BusinessDay 23 Jun 2019

BDSUNDAY BUSINESS DAY

www.businessday.ng Sunday 23 June 2019

2019 polls: EU’s damning report raises more questions than answers

Market & Commodities Monitor Brent Oil

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Gold

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Apapa: We are working to improve infrastructure, call-up system at the port, says Osinbajo Temitayo Ayetoto

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he most important effort the government is currently making to address the challenges around Apapa Port is to improve infrastructure and the call up system, Yemi Osinbajo, vice president, has said during an assessment of the state of work yesterday.

These key things, he said, will enable easy movement and access to the port without

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?? How lack of proper government regulation of yellow buses is subjecting residents to rights violation

pp.36 41.

Economic diversification at risk as herdsmen, kidnappers ambush farmers N CALEB OJEWALE

igeria’s hope of positioning agriculture as a means of ‘diversifying the economy’ is currently hanging by a thread, as insecurity makes it increasingly difficult for agricultural activities to thrive.

While some accounts of attacks on farmers make it to the news, most never do. Thousands of farmers have become displaced by clashes with herdsmen, banditry attacks and even the insurgency in the northeast.

Farmers who should be on the farms producing crops, have become easy preys, and used for target practice at will by crimi-

nal elements, forcing some to abandon critically needed food production altogether.

Last Tuesday, four gunmen were said to have abducted Dayo Adewole, son of the immediate past minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole in Iroko, near Fiditi, Afijio local government of Oyo State. The minister’s son was kidnapped while he was in

his farm in the midst of others.

“I have not farmed in 18 months because of this issue of insecurity,” Rotimi Williams, CEO Kereksuk Rice Farm told BDSUNDAY. He said operations on his 45,000 hectare farm in Nasarawa State have been susContinues on page 2

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Immigration to roll out new passport Tuesday IFEOMA OKEKE

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he Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has said it was partnering the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in synchronising the National Identity Number on the new international passport.

Speaking at the weekend during a pre-launch meeting with the officials of NIS in Lagos, Muhammad Babandede, comptroller-general of Nigeria Immigration Service, disclosed that the newly enhanced 10-year validity passport would be linked with Nigerians’ National Identity Card Number.

Babandede said it therefore, behooves on all Nigerians who are yet to get their national identity number to do so, as those without an identity number, will not be Continues on page 4

L-R: Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State governor; Hadiza Bala-Usman, MD, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); Yemi Osinbajo, vice president; Adedamola Kuti, federal controller of works, Lagos, and Kayode Opeifa, former commissioner for transportation, Lagos State, at the vice president’s inspection tour of infrastructure projects in Apapa, yesterday. Picture by David Apara

Wanton killings: Save your tears, end the bloodshed, Nigerians tell FG ZEBULON AGOMUO and CHUKA UROKO

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mid what seems an upscale in the insecurity situation in Nigeria and

the apparent frequent mourning by the powers that be, some concerned citizens have asked the Federal Government to save its tears and go beyond lamentation to providing solutions to the ravaging menace.

In recent times, bandits, kidnappers, herdsmen, ritualists, cultists and members of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, have upped their orgy of bloody campaign across the country, leaving tears and blood in their trail.

Government’s efforts at reining in the monsters have not yielded much fruits, fueling fears and apprehension across the land.

Cases of kidnapping, killing Continues on page 9

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News

We are working to improve infrastructure...

Continued from page 1 pressure.

The Vice President in the company of Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State governor and Hadisa BalaUsman, Nigeria Ports Authority managing director, said to achieve the best and most efficient infrastructure, its effort will not be pressured by timeline.

“We must never forget that this port is really meant for about 34 million metric tons (mmt) of cargoes. But it is now doing well over 80 mmt,” Osinbajo said.

“So, there are several things we are doing to make it easier to use this road and also for the entire import and export experience. Also, the rail link from the Port which is part of the LagosKano railway from Apapa is an important transportation system out of the Port.

There are lots of cargoes to move by rail,” he further said.

Giving his assessment,

the vice president, who seemed impressed, said there has been considerable improvement in clearing of trailers on Apapa road, although he admitted that difficulties lie at the Mile 2 end of the road.

His projection was that the Mile 2 end issues would be resolved in the next couple of days, particularly with the opening of the Tincan Island Trailer Park and the palliative work ongoing from Apapa to Mile 2. The trailer park was built with a capacity to accommodate 700 vehicles.

In terms of mid to long term measures of decongesting cargo traffic in and out of the port, he expressed the optimism that projects such as the Lekki Deep-Sea Port, Tincan Island, Warri Port dredging and use of barges by the Nigerian Port Authority will support efforts to ease business operations.

“There is obviously a need to find alternative and

expand where that is possible. The Lekki Port is an ongoing project and we expect that to be a great help to supporting the Apapa and Tincan Island port. We are dredging the port also,” he said According to him, “Congestion largely is caused either by problems space.

We are dealing with a port that is doing far beyond its capacity. The best way of understanding this is that there are several aspects of the task that has to be done. First there is infrastructure.”

The vice-president’s tour touched Lilypond terminal, Creek Road, Tincan Island and the Mile 2 access routes. Some locals and domestic workers around the port were quite disappointed that security forces robbed the vice-president of the opportunity of sharing in their pains by clearing most access routes and maintaining order within the period of visit.

Economic diversification in jeopardy....

Continued from page 1

pended owing to recurring conflicts in the neighbouring communities. His farm it appeared, was sitting in the middle of all the conflicts, and it was a matter of time before it escalated to his expansive investment, likely to result not only in loss of financial investments, but more importantly as he said, human lives.

“When you are surrounded by conflict, people use your farm as IDP camp basically because they will come and seek refuge,” Williams said.

“They know it is a matter of time before that conflict spills over.”

The insecurity in and around farming communities has been claiming not only the peasant, lowly farmers, but also the powerful in Nigerian society.

This includes Alex Badeh, a four-star general in the Nigerian Airforce and until four years ago Nigeria’s Chief of Defence under the Goodluck Jonathan administration, who was murdered in December 2018, along the AbujaKeffi Expressway on his way back from his farm.

Another prominent victim was Olu Falae, a former finance minister, and a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who was kidnapped by Fulani herdsmen in 2015 at his Ilado farm in Akure.

Events leading to his kidnap included several incursions into his farmland by cattle owned by Fulani

herdsmen, occasionally destroying his farmland.

“This is my home where I was born. I have every right to farm here and live in peace here. So, this is totally unacceptable,” a newspaper report quoted Falae.

Farmers across the country, particularly from Benue, Zamfara, Adamawa, Taraba, Plateau, Delta, Edo Kebbi and some from south east states have continued to raise the alarm over the increasing threat to their lives and their farming activities by herdsmen, many of whom have allegedly turned into kidnappers.

As farming becomes more life threatening , so does achieving food security and agricultural prosperity in Nigeria becomes more difficult. For the second consecutive year, Nigeria again featured prominently in the 2019 Global Report on Food Crises, as the population of those unable to get food in the world remains over 100 million people. A BusinessDay report indicated while Nigeria has for years been making efforts to ramp up food production, over five million people remain in critical need of food, as insecurity limits production.

It is especially worse in the Northeast where Boko Haram insurgents make it difficult for most people to venture into their farms.

Consequently, nearly impossible to either produce food or even make money to buy it.

The Global Report on Food Crises identified Ni-

geria among eight countries with the worst food crises in 2018, which collectively accounted for two thirds of the total number of people facing acute food insecurity – amounting to nearly 72 million people. The countries in order of severity, were: Yemen, the De m o c r a t i c Re p u b l i c of the Congo, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, the Syrian Arab Republic, the Sudan, South Sudan and north Nigeria. Coordinated by the Food Security Information Network (FSIN), the report is described as a major collaborative effort between numerous agencies in the international humanitarian and development community.

“For (over) seven years there hasn’t been farming in the whole of Borno State, and we have been depending on the largesse of people like Dangote, and others, but for how long will Dangote feed Borno people with rice?” remarked Abba Gambo, a professor of Agriculture, and Borno indigene. The sentiment expressed in his comment during a meeting in Maiduguri last year, reflects the position of FSIN, that humanitarian assistance cannot solve the lingering food crisis, only security will.

When BusinessDay visited Borno and Yobe states last year, meetings with farmers and some of their leaders, showed there was a lot of fear due to insecurity, preventing them from returning to the farms to resume food production.

MAHAFA provides free medicare to Imo community GODFREY OFURUM in Owerri

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edical and Humanitarian Aid for Africa (MAHAFA) a nonprofit organisation, based in the United States of America, Wednesday, provided free medical care to Egbu community, in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State.

About 300 persons were attended to, by the MAHAFA team that was in the community for the first time in their 29 visits to Imo State.

The medical team led by Richard Anyanwu, a nurse, based in the United States of America,providedgeneraloutpatient medicine to patients with malaria, high blood pressure and diabetes. They also gave out free reading glasses to patients.

Anyanwu, who was appalled at the high rate of high blood pressure and diabetes in Nigeria, urged the three tiers of government to invest more in healthcare.

According to him, “government is not doing enough in healthcare. What I’ve noticed is that our people are sick.

Most of them are diabetic, hypertensive, people with result of 206 over 114, blood pressure. So many people are diabetic and when you check them, their blood sugar is about 300 and some 400, which is high.

“Ourpeoplearedyingslowly and my experience has been thatthecomingupofMAHAFA has provided succour to the people,wherebywehavebeen able to diagnose and provide some areas of treatment for them”.

As a non-profit organisation, Anyanwu explained that HAMAFA relies on individuals andorganisationsforfunds,but noted however, that support has declined in recent times.

“Quite frankly, the support has been minimal, because peoplearegettingtiredofgiving to Africa. But my church, Holy Assembly Missionary Baptist Church, based in Marina, California and led by Raymond

Martin, has been of great support to us. The church contributes financially as well as buys some medical supplies for us”.

Anyanwu, who was impressed with the organisation oftheEgbu outreach,described it as perfect and thanked Darlington Ikeriugwo, who facilitated it and his team for doing a god job.

According to him, the Egbu event was well organised.

The team did well by getting people informed about the programme and that showed in the impressive turnout.

He promised to make regular visits to Egbu, more-so that Ikeriugwo is a financial sponsor of part of the organisation.

Esdoris Osigwe, one of the beneficiaries,laudedHAMAFA for including Egbu in its 2019 programme and the local organising team, led by Nnamdi Uba,fororganisingasuccessful medical outreach.

“They gave me BP drugs after a test, because I’m a BP patient. They also gave me a reading glass, because I have blurred eyes.

Federal appointment: Ebonyi women group makes case for Agom-Eze

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he Ebonyi Women Assembly (EWA), a political pressure group based in Abakiliki, the Ebonyi State capital, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint Princess Ann Nwanyibuife Agom-Eze, a major stakeholder in the All ProgressivesCongress (APC) in the south-east as a member of his incoming cabinet.

The group, in a statement signed by Immaculata Ibe, its national president, said that they are making case for Princess Agom Eze because of her track record of achievements, robust experience, and outstanding accomplishments in public service According to EWA, “Princess Agom Eze had before venturing into politics, served our state meritoriously in different capacities. She acquitted herself creditably when she served as Permanent Secretary Ministry of Lands, Survey, and Housing Programme of Ebonyi State Government. She also made Ebonyi women proud with her innovative ideas when she was acting general manager/ permanent secretary Abakiliki Capital Development Authority, among other public service assignments and therefore, she is eminently qualified to serve in any capacity at the federal level.’’

ItalsonotedthatAgom-Eze aspired to represent Ebonyi South in the last general election on the platform of APC and that despite the outcome of the primaries which did not favour her she made solid contributions and indeed mobilised the different segments of women and youths for the second term re-election of

President Buhari in the last presidential election.

The group expressed the optimism that appointment of Princess Agom Eze would help assuage Ebonyi women of the feeling of alienation in appointivepositionsatthefederallevel which characterised actions of successive administrations in the country.

EWA also noted that women in other south-east states have had their fair representationinmajorfederalappointive positions and argued that the alienation of Ebonyi women deserved to be addressed for equity, justice, and good conscience.

“A checklist of federal appointments of women from Abia, Anambra, Enugu, and Imo states into federal establishments reveals a stark illustration of how Ebonyi women have been marginalised since the advent of democracy in 1999.

“Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former minister of finance is from Abia State; Stella Odua, former minister of aviation; Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, ex-education minister and later solid miner-

als; Mrs. Josephine Anenih of women affairs, were all from Anambra.

“Anambra also produced the late Dr. Dora Akunyili, former director-general, National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and later appointed as minister of information and national orientation,” it recalled, adding that “In Imo State, Mrs. Viola Onwuliri and Mrs. Kema Chikwe served as ministers at various times, while in Enugu State, Mrs. Fidelia Njeze and Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke were appointed ministers of Aviation and petroleum, respectively.”

It also noted that Mrs. Chinwe Obaji, a former minister of education was appointed from Enugu State.

The group said that the Buhari administration needed capable hands like Princess Agom –Eze to deliver on its election promises, adding that “appointment of the APC major stakeholder from Ebonyi State will go down as one of the major corrective measures undertaken by this administration.”

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Sunday 23 June 2019

News ECOWAS countries urged to make adequate budgetary provisions for displaced persons Innocent Odoh in Lome, Togo

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h e Au t h o r ity of Heads of States and Governments of Member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been urged to instruct their finance ministers to make adequate provisions in their annual budget funds to tackle the lingering crisis of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees in the sub-region.

This was one of the recommendations made by the ECOWAS Parliamentarians at the closing ceremony of the ECOWAS Parliament Third Delocalised Meeting of the Joint Committee on Health and Social Services, Agriculture, Environment, Water Resources and Sustainable Development, Infrastructure, Energy, Mines &and Industry, Human Rights, Child Protection and other Vulnerable Groups, which ended in Lome, Togo, at the week-

end.

The theme of the meeting was ‘Contribution of the International Organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations towards the provision of Health Care, Housing and Food for Displaced Persons and Refugees in West Africa: Parliamentary Approach to the Adoption of Community Standards.’

Second Deputy Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament and Member of Parliament from Cote d’ Ivoire, Kamara Aminata Toungara, while closing the session, noted that this would enable the region to provide food, shelter, education and to protect the human rights of the victims, saying “we have important role to play as parliamentarians in consolidating democracy and providing assistance to internally displaced persons and reintegrate them into our society”.

Contributing, a Member of Parliament from Ghana, Kwasi Ameyaw Cheremeh, told reporters

in an interview that budgetary provisions have become necessary so that West African countries will not always rely on international agencies for assistance. He stressed that the budgetary provisions will become helpful during periods of emergencies.

“We are looking at the health, the security of IDPs and refugees but some of the support that goes to the IDPs and refugees normally come from the international agencies such as the World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the rest. But what we are saying is that our respective countries in West Africa can do better,” Cheremeh said.

According to him, “They must make provisions in their country’s budgets to take care of especially Internally Displaced Persons. You cannot sit in your country and think that you may not have displaced persons. It can arise out of natural disaster. If

Miyetti Allah not public corporation – Abia community leader UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia

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ames Nnnadozie Uchegbuo, president general of AhuwaOboro autonomous community, Ikwuano L.G.A, of Abia State, has reminded the Miyetti Allah Association of Nigeria that animal rearing in the country is not a public corporation rather a private enterprise.

Uchegbuo, who stated this in Umuahia, Abia State capital, in an interview with newsmen said: “Herdsmen are on their own private business, just like Igbos spread in the north are on their own private business. Animal rearing is not a public corporation rather a private enterprise”.

He wondered why the Federal Government has not come hard on those who perpetrate evils in the guise of rearing animals, noting that, “a lot of

actions and inactions by the government, all calls for separatism not even Nnamdi Kanu’s IPOB. “The Federal Government should promote internal security that will be properly equipped to deal ruthlessly to all these trouble makers, who destroy farmers’ enterprises for their own selfish interest.

“Unless they are punished severely for their actions, the issue of herdsmen/farmers clashes will not stop”.

He expressed fear that Miyetti Allah would have almost formed the 4th tier of government, as the only constraint the body had was that the Nigerian constitution does not recognise them.

“Miyetti Allah is the only group in Nigeria whose negative influence makes almost 200 million Nigerians shiver, as I speak, the government is consulting with

them, a group tagged as the fourth terrorist group in the world and the Federal Government is pampering them,” he said.

He condemned the high rate of crime in the country, noting that the North which used to be peaceful was experiencing chains of crimes from Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen to banditry and kidnapping, warning that if left unchecked, it would metarmophose to a time bomb.

