BusinessDay 23 Dec 2018

BDSUNDAY BUSINESS DAY

‘2019 Budget proposal is dead on arrival’

Neimeth’s N184m full year profit lifts stock by 10 percent

Making the most of family ?? outing this Christmas

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p36-37

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Sunday 23 December 2018 Market & Commodities Monitor Brent Oil

5yr Bond

$54.08

-0.01 15.14%

Gold

10yr Bond

$1,260.80

0.00 15.64%

Cocoa

$2,271.00

20yr Bond

-0.01 15.52%

inside

Vol 1, No. 245 N300

Resilient Nigerians mark yuletide Despite unfriendly economy

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CHUKS OLUIGBO & CHINWE AGBEZE

Things I would do differently if elected president - Ezekwesili

igerians of all classes are defying the harsh economic realities of the day to join the rest of the world in celebrating this year’s Christmas.

BDSUNDAY visits to markets across Lagos

yesterday saw the markets spilling over with citizens making frantic last-minute purchases ahead of the celebration on December 25.

When this newspaper visited some motor parks in the city, it was a similar scenario as many long-distance travellers were seen waiting on queues for buses to arrive. The airports were also packed full with travellers.

This is in spite of the unfriendly economic environment that the citizens have been forced to live under since the country entered one of its worst economic recessions in recent history.

Nigeria, Africa’s biggest economy with an estimated population of 180 million, slipped

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ScubaLagos opens Nigeria to more tourist attractions p.23 In the spirit of the season: Travellers going home for the Christmas celebration await commuter buses at Ojota Garage, Lagos, yesterday.

Investigation:

Inside Abia where abandoned constituency projects thrive (part 1)

Investigation:

Some PHCs in Lagos cannot conduct basic medical tests

Despite government’s efforts, budgetary allocations

Desmond Okon

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Pic by David Apara

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he Lagos State government in 2016 reiterated its commitment to improving the quality of service delivery at all its

Primary Healthcare Centres, after the establishment of the Health Sector Reform Law in 2006. It promised to look into the areas of infrastructural upgrade, data management, operational cost,

power supply, water supply, and drug supply.

Also, in December 2017 the Lagos State government signed the 2018 Appropriation Bill into law.

The N1.4 trillion budget was said

to be the second-largest in the country and the first budget of the state to cross N1 trillion. Based on sectoral allocation, N92.67 billion

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Sunday 23 December 2018

Issue of the Week 2019: Oshiomhole, Okorocha in fresh fight …as APC barred from use of rally ground in Owerri

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By Our Reporters, with wire report

ational Chairman of the All Progress i v es C on g r es s ( A P C ) , Ad a m s Oshiomhole, and Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State were on Friday locked in a fresh spat after the state government allegedly denied APC the use of Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri for the flagoff of its governorship election campaign.

Oshiomhole branded the governor’s action anti-party and derided his style of governance.

Although Okorocha is an APC member, he is vehemently opposed to the party’s governorship candidate, Senator Hope Uzodinma, whose election he has threatened to work against.

The governor, who is supporting his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, for the governorship race on the platform of Action Alliance (AA), fired back at Oshiomhole, dismissing the allegation that he denied Uzodinma the use of the stadium as untrue, adding that only Oshiohole could believe it.

Okorocha and members of the state cabinet boycotted yesterday’s campaign of APC. “For the workers who no longer know what a pay day looks like, I bring a message of hope.

When a governor will look at the face of his people and say there is money to do other things but no money to pay those who are working for the government.

I bring a message of hope that appointments into your government will be made on merit and not on family connection. I bring a message of hope that when we talk of happiness, we will not domesticate it in the hands of a sister; that the happiness of the great people of Imo State will be the primary purpose

Okorocha

Oshiomhole

of government under Senator Hope Uzodinma. I bring you a message of hope that in constructing buildings and building roads, they will be based on due process. One contract will not be awarded to three people. If it must be awarded, it must not be awarded to in-laws; it will be awarded to genuine business men and women of Imo State,” Oshiomhole said.

“I bring you hope that never again will your governor look at your leaders and abuse them because democracy is about people. I bring you a message of hope that never again shall we govern on the basis of family connection: whether you know somebody or you don’t know somebody; you married from me, I didn’t marry from you; that shall not be the basis of winning the next election.

I bring you a message of hope

that your money will be used to develop Imo land. And through you, I bring a message of hope to the traditional rulers; that they will be able to preside over their domains without being intimidated by the governor. I bring you a message of hope that from now on, we will govern in a way that will leave no man in doubt that democracy is government of the people by the people and for the people.

“I want to assure those workers who have been lamenting, those families whose husbands have not been paid for six months to nine months, and I want to assure those pensioners that the bailout money which President Buhari gave to governors, including the governor of Imo State, that was not used for the purpose, that money will be retrieved and our pensioners will smile again. Never again

L-R: Ibe KachIkwu, minister of state for petroleum; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Doris Uboh, All Progressives Congress candidate for Delta North Senatorial District, and others during the inauguration of TraderMoni at OgbeOgonogo Modern Market, Asaba, Delta State, weekend.

will a governor of this state look at you in the face and say that your salary depends on when he wants and not when it is due.

Never again will someone use your money to print posters with a President Obama when he is doing the opposite of Obama.

I bring you assurances of hope that you are going to have a governor who will lead you by the power of personal example.

“Let me say it without fear of contradiction that those who are printing President Muhammadu Buhari’s posters, putting his face and their own faces because their faces are unknown, their party is unknown and they will put Buhari’s face and put the logo of an unknown party, those ones are fake. President Muhammadu Buhari has APC as his party. He is our presidential candidate. President Muhammadu Buhari believes in and has adopted Senator Hope Uzodinma as the APC governorship candidate. We want real democrats that will accept the will of the people. How can you explain that an APC governor will deny an APC candidate the use of the stadium that is built with taxpayers’ money from Imo State?”he said.

Switching to pidgin English, Oshiomhole continued, “I hear say yesterday he talk am say he no wan give stadium because when he dey contest against (former governor Ikedi) Ohakim, he talk say Ohakim no give am stadium. So, he too go copy Ohakim. I say e good oh! If you copy who fail exam, you too you never fail? If you copy who fail exam, what will you get? He who copy failure will find failure awaiting him.”

In a swift reaction to Oshiomhole’s allegation, Okorocha, speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo,

said: “For those who know Chief Hope Uzodinma very well, they won’t be surprised that he could come up with this false claim on the issue. Only men like Adams Oshiomhole would believe him. “Since Governor Rochas Okorocha became governor in 2011, the Dan Anyiam Stadium has always been made available for all the political parties and candidates to use, not minding the political affiliations.

“The Stadium is the property of Imo people and Chief Uzodinma would not have been denied the opportunity of using the facility for the flag-off of his campaign if he had asked or applied for it. He never applied to use the stadium, especially when a press release had been issued days before the flag-off of his campaign that the governor had directed that the stadium should be released free to political parties and candidates who would like to use it for their rallies or for other political activities. As usual, Chief Uzodinma wanted to use the stadium issue to blackmail the governor and to continue to deceive men like Oshiomhole.

“The truth is that Chief Hope Uzodinma cannot raise up to one thousand people, talk more (sic) raising a crowd that would fill the stadium. He does not have the capacity. He knows his handicaps. Where would Chief Uzodinma get the crowd to fill the Stadium? Last time, he published a crowd of an event that took place in the north as the crowd that graced his rally when he was named the candidate of the party. And Senator Araraume’s men also used the picture of the same crowd. We exposed them on that. Men and women of goodwill should ignore Chief Uzodinma’s claim for who he is,” he said.

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News Threat of terrorism, violent extremism in W/Africa a cause for concern, says Buhari

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resident Muhammadu Buhari says it is a “matter of concern” that terrorism and violent extremism have continued to threaten the peace of West Africa.

He made the comment yesterday during his speech at the 54th ordinary session of heads of state and government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja.

“ECOWAS is still confronted by several challenges. The sub-region continues to face difficulties in the economic, governance, peace, security and humanitarian fields,” Buhari said in his speech.

“As we all know, the primary objective of ECOWAS as set out in its Treaty, is to promote cooperation and integration, leading to the establishment of an Economic and Monetary Union in West Africa, in order to raise the living standards of our people and contribute to the progress and development of the African continent.

“Indeed as a Community,

our aspiration is to create a borderless, peaceful, prosperous and cohesive region, based on good governance and where our people have the capacity to access and harness its resources through the creation of opportunities for sustainable development, job creation and environmental preservation.

“These lofty ideals are however not attainable without peace and security. That is why I have decided to make the issue of peace and security the major focus of my Chairmanship. I am happy to inform this august assembly that our efforts have started yielding dividends as we have been able to douse tension and restore confidence in some potentially disruptive political situations, particularly in Guinea Bissau, Togo and Mali.

“It is a matter of concern that terrorism and violent extremism have continued to threaten the peace and security in our sub-region.

This threat calls for collective action on our part, if we are to effectively and definitively

eliminate it. As we work on new strategies to combat and eradicate this menace, we require the support of our partners to ensure the achievement of our objectives.

“Still on sub-regional

peace, as you are all aware, Nigeria and Senegal will hold general elections in February 2019. On my part, I have already made a pledge to conduct free, fair and credible elections,” he said.

The president also noted

L-R: Tope Dare, executive director, Infrastructure Business Unit, Inlaks; Stanley Jacob, chairman, CeBIH; Bolaji Oyeleye, commissioner for environment, Ogun State, and Kayode Olubiyi, vice chairman, CeBIH, at the CeBIH Retreat 2018, in Abeokuta.

Resilient Nigerians mark yuletide...

Continued from page 1 into recession mid 2016, having contracted 2.06 percent between April and June of that year.

Although the country is officially out of recession, the economic realities do not leave much to cheer about.

Over 30 states of the federation owe workers’ salaries between two and 12 months.

Nigeria’s unemployment rate climbed to 23.1 percent in Q3 of 2018, from 18.8 percent in Q3 of 2017, according to a recent National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report.

Consumer prices rose 11.28 percent from a year earlier, compared with 11.26 percent in October, the NBS said on December 14. This is the highest since May. Prices rose 0.8 percent in the month.

Incidents of widespread lay-offs and cutbacks by companies have continued, according to a recent report

by SBM Intelligence.

Similarly, there are the problems of purchasing

power decreasing relative to earnings, and pockets of unrest in key farming regions have continued showing up on the shelves of markets.

“Nigerian consumer remains constrained. While food inflation still increased, the rate of increase has slowed down. The irony was that as the purchasing power of Nigerians has decreased, prices kept rising rapidly until the recent slowdown,” said Cheta Nwanze, head of research at SBM Intelligence.

It is amid these turbulent times that Nigerians are finding ways of putting smiles on their faces as Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Not even the soaring prices of goods and services can deter Nigerians from joining in this once-in-a-year celebration. Many from the Eastern part of the country especially use the season for homecoming and family reunion.

BDSUNDAY checks show

that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and other political stakeholders have expressed their “unwavering commitment” to the conduct of peaceful elections in Nigeria.

transportation costs from Lagos and Abuja to many parts of the country have more than doubled in the past few days owing to the approach of the festive season. This is despite that there has been neither scarcity of nor increase in the pump price of fuel.

An online check by this newspaper shows that Good is Good Motors charges N15,000 for an average Lagos-Port Harcourt trip this season. The transport company also charges N16,500 from Lagos to Abuja, N16,000 from Abuja to Port Harcourt, N11,000 from Abuja to Enugu, and N14,000 from Lagos to Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

The above rates are similar for other transport companies checked.

Similarly, airlines plying domestic routes in the country have hiked their fares as BDSUNDAY checks show a price range of N42,000N51,300 (one-way ticket) for a regular flight on Abuja-Ow-

erri route, as against N28,000N35,000 before now.

Lagos-Port Harcourt route now costs between N65,000 and N70,100, while Abuja-Enugu goes for between N41,000 and N45,000 depending on the airline.

Food prices have also remained high. A 50kg bag of rice (imported) sold for N18,000 as at December 19, while a 100kg bag of beans (white) sold for N38,000.

Similarly, a 60kg bag of garri (white) sold for N4,500; 100kg bag of groundnut (edible) N25,000; 100kg bag of maize (white) N18,500; 100kg bag of onion (violet) N38,000; 25ltr of palm oil (red) N10,900; 100kg bag of sorghum (red) N16,000; 100kg bag of Soya beans N25,000, while 40kg basket of tomatoes (cooking) sold for N10,000 as at yesterday.

A medium-sized broiler chicken sold for between N5,500 and N6,000 as at yesterday, while an old layer sold for N1,800.

Ikpeazu gives assent for takeoff of contributory pension scheme UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia

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overnor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state has given approval for the take-off of the contributory pension scheme in the state.

Onyii Wamah, the state Head of Service disclosed this in Umuahia during a meeting with the state implementation committee on contributory PensionScheme and Pension Fund Administrators.

Wamah noted that the commencement of scheme would bring to an end the delay in the payment of pensions and gratuity to workers in the state.

He hinted that the workers sensitization/enlightenment campaign would come up in the first quarter of 2019 adding that the administrative aspect of the scheme had already been concluded.

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News 2019: 39 political parties field governorship candidates in Oyo ...as INEC warns politicians against vote buying, …PVCs collection still ongoing

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Akinremi Feyisipo,Ibadan

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the weekend disclosed that thirty nine (39) candidates from thirty nine political parties will contest the forthcoming gubernatorial election billed to take place on Saturday March 2nd 2019 in Oyo State Three (3) females and thirty six (36) males are in the race for Agodi government house next year.

Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mutiu Agboke who made this revelation while briefing journalists on the activities of the commission at its headquarters in Ibadan, the state capital, maintained that fifty eight (58) candidates from twenty four (24) political parties and one hundred and ninety eight (198) candidates from thirty two political parties will be contesting the three senatorial seats and fourteen (14) House of representatives seats in the election billed to take place on Saturday 16th February

Mutiu Agboke

2019 across the state.

He added that six hundred and twenty three (623) candidates from forty nine (49) political parties will contest the thirty two house of Assembly seats in the state.

According to Agboke, for Senate, we have 54 males and 4 females from 24 political parties. The total number of Senatorial candidates is 58. We have 39 gubernatorial candidates from 39 politi-

cal parties. The list included three (3) females and thirty six (36) males.

“For House of Representatives seats, one hundred and seventy four (174) males are contesting the election while twenty four of them are females. A total of one hundred and ninety eight (198) candidates from thirty two political parties are contesting the 14 House of Representatives seats b

Anambra monarchs urge FG, state to rehabilitate Otuocha-Adani road, others …Says FG can generate $3bn annually from Anyamelum rice GODFREY OFURUM, Awka

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raditional rulers in Anyamelum Local Government Area of Anambra State, have appealed to the Federal Government to rehabilitate the dilapidated Otuocha-Anaku-Adani road, to enable investors and offtakers of rice and other farm produce to access the agrarian communities in the area.

The traditional rulers, made the appeal, Wednesday at a press briefing, tagged “Omor In focus”, to herald the 1st-Ofala Festival of Igwe Oranu Chris Chidume, Eze AnaUk w u , Ez e Ig u l u b e o f Omor, held at Igwe Chidume’s Palace.

They also appealed to the Anambra State Government to mobilize contractors to the proposed Awba-Ofemili-Anyamelum highway, which if realized,

would open up the area to other parts of the State.

His Royal Highness Igwe Onuora Onwuneli, Eze Malume 1 of Igbakwu, who spoke on behalf of the traditional rulers, observed that the Federal Government can generate $3 billion annually, from rice production, if infrastructure and right incentives are provided to rice producing communities in Anyamelum and especially Omor.

He argued that good road network, would attract investors and engender mechanised farming in the area, which is touted as the food basket of Anambra State.

“If we have good roads leading to this area and our rice farming is mechanized, we will overtake the rest of Africa and some parts of the world in rice production.

Anyamelum is currently hosting Coscharis Farms, one of the biggest rice farms

in the country and JOSAN Agro Limited, a major rice off-taker in the country.

“According to reports Nigeria spends about N4 billion on rice importation, meanwhile Anyamelum can provide all the rice needs of the country. Rice produced in this area comes out fresh and natural without additives, unlike imported rice that was preserved with additives for years.

“Most imported rice are from silos, while some expired before they are imported into the country.

“If the Ideani-Onitsha road is rehabilitated, it will be beneficial not only to communities in Anyemelum, but also to Anambra State and the entire country.

“Anyamelum is not poor.

We can generate $3 billion a year from rice production alone. Okro produced in this country is also in high demand”.

“For House of Assembly seats, six hundred and twenty three (623) candidates from forty nine (49) political parties are contesting the House of Assembly seats.

We have five hundred and eleven (511) males and one hundred and twelve females (112)”.

Agboke however warned politicians against vote buying adding “the commission also seized the opportunity of the interactive session to intimate the politicians about dangers of vote buying which has become a menace in the recent elections in the country. The politicians however were told not to use money to induce voters thereby influencing their informed decisions”.

Agboke also revealed that the door of PVCs collection has not been closed.

“Let me use this medium to tell the general public that the news that the INEC has opened window for fresh registration is fake. The fresh registration has been suspended till after the elections. Also, let use this opportunity to say that INEC has not close the door for collection of PVCs.

Bartenders, mixologists shine at JimBean classic mix-off competition Modestus Anaesoronye

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t was camera, lights and action on Saturday at the JimBeam, as the world’s no. 1 bourbon crowned its winner on her maiden edition of the JimBeam classic Mix-off.The competition which kicked off with buzz online for mixologist and bartenders to register had over 120 people who registered.

The competition which was organised to reward the real MVP’S of the party which are the bartenders and mixologist showcases their unique skills in the art of mixing alcoholic beverages.

Jim Beam the first bourbon has been making history since 1795, having used the same proportion of corn, rye, and barley in its mash bill for more than 220 years. Along with the mash bill consistency, the distillery has used the same yeast colony for 75 years. It is a global product and is marketed in Nigeria by Ekulo International Limited who put together this competition.

Qualified contestants came together to display talent at its best. Tasks on cocktails are given and each contestant had a number of minutes to whip up his/her best based on some criteria.

At the screening stage we saw 20 people qualify to make it into the competition which happened in four

stages. At each of the stages, different contestants came up with different recipes for a unique cocktail. Jim Beam classic cocktails was tasted by renowned mixologists who came as judges.

The finals brought more energy from the last five that were tasked in different bouts to showcase product knowledge, ability to sell the brand to bars, signature cocktails with sustainability and community in view and a remake of a JimBeam classic cocktail.

After hours of drilling from the judges, the first JimBeam Classic Mix-off cocktail produced its second runner up Ayegbajeje Olayinka, first runner up is Njoku Ruth and the winner is Aduratade Promise.

The General Manager of Ekulo International Limited, Joseph Okonkwo was live at the event to present the cheque to the winner. He congratulated the winners and shared how Ekulo in its part of corporate social responsibility is offering this competition to bartenders and mixologist. This is in the bid to be better skilled in the art so they can they can stand among their counterparts from other parts of the world.

Th e St a r p r i z e o f N250,000.00 was won by Aduratade Promise, the two runner ups went home with N150,000 and N100,000 respectively with a full bartenders kit.

Amosun’s loyalists roll out drums for Akinlade, APM ...Endorse Buhari for presidency, Amosun for senate RAZAQ AYINLA, Abeokuta

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housands of Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s loyalists in Ogun State, who are the aggrieved members of All Progressives Congress (APC), having deserted the party in large number following the controversy that trailed Dapo Abiodun’s governorship candidacy as against their man - Adekunle Akinlade, have thrown their weight behind Allied People’s Movement (APM) and its governorship candidate, Adekunle Akinlade.

This was made official at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto Abeokuta where the national Chairman of APM, Yusuf Dantale flagged off campaign for Akinlade as governorship candidate in Ogun State and announced the adoption of the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress,

Amosun

President Muhammadu Buhari as the APM Presidential candidate as well as APC Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State as Senatorial candidate of APC in Ogun central senatorial district after his exit in the office.

Governor Amosun’s

loyalists being led by his preferred governorship candidate, Abdulkabir Akinlade, 26 State House of Assembly members and some candidates contesting elections to the National Assembly - Senate and House Representatives, all received flags as the APM candidates in the state.

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News Horror as Lagos-Ibadan expressway I’m for APC supremacy, Abiodun’s guber candidacy in Ogun - Afuape claims 424 lives in 24months RAZAQ AYINLA, Abeokuta

...FG opens section 1 to ease traffic flow for Christmas travellers Chuka Uroko

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t is as shocking as it is thought-provoking that whole 424 lives have been lost through road accidents on the ever busy Lagos-Ibadan expressway in the last 24 months.

Officials of the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC), who revealed this when the federal government opened the section one of the expressway recently to ease traffic flow for travelers, explained that 210 of those deaths occurred in 2017 while the remainder happened this year.

Clement Oladele, FRSC Sector Commander, Ogun State, explained that about 50 percent of the deaths occurred at the construction zones, but blamed the incidents on the impatience of the motorists. What this means however is that the contractor may have been negligent in his road diversion strategy and that needs to be addressed quickly to avoid further waste of lives and resources.

Lagos –Ibadan expressway, which has garnered notoriety for the frequent motor accidents recorded on it, has become a perpetual con-

struction site as the reconstruction of the expressway which started some years ago is yet to be completed.

The section one which was temporarily opened covers its stretch from Lagos Toll Gate to Shagamu in Ogun State. The section two begins from here and ends in Ibadan.

The delay in completing the reconstruction work is reason, among other things, for the huge increase in the contract sum by almost 100 percent to N134 billion, up from N70 billion initial contract sum. The expressway is one of the busiest arterial roads in the country. It is the major route to the Northern and Eastern parts of the country. The expressway facilitates trade and commerce between the commercial cities of Onitsha in the East and Lagos in the West.

Oladele observed that, in 2017, his command recorded 1.8 million travelers on the expressway while, this year, as at the third quarter, that is by the end of September, they had recorded two million.

“For the Yuletide period, we have started a special operation on this road that will last from December 15, 2018 to January 15,2019. Our expectation is that 350,000 vehicles will pass through

this road. It could have been more, but for the fact that some families have decided not to travel because of expected fuel scarcity and gridlock; we also expect that more people may travel as the expressway has been opened”, he noted.

Ea r l i e r, Ad e d a m o l a Kuti, the federal controller of works in Lagos, had explained that the opening of the expressway was to minimise the hardship for travelers on the expressway, especially those going home for Christmas, and to reduce travel time and cost for them.

He assured that the reconstruction work would continue after the Yuletide, saying that the federal government has set aside a huge sum of money, about $650 million infrastructure fund, to ensure that there was no slow down in construction activities.

“The $650 million is meant to complete this expressway, Abuja-KadunaKano Road, East-West Road, Plateau-Mambila Bridge and Second Nigeria Bridge under the federal government’s infrastructure fund. The fund is growing and, if I have my figures right, it must have reached $1 billion by now”, he said.

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oruf Afolabi Afuape, Ogun State former Commissioner for Youths and Sport has lambasted those benefitted immensely from All Progressives Congress (APC) and now trooping to the Allied People’s Movement (APM), saying his belief in party supremacy and APC governorship campaign has prevented him from leaving the party.

Afuape, who is now vying for legislative seat in the State House of Assembly, Abeokuta South Constituency I on the platform of All Progressive Congress (APC), is sure of the party winning the governorship

MIKE ABANG, Calabar

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head of the 2019 general election, Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has declared that he was going for elections that he already knew the result next year.

The governor disclosed this during the inauguration of the People’s Democratic Party Campaign Council made up of 1066 members at the State Cultural Centre complex.

Ayade told the campaign Council members that “Even though we know the result, we have to be careful, calculative and plan better as if our whole life depended on it.”

“This election cannot be won by money, rather what we have done in the past three and half years, will speak for us, we have appointed over 6000 ap-

The Director General of the PDP Campaign Council and former De p u t y Go v e r n o r o f Cross River State Effiok Cobham in his remarks charged the members of the campaign council to ensure they deliver their ward in what he tagged

It will be recalled that the state governor, Ibikunle Amosun who is contesting for the Ogun central senatorial seat of the state under the same party APC, has said publicly that he is not in support of the candidacy of Dapo Abiodun, as the governorship candidate of the party, while he is in support of the governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Honourable Abdul Kabir Adekunle Akinlade.

Meanwhile, the former commissioner for Youths and Sport, Afolabi Afuape, during the recent address, said he has always placed his party ahead of his personal ambitions and the current campaign would take all the candidates to the promise land.

L-R: Managing Director, United Capital Investment Banking, Babatunde Obaniyi; Executive Director, FSDH Merchant Bank Limited, Mr Taiwo Otiti; Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Demola Sogunle; Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Capital, Funso Akere; and Deputy CEO, Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria, Dalu Ajene, at the signing ceremony for the recently issued Stanbic IBTC Bond, held in Lagos.

2019: We are going for elections that we already know the result - Ayade pointees, promoted 33 permanent secretaries in the state civil service, which is the core essence of government, increase the number of lawyers in the state Ministry of Justice, we are indeed the government of the people,” he said.

seat in the state and all political seats for which the party will field candidates.

He added that President Muhammadu Buhari would win also the presidential election slated for February next year as the developmental projects of Buhari-led APC government spread across the country are too conspicuous for anybody to see and feel.

Afuape, who addressed APC supporters, party leaders and stakeholders from his Abeokuta South Constituency I at his residence in Abeokuta, the state capital on Friday, noted that all meaningful APC members and leaders in the state would jointly support Dapo Abiodun as well as all candidates of APC to ensure victory.

“operation deliver your ward”.

Also speaking, the state Chairman of PDP, Inok Edim, appealed to members who were not appointed into the council to work assiduously for the victory of the party in next year’s general election.

L-R: Sam Onyemelukwe, managing director, Trace West Africa; Ibidapo Martins, chief marketing officer, Sterling Bank Plc; Abubakar Suleiman, chief executive officer, Sterling Bank Plc; Bright Jaja, founder, iCreate Skills Festival, Anne Dirkling, director of Partnerships, iCreate Africa, and Ezinne Nwokafor, head MSME Banking, Sterling Bank Plc, at the iCreate Skill Festival post event press conference which held in Lagos.

TSTV introduces ‘pay as you go’ subscription model, partners Azercosmos for quality James Kwen, Abuja

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STV, a Telecom Satellite indigenous Nigerian pay Television platform has introduced a ‘pay as you go’ subscription model in which customers are charged hourly as they watch all available channels.

The platform which started in 2017 currently transmits 50 channels on a single bouquet available on the hourly rate billing while monthly subscription has validity period of 45 days to allow subscribers have value for their money.

TSTV has aslo entered partnership with Azercosmos, an open joint stock company and a satellite operator based in Azerbaijan to provide technical support and content for quality services to Nigerians and other subscribers.

Benjamin Zida, Chief Operating Officer of TSTV who made this known during the formal announcement of the partnership with Azercosmos at the Television Corporate Headquarters in Abuja said the company was in advanced talks with other international content providers to acquire more premium contents and channels.

Zida disclosed that one of

the new contents TSTV has acquired is the broadcast of one live English Premiership League match weekly and it has upgraded the contents available on the platform while it is reviewing all the 50 channels and creating a distribution network for easy accessibility of the product.

“TSTV has not forgotten her promises to Nigerians, neither have we abandoned them. In our bid to serve our customers better, we have recruited seasoned and experienced talents and veterans who have occupied similar roles and capacities in the paytv industry to manage TSTV. “In line with our promise to Nigerians, we have entered into fresh and strategic relationships with reputable international brands with the aim to supply us with premium and uninterrupted transmission and content”, he said.

Samaddin Asobor, Chief Financial Officer of Azercosmos while confirming the partnership promised to always provide the technical assistance needed by TSTV to ensure customer satisfaction among Nigerians and Africa, adding that they were happy such services were offered in African market.

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News

Wike terminates power plants bought by Tonye Cole …Guber challenger’s camp says it’s not surprised Ignatius Chukwu

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he Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has hit hard at Tonye Cole, his rival for the 2019 governorship contest, terminating the sale of Rivers power plants bought by Cole’s Sahara Energy. He also hit hard at other investments associated with Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi’s allies, but Cole’s camp has reacted, saying it is not a surprise.

The terminations were the fallout of the state executive council meeting on Friday, December 21, 2018. A statement from government house said the Rivers State Government has approved the termination of the ‘Share sale contract’ for the sale of 70 per cent equity of the State Government-owned power generation assets held by First Independent Power Limited in Omoku, Afam, Trans-Amadi and Eleme Gas Turbines to NG Power-HPS Limited.

The Rivers State Government also terminated the concession of the Rivers

Wike

and Bayelsa State owned Olympia Hotel to Cenpropsaroten Hotel Management Limited.

Tonye Princiwill, the Director, Strategic Communications of Tonye Cole Campaign Organization, said; “This may be a surprise to some, but not me. This is the vindictive nature of the politics we play today and the reason why many who can salvage our analog politics stay away. We’ve said it before that politics is too

important to be left to politicians, so the Tonye Coles of this world should have no fear. The old way is going and the old style politicians know it. My surprise is it took this long. I can only imagine that now Wike knows that Tonye Cole will be confirmed as his opponent, he can no longer hide his frustration. What he fails to appreciate is that no serious business will want to do business with Rivers state; all this from a state with the highest level of unemployment in Nigeria and IGR untapped. Yet we wonder why insecurity remains.”

The State Government had further terminated the concession agreement between the Government of Rivers State and Kild Concession Limited in respect of the construction of a Toll road and Secondary developments in Abonnema Wharf, Port Harcourt.

The three companies that had their contracts/concessions terminated are subsidiaries of Sahara Energy Limited, which the state government said were used by Amaechi to acquire state assets.

Atiku pledges dry ports, business expansion in South East UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia

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tiku Abubakar, the People’s Democratic Party Presidential candidate for 2019 general election has said that he would expand businesses, create jobs, and ensure functionality of dry ports in the South East region if elected president next year.

Abubakar, who stated this in Aba, Abia State during a Town Hall Meeting with the South East Business Community at Aba Sports Club, reiterated his determination to tackle the challenges facing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), manufacturers and industries in the zone in order to ensure prosperity.

“I am aware of the constraints facing Small and Medium Enterprises, Industries and manufacturers. The challenges are quite evident and I feel your pains. It pains me because I am one of you. I am a business man and a manufacturer. We are going to create jobs, we can’t afford to have 15millionyouthsunemployed in the country,” Atiku said.

The PDP Presidential candidate who described SMEs and Entrepreneur-

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L-R: Ilyas Kazeem, marketing manager Domino’s Pizza Nigeria, Patrick McMichael, CEO Eat’N’Go Limited, Otto Orondaam, CEO/founder Slum2School Africa and Ruth Ebe, head of operations, Slum2School Africa at the Eat’N’Go limited and Slum2School Africa partnership to send 1000 children to school, recently held in Lagos.

Eat’N’Go partners Slum2School to offer1000 underserved children access to quality education

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at’N’Go Limited, Nigeria’s leading food franchisee has partnered with Slum2School Africa, a volunteer-driven developmental organisation to provide 1000 underserved Nigerian children with access to quality education.

Under the Hope for Every Child, One Bite/Scoop/Swirl At A Time’ initiative aims to through targeted funds raised from 1st December 2018 to 30th November 2019 support education.

Atiku

as provide lasting solutions to the Enyimba city as the premium destination of the South-East, Nigeria and Africa at large.

John Udeagbala, the first Vice President of NACCIMA and Andy Uba Obasi, the President of the ACCIMA in their separate speeches described the Southeast as disadvantaged because of the untold misery faced by the business communities in the zone.

They said though Aba suffered severe setback owing to security challenges, it was gradually receiving facelifts especially in SMEs, saying that they expected sustainability in the present state of affairs in the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises.

I still remain the authentic Abia IPAC chairman - Ehiemere UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia

KELECHI EWUZIE

ship as the live wire of any economy noted that Aba could be turned into SMEs sub-region.

He berated the APC government for its shortcomings, adding that the PDP would set things right in 2019 if elected into power,.

According to him, the PDP administration started the policy of ease of doing business which he said had been destroyed by the present government, adding that his government would introduce technology in ease of doing business to eliminate bottlenecks as well as ensure functionality of dry ports in the southeast zone.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in his address, said the PDP Presidential candidate understood the importance of Aba in the business and manufacturing sector in Nigeria and expressed belief that he would proffer solutions to the existing problems of the business community.

Ikpeazu, who described Aba as a special zone that would drive the economic growth of Nigeria in the years to come, said the meeting was expected to among other things help Abia business men and women highlight their challenges as well

This initiative seeks to directly contribute 50 million naira generated from proceeds of select products from Domino’s Pizza, Cold Stone Creamery and Pinkberry Gourmet Frozen Yoghurt. For every Cinnastix purchase from Domino’s Pizza, N100 will be donated to this cause, for every waffle purchased at Cold Stone Creamery N100 will also be given back while Pinkberry will donate N100 on every bubble waffle purchase.

Patrick McMichael, chief executive officer, Eat’N’Go Limited speaking about the partnership in Lagos said

the company is not only passionate about putting smiles on the faces of customers with our products, but also about improving the lives of the people in Nigeria.

According to him, “We believe that as individuals and corporate organisations, we have a collective role to play in improving the state of education in the country.

We understand the value good quality education contributes to an economy and it is our responsibility to ensure we expand our support in partnership with NGOs like Slum2School who can help us achieve these goals”.

ugustine Ehiemere, the newly elected chairman of Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Abia State chapter, has stated that he still remains the authentic chairman of the group and has not relinquished his position to anybody.

Ehiemere stated this in Umuahia following a purported courtesy call which a group paid to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State recently and presented one Nnanna Ukaegbu to the governor as the new chairman of Abia IPAC. In a press statement signed

by Augustine Ehiemere and

Chidi Nwosu, chairman and vice chairman, respectively, they stated that, “Our attention has been drawn to a grand deception against the Executive Governor of Abia State by fraudsters led by one Emeka Okafor who was the former IPAC Abia State chairman.

“Information available to us made it plain that the fraudsters claiming to be IPAC officials had on Monday,17 December, 2018 presented one Nnanna Ukaegbu to the governor as the current IPAC chairman in Abia, even when the said Ukaegbu is not eligible to be a member of IPAC and did not contest IPAC election on November, 9, 2018 by authorised IPAC national officers and wit-

nessed by INEC and security agencies at INEC secretariat, Umuahia where Augustine Ehiemere emerged chairman of the IPAC, Abia State in a transparent and keenlycontested election.”

IPAC expressed its disappointment that Governor Ikpeazu was yet to respond to letters by duly elected Abia leadership for a date to visit and have audience with him before he was deceived

by Nnanna Ukaegbu even as the chief security officer of the state.

The press release stated that IPAC membership was open to state chairmen of various political parties and only one in such position was eligible to contest for any elective position in IPAC.

Kwara APC: My expulsion story is a lie, says Balogun-Fulani SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin

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he Ishola BalogunFulani-led executive committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has refuted purported expulsion from the party by its National Working Committee (NWC).

Balogun-Fulani, who is leader of the executive committee affirmed as authentic by an Ilorin High Court on Wednesday, told newsmen on Friday in Ilorin that none of them was ever queried by

the NWC let alone warrant the execution of disciplinary action against them.

The APC chairman insisted that the midweek judgment directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise his executive committee and accept the list of candidates submitted by his group to the electoral umpire for the 2019 general elections . The elated Balogun-Fulani also announced the constitution of a reconciliation committee to work on aggrieved party members, saying he will inaugurate the committee early next week so that its mem-

bers can start work in earnest.

National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Lanre IssaOnilu had in the wake of the court decision declared that the judgement was of no effect since the Balogun-Fulani executive committee had earlier been expelled allegedly for anti-party activities.

But Balogun-Fulani, who was flanked by other members of his committee during the media briefing described Issa-Onilu’s position as false, pointing out that the APC spokesman was not on board during the initial crisis he had little authentic information to comment on.

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News

KWIRS expends N275m on community development, generates N20.5b in eleven months SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin

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he Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS), has disclosed that it has expended a total sum of N275million on community service for the development of the state since 2016.

The agency equally informed that it has generated a total revenue of N20.5billion between January and November 2018.

Murtala Awodun, the Executive Chairman of the agency made the disclosure on Thursday while briefing journalists on the activities of KWIRS in the last quarter of the year.

Given the breakdown, Awodun stated that, the agency realised N2.2 billion in January, February N 2. 39 billion, March N 1.8billion, April N 1.29 billion, May N 1.2 billion, June N 1.18 billion, July N 1.3 billion, August N 2.5 billion, September N

Murtala Awodun

2.1 billion, October N 1.6 billion and November N 2.7 billion.

He restated that the KWIRS had from first quarter to the third of the year, realised N6.4b, N3.6b and N5.9b respectively.

Awodun, further explained that the revenues collected in 2016 and 2017 are N17.4b and N19.6b respectively while that of the 2018 excluding the present month of December is N20.5b

He disclosed that in this year’s last quarter, the agency had already collected a total of N4.4b while still waiting for that of December.

The revenue boss expressed hope that by the time the December revenue is received, the amount of N26.96b budgeted as revenue to be collected by the agency for the year would be realised.

