BusinessDay 19 May 2019

Fashola urges contractor on Onitsha/Enugu road rehabilitation to step up action

Igbos don’t deserve presidency - Amaechi Iniobong Iwok with agency report

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otimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, has said that the Igbos of the South-east geo-political zone of the country should not demand the presidency in 2023, because they did not deserve it.

He said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) got lesser votes in the region during the

2019 presidential election than in any other zone, describing it as voting against the party.

Speaking with journalists at the weekend, Amaechi said the Igbo have nothing to bring to the negotiation table for 2023 presidency, stressing that the region’s decision to support candidate of the opposition party was an error.

According to him, “I don’t

Emmanuel Ndukuba, Awka

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he Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola has challenged the contracting firm handling the rehabilitation of Umunya/Amawbia axis of Onitsha/Enugu expressway to step up Continued on page 3

Continued on page 2

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I’ve invested no hope in what PDP is going to do in Adamawa – Birma Dauda

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When Ajimobi, Ganduje read from same book…Ibadan, Kano shook

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Vol 1, No. 264 N300

??MTN boosts market sentiment with N200bn medium term loan facility

p. 31 & 32

p. 39

Market & Commodities Monitor Brent Oil

5yr Bond

$70.63

-0.02 14.39%

Gold

10yr Bond

$1,286.80

-0.10 14.23%

Cocoa

$2,312.00

20yr Bond

0.00 14.29%

inside The Alabo at 80: Port Harcourt stands up for Tonye Graham Douglas

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Nigeria is moving rapidly towards disintegration – Guy Ikokwu

P. 21

Rise in suicide among millennials mirrors sick society

L/R: Uja Tor Uja, executive secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), in handshakes with Adamu Sheikh, manager, Yola International Airport, while Idoko Inalegwu, manager, Nigeria Airspace Management Authority (NAMA), looks on, during the NCPC boss’ visit to Yola Airport Authorities in preparation for the 2019 Christian Pilgrimage exercise.

Calls for true federalism get traction as Buhari joins fray Analysts hail President’s U-turn ‘Seeing is believing’ - Skeptical pundits

Innocent Odoh, Abuja

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i k e a b u g b e a r, t h e clamour for restructuring of the federation to achieve “true federalism” once again emerged from uncertain quarters to grace national discourse

when President Muhammadu Buhari unexpectedly called for the restructuring of Nigeria along the lines of true federalism.

On May 10, 2019, the President while giving his address at an event organised by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), said: “We remain committed to improving the welfare

of the Nigerian people. Your Excellencies, it will be belaboring the point to say that true federalism is necessary at this juncture of our political and democratic evolution”.

The President had before now dismissed those clamoring for the restructuring of the country along true federalism,

describing them as opportunists even when his party has the item in its manifesto. But the sudden embrace of the idea by perhaps, its most potent antagonist, got many analysts respond differently. While some are commending the new stance, others

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Calls for true federalism get traction...

Continued from page 1

are questioning the sincerity of President Buhari’s intentions and his understanding of concept of true federalism.

Nigeria has practised what many now regard as the golden era of true federalism in the First Republic from independence in 1960. That was when the nation operated a parliamentary federal democracy on the structure of four regions that were said to be viable because they largely controlled their resources with a high degree of autonomy. This era was however, terminated by the military incursion into politics in 1966 where the soldiers introduced their central command style that changed the whole arrangement, which the nation is still grappling with today.

Speaking to BDSUNDAY, a public intellectual and a chieftain of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Katch Ononuju, said that the realities facing the nation makes the idea of true federalism inevitable as most Nigerians are not arguing with the wisdom of true federalism. He however, questioned President Buhari’s intentions, stressing that he the President may not have said his real mind on the matter.

“In Nigeria, I tell people not to listen to Buhari, because I do not read sincerity in what he says.

Let us follow the man through his actions not what he says. Whatever Buhari says is just stories when we start seeing the action then we believe him. But nobody can stop the reality that Nigeria is matching to,” he said.

He added that it might also be a strategy that Kaduna state Governor Nasir el-Rufai might want to use to be campaigning for 2023 presidency, a strategy he said the northern elite want to use to liaise with the eastern part of the country where the block votes which he said are real have emerged in recent times as the region voted for restructuring in the last election.

On the alleged ambivalent attitude of some leaders in the present dispensation, particularly those he said were once at the vanguard of true federalism but later inexplicably changed their stance as soon as they got power, Ononuju accused them

of being agents of deceit and lies, adding that their behaviour underscores what is wrong when the people respected by the society are suddenly now being used as tools to misinform the society.

“They think that by lying and being available for deceit, that they will make political gain for their ethnic groups but not all their people are with them. I am particularly referring to the people of South West. A lot of Yoruba voted for restructuring,” Ononuju said.

Also speaking to BDSUNDAY on Friday, a public affairs analyst and columnist Majeed Dahiru, noted that the President and his team have come to their wits end over their alleged inability to deliver on their promises to the Nigerian people.

He welcomed the idea of restructuring of the federation along the lines of true federalism in order to jump-start developmental trajectory of Nigeria but was quick to question what the President understands as true federalism because there appears to be no elite consensus on what actually constitutes true federalism.

“This is where I think that the President should not be left alone if indeed he is sincere and I believe we should give him the benefits of the doubts this time. If he is sincere on the issues surrounding true federalism, I think we need to set an agenda for the President in this direction if he can borrow a leaf from what is in the public arena to actually back it up with governmental action.

“For me, true federalism entails the viability of the federating units. I am not one of those who believe in tinkering with the current structure but we need to explore and stretch this current structure to its possible limits and see the gaps before thinking about actual restructuring. You will agree with me that oil and gas constitute about 20percent of the GDP both onshore and offshore and we know that the focus on restructuring vis-a-vis issues such as resource control has more to do with oil mineral resources for a country that officially has only nine oil producing states leaving about 27 others as non-producing states.

“Secondly our GDP by sec-

L-R: David Ugolor, executive director ANEEJ/Coordinator of Monitoring of the Recovered Assets through Transparency and Accountability (MANTRA); Oji Ogbonnaya, director communications NEITI, Sonia Warner, senior governance adviser DFID and Maryam Uwais, special adviser to the President on Social Investment Programme, during a pre-Open Government Partnership national dialogue, theme ‘OGP Global Summit and Opportunities for Nigeria’ held in Abuja. picture by TUNDE ADENIYI.

torial distribution reflects only about 18 percent. What that means is that there are opportunities in the service sector, which is the largest where you have construction and agriculture for other states of the federation to take advantage of,” he said.

Dahiru added that within the current constitutional framework, states have almost unhindered access to other sectors of the economy without resorting to permission or any form of federal control even as he advocated for a federalism that will crystallise in a form of government economic policy that will partner with states to enhance each of the state’s economic comparative advantage by way of allowing them to specialise in that comparative advantage in line with the sectorial distribution to deepen the diversity of the economy and enhance productivity.

“So it is not just pronouncement, but a policy that will capture true federalism should be enacted and diligently pursued to achieve that the aim of true federalism which is good governance that leads to welfare and security of the majority of the citizens. So, in this I want to see a structure that will make the constituent units reduce their over reliance on the monthly

federal allocation from crude oil revenue.

“While this is going on, we could also have a review of the revenue allocation formula and even the derivation principle. We can also grant 100percent derivation to oil producing states; however other states would have become independent or can actually do without revenues from federal allocation accruing from crude oil sales,” he said.

“If you look at the US for instance, they have different component parts specialising in different sectors of the economy.

Texas for example, is into oil and gas, Detroit is known for automobile and the Silicon Valley is in California, which is noted for Information and Communication Technology and Hollywood is in the same California as their entertainment hub. They also have states that specialised in iron and steel. Every state has its own economic comparative advantage. So, I want to see that begin to happen in Nigeria through collaborative efforts between the states and the federal government. So, the President can do that through national integrated economic strategy,” he said.

Humphrey Orjiako, an author, in his seminal book ‘Nigeria: The Forsaken Road to National

Development’ said: “Nigeria therefore, deserves a new fount of all authority- a workable constitution based on lessons of its history and sensitivity to her multi-national composition.

“The constitution has to provide a neat division of authority between independent and coordinate federal and state governments, with each entitled to autonomy in their own separate spheres. The constitution has to embody the principles of true federalism such that neither the central government nor the states could encroach on the jurisdiction of the other.”

A lecturer in the Faculty of Social Sciences in one of the nation’s tertiary institutions, who spoke with our reporter on condition of anonymity, said he commended President Buhari’s new stance on true federalism, saying however, that there is need for those in positions of authority to speak the truth always and be seen to be speaking the truth.

“When I read about the President’s latest stance on true federalism, I said to myself, why the prevarication all along? In the next four years from May 29, I expect to see a more transparent government that citizens can take their word to bed on a regular basis,” the lecturer said.

president of Igbo extraction.

Speaking on the way forward for the ruling party, Amaechi said the APC needs to do a lot of re-engineering and put the party together if they would continue to be in power.

He said there are lots of meetings that they are supposed to be having, like those they used to hold when he was in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

“They need to bring caucus together, set up structures at the states and local government levels that will be meeting regularly,” he said.

“They also need to fund those structures. If these things happen, APC will continue to rule the country but I have a problem with the fact that everybody is not completely involved,” he said.

Igbos don’t deserve presidency - Amaechi Continued from page 1

know what they will do now for voting against the APC, for refusing to support the APC. They cannot come to the table to demand the presidency slot. For people like us in the APC, if the Igbo had come and voted Buhari, they would boldly tell Mr. President and the National Chairman of the party that presidency should go

the Southeast.

“But since the South-south; South-west and North-west have produced president, what argument would the Southeast come up with now to convince anybody that they deserve the slot for 2023 president?”

The minister said that the region is completely out of national politics and that if the Igbo are not found in national politics, it

would be to the detriment of their children.

Prior to the 2019 elections, Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), had also said the chances of Igbo clinching the presidential seat would depend on the vote the region turns in for President Muhammadu Buhari.

Since the return of democracy in 1999, Nigeria is yet to have a

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Kogi women decry decline of women in elective positions, call for female governor Innocent Odoh, Abuja

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group of women from Kogi State has decried the decline of women in elective positions in Nigeria in this dispensation even as they called for a female governor in the state as well as in other parts of the country in the nearest future.

Natasha Akpoti, the senatorial candidate for Kogi Central Senatorial District on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the last election, disclosed this when the women group visited her in Abuja to show solidarity over her case at the Election Petitions Tribunal, where she is challenging the result of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yakubu Oseni as the winner.

Natasha lamented that while the political fortunes of women in smaller countries in Africa such as Rwanda and South Africa has improved because of policies and laws, that of the Nigerian women is on the decline, especially in the last election. She noted that most of the women in the outgoing National and state assemblies did not return.

She also disclosed that a European Union reports said that women involvement in elective positions in Nigeria has dropped to 3.8percent from about 5percent. Natasha therefore, called on women in Nigeria to demand for involvement in the political

Natasha Akpoti

affairs in the country and participate more in elective positions even as executive governors.

Natasha, who is widely known as an advocate of the revival of the Ajeokuta Steel Company in Kogi State, noted that women are more suited to nurture a nation to greatness because they have the strength of the heart and mind to do so. She added that countries where more women are in important political positions record the least level of corruption even as she craved for gender equity and balance to enable women maximise their potentials in politics.

“The strength of a man is physical but the strength of a woman is the heart.

Women are more resilient and we can bear pain more than men; women also have empathy and humanity that is why we are mothers. We have the ability to nurture, we are builders and molders, we are shapers of the society and it is very important that the Nigerian society recognises these. And it’s believed that countries that have more women in power have less corruption, have better health care system, better education because we all care

about our children,” she said.

She noted that her objective and that of most other women in politics is to address issues concerning the hapless youths of Nigeria and fix the institutions that hold the social development of the society and deepen the human development aspect, which must go at par with developing infrastructure, pointing out that the woman is suited to do that.

“I did not intend to go to the Senate because I want to enrich myself or that I want to be famous, I want to go in there to see how we can revive that steel plant and see how we can use legislations so that the industries can work and create the needed jobs,” she said.

She also promised that by the time she reclaims her mandate at the tribunal, she would fight to ensure that the obstacles against women participation in politics are eliminated by pushing for the realisation of the 35percent affirmation.

“Hopefully in the next three months, our case in court will be decided. And I hope that by the very first time that we enter that Senate, the country will know that someone has arrived.

By the time we get in there, corporate positions, electoral positions or ambassadorial positions, women will have them.

“The concrete ceiling against the Nigerian women has to be broken; we must connect to fight poverty and bring prosperity to the people; it is about time Nigeria had a first elected female governor,” she added.

Fashola urges contractor on Onitsha/Enugu...

Continued from page 1 action on the work.

Fashola gave the directive during the inspection visit of the project site at Umunya, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra at the weekend.

Represented by Yemi Oguntominiyi, director, Federal Highway in the Ministry, Fashola said he was impressed with the quality of the work, but stressed the need for faster action.

“When the minister visited this site last February, the construction company assured him that before the rains set in that they would complete 18 kilometers Enugu-bound of the Umunya/Amawbia axis.

“Though the quality

of the work I have seen is okay, with all the machines and workers, let faster action be seen on this project.

President Buhari attaches importance to this road. It’s a critical project not only for the South East but the entire country; that is why the President wants it completed on schedule,” he said.

According to him, “Considering the much the contractor has been mobilised with and the equipment on site, we are optimistic that the work would be completed as planned.”

Fashola said that the project was very important to the Federal Government given the fact that the road connects many states in South-East and the north.

Recall that the project

awarded to RCC in November 2018 at the cost of N21.1 billion has 42 months completion period.

Adeyemo Ajani, controller, Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing, Anambra, said his officials regularly visit the site, noting that all the challenges raised by the firm have been addressed.

Ajani said that four kilometres out of 18km of the road have been completed.

Igor Zavodtohik, chief engineer, RCC Construction Company Nigeria, said they have completed asphalting of Umunya/Awkuzu axis of the project.

He assured that the project would be delivered in line with the agreement with government.

Legalisation of June 12 and its significance for Nigeria’s democracy Iniobong Iwok

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ast Thursday, the Senate passed a bill seeking to change Nigeria’s Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12.

The bill introduced by a federal lawmaker, Edward Pwajok, in the House of Representatives, was reported to have been unanimously adopted by Senators at plenary.

The bill seeks to amend the Public Holiday Act 2004 to make June 12 the new date for Democracy Day in Nigeria, replacing May 29, which had been observed since the handing over from military to civilian administration in the advent of the Fourth Republic in 1999.

After the passage, the bill is expected to be transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent, after clean-up by the Legal Services Department of the National Assembly.

Incumbent President Buhari had in June 2018 directed that the nation’s Democracy Day will, henceforth, hold on June 12 of every year as against the current arrangement where the ceremony holds on May 29.

The President had last year posthumously honoured the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, Moshood Abiola, with the highest national honour of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR).

Abiola, who was then a wealthy business mogul and philanthropist, had contested and won the presidential election.

He contested on the platform of the then Social Democratic Party (SDP), while his running mate was Baba Gana Kingibe.

Abiola and Kingibe contested against Bashir Othman Tofa and his running mate, Sylvester Ugoh, who ran on the platform of the now defunct National Republican Convention (NRC).

The June 12, 1993 presidential election, up till today, is still perceived to be the most free and fair poll in the history of Nigeria.

However, the passage of the bill by the Nigerian Sen-

ate, perhaps, opened a new chapter for democracy in the country and the struggle for the actualisation of the June 12 mandate.

While Abiola and his wife, Kudirat, died under questionable circumstances in 1997, successive military regimes and the civilian administrations, since 1999, have however, ignored the call for due recognition of Abiola as the true winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

Although, former President Goodluck Jonathan, renamed the University of Lagos (UNILAG) after Abiola, the move was however, resisted by students and Alumni of the institution, prompting him to drop the idea.

Buhari has been commended for the courage in according due respect to Abiola and June 12.

But some political ob-

Analysis servers and analysts have also urged the President to extend the honour to some other Nigerians and activists who fought for the actualisation of the June 12 mandate.

Those making the case recalled that a number of activists who resisted the annulment lost their lives, while many others were forced into exile. They argue that without the efforts of such activists, there would not have been a democracy that today’s politicians are enjoying, including the President.

It is worth mentioning that effort of some activists such as; late Chima Ubani, Sylvester Odion-Akhaine, Emma Ezeazu, Frank Kokori, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Ndubuisi Kanu, Innocent Chukwuma, Chidi Odinkalu, Joe Okei Odumakin , Abdul Oroh, Gani Fawehinmi, among others, cannot easily be forgotten in the struggle.

However, political observers have described the move

by President Buhari as a step in the right direction toward healing the wounds of the past and giving the nation’s democracy a sense of history.

They however, expressed the optimism that with the legalisation of June 12, the

heroes of the struggle may be honoured at some point.

Chibuke Ananaba, a lawyer, noted that the recognition of June 12 will go a long way in healing the wounds of the past in the country, stressing that the move by President Buhari and National Assembly should be commended.

Ananaba, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), however, supported the honouring of the heroes of the June 12 struggle, but noted that it would come with time.

“Giving more prominent to June 12 would be the beginning of healing the wounds of the past and “But I believe with this, if this is successful we are likely to honour these people who fought for June 12.

“It is important that the President acknowledged June 12 and the entire Senate has approved it for holiday; many of us were in Lagos State then, when it happened and we know that event shaped the country.

“It would heal the wound, give our democracy a trace, and give us a sense of consciousness, it would go a long way in bringing the country together; the move should be commended”.

Supo Ojo, activist and former President of the Nigerian Civic Liberty Organisatiop, (CLO), said with the recognition of June 12 and honouring of Abiola, President Buhari had taken the honour which previous President could not take.

He however, advocated that the June would not be complete without the administration giving recognitions to men and woman who fought for it.

“President Buhari have taken a pact of honour with this decision to honour Abiola and give June 12 recognition, I must commend him and the National Assembly.

“This is what the previous government should have done but they shied away from it and lost the honour”.

“But I don’t think the honour will be complete without giving due recognition to men and women who fought for June 12, some are dead and some are still alive, we have to honour them”.

Taraba is developing a master plan for tourism - James Gana

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Nathaniel Gbaoron, Jalingo

araba State commissioner for Culture and Tourism, James Gana, has said that the ministry is developing a tourism masterplan to enable the state harness its abundant tourism potentials. He said this would be done with the involvement of foreign investors in the state’s tourism sector.

Gana made this known in Jalingo while interacting

with newsmen on the activities in the tourism industry in the state.

H singled out the popular Mambila Plateau, the cemeteries of old German soldiers, the Gashaka National Park and the hot spring water found in Sadauna Local Government, as some of the major tourist attractions in Taraba. According to him “if these potentials are harnessed, Taraba will become a world tourism centre.”

Declaring that the State’s

tourism potentials “cannot be listed within even a day,” he said Taraba had a tourist attraction in virtually every local government, with the most popular being the Manbila plateau.

“If you go to the Mambila plateau, from my tour in all the interiors we discovered that they have seventeen waterfalls and all of them have a minimum of forty to sixty Mega Watts electricity generation, if you’re using it as hydro power,” he said.

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News PDP chieftain advocates new approach in tackling Niger Delta issues Samuel Ese, Yenagoa

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philanthropist and chieftain of the People’s De m o c r a t i c Pa r t y (PDP) in Bayelsa State, Reuben Okoya has called for a new approach in addressing Niger Delta issues.

Okoya made the call in Yenagoa while fielding questions from journalists at the Ijaw House during the wreath-laying ceremony for the late hero, Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro, as part of activities marking Boro Day 2019.

He stressed the need for the Izon people to support and educate themselves and employ different means of fighting the battle through intellectualism, communication and getting other people to understand their plight.

“I think a new approach is now in order... support Izon people educate themselves in fighting this battle in different ways, intellectually with their brains”, he stated.

A contender for the governorship ticket of the PDP in Bayelsa State for the forthcoming election, Okoya said there is need to educate other people on what the Izon people need with reasons and rationale in order to get what they needed.

Commending Boro for his sacrifice, he noted that though, sometimes, people resort to armed struggle, it is more important and more effective to fight with the brain using the tool of communication.

We won’t stifle night life in Abuja- FCT Minister Tony Ailemen, Abuja

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esidents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been assured that the ongoing move by government to sanitise the city will not stifle night life in the city.

The FCT administration had recently embarked on arrests of hoodlums which affected some night clubs and night life within the city But Minister of the FCT, Mohammed Bello who gave the assurance, however, warned operators of hospitality institutions within the FCT to operate within the extant laws governing the Federal Capital Territory.

Bello, while speaking with State House Correspondents, cited the case of recent demolition of Caramelo Lounge, a popular strip club, located at N0 630, TOS Benson Crescent, Utako District Abuja, adding that the affected land has now become the property of the government.

He disclosed that the owners breached the laws, adding that the master plan makes provisions for all activities including night clubs and does not allow a person to convert a building meant for a clinic into a night club.

“I’m quite interested also with

IAA Nigeria, Ghana chapters set for 3rd ‘Africa Rising Conference’ SEYI JOHN SALAU

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he International Advertising Association (IAA) Nigeria and Ghana chapters are set to host the 3rd edition of the Africa Global Leadership Conference with the theme, ‘What’s Coming Next’. The conference, which is scheduled to take place on May 21 and 22 at Labadi Beach Hotel, AccraGhana, is expected to have current and future business leaders in the marketing communication space in attendance.

Tunji Olugbodi, the pioneer president of IAA Nigeria chapter, said conference will be one of the continental events on the IAA platform.

He noted that the association has been a part of the global conference in India and this upcoming event will be a forum where the West African sub-region will arrive at strategies that will enhance the marketing communications industry in the region.

“The International Advertising Association champions the common interests of all the disciplines across the full spectrum of marketing communications ranging from advertisers to media companies

owners, agencies to direct marketing firms, as well as individual marketing communications practitioners,” Olugbodi said.

According to Olugbodi, it is expected that during the Conference, various issues bordering on the technology trends and the consumer choice will be examined to know the determinants of the future. “The Association believes in the future of Africa and this conference provides a platform for an in-depth assessment and understanding of the economic, social forces, insights facing consumers, brands and governments in Africa to collectively bring Africa to the fore in the era of evolution,” he further stated.

Some of the dignitaries expected at the conference include Srinivasan K. Swamy, IAA chairman/world president; Mahamudu Bawumia, the vice president of the Republic of Ghana; Torgbor Mensah, IAA Ghana chapter/Advertising Association of Ghana, Executive Chairman – The Great Argon Group and Norkor Duah, IAA Vice President and area director, Africa and managing director, MullenLowe Accra; Joel Nettey, senior vice president (PresidentElect), IAA, among others.

the way I see the feedback from the wider community. I have had cause to discuss with many of your colleagues where many people felt that this minister has not been demolishing. As a mat-

ter of fact `he is not demolishing, so he is not working’ – it is due process, brother.

“If you check the record, you will be surprised how long it took to reach that painful decision of

Mohammed Bello

having to demolish that (property).

“As a matter of fact, that all the regulations were there – that the property is no longer owned, it has been reverted to government because it is very clear, check any C-of-O, you will see the conditions.

“If there is a flagrant abuse and there are no efforts to correct that abuse, it reverts back to government. “But I want you to be rest assured that for every demolition you see, maybe, a hundred were saved.

He urged Nigerians to “go that extra mile and follow the law in developing properties in the city”.

The Federal Capital Territory Development Authority (FCDA) through its Department of Development Control (DDC) had on Monday demolished the controversial Caramelo Lounge for allegedly contravening the FCT land use regulations.

The FCDA authorities also revoked the Certificate-of-Occupancy (C-of-O) issued on the plot.

Bello explained that everything in Abuja was being governed by laws, rules and regulations through the Abuja Master Plan and any violation of the plan would attract sanctions from relevant authorities.

Contractor urges patience as FG opens section of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway CHUKA UROKO

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ulius Berger, the contractor handling the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, has urged motorists to be patient as they drive through the expressway while construction work goes on.

Thomas Balzuweit, the company’s regional manager, West, who made the call at the opening of a section of the expressway recently, Lagos-Sagamu Interchange, also urged motorists to obey all road signs and symbols for the safety of everyone, adding that road construction globally comes with challenges not peculiar to Nigeria alone.

He assured that Julius Berger had an effective traffic management system that needed the cooperation of motorists to work, adding that diversion and adequate warning signs had been put on various strategic locations on site which are constantly being reviewed for efficiency.

“We believe in very robust and very professional traffic management system that we put in place to channel traffic flow at construction site. This is being done with our safety team,” he said.

Adedamola Kuti, Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, encour-

aged motorists to appreciate what was happening on Lagos-Ibadan expressway, noting that the LagosSagamu Interchange was the busiest in Africa. This is because the road carries the whole traffic from Lagos to other parts of the country.

“Of all the traffic from Lagos, only 30 percent continue to Ibadan; from Lagos to Sagamu interchange, 40 percent of the traffic would have dropped off. This comprises people who live around the axis and others accessing religious bodies who have their camp grounds along the road.

Kuti noted further that 60 percent of vehicles that makes it to Sagamu Interchange, 30 percent divert towards Sagamu-Ore-Benin road, leaving only 30 percent traffic moving towards Ibadan.

He acknowledged that a lot of hard-working Nigerians use the road daily, advising road users not to be patient. “This is construction zone. At construction areas, nobody should drive at 120kmph. If people drive at 50kmph, there will not be any problem.”

Kuti attributed breakdown of vehicles to people driving vehicles that are not road worthy. Such vehicles break down and cause problems to other road users. He urged vehicle owners to always maintain their vehicles before plying the road.

As the MFM Junction of the expressway has been reconstructed and now finally opened to traffic, the controller appealed to the general public and road users to be patient with government and Julius Berger while other sections of the expressway are being constructed.

He explained that the section of the road from Lagos to the Sagamu Interchange was 40 per cent completed due to additional work to the project, including flyovers, underpasses, pedestrian bridges, etc which became necessary as a result of the religious houses around.

Clement Oladele, Ogun State sector commander, FRSC, noted that old vehicles and indiscipline of some Nigerians are responsible for the accidents that occur on that road, especially at the construction site.

He recalled that half of the deaths recorded last year on the Ogun State axis of the road was due to road accidents mostly occurring at the construction sites.

“In Ogun State, of the 272 deaths recorded in 2018, half of them was at construction zones”, he said, pointing out that because of the high number of vehicles that use the Lagos-Sagamu Interchange, any vehicle that breaks down usually causes serious gridlock, because the road was still under construction.

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News Chellarams DMK taps Nigerian celebrity chef in multi-platform brand ambassador deal FRANK ELEANYA

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s part of efforts to increase visibility and bring its services to millions of Nigerians, Chellarams DMK, makers of popular range of Oldenburger dairy products, has signed a multi-platform deal with Nigeria’s celebrity chef, Tolu Erogbogbo.

In a statement, a copy of which was made available to BDSUNDAY, the company disclosed that the deal which commences from June 2019 consists of various projects from advertising to television shows and across different communication platforms as well as in-store.

Tolu Erogbogbo, who is popularly known as Chef Eros, comes highly recommended according to Aditya Chellarams, CEO who listed inventiveness, creativity and originality in making bravura gourmet food as part of the qualities he admires in the chef.

Chef Eros will be featured in a new integrated campaign for the Chellarams DMK brand.

“Chef Eros is a creative, passionate Chef, he knows how to infuse the finest ingredients sourced locally and around the world to create exotic meals,” the company statement noted, adding, “He is a perfect ambassador

for the Oldenburger brand and in best position to talk about the role of dairy in meals and for life.”

Chellarams further said the company wants every potential consumer to enjoy creative mixture of its dairy products and Chef Eros is the ideal man to help communicate this.

“I have great respect for the history and tradition at Oldenburger which has made the brand stand out for quality as well as healthy and nutritious family products over the years,” Chef Eros said. “I am glad to be part of this family.”

Chef Eros is the founder and CEO of Ile EROS, The Cookie Jar Bakery and Eros & Gourmet Catering. He is also the brand ambassador of Shoprite and the first West African chef ambassador for the German premium home appliance brand Miele.

He had been featured on CNN Africa as the next big thing to watch and has also been featured in Forbes as the man who knows what billionaires eat for lunch.

This has earned him the moniker “The Billionaires’ Chef”, some of whom are notable National and International individuals of repute such as Aliko Dangote and Mike Adenuga. In this regard, he has had the opportunity to serve President Emmanuel Macron, Reverend TD Jakes, Lauryn Hill and many others.

Take part in national development, OCCMA boss charges youths SABY ELEMBA, Owerri

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igerian youths have been urged to imbibe the spirit of discipline and sitting down to plan and take part in the tortuous path with patience in order to realise their dreams.

“I don’t believe that Nigerians, especially, the youths have nothing to contribute or offer; it is all about having the discerning mind of an entrepreneur.

“You must be environmentally sensitive to see opportunity; most importantly the area of lack that requires solution and then have the compelling motivation to bring about solution to those vexed problem that are all about entrepreneurship; then the value of your service is you earnings,” Everest Okpara, the acting president of Owerri Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, said.

OCCIMA boss, who is also the managing director of Everight Diagnostic and Laboratory Services Limited Owerri, with branches at Okigwe and Lagos, is one

of the best in the country and because of its services, has carved a niche for itself.

The firm operates what is called Executive Check Up, Preventive Health Maintenance Plans, men package and women package, and runs accurate diagnostic services with experienced professionals with the latest technologies in all of the branches.

Okpara spoke at a oneday business workshop and stakeholders’ meeting with the theme ‘improving access to finance for women and entrepreneurs in Nigeria’ in Owerri recently.

According to him, the youths should start in a small way; become focused and ensure that reasonable sacrifices are made, be ready to work smart and have a mind to succeed through determination.

He appreciated the programme which was tailored towards opening up various opportunities for women entrepreneurs as well as potentials and budding entrepreneurs as the programme laid much emphasis on sources to access funds to help the women scale up the business in their chosen fields.

Udom suspends top politician, sacks commissioner ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo

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overnor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has moved to instill discipline in the public service with the suspension of a top politician from his position and the sack of a member of the state executive council.

Valentine Attah, chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, was suspended by the state government for alleged illegal recruitment into the unified local government service without the approval of the government while Uduak UdoInyang was relieved of his duties as commissioner for agriculture and food sufficiency.

Udom

No reason was given for the sack of the erstwhile commissioner who was a university lecturer prior to his appointment.

Emmanuel Ekuwem, secretary to the state government, in a widely circu-

lated statement directed Nse Essien, commissioner for Science and Technology to take over the ‘duties and functions of the former commissioner.’

The statement quoted the governor as thank-

ing the former commissioner for his “service to the state” and wished him good luck in his future endeavours.

There have been speculations that the governor was likely to dissolve the state executive council after its meeting Wednesday, but it was not to be.

A source close to the state government told our reporter that the governor would ensure that those to be appointed into the state executive council are those whose loyalty would not be in doubt.

Two members of the state executive council resigned last year when former Senate Minority leader Goodswill Akpabio left the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Botswana, Rwanda voted ‘Africa Most Ethical Countries’ IFEOMA OKEKE

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otswana and Rwanda have emerged Africa Most Ethical Countries from research carried out by African Public Relations Association’s (APRA’s) second Ethics and Reputation Research Study.

The study, which was powered by reputation research agency, Reputation Matters Research, had its results presented to dele-

gates at APRA’s 31st annual conference, hosted in Kigali, Rwanda.

With the theme ‘Africa and Storytelling: Changing the Narrative’, APRA 2019 brought together thought-leaders and practitioners in the communication and marketing arena from across the continent to learn more and share best practices about storytelling; a powerful public relations (PR) tool, and how ethical storytelling can help change the narrative

of Africa.

The ethics and reputation study surveyed 225 CEOs, executives, directors, senior management and public relations individuals across Africa, with the overarching goal to better understand how ethics and reputation play a role in our daily lives and on a business and country level.

The results, which were presented at the APRA conference last week, showed that ethics are perceived to be principles of good behav-

iour, rules, standards, and values. On an individual and organisational level, “ethics and reputation are of the utmost importance and form part of storytelling and shaping a realistic narrative,” Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, president of APRA, said.

Participants were asked whether they regard their own country to be ethical.

“The results are clear, respondents do not feel that ethics is the driving force on a country level, which scored an average of only 39 percent.

Igala people are conquerors, Says Yahaya Bello …As Attah Igala urges continuity for speedy development Victoria Nnakaike, Lokoja

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he Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello has described the people of Igala as conquerors, following the support they gave to him during the 2015 primary election in which he came second on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC).

Bello, who was speaking during a three-day gathering with the three senatorial districts in Kogi tagged ‘endorsement of Yahaya Bello for second term in office’, said the desire for good governance in Kogi State brought him to limelight.

He assured the royal fathers that he would never disappoint them, saying “you made me feel on top of the world; you promised

and you fulfilled.”

He equally assured them that all the projects he started he would complete them.

Speaking on the issue of backlog of salaries owed workers, he disclosed that his predecessor applied for N80.8billion but Presi-

Bello

dent Muhammadu Buhari graciously approved 50.8billion out of it he was able to access N20billion only.

He quickly assured them that the remaining 30.8billion Mr. President has approved it once again and that release was lying between the office of Godwin Emefiele, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, and the Ministry of Finance, saying that money represents the remaining 60 percent of what the President approved.

Bello equally hinted that his administration inherited three to four months’ unpaid salaries, adding that what they are owing today is still the same number of months the previous administration owed.

“In effect, we have carried over the burden of the

previous administration that was when money was money. That time, the exchange rate was about 120 to 180 naira for a dollar; today, we are having a rate of N350 per a dollar. It seems the value of dollar has dropped considerably. But we continue to hold on,” he said.

According to him, “The meagre resources we have got from the federation account and the improved Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the state we are using them judiciously, and that is why you can record the modest achievements that you have mentioned, not only in Igala kingdom but across Kogi State.”

The governor also maintained that as soon as CBN effects it, the state shall clear all the arrears the state government is owing.

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Maritime tourism can grow Nigeria’s economy – Peterside …As NIMASA wins Maritime Regulator of the Year Award AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE

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akuku Peterside, directorgeneral of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has called for the development of coastal and maritime tourism in Nigeria especially coastal states.

According to him, harnessing the maritime sector can contribute greatly to the development of the economy.

Peterside made this statement while receiving an award at the second edition of the National Tourism and Transport Summit held in Abuja, with the theme, “Tourism and Transportation Inter-dependencies for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development.”

He charged stakeholders and investors to tap into the huge opportunities in maritime tourism, which is a crucial part of the Blue Economy. He also assured

Peterside

potential investors that NIMASA would help to create an enabling environment for their businesses to thrive.

He however urged coastal states to follow the example of Lagos in making conscious efforts to harnessing their maritime potential.

Peterside, who was represented by Bashir Jamoh, executive director, Finance and Administration, said with Nigeria’s maritime endowments, maritime tourism could be a major revenue earner and huge contributor to the government’s

economic diversification agenda. “While the tourism potential in other aspects of the economy are being maximised to a reasonable extent, the potential of coastal and maritime tourism in Nigeria remains grossly undertapped,” he stated.

“It is the only Lagos state that has shown substantial commitment towards developing maritime tourism as a critical pillar of its economic development.”

According to him, with a coastline of about 852 kilometres and inland waterways of over 8, 000 kilometres, Nigeria has the natural habitat to grow its maritime tourism to be one of the biggest in the sub-region.

The Institute of Tourism Professionals (ITP), organisers of the National Tourism and Transport Summit, said they presented the award of Outstanding Maritime Regulator of the Year (Sea and Offshore) to NIMASA in recognistion of the Agency’s commitment and strategic initiatives towards the development of the sector.

Century Power canvasses complete deregulation in power sector Temitayo Ayetoto

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hukwueloka Umeh, chief executive officer, Century Power Generating (CPG) Limited, has canvassed for complete deregulation of power, saying the epileptic power sup-

ply witnessed in the country could become a thing of the past if government allowed market forces to determine pricing in the entire value chain from generation of power to distribution.

Umeh said the entire value chain is presently dysfunctional and broken in an interview with journalists in

Lagos, noting that the major issue with the power sector is that government has continued to regulate tariffs and the price of gas.

This he says will continue to discourage investments in the power sector.

“Rather than allow market forces to determine the price for gas, government continues to regulate the price, which in itself discourages any form of investment,” he said.

He said the same applies to the distribution companies, which he said are unable to attract funding because the present fixed tariffs cannot guaranty adequate return on investment.

Consequently, he called on the Federal Government to replicate the deregulation model that was adopted in the telecom sector, which resulted in the creation of hundreds of thousands of

direct and indirect jobs as well as boosting economic growth.

“How can you pay your loans when there are many things like metering still unsolved? A lot of the networks are not properly metered; a lot of the networks have lines and transformers that are so old. You also have a lot of networks where people are stealing power from them,” he said.