He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to overhaul the security personnel in the country in order to checkmate the worsening situation, and equally called for the fortification of the Police Force to enable them face the current challenges across the country, just as he advised that the military personnel be restricted to war zones where they were trained for.

houses are destroyed by let’s say a weather storm, people are displaced. So, it is not only out of conflicts that you have displaced persons. So, we must prepare for it. We don’t have to wait until we are locked down and then we start calling on international organisations to come to our aid.”

Although the lawmaker did not give the budget figures expected from member countries, he noted that adequate consultation must be made to work out the modalities to raise enough funds within the region to address the needs of the displaced persons.

“We must also try as a community to create a

fund for refugees because most of our countries are affected by conflicts, wars, whether tribal or religious wars. So, it is a way of anticipating some of the troubles we have in our sub-region and then prepare adequately to meet the situation. So, on our parts as a parliament in the sub-region, we are going to make proposals to the authority of heads of states so that they also talk with the finance ministers that annually when they make budgets they must make provisions for it,” he said.

Another Member of Parliament from The Gambia Kebba Barrow noted that the key action plan of the Delocalised

meeting is to move the agenda forward to the level of the ECOWAS Parliament and one of the key recommendations and action plan is to do more consultation with the ECOWAS commission.

Barrow further said that “with the experts that have given deliberations on the displaced persons and refugees, these things can only be done through capacity building, popularisation of the text and also legal instruments with civil society organisation and the wider society to enable people to better understand the legal framework on displaced persons in West Africa and the world at large.”

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L-R: Uchechukwu Ezeemo, beneficiary of Kickstart; Otunba Michael Daramola, Legal and Corporate Affairs director, International Breweries Plc; Annabelle Degroot, managing director; Peter Bamkole, chairman, International Breweries Foundation, and Olumide Ogunbanjo, another beneficiary at the kickoff of the 4th edition of Kickstart, an entrepreneurial project for youths by International Breweries.

Immigration to synchronise National Identity Number on new passport Continued from page 1

able to obtain the new passport.

According to the Comptroller-General, the old passport and the new one will be running concurrently, so as to provide for over 25,000 applicants who have paid for the old passports, which are still being produced concurrently with the new passports.

He said the new E-passport would attract a different price from the old one.

According to him, the 64-page 10-year passport will be restricted to adults (18years and above) and will cost N70,000, excluding bank and other hidden charges; 32-page five year standard passport will go for N25,000 and 64-page

five year standard passport goes for N35,000, all excluding bank charges.

Babandede warned personnel of the Service against corruption and sharp practices in issuing the new passport.

He charged them to avoid aiding and abetting service seekers in the procurement of breeder documents for NIS facilities; noting that doing so is culpable by the Immigration Act 2015.

Babandede also called on Officers and Men to comply with the Executive Order 01 on Transparency and Ease of Doing Business, stating that NIS as an elite Service must contribute its quota to the economic development of the country through

facilitation of corrupt-free atmosphere for Direct Foreign Investment (DFI).

He further stated that Officers must change their attitude towards service delivery as President Muhmmadu Buhari administration has provided enabling environment for the Service to discharge its responsibilities without let or hindrance. Hence, Service must imbibe the principle of “Hostmanship” which enjoins service providers to treat customers as their guests.

He encouraged Officers and Men to take advantage of facilities provided by the Service to build their capacity especially on ICT because the Service will soon start conducting ebase Promotion Exercise.

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News

When CAN hosted Sanwo-Olu at Gbagada, Lagos Seyi John Salau

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ast Sunday, June 16, 2019, the leadership and memberchurches under the umbrella of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Lagos State chapter, hosted Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu at an interdenominational thanksgiving service held at Deeper Life Bible Church headquarters, Gbagada, Lagos. Pastor William Kumuyi, general superintendent of the church and his wife, Esther, were in attendance.

The occasion afforded CAN the opportunity to give some pieces of advice to the governor and his team on one hand, on the other hand, Sanwo-olu spoke to the body of Christ on the need to help make his job less cumbersome.

In his short sermon, His Eminence, Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, chairman, CAN, Lagos State, spoke on ‘Finishing well’. The cleric noted that life begins with a race. He said that the race begins the very moment a man is born.

The CAN chairman also noted that not everyone who begins well ends well.

According to him, “Some people begin well, but end badly. David started well and ended well, because he was a man after God’s heart. But his son, Solomon, started well but ended disastrously.”

He believed that Governor Sanwo-Olu has started well and would end well.

Pointedly advising the governor on how he should run in order to end well, Bamgbola, quoting the scriptures, said, “He who rules over men must be just; ruling in the fear of God.” Listing the areas SanwoOlu must do to end well as a good governor of Lagos State, the cleric said: “The race must be run with God (you must run it with the fear of God and to His pleasure); you must run it humbly in the power of God, as pride goes before destruction, and you

The hosts with Governor Sanwo-Olu, wife and other principal officers of Lagos State government.

must run the race deliberately to win courageously, lawfully and justly; you must run it without worldly distractions, and with focus, and you must run with knowledge of eternity, because all leaders will give account of their stewardship on Judgment Day. Therefore, you must run the race with the aim to make heaven.”

Bamgbola reminded the governor that political office as in every other worldly position is transient and vanity, saying, “If you leave office today, you will discover you are alone.”

In his remarks, Governor Sanwo-Olu said he was mindful of the expectations from him and that he considered every single day very important to him.

He announced that he had spent (as of that Sunday) 19 days out of the 1460 days he has in the four-year tenure.

“People of God, all of us here today, if you want me to run and finish well, not only will you join me in that prayer, you have a role to play; you have a part to play. You have a responsibility to bring forth, you have a duty to do; you have an obligation to render,” he said.

According to him, “We have made pronouncements in the last 19 days, regarding waste management; this is the house of God, everybody, look around and see how beautiful this place is, and see how marvelous this place is, this is the minimum that all of us should take

back home and want our houses to look like this. So what I mean is that if we are not going to come here and litter the house of God, we should also ensure that whatever we do and how we do it must be clean. And so, that’s why I have given a zero tolerance for waste management, on waste disposal, on waste dumping. These are the things I need you to do for me to help me finish and finish well.”

The governor further said: “Again, do not drive against traffic if you want me to finish well. We want people to obey the traffic laws, we want people to understand that they are not the only road users, they are not the only one that have the right of way, there are other people. So, if you want me to run and finish well, don’t drive against traffic. You must try and obey the rules that have been set. The Acting Chief Judge has said to me that he is going to help me set up small, small courts that can give judgment and the judgment is that when you commit the offence, you will serve the punishment there. You will come out of your car and probably come and clean the gutter in that place, or carry the refuge in that place.”

Sanwo-Olu told the congregation: “And for me to run and finish well, these are some of the responsibilities you must do for me. We have declared zero tolerance for portholes and by the grace of God. We have started. We

L-R: Pastors Peter Elias, Emeka Izeze and Segun Babatope, at the event.

are going to publish a number in the next couple of days to which you can be sending your pictures, not that we do not know that the roads are bad. They will be working 24/7 to ensure that when you wake up in the morning, the small portholes you saw the previous night have been fixed very quickly.

“We are going to, very quickly make pronouncements around security. There have been so many issues around security around Lagos and all around the nation, and we are not going to sit back and fold our hands. We are going to work with the security operatives and in the next couple of days, we are going to make firm, definitive proclamation on security.

What we need to do, how we are going to go about it to ensure that the issues of cultism, kidnapping will become something that do not come to Lagos. Lagos is home to all of us. Lagos is home to the rich and the poor. It is home to the rich and mighty.

Lagos is home to the man that stays at Ikorodu, so it is to the man that stays in Banana Island. Lagos is home to the man that stays at Badagry and so it is to the man that stays in Alimosho. We will strive to ensure that we will do, within the resources available to us and within the strength that God has given to us, to make your Lagos, our Lagos, my Lagos the best that you can ever imagine in the next one thousand, four hundred and forty one (1,441) days that I have (from Sunday, June 16,209), God helping me.”

Participants were thrilled with ancient hymns and contemporary songs that draw souls closer to their Maker in humble adoration. A choir, put together by CAN within a short space of time for the occasion, did not disappoint.

Songs such as ‘Great is Thy faithfulness’; ‘All hail the power of Jesus’ name’; ‘O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder’; ‘To God be the glory! Great things He has done!’ and ‘Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah’ were rendered heartily to the glory of God.

Wema Bank supports ‘Make Music Lagos’ 2019

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ema Bank, curator of Africa’s first digital bank, ALAT, is proud to be a part of the 2019 edition of annual music festival, Make Music Lagos.

The week-long celebration music event is designed to showcase and promote musical talent and music business in the country.

Make Music Lagos is held in celebration of World Music Day in the city of Lagos.

This year’s event themed ‘Generation NXT’, which started on June 16, will end on Sunday, June 23, 2019.

The one-of-a-kind event will kick off with surprise flash mobs that will feature dance and drum display sessions in two mystery locations in Lagos.

The celebration will also feature a ‘Learn to Play’ initiative, tailored to teach and mentor the next generation

of instrumentalists. Also on the line-up of activities is a ‘Writing Camp for Music Creatives’, being hosted in partnership with alternative music superstar, Bez. Another brand new initiative to look forward to during the celebration is the ‘Music Business Conference’. On Friday, June 21, which is World Music Day, lovers of music can look forward to free music concerts across multiple locations in Lagos, ‘Learn to Play’ and ‘Learn to DJ’ events, and ‘Street Studio’ sessions where young talents will get the opportunity to make fresh music with mentorship from a host of Nigeria’s leading producers.

Wema Bank remains committed to espousing innovative ways that foster the development of young people through arts and entertainment.

Afroprom unveils ‘Prom King & Queen’ contest in Nigeria

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ollowing the grand announcement of Nigeria’s first-ever prom concert, ‘Afroprom’, organizers have reeled out other activities that are guaranteed to whet appetite leading to the concert. The Afroprom King & Queen contest is primed to celebrate a good looking King & Queen who is intelligent, smart and already a leader in their own capacities.

This will be the maiden edition of the contest and history is in the making. The winner of these crowns will become ambassadors of Afroprom for a year and will

enjoy a rare lunch with one of Nigeria’s A-list music stars in a choice restaurant aside walking away with a brand new iPad. To enter the contest, interested participant is required to: record only a 30-seconds long video with details such as participant’s name, the name of the school attended, age, personal background, and why they deserve to be crowned Nigeria’s first ever Prom King or Queen Alternatively, participants are encouraged to upload a full picture of themselves on one grid and the aforementioned information on the other grid.

3 top car lovers take centre stage on Glo-powered CNN African Voices

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hree car lovers who have passion for engaging in rare arts like spinning, racing and collection of antique wheels are guests on this week’s recap edition of African Voices broadcast on the Cable News Network (CNN).

Th e m a g a z i n e p r o gramme powered by Globacom will feature Amirah Alladeen from Mauritius, Stacey Lee May of South Africa, and Fred Apaloo from Ghana.

Amirah caught the car bug from her father, Rayhan Alladeen, with whom she has created a rare record as the fastest overall racer during the last stage of the Mauritius National Rally Championship for 2018.

She has sufficiently conquered the male-dominated rally racing circuit with her father often as co-pilot.

The second guest, Stacey

Lee, widely regarded as the queen of spinning, has carved a niche for herself performing jaw-dropping stunts, often hanging out of or jumping out of a muscle car while spinning “donuts” in front of a captivated audience.

Tutored by her truck driver father with the support of her mum, May saw spinning and drifting on cars as a way to tell her bullies in school that she could do anything she set her young mind to do. Now 23, May has become a pride to the family and her South African nation as a result of her talent for the dangerous art of spinning.

The third guest, Fred Apaloo from Ghana, has revived antique wheels with his classy collection of exotic cars ranging from British to German and anything classy, ancient and strong.

6 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 23 June 2019

News NASS: Battle hots up over Senate, House Leadership positions ...Adamu tipped for Senate Leader …APC meets this week to zone positions James Kwen, Abuja

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he battle that raged in the emergence of Ahmad Lawan as the president of Senate and Femi Gbajabiamila as the speaker of the House of Representatives has shifted to who becomes the Majority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader as well as Majority and Deputy Majority Chiefs.

While the main opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP immediately appointed Enyinnaya Abaribe as Minority Leader, Emmanuel Bwacha as Deputy Minority Leader and Phillip Aduda as the Minority Whip, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has not appointed the Majority Leaders.

But the battle to occupy the positions of Majority and Deputy Majority Leaders, Majority and Deputy Majority Whips in the Senate and House of Representatives have taken serious dimension among APC lawmakers jostling for these offices.

Although the APC is yet to zone the Senate and House of Representatives leadership positions, a number of contenders across the

Compulsory basic education: Agbakoba lauds Buhari’s directive, urges full implementation Iniobong Iwok

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lisa Agbakoba, human right lawyer, has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to state governors to rigorously enforce the constitution and statutory provisions on free and compulsory basic education guaranteed by Section 18 of the 1999 constitution.

In a statement to journalists in Lagos at the weekend, he noted that Nigerians were expectant that the directive would spur the 36 state governors to work to ensure that schools across the country offers the right opportunity and provide the needed materials and teachers for basic education.

Agbakoba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), however, added that the Human Right Law Services HURILAWS has initiated a nationwide monitoring programme that would monitor compliance by states across the country in line

Agbakoba

with the provision of the Nigerian constitution.

According to the statement, “We write to congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari for calling on governors of states to rigorously enforce the constitutional and statutory provisions on free and compulsory basic education guaranteed by Section 18 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) and Section 2 of the Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Etc. Act of 2004.

“It is our expectation going forward that every governor and local government will work to ensure that our schools offer the right opportunity and provide the needed materials and teachers for basic education.

“In order to support governments’ effort, HURILAWS has initiated a nationwide monitoring programme to ensure compliance by states with Section 18 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) and Section 2 of the Compulsory”.

six geopolitical zones are making serious consultations and lobbying to clinch, especially the Majority Leader slot.

Contenders for Senate Majority Leader position include Abdullahi Adamu (APC, Nasarawa) from North-Central Zone, Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia) from South-East Zone, Yahaya Abdullahi (APC, Kebbi) from North-West and Kabiru Gaya (Kano, APC) also from North-West.

Those interested in the position of the House of Representatives’ Majority Leader are Ado Doguwa (APC, Kano) from North-West, Mohammed Bago (APC, Niger) from North-Central, Nkiru Onyejeocha (APC, Abia) from SouthEast, John Dyegh (APC, Benue) from North-Central and Mohammed Mongonu (APC, Borno) from North-East.

Of all those angling for the Senate Leader position, there are indications that Abdullahi Adamu (APC, Nasarawa) from NorthCentral is said to have been tipped for the post.

Meanwhile, the APC, in a bid to avoid the tense atmosphere that characterised the emer-

gence of the National Assembly Presiding Officers which shook the party, would meet this week to zone and appoint the Principal Officers ahead of the July 2 resumption of the National Assembly from a post-inaugural recess.

A National Officer of the Party who did not want to be mentioned told BDSUNDAY that the APC leadership is planning to meet this week to resolve the arguments on zoning and take a position in consultation with the Presiding Officers.

“They never do it. It is next week they will do. You know they are on recess. They want to announce it when they resume. They cannot send it in vacuum. They are not on seat.

“They are still arguing on the zoning. They never finished. It is between North and South-West but they said they want to give Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa, Leader of the Senate. But the House of Representatives they never talk,” the officer said.

NAGHCON to leverage Diaspora Homecoming Summit to boost development Obinna Emelike

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s the 2019 edition of Ghana Diaspora Homecoming Summit draws near, Ghanaian nationals resident in Nigeria are set to take advantage of the biggest West African diaspora event platform to collaborate with Ghanaian nationals resident in other countries, government and other stakeholders to boost exchanges, innovations and economic development across the country.

The residents under the aegis of National Association of Ghanaian Communities in Nigeria (NAGHCON) noted that the homecoming event is imperative because of the healthy rivalry it ensues among Diasporas, amid spotlight on the need to bring their wealth and skills home to create jobs, empower people and impact the economy.

At pre-event cocktail for corporate organisations towards the Ghana Diaspora Homecoming Summit 2019, which held at the Ghana High Commission Nigeria at GRA Ikeja, Lagos recently, NAGHCON pledged its support to the success of this year’s edition and also to support developmental initiatives of the home country.

The pre-event cocktail, which was organised by Ghana High Commission Nigeria in conjunction with NAGHCON, also of-

fered the Ghanaian government the opportunity to unveil the event in Nigeria.

According to the government, the event holds on the theme: “Enhancing the Potentials of Ghana in the Diaspora” from July 3-6, 2019 at Accra International Conference Centre and will draw participants from Europe and America, Asia, African and West African countries across all walks of life including; technocrats in business, health, education, entertainment, agriculture, information technology and tourism, who will bring their experience to bear at the summit.