“We are hopeful that our revenue generation for the month of the December shall be the highest so far”, Awodun added.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Isiak Muhammed Sabi commended efforts the man at the elm of affairs in KWIRS, adding that he recorded success while in academic line and has repeated same as Revenue Chairman.

He expressed hope that anybody who succeeded Awodun would be able to perform effectively.

NB Plc committed to supporting communities, through CSR programmes-Bel GODFREY OFURUM, Umuahia

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igerian Breweries Plc (NB plc), Nigeria’s leading beverage firm, has reiterated its commitment towards affecting positively, the lives of Nigerians, through its well thought out corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects.

Jordi Borrut Bel, managing director/chief executive officer, Nigerian Breweries Plc, made the promise

in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, at the closing and award ceremony of the 9th edition of the Ridge Club Tennis Tournament, sponsored by the firm.

He explained that the firm has over the years been active in supporting its shared aspirations for growth in communities in the arrears of sports, health, youth empowerment, education, among others.

He stated that the sponsorship of the event has continued to offer the firm,

a unique opportunity to entrench active health living in the community and support the development of Tennis, a sport that is gradually gaining acceptance in the country.

Bel, who was represented at the event by, Uzodinma Odenigbo, public affairs manager (PAM), South, NB Plc, noted that the tournament remains a platform for Tennis enthusiasts in Umuahia and locations within and beyond Abia State, to hone their skills and enjoy the beauty of the

sport over a two-day period of entertainment and connection.

He commended the participants for an exceptional show of sportsmanship during the games. “As we all know, it is glorious to win prizes in competitions like this, but the ultimate benefit is in participation, goodwill and the togetherness that come with the contest.

“Nigerian Breweries plc and Ridge Club, Umuahia have a long standing relationship in many ways.

Technotrend splashes cash, smartphones at Mega Games Promo

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even Nigerians became One million naira richer as they won top prizes at the recent Mega Games Pro-

mo. The promo, organized by a technology company, Technotrend Platform Nig. Limited, under the platform of Airtel Nigeria Network,

L-R:Olubunmi Fashola-Raji; special guest, Doyin Adesina; MD CEO; Technotrend Platforms Nigeria Limited, (TPNL), winner; Yemisi Okoli and Ughwujabo Jude; head, Monitoring & Enforcement National Lottery Regulatory Commission at the presentation of prizes to the winners of Mega Games Promo, held in Lagos.

presented the seven million naira cheque to six Nigerians and an Arabian, Rafaqat Ali. They are Rosemark, Mike Chikodo Okoro, Emmanuel Egbo, Ikade Michael Dan, Okoli Stella Yemisi and Adebayo Oyeyipo. Fourteen persons from different parts of the country were also present with their prize gifts of Smart Phones at the presentation ceremony was held at the Lagos Resource Center, Victoria Island, Lagos and had the presence of officials of Nigeria Lottery Regulatory Communication NLRC, Jude Ughwujabo and Consumer Protection Council CPC, Madam Suzie Onwuka.

Doyin Adeshina, Managing Director of Technotrend Platform Nigeria Limited stated that mega games promo which started barely three months ago has re-

warded players with a total of twenty-two million naira , the top prize being a million naira.

He added that the trivia game draws are done daily after five Questions are answered via the Airtel SMS platform attracting just N20 per day which must accrue to six thousand points qualifying the player for a daily draw. A million naira cash prize and ten smartphones are won every week. One of the beneficiaries of the N1m cash, Rosemark, a hairdresser, said she was surprised and initially didn’t believe she could win when she was called and received text. She thanks organisers of the Mega Games Promo for matching their words with Action.

Mike Chikodo Okoro, a retail phone seller said that a friend urged him to play the game.

SO&U takes lead with 23 awards at Lagos Advertising and Ideas Festival Anthony Nlebem

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O&U Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading Creative Agencies continues to maintain its creative lead as the agency recorded groundbreaking wins with 23 awards in various categories at the recently held Lagos Advertising & Ideas Festival (LAIF) award event.

The 28 year old Agency like old wine continues to lead with compelling creative ideas year on year. At the LAIF award, SO&U scooped 4 gold, 11 silver and 8 bronze to reinforce its position as an ideas powerhouse fueled by innovation, creativity and excellence.

It is no surprise that the quality of creative ideas and campaigns from SO&U’s stable always remain top notch in creativity and appeal. From its spectacular Mother’s Day Reset advert in March, which was arguably one of the most successful and self-sustaining campaigns ever in Nigeria based on its organic viral growth The agency continues to prove that it remains the lead in creative excellence.

SO&U’s rich pedigree in spearheading award winning campaigns for some of the nation’s most innovative financial institutions like Guaranty Trust Bank (from inception) for over 15 years and later Access Bank for 16 years (till date). We are also

reminded of the spectacular works in the telecommunications sector for MTN and more recently Globacom in the last 5 years thus making the LAIF award wins more feathers to the very well decorated cap of an agency that loves what it does and does the right things.

Reacting to the wins, the Executive Director, Brand management, Biodun Adefila, expressed delight at the impressive haul of awards for the company. She noted that the LAIF awards are a reward for SO&U’s philosophy of “Nothing is Impossible” and a deeply rooted culture of enthusiasm and passion to consistently create uniquely compelling campaigns. “We feel deeply honoured with the recognition for our work among many brilliant ideas and campaigns across the country and will remain focused at providing the best creative ideas in maintaining our lead in the industry” she stated.

Anthony Ekun who is the CreativeDirector,commended the team for their creative skills and quest for excellence which informs creative innovations and ideas by the team on every call. Anthony also known as “Tyger” said “We remain proud of our work and achievements. We are also proud that we a building a team of young creative geniuses in our Agency as witnessed with our second place win in the Young LAIFers Award.

SPAR partners kinabuti for Christmas outreach at Orile SEYI JOHN SALAU

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n continuation of its support for noble initiatives, SPAR Nigeria recently partnered Kinabuti for the 7th edition of the annual Christmas outreach to students in Orile, a suburb area of Lagos. The initiative was staged in commemoration of the festive season to put smiles to the faces of the less privileged in the community.

John Goldsmith, the marketing head, SPAR Nigeria, said the brand believe in giving back to the society through noble initiatives that embodies the essence of Christmas season which is sharing. “We are delighted to be a part of the annual outreach of Kinabuti and friends.

“Our maxim as an organization is ‘My Nigeria, My SPAR’ has helped us in supporting various charitable projects to enhance the quality of lives of Nigerians and also through our support for local farmers and gainfully employing skilled Nigerians,” said Goldsmith.

Caterina Bortolussi, the creative director of Kinabuti, said the initiative is one of

the ways of reaching out to the less privileged children in Orile; Coker; Iganmu, and her neighbouring suburbs.

According to Bortolussi, the ecstasy on the faces of the children encouraged Kinabuti to continue with the initiative. “The smile on the faces of the children and the feelings of their pure joy light up our hearts more beautifully as they received their goody bags.

We want to thank our sponsors most especially SPAR Nigeria; donors; partners and volunteers for their contributions towards the success of this project. The party has grown to be a major event for children in this suburb in a profound way,” said Bortolussi.

She equally used the opportunity to appreciate the teachers who have impacted knowledge into the students in the last one year.

At the event, the Eko Samba Musical band was at hand to entertain the participants.

Other highlights of the event include the bouncy castles; yoga classes; story time; Arts and Craft class; fitness classes; Gift time by Santa and lots of games.

Sunday 23 December 2018

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Christmas: Scarcity of Lake Rice hits Lagos

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Stories by JOSHUA BASSEY

y this time last year, trailer-loads of Lake Rice, a brand of homegrown and packaged rice popularised by Lagos-Kebbi (LAKE) States, were all over town.

As the roads leading to Lagos from Kebbi were busy with the trailers coming in, so also were the designated sales centres across the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas of Lagos, bubbling.

For thousands of Lagosians who had the privilege of buying the subsidised rice, it was excitement and fun all together.

To make it less stressful for the residents seeking to buy, the state government, apart from the designated sales centres, had gone ahead to strike a deal with rice distributors and superstores to have the Lake Rice added as one of the brands on display in their shops and shelf.

Ganiyu Okanlawon, the special adviser to the state government on food security, had explained that the arrangement with the rice distributors was to enable the residents access the product not only at the designated centres but also from the open market at controlled prices. The arraignment involves major distributors in various rice markets in the state who have the capacity to receive and distribute large tons of Lake Rice during and after the yuletide season.

Distribution of Lake Rice in Lagos

“The distributors shall transport and market Lake Rice, engage in the equitable distribution of the product by avoiding hoarding and other sharp practices and ensure all year-round availability of LakeRice,” said Okanlawon.

Thrilled by the fact that thousands of residents who could not afford other brands of local and foreign rice were trooping to the sales centres to buy the Lake Rice at N12,000 (50kg) and N6,000 (25kg), the state government had made a show of it. Pictures of excited residents walking

Ikorodu: LG vows to fish out ghost workers

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hairman of Ikorodu local government, Wasiu Adeshina, says the council will endeavour to reposition its revenue unit, in order to boost its finances.

Adeshina spoke during the annual week of the Ikorodu branch of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), at the council’s secretariat.

He said that he would as well as provide two additional buses for the unit to complement the existing one, and urged the revenue officers to desist from diverting revenue to private use.

“The local government has to increase its revenue generation to be able to meet up with the demands of the people in the local government, in terms of upgrading and construction of infrastructure in the local government.

“I will provide additional two buses to facilitate the unit’s move-

ment so that it can be able to cover more areas in the local government, and also provide new tables and chairs in all the offices for effective service,’’ Adeshina said.

Also speaking at the event, Adekunle Dipe, the council manager, Ikorodu local government, urged the staff to be punctual. He said that there were plans to fish out ghost workers in the council.

Dipe said that the council was poised to improve the welfare condition of its staff, as well as reward outstanding ones who proved to be diligent in service delivery.

“Welfare of staff is very important to us and officers need to be rewarded.

“As a matter of fact, some local governments are rewarding their staff with huge sums of money, but with the large number of staff we have in this council; we will try our best and some staff will be rewarded.

away from the sales centres with a bag of rice on their heads were circulated in the conventional and social media to the admiration of other parts of the country.

The Akinwunmi Ambode-led government had reason to feel on top of the world. Here was an initiative that put smiles on the faces of the citizens many of whom may not have afforded between N18,000 and N22,000 to buy other brands of rice to celebrate Christmas. For these families, Christmas was truly in the air.

This year, the situation is not exactly the same. Since November, residents of Lagos have been expecting the trailers To ferry in their darling Lake Rice. Checks around major markets and the sales centres show that the rice is scarcely available.

By Friday, December 21, (four days to Christmas) the state secretariat, Alausa, was without its usual excitement, as the Lake Rice usually seen in various ministries and departments of government was lacking, with some civil servants expressing

disappointment.

One of them, on condition of anonymity, said she was really looking forward to the rice because “it is cheaper and more nutritious than the imported brands which are mostly struggled into the country.

“I have come to like the Lake Rice brand because it is cheap, fresh and more nutritious. Most of the imported brands have been in the warehouse for years. It’s unfortunate I can find the Lake Rice to buy, said the female civil servant.

However, Toyin Suarau, the state commissioner for agriculture, in a telephone interview, told Inside Lagos that the rice would still be available.

He said: “I just returned from Kebbi on Thursday, December 20 to firm up arrangement there.

I can assure you that Lake Rice would be available to the people to buy.”

Suarau was corroborated by Okanlawon, the special adviser on food security. Sanni said efforts were being made to ensure the availability of the rice to buyers.

“The Lake Rice is not in the market for now but any moment from now, it will arrive from Kebbi and Lagosians will have enough during this festive period,” he said.

Recall that the Lagos State government sealed a deal with Kebbi State to promote the agro value chain especially local production of rice in what was expected to reduce the country’s dependence on imported rice.

V/Island: LASG tasks residents on clean environment …frowns at proliferation of Nite Clubs in Ikoyi

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agos State government has urged Victoria Island and Ikoyi residents to prioritise clean environment by being observant and protective of their immediate environment.

Commissioner for the environment, Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, gave the charge on Friday, saying the rate at which the highbrow areas were being defaced was alarming.

Durosinmi-Etti said the development was capable of causing grave danger to the community, and therefore, urged strict adherence to the laws regarding waste management, noise pollution and the approved master plan for the area.

The commissioner said that the situation in which property owners in the area allowed indiscrimi-

nate conversion of the residential areas to commercial use was not acceptable.

He said this was contributing to increase refuse generation in the area, as well as the attendant illegal dumping of refuse in unauthorised places.

Durosinmi-Etti, who said that government was committed to attain a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, frowned at a situation whereby some residents continue to patronise cart pushers and dump waste indiscriminately on the roads in spite of warnings on the environmental and health implications of such acts.

Durosinmi-Etti said that government has repeatedly warned against the abuse of its laws and all acts capable of compounding the

challenge of waste management in the state.

He also decried the proliferation of religious worship centres and Nite clubs in various residential areas in Victoria Island and Ikoyi metropolis, and called for caution on the noise level to avoid rancour in the society.

“Any noise above the approved levels contravened the provisions of the National Environmental Noise Standard and Controls Regulations 2009, as well as the Lagos State Environmental Laws 2017,” Durosinmi-Etti said in a statement.

He called for the cooperation of religious centres and club owners on the maintenance of the acceptable noise levels for residential areas, which was 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night.

be done in accordance to the resources available to the council. He then urged representatives of each ward to be aware of resources of the council as they rolled out list of their needs.

He reminded residents to keep in mind the basic economic theory of insatiable needs and scarce resources.

Speaking at the meeting, Shuaib

Waziu, a ward leader, urged the chairman to include the renovation of the Customary Court at Topo Garage in the council’s 2019 budget.

“We want street lights in Oropo Link, General Hospital Road and also in Hunwaji road, Agonkameh.

Also, we want drainage from Oko Alalubosa through Agonkameh to Army Barracks,” he said.

Badagry: Chairman tasks citizens on tax payment

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h a i r m a n , Ol u s e g u n Onilude, Badagry local government has called on the residents to pay taxes and rates due to government at the right time to enable it execute social projects.

Onilude stated this at a stakeholders meeting on the council’s 2019 budget in Badagry.

According to the council boss,

a good citizen is one who is ever ready to contribute his quota, and sometimes make sacrifice to ensure the development of his community.

“We are all aware of the dwindling allocation from the federation account. All levels of government are now looking inwards to boost their revenue bases.

“As our local government is dis-

covering new revenue points and blocking loopholes, we implore you to help us, not only by paying promptly, but by encouraging others to do same,” he said.

Onilude said that his administration was committed to the equitable development of infrastructure in all the 10 wards in the area.

According to him, this will only

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CRIME WATCH Police commissioner announces security measures to tackle criminals

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Stories by CHINWE AGBEZE

dgal Imohimi, the Lagos State commissioner of police, has mapped out measures to curb the activities of robbers who residents complain specialise in destroying cars parked by the roadside in some neighbourhoods.

The police commissioner directed the Area C o m m a n d e r s a n d Di visional Police Officers to carry out strings of operations in their areas of responsibilities, according to CSP Chike Oti, Lagos police spokesman.

CSP Oti said Imohimi advised all communities in the state to adopt the security measures in order to improve security in their vicinity.

“All streets/communities should as a matter of urgency appoint a Chief Security Officer (CSO) from their midst. This exercise is to be coordinated by the CDA of such area,’’ the police spokesman said.

“Secondly, it will be the responsibility of the CSO to get the phone numbers of DPOs, operation officers and patrol and guard officers closest to them and distribute same widely to members of their com-

munity.’’

Also, CSP Oti said it will be the responsibility of the CSO to arrange for street guards who will keep watch at night and raise the alarm when necessary to frustrate night marauders.

“It will be the responsibility of the CSO to reinvigorate and coordinate the already existing joint vigilante/police patrol at night between 12 midnight and 4am in conjunction with the DPO of that

locality,” he said.

“In areas where vigilance groups have not been formed in accordance with laid down legal/operational modalities earlier issued by the Commissioner of Police, it will be the responsibility of the CSO to immediately liaise with his DPO to ensure that these vigilance groups are set up.”

The commissioner of police has also observed that the two toll free lines, 767/112 are jammed due

to call traffic. To reduce the strain on these lines, the commissioner has released the 10 numbers domiciled at the Citizen Complaint Hot Centre (CCHC) for use by communities to alert law enforcement officers, according to CSP Oti. “The numbers are 08067945296, 08063025274, 08063104759, 08113615350, 08113683077, 08096283148, 08096283173, 08089781657, 08126404930, 08081426895,” the police spokesman said. “It will be the responsibility of the CSO to ensure that these lines are given widest publicity.”

Continuing, the police spokesman said, “The co m m issio ner wishes to reiterate that security is not only a joint endeavour but an ex p e n s i v e b u s i n e s s . He enjoins communities to pay their security dues to enable CSOs to put in place street guards to complement the effort of the police.

“The commissioner assures Lagosians of security in the remaining part of the yuletide season and enjoins them to celebrate and enjoy moderately during the festive period.”

Command bans banners, billboards pasting at odd hours

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verwhelmed with complaints of indiscriminate removal and destruction of campaign posters and billboards of political parties and aspirants by unknown persons, the Lagos Police command said it has placed a ban on pasting posters at odd hours.

It was alleged that those involved in this act usually operates at odd hours, particularly between 1am and 4am, CSP Chike Oti, police spokesman said.

CSP Oti said the trend may lead to break down of law and order with its attendant consequences if it is not reversed.

He said after due consultation with relevant

stakeholders, authorities of the Lagos police Command warn that pasting of campaign posters billboards and other advertisements, should be done during the day time, between the hours of 6am and 6pm only.

“All political parties and candidates are to a p p r o a c h L ASA A f o r guidelines and approvals of their adverts. LASAA officials are to be accompanied by policemen when carrying out their enforcement and compliance duty,” the police spokesman said.

“All political parties, candidates and agents are to be guided by the contents of these rules in order not to run afoul of the law,” he added.

Police arrest house help who allegedly robbed employer

One killed as car rams in a store

hen Alexander Okoye, 73-year old retiree and his wife Njideka Okoye, employed one Ben Peters as househelp on October 12, 2018, little did they know they had brought home, a man, who came prepared to rob them and were it not for the great providence, might have harmed the old couple.

According to CSP Chike Oti, police spokesman, the State commissioner of police received a written petition from the couple on October 24, 2018.

“The Okoye’s cried out to the commissioner of Police, complaining of how the said Ben Peters who was with them for just eleven days, stole their valuables including their Toyota Camry saloon car, 2008 model, five thousand United States Dollars, six packet shirts and a Motorola Android phone,” the police spokesman said.

Based on their complaint,

ne person was killed after a driver rammed his car into a store, which was beside the road, in Lagos State.

The incident occurred at Oke Afa, late on Sunday night. “We were not here when the accident happened, said Musa Wada, one of the policemen at the accident scene.

According to eyewitnesses at the scene, the driver who was in the company of

W

the commissioner directed CSP Kemi Adedeji and team attached to the Command’s Human rights section to launch a manhunt for the fleeing house help, said Lagos police public relations officer.

“On December 18, 2018, barely two months after the incident, the said Ben Peters was arrested from a hideout in Agege, Lagos and some of the stolen items recovered from him,” CSP Oti, said.

“Investigation so far revealed that his real name is Usang Bassey Effiong and not Ben Peters as he made his employers to believe.”

CSP Oti said the suspect has confessed how he committed crime.

“He narrated that he noted where Mr Okoye usually

hid his bedroom key and to gain access to it, he needed to duplicate the living room key. So, he went ahead and made a copy of the living room key,” the police public relations officer said.

“On October 23, he made up his mind to break into the couple’s bedroom and to do so undetected. He disconnected the CCTV camera that would have recorded his activities, picked up the bedroom key and constructively broke into the couple’s room.

He stole their valuables and drove off with their car,” CSP Oti recounted.

According to the police public relations officer, the suspect said that robbing the couple was easy for him because the house help they dismissed before employing him, one Matthew Johnson Abam, was a member of his robbery syndicate. Matthew had furnished him with relevant information about the couple even before he came to live with them.

O

his friends knocked down a young man and fled upon realising the man was dead.

Esekody Chuka, a legal practitioner, said he was drinking at a bar across the road with his friends when the accident occurred.

“I sighted the car coming at full speed from Destiny Filling Station. I was talking to my friends about it few minutes before the accident occurred,” Chuka recounts.

“The car ran into a nearby store and dragged a young

man close it along after which it came out on the road and somersaulted thrice,” he said.

Chuka said he rushed to the accident scene and helped the occupants of the car but on realising they had killed someone, they fled.

“The first man I helped out of the car was complaining that he warned his driver against over speeding.

We didn’t know they had knocked someone dead until after rescuing the third person. When we realised, the driver and his friends had escaped,” Chuka narrated.

The young man identified as Simeon who just concluded his National Youth Service Corps, NYSC had come to Lagos two days earlier from Anambra State in search of a job.

The body of Simeon was deposited at a nearby mortuary while the vehicle, a Toyota Camry with the number LSD619FJ, was moved to Ejigbo police station.

Sunday 23 December 2018

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BDSUNDAY 11

CRIME WATCH

W ZEBULON AGOMUO

ho is safe in Nigeria? This is the question many people have been asking since the gruesome murder Tuesday, December 18, 2018 of the former Chief of Defence Staff and former Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, by gunmen suspected to be assassins.

Ba d e h w a s s a i d t o have been murdered on his way from his farm along Abuja-Keffi Road.

The assassination has once again underscored the worsening insecurity in the country and the urgent need for action on the part of government.

It has also heightened fears ahead of the 2019 general election as politicians are trying to outdo one another in the quest for power.

To the outside world, what the development means is that Nigeria is increasingly becoming unsafe for foreign investors to come in.

While Nigerians may be looking at it from the flippant standpoint of politicians or whoever trying to settle whatever scores, prospective investors will be looking at the implication on their proposed investment in the country.

“It is a bad testimonial for Nigeria. Funsho Williams was slaughtered and nothing has happened many years after to track down his killers.

Bola Ige, a chief law officer of Nigeria (attorneygeneral), was murdered in circumstances that have remained mysterious in his house while his security details went looking for food. The latest assassination has sent a very bad signal to the outside world,” a pundit said, craving anonymity.

A commentator, who also did not mention his name, said that the raging insecurity in the country could have been nipped in the bud if those who had had the opportunity of taking security decisions had been sincere enough to walk their talk.

“When the President Buhari administration came in and began to question how things were done in the last administration, some people said he was witchhunting them. The late Badeh said he was also being witch-hunted simply because he was told to explain how he came

Badeh: No defence for ex-Defence chief about his stupendous wealth amid worsening insecurity. What Buhari is trying to do is simply to make Nigeria comfortable for everyone.

“If the likes of Badeh had properly utilised the money meant for security, things would have been better. I am sorry that it appears I am judging a dead man; I am not; but we must put things in their proper perspective. There are still many Badehs even in the present government who are in service for their own selfish interest.

I wish they will begin to learn their lesson,” the analyst said.

In his reaction to the murder, Charles Oputa (alias Charlyboy) had blamed the deceased for contributing to the insecurity in the country, which led to his death. He said that Badeh may have sowed to the wind and reaped the whirlwind.

According to Oputa, Badeh was divinely saddled with the responsibility of securing Nigeria and Nigerians, but he did a poor job.

He tweeted, “What goes around comes around; you were divinely saddled with the responsibility of securing Nigeria and Nigerians, and you did a sloppy job at it. Then you became a victim.

“I hope we all learn that those who live in glass houses must never throw stones! RIP sha , Alex Badeh.”

Badeh has been in the eye of the storm over allegations of embezzlement of funds meant for provision of equipment to fight insecurity in the country. Until his death, he was having a running battle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on this score. His wife and two children (sons) are said to be on the watch list of security operatives as a result of their alleged involvement in the looting of public fund allegedly perpetrated by the late Badeh.

However, Femi FaniKayode, former minister of Aviation, deplored the gruesome murder of the former Chief of Defence

Staff.

Fani-Kayode claimed t h a t Ba d e h m a y h a v e been killed by those who have something to hide; those that know that the man had some dossiers on them which they did not want the world to know.

”

I hope we all learn that those who live in glass houses must never throw stones! RIP sha, Alex Badeh

”

He wondered why: “A former Chief of Defence Staff and a former Chief of Air Staff did not have any military personnel or security details guarding and protecting him? This is especially so given the fact that it appears that he was on a long distance drive on a road which has proven to be dangerous in the early hours of the evening.”

He noted that “Badeh was entitled to that level of protection by virtue of his position as a former Chief of Defence Staff.

How come he was denied it? Who withdrew his men? Who wanted him to be alone with just his driver on that journey?

Who wanted him dead?”

The former minister recalled that within a year, three Nigerian good officers were mowed down.

“First it was Rear Admiral Daniel Ikoli, the Fleet Commander of the We s t e r n Na v a l C o m mand, who reports suggest was conducting an investigation into secret arms sales to Boko Haram, that was assassinated.

“Then it was ex-Military Intelligence Chief and the former Director of Administration of Defence Headquarters, General Alkali, who was privy to a lot of damning information that was assassinated.

“Then it was the exChief of Defence Staff under whose leadership Boko Haram was annihilated, Air Vice Marshall Alex Badeh, that has been assassinated,” Fani Kayode said.

Condemning the dastardly act, President Muh a m m a d u Bu h a r i h a d pledged that the Federal Government would go to any length to unravel the mysteries surrounding the murder, and then bring to book those behind it.

By the same token, federal lawmakers at the National Assembly had last Thursday expressed their sorrow. They took turns to task the Executive arm of government to track down the perpetrators and bring them to judgment.

But many Nigerians have expressed pessimism over the likelihood of any tangible thing coming out of whatever investigation that may be mounted to track down the killers, going by past experiences.

Some have also likened the Nigerian experience in the hands of assassins to that of a

hapless mother hen, the only reaction of which remains agonising cries and grandstanding each time its chicks are whisked a wa y by a ra mp a g i n g predator hawk.

In his piece, ‘Badeh and a nation under the gun’ Olusegun Adeniyi, a former presidential spokesman for the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, stated the near impossibility of unmasking the real killers of the former Chief of Defecnce Staff.

Recalling similar case, Adeniyi said: “That the police and DSS in Nigeria still engage in parade of suspects and media trials is because they don’t learn from their own experiences. For those who may have forgotten, on 4th May, 2012 in Benin city, Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde, Principal Secretary of the then Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, was assassinated. In Benin, the police paraded a gang of ‘assassins’ who confessed to killing Oyerinde. But in a curious twist, the DSS held its own press conference in Abuja where another gang of suspects ‘confessed’ that they killed Oyerinde in a violent robbery attack. So, two different gangs of killers were alleged to have committed the same crime, at the same time, in the same place and for different reasons.”

According to him, “As to be expected, the issue died down and till today, nobody is sure whether Oyerinde was killed by the Benin ‘assassins’ paraded by the police or the six ‘armed robbers’ paraded by the DSS in Abuja , three of whom were said to be wearing exactly the same shirts worn by some Boko Haram suspects also paraded by the agency a few months earlier!

“With Nigeria gradually descending to the Hobbesian state of nature where the life of the ordinary citizen is fast becoming ‘solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short’, there is an urgent need to reform not only the administration of justice but also the operational strategy of the police and the DSS that should go beyond parade of suspects and media trials. Crimes must be thoroughly investigated at the end of which suspects must have their day in court. That is the only way to stop all these senseless killings that now define our country.”

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Jose Mourinho: Controversy as a lifestyle

Publisher/CEO

Frank Aigbogun editor Zebulon Agomuo DEPUTY EDITOR John Osadolor, Abuja assistant EDITOR Chuks Oluigbo NEWS EDITOR Patrick Atuanya EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS Fabian Akagha EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DIGITAL SERVICES Oghenevwoke Ighure GENERAL MANAGER, ADVERT Adeola Ajewole ADVERT MANAGER Ijeoma Ude FINANCE MANAGER Emeka Ifeanyi MANAGER, CONFERENCES & EVENTS Obiora Onyeaso SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER Patrick Ijegbai CIRCULATION MANAGER John Okpaire DIGITAL SALES MANAGER Linda Ochugbua GM, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (North)

Bashir Ibrahim Hassan

GM, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (South) Ignatius Chukwu HEAD, HUMAN RESOURCES Adeola Obisesan

Sunday 23 December 2018

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

I

t is no longer news that Jose Mourinho, the controversial Portuguese coach, has been relieved of his job at Manchester United (Man U) FC of England. Though, of late, the fortune of Man U has seriously nosedived, the team’s recent lacklustre loss to Liverpool FC was the height of it. Therefore, it was not really surprising to many soccer pundits that Mourinho was eventually given the boot.

Ironically, Mourinho is a coach with an unbelievable winning aura. Everywhere he goes success seems to trail him. Mourinho got global notice when he won the 94/95 prestigious UEFA Champions League with little known FC Porto in his native Portugal. It was that singular feat that caught the attention of the soccer world and, of course, gave him the breakthrough he had in his coaching career.

Ever since, he had never looked back. In his first spell at Chelsea FC, he made the club

Premier League champions for the first time in fifty years. While in Italy with Seria A giants, Inter Milan of Italy, Mourinho’s pedigree as a winner soared to greater heights. He spent just two seasons with the team and won almost everything there was to be won. In his second and last season at Inter, Mourinho won the three available trophies namely the Italian Seria A title, the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League. At Real Madrid in Spain, Mourinho was equally successful as he won a couple of trophies in his three seasons at the club.

Till date, Mourinho remains one of the very few football managers in the world that has won league titles in the three major football leagues of the world namely England, Italy and Spain.

This, indeed, explains why he is one of the highest paid and most sought after coaches in the world.

This, of course, is where it all ends for Mourinho who is a very controversial personality. Anywhere he goes, trouble follows him.

For Mourinho, trouble and controversies are part of his trade. While at Portuguese Club, FC Porto where he got his career breakthrough, Mourinho had a running battle with the club’s hierarchy. It was so bad that when the team won the prestigious UEFA Champions League title in the 2004/2005 season, Mourinho was not part

of the celebration. Indeed, it was reported that out of anger he threw his winner’s medal into the crowd, went into the locker room, packed his things and left the team he had led to an unprecedented victory, unceremoniously.

Such has since been his style.

In his first spell as the coach of Chelsea FC, he was alleged to have had heated arguments with the billionaire owner of the club, Russian born Romans Abramovich. He reportedly stormed the team’s training session the following day and announced he was quitting. While in Italy, the story remained the same.

Mourinho brought successes and glory to Inter Milan FC, but so also was trouble. While at Madrid, Mourinho was modestly successful. But then, he couldn’t stop courting trouble. Things became so bad that Mourinho accused some of his players of being moles that leaked out his team’s tactics to opposing teams.

With his departure from the Spanish capital, England was his next destination where he began his second spell as Chelsea’s manager. According to reports, the initial plan of the club’s owner was to make Mourinho one of the longest serving coaches at Chelsea in the order of former Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson and ex Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger. His recent

sack, after only 24 months has, however, cut short this possibility. As usual, Mourinho brought controversies and trouble back to the English Premiership.

Both on and off the field, he was a handful. When he was not trouble shooting with the referees, he was having a dig at the English FA. Former Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, with whom Mourinho never see eye to eye, was soon to fall under the caustic tongue of the latter.

Mourinho referred to Wenger as a ‘specialist in failure’, an assertion that was seen as a huge act of disrespect to the moderately successful Wenger who had won the English Premiership three times and the English FA Cup six times (more than any other coach in the cup’s history).

On the field of play, whenever he had bad results, Mourinho blamed everyone except himself.

That has always been his style.

When things are rosy, he basks in the glory as the ‘special one’. But when things get bad, it is either some of his players are moles or they are outrightly betraying him.

Mourinho’s recent ordeal is a pointer to the fact that talent isn’t enough to manage success. He is a successful manager, no doubt.

But he seems to have become a prisoner to his successes.

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

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Sunday 23 December 2018

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13

PhotoSplash

L-R: Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, public affairs and communications manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria; Ita Ikpeme, director general, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWATSSA); Gabe Odu-Orji, commissioner for water resources, Cross River State; Ekeng Okong Nyong, clan head of Ekim/Uyi, Ndon Nwong community, and Joachim Ezeji, program coordinator for W.A.S.H, United States Agency for International Development(USAID), during the commissioning of water and sanitation facilities in Ndon Nwong community in Cross River State

L-R: Barrister Sina Akineye, Yaba LCDA Chairman; Hon. Kayode Omiyale, founder Arise Foundation; Joke Akinseye, member, Board of directors of the Foundation; Sadie Disu and Funmilayo Blaize, during the presentation of empowerment tools to some widows and vulnerable women, organized by Arise Foundation held at LCDA in Yaba, Lagos.

L-R: Neave Kannemeyer, chief security officer; Godwin Oche, National Sales Director, both of International Breweries, Music Artiste, Oritsefemi; Tolulope Adedeji, marketing director, International Breweries, and Femi Adebayo, brand ambassador, Trophy Lager at the 40th anniversary celebration of Trophy Lager in Ibadan.

L-R: Amaechi Okobi, group Head corporate communications, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe, CEO/group managing director, Access Bank plc and Darey Art Alade, executive creative director, Livespot Group at the Born in Africa Festival Lagos powered by Access Bank Plc.

L-R: Alessandro Patti, managing director, Africa and Israel Cartier; Jennifer Obayuwana, executive director, Polo limited; John Obayuwana, managing director, Polo Limited; Capucine Jousse, watch specialist project coordinator, Africa and Israel, and Jean Chochoy, sales manager Cartier Africa and Israel, during the Official Visit of the Cartier Africa team to Polo limited in Lagos. before their departure for Dubai, United Arab Emirate

Segun Ogunsanya, chief executive officer/managing director, Airtel Nigeria, (l) serving food to Lagosians during the kick-off of the Airtel ‘5 Days of Love’ Christmas initiative at Ojuelegba, Lagos.

L-R: Uaboi Agbebaku, company secretary/legal adviser, Nigerian Breweries Plc; Oscar Onyema, chief executive officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), and Marcus Duarte Alves, reporting and accounting manager, Nigerian Breweries, at the presentation of the 2018 NSE CEO’s award as the Most Compliant Listed Company on the NSE to Nigerian Breweries in Lagos.

L-R: Okemini Otum, CEO/founder, Rabbington Media; Emeka Nwosu, facilitator, MTN Facebook Training; Chinedu Okwu, coordinator, Brand and Communications, MTN Nigeria, and Damilola Runsewe, senior manager, SME Segment, MTN Nigeria, at the MTN/ Facebook Training for SMEs held in Lagos.

14 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 24 December 2018

Politics

Things I would do differently if elected Oby Ezekwesili, a former minister of Education and Solid Minerals, is the presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), in the 2019 presidential election. She recently held an interactive section with some selected journalists in Lagos, unfolding plans to transform the country, if elected president. INIOBONG IWOK, who was there brings the excerpts:

H

ow do you react to President Buhari’s refusal to sign the electoral bill into law?

The president can do the right thing and sign the bill into an act. Buhari cannot be seen as imperiling the 2019 general election, because that is what would happen if the president does not sign the bill into law. The electoral integrity of next year’s election depends on how long the president signs that bill into an act.

The party and I as a candidate will make sure we don’t stop insisting that the president should do what he is supposed to do. The president should not allow his personal interest to get into the collective interest of Nigerians. This democracy is going to be 20 years in 2019; he does not want to be the one that will mar our democracy, he should sign that bill into law.

What do you think is the reason why the President is afraid of signing that bill into law?

I think the President is likely afraid of two provisions into that bill; it worries him. They don’t want the card reader and the provision. The card reader is the solution to election shenanigan. I don’t think the APC (All Progressives Congress) want that. The second part is that there is a provision that gives rules of INEC equivalent of the provision of the act. I don’t think they want that.

And you know INEC needs that kind of power in order to respond to some of the challenges as they happen. So INEC cannot be standing outside the legal framework.

So what is this thing that stands in their way? So we hear of the mistake that has been found four times that the bill was presented.

This last time we were told that the president’s people were working with the National Assembly members. They all worked together with the lawmakers and they could not detect the errors. No, I don’t think Nigerians are fools. The president cannot fool anybody. It is clear that this government does not want improvement in our elections.

It is same government that was confortable to see the election in Osun and Ekiti which is a disgrace to our country. It was a civilian coup to our democracy - I mean what happened in Ekiti and Osun.

Our electoral process is now tradable whereby the buyer and the seller aided by the abused state institutions like the police and the military coming together to spoil our democracy. Our citizens will

not accept it in the 2019 elections.

The elections must hold and it must be transparent, free and fair.

That is the legitimacy Nigerians will confer on those elected in the elections.

Should the National Assembly veto the President?

It may have to come to that. It will be unfortunate for the President.

I recall when the President was newly elected, an interviewer asked me: what word do you have for the president having been elected as a civilian and military president? And what I simply say is that civilian administration is not military rule. The President should know that history would place him in an ignoble position if he does not sign this bill and make progress on our democratic experience.

Two elections that were held recently in Osun and Ekiti were said to have ended badly. Do you have confidence INEC chairman can conduct credible elections next year?

I think that the chairman of INEC knows that all eyes are on him. He is someone that is well read; he is someone who should care about what history says of him. He is someone who has several competent people as commissioners.

It will be a colossal tragedy if he

disappoints the expectation of Nigerians.