“So if you’re collecting money for only 30 percent of the power you’re given, how can you pay for the part that you’re supplying? So at the end of each month, you cannot pay the generating company that supplied power to the grid for you to take the power. Now because you cannot pay them, the generating companies also cannot pay the transmission companies. It’s a vicious cycle of failure.’’

Abia community leader berates South-East governors of neglecting farmers UDOKA AGWU, UMUAHIA

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outheast governors have been berated for not doing enough in support of farmers in the zone unlike what is obtainable in other zones of the country.

James Nnadozie Uchegbuo, the president general of Ahuwa Oboro Autonomous Community in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, accused the governors of not giving farmers enough incentives to ensure food security in the zone particularly now that the farming season has entered

its peak.

Uchegbuo, who spoke with some newsmen in Umuahia, noted that government has a responsibility/ role to play for the nation to achieve food security.

“In order to make food abundant for the teeming population in our communities, the government

should boost its campaign on green revolution, so that everybody should go back to farming,” he said. “Equally, government should assist the farmers with farming incentives like fertilizers, and soft loans to make things easier for our rural farmers especially those from the southeast zone.

S/East MAN, BOI disagree on policy implementation in the zone SABY ELEMBA, Owerri

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outh East branch of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has alleged unwritten policy against industrialists in the geo-political zone by the Bank of Industry (BOI). But the bank has said there was no such thing.

BOI, which is 60 years this year, is generally meant to provide loan facility to all Nigerian industrialists that meet its loan requirements, but South East BOI alleged that implementation appears to be a major problem, saying that there seems to an unwritten policy to frustrate the South East industrialists and provide assistance to their counter parts in other zones of the country.

This, they said at an interactive meeting between Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Imo/Abia branch to see how to bridge this gap, adding that if BOI is meant to serve every Nigerian entrepreneur who qualified and should ensure that its services are not lopsided.

The interactive meeting, which lasted four hours, was held at Eze Imo Palace at Mbari Street, Owerri, Imo State.

In his opening remarks, R. Nwabueze Jones Anyanwu known as (RNJ Anyanwu), a lawyer and chairman of MAN Imo/Abia branch, said the main objective of the interactive meeting was to bridge the gap between industrialists at his branch and BOI which is the serviceprovider, and see how industrialists could access the loans and products provided by the BOI for entrepreneurs to boost their businesses.

He urged BOI to ensure

that its implementation policy is carried out in a manner that will wipe or remove the deep-rooted perception or discrimination against the South East.

According to Anyanwu, MAN members in the zone “must learn how to keep record of all their transactions to enable them fulfill the legal requirement of BOI”.

But in its reaction to the allegation, BOI said it was not bias in its operations.

Obaro Marvel Osah, the regional manager (South East) SME group of BOI, said: “It is not true that you are not getting the loans but the problem is you are not meeting the requirements”.

Osah mentioned three companies in the South East that are still benefiting from BOI’s several products.

According to him ‘Those who are not getting should ask those who are getting what processes or what they do to access the loan.”

According to him, “Bank of Industry is a national franchise; the services are available to everybody. The problem is that they have not applied or they have not asked those who got how they did it”.

He noted that out of the 36 states of the federation, BOI has its presence in 22 states to serve all Nigerians, saying that their doors are open daily for industrialists.

He provided the website as www.boi.ng which he said contains all information and a whole lot of BOI products for entrepreneurs to access.

He also appealed for constant interaction with MAN members to remove the perceived implementation discrimination against the South East entrepreneurs. According to him, “BOI objective is how to make business grow and BOI is 60 years this year”.

Experts call on broadcasters to speak right

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xperts have called on broadcasters to speak well and pronounce words correctly while on air. This call was made at the official presentation of two books titled ‘Pronunciation Guide: The Clergy’ and ‘Pronunciation Guide: The Spoken Word Industry’ by foremost broadcaster, Funke Treasure Durodola.

In his speech, broadcaster, Femi Sowoolu, said the standard has fallen in radio presentations across the country.

According to him, when the term OAP (On-Air-Personalities) was introduced into the lexicon of Nigerian radio, when Rhythm 93.7

started some years ago, it was done to bring some level of respect to the profession.

“I fear to attempt to vouch for many of today’s ‘OAPs’ on those same standards. They fail in many areas - in speech, delivery, pronunciation, style, elocution, or even preparation.

They do excel however, in the one area that the true broadcaster knows is wrong to have - the huge egos bandied about all over the social media space.

Once upon a time, not so long ago, the true radio voice preferred to remain hidden, behind the mic.

Not anymore! Times have changed,” he said.

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News

Why Appeal Court affirms death sentence on ex-NNPC staff of his daughter to death in March 2015.

Reading the ruling of the Appeal Court on behalf of three other judges, Justice Y. Nimpar said: “The court having gone through all the evidences and addresses by the counsel to both parties found the judgment of the lower court credible and therefore, valid before the law.” The presiding judge of the High Court in Calabar, Justice Ukpa Ebitam, had said in his ruling that the prosecution team, led by Eneji Amajama, a deputy director in the Department of Public Prosecutions in the state Ministry of Justice, proved its case that the ac-

MIKE ABANG, Calabar

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ppeal Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State, has given reasons why it affirmed the decision of a High Court that sentenced a former staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Godwin Elewana, to death by hanging for murder.

Elewana in suit No. CA/C/278C/2018 had appealed against the ruling of Calabar High Court which sentenced him to death for allegedly shooting a 22-year old student, Douglas Ojugbo, said to be the boyfriend

Akwa Ibom Accountant General honoured with fellowship award ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo

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h e Ac c o u n t a n t General of Akwa Ibom State, Uwem Andrew Essien was among eminent personalities conferred with fellowship award during the 6th convocation of the state polytechnic held last weekend.

The award, which was in recognition of his contributions to humanity including the education sector, was conferred on him by the institution’s governing council.

Others who were also honoured included Onofiok Luke, the speaker of the state house of assembly, the wife of the governor, Martha Udom Emmanuel, Bassey Albert Akpan, a senator representing Akwa Ibom North East and Ukpong Akpabio, commissioner for invest-

ment and commerce.

By the award, the Accountant-General becomes a fellow of Akwa Ibom State polytechnic.

Receiving the award, Andrew-Essien thanked the governing council for the honour done him and dedicated it to the governor who he described as his teacher

Uwem

and mentor.

The Accountant-General, who is also pastor of the Living Faith Church, promised to dedicate himself to making further contributions to the growth and development of the state.

Born on February 6th, 1963 in Atiamkpat Onna local government area of Akwa Ibom State, he commenced his formal education at Primary School, Atiamkpat (1970 to 1975), where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC), and proceeded to Community Secondary Commercial School, Ikot Akpan Ishiet (1975 to 1980), for his West African School Certificate (WASC).

In his quest for advanced education, he moved to study for his Higher School Certificate (1981 to 1983) at the then School of Arts and Science, Uyo and later proceeded to enroll for his

B.Sc. in Accounting at the University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State (1984 to 1987). He bagged a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the Prestigious University of Hartford, Connecticut (1992 to 1993).

Andrew-Essien was appointed Special Assistant (SA) to the Governor on Due Process in October 2015, a position he held till May 2016 when he was posted to the Office of Accountant General as Director of Accounts.

In December 2016, he was appointed Acting Accountant General of Akwa Ibom State by Governot Udom Emmanuel, Governor of Akwa Ibom State, and in that capacity he had served with unmitigated diligence till August 17, 2017, when he was confirmed as Substantive Accountant General of the State.

Cancer scourge: Experts call for increased capacity on use of agro-chemicals ...urge passage of pesticides bill at NASS Cynthia Egboboh, Abuja

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griculture experts, following the various reported cases of cancer arising from the use of agro-chemical Glyphosate commonly found in chemicals used by farmers, have called for increased education on proper use of agro-chemicals (fertilizer).

Their renewed call followed several reported cases in the United States of individuals who developed cancer through the use of the popular agro-chemical Glyphosate commonly known as ROUNDUP produced by MONSANTO.

Also, there was a third case of such massive penalty paid by MONSANTO since last year when this chemical was conclusively proven to be carcinogenic, and there are over 15,000 cases of such claims pending in various US courts. Since the story broke, there have been reports of several companies marketing the chemical in Nigeria under different brand names such as TOUCHDOWN, SAROSATE, WIPEOUT, and there is hardly any commercial farmer that is not using it today in Nigeria.

Emmanuel Ladipo, professor of climatology, university of Lagos, confirmed to BDSUNDAY that there are several agro-chemical prod-

ucts that are carcinogenic and harmful to both health and environment adding that most farmers lack the knowledge of adverse effects of the use of this agro-chemical.

He said the “extent to which people are aware of the possible problems caused by these chemicals is where the problem is, a lot of people, farmers are not aware of adverse effect of the chemical usage until victims are diagnosed”.

Ladipo speaking further, stressed that the government through its health and agriculture agencies should ensure that these chemicals are not used in fragile environment, and encourage caution on the use and handling

of agro-chemical products.

“We should encourage labeling on chemicals, users should be cautioned on ways of handling and using the products”.

Adekunle Lawal, vice president, Nigeria agro input dealers association, told BDSUNDAY that there are several other agricultural inputs that are cancerous and harmful for usage adding that problem of usage is a continued issue that must be addressed.

“It is the usage that causes the problems, lack of proper understanding of how to use the products. We have several items that are cancerous, but proper usage is the key to a safety”.

cused committed the crime.

He made reference to the several confessional statements, hospital reports and exhibits presented during the trial as reasons the accused was convicted.

“The prosecution team also proved their second ingredient of the murder which was the intentional act. To have fired the victim twice with his pump action gun, I agree that the killing was intentional and I hereby find the accused person guilty of murder.

“Subject to section 319 of the Criminal Code of Cross River State, any person who commits murder is sentenced to death by hanging.”

Single currency: ECOWAS Task Force to present assessment report in June Innocent Odoh, Abuja

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he President of the Economic Community of West Af r i c a n S t a t e s (ECOWAS) Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou has disclosed that the ECOWAS Task Force on the region’s proposed single currency would meet in June to give the assessment on the studies of the currency.

Brou made this known while presenting the Community Work Programme at the ongoing First Ord i n a r y Se s s i o n o f t h e ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja on Friday, stressing that critical stakeholders in the region’s economic and finance sectors, including the central banks and ministers of finance, had been brainstorming on the modalities for the single currency.

“The single currency is a topic that is very important because it completes the free movement of persons for a single market and if there is a single currency, one can carry out trade and there is a need for harmonisation.

“Deliberations are being carried out with the central banks and the ministers of finance in the region and some key issues are being discussed.

“Issues such as the convergence criteria, the best exchange regime to adopt with challenges and costs are involved so as to give the best conditions for the community.

“The studies that are

being carried out would be completed by next month so that we can have the proposals and make progress,’’ he added.

The Ivorian President of the ECOWAS Commission said further that next month’s meeting will determine the possibility of achieving the single currency by 2020 set by the Authority of Heads of State of the ECOWAS countries.

“It will be on the basis of the results of all the studies on the assessment that is currently being done that we will see where we stand exactly but the objectives have been set by the Heads of State,” he said.

The issue of the single currency for the sub-region has dominated discourse in major sessions of ECOWAS, which prompted the Authority of Heads of State and Government to set aside 2020 for West African countries to achieve the single currency which, they said would promote economic integration.

Recall that Kasi Brou had said in his 2018 Community Report to the Legislature that many member states were yet to meet the macroeconomic convergence criteria required for a monetary union.

The three primary criteria that are used are a budget deficit of not more than three per cent; average annual inflation of less than 10 per cent with a long term goal of not more than five per cent by 2019; and gross reserves that can finance at least three months of imports.

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The death of godfatherism in Akwa Ibom politics ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo

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t is already in the public domain that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won the governorship election in Akwa Ibom State.

The party’s standard bearer, Udom Emmanuel was re-elected for a second term that will keep him in office till 2023. It is also a common knowledge that Governor Emmanuel was reelected without the support and backing of his erstwhile godfather, Godswill Akpabio who had defected from PDP to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) in August last year.

Akpabio, the former Senate Minority leader had boasted that APC would sweep the polls in Akwa Ibom State and that the presidential election which was held on February 23 would be concluded within three hours.

He emphatically boasted that Governor Emmanuel would be a loner in the governor’s office by December

from being harassed and prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission.

The interest of the security agencies in having the former governor prosecuted was such that soon after Udom came into office in 2015, operatives of the Department of State Services raided the governor’s office searching for whatever items.

Since then, the state government had dragged the EFCC before a High court in the state challenging the authority of the commission to investigate the accounts of the state government during the tenure of the former governor.

All these were done apparently to protect the former governor who after he had supported Udom to be elected in 2015, turned his back on him in 2019.

Though it is said that there is no permanent enemy in politics but permanent interest, Udom and Akpabio for now may be not seeing eyeto-to eye politically, but who knows, two of them might

Udom

Akpabio

2018 following his ‘uncommon defection’ to the APC. All that is now history as Udom did not only won the governorship election but Akpabio who was regarded as the godfather of Akwa Ibom State politics failed in his bid to return to the Senate to represent Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district.

The significance of this is that Udom has broken loose from the shackles of being dictated upon on what to do and how to govern Akwa Ibom State.

It was widely alleged that he was taking instructions from the former Senate Minority leader who was also governor of the state between 2007 and 2015.

In fact, it was widely believed in many quarters that Udom shielded Akpabio

find themselves in the same political platform.

However, the political differences between the godson and the godfather has allowed Udom, the godson to have a free hand in the selection of the members of state executive council, a development which observers say I good for the development of the state.

Also, it might be the first time in the history of the state that the governor would not need to seek the opinion of a godfather on who should be included in the state executive council and this would give him the power to hire and fire without any hesitation. For Akpabio who has been in the employ of the state government for more 15 years first as a member of the state executive council.

Last year, before the former Senate Minority leader jumped ship, a commissioner in Akwa Ibom State was sacked on the orders of the former governor for allegedly not giving respect to the former governor. The commissioner has since been recalled and has been working as the governor’s right hand man since then.

Insiders have revealed that the governor being a technocrat would carefully select his commissioners and special advisers maintaining that this would be the first time the governor would be seen in his elements.

“Thos who worked for the governor are known and they know themselves.

Those who did not work for the governor’s re-election cannot pretend, they were all seen by the people. What is clear now will be the governor would reward those who worked for him and nothing else,’’ an insider said.

What this means, according to analyst is that many of the commissioners who are currently serving as members of the state executive council might likely not return when the new cabinet is inaugurated in June this year.

Udom having won the re-election campaign with the slogan ‘Only God’, seems to be under pressure by the people given the support he received to deliver on his campaign promises.

So far, there are indications his “completion agenda” seems to be on course as the state government has been able to attract 15 industrial firms to the state and the number is still growing.

Gabriel Ukpeh, chairman of the state owned Foreign Direct Investment Committee believes that Akwa is on course to be an industrial hub following the growing number of firms attracted to the state.

“Investors have confidence in the state government before they even think of investing in the state because no investor will like to put his money where he is not sure of getting his money back,” he said.

Many observers believe that if the governor would be able to implement his ‘completion agenda’ as he had promised during his campaigns, it would be possible to think that he would continue to enjoy the support of the people endlessly.

This they said would have put to an end the over-bearing issue of godfatherism in the state.

(L-R): WIMBIZ annual lecture moderator & Business Correspondent, Thomson Reuters, Didi Akinyelure; founding member, board of trustees(WIMBIZ), Founder & executive vice chairman, boys to MEN Foundation, Ifeoma Idigbe; Chairman, board of trustees(WIMBIZ) &Principal Partner, Funmi Roberts & Co, Funmi Roberts; Founder & CEO, Bolanle Austen Peters Production and Terra Kulture, Bolanle Austin-Peters; Partner, TLCOM Capital, Omobola Johnson; CEO, DO.II Designs, Ifeyinwa Ighodalo at the WIMBIZ 15th annual lecture held at MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

L- R: WIMBIZ Annual Lecture Moderator & Business Correspondent, Thomson Reuters, Didi Akinyelure; WIMBIZ 15th Annual Lecture Committee Chair &Director, Business Process & Technology Prime Atlantic Group,FolusoGbadamosi; executive council member(WIMBIZ) &Principal Consultant, DRNL Consult Ltd; RonkeOnadeko; executive council member(WIMBIZ), managing partner & CEO, Brandzone Consulting LLC, ChizorMalize; chairperson, executive Council(WIMBIZ) & publisher, Clever Clogs Books, OlubunmiAboderin-Talabi; WIMBIZ 15th Annual Lecture Keynote Speaker, founder & CEO, Bolanle Austen Peters Production and Terra Kulture, Bolanle Austin-Peters; founding member, Board of Trustee (WIMBIZ) &CEO, DO.II Designs, IfeyinwaIghodalo; executive director(WIMBIZ), HansatuAdegbite; executive council member (WIMBIZ) &Head Coverage, Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria, NgoverIhyembe Nwankwo at the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) 15th Annual Lecture held at MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

WIMBIZ calls for gender balance in Nigeria …lauds 2019 polls’ female candidates Ngozi Okpalakunne

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hairperson,Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), Olubunmi Aboderin-Talabi has called for gender balancing in every sector of the economy to enable women attain the peak of their careers.

Speaking at the 15th annual lecture of WIMBIZ in Lagos, recently Talabi also explained that when there is gender imbalance, women may not make a difference in their chosen fields.

“The race is on for the gender-balanced boardroom, a gender-balanced government, genderbalanced media coverage, a gender-balanced employees, more gender-balance in wealth, sports coverage, among others.

“Everyone has a part to play all the time, everywhere, from grassroots to activism to worldwide action; we are entering an exciting period of history where the world expects balance. Balance drives a better working world,

collective action and shared responsibility for driving a gender-balanced world is key”, Aboderin-Talabi noted.

However, she advised that women should be focused, adding, “When you have a dream and a vision in your heart, just keep on going, don’t let the fact that you are a woman hold you back or the fact that the society is not supporting, you just keep on pushing’’.

On the other hand, she lauded all female candidates at all levels that participated in the just concluded 2019 general election.

“The Board of Trustees and Executive Council of WIMBIZ commend their passion and commitment towards national growth and development which has propelled them to serve the nation through participation in the electoral process of Nigeria.

“WIMBIZ congratulates all who were successful at the elections and all who participated from the expression of interest, nomination, all the way to the election victory. The 2019 election is considered

remarkable owing to the increase in participation and victory of women across various levels”, she added.

While speaking on the theme of the lecture, ‘Balance for Better’, Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Terra Kulture and BAP Productions, Bolanle Austen-Peters stated that there was never a right time to make a change and that women should not let the fear of failure hold them down.

Bolanle opined that it was better to try and fail than not try at all, saying that she refused to allow the negativity from failure get to her.

“You will fail, but when you fail, dust yourself off and keep trying because every time you fail you have learnt something new. As long as you are on the side-lines, you can’t make a difference,” she said In conclusion, Bolanle Austen-Peters shared some key guidelines that would help every woman to achieve success in their various endeavours.

According to her, the keys include: persistence, consistency, innovation, and allowing one’s dreams to evolve.

Sunday 19 May 2019

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The transformation of Lagos-Airport road

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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)

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

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nfrastructure development is critical to achieving human capital development in any society. The economic impact that infrastructure improvement has on nation building cannot be over-emphasized. The growth of any country’s economy hugely depends on the status of its infrastructure. The dearth of needed infrastructure in a given society places serious limitation on human capital development.

It is in view of its crucial role to achieving rapid economic growth that advanced nations of the world commit huge investment to infrastructural development. J.F. Kennedy, a former President of the United States of America, USA, once put the relationship between infrastructure development and economic prosperity into a proper perspective when he affirmed that: “America has good roads, not because America is rich, but America is rich because it has good roads”.

According to the World Bank, every 1% of government funds spent on infrastructure leads to an equivalent 1% increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which

invariably means that there is a correlation between any meaningful inputs in infrastructure development which reflects on economic growth, indices, hence the value of infrastructure cannot be underplayed.

It is, therefore, in an effort to ensure even and accelerated development in all parts of Lagos State, that the Lagos state government placed high premium on infrastructure development as evident in the construction and rehabilitation of road network across the state. It is, indeed, particularly soothing to note that the state government has placed a great emphasis on development of more inner roads in order to ease the peculiar Lagos traffic gridlock.

Not quite long ago, Lagos State Governor, Mr, Akinwunmi Ambode, played host to President Muhammadu Buhari as the latter embarked on a one-day working visit to Lagos State. Part of his mission was to inaugurate several landmark projects put in place by the state government to better the lots of Lagos residents.

Some of the key projects officially commissioned by the President include the 170 –bed Maternal and Child Medical Centre, popularly referred to as Ayinke House located on the premises of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, the 500 – seater Lagos Theatre Oregun, the iconic Oshodi Transport Interchange and the 820 High and Medium Capacity Public Buses.

However, of particular concern to this piece is the remodeled 10- lane Muritala Mohammed International Airport Road. The

road is one of the people oriented projects that were inaugurated by President Buhari during his one day working visit to Lagos.

Constructed between 1939 and 1947, the Lagos Airport Road is no doubt one of the oldest roads in the country. The Road which cuts through Ajao Estate and Mafoluku areas of Lagos terminates to join the network of roads connecting the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway to other parts of the City-State.

Considering its importance to local and foreign investors, tourists and many others, many have likened the Road to the famous “The King’s Highway” in the United States that is acclaimed the busiest road in the world with about 500,000 vehicles daily.

Unlike other roads in the country, the Lagos Airport Road clearly influences the first impression conceived by first time visitors to the country. Unfortunately, this much strategic Road had suffered gross neglect over the years. Its current state, no doubt, constitutes a serious dent on the image the country.

It is, thus, quite logical that Lagos residents were extremely enthusiastic when the State Government completed the reconstruction of the road. For a Government that has made improvement of infrastructure across the State a prime mission, the completion of the project represents another grand milestone in the life of the outgoing administration.

Among others, features of the redesigned Road includes the reconstruction and expansion of the existing carriage to three-lane Expressway on both directions, construction of two-lane Service

Road in both directions, construction of Ramp Bridge to provide a U-turn from Ajao Estate to Airport, construction of a flyover at NAHCO/Toll Gate and drainage works.

Others include the removal of existing Pedestrian Bridge at Ajao Estate and construction of Pedestrian Bridges at Ajao Estate and NAHCO/Hajj Camp, construction of Slip Road to provide access to Ajao Estate, construction of Lay-bys and installation of Street Lights, among others.

Being an investor’s friendly State, what the Lagos State Government has achieved with the reconstruction of the Lagos Airport Road is a masterpiece with aesthetic infrastructure and an explicit environment serenaded by street lights illuminating the 10 lane route to aid the convenience of local and foreign investors as well as residents along the route.

Though, a Federal Government responsibility, the Lagos State Government took up the enormous task of rebuilding the Road in view of its strategic importance to the socio-economic well being Lagos State and, indeed, Nigeria at large.

If governance is truly about adding value to people’s lives and propounding creative solutions to critical societal needs, then the Lagos State government is actually on the right path in its pact with the citizenry. Lagosians are implored to protect and preserve all major infrastructure in the state as they represent our collective heritage.

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

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10 Inside Lagos

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Sunday 19 May 2019

LagosHOMS struggles on weak demand …as subscribers stay aloof Stories by JOSHUA BASSEY

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ears after they were put in the market for rental or outright sale, the Lagos Homes Ownership Scheme (LagosHOMS) seems unable to attract massive demand from home seekers, as over 3,000 units of the houses are still unsubscribed.

The weak demand for government’s housing schemes is despite the fact that Lagos, with a population estimate of 21 million people, has a housing deficit in millions.

A report by Pison Housing Company actually estimates the states’ housing deficit at three million, requiring about 200,000 units built every year over the next 20 years to bridge.

Information at Inside Lagos’ disposal shows that hundreds of housing units in various estates developed by the government and scattered across the state since the previous administration, are still largely vacant. They include those at Igando, Sangotedo, Agbowa in Epe, Egan, in Alimosho, Surulere, Amuwo-Odofin, among others.

A source informed that home seekers are not attracted to the houses due to a number of factors,

Yemi Osinbajo, vice president; Akinwunmi Ambode, governor, Lagos State; and John Mahama, former president of Ghana and chairman, convocation lecture, at the 23rd Convocation of Lagos State University (LASU) and commissioning of the new Senate Building at the University Campus, Ojo, Lagos

including cost, in-built charges, bureaucratic bottlenecks, and administrative procedure to acquiring them.

Some of the eligibility criteria for the LagosHOMS are that an applicant must be a first time buyer, 21 years and above, tax compliant with proof of regular payment, five per cent payment, must pass the affordability test and not more

than, 33 per cent of the monthly income as repayment.

Checks show reveal that a total of 360 units in Igbogbo, 660 units in Agbowa, 84 units in AmuwoOdofin, 492 units in Igando, 630 units Egan and 1118 units in Sangotedo housing estates are lying waste, even as several hundred units across already subscribed to by home seekers have not been

LASCOPA raises alarm over rate of unwholesome products in superstores

Residents ecstatic as Lagos plans Igando-Ayobo link bridge

…considers prosecution, closure of outlets JOSHUA BASSEY

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he Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency ( L AS C O PA ) h a s d e scribed as appalling the high rate of sharp practices among major stores and supermarkets in Lagos. The agency said it was taking measures for possible prosecution and closure of the affected outlets.

Among the ones indicted by the agency is a popular chain of superstores with outlets in AmuwoOdofin, Apapa, Lekki, Ikeja and Adeniran Ogunsanya, in Surulere.

Kemi Olugbode, the general manager of LASCOPA, who spoke with Inside Lagos, said the agency was alarm that despite repeated operations during which

unwholesome products in various superstores in the state had been removed and destroyed, sharp practices including illegal extension of shelf life of products and display of those no longer fit for consumption have continued.

Inside Lagos was told that in one of the superstores with an outlet on Adeniran Ogunsanya, pizzas, carrots and fish were discovered to be unwholesome and had to be removed by the operatives of the consumer protection agency, who stormed the outlet.

“In fact, it is no longer going to be warning and seizure of products alone, we are getting to a point of prosecuting the stores involved in these illegal activities,” said Olugbode on Friday.

It was gathered that LASCO-

PA’s team during an inspection exercise, also discovered some expired butter, fruits, vegetables among others, on displayed in stores in Victoria Island and other parts of the metropolis.

“In Surulere, the team immediately swung into action by ensuring the immediate removal and sealing the shelves containing expired products.”

According to Olugbode, the inspection became imperative following complaints by consumers that major supermarkets and retail stores were selling expired products. She re-emphasised that sale of expired or unwholesome products were unacceptable and LASCOPA would not hesitate to invoke relevant laws against violators.

Hoteliers, police partner to check cultism in Ikorodu

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oteliers in Ikorodu have pledged to work with the Lagos police command in the fight against cultism in the area.

The Lagos Hoteliers Association, Ikorodu zone, made the pledge when its executives visited the Anti-Cultism unit of the police command.

Isiaka Olayinka, the association’s 1st vice chairman, said that the partnership became necessary following frequent police raids of their hotels in search of suspected cultists.

Olayinka said the association was willing to partner with police in this regard, stressing that the cultists were creating problems for their business. The association then asked the police to spell out areas of possible assistance in the fight against cultism in the area.

Zubairu Muazu, the Commissioner of Police (CP) represented

by Bala Elkana, the command’s spokesperson, welcomed the hoteliers’ partnership with the police in fighting crimes in the state.

Muazu said the meeting became necessary in view of the

made habitable to enable their buyers move in.

The situation is said to be more pathetic in the Igando housing scheme, where interior fittings in several of the units have been allegedly vandalised and would require millions of naira to put back to habitable form.

Gbolahan Lawal, the state commissioner for housing, who

confirmed the availability of 3000 units of houses not sold, however said those already subscribed would be made ready for their owners three to six months from now.

“In all, we are looking at about 3000 units unsubscribed. It’s just the sewage and water that is delaying it. I want to say that those people that applied, in the next three to six months, they would be living in their houses,” Lawal said.

In the mean, outgoing governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has said the incoming administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu would complete the various housing schemes in the state.

Ambode, who inspected the Igando Lagos HOMS project, after he commissioned the Igando Lagos Theatre, on Wednesday, said the 492-unit scheme was in its final stages and would be completed

by Babajide Sanwo-Olu. “We are at the Lagos HOMS here in Igando where we have 492 units completed. What is left in this particular estate is the sewage system and I believe strongly that as we leave, this particular project in the next few months, the whole place should be completed and should be ready for occupants and commissioning by the incoming governor,” said Ambode.

disturbing activities of suspected cultists in Ikorodu area, stressing that intelligence reports revealed that cultists usually met in hotels.

He urged the hotel operators to watch out for activities of visitors in their hotels and also requested them to promptly report to the police any suspected person or activities.

The police chief equally advised the hoteliers to watch out for teenagers coming to the hotels, warning that the command would not tolerate any hotel found to be harbouring criminals of any sort.

JOSHUA BASSEY

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ommunities around Egan-Igando and Ayobo in Alimosho area of Lagos are in high spirit, as the state government has kickstarted a bridge project to link Ayobo and Egan.

The bridge, which is planned to link directly with newly constructed Agric Access road, upon completion, will shorten travel time, improve living condition of residents and boost the economy of communities within that axis.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, whose four-year tenure terminates May 29, while performing the ground-breaking of the project, said the contractor had been mobilised and that the project would be completed by the incoming administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu. “I believe strongly that our state is on a positive growth trajectory and I urge you to give the next administration the same unflinching support you gave us as we work together in transforming our state to the “Lagos of our dreams.”

Ambode added that the bridge project was in continuation of government’s effort to close the huge infrastructure gap of the state.

Lagos is estimated to have an infrastructure deficit of over $50 billion.

The state currently generates a monthly internal revenue of about N35 billion + federal transfers averaging over N10 billion.

Ambode, who also handed over

the newly constructed Agric Access road in Egan, said his administration never shied away from the infrastructural challenge. He said the new road was in fulfilment of an earlier promise to run a government of inclusion that would leave no community behind.

“When our administration came into office, one of our cardinal promises was a government of inclusion. We committed to a government where nobody, community or people will be left behind. We were determined to address the challenges of gross infrastructural deficit, flooding and erosion which the people around this area have lived with for years.

“I am pleased and fulfilled to see that our commitment to make our state globally competitive and radically change our infrastructural profile to one that befits a contemporary smart city has been successful with the construction of roads and bridges that we have undertaken in the last four years.”

Aderinola Adetola, a resident of the area, welcomed the transformation of the once deplorable Agric Access road, agreed that it would raise the standard of living of the people.

Morenike Adesina-Williams, chairman of Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area, (LCDA) lauded the state government for building the road. She said the new road would go a long way in enhancing the socio-economic development within that axis and the state in general.

Sunday 19 May 2019

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BDSUNDAY 11

News Feature PH Refinery rehabilitation may mark out FG, NNPC, says IPMAN boss GODWIN EGBA, Port Harcourt

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proverbial maxim, “Dry bone shall rise again’’ seems suitable to the long-moribund and wobbly state of the Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC) Limited in Rivers State.

The near–dead refinery has begun to exude a heart–warming hope to the teaming consumers of petroleum products in Nigeria – courtesy of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) now on rescue mission to bring the facilities back to life.

The company comprises two refineries: the first was built 54 years ago (1965) with a 60,000 barrels capacity per day while the second one with about 150,000 barrels per day was commissioned in 1989, bringing it to a total of 210,000 barrels capacity per day. The glory of the company began to wane years back alongside with the ones sited in Warri (Delta State) and Kaduna in Kaduna State due to some unmitigated technical facilities failure.

Records show that the PHRC in particular had its last Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) 19 years ago leading to its near-zero production capacity level of products – AGO (diesel), premium motor spirit (PMS) referred to as petrol and kerosene to meet the demand of consumers in Rivers State and across the country at large.

Consequently, it has been an endless tale of woes for Nigerians who without choice have to depend on imported products, especially PMS, to hedge on subsidy masquerade. Most baffling is that,

successive NNPC managements via the Federal Government had carried out TAM on the plants before the current management but all the past efforts ended up like packaging salt in a basket on water surface.

However, the present Group Managing Director (GMD) of NNPC, Maikanti Baru, and his management team have succeeded in having the listening ears of the presidency for this 2019 TAM, assuring that the holistic surgery of the facilities would give birth to a new Port Harcourt Refinery.

With the secured approval and support of the presidency, Baru formally flagged off the rehabilitation project at the PHRC complex on March 21, 2019, as revealed in a statement by the NNPC Group Manager, Group Public Affairs, Ndu Ughamadu.

The prospect and dream to bring the PHRC back to life excited some major stakeholders in the downstream oil and gas sector in no small measure. One of such groups is the organised body of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).

In his elated mood while speaking with BDSUNDAY, the executive chairman of IPMAN Port Harcourt Refinery Deport Unit, Emmanuel Inimgba Okubowei, described the NNPC revamp task as a mission to restore the lost glory of the country’s premier refinery. He stressed that it would once again put smiles on the faces of Nigerians and all stakeholders in the oil and gas economy.

Okubowei emphasised, “We the IPMAN group up to our na-

tional level extend our unalloyed support and commendation to the Federal Government and the Baru-led NNPC for taking the bull by the horns to resuscitate our ailing economic engine room back to local refining rather than importation of the end products, especially PMS’’.

“The quantum benefits of falling or going back to refine our petroleum products locally cannot be over-emphasised considering the added value chain in labour, employment, productivity and revenue increase. Importation of fuel in subsidy regime shrouded with intractable hiccups and sharp practices beget more harm to the economy of Nigeria and we believe that the rehabilitation exercise will be dream come true”, Inimgba expressed optimistically.

Earlier, the NNPC spokesman quoted his GMD in a statement

that the revamp exercise would commence in phases beginning with Phase 1 of the old refinery with 60,000 barrels capacity per day and that would cover a period of six months (August 2019).

The project, according to him, would be handled by a Milanbased company, Maire Tecnimont S.P.A, in collaboration with its Nigerian affiliate, Tecnimont Nigeria, after which they would move to the second one believing that the plants should be able to achieve maximum capacity utilisation after a successful execution.

He further stated that NNPC had ENI/NADC as technical adviser to support the rehabilitation job and would leverage ENI’S extensive refinery supply chain network and warehouses to produce critical materials for the programme.

The rehabilitation would involve detailed integrity checks and equipment inspection of the plant beginning from end of March 2019, while the integrity would come as a forerunner to the second phase aimed at restoring the plants to 90 percent capacity utilisation, Ughamadu said.

He also explained that subject to the successful completion of the integrity checks, Phase 2 of the project would be executed on an engineering construction with the original builders of the plants known as JGC of Japan.

The chief operating officer up-stream ENI co-ups, Antonio Vella, on behalf of the contractors, said in order to increase the programme of PHRC, ENI would share with NNPC the knowledge and experience gained in decades of managing its own and

participated refineries in Italy and other overseas countries.

He assured that all the companies involved would display all available modern resources to ensure effective upgrade of the plant, and enthused that with the commitment of all parties, ‘’It is certain that NNPC would be able to celebrate the revamp of the PHRC that would lead to its full capacity utilisation on schedule and in full safety”.

The NNPC GMD who earlier acknowledged the competence of the contractors said they would be able to bottleneck the refineries. “It is going to be some level of automation that that will be introduced and latest instrumentation introduced, so that the refinery when it is up, it will be easy to operate than what it was before.”

Baru further noted thus; “Several units that are fundamental are not in good shape. Like the stream unit, no refinery operates without streaming and that is a major heating element. This refinery is supposed to have four stream units. It reached a point that they have only one that is working. It cannot carry the capacity of the whole refinery”.

The entire PHRC community is also of high optimism. The IPMAN boss said: “Nigerians are really in for a good time as the refinery boosted by the current development is set to return to its days of glory and times when it contributed massively to the petroleum product pool of the country. This will no doubt reduce dependency on imported products and reinforce the availability of products locally all years round.”

Peasant farmers hit ‘gold’ with rice production

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CALEB OJEWALE

n excited rice farmer in Argungu, Kebbi state says during a recent visit to the state, that he has finally bought “a vehicle” as fortune is smiling on him. It turns out that vehicle is a Kasea motorcycle, but far from being funny, the excitement on his face tells a completely different story. For another farmer in his late fifties, he finally moved out from the family house having completed a bungalow for himself and his family.

These seemingly small wins, are to thousands of smallholder farmers across Nigeria, the ‘big stuff’, a validation of their hard work and gradual entry into a league of successful farmers. It is a story of uplifting from poverty; in many cases, radical economic improvement they never would have imagined. For bigger farmers, the lifestyle changes are even more significant.

Joseph Ununu, was chairman, Abakaliki Rice Mill Owners Industrial Association when this

reporter last visited the state in 2016. This year, he was elected as a member of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly.

Even though he now holds an elective position, “that does not stop me from doing agriculture,” he said, “because as far as rice cultivation has promoted me, I am going more digital in it.”