In his welcome address at the cocktail, James Nyasembi, consular-general, said the diaspora homecoming initiative is a fulfillment of President Nana Akufo Addo’s 2017 campaign promise to integrate the Ghanaian Diasporas in the socio-economic development efforts of the country.

Explaining the importance of the summit, he said the government of Ghana has an open policy to welcome noble ideas from the Diasporas that would lead to economic prosperity of the country.

Also speaking at the event, Hussein Adam Amandi, deputy consular-general, the Ghana in Diasporas are contributing tremendously to the development of the country in terms of remittances, ideas and capacity, as well as, luring investors to Ghana from their host countries.

He explained that the summit is designed to draw up policies that would address some of the challenges the Diasporas are facing.

Amandi remarked that “Nigerian is a strategic partner with Ghana in education, entertainment, business and diplomatic relations, adding that Nigeria’s prosperity is also the success of the West African sub-region.”

Frank Ekow Quaye, president of NAGHACON, commended the Ghanaian government for embracing the Diasporas initiative, which has potential to enhance economic development through idea generations.

Quaye pointed out that some of the country’s citizens abroad are leading experts in several fields and can contribute their quotas to development at home if encouraged.

Augustine Appia, a teacher and president of the Ghanaian community in Lagos, eulogised the Ghanaian government for putting in place policies that have put the country on a wheel of progress.

He noted that the summit designed to enable the government borrow ideas from successful countries through the diasporas has come to stay because of its invaluable benefits.

Kporha Maurice, vice president, Ghana Communities in Nigeria, stated that Nigerian delegates would also be at the summit to make impact and exchange with other Ghanaian Diasporas.

Sunday 23 June 2019

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BDSUNDAY 7

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Bauchi Assembly crisis: APC runs to Buhari, IG for help James Kwen, Abuja

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isturbed by the emergence of Abubakar Suleiman (APC, Ningi) who is loyal to Governor Bala Mohammed as the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, the All Progressives Congress, (APC) has ran to President Muhammadu Buhari and the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mohammed Adamu for help.

There was drama last Thursday when 11 out of the 31 members of the Bauchi State House of Assembly believed to be loyal to the governor elected on the platform of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) were sworn-in and they elected Suleiman as the Speaker.

Also, 18 members loyal to the APC made attempt on the House mace as Suleiman’s group tried to exit the Assembly complex but they came short of getting the mace after security agents present at the Assembly intervened.

However, the immediate past Speaker, Shehu Damina from Darrazo constituency who was also contesting for Speakership of the House,

Buhari

organised his group of 18 members and held a parallel inauguration and was ‘sworn in’ as Speaker.

Adams Oshiomhole, APC national chairman at a meeting with the Damina group and other party chieftains from Bauchi in Abuja said, he has briefed the President on the development.

Oshiomhole also disclosed that the APC National Working Committee

(NWC) has met with the Inspector-General of Police after deliberating on the issues and prevailed on him to ensure that police do not provide security for an illegal act.

“The people of Bauchi in their wisdom have chosen to entrust the leadership of the Bauchi State House of Assembly in the hands of the APC by voting for 21 of you while they allow PDP only 10. That is that APC should

control the legislature.

“There is nothing anybody can do in a democracy to change the fact. The earlier the Governor of Bauchi comes to terms with this reality the better for him and for everyone. But I want to assure you that we are a party that believes in the rule of law”, he noted.

The APC National Chairman reminded Governor Mohammed that, if it was about the use of might, the ruling party can as well use the police to occupy the Government House and put anybody of its choice to govern Bauchi.

Earlier, Damina, the factional Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly narrated how the inauguration was postponed from June 17 to Thursday June 20 to pave way for the manipulation of the process by the PDP-led state government and appealed to APC National leadership to come to their aid.

“We want the mother party, that is the APC, to help, not only Bauchi House of Assembly but to ask APC to assist refine democracy in Nigeria by helping to see that the right thing is done.

That is proper inauguration of the 9th Assembly of Bauchi State”, he stated.

Falling educational standard responsible for intense poverty in Nigeria - Rev’d Yahaya Abdulwaheed Olayinka Adubi, Kaduna

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he falling standard of education has been identified as one of the factors responsible for the intense poverty being experienced by Nigerians, which is now not only in money but in appearance.

The Bishop Diocese of Kaduna, Rev’d Timothy Yahaya while speaking during the 2nd session of the 21st SYNOD in Kaduna at the weekend, said there is a striking difference between the poor and the rich.

He noted that to eradicate poverty completely, there is the need for the educational system in Nigeria to be re-engineered to prepare students for real life outside the four walls of the school.

Re v ’d Ya h a y a , w h o frowned at the shabby situation of the educational sector, stressed that some secondary school leavers hardly speak good English which is Nigeria’s Lingual Franca.

Just as he called on government to spend more on rehabilitation of the horrible state of education in the public schools, the Rev’d advocated for the revival of skills development in the educational system to take care of the issue of poverty.

According to him, training

such as plumbing, masonry, block making, construction and electrical expertise should be taught professionally to enable those who do not go to tertiary institutions attend and earn decent living.

He explained that government has deliberately neglected the educational sector, saying, “The quality and standard of education in Nigeria is poor because it has not been given the required attention.

“In 2019, Nigeria’s education sector was allocated much lower than the 26 percent of the national budget recommended by the United Nations but on the contrary, the Nigerian government allocated 7.04 percent to the sector”.

He added that unstable curriculum and subject which ought to be the roadmap for teachers and students to follow the path to academic success is another factor militating against the success of the sector.

Rev’d Yahaya recalled that research in 2015 shows that there was low interest of candidates for a career in the teaching profession.

He said: “Most graduate teachers are not professionals and are inadequately exposed to teaching practice while many of them cannot communicate effectively in English which directly affects the education sector”.

Udom to inaugurate World Bank assisted projects ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo

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overnor Udom Em m a n u e l o f Akwa Ibom State is set to inaugurate World Bank micro assisted projects executed in 89 communities.

The projects, which were executed by Akwa

Udom

Ibom Agency for Community and Social Development Agency (CSDP) in the three Senatorial Districts, aimed at addressing the needs of vulnerable people in rural areas.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Development, Labour and Manpower Planning , Otuekong Ukut whose min-

istry supervised the projects, said the projects were in different sectors that touched the lives of rural dwellers such as construction of classroom blocks, hospital renovations and electricity to rural areas.

Ukut commended the Agency for assisting the government to develop the rural areas in line with development drive of the state government.

“I would bring Gov. Udom Emmanuel to inaugurate Community And Social Development projects in the rural areas so that the people would have have opportunity to ask for more development projects for their communities.”

The General Manager of Akwa Ibom Agency for community And Social Development, Ishmael Akpan listed the objective of the organisation to include Job creation, Poverty Alleviation, Wealth Creation, Political and Economic inclusion as well as Infrastructural consolidation and expan-

sion.

“Governor Udom Emmanuel graciously fulfilled all requirements by World Bank which enabled the state to come on board the on- going Community

and Social Development Projects (CSDP) Additional Financing (AF) .We also commend World Bank for consistently supporting the state in her development strides,” Akpan said.

He also said that Akwa Ibom Agency has complemented the state government empowerment to the poor and vulnerable groups in Leprosy hospitals in the state.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu (middle), with Co-Founder and CEO, Global Citizen, Hugh Evans (right) and Co-Founder, Access Bank Plc, Aigboje Imoukhuede (left) during a courtesy visit by the Inspection Team of Global Citizen Festival 2020 at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.

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Sunday 23 June 2019

News

Akeredolu asked cabinet to work for AA in 2019 elections - Sacked Commissioner YOMI AYELESO, Akure

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olagbadeAmodeni, a former commissioner for urban and physical planning in Ondo State, has alleged that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu instructed all members of his cabinet to work for Action Alliance (AA) candidates during the last National Assembly election.

Tunji Abayomi, an associate of Akeredolu and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was the candidate of AA in Ondo north senatorial district in the 2019 elections.

The APC did not fare well in the state during the elections as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) defeated Buhari in Ondo State.

This fuelled discontent against Akeredolu within the party hierarchy. The national working committee of the ruling party had accused him of anti-party activities.

Amodeni, who is among the three commissioners the governor sacked on Monday, told journalists that the governor worked against the ruling party in the elections.

“He (Akeredolu) instruct-

Akeredolu

ed us to work for Action Alliance candidates. That’s not a secret. He had cause to do that because some candidates were imposed on the people of Ondo State,” he said.

“What we would have expected was that the matter should have been resolved but he (Akeredolu) chose that line… let’s just save the rest for posterity,” he said.

Asked if he followed the governor’s instruction and worked for AA, Amodeni

said: “Well to some extent, I worked for AA. Initially, I objected but I was convinced to obey the governor… I have no cause to deny it.

“It has come and gone, we have all learnt from that; it’s not good to impose candidates. APC didn’t hold primary elections in Ondo State; don’t let us deceive ourselves. We didn’t hold primary anywhere. The committee that came from Abuja didn’t hold any primary, they just selected some persons.

At the state level here, we

also wrote different names.

There was no internal democracy.”

Amodeni refused to give an assessment of Akeredolu’s administration, saying it’s too early since he just left the government.

“When it comes to assessing the government, I won’t be in position to do that because I just left. I want the public to decide and assess for now. I will be able to do that probably after few months,” he said.

According to him, “It’s like somebody that is playing on the football pitch, he may not know the performance of his team until he goes on recess or sits back and watch the playback of the match.”

Amodeni said during his time as a commissioner, he did not know what the state got as allocation from the Federal Government.

The politician, who also served under Olusegun Mimiko, Akeredolu’s predecessor, added that he did not award a single contract from the time he was appointed till he was asked to leave as a commissioner.

“During the time of Mimiko, the quantum of money coming to this state can’t be compared to what comes now.

Lagos lawmaker urges NASS to begin electoral reforms, delist parties Iniobong Iwok

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ictor Akande, a Lagos lawmaker, has urged the ninth National Assembly to immediately commence work on constitutional amendment and electoral act reforms to deepen the nation’s democracy.

Akande, a two-term member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, is representing Ojo Constituency I. He made the call in an interview with journalists in Lagos at the weekend.

The lawmaker noted that it was time the federal leg-

islature gave the nation an electoral law that will address challenges facing the electoral process and reduce number of political parties.

“NASS should know what is right and start working on electoral act cum constitution. Let them look at it and start now because we know that the process of amending constitution is cumbersome.

“So, the earlier the better, in the next six months or one year, significant progress should have been made by the National Assembly on electoral reforms and amendment to some anachronistic and out-dated laws that do not meet current realities,” he said.

According to him, “There is a lacuna in the constitution and in the electoral act. The power should come from the constitution to specify the number of political parties the nation should adopt”.

Akande added that it was important that the country define and institutionalise the type of electoral and party system which would work, stressing that the current multi-party system has failed the nation.

“If we want to be twoparty state, let us be a twoparty state; if we want to be a three-party state, let us be a three-party state. Having multi parties is a problem for the country, it has created a lot of confusion,” he said.

“I would have loved us to go back to the days when we just had five political parties. If at all we need up to five, five should be the maximum. The constitution and the electoral act should state this categorically,” he added.

The lawmaker further expressed hope that the nation would get it right gradually with various amendments

to the constitution and electoral acts.

“We must correct all these anomalies now that we have ample time before next elections. The eighth National Assembly has done well and tried its best on electoral act amendment, this should continue until we get it right and receive President’s Assent,” he added.

Speaking on INEC’s proposal for deregistration of dormant parties, Akande said that the constitution was clear about registration of political parties but did not envisage dormancy of some parties.

The legal practitioner said the electoral act had addressed the situation and given conditions for deregistration of political parties.

According to him, Section 78 subsection 7 (1 and 2) of the electoral act states that “The Commission shall have the power to deregister political parties on the following grounds: “Breach of any of the requirements or registration or failure to win at least a seat in the National Assembly or any state Assembly,”

Dickson condemns police raid on Ishaku’s Abuja residence Samuel Ese, Yenagoa

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ayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson has condemned the police raid on the Abuja residence of Taraba State Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku, which occurred on Tuesday, June 11.

In a statement, Dickson, who is also the chairman of the People’s Democratic Party Governors Forum called on the Inspector General of Police and other relevant agencies to investigate what he described as illegal invasion.

The statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media Relations, Fidelis Soriwei stressed the need to identify the culprits with a view to taking necessary action against the brazen act.

According to the state-

ment, “police operatives led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police who claimed to have been deployed with a warrant from the Presidency’s Special Investigation Panel had broken into the Governor’s Abuja residence to conduct a search on it.”

Dickson also called on the nation’s security establishment to adopt appropriate measures in order to protect Governor Ishaku, members of his family and his officials.

“We hereby condemn the invasion and forcible entry into the Abuja residence of the Taraba State Governor, Arch. Darius Ishaku, by people who claim to be police operatives.

“We condemn the illegal action and call on the police authorities to investigate this disturbing incident with a view to bringing the suspects to book,” he said.

Ace of Spade Consult in partnership with NPF …to introduce police background check number

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n an effort to improve services as well as strengthen its collaboration with the general public towards crime reduction, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) recently entered into a Public Private Partnership, PPP with Ace of Spades Consult Nigeria Limited (AoS) to Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) a purposebuilt civil database and also update criminal records.

This partnership, according to a statement aims specifically to digitise criminal records and provide a web portal for an online automated system of background checks and issuance of criminal records clearance certificate. This project is to be operated by AoS as a business, and will make the process of background checks and issuance of clearance certificates automated, seamless, credible, and affordable for everyone and every legal entity, the statement said.

This initiative is also aimed at creating a purposebuilt civil database for the NPF by interacting with other relevant government agencies like the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Bank Verification Number (BVN) etc. in order to enhance criminal investigations through proper and accurate forensic identification of individuals, thereby giving the NPF access to real time accurate biometric data to function better.

When completed, the process will enable every individual and legal entity, including embassies and employers from any part of the world access to seamless and credible online background checks system as well as the acquisition of automated forge-proof digitalised certificates when required, the statement further said.

Arinola Giwa Amu, Chief Executive Officer of Ace of Spades Consult Nigeria Limited said in the statement “Together we can achieve better security through the implementation of a national public awareness campaign on the necessity and requirement for community policing through Criminal Records Checks of individuals and corporate organisations seeking any form of service or engagement” she stated “By encouraging background checks to be carried out by every legal entity, both foreign and domestic, we will enhance the security of Nigeria, one background check at a time” she added The Police Background Check Number will be associated with every individual’s biometric information and corporate entity’s Registration Certificate (RC) number already held by other government agencies. For this purpose, every individual and legal entity, both foreign and domestic are encouraged to sign up and acquire a PBCN to ensure accurate records through a dedicated website to be unveiled soon.

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BDSUNDAY 9

News

Wanton killings: Save your tears, end the bloodshed...

Continued from page 1 and other bestial atrocities have become commonplace. No day passes without sad stories of armed attacks on communities and missing people, creating legions of widows, widowers and orphans.

The concerned Nigerians strongly believe this is not the time for the Federal Government to throw its hands in the air in utter hopelessness and helplessness because they believe there is so much the government can do if the will to do is there.

There have been cases of kidnap victims who never rejoined their families or “regained their freedom” for reasons of their inability to pay for the outrageous cost of their freedom from their abductors.

On the contrary, there have also been cases of the rich and powerful people in society and their children who regain their freedom just some hours after their abduction either because they can quickly meet the demands from the kidnappers or state security apparatus are mobilised to tighten the noose around the abductors and force to let go their victims.

The most recent case of this state-induced or forced freedom is the abduction and prompt release of Adedayo Adewole, the farmerson of the immediate past minister of health, Isaac Adewole, who was taken away from his farm by kidnappers whose focus is now more on farmers, posing serious threat to the federal government’s diversification programme and food security.

The activities of these people, terrorists, insurgents, kidnappers, bandits, among others, are constant reminders to the government that it will only take conscious efforts to rein in the dragon and that no amount of security meetings and recourse to mourning can do any magic.

They also believe that continued buck-passing and finger-pointing would only amount to surrendering to bandits and announcing to the citizens that government can no longer perform the basic function for its existence which is protection of lives and property.

Those who spoke to BDSUNDAY expressed shock that despite series of security meetings that have been held in Abuja, and despite the recent vote of confidence passed by President Muhammadu Buhari in the Service Chiefs,

warranting the extension of their tenure of office, Nigeria has continued in a “low-grade war.” But truth is constant. In spite of the president’s praise singing, Tukur Yusuf Buratai, the country’s chief of army staff was blunt enough when he admitted recently that his men, the soldiers, have not lived up to expectation in dealing with challenge of the moment.