Those that have followed recent elections in the country, even the international bodies, have said the present INEC is better INEC in terms of preparation, but there are many things involved in election management that can undermine the integrity of an election.

Why is it that we downplay the ugly incident of vote buying that was witnessed in the two elections? How many people have been prosecuted? Time has changes with technology. We saw what happen in those places.

So what we are saying is that INEC, the police, the federal government, and other establishments that are associated with election duties in Nigeria are simply not interested in addressing this impunity that is taking a foothold in our democratic process.

We can’t accept that.

What we are saying is that the chairman of INEC has a bigger responsibility now than anything we have known him to do. Under this particular management we saw Ekiti and Osun states’ gubernatorial elections. But the police and the security agencies, the government, have a role to play in this.

The INEC law says that vote buying is an offence, so why is vote buying going unpunished?

INEC cannot be the one punishing people but it has to make it a major issue.

Because it undermines electoral integrity, its mean you are giving election to people who have not won elections. The INEC chairman needs to make sure he is aware of what history will record of him.

He has the training to solve this problem. One major issue is: those basic solutions that people don’t have opportunity to trade their vote and take photography of it as an opportunity to collect money, what has been done about it?

Are we going to be ready to make sure that this kind of technology is taken to each pooling unit, so that no one can stay near the polling units in this country to know if a certain person voted for you or your party?

Are we going to make sure that the people cannot vote carrying their phones to snap their card to show who they voted for, while money is sent to their account. Those little things must be done. INEC must do these to have the confidence of Nigerians and we will keep on talking until it done.

You appear to have confidence in INEC chairman’s ability to conduct credible elections in 2019, but recent elections have been

I think that the chairman of INEC knows that all eyes are on him. He is someone that is well read; he is someone who should care about what history says of him. He is someone who has several competent people as commissioners. It will be a colossal tragedy if he disappoints the expectation of Nigerians

Sunday 24 December 2018

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BDSUNDAY 15

Politics

president - Ezekwesili inconclusive?

I think what you have done is that you have made a summary statement. What I would say is that with the training and capacity of Professor Yakubu, there is no reason why he should fail in conducting credible elections in the country.

The Osun election has become a signpost to what could go wrong in 2019, so there is no reason why Yakubu should not pick up the lessons learned from the elections and give the country an internationally accepted election in 2019.

The two major parties are PDP and APC, but Nigerians want to know what your party is bringing to the table in terms of policies that is different?

The key thing for our party unlike other parties is that we feel embarrassed that Nigeria has overtaken India has the extreme poverty capital of the world.

And that we want to tackle poverty in the way china faced it and were able to tackle it.

China faced poverty with hundreds of millions of its citizen and the way they faced it was to make the private sector the focus of their engine of economic growth and development.

When they initiated the right policies in health, education, they invested in their people and critical infrastructure, their economy began to grow above double digit over a period of over 30 years.

This double-digit growth pulled their people out of poverty. Today 700 million of those people have been pulled out of poverty.

We have gone in reverse. We did not have much people in poverty in the 90s. It was 28 million, but we have grown and grown since then. Today we are talking about over 87 million Nigerians in poverty, living on less than $1.90 a day.

So our government will run a market-friendly, private sector-driven economy, which will grow and lift 80 million Nigerians out of poverty.

Secondly, our emphasis on economy development are through human capital development. So education is our new oil and human capital is our new economy. So the kind of reform we are going to be carrying out would be on education, health and human capital, we know what it takes to have productive citizens who have the capacity to solve the problems in our societies.

The problem is what should our normal political parties care about? They care about oil prices.

For as long as oil is doing well they believe the country is fine, so when you really look at it you want to ask what is their contribution to the oil we have and to the development process? It is nothing. We want to change that and make Nigerian citizens the drivers of the process of economy development.

Thirdly, we look at the issues of primacy of Nigerian life; if we must have human development, we must keep and safeguard the human life. Human life must matter and for every human life we must put equal weight to Nigerian life.

Nigerian life must matter. We must

put equal quality to Nigerian life.

In today’s Nigeria we protect oil installation more than human life and we must change that.

So security reform is going to be major. The smart intelligent people in the Nigerian police and military are going to be happy; they are going to be given priority.

Professionalism, leadership based on character, competence will be reward.

Merit will be the hallmark of the police; it wouldn’t be a race to the top. We would try and prevent that, which means we would invest massively in intelligent asset; intelligent asset reduces your risk of what you are going to respond to.

So every Nigerian life must be meaningful to us. As soon as I enter as president commander-in-chief, God forbid that our Chibok girls, Leah Sharibu and the rest have not been released. The first thing I will do is to send a special team which would proceed and work day and night to rescue the girls.

Those who live in the country and take the lives of Nigerians will not find it easy. The lives of Nigerians will matter to me, and I must keep them alive and make the tough decisions.

I will be an effective commander-in-chief; I will make sure we are not losing our people to Boko Haram, or herdsmen and that they don’t go unchallenged.

My final thought is that anyone who kills Nigerians must face the music. You cannot have a situation where people are killed and there is no consequence, nothing is done. It means you have taken lives to zero when you allow society to function that way.

What will you do to the high cost of governance in Nigeria?

There was time the National Assemble was angry that I called Nigerians’ attention to the fact that the cost of governance is expensive and we are not going to have investable resources of government to do the things we do for the poor if most government resources are used to take care of the few National Assembly members.

Well, you know in 2017 the government released its budget report that the entire oil revenue was not enough to pay the entire government workers. They had to borrow to complement oil revenue to be able to pay the personnel cost alone.

How can people hear things like this and still be normal? It means the country is in trouble. It means that two million people that work for government consume the entire resources. We are in post-oil Nigeria but government and its officials are not acting like that.

So, cost of governance will be part of the reform. When people talk of minimum wage, we need to talk of it together.

That is the unfortunate thing

that happens that the government and labour are not telling themselves the truth.

We need to look at the productivity of labour, the productivity of the country, the productivity of the private sector, and the productivity of the Nigerian person we need to drive toward higher productivity.

I believe that our workers are not earning living wages, and we need to get the economy running to enable us prosper, so that the workers are beneficially part of that prosperity. We must make sure that the people are beneficially rewarded, and we must have solution to that.

In specific terms, what would you do to lift about 80 million Nigerians out of poverty?

The fastest way to lift people out of poverty is to ensure they have income, and the way people get income is to have job or things they do. So when we say we are going to run the economy, is to have sound policies and revamp it.

To have sound policies, we are going to do the reform of institutions and procedures, so that we don’t have regulation that is standing in the way of the private sector. If the private sector is small business or large-scale business, we say we are going to be very resourceful in the area of human capital development.

We will be very careful in the areas of governance; we will invest in infrastructure, education, human capital and health education.

All of those things will enable the private sector to grow and re-

duce poverty, so the agenda is that with the private sector driving the growth process, the regions will grow at two percent.

We want to grow to a level we were in the year 2015, from then we came down to seven per cent and five per cent in the policy of reforming the economy.

We will unleash opportunity for growth on the diversified base.

What you will see is that we will move towards double digit growth just like China did One-third of our people are in subsistent agriculture. If we want to reduce poverty among those people, we need to improve productivity. How do you do that? All the things in their value chain, yield from their farming, you do it from their seedling, irrigation, so that it would not only be rainfall anymore but through irrigation system. You look at their access to market and the role power and infrastructure play in their business.

We would look at land ownership issues. This will support them to grow large by supporting the system of cooperative that enables them to have competitive completion that somebody who was generating two tons on a small acre of land will now generate more. So we can have higher outputs and improve people’s productivity.

We have seen giving such advice to countries we need this and by doing this their economy began to grow. The people became more productive and earn more, one of my initiatives is to work, work and earn more.

Your party does not have a national spread and structure. Don’t you think this will affect your chances?

I am not worried. The reason am not worried is that up till now Nigerians don’t know that ACPN existed before the 2011 general elections, and that ACPN fielded a candidate in the 2015 presidential election. That candidate then is my vice now. They actually placed fourth in that election. It may be low but history has recorded that they participated and they came fourth in that election.

So when you say ACPN does not have presence in all the states of the federation and ACPN do not have candidates, the fact is that they have candidates running for House of Representatives and other positions; the total number of ACPN candidates across the country is more than 250.

ACPN is not like green party, where you are only talking about a particular person being in charge.

The grassroots structure is there.

This is not a solo effort; there is a party and there are candidates.

These are the reasons I chose my running mate because he is really a grassroots man.

Because the party is interested in the grassroots people, these are people who operate subsistent farming, people who operate at the grassroots level, and have skills, we will initiate policies that boost business environment and grow business.

So when people talk and say you don’t have a structure, we say we are very glad we don’t have this corrupted structure. While they are solving a structure problem we are solving a distribution problem.

What I mean is, we just think of election as a product. So what you want is that your product should get to those who need it, and you should think that the party should be taken to the citizens who need it. So what we are concerned about is that our product gets to that the citizen who needs it.

We are using network marketing. We have seen people building shops to sell products. It is because there are networks we are using data and the media to distribute our agenda to the people - those that need it - and we have seen the effect.

I have seen people who come to me and say: ‘We know of Ezekwesili, I know what you stand for; I know your background and I am donating to your campaign because I know your pedigree.’ So when people talk, I say, ‘I am not a candidate of the political class; I am a candidate of the Nigerian people.’

The people of Nigeria are hungry and they have a strong desire for a new direction, and they see me as that new direction.

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Politics

Why we opposed assent to Electoral Act Amendment Bill - APDA presidential candidate Presidential Candidate of the Advanced People’s Democratic Alliance (APDA), Mohammed Shittu and his party say their opposition to assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill recently passed by the National Assembly, is because it could truncate Nigeria’s democracy, adding that it is ill-timed. In this interview with INNOCENT ODOH, Shittu also says that his ambition to lead Nigeria as president in 2019 is based on his ideological convictions to help the nation out of economic doldrums, insecurity and social disharmony. Excerpts: We understand that your party was among those that went to court to stop President Muhammadu Buhari from giving his assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill. What motivated you to do that? hat motivated us was patriotism because we don’t want this democracy to be truncated.

You have to see that this bill should not be signed now. We are not saying that this bill should not be signed but at this juncture that we are already 50percent to our electoral process; it will be counterproductive, especially with some provisions like 87, 84 and 52. If you look at them one is saying that we must transmit our election results by electronic means. How will you electronically transmit from rural areas at this time? Where will you get those equipment quickly now in one month? Who will manufacture the equipment for us and how do we train the INEC staff? For me I saw a foul play somewhere around it.

This bill will affect our democratic process. I am a Presidential candidate and I know what electronic transmission of results will be and I know that my people are not aware of it and I am suspecting foul play. How can you amend the electoral law two months to election, do you want to put the country into chaos? It is a wrong time, it should be signed but not before 2019 election. We have two months to election and we are campaigning and you are saying that there must be a new rule. We should not be sentimental, I am not supporting anybody, but this is distraction.

Some people have suggested that if the bill is not signed into law, it will give room for the President and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to manipulate the process to their favour.

What is your reaction to this?

It is a wrong timing, two months to election, how do you get the equipment?

INEC will tell you that they don’t have budget for it and it has become law. So what will you do? We are always sentimental in our judgment. If it becomes law, you must implement it and INEC will tell you that they have no budget or say they have no equipment for it. Are we going to wait for that equipment? I think we are trying to drag the country back.

But INEC has said severally that they have the capacity to do electronic transmission of results…

They don’t have any capacity to do that. So who gave them the money to buy the equipment, where are the equipment?

Let them showcase it.

Nigeria is said to be the world capital of extreme poverty with 87 million of our citizens living in extreme poverty. If you become president, what exactly will you do to revive the Nigerian economy?

We must go back to our culture and marry our culture with our economy.

What do I mean by this? We are an agrarian

W

Shittu

society and we have to elevate this agrarian society into productive and industrial society. Until we are able to integrate our agrarian society into industrial hub we cannot get it right. Therefore, as a party we will move back to rural agriculture and be able to promote our products. But we cannot go into manufacturing or processing until we have power. So we have to marry power and industrialization.

Now instead of generating power and put in the national grid we must decentralize our generation and transmitting capability by allowing investors to come in. Even our people on their own can generate, transmit and then distribute power within their own factory and you can even have what is called processing centers, where you can generate power by yourself either by solar or hydro, thermal or wind. This was what the Chinese did. China took capitalism; they took socialism from Russia and married it to their own community.

Then we must stop importation of whatever we have in this country. We must meet World Trade Organisation and re-negotiate whatever agreement that is inimical to our own economic development and then close our borders on some goods and also ban exportation of raw materials from Nigerian until it is processed. This is because it is when you process these materials that you create employment. You just don’t take for example soya beans from the farm and just export it. If you do it that way there is no value chain. What we should do is to grow, process and package it. During processing you have employed many Nigerians, during packaging you have employed Nigerians, in transportation you have employed Nigerians and then you export it to get foreign currency. It is because there is no

value chain in our products that is why we are having the unemployment today. Even the crude oil that we have we just export crude oil. We are supposed to refine it and even sell to our neigbouring countries.

What kind of education will work for Nigeria at this critical time?

We must concentrate more on vocational education, where we bring out technicians to be able to work out these processing centres. We must invest in technical education and skill up Nigerians.

How much of the National budget will you commit to the education sector if you become president of the country?

When you are talking of vocational education, technical colleges, the mistake we make in this country is to allocate amounts of budget into the sectors without aggregating what we want to do in that sector first. This is what I want to do because if you create value chain people would need the skilled workers. So for us you don’t just waste money because you want to build class you will have to aggregate what the sector wants.

Despite the huge amount of money committed to curbing insecurity the problem persists. Recently Nigeria has been rated the third most terrorized country in the world. Apart from the terrorism of the Boko Haram we also have growing criminal activities ravaging the country. So, what exactly will you do to secure the Nigeria?

First of all, we must take the welfare of the military seriously. Their package must be well spelt out in a manner that it goes to them directly. Secondly, we must provide employment opportunity for the teaming youth in order to curb insecurity.

There is no amount of money you pump into insecurity that will work if you don’t create employment opportunity for

people to curb the menace. So, until you take people out of the streets, and they are engaged in factories, there will continue to be insecurity because as you are finishing one you enter another because that is the only means for them to have livelihood.

But if you create these vocational centers, you create these value chains people will realize their legitimate objectives.

Let’s assume that Danladi is producing tomatoes in Talata Mafara and you have a processing center where he can process his tomatoes and in one year Danladi was able to realize substantial amount of money and build his own house and marry a wife, you think that the next young man will not do the same? But in a situation that Danladi cannot even produce anything, and he has to fend for himself, the next thing he will be thinking is what to do and what an idle mind does is thinking evil.

That is how insecurity occurs. But if we engage the young ones, the situation will not be as bad.

The Boko Haram insurgency is not just about tackling unemployment because it is deep in ideology rooted in beliefs. So there is already an ideologically driven war against the Nigerian state. So, how are you going to tackle the issue?

We have economic ideology and religious ideology. This insurgency occurs because the government has not provided the economic ideology to them and they have to develop their own ideology and whatever they call that ideology they use it to perpetrate criminality. That is why as a government, you have to impose your own economic ideology which will kill that fundamentalist ideology that they have but you have to be proactive. It is not enough for instance to give them vocational training and skill but where will they work after they have received training?

Ideology is built by government and propagated by the citizens and each generation put themselves into different ideology that they encounter as they go on. Human mind is dynamic; it changes according to its own environment. We are the ones providing room for them to build that terrorist ideology. If you go back to the root of how Boko Haram started, it did not just start as a violent organization but when that did not work for them they ran into the bush and built a new ideology for themselves that had become a menace to the Nigerian society. Therefore, it is government that drives ideology and as government they should drive the ideology that will take them away from such fundamentalist ideology.

The President Buhari government says it is fighting corruption, but it appears increasingly difficult to tame corruption in Nigeria. If you become President, how will you tackle corruption and how will you rate the fight against corruption of the current government?

You must provide security of life for Nigerians. As a public servant when you Continues on page 19

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Politics 2019: The Chinese reforms as a challenge for Nigerian politicians Innocent Odoh, Abuja

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s Nigerian politicians intensify their campaigns and strategies to capture power in 2019, the lessons coming from China’s 40-year reforms have been propounded as the ultimate example that every genuine politician in Nigeria must embrace to transform the Nigerian political economy and redirect the nation towards its manifest destiny.

This was the crux of a One-Day seminar with the theme “China’s 40 years of Reforms and Opening Up: Significance, Implications and Lessons” organised in Abuja by the Center for China Studies (CCS), an intellectual think tank that has evolved various ways to deepen intellectual intercourse, economic, political and diplomatic ties between Nigeria and China.

Experts under the chairmanship of former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali, used the occasion at the weekend to interrogate the political trajectory of Nigeria and bemoaned the myriad of crises bedeviling the nation potentially blessed but languishing at the bottom rung of civilized nations. The 2019 elections according to the experts are a pointer to the need for those jockeying for power in Nigeria to look at the fundamental need of reforms on the political, social and economic spheres of the nation if Nigeria is not to plunge further into the dungeon of backwardness.

Making his remarks during the seminar, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian, noted that the reforms embarked upon by former Chinese leader, Deng Xiaoping in 1978 was China’s second revolution, saying “the reforms and opening –up drive over the past four decades has made great impacts on China. The Chinese people have turned China into the world’s second biggest economy. China’s share in the global GDP increased from less than2percent in 1978 to more than 15percent in 2017, with an annual growth rate of 9.5percent on average, dwarfing the 2.9percent growth rate of the world economy during the same period.”

During this period, China’s import and export of goods have grown by 198 times and those of services by 147 times. China has attracted more than $2 trillion in FDI. China has become the world’s biggest trader of goods, the biggest tourism market and a major trading partner with over 130 countries. China raised its per capita disposable income by 22.8 times and lifted 740 million people out of poverty.

Also remarkable is that China’s poverty head count ration decreased from 97.5percent in 1978 to 3.1percent in 2017. China also succeeded in transforming a closed and semi-closed economy into a fully open economy. From “ bring in” to “going global’’, from WTO accession to the Belt and Roads Initiative, China has grown by embracing the world and the

Zhou Pingjian, Chinese ambassador

world has also benefited from China’s opening –up. In the years since the global financial crisis, China has contributed over 30percent of global growth.

These remarkable achievements in China provoked a thorough assessment of Nigerian condition, which progressively degenerated in successive years.

Nigeria’s GDP growth rate has plunged to 1.5percent from 1.9percent in the last two months; inflation remains at double digit of 11.28percent, Foreign Direct Investment has reduced by half and capital in-flows have also drastically reduced.

Nigeria is today rated the poverty capital of the world with 87 million of the population living under extreme poverty just as 10 million people are reported to have lost their jobs in the last three years of the current administration. Nigeria suffers serious infrastructure deficit and is heavily indebted today because most of its funds are looted in mindless acts of corruption.

These and many more unimpressive performances of once promising country had compelled the experts to seek better ways to reform the Nigerian political economy, reconfigure its social milieu and set new standards for people seeking political offices in the next political dispensation.

Making his submission during the event, the Director of CCS, Charles Onunaiju, said, “There must be something about Nigeria that should be efficient.

That is the lesson from China’s reforms.

Nigeria must start interrogating and looking itself in the mirror, asking serious question about the best way forward. When China started its reforms the world took very little notice but forty years down the

Charles Onunaiju, CCS director

line the world has taken full notice.

“We have to be serious about economic reforms. When China started in 1978, it decided to build several seaports, airports steel mills, power plants and it was focused on these. We need strong institutions, a strong state that cannot be compromised, that cannot be pocketed, that is not amenable by vested interests.

“But are we willing to deal with the vested interests that derail the best of policies, that ambushes policies and pockets it? Are we willing to deal with these vested interests that are a state within a state? These vested interests that talk about law in the day time and subvert it in the night, can we deal with it? This is the challenges,” he said.

He added that the lesson from China in the past 40 year is that Nigeria can also do something that is original by taking

We can have a second chamber of the people which represent ethnic nationalities; represent professional groups, represents religious groups, a second chamber that is not the Senate that is more inclusive and representative of the people

the belt from everywhere but ensuring that the imprint is ours. “The architecture should reflect our existential reality, our historical process, our national condition.

It is only in that respect that we can get it right. So that is the lesson and significance and even the implication of China’s reforms,” he said.

Also reacting to the call for by some National Assembly members to return Nigeria to parliamentary system of government, Onunaiju noted that it was the instability of the parliamentary system that led to its demise even as he advocated for a political process that is more inclusive, more consultative and less confrontational.

“We can build institutions that are more inclusive. We can have more proportional representation in which any political force that meets a certain criteria enters the parliament and has a stake. We have not generated sufficient consensus to drive the process. So I think we can begin to develop a process that is consultative, a process that is inclusive, a process that is accommodative, a process that keeps into account every significant social force. No social force should be left behind, the working people, peasant, the academia, the professionals.

“We can have a second chamber of the people which represent ethnic nationalities; represent professional groups, represents religious groups, a second chamber that is not the Senate that is more inclusive and representative of the people. We can call it the Assembly of the people; it could become a consultative chamber that prepares the way for proper legislation. That is the way to go,” he said.

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Politics Will current APC crisis in Ogun lead to party’s exit? …Amosun’s loyalists adamant on working against APC RAZAQ AYINLA, Abeokuta

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ince the return of civilian rule in 1999, Ogun State, one of Southwestern states, has never had intra party government transition, which some analysts say, has been the bane of full socioeconomic and political development of the state.

The state, according to population figure, posted on the State government website has about 7.2 million people with arable land for agriculture, largest outputs of all solid minerals mined so far in Nigeria as well as being largest hub of industries, attracting about 75% of foreign direct investments in the year 2016 and ease of doing business as recorded by MAN and Pricewaterhousecooper.

But, with all these economic potentials, natural and human resources, Ogun state seems not have fully exploited the opportunities offered despite the current realities as well as bright prospects of socioeconomic growth and development which some analysts, attributed to lack of continuity in government and governance - one government comes with one policy, another one works to derail it.

This, preposition seems to be true going by political realities as witnessed in the state in 2003, 2011 and probably to be seen in 2019 as ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is in the final battle to break the political jinx by crushing the breakaway members who have flagged off new political party - Allied People’s Movement (APM), while APM members who are loyalists of Governor Ibikunle Amosun are also ready for the spoiler.

In 2003, there was gentleman alliance between the then governor, Olusegun Osoba who was governor of Alliance for Democracy, to work with his Abeokuta compatriot, then President, Olusegun Obasanjo of People’s Democratic Party, creating the Slogan - “Segun Loke, Segun Nisale” (One Segun as President, the other Segun as Governor).

But, the alliance failed as Segun Osoba who didn’t only enter into the agreement with former President Segun Obasanjo, but also involved his brother governors across Southwest who were also AD governors, except the then Lagos state governor, Bola Tinubu that refused. They all failed woefully supporting Obasanjo’s reelection in 2003, and that was the end of Alliance for Democracy in Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states, while Obasanjo was elected again.

In 2011, as if it was a curse on Ogun state, another political crisis broke out within then ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as then governor, Gbenga Daniel fought tooth and nail to retain power and hand over it to his preferred governorship candidate, having spent two tenures, against all the appeals and entreaties from the party leadership, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

While then governor Gbenga Daniel wanted his preferred candidate, Gboyega Nasir Isiaka as his successor, the party

Ibikunle Amosun

leadership required Adetunji Olurin, a retired Brigadier General, as authentic PDP governorship candidate whom the faction of PDP loyal to Obasanjo then wanted to succeed Gbenga Daniel.

This led to supremacy battle and series of litigation between Daniel’s faction and Obasanjo’s faction, but at the end, PDP faction of Obasanjo prevailed, leading to adoption of Adetunji Olurin as authentic governorship candidate in 2011. Daniel’s faction was forced to move in very large number to People’s Party of Nigeria (PPN) as PPN adopted Gboyega Nasir Isiaka as governorship candidate.

The two brothers from Yewa/Awori in Ogun west then went against each other and gave away the greatest political gift to Yewa/Awori people, a set of people who had never ruled since the creation of the state in 1976. This gave the gift to an Egba man from Ogun central - Ibikunle Amosun of then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to govern the state after Olusegun Osoba, another Egba man who had governed earlier.

Now, the events of that characterised the primaries of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last two months have been political up and down to either Governor Amosun’s faction or former governor, Segun Osoba’s faction. It is no news that Governor Amosun did all that humanly and politically possible to ensure that his preferred governorship candidate and all the National and State Assemblies candidates, numbering 40 candidates in totality, became the APC candidates.

Governor Amosun started with the consensus arrangement and indirect primaries which were rejected by the National Working Committee of APC. He was forced to conduct direct primaries that were not supervised and therefore not recognised by the National Working Committee of the party.

But, Governor Amosun’s faction, through the State Executives declared

Dapo Abiodun

Adekunle Akinlade, the winner of the governorship primaries while all other 38 National and State Assemblies candidates, including the governor were declared winners of the legislative houses primaries though not also recognised by Adam Oshiomole-led National Working Committee.

Soon after the political camaraderie of Governor Amosun’s faction with retinue of candidates not recognised by APC, Muhammed Indabawa-led APC election panel conducted primaries for Adekunle Akinlade, Dapo Abiodun, Bimbo Ashiru, Adegbenga Kaka, Abayomi Hunye and Jimi Lawal and declared Dapo Abiodun governorship candidate.

Since then, all the losers had accepted and swung to main APC - Segun Osoba’s faction except Governor Amosun’s faction, who believe in the governorship candidacy of Adekunle Akinlade and do not want to dance to the political tune from APC Secretariat which directed all APC members in Ogun state to join forces with Osoba’s faction of Abiodun ahead of general elections.

Argument of Governor Amosun’s faction is that there were no primaries held

Governor Amosun started with the consensus arrangement and indirect primaries which were rejected by the National Working Committee of APC. He was forced to conduct direct primaries that were not supervised and therefore not recognised by the National Working Committee of the party

in the state and therefore, the primaries - governorship and legislative - should be considered as against that of Abiodun. This, created big crisis within Ogun APC and Governor Amosun tried to remedy the situation but to no avail until they all trooped to Allied People’s Movement (APM) with the belief that their aspiration could be achieved in the new party while also playing the spoiler to their hitherto party - APC. Making real their threats, thousands of Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s loyalists, the aggrieved members of All Progressives Congress (APC) deserted the party in large number following the controversies that trailed Dapo Abiodun’s governorship candidacy as against their man - Adekunle Akinlade; they adopted the Allied People’s Movement (APM) and its governorship candidate, Adekunle Akinlade.

At a grand rally APM did on Thursday at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto Abeokuta where the national Chairman of APM, Yusuf Dantale flagged off campaign for Akinlade as governorship candidate in Ogun state and announced the adoption of the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, President Muhmadu Buhari as the APM Presidential candidate, thousands of Amosun’s loyalists who are now in APM sounded note of warning to APC that come 2019, APM governorship candidate would take over from APC as APM would complete good works of Governor Amosun.

At the rally where Governor Amosun’s loyalists being led by his preferred governorship candidate, Abdulkabir Akinlade, 26 State House of Assembly members and some candidates contesting elections to the National Assembly - Senate and House Representatives, all received flags as the APM candidates in the state, Dantale said the decision to adopt Buhari was collective, saying the party was impressed with Buhari’s performance as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but would surely work to become next governor of

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Politics Ogun state.

Speaking earlier, the Director-General of Abdulkabir Akinlade Campaign Organisation, Sarafa Ishola said that the state needed continuity in governance and APM would do every thing politically possible to win and shame APC whom he described as oppressors and fraud having alleged to have illegally imposed Dapo Abiodun on the entire membership of APC in Ogun state.

Sarafa, who is a former Minister of Mines and Steels for Development, declared that two Senatorial districts had however been conceded for APC, namely, Ogun Central - Governor Ibikunle Amosun and Ogun East, Lekan Mustapha He said, “We need continuity in Ogun State and that continuity and orderly succession residing in our son and candidate, Abdulkabir Akinlade.

“APM has decided to adopt President Muhamadu Buhari. In APM we have adopted Senator Ibikunle Amosun as Senatorial candidate in Ogun Central. We don’t have Senatorial candidate in Ogun East and we have adopted Lekan Mustapha as our candidate. Other candidates will be disclosed later” .

As if it was not enough, aggrieved members of APC now in APM pressed further and mounted series of pressure on Dapo Abiodun and APC at the state level when, they were alleged to have sponsored Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) to request Dapo Abiodun, governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun state to explain discrepancies in his academic certificates.

They alleged that the Abiodun had committed perjury, having claimed to have graduated from both University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and Kennesaw State University, Atlanta Georgia, United State of America in 1986 and 1998 respectively and filled in that when he was contesting for Ogun East Senatorial seat, but he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a certificate of West African School Examinations in his form Cf 001 for governorship election in 2019 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Another legal obstacle was a suit filed before Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta on Thursday by some APC members in Ogun state, including Bolanle Adisa Adeyemi, Jide Salau and Taiwo Jimoh, first, second and third plaintiffs against INEC, APC and Dapo Abiodun as first, second and third defendants, the trio of Adeyemi, Salau and Jimoh sought disqualification of Dapo Abiodun, Ogun APC governorship candidate on ground of false declaration on oath contrary to Section 182, Sub section (1)(J) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In the Suit No. FHC/CS/151/2018 seeking an order disqualifying Dapo Abiodun on ground of having made false declarations on oath contrary to section 182(1)(J) of 1999 Constitution, Section 31(2), (5), and (6) of the Electoral Act and Section13 of the NYSC Act in which Dapo Abiodun claimed to have had two degrees in 2015 for Senatorial election and West African School Certificate for 2019 governorship election.

In the suit filed on behalf of the Plaintiffs

by Yemi Oke of MJS Partners, the Plaintiffs sought five other reliefs including an order nullifying the nomination and/or eventual election (and any Certificate of Return is-

Why we opposed assent to Electoral Act ...

Continued from page 16

Adekunle Akinlade

sued in favour) of Dapo Abiodun, in case he wins the Governorship election scheduled for March 2, 2019 and issuing fresh Certificate of Return in favour of Adekunle Akinlade, being the authentic candidate of the APC (2nd Defendant in the suit).

The Plaintiffs also filed along with the suit a Motion on Notice for Orders of Interlocutory Injunction restraining INEC (1st Respondent) from recognising Dapo Abiodun as candidate of the APC for the mar 2 209/29 Governorship election in Ogun State as well as retraining 3rd Respondent ( Dapo Abiodun) from participating in the said election, pending the hearing and determination of the suit Also on Thursday, a group of politicians numbering about 200 went to the INEC Headquarters in Abuja as well as All Progressives Congress Secretariat in Abuja to protest against Dapo Abiodun’s governorship candidacy in Ogun state, asking Mahmood Yakub, INEC National Chairman to disqualify Dapo Abiodun on ground of illegalities that produced him as governorship candidate of APC in Ogun state.

The protesters, who are mainly people of Ogun West Senatorial District under the auspices of the Yewa Collective Action Movement, protested in Abuja, carrying different placards with inscriptions such as “INEC Must Disqualify Dapo Abiodun”, “Security Agencies Should Investigate Dapo Abiodun”, among others, asking INEC to act fast before the March 2nd, 2019 governorship election.

Ishola Adesina, a Yewa/Awori man from Ogun West Senatorial District and APC Chieftain in Ogun state, who lamented imbalance that has impeded having governor from the district, noted that emergence of Dapo Abiodun as APC governorship candidate “ is a fraud” as there was no primaries conducted for Dapo Abiodun rather

a duly conducted APC primaries were held in the state where Abiodun Akinlade was declared winner and therefore, should be restored as authentic governorship candidate of APC in the state.

With all these pressure and crisis within the APC as being put by aggrieved members of the party who have now defected to APM, former President Olusegun Obasanjo-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC) seems to be gaining political ground in Ogun state with third timer -Gboyega Nasir Isiaka as its governorship candidate.

The emergence of Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, popularly known as GNI is seriously changing the political rhythm of the state since he remains the most popular of all candidates, having contested twice - 2011 in PPN and 2015 in PDP. For GNI, the 236 wards that make up 20 local government areas know him very and seem to have a belief in him as political Messiah they have been looking for.

Apart from vigorously subtle and direct campaign which former President Olusegun Obasanjo has embarked upon as his “beloved son who will rule Ogun state” the odd seems to be favouring him as 75% of entire workforce seems to have tired of all political calculations coming from either Governor Amosun’s faction or Segun Osoba’s faction of APC. A very senior civil servant, who spoke with BDSUNDAY on the condition of anonymity said, “whether crisis or no crisis in Ogun state APC or not, all I know is that we are tired of them. We want a breeze of fresh air in this state, we have tried APC enough, let us try another person. GNI has struggled enough and I know that the people will support him, especially the civil servants. 75% to 80% have decided to vote for him and he shall win the election come 2019.”

are retiring back to your village and you have no house to stay, your pension may not even be paid for three or five years, how will that person want to leave office without getting something for himself?

That is why we cannot kill corruption until we do the right thing. For instance if a police officer is injured or is killed in active service and you take token money and give to the family and forget them, how will they cope with the demand of sending their children to school?

In a nutshell the government should provide incentive that will give people confidence and security so that they will feel that after retirement they can be okay, so why will they steal? Secondly we must also re-orientate the mind of the Nigerians to believe in their country Nigeria, to believe that they have no other country than Nigeria and that if you stack money abroad you are only wasting your time because you may not even be able to get this money back to yourself.

What is your take on restructuring?

We are talking of economic restructuring which I have just laid down to you indirectly. We can say that each state should bring up a crop that they have comparative advantage in, develop it and we go into the Concurrent and Exclusive list and look at issues like the rail and allow states or individual to build rail within their economic zones. You can even do it from state to state. That is where I talk about decentralisation of power generation. We should allow state to take care of some of these federal roads so that state to state will be linking their road and their rail line and link their water ways. The economy will start booming. This is the kind of restructuring that we are talking about.

Are you advocating for the states to own and develop their resources in the form of resource control?

What I am talking about is economic restructuring. You are not controlling any resources because at the end of the day you pay tax to the federal government.

People are talking of political restructuring but how many political restructuring do you want to have? We should look at ourselves as Nigerians, we should not be subscribing to regionalism, tribalism and sectionalism. What we should be subscribing to is that you and I talking today should see ourselves as Nigerians first and whatever we want to do, Nigeria should come first.

There is this insinuation that your party is backing President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress APC for the 2019 elections. Are you in any coalition and do you have the financial power to face the big parties in the contest?

For us we believe that big or small parties it is a creation of the mind and until we take away money politics we will still be under the people that we don’t want them to control our destiny. We have made mistakes in this country by electing the wrong people. But I want to urge Nigerians to look at the new parties, look at us that have ideas on how to run the country and vote for us. Nigerians can vote for me and I know they are ready to vote for me coalition or no coalition, APDA is an ideological party and I will stand on this believing that history will judge me because my decision is for the betterment of this country.

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Sunday 23 December 2018

Politics Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani, is open to reconciliation in C/River APC - Cobham Following the acrimonious primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, the duo of Senator Owan Enoh and Usani Uguru Usani emerged governorship candidates from different factions. Usani went to court and the court ordered the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to recognise the congress held by the Etim-led State exco and the list it submitted for 2019 election. While the national and state APC were engaged in reconciliation, Usani’s team is celebrating their court victory. In this interview with our Cross River State Correspondent MIKE ABANG, the Director-General of Usani Usani campaign organisation, Ekpenyong Ene Cobham spoke on the theme of his principal’s campaign, the need for the justice in party politics, the activities of the incumbent administration in the state, among other issues. Excerpts:

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What is the focus of your campaign; I mean what is the theme? t is the sum total of the tragedy that has befallen Cross Rive State. It is this quagmire in which we have found ourselves; the unfortunate circumstance that has thrown us with the present governor. In all sectors of the economy, businesses are consistently moving out of Cross River State in droves. You see, the people are exploited through one form of obnoxious policy or the other so as to enrich selected individuals or groups of people and they call that empowerment. They set up one wanton agency or the other and people are exorbitantly taxed. High Quality Bakery for instance has announced that it would fold up and go to Akwa Ibom State. I know of an engineering company that has over 500 in its employ in the state that is collapsing right now.

This cruel tax culture or regime is strangling the economy of the state. Even a taxi driver pays N500 tax daily, a Keke rider pays N500 daily; a petty trader in the Watt Market pays more than N500 daily. You find out where these monies go to.

Government resources are paid into individual accounts. We have a governor, we have a co-governor and very soon we might have assistant governor, deputy governor, it is absolutely madness. So we need to get out of this mess and we need to look up to a new generation of leadership that we can trust. We have a situation where our leaders cannot be role models to our children. There is a governor who lies to his own citizens, who talks before he thinks.

Congratulations on the recent court judgment in Abuja that upheld the Etim John-led exco. What does that mean to you?

Yes, the judgment did not come as a surprise. We had an issue backed by the law.

It is not all about quest for power, but certain people have to stand up for the truth.

The law of the land must be respected.

We cannot encourage executive rascality. Unfortunately, a former governor in Nigeria who himself is a beneficiary of the integrity of the judiciary could decide to condole and exhibit disrespect for the law.

What example are you setting and in APC which we say is a platform for change?

