to treat one another as brothers as they did on the day of June 12 election.

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Sunday 16 June 2019

News I will win Kogi governorship election landslide - Bello Tony Ailemen, Abuja

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espite the several odds trailing his bid to clinch the governorship ticket for the November 16th election, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State on Friday boasted that he would win the election landslide and return as governor Governor Bello stated this while fielding questions from State House Correspondents after meeting with President Muhammmadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Speaking on the moves to deny him the party’s ticket and his desperate efforts to return as the governor of Kogi State, the self-acclaimed “landlord of Kogi politics” said he would win the election landslide.

“I am the governor today and Insha Allah, l will return as the governor for another four years, after the November 16 election. As for the ticket, the analogy is that the tenant cannot send the landlord out of his house.”

According to him, “APC in Kogi State was rebuilt by me, after the good job done by our late leader, His Excellency, Prince Abubakar Audu. After his demise,

Bello

l came, rebuilt it from the scratch to what it is today.”

Bello said that his efforts at rebuilding the party was evident in the last outing of the party where the party won the entire 25 seats in the State House of Assembly.

“We also won seven out of the nine contested positions in the House of Representatives and two out of the three senators representing Kogi State in the Senate,” he said.

Bello, who described himself as very popular, said those opposing him were mere noise makers.

“Anybody that is making such noise does not disturb me, because, in the market place, noise is allowed.

You know, Kogi politics is the loudest, so people must make noise and you can’t stop that. But surely, l am very good with my party from the local government to the national level.

“They know that I am the leader of the party in my state. I have built it and it is very strong. Anytime, any day, we will win elections in landslide.”

Speaking on the significance of declaration of June

12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day, Bello said Nigerians would remain grateful to President Buhari for honoring MKO Abiola, whose sacrifice made it possible for Nigerians to enjoy democracy.

“We cannot thank Mr. President enough for that wonderful master stroke of recognising an icon, a human being that is synonymous with democracy, the late Chief MKO Abiola.

“I think something would have been wrong if he had not done this. For effectively doing it well, we can’t thank him enough. It is so significant for us and the future generation to know that this man paid the supreme price for the democracy we are enjoying today. We continue to pray for him to do more for the country. He has blazed the trail.”

According to him, “In politics, we have to be real; we are in this politics to serve.

Chief MKO Abiola was out to serve us. He was denied.

President Muhammadu Buhari is serving us and he has also recognised the man who paid the supreme sacrifice and what this means is that we must remain real and have the interest of the masses at heart and serve them to the best of our ability.”

Need for regulatory oversight advocated, as IoD inducts new members SEYI JOHN SALAU

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he need for a market-led regulatory oversight to deepen good corporate governance practice in Nigeria has been advocated, as the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Oando Plc financial infraction case continues to gather momentum in view of the corporate governance issues raised by the regulatory body against the company’s board.

“This situation unfortunately is further exacerbated by the lack of, absence and the perception that those empowered to exercise such oversights themselves have serious issues of corporate governance to contend with.

So, where do we begin to reset our sovereign corporate governance issues? Which comes first?” Olufemi Awoyemi, founder/CEO Proshare Nigeria Limited, said at the June 2019 New Members’ Induction held in Lagos with the theme, ‘Governance: Who Guards the Guardians’?

According to him, the range of issues directors are liable for is justifiably lengthy, yet unexhausted especially when put sideby-side against a regulatory

CITN inaugurates 36th district Obinna Emelike

Digify Africa begins 3rd training on digital skills for unemployed graduates David Ibemere and Jonathan Aderoju

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o continue in its endeavour to prepare unemployed graduates between the ages of 20-30 in Nigeria, on key skills to enter the digital workplace, DigifyPRO Nigeria, a not-for-profit initiative facilitated by Digify Africa (a digital skills academy based in South Africa) and supported by Facebook, has welcomed its third set of 20 trainees to its eight-week intensive digital skills training bootcamp.

DigifyPro Nigeria Cohort 3.0 which was launched last

week at the Facebook NG_ Hub, Yaba, Lagos, according to Florence Olumodimu, the programme director will again expose participants to job readiness skills, to ensure that the participants will thrive in workplace and offer value to their potential employers.

“The programme is very intense, comprehensive and hands-on in response to skills gap in the industry, and the trainees will be immersed in the key pillars of the DigifyPro Initiative which are Live briefs /Workshops/Presentations, and finally placement at an agency/organisation on a paid work placement for 3 – 6 months or in a junior

position,” Olumodimu said.

She added that feedback from the previous graduates have been amazing stories of transformation and personal growth. “Outofthe40people who have passed through our 2 Cohorts over 80percent are in full time employment now as a result of DigifyPro initiative and the skills they acquiredontheprogrammeand four of our graduates from DigifyPro Cohort 2.0 won the AAAN YoungLAIFers Award inDecember, comingfirstand second place,” Olumodimu further said.

Some of the success stories from the previous trainings she revealed include, Aadam Bodurin, Marvis

Ezukula, Joshua Friday, Bukola Ayeni, Omoyeme Anofojie, Adeola Adenipetun, Adeyinka Adeniyi, Obiora Obuagbaka , Vickie Onouha, Chukwuma Amobi, Olufemi Obafunmiso, Israel Oriaku, Ngozi Chidiaka and Kingsley Okoh all now in full employment with various media agencies and organisations.

The training covers softskills, vocational, digital, workplace experience, agency processes, customer care, client services and traditional Marketing to mention a few.

Others include analytics and measurement; Social Media Management, Brand Reputation Management; Content and Email marketing; User Experience; Paid advertising; Search Engine Optimisation, among others.

Speaking on her expectations from the programme Mabodu Adenike, a graduate from University of Ilorin, said: “I have never been this excited towards learning a skill like this; I intend to understand better google analytics, and how to help sell my written content better and influence people with my works.”

regime whose laws, rules and directives have a longer shelf life than business practice and evolving trends.

“Do we start with restructuring the regulatory architecture – laws, institutions and executive oversight principles or focus on the operators, directors and operating environment or simultaneously do both through proper and scalable reform management! “While this debate struggles with traction, It is my considered view that, Directors are better served by immediately availing themselves with best practices; upgrade their knowledge, understanding and application of their roles and responsibilities to render unto themselves and society a risk-based discharge of their functions. Waiting for clarity brings with it unintended consequences,” Awoyemi stated.

He further opined that in a regulatory clime that assumes the role of accuser and judge (as the rules currently stand); it is no longer optional for directors to update their knowledge on the rules of engagement. “There is a huge premium on assuming things based on intent/ions, general practice or/and best practice,” he said.

T

he Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) recently inaugurated the Victoria Island-Lekki District, which is its 36th district in the country. The inauguration and investiture was witnessed by executive members of the institute and the members of the Lagos district.

The inauguration and investiture, was the culmination of a three-day event, which started with visits to traditional ruler of Ojomo, Pan Atlantic University and some dignitaries who have contributed to the growth of the institute.

In his welcome address, Adeshina Adedayo, who recommended the establishment of the 36th district, noted that the team that canvassed for the new district was determined to create more awareness on tax issues and education.

The outgoing president and chairman of council, Cyril Nwobodo Ede, praised the Victoria Island-Lekki team for their doggedness and resilience in making sure the district was created. He thanked the people for all their support as this would be his last duty as the president of the institute. According to him, “As the 13th president of the institute, I have witnessed tremendous growth

in population and human capital more than ever before. From seven districts that I met, we have grown to 36 with the inaugurated V.ILekki district. Lagos alone has four districts and the institute has over 32,000 members across the nation and actively contributing to the nation’s growth”.

He further disclosed that the last induction for members witness the induction of an 86 years old man whose passion for the institute made him to become a member. He urged the new district executives to strive hard to be the best district in the country as they have the capacity to do so. He expects them to project the institute’s image, render contributions to issues of common interest, collaborate with the systems of government to help improve tax issues, look into the welfare of its members and organising tax awareness programmes.

Olaitan Soyingbe was inaugurated as the first chairperson of the V.I-Lekki district. The inauguration was performed by the outgoing president who also performed the investiture.

In his remarks, Onafowotan Soyombo, a professor and guest speaker, admonished the new executive members to take tax education/awareness serious.

In his topic “The Power of district society in tax awareness”.

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News

Sanwo-olu raises LASTMA officials’ allowances, warns against corruption, harassment ...Says, ‘No cabinet member will be exempted from traffic rules’

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abajide SanwoOlu, Lagos State governor, has announced one 100 percent increase in the allowances of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials to encourage and motivate the workers in the performance of their duties and also in fulfilment of his vision to make traffic management and transportation number one priority in his administration.

According to a statement

by Gboyega Akosile, deputy chief press secretary to the governor, Sanwo-Olu made the announcement on Friday during an interactive session with staff of the agency when he paid an official visit to the operation’s headquarters at Oshodi, Lagos.

Speaking on the need to motivate the workforce, the governor said LASTMA officials will start to earn new allowances by the end of the end of July, this year. According to him, the gesture is to encourage the officers to improve on their performances as they go out day and night to rid the State of traffic gridlocks.

“As from the end of the month of July, we shall increase your allowances by 100 percent. That means if you are collecting N5,000 as your allowance, it would be increased to N10, 000.

Those collecting N10,000 before would now be getting N20,000. This would enable you perform optimally. To whom much is given, much is expected”, Sanwo-Olu said.

In the same vein, the governor warned the officers to desist from any act of corruption or corrupt tendencies, urging the operatives to imbibe civility as a major guiding principle in their operations.

He reminded LASTMA

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State governor (2nd left); Olawale Musa, general manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA),left; Ositimehin Ayodele, director, Traffic Management and Survey, (right); Adetimiro Issac, comptroller, Planning, Research and Statistics, (2nd right), and Oreagba Bolaji, director, Operations, during the governor’s visit to the LASTMA Yard, Oshodi, on Friday.

officials that Lagosians want a decent and corrupt-free LASTMA, and as such they should be respectful when arresting an offender.

“Lagosians expect a corrupt-free LASTMA that will not go about to collect bribes from motorists. Be respectful and courteous even when you are going to arrest an offender. Lagosians want LASTMA that is decent, they want neatness.

We don’t want laziness and lateness to work. Be my advocates,” the governor said.

Some LASTMA officials who spoke during the session appealed to the governor to assist the agency in some areas such as equipment, medical treatment and insurance for them to deliver more efficiently.

In response, Governor Sanwo-Olu announced free treatment for every LASTMA official in the state.

He also promised a more conducive working environ-

ment for the staff such as repair of damaged vehicles and motorbikes, provision of raincoats, and other tools.

On operation of commercial motorcycles (okada) on highways, tricycles and indiscriminate parking of imported vehicles by the roadside, Sanwo-Olu said he would have a meeting with the Commissioner of Police and other security operatives to look at the existing laws and better way for their enforcement for the benefit of every Lagosian.

“There are rules that guide operation of commercial motorcycles. The Lagos State law has stated okada should not operate on some roads. We will have a meeting with security operatives on what we should do,’’ he said. ‘’We are not going to condone people obstructing our roads. I am now taking it as warning to all those parking their vehicles on

the road such as importers of ‘tokunbo’ vehicles to comply by removing them from the road because we will come one day and take all the vehicles off the road.

People should provide space for their businesses,” SanwoOlu warned.

Th e g o v e r n o r a l s o warned members of his cabinet, their family members and friends against contravening traffic rules.

He said ‘’I will tell my cabinet members that if you are caught or apprehended violating my traffic rules, you will pay.’’

The staff also used the opportunity to seek the governor’s support for the provision of adequate security for those whose operations have been extended to 11pm, improvement in their welfare packages, rehabilitation of roads, trainings, and enforcement of existing regulations, to aid their operations.

L-R: Obafemi Hamzat, Lagos State Deputy Governor; Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor; Hakeem Muri-Okunola, head of service; Taiwo Salaam, permanent secretary, ministry of transportation, and Olawale Musa, general manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), during the governor’s visit.

Xtralarge Farms introduces meal products into Nigerian market …unveils Xtratoken, Agritech city to be delivered in 2021 AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE

A

s part of its determination to ensure that Nigerians enjoy the health benefits of eating pure organic foods, produced without chemical addictives and preservatives, XtraLarge Farms, a Nigerian agricultural investment firm, has introduced its newest product known as Xtralarge meal.

The meal, which is made up of plantain and local rice, appears as smooth as pounded yam, and can be, consumed any kind of soup after preparation.

The firm, which has the vision of raising a generation of passionate farmers, has also unveiled its Agritech City, which would be driven by technology and Xtratoken that will serve as a means of exchange that would be used to pay for the products and services that would be rendered in the proposed Agritech City.

Speaking to journalists at the prelaunch event held in Lagos on Wednesday, Seyi Davids, chief executive officer of Xtralarge Farms, said the concept of establishing an Agritech City, which would be driven by technology, was to encourage more youths to have interest in agriculture.

“Xtralarge Farms has a lot of products and services that would be rendered in the Agritech City. This was why the Xtratoken would serve as a means of exchange within the city. The city is about 3,000 acres of land and the Xtratoken will be

made available for only family members, who bought into the Xtralarge ideas and values,” he said.

According to him, the City is located along Idiroko area of Ogun State and work will commence immediately.

“Before building, there are preliminary works that includes getting the town planners to license the establishment of the city and it is expected to open for business in 2021,” he said.

“Xtratoken is a utility token for general transactions within the Xtralarge family and will serve as the only acceptable medium of exchange for goods and services in the Agritech City. This token shall become valid for transactions fully in June 2021, when the city will be open for business. We are giving people the opportunity to pre-hold the currency and enjoy the underlining benefits,” he said.

Davids, who said that Xtralarge Farms has empowerment programme including Food Network that brings many people together for the common purpose of empowering one another, said the concept of the city is to bring farmers together, who grow and consume their produces in order to ensure that members are consuming organic foods.

He further said that purchasing the token at an early stage will give members the opportunity to be part of the building process, and such get certain privileges and Very Important Person (VIP) treatment, when the city becomes fully operational.

CSN picks holes in environmental law; to present position paper on plastic bags prohibition Abdulwaheed Olayinka Adubi,

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hemical Society of Nigeria (CSN) has picked holes in the recently enacted law prohibiting the use and manufacture of plastic bags in Nigeria.

Following the enactment of the law, the society is planning to present a position paper on the said law, stating that sufficient consultation with critical stakeholders was not carried out by the National Assembly before passing the bill into law. This was disclosed in a statement issued in Kaduna and signed by the society’s President, Sunday Olawale Okeniyi, a professor, at the weekend.

It would be recalled that the National Assembly had in May this year passed an Act to prohibit the use, manu-

facture and importation of all plastic bags of commercial and household packaging.

The National Assembly while passing the bill stressed that it was aimed at addressing the harmful impacts of such bags to the oceans, rivers, lakes forest, environment as well as human beings and to reduce pressure on landfills and waste management.

The law, according to the statement prescribed a fine of not exceeding N500.000 for offenders upon conviction or a jail term not exceeding 3 years. For anyone found guilty in the case of companies, a fine not exceeding N5 million is prescribed.

Professor Okeniyi observed that Singapore collects shreds and incinerates such polymetric wastes to generate considerable energy.

According to him, the plastic bag wastes still serve to sustain employment needs.

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PhotoSplash

L-R: Allan, trustee; Taiwo Taiwo, chairman, board of trustee; Emmanuel Udom Parent; Martha Udom Parent; Fadayomi, trustee at the 27th graduation ceremony of Atlantic Hall School in Lagos L-R: Alaba Lawson, first female president, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture; Ellen Paul, a comedian, and Kemi Adesina, a guest, at the presentation of Nigerian women of ICON of hope award to Alaba Lawson in Abuja.

Dupe Dada (5th r), district governor, 404B2 Nigeria; Abiodun Adediji (3rd r), multiple council chairperson, 404 Nigeria; Elizabeth Ibe (4th r), president, Ikeja Metro Lions Club; Evelyn Agbonifo (1st r), 2nd vice president; Herbert Ehebha (2nd r); Mathew Faphounda (1st l), district cabinet secretary; Raphael Akinsulire (2nd l), region 6 chairperson; Blessing Robert (3rd l), member; John Oriazonwa (4th l), 1st vice president, Ikeja Metro Lions Club; Blessing Umebali (5th l), club marketing communications chairperson, all at the Legacy Project of Ikeja Metro Lions club commissioning of Board on “Lions Code of Ethics” held recently at the Secretariat, Yaba, Lagos.

L-R: Hadiza Olaosebikan, first daughter of the deceased/senior manager,corporate communications,Bank of Industry (BoI); Ibrahim Badmos; , Abdulaziz Lawal, son of the Deceased; Kamorudeen Yusuf, chairman, Kam Industry; Fatai Owoseni, former commissioner of police, Lagos State, and Ola Abbass Adekenye at the 7day prayer for Late Silifat Omolola Badamosi nee Abubakar in Kwara State.

L-R: Abdulmumini Ahmed, legal adviser , Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED); Ibrahim Zikirullahi, executive director, CHRICED, and Mohammed Anwar Umar, lead researcher, CHRICED, at a press briefing on its ongoing initiative of combating Forced Child Begging in Northern Nigeria in Abuja. Pic by Tunde Adeniyi.

Akinbayo Olasoji (2ND l), area commander, Area F Police Command, Ikeja, honored with Providence Magazine’s Distinguished Service Award for Excellence in Public Service, presented by Bola Oluwamotemi (R), while, Gracious Akintayo (l), publisher, of the magazine watch with interest.

L-R: Akinwunmi Adesina, president, African Development Bank, and Olukayode Pitan, MD/CEO, Bank of Industry, at the annual meeting of the AfDB in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

L-R: Temitope Ashiwaju, group public relations and event manager, DUFIL Prima Foods plc, with some of the beneficiaries of DUFIL scholarship award, Anya Richard, Lebura Favour, Samuel Providence; Dokubo Edith, desk officer, Debate, Quiz and Competition, Rivers State Universal Education Board, Mrs. Susan Ejiohuo and factory manager, DUFIL Prima Foods Plc, Choba, Port Harcourt, Yogesh Yengul at the scholarship presentation to some students of Choba Community in Rivers State.

L-R: Carlos Venegas, Forensic Investigation Professional; Victoria Enape, protem president of Forensic and Investigative Professionals of Nigeria (CIFIPN); Adrienne Crosby, Facilitator in Information Systems and Technology, and Mannixs Paul, CEO of International Institute of Certified Forensic Investigation Professionals (IICFIP), at an international workshop organised by the IICFIP in collaboration with the CIFIPN, Uniworld Professional Training Academy and Evan Distinct Worldwide Consulting Company, for financial professionals and organisational leaders from Nigeria in New Jersey City, United States. NAN

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June 12 and the rebound of truth

Publisher/CEO

Frank Aigbogun editor Zebulon Agomuo DEPUTY EDITOR John Osadolor, Abuja

Tayo Ogunbiyi EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS Fabian Akagha EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, STRATEGY, INNOVATION & PARTNERSHIPS Oghenevwoke Ighure GENERAL MANAGER, ADVERT Adeola Ajewole ADVERT MANAGER Ijeoma Ude FINANCE MANAGER Emeka Ifeanyi MANAGER, CONFERENCES & EVENTS Obiora Onyeaso BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER (South East, South South) Patrick Ijegbai CIRCULATION MANAGER John Okpaire DIGITAL SALES MANAGER Linda Ochugbua ASSIST. SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER Florence Kadiri GM, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (North)

Bashir Ibrahim Hassan

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Ogunbiyi is of the Lagos State Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja

W

hen he wrote in Julius Ceaser that the evil that men do live after them, legendary Writer, Williams Shakespeare, was alluding to the fact that evil deeds in history are often more easily remembered than the good ones.

A cursory dip into any history book will confirm this. In Julius Ceaser, one of the purposes of Mark Antony’s speech is to mitigate any evils that Caesar may have committed while highlighting the good that he did.

It is often said that history is written by the victors. In the immediate aftermath of Caesar’s assassination it is the conspirators who are the victors. And as such they are keen to rewrite the history of Caesar’s rule to their advantage. Mark Antony’s speech is a subtle attempt to stop them from doing this. Not only is he absolutely determined to ensure

that Caesar’s good name will live on, he is also going to do whatever he can to make sure that the evil of the conspirators, their bloody act of treachery, will not only be punished, but never forgotten.

In the annals of our country’s political history, June 12 remains a watershed. That is the truth that some do not want to hear. But then, truth does not become truth because it is validated by man. No matter the depth of denials, truth remains what it is: The truth.

The truth is that, no matter how hard its antagonists try, for many reasons, June 12 will continue to be a defining moment in the annals of our nation’s political history.

It was the day that Nigerians expressed a strong resolve to chart a new course for their beloved country. It was the day that Nigerians redefined and reshaped the nation’s political scenery. Prior to that time, our politics sharply reflected our palpable religious and ethnic divides. But on June 12, all that changed. Chief MKO Abiola, who was the presidential candidate of the defunct SDP, had more votes in the northern part of the country than Alhaji Bashir Tofa, his northern challenger from the defunct NRC. One other remarkable feature of the June 12 election is the electorate disposition to religious sentiments and concerns. In 1993, the defunct SDP was bold and daring in its conviction that fielding a

Muslim-Muslim ticket (Abiola and Kingibe) would not jeopardise its electoral success. The party went ahead with its conviction and recorded a resounding success at the polls. But for the annulment of the poll’s result, such audacity could have effectively checkmated religious contemplations in our political scene.

Several calls for the immortalization of Chief MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12 election, were continually rebuffed. Same goes for the calls to recognize June 12 as the nation’s official Democracy Day. Certain individuals who should have stood by the truth and be counted as defenders of the right of the people simply decided to look the other way. Some of them, for personal reason and out of sheer ego, embarked on a futile mission to ‘kill’ the truth and advance the course of falsehood.

But like it is often said, truth is constant. Though it can be suppressed for quite a while, it cannot be permanently obliterated. Truth has a way of coming back. Over the ages, ruthless men have variously tried to repress the truth. Some murdered those they thought hold the key to the truth. Others proscribed mediums they believed could help in preserving the truth while others did everything they could to silence the voices of truth. But then, historically, conspiracies against the truth have always failed woefully.

Autocrats, tyrants and despots in various parts of the world, and over diverse ages, have tried very hard to silence the promoters of the truth. In some cases, scores of individuals who were unrepentant custodians of truth have been killed, maimed, jailed and dehumanized by despots whose main goal was to stifle the truth and uphold deception. Such abounds in quantum in Africa, Asia and, to a large extent, some nations in Eastern Europe, especially during the cold war era.

But then, no matter how long falsehood has been in circulation, it cannot really take the place of truth. Truth has a way of always rebounding. It is, therefore, exciting to note that June 12 has today become a rallying point for democracy in the country and Chief MKO Abiola has finally been immortalized. Just a few days ago, the country witnessed the very first national celebration of June 12 as the official Democracy Day. For us as a people, the renaissance of June 12 has become a metaphor for the constant nature of truth. It is, therefore, imperative for political elite across the country to always stand by the truth and eschew all forms of deceit, especially in the way they manage the affairs of the country.

Ogunbiyi is of the Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja

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NewsXtra The return of Ebola, how prepared is Nigeria?

JOSEPH MAURICE OGU

I

t was in July 20, 2014 that Nigeria had its dosage of Ebola, when a Liberian envoy, Patrick Sawyer, brought the virus to the country through Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos. The man died five days later.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO)’s report, a total of 19 people were infected with the deadly virus, of which seven people died, including Ameyo Adadevoh, the heroic physician who placed Sawyer in quarantine despite pressures from the Liberian government.

The Federal Government, state governments, international community, and Nigerians fought the deadly virus to the end.

Following the 42-day compulsory watch, on October 20, 2014, exactly three months after the outbreak, WHO officially declared Nigeria Ebola-free.

In Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a handful of the outbreak continued on a regular interval until few days ago when a fresh outbreak erupted, which has been described as the second-largest (outbreak) in the history of the disease.

After years of preparation and protective measures against the importation of the virus, the virus finally found its way into Uganda, through a five-year old boy who had made cross-border journey to the neigbouring DRC. The little boy died, making it the first case of Ebola reported in the country. Two people have also reportedly dead and many have reportedly been infected with the virus, according to a BBC report.

“The Ministry of Health Uganda and WHO have confirmed a case of Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in Uganda” the Ugandan Ministry of Health said in its Twitter handle, @MinofHealthUG. In response to the recent out-

break, the World Health Organisation, which has twice ruled that Ebola outbreak has not constituted a global emergency, had its International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee meeting, Friday.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO, said the committee will review the current situation to ascertain if it constitutes world health emergency.

“Following the spread of Ebola to Uganda from DRC, I am reconvening the IHR Emergency Committee on 14 June in Geneva to ascertain whether the outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of international concern,” Ghebreyesus said in his Twitter handle, @DrTedros.

According to BBC reports, “some have predicted it could take up to two more years to bring Ebola to an end.”

So, what is Nigeria’s preparedness to stop the disease from gaining entrance into the country or combating it if it eventually finds its way into the country, within the two years’ prediction?

Babatunde Ogunsina, medical director, medical centre, The Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Ogun State, said the lessons Nigeria leant last time when Ebola entered the country are enough to push Nigeria to be proactive this time, advising those in charge to be vigilant so that the nation will not experience what happened in 2014 when a Liberian sneaked into the country.

According to him, it is important to secure the nation’s point of entries and be watchful of planes that are coming from Uganda and other countries with Ebola.

“Everyone coming into the country will have to be screened and make sure no one has the virus,” he said.

Onyekachi Winteze, head, Port Health Services, federal ministry of health, said the ministry has put mechanisms in places to make sure that the nation does not have the repeat of 2014 incident.

According to her, the ministry has strengthened the point of entries across the country, trained staff at these entry

points to be able to screen people coming in and going out to make sure people with Ebola symptoms or who are sick do not enter the country, or even leaving.

This, according to her, is done through the use of scanners at various entry points that could check temperatures as people walk pass through them in order to check people’s body temperature.

“We are not just working against Ebola, we are working against all forms of diseases and we are adequately prepared,” she said over the telephone conversation with BusinessDay. According to Ogunsina, the consolation aspect is that, the Ebola is not in one of our neighbouring countries where people can easily travel by roads. Coming from Uganda or DRC is a bit far and requires planes, he said.

Winteze advised travellers to be vigilant and look out at the people around them. If anyone sick, having rashes, visiting the toilet frequently, sweating in the hot weather, using thick clothes during the heat, such situation

should be reported to the authority immediately.

But in the eventual case where the virus finds its way into the country, Winteze said the ministry has health designated facilities across the country where infected person(s) will be quarantined. In addition, every other person who had contact with the Ebola patient will be traced along the entry route, and everyone in the chain will be contacted and quarantined, she said.

The ‘suspect’ will only be sent home after 21 incubation days, when everyone is satisfied that the patient is fine, free from the virus and free to reunite with people. Anyone who falls sick in the course of quarantine will be adequately treated.

“The facilities are on ground,” Winteze assured.

“I think Nigeria is equal to the task,” Ogunsina said.

Winteze said the ministry has undergone adequate campaigns in schools, markets, and various places through visual and audio methods to educate Nigerians across board on the deadly Ebola virus and the precautionary methods, adding that “we will bring more to the public so that everyone is aware.”

According to Ogunsina, every medical doctor in the country has been conscientised and is aware that if a patient is having symptoms similar to Ebola, and it is stated that the person has recently made a trip across to any of the affected countries, necessary procedure will have to be done.

According to him, it is better for medical doctors to be proactive by thinking that anybody that comes from any of the Ebola infected countries should be paid extra attention to, rather than thinking everything is normal.

“It is better to think that the person has Ebola than for any medical doctor to just feel that the person cannot have Ebola,” he cautioned.

I will encourage Ayade to conduct local government elections – Speaker, Cross River State Assembly MIKE ABANG,Calabar

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ewly elected Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Eteng Williams has promised that the 9th Assembly under his watch would ensure that the lingering local government elections would be conducted.

The state has not been able to conduct local government elections since the tenure of Council Chairmen elapse in the last four years. The state government has attributed the delay to lack of funds in conducting elections at that tier of government.

Speaking to newsmen

shortly after being inaugurated by the clerk of the House, Bassey Ekpeyong, the Speaker also promised that his leadership would train and retrain members and staff of the Assembly as a means of improving their capacity.

“We shall make training a priority for members and staff.

One of our major concerns is the welfare of members. Also, we will make a deliberate effort to involve NGOs in public hearings and develop a cordial relationship with civil societies.

“Consensus cannot be good without effective communication. I will encourage the State to conduct Local Government elections,” the second term

member said.

The inauguration had in attendance nine newly elected members, 16 re-elected members as well as some out gone members Moving a motion for his nomination in the floor of the Assembly chamber, the member representing Ogoja State constituency Peter Odey said Eteng as a former Committee Chairman on Finance has discharged his duties creditable and found worthy in character and appealed to his collogues to support his nomination as Speaker, Hilary Bisong member representing Boki 1 seconded his nomination and when the

clerk of the clerk of the House Bassey Ekpeong who presided over the inauguration of principal officers of the 9th Assembly put the question of any other nomination, there was o objection.

The clerk Bassey Ekpeyong also announced the election of the deputy speaker Joseph Bassey after being nominated

by David Eta member representing Abi State constituency and Itam Abang member representing Boki 11 state constituency.

In his acceptance speech, the new Speaker promised to work and collaborate with other tiers of government saying his agenda is project Cross River.

He said the vote of confidence on him as their new leader is an affirmation of the entire members of the Assembly. He said he is looking forward to a more robust and dynamic relationship with the other arms of government.

In his goodwill message governor, Ben Ayade said I wish to congratulate all the members of the Assembly for your success at the election.

Also, on the approval of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Odey was elected as the Leader of the House while Fred Osim emerged the Deputy Leader. In the same vein, Okon Ephraim and Regina Anyaogo are the Chief Whip and Deputy Whip, respectively

Sunday 16 June 2019

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Politics 9th NASS: APC and political maneuverings James Kwen, Abuja

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he All Progressives Congress (APC) has demonstrated its political maneuvering with the victories of Ahmed Lawan and Ovie Omo-Agege as President and Deputy President of the Senate and Femi Gbajabiamila as the speaker of the House of Representatives.

APC had 63 Senators, the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP had 44 Senators while the Young Progressives Party (YPP) had 1 at the time of the inauguration of the Red Chambers.

The composition of the 9th House comprised 190 APC Members, 151 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 19 Members from other political parties.

However, on the June 11 when both Chambers of the National Assembly elected their presiding officers, the number was not reflected in the voting pattern, showing how the ruling party infiltrated the ranks of the main opposition PDP and other parties.

At the polls on the floor of the Senate where Adams Oshiomhole, APC National Chairman was visibly enforcing the party’s plan of conquest in the National Assembly, its anointed candidate, Lawan won with 79 votes against his only rival, Ali Ndume, who pulled 28 votes despite been adopted by the PDP with 44 senators.

For the Deputy President of Senate, APC Omo-Agege garnered 68 votes to defeat PDP Ike Ekweremadu with 37 votes even as his party has 44 votes. In the House of Representatives, Gbajabiamila, the APC preferred candidate got an overwhelming victory with 281 votes against his challenger, Umar Bago from Niger State who polled 76 even though he was adopted by PDP which has 151.

In the 9th Assembly, APC did

Ahmed Lawan

Ovie Omo-Agege

Femi Gbajabiamila

Ahmed Wase

not take chances as the party immediately after the general elections microzoned the leadership positions to its loyalists - Lawan and Gbajabiamila and unlike in 2015 when President Muhammadu Buhari distanced himself from who gets what in the National Assembly, he showed interest and ensure that candidates anointed by his party emerged victorious.

The political maneuverings or mildly, the calculations of APC is a radical departure or call it payback time for the PDP when the opposition party in 2015 infiltrated its ranks and changed the ruling party’s choice of National Assembly leadership.

Recall that APC had in 2015 endorsed the same Lawan and George Akume for President and Deputy President of the Senate, and Gbajabiamila for the Speaker of House of Representatives.

But PDP in collaboration with some dissent voices in APC scattered the arrangement and elected Bukola Saraki and Ekweremadu as President and Deputy President of Senate and Yakubu Dogara as the House Speaker.

Saraki and his cohorts unlike Dogara also pay back APC in its own coin and first worked against the party’s decision to appoint La-

wan and Akume as Majority Leader and Deputy Majority Leader and bring on board Ndume and Ibn Na’ Allah for those positions.

The outcome of the Senate and House of Representatives presiding officers is an eloquent testimony of the fulfilment of the declaration by Oshiomhole that, “APC will not share power with the PDP” in the National Assembly this time.

Oshiomhole while giving marching orders to the National Assembly Members-elect said, “we have the numbers to produce Speaker, we have the number and we will use the number to produce the Deputy Speaker who must be a member of APC. We have the number and we will use the number to elect the House Leader who will be member of the APC. “We have the number and we will use the number to elect a Chief Whip and the Deputy Whip who must be members of APC. I think the only position that we are not interested in is the Minority Leader.

“We will not share power in the House of Representatives and the leadership must ensure that critical Committees that drive government are shared only among APC members. So, all the Chairmen of Committees except one that I

know it is statutorily reserved for opposition which is public account, we will have that.

“So he will not do the kind of thing that happened the last time in which some APC members as members of the leading party became spectators in the management of the Committees when PDP has majority of strategic Committees.

That we will not happen in the next Assembly “We will carry out consultation with President Muhammadu Buhari and all the leaders of the party and reflect the reality of appointees as reflected in our constitution which recognised the geo political region of our country so that we will work out a sensible zoning formula that seems to carry everybody along and give people chances to demonstrate their capacity and capability”.

In apparent show of excitement about the realisation of its plan to take full control of the nation’s legislature described victory of its anointed candidates at the National Assembly leadership elections as the defeat of the impunity of the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Lanre Issa-Onilu, APC National Publicity Secretary had said, “This landslide victory by APC candi-

dates is a triumph of democracy and party politics over the brazen lawlessness of anti-democratic forces who are nestled in the opposition party.

“Our party has consistently maintained that the leadership of the National Assembly belongs to the party in the majority. The outcome of these elections have clearly validated our party’s efforts to institutionalise party discipline and loyalty.