The level of insecurity in Nigeria today with the attendant fear, apprehension and trauma can only be likened to the experience of people in countries embroiled in wars and conflicts.

But Nigeria is at war.

“Frankly speaking, I am not sure that the Federal Government appreciates the trauma people go through in the country at the moment. How can one feel protected in a country where herdsmen and bandits have taken over the entire place and all that government does is to wail, moan and convene endless security meetings?

The last time I checked, weeping was not known to deliver anybody from problem. Weeping does not save anybody. It is only conscious efforts and determination that help a nation to achieve greatness,” Bode Olayinka, a legal practitioner, noted.

In the last five years, Nigeria appears to have fallen under the activities of killers who go about and systematically slaughter and burn down residential houses, rendering people homeless in their ancestral communities. Within this period, hundreds of innocent people have been killed in Benue State and other parts of the country where several hundreds of others have been rendered homeless.

Plateau State has lost uncountable number of people through the murderous activities of herdsmen.

Zamfara, Niger, Taraba, Adamawa States, among others have all lost count of indigenes that have been killed by Boko Haram, bandits and herdsmen. Blood is flowing all over the place under the watch of an elected government.

Ni g e r i a n s a n d t h e i r friends are bewildered by the seeming insensitivity at quarters where care and succour is expected. They are all the more perplexed that common herdsmen hitherto known to ply their trade of guarding and herding their cattle with stick, have now turned to using guns, yet law enforcement agencies are looking the other way, instead they are asking those who with licensed guns to surrender

them.

It is a bizarre situation which appears to have worsened in the last one year. It is estimated that over 1000 lives have been lost these marauding killers.

In some cases, the killers are said to harvest important organs of their victims for money-making purposes.

And this is happening in a country that is not in a conventional war.

As a country, Nigeria has seen hypocrisy at its worst level. This is, perhaps, the only country in world where government always comes up to express sadness at every attack resulting in mass murder. It has always mourned, but that that is where it ends. Government always “condemns these dastardly acts” and thereafter, promises to “fish out the perpetrators and bring them to book.”

But no sooner are these statements made than the government retraces to its cocoons of inactivity, until there is another episode that triggers the circle which has continued for too long.

Expressing disappointment over the seeming lack of commitment to the fight against insecurity in the country, a Lagos-based private security expert, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “I so much doubt the sincerity of the Federal Government in its avowed war against bandits in the country.

“Do you know why? I will tell you. No reasonable government will tolerate what is going on in the country for a week, but we have been here for over five years and the situation is only worsening.”

According to the expert, “You cannot claim to be in charge of security, yet, you

have a situation where over 12 people are being slaughtered in your country on a daily basis. In places where governments work, heads would have rolled in government. But what do we have here- promotion without performance; extension of tenures in the face of failure.

Here we reward mediocrity.

It is very, very unfortunate. If government is crying, what does it want the citizens who look up to it for protection to do?”

When people raised alarm over the way and manner security chiefs were appointed by the federal government, their apologists explained that the president needed to go for people that he trusted and could vouch for. Indeed, they said the president went for with both competence and integrity.

But over the years, Nigerians can tell better. Even the government itself should be worried at the turn of events in the country for the worst which is why a social commentator, who asked not to be named, blamed the Federal Government for the unfortunate state of affairs in the country.

FG blamed for insecurity “It is not surprising that we are where we are today.

When killings were going on in Benue State, the people cried out but the Federal Government never listened to them. Government even appeared to be on the side of the herdsmen who were carrying out the killings.

“The hypocrisy was what drove Governor Samuel Ortom from the APC, you remember? The Fulani herdsmen that have taken over the country with their bloody campaign are the same group the Federal

Government recently approved N100 billion for, for God-knows-what. So, when you take a critical look at what is happening in the country, you will see that the end to this malady is not near,” the commentator said.

The expert noted that in the African culture, fathers don’t shed tears before their children, no matter the pain.

It is his belief that if a father resorts to shedding tears, such a father would have lost the confidence of his children as a protector and guardian.

“That is exactly the situation we have found ourselves in. Government is openly weeping and mourning instead of crushing the enemies of state. They appear not to have any clue to any situation. They are simply telling us that they cannot protect us and that ‘we are on our own.’ So, you can appreciate the seriousness of the matter,” the commentator asked rhetorically.

Insensitivity of the ruling class Olisa Agbakoba, a senior advocate of Nigeria, speaking to BDSUNDAY on the seeming unconcerned attitude of the ruling class to the plight of the masses of the country, said: “There’s a very big disconnect between our rulers and the ruled. It is quite a wide gulf that sometimes I ask myself, do they even know what the people are going through?

When I see the Inspector-General of Police on TV very smartly dressed, I ask myself, does this man know how tattered and ragged an ordinary constable is on the street? He pretends to be their boss. Now, what’s going to make this tattered

and haggard-looking constable to take pride in his job when he has no uniform?

This is because it is that ‘es spirit de corps’ that is generated by the rules of engagement of where you work that gives you the swagger.”

According to Agbakoba, “nobody is interested in the security situation. Those whose responsibility it is to quell the insecurity are not interested. They pay lip service. You see them on TV talking; they give lip service. Nigeria is a very fragile country, held together by force of arms. Things are so bad in Nigeria today that if President Buhari were to bring 100 million passports and said, ‘ah, who wants to be a Nigerian?’ nobody is going to come. If President Donald Trump were to bring 100 million passports and said ‘who wants to be an American?’ One billion people would come. There is no country here. I don’t know why it is not realised.

We don’t have a country.

Th e b l o w o u t i n t h e northeast which has been going on; which we thought was going to stop, has just suddenly spread. It is now in the north west; north central. North central is not too far from Lagos and before you know it, it spreads everywhere because Nigeria is in law grade civil war.

And when you see all these people in Abuja completely unconcerned, you know that they are not addressing the problem. So, the spate of insecurity will continue to grow.”

A wake up call The insecurity situation in the country has become so serious that the United Kingdom and Commonwealth Office last Tuesday warned its citizens against travelling to 24 out of the 36 states in Nigeria. The UK’s alert of terror attacks, contains some damning report on the scandalous level of insecurity in the country. The report noted that “the security environment in the northeast has deteriorated since 2018 and there is heightened risk of kidnap.”

The travel advice should be a wakeup call to the Federal Government that seeks foreign investments in the country. What amount of business can a nation do with foreigners when such foreigners cannot feel safe to go to 24 states of that country? The escalating insecurity in the country is like a pregnancy that can no longer be hidden. The only solution is to be pro-active.

Shedding of tears and wearing mournful mien would only embolden the bandits.

10 BDSUNDAY

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PhotoSplash

L-R: Olubunmi Osuntuyi, secretary general, Nigeria International Chamber of Commerce; Babatunde Savage, chairman, Lagos State Chamber of Commerce, chairman international Chamber of Commerce Nigeria, [ICCN]/ ICC regional coordinator, Sub Saharan Africa; Dorothy Ufot, honourary treasurer, Nigeria International Chamber of Commerce; John Deton, secretary general, International Chamber of Commerce, and Babatunde Paul Ruwase , chairman, Lagos State Chamber of Commerce, at the dinner party to mark 100 years celebration of International Chamber of Commerce in Lagos .

Pic by Pius Okeosisi

L-R: Uwem Archibong, general manager, IFM; Iniebong Akpan, consumer of Three Crown; Sunday Ime Udo, sales representative, Three crown, and Charles Akpan, head of inspiration FM, Uyo at the fitness walk at uyo Akwa Ibom State.

L-R: Olumide Olayomi, coordinator, national sports Lottery Foundation; Adigun Hameed, beneficiary, and Adedayo Adeniran, community health worker, at the 4th Free medical Mission from the United State sponsored by National Sports Lottery Foundation in Lagos.s

L-R: Olufunmilola Alabi, dean, faculty of agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU); Ibrahim Garba, vice chancellor, ABU, and Caleb Usoh, country director, OCP Africa, after the signing of an MOU on “Agribooster Campus Offer” in Zaria, Kaduna State. Pic by Tunde Adeniyi.

Amina Abubakar-Bello (m), wife of Niger State governor, presenting an award to Nelly Osagie, CEO, Nelsas International Enterprises, after a stakeholders meeting by Agribusiness Networking in Abuja, with them is Roland Oroh, director, Nigeria Agribusiness Register. NAN

L-R: Saliu Adetunji, Olubadan of Ibadanland; Olusola Alao, Olugbon Orile-Igbon, Oyo State, his wife, Olori Adedoyin, and Babatunde Oduyoye, representative of the governor of Oyo State, cutting the cake at the 56th birthday of Olugbon, in Ibadan. NAN

L-R: Ibrahim Bushra Mohammed, Sudan ambassador to Nigeria; Jamal-Eddin Omar Ibrahim, member of the Transitional Military Council ahead of the Security and Defence Committee, Sudan, and Mfawa Abam, chief of protocol, ministry of foreign affairs, at the arrival of Jamal-Eddin Omar Ibrahim in Abuja. NAN

L-R: Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State; Hosea Agboola, chairman, State Advisory Council, Bolaji Ayorinde and Mulikat Adeola-Akande, both members of the council, at the inauguration of the council by th governor, in Ibadan. NAN

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11 Inside Lagos

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Lagos gets tough against traffic offences

…empowers LASTMA to restore sanity on roads Stories by JOSHUA BASSEY

T

he days ahead promise to be a lot tougher for traffic offenders in Lagos, as the new administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu is making frantic effort to bring back sanity on the roads in the commercial city.

Under the immediate past administration of Akinwunmi Ambode, law and order as it relates to public transportation and traffic management, had nose-dived, to the extent that driving against traffic flow (one-day) on major roads had become the order of the day, with nobody paying any serious attention to the consequences of this primitive action.

The situation had been fueled by chaotic and intractable traffic congestions across the city, made worse by indiscriminate parking of container laden trailers, petroleum tankers and all kinds of articulated vehicles, often left on the roads for weeks.

In what is seen as his commitment to restoring order on the roads, Sanwo-Olu, last week, in his first official visit to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) headquarters at Oshodi, announced a 100 percent increase in the allowances of the officers of the agency. This was in addition to his earlier extension of the operational hours of LASTMA from 6:00am to 11:00pm as against 6:00am to 10:00pm.

The moves, according to Governor Sanwo-Olu, are to extract commitment of the traffic management officers and enable them stay longer hours on the roads. “To whom much is given, much ex-

Babajide Sanwo-Olu (2nd l), Lagos State governor; Olawale Musa (l), general manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA); Ositimehin Ayodele (r), director, Traffic Management and Survey; Adetimiro Issac (2nd right), comptroller, planning, reaserach and statistics, and Oreagba Bolaji, director, operations, at the Governor’s visit to the LASTMA Yard, in Lagos.

pected,” Sanwo-Olu said Ambode to the LASTMA officers.

However, beyond the increment in the allowances payable to the traffic managers, and getting them to stay longer hours on the roads, the new administration has left no one in doubt as to its determination to enforce the state’s traffic rules and regulations to the letter.

In the last two weeks, the traffic offences and their commensurate fines have been circulating on the social media to the chagrin of the motoring public, some of whom never knew those offences and the fines they attract, existed.

Michael Adams, a motorist, in Ikeja, expressed dismay at some of the offences and their fines, including a possible confiscation

of a vehicle caught in the one-way offence.

“How do you possibly seize one’s vehicle for driving against traffic flow in a city that id bedeviled by hellish traffic congestion?

Adams queried rhetorically, saying that’s draconian.”

But Olawale Musa, the general manager of LASTMA, says every measure being taken by the government is deter recalcitrant motorists whose activities are putting the lives of other citizens at risk, adding that the new offences and fines as encapsulated in the 2018 Lagos Road Traffic Laws, were actually an improvement on the 2012 Lagos Road Traffic Laws, and the objective being to address the inadequacies noticed in the previous law and eliminate impunity

LAWMA official charged with inflicting injury on man

A

n Ikeja Magistrates Court has remanded a 20-year Lagos Waste Management Agency (LAWMA) official, Michael John, who admitted using a stick to inflict injury on a man.

The Magistrate, F.O. Hughes, ordered that John should be kept in the Kirikiri Prisons, Lagos, pending review of the facts of the case and sentencing.

John, a resident of Agege in La-

gos, was arraigned for conspiracy and assault.

Hughes adjourned the case until July 22 for the review and sentencing.

The police prosecutor, Ishola Samuel, had told the court on Friday that the defendant committed the offences with other persons at large along Ogunjobi Street, Dopemu, Agege in Lagos on June 5.

Samuel said that the defendant assaulted Moshood Maji-

yagbe by using a big stick to cause serious injury on the head and right hand over a little disagreement they had.

“Majiyagbe sustained an open injury on his head ,” the prosecutor said.

Samuel said that the offences contravened Sections 411 and 173 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. Section 173 stipulates a three-year jail term for offenders.

Two brothers arraigned for stealing

T

wo brothers, Saheed Balogun, 44, and Kabiru Balogun, 35, were on Friday arraigned in Lagos for allegedly conspiring to beat up and steal from a man.

The duo, both live at Ikosi, Ketu are facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, assault occasioning harm and stealing before an Ogudu Magistrate Court.

The police prosecutor, Lucky Ihiehie, told the court that the duo committed the offences on May

20 at Balogun Oyero Street, Ikosi, Ketu.

Ihiehie said that the complainant, Sodiq Otufadebo, a motor boy at Mile 12 Garage, reported the matter at Ketu police station in Lagos.

“The complainant said that by 3.00p.m on that day a misunderstanding ensued between him and Saheed at Ketu Garage and that he was attacked by the brothers.

“They beat him up and inflicted injury on his left leg and right hand

with a dagger. They also stole the sum of N60, 450 given to him by his customer as collateral,” he said.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 413(2), 173 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The magistrate, E. Kubeinje granted them bail of N50, 000 with two sureties each in like sum.

She adjourned the case until June 26 for mention.

and disorderliness on the roads.

According to Musa, Lagos cannot continue to operate as a primitive city where everything in disarray, hence the urgent need to enforce law and order on the roads, but adds that law-abiding motorists have nothing to fear, as measures are also in place to check extortionist LASTMA officers.

He stated that the process of implementing traffic law in the state has been democratised in order to ensure that cases of traffic infractions are proven, determined and punished by the law court through fair hearing and transparent implementation of the law.

“The process puts the burden of proof on traffic officers and they are therefore to be more professional, civil and polite to motorists

and members of the public, but firm against violators of the law so as to check cases of impunity on the road,” said Musa.

He frowned at a situation where motorists embark on flagrant disobedience of traffic law, driving against on coming vehicles, parking of vehicles and picking of passengers at undesignated places. Musa affirmed that the surest route to eliminating road disorderliness, chaos and impunity on the roads was through obedience of law, insisting that the citizens must drive on the roads in accordance with existing regulations.

In the mean, Olayinka Egbeyemi, chairman of the Lagos taskforce says the enforcement team of the agency has arrested the 13 workers of 7UP Bottling Company, after they allegedly assaulted LASTMA officers and injured three of them.

Egbeyemi disclosed that investigations revealed that the officers were attacked while trying to tow a truck with registration number MUS 75 XX belonging to the company and causing serious traffic gridlock.

He noted that it was an eyesore seeing drivers of 7Up trucks parking illegally on one side of the road thereby causing serious traffic obstructions to other motorists along toll gate area of the state, adding that they are being prosecuted.

“The prosecution of these 13 arrested workers became imperative to serve as deterrent to others who might want to attack law enforcement officers in the course of enforcement of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s executive order on traffic offenders across the state,” he said.

Tricycle rider beats up LASTMA officer

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tricycle rider, John Fabunmi has been charged before an Ikeja Chief Magistrate Court, for allegedly beating a personnel of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and dragging him into a gutter while on duty.

Fabunmi, who resides at No 3/5 Isheri Road Egbeda, Lagos, is facing a four-count-charge bordering on assault, unlawful damage and breach of peace.

He, however, pleaded not guilty.

Th e d e f e n d a n t c o m m i t ted the offences on June 15 at 8.30a.m. at Aguda Bus Stop, Ogba, Lagos, according to the prosecutor, Akeem Raji.

Raji said the defendant beat Ayodele Omotosho many times, pushed him into a gutter, tore

his uniform and damaged his phone.

“The defendant also sat on him and soaked his uniform in the mud, following an argument,” the prosecutor said.

He submitted that the defendant damaged Omotosho’s Infinix phone valued at N84,000.