I am telling you because honestly, His Excellency, Adams Oshiomhole has brought a lot of disrepute to the image of APC by his conduct. There is crisis everywhere, self-inflicted crisis which would have been avoided if he had acted within the parameters of the law. These

has tried to fight Buhari in every way.

My brother, you are a living witness of the recent propaganda going on that the President is one Jubril and all that. If you have low income flow today it is because of the collapsed economy.

What are those things that are lacking in the state which you would want your principal to correct if elected governor?

Integrity and leadership are fundamental.

For about six years, the whole of Cross River State has been suffering; there has been capital flight. Phantom contractors, briefcase contractors come from nowhere and dupe the state; I can tell Cross River State that they can trust the character of Usani and can also trust the vision of Usani, a man of integrity. Cross River State people should be assured and certain that they would be empowered by my principal who would turn around the mess we have found ourselves in. He will build the new Cross River State; that I can assure you.

Ekpenyong Ene Cobham

things would have been avoided, so we filed a law suit and we said no, we cannot allow this to happen. Let’s go to the court of law to seek justice and that was what happened, and the court upheld the Etim John executive and by extension whatever exercise carried out by them was declared valid and that automatically resolved all the issues.

The court has given judgment and at the same time we have on ground an APC state and national reconciliation committee trying to uphold the status quo; where do you and the party go from here?

Well, I am a strong believer in the truth and I preach the truth; if there is no truth, there cannot be reconciliation. Thank God the court gave a verdict, reconciliation can start from there. My principal is a very humble man and his hands are wide open for reconciliation; so, anybody who wants to be part of the APC family is welcome.

Everybody is welcome. We do not have any grudge against anybody. This is APC and anybody who feels he is an APC member is free to walk in and that is reconciliation. We are servants of God. My principal is a pastor and does not bear any grudge but injustice would not stand. We are committed to true justice; so whatever

your feeling is toward Usani, you are still welcome, and he would receive you and that is reconciliation. You are welcome.

Many Nigerians feel that President Buhari is cooperating with Fulani herdsmen to fight fellow Nigerians; what is your view on this?

That is not true. You and I know the level of insecurity this country has gone through.

Herdsmen crisis is basically fallout of the war against corruption. Corruption

Well, I am a strong believer in the truth and I preach the truth; if there is no truth, there cannot be reconciliation. Thank God the court gave a verdict, reconciliation can start from there

What do you think is the unique selling point of your principal?

Usani Usani wants to energise the tourism sector. In the Small and Medium Enterprise Sector, he will encourage the private sector to take advantage of the potentials? An average Cross Riverian that I know is a very industrious person.

But I can tell you that in the last 15years opportunity has not been given to Cross Riverians. My principal would not encourage the policy of giving mass appointments; you give mass appointment to a multitude of unskilled young men where they earn fabulously for four years. When you leave office, the young men also lose their jobs and become unemployed and they are largely unskilled, they become problems. My principal will not do that.

Any message to Nigerians?

I want to urge Cross Riverians to rise above primordial sentiments. This is not the time to talk about governorship in the senatorial zones. It is shameful that Cross River State has fallen into the hands of bad people. If we do not rise up to redeem Cross River, there would be nothing left of the state. So, watch out for the personalities involved, their capacity and antecedents. And I want to urge the Southern Cross River to rise up and grab the opportunity of working with Pastor Usani. That is the best deal we have on the table today. In respect of where you come from he has the interest of our people at heart and that is the only man that can redeem Cross River State.

BDLife Sunday 23 December 2018

inside

LIFE&LIVING

ARTS OffDuty RealGist C002D5556

BDSUNDAY 21

God Calling, exciting blockbuster for festive season

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Sunday 23 December 2018

Life&Living

Queen Moremi: The tale of a legendary African heroine comes to stage

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Jumoke Akiyode-Lawanson

istory is coming alive again as Queen Moremi takes the stage in a riveting musical play that depicts the epic story of the brave and fearless Yoruba Queen at Terrakulture in Lagos.

Following the success of the ever green Saro the Musical, Wakaa the Musical and Fela and the Kalakuta Queens, Bolanle Austen-Peters Productions, Rejuvenee and House of Oduduwa have premiered another riveting stage play titled “Queen Moremi the musical”.

On Friday December 21, BAP productions and House of Oduduwa premiered the stage play focused on the story of an authentic African super hero, bringing life to the rich and colourful ancestral Yoruba heritage through the deeds of the amaon, Queen Moremi – using music, dance and costumes.

Daughter to one of Ife’s bravest hunter-warriors, Lukugba, and Princess Olunbe of Offa; Moremi was raised to question injustice and

stand up for the oppressed no matter who they were or where they came from. When Love came calling, she answered but there is always a price to pay. The story of Queen Moremi, the courageous woman is pivotal

to the history and liberation of the entire Yoruba race.

“It is essential for us to know our roots; and celebrate our history and heritage. It is therefore our desire to develop the Queen Moremi legacy

Tips to keeping healthy skin during the harmattan season IFEOMA OKEKE

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armattan season is upon us and we are battling the adverse effects of the dry, dusty weather. Don’t forget that during this season, your skin suffers the most. Here are a few ways to protect your skin from cracks, dryness and itchiness this dry season.

Stay Hydrated: The benefits of drinking water cannot be over emphasized. You need to stay hydrated from within. Aim for about 2-3 litres of water a day. Have it in mind that, staying hydrated does not include caffeine intake, because it is a diuretic and diuretics eliminate fluid out of the body, so you may need to cut back on the coffee this period. Go for beverages and fruit juice to keep you hydrated.

Also eat lots of fruits and vegetables to keep your skin glowing.

Bathe with lukewarm water: Yes, we know that the mornings are really cold and having a shower with cold water isn’t an option; however, hot water isn’t also an advisable option for you as it strips the skin of its natural oil barrier, thus resulting in dryness and itching. Hence, opt for lukewarm water. Skin care experts recommend short, warm showers or baths that last no longer than 5 to 10 minutes.

Exfoliate: Exfoliating your skin a few times a week will help shave off dead and dry skin cells and allow new skin cells to come up. Use a gentle body scrub twice a week. Note however, that if over exfoliation occurs, your skin’s oils will still be depleted and dry skin will recur.

Moisturize: We know how fast

water dries off surfaces during this season. Hence it is more advisable to moisturize right in the bathroom while your body is still moist because a few steps out of the bathroom door dries you up completely. This method will help your skin lock in moisture.

Choose safe products: The harmattan season is not the time to use high alcohol or astringent content face cleansers or hand washes as this will strip your skin off its natural oils. Opt out for mild products such as a moisturizing body wash, a cleanser that contains ceramides (fatty molecules that make up the outer barrier of your skin) as they help the skin hold in moisture and an oil based body lotion such as Palmer’s Cocoa Butter; you can even moisturize using shea-butter or olive oil.

Eat healthy fats: Not all types of fat are bad for you. There are healthy fats you can consume without the fear of excess cholesterol and also can be heart-healthy. Healthy fats give you energy. You can get healthy fat from polyunsaturated fats such as in nuts, seeds, vegetable oils such as corn and safflower oil, and fatty fish. Avocados are also a great source of healthy fats.

Remember your hands and lips: Your hands and lips are the most vulnerable areas of your body during the harmattan season. As a result, you need to take extra care of these areas as we tend to swipe out the moisture from them very frequently, like when we eat, or visit the bathroom. Make sure that you have your lip balm and your hand lotion handy.

into a musical drama that will preserve and promote history in the face of modernity,” BAP says.

According to the organizers, the purpose and aim of this project is to keep our identity, values, history

and culture alive especially amongst the youths, our upcoming next generation, starting from within Nigeria and progressing on to those in the Diaspora, Featuring seasoned and upcoming actors and stage performers such as Bimbo Manuel, Bambam of the Big Brother Nigeria, veteran Nollywood star Femi Branch, Deyemi Okanlawon, Ayo Ayoola and Kehinde Bankole, the musical relives the legendary tale of a woman who sacrificed everything; her marriage, her son and even the risk of death in order to secure the future of the people of Ile-Ife. Described by CNN as the woman powering Nigeria’s theatre; Director and Producer, Bolanle Austen-Peters promises to thrill her audience with live music, royalty and incredible performances for Queen Moremi the Musical which will be on stage at the TerraKulture studio in Lagos for 12 days from December 21, 2018 to January 2, 2019.

Brace yourselves for an unforgettable thrill of a lifetime with #queenmoremithemusical

How to book holiday flights without stress

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uring this festive period, the hospitality industry is very busy because it is the festive period and many people intend to move from point A to point B without any stress. Travel agencies are busy booking hotels and flights, the airport will be flooded with people waiting to catch their flight and your fellow travellers aren’t always patient.

For Nigerians who are planning to fly to their destinations and are yet to book their flight, there are certain things they have to know so they won’t have any issues with their flights. There are certain things to have at the back of your mind when booking your holiday flights.

This will enable you book your flights with ease.

Set price alerts By looking for flights early, you are not required to buy a ticket today because your prices will only go up if you wait until the last minute to buy.

If you’re not ready to buy a ticket today, you can set a price alert that will notify you when a ticket price increases or decreases. Ticket prices can fluctuate on a daily basis, even a small drop can result in large savings if you need to buy a ticket for every member of your family.

Airfare usually fluctuates One of the things that many travellers have complained about is that airfares are unstable and usually fluctuate. The price of a flight from Lagos-Enugu maybe N50,000 now and when you refresh your web browser, it is either the price has in-

creased or decreased. When the price reduces, customers are happy and vice versa. Whatever the case may be, you should book your flight asap.

Book at the right time, fly at the right time Sundays and Mondays are supposedly the best days to book the cheapest flights, and Fridays are the worst. And when you’re sitting there on a Monday morning, scrolling through your private browser for holiday deals, try to book your flight for a Tuesday or Wednesday, because these are apparently the cheapest days to fly out.

Book early Being an early bird when it comes to flight booking is one of the best things you can do for yourself. It takes off the stress and hassles of booking at the last minute and also ensures that you are booking at the best and most affordable price.

Don’t fear travel packages Most travel agents, online and oflfine, offer travel packkages that include your hotel as well as airfare and city tours. sometimes the travel packages are cheaper than paying individually for your flight, hotel and sightseeing trips.

Sunday 23 December 2018

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SundaySpecial

BDSUNDAY 23

ScubaLagos opens Nigeria to more tourist attractions

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Jonathan Aderoju any people around the world have not yet known about the underwater dive experience, which is called the Scuba Dive.

Scuba diving is a mode of underwater diving where the diver uses a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (scuba) which is completely independent of surface supply, to breathe underwater.

Scuba divers carry their own source of breathing gas, usually compressed air, allowing them greater independence and freedom of movement than surface-supplied divers, and longer underwater endurance than breath-hold divers.

Open circuit scuba systems discharge the breathing gas into the environment as it is exhaled, and consist of one or more diving cylinders containing breathing gas at high pressure which is supplied to the diver through a regulator.

Nigeria a land that is blessed with a largely spread waters across her borders have begun to experience the beauty of Scuba diving.

Diving in Lagos’ waters may have sounded like make-believe a few years back, but today ScubaLagos has made this a reality. ScubaLagos is the 1st Padi Dive Center in Nigeria.

A dive in Lagos’ waters is an opportunity of a lifetime to discover another world of species, color, and sounds. Yes, there are sharks, tuna, and a lot more under water. Believe it or not, they will not bite. Houssam Azem, founder of ScubaLagos says, they do not interfere with diving. “As a diver, you mind your business.”

The business of diving is n o t s t r a n g e t o Az e m w h o joined his friend seven years ago for his first adventurous dive in Lagos. Although not their primary line of business, the founding partners began ScubaLagos as an avenue for friends to do healthy things in Lagos that are done everywhere else in the world but nobody knew you could do them in Africa’s busiest city.

Many people do not get to see Lagos the way members of ScubaLagos do.

In a beautiful sketch, he describes the aquatic experience as more enriching than the outside world. “When you are under water, you are weightless in a completely serene environment. What people don’t understand is that you can actually hear under water.

You hear the coral growing on ships. It looks like a flower, but it is a living organism.”

Opening this underwater exploration experience to the public came with its own challenges. Safety is top priority in the sport of diving and sev-

eral measures had to be put in place to obtain a PADI Diver Center certification. A lot of air, oxygen, and gear have to be available to students.

Supply has to be maintained despite skyrocketing foreign exchange rates. Then, there is the diving terrain.

Using their power of foresight, Scuba Lagos has customised the framework of classes to accommodate La-

gos’s unique waters.

Students are required by PA D I t o u n d e r g o a n Op e n Water Diving class before hitting the open seas. Eighteen meters is the required depth for a dive in this category. To the Scuba Lagos team, navigating the tough water conditions in Lagos is more important than exploring farther depths. Thus, students of Scuba Lagos must

enroll in Advanced Open Water classes with a depth of 30 meters before braving Lagos’ seas. Other advanced classes such as Enriched Air Diving and Underwater photography are available.

Lagos Jet Ski Riders is the private membership club that heavily subsidises Scuba Lagos. With today’s exchange rates, Open Water and Advance Water classes go for about N505, 000. Each class with a maximum of eight students is piloted by a dive master. Classes start off with swimming pool sessions. Thus, the prerequisite is to know how to swim for 200 meters or wade for 15 minutes. With diving classes scheduled in the evenings, after working hours, the goal is to encourage people who work 9-5 jobs to participate. In total, it could take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks to be ready for Lagos’ deep waters.

By exploring Lagos’ waters from wrecks, ScubaLagos is teaching its student divers a new lifestyle. On one hand, they learn to prioritise respect for the environment.

However, there are sacrifices divers have to make.

Once you become a diver, your whole life, your vacations are planned around diving. During diving season, most divers go to bed early because they have to wake up early for a dive; they drink less because drinking and diving are not compatible.

The scuba Lagos takes advantage of the short diving season they have which is in November to April they take advantage of this window by organising a dive every weekend as sea conditions permit.

Diving locations are offshore in the ocean, beyond the waters of BarBeach and seven miles from Tarkwa Bay’s waters. By its pioneering exploration efforts, Lagos is now on the map with Mexico and other locations that share underwater attractions offering a feast for the eyes.

Diving is age-friendly and Scuba Lagos’ youngest student is 14, while the oldest is 65. Although, a clearance certificate from a physician is needed for students over the age of 45.

Training and the right attitude are two things a diver cannot do without.

The captivating images of underwater species on Instagram taken from Scuba Lagos’ expeditions, elicit an unequivocal question, Is this really Lagos? Scuba Lagos is showing off a side of Lagos, never seen before to foreign investors.

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Sunday 23 December 2018

Arts ‘God Calling’, exciting blockbuster for the festive season If you are a movie lover there is a reason to nurture your passion, especially this festive season as God Calling premieres in cinemas across the country. BB Sasore, the writer/director, Zainab Balogun, the lead actress and Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD), a veteran actor, share their views on why you should walk into a cinema nearest to you to see the enthralling movie, especially this holiday season, writes Obinna Emelike.

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ome of the most difficult films to make are those that are faithbased, particularly in Nigeria where most people are passionate about religion. Most writer/directors struggle with the story line in order not to offend people’s faith.

Even producers scout endlessly for funds because faith-based movie production is a risky venture, which often leave investors worried about return on their investments.

Despite all these seeming challenges, BB Sasore, an ace filmmaker, trailed the ‘narrow path’ and came out with something entirely different in the history of the Nigerian movie industry.

BB Sasore took movie lovers on a journey with a unique storyline that has changed the movie production narrative. Riding on the success of the series Before 30, and his award-wining movie Banana Island Ghost, he enthralled the audience with God Calling, his recently premiered faith-based movie.

The movie is a story of redemption that looks at the life of Sade, her family and her faith through the lens of an unconventional encounter with God in this modern age.

On what stands the movie out, BB Sasore says, “I think people are drawn into the performances that are delivered by the actors.

You are going to see RMD, Nkem Owoh, Onyeka Onwenu in ways you have not seen them before; and of course, the new actors: Zainab Balogun, Karibi Fubara, and the little child actress Diana Egwuatu”.

He believes that God Calling could be the next big thing because it draws people to see Nollywood quality in ways they have not seen it before. “We are able to create many things that would have been difficult without visual effects. Yet, the entire cast and crew are all Nigerians and everything was shot and made in Nigeria. Also, the story is relatable and identifiable though it is a faith-based film. It is something we can all see in ourselves and it makes you sit back, reflect and think for a second about what your purpose is on earth. The film makes you have some internal dialogue, even if it is for a mo-

Richard Mofe Damijo

ment”, BB Sasore continues.

In line with BB Sasore’s views, Zainab Balogun, the lead actress, says, “This is a different scope in terms of movie making in Nollywood. It is not a movie just for the purpose of entertainment, it engages viewers with it relatable storyline”.

“I remember putting the trailer on my social media and I received hundreds of comments from people giving testimonies from just watching the trailer. These were people who felt that this has touched something in them, particularly things they had gone through, and it opened the door for them to have some sort of dialogue with God or a ‘higher power’. It ran on themes they weren’t used to seeing in the cinema”, Zainab explains.

She thinks that God Calling is going to bring a lot of people to the cinema because of the message, as well as the quality of the production. “When you look at any of BB Sasore’s projects: Before 30, or Banana Island Ghost, there is a way in which they all try to push themselves forward - be it through special effects or relatable story, because BB is a great story teller. This shows again in God Calling. The movie was done

by Nigerians, he did not have to

Zainab Balogun

send the project to America or South Africa to have it edited or special effects done”.

Richard Mofe Damijo, who is popularly called RMD, says he is among the cast because the movie has relatable story and is professionally done. “The director is one with an eye for detail. I love his dedication to the unusual which comes with all the special effects done so elegantly”, RMD says.

For the veteran actor, the redemptive value of the movie is good and it will make great waves in the box office.

“This movie will rock the box office. Apart from the special effects which have wowed everyone, word of mouth will sell it even more. Everyone that called me after they saw it at the premiere told me they cried”.

RMD hopes to work with BB Sasore on other projects because, “I love the young man and his keen eye for detail, and what he brings to the table. He will go far”.

Furthering the reasons the movie is a must-watch, Zainab says, “It is not just a movie for Christians and church-goers, it is a movie for people who have been through a number of things and who are in search of some form of an anchor. This project was de-

livered by a combination of people who are Christians, Muslims and those who don’t even believe in God, but they believed in the message of the story, which was about family, love redemption and believing in something higher”.

Explaining the secret of the high quality production, BB Sasore says, “That is something that is a testament to the quality of the entire crew. There is no part of filmmaking that is not collaborative. I am proud of the talent we at Nemsia Films have been able to assemble in over the last two productions that we have done”.

“I can comfortably say that we have some of the best hands in each of our departments.

The cinematography and visual effects are the very best. Everybody had that attention to detail in their own departments; production, editing, design, sound, cinematography and everything. Yes, I wrote and directed the movie, but it is not something I can take credit for. It is a true testimony to the quality in Nollywood, and the Nigerian talent who made the production possible”.

Funding was less of a challenge for BB Sasore because of his creative ingenuity, and successful projects in Nollywood so far. It turned out raising money for two

of his previous projects was more challenging than for God Calling.

“We might assume that because it is a faith-based film and people are passionate about God and religion that it will be easy to find money, but it was a risky venture because people were worried, and asked if we were sure we could make a faith-based film on this scale that people will want to see across the country.

“For me one of our biggest hurdles was when Ibukun Awosika, one of our executive producers, signed up to the project. It was the quickest and most important five-minutes meeting I have had in my life. I went to her and told her I wanted to do a faith-based film and we had a concept of a woman who gets a phone call from God. She said ‘let me pray about it’, and later said ‘I am in’. That was it. She wanted to make sure the script was right and the project was in sound hands, so once she came on board she started making calls for us and we starting raising funds”.

For him, the challenges were less financial, and more of the responsibility of telling a faith-based story on this scale considering that people are very passionate about God in Nigeria and one would not want to do it in a way that would be disrespectful to people’s faith. “That was the pressure I put upon myself to ensure that the film was properly done, and with God’s grace here we are today”, he says.

He also commended the veterans for bringing their best, the new actors for proving themselves, especially Zainab who he says “prepared herself so well for the audition, she came ready to become the lead actress and the moment we saw her, we knew she was going to be Sade”.

In addition to Ibukun Awosika, BB Sasore appreciates other executive producers who funded the movies including Derin Adeyokunnu, Yomi Jemibewon, Patricia Jemibewon, Uzo Nwagwu, Chijioke Uwaegbute, Karibi Fubara, ZeeZee Ihe-Okuneye, Olalekan Olude, Opeyemi Awoyemi, Dolapo Awosika, Enyi Omeruah, Chioma ‘Chigul’ Omeruah, Rahul Keswani, Sahil Keswani, Chukuka Chukuma and Ekeinde Ohiwerei.

God Calling premiered in cinemas across the country on December 21, 2018.

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Arts Discovery of Talents: One of Ambode’s legacies in entertainment

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ver the past three years, thousands of youths across Lagos have had the opportunity to showcase their talents to the world under the auspice of Lagos Grows Talents and One Lagos Fiesta, initiatives of Akinwunmi Ambode, the entertainment-loving Governor of Lagos State. Embarking on an extensive search for raw talents in music, drama, comedy, contouring, instrumentation, sports and other personal endeavors, his team traversed the length and breadth of Lagos. Starting from Ikorodu, Epe, Agege, Abule-Egba, Ikeja, Lagos Island, Badagry and to other parts of the state, the team combed for talents. On discovering the talents, the winners were rewarded with opportunities to shine on live TV, performances, millions of naira and support from the state government.

No doubt, the discovery of talents remains one of the legacies his government

Akinwumi Ambode, governor, Lagos State

will be leaving behind. Many had thought that 2018 will be different seeing that the Governor will not be return-

ing in 2019 but the Governor has doused these doubts when he announced that the initiative will return this

year. Thousands of youths from Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, Ikeja, and other environs have been flocking

the different audition centers just to be part of the government largesse this year.

Governor Ambode may not have spent eight years in government but he will surely bequeath to us a state with more rewarded talents than he met.

In 2018, the first prize winner from Lagos Grows Talents will go home with N1 million, the second prize will go home with N500,000 and the third winner will take home N250, 000. Heavyweights such as Sotayo Sobola, Sound Sultan, Yomi Fash-Lanso, Caroline Danjuma, Bimbo Thomas, Adunni Ade, Hope Bonike, DOyin Kukoyi, Alariwo, and others were drafted as judges across the audition centers.

Across the audition centers, it is safe to say that the judges and contestants witnessed more than what they bargained for because they were absolutely wowed by the talents and creativity of young Nigerians. Not only was there singing, Danc-

ing and comedy, but there was Body stunts, wordplay, drawing and painting, fire stunts, poetry and many more. Some of the judges were also as fun and interactive as they could be with Caroline Danjuma acting as a hype lady during the auditions, some other judges joined some of the contestants during their performances by dancing with them, laughing, encouraging them and even hugging some of them after their performance thanking them for a job well done.

In less than four years, Lagos has become the undisputable discovery and management hub of talents in young people, all thanks to the policies and initiatives of the Governor who has consistently maintained that he believes strongly in the entertainment and culture potentials of the state. He has unequivocally stated that he sees the youths as talents Lagos need to take the world by storm.

Pasuma, OritseFemi, Teni thrill audience at Trophy Lager 40th anniversary concert in Ibadan

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t was an electrifying experience for Ibadan consumers of Trophy Lager, a brand from the stable of International Breweries as they were hosted to an enthralling concert at The Palms Shopping Mall, Ibadan.

The concert was organized to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Trophy Lager brand in Nigeria.

Trophy Lager is popularly referred to as the pride of the South-West and widely accepted as the Honourable beer that is deeply rooted in the region’s socio-cultural values and loved by consumers because of its distinctive taste and quality has remained a market leader in its category.

The concert tagged Honourable Concert drew a massive crowd, people who came to party and to consume the refreshing Trophy which was more than available at the venue of the concert.

The artistes billed for the occasion included Oritse Femi, Artquake, Taye Currency, Pasuma Wonder, Slimcase and Teni. The audience was not disappointed as the artistes rocked them with their hit songs, reeling the songs out one after the other and most times the audience sang along while also dancing.

The Honourable concert officially kicked off with the superlative performance of

Oritse Femi who stepped on the stage with the audience screaming out his name. The artiste returned the compliment by greeting them and asking after their wellbeing before embarking on the business of the night.

He started his performance with his hit song Igbeyawo with the reoccurring lyrics Gudu gudu meje a song composed to enlighten the public on how serious the marriage institution should be taken right from the wedding ceremony. He then performed Better a song which calls for a better society while also showcasing some of the ills and struggles the average Nigerian passes through on a daily basis. He moved on to the very popular collaboration he had with Black Magic titled Pass you by. As he delivered the chorus of the song “Baba God blessing nor go pass you by He go bless you sotay them go ask you why” you could see the audience in their numbers raising one hand up to the sky while putting the other on their chest in an act of acceptance as they believed that it was a prayer being said for them.

The climax of his performance was when he delivered his most popular song yet Double wahala. The moment he shouted “Okpolo eye nor open eye” the crowd went wild with excitement

as if they had been starved of the song for a long time.

They sang along with him and were very satisfied with his performance giving him a rapturous ovation when he took his leave from the stage.

Speaking after his performance, Oritse Femi said he understood the significance of the celebration of the Trophy brand. “Any brand that has spent 40 years in Nigeria has stood the test of time.

Not every brand can withstand the rigor of the business environment in Nigeria.

For Trophy to be celebrating its 40th Anniversary It was only natural for me to put in my best for my fans and of course for the consumers of this fantastic brand”.

Next up was one half of the duo Artquake who took the audience through songs such as Abulelawa, Asiko, Farabale and the highpoint of his performance was the rendition of the hit single, Alanta which got the crowd dancing the unique dance steps that was introduced to go along with the song.

According to Godwin Oche, national sales director, International Breweries, “the concert is our way of appreciating our long standing consumers who have helped the brand by their continuous patronage. We wanted them to have this sense of belonging, have fun with the brand and make them know that they are the reason we

Oritse Femi perfoming at the concert

are able to celebrate this milestone” he added.

Pasuma showed his dexterity at making songs as he performed songs off the cuff using the occasion and the audience to entertain everyone on stage. He entertained everyone using a live band to show once again why he is one of the most sought after musician in the fuji genre.

The highpoint of his performance was when he presented cheques of cash prizes to winners of the ongoing National Consumer Promotion by Trophy Lager tagged Honourable Millionaires Promo. Four winners emerged as winners of one million naira while four others won consolation cash prize of forty

thousand naira each.

Tolulope Adedeji, marketing director, International Breweries said that the Honourable Millionaires Promo was initiated with the mindset of rewarding the loyal consumers of Trophy. “It is our way of saying thank you for staying true to our brand all these years. They are the reason we are in business via their unflinching patronage.

On our part, we promise to continue to avail our consumers the best quality of brands in their categories in the market”. She added.

The rave-of-the-moment and Askamaya crooner, Teni the entertainer stepped on stage as the first A-list female artiste of the evening. She immediately caught the attention of the female folks who danced raising their hands to the air.

She lived up to her billing as a captivating artiste as she delivered her rave making singles Fargin, Askamaya and Case.

The 40th anniversary concert train will be heading to Ilesa in the next few days but as the concert came to a close in Ibadan at the dawn of the next day, there was no doubt in the minds of the consumers and the organizers that everyone have had a nice evening to remember.

Truly, the Honourable Beer had lived up to its values by delivering a captivating event to its consumers.

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Sunday 23 December 2018

Entertainment

Burna Boy speaks of upcoming concert ‘Burna Live’ …‘We’ll up the ante a few notches from what you are used to’ ANTHONIA OBOKOH

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he announcement of his concert ‘Burna Live’ had Afro-fusion pioneer Burna Boy receiving a myriad of speculations from fans and the media regarding the feats to expect at the event set to hold on 26 December at EKO Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The concert is undoubtedly one of the most discussed musical occasions of the year – sparking anticipation on a global scale, with thousands constantly bringing up the topic on social media.

In a recent interview, Burna Boy finally revealed what the world should expect at the concert – assuring millions the concert would deliver feats out of the norm and convention.

When asked what his entrance would look like at the concert, the singer simply re-

plied, “We are going to up the ante a few notches from what you are used to. The entrance

is important.”

This is particularly a reference to his previous concerts

where his entrances were part of the most consequential aspects of the event; with

many looking like scenes taken straight from a suspensefuelled flick.

Fa n s o f t h e s i n g e r h a v e since taken the statement as a gratification to some of their curiosities, with many expressing their enthusiasm and thanking the singer for his decision to raise the bar some notches higher with the upcoming concert.

So far, other speculations linger, like which artistes will grace the stage alongside the singer, special segments, appearances, among others – all of which the singer says will be revealed at the concert.

Burna Boy made several headlines in the wake of the announcement of the concert, spurring rapid conversation among his multitude of fans on social media. The singer himself is yet to reveal other details regarding the concert, leaving thousands to wonder what he has up his sleeves for the highly anticipated concert.

Maltina, Noble Igwe hit 1,000 smile mark Awilo, top Nigerian artistes shut down Eko Atlantic for BAFEST

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t’s been a remarkable few weeks for Maltina and Noble Igwe. Back in November, Maltina announced it will be partnering with the fashion and music enthusiast to capture 1,000 smiles from across the country. Revered for sharing happiness, this was a noble act from Maltina (pun totally intended).

What started as a noble act to compile happy moments from Nigerians slowly became a riveting exposé about the perseverance and unbridled joy of the Nigerian woman and man, even in the face of adversities.

After 30 days in which various cities across Nigeria were visited, the 1000 mark has been reached and in the process, sharing happiness and capturing hundreds of compelling stories.

From the Hawker on the street, to the Investment banker,

to the market woman, Maltina managed to capture these people at key moments, leading to some of the happiest depiction of the Nigerian people you may ever come across.

The accompanying stories for these people also added some needed context to the campaign, with Maltina chronicling their journey to 1000 smiles with social media posts which profiled individuals that were photographed.

Some of the most remarkable photos were of those people you may least expect to be joyous, proving that true joy comes from within and is borne in spite of what you may be going through at the time..

This has been a great year for the malt drink, and this campaign is a timely reminder that Maltina stands by its commitment to sharing happiness.

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he inaugural Born in Africa Festival (BAFEST) truly lived up to its name with the awesome array of fashion, food and mix of arts. Organised by Livespot and sponsored by Tiger Beer and Access Bank, BAFEST was indeed a celebration of everything African.

The event which held at Eko Atlantic, on December 16, featured some of the biggest entertainers in the country.

The infusion of music to fashion made BAFEST unique. Falz The Bahd Guy opened the show with classic performances from his hit songs. Other artistes lined up for the show also brought their A-game to the stage with so much energy. There was so much love for Olamide, Kizz Daniel, Yemi Alade, Congo’s finest Awilo Longomba, Tiwa Savage, Dbanj brought us from the past to present with his catchy live performances, In true African spirit, the audience at BAFEST showed so much love for South Africa’s finest poet and rapper, Sho Madjozi, she brought the roof down with her hit singles, Huku and Wakanda Forever. Burna boy closed the show in a grand style.

There was an art gallery where art lovers admired the artworks exhibited by Africa’s most talented visual artists; Uche Edochie, Ibe Ananaba, Isaac Emokpae and Tolu Aliki, to the fashion show.

The mini Access Bank runway afforded fashion lovers the opportunity to walk on the runway, take pictures, and admire beautiful dresses and attires displayed by designers like Tobewei and Tiffany Amber. Indeed it was a “wow” event.

Tiger beer added a unique ambience to the concert, one that matched its ambitious narrative as a brand. It had its own corner set up at the festival, featuring a photo area complete with a graffiti wall and car for photo opportunities. Guests were also treated to 360-degree videos and photos upon entrance into the corner.

About 20 intriguing movies were screened as film lovers sat comfortably in the screening room, patiently watching movies being screened, with much applause and accolades for the producers.

One of the best performances of the night was the suspended drummers in the air, the performance was soul lifting the crowd asked to see it again. MCs of the festival, Shody The Hypeman and d2Dotun did a fantastic job getting the crowd engaged from the very beginning of the show till the end. DJ Crowd Kontroller was on the wheels of steels.

One of the attendees expressed delight at the African talents on display saying - “It was a surreal experience, seeing all these talented individuals on stage. Everything about the show

was proudly African as well as edgy and stylish. From the arts section, fashion, stage design, the performances as well as the event theme; it reminded me of why the African culture is so beautiful, I am glad I witnessed this.”

Echoing similar sentiments was Emmauel Oriakhi, Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, who expressed his delight in Tiger’s support of the event.

“This has been a landmark year for Tiger Beer. Since its launch, we have sought out ways to bring the brand closer to its consumers. BAFEST presented us with this opportunity, allowing us introduce Tiger to young, edgy, progressive and passionate Nigerians.

“We intend to continue on this path and we believe this is only the beginning of what will be a long relationship between the premium beer brand and Nigerian millennials.”

BAFEST2018 was a great avenue for networking as friends reconnected and family bonded over food, drinks,, games, exhibitions and much more. Food vendors also had a swell day attending to numerous customers.

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BDSUNDAY 27

THINGS TO DO IN LAGOS It is another Sunday Funday and as always, I have somewhere for you to be at! Here are a few events happening today that will thrill you:

The weekend we all have been waiting for is finally upon us and its 6days long! Yes you read well, a weekend with 6 days in it.

So just because tomorrow isn’t a work day for a lot of people, we will be extending the fun and telling you things you can do today, tomorrow, on Christmas Day and Boxing Day aswell.

Olamide Live In Concert

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

28 BDSUNDAY

Off Duty With

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Bolatito Adebola Mobile: 08053859391, email - iambolatito@gmail.com twitter - @iambolatito

Babatunde Lasaki shines for First Bank

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e is the current Head, Media and External Communications department of the numero uno bank in Nigeria, First Bank, and he has been leading the team to many unassailable heights. Babatunde Lasaki has a unique edge as a team leader and he has demonstrated this time over time. Still basking in the euphoria of his birthday celebration, Lasaki led his team at First Bank to receive a muchcherished award of ‘Best Support for Public Relations’ won by First Bank at the last Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, NIPR 2018 Award Dinner in Lagos. The award dinner of the institute held on Thurs-

day, 20th December at the all-purpose Radisson Blu, Victoria Island Lagos. Baba-

tunde Lasaki was in his element when he received the award on behalf of his bank, and pledged not to rest on his oars, with the full compliments of his team. Lasaki is one of the most formidable image makers in the Nigerian corporate communication world; as a crossover marketing communication professional, brand and image publicist, who has spent about two

decades in contributing and infusing impactful practice across broadcast journalism, advertising and financial services. He has a rich academic background with certifications from London School of BusinessandFinance,School of Media and Communication, Pan African University, Lagos State University and University of Ibadan; all of which enabled him to get plumb jobs nay cognate experiences at Animal Care Services Limited as Corporate Affairs Officer, Head, Corporate Affairs/Business Development at Forthright Securities & Investments Limited, Head Corporate Affairs at Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, before berthing at First Bank and doing well.

Tunde Fowler is man of the year

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abatunde Fowler has no doubt become a phenomenon when it comes to tax payment and enforcement issues, and he has done this meritoriously in the past years. The incumbent Director General of the Federal Inland Revenue Services, FIRS, was recently honored in Abuja as the Man of the Year award by an organization, Divine Smile Foundation, for his immense and valuable contributions to the society and the nation at large. This is not coming, however, to many as a surprise, as he had performed wonderfully well in the same capacity in Lagos State as Director General, Lagos Inland Rev-

enue Services, LIRS, where his track record is yet to be equaled by his successor.

Little wonder he was called to the federal level to assume the same mantle of tax payment and enforcement duties, and this recent award to him is an

eloquent testimony of his superb and diligent skills at making tax payment and other ancillary duties work. He started out as a Marketing Intern with Avon Products Inc., New York, USA, working under the then Vice President in

charge of Africa. Having completed his formal education he was employed

by Johnson and Johnson in New Jersey USA, under the MBA International Development Program lasting one year, thereafter he was transferred to join Johnson and Johnson Nigeria between September 1982 and September 1983. He made a career change from International Finance and Marketing to Banking in January 1984.

In the banking industry he had the opportunity to work and also head broad and varied areas of banking operations and business development in 2 major commercial banks over the next 20 years.

Billionaire Bizman, Captain Hosa Okunbo grandstands with Wells Carlton Hotel

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ast Saturday, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, quaked at the seams, as prominent Nigerians stormed the upscale Asokoro District to felicitate with billionaire businessman, Captain Hosa Okunbo, at the grand opening of his multi-billion naira five-star hotel, The Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments. It is an aweinducing edifice with a unique blend of contemporary luxurious and historic heritage, superb amenities, genuine hospitality and dedicated service for an elevated experience. The Wells Carlton Hotel offers guests 14 breath-taking and stunning luxury apartments and Penthouses, scenic suites and elegantly

Sunday 23 December 2018

appointed rooms, giving a perfect blend of relaxation, business and pleasure. According to Captain Hosa Okunbo, the hotel claims is committed to exceeding customers’ expectations with its impeccable atten-

tion to details, courtesy, and genuine care for their every need, coupled with its public relations-oriented staff.