Ununu inherited rice farming from his parents, and cultivates 29.8 hectares of land, which he plans to optimise through the use of technology. The political office is not all that changed between the last visit to Abakaliki and the recent one by this reporter.

Few metres away from the Abakaliki rice mill cluster along Ogoja road, Ununu’s new house adorns the beginning of a street, with its bright colourfully tiled walls.

“This little compound was achieved through rice cultivation,” Ununu said, trying to be modest. Without being a government worker or holding any (political) position, “I thank God today through agriculture,

he pushed me and carried me to another level,” he added.

“Rice farming has been more profitable than the ten years I sold electronics in the market,” said Abubakar Hamza, a 42-yearold new rice farmer who has only done two rice harvests (both wet and dry season) in about a year of joining agriculture. During the last year dry season, he cultivated one hectare and harvested 95 bags of paddy rice. This year, he has doubled it to two hectares. He plans to stay in rice production for the near future, saying he does not intend to return to his electronics business, his responses, given in Hausa language.

“Previously, many of our farmers could not afford to buy cars or get money to marry since they had meagre to no income,” said Yusuf Gabe Argungu, leader of rice farmers in Argungu LGA, Kebbi state, while commenting on ways increase in farm output has affected individual lives of farmers. Now, “those who had uncompleted houses have gone to complete it, many now have wives,

buy cars, solve all our problems of school fees for our children, pay NEPA bill, and even water bill.

“If you see our farmers now, they are rich, because we consider rice as a business,” he said.

Yakubu Suleiman, popularly known as ‘Jariri’, in the Far Fajya area of Argungu, Kebbi state has been a rice farmer for 25 years. A father of nine children; six males and three females, he previously cultivated half a hectare, which has now increased to 1.5 hectare following the launch of the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“Personally, I have achieved a lot,” said Suleiman, who added one wife after the boom in his farm productivity. “Before, I could not come up with money to even pay my children’s school fees. We were only farming just to feed ourselves.”

“I am now building a house, and bought a new vehicle. That long Kasea,” Suleiman said, describing his “new vehicle”, which as it turns out, was a motorcycle. However, the excitement on his face as he described his achievement was

priceless. He brings his six male children to the farm during transplanting, getting them to work alongside his labourers, as his own way of ensuring they develop a firm interest in agriculture.

For Mohammed Sahabi Augie, chairman, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Kebbi State Chapter, “in different communities, some families living in mud houses are now able to use cement and good roof. Some are buying domestic animals such as cattle to keep for their economic gains, and some are buying cars.

“Just as you know, here in the North, when your life improves you add a wife, so some are marrying more wives. We also have more of our youths going to school, less insecurity because many of them are now going to the farm to produce rice,” he added.

According to him, those who are able to produce 50 bags of rice, become semi millionaires. “We have many youths below 30 years of age producing 100 bags of rice and more, and with such volume, are easily millionaires,” Augie said

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Sunday 19 May 2019

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Feature

Tough, yet hopeful living for Nigerians in South Africa OBINNA EMELIKE

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espite the many issues that should ordinarily discourage many Nigerians from seeking refuge in South Africa, thousands queue for the South Africa visa in Lagos and Abuja while hundreds make their way to the country every month, especially through the country’s airline, SAA. But beyond the difficulties in getting and renewing the visa and also the likelihood of being target of attacks when they finally make it to the country, Nigerians visit and reside in South Africa more than any other African country.

Of course, there has been an outcry against xenophobia, which had claimed many lives few years after South Africa’s independence in 1994 including Nigerians. In the most recent incident in Kwazulu-Natal Province, the perpetrators of the attacks were warning other African nationals to leave their country or face the worst manslaughter in the history of South Africa after the elections on May 8, 2019.

Well, May 8 has come and gone with no incident of attack on other African nationals yet.

Also, it seems the African National Congress (ANC), which won the presidential elections, though with fewer majorities, is determined to redeem its several assurances of safety of lives and property of other Africans in the country.

Despite the apparent safety, some Nigerians in the country are at alert as attacks could happen, especially in the poor townships and settlements where there is fierce competition with equally poor African immigrants for scarce resources and opportunities.

But why visit or live in South Africa, if one may ask? The good life, world-class facilities, orderliness and even the well-shaped women are top among reasons Nigerians still flock the ‘Rainbow Country’ in the face of several challenges.

Asabe Oruke, a Nigerian accountant who works with a financial firm in Sandton, explained that the wages are very high in South Africa and going by the strength of the Rand against Naira, one makes good money working here.

“At N23 to a Rand, one is encouraged to work hard because when you get your monthly pay, it means a lot more at home.

If Naira gains strength against Rand, some Nigerians in the corporate service here may consider transfer or relocating back because it pays better doing

One of such attacks

same job in your own country at higher pay,” she said.

For Obidike Onyeka, a lecturer at UNISA in Pretoria, the infrastructure development is unravelled anywhere on the continent, and gives one a sense of pride that something this good is in Africa, especially if you are from other poor Africa countries.

“Until the 2010 FIFA World Cup, tourists did not look the way of South Africa because they thought it is like every other African country in terms of development. But they were surprised that Africa has a country that is better than some European countries. South Africa is beautiful, orderly and infrastructure, which most African countries lack, is abundant here. That is the major reason people come here,” Onyeka said.

Buttressing his argument further, Onyeka said Cape Town and Johannesburg, two South African cities, have consistently

ranked among Africa’s most liveable cities, three of its cities rank among 10 top cities in Africa, among other positive ratings.

“The social security is working here if you are hooked unto the data base; you can easily afford a brand new car, a house or finance some projects, get insurance cover among others just the way they are done in the UK,” he explained further.

But for other Nigerians who are not in the corporate world like Oruke and Onyeka, survival is tougher, but they get by at the end of the day.

Emeka Oduenyi, a liquor store owner in Durban, said there are lots of business opportunities in South Africa, which the locals look down on because of indigene status, laziness or dependence on government.

“Most retail stores in Durban are run by Indians, yet there are many empty spaces one can use as stores. When we discovered

A man holds a Nigerian flag as thousands march through the streets of Johannesburg against the wave of xenophobic attacks that took place in South Africa in 2015. Photo AFP, GIANLUIGI GUERCIA

this, some Nigerians started opening shops and today, we have a good number of retail outfits that are owned by Nigerians. But it is easy to open such retail stores, the city authority does not demand much, they see it as empowerment that will engage idle hands and reduce crime,” he said.

Oduenyi, who did not get much of education in Nigeria before leaving for Dubai in 2009 and South Africa in 2012, said the standard of education in South Africa is as good as the European and the US standards and even healthcare.

“I know that I am not educated but my three children are in good schools here and I don’t sweat about their school fees.

Even if I am leaving to Nigeria tomorrow, I want them to finish here before coming back if they wish”, he said.

Onyeka thinks that beyond the quality of education, qualitative healthcare delivery is also reason Africans are flocking the country as the hospitals parade some of the best professionals including some Nigerian doctors who here earn 10 times their salary at home. “My wife had complications during the delivery of our second son. It involved surgery, but I was astonished by how smooth the process was despite that I was in London for exchange programme.

In Nigeria, you have to deposit huge sum, donate blood and also be around to ensure things go well,” he said.

Well, the soft power is also a reason. Bisi Ariyo, a member of the Nigerian Union in

South Africa (NUSA), said the number of Nigerian men who are married to South African women is on the increase. He noted that the development was as a result of the assumed well-rounded shape of the women, which lures Nigerian men. Again, marrying a South African woman is a step further to getting your papers, some Nigerian men, especially those faced with immigration challenges, resort to marriage.

“We encouraged the marriage with the hope that if there is a problem like xenophobia, we will have people that will defend us, but it does not work that way,” he said.

Ariyo said there may be attacks in the future, but they would not deter Nigerians from visiting or living in South Africa, except the country stops giving visas to Nigerians.

The reasons, for him, are obvious: South Africa offers many opportunities that other African countries do not have.

Even if Naira becomes stronger that Rand tomorrow, or equals to the US dollar, Nigerians would still visit because already family bonds, businesses, partnerships among others, have been developed and built over the years and will be difficult to stop because of the attacks.

Going forward, he thinks that the laws might be strengthened to fight Nigerians and not clubs of the xenophobia attackers. Part of the laws for him is the immigration looking to make visa more difficult to get.

Sunday 19 May 2019

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BDSUNDAY 13

Feature Confederation of West African Beauticians set to standardise beauty industry

T

DESMOND OKON

he Confederation of West African Beauticians (COWAB), a group of beauticians consisting of over seven member countries, including Nigeria, has said it would soon embark on standardisation processes to ensure quality products in the industry for all its members.

COWAB revealed its intentions to better the lots of the industry at a conference held recently in Lagos, Nigeria. The conference was held to enable the organisation have a succinct and copious assessment of its members in Nigeria.

The group noted that it has become imperative to standardise the beauty industry, since it contributes hugely to the gross domestic product (GDP) of member states of COWAB. According to reports, the global cosmetic products market was around $532billion in 2017 and is expected to reach approximately $863 billion in 2024. Nigeria’s beauty market was estimated at N500 billion annually in 2018, showing significant potential for boom in the industry if proper regulations were in place.

Joyce Lamptey, national president of Beauticians Association, Ghana, told BDSUNDAY that the association was responding to the common problems affecting their business.

“We thought it wise to come together to be able to solve the common problems affecting our trade.

One is that there are fake products existing not only in one country but cutting across other parts of the country. When we come together we can solve it by advocating and creating awareness about it gradually if not totally.”

Doubling as the founder of ECOWAS Beautician Association, Lamptey said: “In the cosmetology industry, we aim to keep standard in our profession. Abroad, cosmetology puts down technological knowhows, rules and regulations that most don’t follow so how then can we call ourselves professionals. So we want to impact that knowledge to the less privileged people unable to go to school and learn of such”.

“Prior to now, hairdressing was known as a skill for dropouts, but today graduates are picking up the skill and some are doing businesses with it, but those doing it for business purposes do not have that technical know-how, so with that one voice we will work to make sure everything works out and that is our dream,” Lamptey told BDSUNDAY. According to her, “We are doing a visitation so Africa can come together. We have to go and make sure the news spreads, then see how well they are accepting it, so that if they don’t we will tell them about our vision, our aims and objectives.”

Regulating the industry Lamptey also revealed plans to enable member states work

Confederation of West Africa Beauticians (COWAB) Nigerian Executives and West Africa president, Joyce Lamptey; Opral Benson and Osisanya Elizabeth, at COWAB Nigeria Conferen, held in Lagos.

From 2nd left) Osisanya Elizabeth; (2nd r) Opral Benson and Elizabeth Abiola Koleade ,while others look on, during the conference held in Lagos.

Cross section of members, West Africa Beauticians (COWAB) Nigerian, at the conference held in Lagos. with the regulatory bodies in their respective countries- something that already exists in her country.

“We have to visit each country to know their standards, then we can bring the world standards down, that will be accepted by all of us, because when you go into the beauty books, you see that all the regulatory bodies are there. Are we following it? They have documented it, but are we doing it?”

Speaking to BDSUNADY on plans to regulate the industry, Elizabeth Abiola Koleade, president of COWAB, Nigeria, said some members had complained about issues on regulation, hence the deliberations on it.

According to her, “Many people are benefitting from the industry,

and this means that you don’t need to be a lawyer, doctor, before you can put food on your table for your family. So, you must find a way to make the work you are doing strong, even to the point of passing it down generationally.

“The regulatory body is meant to check companies bringing in fake beauty products, and watch manufacturers of beauty products.

Some of them don’t have enough money to buy quality materials to produce, they start going to China to make the products. So, we are going to start deliberations on it from this moment,” she said.

The call on government However, to effectively fight the proliferation and importation of fake, COWAB acknowledged the

role to the government. “We are calling on the government to come to our aid because we are dealing with human body from head to toe,” Lamptey said.

She also stated that COWAB would be working with the Ministry of Health as partners before the regulatory body will come in.

The guest of honour, Opral Mason Benson, proprietress of Opral Benson Beauty Training Institute (OBBTI), appealed to manufacturers of beauty products within and outside Africa to sponsor beauty programmes and events.

Benson, who also is the Iya Oge of Lagos, appealed to governments of various countries to invest in the Beauty Industry as a source of foreign exchange earner for their

L-R: Williams Abole, president , COWAB, Ivory Coast; BoBo Adeline, secretary general, COWAB, Ghana; Ruth Tonyigah; Osisanya Elizabeth; Joyce Lamptey, president, COWAB, West Africa; Elizabeth Abiola Koleade, president, COWAB NG; Dagbo Nicodeine, president, COWAB, Rep of Benin Cotonou; Ileniyi Gabrel, secratry general, COWAB NG, and Betty Ishoka, vice president, COWAB NG.

Joyce Lamptey, president, COWAB, West Africa respective countries.

“Beauty training should be taken more seriously as a vocational skill and given its pride of place in the society. Government, private and public sectors should accord more recognition for the beauty industry and its practitioners,” she said.

Melinda Modupe Oyadiran, CEO, Melmoya House of Beauty and Healthcare, advised that all the COWAB leaders should stand and fight this cause together, saying that fake products have caused harm in lives of customers.

COWAB was established by Softsheen Carson, producers of Dark and Lovely Hair Care in 2000, but it collapsed in 2004. The aim then was to help standardise manufactures in the beauty industry.

BDSUNDAY learnt that the company funded it for two years, but stopped when it discovered the association was not yielding the expected results. Up till now, “it has collapsed for 17 years,” Koleade said.

The states that were represented include Togo, Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Burkina Faso, among others.

Recall that Temitope Mayegun, CEO of Avila Natural products, had recently decried influx of fake skin care products in the market and makers hiding under the umbrella of organic and natural skincare to produce harmful products.

Mayegun noted that the influx of fake products threatens the seamless thriving of the industry in Nigeria, adding that it is not peculiar to Nigeria, as it cuts across other countries, especially West African States.

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Sunday 19 May 2019

Focus

What stakeholders told Senate Committee on Apapa gridlock

W

CHUKA UROKO

hen the Senate Committee on Works, led by its chairman, Kabiru Gaya, came recently to Apapa for an emergency meeting, their mission was clear.

They came for a dialogue with the relevant stakeholders on the decongestion of traffic gridlock in Apapa.

The committee chairman told the meeting, which was well attended by the stakeholders that included the federal ministry of works, Lagos state ministry of transportation, federal roads safety corps (FRSC), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), port users, transport unions, truck owners, Apapa residents, business owners in Apapa, etc, of their commitment and determination to find lasting solution to Apapa.

“We are here as part of our oversight functions and we are determined to end the Apapa gridlock with the cooperation of all the relevant stakeholders,” Gaya intoned, noting that “what is happening in Apapa is a national embarrassment; we have received several reports of how residents of Apapa sleep outside because they cannot access their homes while many businesses have been forced to either relocate from Apapa or close down completely.”

Apapa is Nigeria’s premier port city. It is home to the country’s two busiest seaports-Apapaand Tin Can Island. These two ports, according to available records, account for 75 percent of export and import activities in Nigeria. The port city as a whole is valued at N20 billion a day.

But the port city has lost its soul.

According to the stakeholders at the emergency meeting, there is a serious disconnect between the federal and state governments on the one hand, and shipping companies and truck owners on the other. Each seems to be working in silos and at cross-purposes, the stakeholders pointed out.

Adenubi Patrick, a traffic consultant, told the Senate committee that government agencies, particularly the customs and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) contribute significantly to the Apapa gridlock, pointing out that these two agencies have multiple checkpoints that impede traffic flow.

The submission of Remi Ogungbemi, chairman, Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), was quite instructive. He noted that when the Federal Government concessioned the ports, it did not give any consideration to, or planned for the trucks that would be coming to the ports.

“All the places that trucks used to park have been taken over, hence the need for a system that will make movement of trucks in and out of

the ports seamless and orderly; the taskforce that is now controlling movement of trucks is no solution to Apapa problem; it is only a part,” he said.

The Senate Committee was also told that the activities of some of the shipping lines operating at the ports were highly objectionable as they did not conform to what NPA called Standard Operation Procedure and it is such that their jetties were not user-friendly.

They were accused of exploiting importers in various ways by increasing rates and charges arbitrarily; deliberately delaying operations, sometimes using manual recording in order to force importers to pay demurrage on extended goods dwell time.

Of all the submissions made at the meeting, NPA had the most robust, forward-looking and futuristic presentation. Besides committing to opening the Lilypond Container Terminal as a temporary measure to take away trucks off the roads and bridges to free them for other road users, the ports authority also proffered other solutions to the Apapa debacle.

The Lilypond Terminal and the Trailer Park being constructed along the Apapa Oshodi Expressway were to be opened at one-day interval. But whereas the Terminal has been opened and in use by trucks, the Trailer Park is still being delayed by the Federal Government and its bureaucracy.

Ihenacho Ebubeogu is the general manager, security, at the NPA. He noted that Apapa was congested for obvious reasons. According to

him, the volume of trade and business in both Apapa and Tin Can Ports has increased by more than 1000 percent, far above the ports installed capacity.

This, he disclosed, explains the reason NPA has introduced import wavers for importers that are ready to use the Eastern Ports. But there are challenges. Apart from NPA and the importers expecting other governmentagencieslikeNIMASA, Customs and SON to follow suit by intruding wavers or reducing their charges, the water channels leading to the eastern ports are not navigable by ocean-going vessels.

As a long term solution to Apapa problem, Ebubeogu talked about creating a port area that will extend the sphere of operations at the ports to areas like Mile 2, Orile, Kirikiri Town, Costain, etc which would require enormous investment as it is done in other economies.

Though there is improvement in the traffic situation in Apapa, especially at the Ijora-Apapa bridge axis with the trucks almost completely off the bridge during the day, nothing has happened considerably that could be linked to the visit of the Senate Committee members who left with a promise to return a week later to ensure compliance with the resolutions reached at the meeting.

Unlike other economies including Brazil which was at par with Nigeria in terms of development, Nigeria is yet to take the development of its ports seriously. Political and ethnic considerations are the twin evils that have held the country and its economy down, frustrating any positive thinking towards na-

tion building and economic development.

Besides lack of political will on the part of government to invest in Apapa, vested interests which come in various forms make providing solution to Apapa very difficult if not impossible. Apapa needs heavy investment, especially in infrastructure, for it to be better than what is today.

It should be noted that a port by itself is no guarantee of a city’s growth, but improvement in port infrastructure should be a priority investment for the government. Like Nigeria, lack of efficiency in seaport operations was once hindering Brazil’s economic and urban growth.

But unlike Nigeria, Brazil has recognised the need to improve its portinfrastructurewithUS$3billion allocated to port investments under the government’s Growth Acceleration Programme, and another US$14 billion earmarked for port upgrade works to be carried out by the private sector.

Conversely, in Nigeria, in spite of all the revenues that federal and state governments generate from the ports, the political will is not there to invest some of the revenues in improving access roads infrastructure in and around the ports.

The Federal Government has very strong presence at the two ports with its revenue collecting agencies which collect money for it in form of import duties and levies by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS); royalties, rents and dues collected by the NPA; dues and levies collected by NIMASA; certification levies collected by SON,

among others.

In 2018, NCS collected a total sum of N1.2 trillion in revenue for the government. It also impounded a total of 5,235 seizures with duty paid value (DPV) of N61.5 billion following its anti-smuggling operations. The 2018 revenue was N164.8 billion more than that of 2017, which was N1.037 trillion.

Altogether, in the last three years, the NCS has generated about N3.1 trillion in revenue and much of these revenues come mostly from its activities at the Apapa ports, yet government is not ready and willing to invest even 10 percent of this revenue into making Apapa what it is supposed to be as a port city.

Global trade is increasing and that is amply reflected at Apapa ports as alluded to by NPA’s security chief. BDSUNDAY checks reveal that the value of exported goods as a share of global GDP rose from 15 percent in 1990 to 25 percent in 2013.

As trade keeps growing, it directly boosts the economic development of the cities which handle cargo traffic. Indeed, a closer look at 126 of the world’s major metropolitan areas reveals that cities which serve as major seaports experience faster growth than inland cities. This is not the case with Apapa.

As a port city, Apapa has degenerated in value considerably with its congested ports, degraded environment, decaying infrastructure, devalued property, declining business activities, and disillusioned investors, especially property owners whose assets have lost over 50 percent of their market value.

Our checks reveal further that ports play a substantial role in the economies of metropolitan areas. In Rotterdam, for instance, port-related activities accounted for 74,000 direct jobs and 13 percent of total metropolitan GDP in 2007. In Shanghai, the number of jobs related to port activities reached 840,000 in 2012, up from 347,000 in 2002. Shanghai’s port accounted for 7.6 percent of the city’s GDP in 2012.

Unlike these cities, the number of jobs that has been lost since Apapa became what it is over 10 years ago and how that impacts negatively on Lagos economy can only be left to the imagination.

For a country like Nigeria where unemployment figures are in excess of 20 million, investing in the Apapa ports and resuscitating the eastern ports are just the next best things to do at the moment.

How this could be achieved should be the concern of a Senate Committee that says it is committed and determined to find solution to a problem that has rendered an otherwise flourishing port city almost unviable and useless.

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PersonalityOfTheWeek The Alabo at 80: Port Harcourt stands up for Tonye Graham Douglas Ignatius Chukwu

T

he Garden City of Port Harcourt stood still on Wednesday, May 8, 2019, when the Kalabari-born Alabo (top chief), Tonye Orubibi Graham-Douglas (Alabo TOG), marked 80 years of age. The event, which he personally tagged ‘Miraculous 80’ attracted most of Nigeria’s leaders of the past and representatives of very aging associates (and mentors) as well as busy governors and government officials.

Most persons who inquired to know what made 80 years a miracle to him were later made to know that he broke the chain that limited his brothers and members of his family never to reach or cross 60 years. So, when he got to 60, there was wild and widespread trepidation that he would go the way of his family. He broke it! At 80, he rolled out the drums to laugh Mr. Death to scorn. A huge crowd joined him to do so in the Garden City.

The Alabo is largely described as the father of New Rivers State for being the man singlehandedly mandated in 1998 by the national leadership of the young PDP to hand pick governors for Rivers and Bayelsa states and he picked Peter Odili for Rivers and DSP Alamieyeseigha for Bayelsa. They each became governor for those states only to turn out as sworn rivals to each other.

The Alabo himself soon fell out with Odili, a bitter experience that lingers to this day.

Graham-Douglas, however, told inner chamber friends that he chose to forget his political travails and the huge sums trapped in government vaults as debts for jobs he executed for administrations that he went through the crucibles to help.

They were the first generation of godfathers after 1999 who suffered humiliation and alienation in the hands of their godsons.

For being 80, however, Graham-Douglas turned out in the best Kalabari chieftaincy regalia and radiated in t he b e s t l i g h ts na t ure could offer, all matching his disarming smiles that thawed the streets of the Graclands Avenue in the GRA where the church service was held all the way to the Aztech Acrum on Stadium Road where the reception was hosted. The

Tonye Graham Douglas

biggest and priceliest beads hung on his broad chest to match the rimmed glasses that frame his crispy eyes which all agreed with the bowl hat brand that he alone made popular in Nigeria and overseas as the Ijaw contribution to Nigeria’s political branding.

The likes of Governor Ser i a ke D i c k s o n o f B a y e l s a State (represented by his wife), Ike Nwachukwu, Kema Chikwe, Albert Horsfall and the medical professor, Lulu Briggs took turns to pour encomiums on such a rare gem.

Eight caterers took positions to ambush guests with the best of food and drinks.

In the citation read by Briggs, the professor emeritus of the University of Port Harcourt (medicine), Alabo was presented as a hero of his people and a forebear in most aspects of innovations of life and governance. He was the commissioner of youth and sports that created the Rivers Cultural Festival that sold the state to the world. This made the FG to bring him over to Lagos later as minister to replicate same.

He, it was, that also gave Nigeria the legendary Clemense Westerhof that trans-

formed Nigeria’s football and created the route to Belgium and Europe that our boys passed to global stardom. They later used the experience to push the Green Eagles on the global stage to become Super Eagles.

...Graham-Douglas turned out in the best Kalabari chieftaincy regalia and radiated in the best lights nature could offer, all matching his disarming smiles that thawed the streets of the Graclands Avenue in the GRA where the church service was held all the way to the Aztech Acrum on Stadium Road where the reception was hosted.

He went to Ministry of Aviation and introduced the deregulation that burst the limits and exploded in the bustling aviation industry Nigeria has today, starting with Abiola’s Concord Airlines.

He began as the highest indigenous staff of the Nigeria Refinery in Port Harcourt as the secretary of the company who midwifed the gradual takeover by Nigerians by proving it was possible.

He supplied the briefs to most military administrations that shaped the downstream sector of the oil industry such as equalisation strategy and subsidy policy with fuel as national security tool; even if some of those policies did not follow exactly how he suggested them, according to inside sources.

Alabo schooled both in Nigeria and overseas and met some of the best brains in the world on his life’s journey.

He has been a likeable and attractive person with his celebration of dignity and respect for divine principles anywhere he operated. Yet, he so gave in to tears and heartbreaks especially when he lost the dearest and closest brother that were deepest in his heart who was father

to him. It took close friends to save him from dying too.

He served on the board of several corporations in Rivers State and beyond and left initiatives that hold sway to this day. He is very creative and versatile and seems to have an answer to each Nigerian problem. He has many businesses spanning the construction to hospitality industries.

He worked closely with most military presidents and ministers and seems to know the best and worst attributes of both military and civilian regimes and how to get a good mix for Nigeria. That could explain why he very much sought to rule Nigeria and he thus was said to be the first aspirant to buy the PDP p resid ential form in 1998, only for him to rally round Olusegun Obasanjo who later emerged candidate to win the 1999 elections to install the PDP to control the FG. He has remained a member of the Board of Trustees of the PDP to this day, despite having tentacles everywhere else. He is reputed for his principles and spiritual attachment to deep matters.

The Alabo swore to break the yoke of Under-60 in the family and did it. He became, according to Briggs, a pillar in Abonnema Council of Chiefs and one of the most respected members of the chiefs in the land.

On achievements, Briggs said it would take a book to list them. A book has actually been written by the octogenarian that would soon burst to the national scene, probably to debunk fallacies, expose most myths, and strengthen records. It may provoke political thought especially where Nigeria and Rivers got it wrong and why party supremacy died. It may suggest a way forward for Nigeria and lessons that can only be analysed at such places like the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Administrative Studies (NIPPS).

Graham-Douglas thrills his close friends and relations each time he promises to live 20 more years now that he has broken the 60 years ceiling that tormented his family and has crossed the 80 years bar that many never see; maybe, to compensate his family. May the God Almighty grant him this singular wish!

The best of Rivers and Kalabari culture and many gospel orchestras turned out to make the day very memorable.

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Sunday 19 May 2019

Politics Why we are losing the democratic space in Nigeria, by Odumakin Yinka Odumakin is a Pro-democracy activist and publicity secretary of pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political group, Afenifere. In this exclusive interview with INIOBONG IWOK, he alleged that the lack of a vocal civil society in Nigeria in recent years is because most of them have become an appendage of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He also spoke on the 2019 general election, the presidential election tribunal, among other issues in the polity. Excerpts: There appears to be a dearth of civil society in Nigeria in recent times, or simply put, they are no more vocal; what has happened? t is because they are now close to the establishment who mobilised them to the APC project. When it started, a lot of them became spokesmen for APC, either as a regular analyst on TV or newspaper columnist.When they spoke, they were more for APC.That robbed the civil society much of its potency; because for them to speak against APC, it would be antiparty activity. So, this people did not want to damage the people they just joined force with.That is why many of them are courteous; they choose their words, when they are not mute, and even when they criticised the government, there are some clauses.

And the other side is the fact that you cannot compare the mood in this administration and the Jonathan government; Jonathan was a democrat, who you can abuse and go to bed without the fear of anybody coming after you, it is not the same like that today. There are people who have been in detention for four years without trial.

There are people who have got judgment from court for their release but the judgment was not obeyed by the government. The kind of muscles that have been displayed by this administration, there are some military regime that did not display such muscles.So, when you combine that, the civil society lost a sizeable number of members to the APC. When you look at the mood of the nation which is undemocratic, you would understand why there seem to be quietness among civil society movement in Nigeria.I remember in those days in 2012, when we staged the anti-fuel price protest, it was five days’ protest that touched Nigeria; but now- for a day, you can now mount a protest because government will send soldiers to shoot at you.At that time, due to the large crowd of people who came out for the protest, we the leaders were afraid that there could be a stampede, and if there was a stampede we would be in trouble.

Among the leaders, we decided that we should have a break; it was when we had a break and when we resumed back on Monday morning that Jonathan brought soldier to invade the place.

So clearly, we are losing the democratic space in Nigeria; all the gains that were made over the years in terms of enabling democratic environment have been defeated, and that is why we are here today.

We are getting to a stage where the

the civil society became an appendage of the ruling party, it became a problem.

Nigeria was not like this before, even under the late Sani Abacha; we had a strong and viable civil society that stood for years against Abacha.Under Babangida, we had a strong civil society.These were military regimes.The Southwest wing of the leadership of the APC brought the chunk of civil society in Nigeria into APC.So, for them to fight APC would be anti-party because they dissolved into APC.Most of the people who would have fronted the civil society have joined power.

Under the military, the line was drawn, but most of the people allied with certain elements in the APC and they collapsed and ones they had that collaboration, that is why they are where they are now.

I

Yinka Odumakin

government would execute people without trial; it can happen because of the things that they do and get away with them.

Does it mean democracy has not grown in Nigeria beyond conducting elections every four years?

Yes, democracy has not grown in Nigeria in anyway; in fact, we are far from where we were in 2015, when we had a semifree election.

An incumbent losing election and conceding defeat even before the result was announced. We went into the 2019 election without an electoral law; the president refused to sign. We are now seeing why he refused to sign; which is because of electronic transmission of result.The drama going on now tells it all, in 2015, we had an election where the APC went to court to challenge the use of soldiers for the election; but we saw how soldiers were used in Rivers State and some other states across the country, so many people lost their lives.

There was a report recently in the foreign media that indicates that the country has gone down in all indices of governance; we have not been able to build on what we have had before.

But it seems the civil society thrives more in only one part of the country than the other?

That is because we had early exposure to education in the Southwest region

and we had strong institutions, viable media; we are far ahead of other regions.

We heard the president say recently that the Southwest region was the easiest for them to woo in 2014 because of their organisation.

So, what happened was that they wooed politicians in the Southwest; they also wooed their civil society partners and that did a lot of damage to the independence of civil society.The moment

If you are a President, you are not an agitator. You can do it if truly you want it. If he says; I would send a bill to the National Assembly, I will set up a committee, and we will know he is serious, but he has done nothing

Was the outcome of the general election what you expected?

We saw the state of the country months to the general election; there is no reason for the incumbent to win the presidential election.

There was widespread insecurity, hardship; life was becoming unbearable for the people. So, when you say the same people voted for the same President I am surprised.It is to say that the will of the people was not allowed to prevail.In other part of the country, like in the South where there was some level of freedom, the will of the people prevailed; look at the result of the election.

But look at the result in other places, like the North, it shows that the election would not have passed international best practice for an election. So, the election was not a reflection of the mood of the people.

Ayo Adebanjo said recently he would not recognise President Muhammadu Buhari administration beyond May 29; how do you react?

Of course, he has a democratic right to his views, and I heard some people say that he should be arrested. Adebanjo also answered them; saying they should come and arrest him, but they have not done that.

Atiku Abubakar is in court to challenge the presidential election result. Do you think it is necessary?

Well, a lot of things have happened in the last few months that have made the spirit of Nigerians very low about the judiciary interms of the attempt by the executives to muscle the judiciary.The raid on the homes of some judges was deliberate and it started with the night raid.You saw what happened, the CJN was also

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Politics brought down; we had the judgment of the Court of Appeal some days ago, that what the Code of Conduct Tribunal did was wrong. Sometime ago, a prominent lawyer lost his temper in Court with a judge, he said; it seemed the judge had a prepared judgement from home, because it is not what happened in Court that he was quoting. At some point, he was quoting Quran, clearly the judiciary may have been cowed.

There is also the controversy that the President of the Court of Appeal should not preside over the presidential election tribunal since her husband is a Senator-elect under the ruling party?

I think it would be honourable for her to step down since her husband is a Senator-elect under the APC. Some cloud is hanging, if she must be above board the right thing is to step down. If the panel ruled against Atiku there would be insinuations. I think for the sanctity of the judiciary she should excuse herself and allow independent people to do the job. It is not here alone; it is about the whole process. We should care about the whole institution and the Court. But we cannot comment on the case because it is already at the tribunal.

What is happening in Afenifere; there is a faction led by Ayo Fasanmi now?

I think it is wrong to say that Ayo Fasanmi group is a faction of Afenifere; that is not true. They are just an election group put together by Bola Tinubu. In all the issues that affect Yoruba nation, have you heard them talk?

When there was problem in Ife and all the Obas were arrested and locked up in Abuja, when the herdsmen where killing people, did you hear their voice? Election came they gathered themselves and said they were Afenifere faction, the media shockingly called them so. That was the lowest point in the media; which faction?

It is just Tinubu fans’ club who are Buhari supporters.

Why did you leave Afenifere Renewal Group?

We were at Ibadan for a meeting; when the meeting was about to start thenthere was crisis between the leaders of Afenifere; so me and Wale Oshun, Agbaje, and a few others came together and said since the elders are not agreeing we can bring the two group of elders together.

Along the line, some other people like Femi Ojudu joined us, quite a number of people.We then decided that we should have a retreat to bring them together, we were then calling ourselves Yoruba Retreat Group;so, we had retreat in Ibadan at IITA and we invited the elders.I remember that on the last day of the retreat we had BisiAkande representing the governors and Ayo Adebanjo was there.

When we started, everything went well, until an elder in his speech said; young people remember that no matter the number of nice dresses you have, it cannot rival rags of elders.

Meaning that since the elder is older and has much experience he would have many rags. He was also trying to say that experience is vital and better.

Then BisiAkande stood up and said; you young men, it is this nice cloth you are wearing that I want.

There was a brawl after that comment and the retreat ended on a sad note.

When we came to Lagos after the retreat, we asked ourselves, what should we do now?We were not happy that our leaders have not taken the opportunity to settle their differences.

We then said what are you talking about here; among us there are people who are over 50 and 60 years old; Awolowo did all he did before he was 50 years and we said what are we waiting for?

If our leaders are not ready we should move on, when they see that we are moving on they would know that they should forget their fight, and I remember it was Agbaje that asked, are we ready for this?

Femi Ojudureplied, what do you mean by being ready?

Another person said being ready means that we should be ready to severe our unbiblical cords.

Then we said we are ready, and set out, and we said why do we call ourselvesRetreat Group, we should call it Afenifere Renewal Group to send a message to our leaders that the young ones are coming to take things up.

And I remember immediately when we set out, the immediate response was that this is a Tinubu group, this was in 2008/2009, and we told them no;Tinubu had nothing to do with this; we are independent.

I had to put all my integrity on the line.

So, when Agbaje said we had severed our unbiblical cord I thought we had done that.

That was the time KayodeFayemi was contesting for election in EkitiState and we went to support him. We were in Ekiti State; at that time Tinubu had rebuiltFajuyiHouse and was there to commission that house that same day.I just opened the Nation newspaper and saw an advert in the name of Afenifere Renewal Group; that we thank our leader Bola Tinubu for rebuilding FajuyiHouse.

I called the head of the group, Wale Oshun and asked him, who put this advert?

He responded that he was not aware, and told me to calm down that when we get back to Lagos he would find out who did it, and I kept my cool and stayed back.

We started the meeting, but from the beginning to the end, the issue was not in the agenda and I walked out of the meeting quietly till this morning.

I realised it was a deception; beyond that, I don’t do that; I take cautious decision.If am with you, you would know.

Although the agitation forrestructuring isstill loud, it appears the President is not favourable disposed to it; what is the next step towards realising it?

Well, you see that when the President said recently that we need a true federalism, he was not sincere. If you are a President, you are not an agitator. You can do it if truly you want it. If he says; I would send a bill to the National Assembly, I will set up a committee, and we will know he is serious, but he has done nothing.He is saying now he would have swearing in on May 29 and celebrate the real democracy day on June 12, then you know there is no sincerity.In 2014, when the APC brought their manifesto, they said they would do something about restructuring when they came to power. But that is no longer on their card.

9th Assembly: Contenders use unconventional means to woo senators-elect ... As PDP senator-elect adopts Lawan OWEDE AGBAJILEKE, Abuja

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s the contest for the positions of Presiding Officers in the Ninth Assembly draws closer, lawmakers-elect are beginning to switch alliances.

This comes as contenders have adopted unconventional means in wooing their colleagues to vote for them.

BDSUNDAY observed that unlike in previous contests where aspirants lobby mainly lawmakers or the leadership of their political parties, campaign for the leadership seats in the incoming Assembly has taken the form of a general election.

These include: visits of contenders to headquarters of media organisations, use of campaign posters and banners in various locations in Abuja, using protesters to drum up support for them, campaigning through social media as well as placing advertisements in both traditional and online media platforms.