The alleged offences contravene Section 168, 173, 174 and 339 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

The chief magistrate, A.O. Layinka granted the defendant N200,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

Layinka ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed and have evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State government. The case has been adjourned till July 23 for mention. NAN

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On Lagos’ renewed efforts at tackling gridlock

Frank Aigbogun editor Zebulon Agomuo

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

B

eing a cosmopolitan city, access to a highly organized public transportation system remains one of the major challenges of Lagos residents. As it is with similar cities such as New York, New Delhi and Jakarta, population growth in Lagos compounds the challenge of public transportation. With a population in excess of 22 million people while also attracting 65 per cent of Nigeria’s commercial activities, Lagos, no doubt, has a peculiar public transportation challenge. The ubiquitous Lagos traffic, complicated by the legendary Lagosians’ knack for impatience in addition to motorists’ impunity, make commuting in Lagos a very tricky experience.

Sadly, traffic gridlock has severe consequences such as economic losses arising from delays, weakened productivity, wasted energy, environmental deprivation and a diminished standard of living. Other effects are failed appointments, increased fuel expenses, decreased productivity and diverse health challenges. This, no doubt, poses great threat to socio-economic development in the state.

A variety of strategies have been

deployed by subsequent administrations in the State to deal with the perennial Lagos gridlock. In the past 20 years, the State government has expanded and rehabilitated major roads across the State. In same vein, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme, a mass transit initiative, was developed to advance and enhance public transportation.

Similarly, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) was created for efficient management of traffic.

Efforts were also made to improve water transportation while the first light rail project to be undergone by a State government in sub-Sahara Africa was initiated.

Also, the first traffic radio station in the country, Lagos Traffic Radio, solely established to give traffic news to commuters, came on board in May, 2012. Equally, the Lagos Drivers’ Institute was set up in June, 2008 to improve and moderate the driving attitude of motorists in the State.

However, in-spite of these genuine interventions, recent experience has shown that much still need to be done to effectively be on top of traffic situation in the State. It is, from this perspective that the current administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu is embarking on numerous reforms towards easing traffic gridlock in the state.

To begin with, THEMES, an acronym for Traffic Management and Transportation, Health and the Environment, Education and Technology, “Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy”, Entertainment and Tourism as well as Security and Governance was conceived by the

administration as a Pillar of Development (POD).

Part of the administration’s THEMES agenda is a comprehensive programme is to integrate road, rail and water transportation to solve the pressing problem of commuting within the metropolis.

There are ongoing efforts to complete existing road projects, fix all bad roads and expand the road infrastructure to improve economic and social activities. Plans are also on to improve navigation on the State’s waterways to facilitate water transportation and promote private investment.

Presently, the state government has identified about 60 traffic gridlocks in the state and it is working round the clock to ensure that gridlock red spots such as Third Mainland Bridge and Lekki-Ikoyi/ Admiralty Way and Lekki Toll Plaza, among others would be urgently tackled and resolved.

Also, in one his earliest official tasks, Governor Sanwo-Olu signed his first Executive Order to address the issue of traffic control and management, fixing of potholes on the roads, sanitation as well as cleaning of drainages in the State.

The Governor, who signed the Executive Order in the presence of Security Chiefs and the Heads of relevant agencies in the State, stressed that the support and cooperation of military personnel cannot be overemphasized especially in the implementation of the Order.

Governor Sanwo-Olu also charged the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, to effectively carry out their functions by ensuring strict compliance

with all extant traffic rules and regulations as prescribed in the enabling law, adding that other pronouncements would be made soon to address other issues relating to gridlock on Lagos roads.

Sanwo-Olu equally directed the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) to be more communicative and advisory on issues of bad vehicle wipers, spare tyres and non-provision of jacks in vehicles, among others.

Similarly, in another development, Governor Sanwo-Olu announced 100% increase in the allowances of LASTMA officials.

The aim of this gesture is to encourage and motivate the workers in the performance of their duties and also in fulfillment of his vision to make traffic management and transportation a number one priority in his administration.

Governor Sanwo-Olu who made this announcement at an interactive session with staff of the Agency warned them to desist from any act of corruption or corrupt tendencies. The Governor equally announced free treatment for every LASTM official in the state. He also promised a more conducive working environment for the staff such as repair of damaged vehicles and motorbikes, provision of raincoats among others.

It is, however, important to emphasize that all residents must join hands with the State government to ensure that ongoing reforms and efforts targeted at tackling gridlocks in the state achieve its set goals.

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

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Politics Eyes on Buhari on gender-balancing in next cabinet/appointments …Ramophosa’s example, a pointer to Nigeria

O

Iniobong Iwok

nlysixwomenwere appointed ministers out of the thirty seven ministerial portfolios during President Muhammadu Buhari’s first term in office.

This is, however, in contrast with the decision of newly elected South African President, Cyril Ramophosa, who recently constituted a gender-balanced cabinet consisting fourteen (14) women and fourteen (14) males into the twenty eight (28)-member cabinet.

President Buhari is expected to release the names of his ministers any time from now, which would drive his ‘next level’ transformation agenda after being sworn-in for a fresh four-year term.

Buhari, a candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), assumed power in 2015, after defeating then incumbent Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in a historic election.

Despite accounting for almost half the voting population in Africa’s biggest economy, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBC), and forming about 47.14 percent (39,598,645 million) of the 84,004.084 million registered voters nationwide, according to the Independent National electoral Commission (INEC), women’s appointments into elective positions declined significantly during Buhari’s first term compared to the previous administration of Jonathan that gave 32.5 percent of cabinet positions to women.

This has fuelled agitations among political observers and female politicians that more women should be appointed into Buhari’s cabinet and other public office this time around.

One of the recommendations of the European Union Election Observation Mission which submitted its report on the 2019 general election recently is the introduction of a legal requirement for political parties to have a minimum representation of women among candidates.

Perhaps, the ugly picture could best be painted in the number of women elected into public offices in Nigeria after the 2019 general election, which declined significantly, stalling progress made in the past years.

A recent 2019 general election

Remi Sonaiya

Okei-Odumakin

Obiageli Ezekwesili

Natasha Akpoti

result statistic released by INEC, showed that 63 women were elected into elective positions across the country, amounting to an infinitesimal 4.17 percent of elected officials, representing a decline from the 2015-19 period, where women formed 5.65 percent of elected officials.

“Given what is happening across the world, where we have seen more women being appointed and elected into public offices, it is important for Nigeria to follow suit,” Abiola Akinyode, a former chairperson of Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) and law lecturer in the University of Lagos, said.

According to Akinyode, “Women are less corrupt and efficient; you saw what Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Obiageli Ezekwesili achieved when they were there.

“Buhari needs to do more, he should follow Jonathan’s example; where we had 14 female ministers; they brought change and were able to address corruption and provide purposeful leadership.”

“Governance will be better for it; there is no research which says men are better leaders and in governance than women; we need to appoint them,” Akinyode added.

One of President Buhari’s key promises during the campaign for re-election in 2019 was a promise to engage more youths and women in his administration, if he won. Pundits have therefore urged him to keep to his promise

and back his word with action as he constitutes his cabinet.

In her bid for the speakership position in the 9th Assembly, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State, said: “I also think that as a woman, who has distinguished herself and contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria and to the good political and electoral fortunes of my party, the APC, in the South East, leading to our emergence as the party of choice at the national level, the APC should use the opportunity of my expression of interest in the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives to fulfil its promise to Nigerians, that it would increase women participation in the governance of the country”.

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

Natasha Akpoti, the senatorial candidate for Kogi Central Senatorial District on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the last election, made the call when the women group visited her in Abuja to show solidarity over her case at the Election Petitions Tribunal, where she is challenging the result of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which de-

Dabiri Erewa

clared the candidate of the APC, Yakubu Oseni as the winner.

Akpoti said: “The strength of a man is physical but the strength of a woman is the heart. Women are more resilient and we can bear pain more than men; women also have empathy and humanity that is why we are mothers. We have the ability to nurture, we are builders and molders, we are shapers of the society and it is very important that the Nigerian society recognises these. And it’s believed that countries that have more women in power have less corruption, have better health care system, better education because we all care about our children.”

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

Analysts have said that part of the factors militating against women in politics is cultural. They point to the fact that women were said to belong to the kitchen even as recent as 2015 when President Buhari joked outside the country that his wife Aisha belonged to the “other room”.

Added to this is that of financial challenge where women find it difficult to muster the huge amount of money to purchase nomination forms from their parties, let alone bankrolling expensive electioneering campaigns.

These disadvantages may have conspired to shut women away from elective political offices.

Remi Sonaiya, a professor of French Language and Applied Linguistics, Obafemi Awolowo University, who contested the presidency in 2015 on KOWA Party platform, shared her experience with BDSUNDAY in an exclusive interview.

“When I contested the last time, people continued asking

me for money. But I said I had no money to give, but good governance if I am voted in. I tried to make them understand that if they collect money from politicians, they are mortgaging their future and the future of their children. KOWA does not believe in buying votes, we believe in offering quality governance that will benefit everybody in the end. We can’t be throwing money away in the guise of contesting elections; we have to rethink our priorities,” she said.

Although there is no indication yet, when the President would constitute his cabinet or make key appointments in his administration, it is believed that unlike in his first term, he is likely to increase the quota for women this time around, in line with his campaign promises to youths and women.

Recall that on Sunday, March 3, 2019, while speaking at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Women and Youths Presidential Campaign team dinner to celebrate his re-election in Abuja, President Buhari had restated his campaign promises to women and youths, saying he would give them more appointments in the next four years of his administration.

Buhari acknowledged the significant role played by women and youths toward his re-election, saying his administration would not disappoint them.

Advising the President to change his style this time around, Motunrayo Alaka, an analyst from the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, said needs to address complaints of lop-sidedness and gender imbalance which characterised his first term cabinet.

“I think a lot of Nigerians would be interested in what the government wants to do, and how they involve the female gender will tell how serious they are. But Nigerians are not happy with the few appointments so far,” Alaka said.

“I think the APC has shown over the years that they are not interested in gender mainstreaming; if you look at the principal officers in the National Assembly, even the minority positions that should go to women are not given to them; so, what are we saying?

“This government is not gender-sensitive, not interested, it would be interesting to see how they go about their appointments; if it would be genderspread compared to the first term or not,” she further said.

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Sunday 23 June 2019

Politics 2019 polls: EU’s damning report raises more questions than answers Innocent Odoh, Abuja

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igerians have expressed a high level of dismay about the 2019 electoral processes, which gave President Muhammadu Buhari a second term in office as well as elected governors and other political office holders. The electoral processes were said to be marked by operational shortcomings, lack of transparency and widespread violence, which killed about 150 people.

This development was sequel to the damning report of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EUEOM) to the 2019 general elections in Nigeria.

The EUEOM allegedly stirred the hornet’s nest on Saturday June 15, when it presented its final report on the elections, even as it made far-reaching recommendations for electoral reforms to improve future electoral processes.

The mission concluded that the systemic failings seen in the elections, and the relatively low levels of voter participation, show the need for fundamental electoral reform.

Head of the EU Observer Mission to Nigeria, Maria Arena, told a press conference in Abuja that. “Such reform needs political leadership that is dedicated to the rights of Nigerian citizens, and an inclusive process of national dialogue involving state institutions, parties, civil society and the media.

“This needs to be urgently undertaken to allow time for debate, legislative changes and implementation well in advance of the next elections,” the EU EOM Chief Observer added.

Contributing, the Deputy Head of the EU Mission, Hannah Roberts, disclosed that about 150 people were recorded to have died as a result of electoral violence during the elections.

Overall, the EU EOM concluded the elections were marked by severe operational and transparency shortcomings, electoral security problems and low turnout. Positively, however, the EU said the elections were competitive, pointing out that parties were able to campaign and civil society enhanced accountability. Leading parties, the EU EOM said, were at fault in not reining in acts of violence and intimidation by their supporters, and abuse of incumbency at federal and state levels.

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

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

According to the Mission, operational deficiencies led to the postponement of the elections adding that there were insufficient checks and transparency in the results process, as well as a general lack of public communication and information.

“The elections became increasingly

Mahmood Yakubu

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

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

“While the legal framework broadly provides for democratic elections and some improvements were made to the Constitution, various legal shortcomings remained, including in relation to the use of smart card readers,” it stated.

The EU EOM also noted the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria Walter Onnoghen by President Buhari a few weeks before the elections, which it said was seen to lack due process and reportedly undermined judicial independence.

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

Positively, however, the report noted that parties and candidates were able to campaign, with freedoms of assembly, expression and movement largely respected.

The EU EOM also emphasised the effective role played by civil society organisations in promoting election reform and positively contributing to the accountability of the process.

The EU made 30 recommendations for consideration, but prioritises the following seven: To strengthen INEC procedures for the collation of results to improve integrity and confidence in electoral outcomes; Establish requirements in law for full results

transparency, with data easily accessible to the public; Considerably strengthen INEC’s organisational and operational capacity, as well as its internal communication.

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

This damning report appears to have cast doubts on the integrity of the process and the EU Mission appears to be diplomatic in not calling it a fraud. This perhaps was the reason the presidential candidate of the main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has approached the tribunal challenging President Buhari’s victory on several accounts.

Many Nigerians have also expressed doubts that the Nigerian authorities, especially those in power at the moment, will heed this call for reforms knowing full well that the discrepancies and shortcomings in the processes can easily be manipulated by holders of power especially now that President Buhari has allegedly placed his ardent loyalists in the other arms of governmentthe legislature and the judiciary.

Speaking to BDSUNDAY on Friday, a columnist and public affairs analyst, Majeed Dahiru said the recommendations of the EU may just remain on paper, stressing that President Buhari failed to show seriousness on the issue of reforms when he allegedly refused to signed the amended Electoral

Act into law prior to the elections.

“When the president refused to sign the amended Electoral Act, which enabled electronic voting and transmission of results to reduce, if not eradicate incidences of manual collation related fraud, the stage was set for an election that will be anything but credible,” he said.

He added that for President Buhari to consolidate his hold on power in what has become a great electoral heist, the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, was unconstitutionally removed from office by the President to pave way for the installation of more trusted head of Judiciary in whose court the final decision on likely judicial redress will be sought by rigged out parties in the 2019 elections.

“The deployment of naked state power in form of security intimidation of voters and heavy financial inducement by the ruling party is not only a reversal of the modest gains recorded in the 2015 elections but has consigned the 2019 election to the black pages of electoral history as perhaps the worse since the 4th republic,” Majeed noted.

He however, added that whether or not the Buhari administration will commit to electoral reforms in line with the observation of international monitors, the main issues will be determined by the resilience of Nigerians in demanding for the right thing to be done.

Also Speaking to BDSUNDAY on Friday, National Chairman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Yusuf Yabagi Sani, said the EU has not said anything different from what many Nigerians already know, stressing that the EU “just confirmed the position of Nigerians on the matter”.

“President Buhari took advantage of the weaknesses in the system and the fact that the people are very poor. Buhari did not sign the Amended Electoral Act into law and he can be indicted on that score,” he said.

Sani however, said as much as he is not justifying the alleged wrong doing of President Buhari, the EU should take a holistic view of the trend of substandard elections in the world.

“When you look at the trend all over the world, it appears that elections are becoming substandard. Look at the US election that brought in Donald Trump, it is still being questioned. Look at that of Putin in Russia, it still has issues. China is even an autocratic state. So EU should take a look at the global trend of the low quality elections we are having these days,” he said.

On the question of reforms, Sani said it is about how Nigerians can ensure that the National Assembly, the political parties and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should work towards bringing forth good reforms. He specifically advised INEC to work towards preserving their integrity which has come to question following widespread shortcomings in the 2019 elections.

Both INEC and the Presidency said they were going to carry out the reforms. But to what extents can INEC and government go, particularly in the areas where they were indicted. A holistic reform is needed but vested interests within Nigeria’s political space may play a massive role in bringing about a wishy-washy reform.

Sunday 23 June 2019

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Politics Senators scramble for juicy committees OWEDE AGBAJILEKE, Abuja

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head of the July 2 resumption of the Ninth Senate, lawmakers have intensified lobbying of the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan to appoint them as heads of juicy committees.

Findings showed that the lobbying cuts across political parties.

BDSUNDAY reports that the three political parties that form the Ninth Senate include the All Progressives Congress (APC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Young Progressive Party (YPP).

It was gathered that lawmakers who did not travel to their constituencies during the break are already paying private visits to Lawan’s Abuja residence to show their loyalty.

A source close to the Senate leadership, told our correspondent that “since Lawan’s emergence as Senate President, the traffic of senators to his office and residence has doubled. But this will increase in geometric progression upon resumption for plenary”.

According to him, “No senator wants to be left out in the choice committees.”