This is a brand to which he has attached his name, which took nine years to achieve. This brand stands

for his character of tenacity, perfection, integrity and excellence. More importantly for him, he said, the hotel is the platform to contribute to the human and socioeconomic development of Nigeria.

Industrious Sholaye Jeremi Gets A New Life

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illionaire oil magnate, Sholaye Jeremi is in high spirits at the moment.

Truthfully, he has this uncommon aura of sophistication oozing around him. He is a true “son of the soil,” with an unusual sense of attachment and responsibility to his fatherland. He has covered many grounds and has countless stories of conquests to line up at an age when many of his contemporaries are still groping to find their feet.

The proud native of Warri, Delta State, in the estimation of many friends and associates, is unarguably cut out for greater roles in Nigeria’s socio-political and economic sectors, but rather than get high on the wings of his lofty heights, he chooses to begin his humble climb to the corridors of acclaim and entrepreneurial power, by espousing the morals, personal and professional ethics. It is now a new dawn for the dark-hued dude, who has had a good

year and what better way to pamper himself than getting himself the Rolls Royce Dawn, described as the sexiest Rolls Royce ever built, valued at over $450, 000.

Those who have seen the elegance-on-wheelsdescribe it as a beauty beyond description, the ultimate expression in style and confidence. For easier and less conspicuous navigation on the heavilyroute streets of Lagos, Jeremi also added a Range Rover 2018 and a Benz S Class to boost his status.

Intimidating Profile of Ronke Sokefun, the new NDIC boss

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er gender as a female, has never deterred her in her foray as a major corporate player with an intimidating curriculum vitae.

Her exploits in the corporate world, politics and governance are seemingly insurmountable.TheSenatejustconfirmed amiable meticulous Ronke Sokefunastheboardchairman of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, (NDIC.) Ronkeisaconsummatelawyer, Chartered Secretary and Land Administrator. She is a 1987 Law graduate from the Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University, OOU,) and went straight to the Nigerian Law School, after which shewentforhermandatoryNational Youth Service in the old Oyo State from 1988 to 1989.

On completion of her National service, Sokefun joined the law firm of Milton Ohwovoriole & Co, as a Trainee Solicitor and Barrister in December 1989 andworkedtheretillJune1990.

InSeptember1990,shemoved to Ighodalo and Associates Limited, a thriving audit firm, as CompanySecretarywhereshe was saddled with the responsibilityofrunningtheCompany’s secretarial arm and acted as Company Secretary to a number of its audit clients. In pursuit of professional excellence, she joined Messrs Aluko and Oyebode, Barristers, Solicitors and Trademark Agents in October 1993, as an Associate. And in 1995 she moved a step further in her career as she qualified as a Graduate of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria and that of London-ACIS. In acknowledgement of her sterling professional dedication to her duties, she was promoted a Senior Associate at Aluko

and Oyebode in 1995, and ultimately became a Partner in 2000. She was responsible for coordinatingthefirm’sinterface with government corporations andinstitutionsaswellasdeveloping templates for the company’s legal and commercial transactions among others.

In February 2002, she was appointed Head, Management Services, (Legal, Human Resources and Administration) of OceanandOilServicesLimited.

Ronke Sokefun, in this position, was a member of the Group LeadershipCouncil,thehighest decision-making body of the company. Despite her lofty positiononthecorporateladderof OandoPlc,shedecidedtotakea breaktoserveherpeoplebyfirst acceptingtoserveasamember oftheOilandGasWorkStream of the Ogun State Transition Committee in 2011. She was later appointed as the Special AdviserandDirectorGeneralof theBureauofLandsandSurvey by the State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, before her elevation to the position of the Commissioner for Agriculture on November 27″ 2012. To boot, on October 29th 2015, she was re-appointed as the Hon. State Commissioner for Agriculture. Her new position is now perhaps the best feather to his cap.

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NewsFeature

Law Buhari must sign... as anarchy looms

...Humanitarian/Disability Rights advocate wants Buhari to sign law Obasanjo & Jonathan skipped IGNATIUS CHUKWU

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resident Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to give a package to the disabled community in Nigeria by signing a law for their rights that Olusegun Obasanjo and even Goodluck Jonathan dodged and failed to sign, the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill which was since passed into law but not signed over the decades.

Bitebo Gogo, Executive Director, Keeping It Real Foundation (KIR), a disability-inclusive organisation focused on education, advocacy, capacity and development, said in an exclusive interview in Port Harcourt that other administrations have complained of funds to implement the law but said Buhari should not be afraid of costs. “You can start small.

New buildings can have the facilities, banks can make ATMs lower for the sake of persons with disabilities, schools can become inclusive, start slowly”, she pleaded.

In her lamentation, Gogo said: “Disability Rights are human rights, first and foremost. The greatest joy I would have is to see an inclusive society. The saddest case is a student in RSU (UST) who was already in her third year but she had to sue the university because they told her to drop out in third year simply because they said they did not have the facility to make her move forward. This was an intelligent girl. I know some that have to be carried by persons to go to lecture halls. It is very humiliating. These things the government can address.”

Turning to her home state government, she told Gov Nyesom Wike: “The law has been passed in Rivers State but it is only about implementation. I plead with you to please start the implementation. A society that caters for the weakest is am empathetic society, it is a forward-looking society, it is a society that will develop.”

As an advocate for disability-inclusion, she went on, one of the things we say is as strong as our weakest links (brothers and sisters). “We live in a country without value for human life. Persons with disabilities in this age are still stigmatised and treated as charitable persons, instead of giving them hand up, we give them handout. They are resourceful but they have challenges such as being deaf or blind or mobility-challenges.

That does not mean they have no abilities.”

Speaking on youths generally, she warned that Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gun power by the country’s attitude to youth matters. “By 2050, Nigeria will have the third highest population in the world with about 70 percent youth population. That can either be a resource for us (just like China and India that have been able to build their human capital), or it can become the downfall of this nation. There could be total anarchy in this country. There is abject poverty everywhere, and if we do not harness our human capital, we are not going to move forward as a country.”

Bitebo Gogo, executive director, KIR Foundation

Gogo, a lawyer by training (with a Masters in Law); a chartered arbitrator, chartered mediator, a John Maxwell Trainer, the founding Curator of the Port Harcourt, married for 21 years, with lots of children, said she has devoted her life to the cause of those living with disabilities and the youths so they can find space in Nigeria’s national life.

The Executive Director of KIR Foundation admitted that there are huge challenges in trying to turn around the lives of the youths in the oil region. She said the youths in the oil region have hardened their entitlement mentality such that if you offer them training without juicy packages of allowances and cash, they shun it and walk away. “They would ask you what next. If you tell them they have been given training to develop themselves, they will say they are not interested.”

That is why KIR adopted stringent measures in its skill training scheme which graduated 50 persons, mostly those with disabilities. “Another challenge is that a lot of young people here believe that government owes them and non-profit organizations owe them. Even those of them that have started some had to drop because we were very strict; if you come late three times or absent yourself once without any explanation, you are dropped. There is a very high sense of irresponsibility. You find out that people are used to not committing to finishing what they started

because they are used to signing their names and walk away. Another thing is that some of our people with disabilities, because we couldn’t take on the visually impaired because we did not have facilities for them. They cannot do hardware repairs. They can do some other ICT trainings and we had to get their Apps which are quite expensive. We will look into this aspect in future.”

She called on the government to intervene before it is too late. “The very first thing is for government to realize that youths form the highest demographic group and so an investment in the youth is an investment in the future of Nigeria. We are sitting on a time bomb. If we don’t get these young people trained and engaged, because 95 per cent of these youths are unemployable. Education is the starting point. The foundation of our education is wrong. Someone in school is used to paying his/her way through and will find it difficult to face any tasks with his/her brains in life. They do not imbibe the sense of responsibility, staying committed to a project they started.”

She wondered the quality of education the youths would get when the lecturers are more on strike than in the classroom. She said the WiFi network to be introduced in market places as announced by the Vice President may not be sustainable because it is in schools or as PPP in facilities that would rather work.

“We are not excited by that promise

because it is not sustainable. You can create centres with private partners to run it. You can provide free WiFi in such places or in schools. Our biggest problem is power. For this programme, we had to keep running our generators and they kept breaking down. If this can be solved, you have tackled most of the challenge.”

Explaining the scheme, she said every end of year; KIR gives account to partners and sponsors. This year, it graduated 50 entrepreneurs through the Niger Delta Entrepreneurship Pathways Programme. “The main focus was on vocational skills. We trained 50 youths; 23 without disability and 27 with disabilities. We give more chances to disability because the face more disadvantages due to stigma and discrimination. We however screened people and it reduced the number of disabled persons. So, we did 60 per cent to disabled (60:40 ratio).

“We focus on those who have small businesses but needed ICT skills to increase their productivity or to scale up. We also are looking out for young persons who had an interest or training in hardware and maintenance ICT skills and they just wanted to launch immediately. That was why we did not want too many people, just a few we can monitor afterwards and be sure they definitely improved.

“We realize that the demography for youths in Nigeria is about 60 per cent, apart from that, you find out that 95 per cent of the youths, according to statistics, are unemployable due to poor quality of education in Nigeria. We decided to do is to give them an alternative path. You do not necessarily need to get employment but you can employ yourself or work with somebody who is already in this particular field. They were taught basic ICT skills, hardware and maintenance repairs, entrepreneurship, digital skills, social media marketing skills, and they were also taught how to market themselves with self confidence and mind-shift classes so they market themselves. They learnt basic web designs and be able to build their own small websites to market their products.

“Today is their graduation. We are going to give seed grants to the best business plans and also for those 10 that did exceptionally well in hardware and computer repairs.”

On how KIR sourced the trainees, Gogo said: “We actually had to use stakeholder organizations such as Ministry of Youths, Ministry of Social welfare and Rehabilitation, and organisations that are disability-inclusive. We also reached out to some of our networks of young people. We did screening and the person must already have a small business or skill without a business. We did not advertise it because it would be too expensive to screen the crowd that would come. It’s a very small grant.

Some of them have gone on to use their skills and some are even here.

The issue is that they expect you should give them something to start, but we do not operate that way.”

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Sunday 23 December 2018

Investigation

Uncompleted classroom blocks at Umuelem Primary School, Umunneochi

- Pictures by Chinwe Agbeze

Inside Abia where abandoned constituency projects thrive Part 1

Across the various LGAs communities in Abia State, federal constituency projects, intended to implement needed infrastructure and facilitate sustainable social engineering that will elevate and improve the residents’ quality of life, are lying incomplete. Several of them are either out-rightly non-existent or not in use. BDSUNDAY Investigative Journalist, Chinwe Agbeze, who spent two weeks in Abia State for on-sight visits to these project sites, reports.

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F all the factors that influence the wellbeing of any community, developing and implementing projects are part of strategies for intended positive impacts on the lives of the people.

But whilst every community has its own peculiar concerns and needs; residents of focused communities in Abia State, are lamenting being out-rightly deprived of promised constituency projects by politicians to ensure service deliveries. To them, they are feeling cheated by failed politicking syndrome of Nigeria’s politicians’ empty promises.

Back in May, a traditional ruler who does not wish to be named, in one of the communities in Abia Central Senatorial Zone, lamented that his community has never witnessed any developmental schemes. He bemoaned how they are yet to see any visible changes to the life of their quiet community despite huge sums of money allegedly to have been released for a number of projects to improve the lives of the people.

He lamented that, year-inand-out, politicians come with life-changing promises to initiate and implement projects that will better their lives. “However, they all end up without completing, abandoning or the projects never getting sighted in the least”.

He said that though huge sums were released to drill a borehole in the community, the residents still drink water from the same stream they bathe in, thereby posing grave dangers to their health.

Few months after his protests, a Community Service Organisation (CSO), Women in Aid Col-

Inside one of the classrooms at Umuelem Primary School, Isuochi lective (WACOL), conducted a survey on Constituency Projects in Abia State. The WACOL’s efforts pegged the total number of abandoned or not-started-at-all Federal Constituency projects in the State at 22 percent.

On-site fact-finding Trailing the projects, this reporter embarked on verification visits to the sites of various Federal Constituency projects in the State, focusing on those budgeted for, between the years 2015 and 2017.

Arriving Aba in Abia State on Monday, August 27, 2018; the first port of call was the Ukwa West Local Government Area.

That’s the exact site of a proposed sports centre slotted in the 2017 zonal intervention/constituency projects to be constructed at a cost of N50 million.

Getting to that location was a

tortuous trip from Port-Harcourt to Obehie Junction. This reporter waded through deep gullies and craters which made passing the roads a nightmare. Some of the residents later narrated that the journey ought to ordinarily last for 30 minutes rather than the one-and-a-half-hours wasted on the deplorable route.

Locating the sports centre site was another Herculean task. To many residents, the mention of a sports centre in their community was news -they have never heard of such a project.

In fact, the first motorcyclist rode past the site taking the reporter to another location. It was a second biker, who claimed to have grown up in that area and indeed, spent most of his leisure periods around the proposed sports centre, that eventually took her there. “That’s the sports

centre. We played football and held other matches in the time past here; but not anymore,” he said resignedly.

The proposed sports centre sits by the roadside. It is a walking distance from the Niger Delta Development Corporation (NDDC) office in Ukwa West LGA. However, the structure is currently overgrown with grass.

Close-by was a barely visible signpost tucked inside the bush.

It had neither the name of the project nor that of the contractor.

On a careful scrutiny, the diagram of a stadium could be faintly seen.

To get official details on the project, this reporter was referred to one Ogechukwu (aka Okwute), at the Ukwa West LGA headquarters, Oke-Ikpe. He is said to be the supervisor-in-charge of sports projects in the area.

But arriving Ogechukwu’s office about 10.00am, he was yet to report for work. Then, with his phone number being obtained and a call put through to him; he asked the reporter to wait until 2.00pm.

As later realised however, it was apparent Ogechukwu never intended to show up for work as he confessed to his colleague who called him 30 minutes afterwards. From that point on, calls to his line were diverted to no other number in particular.

Worse still, he didn’t respond to the text messages sent to him.

And up till the filing of this report months after, Ogechukwu’s clarifications on the status of the sports centre in Ukwa West LGA, are yet to be received.

Uncompleted structures In all, BDSUNDAY visited twelve Federal Constituency projects for verification of their respective status.

Incomplete are the construction and renovation of Umuelem Central School, Isuochi in Umunneochi LGA, Secondary Grammar School in Bende, Bende LGA, and another school in Amankwu, in Ohafia, Ohafia LGA; yet, the trio are captured in the 2017 zonal intervention/constituency projects.

Indeed, a visit to these schools showed that the projects were abandoned midway. Everything around the school buildings did not indicate any plans of completion in sight.

Then, the next location of visit was Umuelem Central School, Isuochi, where N13million was allotted for the renovation of a classroom block. As BDSUNDAY’s reporter landed in front of a signboard that read ‘Umuelem Central School, Umuelem Isuochi’, her initial reaction was like she hadn’t got to the right destination. Everywhere was quiet as schools were on vacation.

Almost simultaneously, she saw the inscription ‘FGN/UBEC/ZIP 2017 Constituency Project’ on a classroom marked ‘Basic 2’.

Stunned! She stood gazing at a block of five classrooms and a smaller room which looked like an office. The second, third and fourth rooms marked ‘Basic 1’, ‘Basic 2’ and ‘Basic 3’, respectively, are painted yellow and green with a matching green roof. All the classrooms were locked with the exception of one whose door had fallen off. Entering the classroom, fewofitswindowshadalsofallenoff.

Then, at the back, there were piles of planks from broken chairs and doors and the surroundings covered in thick bush. A rickety table stood in the middle of the classroom.

From what could be read on the blackboard, the last time

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Investigation learning took place in this classroom was on June 29, 2018. It was also evident that pupils sat on building blocks for their learning session. One of the blocks was positioned in front of the blackboard, apparently for the teacher, while others were neatly lined close to the side walls.

Now, with N30million budgeted in the 2017 zonal intervention/ constituency projects for the construction of classroom blocks in Bende and Ohafia LGAs in Abia North senatorial districts, works here, were half-done.

At Se c o n d a r y Gr a m m a r School in Bende, Bende LGA, no classroom was constructed. In its place, four-and-a-half classroom blocks were renovated. Under the half unpainted block was written, ‘Renovated Under ETF 2010 Normal Intervention Project’. Some of the doors were still begging to be replaced while the roofs which had caved in, require urgent attention.

It was a 17Km terrifying ride on the rough road to Amankwu, Ohafia in Ohafia LGA, where a classroom block was to be constructed. Both motorists and motorcyclists avoid the narrow, bumpy and mud-covered road enclosed by tall, thick bush. The biker, who braved the ordeal to take this journalist to Amankwu village, ended up regretting the venture.

On arrival, the villagers mistook this reporter and her guide for politicians who only visit few months to elections to make promises they never fulfil. But with much persuasion, they were calmed and convinced otherwise.

The uncompleted block of five classrooms was hidden amidst thick bushes as if it was ashamed of itself. It was later revealed that the classroom had been abandoned since 2017 whilst under construction.

When asked why the project was abandoned halfway, Elekwa Akuma, Special Assistant to the state Governor on Grassroots Mobilisation, who is also a resident in the community, responded: “Actually, this is a FG project. But we are still projecting for them to continue. It’s just that you have to bid, bid and bid again before they will do it. For me, to

Aircraft maintenance Engineering School in Isuochi

get this project to this level, I’m a Hitler. You know all politicians, we start projects; once you hear the initial notices, politicians finish their projects on the air, in the radio and papers.”

Continuing , Akuma said, “When schools resume, pupils will start learning in the uncompleted building pending the time the FG would complete it. In fact, the FG actually asked if we wanted primary school or college. We said college, because if it were primary, it would be only two classrooms. And who will come here to identify whether it is primary or secondary school?” he queried.

Another very salient but abandoned project is the construction of a fence at Aircraft Maintenance Engineering School, Isuochi contracted to Superplus Investment Services Limited. At the sum of N50 million allocated for its completion; the project was marked as ‘on-going’ in the 2017 budget.

On visiting the site on August 29, 2018, work activities were on-going. But nothing was seen being done on the fence. Six construction workers were sighted on what was later said to be the foundation and superstructure of the administrative block.

One of the workers who wouldn’t give his name said they last worked on the fence three years ago. He also added that ongoing works on the administrative block only commenced the previous day, Tuesday, August 28, 2018.

When the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), was contacted as the client com-

Uninstalled transformer in Amizi Olokoro community

pany in-charge of the project, the engineer, who identified himself as Henry, said they had to suspend work on the fence owing to shortage of funds. Adding that the project commenced in December 2015; he said within six months, 1.5Km of the fence and the gate house got constructed.

He said: “We only worked briefly on the fence in 2016 and it is not yet completed due to what was allocated to us to do it. And we have completed that. If funds are available, fencing the aircraft school won’t take more than a year.” He however, declined to offer further information on the project.

To verify his claims, BDSUNDAY reporter visited the contractor’s office address at the Eleganza Plaza on No 1, Commer-

Maintenance Engineering School and Umuelem Primary school, are still being awaited.

Still in the bid to acquire official information on the project, on November 22, 2018, the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), sent Freedom of Information (FOI), requests to both the Ministries of Aviation and Education. It was to acquire facts on the actual amount of funds disbursed for the projects and to verify the status of works done. Also till date, no official responses have been obtained from the two ministries concerned.

Procured but not installed transformers For the procurement and installation of six transformers in the Abia Central Senatorial zone

Abandoned classroom block at Amankwu, Ohafia

cial Road, Apapa, in Lagos, as displayed on the project signboard.

However, the plaza’s supervisor said they have no record of such a company.

The supervisor, a man called Felix, told BDSUNDAY: ‘‘We don’t have any company by that name here. I have been working here for more than five years. I know all the companies in this plaza. We have never had the company you are looking for.’’

According to a document obtained from the Federal Ministry of Aviation’s website; the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, received a total capital of N1.19 billion for the 2015 zonal intervention projects.

It was under this that the construction of the fence at Aircraft Maintenance Engineering School, Isuochi, appeared.

On the quest for details, efforts were made to speak with Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, House of Representative member in charge of Isuikwato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency. Calls placed to her line were not answered up till the time of filing this report. Also, response to short messages sent to her mobile line requesting for information about the Aircraft

represented by Theodore Orji, immediate past governor of the state, N40million was apportioned in the 2017 zonal intervention/constituency projects.

It was meant to be one each to a specific community in the respective six LGAs of the district.

A government representative from each of the LGAs had to be contacted in order to be able to get the exact communities where the transformers were to be installed.

On interactions, those contacted said each procured transformers had been respectively installed in specific communities such as: Amizi Olokoro in Umuahia South, Awomokwu in Ikwuano, Isingwu in Umuahia North, Nsulo in Isiala Ngwa North, and Isiala Okpu in Osisioma. The Isiala-Ngwa South representative could not be reached. His phone gave the switched-off auto-response on the two attempts made to contact him.

It was, however, a different story on visits to some of the other communities.

A transformer was procured but not installed at Amizi Olokoro community. Speaking with the traditional ruler on September 1, 2018; Eze Lawrence Eluwa, he

said the transformer was procured three months earlier, but the community needs about N2.2million to get it installed.

He added: “They just supplied it to us. They have not installed it. So, we are looking for help to install it and it is capital-intensive for a small community as ours.”

Also speaking, the traditional prime minister of Amizi, Francis Etuzu, said they are making efforts to raise the money for the installation. He intoned: “Our first intention is to approach well-to-do individuals in the community to assist us to install it. But, if we cannot raise it all from them, we can now task each person in the community.”

Etuzu also noted that the community was on the verge of writing to the Abia State Oil Producing Development Areas Development Commission (ASOPADEC); but they are stalled by the uncertainty of wondering if their request would be granted.

He also said that: “On Friday, August 31, 2018, the chairman of Umuahia South LGA, said we should doalettertoASOPADECrequesting ittocomeandinstallthetransformer.

Every time electricity is supplied, some people will have light while others will not because we have 10 villages in our community. We were eventoldweneedtwotransformers for everyone to enjoy electricity at the same time. Till date, we are still stuck where we are.”

As for Awomokwu, a community in Ikwuano LGA, it also received a transformer from former Governor Theodore Orji in 2017.

Their challenge is also installation.

In the words of its presidentgeneral, Martin Omeruo, “the electricity contractors are waiting for wires and other amenities to commence the installation.”

Transformers not procured At Okpu Isingwu community in Umuahia North, no transformer was bought. The traditional ruler, Eze Kingsley Emekobum, said, “I don’t have the time to be chasing any officials up-and-down for them to do what they are supposed to do.

And in the process of doing such, the little money that I have to feed myself I will use to give them bribe.”

Emekobum noted that prior to this time, the community had only one existing transformer. But, that is not enough. Adding: “When we have light, it goes off the next minute because the transformer cannot carry everyone. This area requires two or three more transformers.” He also reiterated that sometimes, some people have light while others don’t have because of the overload on the transformer.

Unfortunately, due to security hitches and the hard-to-reach strains of some of the surrounding localities, BDSUNDAY could not visit Nsulo community in Isiala Ngwa North and Isiala Okpu in Osisioma LGAs. When former Gov. Theodore Orji was contacted, he did not pick the calls neither did he respond to messages seeking further information on the project in his locale.

However, several efforts are still being made to reach him.

To be continued next week

This investigation was supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, ICR.

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Investigation

Some Primary Healthcare Centres in Lagos cannot do basic medical tests DESMOND OKON “You are going to do a test for malaria parasite and full blood count,” the young doctor says.

He tears out a sheet of paper, one used in writing out test to be conducted, ticks a few boxes on it, writes a few things, and says, “Take, go and do these tests outside.”

It was not the first time this particular patient would be referred to go do a test at a private hospital or lab. Sometime in November 2018, he was referred by a female doctor at the same Primary Health Care Centre (PHC).

While at this private hospital, the patient told this reporter that he observed that almost half of the patients at the front desk were from the same PHC as he. Clearly, they too had been referred to do various medical tests there.

The Lagos State government in 2016 reiterated its commitment to improving the quality of service delivery at all its Primary Healthcare Centres, after the establishment of the Health Sector Reform Law in 2006. It promised to look into the areas of infrastructural upgrade, data management, operational cost, power supply, water supply, and drug supply.

Also, in December 2017 the Lagos State government signed the 2018 Appropriation Bill into law. The N1.4 trillion budget was said to be the second-largest in the country and the first budget of the state to cross N1 trillion. Based on sectoral allocation, N92.67 billion was earmarked for running the health sector in the state, which the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (PHC) is part of.

But despite the commitment and efforts of the state government to raise the standard of the PHCs, and budgetary allocations to the health sector, some PHCs still cannot conduct basic tests either due to lack of equipment, lack of staff, or unforeseen circumstances like the absence of a lab scientist. This was the finding of an investigation carried out by this reporter over a period of few weeks across some PHCs in Lagos State.

Araromi Primary Healthcare Centre Somewhere in the boisterous community of Obalende, Lagos Island, just after Moloney Street, quietly sits a brown onestorey building. One would find it hard to know it’s a Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC), except for the faded notice, ‘Araromi Primary Healthcare Centre’, printed on a flex banner and nailed to the wall.

When this reporter entered Araromi PHC at 10:02 am, there were five people inside – four women and a man. A pregnant

…despite government’s efforts

Taking this reporter’s blood sample at Agawaru PHC woman (the cleaner) was sitting behind a table by the door segueing with another woman closely beside her. They seemed to be doing nothing as two of the other women were sleeping on the patients’ waiting seats.

The man, identified as the security man, stood and left quickly, leaving this reporter with the four women.

“What do you want?” one the women, the nurse, asked. This reporter said he wanted to see a doctor for some health complaints. The nurse’s face lit up a little as if a real patient had finally come.

“Help me get a card,” she said in Yoruba language, addressing the cleaner who acted as the card issuer in the interim.

A white form was brought out and this reporter’s details were collected and documented. Once done, the nurse charged N100 ($0.27) for the green card. Then, she asked, “Ehen, so what’s wrong with you?”

This reporter explained the resistant malaria he had been experiencing, the treatment he had received, and asked to do a test. After writing the symptoms, the nurse offered to give this reporter something stronger for the malaria.

“No,” she said when this reporter insisted on a test. “Why not try something stronger, like an injection? Let me give you an injection.”

This led to an argument between this reporter and the nurse. Under normal circumstances, PHCs are supposed to check and note a patient’s vitals – blood pressure, temperature, and so on – before the patient

Referral form from Alapere PHC sees a doctor for consultation. tions from the nurse without a But here was a nurse insisting proper lab test.

Sura Primary Health Centre on injecting a patient immeLocating a place in Lagos Isdiately after taking down the complaints, bypassing due pro- land is not usually a walk in the park, especially when you are not cedure.

“See, here we don’t have the conversant with the area. So, afkits and equipment to do ma- ter being tossed about by ‘direclaria test,” the nurse said when tion givers’ for almost another this reporter insisted on a test. hour, this reporter finally arrived “We have a lab; there is a lab but at a yellow and green bungalow no one to run it too. I can take of a health centre, not as a reyou to the lab if you want. If you ferred patient but as a first-timer. can’t go to Sura, there is nothing It was exactly 11:59 am.

Unlike Araromi which was I can do.”

Sura is the clinic the nurse empty of patients and bland referred this reporter to. When due to the lack of activities, Sura this reporter requested for a re- Primary Healthcare Centre was ferral slip, the nurse said there quite busy and things moved pretty fast. More than 20 peowas no need for one.

“Go to Sura, tell them you’re ple had already taken up the from Araromi health centre,” seats. This reporter later found she said. “Go to their lab, they that on this particular Friday, have the kits. You don’t need a these people were not seekreferral slip, just go there. We ing any medical attention. They were not patients; they were are the same.”

The referral slip is a docu- health workers getting ready ment that details the type of for a training on Yellow Fever.

There was no young person tests that a patient needs to conduct outside a hospital. The among them, apart from the slip was denied this reporter. young man at the front desk and Rather, a piece of paper was this reporter, the only ‘patient’ given to him with the name of a at that time, who just walked in woman he was to meet with at looking confused, wondering who to talk to.

Sura’s lab.

“Over there,” a voice by the “Let me just help you,” the nurse said. “Take this paper, go door said. It was the young man there and ask for this woman at the front desk, clad in black. [name withheld]. She used to be “Go to that place and get your here, but because the pregnant card,” he said, pointing in the women prefer going to Sura, direction of the records cubithat’s why she’s there now. Go cle when this reporter said he wanted to see a doctor. to her.”

At the registration departClearly, Araromi PHC does not have the facilities to con- ment, this reporter was told duct basic tests. There is also that there were no single cards the issue of shortage of staff. for issuance. Only family cards Patients who come to this clinic were available.

“Oga, we don’t have a single are referred to Sura. That is, unless they agree to take injec- card. We only have the fam-

ily card,” a plump, dark complexioned man said through an opening, after taking his eyes off his phone.

A family card is a bigger folder which an entire family can use. Once a patient gets one of them, a tiny slip is given, which the patient is expected to bring whenever he/she wants to visit the clinic for consultation.

A family card goes for N300 ($0.82), this reporter was told, while the single card goes for a standard price of N100.

This reporter further learnt that the single card finished a day before the visit (November 29). When this reporter asked what would happen if one could not afford the family card at the moment, the card issuer said there was nothing he could do.

“There is nothing I can do.

The single cards have finished.

They got finished yesterday. I’d give you a single card if there was one,” he said.

Given the circumstance, this reporter had no choice but to settle for a family card. From there, he was shown a room beside the registration cubicle, just by the left, where his vitals (blood pressure and temperature) were checked. He was further directed to the consulting room. By then, the Yellow Fever training had begun.

At the consulting room, the doctor did not talk much. He just listened and kept writing. When this reporter said he wanted to run a test, the doctor looked at him as if something was wrong with the request. He, however, recommended malaria parasite (MP) and full blood count (FBC) and gave directions to the lab.

Entering the lab, it was obvious that Sura Primary Healthcare Centre has the required equipment to do all most basic tests. An electronic microscope and other equipment were present. The tests cost N1,500 ($4.12), but this reporter could only afford one. This reporter’s blood sample was collected and within 25 minutes, the result was out, and drugs were prescribed.

Iponri Primary Healthcare Centre The all-green painted bungalow seemed devoid of patients when this reported arrived.

Apart from the workers at the main hall and three nursing mothers present at the time of visit, it was either the centre was newly built and as such gets a low patronage or this reporter was too early. It was about 9:58 am.

“What do you want?” a lady asked as this reporter stepped in. You can tell she was the card issuer as she sat behind a desk by the door with a shelf of files behind her. These card issuers

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Investigation are usually the first point of contact at any primary healthcare centre in Lagos. So, it is common to always hear that question on entry.

“I want to see a doctor,” this reporter replied, adding that he was a first-timer.

The card issuer began processing the card immediately, inserting the details this reporter supplied in the PHC’s daily attendance register. It was really fast, and in few minutes this reporter was talking to the doctor, and again, insisting on doing a test before any medication. The fair complexioned doctor then recommended MP and Widal tests, amounting to N1,000 ($2.74), and directed this reporter to the lab where a young man was fiddling with some things. He was the lab scientist.

“The tests are N1,000. If you are ready let me know so I can take your blood sample,” the lab scientist said while retrieving the doctor’s note from this reporter.

After taking the blood sample, he politely asked for payment. “You can bring the money, and wait outside,” he said, adding that the result would be ready in 25 minutes.

The lab result was ready in 25 minutes as promised. But while everything seemed to be done right at this PHC, one thing was missing – they failed to check the vitals of this reporter as is the custom. When this reporter asked the card issuer why his vitals were not checked, she said it would be done by another nurse who would interpret the results of the test and prescribe drugs.

“They will do it. She will do it,” the card issuer said, pointing at the nurse. “Just take the result to her.”

The nurse interpreted the result, and drugs were prescribed, but the vitals were never checked.

Besides the fact that this PHC has the equipment to do basic tests, this reporter learnt that it can also do other types of tests.

“We do all kinds of tests here,” said the lab scientist, who by then was out in the main hall, joining in the small talks.

Perhaps as a proof of this, while this reporter was being processed for the green card earlier, a woman from a hospital in Randle, a community in Surulere, walked in and made a request to conduct a Packed Cell Volume (PCV) test.

Iponri PHC has been in existence for six years. This reporter walked out of the facility at 11:30 am with the test results.

Oba Salami Primary Healthcare Centre The weather was already hot when this reporter arrived at Oba Salami PHC, Fadeyi, at noon, 30 minutes after leaving Iponri PHC. The yellow and brown painted bungalow looked newly built, and this reporter learnt it is just a year old. However, it looked lonely and devoid of patients, as most health centres are usually crowded by that time of the day.

There were only two patients

Agawaru PHC lab

Referral form from Ogudu PHC at the PHC – this reporter and a woman. A few staff were present.

As this reporter entered the facility, two voices asked, simultaneously, “What do you want?” One of the voices came from a small room close to the gate, while the other was from a room in the main building.

While this reporter was in a dilemma, pondering whose question to respond to, the question came again, “What do you want?” This time, a nurse in a pair of white trousers and a spaghetti top stepped out of her office. She looked experienced.

After this reporter explained what his ‘mission’ was and opted for a test before treatment, the nurse processed a card for him. A family card was given to this reporter at N100 (as against N300 at Sura). This reporter’s vitals were not checked.

“I initially wanted to place you on malaria and typhoid treatment (injections), but since you want to do tests, then we’ll do both malaria and typhoid tests,” the nurse said.

“Your money is N1,000.”

But given the limited resources available at the time, this reporter opted for only Widal test.

His blood sample was immediately collected and within few minutes, the results for both malaria and typhoid were out.

Then another argument started.

“You have to pay extra,” said the lab scientist, a female, to this reporter, handing the result to the nurse. “I mistakenly did for malaria and typhoid, since we run it together.”

As the lab scientist made her point, she was backed by the nurse. But this reporter politely made his stance known, explaining to them that paying extra would be inconvenient.

With that settled, the result was handed to this reporter who then took his leave.

This PHC, this reporter learnt, has the facilities to conduct all kinds of tests as well.

“Yes, we do all kinds of tests,” the nurse said. “People don’t usually come here much. They don’t know about this place because it’s new. It’s, maybe, one year old. So, people don’t really know about it. It’s now they are beginning to be aware of this place. But we believe with much awareness, they will begin to access this place.”

Ogudu Primary Health Centre Visiting Ogudu PHC is usually done very early in the morning to enable one get attended to early. The meticulous nurses here will never break the firstcome, first-served rule. Patients know this, so at 6:00 am, the place is always crowded, with

patients taking numbers in the order of arrival.

But on Monday, December 3, 2018, this reporter intentionally visited the facility late, at about 8:36 am. The pews were filled.

But luckily, this reporter was placed on the 25th spot in the waiting list.

The crowd was much, and attending to patients was slightly slow, but gradually, in this slow pace, the crowd began to reduce as the nurses kept yelling out names. Sitting in the back, this reporter observed that as patients went into the consulting room, they came out with a slip in their hands, each looking for which direction to take. Curious, this reporter approached one of the patients, a dark, slim girl, and asked what the slip was for.

“I was given this slip and was asked to go and do the tests written here in Ojota because they can’t do it here. When you go in, they will give you yours,” she said.

The distance between this PHC and Ojota is quite much, but that did not seem to bother this female patient, just like many of the people who visit Ogudu PHC. Shortly after, another woman stepped out, with her toddler son in front of her, holding her own slip in search of where to do the recommended tests.

At 12:15 pm, this reporter sat with a young female doctor in one of the cubicles with ‘Consulting Room’ crested on a plaque hanging on the brown wooden door. After this reporter explained the ‘symptoms’ he was experiencing and insisted he would not take any medication until he knew the exact ‘illness’, the doctor instantly tore out a referral form, wrote Malaria Parasite, Full Blood Count, and Widal on it and said, “Go and do these tests.”

This reporter asked why he was being referred elsewhere for tests that should be easily done at the PHC, the doctors said, “Because we don’t have the facilities. This is a primary health centre and not a general hospital.” This is despite the existence of a lab room at the centre.

“We do MP using the strip, The Rapid Diagnostic Testing. It means that you just put a pinch of blood on a strip and add a buffer on it and then it brings out two lines when it’s positive, and one line when it’s negative,” she explained.

“But it is not reliable. Most times, it tells you negative, and the patient presents clinical symptoms that you will obviously know that it’s probably malaria or something. It is simple, effective but non-specific because it can give you a false positive and a false negative if there is any viral infection in the blood – a viral infection in the blood that clears out after three/four days without use of drugs. The test can give you positive that it is malaria; meanwhile it’s not malaria.

“We would prefer proper facilities and equipment for malaria testing. But it is expensive.

A rapid diagnostic test is just

N500. But if you want to do a blood smear for malaria, a real one, you’d have to do it outside,” she said.

Alapere PHC, Ketu At 09:06 am when this reporter stepped into Alapere PHC, the place was already busy. It was noisy, with nursing mothers whose babies’ cries filled everywhere, a sign that it was Wednesday, a day for immunisation.

Balikis, whose job it is to issue cards to first-timers, asked the usual question, eager to know what this reporter wanted. “We don’t have doctors here. But we have nurses who will attend to you,” Balikis told this reporter when he asked to see a doctor.