Checks by BDSUNDAY revealed that the two of the top contenders Ahmad Lawan and Ali Ndume, operate separate Facebook pages where they drum up support on a daily basis.

Feelers from both camps also revealed that the two major contenders may have concluded their media tours in Abuja and are set to hit the headquarters of media houses in Lagos anytime from now.

Meanwhile, the contest assumed another dimension last week when a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) senator-elect, Abba Moro, endorsed Lawan as Senate President.

Speaking at an Iftar (Muslim Breaking of fast) organised for senators in Abuja last week, former Minister of Interior and PDP chieftain, Abba Moro, promised to woo more PDP senators-elect to Lawan’s camp.

“We will continue to meet until we realise the dream that all of us are committed to. I want to say that it is not over until it is over. For those of you who have been older in the Senate, you do know that in line with the dynamics of our system, this exercise, if people will want to continue to grandstand, we will go down to the wire. That means that all of us must work very hard to make sure that we elect our Senate President.

“I think that if all of us here and a few others that are still outside pick one friend or two to bring in to this meeting, there is no reason why we shouldn’t deliver. The job of our candidate is to accept to stand, the job of the rest of us is to ensure that we deliver. That is what me and my friends are committed to”, he said.

Other senators-elect at the event included: Remi Tinubu, wife of the former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu; Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Abdulfatai Buhari, Robert Boroffice, Barau Jibrin, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, Abdullahi Adamu, Francis Alimikhena, Ahmed Babba-Kaita, Dayo Adeyeye, Tijjani Kaura, Abdullahi Gumel, Adamu Bulkachuwa, Ovie OmoAgege, Ifeanyi Ubah among others.

Lawan

On his part, Lawan disclosed that he will soon release his Legislative Agenda.

The Agenda, he noted, will contain the direction of the Ninth Senate if he emerges as Senate President.

He, however, added that he will send the draft to individual senators-elect for their input before the document is unveiled to the public.

He commended his colleagues for their sacrifice and dedication in identifying with his cause, assuring that everybody would be carried along.

“I am overwhelmed by the presence of everybody here. We went through this process before in 2015. And those of us who were there then knew the kind of sacrifice, commitments, dedication that everybody gave. But it was the will of God that it will not be and it was never.

But we thank God for His blessings. We are still around and believing completely in His decision not to leave us at that time.

“Our colleagues here, everybody has shown commitment. We are seeking the face of God, His blessings, His mercies in this enterprise once again. We are human beings. We can only see the physical.

From the physical, we can see there is a lot of success in what we are doing. The other thing that we don’t know is what God has kept to Himself. So, we will continue to pray for God’s intervention in this matter. And let me say that this is something that I personally feel that I have obligation to each and everyone here. And in fact, even those who are not with us at this time of effort to get to that office but of course, this is our campaign.

“In an enterprise like this, someone will start something but nobody here is a joiner. Everybody is part and parcel of the campaign team. What we referred to as campaign team was the initial take-off. But everyone should continue to give his commitment and whether we call meetings or have some interactions elsewhere, it is important that everybody plays that part. And that is the campaign team. It doesn’t mean that we one, two, three people who are in the campaign team and every other person is not. It is completely for all of us. And I pray that God Almighty in this very Holy Month will continue to guide us, bless us and put us on the cause that will make us realise this mission and show us the path when challenges confront us. I believe that together we can achieve a lot, not only for the National Assembly but for this country,” he said.

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Politics Gbajabiamila’s choice of Wase as deputy twists Reps Speakership race ...Bago, Dyegh build alliance James Kwen, Abuja

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he adoption of Ahmed Wase by Femi Gbajabiamila as his running mate for the office of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives has brought twist in the race for the Leadership of the 9th Assembly.

Gbajabiamila is the House Majority Leader and has been adopted by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC for the office of the Speaker and Wase is the Deputy Majority Leader and was also in the contest for Speakership.

While Gbajabiamila was adopted by the APC, there are no traces to the party’s selection of Wase for the office of Deputy Speaker though it had zoned the position to the North Central; hence this is purely an arrangement by the present Majority Leader and his Deputy.

This political marriage of convenience has barred other contenders from the North-central and South-east whom many political observers believed were in the race for Speakership to cling the Deputy at the end of the day.

Not resting on their oars, some of the aspirants, particularly Mohammed Bago and John Dyegh have building alliance to forge a common front to fight Gbajabiamila and now Wase.

The upsurge in the alliance strategy followed the adoption or anointing of Gbajabiamila as the candidate for the Speakership slot by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC against the wishes of other aspirants.

Shortly after the February/ March general elections that produced the present House of Representatives Memberselect, there emerged 15 contenders to the Speakership Seat including: Abdulrahman Sumaila( Kano), Ahmed Wase (Plateau) Mohamad Monguno (Borno), Olusegun Odebunmi (Oyo), Abdulrazak Namdas (Adamawa), Khajidat Bukar-Ibrahim (Yobe), Yakub Buba (Adamawa), Alhasan Doguwa (Kano), Umar Bago (Niger), Babangida Ibrahim-Mahuta (Katsina), Nkiruka Onyejeocha (Abia), Suleiman Aminu (Kano), Abubakar Lado (Niger) and Muhammed Kazaure (Jigawa) as well as John Dyegh(APC).

However, sequel to the adoption of Gbajabiamila from Lagos (South-West), most of the contenders quietly end their aspirations except Bago from Niger (North-central), Dyegh from Benue (North-central) and Nkieruka Onyejeocha from Abia (South-east) while Chike Okafor

Femi Gbajabiamila

from Imo (South-east) recently joined the race.

Now, the number of aspirants for House Speaker has been trimmed to five out of the initial 15 and the 2015 ugly experience of APC in which the party adopted the same Gbajabiamila but was defeated by Yakubu Dogara following infiltration of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP is still eminent.

Consequently, alliance is the option left and Gbajabiamila acting on the zoning of the Deputy Speaker position to the Northcentral picked Ease from the zone who earlier contested for the position.

Abdulmumin Jibril (APC, Kano), Director- General of Gbajabiamila Speakership Campaign Organisation while announcing the arrangement, “Wase is going to run as the Deputy Speaker. We are going to vote and by the grace of God elect Femi as Speaker and we are going to elect Wase as Deputy Speaker. I hope this clarification and this categorical statement will bring that matter to rest and it is not a single decision.

“It is a decision that involves an extensive consultations. We talked to ourselves, consulted with our elders, with our leaders and consulted extensively with Members that are going to constitute the 9th Assembly and we arrived at that position that we are putting forward Femi and Wase as our team”.

Prior to disclosure by Gbajabiamila group was learnt Dyegh had visited Bago at his campaign office in Abuja and worked out plan for a joint struggle for the recognition of North-Central by the APC in the sharing of leadership positions.

Confirming that, he had agreed to work with his co-aspirant to fight Gbajabiamila at the speakership poll Bago said, “he (Dyegh) came to us, to identify with our cause and that he also believes in the North-Central speakership project. Therefore, he wants us to form an alliance so that we can foster the aspiration of the NorthCentral. If we are able to achieve that, then we will choose among ourselves one person that will go for the position.

“I started this issue of equity, justice and fairness, and all of them have lent their voices to my struggle because it is a collective one.

Is it the decision of the National Executive Committee or National Working Committee. Who decided; who and who sat? We need the minutes of the meeting that decided that they would endorse people. You can micromanage the situation to say, ‘take it to this zone or that zone’, you cannot microzone to an individual. It shows desperation of an aspiration.

“The ‘coup de’tat’ that brought the APC to government was orchestrated in the National Assembly, particularly in the House of Representatives and (the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola) Tinubu, from outside, was part of the coup de’tat.

He provided the tools that were used and the awareness of members. Because we understand his ways, we are very wary of what he wants to do”.

Also confirming the meeting and the planned alliance with Bago, Dyegh said, “it was a solidarity meeting so that the speakership will come to the NorthCentral. Bago is not my enemy; he is my friend. My visiting him was in solidarity, to show to the world

that this thing that we are doing is in friendship and it must come to the North-Central. We must work together and make sure that it comes to the zone.

“We feel it is ours; any other persons doing it are just trying their luck. It is not over until it is over. We still think there is room for negotiation. We still feel very strongly that the party made a mistake by taking it to the SouthWest which already has the VicePresident.

“If they are taking the speakership to the South-West, they should take the Senate presidency to the North-West. If you are giving the Vice-President, the Speaker; give the President, the Senate President to balance it.

“Nigeria belongs to all of us; it does not belong to individuals.

The North-Central has worked for the unity of this country for the APC and the government of the day, particularly President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election.

“Why would they think that our votes don’t matter? We brought the third largest votes over and above the South-West.

So, why would they take what rightly belongs to us and give it to the South-West which already has the Vice-President? These are the points we are raising”.

The Bago and Dyegh alliance may not end like that of Gbajabiamila and Wase because they are both from North-central, there is likelihood of one stepping down for another and when this is done it would sail more than the former.

Perhaps, there is no visible alliance so far between Onyejeocha and Chike, the two aspirants from the South-east but one thing that is crystal clear is the conspiracy against Gbajabiamila, the APC preferred candidate for the House Speaker.

For instance, Onyejeocha while declaring for Speakership asked the party to rescind its zoning decision to South West and called on Gbajabiamila, the anointed candidate o withdraw from the race.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, Onyejeocha asked the party to rescind its zoning decision to South West and called on Gbajabiamila, the anointed candidate o withdraw from the race.

“I am appealing to them that it is not yet late to rescind their decision to include a woman to clip the two geopolitical zones that were left out ab initio. Also the leader of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, there is time in somebody’s life that any leader should make sacrifice and that time is now for the leader of my party, and the leader of the 8th Assembly”.

Similarly, Okafor had told APC

to sacrifice Gbajabiamila, national unity. “The party should be able to sacrifice merit and competence to be able to accommodate social justice, fairness, to embrace unity.

“The party will also find competence and merit in other people who are also aspiring. We are not saying sacrifice merit and competence and go and pick a neophyte or go and pick a non-ranking member. No. That is not what we are saying and I will not stand here because of my ambition and not allude to fact that the party’s choice is ably qualified.

“But you and I are saying and the whole country is saying that there are other things that should be considered. We have the Vice President sitting in that place.

Why? Is it is that you no longer can find any competent person with merit that can occupy the position that is why you want to say the whole of the South-east, you can go to hail and stay there, North-central go to hail and stay there. That is what we are saying.

The party should consider that”.

Meanwhile, there are permutations that the ongoing negotiations for a consensus candidate in the North-central are in favour of Bago who unlike his counterpart Dyegh has the bagging of his home state, Niger and the Governor of his State, Abubakar Bello who lobbying other governors and APC chieftains to support Bago.

Bello had told members -elect during their induction that, “going by our own record since 2015 to 2019, when you check the record, Niger State is about rated 6th in times of performance when it comes to deliver for APC in presidential elections.

“This particular position of speakership is not in contest and it is not a miscalculation when you check the record since 2015, we have a zoning pattern. The essence of zoning is to reduce tension and allow other regions to benefit.

“The people of Niger state, we are appealing to all the memberselect that this particular position should come to North Central, and to Niger state.

“We as a government will do everything humanly possible, both in morale support and otherwise, to ensure this position come to Niger state”.

Pundits are of the view that Bago represents the typical progressive breed of politicians in the lower Chamber of the Legislature, is popular among his colleagues across the political divide and the main opposition PDP would be eager to work with him considering his open and independent mindedness.

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African Energy Chamber will become entry door to Angola’s oil & gas sector – Pugliese Sergio Pugliese, a successful entrepreneur and oil executive, is the president, African Energy Chamber (AEC) for Angola. He is enthused about recent developments and future direction of his country’s energy sector. Angola is ranked second largest oil producing country in Sub-Saharan Africa and an OPEC member with output of approximately 1.55 million barrels of oil per day and an estimated 17,904.5 million cubic feet of natural gas production.Production levels in Angola are expected to soar by 2020 following the country’s restructuring,including the reorganisation of the state oil company,Sonangol. Pugliese spoke to AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE on the Angola’s progress in oil and gas, the forth-coming conference, among other issues. Excerpts:

T

he rapid change and reform in Angola’s oil sector since the 2017 election has caught the attention of many. Will this enhance Angola’s work towards attracting more investment into local content development?

Investment into local content development needs to be channeled and supported by strong regulations. As more foreign investors get into the market, the country is currently working on a new regulatory framework to promote the development of the Angolan content and build domestic capacities.

At the moment, several pieces of legislations touch on local content and there is a definitive need to make our local content framework more efficient and competitive. A draft presidential decree on local content has been in the works this year and is expected for release and public consultation this month. The oil industry is looking forward to the Angola oil and gas conference orgarnised by Africa Oil and Power in Luanda from June 2nd to 4th.

The President is going to unveil the government’s oil and gas agenda.

As the largest oil lobby in Africa, we will be working closely with the government and the oil industry on this. The oil industry and Angola needs a champion and we will be that champion.

There was an announcement this year by the Angolan government that it will create a regulatory body for the hydrocarbons sector.

What do you expect this move to encourage within the Angolan oil and gas sector?

The creation of the new Angola National Petroleum and Gas Agency (ANPG), officially launched through Presidential Decree 49/19 in February 2019, is one of the most significant reforms since 2017. Its pioneer Chairman is none other than the experienced oil and gas executive and former Secretary of State, Paulino Jeronimo, who has earned a very good reputation within the industry. following an impressive track record stretching over many decades.

More importantly, it will be acting as Angola’s national concessionaire for hydrocarbon licenses and be in charge of regulating the industry andimplementinggovernmentpolicy. The creation of the agency is part of Angola’s efforts to streamline and overhaul the governance of its hydrocarbons sector. Up until now, state-owned Sonangol was responsible for such licensing activities.

Setting up the ANPG puts Angola at par with best oil and gas industry practices, and is a positive move to promote good governance and transparency within the Angolan industry. We expect foreign inves-

Sergio Pugliese

tors and operators to respond very positively to this measure.

What strategies does Angola have to further encourage the financing of expansion of SMEs in its petroleum sector?

The government of Angola currently runs a number of programmes, some of them, jointly funded with multilateral organisations which offer soft loans to SMEs in all sectors of the economy.

These loans are accessible via stateowned banks but have especially, since the 2014 financial crisis stringent criteria for access attached to them. The Africa Energy Chamber continues to advocate for such loans to be made available to local entrepreneurs who are likely to employmorepeopleingood-paying jobs whenever they have access to the right kind of financing. In the near future, I will lead a delegation to Europe, America and other African countries to see what they have done right and will build more coalitions to help the Angolan sector.

Are there any specific local content projects that Angola will be highlighting?

I think the current approach by the Angolan government to encourage and strengthen local companies via tools such as offering them soft loans, rather than legislate them into

projects is the best way of building local companies in a competitive manner. That is, they are more likely to be capable of competing with internationally active companies and hence, ensuring their survival in the long-term.

What in your view are the common challenges in implementing strong local content policies in the oil and gas sector?

Some of the common challenges include the absence of capital, technologyanddeepindustryknow-how for local companies to carry out the high-paying services in the industry.

This eventually leads to local content being relegated to low-paying and low jobs that do not in the long run help develop the kind of capacity needed to run the industry in the future with reduced dependence on foreign staff or capital.

What is the importance of working with local companies across the value chain?

Local companies are the ones that support the local economy and create the most jobs. Engaging, partnering and working with them promote technology, skills and know-how transfers. It is also beneficial for robust national employment growth. More importantly, for business perhaps, local companies are the ones with the deepest and

most relevant knowledge of the local market environment, its dynamics and the way to do business.

Setting up a joint-venture with a local company or partnering with them has proven a very sustainable and profitable business strategy for many foreign investors. The Chamber will be pushing for more joint ventures and encourage a lot of technology and skill transfer. Local companies have to also do their best to meet the industry demands and standards.

How can this strengthen capacities and transfer know-how and increase local capability?

Exposing local companies to best internationalpractices,beitonanoperational or managerial level, is very beneficial. National oil companies have grown a lot this way, by having stakes in licenses operated by internationaloilcompanies,andacquiring de facto the technology, know-how and practices that they now use to operate their own blocks. This move wouldn’t have been made possible without their prior association with major IOCs and international oilfield services providers. The same thinking applies to engineering, procurement and construction, manufacturing and the overall value chain. Equatorial Guinea’s Minister Gabriel Obiang Lima has been very vocal about this and we will work with the Angolan oil sector to ensure this happens.

Given the highly technical and technological demands of the oil and gas industry, is the Angolan workforce ready to accommodate the growth of a local E&P industry?

Yes, certainly so. Similar to Nigeria’s experience, where the government created the right kind of enabling environment to spur the growth of local E&P companies, Angolan companies can do the same if provided the same opportunities.

Nigeria can now boast of names like Oando, Sahara, Aiteo, Shoreline, Atlas Oranto and Seplat, amongst others which are now respected brands in the region. Angolan banks have to develop capacity in terms of understanding E&P, be willing to lend to local players at reasonable rates and the government has to encourage joint ventures between Local and international companies.

The Africa Energy Chamber strongly advocates for such measures to be taken.

What, in your view, is the most pressing problem for Angola’s energy sector?

Angola desperately needs more exploration, including in marginal fields to stem the declining oil production. This is currently being addressed by the government which set up a technical committee that includes IOCs and government stakeholders to discuss existing hindrances to investment in the

sector. This committee is already bearing fruit with Total announcing that it will invest hundreds of millions into Angola, including towards the increasing of production in block 17. The government also set up an independent Petroleum and Gas agency which is tasked with action as a regulator in the industry and implementing government policy in the sector. The agency has already announced that it will carry out an auction for block licenses this year in an attempt to spur exploration in Angola.

Where do you see the greatest potential for Angola’s Oil and Gas sector in the future?

There is potential across the value-chain. In upstream, our production has been decreasing for over a decade due to a lack of investment, especially in exploration.

We are seeing the trend reversing now with several investment commitments from operators in the market. More importantly perhaps, the rest of our value chain remains under-developed. Our midstream and downstream infrastructure needs billions of investment to connect existing and future fields to consumption centres, and to build the refineries, power plants, petrochemical plants and fertilizer plans who will be processing our future output of oil and gas.

What are your thought on what is considered an urgent need to develop a gas economy in order to fuel future electricity, enable renewables and support industrial development for the benefit of Angolans?

The major pillar that was needed to build our gas economy was the regulatory one, which has been passed last year. Presidential Decree No. 7/18 is the first law aimed at specifically regulating the prospection, research, evaluation, development, production and sale of natural gas in Angola. To date, only the Angola LNG Project had benefited from a special legal and tax framework. Before the passing of PD 7/18, the exploration and production of natural gas in Angola was subject to very broad principles only. These notably included making associated natural gas surplus available for free to Sonangol, and the possibility for oil companies to jointly-develop non-associated natural gas with Sonangol, with terms defined on a case-by-case basis. Sonangol was free to develop the non-associated gas discoveries on its own shall no agreement be reached with the oil company. Under PD 7/18, both Sonangol and oil companies have the rights to prospect, research, evaluate, develop, produce and sell natural gas in the international and domestic markets.

Continutes on businessdayline

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Sunday 19 May 2019

SundayInterview

I’ve invested no hope in what PDP is going to do in Adamawa – Birma Dauda Birma Dauda, a former minister of education in the Abacha regime, who also is a two-time presidential aspirant, has said that Nigerians must appreciate security agents who hazard their lives in the fight against various forms of insurgencies in the country rather than speak ill of them. He also spoke to ZEBULON AGOMUO, Editor, on his expectations from President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term, the development in Kano, and that he has no high hopes on whatever the incoming administration in his home state of Adamawa would do since he is not a member of the party (PDP) that won the governorship election there. Excerpts: What are your expectations from the newly elected governor in your state from May 29? o be quite honest with you; the party that won in my state is the PDP, which is going to form a new government in my state. I am a member of the APC; I have worked for it; I have put a lot into it and I did not expect APC was going to lose; it has lost; I have not invested any hope in what the PDP is going to do; therefore; really; it would be very early for me to say this is what I expect they will do; or they will not do.

What I believe I should do is to cross my fingers and wait; when they are inaugurated– I know who the elected governor is, then I will know who the crew members are. Eventually, when the crew members emerge; and I see the people they put in; I will then draw my conclusions. But again, you should know that they are people from Adamawa State, they are not from the outer space. And since I have been in politics for a very long time, there is virtually no old hand that I do not know. May be, there would be some new hands that I do not know; so, by showing up of the old hands, I would be able to say, ‘O, this is what I think would happen and this is what I expect’. But for now, since I am not a member of their party; since I am not an elder in that party; it will be too hasty to say this is what I expect they will do or what I expect they will not do. At any rate, they come from Adamawa and they must be people who are socialised into Adamawa politics. I hope they will do well and I wish them all the best.

Kano which is now Jigawa, is no longer part of Kano. And Jigawa has about four to five first class emirs. So, if the people of Kano now say that this is what they want; I come from Adamawa; what right do I now have to pontificate to the people of Kano on what they should do? I know I schooled in Kano between 1962 and 1963 when I went to do my HSC (higher secondary certificate); but the people of Kano have chosen what they want. They have a House of Assembly; they went to the House of Assembly and they decided; it is wrong for me sitting in Adamawa to say that what people have done in Kano is right or wrong. It is their choice. All we need to do now is to watch out and see if their choice is wise choice and may God bless the choice they have taken. If it is reversed, that is the system; if it fails that is the system. You know the government in Kano is an APC government and I am an APC member. It is not for me to stay in Adamawa and condemn what the APC government has done in Kano. It is my party; all I can do is to wish them well.

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As a member of the APC, and also a friend of the President; what are your expectations from his second term in office beginning from May 29?

At the federal level, I know Buhari has won, he will be sworn in on the 29th of May. From the time I met Buhari when we contested in 2003 and when we contested in 2007 I have always been with him. I worked and voted for him the last election. I do not know what his mindset is. Mark you, from the time he became President on 29th of May 2015, I met him only once and I met him at the airport. We have not met anywhere; we have not socialised anywhere.

Nigeria is my only country and I hope the best emerges for Nigeria and whatever were the constraints the last time, he would overcome them. Good a thing; some of these constraints have been removed. I believe he is not going to have a hostile Senate; I believe the House of Representatives will be reflective of the views of the APC. Since it is my party; I hope he is going to do very well and I wish the best is going to come out of it this time around.

Birma Dauda

You are talking about his people, meaning those he will choose to work with.

Have you ever considered offering yourself to work with him in any capacity?

No, no, no. You know, once elected, it is now left for the President to choose who to work with or who not work with; he has not invited me, I will not go and barge in to say I want to do this, I want to do that! This is because from my point of view now; any involvement in government will be helping the government and I do not believe that I will go and beg to be invited. If they invite me, I will go, but if they do not invite me; I will not go and offer myself. That’s my stand on this.

The insecurity across the country is giving many people, including the government of the day, a serious concern. How worried are you about this dangerous development?

The level of insecurity is alarming; not only there is armed robbery; there is kidnapping and there is insurgency all over the place. We don’t want to cast aspersion on any group of people; but I think collectively we must work towards bringing back harmony into Nigeria. Political and ethnic actors have failed the system. I believe people should know that you can start a fire thinking it is going to consume somebody else; if you don’t take time, it is likely to consume you. So, people who are fueling these fires should know that they can be the ultimate victims of the fires they are fueling. So, I think people should come to their senses and all of us should come together towards dousing this fire, otherwise, it will consume us individually and collectively. But we must all work towards making sure it does not do that.

How satisfied are you with the efforts being put in by relevant security agencies at arresting the ugly situation?

To be quite honest, they are doing quite much more than they are called to do.

Mark you; we have a pre-colonial mentality, in that, we don’t have enough police; we don’t have enough soldiers. Our soldiers are now called to do police duties, which is very, very strange and we still think they are magicians. They are not magicians; they are human beings like you and me. They have their wives; they have their children and they have their parents and we deploy them into most difficult places; we ask them to put their lives on the line and in the process of putting their lives on the line, we do not show them enough appreciation which is unfortunate. They are deployed on the field and they are putting their lives on the line and what we are expected to do is to appreciate them, not to denigrate them; not to tell them that they are not doing enough.

If you see the condition under which they work; you will pity them. They put their lives for our sake and the least we should do is to appreciate them; keep on saying the right things to them so that the line of duty they have chosen, they will at least be comfortable. We should not condemn them and we should not go about saying nasty things about them. They are doing their best.

What is your take on the development in Kano?

See, life is evolutionary. When I grew up, I saw there was only one emir in Kano, and in various places. But the society is moving and changing. Today, part of

The economic situation of the country seems not favourable to many Nigerians at the moment. There are cries and complaints all over the place. What is your take on this?

I am hoping that the economy will improve. Mark you; I am from rural area in Adamawa State. I noticed that more people have gone to the farm than they used to do. More people are farming tomatoes; potatoes, rice and maize; and they are getting more money as a result of their involvement in the field. Before, we in the rural areas behaved very irresponsibly in that we have got fertile land, congenial climate, water but we preferred not to farm. We preferred to fold our hands and wait for people from Thailand; Vietnam and Japan to produce rice and we then buy the rice and eat.

Now, generally speaking, we are eating rice which we grow; we are eating corn which we grow. Therefore, some of the problems we see today have to do with some people who are accustomed to importation; who rely on imported food materials. Today, I see a lot of agricultural activities around me and I hope all over the place, people will imbibe agriculture, because God has given every single state land. If you are talking about the north; you should also talk of Ebonyi, Cross River, Akwa Ibom. These are all places which are endowed with land, water and congenial climate. What I think is, if there is a change in the government from the economic point of view; we should embrace the direction of the government, engage in productive labour and engage in honest labour so that we do not involve ourselves in dubious businesses. If we are patient, in the next two or three years, we should be out of the woods.

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SundayInterview

Nigeria is moving rapidly towards disintegration – Guy Ikokwu Guy Ikokwu, a Second Republic politician and a member of the Ime-Obi (inner caucus) of the apex Igbo sociocultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in this interview with ZEBULON AGOMUO, Editor, expressed worries over the worsening insecurity in the country, the 2019 general election, among other issues of national interest. Excerpts: How would you react to the current state of the nation, in terms of the wave of insecurity? ell, the nation is very divisive at the moment; and the nation is not secured; insecurity in the nation pervades the whole country from north to the south.

There are so many killings in all parts of Nigeria as has never been seen before in the history of this country; apart from the civil war. There is monumental corruption in Nigeria unheard of before and you know, corruption was one of the indices that brought about the first military coup of the Yorubas and the Igbos. It was not an Igbo coup; it was Nigerian coup of young Majors. And it has not abated for 50 years; and the Nigerian nation has deteriorated so much that we have become a laughing stock of all nations. For the first time, we have become the poverty headquarters of the whole world. We have overtaken India. And for the first time, with the level of insecurity that we have; we can no longer pretend about the killings, the kidnappings and the herdsmen who have now been militarised. Never before in the history of Nigeria have herdsmen who keep goats, pigs and cattle or sheep become militarised and begin to kill at random. These are matters which our children cannot understand; because Nigeria has now gone down to the lowest ebb of educational qualifications.

But without good education no nation can rise; sociologically or otherwise; institutionally or culturally. The tourism potentials which Nigeria has such that if we did not have such divisive tendencies and insecurity; tourism alone would have been contributing up to 30 percent of our GDP like you have in other countries like the Middle East and Asia. Look at the Middle East countries like the United Arab Emirate (UAE), who came to Nigeria to learn about our federalism and they used it to create their own federal structure.

They used to come to Nigeria for medical tourism and for other forms of tourism – leisure, etc, but now, we go to Dubai to buy; to rent houses. We have become the laughing stock of nations; and if you read what President Trump wrote recently about black people, and particularise it to Nigeria, I am sure you must have seen it before. If you download it and carefully read it; it is part of my simple answer to some of these issues. Whether you love or hate Trump, what he said in that article about the black people and Nigeria have made us the laughing stock of the whole world; because in essence, he said that if we can do the right things for our people, we have such potentials that we will be one of the richest countries on earth. But instead, other people come and plunder our country and go away and we can do nothing to them. This is just my take. Today, Nigeria is just moving rapidly towards disintegration. Let me say this. Nigeria is still in economic recession. Anybody who says we are out of recession is deceiving himself.

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Guy Ikokwu

The 2019 general election is over. In your assessment of the exercise; how would you rate INEC? The issue is still at the tribunal; election tribunal, which several participants have filed their complaints. So, the matter has become what is called subjudice. Buhari and APC are one of the parties at the tribunal, which is a judicious matter. And no party who is in a judicial matter can take an act which takes him out of a judicial purview. So, there is no reason why Buhari will swear himself in, personally or by the armed forces or by some renegade judicial authorities while his case has not been decided at the tribunal. It is only the tribunal that can say that he was properly elected; therefore, he should be sworn in, but not before the tribunal has done its work. The whole world is watching us. You think they don’t know; of course they know. If you believe in the rule of law; why would you go and swear yourself in when you have an issue in the court? It is as simple as that. If you don’t believe in the rule of law it means you believe in arbitrariness.

And arbitrariness has led a lot of countries in the world to their doom. They have broken into pieces. Are we going to be an exception to historical facts? These are the issues.

Some people believe that the Igbo nation has been unfairly treated for so long. Are you one of those who hold this view?

I am not the one to give an answer to that.

What I would say rather is that all Igbos in Eastern area of the nation must sit at home on 30th of May as a day of observance; as a day of meditation; not a day when they

go out harassing anybody. And anybody coming into your house when you are not hurting anybody; you are meditating and start harming you; is like somebody who came into a church or a mosque and start shooting and killing people who are not bearing arms but meditating and praying for their future; and praying for God’s mercy and sins they may have committed. So, personally, I am calling on all Igbos within our own area of jurisdiction; Igbos in Lagos or Igbos in Kano cannot detect to the people in South East what should be done whether it should be a public holiday or this or that. But if they are civil servants, they must obey the government of the places where they are. But if they are not civil servants, then they are free to do whatever they like in their own houses and apartments. They are not going to injure anybody, alright? That is the rule of law.

The presidency said the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term in office will take place low-key on May 29, but that on June 12, there would be an elaborate celebration.

Some people read political meaning in this; what’s your take?

The majority of the Yorubas are not deceived about it. And those who voted on June 12 knew why they voted and their votes have not been counted. The results of that election have not been gazetted or published by the Federal Government.

We are just making ourselves a laughing stock. The world is laughing at us. Look at South Africa; they have just perfected their own election; they have just concluded the election; it was electronically

done and there were no petitions and they were not even killing themselves. Within two days, the results were out. But here in Nigeria, you don’t know what was counted manually; you don’t know what was uploaded electronically. There are all kinds of vagaries and rubbles.

You have one million petitions at the election tribunal. Nigeria has received more petitions from this last election than any other one before; which shows gross abuses. External would is laughing at us; as the biggest nation in Africa. Mind you, one out of every five black person in the world is a Nigerian. You can’t conduct a free and fair election. It doesn’t matter who wins or who loses. If it is free and fair, there would be no election petitions; unless very, very few and minor cases; and people would congratulate themselves – winners or losers. This message should actually be sent around. It doesn’t matter whether it is a Fulani man or not. Buhari is a Fulani; Atiku is a Fulani. Buhari is a Moslem; Atiku is a Moslem. Buhari has been head of state second time; Atiku has been in the head of state echelon and the vice president; Atiku has educational facilities and has trained a lot of people, and has invested a lot in education in Nigeria and in the North.

Buhari said he has attended all kinds of colleges and trainings; so, he should behave as someone who has done all that. So, what is the problem? These are Moslem – Moslem; Fulani-Fulani; why can’t the truth be told? Why should other people be killed and murdered on such very flimsy, uncoordinated and truncated argument which even little boys and girls in school can see? Look at the Almajiris, people who have no homes; no food and no parental attachment – look at what they are doing now in the North. The oil we are mining in the South, the whole country is sharing it; but look at the gold and diamond in Zamfara, it is only for few individuals. And they import some criminal foreigners to come and help them to mine. When I say few individuals, I mean highly placed few individuals. Some of them former presidents; wealthy individuals - that’s why they are killing themselves in Zamfara. We know the truth; why can’t we always tell the truth? Or what is happening in Kano, Taraba or what is happening in Borno or what is happening in Buhari’s own state – Katsina or even in his own local government and town – Daura.

We know what has been happening in the last two weeks. The President’s governor, Masari, said he’s insecure; the state is insecure. These are not matters to laugh about. Go to Sokoto, they’ll tell you the same thing. Or you come down to Yoruba land; the Yorubas will tell you how many thousands of cells; nomadic cells, that are all over the place with weapons.

You think the Yorubas don’t know what is happening in the West? Of course, they know. So, the whole country is now at the edge of the precipice. Once you turn over the precipice; there is nothing that can lift you up again. You continue to fall until you hit the rock bottom, and that is exactly where we are.

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Sunday 19 May 2019

BDLife

Rise in suicide among millennials m

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AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE

t was a fateful Sunday morning on May 12, 2019, when Christians go to churches to commune with their maker (God) in worship, praises and prayers, that Chukwuemeka Akachi, a 400-level student of the Department of English and Literary Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN), signed up on Facebook and wrote his suicide note.

“Forgive me? In case you are the one who found the body, I am really sorry. I have chosen Jo Nketaih’s poem as my suicide note: “They said you came looking for me.

I don’t drown, I was the water, “My mental health has been on life support for a while now. Thanks to those who call. Text. Visit. Speak to me. You may have added a few hours, months or days to my time here. But you know life support is expensive right?” the suicide note, which was revealed by one of Akachi’s friends, who does not want his name on the print, read.

Exactly on May 14, two days after putting up this note on Facebook, the news about the unfortunate death of Akachi went viral on social media, online, national dailies and other news platforms.

It was reported that Akachi committed suicide on Monday in an uncompleted building located at Sullivan Road, Nsukka where he allegedly slipped into coma after taking two bottles of ‘Sniper’, an insecticide.

However, his unconscious body, which was discovered by passersby, was rushed to UNN Federal Medical Centre for revival, where he was declared dead after doctors made futile efforts to save him.

It was gathered that this was not the first time Akachi wanted to commit suicide, as on two occasions, he had taken kerosene and petrol to kill himself but was rescued.

The unfortunate story of Akachi was one among many others that have been making the rounds in Nigeria, especially among youths in recent times.

As Nigerians were yet to come to terms with the news of Akachi’s death, another story started circulating that Michael Arowosaiye, a gospel minister of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has allegedly committed suicide.

Arowosaiye, according to the story, committed suicide on Tuesday, May 14, 2019, around 4 pm at his residence in Sunnyvale Estate Abuja.

It was reported that the deceased, who hanged himself with a belt, entered into depression, for not being able to pay for his house rent.

The situation surrounding the death of Arowosaiye was further confirmed by Femi Fani-Kayode, who condemned the role of the church in the life of the deceased.

Fani-Kayode wrote on his twitter handle, “For a Church to sit by and do nothing when one of its young ministers cannot pay his rent is sad. For them to turn their backs on him and drive him into such a state of frustration, despair and desperation that he ends up committing suicide, is damn right condemnable. RCCG why?”

A few days ago, a 22-year-old man, identified simply as Segun, gave up the ghost a general hospital in Ogun State after he

drank insecticide, sniper.

Reports said that Segun decided to take his life after he scored 167 in the last Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME). He was said to have been frustrated following his repeated failure to secure admission into a tertiary institution despite several attempts.

He lamented that in 2015 when he sat the examination, he scored 189, adding that when he tried again in 2016, he scored 202.

The victim said when he attempted in 2017, he scored 233 and failed to get admission due to lack of funds. He lamented that when he eventually got a sponsor, he could not get a good exam result in 2019.

He was said to have announced his plan to kill himself on his Twitter handle, @ TweetsOfSHEGUN. Going down memory lane, it will be recalled that several deaths by suicide among youths, especially among undergraduates, were recorded in 2017 and 2018.

For instance, one Onyebuchi Okonkwo,

a third year Physics/Astronomy undergraduate of the UNN was found dead at an uncompleted building located beside the hockey pitch in the school. He was believed to have committed suicide as his lifeless body was found dangling on a rope suspended from a height.

In October 2017, a 16-year old Mercy Afolaranmi, 100-level student of Microbiology at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, allegedly took her own life by drinking rat poison mixed with battery extracts, a death which was blamed on emotional pressure.

Aside from this, in February 2018, Wilson Chukwudi, a student of Abia State University, was reported to have committed suicide for failing to graduate after two successive academic sessions.

A month after, a final-year student of Computer Engineering at the University of Benin, identified as Adams, was found dangling from the roof of his room at Ekosodin Community in Ovia North-East Local

Government Area of the state.

In Nigeria presently, suicide has become a serious societal challenge and health problem, and it has been rated as the third leading cause of death for teenagers between the ages of 15 and 24 years.