“It is triumph of internal democracy, anchored on consensus building, to which we lay claim, over anti-democratic methods that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had foisted on our democracy over 16 years.

“This is a clear departure from the shenanigans of the last National Assembly leadership, let us therefore make a new start, and move forward to meet the great challenges we face and deliver on our Change Agenda and Next Level manifesto.

“The 9th National Assembly must now immediately address itself to delivering critical legislative intervention to enable the President Muhammadu Buhari administration succeed for the benefit of the Nigerian people and ensure the smooth running of government”.

As Nigeria loses N700bn in Kula one year-old shut down …Wike says no to oil shutdown Ignatius Chukwu

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s news filters out that Nigeria has so far lost over N700billion in the shutdown of the Kula oil field due to community blockage that lasted over one year, the Rivers State government has said such would no longer be tolerated.

Kula community is demanding for the oil field to be handed over to their preferred indigenous oil investor but the FG re-awarded the oil mining licence to Shell in December, 2019.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has stated that the State Government would not tolerate the shutting down of oil production facilities of operating companies in the state.

Governor Wike said under no circumstances should communities take laws into their hands by preventing oil production companies from working.

Speaking during a meeting with

chairmen of Cluster Development Boards in Asari-Toru, Akuku-Toru and Degema Local Government Areas with oil companies and security agencies at the Government House Port Harcourt, Wike directed the immediate revival of the State Steering Committee on Cluster Development Boards.

He said: “I will not support any company not to carry out their corporate social responsibilities to their host communities.

“However, communities must not take laws into their hands. They must not stop production by the operating companies. Such actions will negatively affect the finances of the Federal Government, the state and the local government areas”.

He said in cases where companies fail to act within the expectations of the communities, the State Government will mediate through the Steering Committee on Cluster Development Boards. “It is important that we do not allow crisis to occur in the communi-

…Summons Kula chiefs and elders

ties. The Aeroton rig in one community was seized. That rig should be allowed to work. I called this meeting because of the concerns raised by the operating companies in the area”, he said.

Governor Wike said that the Steering Committee on Cluster Development Boards will have the Permanent Secretary, Community Development,

Security Agencies, Community Development Clusters and oil companies as members. He said the committee will meet at regular intervals to address ensuing challenges, in order to forestall the escalation of conflicts.

He regretted that most problems in the Niger Delta are caused by oil companies who patronise and engage with

Governor Nyesom Wike during a meeting with chairmen of Cluster Development Boards in Asari-Toru, Akuku-Toru and Degema local government areas with Oil Companies and Security Agencies at the Government House Port Harcourt.

criminal elements to the disadvantage of the host communities.

In a remark, former Commissioner of Environment, Samuel Horsfall, said that the oil operating companies know the right thing to do, but they will never take the right steps.

He said that the oil companies even refuse to recognise local council chairmen whe he said were the direct links to the respective communities.

An official of one of the Cluster Development Board, Mr Charles Sekibo, denied seizing the rig of one of the oil companies. He said that his community has always provided the needed support for the company to engage in production.

The Managing Director of Aeroton, Ebiaho Emafo, said that nobody has the right to stop the production of oil companies.

He said that the company has spent about N3Bn on community development, saying that the company is struggling to make ends meet.

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Sunday 16 June 2019

Politics A Reporter’s diary of 9th Senate inauguration OWEDE AGBAJILEKE, Abuja

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s a parliamentary reporter at the national level, one of the major events one looks forward to is the inauguration of a new legislature. In Nigeria, it is a quadrennial session where the Clerk to the National Assembly literally climbs down from his exalted office to superintend over the inaugural sessions in both legislative chambers of the National Assembly.

Like a judge in a law court or headmaster, he wields so much power that he can order a recalcitrant senator-elect or member-elect to be removed from the chamber before he/ she takes the oath of office.

The epoch-making event offers parliamentary reporters a front row seat to witness the live transformation of senators and members-elect to distinguished senators/ honourable members as the case may be.

Having covered the inauguration of the Eighth Senate in 2015 and observed previous sessions as a political reporter, I can say with all certainty that this year’s exercise is the most expensive in the nation’s political history.

In the build up to the D-Day, contenders adopted unconventional means in soliciting votes from their colleagues.

Unlike previous contests where aspirants lobbied majorly lawmakers or the leadership of their political parties to zone the seats of Presiding Officers to their area, campaign for leadership seats in the National Assembly took the form of a general election.

For instance, besides sponsored protests, some streets of the nation’s capital were replete with campaign posters and banners to drum up support for aspirants, even as contenders visited headquarters of media organisations in Abuja and Lagos.

In the Senate, the two main contenders: Ahmad Lawan and Ali Ndume opened Facebook pages to create more awareness, just as they held several live press conferences on national televisions and placed advertisements in both print and online media platforms.

Having spent eleven excruciating hours to get accreditation tag for the event in the weekend leading up to the inauguration, I arrived the National Assembly Complex quite early for the exercise. This was to avoid a repeat of 2015 where I was among the many journalists initially locked out by overzealous security men acting on ‘orders from above’.

We would later discover that they were trying to stop the 2015 inauguration from holding as PDP lawmakers-elect then had arrived early, while their APC colleagues were at the International Conference Centre (ICC) for an APC meeting.

On the day of inauguration of the Ninth Senate, I had a bag full of plantain chips. Experience had taught me that covering such an energy sapping event without adequate meal is a recipe for disaster. Also, I really don’t fancy the idea of taking home-made meals to work place and the inauguration was no exception. With the help of a colleague in The Guardian, Azimazi Momoh-Jimoh, who picked me up at my junction, we drove to Iya Ife - a local eatery at the National Assembly Complex - where I helped myself to a hot bowl of beans and ‘assorted’ as early as

Ahmed Lawan sworn in as Senate President

7:45am. This would later become a life-saver as it was the only meal I ate for that day, while the snacks became handy as lunch for my colleagues and me.

Knowing full well that the event was aired live on national televisions, I was duty bound to break stories as they happened on the floor of the hallowed chamber. And with instructions from my Bureau Chief, Onyinye Nwachukwu, that nothing must go wrong, I couldn’t have disappointed her.

However, I was faced with the usual challenge of security operatives who jam telecommunications networks during plenary.

It appeared the security guards acquired a sophisticated jamming device because unlike in the past where one would take a few steps out of the Senate Press Centre and received network, that of the inauguration was particularly different. We walked between 200 to 300 meters from the Media Centre searching for network to send breaking stories. I lost count of the number of times I shuttled between the centre and coming out to search for network. Although it took two days for me to recover from the stress of the event, it was worth the stress as I was glad to be part of the epoch-making exercise.

Sani-Omolori knew he was going against the anointed candidates of President Muhammadu Buhari and the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) for using the 2015 Rulebook, nevertheless he courageously decided to maintain the independence of the Legislature. Kudos to him.

Imagine if the Clerk had succumbed to pressure and used the 2011 Senate Standing Order for the election and the adopted candidates, Lawan and Gbaja won with the same margin when the open secret ballot was used. The news making the rounds would have been that lawmakers-elect were coerced into voting for them and this would have caused a legitimacy challenge.

I am still yet to understand why pro-Lawan senators were scared of secret voting even when it was obvious to most pundits that their candidate would win overwhelmingly.

As noted by a senior colleague, “The ProLawan group did not want to leave any stone unturned.” He added: “Being politicians they knew how tricky they can be. They realised that a politician could endorse you at dawn and be with the enemy camp at dusk”.

However, there are two low points at the event. The first was when the immediate past

High and low points For me, the high point of the inauguration was when the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori stood firm and insisted on using the contentious 2015 Senate Rulebook, which favoured open secret ballot.

Here was a man under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and his international passport seized on issues partly related to the conduct of the election. Despite the threat of bloodshed by an APC senator-elect if the 2011 Rulebook which prescribed open balloting was not used, he insisted on the 2015 Senate Standing Orders, ignoring protests by APC lawmakers.

The CNA also said he was yet to be served any court order, in response to protests by APC lawmakers-elect that he (Omolori) would be charged for contempt of court.

Being politicians they knew how tricky they can be.

They realised that a politician could endorse you at dawn and be with the enemy camp at dusk

Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu accepted the poisoned chalice of his nomination for the position of DSP. Having served as Nigeria’s longest serving Presiding Officer for 12 years, Ekweremadu’s ambition clouded his sense of judgment as the constitutional lawyer failed to read the handwriting on the wall. Truth is: most of his colleagues in the PDP Senate Caucus no longer feel at ease with him. They view him not only as a usurper but a self-serving politician.

The Ikeoha of Igbo land was thrashed, walloped, pounced, humiliated by a controversial lawmaker and alleged mace snatcher, Ovie Omo-Agege. Lawmakers rather opted for Omo-Agege who allegedly desecrated the chamber than Ekweremadu who to them had become the ‘Mugabe’ of the National Assembly.

This brings me to my second lowest point. Given the fact that political leaders are ordinarily expected to be role models to all, especially the younger generation, I am yet to come to terms with the parameters with which the decision was taken by the governing APC that chants the mantra of change, integrity and incorruptibility tolerate a mace thief as Deputy President of the Senate.

Although in local parlance, it is believed that when you leave the pot with a thief, the meat is safe. But in a political excursion such as ours, should it be one by which the nation will be viewed from now and far into the future of the nation’s political development?

This is one action no political scientist can explain. Omo-Agege’s emergence as Deputy President of the Senate will remain a bitter pill on the tongue of all true democrats and believers in the sanctity of the Legislature and the need to ensure that it is not brazenly assaulted in the manner that this ‘mace thief’ once did.

Few hours later, photograph surfaced of the newly-elected Deputy President of the Senate kneeling down before President Muhammadu Buhari. Could this be a subtle evidence of the subjugation of the Ninth Assembly by the Executive? Time will tell.

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Politics Nigeria’s democracy at 20: The gains and the pains James Kwen, Abuja

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eyond the fanfare of the June 12 Democracy Day, marking the 20th democratic governance in Nigeria, experts have continued to count the gains and pains the globally accepted best form of government has brought to Nigeria.

Though Democracy Day has always been celebrated on May 29 since 1999 when the present democratic dispensation was birthed, the 20th anniversary was held on June 12 following the declaration and enactment of a law

by President Muhammadu Buhari to honour the late Moshood Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 annulled Presidential election.

Since 1999, Nigeria has to a large extent experienced some sorts of democratic principles such as representative government in which the people vote for their leaders, rule of law where the constitution is supreme, exercise of fundamental human rights including the freedom of association and freedom of speech.

On the other hand, Nigeria has also within this period witnessed some social maladies that were not prevalent during the military rule such as general insecurity- terrorism, killings, kidnapping, ethno-religious conflicts, arson, anarchy, cultism, flippant corruption, indiscipline, among others.

The rising insecurity for instance has limited productive deployment of citizens’ capacities for development purposes.

There has been deliberate and unpardonable failure to build institutional and leadership capacities, the same way there is no resultoriented effort to address the socio-economic cum political variables that keep the country in constant retrogression in the last 20 years.

According to experts, the 20 years of democratic governance in Nigeria have been mixture of sweetness and bitterness, hence, there are both gains and pains brought by the system.

Idayat Hassan, director, Centre for Democracy and Development identified the gains of the 20 years of democracy in Nigeria to include; increased number of political parties, improvement in the electoral process, separation of powers among the three arms of government, human rights, infrastructural development, youth empowerment schemes and so on.

Hassan, however, counted ethnicsation of politics, ethno-Religious conflicts, corruption, poverty, insecurity, shrinking democratic space, among others as the pains of democratic rule in Nigeria in the last 20 years.

She stated that, “this year, 2019, marks the twentieth anniversary of Nigeria’s return to civilian rule and the country longest uninterrupted run on democracy since independence.

This is a milestone for Nigeria, considering her over 58 years of independence has only experienced democracy between 1960-1966, 1979-1983 and proudly now 1999-2019.

“Between 1999-2019, the country has conducted six consecutive elections with some forms of improvement in election administration. The twenty years have witnessed an increase in the numbers of political parties, a rise of startups and civic techs, youth demography, opening civic space, some forms of infrastructure development, separation of powers and human rights.

“However, the twenty years have not been without its challenges; they include the ethnicisation of politics, Ethno-Religious conflicts, corruption, poverty, insecurity, shrinking democratic space, booming population, amongst others.”

To Christian Okeke, lecturer in the Department of Political Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, the first gain is that democracy remained uninterrupted in the last 20 years and Nigeria could not be categorised as a failed state.

Okeke on the other hand observed the last 20 years of democratic governance in Nigeria has witnessed woeful failure to meet the con-

stitutional stipulation that security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government, leading to be insecurity, poverty, suppression and general state of sabotage.

According to the political Scientist, “as Nigeria’s democracy turned 20 in its unbroken experience, perhaps it is trite to say ‘hurray’. This is partly because 20 years is significant enough and in the case of humans, a 20-year old person is no longer a teenager. However, the occasion calls for deep national introspection. To me, what could serve as gains are in two folds. The first is the uninterrupted component.

“Many will agree that the fact that the country’s democracy has remained unbroken since 1999 is a blessing. It is unarguably a clear departure from previous experiences when military interventions truncated the democratic journey. Beside that fact, the second gain is the reality that within the period under review and under our democratic watch, Nigeria is not yet a failed state.

“Be that as it may, I believe that our joy should not be that the men in ‘agbada’ have effectively replaced men on ‘khaki’ in our national dialectical existentialism. This is premised on the fact that the 20 years in question organically brought pains and woes in alarming proportion.

“Sadly, when a deep thought is given to the entire democratic experience from 1999, a salient question that comes to mind is, what exactly is the raison d’être for our Statehood?

Put insecurity what purpose does our democracy serve?

“For 20 years, Nigeria witnessed dominant elites on rampage. There was overbearance of demagogues within the political space. We saw repression and eventual conquest of a malleable populace; we saw governments that were incapable of generating wealth for the people and providing enabling environment for creative minds to prosper.

“A salient question to ask is how much democratisation did we achieve? We need to answer this by examining issues around sovereignty of the people, equality before the law, guarantee of basic rights, protection of minorities, due process, accountability of rulers and the level of citizens’ faith and participation in the democracy within the period under review.

“Obviously, the saddest story is that looking back into the last 20 years, we see that Nigeria perfectly fulfilled most of the identified metrics of state decay. The Foreign Policy magazine in its Failed State Index (FSI) ranking in 2008 placed Nigeria as 15 out of the 20 most vulnerable countries surveyed. In 2010, the country featured again as 14th while it was 16th in 2013.

“In fact, as we ‘celebrate’ unbroken democracy in the country, there is serious concern that Nigeria’s democracy is yet to start to work for her people. And except there is a re-engineering of our democracy, except patriotism supersedes parochial interests, benefits of democracy will continue to elude the people, and sadly so”.

Also Yusuf Shamsudeen Msudeen, programme manager, Centre for Democracy and Development noted that Nigeria’s 20 years of democratic governance present gains as evident in improved conduct of elections, inclusion of marginalized groups, and pains as seen in the outright disregard for court orders, insecurity and corruption.

“Of course, we have recorded some gains but not without challenges. Our elections have improved compared to the past, and the fact that campaigns for inclusion of marginalised groups have gained momentum in recent time is a clear indication that civic space is gradually widening.

“However, we cannot say we live in a democratic regime when court orders are not respected. Rule of law is not an optional principle of democracy. Laws should not be applied unjustly and in a bias manner. We need to unlearn behaviours that limit press freedom and human rights, and rise against corruption and poverty”.

Intrigues, horse trading define emergence of 7th Akwa Ibom Assembly speaker

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ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo

he election of Aniekan Bassey as the 7th speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly was defined by high level of intrigues and horse trading, deftly deployed to achieve a political goal.

At the end of the exercise, the mission of having Bassey, a two-term lawmaker from Uruan State Constituency elected by the 25 member-assembly as the new speaker, was achieved.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which is the dominant party in Akwa Ibom, having won all the seats in last year’s general election, played the deciding factor in the exercise.

As part of the strategy, a hurriedly convened meeting was held few hours before the election of the speaker, shattering the ambition of those who had nursed such.

It was at the meeting that Bassey was said to have been endorsed by the kingmakers.

By being directly involved in the behindthe-scene negotiations, the party did not present any other candidate for the position.

The party, according to its internal democracy principle had zoned the position of the speaker to Uyo federal constituency in Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district.

This should best be understood against the backdrop of the fact that other key political positions in the state are equally zoned to other federal constituencies.

For instance, in the distribution of political offices in the state, the governorship position currently occupied by Governor Udom Emmanuel is zoned to Eket federal constituency in Akwa Ibom south senatorial district while the deputy governor, Moses Ekpo is from Abak federal constituency in Akwa Ibom North East senatorial district.

The decision of the party not to present any other candidate from the Uyo federal constituency in spite of the availability of other lawmakers from the area who were considered qualified too appeared to have been part of the game plan.

There are four state constituencies in Uyo federal constituency in which the four lawmakers who are representatives of the area were legible to take a shot at the converted position.

According to party sources, since the recently appointed Head of the Civil Service, Effiong Essien and the immediate past commissioner of finance, Linus Nkan who may likely be recalled are from Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, one of the four council areas in Uyo federal constituency, the local government area was no more in the race as it were, to produce the speaker of the 7th assembly.

Similarly, while the other state constituencies including Uyo, Nsit Atai and Uruan were top contenders for the speakership position but the odds seemed to have favoured Uruan state constituency more than others.

For instance, its location in the northern flank of the state where the terrain is rough and tough makes it difficult for the local government area to enjoy quality physical infrastructure as other parts of the state, though this is being addressed by the present administration.

Again, for whatever reason, the local government area has not been fortunate enough to have top ranking political office

Aniekan Bassey

holders apart from few commissioners and most significantly it has yet to produce a member of the National Assembly since the return to civil rule in 1999.

This consideration, according to sources, may have been the decider for the council area when it mattered most in the election of the 7th speaker of the state assembly.

Perhaps, what may have stood in favour of Aniekan Bassey, the lawmaker from Uruan state constituency who was eventually elected speaker was the politics of the next general election in 2023 where the governorship post is expected to go Akwa Ibom North West district.

It is believed that the governor would be happy to produce his successor to crown his political career with success and may be interested in working with the head of the legislative assembly who would most likely buy into his vision.

But many had thought that the election of the speaker would be thrown open to all the legislators from the four state constituencies in line with the dictates of open governance and electoral practices, but it was not to be.

Though the representative from Ibesikpo Asutan, Aniekan Uko was highly favoured to clinch the position having served as Speaker briefly before his election was nullified by the election petition tribunal in 2015, his party did not consider him worthy any longer for the office of the speaker.

Such were the intrigues that were thrown up during the just concluded election of the number three most important political personality in Akwa Ibom State.

Again with the defection of Godswill Akpabio, former Senate minority leader from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last August, it was expected that the Governor would fully assume the control of the party structures from the ward to the state level.

And if the election of the 7th speaker of the state was an indication that the governor is in a position to decide who gets what in the state, many observers say this might have been achieved effortlessly.

Bassey’s candidature was not without opposition as many of his critics say he was not into political activism, not visible enough in the political horizon and in recent times did not make significant contributions while serving in the state assembly by way of motions and sponsorship of bills.

His admirers however, believe that as an emerging political leader, he would make the difference in ensuring a cordial working relationship between the legislative and executive arms of government.

Born in 1978, he holds a first degree in Chemistry from the University of Uyo and a Master’s degree in Sociology from the same university.

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Sunday 16 June 2019

Politics If there is something more dangerous than Boko Haram, it is social media - Abel Diah Abel Peter Diah is the speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly for the third consecutive time. In this interview with some journalists in Jalingo, shortly after the inauguration of the 9th Assembly, the vice chairman Nigeria state Houses of Assembly Speakers’ Conference spoke on the development of his constituency, Mbamnga, and the insecurity that has engulfed the state. NATHANIEL GBAORON brings the excerpts: How were you able to sustain the assembly within a long period as a speaker without rancour or hitches? will first of all appreciate you, the members of the press; you are part of the magic in Taraba State because whatever you report here is a balanced reportage; you have given the House of Assembly fair hearing. Each time you want to report about the state assembly you must confirm from the authorities before publication. Now, coming back to the assembly, if you really want to succeed as a presiding officer, the first thing you must know is that you are leading people of your equal, you’re not their boss. When you know this you won’t have problem with them. But when you want to boss them that is where you will have problems. You count it a privilege when people that are elected along side with you say come and lead us; I think it is a very great honour. To me, I think the secret is me leading with the consciousness that we are all equal; we represent our various constituencies and to also know that Taraba State is bigger than all of us. I tried my best to operate an open door policy, have a listening ear to all my colleagues, relating very well with them even at official capacity and personal level above all, I am always there for my colleagues; that’s the most important thing.

we invite you.

I

You were appointed a member of the presidential committee on the reforms of the legislature; can you tell us what the committee is all about?

Well, the committee has five terms of reference. One is to monitor the implementation of the fourth alteration. We have done our retreat and very soon we will submit the report to Mr. President, that is when I will speak about the committee; but for now, our report is yet to be unveiled, but we have a very good report to present to Mr. President.

What are the terms of reference?

Like I said, the most important among all of them is to monitor the implementation of the fourth alteration that is the first line charge; also, to come out with a model that the entire country will adopt when it comes to the implementation of the fourth alteration. It is not as if they are separating the government, no!

There is still going to be one government with one head. The governor is still the head just that the mode of operation is going to be different.

The Executive in Taraba has completely neglected sporting activities in the state; what is the Taraba State House of Assembly doing about this?

No; I will not indict the executive to say they are doing nothing about sports. I won’t be party to that. It can only come to my knowledge officially that they’re

cooperation from the press that Taraba is our own. To my colleagues, I will not betray the confidence reposed in me.

What is the most challenging moment of the Assembly?

The most challenging moment of our responsibility here is insecurity. When we had insecurity in Taraba State was the challenging moment of the 8th Assembly because people made very provocative comments about your personality and if you want to join them in the media you tear the state apart. As a leader, you take responsibility and keep quiet. Is quite very painful when people are painting lies which are meant to dent your image but you know, ‘a clear conscience fears no accusation’. There is always a time of reckoning and he who has that must prove so for the fact that you go to the media and say what you want to say, sometime we leave you to say what you want. But the most challenging time for me was the period we went through and we are still into it. The security challenge we went through in this state. I want to use this moment to commend our security agencies; they are doing a very wonderful job and these two days I think we can sleep. Before now, none of us could off our phones; you dared not because you wouldn’t know who you would help next; somebody would just call and say they are about to pick or kidnap the person. Thank God the Army hierarchy was all here recently based on the briefing we had; they have done a very wonderful job and we are very grateful. I think that is the most challenging moment I had.

What are your major challenges in the last dispensation and how will you rate the media performance in the state?

I will start from the last question, I think the media in Taraba State are doing very well; majority of them are not from Taraba State but they love Taraba because each time they want to report about Taraba State they try to be very objective and that has sustained not only this government but all other governments before now. Because of your objectivity which my prayer is that you uphold that because without the press the society is in darkness; each time you supply the society with wrong information that is what they go with, though I know you’re in serious trouble because the social media has taken away your job; we have journalists all over the state, what they will even write today will be different from what the real journalists will write but that is something we all have to battle with, because I have told people that if there is something we have that is more dangerous, it is the social media; it is worst than Boko Haram because of fake news. What they will tell you about the society and individual is terrible. As far as am concerned, I can only deal with the professionals, people that are licensed to do that and that’s why anytime we have an occasion like this,

This time around, what are you going to do to change the thinking by some people that the primary responsibility of the state assembly members was to embark on construction of schools, sinking of boreholes, etc and not just to make laws for the state?

In view of the fact that our primary responsibility is to make laws; you cannot go to a school and see a dilapidated primary school for example and not willing to sacrifice. Our democracy is not yet mature to that level. We have said it time without number that ‘look our responsibility is to make laws’, but you know it requires a lot of talking which we have been doing. But my own constituency like I have said, they know the representation I am giving them and the representation is beyond the roads, hospitals, water, etc, but they know that speaking as somebody who is from that constituency, I am doing very well. For your information, the last election I only went to campaign in Gembu and Ngureje constituencies, I didn’t go to campaign in my own constituency Mbamnga, they delivered me. Is a bond that has been there for long. Am sure if your people see your total commitment, obviously they will vote for you and I want to encourage other constituencies too to emulate same because having somebody that is experienced will help you a lot.

Abel Diah

doing nothing about it but for now, the committee saddled with that responsibility has not reported to me that the Taraba State government or the executive arm is doing nothing about it.

There were outpour of praises both from the executive and your colleagues when you were returned as speaker; how do you feel?

Well, I feel humbled by their kind comments. My primary assignment is my constituency. If you go to my constituency now, to tell you that I was not working because I wanted votes, after the election work commenced; they are working seriously on the roads in Mbamnga and we are doing a lot of things there in my constituency; that’s my primary constituency. They pass a vote of confidence in me right from my constituency. So, coming to my reelection as speaker, I think I feel humbled that my colleagues after four years of my speakership made very kind comments about me. I know the assemblies where colleagues will use even the Mace to hit themselves in a session. There are some presiding officers that within two weeks to the end of the legislative tenure, they were removed by their colleagues. But I am highly honoured and I think it is a trust I should not betray. I hold their words with high regard and from my own side. As they have re-elected me, I will give them the best leadership I know I can exhibit. For now, I want to solicit

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Feature

Niger Delta requires $500m to remediate over 3,000 oil spill damage – Study

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GODWIN EGBA

t is estimated that more than 3,000 oil spillages have so far occurred in the Niger Delta, leaving a legacy of hundreds of contaminated sites such as farm lands, streams, brooks and underground water that would cost at least over $500million to remediate.

The disclosure was the highpoint of the works of Isaac Asume Osuoka, director of Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action) at a conference, ‘Petroleum and Communities in the Niger Delta: Setting the Policy Agenda Following Two Decades of Civil Rule’ held at the Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt in Rivers State, which x-rayed the challenging times for residents of the Niger Delta area.

It is said that an environment blessed with goldmine but with death seal is regarded as a curse to its inhabitants. This seems to be the fate of the oil-rich Niger Delta geographical landmass and its natural inhabitants.

The oil-rich region of Nigeria is said to have an estimated population of 30 million in an ecologically sensitive area of 112,110 square kilometers. It is one of the most densely populated regions of the world.

Unfortunately, the oil pollution burden has increased in the entire region where about 5,300 oil wells with 257 flow stations and about 700km of pipelines that often leak or burst due to combination of operational flaws, excessive service lives and vandalism/ sabotage. Those sympathetic with oil interest say the number one cause is sabotage.

“The situation may have got worse in the build-up to and aftermath of the 2019 general election. It would seem that 20 years after the return of civilian rule in Nigeria, we are experiencing worsening human security conditions in this resource-rich region”, Osuaka noted.

The former president of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) wondered, “When a country or state, irrespective of the political system in operation, fails to protect the rights, livelihoods and security of its citizens, then we have crisis. What do we do to address the crises that confront us today as a country and in the sites of petroleum extraction in the Niger Delta region in particular?”

Osuoka noted that 20 years ago, as Nigeria was transiting from military dictatorship to civilian rule, the most pressing challenge for the new federal administration was the ecological, human and livelihood crises in the oil-bearing Niger Delta. He said members of communities in the Niger Delta have borne the

negative impacts of petroleum extraction.

According to him, the oil companies operating in the area have historically operated most recklessly, pointing out that they had continued to spill more crude oil into the natural environment and flared more associated gas here than in any part of the world, resulting in the destruction and degradation of fishing and farming livelihoods and the increase in diseases and deaths.

He also pointed out that the 1990s witnessed the escalation of conflicts between the Nigerian state and petroleum-bearing communities. The oil companies, working with the military regimes at the time, waged a campaign of repression against the community victims of pollution. “In our midst today are representatives of the Umuechem community who organised a peaceful protest against the pollution of their environment and destruction of their livelihoods by Shell.

“The community members demanded alternative means of livelihoods and social amenities such as better healthcare. Shell and the Nigerian government responded by sending the Mobile Police to burn down the entire community and kill everyone that they could find in the community”, he lamented.

He further alleged that the soldiers spared not even domestic animals in the community. The only survivors of the Umuechem massacre are people that managed to escape into the bushes, he claimed. “Although a government enquiry made recommendations for compensation for the survivors, neither the government nor Shell made any restitution. Nobody was charged for the crime, and no one has apologised to the

community.

Following the alleged Umuechem massacre, the government oil company’s repression of peaceful community resistance also continued in Ogoniland where many community members were killed, including the leaders of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP). “All over the Niger Delta region, communities have suffered different forms of human rights abuses and killings because of petroleum. In some cases, such as Rumuekpe in Rivers State, entire towns have been destroyed due to conflicts engineered by oil companies that paid thugs within the community as the companies tried to prevent the people from uniting to demand compensation for pollution and bother deprivations.”

He said that as the theme of their conference suggested, it was essential to review the impact of the democratic transition on the environmental, human rights and development crisis in the Niger Delta region.

He noted that “Following the general election of 1999 (20 years ago), community members and others expected robust changes in government and companies’ policies and practices to protect the environment, health, livelihoods and other human rights. However, we find that old problems have persisted while new challenges have emerged. An example is in the form of artisanal crude oil refineries, which have provided employment for some youths while exacerbating pollution and insecurity in the region”.

He went on: “We also note that the Federal Government, since 1999, has made some policy and legislative changes and created new institutions such as the Niger

Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, and the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).

We need to examine the impacts of these institutions and programmes.”

Meanwhile, in 2011, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released a report of its environmental assessment of Ogoniland. (This was however at the request of the FG and the Shell). “This report, which confirmed widespread contamination of Ogoniland, made recommendations for immediate environmental and social remediation. The community members hoped that the findings would catalyse fast-tracked action towards ameliorating the problems. However, government response in Ogoniland has been slow and tardy. Elsewhere, there is little or no effort by the federal government to address increasing pollution. Recently, the Bayelsa State Government launched an independent commission to examine the impact of oil spills in the state. What is not clear is what role that state governments could play to address an issue under federal jurisdiction.”

What is clear, however, he went on, is that no tier of government — federal, state and local — has been able to apply all its petroleum revenues accountably in meeting the development needs of the area. There is a need to examine what communities and civic organisations should be doing to encourage better accountability in government — beyond participation in voting during elections.

Regrettably, there is still no legislation that bans gas flaring and protects residents even when communities do not have

access to electricity which could be generated from flared gas.

The reality of continuing gas flaring underscores the failure of democratic institutions to adequately address the environmental challenges faced by communities in the Niger Delta.

The FG, since 2017, signed an international memorandum on gas flare out and has created a special purpose vehicle to drive it in Nigeria through a new gas policy.

“The Senate, according to Osuoka in particular, aborted attempts to pass legislation against gas flaring. Also, efforts to pass the Petroleum Industries Bill (PIB) have failed since 2008 in part due to contentions over rights of communities in sites of extraction. Later, the Petroleum Industries Governance Bill (PIGB), which contains many problematic provisions, was passed by the National Assembly but rejected by President Muhammadu Buhari. Our organisation called on the President to reject the PIGB, which contains many provisions that would undermine environmental regulations and increase corruption in the petroleum sector.

“Other bills (that were part of the original PIB) that are still pending before the National Assembly include the Petroleum Host and Impacted Communities Bill (PHICDB), Petroleum Industry Administration Bill (PIAB) and the Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill (PIFB). Part of what we will be doing today is to examine those proposed legislation, particularly from the point of view of the communities, and make recommendations”, he added.

He earlier made reference to Umuechem, which like numerous other communities in the Niger Delta demands justice. He said; “With the historical and continuing failings of the executive and legislative arms of government, oil-bearing communities continue to seek justice through the judiciary with limited results.

Communities do not always have the resources for prolonged litigations in Nigeria while a few, often with the support of international NGOs, have attempted international litigations in the home countries of foreign oil companies, with varied results.

“Recently, a court in the Netherlands ruled that it had jurisdiction to determine the complicity of Royal Dutch Shell in the Nigerian government’s murder of the Ogoni nine leaders of the MOSOP who were campaigning against widespread environmental pollution, and for community self-determination. That ruling opens up possibilities for other victims of pollution and human rights violations.”

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Sunday 16 June 2019

Feature

How DBN intervention is bridging access and financing needs of small enterprises

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SEYI JOHN SALAU or small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the Nigerian ecosystem, access to cheap fund remains a challenge for many start-ups and entrepreneurs shriving to stay afloat in business and be sustainable.

Although, many will argue that entrepreneurs and start-ups most make concerted efforts at turning their ideas into a bankable business plan to attract more investment and capital to the business. However, having a bankable business plan is not usually the problem with most Nigerian entrepreneurs and startups; rather it is access to cheap loan that is capable of growing the business.

Chinyere Udensi is a graduate of Biochemistry from one of the federal universities in the south-east region of the country. On completion of her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) assignment in 2010, she started producing smoothies, which are in high demand in Lagos where she resides, being a major part of every occasion in the area.

Sincethisventurewasmicro-scaled, it kept Chinyere’s head above the water, nothing more.

ThenNAFDACcamerequesting she gets certification. She sought for funds from banks to upgrade her production up to the standard the agency stipulates for food and beverage production, purchase of production equipment and raw materials for production. Her accounts books did not qualify to get loans

from the banks. So, she is forced to rest the smoothies production and go into the labour market.

Unlike Chinyere, Kayode Ogunmola, a pig farmer in Ogun State, was ‘lucky’ to get a loan from one of the microfinance banks in his area which he ploughed into his farm.

The loan was tenured for two years and came at almost 40 percent interest rate. Kayode had thought that he could pay back the loan from the proceeds of the sale of his piglets when they grow.

At the end of the tenure of the loan, Kayode was unable to liquidate the loan and the bank secured a court judgment and sold off the animals and the land which he had used as collateral for the loan.

Chinyere and Kayode are clear examples of the Nigerian micro, small and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) sector that Godwin Emefiele, the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), recently put its existing financing gap at $158 billion (N48 trillion). Of all the challenges facing the MSMEs in the country, access to finance was identified as the biggest and trickiest.