With that, she began registering this reporter. As she handed the blue card to this reporter, she said the health centre is equipped to carry out all kinds of tests.

“Yes, we do tests here. We have a lab,” she said, smiling as if she had hit the answer right, and offered this reporter a seat.

The nurse was not around at this time, and this reporter was asked to wait. The babies cried louder, and their mothers did their best to know why. The nurse arrived at 10:00 am, but it took a while for this reporter to get attended to because there were babies who needed prompt attention.

“What is wrong with you?” the nurse asked, after injecting few of the babies.

As this reporter spoke, narrating the symptoms and saying he would prefer to do a test first before anything else, the nurse kept writing in a book. Once she was done, she got up and said, “Follow me.”

No one was in the lab when the nurse and I got there. Balikis confirmed the lab scientist’s absence. It was noon and the number of patients had doubled.

Back at the nurse’s office, she asked if this reporter would do the malaria and widal tests outside.

“Will you go and do the tests outside? Our lab scientist is not around,” she said. She said they would have done the tests if the lab scientist was around, and offered to issue this reporter a referral slip to enable him do it at a private lab she recommended.

This reporter gathered that prior to this time, Alapere PHC never had a lab. It was also learnt that the lab was recently established, precisely two weeks before this reporter visited the facility.

“We have the equipment to do all the tests. I’m only referring you [to a private lab] because the person [lab scientist] is not around. This is not supposed to be so,” she said compassionately as she tried to give directions to the private lab she had referred this reporter to.

“We didn’t have a lab here before. This lab is just two weeks old, and a lot of people don’t know it exists. So we’re still trying to tell them that we now have a lab,” she said.

Apparently, this PHC has an equipped lab to handle baContinues on page 34

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Investigation Some Primary Healthcare Centres...

Continued from page 33

sic medical tests, but the patients who were at the clinic the same day this reporter was there would have been referred to a private lab if the need arose because the lab scientist was absent. Also, the vitals of this reporter were partially checked.

Agawaru PHC, Lagos Island Located in a heavilyclustered environment, a renovated, creamy-white and green one-storey building houses Agawaru Primary Healthcare Centre in Adeniji, Lagos Island.

Walking through the gate, this reporter met three men whom he told the reason for his visit.

“Go inside,” said the bearded one among them.

Five people were inside the PHC, three women and a man, a patient. Already familiar with the drill, this reporter went straight to the card issuer, a dark petite-statured woman, and repeated his reason for visiting.

Although she found it difficult to spell this reporter’s name, despite several attempts at helping her with the correct spelling, the card issuer eventually spelt ‘George’ as ‘Jeoge’. “I can remember it [the correct spelling],” she said with a smile.

Soon after, an exchange of N50 ($0.14) for the blue card was made, and this reporter went to see the nurse. After explaining the state of his health to the nurse, the nurse handed this reporter a piece of paper on which was written ‘MP, Widal test’.

“Go and do these tests upstairs,” she said, pointing to the direction. At first, the lab technician, Akinyo Adeola, wasn’t around, but he reappeared holding a black nylon amidst efforts to figure out where he went.

From there, we went upstairs.

“You’re running MP and Widal, so we use kits, the Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT),” he said. “Yes, we do other types of test, but presently there is no light [electricity). Once there is no light, we just collect the sample and when there is light, we run the test. Also, when there is no light, we also allow the blood to settle down so we can make use of the serum for tests like hepatitis, and others. We make use of this RDT because presently the microscope is not on so we use RDT. We are precise in our results.”

Adeola then took the blood sample of this re-

porter and asked him to wait downstairs for the result which, he said, would be ready in approximately 30 minutes.

Downstairs, this reporter observed that the temperature of another patient was checked using the digital temperature gun, but the patient’s blood pressure was not checked. None of these checks was done on this reporter.

When Adeola brought the results, this reporter went back to the nurse hoping she would recall she had not done the vitals.

Instead, she started making drug prescriptions and asked this reporter to wait for the pharmacist. “She’ll soon be here,” she said.

After a brief talk with the pharmacist, this reporter left with the result.

On the door of the lab is pasted a list of a range of tests conducted by this PHC, indicating that this PHC can conduct basic tests and more, but may have to resort to using RDT for tests like malaria parasite when there is no power supply. The RDT is said to be non-specific and hence, could be unreliable.

Patients spend more to conduct tests at private hospitals or private laboratories. They also have to travel long distances to the locations of these labs sometimes.

Should PHCs conduct tests?

The question of whether PHCs should conduct tests is worth considering.

The Primary Health Care system of Lagos State is regulated by the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (PHCB) which was established through the Lagos State Health Sector Reform Law 2006 to develop Primary Health Care to a level where services will be accessible, acceptable and affordable to the people of the state.

Section 79 (1) of the Lagos State Health Sector Reform Law 2006 states: “There is established the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (referred to in this part as ‘the Board’) which shall have the overall responsibility for Primary Health Care Management.”

Although the Lagos State Health Sector Reform Law of 2006 does not explicitly state whether or not health centres should carry out preliminary or basic tests, it, however, created a laboratory unit in the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (PHCB) as indicated on the Lagos State website.

Checking a patient’s vitals at Sura The board spearheads the objectives of the state for establishing the Primary Health Care system, and given the creation of a laboratory unit within the board, this then implies that PHCs should be able to conduct at least the basic tests.

“They are supposed to conduct basic test for all those small illnesses,” a source at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) confirmed to this reporter. “Some Primary Healthcare Centres have laboratories attached to them. So, if they have the facilities, they are supposed to conduct tests.

But if the government (local or state) establishing them doesn’t provide them with facilities, then they can refer them (patients) to a General Hospital.”

Bypassing examination of patients’ vitals BDSUNDAY’s investigation found that almost all the PHCs visited bypassed doing the vitals of this reporter, who posed as a patient. Those who did only did it partially, checking either of blood pressure or temperature.

PHCs like Araromi, Iponri and Oba Salami did not examine the vitals of this reporter. Alapere PHC only checked the blood pressure of this reporter, while Agawaru PHC neglected this process completely during consultation with the nurse, but it checked only the temperature of another patient using the digital temperature gun.

Vitals or vital signs are a group of four to six most important signs that tell the status of the body’s life-sustaining functions whose measurements are taken to help assess the general physical health of a

person, give clues to possible disease, and show progress towards recovery.

Although there are four primary vital signs – body temperature, blood pressures, pulse, breathing rate – PHC nurses find it difficult being faithful to examining just two: body temperature and blood pressure. This indicates a poor understanding of the importance of checking a patient’s vitals or a clear case of lack of professionalism.

Recounting an experience relating to vitals, a patient told this reporter that when he went to a hospital and his temperature was checked, it happened that it was very high. So, the nurse had to, with the doctor’s consent, administer an injection to bring down the patient’s temperature before sending him to the doctor. But assuming that was not done, perhaps it could have been a different story.

Speaking to BDSUNDAY, a public health specialist, Doyin Odubanjo, said checking the vitals of patients when they visit hospitals, especially primary health centres, is an opportunity to prevent any catastrophic event that could happen.

“If it is not done, especially for high-risk patients, the chances are that you could have catastrophic events right after that, even if the patient has been in the hospital recently. If he does not come to the hospital or doesn’t visit any health centre, you may not know.

Perhaps the only time you will see him is when he has complications of the high blood pressure, maybe with a stroke,” Odubanjo

said.

“But if for whatever reason he happened to come to the primary healthcare centre before then, and you did the vitals, you measured the blood pressure and you saw it was high, then you have the chance to intervene before there is any catastrophic event. So that is the problem you are trying to avoid (by measuring the vitals). You don’t want people to suffer kidney damage or any heart damage or damage to the brain which results in stroke as we call it.

“You don’t want any of those things to happen before you find out there is something wrong with this person. So any contact with the PHC should be looked at as an opportunity to screen people, and that’s why you do some of those vitals.

Those vitals will serve as your screening test. And if you do find anything, you are already at the PHC, you can advise; if it can’t be managed there, you can at least advise the person to seek medical care,” he further said.

Odubanjo said poor attitude to work and the inability to replace damaged equipment could be a reason healthcare workers ignore checking the vitals of patients.

“There are different things that can cause it, top among which, perhaps, is attitude. People have a poor attitude to their work. Also sometimes, it could be equipment. In which case, people want to do these things, but over time, the equipment they had, got spoilt, was never replaced despite pleas. It might get into a pattern whereby they really stop doing it.

So even if you provide it later, they may not really use it because they’ve got into a pattern. So, it’s either the attitude or the fact that you have an unconducive environment,” he said.

Government officials respond Although the government officials contacted to give more insight as to the reason some PHCs are equipped to handle tests while are others lack the same equipment claimed that all PHCs in Lagos State are well equipped to do tests, the reality seems to be the opposite as some of them (PHCs) lack equipment.

A top government official (name withheld) operating within the health ministry, Lagos

State, sounded shocked on phone when this reporter contacted him to explain why some PHCs are equipped to run tests while others are not.

“All of them should be able to conduct basic test so long as they are functioning. They should be able to conduct tests.

It depends on what you people consider as basic test. But basic test can be conducted at the primary care level. All of them should be able to,” the official said.

When he was told that some of the PHCs that were visited said they do not have the facilities to run tests, he said, “Well, I’ll ask the Primary Healthcare Board. That should not be totally true because there is a tendency for them to be equipped with equipment that is far beyond what they should have at the primary healthcare centre.”

“Basic test, they must be able to do with high valued equipment. As long as they are operating, whether for 8 hours or 12 hours, they must be able to perform those tests,” he added.

On the amount of money released out of the health budget, the official said he could not give figures.

“The budget is different from how much has been released. I can’t give you figures as to what has been disbursed because the account department keeps all the records,” he said, and referred this reporter to the special adviser on primary health care.

When contacted, Femi Onanuga, special adviser to the governor on PHCs, said in a phone conversation that all the PHCs can do basic tests.

“There is nowhere we cannot conduct simple, basic ancillary tests.

I doubt that your statement because no matter what, we will be able to do simple, simple ancillary test since it’s a basic primary health care. We can do malaria, we can do typhoid, we can do PCV. All primary healthcare centres can do that,” Onanuga said.

“So, what you are saying that some can do some test, all of them can do some basic tests. We are not expecting to do highfalutin test, but simple tests like malaria parasite, PCV, or Haemoglobin and small, small tests. That is why we are there. If we need to do those highfalutin tests, then we go to general hospitals,” he said.

Sunday 23 December 2018

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Interview

‘Corruption is the bane of construction sector in Nigeria’ Chukwudi Obasi, managing director/chief executive officer (MD/CEO) OBCHUKSUM Engineering Nigeria Limited, an engineer by profession, whose firm is into structural engineering, construction, surveying, property development and oil services. He says that the construction sector is enmeshed in corrupt practices and wants government agency, particularly Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to do its work properly. He spoke to SABY ELEMBA. Excerpts:

O

B C H U KS U M a s we know is an engineering and property development firm; can you let us have a proper general view about the activities of this company?

First of all, let me introduce myself. I am Chukwudi Obasi, I read civil engineering in Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri and Anambra State University for my B.Sc Engineering. I also read a master’s degree in civil engineering and structural engineering. As a company registered in the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the company deals in structural engineering, electrical, we are also estate developers and estate managers; we also deal on quantity surveying and land surveying. We also under take building projects, road construction, oil services, but as it is now much of our jobs are structural works because some of the equipment we needed to undertake the road construction works are not available and also the resources are limited. So for now we focus on developing estates for people, dealing with private individuals, building their residential houses and supervising some government contracts for them.

Similar engineering and property development companies say the economy has been tough on their business what has been your own story, doing engineering and property development projects?

For sure, you know when the economy is tough it affects all aspects of the society. As you can see there was a power change over in 2015 in Nigeria and there was a slight change and fall in everything including employment and contracts. So many individuals lost their jobs and so many individuals were on pipe line to develop their properties and were also affected by the bad economy, it also affected us. The economy is a bit stagnant; we are coming out from the recession so they said, and the recession we are talking about is still around as you can see that there is no visible change positively on the people’s business and living.

So many of our clients are still crying that they do not have the resources to complete their projects they started long ago let alone embarking on new ones, actually we have been doing jobs but not as frequent as it used to be.

You seem to have touched on the challenges facing firms in the same line of business as you are, can you just tell us the main challenges you face as an entrepreneur?

Yes, there are challenges of

finances but as a property development company. But if you have much resource at your disposal you would go ahead and develop jobs you have at hand and call for people to purchase the properties you have developed. But when there are limited resources for that, you are only limited to develop when an individual calls for it. When there are enough resources you will embark on developing them by yourself and sell, business keeps on moving and working.

And as a structural engineer and in my own profession there is a lot of quacks in the job and you find out that it is more expensive to use quacks for jobs as against what those who patronise them think.

This is because when the building or the structure given to quacks to do is not done well, they come out to call for professionals by then, they have lost their finances, then, and they will start afresh.

Because of how the economy is so many buildings that were built in this country were not monitored, they were not supervised by professionals and government now is not doing anything concerning that, so there are a lot of challenges.

Government should come up with policies to check this; you cannot build without the supervision of a structural engineer and a qualified architect.

What do you see as being the result of this now?

The result is that today you build as you want, everybody is a builder, any person can build, so a lot of buildings are built without government approval and even when there is an approval by the government you will find out that there is a lot of corruption by the approving agency, they do not even go to the drawings before approval.

When a quack draws and presents a drawing that does not meet the standard of the approving agency, the approving agency will go ahead to collect money and approve it. So, there are lots of challenges that we are passing through because of corruption, quackery and lack of government not doing the proper thing that are supposed to be done.

Recently we have been witnessing a lot of buildings collapsing in this country, what in your view do you think could be responsible to these ugly incidents?

Most buildings collapse because there are some natural causes, there are also human errors. In this nation you find out that the natural causes are minimal but most buildings collapse in this country because of human errors, human errors in the sense

Chukwudi Obasi

that most of the jobs are done by quacks. The quacks do not even have the prior knowledge of structural engineering, they do not even have the prior knowledge of the environment they want to build before the start, and they do not have the prior knowledge of the soil where they want to build.

For a solid building to stand there must be an investigation of the place, the soil must be tested and to know the bearing capacity of the soil, because the soil you see here and build must not be that same soil you see in other places because the soil components may not be the same.

Today, you find out that so many buildings were built without proper supervision by a structural engineer. Again so many of them don’t go for approval, or some drawings have got approval even when they should not have been approved.

Are there some notable evidences of such buildings gotten

approval when they should not, and what could have made such possible?

Yes, there are so many instances we have noticed. And if you go to those that are approving, the government ministry, and others you find out that most of them do not even know the work but because of corruption they approve it when you go to their office you cannot see a qualified structural engineer who can approve sitting in his office.

Any many of them do not have time to go through the drawings, all they need is money, this is the amount that is used in approving they will tell you, whether the drawing is right or wrong they will approve it with money.

When such drawings that have errors are transmitted, what you expect is failure and that has been the problem. A lot of corruption is going on in the construction industry which government fails to check.

Standard Organisation of Ni-

geria (SON) an agency of the Federal Government is saddled with responsibilities, including the approval of materials used in the construction sector; do you think this agency is alive to its responsibilities, most especially in the construction sector?

Some of the things affecting the buildings or other structures a structural engineer does are the raw materials we use, a lot of them are substandard. And Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) is not helping matters. If you go to the market where you see an iron written 12mm but at the long run you will find out the diameter is 10mm but it has already gotten by SON’s approval and checks. And also you find out that in the normal sense of it our high steel number has a strength of 460 kilo Newton per millimeter square (KN/mm2) but you find out that most irons that are produced in Nigeria do not even get 400 kilo Newton per millimeter square (KN/mm2). And for you as a construction worker, there are labs for you to go and test the strength of the iron before you use it, you only believe they have passed through SON and that SON has certified the strength that they are adequate and when you use it in construction it may fail you. They only got approval and were not supervised. So there are lots of problems, the materials we use have fallen short of standard and when they are used there are always failures.

We have six geopolitical zones in Nigeria; can you let us know where most of your clients come from?

Most of the jobs we do are in the South East because we concentrate in the South East but we have done some projects including jobs supervision in the South- South geopolitical zone.

As a structural engineer what do you think government should do to check the constant collapse of buildings?

If they really want the collapse of buildings to stop they know what to do. One, government should come up with a policy; the SON should do its work properly.

Every company that is producing whatever they are producing as a building material should be supervised. If they are specifying that this material has a particular strength, for example, one kilo-Newton per millimeter square it should be one kilo-Newton even if it falls short of, it should not fall below five percent according to standard but you find out that most of the materials they use in Nigeria are written another thing on them but the real strength is another thing.

The government on their own, there are works that should be done by masons and there are ones that should be given to professionals, if it is a bungalow it can be handled by non-professionals but if it is a high rise structure or a building carrying load it should not be handled without supervision of a structural engineer, and the government knows this. I have been appointed to supervise a Federal Government contract where the drawing does not even worth an assignment for a second year student but yet it was approved by a Federal Government agency so what is killing the nation’s construction industry is corruptions

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Sunday 23 December 2018

Interview 2019 Budget proposal is dead on arrival - Omotola Lai Omotola, group managing director, Masters Reality International Concepts Limited (MRICL) and chancellor of EBoot Camp Limited, in this interview with ZEBULON AGOMUO, Editor, takes a hard look at the nation’s economy in the last three and half years of the current government, saying that citizen’s lifestyles have nosedived. Among other important issues, he speaks on the 2019 Budget proposal and why it is just a mere academic exercise. Excerpts:

H

ow may you describe the economy at the moment?

The truth of the matter is that our economy is dangerously moving towards the pricipice. Every nation depends on a strong economy to have peace and Nigeria cannot be an exception. The economic challenges we face are caused by what we may refer to as 4-Ms plus 1. That is four ministers plus the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The four ministers are- the minister of Finance; minister of Transportation, minister of state for Petroleum Resources; minister of Works, Power and Housing; and the CBN governor. We see these four ministers plus one, as people in charge of our economic engine room and we believe that their actions and inactions have brought us to where we are at the moment.

For the minister of finance, the economic model presently being operated cannot bring prosperity; based on a cut-and-paste of International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Economic model.

The model is hinged on every investment on infrastructure and in-as-much as this is a good impact on our economy; it has little to say.

The problem is that we cannot just say to ourselves that by just doing one thing, the economy will come out better. And when you listen to government reel out their achievements, the first thing they will mention is infrastructure.

Secondly, there is no synergy between the minister of finance and the CBN governor. The minister of Transportation on his own part, for us to achieve a buoyant economy, we must possess the ability to move persons and goods without any hindrance. Transportation must be seamless, integrated and efficient.

Today, the only thing we hear from the minister of transportation is rail and yet, the major rail project that would catapult the economy remains comatose and we have embarked on rural rail projects that can’t be seen by the urban people that contribute hugely to the GDP (gross domestic product). Look at the Blue Line in Lagos – the light rail project from Okoko to Marina, one would have thought that the Buhari administration that destroyed the metro rail, would have compensated Lagos State or Lagosians by helping to complete the light rail project.

Take a look at the rail corridor at our ports; the ports that bring the most revenue, and all we hear is rhetoric and grammar.

For close to four years, there’s no transportation reform and no master plan and as a result of this, the impact on the economy remains unseen.

The minister of state for petroleum, when he came, told the

Lai Omotola country that the nation’s refineries would start work in six months and that indeed, one refinery had commenced work, but contrary to that claim, all our refineries remain comatose; and we are still in the subsidy regime. And the other day, in the President’s 2019 Budget, he said he had budgeted $1billion (one billion dollars) for subsidy. If you remember vividly very well, before he became president, he said subsidy was a fraud.

The subsidy regime is indeed a fraud and it will continue to be a tool in the hands of marketers to blackmail the government.

The total litre of PMS paid for; a quarter of it is not used by Nigerians. If you doubt it, you can go and see what is happening at our borders, Arepo, and the pipelines all over the country.

Therefore, you can do your arithmetic and justify if really we should continue to pay for subsidy. The fourth minister- the minister for works, power and housing- firstly, one person can-

not handle three ministries that are highly technical to be given to a lawyer.

And I said shame on COREN and Nigerian Society of Engi-

if Buhari comes second term in 2019; we are going to witness the final battle ground in this country. It is going to be the final war zone; because I must first tell you, the opposition will not accept the result

neers for accepting this position.

Secondly, the minister continues to deceive us on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway; it can’t be explained why government should spend money on such a lucrative route that should be done under PPP. The minister can’t complete the 2nd Niger Bridge and he is supposed to be on the front seat to rescue this economy, but rather, he has perfected ways on how to deceive the people and the government through projects that are more of social sentiment than the economic benefit. It is a shame today that the Apapa Port remains where it is and the same government will pride themselves in spending N2.7 trillion on infrastructure. The Apapa residents have staged protest; yet nothing has changed.

He has failed on housing and this is not because he failed during his own tenure as governor in Lagos State; but he has been unable to find a housing scheme that would deliver millions of houses like the days of Baba Jakande.

The minister failed during his tenure as a governor; he is failing again during his tenure as a minister of housing; as we have not seen quantum delivery of housing projects across the nation. On electricity, in terms of generation, they have done a little bit well; they have benefitted on what the past regime had done.

But the DISCOs remain the most fraudulent part of the value chain.

The DISCOs remain the most fraudulent; they continue to rake in money from consumers without investing in infrastructure; theirs is just to collect money. Whenever a transformer goes bad today, anywhere across the country, residents would have to gather money together to repair it or they should wish themselves a new regime of darkness.

On the part of the CBN governor, we have come to realise that the appointment of ex-bankers as governor of Central Bank has not been able to help the economy.

The ex-bankers have a mindset of leaving their core agenda, which is monetary and regulatory issues, but they have delved into competition with the commercial banks in doing business of lending.

Today, the CBN has intervention in every sector of the economy – from real estate to power, to aviation to agric and so many others with very little impact.

And most recently, the CBN has announced that they would set microfinance banks in 774 local governments of the country; is this not a return to the People’s Bank of those days?

How in your opinion has government policies affected the working of the private sector?

It is very clear. The government policies have crowded out the private sector-led economy.

Government has taken a lead role in doing business instead of allowing the economy to be private sector-driven.

Not knowing that the wealth of the citizens is the wealth of the nation. The purchasing power of the people has been greatly eroded. Today, our economy has been reduced to a pedestrian/ penchant economy as exemplified by the trader moni of ten, ten thousand naira that you see the Vice President now giving people.

The President a few days ago admitted that the economy is really in bad shape. He said he has no solution to it. Now, if you were in his shoes, what would you have done differently?

There’s a fundamental problem with our President. In everything in life, one is not supposed to know everything in life, but the chief executive is supposed to know those that know. I don’t have to know. I don’t have to know everything about the economy, but should be able to spot people that know and would deliver. The issue of the economy is the major Continues on page 37

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Interview 2019 Budget proposal is dead on ...

Continued from page 36 weakness of our president and it is too late for him to acquire the skills. There’s nothing so difficult about the Nigerian economy. The Nigerian economy is an economy that is simple to handle. You asked me what would I do differently?

The first thing I would do is to sack those four ministers and the CBN governor. The vice president during the recent debate alluded to fact that the CBN governor has autonomy. In as much as the governor has autonomy, the president of the nation that was voted for must have a blueprint and economic philosophy that the CBN governor must align with because the president interviews the CBN governor and appoints him.

So, the issue of autonomy in directing the economy does not arise. The President sits on the direction of the economy. So, when they hide under the idea, that ‘oh we cannot direct the CBN governor; he has the autonomy to deflate the economy’; then there’s a challenge.

Today, our exchange rate is a fraud. N305, N360, no economist in Nigeria or any financial expert can justify such exchange rates.

This is the CBN governor who has consecutively, for all the MPCs he has held, nothing has changed.

He just comes to announce ‘we remain as we are.’

So, what that tells you is that there’s no place for ingenuity; there’s no place for innovation; there’s no place for new ideas; we remain as we are so that we do not rock the boat. We don’t see the reality of things. So, the president has left all these ministers to continue to play their game and the economy has found itself where it is. The major problem of this government and how we have seen the government is that the government believes that they can use the money which they are spending to solve the economic problem.

That is why you find the vice president going into the market, which ordinarily, a councillor of the ward should be responsible for. The vice president should be seen sealing big ticket transactions. There’s the Mambilla project there; there’s the Geregu Project that the vice president should be looking for funds to seal, not entering markets where the councillor should be the one distributing five, five thousand naira in the market.

The economic issue of the country today is more serious than the vice president taking the front lead on trader moni. The traders won’t need that money if the economy was okay. And you giving the traders that money will not immediately solve the problem of the economy.

What is your take on the 2019 Budget proposal presented by the President last Wednesday?

The Budget that was presented Wednesday is going to be the worst budget, in terms of performance, that Nigeria will ever witness. In 2019, it is going to be the worst ever. It will be very difficult for them to pass that budget. The signs are very glaring to us. The morning shows the day. If you

look at what played out at the presentation of that budget, it was a theatre of ridicule.

So, you are presenting a budget moving into an election and presenting a budget to the leadership of an opposition. So, if the incumbent government goes into the election and wins, the opposition would want to have their pound of flesh because they would disagree that they lost in a transparent way.

They would believe that they were rigged out and so, the budget will first be the point of battle.

If this present government should lose the election, then the incoming government would say, ‘this budget does not carry our philosophy of how to turn around the economy. So, there’s no need passing this budget; throw it into the trash bin, because we want to make Nigeria work again’. So, that budget is dead on arrival; it is just an academic exercise that has been done that will not yield any intended benefits as we move forward. Today, the last budget, they said the performance is 67 percent. That is not true, but let even also concede it, but the question is, has the budget met the aspiration and target that had been given? The answer is No. But why are politicians seemingly not interested about the welfare of the masses?

Today, we have global leadership deficit. It is global. What we found ourselves in today is a situation whereby politics comes before economy. Gone are those days, they said ‘there’s no permanent friends, no permanent enemies, but permanent interest’. Every nation today should pray that the interest of politicians aligns with the interest of the people. A situation whereby the interest of the politician comes before that of the people, that politician’s interest will have its way. We can give example. In America, very soon the government will shut down; because President Donald Trump is saying that he has promised his people that he would build the wall, but the Senate is saying they would not release money for this wall he is taking about; so there is contention. In England, the same thing is happening on BREXIT. Government is saying, ‘look, we have started a deal; let us see it through’; but the opposition is saying ‘No, you and your deal and everything, throw them into the trash can. We will not accept’.

Everything is politics. Nobody is thinking about the people, but about themselves, ‘I must hold on to my territory for me to first stand before I can talk about the people.’ That’s just their interest. The leaders must always eat before the followership will eat. It is because the leader is alive that the follower is alive.

With the gloomy picture you have painted about the economy and the way you have faulted some of the politics of the incumbent government, what do you foresee as the state of the economy if President Buhari is re-elected in 2019?

Last year, I told you something about the economy. I said electricity was not going to improve;

Lai Omotola you can see it today. I also said that the best the Buhari administration could do is just to maintain where they are and not fall below it, and that’s the best they can achieve. The exchange rate has been stable at N305 and N360 at fraudulent ways. They are pumping money into it to maintain that artificial position, now, without being a soothsayer; if Buhari comes second term in 2019; we are going to witness the final battle ground in this country. It is going to be the final war zone; because I must first tell you, the opposition will not accept the result; they would go to court.

Buhari is not going to have the same privilege that he had that Jonathan lost the election and he just allowed it to go.

Secondly, the President is of the opinion that he has not been successful in the anti-corruption drive. He has learnt from his mistakes. So, this time, he will pursue total eradication of corruption (I don’t know how it can be possible). That is going to be on his front burner. As good as that is, it is going to stifle the flow of money; and when this happens, it is going to stifle the economy.

Now again, he only has two years to do whatever he wants to do on the economy.

This is because, after two years, the next person that would want to become President would begin to beat drum. So, politics takes the front burner again. So, realistically, we are not going to see a major shift. There are things that are fundamentally wrong in this economy that are liabilities that have not been wiped out.

Today, ASUU is asking for billions of naira before they can go back to school; polytechnics are asking for the same thing. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is asking for the same thing. There are lots of agreements that have been signed with subsidy marketers and the rest running into trillions that must be paid; otherwise they will shut down the stations. When you aggregate all these things, these people at one point or the other will begin to agitate that they want the realisation. So, the

economy is already burdened and revenue is not increasing. So, government again would go on borrowing spree; multiplying the burden on the economy. And the unfortunate thing again is that what the opposition is proposing is not the solution. It is not wellarticulated.

The truth of the matter is that all of us must come to the realisation that leadership of this country must evolve organically.

By this I mean, grooming future leaders from the inside. For instance, in Lagos State, since 1999, after Tinubu everybody that has been a governor in Lagos State has been an insider. So, when he resumes, he hits the ground running, not an outsider. If you leave government for four years, before you return there, a lot of things would have changed, no matter who you are.

What is the benefit of succession plan in government?

Let’s take it this way, President Olusegun Obasanjo says, he has forgiven Atiku. If he had forgiven Atiku 20 years ago, and given the government to this same Atiku, there won’t be a Yar’Adua; there won’t be a Jonathan and there won’t be a Buhari but because of his own personal anger; he said that Atiku was not going to be the President because he also, given how he had allowed Atiku to run the government, we could see initially that the succession plan was organic, because he left the economy to Atiku. So, he was bringing Atiku as a succession plan, just like Mandela handed over to Thabo Mbeki in South Africa. Look, you cannot beat knowledge; you can’t. It is just that some people can be knowledgeable and corrupt.

Some people can be knowledgeable and evil. We all knew that the economy was not doing well; that’s why we voted for Buhari; so he has no excuse to make why he cannot fix the economy.

Now, Buhari as a driver is supposed to be knowledgeable and I give you example. When someone that is sick comes to the doctor; the doctor would ask the patience certain questions;

and from the responses, the doctor would understand the trend of where the problem is coming from. So, the doctor would begin to prescribe and would alert the patience that there is one drug there that when you take it, it is going to knock you out; but don’t be scared, by the time you wake up, you will be fine. What Nigeria is expecting from Buhari is for him to give them specifics and milestones; that look, I have taken over a government that is totally battered; but in the next two years based on one, two, three, four things that we are going to put in place, the exchange rate may go very high, but after few years it will come down drastically.

Today, the CBN governor can’t tell us when the exchange rate will go down; what is happening to it; when it will go up; or the future plan.

The same thing applies to a pilot. You enter into an aircraft; he tells you that this flight, if we get to a particular place, it is going to be very bumpy; at that point I am going to tell you to put on your seat belt, but after certain hours; it will go down, and you can relax.

So, when people get to that bumpy area they are not scared because they had been forewarned and then they put on the seat belt. This government today is not giving direction and that is the anger. It is not giving clarity. It is not saying that look, we have been importing rice, three thousand metric tons every year, we are going to bring it down to one thousand metric tons in two years; and after that two years, a bag of rice that has been going for N20,000 will come down to N5,000.

These are deliberate policies that when businessmen even hear they will begin to withdraw investment from smuggling importation because they know that government is doing something.

Today, government is saying a lot of things that they have done but people do not see the direct impact and that is where the confusion is coming from. Government believes it has performed partly, but people believe that their lifestyle has nosedived. If a bank is going down or it is totally comatose, they bring what is called turn-around managers. They would come and say, look if you give us this amount of money; in five years this bank will be first five; and those people would say, we sign your agreement based on his, and we will put money based on this. And the next thing, they begin to recruit people that have the knowledge and before you know it; it is there.

The same thing with a football team; a team that has been in relegation; they bring a coach and the coach would say if you want me to qualify for this and that competitions; we need to buy players; it’s a game of money. So, they begin to buy players and things begin to fall in line. So, the problem we see in the country today is that the people Buhari recruited are far from reality and have not got the right knowledge. There is no reform; no activity; there’s no engagement of the people. They are far from it; and that is why we are where we are now. So, there is no clear cut to say that the Buhari administration has performed.

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TheWorshippers

‘With sincerity of heart, Nigeria can win the war on terror’ God’s Urgent Call, a non-denominational prayer group based in Enugu, holds its annual camping for the word of God every December. Ozioma Onuzulike, a professor of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and leader of the group, speaks with SEYI JOHN SALAU on the recent peace pact signed by presidential candidates ahead of the 2019 general elections, the war on terror, among other matters of national importance. Excerpts: The 2018 general elections are upon us. What is your advice to politicians and the electorate? he advice is that all we do should be done with the fear of God. We should sincerely put God first, then do things right, both the leaders and the led. If the leaders are Godfearing, there will be no vote buying, no rigging, no violence, and there will be no need to promote anything that will disturb the peace.

The presidential candidates were made to sign a peace agreement to ensure non-violence before, during and after the elections. Do you think it is enough just signing this peace agreement?

It is not at all. It is not enough because the heart is deceitful above all things; we want to see it in practice and we want to see it go beyond the presidential candidates signing. We want every other participant in this entire process signing in his or her own heart that it will be peaceful, and they should do that in practice, both in their utterances and action. That way it will not be just signing a piece of paper, which is what it is at the moment.

The war on insurgency seems to have cost the country a lot in terms of finance, yet we are not getting the result. What are your thoughts?

I see it as all-encompassing – there is no one way to it. From all sides, there is something wrong.

On the side of the government, some people have raised questions/issues that have not been answered, putting a question mark on the integrity of those running the war in themselves.

Again, from the inside there is a question of sabotage – all of the

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Ozioma Onuzulike

people waging this war evidently are not all on the same page with same mind, which is why there are some unexplainable invasions, unexplainable victories that crop up from time to time on the side of the enemies. On the side of the Boko Haram, you also find out that they are still determined to push on their religious agenda, which is causing this bloodshed, bringing us again to the saying that “Religion is not salvation”; that people can be religious and still be ready to kill and maim others to maintain their religious belief.

But if people are saved, it brings a change a heart that will manifest in their daily activities, and then we will run a country where we will see our brothers as brothers whether in the military or not. For those fighting this battle, because of some divisions among them, sometimes they do not work together for national interest to

get needed results because of infighting.

Your group holds the ‘Call of God’ camping annually. What is new this year?

We look unto God for whatever we get along the way. We start the camp and put God ahead and follow as he leads us to go.

You talked about the war of survival for souls in one of your articles. Can you explain further what you mean?

Right from time immemorial the war of survival for people that have been held bondage by the devil has been on, because the mission of Christ is to set the captive free, heal the brokenhearted, and it is truly a war of survival to liberate people. That means people are in bondage and it is in God’s hand to liberate them. The mission of Christ on earth is to set people free from sin, which is prevalent all over

the world – disobedience to God’s instructions. That battle to set people free from sin and other satanic activities is a war between good and evil, light and darkness. The consolation is that the power of God is supreme and fighting that war on God’s side shows that you are fighting on the side of victory.

Christmas is very much around the corner. What is the essence of the celebration?

I am not part of the celebration with the way the world is going – it is unbiblical. I have not seen anywhere in the bible where you have Christians celebrating Christmas. From what I find in the bible, the way to remember the birth of Christ is by our daily living. Every day of our lives we celebrate Christ; it is not something we do once a year and it is not by this eating and drinking, rather our daily activities should reflect Christ.

2019: Cleric calls for unity, urges politicians to seek peace The administrator of Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos, Marcellinus Teko, has called on Nigerians to stay united ahead of the 2019 general elections.

At the Christmas Carol organised by the Island Club with the theme ‘Carol of unity, good tidings and classical music’ held in Lagos, Teko also urged politicians and political leaders to promote and pursue actions that seek the peace of the country.

“So many people have found various means to promote disunity, especially religion,” Teko said. “A Christmas carol of this nature which is geared towards bringing people together from various denominations and religions shows that we can actually be together as Nigerians. All of us celebrating Christmas should know that our aim is to be united

in love and joy which is the spirit of Christmas because that is the spirit of Christ.”

He said the right spirit of leadership can be found in Christ, urging all political leaders to fear God in all they do and be Christ-like in their pursuits.

“Christ is an example of humility, love and service. If that spirit is planted in the hearts of all those who desire to lead us in this country, they will not be doing what they are doing today,” Teko said.

“Different things are being done which is contrary to what leaders are meant to be doing.

If those who are aspiring for political offices, especially in the coming election, see Christ as an example, they will be able to lead this country out of the mess we are currently into.

“Our political leaders must be humble and stop the selfish and self-centred motive in order for them to serve the people diligently and with the fear of God. Unity, especially among politicians, is what we need in Nigeria. Let us forsake all our evil ways, do away with hatred, over-ambitiousness and let peace reign in our nation,” he said.

Olabanji Oladapo, the chairman of Island Club, said the carol is a tradition by the club to celebrate all festive seasons irrespective of religion.

“As a club, we celebrate all festivities, whether Muslim or Christian, and this makes us to be more united. We learn from each other as a club; we extend tentacles, network and benefit from each other,” he said.

Olusiji Olowosuko, the carol coordinator, said the carol aims to bring unity among Christians, different denominations and Nigerians as a whole, urging Nigerians should be Christ-like and united.

Expect a peaceful election in 2019, Okoh tells Nigerians

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s preparations for the 2019 general elections continue to gather momentum, the Primate Church of Nigeria , Anglican Communion, Nicholas Okoh, has assured Nigerians of peaceful elections come 2019.