While another source described lobbying for committees as a normal legislative practice, he however, insisted that all committees are equal. “The issue of juicy committees is just a media creation,” he explained.

Another lawmaker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, submitted that all committees are the same. He also blamed the media for making some panels more equal than others.

“The committees’ main function is their oversight role in holding the executive arm, through each ministry or agency accountable for its actions and ensuring that such ministries and agencies implement policies in accordance with the laws and budgets as

Ahmad Lawan

passed by the National Assembly,” he said.

It is still unclear if Lawan will review upward or downward the number of 69 committees in the Eighth Senate led by Bukola Saraki, as consultations and political horse trading are ongoing at the time of filing this report.

Some are considered as juicy or Grade A committees because they not only enrich the pockets of committee members through the agencies and Parastatals they oversee, but also offer committee members opportunity of influencing employments for their loved ones, constituents or political associates.

Upon resumption on July 2, party caucuses are expected to nominate their members for principal officers’ position. This would form

the Body of Principal Officers also known as Selection Committee whose responsibility is to assign senators to the committees based on interest shown by individual senators.

Findings also revealed that there are no fewer than 30 Grade ‘A’ committees. They include those of Appropriation; Finance; Petroleum (Down and Upstream); Senate Services; Education; Niger Delta; Agriculture; Anti-Corruption; Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions; INEC; Niger Delta; Defence; Army; Communications; Works; Land Transport and Marine Transport.

Others are: Gas Resources; Public Accounts; Tertiary Education and TETFUND; Aviation; Public Accounts; Rules and Business; Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal

Matters; Federal Capital Territory; Local and Foreign Debts; Police Affairs; Solid Minerals; Water Resources; Environment and Ecology; Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy and Primary Health Care.

It was also observed that while heads of juicy committees in the Eighth Senate that returned in the current session are seeking to retain their positions, their colleagues are jostling to replace them.

Recall that in March, APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole had said the party would not share juicy committees with the opposition PDP, except for position reserved for minority members.

At a meeting with the party’s elected federal lawmakers in Abuja, Oshiomhole had stated that the ruling party would not allow a repeat of the mistakes it made when the National Assembly was inaugurated in June 2015.

“We will not share power in the Ninth National Assembly and the leadership must ensure that critical committees that drive government are chaired only by the APC members. If the Nigerian people wanted them to be chairmen of committees they would have voted for them.

“So, all the chairmen of committees, except the one that is statutorily reserved for the opposition, which is Public Accounts, they can have that. So, we would not do the kind of thing that happened the last time in which some APC members became distant spectators in the management of committees, when the PDP had majority of the strategic committees in the House; that will not happen in the Ninth National Assembly,” Oshiomhole had said.

But speaking to State House Correspondents in Abuja last week, Lawan assured that the Senate under his watch would offer headship of committees to lawmakers, irrespective of their political parties.

I don’t know where the $1bn for security is - NSA

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Tony Ailemen, Abuja

he National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, has denied knowledge of the whereabouts of the $1billion approved by the National Economic Council (NEC) for tackling security challenges in the country.

Monguno, who coordinates the nation’s security architecture, said the money was meant for the military alone, but not aware if it had been so released.

Speaking on the question on how the $1 billion approved for security was used, the NSA said only the Military can give an account of how the fund was applied since the money was approved for them to fight the Boko Haram insurgents The controversy following the money which was approved in December 2017 to tackle insecurity in the country, has continued in the wake of increased in the Boko Haram insurgency, herdsmen menace, kidnappings, banditry and armed robbery.

This followed the apprehension raised over whether the finds had been released, when and for what specific purposes.

On its part, the Nigerian Army had stated that the money was still being processed

“The $1billion I believe that you are talking about was actually earmarked for the military, not for security agencies, like the intelligence community and the paramilitary agencies.

“It was earmarked for the military. As much as I know, whether it was given to them,

Babagana Monguno

I really don’t know”, he said in response to questions raised about it by State house correspondents at the end of the NEC meeting chaired by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

Monguno, who also briefed council also on the menace of pipeline vandalism, illegal oil refineries and piracy, said government

was able to destroy 373 illegal refineries and curtailed the activities of pirates.

“This situation in the Niger Delta is also affecting security in the Gulf of Guinea and we have been collaborating with the secretariat in Rwanda to work to reduce the activities of these people.

“So, basically we need just domestic but international effort to deal with this situation.

The Federal Government has invested much in setting up maritime domain monitoring facilities and hopefully not the next couple of months we should be able to set up all these structures to reduce the The Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu, who also presented strategic paper on how to tackle insecurity, cultism, armed robbery, banditry, said, “The situation is being stabilised now.”

He announced that close circuit television cameras CCTV, are being installed in strategic places in the FCT to fight crimes, adding that “it will be extended to other states, while also working to improve relationships with members of the communities, as well as tackle challenges of funding.

He announced the setting up of Security and Policing Committee by NEC to help monitor security activities.

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Sunday 23 June 2019

Politics As ‘Mr. Ideas’ joins Bayelsa governorship race Samuel Ese, Yenagoa

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efore now, the race for the governorship of Bayelsa State had always been seen as a preserve of politicians, who have dominated the turf since the creation of the state some 23 years ago in 1996.

That seems to have changed as a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court and Director-General of the Yenagoa Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (YECCIMA), a non-politician, Warmate Jones Idikio, has indicated his interest in the number one seat.

Jones is a man known for his astuteness in several spheres and as he steps into the fray, it is believed that will add a new dimension to debates about who ultimately clinches the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ticket in August this year.

For about a decade now, he has been in the shadows, working as member of several committees set up by government ministries, departments and agencies to develop blueprints for addressing developmental issues in the state.

An indigene of Zarama community in Yenagoa Local Government Area and born 54 years ago on October 24, 1965, his expertise cuts across legal advisory, business planning and advisory as well as consultancy in marine, oil, petrochemicals and gas.

More precisely, Jones is into business risk analysis and management, vessel acquisition agreements, flagging and cabotage registration, marine vessels pre-purchase (condition) surveys guidelines, oil and gas concession agreements including joint venture, production sharing contract, joint operating agreements, producing resource properties sale and purchase agreements and industry due diligence.

He is also into petroleum refinery feasibility and acquisition negotiations and oil and gas assets and concession pre qualification advisory while giving business counselling, motivation and guidance, embarking on policy advocacy, drafting and implementation, policy framework development, legal drafting and environmental impact assessment advisory.

Jones attended the famous Nembe National Grammar School, Ogbolomabiri, Nembe where he obtained his West African School Certificate in 1980 and later sat for the General Certificate of Education in 1984.

He obtained a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt in 1989 and proceeded to the Nigeria Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos from where he was called to the bar in 1990.

From February 1992 to September 2000, he was the managing counsel at a firm of legal practitioners in Lagos State, Femi Osinowo & Company that also specialised in marine and admiralty consultancy.

Between September 2000 and October 2004, Jones was group company secretary and legal adviser at Royal Marine and Spares Limited, Petrotex Nigeria Limited and Energy Consulting and Management Company all in Lagos.

Within the period, he coordinated the implementation of the vessel manning agreement between Royal Marine and Spares

Jones Idikio

Limited and Pipelines and Product Marketing Company for the MT Tuma products tanker.

He also coordinated the implementation of the local content component of the manning agreement and initiated and coordinated the business expansion framework of the company in addition to other responsibilities such as human resources management.

Jones later set up his own law firm, Warmate Jones & Company in Lagos, which specialised in marine, oil and gas consultancy; and he was the principal counsel from November 2004 until March 2008.

From March 2008 till date, he has been the Director General of YECCIMA and saddled with the general administration, policy initiation, formulation and implementation, business planning and advisory as well as public representation and presentations.

Perhaps, it was in this role of Director General of YECCIMA that Jones caught the eye of the state government as Governor Henry Seriake Dickson appointed him as his Special Assistant on Investment Matters, a position he held from June 2013 to February 2016.

In that capacity, he was tasked with developing a detailed investment guide for the state and advising on enabling environment, investment incentives and private/public sector project benchmark.

In the past 10 years, he has served in multiple committees that were created by the Restoration Government to specifically develop economic policy frameworks for the state government to improve the local economy.

Since 2009, Jones has been a member of the Medium Term Sector Strategy Planning/ Medium Term Expenditure (Budget) Framework Team of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment in the state.

He was member, Central Planning Committee for Bayelsa State for the South-South Economic Summit, Asaba, state coordinator, Business Chains Hub project of the ECOWAS Commission, ECOWAS Bank, Ecobabk, Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the National

Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture from June 2013 till date.

Jones was a member, Central Planning Committee of the Bayelsa State SME Summit from 2013 to 2014, member, Retreat Planning Committee, Bayelsa Development and Investment Corporation in 2013 and member, Bayelsa State Committee on Entrepreneurship Capacity Development for Bayelsa State Government/Bank of Industry MSME Development Fund collaboration for a N5.0 billion counterpart funding initiative.

He was also a member, of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment’s Technical Committee on Bayelsa State Government/ Bank of Industry MSME Development Fund collaboration for a N5.0 billion counterpart funding initiative in 2012.

In the same year, he served as member, Committee on Modalities, Administrative Structure and Medium Term Sector Strategies of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Manpower Development in the state and also served as a member, Bayelsa State Investment and Economic Team.

From 2013 to 2014, he served as member, Central Planning Committee, 1st Bayelsa State Investment and Economic Forum and

...it is the economy that has been and always been at the heart of this fullblooded Bayelsan, who has developed a draft economic blueprint for Bayelsa State and possesses an uncanny understanding of the economic issues bedevilling ‘The Glory of All Lands’

from 2014 till date, he is a member, Technical Committee on Bayelsa State Government/ Central Bank of Nigeria N2.0 billion MSMEs Development Fund.

In 2015, he was member, Central Planning Committee, 2nd Bayelsa State Investment and Economic Forum and in 2016 member, Bayelsa State Industrial Policy Review/Validation Team.

Jones was a member, Bayelsa State Security Trust Fund Implementation Committee, which had the responsibility of establishing the structures of the trust fund and its implementation procedures and strategies in accordance with the statute.

He further served as member, Sub-committee on Review of Land Registration Procedures and Drafting of Land Policy and member, Ad-Hoc Committee to Harmonise Land Titles and Instruments Registration Functions of Bayelsa State Geographic Information Systems Agency and Ministry of Lands and Survey in 2017.

Not done, in 2017, he was Chairman, Sub-committee on Consolidation of All Laws Relating to Registration of Lands in Bayelsa State and member, Bayelsa State Committee on Land Administration and Management System.

From 2017, he has been the Assistant Secretary of the 22-member Bayelsa Business Council and a member of the Governing Council, Bayelsa State Polytechnic, Aleibiri in Ekeremor Local Government Area.

In 2013, he was a session chair, Conference on the Petroleum Industry Bill organised by a non-governmental organisation, Spaces for Change and was a member, Planning Committee, International Conference on SMEs hosted by the World Association of Small and Medium Enterprises in 2014.

Added to the above is his ability to initiate, learn and quickly absorb practical skills, teach and disseminate skills and ideas, participate in teamwork, evolve and implement policy as well as leading and managing individuals and processes.

In Kontagora and Rijau Magisterial Districts of Niger State, he volunteered as the resident counsel of the Legal Aid Council and has researched extensively in several critical areas in law and business as well investment and sustainable development.

Over the years, Jones has written several articles and lectured on several core issues including the girl child and other presentations.

That is the wealth of experience that he brings into the governorship race, not just politics, something beyond politics; it is the economy that has been and always been at the heart of this full-blooded Bayelsan, who has developed a draft economic blueprint for Bayelsa State and possesses an uncanny understanding of the economic issues bedevilling ‘The Glory of All Lands’.

Essentially, Jones has been a behind-thescenes man, working quietly to oil the wheels of government and having spent the past decade in several roles, it is now time for him to step out into the limelight, this time, not to formulate policy, but drive it for the economic emancipation of the state.

He is a man full of ideas and if, truly, ideas rule the world, then he is the man capable of rewriting the story of Bayelsa State, not just on paper, but on stone or better still, marble, and if given the chance, he will leave his footprints on the sands of time.

Sunday 23 June 2019

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17

Interview Nigeria is not yet ripe for state police - Onyebueke Fidelix Onyebueke, a legal practitioner resident in Calabar Cross River State,in this interview with MIKE ABANG spoke on a number ofnational issues, saying that Nigeria is not yet ripe for state and local government police. Excerpts: What are your thoughts on the agitation by some state governments for the creation of state police? es. Actually, it is a good recommendation and a good idea due to what is on ground in the country now; insecurity in the country here and there. People feel that such insecurity should be better handled by the state police,if recommended and accepted. But my worry is this; you know, if the Nigeria Police want to perform, they would do so. We have instances where the Nigeria Police have performed exceptionally well. There had beenissues that people thought that were not possible for people to handle or unravel, but they came up with a good result all over the federation. I don’t think state police or local government police is the issue. The issue is sincerity of the police command from the national, the IG’s office, to the states’ commissioners and the DPOs;are they sincere to their duties? When the Nigeria police want to perform they would do so. You see the problem we have in the country is that every IG that comes up has his own policy and then after one month the thing dies out. No IG is sincere over their polices. The only one that I could credit with honesty was a man from Edo State, Solomon Arase.

After two years of tenure,succeeding inspector-general of police will come up with some lofty ideas, banning the use of siren by individuals; banning the use of covered number plates. You know, the area that touches the public most is police would stand on the road collecting money, openly (pocketing money and giving change) to drivers and nothing happens.

Just go through the roads, particularly the south, south East and South–south, it is a disgrace to the Nigeria police and I feel that the police command is not doing enough.

If they had instilled discipline enough in the policemen, insecurity would not have got the level it is now, because it is cash and carry. I don’t see the Nigeria police performing well but when they perform, they perform perfectly well. If they decide to do so, they will do so.

Court would have taken instance from the case of Awolowo versus Shagari, to maintain justice. The worst thing to happen in the country is disenfranchising a mass of people in APC in these states. And the most worrisome one is the election in ZamfaraState when APC voted for the candidates of their choiceand the court said ‘No, we don’t want it, PDP must take over.’ To me it is act of injustice to the APC in ZamfaraState.

Those accusing Oshiomhole of destroying the party should go and rest. The likes of John Oyegun-Odigie should go and rest. Let Oyegun go and relax.In the first place, without Oshiomhole, he wouldn’t have been the chairman of the party. It was Oshiomhole who fought for him to become the chairman of the party and now, for Oshiomhole to take over from hum is a mistake? They are from the same state, and Oshiomhole was a governor when this man was the party chairman. One can easily interpret it that the party agreed or two of them agreed that ‘O! after you I will take over’. But it seems to me that, whoever is accusing Oshiomhole is making a mistake, because without Oshiomhole, APC would not have gone this far.

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There is this insinuation in the All Progressives Congress (APC) that Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the party,is lacking the capacity to lead; do you think so?

I am not a member of any political party, but I respect Buhari, even though at this stage, Nigerians are disappointed because of Buhari’s status. I’m one of the greatest admirers of Buhari; as far as I am concerned I have been published in many papers where I say, we have no alternative to Buhari, up till now I still stand by it. But unfortunately, Buhari pretends to be a democrat that is why the party is falling. He cannot be a democrat at this age, being a military man; it is impossible.

There isno point trying to be a democrat at this time, what I think he should do isto combine his military tactics with democratic ideals, then he will perform well.

Because the only area I respect Buhari is that he fears God;he fears Allah and he feels for people. That’s why APC is having problem here and there; it is because, he (Buhari) doesn’t want to step on toes, which is unfortunate. To me, the party is disintegrating, it is going, is fading away; why? Not because of Oshiomhole, but because of Buhari who fails to take a stand on party issues.Ordinarily, why

Fidelix Onyebueke

should he allow a former governor and a member of the APC to present another candidate for governorship in Ogun State?

Amosun, who is the President’s friend, did it. Why should Okorocha present a different candidate in Imo State and what happened in those states?In Ogun State, APC won while the party lost in Imo State.That is why there is no APC in South East now; any other person talking there is a pretender. Except party is rebuilt from the grassroots,Okorocha made the worst mistake of his life by bringing his son-in-law to succeed him. Okorocha to me performed very well in Imo State; he performed in terms of infrastructure; he did the greatest in Imo State. But in terms of human development, he was the worst.