Most of the reported cases resulted from several factors including mental illness, poverty, substance abuse, social isolation, losses, relationship difficulties and workplace problems.

This fact was reinforced by the report of the Spectator Index that published a World Health Organization (WHO) study, which ranked suicides per 100,000 cases.

According to the report, Nigeria has 15 percent per 100,000 cases, showing that Nigeria ranks as a country with 5th highest rate of suicide in the world.

“It was frustration because I don’t believe that spiritual manipulation could lead someone into commit suicide,” Sunday Oke, a graduate of Psychology from a Nigerian university told BDSUNDAY. Sometimes, Oke said, people who are psychologically stable can find themselves in a difficult

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BDLife

mirrors sick society situation where it would become very hard to accept and they will decide to take their lives.

Oke told BDSUNDAY a story of a friend of his, who wanted to commit suicide years back but failed following the intervention of family and friends.

“Years back, I knew of a friend who wrote and failed his General Certificate of Education (GCE) examination. As a result, he took a knife and was stabbing himself such that he nearly stabbed himself to death. When, I heard the story and confronted him, he told me that he was already tired of staying idle at home and was also angry with live for not giving him a chance to gain admission into the higher institution like others.

My friend, at that time, was frustrated and desperate to move ahead in life, but was limited by his inability to pass his GCE exams,” Oke added.

Investigation by BDSUNDAY revealed that youth suicide is increasing at its greatest rate.

This was largely attributed to depression, which has also become a serious problem for adolescents, and is one of the significant biological and psychological risk factor for youth suicide, today.

According to WHO, suicide attempts are up to 20 times more frequent than completed suicides; and suicide rates have traditionally been highest among elderly males, but rates among young people have been increasing such that they are now the group at highest risk in all countries.

“I see what is happening in Nigeria today as more of frustration that was not checked and it led to depression, which ended up in suicide,” said Kunle Aremu, an educationist.

The big question is how can a youth, who has nobody to cater for, become depressed out of frustration?

Depression, according to Aremu, can even happen to a 5-year old who might have been nursing feeling of lack of love, and have been

fighting loneliness for a long time.

“This was why it has become very important for parents to always read the minds of their children irrespective of their ages, to know what is weighing them down in order to talk them out of such situation,” he stated.

“The rising cases of suicide among our youths also show that we are not parenting enough. Most times, our children will need to talk to us (parents) but they will not see anybody to talk to especially, those children who are being molested and abused physi-

cally or sexually.

Blaming parents for contributing, he pointed that high expectations of parents from their children often cause frustration and gradually leads children to exhibit symptoms of depression.

“If the parents are not there for their children, the difficult situation in which they found themselves in life, may pressure them into joining peer groups that force them to live abnormal lives. This is a new development in today’s society because in the past the parents were always there to guide the children appropriately at all times,” Aremu added.

“Upbringing plays a role in framing the minds of our children. Today, children try every means possible to measure up with peers. That is why you hardly see a 16-year, who is still a virgin but you see an under aged indulging in drugs. All these abuses have a way of putting our children and even us adult, into a state of psychological imbalance,” he said.

Meanwhile, there seems to be a close link between the present economic situation in the country with the increasing rate of depression and suicide. Nigeria is a country where hardship has become part of everyday life because a significant number of Nigerian population lives below the former minimum wage of N18,000,000 per month.

However, report has it that about 90 percent of people, who commit suicide suffer from mental illness. It identified the five leading causes of death to include sickness, which controls 26 percent; poverty, 24 percent; motor accident, 16 percent; malnutrition, 7 percent and natural death, 6 percent.

“While many cases of suicide can be linked to mental disorders, it is a wellestablished fact that the decision to kill oneself can also be impulsive and has been severally linked to a person’s inability to deal with life’s challenges such as financial crisis, heart break, chronic or terminal illness, physical abuse, loss of a loved one etc,” says, the Center for Health Ethics Law and Development (CHELD).

CHELD stated further that “while suicide puts an end to the pain a person suffers, it puts loved ones in a state of shame, grief, guilt for not preventing the suicide, a feeling of failure because the person they loved felt unloved or unappreciated enough to commit suicide, distress over unresolved issues and prolonged sadness.

It added that multiple researches have shown suicide affects the mental health of loved ones and that the children of suicidal parents are at increased risk of committing suicide themselves.

“While we salute those already educating people on mental health, we need more hands on deck; more educators on depression, especially in areas where people live below the minimum wage reside,” advised Motolani Alake, on his article on ‘Here is why our country is ranked 5th on annual suicide list’ published on Pulse Nigeria.

BDSUNDAY discovered that suicide did not start today as it has been happening before but has escalated among youths.

Culturally and religiously, it is often considered a taboo for anyone to commit suicide.

“Suicide was on the increase as a result of socio-economic pressure. There is an erosion of the traditional values and the family system. We have always had a fair share of economic pressure, but the presence of the Internet and mobile phones have increased the pressure,” reportedly said Adeoye Oyewole, a Psychiatrist, Life Coach, Mental Health Advocate, Theologian and Anthropologist at Lifecare Consult.

According to him, most families send their children abroad for holiday and when these children come back, they begin to mount pressure on their parents to give them what they saw during their visits.

“Also, young ladies in urban areas want to give birth abroad, whether their husbands can afford it or not. That is why more suicides are recorded in urban regions.

Therefore, parents have a lot of role to play in helping the children to manage societal pressures and its attendant depression.

There is need for adults to be watchful, particularly parents, to prevent occurrence of depression and suicide incidents.

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Sunday 19 May 2019

Arts

It’s time to imagine with three artists at Alexis Galleries Stories by OBINNA EMELIKE

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f you are a lover of the arts, especially visual art, some young, talented and contemporary artists are craving your indulgence to imagine their sheer creativity they are displaying at the moment.

The artists; Orlu Prince Ozangeobuoma, Karen Ogidi and AkinbanjiOsanyemi, are collaborating in a group exhibition of paintings and drawings aptly tagged Imaginativeness.

The exhibition opened yesterday, Saturday May 18, 2019 at Alexis Galleries, it runs until May 25, 2019 and depicts the expression of the three contemporary artists.

There are many reasons to see the works of the three budding artists.

After impactful internship under the watchful eyes of Duke Asidere, Orlu Prince Ozangeobuoma is truly groomed and is trailing the footsteps of his mentor who is also a major influence in building his artistic career.

As well, Ozangeobuoma, who obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Fine and Applied Arts from the University of Port Harcourt, is out to thrill your imaginative eyes at the exhibition.

“I love painting. My life is colourful, I play around colour and I also bring it down to my work”, Ozangeobuoma, who is displaying 11 works, said on reason to see his

Patty Chidiac-Mastrogiannis flanked by the artists and Nonye Nweke

Chika Unigwe

One of the works at the exhibition

works.

In the same vein, Karen Ogidi, a self-taught artist is bringing something different to the exhibition with her works that speak volume of creative ingenuity. Karen is a naturally gifted artist who went further to hone her gift at the Universal Studio of Arts in 2015.

Though the graduate of English Language and Literature from

Eastern Mediterranean University in Cyprus should have remained a teacher, she followed her passion, which is visual art. That determination to follow her passion is evident in her works, some of which are on display for Imaginativeness exhibition.

Her works are amazing because she expresses herself through them, particularly painting, while

also specializing in the use of palette knives and oil paint. As well, Karen draws inspiration from the colours in nature and people in moments of hustle and solitude.

She is proud of being called a selftaught artist.

You also need to see Akinbanji Osanyemi’s works, an artist who discovered himself early enough, especially the ability to observe things clearly and equally represent drawing on planes.

This subconsciously had a major influence on his choice of style, which the general art world terms ‘Realism’. Then much more later growing up, he began commissioning portraits, which was also as a way to learn and evolve technically in shading, and in understanding proportion and balance.

However, in the tradition of Alexis Galleries of giving part of the proceeds of its exhibitions to charity, the gallery is partnering with Cerebral Palsy Centre, a nongovernmental and not-for-profit organisation established in 2010,

which involved hands-on in the management of children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) in Nigeria.

Nonye Nweke, founder of the centre, who threw light on the cerebral palsy, appreciated the management of Alexis Gallery for the good gesture, which she said was a timely intervention.

Speaking on the rationale for the choice of the centre, Patty ChidiacMastrogiannis, founder/director, Alexis Galleries and curator of the exhibition, said that the centre has over the years maintained the goals of providing respite for parents and care givers, striving to improve the prognosis of children diagnosed with CP, increasing societal awareness of the condition and spear heading policy changes that will positively affect children living with CP. The exhibition is sponsored by Pepsi, Mikano, Tiger, Delta Airline, Wazobia TV, Cobranet Internet Service Provider, iPractico, La Cave, Cool FM, Art Café and the Homestores Limited.

Mariane Ibrahim, ascendant dealer of African art, moves gallery to Chicago

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fter seven years in Seattle and a growing reputation garnered at art fairs around the globe, Mariane Ibrahim is closing her namesake gallery in the Pacific Northwest and planning a move to Chicago, where she hopes to be in operation by the end of 2019. Though a new location has not yet been secured, “I have already seen and explored spaces I quite like,” Ibrahim said of a move she has been plotting for a while.

“I’m moving to Chicago to be close to galleries I respect very much,” such as Monique Meloche, Patron, and Rhona Hoffman. “It’s dynamic and I like what’s going on there.”

The move follows a formative period during which Ibrahim’s star has risen as interest in African art has intensified. With a roster of artists from the continent and beyond, she has been an active player in the globetrotting realm of art fairs, with presentations at the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair in London, Untitled Miami, Frieze New York, Art Dubai, and Zona Maco in Mexico City, among many more. In 2017, she won the first Presents Booth Prize at New York’s Armory Show, for a presen-

tation of work by Zohra Opoku, an artist of German and Ghanaian descent based in Accra. At this year’s Armory Show, she will present the Haitian artist Florine Demosthene, and her booth at Frieze New York will feature Thenjiwe Niki Nkosi from South Africa.

Of the town she has called home for close to a decade, Ibrahim—

who was raised in Somalia and France—said, “Seattle is so far away from Africa.” But the “anomaly” of featuring artists from far afield in a city without many commercial art enterprises has served the gallery well, she said. “When you’re on your own, you’re set off and can really focus on developing a program. Seattle is small and fa-

milial, and it allowed me to evolve.”

“She couldn’t be a more distinctive catalyst for international art,” said Pam McClusky, the curator of African and Oceanic art at the Seattle Art Museum. “Her gallery has been full of surprise, and there has never been a sense of stereotype or categorization that is so common.

She would have an Iranian artist

and then a Belgian-Dutch artist and a Frenchman—and on and on. She had an incredible impact here.”

“She has been a fantastic addition to Seattle,” said Lisa Goodman, a collector in the city. “The artists she represents weren’t being shown, and she connected very closely with the community.”

Ibrahim—who featured in a recent “ARTnews Accord” with 1-54 director Touria El Glaoui—said Chicago appealed to her for its particular kind of American-ness.

“I felt like for the first time I was in America,” she said of her first visit a few years ago. “New York is so international—it’s its own country, in a way—but in Chicago I felt like, This is the capital of America, with all its history and architecture and economy and politics.”

The city’s prominent AfricanAmerican collector base is a factor, she said, as is a sense of Midwestern camaraderie. “I’ve always wanted to be part of a community.

There isn’t aggressive competition in Chicago. Dealers have dinner together there. I like the solidarity that exists. It’s a place that has all of the energy I’ve been looking for for some time.”

Sunday 12 May 2019

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Arts Runsewe takes Nigerian arts and craft to China, invites Chinese investors, tourists

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lusegun Runsewe, director general, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and president, Africa Region, World Crafts Council, has thrown more light on the arts, crafts and cultural heritage of Nigeria, while branding the country as honest people to help arrest global perception of Nigeria as destination for drugs and internet fraud.

Speaking at a global people-to-people and cultural tourism panel gathering in China recently, Runsewe explained that Nigeria is a notable key player in African affairs and its premium relationship with world economies necessitated certain organised dark syndicates in black Africa to target Nigerian passport and use same

Runsewe takes Nigerian arts and craft to China, invites Chinese investors, tourists

to foment unacceptable business deals and related sundry crime.

He advised the Chinese to disregard such negative narratives about Nigeria,

nothing that the country and Black Africa present the best of cultural tourism destina-

tion in the next few years.

“I bring you kind greetings from Nigeria and Africa and

wish to correct the wrong impression and misleading narrative about Nigeria and Africa in general as destination for illegal drugs and terrorism. Nigeria is a wonderful country with rich culture, which frowns at acts unbecoming of best human practices”, Runsewe emphasized.

The NCAC boss explained and thanked the organisers for inviting him to share his story about Nigeria, clarifying that the country is hospitable hence a rich cultural tourism destination waiting for the Chinese investors and tourists.

Stakeholders, who spoke later, commended the very frank contributions and explanations by Runsewe, which they claimed would open up the flood gate of business and cultural understanding between Nigeria, Africa and China.

WABIO debuts to enhance the African woman

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f you are an African woman and wants to enhance your African look and style, a selftaught make-up artist is set to help out now on a big scale with the opening of WABIO Place.

WABIO, an acronym for Women Are Beautiful Inside and Out, comprises of three arms; the foundation, the beauty and training.

The outfit, which opened to the public yesterday at Odyssey Place, Oniru, Lekki, Lagos, is equipped with the best of beauty, styling and amid trained beauticians who do the magic. They are led by Ebele Enemchukwu, founder of WABIO, and former Mrs Tourism United Nations.

While the beauty shop is independent of the foundation, the former Mrs Tourism United Nations said that it was a part of her concerted efforts at supporting hands,

enhancing people’s lifestyle and creating values by so doing.

With the foundation’s training arm, which also handles corporate training, she is determined to bring professionalism to WABIO Place, the beauty and image consulting arm of WABIO International, while assuring customers qualitative and personalized services that will draw them to repeat visit.

“After resigning at Globacom about nine months ago, where I was a customer service trainer, I gave attention to the training of my team because the beauty business is service oriented, and service must be provided to the satisfaction of clients at all times in order to stay in business”.

Having had a successful career in the telecom industry, beauty pageant, and consultancy, she noted

Ebele Enemchukwu, founder of WABIO, and former Mrs Tourism United Nations

that the establishment of the beauty studio is her way of giving back to the society.

“It is not what you do for yourself that counts at the end of the day but what you left behind, what you pass unto others. So WABIO is supposed to create that platform where women can truly believe that or try to deemphasise the importance attached to the outward.

Women are beautiful on the inside and if you truly believe that, it will manifest from the outside”, she said.

Recalling how she got the idea of the beauty shop, she said WABIO Place was a result of several inquiries by many on who her makeup artist was. On discovering that she does the magic by herself, some of them requested that she should make them up as well.

“People started requesting that I should make them up too, because they liked my makeup. I realised that when I make myself up, is more beautiful than when it is done by my make-up artist, so I decided to give it a thought,” she said.

Enemchukwu, who believes that beauty, transcends the physical assured that WABIO Place is determined to support women beyond enhancing their style and look through the foundation and other activities under the WABIO International platform.

L-R: Qasim Elegbede, brands and marketing director, StarTimes Nigeria; Adebayo Salami, Nollywood actor, and Tony Tuo, director, Over the Top Media (OTT), StarTimes, at the press conference of the Pan Africa Online Film Festival (PAOFF) held at the National Art Theatre, in Lagos.

StarTimes ON boosts local online film creation with PAOFF awards

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n Thursday, StarTimes ON announced i t s Pa n Af rica Online Film Festival (PAOFF) in Lagos with setting several awards to encourage African local online film creation.

According to the release by StarTimes ON, PAOFF is a quarterly online film awards competition, and is open to all local professional film and music video producers.

StarTimes ON launches a fans voting system for all videos that are qualified for the awards competition, which will include favorite film ranking board,

favorite short film ranking board, favorite MV board.

All videos will be listed in the three boards basing on their categories, and rank according to votes from StarTimes ON users.

No. 1 v i d e o o f e a c h board will win the quarterly Best Film Award, Best Short Film Award and Best MV Award, whose producer will get $1500 as prize.

“It is an online age and local online video contents will be an important pillar of StarTimes ON’s content strategy”, said Ariel Wang, operation director, StarTimes ON. Speaking further, Wang said, “That is why we estab-

lish PAOFF awards and we sincerely hope the awards competitionwill encourage the development of local online video creation and see the rise of African online video industry.”

StarTimes ON is Africa’s NO.1 online video streaming service with having 14 million users in the market. StarTimes ON isdedicated to providing ultimate entertainment and enriched experience for African online u s e r s . I t p r o v i d e s Li v e TV, VOD and short videos with covering news, sports, movies, series, music, entertainment, documentary, kids and religion.

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Sunday 19 May 2019

Travel

Spotlight on Osun Scared Groove

Tourism and transportation sectors are critical for Nigeria economic development – Akinboboye

S OBINNA EMELIKE

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n the outskirt of Osogbo, the capital city of Osun State, lies is one of the last remnants of primary forest in southern Nigeria. The forest is so dense, rich in biodiversity, as well as, host of the Osun Sacred Grove, the second World Heritage Site in Nigeria.

The sacred groove is regarded as the abode of Osun, the goddess of fertility and one of the pantheon of Yoruba gods. The landscape of the grove and its meandering river is dotted with sanctuaries and shrines, sculptures and art works in honour of Osun and other deities. The sacred grove, which is now seen as a symbol of identity for all Yoruba people, is probably the last in Yoruba culture. It testifies to the once widespread practice

of establishing sacred groves outside all settlements.

Set within the forest sanctuary are forty shrines, sculptures and art works erected in honour of Osun and other Yoruba deities, many created in the past 40 years, two palaces, five sacred places and nine worship points strung along the river banks with designated priests and priestesses.

The new art installed in the grove has also differentiated it from other groves. Osogbo is now unique in having a large component of 20th century sculpture created to reinforce the links between people and the Yoruba pantheon, and the way in which Yoruba towns linked their establishment and growth to the spirits of the forest.

The restoration of the grove by artists has given the grove a new importance: it has become a sacred place for the whole of Yor-

ubaland and a symbol of identity for the wider Yoruba Diaspora.

The Grove is an active religious site where daily, weekly and monthly worship takes place. In addition, an annual processional festival to re-establish the mystic bonds between the goddess and the people of the town occurs every year over twelve days in July and August and thus sustains the living cultural traditions of the Yoruba people.

The grove is also a natural herbal pharmacy containing over 400 species of plants, some endemic, of which more than 200 species are known for their medicinal uses.

Most importantly, the groove host thousands of guests including indigenes, other Nigerians, African diasporas, especially from Brazil, Haiti and the US to the one month long Osun Osogbo festival every August.

Ooni of Ife to host NATOP AGM in May

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ll is set for the much anticipated 2019 Annual General Meeting (AGM), of the Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), in Osun State, Nigeria. The AGM, which will be hosted by Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, at the Ife Grand Resorts and Leisure is slated to hold on May 24, 2019.

NATOP AGM with the Theme: “Impact of Culture, Partnerships and Governance on Nigeria Tourism Development”, will feature a four-day programme to include a tour of Osun State, sacred sites and the palace of the Oba from May 23, while the AGM conference and meeting will hold on May 24TH. The National president NATOP, Hajia Bilkisu Abdul, said the programme is very keen and targeted at exploring south western Nigeria, spotlighting Ife as a cultural and religious destination to both domestic and international tourists.

The president, who thanked the Ooni of Ife for his kind gesture to host this year’s AGM, hinted that the Olusegun Runsewe, director general, Nigerian Council of Arts and Culture and Folarin Coker,

Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife

director general, Nigeria Tourism Development Commission, have confirmed their attendance at the AGM. She said other special guests such as Commissioner of Tourism Osun State, Presidents of Associations, Tourism Expert, Ikechi Uko have been invited for this year’s AGM in Osun. Habib Reuben, general manager, Ife Grand Resorts, in a statement said: “Ife awaits tour operators who will help

position our unique product and rich culture which is very dear to the Kabiyesi’s heart and help redefine weekend travel culture for Nigerians and International tourists”.

This is coming after the President of the Association Hajia Bilikisu Abdul led executive members of NATOP on a courtesy visit to the Palace of the Ooni in March. The Ooni of Ife thanked the association and promised to showcase the huge tourism assets of Ife, the source of Yoruba civilisation during the AGM. According to Hajia Bilikisu, president of NATOP, “As a national association we use our AGM to expose our members to the huge tourism potentials and resources available in Nigeria.” The 2018 edition of NATOP AGM was hosted in Jos by the Plateau State Government. The 2017 AGM was held in Lagos and was attended by Lai Mohammed, Minister of information Culture and Tourism. The 2016 Edition of The AGM was held in Calabar Cross River State in the South-South Region of Nigeria.

NATOP is an association for tour operators involved in both outbound and inbound tourism.

triking the necessary balance and synergy between tourism and transportation sectors is critical nexus for the development of Nigeria economic as both sectors warehouse sufficient elements that if properly harnessed would accelerate Nigerians’ quest for a better and thriving tourist destination.

This was disclosed by Wanle Akinboboye, president of La Campagne Tropical Beach Resort, located in Ikegun village, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, , during the recently held second edition of the National Tourism Transportation Summit and Expo 2019 at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja.

Akinboboye, who is also the founder of Motherland Beckons, an outfit dedicated to the promotion of Africa through arts,

Given this, he said both are sesame twins that are critical to developing the nation’s economy and bringing about a thriving tourist destination.

“Without people moving, there will be no need for transportation or petrol or diesel. Transportation relies solely on the movement of people from one point to the other which is what tourism represents. You cannot separate them.

He commended Odusanwo for the initiative, which according to him, demonstrated his forthrightness in moving the two sectors forward. ‘‘So, I think the summit is a very smart idea by the deep thinking president of the Institute of Tourism Practitioners (ITP), Abiodun Odusanwo, to begin to galvanise for people to understand the importance of the two sectors working together as a team.

Akinboboye receiving his award

tourism, culture, entertainment and fashion, among others and attracting the Diaspora back to motherland (Africa), was one of the special guests and awardees at the event, as he was named the ‘Most creative and resilient tourism personality for the year 2018.’

Organised by the Institute of Tourism Professionals (ITP) led by Abiodun Odusanwo, the two days event had as theme: ‘Tourism and Transportation Inter-dependencies for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development.’’ With support from the Ministry of Transportation, and Ministry of Information and Culture, the summit which was attended by various operators from both the public and private sectors held discussions on the various aspects of the two sectors and how to bridge the gap between them to develop the nation’s economy.

According to Akinboboye, “Tourism is the movement of people domestically and internationally from one point to the other. When you move within a particular country, it is called domestic tourism and when you travel outside the country, it is called international tourism.

Now, you must use a certain medium when you are travelling.’’

“When people decide to travel, the first industry to benefit from that decision is transportation. So, combining them is critical for growth and development. They must all support themselves. They must come together to synergise and have very strong strategic partnership that will enhance both sectors.

Impressed by the level of people in attendance and the success the summit has recorded in just two years, he said it is an indication that it has grown tremendously: “For a second edition, I believe strongly that it has grown tremendously. If this is the second edition, I can’t wait to see the 10th edition because they virtually brought together everybody. We have the young people, international audience; we also have people from the diplomatic community and, of course, the private sector.”

Akinboboye who had over the years being honoured and recognized for his contributions to Nigeria tourism and engagement with Africa, expressed great delight and appreciation to ITP for the award, saying that it is a huge boost as it would spur him further in the realisation of his dream for Nigeria and Africa.

Sunday 19 May 2019

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Travel Can’t sleep on airplanes? These techniques can help Stories by IFEOMA OKEKE

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or many people, the rumble of a jet engine and just the thought of being trapped in a pressurized aluminium tube is enough to send massive doses of adrenaline into their bloodstreams, ensuring alertness for days.

The interior of an aircraft is anything but silent, with noises ranging from chatty passengers to screaming children and, of course, the constant whine — of the engines. It’s also uncomfortable, even if you’re in one of those lie-flat business-class seats, which don’t always lie all the way down. Try falling asleep in a sitting position, even when you’re not on an aircraft, and you’ll know why sleeping on a plane can be a pipe dream.

Having a snooze on a plane is not getting any easier. You don’t have to be a passenger on a long-haul or overnight flight to know that.

Flights are operating at capacity, and everyone seems to be a little more anxious these days.

Fortunately, there are ways to rest amid the pandemonium. The latest methods involve a combination of sensory deprivation and relaxation techniques. If they don’t put you to sleep, they’ll at least make you a little calmer in the air.

Headsets are a key component to unravelling the sleep mystery on commercial aircraft. The interior of a plane is about as loud as a diesel train passing you at a distance of

100 feet. That sustained noise can be cut with earplugs or noisecancelling headphones.

Perhaps even more critical than having the right pillows or headsets are these sleep strategies that experienced air travellers use: Plan ahead: Choose the right seat for sleep. In economy class, that would be the window seat.

“It’s ideal for sleeping,” says Robert

Medview Airline prepares for hitch-free hajji operations

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ounting on its experience in the airlift of pilgrims since 2007, Medview Airline has once again come atop as one of the three carriers the Federal Government selected for the airlift of Muslims for the 2019 HAJJ. The choice of Medview Airline is rooted in existing strategic partnership with National Hajj Commission {NAHCON}, which transcends the normal brief to assisting the government agency in the airlift of stranded pilgrims in the holy land over the years.

Rising to the challenge, Muneer Bankole, the airline CEO assured all stakeholders of a hitch-free Hajj operations.

Bankole said the management of Medview Airline is fully aware

of the operational challenges confronting the aviation industry in Nigeria, saying that no carrier is singled out from the hardship bedevilling the whole nation.

He said the airline was repositioning for better performance amidst the daunting challenges.

The CEO said the airline was undergoing a re-fleeting programme, and some of the aircraft that were sent for scheduled maintenance will soon arrive to increase capacity, adding that there is ongoing discussion with strategic partners to pull resources together towards operational enhancement and capacity building.

Bankole re-assured the airline’s shareholders, service providers and travel partners of better deals and value for their investments.

Oexman, director of the Sleep to Live Institute, which conducts sleep research. “Use a sweater or jacket against the wall as a pillow, which can help create a makeshift sleeping surface.”

Meditate before you fly: “Anyone can meditate almost anywhere by simply practicing a technique that uniquely works for each individual,” says Jeffery

Martin, a meditation and sleep expert at Sofia University in Palo Alto, Calif. He recommends a mantra, or silently repeating “love,” “peace” or another word or phrase for 20 minutes while waiting at the gate.

Stay hydrated: Avoid alcohol and pack a reusable water bottle and fill it up at any water fountain.

“To make it more interesting, add

a peppermint teabag in room-temperature water,” advises Tieraona Low Dog, an integrative medicine specialist and chief medical officer of Well & Being, a resort spa. “It imparts a lovely mint flavour to the water, while gently settling the stomach and any travel nerves, helping to calm the body and mind and induce sleep.”

Take deep breaths: One of the best ways to fall asleep without pills is to quiet the mind with deepbreathing exercises, says sleep researcher Craig Sim Webb, author of “The Dreams Behind the Music.”

“Inhale as deeply as you can without being uncomfortable,” he says. Hold the inhalation as long as you can comfortably and then focus your attention on parts of your body, starting with your feet. “Breathe out normally. Do not pause or hold the exhalation at all, but breathe in again immediately and repeat steps,” he says.

Of course, there are also pharmaceutical methods of ensuring sleep, including an Ambien prescription and an over-the-counter solution such as Good Day Chocolate sleep supplements (gooddaychocolate; $36.99).

I’m not making that up. Chocolates that make you sleep — they’re a thing. Each piece of the milk chocolate contains one milligram of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep.

And, if none of this works? Well, don’t feel left out. Enjoy the in-flight movie and get some sleep when you arrive, like the other half of the passengers on your flight.

Turkish Airlines to open five lounges at the new Istanbul Airport

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ith the completion of its “Great Move” a brand new home base, Istanbul Airport, one of the most significant cornerstones of the Turkish aviation history, Turkish Airlines will open five passenger lounges available for Business Class, Miles & Smiles Elite Plus & Elite, Star Alliance Gold and Corporate Club passengers.

There are currently three lounges open: the Turkish Airlines Business Lounge, Miles & Smiles Lounge and Domestic Lounge.

The Exclusive Lounge and Arrival Lounge are planned to open later in 2019.

The Turkish Airlines Business Lounge has an approximate area of over 60,000 square feet, seats 765 guests and features 13 private suites with showers. Turkish Airlines designed a 130 square foot museum in there in collaboration with the arts and cultural institution in Istanbul.

The Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles Lounge on over 60,000 square feet space, seats 765 guests and offers 11 private suites with showers and space where guests can rest on comfortable couches, savor delicious and enjoy exclusive treats from Turkey along with international cuisine, or enjoy mobile

masseur services.

A console gaming experience, golf simulators and large children’s play area provide entertainment, while a technology center with 3D glasses and virtual reality is planned. The two lounges also provide meeting rooms, a library and prayer room.

The Turkish Airlines domestic lounge is accessible through a special entrance gate located outside the terminal so passengers can complete check-in procedures and transfer directly to the aircraft via buses. Lounge amenities include comfortable couches, Turkish cuisine, a large children’s play area, media wall with multiple TV screens and a prayer room.

According to Yunus Ozbek, Turkish Airlines General Manager for Lagos, “As the global carrier that flies to more destinations in the world, we are well aware of passenger traffic and constantly strive to adapt in order to provide absolute comfort, style and unique

travel experience for our travelers.

These lounges have been uniquely designed to make traveling for Turkish Airlines’ Business Class, Miles & Smiles Elite Plus & Elite, Star Alliance Gold and Corporate Club passengers an activity like no other at our new home in Istanbul.”

The overall design concept of the Business Class and Miles & Smiles Lounges reflect an Aegean theme, including designs depicting breezes from the Aegean region.

The Ribbon wall, which is the most special figure in Turkish Airlines’ lounges and inspired by a flow motif, consists of solid wood panels that undulate through all lounges.

Panels circulating in the halls have amorphous movements expressing the flow.

Turkish Airlines passengers gain access to the lounges by presenting their business class tickets or Miles & Smiles Elite Plus & Elite, Star Alliance Gold and Corporate Club membership cards.

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Sunday 19 May 2019

Life&Living

Healthy food options for Ramadan Jumoke Akiyode-Lawanson

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t’s Ramadan season and Muslims are obligated to fast by abstaining from food and drink everyday from dawn to sunset during the entire month of Ramadan.

Fa s t i n g i n t h e m o n t h o f Ramadān was made obligatory (wājib) during the month of Sha‘bān, in the second year after the Muslims migrated from Makkah to Madīnah. Fasting the month of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

There are however some exceptions, as fasting during Ramadan is not obligatory for several groups for whom it would be excessively problematic, among them people with a medical

condition and the elderly.

Pre-pubescent children are not required to fast, although some choose to do so, and some small children fast for half a day to train themselves. Diabetics and nursing or pregnant women are usually not expected to fast.

According to a hadith, observing the Ramadan fast is forbidden for menstruating women.

However, no matter how healthy and fit you may be, it is common to feel weak and tired when fasting and this may affect your ability to focus on day to day activities and concentrate on bring closer to God which is the main point of religious fasting.

To combat feelings of low energy or low focus during dry fasting, try doing interesting things to take your mind off food; read books, do some work and engage in activities that make you too busy to feel hungry.

Remember that it is possible to eat healthily during Ramadan and have enough energy to last you throughout the day.

How to stay healthy during Ramadan - When you break your fast, make sure to eat high-fiber foods, such as nuts, beans, fruits and vegetables, and high protein foods, including meat, fish, tofu, or nuts, during your eating win-

dow. Chewing high-fiber gummies can also help.

- You can also eat these protein-rich foods together with your complex carbohydrates, such as milk and dairy products (yogurt, Labneh, and cheese, preferably white cheese which has a lower fat content) or legumes (fava beans or chickpeas) that will make you feel full for a longer period.

- Drink lots of water. People tend to think they’re hungry, when they are really just thirsty.

So try and drink lots of water when you break your fast. It’ll help you to avoid over stuffing yourself and feeling bloated throughout the day. It will also help you feel hydrated.

- Drinking black coffee during Suhur, (before sunrise) helps improve concentration and energy and has no calories in it.

- Take a deep breath and give yourself a break: Mindfulness and a bit of meditation can go a long way in helping to make you feel better during the fasting period.

Foods arthritis patients should totally avoid IFEOMA OKEKE

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rthritis is a condition that causes inflammation in the joints. There are different types of arthritis. Some of them include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis.

While this condition is most common in elderly people, especially those over 65 years of age, it can also affect younger people unfortunately. Treatment for the different types of arthritis is mostly geared towards reducing the inflammation and helping in the pain management.

Diet can also play a role in helping you manage the symptoms of arthritis. Although no one specific diet can totally help you with your arthritis, some dietary habits can definitely make you feel better.

These are some of the foods to avoid in helping manage symptoms of arthritis and reduce its effects.

Inflammatory foods Typical treatment involves inflammation and pain-reducing medications. While there is no single diet to follow, research suggests including anti-inflammatory foods in your diet and limiting foods that may trigger joint pain.

Read on to learn about the arthritis trigger foods you should avoid.

Fried and processed foods Researchers at the Mount Sinai

School of Medicine examined disease prevention through diet. In their 2009 study, they found that decreasing the amount of fried and processed foods eaten can “reduce inflammation and actually help restore the body’s natural defences.”

What you can do: Cut down on the amount of fried and processed foods you consume, such as fried meats and prepared frozen meals, and include more vegetables and fruits in your diet.

Lower your AGEs AGE doesn’t refer to how many birthdays you’ve celebrated. An advanced glycation end product (AGE) is a toxin that appears when foods are heated, grilled, fried, or pasteurized.

AGEs damage certain proteins in your body, and your body tries to break these AGEs apart by using cytokines, which are inflammatory messengers.

Depending on where the AGEs occur,

they may result in arthritis or other forms of inflammation.

What you can do: Researchers have shown that reducing the amount of foods cooked at high temperatures in your diet could potentially help reduce blood AGE levels.

Sugars and refined carbs High amounts of sugar in your diet result in an increase in AGEs, which can result in inflammation.

What you can do: Cut out candies, processed foods, white flour baked goods, and sodas to reduce your arthritis pain.

Dairy products Dairy products may contribute to arthritis pain due to the type of protein they contain. For some people, this protein may irritate the tissue around their joints. Others living with arthritis have success switching to a vegan diet — which contains no animal products whatsoever.

What you can do: Rather than getting protein from meat and dairy, get the bulk of your protein sources from vegetables like spinach, nut butters, tofu, beans, lentils, and quinoa.

Alcohol and tobacco Tobacco and alcohol use can lead to a number of health problems, including some that may affect your joints. Smokers are at risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis, while those who consume alcohol have a higher risk for developing gout.

What you can do: Healthy joints require a balanced diet, physical activity, and an adequate amount of rest — all of which can be compromised by alcohol and tobacco use.

Cut back on drinking and smoking, and ramp up your eating habits with healthy choices, regular exercise, and quality sleep.

Salt and preservatives Know what’s in your food. Many

foods contain excessive salt and other preservatives to promote longer shelf lives. For some people, excess consumption of salt may result in inflammation of their joints. It may be worth trying to reduce your salt intake to as modest an amount as is reasonable.

What you can do: Read labels to avoid preservatives and additives.

Less salt may help you manage your arthritis, so avoid prepared meals.

Though they’re convenient, microwavable meals are often very high in sodium.

Corn oil Many baked goods and snacks contain corn or other oils high in omega-6 fatty acids. While these treats may satisfy your taste buds, they may trigger inflammation. Some studies have found that fish oil, which contains omega-3s, may help with joint pain relief in certain people.

What you can do: Replace foods containing omega-6 fatty acids with healthy, anti-inflammatory omega-3 alternatives such as olive oil, nuts, flax seeds, and pumpkin seeds.

The bottom line There is no single established arthritis diet plan. What works for one person may not work for someone else. Trial and error will determine which foods you need to eliminate. In general, experts advise people with arthritis to maintain a healthy body weight and eat a balanced diet.

Sunday 19 May 2019

Bliss with Nonye Ben-Nwankwo

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Email: chiwuagwu@yahoo.com Phone number (SMS only) 08057511893

I have no relationship with my father – Skales

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opular hip hop musician, Skales, has said he doesn’t have any relationship with his father till date.

In a soon to be aired MTV Base’s hit show, ‘Behind The Story’, the singer addressed so many controversies that have surrounded him since he became popular in the music industry in Nigeria.

While speaking on his estranged relationship with his father in the show, the singer said he comes from a broken home as such; he wasn’t privileged to have a relationship with his biological father.

“My parents separated when I was between three and four years old so I have no clue where my dad is. We have no relationship till date,” he told Sammy Walsh, the host of the show.

There are many facts about the “Booty Language” crooner that many fans would be surprised to learn about which are unraveled in this edition of

‘Behind The Story.’

For example, many fans would be surprised to find out that Skales is actually an acronym, which stands for “Seek Knowledge and Acquire Large Entrepreneurial Skills.”