Okoh gave this assurance at the 2018 Carnival for Christ and Thanksgiving of the Diocese of Abuja held recently, saying God would see Nigeria through.

“There is huge fear about

safety, just like before the last elections when people were terribly afraid. In light of this, we are encouraging our people to trust in God who helped us before now,” said Okoh.

He, however, appealed to Nigerians to make God their refuge, adding that those entertaining fear and so are thinking of relocation ahead of 2019 elections should desist.

“Nigerians should have hope because things are getting bet-

Okoh

ter and anybody who believes in God can never lose hope,” he said.

Syrenius Okoriko, the Vicar of Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Durumi Abuja, said the carnival was a very important event for the church.

Okoriko, who is also the education secretary of the Anglican Girls Grammar School, said the carnival was to celebrate and thank God for all he had done in the outgoing year.

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SundayBusiness Finland-produced lactose-free Valio milk hits Nigerian market

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leading pharmaceutical company, Thompson & Grace Pharmaceuticals Limited (T&G Pharma), Lagos, has introduced the health-giving lactose-free Valio powdered milk into the Nigerian market.

Unveiling the four variants of the milk product at separate events in Abuja and Lagos last week, Isaac Amos, managing director/ chief executive officer of T&G Pharma, declared that Valio milk produced in Finland by Valio Limited, and other dairy products from the company are easy to digest and they contain low carbohydrates and high protein content.

According to him, “The milk has natural taste, colour and aroma of milk without sweetness, which can give the consumer the pleasant healthy experience.” He added that “it is made from Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) with no preservatives.”

“The milk is suitable for drinking, cooking and

Kinsley A. Akinroye, honorary consul of Finland in Lagos; Ms. Suvi Laakso, second secretary, Embassy of Finland, Abuja, Nigeria; Paavo Salminen, senior vice president of Valio Limited, Finland; Isaac Amos, managing director/chief executive of Thompson & Grace Pharmaceuticals Limited, Exclusive Representatives of Valio Limited in Nigeria, and Uduak Amos, ready to test the lactose-free Valio powdered milk produced in Finland, at the public presentation in Lagos.

baking. It is good for our health,” he said.

According to him, Valio Milk comes into the Nigerian market in four variants of “Valio lactose-free whole milk; Valio lactose-free semi-skimmed milk; Valio lactose-free skimmed milk; and Valio skimmed milk.”

He explained that Valio Milk

is a product for the entire family – from age one and above. He noted that it is good for pregnant women as it will help them to breast feed and live a healthy life after delivery.

Medical research says that lactose is a natural carbohydrate in milk which is also called milk-sugar. It

International Breweries empowers 27 youths with N29m in Kickstart 3

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t was all lights, camera and action as Season 3 of the International Breweries Plc ‘KICKSTART Youth Empowerment Initiative 2018’ came to a thrilling climax. The award ceremony and grant presentation took place at the Mauve21 Events Centre in the heart of the culture-rich city of Ibadan, Oyo State.

Tw e n t y - s e v e n o u t standing business ideas were rewarded with varying amounts in grants totalling N29 million. The beneficiaries cut across states of the southwestern region of the federation.

The organization demonstrated its dedication to developing the next generation of outstanding Nigerian and African entrepreneurs who will shape the economies and political landscape of their

home countries.

“This crop of entrepreneurs will contribute to the needed economic growth that will change the face of the southwest region, Nigeria and the continent in the coming years,” said Otunba Michael Daramola, country legal and corporate affairs director for International Breweries Plc/B InBev, Nigeria.

“With this empowerment comes big responsibility and the 27 KICKS TA RT b e n e f i c i a r i e s should use the opportunity well,” he said.

Babajide Agbeja, the Guest of Honor, admonished for “continuity and hard work as the backbone of any civilization that will excel”.

Agbeja mentioned how the International Breweries Plc KICKSTART Youth Empowerment Initiative

has since its commencement in 2015 received accolades for empowering 76 young businesses, and its ability to bring stakeholders, government officials captains of industry and other guests under one roof. He was full of praises for the organization, urging that more should be done to reach more young entrepreneurs in the region.

The event also witnessed the formal inauguration of the International Breweries Plc KICKSTART Entrepreneurs Forum, which focuses on getting entrepreneurs together, finding synergies and creating a ‘tribe’. The Entrepreneurs Forum aims to engage as much as possible while exploiting on specified channels of publicity to create the needed impact by targeting the right audience.

said that lactose intolerance is a condition in which unabsorbed lactose causes digestive problems, such as diarrhoea, flatulence and bloating, adding that approximately 65 percent of the human population has a reduced ability to digest lactose after infancy.

The research report further

explained that lactose intolerance in adulthood is most prevalent in people of East Asian descent, affecting more than 90 percent of adults in some of these communities, and is also very common in people of West African, Arab, Jewish, Greek, and Italian descent.

Amos said that there isn’t a cure for lactose intolerance and no known way to make the body produce more lactase. “But it can be managed by limiting consumption of dairy products, eating lactose-reduced food such as Valio milk,” he advised.

Speaking at the unveiling at the Embassy of Finland in Abuja, Senior Vice President of Valio Company in Finland, Paavo Salminen said that most lactose intolerant consumers do not use milk at all, substituting it with water, but with Valio lactose-free, consumers have said that they can finally come back to dairy, “almost feel like drinking Valio milk now.”

“Nigeria is a great country with excellent people.

We are introducing this lactose-free milk in the country as a means to improve

the health of the people as well as the economy of the nation”, Salminen said.

He said Valio lactosefree milk is made from fresh premium-quality Finnish milk that is collected from Valio’s milk farmers in Finland.

Finlad Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Jyrki Pulkkinen said his country is known for good and healthy foods, adding that introduction of Valio milk from his country will further improve the relationship between the two countries.

H.E. Pulkkinen said lactose free milk was a success story in his country, expressing optimistic that the milk would record success in Nigeria.

At the unveiling of the product at the Lagos Intercontinental Hotels, Kingsley Akinroye, executive director of Nigeria Heart Foundation and Honourary Consul of Finland to Nigeria, encouraged Nigerians to consume Valio milk as good nutrition can help to conquer any heart-related disease, noting that Finland has a life span of 70 years due to good nutrition.

Sollatek appoints Madusons as grand distributor in Alaba IFEOMA OKEKE

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ollatek Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Sollatek UK – the global leader in power and voltage protection devices, has authorised Madusons Global Resources as their grand distributor in Alaba International Market.

Sollatek showroom located at Maduson Global Resources, Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos State, has its headquarters in the United

Kingdom having put in over 30 years of experience in manufacturing reliable surge and voltage protectors.

Its products are designed for use in the toughest electrical conditions, while still being affordable – which is why they command their leadership position.

Sollatek branded AC Guards, Fridge Guards, TV Guards as well as Automatic Voltage Stabilizers have been available for nearly 20 years in Nigeria, but have recently come under management

L-R: Ravi Srivastava, Simba Group; Hyceinth Maduagwu, CEO HYRIT Ventures/Maduson Group; Chinedu Maduagwu, CEO Maduson Global Resources and Shailendra Kumar Sharma, Simba Group.

of their own subsidiary in the country.

Speaking at the inauguration of the new Grand Distributor in Alaba, a representative of Solaltek UK, Thierry Polet, said: “The Sollatek name has become ubiquitous with power protection devices in this category; so much so that we recently encountered some counterfeit protection devices in the market, for which we have taken strong action against.

I am glad to report that the actions we have taken have proved successful and new dealers such as Madusons have stepped in to cater to the growing demand”.

Chinedum, proprietor of MadusonsGlobalResources, added the following remarks during the inauguration.

“We are delighted to open our brand-new store at the heart of Alaba International Market. It is of particular pride to be associated with such an important brand in this field and a company at the cutting edge of providing safety from electricity and electrical devices.”

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SundayBusiness Ensuring food safety during festive season Food & Beverages With Ayo Oyoze Baje

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he significant issue of the proper handling of sundry food items towards their safety during the festive season of Christmas and New Year activities is highlighted here to save lives. What makes it even more important is the cooking of large volumes of variety of foods.

Extreme care has to be taken therefore, as grievous mistakes could be made in post-harvest food handling.

The surest way to do this is to effectively monitor all the stages right from the reception of raw materials, strict selection of wholesome food items, proper storage of raw materials, adherence to internationally accepted standards of cooking/processing, packaging , preservation of both intermediate and finished products till they are served. The irony is that the food prepared for human consumption also serves as a fertile breeding ground for disease-causing micro-organisms to thrive.

Th e s e i n c l u d e C o l i f o r m bacteria , salmonellae, the

Spiritonomics

Debo Atiba

www.spiritonomics.org

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o doubt, it is glaring that the year is gradually coming to an end.

It has been quite a challenging year. Although the exchange rate improved, food prices remained significantly high, many states owed salaries, president was absent, corruption in high places, unstable political terrain, heightened terrorists activities, to mention a few. Indeed, it has been a roller

dangerous duo of Staphylococcus a u r e u s a n d Cl o s t r i d i u m botulinum. Others are Vibro cholera, Eschericha coli, Baccilus circus, yeasts and moulds. There should be proper storage and selection to eliminate these pathogens right from the raw materials stage.

Failure to do this could lead to disastrous consequences of food poisoning. The symptoms include vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, head ache, shivering, chest pain, suffocation and sometimes death. Yet, all these are clearly avoidable, with sustained food handling practices. Even fresh fruits and vegetables need to be washed well using clean water.

But avoid too much squeezing which could lead to loss of vital vitamins. Use of damaged fruits like broken tomatoes, wilted and yellow leafy vegetables should be avoided. If not used immediately.

There should be good storage facilities for high moisture foods like fruits and vegetables.

Diseased, mouldy or spotty fruits should be discarded. Generally, during storage there should be protection from environmental factors such as dust, microbes, sun, wind, smoke, poisonous gases from exhaust pipes of vehicles and also insecticides.

Additionally, attack from pests such as rodents, cockroaches, birds and insects should be prevented. And no matter the amount of food being prepared the selection of fresh, healthy food materials should be given adequate attention. The contaminated and diseased raw materials should be kept far away from the good ones. This would reduce the spread of pathogenic microbes.

Re f r i g e r a t o r s a n d d e e p freezers are needed. Freezing is considered an effective method for preserving beef, poultry, fish

and milk and of course the famed Christmas turkey. It kills three quarters of all known bacteria and stops the growth of fungi.

It inactivates most microbes by keeping them in the lag phase.

However, it should be noted that the dangerous bacterium Staphylococcus aureus which causes food poisoning is a psychrophile. It may not be drastically affected even by refrigeration as it grows between 6.8o C to 8oC, produces toxins and because it is found in the throat and nostrils of human beings food handlers, especially cooks and those serving food must avoid spitting, coughing and nose picking.

In the absence of refrigerators, foods can be kept under chilling temperatures of between 0oC and 15oC. It prevents the deterioration of foods by reducing such bio-chemical reactions like autolysis in fish, loss of nutrients and moisture, aging in beef and cheese. Onions, apples and tomatoes which respire slowly have been found to keep well within this temperature range.

Beans could be kept in deep freezers for 48 hours, removed and stored dry. Such beans remain safe for consumption for upward of three months. Do not eat or cook frozen meat that smells bad.

During storage, care must be taken to preserve food stuffs from being contaminated with insecticides. Cooking utensils, cooked and uncooked food should be kept away before the spraying with insecticides. Doors and windows should be opened to allow in fresh air. This reduces the concentration of the insecticide, rat poison, smoke repellents and other pesticides used.

Cooking should not be done in a hurry because it is the festival time. Inadequate time-andtemperature relationship during

cooking could leave poisonous microbes in foods such as rice, chicken, meat-pie, dough-nut, scotch eggs, sandwiches and hamburgers. Avoid meat that turns pinkish in the middle after cooking. Since much rice would be cooked avoid cooked rice left at room temperature for more than two hours. It could easily be contaminated. Heat to 87.5oC and refrigerate. Canned foods should be warmed in oil, not water. Avoid tinned tomato with black, rusty ring as they may be contaminated.

Fo r t h i s f e s t i v a l p e r i o d , foods like milk, ice cream, beer, wine and fruit juices should be pasteurized before refrigeration.

Pasteurization means subjecting them to specific temperatures less than 100oC at pressure of one atmosphere. For instance, beer can be pasteurized at 60oC for 30 minutes, and wine at between 82oC to 86oC for 1 minute. The aim is to destroy the vegetative cell of bacteria, moulds and yeasts, as well as enzymes.

For the consumers to gain nutrients maximally from the food prepared, do not soak fish, meat, poultry for too long in water while washing. Do not cook with much potash, called Kaun as it destroys Vitamins B and C. Do not bleach palm oil so that its vitamin A content is retained. Heat the food prepared but do not burn as it produces poisonous chemicals.

Meat bought from the open market could be contaminated with bacteria. Cook meat till it turns brownish or pinkish-brown.

The kitchen where the food is prepared should be spotlessly clean, and well- ventilated to allow for escape of greasy, smoky air while fresh air comes in. The table tops, draining boards and all containers should be easy to clean.

There should be constant supply of clean drinking pretreated

water, and enough hot water to wash utensils and cooking equipment. Waste paper basket containing remnants which flies could feed upon and transfer to the food being prepared should be kept away from the kitchen and emptied regularly.

Contaminated water, nylon or leaves used to wrap or package zobo, kunu, pure water, moi-moin have been found to be sources of coli form bacteria. Therefore, home makers should be avoid the temptation to use water from questionable sources. Even after using soapy water to wash dishes it is still necessary to wash them thoroughly using hot water and drained. Do not use unwashed plates to serve food because you are in a hurry to satisfy many people during this festival season.

Also, the hygiene of those who prepare the food we eat id of utmost importance; now and always. They should wear aprons or overalls, cover their hairs to prevent them falling into food. Coughing, spitting must be avoided. Cooks should not grow long nails. They should not handle dirty currencies or use the napkins for hand cleaning to cover their nostrils and mouth while sneezing. They should not allow sweat to drip off their faces or hands unto food.

Do not be tempted to over eat at this festive season. Instead of taking coffee and cola- based drinks along with food, drink vitamin A, C-and-fibre-rich fruits such as oranges, lime, pineapples, pawpaw and nuts to avoid constipation. Compliments of the Season to all.

Baje is Nigerian first Food Technologist in the media ayobaje@yahoo.co.uk; 08057971776

The strength for tomorrow coaster ride for many, as goals are yet unmet, hopes dashed and several losses. It leaves many wondering if there is really any cause to be grateful to God. If you think that there is nothing to be grateful to God for, then remember that the fact that you are reading this is a proof that you have reason to be grateful.

This is because you are not only alive and kicking, but you also have a sound mind which can recognise and process data. It implies that you are also among the few who are qualified to be optimistic about the New Year.

It is no news that the events in the world did more damage than good in the lives, businesses and careers of many. Many people are lost out on what next to do.

There are many business casualties either in the hospital or on their way there. It does not matter how you feel about this year,

you and I have many things to be grateful to God for. We can dream again, we can hope again, we can conquer again, we can fight again.

Our retreat cannot be equated to “surrenderedness”. They may have seen our white flag but it does not mean we quit. That we put in our best and it did not turn out as expected does not make us failures. People that lose hope are ingrates, because they are not thoughtful and are blinded to what is working around them, focusing only on the challenges.

Such people in times like these may never rise again because their view of life is myopic. They only hope and live for today, and are oblivious of the good that tomorrow brings. It never occurred to them that the mere fact that they lived up till this moment is a positive proof that they are blessed.

And how dare you put a cap on the operations of the power of

God in your affairs by concluding that the year is over, that as a result nothing good could come out of the remaining days of the year? What you don’t know is that God created time but lives outside of time. The time of your visitation

by God is not dependent on the calendar of the year; it is dependent on your unflinching faith in the ability of God to come through for you whether in January or December. You dare not lose hope or throw in the towel otherwise you forsake your mercy (Jonah 2:8).

Your ability to give thanks in times like these is a proof of your belief in a better tomorrow, better opportunity and in the power of God. There is no option for failure in our agenda for the future. We must be resolute in our mind that it can only get better.

We should not even accord ourselves the opportunity of thinking otherwise. When we give

thanks and are grateful we open ourselves up to the supernatural act of God. We prepare ourselves for the multidimensional acts of God in our business and career that would both astound us as well as the people watching.

This is no time to be discouraged or give in to despair; this is the time for every hanging hands to be lifted and feeble knees to stand straight. This is the BEST time to let the devil know that this supposed setbacks and challenges encountered this year alone, has become our stepping stone to new dimension of God’s favour, new ideas we would never have thought about. Please arise with a song of thanksgiving in your mouth and a heart full of GRATITUDE praising our saviour. We do have reasons to be grateful.

Remain blessed. @spiritonomics

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SundayBusiness What a viable mortgage industry means to an economy

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ost developing economies, including Africa’s biggest economy, aspires to have a viable mortgage industry in the understanding that it means so much for the growth of their economy. In the advanced economies of the world, the industry has made and continues to make significant contribution to economic development.

In Nigeria, the story is different. The industry is still struggling to find its feet and this why mortgage finance as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is as low as 0.5 percent which is several steps behind other economies including Mexico, Malaysia and South Africa where mortgage contributions to GDP are as high as 10 percent, 25 percent and 29 percent respectively.

However, notwithstanding the industry’s low contribution to GDP coupled with the economic challenges arising from low oil revenue, industry operators are saying that mortgage has all the potential to stimulate the economy when all the obstacles inhibiting its growth are removed.

The relative newness of the mortgage industry, lack of understanding of its dynamics and operational models by many

Nigerians, and poor appreciation of the need and the ultimate benefits of keeping money in a mortgage bank are some of the militating factors.

But an economy like Nigeria’s can benefit a lot from a flourishing mortgage industry as it will help in directing the economy in the desired direction. As part of efforts at stimulating the economy, government can make the necessary investment aimed to grow the industry. Enabling policies should also be put in place, leading to reducing high interest rate in order to encourage more people to embrace mortgage loans.

On account of the identified obstacles, many primary mortgage Banks (PMBs) are going through very difficult times, such that some are not able to meet loan applications from home seekers.

“If government pays closer attention to the PMBs by removing some of the obstacles on their way such as the drawbacks of the Land Use Act of 1978 which rests land ownership rights on the state governors, the right to easily foreclose on delinquent borrowers, ease of creating a legal mortgage and perfecting titles and the ease of falling back on one’s collateral to recover bad loan etc, the industry will surely improve tremendously”, a mort-

Procurement and Supply Chain

with Gob-Agundu Uche Branch chair (CIPS), Nigeria

Bola Afolabi Bola Afolabi, PhD, FCArb, FCIPS … continued from last week d) Managing corporate reputation through ethical conduct International companies will never play low on the need to continually manage corporate reputation. The impact of Brent Spa and the Ogoni oil spill on Shell is a testimony of the damage that can be done to a leading brand when the public perceives wrong doing in its activities.

Even though thousands of miles away, Europeans boycotted Shell products for a long time due to the spill in far away Ogoni land. e) ThePMI(PurchasingManagers Index) The PMI is an indicator for measuring the manufacturing index of an economy. The index is one of the Bank of England’s performance indicators for measuring economic growth.

This is a clear demonstration of the societal acceptance of the importance of procurement practice and the value placed on procurement practitioners in the UK. We need professionalism to ensure business continuity and License to Operate. Global leaders in best practice are already practicing same. Some examples are Emirates Airlines and the Dept. of Works & Pension in the UK where only fully qualified procurement professionals are appointed to senior roles in managing the supply chain. Nigeria is currently lagging behind with respect to ensuring that those who handle senior roles in the Supply Chain have the requisite professional certification and practice as is obtainable in Accounting and Medical Practice.

The future of supply chain management The supply chain management profession needs to be fully regulated. We need to have our own P&L account whereby bankable value realization through optimal efficiency drive can be demonstrated. Globalisation and

gage operator argues.

The operator, who does not want to be named, insists that until all these issues are resolved in a way that encourages the provider of capital, in this case, the mortgage bank, to give out loans, the sector will not grow as desired.

He hopes that when these obstacles are removed, the supplier effect of mortgage will allocate more funds towards the provision of home loans while home buyers will better appreciate the implication of prompt interest and capital repayments as well as ensure discipline on the part of the people.

Some finance experts argue that limiting a mortgage institution to a fixed capital base of, say N10 billion, is wrong because that amount is too meager; even N100 billion is also meager given the kind of projects they are to finance.

For this reason, the federal government needs to come in, look at what is happening in other civilized world and copy because, these days, “copying is no longer an act of deception but actually something that is done even in the civilized world”, says Okika Ekwem, a US-based realtor.

In such economies as US and UK, Ekwem says there is a secondary market for real estate

Talking Mortgage with

CHUKA UROKO (08037156969, chukuroko@yahoo.com) financing where commercial banks or individual brokerage banks lend money to people and thereafter sell the securitized certificate to the secondary market and come back again to lend to individuals.

Mortgage industry growth that can impact the economy, according to Meckson Innocent Okoro, is possible if the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) plays the role of a regulator while the federal government, through the CBN, should empower the PMBs. To have a viable mortgage industry that can have significant impact on the economy, more PMBs have to be licensed such that there could be as many as 40 PMBs in each of the big cities, while each of the smaller cities could get as many as 10.

This is to discourage the concentration of these banks in urban centres and when this is done, access to housing finance will be increased. The PMBs must be positioned to champion the whole issue of affordable or social housing for the low income

earners in the country.

Mortgage finance as it is today, is not particularly established as a structure and as it exists in developed economies. The culture of mortgage finance is just gradually catching on with Nigerians and mortgage is financed the same way as every other commercial financing.

It is curious that after the recapitalisation and consolidation of the PMBs, Nigerians are yet to feel the impact in the economy.

As at today, the interest rate as it is cannot mobilise the industry and the situation is such that even at 10 percent, the level of income in the country cannot still support mortgage growth.

At a time in this country when the economy and the financial system were highly regulated, there was different interest rates structure for different sectors of the economy and within that period, lending to the housing sector was as low as 7-8 percent which underscored the importance attached to the sector and the government needs to look into this.

The role of supply chain management in national and corporate competitiveness (2) technology will make this possible with minimal difficulty.

Supply Chain is at the heart of curbing corruption by the many roles it plays in the sourcing, storage, usage and disposal of assets and consumables. We should remember that what we do and what we fail to do have strong impact on corruption which in turn correlates intensively with unemployment, poverty and inequality among the populace.

Therefore, SCM professionals must earn their seat in the board room by visible demonstration of prudent commerciality, high ethical standards, efficiency and effectiveness of the business process.

Studies conducted by the World Bank and the African Development Bank have shown that only about 40percent of awarded contracts follow the public procurement laws. In Nigeria, there is widespread weak procurement planning, and monitoring of project implementation. Entities often attempt to rush to procure quickly during the last quarter of most financial year. It is often reported that procurement practices in most government ministries and parastatals record cases of extra budgetary and unauthorized expenditures through award of contracts. The citizenry often complain of poor public service delivery and massive corruption in the procurement system.

The implementation of robust

enterprise resource planning tools can help correct these anomalies.

Project monitoring, auditing and strict compliance to the Public Procurement Act will also enable probity and transparency.

Conversely, none of the above can be achieved without building solid capacity among practitioners. The dearth of supply chain practitioners in organisations poses threats to the sustainability of corporate existence. We must consciously and strategically build capacity across the strata of governmententities.Majority of the people involved in the acquisition of goods & services in our ministries and parastatals today have little or no academic or professional training in the art of supply chain management. Most of them gain their positions by accident and so they engage in huge spends without the simplest pre-requisite on sourcing strategies and tactics.

We need a handholding approach of training and development in order to build national capacity in Procurement and Supply Chain.

Modern technology enhances the way and manner business is conducted. Computers can generate 3D product designs in one part of the globe while the products are manufactured in another part of the world. During a recent international travel, I stopped by a golf shop to view latest offerings in clubs and accessories. I exhibited my procurement acumen by negotiating the price of a G400

Ping Driver, the latest in the golfing world. Upon close examination of the merchandise, my base knowledge came to bear when I informed the seller that the shaft was produced in China, Head made in Venezuela and the entire product assembled in the USA. I was able to knock off 35percent of the tagged price by simply demonstrating the product knowledge.

There is continuous pressure on SCM practitioners to provide spend visibility in order to enable leaders find new ways for achieving savings. Corporate customers are constantly demanding for rapid productivity through intuitive self service, focus on automated service, embracing new technology and innovation. Like other commercially savvy professionals, I buy my own airline ticket, shop online and encourage my company to place low cost consumable items on call-off basis. This way, supply chain managers can focus on strategic sourcing based on the top 20percent commodities which accounts for 80percent of the spend.

...To be continued Bola Afolabi, PhD, FCArb, FCIPS Bola Afolabi is a Supply Chain Management Leader. He is a Fellow of Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, CIPS and also Fellow of Institute of Chartered Arbitrators. He is the President/CEO of Canal International Services

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Sunday 23 December 2018

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BrandsOnSunday SPOTLIGHTING BRAND VALUE

Scaling up access to potable water, sanitation, hygiene in rural communities The recent intervention on potable water, sanitation and hygiene by United States Agency for International Development and Coca-Cola Foundation in several parts of the country including Abia and Cross River states has come as succour to the long suffering rural communities. This report examines the impact of the intervention.

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n Nigeria, lack of access to potable water has always been a major source of concern in rural communities. Although there have been several efforts on the part of government at all levels to address the issue, many communities still cannot get water for domestic use.

The issue of Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene otherwise known as the WASH sector especially in the country is something Federal Government has been seriously making effort to resolve since many people still have limited access.

As a matter of fact, the Federal Government of Nigeria recently declared a state of emergency in the Water Supply Sanitation and Hygiene Sector. While inaugurating the national action plan for the revitalization of the WASH sector, President Muhammadu Buhari directed Government at all levels to redouble efforts in the WASH sector, to meet the nation’s water supply and sanitation needs.

Nigeria currently ranks number two in the global rating on Open Defecation with an estimation of about 25% of the population practicing open defecation. Till date, several thousands of rural dwellers still suffer from avoidable water – borne diseases due to lack of access to potable water.

In what seems like a major stride in solving this problem, collaboration between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF) through the Water And Development Alliance (WADA) mechanism that exists in several countries including Nigeria, to provide water sanitation and hygiene for rural communities in Nigeria has started yielding results.

The Global Environment and Technology Foundation (GETF) is implementing the WADA initiative at the global level, while the Partners For Development (PAFD) is the local implementing partner in Nigeria for the 24 – month rural WASH sector support project in Cross River and Abia State Nigeria, which kicked off in 2016.

Recently, the partnership led to the commissioning and handing of over of two WASH projects in Abia State and Cross River State.

The water and sanitation facilities were installed at Isuikwuato and Ohafia LGA in Abia State and in the Odukpani and Obubra LGA in Abia and Cross River State respectively.

In accomplishing this project, the PFD has been collaborating with the State Government

through the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) with the aim of improving and expanding access to safe, affordable, sustainable and reliable water and sanitation services in the Twenty Six (26) rural communities of Isuikwuato and Ohafia LGA in Abia as well as the Thirty (30) rural communities in Odukpani and Obubra LGA of Cross River State.

While giving account on the success of the project, the Program Country director, partners for Development, Ediri Iruaga stated that a total of Thirty Nine (39) Solar Powered Conventional Boreholes have been constructed to provide clean water to over Thirty 35,000 men, women and children living in these communities.

According to him, the intervention has also succeeded in the construction and rehabilitation of Thirty One (31) improved sanitation facilities in Health Centers and Schools within the communities which have been extended to serve about 8,840 beneficiaries.

To ensure sustainability, he noted that the project took into consideration the formation, training and establishment of 58 committees, 756 hygiene promoters, 36 Environmental Health Clubs in all project communities.

In ensuring adequate maintenance of the installed materials and equipment, the implementing partner for development embarked in training of local mechanics and water caretakers for basic operation, repairs and maintenance of the installed water facilities.

In his remarks at the occasion,

the Governor of Abia State who was represented by his deputy, Ude Okochukwu explained that the administration remained grateful to the funding partners for supporting government in solving major problems affecting communities in the state.

“We are delighted with CocaCola, USAID and other partner organizations for these wonderful works that have been done in Abia state. We are delighted to have organizations that are interested in providing water to our people especially in areas within the state where there are water challenges.

We are glad that this gesture of yours is helping us as a government to ensure that everyone in Abia state has access to good water consumption”.

Okochukwu therefore urged the communities to take ownership of the project by ensuring that it is maintained in a way that would last for a long time.

He said” If you don’t take ownership of it, you don’t use them well or you allow it to break down, we would suffer the consequence. So, let us help to ensure that our kids no longer suffer from either cholera or some of these outbreaks as a result of poor sanitation. With the water that is in place, let us maintain them and have effective good use of it”.

Speaking during the commissioning of water and sanitation facilities in Abia state, Mission Director, USAID, Stephen Haykin described the investment of the agency in water, hygiene and sanitation as significant especially in view of unavoidable deaths that

occur as a result of the lack of it.

He stressed that it was ready and willing to lend a helping hand to government in tackling problems associated with water needs and sanitation noting that it would continue to do its best in promoting development of communities in Nigeria.

“For those who have means, we have a responsibility to lend a helping hand wherever they may be in the world. I want to appreciate the work that Coca-Cola and USAID have done on this water and sanitation project. Much of Water, sanitation and hygiene issues attribute to as many as 500, 000 death of infants each year. So, investment in water, sanitation and hygiene is extremely important”.

In her remarks, representative of Coca-Cola Foundation, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, who represented the managing director of the company disclosed that since the large population of Nigerians lack portable water, Coca-Cola, as a responsible corporate organisation, decided to come to the rescue by joining other philanthropic organizations around the world to solve the sanitation and hygiene challenges of the country Expressing his gratitude on behalf of the community, His Royal Majesty, Eze 0f Amiyu Uhu Community, Ifeanyi Udeagha said the entire people of the community is gladdened by the laudable gesture of the partners stressing that this would go a long way to ameliorate their sufferings.

He said” We are delighted for having these kind of projects in

our community. We are grateful because we know that these facilities have come to ameliorate our sufferings. As you can see from the mood of the people, we are overjoyed on this kind gesture. Let me express our deep appreciation to USAID, Coca-Cola Foundation and other partners for counting us worthy to have these facilities. This kind gesture of yours would remain indelible in the hearts of the people of the community”.

Also speaking on the intervention from the funding partners, Commissioner for Public Utilities and Water Resources, Barrister Chidebere Nwoke expressed joy on the kind support extended to the community.

As it was done in Abia, the residents of Ndon Nwong community in Cross River state are also beginning to enjoy similar intervention.

Commissioner for Water Resources, Cross River states, Gabe Odu-Orji who represented the governor remarked that the government was grateful to USAID and Coca-Cola Foundation for donating the facilities to the community. He added that by this action, foreign agencies have demonstrated willingness to support the administration in solving challenges confronting the people.

“Let me state that as a government, we would be willing to provide the needed partnership to have such projects replicated in other parts of the state” he added.

Similarly, Clan head of Ekim/ Uyi, Ndon Nwong Community, Cross River state, His Royal Highness, Ekong Okong Nyong expressed appreciation to the two non-governmental organisationsUSAID,Coca-Cola Foundation on the facilities promising that the community would maintain the facilities. He expressed confidence that with the facilities, water –related diseases affecting them would be a thing of the past.

He said” The entire community is joyful for having these facilities.

Even from you the mood of our children, you can see that we really appreciate what USAID, Coca-Cola foundation have done for us. Now, every household in the communities can heave a sigh of relief from the hardship they go through in fetching water from the streams.

With these facilities, we know that our children would no longer suffer from any water-borne diseases”.

Edet Ekong, a middle aged man who has been resident in the community for more than two decades said that it was a big relief to the people as these would certainly ameliorate their long sufferings.

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EquityMarket Neimeth’s N184m full year profit lifts stock by 10 percent TELIAT SULE

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eimeth International Pharmaceutical Plc has returned to profitability, following the announcement of N184.04 million profit after tax as at the end of the financial year ended September 30,2018. This compares with N411.48 million loss after tax the company posted same period in 2017.

Neimeth International realised N2.27 billion turnover as at the end of the period, representing 48 percent increase over N1.53 billion made same period in 2017.

Most of its revenue was made in Nigeria where the firm realised N2.24 billion representing 99 percent of the annual revenue while the balance of 1 percent or N28.5 million was realised in Ghana. In 2017, 97 percent of Neimeth’s turnover or N1.49 billion was made in Nigeria while 3 percent or N44.79 million was realised in Ghana.

When appraised along the product line, over 90 percent of Neimeth’s turnover or N2.24 billion was made from the sale of pharmaceuticals while the sale of animal health products fetched the firm N28.9 million in 2018.

In 2017, the firm realised N1.5 billion from the sale of pharmaceutical products while animal products produced N35.9 million last year.

Cost of sales rose significantly by 83 percent from N604.7 million in 2017 to N1.11 billion in 2018. The cost of sales is made up of opening raw material, purchases and raw material as at 30 September. Other components

of the cost of sales are production salaries and wages, power and fuel, inventory cost variances, factory other expenses, physical inventory adjustment and depreciation. By implication, it cost Neimeth Pharmaceutical 49 kobo to produce a good in 2018 as against 39 kobo in 2017.

Marketing and distribution expenses increased by 13 percent from N321.1 million in 2017 to N361.84 million in 2018, with the bulk of the cost expended as employees cost, transport and travelling, as well as advert and promotions.

On the other hand, administra-

Frigoglass invests 30 million euros in Beta Glass Guinea Plant

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rigoglass has announced it will invest between 25 to 30 million euros to expand its furnace capacity at the Beta Glass Guinea plant located in Agbara, Ogun State.

The investment will increase capacity at the plant by 35,000 tons per year. It includes a new furnace which will replace an existing one which has reached the end of its life, an additional production line, upgrades to existing production lines, as well as, new quality inspection equipment to strengthen the plant’s capabilities.

This strategic investment will drive continued growth in the company’s glass business across the West African region.

The new furnace, with an expected productive life of more

than 12 years, demonstrates the commitment to both existing and new customers across West Africa.

The plant will also pioneer the use of Narrow neck Press and Blow (NNPB) technology, which will enable production of lighter weight non-returnable glass bottles for the first time in West Africa. The project is expected to become fully operational in 2020. “ This strategic initiative demonstrates our commitment to implement investments that will enable the Group’s future growth. It supports the growth of our international and regional beverage customers in the high growth potential West African region”, Nikos Mamoulis, CEO of Frigoglass said.

“We continue to implement investments to better cater to the growing needs of our customers for glass packaging. This investment will significantly increase our annual capacity, allowing us to meet the growing demand, not only in Nigeria, but in many countries across West Africa”, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, chairman, Beta Glass, said.

Similarly, Darren BernnettVoci, glass division of Frigoglass and MD, Beta Glass was enthusiastic about the deal.

“This new larger furnace secures the livelihood of our existing employees in Agbara, and creates not only additional jobs but also shareholder value and contributes positively to the development of the local community”, Bernnett-Voci said.

tive expenses fell by 17 percent to N542.9 million in 2018 as against N651.9 million committed to the cause in 2017.

Neimeth Pharmaceutical has four individuals and institutions with percentage shareholding in excess of 5 percent. Ohuabunwa Iheanyichukwu, with 120.68 mil-

lion shares controls 6.99 percent stake in the company. Helko Nigeria limited, with 174.5 million shares also controls 10.11 percent stake in the firm. Ordrec Investments Limited has 197.9 million, thereby controls 11.46 percent stake in the firm while Intercedd health Products Limited, with 409.9 million shares controls 23.74 percent state in Neimeth.

Altogether, they own 52.3 percent stake in Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals.

At the end of the close of business last Friday, Neimeth International’s share price was among the most appreciated on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). With 201,813 shares traded last Friday, the share price of the stock rose by 9.72 percent to close at N0.79 per share. That brought its year to date price change to 5.3 percent, thus making it among the 22 equities that closed in the positive territory year to date as at last week.

The bearish trend continued last week as the All Share Index (ASI) ended last Friday at 30,773.64 basis points, which amounted to year to date loss of 19.53 percent.

Year to date, 22 stocks, Neimeth inclusive closed in the positive territory, with CCNN, Unity Bank, Sterling Bank, NEM and Learn Africa the best performing stocks.

The prices of four equities remained unchanged year to date, and they are Ekocorp, Diamond Bank, Great Nigeria Insurance and NCR. Similarly, 69 equities closed in the negative territory with SUNU Assurance, AG Leventis and WAPCO Lafarge the worst performing stocks. They close at -60 percent; 61.4 percent and 71.9 percent year to date respectively.

Berger Paints appoints Ogutande as acting MD

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he management of Berger Paints Nigeria is pleased to inform the company’s stakeholders that Modupe Oguntade, the Chief Financial Officer of Berger Paints Nigeria Plc. (BPN), has been appointed as Acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of BPN, effective January 7, 2018.

In line with our succession policy, she is replacing Peter Folikwe, who will be exiting the Board, having completed his four year tenure as Managing Director. The Board remains grateful to Folikwe for his services to the Company.

Oguntade brings on board almost three decades of management experience having worked

with different quoted companies, multinationals and group of companies, including Coopers & Lybrand Nigeria; SCOA Nigeria Plc; Sooner Pipes Ltd; TY Group and the Dangote Group.

She holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Obafemi Awolowo University with specialisation in Management. She is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN). She is also a member of the SMP 12 class of the Lagos Business School. The foregoing is for your information in line with Rule 17.5 and 17.6 of Part 2 (Issuer’s Rules) of the Nigerian Stock Exchange’s Rule Book (2015).

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Sunday 23 December 2018

Travel

Making the most of family outing this Christmas OBINNA EMELIKE

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n the face of the present economic realities, most families are becoming frugal and setting their priorities to ‘needs’ rather than ‘wants’.

While you may consider family outing or holiday as ‘wants’ or something that can be forgone, it is very essential for bonding, better understanding and relief from stress, especially these hard times.

This Christmas holiday is not an exception as many families now with low purchasing power are calling off traveling, especially for family fun because of the huge amount involved.

Though traveling is becoming more expensive, families that are determined to bond can still enjoy this holiday without breaking the bank. All you need do is to look inwards for alternatives to overseas excitements, which you used to enjoy before the economic downturn.

The foamy drinks with umbrella straws in a London bar, visits to beaches in Zanzibar, and day spa in Dubai or taking on an adventure in a South African safari park, can all be done here if you truly look inwards to local destinations.

To make the most of your family outing this holiday without leaving a big hole in your pocket, families can go see a museum, art galleries, go see movies in cinemas, a weekend at a remote destination will always make a difference, the beaches are open all day for a swim and beach fun, or climb a local mountain/hill.

Children will always prefer amusement parks to other attractions hence a visit to the likes of Hi Impact, Apa-

Fun at Wonderland Park Abuja

Funseekers at Badagry beach

pa Amusement Park, Abuja Amusement Park among other family-oriented attractions is worth a family outing this season no matter how lean the pocket is.

Taking your family on a self-conducted city tour is also worth a holiday idea this season. You must not know a city before touring it as you are not a professional tour guide.

All you need do is to fill your fuel tank, rich lunch box, take your camera and set out. The tour is best done in areas you have not visited and not necessarily in the highbrow areas or popular attractions. There are always things to see beyond

the known and popular. If you stay in highbrow areas, a visit to places assumed lessdeveloped areas of the city, will thrill your children.

But if you can spare some cash, then you can visit destinations with one-stop-shop leisure facilities like resorts, if not, go see waterfalls, explore caves and a communion with nature around you. A visit to Ikogosi Resort in Ekiti State, Obudu Mountain Resort in Cross River State, Nike Lake in Enugu State among others will cut the huge amount hitherto expended on soaring air tickets, hotel accommodation and shopping allowance abroad. You can travel

to some of these destinations by road, by air as domestic air tickets are far cheaper, or look for destinations within reach.

The likes of La Campaign Tropicana Beach Resort, Inagbe Resort, Ilashe, Ibeno Beach, Port Harcourt Beach, and even Takwa Bay offer the unique beach outing, sunbathing and all manner of water-based excitement, which people undergo visa stress, pay huge airfare and hotel accommodation to visit abroad.

Obudu Mountain Resort is still the most picturesque destination in Nigeria with a seeming safari offering, the Mambila Plateau, Jos Wildlife

Park among others are still worth your visit. So, why not visit, especially now that security has improved across the country instead of using your life savings to explore safari parks in Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa.

If all these still sound big, a visit to beaches in Lagos starts with a gate fee of N500 per adult and children are often allowed without paying. All you need is to go with your fun and food box, mat and camera. Port Harcourt beach is open too, while Marina Resort welcomes guests to see beyond the peaceful flowing Cross River in Calabar. Ibeno beach is the most visited in Akwa Ibom.

The likes of Olumo Rock in Abeokuta, Awuhum Waterfall in Enugu, Gurara Falls in Niger, Azumiri Blue River in Abia, Erin Ijesha, among others are domestic, cheap, more appealing and safe.

As well, the big hotels are running holiday promotions that families can take advantage of for quality outing.

From Transcorp Hilton Abuja, the Sheratons, Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, InterContinental to local brands such as Rockview, Orchid, Rodinia, CitiHeight among others, there are discounts for lodging in these hotels this holiday season.

However, families will get the most out of their leisure time when they understand the essence of leisure. Leisure is a state of mind or of being.

It is when you feel most free, fulfilled and integrated. It is not when you spend huge sum in overseas destinations.

Sunday 23 December 2018

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BDSUNDAY 45

Travel

How to stay calm during a turbulent flight Stories by IFEOMA OKEKE

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n a plane, the bumps and jolts of turbulence can start up — maybe just as you’re trying to enjoy your drink or make your way back from the bathroom.

Most turbulence passes in minutes, and it’s extremely unlikely to be a precursor to disaster. But for those who dread it, a bumpy ride can turn a peaceful flight into a nerve-wracking ordeal.

Fortunately, pilots and psychologists agree that it’s fully possible to banish your fear at 30,000 feet. Here’s how.

Keep your adrenaline calm The stress you’re experiencing is sending buckets of adrenaline through your body, hence the shaking, says Curtis Reisinger, a clinical psychologist and assistant professor of psychiatry at Hofstra’s Zucker School of Medicine. He reminds me of people who have lifted cars to free someone underneath—that’s how powerful this adrenaline is. Since you can’t exactly take a jog around the plane to let the energy out, he suggests progressive muscle relaxation: Tense and relax each and every part of your body, starting with your toes. Isolate each muscle group and focus as much as possible on tightening, breathing, and then relaxing a few seconds later.

“Not only will this release some of the adrenaline, but drawing your attention to your body shifts your focus away from the panic,” he says.

Distract your mind.

“Listen to music on your headphones,” Reisinger says.

“Maybe do some mental gymnastics like a crossword or a game on your phone if possible.” You can have several episodes of Black Mirror downloaded onto

my phone. Looking back, watching something that makes the world around me irrelevant because the plot is so suspenseful could have helped.

Don’t drink (heavily).

Reisinger says that there’s usually a “rebound” after you’ve had a few drinks where you bounce back to reality. That may feel jarring.

Keep this in mind if you’re on a longer flight. Also, he reminds us that some people’s

existing emotions get magnified when they’re intoxicated. “You’ve seen not very happy drunks on the plane,” he says. “Sometimes looking for that calming effect can backfire.”

Admit you’re freaking out and seek support.

Sometimes, hiding your fear and anxiety can actually make things worse.

He says that if you’re flying with someone you trust, tell them how you’re feeling

and even hold their hand.

It helps. “People are social creatures and can be comforted by the physical presence of others—particularly in settings of perceived threat or dangerousness,” Reisinger says.

Even if you’re sitting next to a stranger, “read the cues you’re getting from them,” he says. If they seem cool, tell them you’re freaking out. For many nervous flyers, being completely transparent al-

leviates at least a little bit of pressure.

Pop a chill pill if you really need to The general consensus when I spoke to a few therapists about this is that there’s no harm in taking a Xannie, but you don’t want this to become a habit or dependance issue. Aside from that risk of addiction, “you don’t want to convince yourself that you’re not able to handle a situation like a turbulent flight without a pill,” Reisinger says. Plus, pills like Xanax generally take around 15 minutes for their effect to be felt, he adds, and by then the turbulence might have abated. He says that a dialogue in your head can have a much quicker effect.

Try to rationalize what’s going on.

I put this hardest one— the dialogue Reisinger mentions—last, because really, who can do this? Still, it’s worth a try. Think about how commercial flying is one of the safest means of traveling in 2018, he says. There are thousands of flights a day and the plane shaking around does not mean it’s going to crash. I googled a few statistics that, for my next turbulent flight, might help me imagine a crash as a rare possibility rather than a probability (e.g.: the odds of death by commercial plane crash are one in seven million). “Talk yourself down,” he says. “This is the foundation of modern therapy treatments—apply your logic in order to rationalize.”

Arik Air wins double awards in Accra, Lagos Dana Air wins best domestic airline

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rik Air, Nigeria’s leading airline got double recognition at the weekend as the airline won awards in Accra, Ghana and Lagos, Nigeria.

In Accra , the airline bagged the award of the Most Recognisable Airline Brand in Nigeria at the African Travel Times 2018 Awards held at the Accra City Hotel.

The Africa Travel Times Awards is one of the most prestigious awards in the West African sub region.

Similarly, at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, Arik Air won the award of the Best Cabin Crew (Domestic) at the 9th Nigeria Aviation Awards.

Speaking at the presentation of the award in Accra, Lucky George, Publisher of African Travel Times, stated that Arik Air has proved to be a leading brand in Nigeria with its modern aircraft and relatively newer fleet which is among the youngest in the region.

Roy Ilegbodu Arik Air’s chief executive officer, commented on the double awards: “We are proud of these achievements, which is a reward to the hard work of the entire staff and management of our airline, and an indication of our leading position in Nigeria.

“We will continue to strengthen and ensure we offer safe and secure excellent travel experience to our customers. We thank our customers for their continued patronage and for believing in us. “

on passenger facilitation

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ana Air has won the award for the Best Domestic Airline on Passenger facilitation at the 2018 edition of the Nigerian Aviation Awards (NIGAV), held recently at Oriental Hotel Lagos.

The Nigerian Aviation Awards is Nigeria’s prestigious air transport development award which has become the benchmark for excellence in promoting best practices and innovation among Foreign and domestic airlines, service providers and aviation agencies in Nigeria.

Fortune Idu, the head of planning and event committee, of the Nigerian Aviation Awards in his opening remarks said over 100 recipients have so far been honored in various categories for their performance, excellence, innovation and professionalism and we will

continue to recognize them as this is the only way to encourage them to continue on the path of excellence.

Akin Olateru, the commissioner of the Accident I n v e s t i g a t i o n Bu r e a u (AIB), while presenting the award to Dana Air, described the airline as vibrant and always doing great things. The AIB Chief, who also won the Aviation CEO of the year award, encouraged the airline to continue offering its guests the best of service.’’

Kingsley Ezenwa, the Media and Communications manager of Dana Air, while speaking to newsmen after the award described it as an end of the year brace.

He said the airline keeps innovating for the sake of its passengers and the award was a good way to end the year 2018.

“I will describe this award as a brace! What

an amazing way to end the year for an airline that continues to innovate for the purpose of surpassing the flying aspirations of its guests.

“This award is quite encouraging for us and this will spur us to continue offering our guests what they desire and these includes offering them pocket-friendly fares, Good customer service, On time departures and arrivals, innovative reward system, world-class in-flight service and above all taking them from point A to B safely.’’

Only recently, Dana Air bagged two awards as Best Domestic Airline at DAMA awards and another for its humanitarian efforts across the country. The airline recently celebrated 10 years of service to Nigeria with a promise to cover more cities and acquire more aircraft in the coming year.

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Sunday 23 December 2018

Health&Science Managing asthma during the Christmas holidays A Christmas holiday is an important holiday all over the world, both for Christians and nonChristians. In Nigeria, it is usually filled with many activities, including family reunions. Incidentally, this is also the season of harmattan (with dry and cold air), which makes it even more challenging for those with asthma diseases.

Many people with asthma experience crisis during the Christmas holidays; hence, need to be more prepared and cautious to avoid crisis.

Currently, it is estimated that more than 15 million Nigerians have asthma with about 5-10percent of children in any given community suffering from asthma and this is expected to increase to more than 100 million in year 2025.

Asthma as one of the world’s most common long-term conditions is currently affecting over 339 million people worldwide and projected to increase by another 100 million people by the year 2025. More than 1000 people die as a result of asthma disease daily, while an estimated 75percent hospital admissions for asthma and as many as, 90percent of the asthma deaths are avoidable.

Asthma management comes with very huge costs. These costs are direct, indirect and intangible costs. In 2014, it was found that the annual out-of-pocket cost of asthma incurred by patients in Nigeria was US$368.4 per patient.

Medication cost accounted for the majority (87%) of this cost. This cost does not include other direct, indirect and intangible costs and is not related to costs incurred by patients with exacerbation and differing severity of the disease. This shows that in Nigeria, the annual average out-of-pocket costs incurred my asthma patients is US$ 5.5 billion (N2trillion) as at 2014.

In order to stay healthy during the Christmas holidays, the following tips and asthma management strategies are recommended.

Asthma Management Plan: To be more in control of your asthma, kindly put together an asthma management action plan with your doctor ahead of the holidays.

Stock up on Medications: It is important to have enough of the right and prescribed medications to see you through the holidays. If you know you are going to be away from your main bags for a

long time, make sure you have everything you need in your hand luggage.

It’s always best to include more, just in case of misplaced suitcases. Please always have your medications wherever you are going to, stick to your routine medications and preserve them well.

Most medicines work best in conditions lower than 25 degrees so avoid keeping it on the window sill, in the glove box or in direct sun.

Watch What You Eat and Drink: Knowing your asthma triggers and avoiding them is one of the best asthma management strategies. Additives and preservatives in alcoholic drinks and other beverages could trigger an asthma attack. In addition, avoid eating dishes that contain anything that might trigger your asthma. To achieve, don’t eat anything unless you know what it contains.

Christmas Trees and Stress: Christmas trees have been identified as one of the triggers of asthma, owing to the molds and dusts that may be hidden in the Christmas trees. Also, shopping, cooking, putting up decorations, family get-togethers add up to our stress levels during the Christmas. It is important to keep things as simple as possible.

What is the secret to women’s longevity?

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omen tend to live longer than men, a difference that seems to apply to female versus male individuals across the animal kingdom.

Why is this the case?

What gives women their longevity?

Genetically, most women have two X chromosomes, and most men have one X and one Y chromosome.

X chromosomes contain hundreds of protein-encoding genes, while Y chromosomes, although poorer in genetic material, carry the gene that determines male traits, such as the development of testes. This gene is called “SRY.” Existing research has shown that, on average, women tend to live longer than men, and many mammals show this same pattern, with females outliving males.

No one is yet sure exactly why this is the case, but a new study by researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) may now offer an explanation.

Their findings, which feature in the journal Aging Cell and are available to read online, reveal that the XX chromosomal pairing comprises genetic material that can extend lifespan, but only in the presence of corresponding female hormones, which the ovaries secrete.

“We’ve long wondered what causes female longevity,” says senior author Dena Dubal, an associate professor of neurology at UCSF. “One can imagine nature has driven females to evolve this way. When you’re living longer, you can really ensure the well-being of your offspring and maybe even their offspring.” Dena Dubal.

Not just about the genes In the new study, the research team used a mouse model to try to understand what might give females an advantage in terms of lifespan.

The researchers genetically engineered mice so that they would belong to one of four categories. Thus, some of the mice had XX chromosomes and developed ovaries, and some had XY chromosomes and developed testes, which is what would usually happen in nature. The remaining mice had either XX chromosomes and testes or XY chromosomes and ovaries.

Dubal and team were able to achieve this by moving the Sry gene from the Y chromosome to another chromosome that does not determine sex. This meant that mice would be able to inherit it whether or not they inherited the Y chromosome.

The researchers found that all the mice with the XX chromosomal pairing tended to survive longer than those with XY chromosomes, regardless of whether they had ovaries or testes.

However, when it came to enjoying a truly prolonged lifespan, only the mice who had both XX chromosomes and ovaries experienced extended life. This implies that both genetic makeup and hormonal profile played an important role in ensuring longevity.

“This suggests that the hormones produced by female gonads increase lifespan in mice with two X chromosomes, either by influencing how the mouse develops or by activating certain biological pathways during their lives,” explains Dubal.

Having 2 X chromosomes is an advantage In contrasting the characteristics of the two sets of genetically female mice, which had identical chromosomal pairings but different sets of gonads, the investigators noticed that the XX mice that had grown ovaries lived longer than their counterparts with testes. They measured this from the 21-month mark, which is as long as mice typically live.

“For an expanded lifespan, the mice needed to have ovaries working with XX,” says study co-author Iryna Lobach, Ph.D. “But, in terms of living a normal lifespan,” she adds, “it didn’t matter if they had ovaries or testes. As long as they had XX, they escaped early death during aging.”

Still, Dubal notes, “We don’t yet understandhowthesecondXchromosome decreases mortality in aging.”

However, some mechanisms that researchers have previously studied may offer some clues. For example, in female individuals, one X chromosome in every cell is randomly deactivated.

This ensures that, if the active X chromosome becomes damaged, the inactive X can step in and take over. While researchers need to investigate this line of inquiry and others more closely, Dubal stresses that individuals with two X chromosomes appear to be the winners of the genetic lottery.

“When things go wrong in aging, having more of the X chromosome, along with its diversity of expression, could be really beneficial,” Dubal explains.

Avoid Dusty Decorations: Most of us have not been to our village houses in the last 12 months, making our houses a home for dusts and other animals. It is therefore important to get someone else to put the decorations.

Avoid Smoke: A smoke-filled environment is one of the top triggers for an asthma attack. The smoke may come from tobacco, the fireplace or even a small candle. Please don’t be afraid to communicate with family and friends about your needs. Most smokers are polite enough these days not to smoke indoors, but smoke in public places. Steer clear of those places and avoid all the second hand smoke as much as you can.

Colds and Viruses: The housing problem in Nigeria forces many people in small places, most especially during Christmas. To avoid making your asthma worse as a result of viruses, steer clear of anyone who is sniffing or coughing, even if they think you are being rude. In addition, wash your hands regularly and ensure a high hygiene level that can build up your protection. A sudden change in weather can trigger asthma symptoms, so make sure you wrap up warm when you go outside and keep an eye on the

weather forecast.

Avoid other Triggers: Avoid other known and anticipated asthma triggers.

Some of these triggers include perfumes and scented candles, pets, etc. Some of the artificial scents of the season can disrupt your breathing. If you must make your house smell festive and inviting this Christmas, try natural scents (cinnamon, vanilla or citrus). Natural scents tend to be easier on asthmatics than artificial ones.

Finally, do not hide your medical condition from friends and family. They need to know in order to help you manage your condition better, even where there is crisis. Asthma apps could be very important to help your manage your asthma during this season. Always remember that asthma is not a death sentence. You can still live a normal life if you can avoid your triggers, stick to your routine medications, live a healthy lifestyle and always plan with your doctor. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Chiwuike Uba founder and chairman of the Board, Amaka Chiwuike-Uba Foundation (ACUF)

Odelola launches Parenchild360 initiative to uphold children’s protection ANTHONIA OBOKOH

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arenchild360 initiative a non- governmental organisation is set to assist and reach the most vulnerable children in Nigeria to ensure and support children’s survival, development, protection, participation and giving them the opportunity to thrive.

Parenchild360 initiative was launched on 20th December in Lagos to honour Titilope Odelola, the founder and coordinator of the initiative popularly known as Iya- Ewe as she marks her fortieth birthday anniversary.

“We are dedicated to the preservation and protection of childhood, we champion policies and programs that promotes and ensure children’s access to healthcare, quality education, moral and spiritual foundation,” said Odelola.

“We work not only with the child, but with every significant adult stakeholder in the child’s life, as we believe that this is necessary to bring about sustainable change and development,” she said She stated that Parenchild360 initiative has been in existence for the past three years but we did not make it

known to the public. We advocate nationwide on behalf of children to ensure they are always a priority.

“I am looking at opportunities to collaborate with other organisations, the government to ensure that these children who need this supports gets it and this project is well achieved.”

“I want the children to now that there is a voice out there fighting for their right to survive, right to be protected and to be sustained being alive and healthy in a protective environment,” Odelola said.

Also commenting at the launch Taiwo Akinlami, a child Right Advocate and lawyer said that statistics has shown that about 13.5 million children in Nigeria are out of school adding that under the platform of the NGO as an individual with commitment will do a lot in elevating and supporting children becoming a voice for the poor, and neglected.

“This initiative will be an impact to a lot of children in the country because as a team, we have volunteered to reach out and educate these young ones on how to protect themselves from all forms of abuse and thrive for a bright future,” added Chinazom Okeke team member of the Parenchild360 initiative.

Culled from MedicalNewsToday

Remi-Dairo launches foundation for ear defects Josephine Okojie

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o assist people suffering from various hearing problems easily access financial and technical support for medical treatments, Kemi Remi-Dairo, chief executive officer of Events Expert and Krd Chef has launched a foundation for ear defects.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigeria’s prevalence rate for deafness is about 6.7 percent of the country’s total population.

This means that 12.7 million Nigerians are deaf.

“Our mission is to create avenues that put a stop to the intense and high increase in hearing loss and ear problems in Africa. With the help of medical and surgical treatment and awareness on noise pollution we would be able to achieve this,” Remi-Dairo said.

“We are working with special team that consists of an otology surgeon, audiologists, a speech-language pathologist, an educational consultant, international NGOs and a psychologist both locally and international,” she said.

She stated that most research studies have shown that children with hearing challenge finds it difficult to perform well, saying it has kept them from being productive because of the long term isolation they suffer.

“The foundation will come up with different programs at intervals to help aid the lives of children suffering from ear defect better and also help in putting an end to their isolation,” she said.

Remi-Dairo highlighted major causes of deafness under congenital and acquired. She added that the impacts of hearing loss are functional, social and

The founder of Parenchild360 Initiative Titilope Odelola at the official unveiling with Jide Johnson, deputy provost Nij, Hajia Rabi, executive member Nigerian Institute of public relations, Olusunmade, and Rotimi Oladele, former president Nigerian Institute of public relations. emotional as well as economical.

Globally, 466 million people have disabling hearing loss and 34 million of the population are children, according to WHO.Theglobalhealthorganisationalso estimated global disabling hearing loss will reach 900 million people by 2050 and that children will account for 60 percent.

Speaking on the prevention of hearing loss, Remi-Dairo said through public health measures, individuals can prevent their ear defects and called for the immunisation of children against childhood diseases and practice of good hygiene by mothers as simple strategies for children hearing loss prevention.

Sunday 23 December 2018

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BDSUNDAY 47

Sports FIFA says 2018 World Cup records 3.572 billion global viewers … over half of global population watched the World Cup in Russia

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Stories By Anthony Nlebem

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he 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia might have come and gone but the records can not be overlooked as the global football event set a new record of audience in the history of world football championships as over half of the world’s population watched matches “on TV at home, out of home or on digital platforms,” the FIFA said in a statement.

“FIFA has published the key findings of a comprehensive audit of consolidated final audience data for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which was broadcast live in every territory around the world from 14 June to 15 July this year,” the statement reads.

“A combined 3.572 billion viewers, more than half of the global population aged four and over - tuned in to world football’s ultimate competition, according to audience data for official broadcast coverage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.” Citing the figures from the report, FIFA stated that “The global in-home TV audience watching at least one minute of coverage totaled 3.262 billion, while a further estimated 309.7 million people watched no coverage in home but caught the action on digital platforms, in public viewing areas or in bars and restaurants, boosting the

total audience by 9.5%.”

The 2018 World Cup in Russia also surpassed previous record figures set at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

“The report also reveals that, on average, viewers watching on TV at home engaged with the coverage for longer than in previous FIFA World Cups: the number of viewers catching at least three minutes of the 2018 edition was 3.04 billion, a 10.9% increase on Brazil 2014. Meanwhile, the audience watching for at least 30 minutes was 2.49 billion, way up on 2014’s 1.95 billion viewers.”

Commenting on the figures from the report FIFA’s Chief Commercial Officer, Philippe Le Floc’h, said, “These figures really do sup-

port the claim that Russia 2018 was the best World Cup ever.”

“We are particularly pleased to see an increase in the average time viewers are engaging with matches, which shows that we are giving the fans what they want,” the FIFA official said.

“The fact that half the world’s population watched the FIFA World Cup reflects not just the high quality of our awardwinning live coverage, but also that fans everywhere are insatiable for world-class football.”

This summer Russia hosted its first-ever FIFA World Cup, which kicked off in Moscow with a remarkable opening show at Luzhniki Stadium on the evening of June 14 and ended with a spectacular final match, played also at

the Luzhniki Stadium, where France confidently defeated Croatia 4-2 to win the muchcoveted World Cup Trophy.

Russia selected 11 host cities to be the venues for the matches of the 2018 World Cup and they were Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi, Kazan, Saransk, Kaliningrad, Volgograd, Rostov-on-Don, Nizhny Novgorod, Yekaterinburg and Samara.

The national football team of hosts Russia managed to make it to the quarterfinals stage of this world championship, where Croatia edged them out in a 4-3 penalty shootout win on July 7 at the Fisht Arena in Sochi.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said after the world championship that Russia staged “the best World Cup ever.”.

Solskjaer eyes Manchester United full time role

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ewly appointed Manchester United interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed that he would relish the opportunity to be the permanent boss.

The 45-year-old Norwegian, a legendary former player at Old Trafford, has been appointed interim boss until the end of the season, replacing Jose Mourinho, who was sacked on Tuesday. Solskjaer, on loan from Norway’s Molde, conceded that he has not looked beyond the end of the current campaign with the club where he spent nearly 15 years as a player and coach.

But he said he would be interested in taking the job permanently should the opportunity arise.

“When you get a job like this and they ask you to sign for six months, you say ‘yeah’,” he said.

“I’m happy to help out and my job now for the next six months is to do as well as I can and move the club forward as well as I can.

“I understand there are so many managers who would love to be manager of Manchester United and I am one of them. But it is not something we have talked about, they will do a pro-

cess now for the next six months.”

Solskjaer, renowned for his threat off the bench and still revered by United supporters for scoring the winning goal in the 1999 Champions League final, faces a daunting challenge as he replaces Mourinho.

United have made their worst start in the Premier League era and languish 19 points behind leaders Liverpool, and 11 off the Champions League places.

“My job is to help the players, make them grasp the opportunity now because they all want to be part of Man United,” said Solskjaer.

NFF approves date for 2018/2019 NPFL season

“I’m going to be here to help them, help the team, that is down to man management. I had the best manager as a player and coach to learn how he dealt with players and it’s about communication. I’ll sit down and speak to the ones not playing, tell them what I expect of them.

“When you are at Man United there are set of demands and one is to be a team player and I don’t think anyone has been on the bench more than me.

That’s always my comeback to players, you might come on and make an impact.”

Solskjaer spoke of the

debt he owed to Alex Ferguson, who built a team that dominated English football, winning 13 Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues.

Solskjaer will begin his United reign at Cardiff City, the only other Premier League club he has managed -- he had a difficult eightmonth spell in South Wales and was unable to save the club from relegation.

But he said he had learned from his mistakes.

Solskjaer would not be drawn on his relationship with Paul Pogba, who lost his place under Mourinho and was in conflict with the coach.

“It’s about getting every player to the best, speaking to them, the training ground, the philosophy, principles, how we want to play,” said Solskjaer, who coached Pogba in the reserves at Old Trafford.

“It doesn’t matter what team you’re coaching, they all want to have a picture of how you want to play, the qualities.

“They are quality players so it will be easier to get the players expressing themselves. You play with courage, go out there and express your skills.”

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has advised the League Management Company (LMC) to ensure the commencement of the 2018/2019 season not later than 13th January 2019.

This was contained in a statement the NFF Emergency Committee released on Friday, in reaction to letters received from Clubs that qualified for the Super 8 Tournament of the Nigeria National League that their teams are depleted and therefore, they do not have enough personnel to prosecute the Super 8 as earlier scheduled, which would have enabled the NPFL to commence on 30th December 2018 The three Clubs that showed up in Aba as directed would each receive a compensation of the sum of N2,000,000 each, while the matter of the five that failed to show up would be referred to the relevant NFF committee to deal with.

The full statement: Following the directive to the eight Clubs qualified for the Super 8 Tournament of the Nigeria National League to proceed to Aba for the tournament, we received letters from Clubs to the effect that they presently do not have enough players to pros-

ecute the tournament. Apparently, most Clubs in the country’s Leagues sign a good number of their players for only one season.

These personnel appear to have floated to other Clubs in search of greener pastures.

In view of the above, and the contrite tone of their letters, the Emergency Committee has opted to allow the affected Clubs two (2) weeks to recruit players to beef up their playing personnel, after which they will then prosecute the Super 8. The NNL should therefore pick new dates not later than 3rd January for the tournament.

In the meantime, the matter relating to the five (5) affected Clubs will be referred to the relevant NFF committee to deal with while the three (3) Clubs that showed up in Aba as directed will each be paid compensation of the sum of N2,000,000 (Two Million Naira Only).

The League Management Company (LMC) is hereby advised to ensure the commence of the NPFL 2018/2019 Season, not later that 13th January 2019.

Garba says Golden Eaglets will be ready for CAN 2019

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ead Coach of the Nigeria U17 Team, G o l d e n Ea g l e t s , Manu Garba has assured that his five –time world champions would be ready for the business when the 2019 Africa U17 Cup of Nations open in Tanzania on 14th April 2019.

Speaking to thenff.com, Garba said his wards already have the mentality of champions, but would not approach the finals in East Africa with an attitude of over-confidence. The man who led Nigeria to triumph at the 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup tournament in the United Arab Emirates was reacting to Thursday’s Draw which put Nigeria in Group A alongside hosts Tanzania, Angola and Uganda.

“We are champions of West Africa, which gives us a good feeling going to Tanzania. However, it is a tournament of champions as the other teams also won their regional tournaments.

“We will prepare very well to conquer, in order to qualify for the FIFA U17 World Cup finals coming up in Peru.”

Group B has Guinea, Cameroon, Morocco and Senegal, with all four semi finalists guaranteed places at the FIFA World Cup finals.

The 2019 Africa U17 Cup of Nations will hold 14th – 28th April 2019.

Nigeria won the world title in 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015.

BDSUNDAY

NEW YOU CAN TRUST

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Sunday 23 December 2018

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Imperative of creating jobs, growing Nigeria’s GDP

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s the 2019 elections draw near, the issue of how to create jobs for the teeming millions of young school leavers, graduates and adults in the country is taking centre stage. Creating jobs and growing the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the mark of a sound economy and a sign that the government of the country is doing well. It is impossible for a sitting government to be acclaimed and seek re-election if millions of its citizens are out of jobs and if its GDP is low.

It was for this reason that in his policy document which laid bare the policies and programmes he intends to pursue when he takes over government in 2019 after the February elections, Atiku Abubakar emphasised the issue of job creation and growing the low GDP of the country through action in all sectors of the economy that will get the nation working and the people producing.

The importance of jobs and how to create it and the route to a high GDP, was not lost on Peter Obi, Vice Presidential candidate of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who forcefully and brilliantly reiterated these points at the election debate for Vice Presidential candidates, which took place in Abuja penultimate Friday. Obi was the cynosure of all eyes and drew frequent cheers from the crowd gathered at the venue of the event. In fact, the Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP was in his element that he, through his verifiable statistics, left tongue-tied Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who though has been in government for the past three years and seven months, ostensibly running

the economy, could not get his acts together as he mumbled his presentation often times went back to a familiar line of defence i.e. blaming the previous PDP government for the current administration’s poor performance.

The audience at the Hilton Hotel, made up of several top members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) led by their National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, those of the PDP and other political parties, were in agreement that Mr. Peter Obi, the Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP, and former two-term governor of Anambra State, carried the day and if what he said and the way he went about describing economic management with statistics and examples from developed and developing countries across the world, the Atiku/Obi ticket employing their Policy document would succeed in raising the country’s economy from the near-death condition it has been driven by the Buhari/Osinbajo excuseloving government.

The business man and reputable owner of a bank, exgovernor Peter Obi displayed an astute understanding of elementary economics, national finance and management as well as international economics, notably the aspect that attracts foreign investment and builds up domestic industry, capital and finance.

Given examples and statistics from China, Indonesia, Malaysia and what used to be the Asian tigers and the new BRITS economies, and Mexico, the aspiring Vice President harped on the importance of encouraging and supporting small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria to get people

working and producing. He said an invigorated SME sector, accompanied with supportive government action in terms of finance, will turn the country into a huge workshop the way China and its counterparts in South East Asia were able to do in a short space of time putting millions to work and lifting millions out of poverty within a generation.

He said these SME’s would eventually become factories producing several goods that would make the country selfsufficient, provide a viable taxbased for national revenue generation while those that remained at the level of SMEs, will also continue to provide employment and livelihood for millions.

Automatically, the GDP of such a country would grow impressively enabling it to have money to plough back into production and lending to foreign countries thus making it an economy to be reckoned with.

Given Peter Obi’s well-researched argument, the present administration of Muhammadu Buhari and Yemi Osinbajo has been chasing shadows through the joke of what it calls Trader-moni, under which the Vice President, Osinbajo, has been moving from market to market ostensibly buying votes by disbursing ten thousand naira as business support money to poor and helpless Nigerian traders. The Trader-moni scheme is unsustainable and incapable of alleviating poverty to any extent in view of the rate of inflation engendered by poor economic knowledge of the present administration and the low exchange rate of the nation’s currency against other currencies in the international exchange market. These re-

alities left the incumbent Vice President Osinbajo confused and dazed as it dawned on him that the government he is part of has been busy chasing shadows by blaming the PDP for all the woes of the country while it has not sat down to critically review and understand the dynamics of the Nigerian economy.

Another salvo thrown by Atiku and PDP’s Peter Obi is when he educated the audience that unless a country ensures that its manufacturing sector is active, producing variety of goods and services which satisfies domestic need and is sold abroad for revenue, the value of the national currency and its rate of exchange via-avis other currencies will be low.

This is dangerous for economic development and the overall health of the economy. The current Vice President, being a lawyer but not trained at all in any aspect of economics including executive management courses in economic development issues, was lost and stressed but maturely took in all that Peter Obi dished out.

To be able to create jobs and grow the GDP on a sustainable basis, the “Atikulated” Peter Obi, alluded to the need to provide adequate and abundant power which will encourage SMEs and the manufacturing sectors to remain in operation and keep people at work. Having been in office since 2015 and made little progress in providing electric power for domestic and industrial use in the country, Vice President Osinbajo was unable to give any assurances. It did not surprise anyone in the audience anymore because the all-knowing triple Minister of Power, Works and Housing and the beloved

What Atiku told the youths in Lagos

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Okoroma, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Abuja.

of President Buhari a few days before the debate blamed the erstwhile PDP administration for his inability to provide electric power to the nation. However, how the power problem will be tackled has been painstakingly set out in Atiku’s Policy document.

Peter Obi’s performance did not come as a surprise. His varied education that encompassed studies in economic management which he put to good use as Governor of Anambra State brought him out as the best candidate at the debate. It shows that Atiku Abubakar, an astute businessman, entrepreneur and investor has made a good choice of a deputy and together these two men will get the present comatose economy working again, thus preventing the economic situation in the country from getting worse as recently postulated by President Buhari.

With Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi in the saddle as President and Vice President in 2019, the doomsday prophecy by President Buhari would be a nullity because Atiku has taken time to study and understand the problems of Nigeria and laid out the solutions in his Policy document. This makes him, a prepared candidate for President, a departure from the past of a succession of unprepared leaders and thus, a breath of fresh air.

Quick Takes

Off the Cuff he atmosphere was electric as youths waited expectantly for the guest of the day. The day was Tuesday, December 18 and the venue was the Welcome Centre on Airport Road, Lagos.

The hall was spacious, with expansive galleries. Someone commented: “This place is big. It is just like a stadium.” Then the announcement went, may we all rise to welcome, the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, by the grace of God.” It was all ecstasy as the audience roared with thunderous and sustained clapping. A soothing music was on as Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) made his way to the podium, waving and acknowledging cheers from the happy and jubilant crowd. He began to dance to the rhythm of the music which mesmerised the youth.

With him in tow are Peter Obi, his running mate; Uche Secondus, chairman of the PDP at the national level; Gbenga

Louis Okoroma

Daniel; Liyel Imoke; Jimi Agbaje, governorship candidate of the party in Lagos and his running mate, Haleemat Busari.

The dancing lasted for some minutes then began the business of the day. It was a town hall meeting with Atiku. It was also attended by many youths from other South West States – Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo.

Shortly after, everyone had got seated, Ayo Fayose, immediate past governor of Ekiti State, walked into the hall. His presence caused a serious “commotion” as the youth cheered and hailed him for so long. Then began the master of ceremony to make the necessary introductions.

When Atiku was called to speak, he excited the audience with his promise that he would appoint a youth whose age is below 30 as his youth minister, and he went ahead to invite an application from those who believed they were qualified for the job.

“Let me repeat what I have said before.

I have pledged 40 percent of my appointments to the youth. My Minister of Youth is

going to be a person below 30 years. It is my promise. I am not going to break it. This is simply because youths are the future of the country and we want to make sure that we bequeath a good future for the youth. If you are here and you are below 30, you can bring your CV,” he said.

He took a swipe at the All Progressives Congress (APC) government, saying he wondered why they still seek a return to power having openly acknowledged that the economy has completely collapsed under their watch.

“If the economy is good, we prosper, individually and collectively. If the economy is bad, we all perish. There is no single economist in their team. They said that the economy has collapsed.

If it is so, why are they asking you to return them to power? Is that the kind of people you want to return to power?” he said.

N820bn

This is the amount of money said to have been released by the Federal Government to ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) as capital expenditure from 2018 Budget.

VP fumes!

“I think it’s ridiculous to say that the disbursement of TraderMoni by the Federal Government is for votebuying. Anybody who ever said so is planning continued poverty for the ordinary trader in Nigeria, as the programme is now affecting the lives of the poor beneficiaries since we began disbursement in the first phase.” Vice President Yemi Osinbajo debunking claim that tradermoni is used for vote-buying

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