The commercial banks seem to have a prototype pigeonhole they try to fit all loan requests and those requests that do not fit into this pigeonhole are turned down. More often than not, the MSMEs hardly fit into these pigeonholes and this accounts for the low success rates they record in their quests to get financing from the banks.

If it is not unavailability of funds to be disbursed, it is lack of adequate collaterals or lack of acceptable ac-

Tony Okpanachi

counting documentation to boost the confidence of these banks to advance the loans. For those banks that are willing to disburse, they put their interest rates up there in the sky and/or make the tenure of the loan very short, a trend that actually makes repayment almost impossible for the entrepreneurs.

This is the reason you hardly hear small scale entrepreneurs tell of good business relationships with their banks. Most of them either choose to remain small-scale or fold up their businesses instead of taking bank loans to grow their businesses.

The story is gradually changing today with the operations of the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN). The DBN was established by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2017, in association with some international development

partners including the World Bank, the African Development Bank (AfDB), KfW Development Bank, French Agency for Development (AFD), European Investment Bank (EIB), purposefully to address major financing challenges faced by the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria.

The DBN works through the Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs), eligible retail intermediaries such as commercial banks, microfinance banks, existing retail DFIs and leasing companies, to make access to funds easy for the infrastructural development as well as day-to-day running costs for the MSMEs on very friendly terms.

The DBNloanrepaymenttenure is flexible and can be up to 10 years with a moratorium period of up to 18 months. Also, the interest rates are on a market-conforming and fully financially sustainable basis.

DBN’s intervention in the area of access to financing for the MSMEs is three-fold. It provides wholesale funding to the PFIs for on-lending to MSMEs. Apart from the provision of funds to the MSMEs, the Development Bank of Nigeria also provides partial credit guarantees for these retail institutions to encourage them to lend to MSMEs. Bolanle Austen-Peters, the founder and chief executive officer of Terrakulture and keynote speaker at the 15th annual lecture of Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), with the theme Balance for Better: ‘Who said so? Changing the status

quo’ held in Lagos, said funding is the biggest challenge facing women in business in Nigeria.

According to Austen-Peters, many women settle for small businesses instead of pursuing big ventures because of the tough route to access funding.

“Women are more averse to borrowing; we are more careful and that poses a challenge in some cases because men go for the bigger pile. So, a lot of women end up doing petty businesses as opposed to big businesses. I think we need to break out of our shell. I think we are fearful by nature and we need to overcome that.

“It is tough to raise funds but institutions like the Bank of Industry (BoI) are supportive and I advocate that women approach the likes of the BoI and other development institutions like DBN for funding.

Women should be bolder,” said Austen-Peters.

As true as her fears might be about financing for some businesses in Nigeria, it is pertinent to note that DBN do not only provide access to loan, it also builds the capacities of the PFIs to enhance their ability and willingness to lend to the MSME subsector.

This capacity building comes in form of technical assistance (knowhow), intelligence and personnel to ensure the profitability and sustainability of the scheme. Also, the bank assists end-borrowers so they could increase their profitability and thus increase their ability to pay back the loans in due time.

As China focuses on Africa cooperation, rural communities benefits from satellite TV

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n consonance with the Vision 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted at an epoch-making UN summit in 2016, the Chinese government as part of its international relations agenda for Africa set in motion the China-Africa Cooperation Project.

The focal point of China’s new efforts in this international relations direction with Africa was to help bridge the gap between the rich and the poor, and fight poverty to a standstill in the next 15 years by creating employment opportunities and unmitigated access to the digital TV experience for African rural dwellers while high level of efficiency is targeted in the scheme.

However, when Xi Jinping, the Chinese President announced on December 4, 2015, at the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) that China would implement satellite television programs for 10 thousand African villages and Nigeria would get 1000 of the allocation, Ishagira community never knew it was going to benefit from the largesse not to talk about a big screen television that will improve the lives of its dwellers.

FOCAC is a part of China-Africa cooperation programs that gives access to Satellite TV for 10,000 African Villages, which is aimed at enabling African families in rural areas to have access to digital signal

with high-quality images and rich TV programs.

With more satellite televisions and communal viewing centers springing up in rural Nigeria, soonest there will be more smiles on the faces of villagers in the beneficiary communities accounting for more and better economic livelihood for rural dwellers.

On his part, the Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian, reaffirmed the commitment of China to implementing the outcome of the FOCAC, saying China would work closely with Nigeria to ensure people’s access to information through television and satellite technology.

As more Nigerian villages continue to benefit from the 10,000 African Villages Project, which is an initiative of the Chinese Government anchored by StarTimes to provide digital TV access to rural communities across Africa, some residents of a recently benefiting community discussed the socioeconomic impact of the project on their lives while appealing to the cooperation to extend the project to more rural communities.

Opeifa Samuel, a retiree and one of the community leaders in Ishagira, one of the surrounding villages in Ojo Local government area of Lagos, which was one of the communities recently visited

by Startimes for the 10, 000 African Villages Project initiatives. Opeifa

on behave of other villagers speaks about the mood of the dwellers in Ishagira community the day the Chinese government brought Startimes Digital TV to the villagers.

“It was a red letter day for us in Ishagira village, we had a mighty celebration. We celebrated and danced. We are going to fix the date of our celebration day and we look forward to invite StarTimes to come and share in our joy. By then, our Baale will be on holiday so we will celebrate what Startimes has done for us,” said Opeifa, in stating the mood of the dwellers.

According to him, the villagers do gather information by listening to their transistor radios and on rare occasion watch analog TV whenever there is power supply, while some privileged one’s amongst the villagers with decoder and generator in their homes have unlimited access to news and information.

However, when StarTimes informed the community that they were bringing the digital TV to Ishagira community, they were very joyous. Opeifa said the community thought Startimes would pass through the Local government in delivering the Digital TV to the dwellers but StarTimes boycotted the Local government and brought it directly to community. “… If they had taken it to the Local government, we wouldn’t have been benefiting from StarTimes digital space

TV today. We thank StarTimes for fulfilling their promise and for bringing us close to the government and the global world,” Opeifa stated.

The Chinese Government kicked off with the launch of a pilot satellite TV project held in Hulumi village in the suburbs of Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, on Thursday 10 August, 2017. This project is being implemented with a view to open a window for African rural families to learn from the outside world.

Under the FOCAC 10,000 African Villages initiative, the Chinese government is prepared to support each village with two StarTimes Projector TVs, one 32-inch Digital TV set and 20 DTH decoders and satellite dishes. Projector TVs and Digital TV set will be equipped with solar power systems and DTH access units.

The project is to promote the upgrade of TV industry in Africa and help African TV industry migrate from analogue to digital; and is projected to create job opportunities for rural dwellers in benefiting communities.

Through the satellite TVs, African governments can popularize knowledge of agriculture, science, sanitation to rural dwellers to mitigate rural-urban migration.

The project can also create huge job opportunities and sustainably contribute to the growth of the rural economies across benefiting

countries. And, to ensure the longterm operation of the project, local members of staff were hired to fulfill different duties by StarTimes.

The primary aim of the FOCAC initiative being implemented by StarTimes is to popularize satellite TV among African rural dwellers, in which information resources are very limited, and in turn help the people to acquire knowledge for socio-economic benefits that ultimately get rid of poverty.

Hence, people do not only get to watch wonderful TV programs, but also acquire more useful information to expand their horizon and change their world views. “It has transformed our lives beyond our imaginations. So many things have changed about us. We now gather facts and first hand information which we now share to other members of other communities who do not have the rare opportunity that we are enjoying today, said Opeifa while narrating the experience of Ishagira community, which is also surrounded by water.

Opeifafurtheropinedthataccess to satellite TV has unified the rural dwellers as the community gathers together every evening to watch their favourite channels on the large projection screen provided by StarTimes, which has helped the people of Ishagira community to learn more about healthy living and also foster inter-personal relationship.”

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17

Interview Nigeria’s democracy has stagnated since 1999 - Ajaero Comrade Joe Ajaero is the president of United Labour Congress (ULC), also a former deputy president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in this exclusive interview with INIOBONG IWOK, spoke on workers’ expectations from President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term in office, Nigeria’s democracy, 2019 election, among other issues in the polity. Excerpts: President Muhammadu Buhari has just been sworn-in for a second term in office; is your union happy with his policies towards labour in his first tenure? es, I will give him a pass mark in the sense that federal workers under him are not owed four or five+ months’ salaries, and I know that he gave the states bailout funds to pay workers but unfortunately some of these state governors misapplied the funds.

The minimum wage was increased and we did not see too much sack under his watch; so, to a large extent, when you check other presidents before him, you would give him a pass mark.

Y

What is your view about the controversy that trailed the Presidential election; Atiku is in court?

The election has come and gone; a winner has emerged; the opposition is challenging the result of the election which is allowed in democracy.

However, the electoral processes seem not to be different from what happened in 1999; twenty years ago, in terms of the snatching of ballot boxes, use of money and the introduction of card reader.

There is no much different from twenty years ago and this year; the electoral body should have known that all those lapses discovered four years ago should have been corrected. Today, we are still parading big names; it is not a stage where people emerged based on credibility. I think the electoral body has a lot to do in terms of electoral reforms; that is what the late Yara-Adua was trying to do. If there is a legacy Buhari wants to hand over to Nigeria, I think he should do something about the electoral process.

The issue of one man one vote went with Jonathan; Jonathan bequeathed that legacy to Nigeria; that you can defeat an incumbent and he leaves power honourably. Buhari should call for reform of the electoral process.

Are you saying we have not made any progress in recent times?

There has not really been any; even the card reader issue has not been resolved.

We started the process in 2015, but we can see that not much progress has been made.

The Level of litigation seems to be increasing; it shows that impunity is taking over the electoral process. Look at what happened in Zamfara State; imposition is becoming a norm in Nigeria. In Imo State we saw what APGA did and suddenly a candidate was imposed on them across the party in the state.

They were imposing candidates without going through the process of primaries; to me it is not something to celebrate.

Since the parties have decided to be imposing unpopular candidates, you can see that most of them are losing elections.

Yes, in twenty years after democracy governance, I will tell you that democratically, nothing is happening in the country apart from conducting elections.

Lecturers are always in strike, if you go to the roads nothing is there, electrify is the same. When Obasanjo was there he was able to repair some power plants, the former Minister Liyel Imoke made that move and we were able to achieve 4,000 megawatts, but today we are down to 2,000 megawatts. So, for me, twenty years after gaining democratic rule in terms of governance, we have moved from bad to worse. No new jobs are created, the unemployment rate is high, inflation is also high and the naira to dollar ratio is high. What you can buy twenty years ago with twenty thousand is almost with thirty thousand now; so, where is the result of governance?

Joe Ajaero

Are you saying the recent election was not free and fair?

I can’t talk about the election being free and fair, but I can tell you we were too parochial, whether they were enough to declare the election not free and fair I don’t know; but I can say there were problems.

The court and INEC must do their own work, some of these issues, the process, the irregularities have continued, there is need for us to address that, so that it would not be part of our culture.

What informed the setting up of ULC? Firstly, we pulled out from NLC after a massively rigged and manipulated union’s election. After the guildlines for the election was released, some people emerged; some people were disqualified at the floor of the conference centre where it was held.

All the people that were disqualified were asked to come and run again for NLC positions. We had an initial understanding that we would rotate power between the private sector and the public sector, anyway all the people there before Oshiomhole left were all in the public sector. When he left the most vibrant unionists then were from the private sector.

But when Adulwaheed Omar left again, all the unions in the country met again and said this is the time for the private sector. I came up against NUPENG man in the presidential election, but they said one Ayuba Wabba from the medical and health workers union also filled form.

That was how we started. They said they have decided to change the contest and then we had the greatest manipulation.

They decided to change the contest too; ballot papers in booklet; you would see Ajaero in a paper and in another ballot paper, meanwhile the one you are seeing Waba had reference no, but it was not in my own.

So, the voters who understand would just go and tear the ballot paper which is in three; so it means he scored three votes from one paper.

Meanwhile, by the time they tally the votes you would see that Ajaero’s does not even have a reference number and you would think it is what make it more authentic or I am the one doing the rigging.

So, because they noticed that a lot of people complained about the irregularities, that was how that election was cancelled. Another date was fixed for another election; on the day of the election all the unionists came from different parts of Nigeria; there were delegates

from other regions; especially the North but there was no delegate from the South.

Meanwhile, they had over 500 delegates; their assumption was that any delegate you pick from the South would vote for Ajaero, the delegates were from different unions in the country.

And based on that we had a tribalised union, where you bring people from your village to come and vote for you. But in spite of all these irregularities, I still emerged; but for three days they refused to announce the result of the election; my agents were attacked and arrested.

Based on the vote cast, agents were coming to congratulate us, but after that they took light from the eagle square were the election been held and manipulated the election.

We had to take that bold step, we started as a faction of NLC but we realised that the faction of NLC was not helping us I sense that.

Meanwhile, at that time there was increase in petroleum products prices by the Federal Government; we could not put our house in order and my brother Wabba said he could not hold meeting with me, so I was not with him on his action. That was how we failed to agree and the whole country has to pay for the current fuel price increase.

Is the union recognised by the government?

We have been recognised, but we have not been licensed. It takes a process, like the example of the TUC; it takes 27 years for them to be given a certificate. That does not mean they are not recognized; the law is clear; if you have twenty seven unions, you can form a union. To be a labour centre, you must have a constitution and have executives and begin to operate until such a time; that is what we have done.

How would you react to the allegation that your union is pro-government?

If some people are saying that, look at them very well; we are independent people in the private sector; our action does not have any influence from the government.

What areas should Buhari place priority in this second term?

He should focus on everything because during his first term I am not sure we concluded any area. Insecurity is a major problem in Nigeria; if you don’t defeat the current state of insecurity it would defeat all of us and make us say bye-bye to Nigeria.

Hunger may not dissolve Nigeria, poverty

may not dissolve Nigeria, lack of social amenities may not dissolve Nigeria, but this current arms struggle for whatever may be the reason that may dissolve Nigeria. By the time you see some other people picking up arms to defend themselves, by the time you see some underground movement, people contesting for space to defend themselves, people armed then it will be too bad for the country.

If the country security apparatus is finding it difficult to defeat Boko-Haram by extension Fulani herdsmen then it means if there are two others of such organisations it will be overwhelming to them especially if they are not located anywhere.

The President should quickly address the issue of insecurity; people can’t go to their farms because of fear of being abducted by the Fulani herdsmen and the implication of that is during the next season we may not have enough food from the farms.

By the time hunger starts to affect us we would know that there is a problem. I have some Nigerian friends who say that they may not enter Nigerian roads again because they are not secured.

For over two months now we have been looking for my niece, who entered a bus from Osun en-route, Ibadan to Ikorodu, she is a serving corper, her line is currently being used by a Fulani man; the situation is not funny at all people are living in fear; it can’t continue this way.

You are also the head of electricity workers union; what is your view about the privatisation of the power sector some years back against the growing agitation by Nigerians for government to revisit that exercise?

My view on that is known publicly; the privatisation was fraudulently conducted. Since then there have been tariff increases. If government had given NEPA such tariff there would have been increase in power supply. But look at what is happening now, everybody is keeping silent and they say government is still controlling 40 percent of Power Holding Company; so, can you see that it is fraud we are seeing?

Some of us opposed the privatisation effort at the risk of our lives; if this is what Nigerians want so be it, but it would come to a level that Nigerians would not be able to bear it again.

This is because the power companies are only after maximising profit. In the last four years, no power plant has been constructed by the investors; at what return of investment will they do that? Because it would take you 10-25 years to build power plant and it would also take you 10–15 years to recoup your investment.

Some state governors have said they can’t pay the new minimum wage; how would you react to that?

There are some state governors that say they would pay, some said they would not; we have equally noted some levels of compliance. Look at what is happening in Zamfara State; the governor is paying 7,500 as minimum wage. The labour leaders there are not talking because it would look as if they are opposing their brother, so they are collecting the amount. If you watch, it was the same immediate past Zamfara State governor that was leading others to say they would not pay N30, 000 minimum wage because he knew he can’t move from N7, 500 to N30, 000. He collaborated with some workers to be paying N7, 500. Lagos State also was not paying N18, 000 minimum wage; I challenge them to come out with proof that the workers on level one were being paid N18, 000 minimum wage.

This is not about resources; it is about priority and being worker-friendly. Edo was paying N25, 000 when it was N18, 000 and Edo is not known to be oil producing state, it is because they appreciate the value of a worker.

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Sunday 16 June 2019

Interview

‘We infuse technology into our brand to enhance production, reach’ Titilope Abiodun Lisk is the co-founder of Lisk Fashion Company, one of Nigeria’s top indigenous fashion brands, currently focusing on male wears. The brand is also looking at launching female and kids line soon. In this interview with IFEOMA OKEKE, she speaks about the brand’s plans for expansion in future and its unique selling prepositions. Excerpts:

I

May we know you better, and what is Lisk brand all about? am the co-founder of Lisk Fashion Company. We are a fashion brand, although we do mostly male wears for now but we will soon launch female and kids line very soon. I am graduate of the University of Lagos. I used to be a banker till last year I resigned to follow my dream. My husband’s name is Seun Lisk. He is a trained engineer and co-founder of Lisk.

He has worked in the finance sector for a couple of years and he still works there. He founded this about 12 years ago. He was 18years old when he started doing fashion at the University of Lagos. He studied engineering.

He started making cloths for himself when he was in school. Lisk has always been there but we are two years now as a business entity in Nigeria. Yes, we want to sew cloths that are fashionable and cloths that people can wear.

So, we strive to cater for as many people as possible and that is what we build the brand around.

Although we majored more on corporate but we have now included urban wears, native wears and other fashionable wears that in a couple of years this brand will be seen as a full fashion brand. We just want to be in everyone’s wardrobe. That is the idea.

What is your source of inspiration for your designs?

I have an interest in fabrics and travel. Fabrics give me loads of idea on what I can do with the fabrics. I even get ideas from people doing the wrong things.

Nature also gives me inspiration.

Two years down the line, what are your success stories and what top personalities have you designed for?

Before we became a business entity, I’m talking about eight years after I started this, I have never had to do any advert, not even as simple as WhatsApp but this brand has been consistent for the past seven years. We have had referrals and people have testified of still wearing their wedding suits after six years we made them. Most of what we had done for the past seven years were referrals and there have never been a period we have never been busy, even without advertising. So, what we have done is to work on our quality and make sure we give out the best.

We try our best to meet international standards, such that

Titilope Abiodun

people have had to ask questions as to whether our products are actually made in Nigeria. We have worked on our quality and fabrics, stitches and we have hired the best of hands. What we have also done in the last seven years is to build a team that can do different things. We have worked with a lot of celebrities, we have styled awardees for the hip-hop awards, we have worked with Ice Prince, Praise, Dotun, mofe Duncan, Bryan Okpara and a whole lot of them) What challenges have you encountered since you started and what is your staff strength?

The major challenge is around production. I think this is the major challenge every fashion designer faces in the country.

We have issues with power. We have to train people to meet the standards acceptable internationally. So, another challenge is getting the right people to fit into production aspect and getting them to do the right thing.

The devaluation of the currency is also affecting the business and the buying power of people.

These challenges exist but the major has been with produc-

tion. As a result of production challenge, we have to struggle to meet up with timing.

What is your staff strength?

We are about six but we have contract and indirect workers which sums up to over 30 workers.

How do you source for raw materials?

We have local importers that bring in the products and they also have direct affiliation with some foreign companies that make and sell fabrics. So we source from local importers and from international markets.

What kind of fabrics do you use to make your male outfit?

For our suits, the preferred fabrics for suits are wool-blended materials. We also use cotton and African prints but it is based on demands. We don’t want to box ourselves to a corner. For the female clothing line, it is a mix of everything. Like I said, we have different people who want to make different things. We try as much as possible to cater for everyone. We do the African print, the urban and corporate.

In the next five to ten years, where do you see this brand?

In the next ten years, we hope to be the biggest fashion brand in Africa. We are working towards this and we are putting plans in place. We are doing some things now that we can’t disclose but in future, you will see the manifestation. We have a vision to be the biggest fashion brand in Africa.

What steps are you taking to put this brand in the global map?

For quality, what we have done in the last seven to eight years is to ensure that our products meet international standards. So, apart from producing locally, our tailors are trained to meet with the international standards. We also produce some of our outfit in other countries and they also follow international standards of production. We are also infusing technology into our brand to enhance our production and reach to people.

We also plan to do e-commerce by having a mobile app, where people can order for whatever they want. Right now, we have a lot of people that order for our products from all over the country, especially Africans in the Diaspora. Some of them may want to get married and they stay in America and Germany and we deliver to them. So, from the patronage we are getting, it is clear that people believe in African designers. I have some friends in America who order for our suits and we send it to them.

The designs we have are cuttingedge designs.

What are your unique selling prepositions?

The truth is that you cannot survive in this business without having the basic things. So, you have to look at the basics and quality is very key and we are never going to trade this for anything. The designs are also very key. Not everyone has this.

The fabrics we use and the cut are very unique. Everyone has unique size and body structure, so we ensure it fits everyone’s unique personality. Also, like I said, we are adding technology to everything we are doing. So, technology is going to be one of our major selling points. So, we are building something that has not been seen or done in this part of the world and that is going to be an advantage for us.

How are you able to partner with your husband in this business and still maintain the home front?

This was the major reason I had to quit my job. We are blessed with two children, a boy

and a girl, ages four and two. It is not easy but it is just about being organised and setting your priorities right. I wake up every day as early as five, get the kids ready for school and go on with the daily activities. Sometimes I stay up late at night doing one thing or the other. I would say being organized is key.

Is the clothing line business one of profit venture making or just the love or passion that drives designers?

There is a market for this business in Nigeria. People will always wear cloths. I have seen businesses with lowest profit margins but I think the margins in a business should be enough to sustain it. So, passion alone cannot sustain you. You need to be able to grow as a business. When you make cloths that really look beautiful but no one is buying it, then there is a problem.

For me, passion is very necessary but you also have to have an entrepreneurial spirit.

You have to know how to cut cost, maximise profits, market your products and all these put together builds a brand. Fashion business in my opinion is just like every other business.

There are certain strategies you may need to deploy at times on the job.

How will you compare fashion business in Nigeria to other developed countries?

Like every other sector, we are still behind, we have a lot of catching up to do. The good thing is we have the market in Nigeria and there are lots of gaps to still cover. In other countries, fashion designers have taken themselves out of the business and allowed it run as a real business. I am yet to see this happen in Nigeria. Business continuity has become something difficult to achieve or there is no business continuity in Nigeria. There are brands that are over 100years old but Nigerian brands hardly outlive their founders. This is the problem.

We do not have enough capacity and funds to run the fashion business the way it’s supposed to be. I think there are lots of Nigerian designers that are big, yet people don’t wear their cloths. They need to start taking themselves out of the business and allow it run as a business entity, where they will employ capable hands to run the business in the proper manner.

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BDSUNDAY 19

PROLOGUE

Apapa: ‘Walking through the valley of shadow of death’

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ince 2013, a journey to or from Apapa (a city in Lagos that houses Nigeria’s two busiest seaports), has consistently been a risky venture.

The menace of container-bearing trucks and petroleum products tankers on that route has led many Nigerians to their early graves, while a large number of other victims remain permanently confined to their beds as a result of mortal injuries they

sustained in some of the life-threatening accidents that have become rampant on Apapa roads.

Whether you are coming from Mile 2 or Ijora end, it is a story akin to the biblical expression of “walking through the valley of shadow of death”. Past and present efforts of various levels of government have not availed much, though hope is high, with the commitment by the new administration in Lagos State to end the menace in 60 days, which remains 42 days from today.

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Sunday 16 June 2019

Focus

Apapa: ‘Walking through the valley of shadow of death’

A

AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE

t about 4.45pm on Saturday, May 27, 2019, a 33-year old Folashade Arogundade, an officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), was crushed to death by a truck along the road close to the Area B Police Station in Apapa, Lagos.

Arogundade, who was deployed to Apapa to ensure the evacuation of articulated trucks from the road in line with the Presidential order of restoring sanity and orderliness in the area, was hit by a truck on reverse gear unawares.

BDSUNDAY learnt that the driver of the truck took to his heels after the rear side of the vehicle knocked down the lady and the back tyres crushed her to death.

Mahmud Hassan, public relations officer of LASTMA, who confirmed the incident, said Arogundade was killed while performing her duty of implementing the Federal Government’s directive of getting rid of articulated vehicles in Apapa.

Hearing the tragic story of Arogundade, who lost her life on active duty, reminded me of several uncountable tragic incidents that have occurred in Apapa environment since the problem of traffic congestion started in the nation’s port city since 2012/ 2013.

On Mar 24, 2019, a truck killed a woman, named Amaka Iheme, who was reported to have been trekking to church.

It was said that the woman was crushed by a “callous” driver at Abati Barracks area of Ojuelegba, Surulere.

Apapa, home to the nation’s two busiest economic gateways, Apapa and Tin-Can Island Seaports, handles over 75 percent of import cargoes coming into the country and about 90 percent of all the export cargo going out of the country.

Apart from of the non-oil import and export cargoes, Apapa area also houses majority of the oil tank farms and jetties located in this part of the country, where most of the nation’s imported refined petroleum products including premium motor spirit (PMS), automated gas oil (AGO), Jet A1 and others are brought into the country.

This was one of the reasons roads and bridges leading to the Apapa environment are usually chaotic, resulting in the reoccurring gridlocks on the Apapa roads.

As a result, motorists who ply their trade in Apapa and residents now suffer long travel time following the long stretch of traffic congestion bedeviling the area due to impediments created by presence of reckless parking of petroleum tankers, empty container-carrying trucks and other articulated vehicles used in hauling import and export cargoes.

Alarmingly, virtually all the roads, streets, bridges and under bridges in Lagos, especially those that have connection with Apapa metropolis, have been turned into parks for heavy duty vehicles.

The most affected roads i n c l u d e Ap a p a - Os h o d i Ex pressway (Cele to Mile 2 axis); Awodi Ora and Wilmer roads in Ajegunle; Kirikiri; LagosBadagry Expressway, Orile Igamu; Second Rainbow down to Apple Junction; Ago Palace Way; Ojuelegba down to Ikorodu road; Ijora and Eko Bridge.

Given the development, people residing in areas like Festac, Iyana-Oba, Satellite Town,

Ajegunle, Apapa, Surulere and many other suburban areas in Lagos not only lose long manhour while going to their offices, market places or returning home after the day’s job, but many end up losing their lives while in transit amid these heavy duty vehicles.

Due to the gridlock, a journey that ought to take about 1 hour or less, now takes 3 to 4 hours while many now find it increasingly difficult to drive their vehicles to their offices due to impediments created by the presence of these trucks.

Therefore, many commuters prefer to ride on bike, popularly known as ‘okada’ in order to gain easy access into the port city.

The menace has not only put the integrity of the affected roads and bridges in question, but has also succeeded in escalating the transportation cost for commuters.

At a point, riding on okada into Apapa became a saving grace to many; it has also become a transport to early grave for hundreds of people as many

lose their lives in transit on a regular basis. The saddest part of the Apapa problem was the manner in which commuters, motorists and port users lose their lives, belongings and properties on this axis almost on a daily basis due to the chaotic situation on the Apapa roads.

On March 1, 2017, one Segun Agbolade, a journalist lost his life as he was knocked down and killed by a truck, around the Trinity area on the ApapaOshodi Expressway.

Agbolade, popularly known as Effisy, was reportedly riding on a motorcycle on his way out of Apapa when the accident that claimed his life occurred.

On the same Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, a 23-year old young Njideka Uwa (not real name), who relocated to Lagos from the Eastern part of the country to seek a white collar job, after she finished her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), lost her life to truck accident.

Njideka, who reports said, was the first graduate in her family, left her parents in the

village and moved to Lagos to enable her secure a job that would give her the opportunity to help her poor parents, who were into petty trading in her village in Imo State.

She died mid-2018 after she was knocked down by a moving truck while riding on okada around Wilmer axis of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.

The truck climbed her two legs as she fell off the okada and she slept into coma for two days.

Njideka died two days later in one of the hospitals in the popular Ajegunle.

Last month, a woman who boarded a commercial bus after close of work at Tincan, lost her life after a trailer hit the side she was sitting inside the bus. She died at the spot.

In December 2018, a male media practitioner, his family and mother in-law cheated death by a whisker when a trailer coming behind them lost brake and rammed into a commercial bus which in turn hit the young man’s vehicle.

BDSUNDAY gathered that the journalist was returning from Ajegunle and on descending the short portion of the rehabilitated Ijora Bridge going towards Funso Williams’ Avenue, a trailer had a brake failure and rammed into three okada riders, hit a commercial bus, had his car bashed and waged itself with the machines (okadas). It was gathered that some of the okada riders and their passengers lost their lives that night. The journalist only had his Toyota Camry car seriously damaged.

Driving on the Apapa road is akin to the biblical expression of “Walking through the valley of shadow of death.” Due to the bad roads, the heavy-duty vehicles always move precariously and the containers they bear are prone to tilt as a result.

Drivers of smaller vehicles plying side by side with such tankers and trailers do so at a huge risk. Many of them have lost their lives a as a result of containers falling on them and crushing them in their vehicles.

Recall that on Tuesday May 7, 2019, a container fell off Ojuelegba Bridge in Lagos causing a terrible traffic gridlock around the area , which left many commuters almost sleeping on the road on that fateful Tuesday.

“When I was climbing the bridge, a bus overtook me and I had to stop. When I set out after the bus left, the gear dragged me back and the container turned and fell. It was not because of the brake,” the driver

Sunday 16 June 2019

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BDSUNDAY 21

FOCUS

of the truck narrated after the accident.

Also on Friday April 5, 2019, a container-laden truck rolled back on Barracks-Ojuelegba Bridge in Lagos and damaged seven cars but no life was lost.

Adebayo Olusegun, head of operations of LASTMA in Surulere, said the accident occurred at about 7.25am and the trailer was not carrying a heavy load when it rolled down the bridge.

“We thank God that no life was lost and it usually happened that trucks rolled back on the bridge after climbing.

This was not a break failure but seven cars were affected,’’ Olusegun said.

Michael Afolayan, a Corps member, who witnessed the accident, said, “If not for an Infinity SUV that blocked the trailer, it would have claimed many lives”.

BDSUNDAY findings show t h a t O j u e l e g b a - Ba r r a c k s Bridge has become notorious axis for truck-related accidents where many innocent Nigerians have lost their lives and valuables.

The road became a very important route for trucks accessing and departing Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports through Ijora-Wharf axis with laden-containers since 2015/2016 when the ApapaOshodi Expressway that was supposed to be the main entrance into Apapa environment became impassable due to the total collapse of some

critical portions of the road.

Pundits believed that government and its authorities need to implement policies that ensure that trucks going into the city area with containers are properly hooked to avoid containers falling off the truck and killing passers-by.

Truck and trailer drivers, they say, ought to be mandated to take the service lane to avoid causing tragedy while trying to climb Ojuelegba-Barracks Bridge with heavy cargo.

For Afolayan, if such laws are put in place, government should also put in place stiff penalty for offenders to save lives and property.

Recall that on Tuesday eve-

ning June 20, 2018, two persons were reportedly killed when a truck loaded with boards and plywood tilted on the same Ojuelegba Bridge.

The report has it that another two other persons were also injured, according to Adesina Tiamiyu, of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA). The truck tilted on top of Ojuelegba Bridge and fell on three commercial buses and a Toyota Corolla at 8 pm that Tuesday night.

Tiamiyu, who said that the truck was definitely overloaded, resulting in the accident, urged commercial bus drivers to stop parking indiscriminately under the bridges to enable

free drive by other motorists.

Today, containers are like ‘the bees ravaging the city of Lagos’ all because of the government’s failure to properly manage empty containers and control their safe movement into the port.

In the 90s, the whole of Apapa port accommodates almost 60 percent of the trucks now on the highway as they were able to enter the port to offload the containers and park within the port premises pending when they get another job to do. The place where these trucks park in those days were called ‘holding bay’ that were inside the port.

“The littering of empty containers and tankers as well as the reckless killing of Nigerians on Lagos roads was due to the Federal Government’s failure to properly manage empty containers in our ports,” Jonathan Nicol, president, Shippers Association of Lagos State, said. Nicol said the

outrage started after port terminals were concessioned, without reserving holding-bay for truckers to park and the volume of cargo coming into the country increased without the authorities being able to manage the over flow.

He faulted the Federal Government concession model that ceded 100 percent of the port property to private operators.

Nicol, who disclosed that Nigeria has more empty containers in the terminals’ stacking areas than the laden containers, said that shipping lines are not retrieving their empty containers with the intention of turning Nigeria into a dumping ground.

Pundits believe that government supposed to have taken out at least 25 percent of its property to ensure presence in the port. However, there is need to give the shipping companies ultimatum to clear their containers off the ports.

Observers also identified lack of good road infrastructure as another major reason for the recurring gridlock problem in Apapa.

But excitingly, Hassan Bello, executive secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), has promised that the issue of infrastructure like the roads (Creek, Liverpool and ApapaOshodi Expressway) is being constructed.

“The moment this is done, most of the issues will go. We have the holding bay and trailer parks; they are going to be available. The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has already started with Lilypond Terminal for the trailers. This will mitigate the gridlock. We also have private parks,” Bello said.

According to him, “Shippers Council has identified about 54 trailer parks which will be put to use and once we have a combination of all this, we shall have sanity on the road.”

Bello appealed to the truckers and the drivers to be disciplined and follow procedures for sanity to be achieved on the road.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State government needs to consider the implementation of the Lagos State laws, which proposed night movement of trucks to reduce the risk and dangers, to human lives, of the movement of heavy duty vehicles.

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Sunday 16 June 2019

Arts Mydrim Gallery still rallies artists ….as ‘Generations: The Future Masters 3’ exhibition sets to begin OBINNA EMELIKE

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ince 1992 when Mydrim Gallery opened to the public, it has impacted the Nigerian visual art landscape, supporting artists and exposing their works beyond the exhibition halls.

As well, art collectors have developed discerning eyes for high quality works of art courtesy of the artists promoted by the gallery.