Because he was not paying pensioners, he was not paying civil servants; he was not paying anybody, but in the area of infrastructure, no governor performedbetter than Okorocha. I am from Imo State, I can testify to that; but only he was greedy. How would he allow his son-inlaw to succeed him?Are we in a ‘Banana Republic’ in Imo State? It is unfortunate; but he could have produced somebody from Owerri Zone and use the son-in-law, as the deputy governor; if he had done that APC would have won the election, but the people rejected him because of the greed. In the midst of all that was going on Buhari kept quiet; he even told the people of Imo to vote the candidate of their choice. It is an error; probably that is his nature, he doesn’t like to hurt people. But the way, we misinterpreted it, may be, he must have interpreted it better; to me he isa pretender in the door of democracy. A president shouldn’t have done that; that is why I like Obasanjo. OBJ wouldn’t have allowed such to happen in a state controlled by his party; he wouldn’t have allowed Rivers State to fall for PDP,

or what happened inZamfara.Why should it be so?What he did was simply telling the world that you have no grip over your party, and that is very unfortunate. To me, it doesn’t seem that he calculated very well and that affected us. It is affecting act of governance in the country. The way he handles APC is the way he handles this country. That is why we have crisis of lack of confidence everywhere. But I’m sure he is doing that in good faith, he may be saying let me not interfere in party affair, but what has happened now? How would a ruling party lose Zamfara, Rivers State, Adamawa, Bauchi and Imo State? The party is superior to any body. And I blame the National Assembly, the law they pass, creating confusion. They were trying to dance to the tune of National Assembly laws. The National Assembly have their personal interest, trying to destabilise the parties; particularly those who were in APC before they moved to the PDP; they passed that law to scatter APC. It is unfortunate, Nigeria may not survive because the way we are going we are selfcentered in whatever we do. Don’t pass laws having in mine yourself-interest.Why should Zamfarafall to PDP?Why? Because some peoplefelt they must be the candidates as against the wish of the party.

And again, the Supreme Court should not only interpret the law, but should do justice; that is the mistake the Supreme Court is making. I am saying this as a lawyer. You can’t disenfranchise people; the people who were supposed to vote APC did not vote for their party and you think that is justice in Rivers State? They didn’t vote. How can you take that as justice?

That is injustice to APC members who were supposed to vote APC. They were either compelled to vote for PDP or you remain neutral. That is the violation of their constitutional right. TheSupreme

What would you say on the Igbo presidency in 2023 that recently pitted Amaechiagainst Peter Obi? There are two different parties. Amaechi is telling the mind of APC; Obi is telling you his own mind as a person who is from Igbospeaking area. Amaechi is not telling you he is from the South East; he is telling you that APC is the party in control at the centre.

He is telling you that whosoever succeeds Buhari must be APC.Like I said before the elections that,in 2019 Buhari was going to win whether you like it or not. I said it that no mathematical calculation would stop Buhari from wining and they thought I was joking, and I still maintain that Ameachiwas saying the mind of APC;He is an Oracle; he has no business with PDP, and PDP cannot force APC to bring someone from Igbo stock to be their candidate in 2023, it is impossible.Obi did not understand where Amaechi was coming from. That is one; two; we are not talking about Igbo president of Nigeria, rather we are talking about Nigeria president of Igbo stock, and how do you get there?You get there with the help of the party in power. No matter how the Igbo feel, ‘O,we have been marginalised; this is our time.’ They may decide to bring someone from elsewhere. If you bring Igbo man from PDP and bring a Fulani man from APC, who do you think will win?It must be APC man, because of the voting strength.

The south is not even united; they are not.

APC may bring someone from the North and bring someone from the west; how do you expect the North to lose the seat, because Northerners are telling you that they are not ready to relinquish power at this time, they have been saying so.

The only solution is how do we bring our act together. To get the southerner together to vote for whoever comes from the south, or the Igbo, to get the vote from the North, how do we get the vote from the North? It must be through APC, not through PDP. I keep on saying so, it is not through PDP in 2023; let us be frank to ourselves.You have to play your card very well; it is not about sentiment,‘I know it would be an act of injustice to deny Igbo of the presidency in 2023’. What is injustice to you may not be injustice to another person.

18 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 23 June 2019

Focus

First Ladies and promotion of Nigeria’s agro-ecological sustainability

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HARRISON EDEH, Abuja

ince 2015 when President Muhammadu Buhari came to power, his policy and model of economic development has been hinged on two key sectors to help diversify the economy and reduce its reliance on petroleum, moving the nation from the perennial vulnerabilities suffered by typical mono-commodity economies, including occasional slides into economic recession.

In order to achieve this, he made agriculture and solid minerals the two substitute sectors to end over-reliance on crude oil and gas for revenues to fund budgets, finance projects, and pay for imports across various industrial and consumer needs.

Since agriculture is primarily a rural activity and its sustainability depends on the positive contributions of youthful populations, especially women and children, it is important to coordinate these groups for optimum results.

The question on the lips of many is whether first ladies can use their positions to promote Nigeria’s agro-ecological sustainability?

This question deserves urgent attention and quick answers on the grounds that 75 percent of actors in the shea industry are women, especially in the rural areas, according to figures from the Global Shea Alliance.

In order to ensure that this demographic segment benefits maximally from the shea industry market dynamics, a coordinated market structure is necessary across the entire value chain of the commodity, from collection, transportation, processing, packaging, and export.

Transparency International estimates that, globally, the market will value up to $3.5 billion by 2028, with a cumulative annual growth rate of 5.2 percent over the forcast period.

It further noted that Nigeria could earn $2 billion annually from the shea market, “as a tonne of shea butter costs $5,000,” according to information sourced from the Nigeria Agribusiness Register.

But to ensure that such market value is derived for Nigeria from the shea economy, those who may be better placed to coordinate 75 percent of the actors in this sector (women), for sustainable and profitable participation could be women leaders, especially the wives of state governors, or First Ladies, as they are popularly called in Nigeria.

This could be made possible through their social enterprise projects and possible partnerships available, both locally and internationally, for the purpose of enlightenment on the issue of sustainably

First lady, Aisha Buhari managing shea tree ecology and preserving shea stock.

One of such partnership opportunities exists with the Commodity Development Initiative (CDI), which is a social enterprise project that was founded to support development in the country, specifically in areas of agricultural development facilitation and investment facilitation.

The Nigeria Agribusiness Register is an online repository of CDI containing market intelligence on about 15 commodities ant the moment and still growing, with a target to facilitate about $3.4 billion investments into the Nigerian agricultural sector within the next five years.

According to Roland Oroh, director of CDI, “we take a value chain and we bring operators within that value chain that are looking for funding, and we bring in alternative fund providers to support that venture. For the funders, we are looking at people that are offering private equity, venture capital, Diaspora funds, and development finance, among others”.

“The target is to expose the potential of Nigeria’s agribusiness to this class of fund providers, both within and outside the country.

We have foreign fund providers;

for instance, we have partners in Turkey that are looking for investment opportunities in Nigeria and we are like bridge makers,” he further said.

Nigeria has the highest number of shea trees in the world, nearly 60 percent, but the country is not significantly present in the international market. In contrast, Ghana, which has less than 20 percent of shea trees in the world, is actively involved in the shea butter market on the global state, accounting for a huge export future of shea butter to different countries.

CDI believes advocacy is needed to enlighten rural dwellers on the need not to cut down economic trees, as the trees need to be used and the nuts harvested for economic purposes.

It is therefore involved in some form of advocacy roles to sensitize the people not to cut down trees of such economic value, meaning that if 36 First Ladies in Nigeria join in this effort, it would be an impactful exercise in reducing desertification, increasing afforestation, and deriving more value from shea trees as compared to cutting it down for peanuts, while destroying the ecosystem in the process.

The non-governmental organization also knows that a lot of

farming and processing activities go on in states and, right now, Niger State has the largest stock of shea trees in parklands.

“Niger State has opened themselves up to receive foreign investments, and we are currently working with the state’s Commodities and Exchange to bring in one or two major investors to set up in the state. Niger, Kebbi, Kwara, and Oyo States are the states we are targeting and they are the ones that have most shea trees in their states within Nigeria,” Oroh assured.

The First Lady of Niger State was in attendance at CDI’s monthly Agribusiness Networking (AgNet) function of June 20 in Abuja, where she pledged to continue supporting the growth and sustainability of the shea industry in her state. One of the greatest opportunities in the shea sector is that of “shea butter equivalent” in terms of what will increase the opportunities for Nigeria.

This is because the confectionary industry needs shea butter as cocoa butter equivalent and there is anticipated deficit in the global cocoa market and shea butter is actually the equivalent.

That will surely open up the market for shea butter demand and these are the kind of opportunities that Nigeria needs to improve or multiply its foreign exchange sources.

Nigeria is responsible for 57 percent (approximately 370, 000 MT PA) of global shea nut production (600,000 MT PA), yet accounts for less than 5 percent of shea butter production.

”

Nigeria is hardly known for the export of processed shea products, such as shea butter, and ranks fourth even in terms of raw shea nut exports among African shea nut exporting countries

The export volume of shea butter by Nigeria in 2016 was estimated at 2,000 MT, generating only about $2.8 million as compared to Ghana that generates about $169 million from the export of 76, 000 MT shea butter annually.

Yet, Androit Market Research (2019) says the global shea butter market is projected to reach $1.74 billion by 2025 and would be driven by growing adoption of shea butter in food, personal care and cosmetics and medical industry.

The food sector constitutes 90 percent of total shea exports from West Africa mainly from Western Europe which approved shea butter as CBE. The cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries absorb the remaining 10 percent.

Nigeria is hardly known for the export of processed shea products, such as shea butter, and ranks fourth even in terms of raw shea nut exports among African shea nut exporting countries, while North America, Europe and Japan constitute the largest markets.

Fortunately, there are government interventions already fashioned to support this sector, as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently agreed to set aside N200 billion to give single digit lending to three sectors- cashew, shea nuts and cocoa.

Oroh said the monthly AgNet event would begin to provide the groundwork needed so that the bankers would be sufficiently informed that the opportunities, risk areas, and policy areas would see lending options and repayment happen to grow the sector.

The First Ladies in Nigeria may do well to ensure that women, both in the rural areas and elsewhere in the country, are well coordinated to benefit from such policy machineries being set in place, both by the government and the private sector, especially in the shea economy, considering the fact that 70 percent of market participants in the shea sector are women.

This may help address current market challenges in the sector, which include Product quality and quantity, Limited access to modern, processing technology and equipment, Lack of adequate data, as well as limited access to domestic, regional and international markets.

Apart from the market challenges, women leaders’ interventions may also help address sustainability challenges affecting the viability of shea trees, which include indiscriminate felling of trees, low regeneration of parklands as a result of long gestation period, poor parkland management, weak laws/policies against deforestation of parklands, and annual bush burning for agricultural activities.

Sunday 23 June 2019

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BDSUNDAY 19

Society Watch Triple employees’ pay, many would still turn down job offers in Apapa

O MICHAEL ANI

ne of the biggest nightmares of job seekers or employees today has become getting to know that the company in which they seek employment has its operations situated in Apapa and environs.

The mere realisation of this fact could make them turn down an employment offer due to the heavy gridlock and dilapidated road networks caused by trailers pushing their way through into Nigeria’s busiest port city.

Even when an employer of labour decides to triple employees pay to serve as an incentive, it is still not enough to get them to stay as many prefer to take up jobs that are farther - and even with a lower pay - so long it does not have its route linked with Apapa.

There have been the challenge of having to get the best hands to work with us, even when we get them, they do not last due to the precarious infrastructural state of our roads in Apapa, according to Emeka Ugoji, a manager of a financial firm who operates around Apapa

with a staff strength of 150 employees “No fewer than 50 employees that we have recruited in the last one month have either resigned to take up another job which according to our research is farther and with a little pay than what we offer or they have decided to stay at home pending when they get another”, the manager said.

“Even those who choose to retain a job here, we noticed that their input or productivity to the growth of the organisation is

low. We have even adjusted our resumption time to fit two hours behind scheduled yet it wouldn’t help”, Ugoji explained Apapa, a name synonymous in the lips of residents in Nigeria’s commercial hub, Lagos, as “high way to hell”, is home to two of the country’s busiest ports and that is the Apapa port and the Tincan Island port.

Several business owners who spoke to BusinessDay also complained on the high cost of having to train employees on a regular

basis. “Since many of the employees we get to employ do not last long on the job, we would have to start opening our doors of recruitment every now and then and this cost a lot of money”, The sorry state of Apapa is helping to breed hoodlums and criminal activities as robbers hide in dark corners shielded by trucks to snatch phones and property of people toeing through that route.

For the federal government, Apapa is seen as a “cash cow” that rakes in billions of Naira, while they overlook the rigour that commuters and residents using that route suffer as a result of the bad roads.

Aside the dilapidated infrastructure, the road networks leading in and out of Apapa has been jam-packed with trucks of high network individuals, believed to be more superior to the federal government as they take the road as their place of abode, leaving commuters who are going about their daily business to bear the brunt.

In two different occasions, these truck drivers have defied presidential orders asking them to evacuate the roads within 72

hours ultimatum.

“It is not enough giving orders for the tanker drivers to move off the roads, you would need to create an alternative where they can move to else such orders won’t have much effect.”

Last week, NASCON Allied Industries, a subsidiary of Dangote Industries Limited joined the league of many other companies that have left Apapa vicinity due to the unending gridlock.

The firm in its Annual General Meeting (AGM) announced that it is relocating 60 percent of its Apapa plant production capacity to other of its operations in Oregun and Port Harcourt plants to reduce the effects of the gridlock. According to the firm, the intense gridlock in the area is stifling its activities by hindering the free movement of raw materials and the timely delivery of finished goods to customers.

In a nutshell, a movement of 60 percent of the firm’s operations to as far as Rivers State, would exacerbate the country’s already ballooning unemployment rate currently at 23 percent as many of its staff would be worst in relocating along with the firm.

Living on the edge JONATHAN ADEROJU

...How Nigerians risk their lives to earn livelihood

n a Tuesday, after a heavy downpour, I was riding on a commercial motorcycle along Yusuf Street in Powerline-Iyana Ejigbo area of Lagos, when the motorcycle fell close to an open transformer. My thought quickly went to how people live and trade very close to the dangerous transformers.

Out of curiosity, I decided to take a stroll around the vicinity and was surprised at the many unprotected transformers amid retail activities within close range. One of the businesses was a furniture and upholstery shop where Peter, a 20-year old, who is awaiting admission into university, was helping his father. While there, a delivery truck came with a load of planks and Peter was helping in offloading them into the shop.

Unlike other days, Peter was unlucky as a piece of timber touched the exposed transformer panel. He was partially electrocuted, while the whole area was thrown into darkness.

The Powerline incident is among the many fatal cases that happen across Lagos almost every day.

In their pursuit to find shelter

and also put food on the table, some Lagosians turn a blind eye to the obvious dangers of living or doing business close to exposed electricity transformers, under high tension lines and even exposed cables.

But most residents think that the government should have been proactive in enforcing laws on erecting buildings or doing business under or close to electricity facilities. Pius Ikechukwu, a resident, lamented, “We have made calls to different authorities such as the Discos and local councils on the need to erect walls around the transformers but up till now, no action has been taken”.

Ademola Balogun, another resident who runs a barbing salon close to a transformer, is yet to see the danger in that.

According to him, “I have been running my business here for years now with no mishap, but I am not saying it is an ideal situation, we are managing what is available. One needs only to be extra careful”, he said. Sisi Ronke, a bread seller at Yusuf Street, is aware of the danger of selling close to the transformer, but does not mind because she cannot afford to rent a shop and needs money to take care of her family.

O

Another trader said she had been selling at that very spot for years and “nobody or a soothsayer” has ever told her that something terrible could happen.

“If I leave this place just because it is close to a transformer, how then do I feed and pay the school fees of my children?”

At Ajeromi Ifelodun, the story is not different. In some areas the walls around the transformers had collapsed and no one had rebuilt them. And it appears that residents, commuters and traders are oblivious of the danger. They stand close to the transformers while waiting for bus, or doing their trading.

Okene Richard, a resident,

condemned trading close to transformers but blamed it on Eko Electricity officials for not taking prompt action long after the collapse of the fences.

For him, the residents should not be blamed because there is no space in Lagos, so any small space serves as market for those who cannot afford to rent shops.

But the spaces close to the transformers are not free in spite of the dangers. Mama Bosede who sells fish close to the transformer in a street at Ajeromi Ifelodun, said she pays monthly for the space she occupies, though she is aware of the danger.

“I pay monthly here, and I

am aware of the danger, that is why none of my children comes here”, she said.

An official of the Eko Electric Undertaking, who did not want to disclose his name, told BDSUNDAY that, “It is regrettable that some people live and trade close to unfenced transformers. But it is not as if we have not warned them against it”.

According to him, some of the Disco’s workers who tried to dislodge the traders near boundary market last year were attacked.