Speaking on relationships, Skales also addresses the topic of his relationship with his for-

mer label mate, Wizkid, as well as his romantic relationship status and fatherhood allegations.

Skales reveals his uncensored self during the course of this interview by tackling many personal topics and clears the air about a number of rumours.

The show will be aired on MTV Base May 21. 2019.

‘Why we used Omotola, foreign actors in Shadow Parties’

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he much talked about box office movie, Shadow Parties is almost set to hit the screens and Bliss reliably gathered that A- list Nollywood actors and some foreign actors were part of the cast.

In a recent chat with Bliss, the director of the movie, Yemi Amodu said the Media Concept Studio sponsored movie which has gone under post-production will feature energetic actress, Sola Sobowale, Hafis Oyetoro, Magdalena Korpas and Lucien Morgan, with the lead actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde.

Explaining his choice of Omotola, Amodu said, “If you cast wrongly, you won’t have a movie. Omotola is not only marketable but she is a good actor. We had to do a lot of research and watch a lot of her movies before we decided to use her for that cast. A lot of things informed our choice of Omotola as the central actor and we don’t have any regret.”

Amodu also gave the reason behind featuring some foreign actors as he said said, “Because of the some of the scenes that we wrote, we felt it was very necessary for us to bring in foreign actors into the movie to have a global appeal. That is why we have Lucien Morgan who has acted in several Nollywood movies.”

According to the director, the plot has enriched the production and he also assured movie lovers to watch out for an excellent production in few months’ time.

Morgan, who is an actor and producer, known for An American Werewolf in London (1981), Return of the Don (2016) and Theft Unexpected (2013) also said he was very happy being a part of Shadow Parties.

Speaking to Bliss about his experience during the shoot, the Hollywood actor said he had a great time.

“The experience was very good we had very wonderful locations.

The costumes were very okay. I love

Nigerian actors kick against killings in country

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CTORS under the umbrella body of ‘Concerned Actors and Seasoned Nollywoood Stars have raised their voices against the incessant senseless and political motivated killings in North West Nigeria as well as other parts of the country.

The film practitioners led by veteran Nollywood star Ejike Asiegbu at a rally held recently in Lagos decried the spate of killings which it described as a ‘horror movie’. “We have watched the horror movie in Zamfara State and concluded that our politicians have thrown the sanctity of human lives to the dogs with the way and manner that they have carried their political activities which have resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives and destruction of properties,” Asiegbu said.

He said actors will no longer fold their hands “and watch politicians continue with their nefarious activities that have brought untold sorrow and blood to numerous families” adding that “the worrisome aspect of the whole issue is the fact that these politicians have been dramatizing in public and on pages of newspapers condemning the killings when in truth, the entire world knows they are the ones behind the senseless killing of innocent women and children because of their vested interest.”

Asiegbu berated the political elites for “turning their back against the people” they swore to protect. “We know gold is a

precious stone but to make the mistake of equating gold with human life is an anomaly that must be resisted by all and sundry in the interest of peace and tranquility in Northwest Nigeria.

“These gold miners are not spirits, they have names, and they reside among the people, and above all, they have sponsors. But they must realize also that the same people sponsoring them to kill innocent people today can decide to turn against them and order their elimination tomorrow.”

Veteran Nollywood stars such as Paul Obazele, Sonny McDon, Emeka Ossai and producers Chico Ejiro, Zeb Ejiro, Tony Ani, Mike Nliam among others were present at the rally.

Wande Coal, Niniola thrill fans at Red Night Party

I Yemi Blaq. He is a fantastic actor. I think the movie will be successful.”

Morgan used the opportunity to call on the Nigerian government to invest more in the movie industry in order to get it up to a higher standard.

“Nigerian actors know what they are doing, they are excellent.

I don’t have to advice them. But it would be nice to see a Nigerian state production. I think what is at fault here is that there is no government assistance and encouragement and funding for films, nothing to head the international market.

“Films in France and Italy are not in good shape at the moment because they don’t have a place to distribute the films. It will only take one or two Nollywood movies to win major award and get international recognition at Cannes or LA. I don’t understand why a Nigerian government cannot showcase movies like so many other countries. But I project that in the next couple of years, Nigeria will be respected in the movie industry in the world. The directors are excellent, the actors are excellent, what is not excellent is the attitude of the government not

to back the industry enough. I think it is appalling. The government has to lift the industry so it can compete with other nations. I know if the government backs the industry, it would change the attitude the world has where Nollywood is and only one film can even get them a great place in the industry,” he said.

Shot in Lagos, Ibadan and Akure cities, Shadow Parties is a story about Aremu (Ken Erics) who hails from Aje, a town that neighbours Iludun, where his wife, Arike (Toyin Aimakhu) was born. Known for fratricidal wars, which had claimed the lives of Arike’s parents, the towns were one more time thrown into war after the kinsmen of Aremu decided to burn his wife and child claiming she was an enemy and also triggering a reprisal attack from the Iluduns led by Lowo (Yemi Blaq), Arike’s brother. A paradox of communal clash, “Shadow Parties” encapsulates the endless political intrigues that would later transform into blood business of arms and ammunition and of course the killings of innocent residents, which is an exposition of reality.

t was super fun last weekend in the city of Lagos when some Nigerian stars including Wande Coal, Niniola and Skiibi performed at Gulder’s flagship consumer engagement platform, The Red Night Party.

The event, which was held at the blue roof LTV 8 ground, saw consumers treated to non-stop entertainment as the maiden edition surpassed all possible expectations. The Red Night party was categorised by musical performances, entertaining games, and exciting giveaways.

Brand Manager Gulder, Kolawole Akintimehin prior to the show affirmed that the brand is centered on encouraging its esteemed consumers to Own Their Journey and the event not only did this but ensured they had fun as well.

“We are excited to kick off the first ever Gulder Red Night Party, ‘The theme of owning your journey is an incentive which will help individuals, and consumers have a good definition of their personal journeys in all spheres of their endeavours, encouraging them to own their journey to success and be the best version of themselves as they journey through life.”

Fans and lovers of music were treated to great performances from the black diamond, Wande Coal as he left the crowd asking

for more. The afro pop singer thrilled fun-loving partygoers by delivering electrifying performance that lit up the night.

His energetic stage performance was amazing, the audience began an unending sing-along from Bumper to Bumper, to You Bad and then Iskaba. It was an experience worth witnessing. The audience not wanting to be outdone by the music star took up to the stage to display some energetic dance moves.

There were musical performances from other musical acts, like Skibii and Niniola who equally brought their A-game to the show with their astounding performances.

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Health&Science Nigerians should embrace orthodontic check up to keep healthy smile - Traore-Shumbusho ANTHONIA OBOKOH

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my Traore-Shumbusho, an orthodontist and founder/chief executive director, Smile 360 Dental Specialists have advised that Nigerians can improve their dental health and the quality of smiles by simply visiting the orthodontist to help prevent orthodontic problems from negatively impacting smile and oral health.

Traore-Shumbusho who gave this disclosure in a press conference organized by Smile 360 Dental Specialists on Wednesday May 15th to mark the World Orthodontist Day, themed Orthodontist, creating healthy smiles for all ages. She explained that a lot of patients out there do not even know what Orthodontic means.

“We know about dentist, we do not know what or who is Orthodontist. Today, we want to explain and at the same time create awareness who is orthodontist is and what orthodontists do and what are the benefits of orthodontic treatment,” she said.

Orthodontic treatment is a way of straightening or moving teeth, to improve the appearance of the teeth and how they work. It can also help to look after the long-term health of your teeth, gums and jaw joints, by spreading the biting pressure over all your teeth.

According to Traore-Shumbusho the World Health Organisation recommends ratio of 1 to 600 doctors but in Nigeria we have about one to about 3,500. Two years ago, Nigeria has about fifty Orthodontists but it has progressively increased to seventy and the good thing is that the number

L-R: Business Development Manager, Smile 360 Dental Specialists, Mr. Olukayode Fadele, Dr. Nwadiani Amaka, Founder/CEO, Smile 360 Dental Specialists, Dr. Amy Traore-Shumbusho, Dr. Latre Bakoshi and Health and Quality Manager, Dr. Apara Akinsanmi during a press briefing celebrating 2019 World Orthodontic Health Day organized by Smile 360 Dental Specialists in Lagos...recently

is increasing but the ratio is ridiculous.

“In Nigeria, we have one Orthodontist attending to three million people; the problem is that those Orthodontists are not busy enough. In as much as we are 70 they are still not busy and that is why we are creating this awareness so that people can know the benefits and consequences of not fixing them,” she said.

Traore-Shumbusho further explained that an orthodontist is different from dentist noting that a dentist looks at your teeth, your gums and the health of while an orthodontist looks at the alignment of your teeth, health of your teeth.

Of course, people know an Orthodontist as the cosmetic side of dentistry because at the end of the day, we build healthy smiles and we also build beautiful smiles.

“So the impact that the Orthodontist has to do with building more self-esteem and

how to carry out that beautiful smiles that can impact their people’s lives both from the health aspect and the cosmetic side.

She therefore urged that Orthodontic treatment is available and affordable with international standard and regardless of age noting that at Smile 360, just as there are other centers as well can ensure that patient does not have to travel abroad to have their Orthodontic treatment done.

“I have that duty to create awareness about the Specialty in Nigeria. We are here to let the public know how to recognize an Orthodontist, making sure that Orthodontic treatment is done by a specialist that is eligible to practice orthodontic in Nigeria,” Traore-Shumbusho added.

Also commenting, Latre Bakoshi a dentist and Clinical Head, Smile 360 Dental Specialists, said what happens is that Orthodontics is not just

for a great smile but it is also put in position for your teeth to survive.

“In Nigeria, you do not have to suffer loss of teeth or bad smile. A lot of people don’t smile just because of their teeth alignment because they are in the wrong position so we refer them to an Orthodontist to put those teeth back into the right position”.

“And i think Orthodontic should be the next investment for the future children to take up this profession in Nigeria,” Bakoshi advised Commenting on the milestone as one of Nigerians foremost orthodontic centre, Apara Akinsanmi, Health and Quality Manager, Smile 360 Dental Specialists said basically, we have been very consistent and always being innovative in our work.

“We have standard that we adhere to and we will continue to build tirelessly to deliver the best,” he said.

Experts say hypertension awareness important for Nigerians ANTHONIA OBOKOH

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s Nigerian joins the rest of the world to celebrate World Hypertension Day on May 17 to promote awareness about hypertension and encourage people to prevent and control this silent killer, experts has said that with changing lifestyles and gender roles, the impact of hypertension can be seen in both men and women. It therefore becomes extremely important to be aware of how high blood pressure affects the body to keep it in control and prevent fatalities.

Hypertension is considered to be a common problem in Nigeria as the country currently ranks 6th in Africa and 50 percent of people with the disease.

Bisi Bright, a public health consultant and CEO Livewell Initiative, said one in every three to five Nigerian is hypertensive.

“The disease can be averted through a healthy lifestyle, eating balanced diet and getting enough sleep. Nigeria is very

stressful place so the stress level is very high. This is because of the poor infrastructure and human resource support systems and these results in stressful conditions, “she said.

Despite the condition being so common, people tend to ignore the common signs and symptoms of hypertension. Almost one-third of people who have high blood pressure aren’t aware of the same because high blood pressure often shows no symptoms. This is the reason why high blood pressure is often referred to as a silent killer. Many people are not able to find out that they have high blood pressure until they face problems with their heart, kidney, or brain.

According to Ojo Sikiru, a Lagos based medical practitioner, said regular health check-ups and proper case management under the supervision of a cardiologist can help manage the condition and treat the hypertension.

“ManyNigeria’spresentlatediagnosisduetoasymptomaticstate, poor awareness and mass health

screening practices at the level of primary or secondary healthcare.

High blood pressure treatment requires immediate medical controlling and with a proper diet and exercise and regular consultation with a physician,” he said.

The theme this year is ‘Know Your Numbers’ with a goal of increasing awareness about high blood pressure (BP). However, signs and symptoms of Hypertension are not specific and usually do not occur until high blood pressure has reached a severe or life-threatening stage.

Undetected and untreated, it leads to problems in the functions of major organs and serious complications such as heart attacks, strokeandotherdiseaseswhichcan eventuallyleadtodisabilityordeath.

The recommended normal blood pressure levels range between 120/80mm Hg to 140/90 mm Hg. Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, is a common condition in which there is an excessive long term force of blood applied to the artery walls

leading to heart diseases. The morebloodyourheartpumpsand the narrower your arteries are, the higher would be your blood pressure.

However, the Nigerian Hypertension Society, an affiliate of the International Society of Hypertension and World Hypertension League advises thus; everybody should check his/her blood pressure regularly, consult medical practitioners for proper advice, take medications regularly to achieve a good blood pressure control and thus prevent complications like stroke, heart failure, heart attack and kidney failure, avoid excessive salt consumption as this is strongly linked to development of disease.

The society added that eating healthy diets with daily consumption of fruits and vegetables would help prevent the disease, also exercising regularly (at least 30 minutes daily or a minimum of three non-consecutive days per week), and avoiding unhealthy lifestyles like smoking and alcohol consumption.

How much does skipping or having a healthy breakfast affect your health?

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he average Nigerian does not enjoy a regulated, sometimes, regimented meal schedule. Usually, a pleasant and well-planned day would likely begin with a balanced breakfast, but this can sometimes appear foreign or difficult to achieve. Due to busy schedules, most workingclass Nigerians do not even bother about breakfast and most of those who do can be found in the cities. Upon eating, most people consume eba, amala, yam pottage or beans in the evening. Sometimes, they might even consume akpu or amala for breakfast.

A study published in 2017

by Agugo Uchegbulam, Iheme Godwin and two other researchers in Nkwere, Owerri, Imo State, revealed that about 59 percent of women regularly missed breakfast, while 48 percent rarely consumed three meals a day. Major reasons cited were workload, limited time, and sometimes fasting. Comparing breakfast intake among school children in rural and urban areas of Nsukka, Enugu State in 2012, Onyechi Uchenna and Ugwunnadi Ginikachiin their research explained that only 10 percent of children in rural areas did not consume breakfast, as against 21.7 percent of children in urban communities in the state.

Over the years, ‘Mamaput’ restaurants have become essential for Nigerian social and eating habits. And for the upwardly mobile their services are vital for survival. Afternoon visits to several popular canteens across the country: Lagos (Yakoyo in Ilupeju, White House Restaurant in Yaba&Olaiya Food House, in Surulere; Ibadan (OseOlohun Restaurant in Bodija; Iya Meta in Oduduwa) or Imo State (Hungry Man Restaurant in Owerri) present a picture of desperation, mild anxiety and rush to quickly satisfy hunger and return to work as quickly as possible, since many tend to miss breakfast.

By simple definition, breakfast is “the first meal of the day,” which is consistent with the etymology to “break” the “fast”. In Nigeria, it is defined as “morning feeding”, depending on light and dark cycles independent of sleeping or waking. Generally, an oper­ational definition of breakfast is “the first meal consumed within 2 hours after prolonged sleep in any 24-hour duration. This represents the extended daily time during a fasting sit­uation, a period when food has already been digested, absorbed and stored as glycogen and the only time when most of the people are post-absorptive. But due to the demands of the tissues and organs, the body has to rely on stored glycogen, which can then be affected when skipping breakfast extensively.

Eating behaviours, such as consuming breakfast has been

significantly associ­ated with physiological, psychological, and social health dimensions.

A regular omission, particularly the breakfast meal, has been associated with poorer diet quality, lower intakes of total energy, vitamins, and minerals, including increased risk of central adiposity, markers of insulin resistance and cardiometabolic risk factors. Estimated prevalence rates of meal skipping in the young adult population vary between 24 and 87 percent with young adults consistently reporting higher rates of meal skipping compared with other age groups.

Quite a lot of people are concerned about their weight and looks, especially people who prefer a slimmer frame.

Some stop eating while some deliberately skip meals just to help them manage and regulate their weight. Guess what, if you think skipping breakfast will help you maintain a healthy weight, you might want to think again. In fact, recommendations include starting the day with a healthy breakfast as this reduces the desire to eat a more food later during the day and balances the required diet to achieve adequate body weight.

By choosing a balanced, nourishing breakfast, you can get off to the right start, and fill in the gaps in food groups likely to be missing in your diet. Milk is a perfect breakfast complement. Studies show milk drinkers and breakfast eaters have more nutritious diets and tend to be healthier than non-milk drinkers and breakfast skippers.

Standard nutritional recommendations suggest that an ideal breakfast meal should contain 20percent to 35percent of daily energy derived from three food groups, including milk and milk derivatives, cereals (unrefined and whole grain) and fresh fruit or juice without added sugar.

Why do people skip breakfast?

In several studies, reports have shown that time management remains an issue that leads to meal skipping, particularly among young adults. In 2013, International Journal of Education and Research reported a study conducted by Afolabi et al amongNigerian university students where about 48 percent of Nigerian university students skip meals due to time, while 19 percent and 13 percent of students skip due to lack of appetite and inability to cook respectively. In 2014, BMC Public Health published a study conducted by Deliens et Althat University students would rather spend time on activities than cooking, especially when they must cook only for themselves. So, the lack of time could be the main reason for the varied prioritization of eating breakfast.

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BDSUNDAY 31

Sunday Magazine

When Ajimobi, Ganduje read from

In the last few days, Kano State has been engulfed in crisis. Governor Abdullahi Ganduje stoke the fire when he moved to break the emirate into smaller units. Observers say the decision was targeted at Muhammad Sanusi II, the emir of Kano.

Despite a court ruling restraining Ganduje from carrying out the decimation, he was defiant. He went ahead and created four new emirate councils and has since installed the new emirs. What the governor has done in Kano is akin to what Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State did in Ibadan. Ajimobi, who is Ganduje son’s father-in-law, had in 2017, decimated the power of Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, by approving 21 beaded kings for Ibadan. The crisis engendered by the development is still raging as peace has remained on holiday in the ancient city of South West. Some analysts speak in tandem that it must have been the Emir’s “sin” (in Ganduje’s eyes) that was responsible for the move against him. Yet, others have described Ganduje’s action as an ‘Affront on historical institutions’. It therefore, appears that the two governors are reading from same book.

Peace still on holiday in Ibadan

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REMI FEYISIPO, Ibadan

overnor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State in 2017 reviewed the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration to allow the ancient city of Ibadan have multiple Obas.

This followed the adoption of the recommendations of a judicial commission of inquiry earlier inaugurated by the governor.

The members of Olubadanin-Council, hitherto known as High Chiefs were by that review installed as Obas and provided crowns by government.

Th move by Governor Ajimobi then generated controversy among supporters of the High Chiefs’ elevation and majority of the elite kicked against it. Oba Saliu Adetunji, the Olubadan of Ibadan stoutly opposed the new order and headed to court.

Also, a former governor of the state and a member of Olubadanin-Council and Osi Olubadan, Rashidi Ladoja kicked against it. He did not only reject being crowned by the state government, but also instituted a legal action against the review and headed for court.

With the new declaration, the ancient city, which used to have the Olubadan of Ibadanland as the only beaded crown-wearing oba, in its 11 Local Governments will no longer be.

The 11 members of the Olubadan-in-council were elevated to the status of Oba, with the prefix of “his royal majesty.”

Thirteen ancient baales from different towns in Ibadanland were also promoted to the position of obas, with the prefix of “his royal highness.”

While all the newly promoted Obas will be under the authority of the Olubadan who will be the only ‘imperial majesty,’ none of them will add the suffix ‘land’ to his title.

But unperturbed by the outcry and gale of criticism against the new order within and outside the state, the governor went ahead to inaugurate the new Obas.

Speaking at the presentation of letters before the proper inauguration at the House of Chiefs, Secretary to the State Govern-

ment, Olalekan Alli, explained that eight High Chiefs were given letters elevating them to Obaship and changing their titles to “‘His Royal Majesty,” while 13 Baales were elevated to “His Royal Highness,” noting that nine vacant Baale stools were not conferred, but their positions are now recognised as Obas.

The government explained that its decision was in line with the provisions of the recently

amended 1959 Declaration of Olubadan and other related chieftaincies in Ibadanland, as well as the government White Paper as conveyed in Government Gazette No 14, Notice 27, Vol. 42 of August 23, this year and Gazette No. 15, Notice 28, Vol. 42 of August 24, this year, respectively.

The government stated that the action was in exercise of Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s powers, as conferred on him by Section 28

”

The 11 members of the Olubadanin-council were elevated to the status of Oba, with the prefix of “his royal majesty

”

(i), Cap. Vol. 1 of the Chiefs Law of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000 and the amended 1959 Declaration.

Alli said High Chief Lekan Balogun, Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland; High Chief Eddy Oyewole, Ashipa Olubadan of Ibadanland; High Chief Akinloye Owolabi Olakuleyin, Balogun of Ibadanland; High Chief Tajudeen A. Ajibola, Osi Balogun of Ibadaland; High Chief Latifu Gbadamosi Adebimpe, Asipa Balogun of Ibadanland; High Chief Kolawole Adegbola, Ekarun Balogun of Ibadanland; High Chief Abiodun Kola-Daisi, Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadanland and High Chief S. Amidu Ajibade, Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadanland would now be addressed as Royal Majesties, while

the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, remains the Imperial Majesty, with no disruption or amendment to the traditional Olubadan Chieftaincy ascendancy system or structure.

He stated that Chief Lasisi Akano, Onijaye of Ijaye; Chief Ismaila Olasunkanmi, Oniroko of Iroko; Chief Moses Olasunkanmi, Onikereku of Ikereku; Chief Mudasiru Omodele Adebayo, Baale Olodo; Chief Victor Sunday Okunola, Elegbeda of Egbeda; Alhaji Wahab Olabamiji Okedina, Baale Okelade-Okin; Chief Olabamiji Ahmed Thomas, Alakufo of Akufo; Chief Gbolagade Muritala Babalola, Onido of Ido; Chief Dauda Omotoso, Baale Awotan; Chief Tiamiyu Labiyi Ladipo, Baale of Abanla; and Chief James Oladipo Obisesan, Baale Akanran were conferred with His Royal Highness status.

His Royal Majesty, Oba Lekan Balogun, who spoke on behalf of the new Obas, then thanked the government and Ajimobi for answering the call of the people to review the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration of 1959, stressing that the new development is God-ordained.

At the inauguration proper on Sunday, August 27, 2017 at the historic Mapo Hall, Ibadan, attended by prominent Ibadan elders, socio-cultural groups, opinion leaders and a number of Ibadan citizens, Ajimobi presented certificates and staff of office to 24 chiefs, who were among the 33 recently elevated to the status of Obas , the governor said that the state government followed due process in conducting the exercise, stressing that all extant laws had been complied with, while he said that the exercise was not encumbered by any legal impediment.

Ajimobi debunked the insinuations being peddled by those he called political opponents to the effect that the promotion was targeted at whittling down the influence and authority of the Olubadan as the supreme monarch in Ibadanland.

The governor said that the initiative was born out of a strong sense of patriotism and a resolve to elevate, uplift, transform and reposition the chieftaincy institution of Ibadanland.

“I wish to state categorically that we are not changing history; we are not changing tradition;

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Sunday Magazine

same book…Ibadan, Kano shook we are not changing the culture of Ibadanland.

“Rather, we are elevating and consolidating our traditional institution and the exalted position of the Olubadan as the imperial majesty in Ibadanland.

“We are also elevating the Olubadan-in-Council and the chieftaincy institution without altering or tinkering with the traditional succession and ascendancy system of the Olubadan Chieftaincy structure.”

Ajimobi explained that the review of the 1959 Olubadan chieftaincy declaration was not a novel idea, having been carried out by successive administrations in the state in 1974, 1981, 1993 and 2000.

According to him, Ladoja, who was opposed to the current exercise, also set up the Adio Commission to review the Olubadan Chieftaincy declaration, before jettisoning the commission’s recommendations.

The governor said, “Our administration is not reinventing the wheel. We have simply, like others before us, embarked on a review of the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration in response to the yearnings of well-meaning stakeholders.

“These include the Ibadan Elders Council, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) and eminent sons and daughters of Ibadanland, such as Chief Theophilus Akinyele; the late Otun Olubadan, Chief Omowale Kuye; and all, but one member of the Olubadan- in-Council.

He explained that the event was also born out of his administration’s burning desire to redress the lopsidedness in the number of beaded crown obas in Ibadanland vis-à-vis other zones in the state.

While Oke Ogun, Ogbomoso, Oyo and Ibarapa zones have several beaded crown obas, he declared that Ibadanland, touted as the political and traditional headquarters of Yorubaland, had

”

Rather, we are elevating and consolidating our traditional institution and the exalted position of the Olubadan as the imperial majesty in Ibadanland

”

only one beaded crown oba.

With the installation of 33 new obas, the governor said that the clamour for the creation of Ibadan State had become justifiable, adding that the individual domains of the new obas were poised to witness tremendous growth and development.

However, an Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, declared the review of the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration and other Related Chieftaincies Laws in Ibadanland by the Oyo State Government as unconstitutional, illegal, null and void and of no effect.

The court headed by Justice Olajumoke Aiki delivered the judgment in a case filed by Ladoja against Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and Justice Akintunde Boade, the chairman of the Judicial Commission of Enquiry that reviewed the chieftaincy

declaration.

The Oyo State government has since appealed the judgment. But, since the controversy started, the Olubadan and the High Chiefs, promoted had been at each other’s throat.

Recently, the Olubadan-inCouncil members accused the monarch of running a one-man show and sidelining them when taking decisions, but Oba Adetunji bluntly told them to drop their “illegal crowns”, if they want to enter his palace. The Otun Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, who spoke on behalf of Olubadanin-council after their meeting criticised Olubadan for denigrating the council and accused the monarch of appointing Mogajis (family heads) and Baales (village heads) without any recourse to the council.

According to him, “Kabiyesi Oba Adetunji has turned the institution of Olubadan into personal affair, which can be run at his whims and caprices, which amounts to illegality. Contrary to their belief at Popoyemoja palace that Olubadan is an authority unto himself, we are telling the world that Olubadan only exists with his council.”

Balogun, who lamented the crisis within the traditional council since promotion of the new Obas, said it was sad that the Olubadan was destroying the system that enthroned him. He said rather than recognise the Olubadan-in-Council’s position, Oba Adetunji conferred the duties of the entire council on one of his wives, who rules by proxy.

He said: “We want to draw the attention of the people of Ibadan to some irregularities and illegalities embarked upon by the Olubadan. If Olubadan thinks we do not matter, we also can show that he doesn’t matter without us.

He should not forget that when he was to be made the Olubadan, he rose through the council. We (Olubadan-in-Council) made Olubadan out of him. He did not make us what we are, but we made him the Olubadan.”

Olubadan, who fired back, said he had no objection to the return of his embattled high chiefs to the palace once they remove their “illegal crowns”.

The paramount ruler, who spoke through the palace spokesperson, Adeola Oloko, said the Olubadan was not responsible in the first instance for their desertion from the palace and for abdicating their responsibilities to Ibadanland. He said: “Rather than engage in blame game, the high chiefs, who are understandably afraid of what is likely to befall them after May 29, when power would have changed hands, should have been courageous enough to apologise to the entire people of Ibadanland in particular Continues on page 33

Affront on historical institutions

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OSA VICTOR OBAYAGBONA he creation of additional four emirate councils from the already existing one emirate in Kano State by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje is an affront on historical institutions.

Although he is not the first governor to have done this, the reasons remain the same in all cases of local council creations– to whittle down the powers of the existing rulers, and to show them that political power is superior to traditional power.

However, this has succeeded in most cases across Nigeria. The military in their high-handedness did not do half of what civilian government has done since the return of Nigeria to civil rule in 1999.

Often, governors who are below performance are threatened when traditional rulers criticise them. They look for ways to show that they are above correction– this appears to be the reason for the development in the ancient city of Kano. The governor knew, such a project could not have been popular in his first term, as the implications could be grave on his political career.

But someone noted that such a decision by a governor to curtail “an overbearing” monarch, “is not new in Nigeria, even during the colonial era.”

But history students say that the above assertion is not altogether correct.

In the colonial era, what happened in the Benin Kingdom is far from what is happening now.

Then, it was an external colony using a superior force of power (the force of the guns) to suppress the peaceful coexistence,

but with less military power, of some rural institutions. Today, a subject rises up to destabilise an already existing institution that precedes his forefathers because of quest to grab political power.

Going down memory lane, Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi (who ruled 1888-1897) was the Oba (king) of the Kingdom of Benin up till the British punitive expedition of 1897.

The attempt by the colonial power to install another, apart from the first son of the Oba, as king met with resistance because the Benin Kingdom thrives in the principle of primogeniture (a situation where only the first son succeeds his father as the ruler).

This is why the Benin Kingdom is still intact; the succession to the throne has not been distorted, even after the deportation of Oba Ovonramwen.

Oba Ovonramwen died January 1914 in Calabar, becoming the West African ruler who was the last independent Oba (king) of the 500-year-old Benin Kingdom. Oba Ovonramwen tried to maintain his independence in the face of increasing British pressure but was able to delay for only a few years the annexation of his kingdom by the colonial nation.

What Oba Ovonramwen tried to do then in the face of opposition and the colonial power forcefully deported him is exactly what the political governors are doing today to their various traditional institutions when they are corrected.

So, the situation is not exactly the same.Inthecolonialera,itwasacase ofinvadersseekingbettersourcesof raw materials, colonies and trade.

But now, it is a case of witch-hunt and “dog-eat-dog” exercise.

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BDSUNDAY 33

Sunday Magazine When the Emir ‘sinned’ (in governor’s eyes)…

When Ajimobi, Ganduje read from same book...

Continued from page 32

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ADEOLA AJAKAIYE, Kano

rom every indication, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State is hell-bent on cutting Emir Muhammadu Sanusi to size over his alleged support for the People`s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Abba Kabiru Yusuf, in the last general election.

Facts gathered from sources within Kano State Government revealed that the governor is bent on dethroning the Emir, after the move to have him transferred to Bichi, one of the new Emirates he created failed.

The sources confirmed that on-going investigation of the Emirate Accounts by the State Anti-Corruption Agency over alleged embezzlement of the Emirate Council Fund by the Emir is a plot aimed at achieving the objective of getting the Emir dethroned.

From all indications, State Anti-Corruption Agency is going to declare a guilty verdict against the Emir, which will give way for the governor to move for his dethronement or ask for the resignation of the Emir.

Observers say that the ongoing move to dethrone the Emir is get a pound of flesh as a result of the support Sanusi gave Yusuf during the gubernatorial election.

As a way of getting back at the Emir, the governor on Monday 6th May, allegedly masterminded the petition submitted to the Kano State House of Assembly by one Barrister Ibrahim Salisu seeking the de-centralisation of the Kano Emirate, and the petitioner had also demanded the upgrade of the traditional rulers of Karaye, Bichi, Rano, and Gaya to the status of first class emirs and the creation of additional emirates in Kano.

Based on the petition, the Assembly which was to be on recess until early June, was hurriedly and immediately reconvened by the Speaker, and it went ahead to set up a committee to look into the petition and the Committee come up with a report the following day, which was Tuesday 7th May. In the report the House Committee granted all the prayers of the petitioner, and constituted another Committee to draft Amendment Bill to ensure the creation of the new Emirates.

By the end of the week, despite a subsisting court order granted by a High Court sitting in Ungogo, the new Emirs were appointed and issued with their letters and instruments of authority.

By this action, Kano has lost its status as one of the only two states in Nigeria with one centralised emirate or traditional council, the same as Sokoto which is the seat of the Sultan

of Sokoto.

In the same vein, the law removed 36 of Kano’s 44 local government areas from the Kano Emirate to create the four new emirates - Rano, Gaya, Karaye and Bichi. Rano Emirate covers 10 local government councils These are Rano, Bunkure, Kibiya, Takai, Sumaila, Kura, Doguwa, Tudunwada, Kiru and Bebeji.

Also the Gaya Emirate has nine local government councils consisting of Gaya, Ajingi, Albasu, Wudil, Garko, Warawa, Dawakin-kudu, Gabasawa and Gezawa, while the Karaye Emirate has eight local government councils - Karaye, Rogo, Gwarzo, Kabo, Rimingado, Shanono, Madobi and Garun-Malam.

Bichi Emirate has nine local government areas - Bichi, Bagwai, Tsanyawa , Shanono, Kunchi, Dambatta, Makoda, DawakinTofa, and Tofa According to Yusuf Abdulsalami, a lawyer, the creation of the new emirates was done in violation of standing regulations of the House which does not act on the basis of a petition sent in by an outsider, but in this instance the rule was disregarded.

The Minority Leader of the House, who is from People’s Democratic Party, approached the Court on Friday 10th May. The court immediately issued an order restraining the governor from appointing the new Emirs or otherwise implementing the law.The order was served by the Court Bailiff at the Government House on Friday, 10th May at about 5.00pm, but Governor Ganduje disregarded the court order and proceeded to carry out the de-centralisation. The government claimed that the appointments had been carried out.

In his opinion article on ‘Kano: The insolent meets the unthinkable’, published in a national newspaper Louis Odion traced what may have been the cause

of Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s travail.

Sa n u s i m a y h a v e s i n n e d against knowledge, because, “On account of their commission and induction, royal fathers (how much more of the firstclass species) are supposed to be seen more and not heard in the public arena,” Odion said.

He further noted that “Sanusi ought to have known that, as a ‘public officer’ himself (since he draws salaries from public purse), there would be consequences. Populism has its own peril. Given his own unique circumstance, SLS could, therefore, only be cultivating martyrdom.

With the official clipping of his wings last week, the flamboyant hell-raiser from the ancient Kanuri megapolis should have realised that it is not always granted that he who volunteers his head to crack open the communal coconut will still be in a conscious state to partake of the consequential feast.

“In hindsight, it would now seem that nice as Sanusi’s activism might have appeared or sounded, the motive was nonetheless self-serving. He clearly showed too much of a partisan hand in the recklessly open flirtation with his old benefactor, Rabiu Kwankwaso of PDP, in the titanic battle for Kano’s political soul in the last general elections. So, it could then be said that the truths told were for the wrong reasons.”

It was Odion’s belief that “Sanusi’s tragic flaw from outset was assuming he could continue his activist hobby in an institution statutorily structured to be reticent in the modern political order. Nothing in his sustained garrulity and feisty disposition on the throne suggested he ever learnt any lesson from his earlier summary dismissal as CBN governor under the Jonathan administration after making public a disclosure of

missing billions of dollars in oil receipts that unmasked his then employer as nothing short of a common bandit.”

The first sign that danger was lurking around the corner against Sanusi was the anger displayed by supporters of Ganduje as soon as he was pronounced winner of the governorship election.

Odion captured it this way: “No surprise then that, once news filtered in that APC won the supplementary election days after the cliffhanger of March 9, Ganduje’s supporters who had endured sleepless nights, reportedly started their celebration by first smashing Sanusi’s official portrait hung in the State House.”

To rub the insult in, Ganduje said Sanusi should be reporting to the council chairman and not the Government House in Kano.

Meanwhile, the actions of the governor has completely overturned hierarchies and relations within the Emirate affecting the Emir of Kano and the four kingmakers – Madaki, Makama, Sarkin Dawakin Mai Tuta and Sarkin Bai on the one hand, and the so-called new Emirs and this situation, observers say, could lead to a breakdown of law and order in the state.

The four Kano kingmakers have since sued Ganduje over the creation of new emirates, praying the court to set aside the appointment of Messrs Tafida Abubakar-Ila , Ibrahim Abdulkadir, Ibrahim Abubakar ll and Aminu Ado-Bayero as Emirs of Rano, Gaya, Karaye and Bichi, respectively.

They also requested the court “to restrain Tafida Abubakar-Ila, Ibrahim Abdulkadir, Ibrahim Abubakar ll and Aminu AdoBayero from parading themselves as Emirs of Rano, Gaya, Karaye and Bichi, respectively.”

and the Yoruba people in general for undermining our customs and tradition.

“There is nowhere in Yoruba land where two kings sit inside a palace. It has always been the king and his chiefs. Aside violating our customs and tradition, there is no law that backs the wearing of illegal crowns in Ibadanland.”

The royal father explained that when the high chiefs said their efforts at resolving the crisis were frustrated, what they didn’t tell the unwary public is that Olubadan should approve through the back door the crowns the court had completely rejected.

Oba Adetunji said if Ibadan people want the crowns, he would have approved such long ago, but all indications show that the overwhelming majority does not approve it. Oba Adetunji said contrary to the High Chiefs’ allegations, he had done no wrong or acted illegally. He stated further that despite efforts at hindering the smooth running of the palace by the high chiefs and their promoter, they should wonder why the palace had begun to grow from strength to strength.

The monarch said the High Chiefs exhibited little or no knowledge of Ibadan customs and tradition, when they accused him of installing Mogajis and Baales without recourse to them. According to him, “Section 22 (2) of the Chiefs Law, Cap 28 Law of Oyo State 2000 makes the Olubadan the Prescribed and Consenting Authority on all chieftaincy matters in Ibadan land.” He argued that the Olubadan-in-Council is merely an advisory body without any power whatsoever.