But the need to sustain the quality of the works has warranted the gallery to start grooming young generation artists who are going to replace the art masters of today in the nearest future.

The concerted effort at grooming the next masters of art resulted in the innovation of the ‘Generations: The Future Masters’ exhibition series. The series, which has had two successful editions, features a selection of budding artists who are mentored by Abiodun Olaku, Nigeria’s renowned photonaturalist painter, and they are later allowed to express themselves artistically with resulting works on display at the future masters’ exhibition, which marks the end of each year’s project.

The exhibition, which was founded on the principles of sound art practice, is not going to be different this year as 10 ambitious artists set to showcase their creative ingenuity and fast mastering of their craft.

The exhibition opens on June 29 and runs until July 13 with over 55

breathtaking works on display at Mydrim Gallery located at 74B Norman Williams Street S.W Ikoyi, just off the busy Awolowo Road.

The artists, some of who participated in the second edition of the exhibition, are: Chinedu Uzoma, Damilola Opedun, Emeka Nwagbara, Ezekiel Osifeso and Olajide Salako. Others are: Olufemi Oyewole, Oluwafunke Oladimeji, Opeyemi Olukotun, Segun Fagorusi and Raji Mohammed.

Their works reflect sound art practice based on firm foundational principles of observation, creativity, skill and draughtsmanship, which Abiodun Olaku, their mentor, has been imparting over the last two editions.

The exhibition is curated by Mydrim Gallery’s Seun Alli and Oluwatoyin David.

Moreover, there are reasons to see the exhibition, especially to appreciate the works of the likes of Emeka Nwagbara, a self-taught contemporary Nigerian artist whose passion fuelled his transition from the banking sector into full-time studio practice, as well as, Olajide Salako, a painter who trained under master artists at Universal Studios of Art. Explaining her works, Oluwafunke Oladimeji, the only female among the artists, said her work titled ‘The Council’ tells the story of clusters of nomads discussing issues that are of importance to them and

others at large, while ‘Fishermen’s Quarters’ depicts the coastal community of Makoko, in Lagos where some fishermen retire to reflect on the adventures of the day.

Ezekiel Osifeso’s ‘Bewildered’ tells how times have changed and new seasons are here, while Uzoma Chinedu’s Reap In Joy talks about joy as a facial accessory we must wear if we desire a robust wellbeing.

The participating artists also explained the motivations for the exhibition and a further reason the public should see the works.

“What motivates me to be part of “Generations” - The Future Masters series is my followers. From feedbacks they are sure to see something new, improvements

from old works and a treat of quality renditions”, Emeka Nwagbara said.

Damilola Opedun is motivated by the opportunity to showcase his growth as an artist and to impact the lives of the people he seeks to be a voice for, the occupants of the coastal community of Makoko.

For Ezekiel Osifeso, the desire to tell his creative story to an interested audience is one driving force that cannot be withheld, while Mydrim Gallery presents itself as the right platform.

“This year’s edition displayed the major reason the exhibition was set-up. Adding another vibrant artist with great level of draughtsmanship shows that representational art can never be relegated”, Funke Oladimeji said.

In same vein, Femi Oyewole insisted that the exhibiting artists over the years have mastered their techniques and production quality, which makes them relevant in the visual industry.

But Raji Mohammed is motivated by happenings around him, the mood or expressions of people around him, works by masters (Nigerian and foreign) and excerpts from books.

However, Sinmidele Adesanya, founder of Mydrim Gallery is happy that some budding artists are very ambitious and ready to step into the big shoes of the masters in terms.

She is excited at the quality of the works this year, which is the third and last edition of the series and urged the public to visit the gallery to see the works and appreciate the artists.

Author breaks with new book ‘Overcoming the World’

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“

vercoming The World”, a must-read b o o k f o r Ch r i s tian youths, was launched over the week in Lagos.

Authored by Ngozi Uche Egwuatu, a Christian with the Lord’s Chosen Revival Movement Church in Lagos, ‘’Overcoming The World’’ is targeted at Christian youths in Nigeria and across the world.

The publication is a product of the writer’s commitment and perseverance to bring to reality her seven years of a tortuous journey to success. It is a response to her divine covenant with God to rescue young people from destruction of their destinies.

The book is rightly a 21st century manual for Christian youths. It contains ten chapters and design with good quality.

Though it is targeted at Christian youths, it is useful to adults because of the insightful spiritual benefits, which the reader stands to derive. Even non-Christians are enjoined to explore their right of messages that are embedded in the publication.

At a public presentation of the book held at Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, dignitaries, families, friends and

well-wishers were in attendance to identify with the author’s outstanding achievement. She was praised for her visionary insight for providing panaceas to societal problems.

Dignitaries at the launch include, Toby Atumah, Florence Ohia, Isaac, Sam Ohaeri, Emmanuel Ogbehi, Monday Ogbulafo, Leticia, and the Odemiges.

Chairman of the launching, who also doubled as the book reviewer, Toby Atumah, a pastor and engineer, remarked that “the book is a repository of knowledge as it is derived from the scriptures inspired by the Holy Spirit.” He said as the reader proceeds, he is propelled with suspense till he gets to the last page.

According to Atumah, ‘’Overcoming The World” is the antidotes the youths need to triumph over the world if they consistently apply the teachings with prayers and fasting before God. Speaking on her inspiration for the book, Egwuatu explained her passion for the youth ministry in her church inspired her to write the book.

Growing up as a youth, Egwuatu said she was involved in youths activities but on the positive side as

she utilized her talents to serve God. “I was raised in a good Christian

home and I channeled my energy to useful activities that impacted

positively on my life.”

Egwuatu is worried that the future of many Nigerian youths looks bleak, as it is marred with social vices that are prevalent in many universities and even some secondary schools that are seemingly safehaven for notoriety.

But the writer believes that anybody who wake up from his slumber regardless of his age and come to the knowledge of the truth (Jesus Christ) is a new creature in God. The book will be made available on the social media and internet for the public to access. Already it is enjoying good public patronage.

Ngozi Uche Egwuatu hails from Abia State. A teacher, writer and motivational speaker, she holds a Master’s Degree in Education Management from the Lagos State University (LASU).

The author spent her earlier career years in the classroom and later went on to pursue her passion in journalism up till 2010 when she gave up secular work for her ministry. She presently serves as a lecturer with the More Grace Bible Institute, the theological training arm of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministry, headquarters in Lagos.

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Arts Art masters flaunt craft at Moremi art exhibition OBINNA EMELIKE

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f you were at Alexis Galleries on May 8, 2019, you would delight in the roll call of the whois-who in the Nigerian visual art practice. That mild Saturday afternoon witnessed the gathering of some visual art masters in a long while for the opening of the Moremi art exhibition, entitled ‘View from the Masters’.

As the name implied, the exhibition was a showcase of 28 recent works by 28 art masters.

The exhibition, which was opened by two princesses from Ile Ife on behalf Oba Adeyeye Enitian Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife, who graced the event later, wooed impressive reviews by the guests on seeing the generous display of craftsmanship by the likes of Abayomi Barber, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Kolade Oshinowo, Abiodun Olaku, Gbenga Offo, Reuben Ugbine, Chinwe Uwatse, Tola Wewe, Sam Ovraiti, Duke Asidere, Dominique Zinkpe, Fidelis Odogwu, and Sam Ebohon.

Others include; Edosa Ogiugo, Alex Nwokolo, Mavua Lessor, Segun Aiyesan, Ato Arinze, Zinno Orara, Diseye Tantua, Joshua Nmesirionye, Gerry Nnubia, John Oyedemi, Joe Essien, Abraham Uyovbisere, Gab Awusa and Gerald Chukwuma.

With their works, the masters explored and documented the story of the legendary Queen Moremi, providing art historians, collectors and enthusiasts with different interpretations of Moremi, in their various media and style.

As well, the works reflected imaginative twist; and illustrate contemporary female activism, while highlighting different faces and phases of Moremi, by deliberately raising the viewer’s awareness of her brave deeds.

Abayomi Barber, an accomplished sculptor who graced the exhibition on wheel chair, presented a work titled ‘Moremi’ made in Plaster of Paris in late 70s, while Bruce Onobrakpeya, another veteran, presented a work titled ‘Nigerian Indegination’ made with metal foil in 1980.

Kolade Oshinowo pre-

Some of the 28 art masters at the Moremi exhibition 2

sented a work he entitled ‘The Blue Scarf’, Chinwe Uwatse, presented ‘Moremi’, acrylic on canvas, Sam Ovraiti thrilled with ‘Women in the Spirit of ‘Moremi’’ acrylic on canvas, among other works.

For Gerald Chukwuma,

the exhibition offered him opportunity to try something new and to network with art great minds.

Speaking at the exhibition, Patty Chidiac-Mastrogiannis, founder/director, Alexis Galleries/curator, noted that there was no other

better time to tell the classical story of Queen Moremi Ajasoro through visual art but now, hence ‘View from the Masters’ converses the heroic deeds of the amazon, who went through fire, lived through fire and liberated her people through fire over

1700 years ago.

“Telling Moremi’s story through visual art by twenty-eight Masters, who have stood the test of time on the stage of art is not by accident; it is history making with the people who are in the history such as the celebrated Nigerian artists”, she said.

She noted further that it was an amazing experience curating the exhibition.

“My wish is as you walk away from looking at the breath-taking artworks, you take away with you the messages conveyed in each piece, which is to bring to the consciousness of people what Moremi stood for, women empowerment, the strength of womanhood, the inputs that women have made and still making in our society today. And I believe that women can do more if they are empowered”, she concluded.

Though ‘View from the Masters’ ended in Lagos on June 14, 2019, it is a traveling exhibition and hopes to berth in places such as London, New York, Dubai, Lebanon among others starting from October.

Les Contemporains debuts at Alexis Galleries this weekend OBINNA EMELIKE

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iding on the successful hosting of over 10 exhibitions within a short period, Alexis Galleries is once again opening its doors for another exhibition commencing this weekend.

The gallery, which is a meeting place for artists, collectors and enthusiasts of art presents the Les Contemporains(The Contemporaries), a group exhibition of paintings, sculptures and mixed media , which opens on Saturday June 15 and runs until Friday June 28, 2019 at the gallery located at 282 Akin Olugbade Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The exhibition features 11 contemporary artists including; Patrick TagoeTuckson, Uchay Joel Chima, Olisa Nwadiogbu, Jimmy Uche Nwanne, Djakou Kassi Nathalie, Ato Arinze, Valentine Mbachu, Dominique Zinkpe, Andrews Tettey Arko, Samuel Tete-Katchan and Prince Obasi.

Speaking at the media parley heralding the exhibition at the gallery on Thurs-

day, Ato Arinze, a sculptor and co-curator of the exhibition, noted that the exhibition is a must-see because of the quality of works on display, which also reflects on the contemporariness of the artists, their techniques and thinking.

While Arinze presents seven works at exhibition, Samuel Tete-Katchan, a Togolese born artist who lives in Ghana and also participated in the recently concluded ‘Knock On Wood’ residency at Alexis Galleries, is presenting five works; wood and painting on canvas. From Family, Four Sisters Market Scene to others, Tete-Katchan assured of breathtaking works.

In same vein, Olisa Nwadiogbu, a painter who sculpts sometimes, is bringing four works, which he described as exciting figures. Some of the titles of his works include; The fall of man, Reader, Portrait of a woman among others.

But Djakou Kassi Nathalie, the only female among the artists, is set to thrill at the exhibition with five works. She assured that from; The men’s pains, Queen Zingha and

among her other works, viewers would delight in the contemporariness of her

works. The Cameroonian born ceramicist, who works in Nigeria, awaits visitors at

the exhibition.

As well, Valentine Mbachu, a painter and sculptor is coming with three paintings.

The artist, who is influenced

by Picasso, is ready to thrill with his works at the exhibition.

However, in the tradition of Alexis Galleries, part of the proceeds of the exhibition would be donated to an NGO. This time, the charity goes to Loving Gaze, an NGO with 30 years of experience in Nigeria.

Speaking on the rationale for the charity donation, Patty Chidiac-Mastrogiannis, founder and director, Alexis Galleries/curator, noted that the gallery is partnering with Loving Gaze because of the huge impact such partnership would have on the less privileged in the society, particularly malnourished children, nursing mothers, vulnerable children and the inmates of the NGO. She also commended the participating artists for supporting the charity cause.

Also speaking at the media parley, particularly why the NGO deserves the charity donation, Barbra Pepoli, general manager of Loving Gaze, said, “We

work among the most fragile communities in Lagos and Taraba states across 4 primary schools with 1,100 pupils, 3 clinics and 2 nutrition centres, amid focus on food security, capacity building and women empowerment through micro-credit and vocational training.”

She noted that the NGO employ a team of 200 people spanning health and social workers, teachers and administrative staff and aim at offering a true friendship, which embraces professional support and care.

With the donation, she noted that such benevolence by Alexis Galleries and Patty Chidiac-Mastrogiannis would go a long way in making their beneficiaries to feel that they are never alone, despite their health condition, their challenges, and difficulties.

Les Contemporains is cocurated by Ato Arinze and Udemma Chukwuma.

It is also sponsored by Pepsi, Tiger, Mikano, Delta Airline, The Guardian Newspaper, Cobranet Internet Service Provider, La Cave, Cool FM, Wazobia TV, Art Café and The Homestores Limited.

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Sunday 16 June 2019

Entertainment My Falz The Bahd Guy Experience; What you can learn from him Linda Ochugbua

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here was something thrilling and amazing about the Falz Experience II, from the onset one easily notices that a lot of work was infused into the success of this show. As you walked into the main hall from the aisle you were definitely taken aback by the amount attention to detail that was put into making the show a reality. The setup was good, the lighting was on stellar, decoration in perfect order and of course, the mind-blowing stage that just kept to glued and entertained all throughout the two hours. I had no doubts that I needed to share my own side of the story, although I noticed one or two slight errors, the honest truth is that this piece is in no way aimed at focusing on that but one written in admiration for a young man who has done incredibly well for himself.

Before I proceed further into the main reason why I decided to share my experience, I must say that this piece is written to encourage many of young men and women out there, who have either a passion or talent but are too scared to explore them for fear of failure, I would say in Dbanj’s words,“You are seating on a long thing”, and you are wasting valuable time which can never be regained once it’s gone. If you don’t dare to dream, dare to try, and keep at it, you will only remain at the mediocre level. As Linda Ikeji explained in the last CEO Magazine interview, “the most important thing in life is leaving her footprint in the sands of time”, whereby generations afterward would know that she achieved her dreams. The honest truth in life is that life is bare and worthless without dreams.

Over the years we have seen young

men and women rise to the top from nothing to the top people like Linda ikeji, Don Jazzy, Tiwa Salvage, Genevieve Nnaji, and many more.

Falz, who is also known as Folarin Falana, was born into the family of the Falanas on October 27, 1990.

His dad is a seasoned lawyer also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a human activist, his mum Funmi Folana is also a seasoned Lawyer and female activist fighting for women and children’s rights in Nigeria, of course, it isn’t strange that they would both encourage their son to becoming one too. He was born in Mushin and went on to study law in The UK in the University of Reading, having graduated with an LLB honors degree in Law, he was called to bar in 2012 after graduating from Nigeria Law School in Abuja. He started his career in 2009, which started then as a hobby while in secondary school with a friend called “The schoolboys”, he released his the first compilation of his recordings as a mixtape then called “Shakara” and later released another on in 2011 called Waz Up Guy”, he gained more grounds when he released

his latest a single called “High Class” and Currency”, these songs brought him to the limelight in 2014. They lead to him being listed in tooXclusive’s Artistes to watch in 2014, from then on till date, its being from one hit back to back for him, it looked like it was his time to shine and nothing could stop him.

In 2015 he won Best collaboration of the year category at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards for his song “Marry Me”, his song Ello Bae won him a nomination in the Best Street Hop Artiste of the Year, category at the Headies 2015.

Falz is a multitalented artist he is highly skilled in singing, acting and comedy, he is one of those rare gems who have got all 3 talents fused in one and has shown impeccable skills in all. In 2016 he won “Best Actor in a comedy Move/ Series” at the 2016 Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards for his role as Segun in Funke Akindele’s Tv series Jenifa’s Diary. In June of 2016, he was also voted the winner of the “Viewer’s Choice Best New International Act” category at the 2016 BET Awards. In 2017 Falz worked with Simi to release

a new album called Chemistry, a seven-track EP solely produced

by Sess he had earlier worked with Simi on some hit tracks which happened to be my favorites called “Jamb Question and Soldier”, till date they remain groundbreaking songs we can’t get enough of. In 2017 he released another album called 27 to commemorate his 27th birthday, it contained 17 track songs and most of them were hits, songs like “Welldone Sir, Bhad Baddo Baddest, and something light, this album featured loads of A list Artists like DAvido, Olamide, Burna Boy, Wande Coal, Maleek Berry, Ycee and many others, this album did extremely very well and gained him loads of nominations and awards, including a nomination for The Headies Award for Rap Album of the Year, indeed it was a good year for him. In May 2018, he released a new music video called “This is Nigeria “ which was inspired by Childish Gambino’s This is America”, the song brought tried to expose the Nigerian issues including corruption and bribery, which was later banned by NBC as being controversial, and the case is still in court till date, in September 2018 he won “Best Supporting Actor” at the 2018 Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards for his role as Quam in Tope Oshin Oguns movie New Money, becoming his first ever Nigerian Musician to win the Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards Twice. He has featured in loads of movies like Jenifa’s Diary, Couple of Days, Tinsel, 10 days in Sun city, New Money, Merry Men; the real Yoruba Demons and Chief Daddy.

It is still a mystery to many how Femi Falana’s son ended up in the entertainment industry having being born into a family filled with Lawyers, although it seems quiet

strange it looks like a recurrent incidence with most wealthy families in Nigeria now, E.g the Dj Cuppy and her sister striving in the music industry “The popular Otedola family” and the famous Musician Davido whose father is a renowned politician, most times these kids end up in professions far-fetched from what their parents had initiated or ever imagined.

The main take away for me from Falz’s life is his passion, dream, drive and determination. He is all round goals and has proven that one can be whatever one decides to be no matter the conditions or circumstances. He has shown tremendous skills across the entertainment industry in just a span of 7 years, Falz is an all-rounder and has broken the jinx of the old saying “One can’t be the jack of all trades as he would be a master of none” , Falz has definitely proven otherwise here, by being the master of all 3 areas, from being the only Nigerian musician to win 2 AMVC awards in movies, to revealing his great skills in comedy with his popular Yoruba street accent which is so adorable, this has taken him round the globe to finally his array of songs which have won him numerous awards back to back, he has consistently revealed that hard work pays. One thing i want to do with this piece is to encourage the young and upcoming stars, that there is no short cut to victory or success, you must struggle and work really hard if you are going to get to the top, there are no quick ways of making money, but consistent diligent and passion. I can see how hard Falz had worked when he performed on that stage, dancing, acting and singing to almost 30 hit songs in one night, he displayed passion and love for what he does.

Obi of Onitsha, Columbia Business School’s Alumni visit Nollywood Portraits exhibition, commend Iké Udé

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naemeka Alfred Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, and members of Columbia Business School’s Alumni Club have commended Iké Udé, a New York-based, Nigerian-born fine art photographer, for bringing his internationally acclaimed photography exhibition titled ‘Nollywood Portraits: A Radical Beauty’ to Nigeria. The Obi also implored him to hold more exhibitions in Nigeria in times ahead.

The monarch made the approbation when he led members of his alma mater, Columbia Business School’s Alumni Club of Nigeria to visit the exhibition currently open to the public at Alliance Française de Lagos / Mike Adenuga Centre, 9, Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos. The exhibition is scheduled to end on Sunday June 16, 2019.

The visit of the monarch and other corporate titans was on the heels of an ‘Evening of Art and Conversation’ organised by his alma mater, Columbia Business School’s Alumni Club of Nigeria in association with Columbia University’s Alumni Club.

In attendance were the institution’s alumni in various fields including banking, finance, private equity, academia, museum management

and others. They all enjoyed private conversations with the artist while appreciating the body of work that graced the walls of Alliance Française de Lagos.

“It is a double pleasure for me today bonding with fellow alumni of Columbia University and seeing the exhibition by Iké Udé. I am thrilled to see Iké’s exhibition of the Nollywood Portraits. The works are absolutely fabulous. Iké is internationally acclaimed as a photography artist and I am very pleased that Nigerian art lovers have this opportunity to appreciate his unique artistic creativity.

I trust that he will hold more exhibitions in Nigeria in the times ahead”, the Obi of Onitsha said after seeing all the portraits displayed.

Also speaking during the visit, Osahon Akpata, president of the Columbia Business School Alumni Club of Nigeria said: “We are pleased to be able to host an art event where our alumni get to interact with Iké Udé, a leading contemporary African artist. His attention to detail in portraying these icons in his signature and elegant style is commendable.”

While further expressing his appreciation to Iké Udé for his spectacular works of art, he commended him for choosing to be a positive

voice for Africa in the world arena.

“With the works of portraiture, Udé is making a bold statement in the discourse about representation of Africans, from the safari perspective to a more modern image of our people. By creating this museumquality body of work, he is taking beautiful images of Africans to the highest art and cultural institutions, where they may be referred to for centuries on end.”

Expressing his appreciation for the visit of the Obi to the exhibition, the artist said, “I am indeed honoured by the august visit of the Obi of

Onitsha to the Nollywood Portraits exhibition. I admire his commitment to the development of the arts in Nigeria and would like to encourage others in leadership of government and private sectors to do the same.”

Preceding the Ivy League school’s alumni event was an informative and spirited panel discussion hosted by the curators of the exhibition, African Artists’ Foundation and moderated by Ozzy Agu, actor and media personality. Titled Countenance and Visage: The Power of Nollywood, Representation and Misrepresentation, the panel speakers were; Alexx Ekubo, an

R-L: Osahon Akpata, (4th) president, Columbia Business School Alumni Club of Nigeria, Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, Obi of Onitsha, (CFR) and Iké Udé, New Yorkbased, Nigerian-born fine art photographer, with other members of the Alumni Club during the visit.

actor; Eku Edewor, actress and media personality; Yolanda Okereke, costume designer; BB Sasore, filmmaker and Iké Udé, master portraitist.

Iké Udé was born in Nigeria in 1960s and has lived in New York City for over three decades. He is best known for his conceptual photographic portraits and self-portraiture. Conversant with the world of fashion and celebrity, Udé gives conceptual aspects of performance and representation a new vitality, fusing his theatrical selves and multiple personae with his creative practice.

His works have been widely exhibited and collected both privately and by institutions, including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Smithsonian Institution and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Udé is author of Nollywood Portraits: A Radical Beauty (Skira, 2016), Style Files: The World’s Most Elegantly Dressed (Harper Collins, 2008) and Beyond Decorum (MIT Press, 2000) and was publisher of the seminal international magazine, aRUDE between 1995 and 2009. He was a 2017 TED Global speaker and has featured on the coveted Vanity Fair International Best Dressed List three times. He lives and works in New York in the US.

Sunday 16 June 2019

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Entertainment Remembering Ras Kimono, who was never ‘Under Pressure’

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OBINNA EMELIKE bout this time last year, precisely June 10, 2018, the Nigerian entertainment industry, particularly lovers of the reggae genre, were disheartened over the death of Ras Kimono, a popular reggae musician who won many fans with his creative ingenuity, pushed frontiers for music advocacy and hosted sold-out live shows and tours.

The late reggae music icon, who was born as Oseloke Augustine Onwubuya in 1958 in Delta State, first encountered music while in secondary school. Then, as a student of Gbenoba Secondary School Agbor, he thrilled his fellow students who were his first fans. Determined to make a career out of music, he later joined the Jastix Reggae Ital, alongside other members like Majek Fashek, Amos McRoy Jegg and Black Rice Osagie.

Due to his unique style, he went on to carve a niche for his music in the heydays of reggae music in Nigeria, when the likes of Majek Fashek made rains during live converts. He was also one of the very first Nigerian artistes that could properly infuse the Jamaican Patois in his delivery, wining fans even in far away Jamaica and countries where reggae genre was appreciated then.

Moreover, his music was greatly influenced by the poverty, inequality and hardship he witnessed in his early life, which he also fought on stage. But his ability to make pro-masses kind of music and

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Ras Kimono

being a voice for the masses won him huge fans.

Though Kimono released his debut album titled under ‘Pressure’ in 1989 alongside Massive Dread Reggae Band, earlier he served a long apprenticeship on the Nigerian music circuit, experimenting with a number of styles, before making his late 80s breakthrough as a reggae singer.

Once hitting the music stage, Kimono kept thrilling fans with more releases; especially his popular single entitled ‘Rhumba Stylee’.

The fusion of Jamaican and native African influence in his music stood him out from his peers then.

Yet, he took the centre stage again with the release of

‘We No Wan’ in 1989, ‘What’s Gwan’ in 1990, an advocacy music, which among other things, harped on the need for Africans to intellectually repel colonialism and its arbitrary boundaries between tribes. He also released ‘Rub A Dub’ later.

He was also courageous in his fight with music as he often mentioned people in power who he saw as problems to African political, economic and social freedom.

He later released a string of hit albums before the decline in the popularity of reggae occasioned by the mad incursion of hip pop in the early 90s. From then onwards, he began touring all over Africa, Europe and the United States, promoting his brand of reg-

gae music.

Probably because of the huge decline in reggae music, he left the scene for a while, resting in America with his wife, (who also died shortly after him) after years of successful career.

On his return in 2009, Tony Okoroji, then chairman of the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) got him onboard as a member of the board, offering him opportunity to perform in shows again.

But what would have been a real comeback was the series of events planned to mark his 37 years on stage in the later part of 2018, which his death scuttled.

Kimono also had several awards and recognitions for

following his passion. Top among the awards include; Nigeria Music Awards, Fame Music Awards and many more. Until his death, he still toured and performed in concerts and for a loyal fan-base of all ages. Of course, his music is still played on radio, throughout West Africa and the across the world.

Many fans say his music is evergreen because of the issues he addressed with them.

For instance, Rhumba Style entertained and wooed many on the dance-floor, ‘Under Pressure’ on the other hand reflected and addressed the situation within the polity under the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida then. But Nigerians seem to be under more pressure now

than even then.

Kimono would be remembered not only for his creativity, but also for his strict discipline.

The intrigue and also reality is that Ras Kimono never smoked despite being a reggae icon and in the midst of associates who smoked. He was a vegetarian for 27 years and was known for his traditional dreadlocks, which he carried for over 30 years. He truly stood for his principles till death.

However, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel and the legacies of Ras Kimono are not going to die.

Oge, the daughter of the late reggae icon, has now stepped into her father’s big shoes. She has formally taken over the Massive Dread band, once led by her father.

Most importantly, she had launched her first album titled “Good Ole Days” during a memorial concert hosted in honour of her father at Nite Shift Coliseum Ikeja, on June 10, 2019.

She described reggae as `conscious music’. “With consciousness, there is growth, love, happiness and rest of mind. I promise to do clean reggae music and lend my voice to the betterment of society and the world at large.”

Promising to truly step into her father’s big shoes, Oge assured that, “I am relentless and passionate when it comes to doing music, and I know I got this trait from my late father”.

The reggae world supports Oge and wishes her the best as she works to consolidate on Ras Kimono’s legacies in music.

Associates honours Amaechi with book reading session Iniobong Iwok

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t was a day to remember has businessman and politician Prince Tonye Princewill, hosted a mostly audience of professionals at Freedom Park to mark the birthday of the one of Southsouth finest politician and former governor of Rivers State Rotimi Amaechi who turned 54 on May 27.

The occasion was one-ofkind for Amaechi who is the current Minister of Transportation and better known in the political quarters.

Jilting the conventional glitz and glam of birthday celebration for a reading session and poetry performance, Princewill and Hon. George Tolofari alongside other friends of the Minister of Transportation showcased an Amaechi who is every inch

a literature buff.

This comes as a surprise to those who are familiar with the man better known as Lion of Niger Delta but the compere, Jahman Anikulapo, a literary icon himself recounted to the audience that Amaechi was one of the few governors in the country whose love for literature is very admirable.

He told the audience how Amaechi supported the Rainbow Book Club which started advocacy programmes in 2005 to draw attention to the importance of reading to personal and national development.

His unwavering stance to that cause fetched Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers state the distinguished honour of the U.N.E.S.C.O World Book Capital City in 2014 while he was still in office.

But the biggest reveal

came from Princewill who described the avid reader Amaechi embodies.

“Most people don’t know about the literary side of Amaechi, they only know about the controversial side of him. But he has a strong literary side to him. Amaechi can read three books at the same time. Usually when he finds a novel he really likes, he buys several copies for his friends.

He is a fan of books. Part of the reason he is a fighter is because he is knowledgeable having read so many books about how things are and how they are supposed to be. That has somehow evoked a rebellious spirit in him so when you see him reacting certain ways, it is because of the import of the knowledge gathered in books.”

For the reading session, Woke Soyinka’s ‘The Man

Died’ was chosen for two reasons. First, like so many in the literary world, Soyinka is considered the father of literature and Amaechi is no exception.

The other reason being that the novel which was written by the professor during his incarceration at the peak of the Nigerian Civil War, is a product of his experience as a fighter of the people, a role which Amaechi played during his governorship days where he curtailed the reign of terror and brigandage in Rivers.

The book, however, was not the only thing the organisers got right. The reading panel comprised individuals from different walks of life who have in one way or the other encountered the visionary politician.

They include; prolific envi-

ronmental rights campaigner and art promoter Sir Newton Jibunoh; author and poet Reginald Ofodile; veteran actress, Joke Silva; publisher of men lifestyle magazine; Modemen, Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa; and corporate entrepreneur Rick Nwanso.

Amaechi has in one way or the other affected their lives and they didn’t hesitate to tell the audience.

Newton recalled how Amaechi defied the harmattan weather and drove all the way from Port Harcourt to Asaba to attend his summit.

To him, this was an exceptional example of altruism.

The occasion was a way of repaying his kindness since they have not seen each other for a long time.

Tafawa-Balewa recalled the many times he has sat with the Minister, picked

his brain and realised the distinguished intellectual he was. Thus, it wasn’t a surprise that he has graced the glossy covers of his magazine more than once.

Though the initial plan was to stick with ‘The Man Died’ but Silva brought a twist to it when she vocally dramatized a section of Wole Soyinka’s ‘Ake’.

Her performance received a loud applause. Being that the Minister’s birthday coincided with a Children’s Day celebration; there were echoes by members of the audience for children to be equipped with books for both personal and national development.

While Amaechi was in absentia, his friend and ally, Hon. George Tolofari rained accolades on him, highly impressed by how the former governor has reached the echelons of power.

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Sunday 16 June 2019

Travel

How Dubai is boosting tourism with scenic architecture Stories by OBINNA EMELIKE

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s scenic architecture continues to shape tourism landscape, Dubai, known for its incredible vision and ingenious architectural feats, has continued to position itself as home to some amazing buildings and structures famed as global landmarks worth visiting.

From the traditional architecture to the modern, the city’s glittering skyline has showcased innovation in architecture for centuries now maintaining both the cultural attraction of Old Dubai, while raising something new.

For instance, in order to cope with hotter temperatures, earlier streets in the likes of Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood were very narrow, with buildings separated by small alleys (Sikka), which help create wind tunnels that cool down streets and provide shade.

In Dubai, wind towers (Barajeel) are the world’s oldest form of air conditioning, and is another way early settlers cooled their houses.

In pre-electricity days in Dubai, these were built on top of houses and buildings and were open on all four sides – taking in warm air and directing cooler winds to flow down into the home.

However, not only do such neighbourhoods counter the warm climate, they also create airy summer huts (Bait Areesh). Sample of these can be found at the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.

To experience how the old meets the new in terms of architecture, visitors can gain a greater appreciation of Dubai’s culture and customs at the Sheikh Mohammed

Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU), located in a beautifully restored wind tower house, sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch, or dinner and take a seat on Bedouin-style carpets and pillows and enjoy a selection of traditional dishes while your local host answers questions about life in the emirate.

Visitors could also choose to stay at XVA Art Hotel, a restored courtyard house that meshes contemporary art, culture and traditional hospitality – together resulting in a creative space for poets, artists and visitors alike. The Dubai Museum is also housed in the Al Fahidi Fort, the oldest existing building in the city, and features galleries that recreate historic local houses, mosques, souks, date

farms, desert and marine life.

Other restored architecture could be found at the Al Shindagha District home to a number of older buildings– notably the Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House, official residence of Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum, who ruled Dubai from 1912 to 1958, and is grandfather to the current Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

With its unique tradition-inspired modern architecture, Dubai continues to blend its rich heritage into its architecture today, with key cultural motifs notable in numerous buildings around the city. For instance, Dubai Opera, the city’s first multi-format performing arts theatre, located in Downtown

Dubai, easily catches your eye with its iconic shape of a dhow, a traditional sailing vessel. The building’s exquisite design was created by Janus Rostock and his team at Atkins, and has the exceptional ability to transform into three modes; from a theatre into a concert hall, and into a ‘flat floor’ mode becoming a banquet or event hall.

Other such existing architecture are the Burj Al Arab, Palm Jumeirah, the world’s largest man-made island, the Jumeirah Mosque built entirely from white stone, with towering twin minarets framing a large central dome, Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa located in the desert, Madinat Jumeirah, as well as, the Al Seef District, a site for pearl diving.

But the city is not done. Dubai appears committed to redefining the architectural landscape of the world with soon-to-be-launched masterpieces. These include the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, which covers 66,000 square meters, and has been designed to resemble an open book placed on a rehl, Coca-Cola Arena, which will be Dubai’s largest indoor arena for music, sports and entertainment events, Expo 2020 Sustainability Pavilion, the Museum of The Future, which will explore the future of science, technology and innovation, as well as, the Dubai Creek Tower, expected to be taller than the Burj Khalifa.

And while the world looks forward to the launch of these groundbreaking architectural masterpieces, Dubai’s plethora of modern architecture and innovative structures, cannot be overlooked.

The Dubai World Trade Centre, for instance, is the city’s first highrise building, which has played a pivotal role in the growth of international trade for the Middle East, ever since its inauguration by Queen Elizabeth in 1979.

Still in that league is the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, which stands at over 828m tall with 162 floors. The tower was designed

by American architect Adrian Smith at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill to resemble the Hymenocallis or Spider Lily – a regional desert flower.

Other notable architectural masterpieces are the Cayan Tower, which twists 90 degrees as it rises, the Etihad Museum, which covers 2.5 hectares, Jameel Art Centre, as well as, The Opus (The Building that Never Sleeps), crafted in the form of a cube with two separate towers that merge together.

ATQ announces winners of Balafon Award for Tourism in West Africa

…winners to be honoured at 5th Accra Weizo

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frican Travel Quarterly (ATQ) has released the list of winners of Balafon Awards, noting further that they would be recognised at Accra Weizo, the annual West African tourism and travel fair.

The award winners are the best performers in the industry chosen by the publishers of Atqnews.com; the online platform for African Travel Quarterly (ATQ), Travellers Magazine and a member of Travel Media Group.

The Balafon Awards of Excellence is an annual award that recognises pioneers and best players in the tourism industry for the ECOWAS region. For this year, Atqnews.com is using Balafon awards to draw attentions to the best conference centres in West Africa. In 2017, it hosted the awards for ‘Top 100 Tourism personalities in West Africa’ and at the 2018 edition it hosted the ‘Top 100 Hotels in West Africa’.

The winners of the categories were selected via nominations to atqnewsawards@gmail.com, which ended on June 3, 2019. The 5th Accra Weizo 2019 is organised

by Akwaaba Travel Market in partnership with Ghana Tourism Authority. It is themed ‘Seamless travel is West Africa’ and is expected to bring travel and tourism professionals from across the West Africa region. Last year, at

the World Travel Market in London, Ghana Tourism Authority signed a five-year MOU with the organisers of Accra Weizo to jointly organise the expo with the owners Akwaaba Travel Market. Accra Weizo has been organised in Ghana for four years now and the 2019 edition holds from June 28 to 29, 2019 in Accra, Ghana.

As well, the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) together with its stakeholders on Wednesday launched the 2019 edition of the Women in Tourism Summit and the Accra Weizo Fair, in Accra. The summit on the theme: “Empowering women in Ghana’s Tourism Industry” is scheduled for June 27, while the fair on the theme “seamless travel is West Africa” is scheduled from June 28-29, 2019.

Isaac Adomako–Mensah, deputy executive director, finance and administration, GTA, said both the summit and fair have become part of the major events to promote tourism in the country since their inception. He said the fair was geared towards getting West Africans to cooperate with each other, and is aimed at creating a seamless travel environment in West Africa by bringing together travel professionals to Accra. He said the GTA would host delegates coming from nations in the East, West and Southern Africa at a

L-R: Collins Udolu, of Accra Weizo; Bella Ahu, GHATOF president; Adomako Mensah, Ag DED, Ghana Tourism Authority, during a recent press briefing unveiling Accra Weizo. three-day familiarization tour from June 25-27, 2019. “The delegates will take a tour of the Greater Accra, Western and Central regions.

Places of visit would include Nzulezu, Ankasa Conservation Area, Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Secondi European Town, and the Cape Coast Castle”, he disclosed.

Isaac Adomako–Mensah noted that the tour programme was in tandem with the authority’s domestic tourism campaign of Eat, Feel, See, and Wear Ghana. He congratulated the leaderships of both events, expressing hope that the events in the long run would accelerate the development of tourism in Ghana and West Africa.

In his remarks on behalf of Accra

Weizo, Collins Udolu said the fair had come this far after its inception five years ago, solely by the work of the dedicated team with support of stakeholders looking to enhance the business and tourism environment across Africa. “This year the event would have speakers from Ghana, Nigeria, Dubai, and Uganda”, he said.

Bella Ahu, president, Ghana Tourism Federation, congratulated the organisers of both events, saying empowering women in tourism was long overdue, and the summit had come at an appropriate time when women empowerment was on the increase in the industry. “Five years in the life of every organisation needs to be

celebrated, and we believe that participants would take the opportunity to see, eat, feel and wear Ghana.” Ghana has declared 2019 the year of return in commemoration of 400 years of slavery. It has since hosted many events to mark the year. Accra weizo will be one of the international events listed for 2019.

The winners of the 2019 BALAFON West African Travel and Tourism Awards include; Allen Onyema (Air Peace) as Travel Personality of the Year in West Africa, Segun Runsewe, DG, Nigeria Council For Art Culture as Tourism Man of the Year in West Africa, Aviation Man of the Year in West Africa goes to Captain Solomon Quianoo (Ghana), Hotel Personality of the Year in West Africa goes to Amaechi Ndili of Golden Tulip West Africa, African World Airline (AWA) wins Best Airline in West Africa, Kempinski Goldcity Hotel wins Best Hotel in West Africa, while Best Airport in West Africa (for government agencies) goes to Kotoka International Airport, Ghana.

The Best Ground Handling Company in West Africa goes to Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCOL), Ghana Tourism Authority wins the Best Tourism Marketing Agency in West Africa, while Best Tourism event of the Year in West Africa is Carnival Calabar, Nigeria.

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Travel Nigeria lags as Ghana, Ethiopian airlines ink deal to set up national carrier Stories by IFEOMA OKEKE

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lmost one year after the flamboyant ceremony to unveil Nigeria’s national carrier, Nigeria Air at the Farnborough Air Show in London, United Kingdom, the project has failed to kick off since then.

However, Ghana appears to be tapping into Nigeria’s ‘lost’ opportunity, as Ethiopian Airlines, and the government of Ghana recently signed a strategic partnership agreement to set up a new national carrier in Accra, Ghana.

The proposed Ghanaian national carrier will be a home based airline that would be established by Ethiopian Airlines in collaboration with the government of Ghana and the private sector. The government of Ghana and the private sector will have a minimum of 51 percent stake in the proposed airline while Ethiopian will hold up to 49 percent interest in the new national airline.

During an interview with journalists from Nigeria in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia recently Haliu Esayas, the managing Director, Ethiopian International Services, said the national carrier project is in good progress and both parties are working closely in order to realize it as soon as possible.

Tewolde Gebremriam, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO said that the final agreement was signed with the government of Ghana in May 2019. “It is still at an initial stage and we don’t have any timeline yet,” Tewolde said.

In 2016 the government of Ghana invited international airlines who are interested in forging a strategic partnership to establish

a home based national carrier in Accra. Ethiopian Airlines, Air Mauritius and indigenous carrier Africa World Air presented their expression of interest to the Ghanaian Ministry of Transport.

The Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Aviation and Ghana Airports have been evaluating the proposals. After a yearlong evaluation the Ministry of Transport announced that it has selected Ethiopian Airlines as the preferred airline for the strategic partnership for the establishment of the new national airline of Ghana.

However, the suspended Nigeria Air was also supposed to be a partnership deal with Ethiopian Airline but was suspended over delayed process in its actualisation.

Hadi Sirika, the Minister of State for Aviation said the transaction advisers did not complete the process on modalities on the ownership of the new airline in time.

Sirika explained that Lufthansa, which was the first approved transaction adviser was rejected due to its outrageous demands which included opening an escrow account, refusal to pay tax and demand for 75 percent upfront payment.

Sirika also disclosed that another major factor that stalled the process was the inability of the federal government to provide sovereign guarantee for the procurement of 30 airplanes estimated at $300 million to be paid in instalment till 2020.

However, experts say this is not the only failed attempt by Nigeria to run or set up a national carrier.

Proposed national carriers and the ones that have gone into extinction include Nigerian Airways, Air Nigeria, New Co, Nigerian Global, Nigerian Eagle, Virgin Nigeria, Air Nigeria, Nigerian Eagle and Nigeria one.

Dondekojo Abayomi, an aviation expert explained in a tread the rise and fall of national carriers in Nigeria.

According to Abayomi, after independence, Nigeria bought out the equities of Elder-Dempster and British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) in the then West African Airways Corporation (WAAC). It was renamed “Nigerian airways” in 1971. Nigerian airways lasted for about 40 years, and operated local and international flights to West and Central Africa.

It also operated intercontinental flights to Europe, USA, Middle East and Asia,” he stated.

The airline was fully owned by government with supervision from relevant ministries. Government paid the debts and determined it’s routes. Civil Servants and the Military used its services at will and engaged the airline in rescue operations, pilgrimages and missions without payment. This he identified was where the problem began.

“Then they started trading the call sign to private airlines, usually for Hajj operations so the huge over-flight, landing and parking charges were left for Nigeria Airways to settle.

“Virtually, all the F27 and F28 work horses of the airline were either sold or given away to some African States by the Federal Government in a show of big brotherhood.

We lent a lot to help the apartheid struggle in South Africa too.

“The airline owed IATA clearing house almost $50m. This led to the expulsion from the clearing house meaning, the airline couldn’t fly to a lot of places or connect airlines,” he explained.

In a research conducted by Eric Akpo on the ‘Birth, Rise and Fall of Virgin Nigeria’, he observed that Virgin Nigeria purportedly faced a lot of external challenges and internal squabbles in the build-up to Virgin’s withdrawal from the partnership.

Some of the external factors he mentioned include the case opposing its operations in the USA made against its request for a permit by other major operators in the aviation sector in the USA based on the others’ claims “of an alleged failure on the part of the Nigerian Government to approve a code-share arrangement between Ameri-

can Airlines and British Airways.

American claims that this alleged denial violates the US-Nigeria Open Skies Agreement”, WPNA Journal (2004).

He noted that other external factors were poor infrastructure in Nigeria, conflicts with government aviation authorities as regards use of facilities and poor profit turnout.

Richard Branson, the chairman of Virgin Atlantic said: “We have virgin’s ill-fated footsteps by setting up a new airline in Africa in conjunction with Nigerian government. The details of the doomed attempts to crack the Nigerian market in the 2000s is better imagined. We put together a very good airline-the first airline in West Africa that was ever IOSA/IATA operational safety audit accredited but unfortunately it got tied down to the politics of the country. We led the airlines for 11 years.

“We fought daily battle against government agents who wanted to daily make fortune from us, politicians who saw the government 49% as a meal to seek for all kinds of favour, watchdogs (regulatory body) that didn’t know what to do and persistently asking for bribes at any point.”

Branson disclosed that N3billion was realised for the federal government of Nigeria during the joint venture and the government didn’t bring anything to the table except dubious debts by the previous carrier, Nigeria Airways.

Sadly, Nigerian travellers appears to be the ones directly affected by this development as they continue to face difficulty getting connecting flights to various destinations as a result of the absent of a strong Nigerian carrier to code-share with other carriers or reciprocate bi-lateral agreements.

However, Haliu Esayas, disclosed some of the contributors to the success of Ethiopian Airlines include its meticulously chosen business model and robust execution strategy, self-sufficiency in training aviation personnel who embody the values and spirit of Ethiopian Airlines, utilization of latest technology, its management autonomy (Despite state ownership, Ethiopian Airlines is managed by seasoned aviation professional without meddling by the government in its day-to-day operations) and its unique and strategically located hub- in the middle of the East-West major trade lane.

BA rewards top selling agent in the West African sub-region

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n furtherance of its commitment to its trade partners, British Airways has awarded its top selling agent in the West African sub-region, for their contribution to the airline’s performance in 2018.

Finchglow Travel Agency who have been in partnership with British Airways for some time, were

awarded a plaque and certificates in addition to a business class ticket to any location on British Airways network.

Speaking on this, Kola Olayinka, British Airways Regional Commercial Manager, said, “Our partners are an extension of our BA family and we have a strong standing

relationship that we value with each and every one of them, new and old. We are always delighted to celebrate the hard work and dedication shown by them and this particular honour goes to Finchglow Travel Agency”.

Receiving the award, Bankole Bernard, the Group Managing Di-

rector for Finchglow Travel Agency, reaffirmed their commitment to British Airways, the foremost airline, making travel seamless in the region. He went on to talk about the professionalism of the BA team and how they are always ready to support, strategize and do joint marketing with their trade

partners.

British Airways is a full service global airline, offering year-round low fares with an extensive global route network flying to and from centrally-located airports. It is committed to fostering relationships and delivering the best to those it services.

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Bliss with Nonye Ben-Nwankwo

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Email: chiwuagwu@yahoo.com Phone number (sms only) 08057511893

I almost committed suicide when my girlfriend left me – Vitamin D

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s suicide has become rampant in the country in recent times, comedian, Vitamin D, has come out to say he was a victim of depression and almost killed himself in 2017.

Speaking to Bliss on the phone recently in an exclusive chat, the comedian said he separated from the mother of his child at that time, which almost led him to take his life.

And when asked if that was enough reason to be suicidal, Vitamin D said, “I grew up without a father because my dad died when I was very young. I didn’t have a father figure when I was growing up. So I had promised myself that I would always be there for my children. So when my baby mama left, things weren’t going as planned financially and otherwise. I was so depressed. I left home for about three months to stay with a friend.

It was then I almost took my life but thank God I ended at Prayer City. I went for deliverance and councelling.”

Vitamin D said the estranged relationship got him so devastated because, “I had invested so much in that relationship both financially and emotionally. She was somebody that I trained in school. I paid her fees while she was in school. I had wanted to travel abroad but I cancelled the idea because I didn’t want to leave her because she was pregnant. I didn’t know which way forward. There is a point you would get in life and you would feel there is no break through again. You would feel you had misused all your opportunities. I couldn’t see any headway. Jobs weren’t even coming in again. Everything was at a standstill.

Something was just resonating in my head and that was to kill myself since there was no headway again.”

The comedian revealed that even as they are in the business of making people laugh, most come-

dians are not happy people.

“Social media now make us look as if we are happy people. Those who make other people happy are the most depressed. People think our lives are perfect. But that is not the case. I have issues. I pretend as if all is well and I go back home so empty. One thing I wanted was a woman who would be so gracious to understand me and be so warm when I got back home after an event. My baby mama wasn’t that kind of person and it added to the burden I had.”

The comedian however revealed that he has moved out of that state through the help of some people who were there for him.

“It is two years down the line.

I have overcome that stage; I will not commit suicide again. There are so many people out there who are waiting for you to fail. I have to disappoint them and double my

broken that they would wish they never left me and they would also wish they supported me when I needed them. I have so many people to prove wrong and it has given me that energy to move on.

I also have a mother and I want her to reap the fruits of her labour. Each time I get depressed and I think of these things, I get out of that state.

“Depression is very real. So many people have come to share their experiences with me. I have had to counsel so many people. I have had to help out so many people who had financial challenges.

Depression is not a fiction. It exists.

I went through it and I have friends who could testify what I went through. People are depressed and young people are at the verge of committing suicide,” he said.

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Sola Sobowale, also threw in some drama, breaking up a striptease performance.

A huge crossover was the appearance of Falz’s character from Chief Daddy, Famzy Beecroft, who made a spectacular appearance and performed his hit tune “Moving Mad”. And then, ‘Sweet Girls’ – Simi, Niniola, Seyi Shay – threw in style, vocals and more to add to the magic.

Explaining why he took a new direction with the show Falz said, “The Falz Experience is one of the most open windows into who I

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ctress, Bisola Aiyeola has said she wished the father of her daughter Leyla was alive to see the young girl blossom.

In an instagram post recently, the actress whose claim to fame was being a contestant at the Big Brother Nigeria reality show few years ago, said she is grateful to God for giving her such a perfect gift.

“This time 10 years ago, I was three days into labour with my Angel and now, 10 years after, I am super grateful to God for giving me the best gift I have ever received.

“I also need to commend my ovaries for doing a good job. I wish her dad was here but he is definitely watching her as an angel. Happy birthday Leyla.”

Bisola also became popular when she clinched the Africa Magic Viewers choice Awards hustle and channel all my strength in the trailblazer category.

Bisola’s baby papa, Olanto what I do so when they see me tomorrow, they would be heart- rewaju Malcom died almost a

Celebrities, fans gather for Falz Experience 2

he much talked about Falz Experience 2 has come and gone but it would remain indelible in the minds of thousands who came for the concert held in Lagos recently.

Indeed, so many celebrities and fans throng out to witness the fourhour live concert featured performances by Falz with support from a star-studded supporting cast.

If the maiden edition was ‘lit’, Falz Experience 2 was incredible!

Falz had dominated the chats and conversation in 2019 with the release of his third studio album, “Moral Instruction,” which drove the social and political conversation of Nigeria, and elevated the place of art as a tool for societal change.

With piercing songs such as ‘Hypocrite’ and ‘Talk’, the rapper created a set list that offered a 360 experience featuring the best of entertainment, performances, satire and layered education at the concert.

Falz ran the entire spectrum of his personality and talents, fusing his music with comedy and the best character acting. The Sweet Boys Association (SBA) made a live appearance for the first time.

I wish my daughter’s father was alive – Bisola

am as a performer and entertainer.

My fans are a huge part of Falz. They are the driving force of my art, and remain a solid reason why I exist as a musician.”

Born Folarin Falana, Falz is a Law graduate from the University of Reading who began his music career in secondary school, teaming up with friends to establish a group called “The School Boys.”

He has three albums, a joint EP with Simi, a string of hit singles including, ‘Something Light’, ‘Soft Work’, ‘Karishika’, ‘Wehdone Sir’, ‘Bad Gang’ and‘ Soldier’ to name a few.

year ago. He reportedly passed away at a hospital in Surulere, Lagos. He was a veteran artiste manager and music promoter.

Awka set for Hi-Life Fest as winners emerge in Enugu

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he 2019 edition of the HiLife Fest powered by Life Continental Beer began with an exciting start last Sunday, as the regional auditions of the highly competitive music talent show kicked off in the coal city of Enugu.

Budding highlife artistes and dance groups hoping to hit the big time assembled at New Berries Lounge, Enugu in a bid to land a place on the popular Hi-Life Fest show set to hit TV screens in July.

The legendary highlife maestro, Bright Chimezie, led other judges including African dance scholar Dr. Akaz, actor David Jones-David and special guest judge, MC Lyrix to select those who will get the chance to battle on stage.

Themed “Rhythm of Progress”, the night kicked off with contestants in the music category battling it out on stage. After a keenly contested showdown, Okafor Chukwudi and Cyprian Oluchi emerged tops. By this result, both musicians progress to the quarterfinals while the others got consolation gifts courtesy of

Life Continental Lager.

In the dance category, Ofuobi dance troupe from Nsukka came out tops over two other groups to progress to the quarterfinals of the competition.

Attendees got the chance to participate in a raffle draw where they were rewarded with gift items such as generators, standing fans, and cans of Life Lager.

There was also a special guest performance by 2017 Hi-Life Fest King, Chibest David who delighted the audience as they enjoyed the refreshing taste of Life continental Lager.

Speaking shortly after the show, the Brand Manager, Life Continental Beer, Chidi Egwu remarked; “We have witnessed a very entertaining night of good highlife music and I congratulate those who won tonight. As a brand, we are happy to be able to bring this kind of experience to our ever-loyal fans because highlife music is synonymous to the south-eastern culture.”

With the Enugu auditions done and dusted, the train will now move to Awka, the capital city of Anambra state on June 16.

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Life&Living Tips and tricks to applying makeup for different skin types

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Jumoke Akiyode-Lawanson

eople have different skin tones, colours and types and because of this, women should not have a ‘one size fits all’ approach to using beauty products and putting on makeup.

The beauty industry in Nigeria has emancipated growing in multiple folds with increasing value worth billions of dollars. This certainly shows that makeup and beauty is serious business and should be taken more seriously as not just a craft but a study of skill.

Experts in the industry reckon that Nigeria’s beauty and personal care sector was worth $595.8 million in 2011, up from $439.8 million in 2006 and by 2016, Nigeria’s young and aspiring population pushed sales to $620.6million.

As a result, make-up artists at the fore front of Nigeria’s makeup industry revolutions such as Tara Fela-Durotoye, Banke MeshidaLawal, Elaine Shobanjo, Labisi Folawiyo and others are laden to raise the standard for makeup application by embedding skin therapy to makeup application.

Choosing the right foundation, moisturizer, primer and other makeup products for you face is very important. Just because someone else with a similar skin tone to yours uses a particular product that suits her does not mean that it is good for

you. The ingredients in products really matter and should be carefully examined before use on skin.

Here are the different skin types and what they need to glow; Normal skin: Normal is the term widely used to refer to a well balanced skin which is neither too oily nor too dry. A normal skin normally has fine pores, a velvety soft and smooth texture and no blemishes.

Dry skin: This sin type produces less oily secretion (sebum) than normal skin. As a result of the lack of sebum, dry skin lacks the lipids that it needs to retain moisture and build a protective shield against external influences. If your skin feels tight, rough and looks dull, then you prob-

ably have dry skin. There a different degrees of dry skin.

Oily skin: Usually characterized by visible pores, this skin type has heightened sebum production and so your face is usually oily looking.

Combination skin: As the name suggests, a combination skin type is a mix of skin types. Skin types vary between the T-Zone (fore head, chin and nose) and the cheeks on combination skin. The T-zone is usually oily while the cheeks are either dry or normal.

Skincare products and makeup should be selected to match skin type and address skin condition.

There are just so many different formulas, textures and ingredients out

there and that is why choosing the perfect one for your skin matters.

It is recommended that people with Acne prone skin use medium to full coverage foundation on their skin. Your moisturizer and face primer should also be water base and not oil base. When applying foundation to acne prone skin, make sure to use a clean brush or sponge to apply the product in a stippling motion.

For aging skin, try and avoid the use of heavy products that can settle into fine lines and wrinkles.

Skin tends to become drier with age, so opt for light coverage liquid foundation or a tinted moisturizer to get younger looking, luminous

skin.

To quench your dry skin throughout the day, experts recommend using light coverage hydrating foundation. Use your fingertips which are warmer than using a brush or sponge to press the product into the skin. Do not rub foundation around your face, instead tap/dab into your skin. Also try not to further dry out your skin by washing in very warm water. Use cold water instead.

To ditch the shine on oily skin, choose a medium to full coverage foundation. When you apply products to your face use a sponge or brush. This is because using your fingers can transfer the oil from your hands to your face.

All the ‘Stylespiraton’ you need to help you find the perfect outfit IFEOMA OKEKE

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t could sometimes be a challenge choosing outfits that best suits an important occasion.

This could be because you don’t know what others will wear so you don’t look odd or you just being very careful that your outfit isn’t interpreted to be too ‘local’ or ordinary for the occasion.

The world of fashion has a long and varied artistic history. Trends change on a seasonal basis and often reflect the overall sentiment of culture at any given time. For example, in times of war or turmoil, feminine designs tend to become more popular to counterbalance all the perceived negativity.

When there’s international financial trouble, designs tend to be less over-the-top and many designers focus on more realistic designs. By contrast, in economic boom times, designs tend to be very avant-garde and are more art pieces than functional clothing.

Taking inspiration from both modern and historical fashion can be a great way to infuse something new and fresh in your website designs.

However, there are indeed few occasions you could pick out amazing designs from and one of such is the Moët & Chandon’s global event.

Lovers of designs, ‘fashionisters’ and stylists should look out for Moët Grand Day. For 24 hours, friends of this beloved champagne house will gather to toast to the memorable moments that bring joy to their lives. Every year it has been

done, Grand Day has been an allwhite affair but this year it’s going to be extra special because it’s an all-gold affair!

The organisers are incredibly excited for this year’s style theme because it gives the guests a chance to stun the event and create iconic style moments that will demand their attention. Don’t get them wrong; they love the all-white looks

for Grand Day but they are ready for a little more fun and are ready to be dazzled.

But just in case you need some style inspiration or “stylespiration” to aid you in finding the right outfit for this lavish event, Brand Manager of Wines & Champagnes at Moet Hennessy for Nigeria, Elizabeth Oputa, has put together a lookbook from the recent dinner in honor of

the Moet Society that’s sure to assist you in putting together an outfit for the grand day.

Apart from occasions like the Moët & Chandon’s global event, inspirations can be gotten from various other channels. They include the following: Magazines: Take a look at the magazine rack of your local bookstore, grocery store, or drugstore for a wealth of fashion magazine choices. Some of the more popular ones (in the U.S., anyway) are Bazaar, Vogue, Glamour, and Nylon.

There are incredible styles that could just be perfect for that occasion.

Style.com: Style.com is the online home of Vogue magazine and has up-to-the-minute coverage of designers, parties, and anything else going on in the world of fashion.

Style Blogs: There are a ton of style blogs out there. A few excellent ones to check out include The Cut (New York Magazine’s fashion blog), The Sartorialist, and fashiontoast.

The Street: Check out fashion in the city or town in which you live.

There are likely plenty of fashionforward residents in or around your home town.

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SundayBusiness Food & Beverages With Ayo Oyoze Baje

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o achieve success in any business venture one must be ready to drink from the fountains of knowledge, gathered over the years, by those who have trod the path ahead of us.These are usually based on their vast and varied experiences in their chosen professions. There is no exception to this as those who have followed the exciting trajectory of the brains behind the increasingly popular XtraLarge Farms-the couple called Farmer Seyi Davids and the wife, Moji Davids-must have observed.

The truth of course, is that it takes vision, the courage to start small or the attribute of daring to dream big, the guts to overcome all odds, or what I call the will to

Xtralarge farms Xtratoken win. This must be mixed in the pot pourri of passion, focus, pragmatic partnerships and integrity to deliver goods and services as at when promised. All these salient facts came to the fore at the recent launch of the first Agritech City in Africa as well as the Xtratoken digital currency-the first of its kind in the world.The vent took place at Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos.

Interestingly, what began with vegetable farming and the invitation of interested farmers to partake in the program tagged ‘Recession Exemption’ back in 2016 with the promise of 100 per cent profit has since expanded into several other business ventures. These include Xtralarge all-organic Foods (Wondermeal, fish, vegetable oil, plantains, carrots), Centre for Practical Agricultural Training, Homes and Property, and the newly Xtralarge MicroFinance Bank.

The icing on the sweet cake is the fast unfolding Agritech City predicated on cuttingedge technology. One can only imagine an Xtralarge University, Nursery and Primary schools, banks, shopping malls all located in a serene, airy vast city occupying 1,00 acres of land at the Idi-Iroko axis of Ogun state. And wait for this-an Xtralarge Foodspital where ailments, including seemingly intractable ones are treatedpurely on carefully selected food recommended to the patients.

But all these mouth-watering dishes are just part of a larger

picture ofbringing together one million Nigerians who share in the vision of the goal-getting and highly resourceful Davids as a family of modern farmers. And why not?

What began in 2016 some 17 members has since exploded into 15,000 members and counting.

Also, the Xtralarge Food network that costs N8,500 to begin with continues to attract legions of investors. So is the Super Farmer Package for anyone willing to invest in farming without the physical rigours of acquiring land, cultivation, sowing or planting, weeding, tendering to the flourishing seedlingsas well as harvest and marketing.

All one needs do is to pay N100,000 for one allocation or N500,000 for five allocations, or even N1 million for ten allocations.

Mind you, the land is yours for life.

This is for farming that takes a little longer than vegetable growth and you stand to reap a bumper harvest of 100 percent profit in 24 months! It looks unrealistic, isn’t it?

Well, as the deluge of testimonies expressed during the event showed Xtralarge Farms”under promises but over delivers.” Is it the raring of snails, turkey, poultry, grass cutters or the cultivation of plantain and cassava? Xtralarge Farmstakes care of the entire process and you get paid directly into your bank account. Now you understand why it is referred to as “discovering the ATM in your soil”.

An d t a l k i n g a b o u t t h e monetary aspect of the proposed Xtralarge City, the real deal is the

Xtratoken. And what is this digital currency all about? Simply put it is the acceptable currency meant for all manner of transactions within the City. Good enough, unlike other digital currencies this has the focus of erecting programs on the agritech-driven currency.

Billed to officially become valid for transactions as from June 2021, those interested now are given the opportunity to become part of the building process. With time they will benefit and get V.I.P treatment. It should however, be noted that it is not in any way a form of shares or debentures. It is not any form of securities either.

In specific terms the currency will pay for entry into the Agritech City, pay for farming , farm produce, accommodation, pay for shopping, as tuition for the schools, for travels and all manner of leisure activities within it.

As t h e Ch a r m a n / C E O has rightly noted: “Modern, technology-driven agriculture is our future. We do not need to import any food item that we can produce locally here in Nigeria.

My son is studying agriculture because I have enlightened him on the vast potentialities. Our children and youths should be attracted to agriculture. That is why all the equipment to be sued as tractors, planters and harvesters are fully air-conditioned. One modern agric equipment can do the work of 500 farmers.”.

And he rightly added: We all need to eat organic food. We ensure that all the food items we produce

are organic in nature as there are no chemical preservatives. Spraying fruits with zinc to prolong their shelf life is really dangerous to our kidneys. Here our white carrots cure cancer. You can google it. If you invest in maize you stand to make huge profits because it is being used as part of seasoning.”

Not done, he has this to say to Nigerians. Every part of Nigeria is money.Our gutters are filled with money. Recycling is the way forward. We cannot run away from the future. And above all, we must learn to leave a legacy for our children.”

The lessons to learn from the Davids is that of the survival against all odds. The resilience to keep going when they faced low harvests.

The wisdom to partner with knowledgeable people in virtually every field of human endeavour.

The unfailing principles to start small and keep growing bigger. The self satisfaction derivable from the torch of integrity. And last but no means the least, the undisputable faith in God and belief inour abilities.

Kudos to them and all the members of the fast-growing Xtralarge family. Are you ready to join the million farmers all smiling to the bank? That is the million-Naira question. But the answer is right there in your hands!

Baje is Nigerian first Food Technologist in the media ayobaje@yahoo.co.uk; 08057971776

NIMASA deploying technology, partnership to protect marine environment Maryam Shagaya

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he current management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has since its inception prioritised the blending of technology and proactive partnership into the strategy for actualising the Agency’s mandate of regulating the maritime industry. And it has succeeded on that score, what with the various laudable cooperation agreements and technological initiatives the Agency has introduced. The marine environment management aspect of NIMASA’s mandate is one area this strategy has been quite evident.

The Director-General, Dakuku Peterside, has on many occasions emphasised NIMASA’s commitment to the sustainability of the marine environment.

The Marine Environment Management (MEM) department of NIMASA, headed by Dr. Felicia Mogo, is responsible for enforcing laws to protect the marine environment against pollution, while ensuring that all laws related to conventions adopted by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) are complied with. Through the department, NIMASA enforces strategies aimed at preventing

pollution of the seas and oceans and controlling the actions of ships operating within Nigeria’s maritime jurisdiction.

In the first and early second quarter of 2019 alone, NIMASA signed two Memorandums of Understanding relating to marine environment management. The first was with the Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre (MTCC) on March 15 in Mombasa, Kenya, and the other with National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) on April 24 in Abuja. These are both laudable moves by the Agency to ensure that the Nigerian maritime industry is protected from the vagaries of climate change through reduction of carbon emission and damages to marine life and environment caused by oil spills and the maritime.

Coordinated by NIMASA, Nigeria is the MTCC focal point for West Africa, with Oma Ofodile of MEM, NIMASA, as the focal point person overseeing Nigeria and other West African countries, including Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. Nigeria, being a developing country, stands to gain a lot from strategic partnerships in marine environment protection and marine pollution prevention.

This is especially in relation to

the challenge posed by the IMO mandate regarding vessels having bunker fuel oil of 0.5 per cent sulphur content by 2020.

NIMASA was recently chosen to lead a programme initiated by MTCC to track fuel consumption and reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission by ships in an effort to reduce the rate of climate change and its effects on the marine environment. The Agency has expressed its determined to achieve the best results for not only Nigeria but also the other countries under its leadership, being the West African focal point.

MTCC is funded by the European Union and implemented by the IMO. It was set up to assist developing countries in five geographical regions of the world, namely, Latin America, Pacific, Asia, Caribbean, and Africa.

NIMASA is deploying technology to facilitate the achievement of its mandate. The Agency recently installed the Thorium X tablet, a Fuel Consumption Data Collection gadget, aboard a flag state vessel in a pilot project to track and record emission from vessels during voyage. A sensitisation breakfast meeting was held in Lagos to bring together stakeholders and inform them of the technological partnerships and the gains for Nigeria, especially in relation to the adoption

of technologies and building capacity to mitigate climate change.

In the MoU between NIMASA and NOSDRA, both parties agreed to work together, recognising that their roles and mandates cannot be mutually exclusive on matters of oil spill pollution management in the marine environment as set out in the International Convention for Oil Pollution Preparedness Response and Cooperation (0PRC’90). The MoU was in a bid to curb pollution from the movement of empty maritime oil tankers operated by International Oil Companies (IOCs) and spills that involve stationery oil tankers on the high seas.

NIMASA and NOSDRA have reached an agreement with due consideration for the statutory mandate of both agencies.

The world over, coastal waters and oceans are deteriorating at an alarming rate due to increasing coastal development, pollution from ships, oil spills, as well as land-based sources of pollution, habitat destruction, and other threats. NIMASA is implementing technological initiatives and entering partnerships to ensure that the Nigerian marine environment is well protected. This is to avoid potential damage from pollution and abuse of the waters and the concomitant catastrophic effect

on the country’s economy.

The Agency is also engaged in efforts to sensitise the public, communities, and stakeholders to the dangers of environmental pollution and the benefits of a pollution-free environment. It has tried to discourage the reckless disposal of plastics in the environment, especially in the rivers.

Plastic pollution poses significant risks and economic costs.

Not only is the cost of cleaning up plastic debris from seas expensive, excessive pollution can negatively impact tourism and, thus, the entire economy. Plastic pollution spread across countries, creating a regional problem with high costs for economically important sectors, such as tourism and fishing.

While the plastic pollution crisis cannot be resolved overnight, it can be controlled if necessary measures are adopted.

These include recycling of used plastic containers, rather than their careless disposal into the environment, since they are not biodegradable.

NIMASA is applying multifarious approaches to realise a clean marine environment for shipping and other activities. · Shagaya is a staff of NIMASA

Sunday 16 June 2019

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SundayBusiness Revisiting FMBN’s informal sector and co-operative housing scheme

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s access to mortgage continues to be an exclusive preserve of the privileged few in Nigeria, good initiatives that could ease access to the facility by low income earners and those in the informal sector of the economy should be encouraged by the government and its agencies.