He said: “If anybody should be castigated for denigrating our institution, it is the embattled high chiefs with inordinate ambition to become monarchs without domain that should examine themselves. It is those who commit crime against Yoruba customs and tradition and do not repent that deserve to be castigated.

“It is those who run away from the palace and turn round to say they are not carried along that should feel guilty. It is those who flagrantly disobey court orders; it is the chiefs who are sent to represent the Olubadan at the Government Traditional Councils, but seized Olubadan’s salaries that have violated our customs and tradition.”

He disclosed that he had expected the high chiefs to comply with the Oyo State High Court judgment, which declared the state government reform that produced the crowns as illegal, null and void.

But as the Ajimobi administration will end in less than two weeks from now, there is tension in the city as to what the in-coming administration will do about the tussle. Only time will tell.

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Sunday 19 May 2019

SundayBusiness First Class Refreshments takes African Food & Beverages foods to the global stage With Ayo Oyoze Baje

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p north in Nigeria there are some popular delicacies, unique to the people that have also become the toast of non-indigenes. Amongst these are snacks such as kulikuli(groundnut snack), suya and kilishi(roasted beef). Others include tuwo shinkafa (made from rice) and drinks such as kunu (made from maize or sorghum), fura de nono(millet and milk) and of course, zobo( from dried Roselle plant flowers) , which the Federal Institute of Industrial Research(FIIRO), Oshodi has upgraded to the level of export.

Though these food products have remained at the local production level, for several decades, a distinguished Nigerian by the name, Badamasi Burji (Managing Director/CEO of First Class Refreshments) saw the immense potentials latent

in them. This is especially so if modern technological input could be added in their processing, packaging and marketing. So good, that he did not rest on his oars but decided to give life to his dreams.

As at today, the processed and packaged products have spread across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Amongst the tasty treats we have Kuli-Kully.

This is made from ground peanut and seasoning, hardened and given some shapes mostly thin and long or round. Another is Dan Sarki is one of the favourites with the consumers because of its irresistible taste. Though it is made as groundnut prince cookie, ingredients such as sugar, eggs and milk are added. Nutritionally, it is rich in protein, fibre, minerals and vitamins.

On its part, Kilishi came into being as man’s effort to preserve excess meat. It is roasted and prepared with pepper and mixed spices. According to Burji, the demand for packaged kilishi has become so high from outside the country that he sees it as a “potential foreign exchange booster”. There are other popular snacks such as Alkali, made up of twists of high wheat dough soaked in honey. Nakiya, is the snack made from local white rice with indigenous spices such as kanampari, yaji, masoro(black pepper), ginger and water. It is in hot demand at wedding parties. Others such as Danbun Nama(packaged chicken) and Danbun Nama( packaged beef)

also join the fray. While Dubulan is made from sugar, egg and vegetable oil fried into golden colour, Bakilawa is a snack of Arab origin made from dough of flour, groundnut mixed with syrup.

Not done, fast- selling packaged First Class drinks also making waves in the international market. These include fruit juices from pineapple, watermelon, orange, ginger, tamarind, tiger nut and of course, zobo.

With a virile Vision: “To produce agricultural products which are made 100 % in Nigeria and the favourite of all tribes and with the potential of patronage abroad and at the same time viable, feasible and profitable”, the food company has started to make waves here and abroad.

All the same, questions are being asked on what makes the products better than others.

Said Burji: “Our answer lies in the universally accepted axiom that the taste of the pudding is in the eating. We are irrevocably committed to strict adherence to the three cardinal principles that underpin our Vision and Mission. The first is TASTE as the best way to beat competition.

We c h a l l e n g e o u r s e l v e s t o as much as possible to get ingredients that are organic; thereby making the taste entirely unique. This makes our customers to succinctly describe such taste as out of this world. But the bigger statement on this is that the health and wellbeing of our customers are topmost in our priorities.” Well

Propertymart’s estate allocation boosts subscribers’ confidence in housing scheme Temitayo Ayetoto

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ropertymart Real Estate Investment Limited, a Lagos based property firm, has allocated plots of lands to subscribers of its Fairmont Hilltop Estate, Alagbado, boosting their confidence in the scheme.

In tandem with its goal of addressing the housing deficit in the country, the latest allocation is one of the series targeted at providing comfortable housing away from the bustling city life to a fine country living which the Fairmont Hilltop presents.

Located in Alagbado, within close proximity to necessary amenities capable of serving the hilltop lifestyle, the estate gives subscribers the complete experience of a city with security, comfort, and accessibility, as well as a variety of recreational facilities, products, and services.

Subscribers impressed with the project’s professional management of allocation have commended the firm for not reneging

on its commitment to them, especially in infrastructural development on site.

Tunde Salami, a subscriber to the Fairmont Hilltop estate urged the company to keep up with the innovative offerings and sustain its standards, while Omoti Emmanuel, another subscriber described the architectural design and attention to details as inspiring.

At the handing over ceremony, Abimbola Arasi, Propertymart’s deputy managing director, assured the subscribers of the company’s resolve to always deliver on its mandate, despite the economic realities of the country.

He noted that the company has continued to pursue the objective of advancing people lives through providing affordable housing solutions under a reputable management and board of directors since inception.

“The unprecedented turnout received for the offer and the need to get more Nigerians interested in owning their own properties on the Fairmont platform motivated us. Like other Fair-

mont estates in different parts of the country, we have made it affordable under a sustainable payment plan for all types of income earners,” he said.

A key-thrust of the housing revolution which the company is championing is the need to encourage more persons to acquire their own properties at affordable prices under a flexible payment arrangement. This also informed the decision of the company to introduce the Fairmont Hilltop Alagbado scheme which is being offered at affordable rates with quality of infrastructure provision.

The estate is about 15 minutes distance from The Palms Mall, Sango Ota, eight minutes from Command Day Secondary School and 20 minutes from Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Computer Village and Canaan Land in Ota, Ogun State.

The firm’s mission is hinged on the provision of needed infrastructure such as roads, walkways, and recreational facilities in a serene, beautiful and secured living environment.

said, one would say. But there is more to what makes First Class Refreshments stand out above its peers.

Fu r t h e r m o r e , h e s t a t e s without equivocation that: “Our next uncompromising principle is QUALITY. In ensuring this, we always strive to keep to our promise; any quantity on the label is the minimum of what you get, and surely no less. We strive to always give more at the price of less. We adhere to high standards to give you maximum quality.”

Another exciting pledge to the customer, is it not? Yes, of course.

And he adds that the: “The third principle is predicated on the firm belief that you, the customer is the king. We therefore, cannot afford to take you for granted.

Your state of HYGIENE matters to us. We shall therefore, go all out to maintain the highest state of hygiene in our environment. This stretches to the entire process, from picking the right type of ingredients to making it ready for you to eat. We follow that all of that meticulously”.

Not long ago its First Class Kully Cookies and Refreshments Kitchen, Store and Restaurants was commissioned by Mr. Femi Adesina , Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and supported by Alhaji Ahmad Rabiu, Commissioner of Commerce, Kano state, Engineer Emeka Ike, President, Actors Guild of Nigeria as well as Senior Members of Nigeria’s Guild of Editors and top businessmen.

As a leading Nigerian food

production company that produces African foods and snacks as well as the supply of agricultural products it has taken part in some international Trade Fairs to showcase its prime products to the world. Amongst t h e s e a r e t h e 2 3 r d Gh a n a international Trade Fair, the 24th Edition of Dubai Gulfood, the 2019 Cote d’Voire International Trade Fair as well as the 16th Malaysian International Halal Showcase, 2019.

Aw a r e o f t h e p o w e r o f partnerships to drive its Vision and Mission statements, it is a member of the Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA), the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry(LCCI), Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce(NACCI) and Nigerian-Malaysian Business Corridor(NMBC) amongst others.

Having shown the readiness of the company to meet the demands of the customers, Burji states that there is little wonder that demand for their products is on the upswing. He reiterates that the company will not compromise on the qualities of Taste, Quality and Hygiene. The journey has been so far, so good and we urge it to keep flying the Nigerian flag higher.

Baje is Nigerian first Food Technologist in the media ayobaje@yahoo.co.uk; 08057971776

Actors discuss health insurance schemes After 15 deaths in 5 months Jonathan Aderoju

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here is a common thing to every man that is Death, it has no fear for anyone even for movie stars who appear larger than life. Mortality is an end we all face whether you are anonymous or famous.

The year 2012 and 2013 was a painful year that marked a total number of 10 deaths of Nollywood practioners in those years.

When we thought it was all over, with joy and happiness into the new year of 2019 with positive vibes, unfortunately, 2019 isn’t only towing that line but has since recorded a total of 15 deaths in the first five months of the year!

Sadly, the first five months of 2019 has witnessed the deaths of movie practitioners, whose ages range between 30 years and 58 years. The passing away of the fallen Nollywood stars has not only left sad pills in the mouth of the fans but also their families, friends, and colleagues.

Multiple reports reveal that 12 out of these 15 deaths recorded are as a result of health challenges. Out of the 15 deaths, two were as a result of auto crash, one was complications

after childbirth and others are health challenges ranging from diabetes to high blood pressure. This scary statistic has once again ignited the conversation on the need for a proper health insurance scheme or health plans for Nigerian actors.

According to the Actor and President of the Directors Guild of Nigeria, Fred Amata he says that the DGN is aware of the need to have health insurance schemes and packages for entertainers. However, he says this can only be enjoyed by members of the association.

Amata went ahead to say that 15 guilds and associations including the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners, Theatre Arts and Motion Picture Producers Association of Nigeria , Director Guild of Nigeria, Creative Designers Guild of Nigeria, Motion Picture Practitioners’ Association of Nigeria, Film/Video Producers & Marketers Association of Nigeria, Screenwriters Guild of Nigeria, Association of Motion Picture Entertainment Editors of Nigeria, Association of Voice Over Artists of Nigeria, Independent Television Producers Association of Nigeria, signed a Memorandum Of Understanding in 2017 to create a welfare scheme known as NollyInsured.

Sunday 19 May 2019

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BDSUNDAY 35

SundayBusiness Possible growth initiatives for housing finance in Nigeria

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n e m p l oy m e n t a n d high level poverty are two major obstacles to getting housing finance in Nigeria. Poverty level in the country is high despite the country’s apparent wealth from petro-dollar. This is made worse by rising unemployment figures in excess of 20 million.

Africa is regarded as a poor continent and, despite its relative large population size, the continent is economically underweight with an estimated €113 billion gross asset value of real estate which represents 1 percent of the world’s total value.

A World Bank report once estimated that only 3 percent of the African population, about 15 percent of the world’s 7.3 billion population has income viable enough to qualify them for a mortgage. This explains the need for initiatives that can lead to viable income to qualify people for mortgage.

That estimate simply underscores the level of poverty in the black continent where some households live below poverty line. Home ownership in most parts of Africa remains a luxury

because houses are literally unavailable and where they are, they are inaccessible and unaffordable.

In Nigeria, the continent’s most populous nation and one touted as its largest economy, it is estimated that 70 percent of country’s over 180 million people lives below poverty line, which is the reason for the low home ownership level in the country that is a little above 10 percent.

It is also estimated that about 90 percent of houses in Nigeria are self-built with less than 5 percent of them in possession of formal title registration. Because of this, mortgage loans and advances in the country stand at 0.5 percent to GDP in contrast to 30-40 percent in emerging economies and 60-80 percent in advanced economies.

Adigwe Arinze of Homebase Mortgage Bank attributes this to hostile business environment and lack of structure which hitherto existed in the mortgage market now being addressed by the Uniform Underwriting Standard championed by the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC).

There are other obstacles to mortgage finance that include

Procurement and Supply Chain

with Gob-Agundu Uche Branch chair (CIPS), Nigeria

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E-Procurement Program IPS believes that Procurement and Supply Management professionals should lead and drive the procurement part of any e Commerce project and work cross-functionally with colleagues.

This is because P&SM professionals are best placed to: ç Identify all the procurement requirements for direct and indirect materials and services that will need to be incorporated into the development of the e Procurement solution that best suits the needs of the organization. · Identify the business benefits, compare these with costs and develop a cost/benefit analysis · Persuade suppliers to join the market and carry out due diligence of any potential new suppliers Where it is not practicable for a P&SM professional to lead an e Procurement project, they must ensure that they are consulted by the e Commerce project team involved in decision making and kept abreast of developments.

New technology is not a substitute

for good professional knowledge and abilities.

To take account of this, and to reap the benefits of e Procurement, CIPS believes that P&SM professionals should ensure that they undertake appropriate training and ensure their skills, knowledge and competencies are continuously developed. Skills relating to e Procurement include wider management skills such as those involved with change management.

P&SM professionals should also note that e Procurement is not a discrete systems application, but rather an on-going program which should be continually developed as technology and P&SM expertise evolves within an organization.

Implementation Issues There are also issues to overcome when implementing e Procurement including: · Ensuring that, by deploying e Procurement, organizations are not simply passing costs or process inefficiencies on to another part of the organization or on to suppliers

dearth of long-term funds, absence of a viable secondary mortgage market, inadequate branch network of Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs), among others which means that a lot still needs to be done to grow housing finance in the country.

The growth of housing finance in Nigeria, according to Guillaume Roux of Lafarge Africa Group, needs the support of the small microfinance institutions in their efforts to expand and diversify their offering, adding that the growth would also come from the large commercial banks which are becoming more and more attracted by the low to medium income segment of the housing market.

Roux’s argument is that both the microfinance institutions and commercial banks need support to develop housing products and build up projects which would positively affect the low income segment, urging organisations and institutions to help one another to achieve these goals.

Nigeria needs to grow housing finance through such initiatives as ‘Housing Microfinance Academy’ which Lafarge launched in 2014 in partnership with International

Talking Mortgage with CHUKA UROKO (08037156969, chukuroko@yahoo.com)

Finance Corporation (IFC) and African Finance Development (AFD).

Training sessions need to be organised to promote housing microfinance and develop the capabilities of banks in that field.

Roux sees governments as critical stakeholders required to create the regulatory framework that would make the housing market work for the low income segment, noting that the setting up of NMRC and the institutions for housing finance, including microfinance and mass housing financing, with the support of the World Bank, is a good example of a platform which would facilitate the growth of initiatives there.

“This will progressively enable a decrease in interest rates in the mortgage industry. However, more support from the govern-

ment is needed to lower the interest rates for the funding of affordable housing and social housing projects. Today, they represent a cost of up to 30 to 40 percent of the construction, which is borne by the end user”, Roux said.

It needs to be stated that there is a need to improve affordability of construction itself in which case social housing projects should be setting the stage by showcasing new construction techniques that could improve quality, deliver faster and reduce the cost of construction.

African governments need to creatively innovate in order to improve the living standard of their people through the provision of affordable and mortgage-backed housing programmes. Also, the mortgage system has to be improved to make it not only accessible but also affordable.

E – procurement part 2 · Competition issues (e.g. in exchanges using collaborative purchasing) · Possible negative perception from suppliers, for example, due to their margins being reduced byeauctions · Website and information control lost to exchange administrators · Negotiated procurement benefits may be shared with other exchange users who may be competitors · Creation of catalogues can be a long process and costly to suppliers · Data and catalogue management must be done well and can be costly, as can product coding and classification · The cost of changing suppliers once they have invested in catalogue production may inhibit competition and lead to inertia · Culture profile within organizations (e.g. resistance to change) · Security of data in e Procurement systems is critical.

The system must contain robust mechanisms for identifying and authenticating the user so that the supplier knows that he can fulfill any orders placed. Both parties must have complete confidence in the security infrastructure of any system.

Benefits to Suppliers Engaging in the e Business

process also brings potential benefits to suppliers. These include: · Time and cost savings in reinputting orders · Reduction in errors, e.g. from re-inputting orders, deliveries, returns, invoices and payments · Reduced transaction costs and cycle times · Holding less stock because of more efficient communications with customers i.e. real time sales data Information for use in planning and forecasting · Improvedsupplierperformance by sharing supplier measurement information · Faster payment · Improved management information The resulting benefits to buyers will be: • Reduced transaction costs and cycle times • Possibility of developing Vendor Managed Inventory • Improvements in Just in Time deliveries • More accurate deliveries due to reduced input order errors by suppliers • Shared performance measurement data which encourages improved supplier performance • Potential for less expediting by the buyer as the supplier acknowledges orders by exception which automatically updates the buyer’s system

• Reduced stock due to shared sales/forecast information • Possibility of using self-billing Changes and Benefits E Procurement has changed the dynamics of the P&SM profession by, for example, placing a greater emphasis on knowledge management. It is suggested that e Procurement will change the culture of P&SM in an organisation and may lead to a greater emphasis on cost and prices.

E Procurement can release time to be spent on more valueadding aspects of purchasing, such as the development of end users’ purchasing competencies and the development of suppliers.

CIPS believes it is an opportunity to deploy competencies to the greatest effect.

CIPS also advises P&SM professionals to consider how e Procurement can enhance their transactional purchasing by providing end users with quick and easy to use electronic systems, such as electronic catalogues for selecting and purchasing their requirement from preferred suppliers. This should reduce transactional costs by improving speed and efficiency and provide greater commitment to contracts by the reduction of ‘maverick purchasing’, i.e. purchases made outside of an organization’s contractual arrangements.

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Sunday 19 May 2019

BrandsOnSunday SPOTLIGHTING BRAND VALUE

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n June 1, 2019, Europe and perhaps the entire world will stand still for the 2019 Uefa Champions League finals. In Africa, almost every sports enthusiast know that the final match scheduled for Estadio Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid, Spain is between five time champions, Liverpool and first time finalist, Tottenham Hotspur, the two English teams that conquered other top rated teams in Europe to emerge finalists.

From the start of the competition till the semi-finals, the competition was electrifying and captivating, courtesy of the positive and overwhelming information flow about the competition from Europe and in Nigeria.

African people and media, culturally attached to Western life have also keyed into the trend to the extent that more time and page spaces in broadcast stations and newsprint respectively are devoted to talk about European leagues and championships. This has assisted to create overpowering influence among sports fans in Africa. With power of the media, average African sports enthusiast can name most of the players in a particular leading club in Europe. This is not the case of Nigerian or other African leagues.

Contrastingly also, not many European and particularly African sports fans know the finalists of the 2019 CAF Champions league and where it will take place. WAC Casablanca of Morocco and ES Tunis of Tunisia will play first leg and second leg on 24 and 31 May, 2019 respectively. Since kick off till the final, the competition does not have fun, excitement and much African followership.

Regrettably, African Championship League and many other major events in the continent are really in the same manner, indistinct when compared with Uefa and other

Can CAF champions’ league match UEFA’s standard?

The hype and headline stories around the Uefa Champions League and English Premier League are overwhelming when compared with their African counterparts. Daniel Obi looks at this lopsided development.

events in Europe. Many factors account for this.

Organisers of Uefa Champions League or indeed any other competition they organise understand that creating visibility for the tournament is prime and significant in attracting sponsors, fans. This was achieved and today Uefa champions League which is one of the most televised events is also one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world. In terms of visibility and popularity, the yearly competition is just overwhelming, so also the English Premiership league.

Surprisingly, even some cable television stations in Africa show

their audience clips of European league games during half time when they are televising African league matches and championship. This is a clear indication of cultural imperialism. European television stations may not do the same of showing clips of African league matches during half time of European league matches.

It is also understood that a total of €2.04billion ($2.28 billion) will be distributed to clubs competing in the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League and the 2018 UEFA Super Cup, with commercial revenue estimated at around €3.25billion ($3.63 billion). When you compare

it with $5.7million prize money for CAF Champions League for winners (first to forth position), you now know why the competition is not making headlines and disrupting the soccer market like their European counterparts.

In an attempt to gain eye-balls and top of the mind attention among global viewers, international brands compete to sponsor Uefa’s prestigious cup competition and English Premiership unlike the CAF champions league and African cup competitions where brands are pleaded for sponsorship.

Many of international brands which also have strong presence in Africa find it difficult to sponsor African leagues and championships, but they easily key in to sponsor European competitions even when they have big market for their products in Africa. This perhaps has to do with structures and organisation of African leagues.

It is also noteworthy to realise that UEFA and English Premiership enjoy constant communication in the international media and the players are frequently profiled. The clubs also have a lot of goodies such as jerseys for fans, but African clubs are struggling to pay match bonuses much more enticing fans.

It is said that in Africa, there is strong mentality among officials, including referees of must home wins for clubs. Sometimes this is obvious from scenes of officiating.

This ordinarily makes matches boring, uninteresting to watch, and it therefore loses appeal and sponsorship.

One noticeable character about European leagues is that they try to play down on hooliganism, racism and when such incidents occur, cameras turn lens to something else. But African cameras try to focus their lenses on such incidents.

This causes loss of appetite to watch such matches.

African course is however not helped by slanted interpretation of news and use of pejorative adjectives by Western media when reporting events in the continent.

“The presentation of African news by Western media convinces the audiences in United States, Europe and other parts of the world that the entire continent of Africa is hopeless, poverty and disease stricken. Images of skyscrapers, well developed road networks and other manifestations of modern development in most African countries are usually absent in the mindsets of Western media audiences”, Ahmed Mheta writes in panafricanvisions website.

Though African media has been blamed for failing in its role to market the continent to the rest of the world, but it can gradually make a U-turn to that course.

Africa should organise its information mechanism to project its culture and events.

LG Electronics gives back to society, opens free wash center in Port Harcourt

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G Electronics has commis- centre is designed to operate on a in the development of cutting edge LG Electronics, Hari Elluru in his sioned a new Free Wash daily basis in order to improve the technological products. In one year opening remarks said, “The whole Centre tagged Life’s Good living conditions as well as support of operating the free wash centre in idea about the project is to encourwith LG Wash, equipped the daily washing needs of people Lagos, LG has served over 10,000 age proper hygienic living amongst with state of the art facilities to meet in the area. LG Electronics has over people and washed more than the people. It is instructive to note the laundry needs of people living the years continued to receive com- 110,000 set of clothes, the state- that this initiative is LG Electronics around Mgboba community and its mendation from Nigerian consum- ment further said. modest way of saying thank you environs. The Wash centre which is ers for having their interest at heart The Corporate Marketing Head to its esteemed consumers living the 2nd free laundry outlet is situated at the LG Fouani showroom on NTA road, Mgboba, Port Harcourt, Rivers state was launched by top management staff of LG Electronics West Africa operations, according to a statement. The event was attended

by Hari Elluru, Head of Corporate Marketing Division, LG Electronics West Africa operations; Jiung Park, General Manager, Home Appliances Division, LG Electronics West Africa operations; Mahmoud Youssef, Branch Manager, Fouani Nigeria Limited Port-Harcourt; alongside other key staff, media and general publics.

It is important to note that the pilot initiative of the Free-Wash CSR initiative was first launched in Ogba area of Lagos state just over a year ago, with the intention of L-R: Mahmoud Youssef, branch manager, Fouani Nigeria Limited Port Harcourt; Jiung Park, general manager, Home Appliances LG Electronics replicating it across strategic loca- West Africa operations, and Hari Elluru, head of corporate marketing division, LG Electronics West Africa operations, during LG Electronics CSR tions in the country. The free wash donation of Free Wash service centre in Port Harcourt recently.

within this community for their unwavering support and believe in our brand and most importantly for patronizing us.”

Interestingly, this initiative is the first of its kind in the country by any brand which is also a way of creating jobs for youths who will operate the facility, thereby reducing unemployment rate in the community. While meeting a need, it is also adding some economic value to the community.

The facility with several LG Washing machines, LG Air Conditioning units, uninterrupted power supply, constant supply of water among others is to ensure that the facility operates seamlessly.

Also commenting at the occasion, General Manager, Home Appliances Division, LG Electronics West Africa operations, Jiung Park said: “This is want I truly call giving back to the society because the real beneficiaries of this project are directly the people, whom I believe will utilize it very well to make like better for them. You can be rest assured that life is always good with LG. The facility is fully equipped to operate optimally.”

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BDSUNDAY 37

TheWorshippers ‘The church must go back to preaching the gospel truth’ Tunde Henry-Temile, the senior pastor of Barnabas Generation, a Port Harcourt based ministry. In this interview with SEYI JOHN SALAU, Pastor Henry-Temile spoke on the dynamics of Rivers State politics; the possible cause of violence, remedial actions that can be adopted and adapted by all stakeholders in the state. Excerpts: Violence appears to be a reoccurring pointer to Rivers State internal politics; why is it so? his whole thing started before Peter Odili came into power in 1999. Before 1999, Rivers people were loving people but after the 1999 experience and Peter Odili way of management; fund distribution, the people went wild. Governor Amaechi came into power trying to bring modern, civilised pattern of governance to Rivers State.

But we noticed that even the indigenes of Rivers State are used to free money. Amaechi brought some technocrats to run the state with him– so those that were used to making free money were not really getting it; so they fought him.

The man stood his ground and the results are there speaking; these are my views anyway. Wike came in with the powers that be then, however, the cult boys that were chased out of the state during the eight years of Amaechi, began to regroup. Politicians have so much bought weapons in the state and to control it is difficult, even for the state. Now, it is a fight for pride between the present governor, Wike and former governor, Amaechi – that is how I see it: it is a war of pride between their thugs. Now, the rate of cultism among the youth is a factor between secondary school students, community boys, community leaders, youth leaders; you see them, almost all of them fighting themselves, and these are the cult guys and community leaders that these politicians used. The boys are used to free money and when they are used during or after election and the money is no longer coming, they have to go out. You

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are driving on the road – you don’t know who will intercept you; kidnap rate whether you are walking or driving; even when you are in your house you can be kidnapped in Rivers State.

What is the future of the youth in Rivers State?

For now it looks very bleak if I must tell you the truth; but there is nothing that cannot be changed. If the government, community leaders can be sincere we can get away out of this. One is to fight cultism; when we reduce the rate of cultism, we can reduce the rate of kidnapping and crime in this state.

When we can reduce the rate of drug abuse – because drug/ cultism goes together and the Federal Government have to be part of it. If we can reduce the rate, criminality will reduce; if we can reorient the people through the community and religious leaders Tunde Henry-Temile

The church should go back to preaching the true gospel; morals should be taught through parents – parents have their roles to play; many of us are so ignorant

because the religious leaders too are part of the problem: let me just say we still have our issues from the pulpit, some things we say are not right politically. So, if we can take some time to have a plan to reorient the people politically using the religious and community platform and unfortunately Rivers State indigene are not used to working – they like community money; give them job, they wouldn’t want to take it. But the state cannot move like that, so community leaders, religious leaders reorientation must be prioritised in the state to fight cultism, drug abuse; fight and bring these things to the barest minimum.

In practical terms, what can

the church do about the level of politically-influenced violence in Rivers?

The church should go back to preaching the true gospel; morals should be taught through parents – parents have their roles to play; many of us are so ignorant.

The church should go back – few churches are still committed to their teen and tender church; the church should go back to the basis.

When we were younger we used to have Sunday school right from the children church – we should go back to it and begin to teach biblical and traditional morals to the children. Let them grow – that is what the religious leaders can do. Teach the youth, implement

some of these things; where you can make the young ones, especially the teenagers, active with activities during the holidays, just occupy the minds of the youth.

It’s really unfortunate now that we feel that it is only people that have made money that God has blessed – that view of if you have not made money you are not serving God well is not right – we need to change that perspective.

God’s blessing is not just financial; it is beyond the physical. Being born again you are blessed in the spirit and as you engage with the promises of God, it will manifest in the physical with time as you operate. But, today what you see is a young man in his 20s who cares what he does? He brings money to the church; he gives money to the prophet, give offerings, we just celebrate him. The community will celebrate him, his neighbourhood will celebrate him; we don’t care what he does to make the money.

The government has come out openly to say that there would be celebration on May 29, but low key. Do you think there is anything worth celebrating?

Of course, there are lots to celebrate from 1999 to now, we are not there yet but democracy is still thriving, so to say. Before 1999 with all that have been happening, the military would have taken over power. But today, with the support of international bodies we have been able to keep the military in their barracks. So, I think it’s getting better – we are not there yet; corruption is still there but gradually things will get better, and I love the way young minds are showing interest in politics now. So, May 29 is worth celebrating.

Ministry marks 11th anniversary in Lagos CHUKWUDI NWANERI

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estimony Renewal Ministry recently held a special worship service to celebrate the 11th anniversary of the church, with the theme ‘Let it Rain’.

Praise Ifeanyichukwu Barnabas, founder of the church also

known as ‘Testimonies Kingdom’, said the ministry started from 512, C close Festac Town in a small shop. According to Barnabas, he will not hesitate to tell the story of how the ministry started because there was no person that came to testimony kingdom that would not testify about the story of the ministry.

Speaking further on the 11th anniversary celebration, Barna-

bas said that Testimony kingdom came into existence on March 3, 2008 and the Lord has been sustaining the ministry, stating that the Lord has used Testimony Kingdom to restore many souls and that there was no man that comes to the church without being delivered.

According to Barnabas, the Lord gave him a task to go back to ancient old years. Speaking

on how he came about the name of the ministry, he said: “I was in a prayer; then I saw a hand in heaven or paradise writing the name, the blood and testimony renewal ministry also known as (testimonies kingdom), and I opened my eyes and it was in a trance: then I wrote it down,” he said.

Speaking further on the cel-

ebration and the contribution of members towards sustaining the ministry, Barnabas said “…today will be a better day to appreciate the name of the Lord because it happens to be our 11th anniversary; I thank the members who make testimony kingdom what it is today.” He saidhe had to obey God’s voice when he realised his divine work in his life.

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TheWorshippers Group calls for collaboration on fight against crime in Lagos …Honours AIG Zone 2 SEYI JOHN SALAU

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n a bid to honour and render assistance to men of the Nigeria Police for their relentless effort in the fight against crime, and help reduce crime to the barest minimum in the nation, the Pentecostal Ministers’ Forum (PMF), led by its national president, Chidi Anthony, recently paid a courtesy visit to Lawal Shehu, the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of police, zone 2, Onikan.

The PMF, which is a forum of ministers of the gospel meets to pray, intercede for the nation; provide welfare for members and also affect lives of the lessprivileged. However, in showing its support for the officers of the Nigeria Police in the fight against crime, the forum awarded the officers with the Award for Peace and Security, as it called for collaboration in the fight against crime.

“We believe that the NPF to a greater extent, have successfully fought gallantly to protect lives and property of the citizenry by combating terrorism and reducing the crime rate in Lagos to the barest minimum,” Chidi Anthony said, adding that in the recent past, Nigerians could not close their eyes to sleep and move freely within the state.

According to Anthony, the

Members of the Pentecostal Ministers’ Forum (PMF) led by Bishop Chidi Anthony, (3rd from right), its national president, on a courtesy visit to Lawal Shehu, (4th from left) the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of police, Zone 2, Onikan

present administration has recorded some success in some parts of the country, while it has failed in some parts of the northern region of the country where rates of terrorism and insecurity have gone up. “For instance, the Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen are believed to be sponsored

by some prominent men in the society which is also part of the decision makers in this regime,” he stated.

Adding his voice to the Democracy Day celebration, the cleric said democracy should be strengthened and that the rule of law should be respected by

everyone. He opined that the inauguration can be done on May 29 while the celebration is carried out on June 12, that it has nothing to do with the development of the nation. “…the date of celebration is not a challenge or a threat to this nation; what is important is our system of democracy,” he said.

Speaking on the performance of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, the PMF president said the administration can’t be rated above 35percent because the administration still has much work to do. Anthony further said that the cost of living is high and standard of living low compared to developed nations of the world.

According to him, “God installs a ruler for two major reasons; either to punish or uplift a nation.”

Citing instances of the last Kogi gubernatorial election where leading candidate in the election died before he could be declared winner of the election. “Therefore, I believe that if God is not involved in our politics, President Buhari would not have won the election,” he said.

In clarifying reasons for the group, he said CAN and PFN are big Christian organisations which are well known in the nation. He however, said that PMF is a forum set aside to deal with grassroots issues in Christendom. He opined that PMF was set up to expand on the work of CAN. “The forum organises seminars, conferences and lectures for ministers in newly established churches to educate the ministers of the gospel and also assist them to actualise their vision. We also assist the ministers spiritually and financially in propagating the gospel,” he said.

Church of Jesus Christ to grow 100 stakes in Nigeria UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia

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he Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Days Saint has carved out and inaugurated a new stake from the Umuahia stake, Abia State to accommodate more members and new converts and also as a way of spreading the word of God to the entire people of Umuahia.

The new Stake is known as Umuahia South Stake, has Emmanuel Akpan Okon as its Stake President and was inaugurated by George Kennedy Chukwuemeka of the Area 70 with a charge by a member of the church’s 70 apostles, Elder Edward Dube.

According Samuel Ekpolo the Stake President of the old Umuahia Nigeria stake, a stake should have not less than 1500 members adding that Umuahia Stake has exceeded 5,000 members hence the decision of the Church to split it into two Stakes.

The stake was approved following the receipt of a letter from the Umuahia Nigeria Stake by the Acting Quorum of the church Twelve Apostles, M. Russel Ballard.

Edward Dube charged the new Umuahia Nigeria South Stake President, Emmanuel Akpan Okon, during the church’s 6th Annual

State Conference in Umuahia, urged the new stake president to continue to set good example by loving his wife and children, love Jesus and teach according to the doctrine of the church and that of Jesus Christ.

He expressed his expectation of love and unity amongst the members of the new stake that would

be felt by their host communities so as to make people in the communities to come and witness what they would be doing.

He added, “We also, reach out to the communities according to Matthew chapter 28 verse 19. Go and teach the natives”.

While fielding questions from newsmen, Dube disclosed that the

church believes in obeying government laws and respect for the law and also teaches members to be obedient to the law.

He added that the church reaches out to people through their ordained Missionaries, stating “as we interact, we invite them to come and be taught by the missionaries”.

Dube said the Church has its largest membership in Nigeria, and disclosed that the new Umuahia Nigeria South Stake is the 53rd in the country and advised faithfuls in the country to continue to reach out to others. He added that the vision of the church is to attain a total of 100 stakes in Nigeria in the next 15 years.

Most /Supv/Dr. S.Thiokpassou (in blue); mother Celestial, Esther Thiokpassou, and members of the choir during the choir anniversary (CANTATA) held at the Celestial Church of Christ, Michael Parish1, Jeddo Road, Ekpan, Delta State, recently.

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EquityMarket MTN boosts market sentiment with N200bn medium term loan facility

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Stories by TELIAT SULE day after it was admitted to the main board of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Nigeria’s telecommunications market leader, MTN Nigeria, has secured a 7-year N200 billion medium tern facility. The deal was sealed with a consortium of seven banks. According to a press release by the company signed by Uto Ukpanah, company secretary, the facility was structured with a 2-year moratorium and a repayment plan of seven years and is denominated in the local currency, naira. The latest deal will be the eight syndicated loan agreement

by MTN in Nigeria since it came on board in 2001.

The local banks that syndicated the loans are Access Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Zenith Bank, Fidelity Bank, First City Monument Bank, United Bank of Africa (UBA) and First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FBN). Citi Bank acted as co-ordinator while Quantum Zenith was the facility agent.

The seven domestic banks had N10.62 trillion as loans and advances to customers as at the end of the first quarter 2019. From this, Access Bank accounted for 24 percent or N2.60 trillion; GTB, 12 percent or N1.28 trillion; Zenith Bank, 17 percent or N1.79 trillion; Fidelity Bank,9 percent or N966.25 billion; FCMB, 6 percent or N615.19 billion; UBA, 16 percent or N1.69 trillion while FBN with N1.67 trillion controlled 16 percent of the loans and advances of these banks as at

the end of Q1 2019.

The loan deal agreement was signed at the law offices of Aluko & Oyebode in Ikoyi Lagos, in the presence of key partners and other

stakeholders. The medium term facility will enable MTN fund its evolving business opportunities while assisting capital expenditure and working capital, to deliver

enhanced customer services. It follows the successful establishment of a similar seven year, N200 billion facility by MTN in 2018 and forms part of the company’s wider

program to raise domestic debt.

“This facility expands our existing successful domestic debt programme which we are using to fund increased network capacity, and the expansion of both the Voice and Data services on our network to customers in new areas, and with new next generation services. We have enjoyed remarkable funding support from Nigeria’s financial institutions since our first facility in 2003 and this has been critical to the development of one of the largest telecoms network in Africa, with over 60m subscribers. I am delighted that, so soon after our successful listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, we are able to compliment it with such an important addition to our portfolio of debt”, Ferdi Moolman, MTN Nigeria’s CEO, said.

He further stated that the completion of the agreement indicated its commitment to and confidence in Nigeria, and the strength of the strategic collaboration between MTN Nigeria and local financial institutions, that would help deepen and broaden the provision of ICT services in Nigeria.

At the close of business last week Friday on the NSE, investors traded 48.36 million shares of MTN Nigeria worth N5.53 billion. Its share price gained 10 percent to close at N108.90 per share, representing 21 percent price appreciation year to date.