This is why there is need for the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to go back to its very inspiring and commendable ‘Informal Sector Co-operative Housing Scheme’ which was launched in Lagos a few years ago with the primary aim of bringing more people into the mortgage net.

The scheme, also tagged ‘Affordable Home Ownership Through Co-operative Financing’, was launched as part of the apex mortgage bank’s efforts at bridging the housing demand-supply gap and giving the vast majority of this economically-disadvantaged Nigerians, who constitute this sector, the opportunity to have decent and affordable housing.

The informal sector in Nigeria comprises low income earners struggling to earn their daily living such as artisans, the road-side mechanics, the market traders, farmers and so on. Basically, these are individuals who do not wear suits, ties or polished shoes to work in air-conditioned offices, yet they contribute immensely to the na-

tional economy.

The National Housing Fund (NHF) scheme, whose operations are supervised by the FMBN, is accessible only to those in the formal sector, but by the launching of this new scheme, FMBN assured that Nigerians in the informal sector would be registered as bona fide contributors to NHF and become eligible for affordable loan to build, purchase or renovate residential accommodation.

The bank explained that the loan facility under the scheme could be accessed in one of two ways, namely Cooperative Housing Development Loan (CHDL) and the Cooperative Housing Funds Loans (CNL).

The CHDL enables a cooperative society that has acquired a plot of land to develop houses for allocation to its members. The parcel of land should have title in the name of the society which would act as the facilitator on behalf of its members and in the loan transaction and would also facilitate construction of the housing units.

To qualify for this loan, the cooperative society must have been in existence for a minimum 12 months; the proposed estate must have good title that can be subleased to individual allottees/ purchasers of the housing units therein, and the tenor for the loan shall be 24 months with a moratorium period of 12 months at an interest rate of

Procurement and Supply Chain

with Gob-Agundu Uche Branch chair (CIPS), Nigeria …. Continued from last week

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ublic, private partnerships and the public finance initiative are models of partnering where the objective is the “delivery of better services to citizens through the creation of sustainable partnerships between councils and suppliers in the public, private, social enterprise and voluntary sectors for the delivery of services and the carrying out of major projects, including construction5”. Other examples of partnering models include local authority companies, joint venture companies and concessions or franchises. There are many different service delivery models and equally there are many different reasons why organizations might want to partner with one another. Some of these reasons include access to new technology, wider markets, new skills, and investment. In the public sector, strategic partnerships, (whether public-public, publicprivate, or public-voluntary sector), can forge strong links that can help to improve service delivery and to

deliver the community plans.

E-marketplaces E-marketplaces are web-based marketplaces whose early evolution was led by dot-com start- ups.

The concept started as a new way to procure products. The scope of this concept has now widened dramatically,andthetruevalueisnow as a mechanism that enables greater collaboration and synchronization between organizations. The use of e Marketplaces, e Catalogues and e Auction systems is fueling the development of open sourcing environments, and it is these environments that will facilitate collaborative commerce solutions.

This however, is not the whole picture and the CIPS believes that for collaborative commerce to continue to evolve, more attention must be paid to the development of business intelligence tools so that critical business data can be extracted from all parts of the value chain. William M. Adams, et al identifies four categories of commerce that are transacted over the Internet.

The four categories are: • Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C)

10 percent.

CNL, on the other hand, offers individual cooperative members a mortgage loan to buy a house developed through the cooperative housing development loan or to renovate an existing one. Individual cooperator shall enjoy the housing loan at 6 percent interest rate repayable over a maximum period of 25years. Cooperators shall make a down payment of 15 percent of the approved selling price/value or improvement as their personal stake in the loan.”

But like many things Nigerian, nothing is being said about the scheme at the moment after all the funfare at its launching. The federal government, at various times, has adopted strategic policies aimed at integrating the informal sector into mainstream national economy.

Such policies include the promotion of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs), directive to commercial banks to engage in rural banking , encouragement of microfinance banking among others.

These policies are usually aimed at enhancing the contribution of the informal sector to the growth of Nigeria economy.

Unconfirmed report indicates that the informal sector in Nigeria constitutes about 85 percent of the country’s total workforce. In terms of economic output and employment, the informal sector accounts for as high as 60 percent of gross

Talking Mortgage with CHUKA UROKO (08037156969, chukuroko@yahoo.com) domestic product and about 70 percent of total employment across all economic sectors.

In other jurisdictions, the informal sector generates about 6.2 percent of aggregate employment in the United States, 22.3 percent in China, about 50 percent in Israel and 80 percent in India which means that given the needed support and regulatory frame work, the informal sector should be a major facilitator in fighting unemployment and poverty in Nigeria.

But all these do not make any meaning to the government and that is why it is every man, mind your business. No structured policy that is targeted at growing this important component of the economy.

Amal Pepple, the minister of housing at the time of the launch of the scheme described it as a significant step towards improving access to affordable housing to a good number of people who may not have the opportunity of owning a home, in their life time, unless they are assisted to do so.

“It is important to resolve the housing challenges of this important segment of the population who constitute about 60 percent of the productive labour force in urban areas; housing finance in Nigeria is encumbered; there is scarcity of long term funds for housing/mortgage finance; there is also unsatisfactory state of housing delivery which is accentuated by other factors such as high cost of land acquisition, difficulty in obtaining land title, high cost of perfecting legal processes and of building materials”, she noted.

The minister noted further that the new product was remarkably different from the existing NHF; Estate Development Loans (EDL) for estate developers and the Cooperative Housing Development Loan (CHDL) which were for formal and private sector operators, adding that the new product had been designed specifically with the informal sector operators in mind to enable them to have access to cheap, reliable and affordable funds, with more relaxed condition for access.

Collaboration between organisations • Consumer-to-Business (C2B) • Business-to-Consumer (B2C) · Business-to-Business (B2B) For the purposes of this document we will look more closely at the development of the last category as this model is based on simultaneous buyer and seller marketplaces and hasexperiencedphenomenalgrowth and development in the last few years. The development started with passive websites with minimal product information and limited interaction with customers and suppliers. This has now progressed to the e Commerce stage where Internet based transactions and integration are common but there is a heavy dependency on technology.

The next stage of development identified by Adams et al, is the e Market stage where Internet based transactions and integration are common, but the technology has advanced to allow vertical and horizontal collaboration. The final stage is c Commerce (collaborative commerce), where Adams et al 6identify a further stage of development,“whereenterprises are formed that are hyper-competitive participants in both mature and emerging markets”. This they describe as being the Agile Virtual Enterprise (AVE). The AVE has been defined as: “A temporary yet structured alignment of independent companies linked by information technology to share skills, capacity and innovation for mutual market success.”

Each company contributes only what it regards as its core

competencies. The network has little hierarchy and focuses on functionality along the value chain7. An AVE is a collaborative infrastructure that is leveraged with technology and is a dynamic alliance between companies that bring in “complementary competencies, resources and capacity scaling that are collectively available to each other, with the objective of delivering a product or service to the market as a community with mutual shared interests.”8 Jeffrey H Dyer 9recognizes that over the last ten years there has been a shift away from vertical integration as original equipment manufacturers (OEM’s) have increasingly outsourced their in-house parts divisions. Dyer also believesthat“competitiveadvantage will [increasingly] be created by teams of companies.” This will mean a fundamental change of mindset from today’s executive norm which focuses on the individual firm’s economics.

Dyer concludes that creating extended enterprises requires firms to recognize their interdependence on each other and illustrates this by citing examples of collaboration in the automotive industry. Chrysler and Toyota, have been the first in their industry to recognize and exploit this interdependence, therefore gaining competitive advantage over rivals Ford and GM through the creation of integrated teams of companies.

Another example of collaboration is Wal-Mart; the biggest retail chain in the U.S. Wal-Mart allows its suppliers to access its internal information

management system in order to get an overview of its stock situation.

Suppliers therefore know when it is time to make a replenishment delivery.

The apportionment of intellectual property (IP) rights is also vital to a successful collaboration and can have a significant impact on the structure of the deal. A number of schemes have been worked out for apportioning IP rights between collaborating partners, the simplest of which is to designate all IP as jointly owned. In most collaboration, however, IP rights either remain with the inventor or are allocated based on technology, and the choice is dependent largely on the structure and goals of the collaboration.

Extended enterprises require a high level of resources to generate value through partnerships, and therefore the organization wishing to establish an extended enterprise may need to focus on partnering those suppliers that bring high value, customized inputs that interact with other components and systems. However as Dyer suggests, “collaborative advantage does not materialize overnight”; it takes time to develop strong relationships and make investments in dedicated assets and not all partnering relationships will survive and therefore the CIPS believes that it is necessary to integrate a robust exit strategy at the developmental stage of the extended enterprise, so all parties involved have a clear understanding of the business risks and benefits.

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Sunday 16 June 2019

SundayBusiness BWA 2019: BtoB Events, BoI connects Nigeria to global beauty business world Desmond Okon

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etermined to connect local brands with global industries, BtoB Events is set to hold the Annual Beauty West Africa [BWA] Exhibition and Conference, 2019.

The conference will be held in partnership with the Bank of Industry, and Beauty West Africa from 20th- November 22, 2019 in Lagos, with a view to bringing the world of beauty to West Africa. The organisers said the aim of the event, which will feature an exhibition as well, is to Connect Nigeria to the Global Beauty Business World. According to them, it also aims to increase the knowledge of the Nigerian Beauty market to other countries, as it focuses on developing the Nigerian Beauty market further, as a way of increasing trade and economy within the country.

Further speaking on the significance of the event, Jamie Hill, managing director, BtoB Events, pointed out the importance of collaborating with key stakeholders in Nigeria’s business sphere to showcase the Nigerian opportunity. “Beauty West Africa 2019 will be even bigger and better than last year. The exhibition is now over 2 halls with double the amount of exhibitors, new international pavilions and a significant

Foreign delegates at the Beauty West Africa Exhibition

increase in regards to the number of business opportunities available. We are really looking forward to the numerous possibilities that this will bring to Nigeria and contributing towards the growth of the African beauty market,” Hill elaborates on the expansion of BWA. Compass Global Business Services CEO, and conference partner; Tokunbo Chiedu who spoke on her firm’s objective of going into the partnership said, their job [as a company] is to promote the brand Nigeria.

“As a company in the international trade, investment, and export promotion space; our work provides a gateway into the Nigerian market. We are partnering with BtoB Events with the aim of developing

the sector and working with key stakeholders within the domestic market. We also aim to foster linkages between Nigerian and international brands on the Beauty West Africa Exhibition platform,” she said.

It was gathered that the organisers made a significant impact on Nigeria’s Beauty Sector by mobilising over a 100 companies into Nigeria from across the world, via its international exhibition platform – Beauty West Africa “This was via representations through the Export Promotion Agencies of the following Countries; Egypt, Turkey, South Africa, Indonesia and many more, with the objective of ‘fostering trade links with Nigeria’ being a clear focus, these international brands participated at

BWA 2018 in addition to the local brands,” they said.

But this was possible due to strong collaborations with Bank of Industry which Hill said “provided support to SMEs via presentations of the Bank’s offering to help businesses upscale.”

According to them, the exhibition means that Nigerian businesses can extend their partnerships and business offerings into other countries and other Nigerian states, whilst increasing their brand exposure.

“Through our partnership with Bank of Industry we are providing access to finance for Nigerian SME’s with the long term vision of becoming a globally recognised producer and exporter of beauty products, fashions and technology,” he said.

Sterling Bank restates commitment to SMEs in the food sector

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terling Bank Plc has reiterated its commitment to the empowerment of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs), particularly those in the food sector, so as to further exploit the potential in the industry and contribute to the development of Nigeria.

Daphne Akatugba, marketing manager, Specialised Products, Sterling Bank, who disclosed this recently at the sixth edition of the Eat Drink Festival in Abuja, said the bank plans to work with SMEs in their early stages of growth by giving financial advisory and support for growth.

Akatugba said the bank believes that by working with the SMEs at the developing stage, they (the SMEs) will continue to partner with the bank when they eventually become big business concerns.

“The eat.drink.festival gives small businesses the platform to reach other people. A lot of these businesses do not have physical structures but they are running them from their homes, sometimes they are online businesses.”

“But at this event, customers can interact with the business owners, taste what is on offerand get to meet new people.So, this festival is a platform for small businesses in the food and drink industry to ex-

pand and also do better for their businesses,” she further said.

According to her, “For a lot of businesses, one of the major things they need is access to markets and that is what the festival is doing because if you don’t have customers, you don’t have the business and your location doesn’t matter.”

She also said that the bank can finance a small business whether it has a physical structure or not, adding, “they can get financing and we also provide financial advisory services.”

“This event helps us to reach out to these businesses and grow with them. Our target is that you increase your revenue and you form a working relationship with us so that we can grow together,” Akatugba said.

She explained that participation in the festival affords the bank the opportunity to assess the requirements of businesses in order to properly support them, adding that the bank’s intervention has positive implications for both SMEs and the economy in general.

She noted that the economy grows when businesses make money, adding that it is equally true that when businesses don’t make money, the economy does not grow.She said the bank has a duty to ensure that the businesses make money.

Simba Group launches DeLite inverter made-for-Nigeria’s power condition AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE

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etermined to sustain its leadership position in the business of providing alternative source of power supply in Nigeria, Simba Group, distributors of Luminous Inverter System, has launched a new and affordable power backup solution into the market, known as Luminous DeLite.

The product, which has the same high-level quality the brand is known for, is offered as a package that has a 900VA Inverter coupled with a 150AH Tubular battery, optimally designed to work with the inverter.

Offered at an introductory price of N99,000, Luminous DeLite is offered along with a battery trolley

that helps to further entice customers.

“We have worked very closely with the Research and Development team of Luminous Power, which is a Schneider Electric com-

pany, to develop an inverter and battery combo that is specifically designed for Nigerian power conditions,” said Ravi Srivastava of Simba Group.

According to him, the new

product still retains those qualities people love about Luminous including – reliability, service and performance.

“The package has been under development by teams in India and Nigeria for close to

Vinay Grover, managing director, Simba Group (middle in white shirt), with some management team members and other partners at the recent launch of Luminous DeLite, an affordable power backup solution, at Simba Office in Lagos.

a year now, and we are very excited to bring this offering to the market. The trolley which houses the inverter and battery is just the cherry on top.”

Speaking at the product launch, Vinay Grover, managing director of Simba Group, said the company’s vision to enrich Nigerian lives explains why the firms has been offering innovative products that help people in their daily living for over 30 years now.

“Through the deployment of inverter systems in the last 10 years, we have helped people overcome the challenges of intermittent power supply by delivering alwayson power without polluting the environment and purchasing expensive diesel, and with the comfort and easy of automatic changeover,” he said.

He described the product as an inverter and battery package that can deliver standby power to a small private home not only at a price range that is more affordable, but with an inverter and battery package that is tailor made for the market.

Luminous has won multiple awards including ‘Best Inverter Brand’ conferred on it by the Institute of Brand Management in Nigeria, the International Brand Management Association and the African Institute of Brand Management.

Simba was the first to launch a branded inverter solution in Nigeria, and internationally, the brand has been deemed a ‘Superbrand’ and been recognised by Frost and Sullivan for the technology it employs.

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BDSUNDAY 33

LifestyleHomes&Suites

Paul Ojenagbon pauloje2000@yahoo.com

Sutherland Court Beckons in Victoria Island

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Eden Revs to completion in Banana Island

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imply and exotically called Eden, probably a flash back to man’s first home of peace and abundance, the alluring development is seated on an ample land area covering 6400 square metres of precious land located at Plot J 52, Close 314,3rd Avenue, Banana Island. There are 13 units of ensuite 5-Bedroom detached and semi-detached houses located on four floors planned for outright sale. The project commenced in April 2018 and is slated for delivery in August 2019. It is a joint venture between Nubridge Projects Limited and Country Towers Limited; it is being handled by Nubridge as developer and contractor. The units are at slightly different stages of construction and while some will be ready in August, others will be delivered in December. A breakdown of the housing units indicates there are eight semi-detached houses and five detached houses.

Externally, the houses and the residents will enjoy the excellent infrastructure and amenities in Banana Island, possibly the best estate in the country.

These include well paved and maintained roads with efficient drainage system that does not retain flood waters.

There is a well detailed and absolutely

efficient security structure with close circuit television cameras mounted at various places and with very competent security personnel, screening and monitoring entry into the estate.

Heavily armed MOPOL policemen are also on ground at the entrance gate and on regular patrols round the fringes of the estate to deal with any security breaches. There is a boat access which is close to the central jetty that enables quick get- aways from nuisance traffic on Ikoyi roads through the waters. The landscaping is simply breath taking.

It is indeed an excellent environment with flowers and ornamental plants and trees adorning the spaces. There are shopping complexes for household needs and schools for the younger ones.

There is seamless central sewage and refuse collection disposal system that ensures a very clean environment.

Eden on its own has swimming pools, elevators, gym, potable water supply with treatment plant, uninterrupted power supply with heavy duty standby generators and an unhindered access to the water front as it is fronting the Lagoon.

The finishes planned are excellent and contemporary. It comprises marble and

vitrified floor, inner wall is rendered and painted in rich emulsion and concrete skin on the outer, and doors are a combination of high grade wooden doors with magnetic locks and security doors at the major entrances. The windows are imported, double glazed windows, and ceiling is white plastered while the roof is 0.7mm Aluminium roof combined with concrete slabs. The kitchens are fully fitted with oven, hob and hood, cabinet, heat extractor among others. The master bedrooms are specially adorned with various paraphernalia of enjoyment and comfort including walk-in closet, wardrobes, Jacuzzi in the bathrooms. There is a laundry room with washing machine for easy household laundry. Other accessories include stainless steel railings, wall-hung WCs and rain showers.

The title on the property is Certificate of Occupancy issued by the Federal Government of Nigeria. The price schedule includes N400million for the semi-detached for which just two units are left for grab and detached units N600 million but are all sold out while a direct water front plot is available for whooping N1billion.Eden is a complete and perfect deal for those who have what it takes no wonder just few units are left.

he ongoing development located at 10, Musa Yar’Adua Street, Victoria Island, covers an expansive land area of 3700square meters.

The title is Land Certificate. The project which is being handled by Prestigious Homes commenced in February this year and about 70-80 percent of work is said by the marketing agents, Messrs Mathew Toritseju and Partners to have been achieved so far.

The development comprises 13 units of 4-Bedroom Terrace house on 4 floors attached with a maid’s room set in two residential blocks. All rooms are ensuite with in-built- wardrobes. Each residential unit has private rooftop terraces with breath taking city views and deep front balconies. Each residence is powered by built in elevator shaft. Music issues out to fill the homes from Nuovo multiple-zone integrated sound system. Each unit features prominently with high ceiling with floor to ceiling glass.

Kitchens are sleek and adorned with home appliances such as built-in cooker, hood, microwave and oven. Spaces are allocated for other high quality appliances including fully integrated refrigerator, freezer and dishwasher. The sinks are faucet designed with premium counter tops.

Bathrooms are planned for elegant finishing in imported tiles combined with contemporary fixtures. The master bathroom has oversized showers with floor-to-ceiling glass showers and soaking tub.

There is an automated gated system that is remotely controlled. Each residence is allotted 2 parking spaces and exterior parking spaces for visitors. Security is all round the clock with electronic surveillance system. Guaranteed is 24-hour power supply with effective 100percent back-up. Potable water is from purified water system. There is a luxury swimming

pool and overlooking the pool is a fitness centre. There is an exotic garden described by the developer as ‘exquisitely landscaped urban oasis’.

Sutherland Court is described by the developer, Prestigious Homes as, “new paradigm in luxury that offers timeless, fine living and unique effortless sophistication’.

The purchase price per unit is N300m while N17m per annum may also be considered as rent as another option.

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EquityMarket

Cement, banks, oil & gas top as listed firms pay N783bn dividends

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Stories by TELIAT SULE or investors interested in high dividend paying stocks on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), equities listed in three sub sectors hold all the aces as they accounted for over eighty percent of the total dividends declared year to date on the NSE. The three sub sectors are building materials, banking as well as oil and gas. Stocks listed in the aforementioned sub sectors paid cumulatively N689.13 billion representing 88 percent of the N783 billion dividends declared in the on-going dividend season which is for the 2018 financial year.

Dangote Cement, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN) paid N277.91 billion as dividends to shareholders, and thus accounted for 35.5 percent of the dividends paid year to date on the NSE. Dangote Cement alone accounted for the largest chunk of the dividends paid by firms listed in the building materials as its shareholders smiled to the various homes with N272.65 billion as dividends. CCNN paid its shareholders N5.26 billion as dividends in 2018.

Shareholders of nine banks reaped N220.53 billion as dividends in 2018, which amounted to 28.2 percent of the dividends paid by NSE listed firms in 2018.

The banks are Zenith Bank, Stanbic IBTC, UBA, GTB, Access Bank, FCMB, Fidelity, FBN Holdings and Wema Bank. Zenith Bank paid N85.5 billion as final dividends just as Stanbic IBTC and UBA paid N15.4 billion and N22.2 billion as dividends respectively.

GTB rewarded its investors with N72.1 billion as final dividends in 2018. Others dividends payments are as follows: Access Bank, N8.89 billion; FCMB, N2.77 billion; Fidelity Bank, 3.18 billion; FBN Holdings, N9.33 billion and Wema Bank, N1.16 billion.

Oil and gas stocks, led by Seplat

Petroleum Development Company, paid N190.69 billion as dividends to their shareholders for the 2018 financial year. Seplat declared $0.05 as final dividend. With nairadollar exchange rate at N306.4/$, the total dividend paid by the company amounted to N180.30 billion

in 2018, representing 95 percent of the oil and gas dividends and 24 percent of the total dividends paid year to date on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Other sub sectors are on the fringes. Food and beverages sub sector paid N46.84 billion, to ac-

count for 5.98 percent of the total NSE dividends year to date. Nestle and Dangote Sugar drivers of the sub sectoral rewards for shareholders. Nestle Nigeria paid N30.5 billion while Dangote Sugar paid N13.2 billion as final dividends in 2018.

The breweries sub sector, in particular, Nigerian Breweries, paid N14.63 billion, representing 1.9 percent of the total NSE dividends year to date.

Stocks listed under the conglomerates such as Transcorp, Unilever, UACN, among others cumulatively paid N11.72 billion as dividends translating to 1.50 percent of the total dividends paid year to date.

However, investors seem not to be impressed enough despite the impressive showing by the listed companies particularly in the top three sub sectors. The All Share Index ended the week in the negative territory as it closed at -4.40 year to date. The main board index posted even worse performance as it ended the week at -14.15 percent year to date.

Analysts are unanimous that the equities listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange hold much promise for investors. This is because most of the listed stocks presently trade at a discount.

“Dividend is a strong driver of investors’ sentiment. However, a poor dividend payment cannot be attributed as the sole dragger of the market’s performance. It is barely two years after we exited recession and hence we expect to see most companies recapitalising along their growth path. To help such companies, an increase in the flow of credit to the private sector at affordable rates will go a long way.

“These companies will be faced with fewer pressures towards the need to capitalise earnings as they have alternative means of funding and this could in turn provide available cash for dividend payment”, Chinonye Nnewuihe, senior analyst with Meristem Securities, said.

Sectors that accounted for less than one percent of the total dividends in 2018 include agric, aviation, construction, healthcare, ICT, hotels, insurance, manufacturing, mortgage banking, as well as paints and chemicals.

Victors, Savannah Court drive Union Homes’ REITs

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nion Homes Real Estate Investment Trust has released its key performance metrics for the period with Victors Court and Savannah Court the most preferred among its estates. With nine properties under its management, the REITS had N9.86 billion net asset value (NAV) as at May 31, 2019 with 0.49 percent delinquency rates.

Estates under the management of this fund include McDonald Court in Ikoyi; Savannah Court

in Victoria Island; Contemporary Apartment in Parkview Ikoyi; Olive Apartment in Jabi, Abuja; Continental Apartment in VI; Victors Court and Charter Court both in Lagos. Others are Amina Court in Apo, Abuja and Locke Apartment in Lekki, Lagos State.

With 100 percent occupancy rate, Victors Court was the most preferred by individuals amongst the Union Homes’ estates. It has three housing units and the property is aged seven years with a 4.21 percent yield.

This is followed by Savannah Court with 93 percent occupancy rate. It has 14 housing units and the property has been in existence for just eight years.

The current yield on this estate is 4.27 percent. Charter Court in Ikoyi Lagos, with eleven housing units, posted the third highest occupancy rate of 91 percent. It is also aged seven years, with 3.22 percent yield.

Mcdonald Court in Ikoyi Lagos, with 8 housing units recorded 86 percent occupancy

rate just as its current yield is 4.10 percent and has been in existence for eight years. Locke Apartment in Lekki recorded 80 percent occupancy rate, 6.51 percent yield and has 15 housing units in its three years of existence. Contemporary Apartment in Parkview Lagos has been in existence for seven years. It has 4 housing units and recorded 75 percent occupancy rate. Current yield is 4.24 percent.

The least performing apartment according to the NSE data

is Amina Court in Abuja with posted just 40 percent occupancy rate during the reference period. It has 5 housing units, has been in existence for 3 years with zero yield. Olive Apartment and Continental Apartments have twelve and twenty-two apartments respectively and each has been in existence for seven years.

However, there is no information available on the types of tenants , length of tenancy while the current yield is zero on either of the apartments.

Sunday 16 June 2019

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BDSUNDAY 35

Consumer Watch

‘You can ward off diseases this rainy season’

T L-R: Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, IITA Director General, Dr Nteranya Sanginga; and Gov Abiola Ajimobi in IITA today.

LASCOPA cautions consumers on product purchase

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he Lagos State Consumer Protection Agenc y ( L AS C O PA ) h a s stressed the need for Lagosians to exercise caution when buying consumable products.

General Manager of the Agency, Kemi Olugbode urged consumers to cultivate the habit of checking product-information and quality of the package before making purchases in order to avoid buying hazardous items.

Olugbode said that it has been discovered that some multinational retail outlets and shops now display expired products on their shelves for sale to unsuspecting consumers but noted that the Agency, through its reinforced surveillance team, has uncovered some shops where unwholesome products are sold.

She said further that LASCOPA has also taken necessary steps to ensure that such default-

ers are brought to book.

The General Manager restated the Agency’s resolve to rid the state of all forms of unwholesome or hazardous products through regular on-the-spot surveillance of shops and other places where consumable products are sold.

She also advised Lagosians to report any hazardous products found in any shop to the Consumer Protection Agency.

Meristem holds food fest

…educates consumers on financial literacy NGOZI OKPALAKUNNE

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s part of its efforts to ensure that consumers eat healthy organic food in society, Meristem Securities Limited, a capital market conglomerate recently organised a one day food festival in Lagos.

The event tagged, “Green Fest’’ also seeks to create awareness for healthy living amongst individuals and the society at large through engagement in increased physical activities and the adoption of natural and organic produce for food, drink, skin, hair and body care.

The event took place at Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island Lagos and it was also an avenue for entrepreneurs in the organic space to exhibit their creations and connect with prospective buyers.

Lovers of healthy food and good music where treated to display of healthy products and quality musical performances.

It is interesting to note that over 30 food vendors were present at the event which was the first of its kind to give guests the best experience in healthy and organic food, drinks, snacks, hair and skin care.

The vendors include; Barbeque Bistro, Bole Boxx, Carib Health Ltd, Cocktails by Dorge, D-point Grills N Thrills.

Others were, Farm Fresh, Fitstore Naija , Friska Foods, G’s Allfresh, Jojo’s Homemade, Koalture, Lewa organics skincare, Nutri Pops, Nylah’s bakery, Oyoyo Snails, Red Char, Simply

L-R: Head Meristem Wealth Management Limited, Damilola Hassan, CEO Simply Green, Sola Ladoja, Head Meristem Capital, Senami Johnson, CEO Sofresh, Goke Balogun

Green, So Fresh, Splash Greens, Torfa Wholefoods, Wild Juice, and a host of others.

Speaking at the event, Head Meristem Capital, Senami Johnson affirmed that the event will be annual and added that the idea was borne out of the company’s binder to allow people excel through financial growth.

Johnson further described the feast as a policy placed to instigate people to be more responsible for their lives by implementing healthier lifestyle choices as the first step in the ride to proper wealth.

The Head of Meristem Capital who also talked about “Financial literacy for business growth” stressed the need for consumers to obtain knowledge that is essential to make financial decisions that are vital to their day to day activities.

She further explained that lack of financial literacy has been singled out as one of the main reasons behind saving and in-

vesting problems faced by many consumers.

Therefore, she advised that consumers should imbibe the culture of saving so as to invest on projects that will be beneficial to them in future.

Given a little background of Meristem Capital, she said is an investment banking subsidiary established 15 years ago to offer financial advice to their clients.

On his part, Co-founder, So Fresh &amp, Goke Balogun encouraged upcoming entrepreneurs to be focused and determine to succeed in any chosen business.

“There are challenges that can easily discourage one from continuing in business especially in the early years, but it is not ideal for one to quit if you are sure you are talented in that area. The best is to take a look at the challenges so as to know where to make necessary adjustment that will move the business forward,” he added.

he rainy season is here again. It is a period that is characterised with some ailments.

It is also the time where the body and especially the digestive system are most prone to infections.

Diseases in the rainy season are mostly water-borne so make sure you only drink water that is filtered or boiled.

According to experts, certain precautions taken by consumers this period can ward off some of these challenges and make the weather even more enjoyable.

However, experts gave the following tips.

•Avoid raw vegetables and salads unless they are consumed at home where you can wash and clean them thoroughly.

•Do not compensate your liquid intake with carbonated, caffeinated, and alcoholic drinks and beverages as the preservatives and sugars in them act as diuretics.

•Herbal teas with antibacterial properties are a good idea.

•As much as it is tempting, walking in rain water makes you prone to a host of viral diseases

such as leptospirosis and can also cause numerous fungal infections at the feet and nails.

•Also, if your feet get wet, dry them immediately and do not stay in wet socks or shoes.

•Diabetics especially must take extra care and avoid walking barefoot as the ground is rife with all kinds of germs.

•If your clothes get wet, do not sit in an AC environment or change them immediately.

•Keeping an extra pair of clothes and footwear in the office is a good idea.

•Damp walls are home to fungus growth and an absolute no-no if you suffer from asthma or any other breathing problems.

•Accumulated water is a breeding ground for insects and the monsoons are party time for malaria.

•Always wear or carry a mosquito repellent.

•The over cautious can take a dose of anti-malaria drugs.

•A shower as soon as you reach home in the evening will insulate you against infections caused by the build-up of sweat and dirt due to humidity.

•Take Vitamin C to boost your immunity.

Recipe Atama Soup with (banga) Palm fruit extract Ingredients.

Meat Fresh or smoked fish Fresh palm fruit extract (banga) Lime alum Crayfish Atama leaves Snails (optional) Water Uyayak(local spices) Maggi cubes Mfi (periwinkle in shell) Salt Method Cut a little of the tail end of the periwinkle, was thoroughly and boil with tablespoon of salt for about 5-8 minutes until it forms, then remove from heat and thoroughly get rid of the dirt.

Remove the unwanted bits of the snails, then add about 2 tablespoons of salt, turn to remove the snails. Use some of the fruit to scrub all over the snails. This helps to remove any remaining fluid.

Alum solution can also be used instead of lime, but later gives a bitter taste. In using alum solution, salt has to be used first to bring out the fluid, cut the snail in to 2 halves and rinse well.

Wash and season your meat, then steam for about 5 minutes.

Add about 2 cups of water and continue boiling for about 25 minutes till the meat is cooked.

Cut the Atama leaves in to very tiny pieces, if not cut very tiny, it can be pounded. Soak it with

1kg 1 medium 400/800g 8 fruit/small 3 tablespoons 1 small bunch 4 medium 2 ½ liters 1 small pieces 2 1 cup 0r 2

hot water and allowed for about 10 to 15 minutes before you wash it with cool water. Wash it thoroughly and then filter it. Put the pot on the burner and place the palm fruit extract (banga) on the burner and allow it to boil for 5 minutes, then add cooked meat, washed fish, periwinkle, crayfish, pepper and seasoning.

Stir and allow to boil for 10 minutes. Add the Atama leaves and allow to boil for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and serve with pounded yam, cassava (fufu), boiled white rice, semovita, eba, amala and a host of other.

36 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 16 June 2019

TheWorshippers ‘You need more than Christianity or religion to lead successfully’ Olumide Emmanuel is the overseer, Calvary Bible Churches worldwide, The Empowerment Assembly and The Glorious Church International. He speaks on the church in Nigeria and some key national issues. Excerpts by SEYI JOHN SALAU Former president Obasanjo said President Buhari is trying to Islamise Nigeria; what is your reaction to this? ith all due respect to the age and position of the former president, I do not think his comment deserves a reaction from me because a close observation of his track record does not make any of his comment meaningful to someone like me. Today, he is for Buhari; tomorrow he is not for Buhari, so his inconsistency is a joke to me. On the issue of islamisation of Nigeria or the Islamic agenda as some choose to call it, my concern is really on why we are so bothered about people fulfiling the agenda of their god and strategically pursuing their beliefs while the church abandons their own agenda and seems to operate without a clear strategy than to be crying Islamic agenda. We have a Christian Vice President yet we are still talking of Islamic agenda when we should be talking of Christian apathy.

But in answering the call of God, some have gone ahead planting churches, and expanding their ministries; is the call of God just for church planting?

The call of God is not just for church planting but the reason why a lot of people in this part of the world go more into church planting when they sense a call is because they lack understanding; though the church is the most prominent and popular aspect of ministry. There are different dimensions to the call of God and many don’t wait to get the full picture before they move. We have the what, when, where, who and how of the call, but once people just hear the what, they don’t wait to get other aspects right.

W

Olumide Emmanuel

Some people have argued that Christians dwell more on miracles; what is your take on this?

I think that is just a function of the poverty and hardship in our nation coupled with the overemphasis of some aspect of the church on miracles. Children seek miracles while sons seek transformation, so the craze for miracles only reveal that we have more spiritual infants, babies and children than mature sons and that is an anomaly. God is a God of miracles but we are expected to be more of proof producers and vessels of the miraculous than being the one seeking miracles. After the miracle, what next?

Are you in support of Christians going into politics?

I thought going into politics is the right of any citizen who desires to serve in that capacity; so I wonder what religion has to do with that. The question should be, why are more Christians not going into politics? I personally believe that Christians should go into politics; this is so

because of the reason why we are where we are today is because we don’t have enough amount of the right kind of people in the political arena yet.

Many of those who are Christians in politics deceptively think that being a Christian is all they need to succeed but that is an error, and we have seen the proof in the last few years as we have seen ‘Mr. integrity’ take the nation decades back. You need more than Christianity or religion to lead successfully. You need character, competence, capacity, courage and culture which I call the five essentials for successful leadership in any sphere.

With the increasing rate of depression, hardship, and suicide in Nigeria; is the church doing enough?

I believe the church is the reason why we don’t have more volumes of the issues you have itemised because the church has been a major support system for many by giving hope to the hopeless; helping the helpless; guarding them with prayer; teaching them how to handle the challenges of life and others. So, the role of the church is to continue to do what has been done while also balancing our teachings to ensure we deal with every aspect of human endeavour.

Away from the church to socioeconomic issues: economists have argued that Nigerians were poorer under President Buhari’s first term in office; how can he improve the living standard of Nigerians in his second term?

We don’t need economists to confirm that, because every Nigerian knows that already either directly or indirectly, and I don’t see that changing in this second term if they choose to run things the way they did in the first term. So, as they have said, it

may end up being next level of what the first term brought which will really be a tragedy. The first term was characterised by delay in appointments, inconsistent and unclear policy direction, excuses and blame games, absentee president, looting and re-looting, failed promises, nepotism and incompetence. So, if this does not change.......hmmm....... welcome to next level.

Nigeria is now the poverty capital of the world; how can this narrative be changed?

It’s unfortunate that we have seen things go so bad to warrant such a label and more unfortunate because the narrative will most likely not change anytime soon because what needs to be done has not been done and is not being done by the right authorities. Poverty eradication is a function of many factors top of which are: the right kind of education; empowerment opportunities; right infrastructure for economic growth; an enabling environment for entrepreneurship and job creation.

But, on all these key areas, we are operating far below expectation.

How can President Buhari tackle Nigeria’s security challenges?

He can’t, because his actions so far have shown he can’t. Did the administration not tell us that Boko Haram has been technically defeated only to approve one billion dollars to fight a technically defeated enemy and till date it’s only getting worse. We don’t have value for human lives in this country and that’s why insecurity will continue. Have you ever asked yourself why killings seem to be suspended during the campaign period only to resume after the elections? Food for thought for us all.

Leah Sharibu: What in your view can be done to secure her release?

Again the answer is nothing; if they wanted her free she would have been free by now. So, there is nothing they can do because I don’t believe she is a priority for the government and they can prove me wrong by doing what they know they should do.

How can the country structure the education sector in Nigeria taking a holistic and developmental view-point at it?

The foundational key to the revolution in our educational sector will be just one simple policy ‘no civil servant, public servant or elected official’s children should study in any private or foreign school except in government schools and public schools’. With this as a policy you will see transformation in our educational system in five years. And, it’s the same with our healthcare system. If your president has to travel outside his own country for medical treatment, what does that say of our healthcare system? Can you imagine the president of America or prime minister of England going to a foreign hospital? Majority of our elected officials have their children in private schools and foreign schools and yet you expect our educational system to change. Go look at nations like Rwanda where private schools are now closing down because public schools have better standard. Many of those in government today went to public schools and government universities but can they send their children there now? To really change our educational system we need policy adjustment as already stated, revival of public schools, curriculum review and update, and exploration of specialised education channels.

Nollywood grew by itself - where are the film school and universities established by the government to take this to the next level.

Body of Christ eulogises Archbishop Obembe as he journeys home SEYI JOHN SALAU

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t was a moment of great tribute on Friday 15 June, as the body of Christ in Lagos led by the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and the International Communion of Charismatic and Apostolic Ministries (ICCAM), eulogised the late Archbishop Joseph Olanrewaju Obembe as his body

finally laid to rest.

The church leaders, who in turn spoke about their personal interactions with the late Obembe, described him as a man of uncommon faith. Until his death, Obembe was the presiding Archbishop of El-Shaddai Bible Church and Apostolic Cardinal ICCAM. Also, he was at a time the chairman of the Lagos chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship Nigeria (PFN).

Matthew Ashimolowo, the

Rev. Wilson Badejo, ex-general Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria; Pastor Tunde Bakare of Latter Rain Assembly and his wife, at the burial service of Archbishop Joseph Olanrewaju Obembe, held at Great Grace Cathedral of El-Shaddai Bible Church, Lagos

senior pastor of Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC), in a short sermon said Archbishop Joseph Olanrewaju Obembe is not in the presence of sorrow, but in the presence of his Lord. “…I am persuaded that Archbishop Joseph Olanrewaju Obembe: not of works, lest any man should boast but of grace; his Lord and Saviour has called him and he is in the presence of our Lord. While here today, we feel the pain that we have lost a

loved soul; I know him when he was a young bachelor, 40 years ago in 1979,” he said.

Ashimolowo in eulogizing Obembe said there are three approaches to death; to the unsaved man, death is an enigma; to the Atheist death is an end, but to the believer, death is an entrance. “The New Testament did not end, we are the end of the New Testament,” he said.

The children of the late Archbishop also took turns to eulogise

their father, who they described as their first love, friend and chairman.

A special prayer was said for his immediate family, his church and the congregation. The ex-General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, Wilson Badejo led the prayer for the family; while Joseph Ojo, the Archbishop of Calvary Kingdom Church (CKC) led prayer for the church and ministry, as Tunde Bakare of Latter Rain Assembly prayed for the congregation.

Tunde Bakare of Latter Rain Assembly and his wife; Bishop Sola Ore, the chairman PFN Lagos State, at the burial service of Archbishop Joseph Olanrewaju Obembe, held at Great Grace Cathedral of El-Shaddai Immediate family of Archbishop ‘Lanre Obembe at the burial service held at Great Grace Cathedral of El-Shaddai Bible Church, Lagos Bible Church, Lagos

Sunday 16 June 2019

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BDSUNDAY 37

TheWorshippers Inspiration With Rev. Yomi Kasali

@rev.yomikasali

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goziisover40and a single lady who did not waste her younger days flirting around with men but was committed to the Lord and His Service in the church. She is unhappy with her matrimonial state

Making moral decisions and wants to do something about it, she approached me and asked if she could do IVF towards being a ‘mother’ at least, if she cannot be a ‘wife’.

Bimpe was robbed and raped in school by some cultists and she did not report the matter to her parents because she felt so guilty and sad. Her mother approached me and told me she believes her daughter is hiding something from her not knowing that she confided in me as her pastor, I called her to my office to encourage her to tell her parents or if I could do it for her only for me to receive the most shocking news... she is pregnant and wants to ask my counsel with respect to what she should do. She wants to commit ‘abortion’.

These are many more are the challenges we face as Pastors and Moral leaders in a nation destitute of moral consciousness today. We are torn betwixt two opinions always and sometimes feel burdened to tow the religious path not the moral or spiritual path to

life. This is the most trying part of my vocation as a leader of people and Man of God; ‘how do we make moral decisions without offending God and our traditional views of holiness and righteousness?’

I will like to share a scripture I cling unto during these times with you and hope you can be Inspired by them.

Where with shall I come before the LORD, and bowmyself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,

the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6 v 6-8).

I believe making moral decisions is more important than business decisions. A business man makes business decisions by tilting towards profits and earning revenues, a doctor makes medical decisions by tilting towards saving lives and helping people, a politician makes political decisions by tilting towards good governance for his people and following his political values etc. But a pastor makes moral decisions by tilting towards…

3 rules of the thumb in making moral decisions The golden rule: Our Lord gave us the key to making moral decisions through the Golden Rule in Matt. 7 v 12, ‘do unto others what you want them to do unto you’ (paraphrased). If you deploy the above scriptures on the

Make God the foundation of your marriage, cleric urges couple

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ohnson Anya, the presiding pastor of Overcomers Christian Mission, Okota , Lagos, has urged couples to make God the foundation of their marriage if they want to experience a blissful

marriage, as he called on all married Christians to respect each other.

Anya stated this at a recent thanksgiving service held in honour of Uchechukwu Uzowuru and Amaka Uzowuru who wedded

earlier in the year.

The families of Uchechukwu Uzowuru and Amaka Uzowuru thanked the Lord for the success of their wedding ceremony that was held in January, in Owerri. Both couples on the 9th

June, 2019 decided to thank God Almighty for a successful wedding ceremony despite their challenges. The thanksgiving service was colourful and entertaining as guests at the event were well entertained.

scenarios above, you will be making moral decisions indeed.

Is it impacting my generation positively: Anything you will do in life that is not for the ‘people’ but yourself alone is considered selfish, moral decisions impact people positively and not negatively. We should build our ethos around people and making a difference, this is why I won’t do somethings in ministry even if others are engaged in the practices.

Is it going to bring glory to God: This is perhaps the most crucial in making moral decisions; you should make them with the fear of God and ensure it will bring glory to Him. That’s why I won’t wear some clothes because they won’t bring glory to Him. I hope your decisions in coming months will pass the moral tests above and you become a better person.

Be Inspired.

Denominational barriers pulling back, as Lagos CAN announces collaborative faithbuilding programmes Seyi John Salau

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t is a new dawn in the body of Christ in Lagos State, and Nigeria at large, as the church, more than ever before, is making itself ready for God’s divine visitation.

This is evident in the welllaid out programmes that will usher in new wave of spiritual awakening and unprecedented revival that will break all denominational barriers and empower the church for the challenges of this end-time.

“It is such a revival that will spur us to effectively fulfil Christ’s mandate of world evangelisation and get believers ready for heaven. We must arise, set aside all denominational divide and inhibition in response to the Spirit’s call for this crisis hour, and really, it is a crisis hour,” Alexander Bamgbola, chairman Lagos State Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said enthusiastically as he rolled out series of programmes that will herald the heavenly outpouring.

According to Bamgbola, the coming events are direct offshoot of a recent ministers’ development and networking summit convened by the General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, William Folorunso Kumuyi, aimed at equipping church leaders for kingdom expansion.

Recall that the summit brought together about 20, 000 ministers from all denominations in Lagos for edification, equipping and empowerment of the church leaders.

The CAN chairman, Lagos State, recalled that “The summit delivered on its promise as it is already yielding positive results.”

According to him, “To sustain this momentum, we have decided to leverage this positive development by putting in place networking support programmes that aim at further integrating and empowering the body of Christ.”

He further said that the convener of the summit, Pastor Kumuyi, has volunteered to put in time, financial and spiritual resources to help in this regard.

Bamgbola expressed the optimism that the church and its ministers stand to

benefit from the networking support programme, which, he noted, “is the first phase of the church-based networking supportprogrammedesigned to stimulate genuine revival and growth among the clergy, laity and across churches.”

He disclosed that Pastor Kumuyi has agreed to move from church to church throughout the local governments in Lagos on weekly basis, preaching and teaching from the pulpits of such denominations.

Bamgbola urged interested churches to get in touch with the local CAN chairman to work out arrangements on how they could key into the programme.

The programme, he announced, is scheduled to hold every Wednesday at 6pm, starting from July 10, 2019, and that every edition will be hosted by different churches across the LGAs in Lagos and will be transmitted in real time to all connected churches across the country.

Bamgbola urged CANmember churches to take advantage of the programme to draw traffic, lead people to Christ, and also retain the people in the church; “that is the goal,” he said.

Announcing another networking programme, the leadership development programme, that he believed would be beneficial to the body of Christ in Nigeria, he said it was designed for church and ministry leaders.

Bamgbola said that the programme, packed with spiritually enriching content, is a hands-on training that will fortify every participant with necessary knowledge, skills, and empowerment for successful God-honouring ministry.

“Church leaders also will have the opportunity for useful interactions and networking; it will be held every Tuesday by 5pm starting July 9, at the main auditorium of the Deeper Life Bible Church headquarters, Gbagada, Lagos,” he said, adding, “It is a golden opportunity that the Lord has dropped on our laps at this auspicious time in our generation. We can use them to attain personal and church growth; it is time to awake to the challenges of the hour; it is time to provoke unto love and to good works.”

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Sunday 16 June 2019

BrandsOnSunday SPOTLIGHTING BRAND VALUE

Oando, WT & SEC: 3 brands at war Akonte Ekine

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t is no longer news that war is on between Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Wale Tinubu and Oando, one of the biggest oil companies in the country, a product of privatization under the Nasir El-Rufai administration as Director General of Bureau of Public Enterprise in year 2000 when the then Unipetrol Nigeria Plc was bought over by Ocean and Oil Nigeria ltd.

It was all joy to see the company move into the private hands of Wale Tinubu and the dynamic team of young Nigerians. It was the beginning of another brand in the oil and gas sector of the economy. From Ocean and Oil came the brand Oando Nig Plc. Since the inception of the Oando brand in the market, the dexterity of Wale Tinubu, the group CEO of Oando Nig Plc also came into larger existence as one of the top Chief Executive Officers leading the quoted company on the Nigeria Stock Exchange. The share price of Oando started growing; it became the new love of investors as the scramble for the shares increased even after the oversubscribed public offer.

Oando’s great achievement through the leadership of Wale Tinubu led to the oil giant moving into the international market with listing on the London Stock Exchange and the Johannesburg stock exchange in South Africa. This mile stone in the life brand circle of Oando and Wale

Tinubu only attested to the strength of character of the company and the management.

It was a great journey for such a brand after Unipetrol transformation to Oando to delight investors and Nigerians as one of the pointers to the goodness of privatization.

Seeing the curve of growth, foreign investors in Mangal and Ansbury Incorporated,got interested and became part of the board.

The brand life circle was attractive even at this stage, however, Wale Tinubu and Oando already started having issues that were considered to be denting the same brand that was once a toast of investors.

Insider trading, non disclosure of series of transactions in its 2012 and 2014 financial statements, failure to comply with several tax laws amongst other came to the fore and thus began a journey of decent for the brand as players in the capital market decided through actions no-trading and then a technical suspension of the shares of Oando.

Oando’s swimming in troubled

waters didn’t start or end here as there was the part of the involvement of Nigeria’s big name politicians involvement in shares distribution which led the company into several actions of explaining the involvement or otherwise.

While Oando survived this situation as a brand, the investors were injured. The Security and Exchange Commission decided as a result of petitions to investigate the Oando Nigeria Plc brand with the appointment Deoitte Touche.

Deoitte Touche’s reputation comes into play in doing this assignment and the result of the work of Deoitte Touche led to the instructions( from Security and Exchange Commission) of the members of the board affected by the findings to resign from the board among other punitive measure.

The measures might be seen as good or bad depending on side of the divide one belongs, however from the perspective of student of branding there are critical lesson for us all to learn in the management of such a growing and dynamic brand.

First among the lesson is that such a brand should always play by the rule book of the exchange.

The rule of the exchange is clear to the players and when Oando is seen by the regulators to have played against the rule, it is only appropriate for the institution to step into the situation with the sole aim of protecting the integrity of the market.

The integrity of the market is the ultimate challenge of the three brands at war as the global audience will be looking at how this issue will be resolved amidst the critical position of Wale Tinubu that his fundamental Human must be honoured. What about the rights of the shareholders that are affected by the activities of the Wale Tinubu?

Investors, local and foreign are affected by the drama of Oando and the reactions of the management and again from the point of branding conversation, one would expect that before the situation got to this stage, the chief custodian of the brand, Wale Tinubu and the

team would have established an appropriate channel of engagement to clear issues with the Security and Exchange commission before it became public debate.

Over 60 years of existence of the company, in different parts and different owners, the company should be one of the leading lights of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and an iconic brand in corporate governance but the contrary is the case here and with all intent and purpose, the Oando brand is now a troubled brand fighting for its reputation against the reputation of Deoitte Touche that came up with the result that Security and Exchange Commission is acting in view of protecting the integrity of the market and the nation.

The result of all the court actions, individual positions and corporate affiliations in the case is that the investors at both local and international level will be affected as the trust issue will come up again on the entire existence of corporate Nigeria and no brand survives without trust so the dent on Oando is not only a dent on Wale Tinubu but also on the corporate Nigeria when we cast our mind back to other Chief Executive Officers of great brands within the fold of Bunmi Oni and Rufus Giwa. This war of the three brands is beyond the brands, it is about the integrity of even a nation as a brand and our institutions must stand up.

Ekine is the CEO of Absolute PR firm based in Lagos

2019 World Environment Day: NBC restates Promasidor unveils commitment to pollution-free environment Cowbell Chocolate ‘promo

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oft drinks and beverage manufacturing company, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC), has reaffirmed its commitment towards a safe, clean and pollution free environment as the company led members of its staff and representatives from Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) in a beach clean-up activity which held to observe the 2019 World Environment Day. Sp e a k i n g o n t h e c o a s t a l beach clean-up exercise which held at the Kids Beach Garden, Lagos in Lagos recently, the Public Affairs and Communications Director of Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, Ekuma Eze described the action as part of the company’s contribution to achieve its 2025 commitments geared towards making the environment safe.

Eze who spoke on the theme of this 2019 World Environment Day tagged “Beat Air Pollution” explained that current environmental challenges demand urgent attention. “Environmental sustainability has remained a

major focus for us at NBC. We believe that a concerted effort is necessary to ensure that the environment is preserved for future generations. This duty cannot rest solely on the shoulders of the government, the private sector, or environmentally conscious individuals, everyone has an important role to play. We are here today to play our own part and to draw the public’s attention to

the importance of preserving our environment” he said.

“We need to come to the point in Nigeria where issues of environmental sustainability are integrated into our environmental architecture and strategy. This year’s World Environment day is themed ‘Beat Air Pollution’ and interestingly, this is a goal that we can all contribute towards. Air pollution comes from household, industry, agricultural, transport and waste management activities. We need to be conscious of the ways our activities in these areas impact on the environment.

For instance, improved collection, sorting and recycling of waste ultimately reduces the amount of waste that is burned or landfilled.

We encourage other individuals or institutions to emulate what we are doing here today and take concrete steps to protect the environment”.

He stressed that aside the 2019 coastal beach cleaning exercise, the company continuously reviews and optimizes its operational and production processes to drive sustainability.

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everaging the football passion among Nigerians in view of the ongoing football tournaments involving both the male and female national teams, Promasidor, maker of Cowbell Chocolate and other Cowbell brands recently unveiled the Cowbell Chocolate promotion tagged, ‘Get Up N Goal’.

Participants in the Cowbell Chocolate ‘Get Up N Goal’ promo are to collect nine 20g sachets of the Cowbell Chocolate Supa Strikas themed packaging, each having a unique character and are expected to submit them at any of the 190 accredited redemption centres across the country to stand a chance of winning.

Anders Einarsson, the managing director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, said Cowbell Chocolate has leveraged Supa Strikas’ assets in various forms of marketing that has impacted on the brand growth since 2017 when the partnership started.

According to Anders, the relationship with Supa Strikas, gives the brand exclusive rights to the Supa Strika franchise, the comic book and the cartoon TV series.

He stated this at the press brief-

ing to signal the commencement of Cowbell Chocolate Get Up N Goal Promotion, which started on Monday, 10 June and will run till Friday, 13 September.

Prizes to be won include the latest Sony Play Station 4 console system along with a virtual reality headset, Supa Strikas jerseys, soccer boots, footballs and other consolation items.

However, participants who are unable to submit the nine unique characters can redeem as many empty sachets of Supa Strika themed Cowbell Chocolate 20g packs for filled sachets, by submitting 20 empty sachets of Cowbell 20g promotional pack with 5 unique Supa Strikas characters to get one filled Cowbell 20g sachet free.

According to the organizer, this will ensure every participant in the promotion stand a chance to winning a prize including free product packs.

C o w b e l l Ch o c o l a t e w a s launched into Nigerian market in 2000 and was relaunched in 2015 in a new package with a new formulation that contains Vitarich plus iron, which is a blend of 28 vitamins

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BDSUNDAY 39

Health&Science Contributor

Tobi Ayodele Keeney

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he average lifespan of a Nigerian is currently about 55 years, as compared to 67 years for Kenyans and 78 years for Americans. In fact, the life expectancy for Nigerians is the lowest in West Africa. This appallingly low figure can be partly attributed to sudden death from heart attacks and stroke, which is usually caused by high cholesterol.

High cholesterol usually has no obvious symptoms; however it can be detected in blood tests. Many times, the only way to find out is when it is too late.

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is found in your blood. Your body needs some cholesterol to build cells, make hormones, make vitamin D and protect the nerves from damage. Cholesterol is made by your liver, and your body also gets cholesterol directly through certain foods. When the level of cholesterol in your blood becomes higher than normal, it can cause fatty deposits to develop in the blood, making it difficult for the blood to move freely through your arteries. Sometimes, these fatty deposits can break off suddenly, form a clot and cause a heart attack or stroke.

Cholesterol is made up of High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) or “good’ cholesterol, and Low Density Lipoprotein or “bad” cholesterol. The good cholesterol helps to protect you from developing heart disease while the bad cholesterol is what contributes to the cause of heart disease. Ideally you want to have a high amount of HDL cholesterol and a low amount of LDL cholesterol.

In the early 1980’s high cholesterol was very rare in Nigeria. It was prevalent in only 5 percent of the population. Currently, the global prevalence is 39 percent while the prevalence in healthy Nigerian adults is about 60 percent. That is more than half of the adult population, and the prevalence is much higher in diabetic

What you need to know about high cholesterol, silent killer of Nigerians

Drug Abuse: Winner emerges in 2019 Monster hit story contest

and hypertensive patients.

High cholesterol can run in the family. If your parents or your close relatives had high cholesterol, chances are you also may be at risk for developing high cholesterol.

However, the main cause of cholesterol is the result of living an unhealthy lifestyle and eating a poor diet. In Nigeria , we have moved from a highly active agrarian based lifestyle to a sedentary one. Additionally, the rapid urbanization and the introduction of western foods

to take control of our health and try as much as possible to prevent disease in general.

Early detection and treatment is crucial because heart surgery to fix blocked arteries is still in its infancy in Nigeria. Nigerian adults above the age of 17 are encouraged to do a fasting lipid profile test once a year or more if you already have any of the risk factors. If high cholesterol is detected, there are certain medications and dietary changes that can help.

In addition, we are encouraged

SEYI JOHN SALAU

such as bread, milk, sugar, processed foods, sweets, pastries, spaghetti, soft drinks and more, have also contributed to the development of high cholesterol especially in the urban population.

Finally, the average Nigerian has easier access to high cholesterol containing animal protein such as red meat, dairy and high carbohydrate foods. The other factors that increase your risk of high cholesterol are obesity, lack of exercise, smoking, drinking of alcohol, having diabetes and being of an older age.

The complications of high cholesterol may be quite severe. Having high cholesterol over time can cause your arteries to from plaques and harden in a condition called atherosclerosis. This can lead to chest pain, coronary artery disease, heart attack and stroke.

High cholesterol can be prevented, treated and even reversed as it is a lifestyle disease. Our healthcare system in Nigeria is still quite underdeveloped and so we as citizens need

to going back to eating a diet that is similar to that of our ancestors which consisted of a lot of fruits, vegetables, ancient indigenous grains and less of animal protein. Engage in moderate exercise at least 30 minutes a day, lose weight, quit smoking and avoid or greatly minimize alcohol. Start on a supplement that contains high levels of Omega 3’s and Omega 7’s to help improve HDL levels in the blood.

Additionally, by doing a 3 week detox of drinking green vegetable smoothies throughout the day, you can make your bad cholesterol to drop quickly to safe levels. Blend together ugwu leaves spinach, broccoli, kale, cucumbers, fruits and avocadoes, coconuts and drink it several times a day as your main source of nutrition for three weeks. Here is to good health!

Tobi Ayodele Keeney Managing Director Quincy Herbals Email address: tobi@quincyherbals.com

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n Enugu based pastor, Gabriel Obiano has emerged winner of 2019 Monster hit story contest. Monster hit story contest was designed for young Nigerians on social media to share true-life story that borders on life changing experiences on drug and substance abuse.

A recent survey conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), revealed that the rate of drug abuse in Nigeria in 2018 was more than twice the global average of 5.3 percent.

According to the report, 14.3 million Nigerians are involved in abuse of drugs such as marijuana, opioids and cough syrup. The report further showed that those involved in abuse of such drugs are mainly between age 15 and 64, while one in every four of them is a woman.

The contest, which ran on Instagram and Facebook between April and May, is an initiative of Ororo Pattaya 20km and David Jones, known for his Anti-Drug Advocacy among Nigerian Youth.

Obiano, also known as Gabriel Oocs title his story ‘How I Lost My Girlfriend To Drug Abuse’ was a revelation on the disturbing trend of drug abuse and addiction among Nigerian women. The Port Harcourt based pastor narrated how he met Esther and later proposed to her, only to discover she was a drug addict who has gone as far as using cocaine.

“I met Esther in God’s Word Outreach Ministry, Port Harcourt. As a young preacher who was willing to settle down as of that moment after my Bible School. I picked interest in her. We started dating and finally I proposed to her. She accepted the proposal. Meanwhile she told me how the father abandoned her and her mom at her early stage of life.

She told me, she can’t give account of where the dad is now. Due to hard life; she (Esther) left her mom too

and moved to Port Harcourt,” said Obiano.

According to him, Esther was seeing male friends who were in the military and some cultists who live a thug life. “I was not aware of this until I was desperate to find out what she was doing with her time. I felt her pain and advised her to make out time to visit her mom and know how she was doing and find out if she is aware of her dad’s whereabouts. She turned the advice down.

Obiano explained that despite his many efforts to help Esther retract her steps, she ended the relationship citing sharp contrast in their lifestyle.

“The more I talk about it or try to change her mind, the more she began to hate me. She detests me because I was not buying her lifestyle. She stopped picking my calls. She started avoiding me. She stopped coming to church.

“One day, I decided to visit her after calling her several times. When I reached her door post, I was hearing noise inside, what I saw that day destroyed my mind. I was heartbroken that my mind was not right anymore.

At the door post I sighted her getting high with friends, male and female.

I was discouraged to enter before I will be afflicted. I stepped outside and tried calling her, she came out and said: ‘what are you doing here; I have told you I don’t want you anymore. It’s over’.

At this moment she brought out my engagement ring from her room not even in her finger anymore and threw it at me. ‘We have no lifestyle in common; leave me to live my life the way I want’.

Obiano’s story attracted 377 likes, and 849 comments on Instagram, making a total of 1,226 votes to emerge winner of the contest.

Traction records revealed that the contest enjoyed good followership from social media users across Facebook and Instagram. The competition attracted 42 entries. A total of 5,700 likes, 2,900 comments, 4,200 views, and 48,000 impressions were recorded on Instagram entries.

NHEA 2019 to honour Akinkugbe, Lambo, Okoli with lifetime achievement award ANTHONIA OBOKOH

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hree distinguished and accomplished icons in the Nigeria healthcare sector will be honoured with lifetime achievement award (LAA) by the Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Award (NHEA) on June 21, 2019 in Lagos.

The awardees are Oladapo Olujimi Akinkugbe; former Minister of Health, Eyitayo Lambo and Founder / Group Managing Director of Emzor Pharmaceutical and Stella Chinyelu Okoli.

This ceremony, which is part of a bigger awards night that will honour over 35 individuals and organisations that have made tremendous impacts in the Nigeria healthcare sector in 2018,

will take place at a grand ballroom event in Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos.

According to Wale Alabi, NHEA project director, “We feel honoured and excited by these personalities and their immense contributions in the development of healthcare both locally and internationally. They have exhibited excellence and distinguished themselves. We are proud of them.”

Akinkugbe, an Emeritus Professor of Medicine, University of Ibadan received his medical degree from London University in 1958. After residency at The London and King’s College Hospitals, went up to Balliol College in Oxford University in 1962 for the D.Phil, working under Sir George Pickering FRS, Re-

gius Professor of Medicine.

He proceeded to his MD (London) and Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and later to the Chair of Medicine in 1968. He was subsequently Dean of Medicine at Ibadan, Foundation Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, and in the 1980s Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council of the University of Port Harcourt.

He was the foundation Chair of JAMB and Chair of the Management Board, University College Hospital, Ibadan.

He has served on many World Health Organisation Expert Committees on Cardiovascular Diseases and Health Manpower Develop-

ment and on the prestigious WHO Global Advisory Committee on Health Research.

He was also on the Scientific Advisory Panel of the Ciba Foundation in London for many years.

Lambo holds B.Sc., M.A. degrees in Economics and a Ph.D. degree in Operational Research applied to health systems. He is an awardee of the Fellowship of Operational Research (England), the Fellowship of the Nigerian Economic Society, and a Degree of Doctor of Science (D.Sc. Honoris Causa) by Bingham University.

He served as Nigeria’s Minister of Health from 2003 to 2007. Achievements recorded during his tenure included: development and implementation of Nigeria’s

first comprehensive Health Sector Reform Programme (2004-2007); drafting of the National Health Bill which eventually became Nigeria’s National Health Act in 2014; launching of the Formal Sector Programme of the National Health Insurance Scheme; establishment of the National Blood Transfusion Service; re-furbishing and re-equipping of 8 Federal Teaching Hospitals and movement of four of them to their permanent sites.

Okoli, is the Founder and Group Managing Director of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited. She obtained her B.Pharm (Hons) and an MSc in Bio-Pharmaceutics from University of London, Chelsea College in 1971. She has attended The

Harvard Business School Owner Manager Program; the Chief Executive Programme of Lagos Business School and I.E.S.E, Business School, Barcelona, Spain.

She founded Chike Okoli Foundation (COF) in 2006 in memory of her beloved son Chike. The Foundation set up a Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and trains over 250 students in entrepreneurship every year. The Foundation has reached over 1,500,000 people across Nigeria on lifestyle interventions.

NHEA 2019 is supported

by PharmAccess Foundation and is organised by Global Health Project and Resources (GHPR) in collaboration with Anadach Group, USA.

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Perspective

Cessation of cabotage waiver and future of Nigerian maritime sector

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Kumuyi Oluwafemi

he Cabotage Act has always been a subject of interest to many stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime sector, as it seeks to ensure indigenous participation in all forms of maritime trade. The Act, which rests on four major pillars, seeks to ensure that vessels are built in Nigeria, registered in Nigeria, owned by Nigerians, and manned/crewed

by Nigerians.

A critical look at the guidelines shows that it also seeks to facilitate the establishment and development of national capacities to implement, manage, monitor, establish adequate information systems, develop expert human resources in Cabotage administration and enforcement, and generally promote the efficient operation of the Cabotage regime.

Before now, foreigners had dominated the Nigerian Cabotage space due to inadequate facilities and shortage of manpower to help actualise the provisions of the Act. This gave rise to waiver clauses to ensure the maritime business does not suffer setbacks.

These clauses involve manning requirements, ownership requirements, and building requirements. Only the Minister of Transportation can grant such waivers when it has been proven that no Nigerian has the capacity to do the jobs.

Today, the story is different, as many Nigerians have taken their rightful place in the maritime space, hence the new move by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), in conjunction with maritime stakeholders, to commence the cessation of waiver under a five-year strategic plan. Many have welcomed the move as apt and necessary.

In order to achieve this laudable initiative, in 2017, NIMASA, being the Federal Government’s parastatal in charge of the implementation and enforcement of the Act, issued a Marine Notice on the New Cabotage Compliance Strategy (NCCS), titled, “Temporary Suspension of Issuance of Waiver on Manning Requirement under the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003.”

It states that the Agency shall no longer consider applications for waiver on manning for prescribed categories of officers in vessels engaged in coastal trade. They include Second Officer, Second Engineer, Second Mate, able seamen, ratings, and stewards.

There are few exceptions in the cases of ship captain, chief engineer, chief officer or first mate, as the Act says they shall be considered on merit on application to the Minister of Transportation or DirectorGeneral of NIMASA. But there is a rider that such waiver application “must be accompa-

Dakuku Peterside nied by a training programme/ transition plan to handover that role to a Nigerian within 6-12 months.”

This move by NIMASA has been widely hailed as a step in the right direction to make the Cabotage regime actualise its essence. Today, there are many more Nigerians participating actively in Cabotage trade, which is in line with the efforts NIMASA to ensure more local participation in the sector.

Further to the determination of the Agency to ensure the era of Cabotage waiver had ended in Nigeria, NIMASA recently organised a meeting with key industry players and stakeholders to discuss and map out a five-year strategic plan on the cessation of the waiver clause.

This was in a bid to fully set in motion the actual plan of the Act solely designed to suit indigenous operators and also encourage more participation

by Nigerians.

At the meeting, the NIMASA Director-General, Dakuku Peterside, reiterated the Agency’s determination to stop the cabotage waiver regime in the next five years.

NIMASA’s mandate is promoting and regulating shipping in Nigeria. The Agency is committed to promoting, protecting and providing the enabling environment for local ship-owners to grow and compete with their international counterparts. Obviously, these can only be achieved with concerted efforts by the Agency and the indigenous operators.

Part of the strategy for bringing to an end the issuance of waivers is the development of infrastructural capacity and human capital with respect to training of seafarers to attain global standards, among other initiatives.

The Cabotage law is patterned after the Jones Act of 1938 in the United States of America, which has helped develop that country’s indigenous

capacity in shipping. This can also be replicated in Nigeria if NIMASA gets all the necessary support from the stakeholders.

Another important component of the Cabotage Act is the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF), which is derived from the two percent deductions from all contracts awarded under the Cabotage regime. It is designed to enable indigenous shipping companies acquire adequate tonnage to be able to participate in coastal and inland trade to avoid dominance by foreigners.

Over the years, NIMASA has accumulated huge sums of money through the CVFF, which cannot be accessed unless there is approval from the Honourable Minister of Transportation. NIMASA is working hard to ensure that the fund does not get into wrong hands, hence the delay in the disbursement of the fund.