MTN Nigeria on May 16, 2019 was admitted to the main board of the NSE when its entire issued 20,354,513,050 ordinary shares were listed by way of introduction at the price of N90 per share.

Respite as Med-View Airline gets FG’s nomination for 2019 Hajj operations

SAHCO gets ISAGO recertification

espite might have come the way of Med-View Airline as it joined two other airlines appointed by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to airlift pilgrims to Saudi Arabia in this year’s hajj. In 2018, a total of 79,000 Nigerians attended the hajj pilgrimage out of 166,000 slots given to African pilgrims who constituted 9.5 percent of the 2018 hajj pilgrims.

“Med-View Airline Plc wishes to notify the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) , esteemed shareholders, stakeholders and the general public that counting on its experience in the airlift of pilgrims since 2007, Med-View Airline has once again come atop as one of the three carriers the Federal Government selected for the airlift of Muslims for the 2019 Hajj.

The choice of med-View Airline is rooted in existing strategic partnership with the National Hajj

kyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO) wishes to notify The Nigerian Stock Exchange (The Exchange), its shareholders and the investing public that the Company have been recertified by International Air Transport Association (IATA). The recertification was issued to SAHCO after it passed the IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) standards audit conducted on the Company after the expiration of the previous certification.

By this recertification, SAHCO has continued to model its operations in Lagos and Abuja to ISAGO standards, as a result making a commitment to continue to operate to globally accepted industry best practices.

The audits cuts across load control, passenger and baggage handling, aircraft handling and loading, aircraft ground movement, cargo and mail handling.

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Commission (NAHCON, which transcends the normal brief to assisting the government agency in the airlift of stranded pilgrims in the holy land over the years.

Rising to the challenge, the CEO of Med-View Airline, Muneer Bankole, assured all stakeholders of a hitch-free hajj operations.

“Bankole said the management of Med-View Airline is fully aware of the operational challenges confronting the aviation industry in Nigeria, saying that no carrier is singled out from the hardship bedevilling the whole nation. He said the airline was repositioning for better performance amidst daunting challenges. The CEO said that the airline was undergoing a re-fleeting program, and some of the aircraft that were sent for scheduled maintenance will soon arrive to increase capacity , adding that there is ongoing discussion with strategic partners to pull resources together towards opera-

tional enhancement and capacity building. Bankole re-assured the airline’s shareholders, service providers and travel partners of better deals and value for their investments”, a notice to the NSE signed by Michael Ajigbotosho, COO, stated.

Revenue from hajj operations accounted for 31.71 percent of Med-View Airline’s 2018 revenue. In other words, the airline made N3.03 billion revenue from hajj operations in 2018 as well as N758.04 million as gross profit from the same segment. That year ended in a loss, no thanks to N1.48 billion loss the airline recorded in its domestic operations segment.

In 2017, Med-View realised N8.24 billion through hajj operations to account for 22.31 percent of that year’s revenue. It made N2.51 billion as gross profit from the hajj segment of its services.

Its share price closed at N1.80 per share last week Friday.

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As already pledged to its clients (current and prospective), it is SAHCO’s resolve to continually provide quality and efficient Passenger, Ramp and Cargo Handling Services in line with best practices and the highest International Standards to the delight of its customers and benefit of all stakeholders, utilizing State-of-the art equipment, skills, procedures and facilities, and employing a dedicated workforce.

The revalidation was issued to SAHCO after an onsite confirmation of the implementation of the ISAGO Audit which was certified to be in compliance with internationally recognized quality auditing principles.

ISAGO audit is essential to promote safe ground operations and understanding of high-risk areas within ground operations, the audit also eliminates redundant audits from airlines thereby promoting a uniform audit process and harmonized standards that improve quality standards in Aviation Ground Handling.

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LifestyleHomes&Suites

Sunday 19 May 2019

Paul Ojenagbon

pauloje2000@yahoo.com

Expect more from Pentagon at Mainland Regal Park

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entagon Real Estate Investments Limited is a very focused and well organized developer with tentacles spread out to various locations, largely within Lagos and Ogun States.

While Pentagon is busy exploring and developing new frontiers of real estate development in other locations, its primary priority would be in the consolidation of its efforts in its flagships project, Mainland Road Park located at Mowe on the opposite side of the Redemption Camp, off the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, to the zenith heights of capacity utilization and infrastructural development that the developer envisioned.

Pentagon offers a unique model of development with the alluring bungalows that dominate its stable .Each house type bears an exotic name portraying its beautiful features and characteristics. Apple Lux is a 3-bedroom detached bungalow and Pear is a 4-bedroom detached Bungalow. Cedar Elite, the premium range is 5-bedroom detached duplex while Cedar is a 4-bedroom apartment building with dwelling spaces on two floors connected by indoor stairs. Berry the least is 2-bedroom semi-detached Bungalow.

Apple Lux covers a built up area of 160square metres on a

land plot size of 600 square metres. The balanced co-ordination and functionality of the interior spaces is a strong statement of high utility value and quality awaiting its occupant. All rooms are ensuite with shower cubicles, water heater and sanitary wares.

The kitchens are fitted, with store and equipped with cabinet, 6 burner gas cookers and heat extractor. The bathroom comes with Jacuzzi. It has visitor’s toilet and dinning space. It is exquisitely finished and with beautifully landscaped lawns. It can be delivered either as carcass or fully finished.

Pear covers a built area of 225

square meters on land area of 648 square meters. Its distinct features are 2 sitting areas. It encloses diversified spatial components but discloses unified spatial

The cute stairway presents an upper level of 3 comfortable bedrooms with conveniences ensuite. A 2-bedroom boys’ quarter adorns its rear. The ground

confidence. The arrangement of the interior spaces throws up an organic atmosphere that generates curiosity in its occupants.

Pear also offers several housing units for sale in Mainland Regal Park.

The Cedar elite covers a built up area of 320 square meters on a land area of 800 square meters.

floor comprises such component spaces including ante room, main lounge, guest room, dinning, kitchen, store and laundry. The upper floor comprises master bedroom, 2 other bedrooms and family lounge. Cedar covers 300 square metres built-up areas on a land area of 648 square meters.

Its distinct features from other

types are a study room, stainless rails boys’ quarter and luxurious finish.

Berry stands on a built area of 90 square meters on a land size of 250 square metres. It encompasses distinct supporting features for the low and middle income earners. Despite its modest pricing, Berry owners enjoy similar if not the same features common to other house types.

The prices vary for the carcass form and the fully finished variant. For the Apple Lux, the carcass carries N18.5m price tag and the fully finished N25m. For Pear, the carcass carries N21m price tag and N32m for the fully finished. Cedar Elite carries N36m for the carcass and N50m for the fully finished. Cedar bears a price tag of N33m for the carcass and N45.5m for the fully finished. Berry bears a price tag of N11m for the carcass variant and N15m for the fully finished

range. Pentagon’s houses, according to its Executive Chairman, Mr. Kennedy Okoruwa, are built with top notch precision with the strictest adherence to quality and highest standard attainable.

Serviced plots are also available at the rate of N10m per standard plot. The title is Certificate of Occupancy with approved layout plan. Available facilities include quality water supply, electricity and elaborate road network with functional drains amongst others.

Pentagon’s other interests include Sheba Gardens at OkeOgun waterfront near the proposed Cargo Airport at Ibeju Lekki where plots are sold outright for N2.3m or N2.5m instalmental payment. Palm Gardens is at Lamuja, Ibeju-Lekki where standard plot sells outright for N1.3m or N1.5m instalmental arrangement. At Rehoboth City, located at Lanlemo, Papalanto Road, behind Mainland Regal Park, it is N1.2m per plot instalmental payment or N1m outright payment.

Cedar Garden at Igbesa, Agbara, Atan Road also offers serviced plots at a unit rate of N2m.

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BDSUNDAY 41

Consumer Watch CNG proffers solution to consumers’ energy crisis Stories by NGOZI OKPALAKUNNE

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irector of sales and strategy, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Company, Sumeet Singh has recommended off-grid & minigrid solutions for power penetration and re-emphasised the need to end gas flaring in Nigeria.

Making the recommendation at the just concluded 21st annual Africa Business conference held at the prestigious Harvard Business School in the United States recently, Singh said that off-grid & mini-grid solutions is the most efficient way forward for the consumer’s energy troubles.

Sumeet spoke as a panellist at the conference, which had the theme -“Lighting up Africa – The Broken Energy Chain”.

The panel discussion sought to find answers to critical questions on why Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, has failed to provide adequate access to basic needs like electricity, that is very critical for industrialisation and economic development.

The panel also held discussions on related subjects like ‘Africa’s Private Sector’s contribution with innovative solutions to balance the supplydemand gap in electricity sector’ and “Can cleaner/renewable based minigrids leap frog the traditional largescale power plants in Nigeria?”

Speaking on the panel, Sumeet stressed the importance of innovative

Some of the officials of LASCOPA removing expired products from a super market recently in Lagos.

L-R: Nana Menya Ayensu, senior director Corporate Development, Uptake New York; Kevin Okyere, CEO, Springfield Group Ghana; Sumeet Singh, director, Powergas Nigeria; Dmitri Papaefstratiou, partner, DLA Piper Global Law Firm, and Tomiwa Igun, manager, Boston Consulting Group, at the prestigious Harvard Business School for Africa Business Conference on the future of the Nigerian energy market held in US.

technology in improving the lives of people in Africa and creating safer environment on the continent.

“One of the main challenges with the electricity supply value chain is the infrastructural-gap, be it efficient transmission, last-mile distribution, fair-metering or the Natural Gas Pipeline Network. While all these issues are being addressed at various levels, with different pace of development, the efforts don’t seem to be delivering required results in the short to medium term.

“Quite a few of these gaps can be addressed by solutions like CNG/ LNG under the “Gas on wheels” model and off-grid/captive and mini-grid power solutions to industries and remote communities. These offgrid solutions based on CNG fired

gas generator and solar/renewable are ideal solutions providing reliable, affordable and clean energy solutions to not just survive, but to thrive in this economy.

“There is immense potential in the energy sector especially through Natural Gas, much of which is flared at various flare sites in the country. This situation will change over time with government initiatives like Natural Gas Flare Commercialization Programmme (NGFCP). If Nigeria’s flared gas is captured and processed, it would significantly boost the power generation capabilities to double the current capacity, while significantly improving the quality of the air people breathe,” he added.

LASCOPA launches surveillance on unwholesome, expired products

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s part of efforts to eliminate the display and sale of unwholesome products particularly at the various major stores in the state, the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) has commenced aggressive inspection of products in supermarkets.The inspection team was led by the General Manager of LASCOPA, Kemi Olugbode with the monitoring of outlets of supermarkets in Lagos.

In the course of the exercise, the team discovered some expired butter, fruits and vegetables displayed with other products on sale in stores in Victoria Island and Adeniran Ogunsanya in Surulere and immediately swung into action by ensuring the immediate removal of the products and also sealing the shelves containing the expired products.

According to the General Manager, the inspection became imperative following complaints by consumers that some major supermarkets and retail stores are selling expired products.

She stressed that display and sale of expired or unwholesome products are unacceptable in the State, adding that LASCOPA would not hesitate to take necessary actions against violators of its regulatory law.

The General Manager listed the functions of the Agency to include ensuring that consumers are protected from the purchase of all forms of unwholesome products and also get redress from infringements.

She urged consumers to do a proper check on products and get the right information before making purchases while also urging them to report any sales outlets or supermarkets that indulge in the sale of unwholesome or expired products.

Pally Agro unveils new range of consumer products

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ally Agro Products Limited, manufacturers of consumer goods, officially launched new range of products into Nigeria market recently in Lagos.

The products launch which took place at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island Lagos unveiled the company’s latest products which include: fresh palm fruits extract, (Banga) Tru unripe plantain flour and Tru Soya oil.

Chairman, Pally Agro Products, Collins Onyeagu who spoke at the event, said that the products, the raw materials of which were sourced locally, aimed at aiding the government to abate the adverse effect of food insecurity in the country.

Onyeagu also stressed the need for government at all levels to promote agriculture, adding that Nigeria as a nation cannot depend on oil and foreign-made products alone.

According to him, Nigeria is blessed with good land structure that is ideal for the cultivation of farm products.

Speaking further, he said: “We as a nation cannot depend on oil and foreign products alone, we have good land for agriculture, all that the government needs do is to empower local farmers the more so that they can produce adequate food for the country’s teeming population. Besides, tackling the problem of food insecurity in the country, enhancing agriculture will also create more jobs for the unemployed”.

Given a brief background of Pally Agro Products, the Human Resource Manager of the company, Olajide Olaoluwa described the company as a modern farm specialised in the production of vari-

L-R: Director, Biotechnology Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi Lagos, Lawal Adekunle; Corporate Affairs Director, Pally Agro Product Limited, Ifeanyi Dike; Chairman, Pally Agro Limited, Collins Onyeagu; Managing Director/CEO, Pally Agro Limited, Anwuli Onyeagu, during the official launch of Pally Agro Products, Tru Unripe plantain flour, banga and Tru soya oil in Lagos, recently. ous forms of agricultural products with impeccable food standards.

Olaoluwa also said that the company which came in to existence in 2009 is internationally acclaimed and supported by engineering designs with commercial manufacturing facilities.

He further explained that their products were carefully developed to international specifications by experts providing premium quality products at very affordable rates.

“Our focus is on food sufficiency and security in Nigeria, hence, we grow our crops in our plantations and ensuring the quality of the crop before taking it to our factory for processing to finished products”, Olaoluwa said.

On their new subsidiary known

as Crest Pharmaceuticals, he revealed that it is currently partnering with notable pharmaceutical production companies worldwide with a firm projection to begin the production of a unique pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare products, adding that it would commence fully in the nearest future. In conclusion he said: “Our vision is to be a role model in providing quality standard natural food products for healthy living and global reckoning in terms of product and service delivery in all our subsidiaries.

“The products are equipped for premium output having worked closely with the local and international clients who are in to research work for the development of specific project programme and

coming up with formula that has enhanced the quality brand of our agricultural products as a result of our flexible approach towards partnering and encouraging new initiatives.”

Director, Biotechnology, Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi Lagos, Lawal Adekunle who spoke on nutritional value of Tru unripe plantain, had it as a nutritious and organic food for all age group that contains iron and vitamin B6 which plays a major role in adequate production of red blood cells in the body.

According to him, the most abundant nutrient in plantains is carbohydrate adding , “each medium-size plantain contains approximately 57 grams of total car-

bohydrates, with almost 27 grams coming from sugar. Each medium plantain also contains 4.1 grams of dietary fibre, a nutrient that helps control blood sugar and cholesterol levels, as well as prevent constipation.

“Like their relatives, bananas, plantains provide a source of potassium, almost 20 percent of your daily recommended intake, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Your body uses this potassium to support your nervous system, the mineral not only facilitates communication between nerve cells, but also between your nervous system and your muscles, digestive tract and heart”.

Comparing it with ripe plantain, he said that Tru unripe plantain is low in sugar content as a result of low carbohydrate content.

This, he said can help with weight control and type 1or type2 diabetes, hypertension, kidney conditions.

“It also improves libido and assist with other medical conditions.

Another key benefit is that it is rich in calcium which helps in strengthening our bones and enhances stronger muscles, teeth, nails and prevent diseases such as osteoporosis,’’ he added.

A Lagos based nutritionist, Mirriam Bankole who spoke on the Tru soya bean oil, described it as a vegetable oil which is extracted from the seeds of soya bean plant and added that it is one of the most widely used vegetable oils in the world because of its health benefits. ‘’Soya bean oil is considered healthier than most other vegetable oils due to its variety of essential fatty acids that the body needs to remain healthy.

42 BDSUNDAY

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Sports

Analysing Europe’s most valuable football clubs …. As Real Madrid, Manchester United top the rich list Stories By ANTHONY NLEBEM

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eal Madrid have taken the crown as the world’s most valuable football brand, according to the latest report

by Brand Finance, the world’s leading independent brand valuation consultancy.

With a brand value of €1.646 billion, the club is ahead of a peer group of €1 billion-plus brands that includes Manchester United (€1.472bn), Barcelona (€1.393bn), Bayern Munich (€1.314bn), Manchester City (€1.255bn), and Liverpool (€1.191bn). The six clubs account for over 40% of the overall brand value in the Brand Finance Football 50 ranking of the sport’s most valuable brands, underlining the concentration of wealth and the creation of a set of “super clubs”.

Real Madrid returned to the top of ranking after almost a decade since it last held the title in 2010.

The club’s brand value has grown 27% since last year, an increase partly attributable to the club winning a fourth UEFA Champions League in five years in 2018. The club became the first in the world to break the €750 million barrier in revenues in 2017-18. Their commercial monies totalled €356 million, close to 50% of overall revenues, making them the highest generator of cash from this income stream. Real Madrid also possesses the strongest football club brand, with a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 95.5 out of 100, marginally ahead of their fierce rivals Barcelona (BSI 95.4).

By recent standards, the club did not have a successful season in 2018-19, losing the UEFA Champions League title and failing to replace their talismanic forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, who moved to Italy’s Juventus. On a positive note, they announced an ambitious redevelopment programme for their stadium. In addition, Santiago Bernabéu is already ranked number #1 among the stadia of the world’s top 50 football club brands as per BuroHappold’s Venue Performance Rating which forms part of Brand Finance’s Brand Strength Index (BSI) scorecard.

Bryn Anderson, Director at Brand Finance, commented: “Real Madrid have shown this year who truly reigns supreme in the world of football. They triumph not only

as the most valuable and strongest brand but their enterprise value and stadium are also ranked second to none. The most successful club in the history of European football is finally reaping the benefits of decades of spectacular on- and offpitch performance.”

Real Madrid’s return to the top pushes Manchester United into second place, as the Red Devils’ brand value declined for the first time since 2016, from €1.562 billion last year to €1.472 billion (a 6% drop) in 2019. Manchester United have disappointed in recent years on the playing field both in the Premier League and in the UEFA Champions League. Public perceptions of the brand have deteriorated as Manchester United ranks only 18th among the sample of the world’s top clubs with regards to “playing exciting football”, as revealed by Brand Finance’s original fan research.

In the 2018-19 season, the club reached the quarter-final stage of the Champions League but were easily beaten by Barcelona. Moreover, they failed to qualify for the 2019-20 competition for the third time in seven years. Such underperformance for a club accustomed to perpetual success in the Sir Alex Ferguson years is reflected in its revenue generation. Although total revenues remain among the high-

est, income from commercial and matchday activities has slowed up and TV income declined in 2017-18.

To a certain degree, neighbours Manchester City, who won the Premier League in 2018 and 2019, have cast Manchester United into the shadows in their domestic market. Despite on-pitch success, however, Manchester City could be facing its own problems as they are being investigated for potential breach of UEFA’s FFP regulations.

According to the Venue Performance Rating aggregated by BuroHappold, Real Madrid’s stadium – with a score of 74.3 out of 100 – ranks number 1 overall among all 50 stadia of the clubs listed in the Brand Finance Football 50 ranking. Santiago Bernabéu also comes first for the Match Impact category; it is a high-capacity yet compact amphitheater, which helps the fans to encourage and intimidate in equal measure.

Borussia Dortmund ranked number one for Matchday Experience. Key factors were strong view metrics, such as those relating to sightlines and the average distance to the pitch, and the way the form enhances the sound generated within the stands.

Bayern Munich ranked #1 for Broadcaster and Partner Appeal. Strong scores across the

board, such as those relating to utilisation and UEFA rating, were enhanced by the iconic design of the Allianz Arena.

The growth of global football is also reflected in the enterprise value of the leading clubs. With clubs changing hands far more frequently than in the past; the industry has become dominated by billionaire owners who are willing to invest significant sums of money to acquire success.

The enterprise value of a club is more relevant than ever. Just three clubs have an enterprise value of more than €4 billion, with Real Madrid the highest at €4.2 billion. Unsurprisingly, the other €4 billion clubs are Barcelona (€4.1 billion), and Manchester United (€4.0 billion).

Brand Finance research suggests that in mature football markets like Germany, France, Spain, and the UK, TV and mainstream media provide the main source of engagement. But TV is no longer the sole channel of access, particularly in emerging football markets and in younger age groups. For example, in China and India, more than 50% of viewers aged 18-24 watched their favourite teams via online streaming.

Asian football fans, in general, have a strong affinity with Europe’s major leagues such as the Premier

League, Bundesliga, LaLiga, Serie A, and Ligue 1. Brand Finance’s fan research indicated that around 50% use social media to connect and interact with their clubs, with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube the most popular channels. Clubs therefore have to produce a rich mixture of content to keep fans stimulated. The audiences are growing with Real Madrid (200 million), Barcelona (200 million), Manchester United (120 million), and Bayern Munich (80 million), among others, commanding huge following across social media platforms.

The Bundesliga is still the bestsupported league in terms of attendances, thanks to sensitive pricing, high levels of fan engagement, and strong community links. The German league has 13 clubs in the Brand Finance Football 50, with Bayern Munich in the top four with a brand value of €1.314 billion. The gap between Bayern Munich and its Bundesliga rivals explains why the Bavarians have been able to dominate domestic football since 2012 – their brand value is more than double Borussia Dortmund’s, their nearest competitor. It is a similar story in Spain with Real Madrid and Barcelona compared to the other LaLiga clubs, and in France with Paris Saint-Germain.

FIFA U20 W/Cup: Pinnick charges Flying Eagles to aim for success

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resident of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Melvin Pinnick has charged the Nigeria U20 boys, the Flying Eagles, to do the nation proud on and off the field at the FIFA U20 World Cup starting in Poland on Thursday.

Pinnick, in company with NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, arrived

at the Flying Eagles’ The Monarch Hotel camp in Bad Goegging, Germany on Friday morning, ahead of the team’s departure to the World Cup on Sunday. The duo later joined the team at training.

“I have spoken to the head coach and he has assured me that you guys have made tremendous progress since arriving at the training camp

here in Germany. Let me state clearly that as an U20 squad from Nigeria, so much is expected of you at the world stage. Nigeria has been in the final of the FIFA U20 World Cup on two occasions and won the bronze medals once before.

“The NFF and Nigerians generally, as well as the football world, expect so much

from you in Poland. You must perform very well on the field while showing good attitude and sense of fairplay, and also make discipline, diligence and decency your watchwords off the field, in order to fly Nigeria’s flag high.”

On Friday, the Flying Eagles engaged Red Bull Leipzig of Germany in their final preWorld Cup friendly, three days

after drawing 1-1 with Red Bull Salzburg in another friendly in Austria.

The Flying Eagles delegation will fly from Germany to Tychy on Sunday. They will take on Qatar in their first match of the FIFA U20 World Cup on Friday, 24th May, before other Group D games against USA (27th May) and Ukraine (30th May).

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Sports

Here is why Liverpool is the most profitable club in England

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Stories By ANTHONY NLEBEM

iverpool may have finished second in the Premier League, but they still took home the biggest money from TV income and prize money in the competition.

According to a UK’s Nick Harris’ estimates for how much each Premier League club has earned this season.

Each team takes home an equal share of £79.4million, while the rest is divided depending on the final league position and the number of televised matches.

There is a minimum for TV income, set at £12.3million for hosting up to 10 games, with clubs earning an extra £1.1million on top of that for every other match televised.

Prize money is awarded per league position, with each side earning £1.9million for every place they finish above bottom.

In 2018, profits outside the top 6 related predominately to an ability to keep costs down, while a couple of clubs also benefitted from relatively sizeable commercial and matchday revenue.

The vast majority of profits were due to clubs recording large profits on players sales after several high-profile players departed the Premier League.

Liverpool benefitted hugely from a run to the Champions League Final and a great Premier League campaign.

Here is a broken down of each club’s earnings for the 2018-19 campaign, not including revenue from European and cup games, ranking them in order of how much they accrued over the season.

Liverpool Matches televised: 29 TV income: £33.5million Prize money: £36.1million Equal share: £79.4million Total income: £149million

Manchester City Matches televised: 26 TV income: £30.1million Prize money: £38million Equal share: £79.4million

Total income: £147.5million

Chelsea Matches televised: 25 TV income: £29million Prize money: £34.2million Equal share: £79.4million Total income: £142.6million

Tottenham Hotspur Matches televised: 26 TV income: £30.1million Prize money: £32.3million Equal share: £79.4million Total income: £141.8million

Manchester United Matches televised: 27 TV income: £31.2million Prize money: £28.5million Equal share: £79.4million Total income: £139.1million

Arsenal Matches televised: 25 TV income: £29million Prize money: £30.4million Equal share: £79.4million Total income: £138.8million

Everton Matches televised: 18 TV income: £21.2million Prize money: £24.7million Equal share: £79.4million Total income: £125.3million

Wolves Matches televised: 15 TV income: £17.9million Prize money: £26.6million Equal share: £79.4million Total income: £123.9million

Leicester City Matches televised: 15 TV income: £17.9million Prize money: £22.8million Equal share: £79.4million Total income: £120.1million

West Ham Matches televised: 16 TV income: £19million Prize money: £20.9million Equal share: £79.4million Total income: £119.3million

Newcastle United Matches televised: 19 TV income: £22.3million Prize money: £15.2million Equal share: £79.4million Total income: £116.9million

Crystal Palace Matches televised: 12 TV income: £14.6million Prize money: £17.1million Equal share: £79.4million Total income: £111.1million

Watford Matches televised: 10 TV income: £12.3million Prize money: £19million Equal share: £79.4million Total: £110.7million

Bournemouth Matches televised: 8 TV income: £12.3million Prize money: £13.3million Equal share: £79.4million Total income: £105million

Burnley Matches televised: 11 TV income: £13.5million Prize money: £11.4million Equal share: £79.4million Total income: £104.3million

Brighton Matches televised: 13 TV income: £15.7million Prize money: £7.6million Equal share: £79.4million Total income: £102.7million

Southampton Matches televised: 8 TV income: £12.3million Prize money: £9.5million Equal share: £79.4million Total income: £101.2million

Cardiff City Matches televised: 12 TV income: £14.6million Prize money: £5.7million Equal share: £79.4million Total income: £99.6million

Fulham Matches televised: 13 TV income: £15.7million Prize money: £3.8million Equal share: £79.4million Total income: £98.8million

Huddersfield Town Matches televised: 8 TV Income: £12.3million Prize money: £1.9million Equal share: £79.4million Total income: £93.6million

Liverpool had Phillip Coutinho to thank for their huge profit after recording a huge profit on player sales of £124m.

With the final positions known, Liverpool is likely to earn more from TV income in 2019/20 season under new TV deal, the ratio from top to bottom will also see a marginal increase.

The topside will still be among the big earners: a case study of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer.

However, the contest for Spain’s final UEFA Champions League spot is where all eyes will be. Valencia and Getafe, main rivals for the spot, are tied on 58 points, but the former has a better head-to-head. Valencia moved up to fourth last week-

end after defeating Alaves, while the previous occupants, Getafe, lost to Barcelona.

Los Ches travel to Real Valladolid, knowing that a victory would secure the ticket for them. Coach Marcelino will bank on his stars, Daniel Parejo and Rodrigo, to ensure his team’s return to the high table of the European game. Getafe are at home to Villareal at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez, where they will hope for a win and a Valencia loss to claim the final UCL spot.

With their tally of 56 points, sixth-placed Sevilla are the outsiders for a fourth-place finish. They need to defeat Athletic Bilbao at home and hope that Valencia and Getafe drop points in their respective clashes.

There is also an unresolved relegation battle. Girona are currently 18th position on 37 points, while Celta Vigo are just three points ahead. Even if Girona win their game away at Alaves, a win for Celta Vigo at home against Rayo Vallecano will automatically condemn the Catalan-based team to Spain’s second division. However, Girona can still survive, but will have to score more than six goals while hoping that Celta Vigo lose by the same number of goals.

Other games to be broadcast include Real Madrid versus Real Betis and Espanyol versus Real Sociedad.

Catch all these matches and others European league games on GOtv.

A preview of LaLiga final games ….. All games Live on GOtv

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nother pulsating LaLiga season ends on Sunday with week 38 matches scheduled to kick off at 7pm.

Barcelona, who retained the title with three games to spare, travel to Eibar. The Catalan side, managed by Ernesto Valverde, will aim to increase their tally of wins to 27 matches.

A win will also be a morale booster ahead of their Copa del Rey final against Valencia next week. But Eibar will want to delight their fans with a shock win and hope to finish in the top half of the table.

Atletico Madrid, who cannot finish lower than second, are also away at Levante. Los Rojiblancos have won their last three games and will want to end the season on a high with a possible 78 points. The game will also serve as an emotional send-off for their captain, Diego Godin, and Antoine Griezmann, who shockingly announced during the week that he was leaving the club.

Levante, on the other hand, just managed to survive relegation and will hope to finish the season with a win.

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Still waiting for Leah Sharibu’s return

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o fully understand the sheer grief and grinding agony that Leah Sharibu’s parents go through every passing day, while still hanging on a thread of hope for their daughter’s return, we have to put ourselves in their sole-less shoes. Only recently, concerned citizens of the world, who still have the human heart beating in them, were in unison in condemning her continued incarceration by the Boko Haram terrorist captors. They are sore worried too that in spite of the frequent assurances from the President Muhammadu Buhari administration of her safe return, more has been said than known to the public in that regard.

That she spent over 420 days in the den of the religious extremists as the Christian faithful celebrated her 16th birthday in solemnity has made the Nigerian girl an enduring metaphor of what an unquenchable faith in God through Jesus the Christ should be.

It would be recalled that Leah Sharibu was denied freedom after the insurgents released 109 other students of Government Girls Science School, Dapchi, Yobe State, after the abduction was carried out on February 19, 2018. It is worthy of note that the release came with the intervention of the Federal Government.

Leah was reportedly held back because of her refusal to renounce her Christian faith.

Meanwhile, some concerned Nigerians are asking what would have happened if the religious pendulum has swung the other way? That is, if the terrorists were Christians asking the victim to turn over to their faith instead of Islam.

But members of the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) are piqued by the allegations of the disinterest of the president in doing the needful. They have labeled that as both “nauseating and regrettable”.

In their ever defensive words they have this to say: “Nothing can be more preposterous than the suggestion that President

Buhari had not been concerned about Leah’s plight because of her refusal to renounce her faith”.

Expectedly too, they come in strong by making comparisons with what transpired during the Goodluck Jonathan administration. They are quick to remind us all that on April 14, 2014, some 276 school girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, were similarly abducted from their dormitory. They are also beating their chest that the current administration has so far succeeded in bringing back 107 of the hapless girls, at a time even the Amnesty International had given up hope. Interestingly, they are silent on the strong feeling in some quarters that the Chibok Girl drama was one act of crude, callous and cruel political blackmail, aimed to kick Jonathan out of power!

So, one cannot but ask the critical question- for how long shall we continue to play dirty, muck-raking politics with the precious, irreplaceable lives of innocent Nigerians, and more grievous, that of our defenceless youth? For how long are they going to be pawns in the chess-board of power-poaching politics?

For yours truly, the time to call a spade by its name is now. No nation that allows its citizens to be caught in the terrifying trap of gross insecurity, as we currently experience, or the shedding of so much innocent blood of its voiceless citizens can ever know peace or progress. Going through several biblical verses it becomes patently obvious that God decries the evil of the wanton wasting of precious human life. Methinks that those who value their own life should do so for others. If you do not want to die, do not kill. It is as simple as that!

For instance, the Holy Bible states unequivocally that: Thou shall not kill (Deut.5 vs 17). So, what happened to Cain, the first recorded murderer? He received an instant curse from God, too terrible to experience. And he said, what have

thou done? The voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground (Genesis 4 vs 10- 14).

What this implies is that each time a Nigerian takes the life of another, the voice of the victim cries unto his/her Maker, our all-knowing God. It does not matter the means employed. It could be through premeditated killing based on the dangerous dogma of religious extremism, as with Boko Haram insurgency, political differences and intolerance, ritual murder, inter-ethnic clashes, armed robbery or kidnapping and killing the victim because the ransom was not paid.

Whatever it is, the government should be there for the citizens as protective parents. Lack of that, in addition to the culture of impunity that has allowed perpetrators and masterminds of these killings to walk our streets as free men is not only reprehensible but stokes the fires of inequity! Worse still, is not only the odious idea but the act of granting killers some obnoxious amnesty or pay them humungous sums from our common treasury to placate them from further killings! Can you imagine that?

That is never the way forward. Just when many thought that the flames of the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East were about being extinguished, it metamorphosed into the cruel and callous attacks by some herdsmen, armed to the teeth against innocent citizens. From Plateau through Taraba, Benue to Enugu States, it has been blood-letting trails of anguish and pains.

Currently, it has taken another toga called armed banditry that swept through the North-West and has virtually consumed Zamfara State, snowballing to Sokoto and Katsina states. Yet, the victims have suffered as if there were no governments in place. But there is another dimension

AYO OYOZE BAJE Baje is Nigerian first food technologist in the media and author of ‘DRUMBEATS OF DEMOCRACY’

to the killings that is akin to the travails of Sharibu.

An instance came on June 2, 2016 when one Bridget Agbahime, the 74-yearold kitchen, and utensils trader from Imo State was brutally attacked and killed at Kofar Wambai market in Kano by a mob who accused her of blasphemy. But a Kano Magistrates’ Court discharged all the five suspects, who allegedly killed her!

In a similar mindless manner, Mrs. Eunice Elisha, the 42-year-old mother of seven and the wife of a Redeemed Church Pastor, was gruesomely murdered in cold blood in the early hours of Saturday July 9, 2016, by suspected fanatics while evangelising around Gbazango and Pipeline area of Kubwa, a satellite town in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Also, on August 25, of the same year, eight Christians were sent to their early graves in Talata-Mafara in Zamfara State.

But Governor Abdulaziz Yari claimed that the victims were not Christians and that they were killed over a false alarm.

As Rev. Jude Uchechukwu stated on July 12, 2016: “It is unfortunate and a sign of the End Time that a woman who was preaching the gospel of salvation would be murdered in cold blood.”

Everything humanly possible should therefore, be done to get Leah Sharibu back to the warm embrace of her longtraumatised parents and give the concerned world a breath of freedom from religious extremism.

Quick Takes

Off the Cuff

Herbalists and criminality in Nigeria

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lot of bizarre things are happening nowadays. In the rat race to make ends meet, or to join the millionaires’ club without labour, many people are daily enlisting in all manner of criminal activities.

This is why Nigeria is today assailed by a high level of insecurity, perhaps never experienced in the history of the country.

The nation is challenged on all fronts. Kidnapping, banditry, Boko Haram insurgency, armed robbery, ritual murders, ‘Yahoo Yahoo Boys’, and a host of other ills have taken over the country.

The quest to get rich quick has led many youths to join all manner of criminal gangs and cult groups. The media is daily awash with stories of youths killing their parents for ritual money making. They are in a hurry to make it big in life and to live big. This crave for ostentatious lifestyle has made the job of security agents and that of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) more tedious.

But in many of these crimes, there have been too many involvements of herbalists who provide some services that appear to help the criminals. We hear and read about herbalists involving in ritual killings or possession of human parts and all that. They are said to use human parts to produce concoctions, either for themselves or for their clients.

A few days ago, the EFCC, Ilorin Zonal Office, arrested a 31-year-old Islamic scholar/ herbalist, Jamiu Isiaka for impersonating Maikanti Baru, the group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC), and Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, among other prominent citizens.

It was said that the suspect, with others who are still at large, allegedly used the names of the senior government officials to scam a South Korean national, Keun Sig Kim, under the pretence of getting him an NNPC licence that would enable him purchase a company.

The man had paid over N30million (Thirty

Million Naira) into the suspect’s account as fee to get the licence before he realized he had been scammed.

Keun Sig Kim said to the EFCC, “I transferred $4,285.071 (Four thousand, two hundred and eighty-five thousand United States Dollars, seventy-one cents) to the United Bank of Africa, account number 2107575870 in the name of one Jamiu Isiaka, an associate of Shola Adeshina. It is noteworthy that these account particulars have been provided severally for me to make transfer to.”

But in what seems laughable, Isiaka, during interrogation with EFCC officials, claimed that he used the money to perform sacrifice on behalf of the petitioner.

He claimed to have bought a vulture, elephant’s skin, elephant’s intestine, skull of a lion, liver of gorilla, among others for the sacrifice.

- Innocent Odoh, Abuja

N315.62bn

This is the amount President Muhammadu Buhari proposed as recurrent expenditure for the Ministry of Health in its 2019 appropriation bill. This is about 46.3 billion increase from last year’s recurrent expenditure, which was N269.3 billion.

Same talk, no result!

“Sitting down here, I can tell you some states that have almost 24 hours – Kebbi, Yobe. Some have five, some have 10 and there are still outages. The transmission capacity has grown; the figure was about 8,100 MW as at December 2018.

- Babatunde Fashola, minister of Power, Works and Housing, speaking recently on electricity supply situation across the country.

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