One of the critical strategies for actualising the cessation of the Cabotage waiver regime is training. This is an area NIMASA has really excelled, especially through the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP). The programme is aimed at ensuring that Nigeria does not get caught in the global challenge on dearth of seafarers. This scheme has seen over 2,000 Nigerian youths sent to various maritime institutions abroad to study maritime-related courses. The Agency has also partnered with some institutions abroad to ensure the beneficiaries gets the mandatory sea-time training that will qualify them to be seafarers.

Currently, out of over 2,000 beneficiaries of the scheme, 340 cadets have already completed their sea-time training. In addition to this, 150 Cadets are undergoing the sea-time in Egypt and another 89 others are in the United Kingdom. This signals that through the intervention of NIMASA and the cooperation of

stakeholders in the sector, the Nigerian maritime sector will soon experience a boom, as the cadets on sea-time training return to take their rightful place in the maritime space.

With the Cabotage Act enforcement, the issue of foreign dominance of the country’s maritime space will soon be a thing of the past.

NIMASA is adopting different strategies to encourage indigenous participation in the maritime sector, as it acknowledges that the CVFF will not be enough to meet the requirements of the sector, even when it is disbursed. The Dakuku has assured stakeholders that the Agency is negotiating with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for possible ways of granting a single-digit interest rate to indigenous ship operators so that they can easily assess funds at cheaper rates. This would help to boost their capacity and give them the opportunity to compete favourably with their counterparts in the global maritime space.

The NCCS, which is already yielding results, if fully implemented and enforced by NIMASA, alongside the five-year cessation plan, will help to set a new tone of prosperity in the Nigerian maritime industry.

There will be more businesses for qualified operators, more job opportunities, and more revenue for the Federal Government, with the maritime sector contributing substantially to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Part III, section 9-11 of the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act, 2003 provides for waiver on the requirements for ownership and manning of Cabotage vessels by Nigerians and also building of such vessels in Nigeria, where capacity is lacking. In order to encourage more indigenous participation, which is the essence of the Act, NIMASA is desirous of stopping these waivers and has put in place a strategic plan in that regard.

‘Nigeria needs military support to tackle diverse challenges’ MIKE ABANG, Calabar

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he outgoing Commandant of the Naval War College Nigeria, Thaddeus Udofia has asserted that Nigeria needs the support of the military in proffering solutions to the myriads of security and development challenges it is facing with a view to overcoming them in the 21st Century.

Udofia, who said this during his pulling out ceremony at the NNS Victory Parade ground in Calabar weekend, expressed the optimism that the establishment of the Naval War College will help Nigeria overcome all forms of security and developmental challenges.

“Note that Nigeria will continue to depend on the Armed Forces to proffer solutions to the myriads of security and developmental challenges of the 21st Century. In this respect, I am convinced that the establishment of the Naval War College Nigeria will help in the realisation of this.

“This is more so as the College is designed to equip individuals who will be participating in its diverse causes with the skills to address the hydra-headed challenges,” he said.

“Be reminded that although the College is still in its nascent stage, the uniqueness of the contemporary and emergent challenges to Nigerian Navy operations could hasten its maturity to influence policies and decisions at the Naval Headquarters,” he further said.

On his part, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Ibok Ekwe Ibas said the aim and intentions of establishing the College was gradually paying off as participants are contributing immensely to efficient delivery in operations and more.

Ibas represented by, Rear Admr. Begroy IbeEnwo, Chief of Policy and Plans, Naval Headquarters said the College was all about innovation as there have been a lot of contributions based on their observations.

“We have noticed a lot of improvement ,the College I making a lot of impact because there are innovation and improvement in terms of our operational strategies and so on. The few that have been trained are really making gainful contribution in efficient delivery I our operations,” he said.

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BDSUNDAY 41

Society Watch Child-beggars on the rise in Lagos

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JONATHAN ADEROJU

he traffic had come to a halt as usual at Old Garage on the Ijegun-Ikotun Road.

Shortly after it began to ease off, I saw a woman carrying a child and instructing the older one to run after motorists to beg for alms.

Th e w o m a n a p p r o a c h e d some motorists with the baby, doing same. Moved by compassion, a young man inside one of the busses trapped in the traffic jam called to offer her money, but was shocked when the woman brought out a handset that was ringing inside her bag.

What? So, she has a handset, I thought she needed money to buy food! The young man lamented and withdrew his hand from his pocket. But the development did not surprise his colleague who sat beside him.

“She does not need money to feed, if she keeps a handset. I am not going to help her sustain expensive habit,” the young man said angrily. Surprised that his friend did not recognise the beggar, his colleague who knows the woman’s antics, laughed and asked: “So you still do not recognise that woman who you have given money at Old Garage in the morning and at Akowonjo Roundabout in the evening?”

The seeming smart friend disclosed further that the beggar changes her clothes and moves between Ikotun and Akowonjo with her children.

His anger is that the woman makes so much money and can afford a handset while the givers find it difficult recharging their phones.

“My heart goes out to those poor children. I do not think they deserve the kind of treatment their so-called mother has subjected them to. By the way, I thought there is a law in Lagos State against this kind of maltreatment of children”, the young man said.

Indeed, the angry colleague may have spoken the minds of many Lagosians who wonder that long after the Child Rights Law was passed in the state, child abuse still persists.

Besides the begging , it is worrisome that some families send children to sell things in the market during school hours.

The ugly scene is common place in Lagos, One evening at the popular Boundary in the Ajegunle area of Lagos, I was accosted by little children running all around me saying “uncle buy food for us”. I was stunned by the ages of the children.

I was forced to ask the whereabouts of their parents. One of the beggars who said her name was Aishat Aminu said, “My mama leave me go Arewa”.

While I was reluctant at offering alms to them, the determined and vulnerable children beggars followed me till I almost got to

my destination.

But not too far from where I stopped, I saw adults who seem the parents of these children, sitting at a corner and watching the scene.

On my way, I discussed with a friend of mine, Mike, who narrated his own side of his encounter with child beggars.

“Last year at Iyana Ipaja, I noticed two young women with kids, aged between five and six, strapped to their backs, approached motorists and pedestrians to beg for money.

They said the children were sick and needed medical treatment, which they could not afford”, Mike narrated.

Mike was shocked when he saw the same women at Onipanu last week, telling the same story, but with much younger babies on their backs.

“I feel the state government should go tough on this act and arrest whosoever is involved,” he said.

Two weeks ago, Lagosians who had gone to the popular Aswani Market, off the OshodiApapa Expressway, stood in awe looking at a woman begging for alms with her two-month old twin babies. She traveled all the way from Ajase in Benin Republic to Lagos just to use the kids to beg for alms.

According to Mike, if there is any place where the Child Rights Law should be enforced, that place should be Lagos State where child abuse seems to go on as if it is normal.

“The Ministry of Youth Sports and Social Development ought to ensure that child-beggars are taken off the streets without minding what parts of the country the beggars come from.

“Exposing those children to the elements, using them to beg for alms, keeping them away from school, are all against the law. Those who go against the law should be prosecuted,” he suggested.

“No government in this 21st Century should fold its arms and allow the destiny of children that would grow to build and sustain the nation in future be sacrificed on the altar of alms-begging. It is high time government took decisive action against those who use kids to beg for alms”.

He said there was a particularly pitiable case “in Ikeja of a woman who uses her triplets to beg for alms. It is obvious she makes a lot of money, yet the children are malnourished,” Mike said, rather angrily.

Investigations by BDSUNDAY revealed that those women might not be the biological mothers of the children they use for begging.

A trader in Ikotun Market, Ayobami Rilwan said: “I wonder if any woman that went through the pains of pregnancy and labour would subject her child to the scorching sun and the trauma on Lagos roads to beg for alms.”

Speaking to BDSUNDAY through an interpreter, Wasila Yakubu, a woman beggar with a boy of about four years and a two-year old girl by her side, said her quest to survive brought them to Lagos.

She said her friend, Aisha, left

their village in Katsina to Lagos last year, with her daughter with nothing other than her few cloths, but returned home three months later well-nourished and with so much money that she engaged labourers to work in their farms.

“I visited her to know how she made such money in barely three months. She told me that in Lagos, you make money as long as you can walk up to somebody and beg for money without shame.

“After my husband deserted us, I set off for Lagos from Katsina. I spent three days on the road with my children in a train as it is the cheapest means of coming to Lagos,” she said.

A woman who begs with her son at Ojuelegba area of Surulere, Lagos but who refused to disclose her name, said: “Begging is not a job to be proud of. I do not enjoy exposing my young boy to attract sympathy from passers-by. But that is exactly what I am doing.

“I came to Lagos with my husband and seven months after our marriage, things began to fall apart.

“I ventured into begging three months after the birth of my son since my husband disappeared and we were in abject poverty.

There was no food, no money, no hope. His whereabouts is still unknown to me,” she said.

BDSUNDAY also discovered another tactic employed by middle-age women to beg for alms.

These are women who stand at popular bus stops with babies strapped to their backs. Usually, they claim they are stranded and needing money to get to their destination.

Sharing his experience with our correspondent, a young man who gave his name simply as Timothy, said: “I started to notice some young ladies who pretend they are stranded at bus stops. They usually back babies asking people for financial assistance to pay their transport fare to their destinations. They always mention places far away from where they are, perhaps, to attract more sympathy. Initially, I used to give them money until I discovered they were fake.”

“The day it dawned on me that they were professional beggars, using kids, was a day I saw same set of ladies at two different bus stops same day.

I first saw them at Oshodi bus stop, then same day in the evening time, I also ran into them at Mile 2 bus stop.

They did not realise they had approached me earlier in the day around 10am. The same one that met me at Oshodi still came to me at Mile 2 while her mates watched us from where they stood. I barked at her. I raised my voice and people gathered.

From what other people said there, they are known syndicate and notorious along the OshodiMile 2 axis. So, on that day, my sympathy for such people died,” Timothy said.

But the question many concerned Lagosians are asking is why the government is not enforcing the Child Rights Law, which was enacted to protect children from all forms of abuses.

42 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 16 June 2019

Sports

With $127m in earnings, Messi tops list of highest paid athletes

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Stories By Anthony Nlebem

arcelona forward Lionel Messi is the world’s highest paid athlete on earth; earning $127million in the past 12 months, according to report published by Forbes top 100 ranking.

The American business magazine calculated the athletes’ earnings, which combines prize money, salaries and endorsements between June 2018 and June 2019.

The top 100 earners made a combined $4 billion, with athletes spanning 10 sports and coming from 25 different countries.

Juventus’s Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo is second on $109million while Paris Saint Germain’s (PSG) Brazil forward Neymar is third on $105m.

2018 highest earner, American boxer, Floyd Mayweather, dropped off on the list, while American female tennis star, Serena Williams is the only woman in the top 100, earning $29.2million.

Also, Formula 1 world champion, Lewis Hamilton, and former Nigerian born British heavyweight world champion, Anthony Joshua, are the highest earning British athletes, sitting at 13th on $55million.

The top 100 includes athletes from 25 countries and their $4bn combined earnings are up 5% from the previous year, when Mayweather was first with $285m (£224m).

Athletes had to earn a minimum of $25m (£19.6m) to make this year’s list.

Messi is only the second footballer to top the rankings after Ronaldo, and only the eighth different athlete to take the number one spot since the rankings began in 1990.

Despite heading the Forbes list, Messi has endured a mixed season at the Catalan club.

The Barcelona captain inspired his side to the LaLiga title but suffered humiliation as Liverpool

overturned a 3-0 deficit to knock the Spanish side out of the Champions League. Barcelona were also surprisingly beaten by Valencia in the Spanish Cup final.

Brazil and Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar completes the top three earners, picking up $105 million.

It is also the first time that footballers have ranked as the top three earners in sports.

Messi is one of 38 non-American athletes on the list, with 62 US stars in the top 100.

Serena Williams is the only female athlete to make the list. She earned $29.2 million despite not winning a grand slam in 2018 on her return from pregnancy.

Williams is also the first athlete to ever make Forbes’ list of richest self-made women in America -- tennis stars earn four times as much from endorsements and appearance fees as they do from prize money.

Meanwhile, former world champion boxer Floyd Mayweather failed to live up to his “Money” moniker, falling out of the list altogether after being named last year’s highest earner.

Since his mega-money fight withUFCfighterConorMcGregor,

Mayweather has only fought an exhibition bout against Tenshin Nasukawa in December 2018.

The NBA accounted for the most athletes with 35, with LA Lakers’ LeBron James the sport’s highest paid athlete in eighth on $89m ahead of Golden State Warriors pair Stephen Curry (9th on $79.8m) and Kevin Durant (10th on $65.4m).

Manchester United’s Paul Pogba is the highest earning Premier League player in 44th place with $33m.

Top 10 Highest Paid Athletes

1. Lionel Messi $127m

2. Cristiano Ronaldo $109m

3. Neymar $105m

4. Canelo Alvarez $94m

5. Roger Federer $93.4m

6. Russell Wilson $89.5m

7. Aaron Rodgers $89.3m

8. LeBron James $89m

9. Stephen Curry $79.8m

10, Kevin Durant $65.4m

AFCON 2019: Super Eagles eye good outing against Senegal

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enegal’s Teranga Lions is Africa’s number one –ranked team, but the Super Eagles are determined to give a good account of themselves when both teams square up in Ismailia on Sunday evening.

Feelers from the camp indicate only a very positive ambience with players and officials thinking of how to bring honour and glory to the nation, when the whistle goes for kick off at the 32nd Africa Cup of Nations finals in seven days.

The last time both Nigeria and Senegal clashed at senior level was on 23rd March 2017, at The Hive (home of Barnet FC and London Bees) in London. Kelechi Iheanacho equalized from the spot after Moussa Sow had put Senegal ahead – both goals coming in the second half.

Three –time African champions Nigeria are on an eight –match unbeaten run since elimination from the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in

Russia.

Sunday’s game has been scheduled to start at 7pm Egypt time (6pm Nigeria time) and both Federations have agreed that the match be played behind closed door in order to enable both coach-

ing crews to tinker with tactics and strategy during the encounter.

The Nigeria delegation will depart from Ismailia on Monday morning, for Alexandria – venue of their Group B attrition against Burundi, Guinea and Madagascar.

NBB of C president lauds sponsors of GOtv Boxing Night

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resident of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C), Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, has commended GOtv for its continued support for Nigerian boxing.

Ladipo made the commendation in Lagos at the press conference to announce the 19th GOtv Boxing Night, which holds at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos, on 14 July.

The NBB of C President said the pay television company has remained consistent in its support of the sport, a gesture he said has resulted in the revival of the sport domestically.

“If there is one thing that is obvious about GOtv Boxing Night, it is consistency. Since the first edition in 2014, it has been consistent.

We’ve seen similar shows like this that after some time, they go off.

“But in the case of GOtv Boxing Night, it has continued to grow in leaps and bounds. From edition one, two, three, seven, 10, 13, 15, 17 to 19, it is not easy. So I will like to, once again, say a big thank you to GOtv,” he said.

Ladipo added that four Nigerian boxers, whose careers have been boosted by GOtv Boxing Night, delight him. Many other boxers, he said, have become known through the event in other countries.

“Our boxers are easily recognised anytime they go outside Nigeria to fight. This wouldn’t have been

possible if not for GOtv, which gave them the platform to showcase their skills.

“Unlike in the past where our boxers are not given the right treatment, this is no longer so, thanks to GOtv,” said Ladipo.

His view is also shared by the NBB of C Secretary General and President, West African Boxing Union (WABU), Remi Aboderin, who said he is delighted by the regularity of Nigerian boxers travelling to fight in other countries as well as visits by foreign boxers to fight in Nigeria.

“Since the GOtv Boxing Night began, we have been seing our boxers go out to fight and boxers from other African countries coming here to face our best boxers.

“Also, our boxers are increasingly being rated and their records documented. This has been possible because of GOtv’s support.

Hopefully, we will continue to see many talented boxers emerge to become champions in Africa and the world,” said Aboderin.

UNICEF Charity Shield Polo: EL-Rufai Lauds Access Bank

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aduna state government has lauded Access Bank Plc and its partner, Fifth Chukker Polo & Country Polo Club for its leading campaign to alleviate the plights of vulnerable and orphaned children in the state.

Wife of Kaduna State Governor, Hajia Aisha Ummi EL-Rufai who was the Special Guest of Honour at the Children day event in the ongoing Access Bank UNICEF Charity Shield Polo Tournament in Kaduna thumb up the partners for using the Charity Shield polo platform to enhance the educational and health well being of children in a most special way.

“There is an important need for both private and public sectors to do a lot more in support of the Nigerian child, particularly the orphans and vulnerable children to enable them look forward to a better tomorrow,” the Kaduna State First Lady added.

The Children Day event which remains one of the biggest highlights yet at the ongoing international polo fiesta, has received high profile accolades as an occasion that enables children to cherish their buoyant freedom and rekindle their childhood and the potentials within them.

Hundreds of school pupils and their teachers spent the

whole day at the foremost Fifth Chukker Polo & Country Club in Kaduna, engaging in various sporting activities and dance with the Mother of the Day, who called on other good spirited organizations and individuals to emulate the Access Bank partnership example.

Revered as one of the biggest charity polo tournaments in the world, the charity shield which has been under the exclusive sponsorship of Access Bank for more than a decade now offers four major prizes, the Usman Dantata, the UNICEF cup, Access Bank cup and the high goal Charity Shield.

Fifth Chukker team had earlier in the first stage of the ongoing Access Bank UNICEF Charity Shield international polo tournament upstaged favourites and former winners, Tila Farms 8-41/2, to win the prestigious Usman Dantata Cup. The ten-day annual event is a robust corporate social responsibility partnership platform set up in 2003 by Fifth Chukker Polo and Country Club in conjunction with Access Bank Plc. For almost two decades now, this annual event has been raising funds to support UNICEF projects for vulnerable children and the HIV/ AIDS pandemic in Kaduna State and its environs.

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BDSUNDAY 43

Sports

African stars in LaLiga to watch out for at AFCON 2019 Anthony Nlebem

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ith the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2019), Africa’s premier international tournament, set to kick off in Egypt on June 21.

Here’s a look at some of the very best African stars playing at the LaLiga Santander across the 24 competing nations.

strength to strength in his first season in LaLiga with Levante, featuring in 14 of his side’s last 16 league games as they steered clear of relegation. The versatile Simon proved his worth to coach Paco Lopez either as a wing-back or traditional winger on both flanks and now goes into his first major tournament with the Super Eagles.

Kenneth Omeruo (Cd Leganes & Nigeria) Leganés registered their highest-ever finish in LaLiga Santander in 2018/19 (13th), conceding just 43 goals along the way – the fifth-best record in the whole league – thanks in no small part to the performances of Nigerian centre-back Kenneth Omeruo.

The Abia State native, who has voiced his desire to make his loan switch from Chelsea permanent this summer, is now gunning for his second African Cup of Nations title after winning the 2013 edition while still a teenager.

Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal Cf & Nigeria) The 20-year-old from Umuahia in Abia State has been linked with a number of top clubs across Europe this summer for good reason. Promoted to the Villarreal senior squad midway through the 2018/19 season, Chukwueze wowed fans with his electric dribbling and direct style and picked up five goals as Villarreal secured their LaLiga Santander status for another year. He could have represented Nigeria at the Under-20s World Cup this summer but will instead travel with the senior squad to Egypt; a potential secret weapon for Gernot Rohr.

Moses Simon (Levante Ud & Nigeria) Moses Simon went from

Thomas Partey (Atletico De Madrid & Ghana) As a regular starter at title-

Ghanaian top golfer, others storm Owerri for S/East tournament SABY ELEMBA, Owerri

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werri, the Eastern Heartland was agog as senior golf players from the African continent namely Ghana, Cameroun, Zimbabawe, Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria stormed Owerri for the South-East Golf shoot out which took place at the Arsenal Golf course Obinze.

The Chief Executive of Africa Tour, the organisers of the tournament, Emeka Okata, stated that Africa Tour is a platform that educates people about golf and at the same time provides training for amateur golfers that want to learn golf as well as providing the enablement for professionals to come together to excel.

He stated that the Organization had in the past organized over 20 tournaments gathering players from eleven different countries.

On the South East tournament, he disclosed that two days will be for stroke play, stressing that each player should make plus six cut per day or shown the exit door from the competition. He further hinted that the exercise is a nine hole straight play and not eighteen, that it is not S- match play tournament.

He however disclosed that Africa Tour will soon build a 100% free Golf Academy at Arsenal Golf Owerri, pointing out that the academy when instituted will train children that has interest in playing

golf.He seemingly frowned at lack of interest for golf by the private sector, revealing that one can erk a living through golf.

Also speaking, Edwin Osubo the technical director of Africa Golf Tour,disclosed that golf started over 200 hundred years ago as a recreation, stating that it is a game of honour and helps to bring integrity.

He however regretted that golf is misconceived to be a game for elites and expensive too, disclosing that the greatest golfers today were green keepers. He further revealed that golf is the only sports that cannot be influenced because it has rules and regulations, disclosing that Tiger Wood was disqualified because he missed a cut.

In his remarks, Amos Gobbler noted that the lacks sponorship and attributed it to reasons why they are not going far in the sports.

Others that spoke include Nigerian born Sunday Olapado and Michael Ubi.

challengers Atlético de Madrid, Partey is one of the poster boys for this summer’s Africa Cup of Nations. The 25-year-old tends to play a more attacking role for Ghana than he does for Diego Simeone at Atleti, we may be set to see one or two of his trademark long-range strikes as he looks to lead the Black Stars to their first AFCON title of the 21st century.

Youssef En-Nesyri (Cd Leganes & Morroco) En-Nesyri scored his first international goal during the 2017 AFCON and has come a long way since then. Still just 22, the Fez native has turned heads in LaLiga Santander this season with Leganes and finished the season as the side’s top scorer.

He is the first player in club history to score a hat-trick in February – and will be looking to finish his breakout with some international silverware in Egypt.

Moussa Wagué (Fc Barcelona & Senegal) Just 20 years of age, Moussa Wagué has already scored at a World Cup and played for the Barcelona first team. That’s not bad at all! The up-and-coming

full-back – of whom those in the Camp Nou offices have very high hopes – has impressed mostly for Barcelona’s reserve side this season and now turns his focus to the AFCON where Senegal are set to face Algeria, Kenya and Tanzania in Group C. Aïssa Mandi (Real Betis & Algeria) Mandi, who made his international debut in 2014, is set to play in his third AFCON tournament. The Real Betis centre-back will now be hoping it’s third time lucky after rounding off an impressive season in LaLiga; not only was the 27-year-old as strong as ever in defence, but he also took his passing game to new heights, finishing the season with a pass completion rate of 92.6%, behind only Barcelona’s Arthur and Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos.

Karl Toko Ekambi (Villarreal Cf & Cameroon) Karl Toko Ekambi is set to play a key role in attack as Cameroon look to retain the title they won in 2017. The frontman impressed with 18 goals in his debut season with Villarreal and heads to Egypt brimming with confidence

after helping the Yellow Submarine steer clear of relegation in what was a difficult season for the side from Spain’s east coast.

Mubarak Wakaso (D. Alaves & Ghana) This will be Mubarak Wakaso’s fourth Africa Cup of Nations and the 28-year-old will be determined to make this one to remember after the disappointments of 2013, 2015 and 2017.

The Alavés midfielder boasts bags of experience and travels to Egypt after an impressive year in LaLiga which saw Alaves in contention for the European spots for months before finishing a creditable 11th.

Aly Abeid (Ad Alcorcon & Mauritania) It’s not just LaLiga Santander players that’ll be representing Spanish football at this summer’s tournament. There are also a number of talented players from LaLiga 1l2l3, Spanish football’s second tier, and one of them is Aly Abeid. A left-back for AD Alcorcon on loan from Levante this season, the rangy wide man has been called up to the Mauritania national side for the first as they head to their first-ever AFCON.

Deltans, sports lovers throng Stephen Keshi Stadium to ease off tension Mercy Enoch, Asaba

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eltans and indeed, sports lovers and enthusiasts now throng Stephen Keshi Stadium located along Nnebisi Road, Asaba, Delta State, as sporting events including local, national and international football matches among others, are fast becoming regular feature of the stadium.

From January to March this year, the rains were far from coming down to water the ground, a situation that led to excessive heat occasioned by dry season/ intensive hot weather.

Throughout the months, the sporting events held at the stadium were seen to have doused tension in the tension-soaked city. Yes, tension-soaked because the hot weather caused a lot of tension among Asaba city dwellers and even the visitors.

You travel across the Niger, to Onitsha in Anambra State, there you witness rainfall occasionally.

Cities like Owerri in Imo, Aba and Umuahia in Abia State also recorded rainfall at various times within the period. Port Harcourt in Rivers State often had rainfall but Asaba and most parts of Delta State never had. With the rains, the neighbouring states

started farming while people in Delta, especially Asaba were groaning for rain to fall.

Week by week, residents and sports lovers found their way to the stadium to cool off the negative effects of the dry season/ hot weather while they earnestly awaited the coming of the rains.

First quarter of the year gone and no rain yet. By early May, the rains began to come down and here we are in the tick of rainy season with some residence crying over flooding effects.

The state government has maintained its tempo in the hosting of local, state, national and international sports at the stadium. Hardly does a week pass without a sporting activity holding at the stadium.

The heavy downpours as do not deter residents and sports lovers there are flood lights giving light to spectators even at night. Most of the seats at the main bowl of the stadium have roof over them, so no need to fear the rain, except for the players who must be on the field.

This development was revealed in the large turn-out of football fans and supporters who graced the qualifying friendly match between the Super Eagles and Warriors of Zambabwe ahead of 2019 African Cup of

Nations (AFCON).

Though the match which took place on Saturday, June 8, ended in a goalless draw under the heavy downpour of rainfall that lasted the entire 90 minutes of play, the Zimbabwean Coach, Sunday Chidzambga was full of eulogies for the Nigerian team, saying “The Super Eagles is a good team” “I have learnt a lot from the Super Eagles of Nigeria. I learnt from the Super eagles how they move to the goal area of their opponents and how they take possession of the ball and hold on to the ball. I learnt a lot”, he said.

Underlying the effect of the rainfall during the ZimbabweNigeria soccer match, the Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, who many described as sweat merchant, exclaimed, “So much rain!

For the first time in Nigeria, I was cold. All the players deserve congratulation. It was not an easy match.”

Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi agreed with his coach, saying that necessary adjustments would be made as the team plays in friendly matches as they did in Asaba. He said that it is with the coach and the technical crew to determine the areas of necessary changes and adjust accordingly.

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The tasks before Governor Sanwo-Olu in Lagos

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he picnic is over. It is all down to the brass tasks of governance. What more, of one of the world’s fastest growing city-states, Lagos, Nigeria. The All Progressives Congress (APC) has not only won the electoral victory, in the Centre of Excellence once again but has the onerous task of bearing the beacon of what democracy should truly be. As often stated, “good leaders do not give excuses for failure, but find the reasons to succeed”. For the good people of Lagos, succeed the governor must. There is therefore, no more room for infuriating blame games. And that is because one sweet victory leads to more challenges.

So far, so good, that the gentlemanlooking and self-effacing Sanwo-Olu has hit the ground running. He has signed an Executive Order on the querulous issues of waste management and the seemingly intractable transport system with its nervegrating gridlock. There is zero tolerance for unruly behaviour of the commuters, not the least being the ubiquitous Okada riders. Not done, down to the long-neglected Badagry road he has gone, to see the mess for himself and calmed frayed nerves.

Furthermore, he has touched down at the Alausa secretariat to mingle with and motivate the civil servants. For me, this is one wise move as they are the catalysts to oil the engines of good governance. Still to bridge the leadership-led majority gap there is the Official Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu Mobile App. It was created to deepen the visibility of the administration of the governor and to galvanise continuous supporters for the administration.

In fact, one Williams Jones had this to say about the App on March 24, 2019: “This Sanwo-Olu app eh, it is a miracle worker!! I did not believe it when I was told.

Since I downloaded it on my phone, my data never finish. More than two months now”.

Talking about challenges, they are not a

few! These include inter-ethnic harmony, security, job creation, infrastructural development, sound and solid education and healthcare delivery. Others, as he has rightly identified include waste management and a multi-dimensional traffic network that flows. To succeed, Sanwo-Olu needs the visionary clout of the Jagaban of Borgu, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the singleminded yet holistic leadership matrix of Babatunde Raji Fashola (BRF) and of course, the futuristic approach to governance of his predecessor, Akinwunmi Ambode.

Let us begin with security. Over the years, insecurity might not have attained any form of nerve-racking incubus in Lagos. But the influx of armed herders who have metamorphosed into kidnap kingpins, with cells in the forests of the South-West only means that the SanwoOlu administration must be proactive.

Appropriate data collation and analysis of those who have found their way into the city, as well as sustained intelligence information gathering have become imperative. Who are these young people trooping in from up North, who in less than a week of getting to the city have some work of okada riding, shoe-shining and security guard waiting for them? Who hosts them? Have they any link whatsoever to the terrorists and bandits that have turned several states in the northern axis including Zamfara into the killing fields?

What about the trucks that come in on daily basis? What are their contents and of course, their destinations?

Credible answers to these questions will go a long way towards preventing an upsurge in crimes and criminality. Still within Lagos there should be concerted attempts to nip in the bud resurgence of cult clashes. Forests and waterways should be constantly combed to identify the hideouts of those who smile at us during the day but turn into demons of destruction at night.

On inter-ethnic harmony, no effort

should be spared towards ensuring that the bridge of trust is strengthened between the indigenes and other ethnic nationalities resident in Lagos. Truth be told, what transpired during the presidential elections with the premeditated attacks on some non-indigenes leaves a sour taste in the mouth. It should not rare its ugly head again!

As for the issues of infrastructural development, job creation, education, healthcare and housing there should be continuity in government. After all, the change of baton has always taken place between one APC member and another. In light of this, we expect the Abule-Egba bridge, the famous Oshodi Interchange as well as some other ongoing projects completed in record time. The pot hole-riddled inner roads are crying for attention and he has to walk the talk.

On waste management, traffic control and tax payment there should be sustained media campaign to enlighten the residents that governance that works must be all-encompassing. They should see themselves as partners-in-progress. Even then, the government should have in place some incentives and social buffers that would elicit their allegiance to the leadership.

Similarly, the focus on the development of entertainment and tourism sector should be sustained. Lagos can be turned into the next Dubai, with creative approach to upgrading the tourism potentials as well as pragmatic partnerships with those who have excelled at it.

A profitable synergy could be worked out between the state government and top Nollywood actors, musicians and artistes. In fact, there is nothing wrong with these brilliant and talented minds selling Lagos as a top tourism brand to the world. They

Ayo OyozeBaje Baje is Nigerian first food technologist in the media and author of ‘DRUMBEATS OF DEMOCRACY’

can achieve this through musical concerts, movies, fashion and art exhibitions partly sponsored by the state across the major cities of the world.

For Sanwo-Olu, leadership models that work are anchored on the unfailing principles of building a network of already successful people who provide great advice, and with access to future political paradigms. This is the admonition from Tim Ferriss a New York Times best-selling author. He is well advised to stick with the wise counsel of his predecessors, political helmsmen and associates.

He should adopt clear task management guidelines, stay current by studying the latest leadership guidelines, practice servant leadership, give and ask for candid feedback, find a work–life balance, embrace change and stay humble.

As a young leader, it’s important to learn how to communicate, prioritize and self-teach. This will empower him to manage teams, and enable you to think strategically today and in the long run.

To do so, he should fulfill his THEME Agenda. The five pillars of development will focus on traffic and transportation, health and the environment, education and technology, “making Lagos a 21st century economy”, as well as entertainment and tourism. Something tells me that with Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, who succeeded as the commissioner for Works by his side, he will succeed.

Quick Takes

Off the Cuff

Orji Kalu and the allegory of ‘7 pieces of meat’

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hose accusing the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) senators of going against their party directive last Tuesday by not voting for Senator Ali Ndume do not understand Nigerian brand of politics.

The night before the inauguration of the 9th Senate and the election of the principal officers, the highest echelon of the PDP leadership had held a meeting which lasted for several hours on the need for senators-elect on its platform to vote for Ndume since Ahmed Lawan had been endorsed by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidency.

But what transpired at the election proper did not show that the PDP senators listened to the instruction by the Uche Secondus-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

The senators had their own agenda. They knew where their bread would be better buttered. Even those who had canvassed and in-

sisted it would be an anathema for the Southeast to be completely excluded from the scheme of things, went in and voted against the only Senator from the Southeast that vied for the Deputy Senate Presidency position.

In Nigeria, self is the main driving force in politics, not service. When politicians talk about their love for the masses, it is usually a lip-service. A few days to the election on the floor of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, a former governor of Abia State, was guest of the Channel TV Sunrise Daily, where he vehemently argued that disallowing Southeast from holding producing a principal officer in the 9th National Assembly would be a grandmother of injustice.

He so argued and pointed out that if there were seven pieces of meat in the pot and there were seven people who should have a piece each, only for the seventh person to be denied while the meat that was supposed to go to him was shared again among those who had gotten their fair share; he said that was what his party, APC,

was about to do; he vowed he would never allow that to happen.

He also said that he would only withdraw from the race for deputy Senate presidency if he was assured that a member of the House of Representatives from the South East would be allowed to emerge as the speaker of the House.

He was so furious with his campaign for an Igbo person to emerge that one of the presenters, Maupe Ogun, asked him if he was sincere in what he was saying, because most times when politicians say they are protecting the interest of the masses, it was their selfish end they are actually fighting for.

At the end of the day, Kalu was not part of the contest. He withdrew for Ovie OmoAgege.

Last Thursday, he threw a party for Lawan and Omo –Agege, where he lambasted the Southeast for not knowing how to play politics and how he was a master strategist.

N416, 668,229

This is the amount of money proposed by the Federal Government in the 2019 budget for the construction of the presidential wing of the state House Medical Centre out of the Presidency’s total estimate budget of N49, 307,859,794.

From the horse’s mouth “Something can entice politicians and they can change. If you watch what happened at the National Assembly, you can see that this is the attitude of politicians. You see the party has a position; before you know it, they are selling out themselves for one plate of porridge. This one has a case and he wants them to withdraw the case.”

- Governor Nyesom Wike on the futility of trusting Nigerian politicians.

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