“In most cases, the residents and landlords would promise to provide walls around the transformer but fail to do so. Considering the danger, I think we should renew efforts at erecting walls round our transformers”, he concluded.

Beyond living or doing business under high tension cables and close to transformers, there are many other dangerous places or things people do just to earn livelihood in Lagos. But the government, whose responsibility is to carter to the welfare of the citizens, should accord safety its deserved priority and enforce necessary laws but with human face.

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Sunday 23 June 2019

Perspective

2019 election petition: All eyes on the Judiciary Mahmud Abubakar

G

oing by the unending gymnastics with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the issue of the server promised by the electoral body for central collation of result which has emerged at the Presidential Election Tribunal, it seems that the present INEC is not comfortable with the fact that people are holding it responsible with the organisation of the 2019 polls.

Developments at the tribunal on the question of the server, particularly the demand by Atiku Abubakar and his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), to be allowed to examine the server to determine some of the results declared by INEC, have shown that the election authority is not comfortable with whether it procured a server or even used it. Today, INEC denies that it had a server, another day; it says that indeed it had one but that votes cast at the presidential elections were not transmitted to the latter. In another breadth, it claims that it only experimented with server.

Something is indeed wrong with INEC and it seems that within its management there was little or no coordination before or during the elections. It could also be that some interested parties in INEC are telling bare-faced lies to Nigerians whose tax money was used to organise the elections as well as pay regular salaries to officials of the Commission.

The INEC as presently constituted is a drain pipe as Nigerians who voted in the 2019 polls and had high hopes that their votes would count seem to have been shortchanged because the electoral umpire cannot categorically state its position on a number of

issues critical to a free, fair and credible election.

The back and forth argument over the issue of the server provided for and cash-backed for the 2019 elections and the uncertainty of INEC’s position makes a laughing stock of Nigeria, the famed giant of Africa and the administration of Muhammadu Buhari which has tried strenuously to put on the toga of an anti-corruption government. In fact, it is as if Nigeria is not a serious country having been portrayed as a country incapable of organising free and fair elections.

The recent report on the elections by the European Union Observer Mission is also damning to a large extent. In summary, the report aligns with those Nigerians who maintain that the election was anything but free, fair and credible.

The EU final report went as far as calling for far-reaching electoral reforms which the Buhari government has vowed to implement. It

is doubtful however, whether the promise of the government can be believed when it keeps people like those currently in INEC on their jobs.

INEC seems to have organised a half-hearted election that a concerned Nigerian recently opined that given the opportunity, the Commission would deny that it was in charge of the 2019 polls that has caused distress and doubt.

Nigerians were given the short end of the stick by INEC. During the elections, many parts of the country were like war theatres as political thugs under the control of influential political leaders were unleashed on innocent citizens in the bid to force them to vote in a particular way for a particular set of politicians and parties. In all this, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was complicit and INEC looked the other way. Several deaths of innocent Nigerians occurred. The EU report puts it at

58. Other reports say the figure is higher, perhaps reaching a hundred. No election anywhere in the world can be described as free, fair and credible if innocent people died in the process except for those who died in automobile accidents!

The argument on the server, the inability of INEC to allow the election petitioners to access and examine it, means that the result declared by INEC from the president down is not believable and Nigerians may not have got what they expected and deserved in terms of those who occupy public offices today.

In all sincerity, a review of the preparations for the elections and developments in the polity before the polls indicates that the allimportant election was designed to fail by those whose duty it was to ensure that Nigerians got free, fair and peaceful elections.

The most important sign that the elections were designed to fail

Consulate in Saudi Arabia from the point she was arrested up until she was executed by the Saudi Government. The official reaction of the Federal Government has been to admonish Nigerians living abroad to be law abiding and avoid committing crimes in their host country.

More troubling is the reaction of Nigerians, especially on social media. Rather than demand answers from the Federal Government, they have instead engaged in stereotyping the ethnicity of Ms Afolabi and other Nigerians on death row in prisons abroad.

The consular courtesies and assistance accorded Mr. Nielson by the Nigerian Government and the Danish Embassy in Nigeria is not restricted to Danish citizens.

It is available to every country and their nationals and is guaranteed by Article36 of the Vienna Convention 1963. Article 36 (1)

(c) of the Vienna Convention provides as follows: “Consular officers shall have the right to visit a national of the sending state who is in prison, custody or detention, to converse and correspond with him and to arrange for his legal representation. They shall also have the right to visit any national of the sending state who is in prison, custody or detention in their district in pursuance of a judgment.”

The Vienna Convention gives consular officers the right to visit their nationals in trouble with the law abroad and provide them with legal assistance. Nigerian consulates appear to either not know about the Vienna Convention, which is unlikely or appear not to care about their nationals.

It may also be that they are embarrassed by the criminal activities of some Nigerians abroad.

Crime by any Nigerian is bad.

It is even worse when the crime is committed abroad. Criminal activities by Nigerians abroad have done enormous damage to the image of the country.

Nonetheless, it is important to point out that a person accused of a crime abroad is at a great disadvantage. It is worse when the person is accused of a crime that attracts the death penalty.

These persons are extremely vulnerable- they are far from their family and loved ones and often are not accorded basic human rights protection like the presumption of innocence, the rights to legal representation and fair trial. Zainab Aliyu’s case aptly illustrates how this could happen to anyone. A routine religious pilgrimage, vacation or business trip can suddenly become deadly. It is gratifying to see that the Federal Government has successfully rescued Zainab Aliyu from the executioner’s

and end in controversy was when President Buhari refused to sign into law, the amended Electoral Act. That President Buhari failure to sign the Act created apprehension among Nigerians and foreigners alike that the President and his party wanted to make organising the election difficult for INEC which is the reason for the commission’s lack of confidence in explaining its stewardship of the elections.

This is where the Judiciary comes in as the last hope for justice. All Nigerians including those who are being accused of doctoring votes of the opposition candidate and his party in the February 23, 2019 presidential election are now at a loss and cannot hold their heads high in celebration of their supposed victory.

In view of the emerging evidence of collusion, lies and outright falsehood about the conduct of the elections and the release of results, everyone now looks up to the Judiciary to determine the truth about who won that election. Also, in many parts of the country, the environment was not conducive for people to vote. Thus, instances of low participation and no-voting were very high casting doubt on the credibility of the election. And with identified violence in as many as 20 states of the federation, one wonders how any credible election could be possible in an atmosphere of violence.

Thus it behooves on the Judiciary to ensure that the cause of justice is served so that those who have come before it would confidently say, when its job is done that the truth has come out after a thorough examination of arguments by counsels to the litigants and the evidences adduced. .Abubakar, a Sociologist and Public Affairs Analyst wrote from Bauchi.

Consular assistance and Nigerians on death row abroad

O

n April 5, 2018, Peter Nielson, a Danish national was arrested by the Nigerian Police for allegedly killing his Nigerian wife, Zainab, and their three-year-old daughter, Petra, at their home in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State.

His arrest was communicated to the Danish Embassy in Nigeria after which the Embassy was given access to him. Officials of the Danish Embassy visited him at the police station and in prison, ensured he had legal representation and have observed his trial at the Lagos State High Court. The Danish Ambassador was in court on some of Peter Nielson’s trial dates.

Contrast Mr. Nielson’s case with the case of Kudirat Afolabi, the Nigerian lady executed by the Saudi Government for drug trafficking. As I write, there is still nothing in the public domain on the role played by the Nigerian

sword in Saudi Arabia.

Perhaps, this is an opportunity for the Nigerian Government through the Foreign Affairs Ministry to begin an inquiry into the cases of other Nigerians on death row in prisons around the world. According to Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP), there are over 600 Nigerians on death row in South East Asia alone. These cases need to be reviewed. This is also a good opportunity for Nigeria’s Federal and State Governments to rethink their position on the death penalty. It makes no sense to appeal for leniency on behalf of Nigerians on death row in other countries and at the same time retain and support the death penalty. Nigeria must first purge itself of the barbarism of the death penalty. .Okeke is a senior programme officer, Human Right Law Service (HURILAWS).

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Perspective

Seafarers in training

NIMASA on board with gender equality as world fetes seafarers Adiza Abu

W

hen in 2010 the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) instituted the Day of the Seafarer, it was obviously an attempt to resolve an age-old economic irony.

And when it chose gender equality as theme for the 2019 Day of the Seafarer, IMO apparently meant to attack an unfair workforce reality that seems even more intense in the maritime industry. The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has also been at the forefront of efforts to redress the imbalance in the traditionally male-dominated maritime industry, where women make up only two per cent of the workforce.

Seafarers are among the most unsung heroes of the global economy. Yet, the industry they man carries nearly 90 percent of world trade. The United Nations, through the IMO, moved to resolve the seeming contradiction in 2010, when it established the Day of the Seafarer as an annual international event.

The event seeks to make the unique contribution of seafarers to the global economy and human progress, generally, a focus of especial attention. It tries to encourage governments, shipping companies, and everyone associated with seaborne trade to promote and uphold sea trade and the work of seafarers.

With the Day of the Seafarer, IMO has, undoubtedly, succeeded in bringing seafarers, seafaring, and the well-being of mariners into international public and official conversation.

On the occasion this year’s Day of the Seafarer, coming up June 25, IMO is taking a step further to highlight the contributions of women in the global maritime industry and raise awareness about opportunities for women in the maritime world.

IMO has chosen gender equality as its main campaign theme for this year’s event.

“Throughout 2019 there will be a strong emphasis throughout the

maritime world on the importance and value of women within the professional ranks,” an IMO statement reads. “Much of this is being driven by the World Maritime Day theme (Empowering Women in the Maritime Community). It is already clear that this theme has a very strong and far-reaching resonance.”

IMO says the theme “provides an opportunity to highlight opportunities for women, as well as the contributions they are already making in a wide range of maritime careers and professions, but the focus will be very firmly on one aspect of that community — seafarers.”

An IMO report in 1992 estimated women seafarers worldwide to be between one and two per cent of the total seafaring population. This included those in service sections onboard ships, such as hotel and catering workers. In 2003, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) commissioned a study on women seafarers, which similarly estimated that the percentage of women in maritime was between one and two per cent of the total seafaring population. Women seafarers on cargo vessels were even found to be less – about 0.12 percent.

The above were corroborated by the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), in their Manpower Report published May 2016, which studied the global supply and demand for seafarers in 2015. The report found that the percentage of women seafarers still revolved around one per cent.

Women’s participation in seafaring and the maritime industry has remained generally low. Though, according to a 2015 edition of Maritime Women: Global Leadership, a publication of the World Maritime University (WMU), women now make up about 30 per cent of workers in various maritime organisations. This includes organisations involved in merchant marine, cruise sector, and onshore maritime cluster.

Progress has remained generally slow in efforts to achieve greater gender equality in the maritime sector. And this has been attributed

to an enduring perception that it is inappropriate for women to work onboard ships due to the nature of seafaring.

NIMASA has supported attempts to challenge this negative perception of seafaring. It has not only supported the women in maritime, but also tried to attract more women to the industry.

“NIMASA has been a blessing to us, because there is nothing we have asked NIMASA to support on that they did not avail us,” attests president of Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA), Nigeria, Mary Hamman.

“We just came back from a regional conference in Ghana and NIMASA sponsored about 10 of us to attend.

And anytime we have events, we just call on NIMASA and we get sponsorship. We get the NIMASA public relations to cover our events, which ordinarily is something very expensive. We get preference from the management of NIMASA. Dr. Dakuku Peterside has been very good to us, very supportive and encouraging.”

On male dominance of seafaring and the negative consciousness that tends to create among women wanting to go into the profession, Hamman, who is also an Assistant Director in the Shipping Development Department of NIMASA, says, “That is why we are there telling the women that we are also in the system and we are women, mothers, and married, and they can also come into the industry and perform just like the men.

“It won’t stop them from being mothers or getting married. As long as they know their job and they are qualified, there is a place for them in the maritime industry.”

WISTA is an international organisation dedicated to promoting the interest of women in the shipping industry through networking and mentoring. The 45-year-old organisation got an Observer Status at IMO last year and it has a membership of about 3, 500 women in the maritime profession from across over 40 countries.

In keeping with the global focus

on enhancing the role of women in the shipping sector, the DirectorGeneral of NIMASA, Dakuku Peterside, had in February announced the Agency’s readiness to support initiatives aimed at getting more African women involved in the industry. Dakuku stated this when the president of WISTA, Ghana, Jemilat Mahamah, paid him a courtesy visit at the NIMASA headquarters in Lagos ahead of the 6th WISTA Africa Region Conference held in Accra from April 2 to 4.

Interestingly, the theme of the conference, “The role of women in harnessing the potential of Africa’s blue economy,” coincided with IMO focus this year, which is “Empowering Women in the Maritime Community.”

Dakuku told the WISTA delegation, “It is interesting that this year is dedicated by the IMO to empowering women in the maritime sector, specifically, shipping. Your conference coincides with the thematic thrust of the IMO this year.

Therefore, it is very easy for us to align with the global agenda of the international maritime community and support your initiative of hosting the continent in Accra.

“You can count on the support of NIMASA and, by extension, Nigeria.

We believe and support everything that would give women a role in the maritime sector. There is no sector that would exclude 50 per cent of the population and expect that sector to thrive. If we exclude women, we are excluding 50 per cent of our population from benefitting in the economic activities in the maritime sector.”

Dakuku added that the focus of the WISTA conference also accorded with current efforts by African leaders to create economic activities in the continent by maximising the benefits of the blue economy.

According to him, “The blue economy is one critical sector that will create employment for our people, contribute to economic growth, and give opportunities to all our people, whether they be men or women. So it is timely and most appropriate that you are focusing on

how to get 50 per cent of the continent’s population involved in the blue economy, be it fisheries, fishing, or underwater mining, aquaculture or any of the activities that go on in the blue economy. That totally aligns with our vision of making the blue economy play a greater role in the economic growth of our country and our continent.”

Last year, the Day of the Seafarer had the theme, “Seafarers wellbeing,” which tried to capture a strong drive within the industry to address seafarers’ wellbeing, particularly their mental health.

“By addressing the issue of seafarers’ wellbeing and particularly mental health, this campaign helped inform specific strategies to tackle stress and other issues affecting seafarers’ mental conditions – and make the tools available more widely known,” IMO had stated.

“The campaign sought to highlight and showcase best practices and good examples but also, inevitably, brought out areas of concern and examples of shortcomings.”

NIMASA has trained many seafarers under the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), which was conceived in 2008 to address the dearth of certified and qualified seafarers in the country, and their depletion due to age and the migratory instinct for greener pastures. The scheme was launched in September 2009 to complement the full implementation of the Cabotage Act, 2003, which is geared towards strengthening indigenous shipping capacity.

Beneficiaries of the scheme have received the mandatory seatime training on both Cabotage and ocean-going vessels under NIMASA’s sponsorship.

NIMASA recognises the vital place of seafarers in national development. The Agency joins IMO and the entire maritime world to mark this year’s Day of the Seafarer, which specially celebrates women in the maritime industry. · Abu works in the Public Relations Unit of NIMASA.

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Sunday 23 June 2019

Arts Bruce Onobrakpeya still thrills with 36 rare prints at Wheatbaker OBINNA EMELIKE

S

ince April 27, 2019, Bruce Onobrapkeya, Nigeria’s foremost visual artist, has been trending across the Nigerian visual art landscape. The legendary artist is marking his 60 years of successful career in the arts with a unique exhibition, which is a must-see.

Titled ‘Eni! You Can Always Tell Where the Elephant Has Passed by!’ the exhibition showcases 36 rare prints, which probably have never been see before now by art enthusiasts and collectors, hence it is truly a commemorative outing for the six decades practice of the living art master.

The exhibition, which is curated

by Sandra Mbanefo Obiago of SMO Contemporary Art and hosted by the Wheatbaker in Lagos, is a true delight for art lovers, especially collectors, who are in search of the works of Onobrapkeya because of the creative ingenuity that went into them and their ever soaring values in the art markets at home and abroad.

Eni! You Can Always Tell Where the Elephant Has Passed by! marks sixty years since Onobrakpeya’s first exhibition in 1959 in Ughelli, during his student days at the Nigerian College of Arts Science & Technology in Zaria. The rare prints presented in the exhibition provide highlights of not just the artist’s life and works but are an

Bruce Onobrapkeya

important chronicle of Nigeria’s post-independence era.

Onobrakpeya (born 1932) grew up in Delta State and is one of Nigeria’s most important artistic pioneers. He obtained a Diploma in Fine Arts and a Teacher’s Certificate from the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology (now called Ahmadu Bello University) in Zaria in 1962.

Onobrakpeya was a member of the famous Zaria Art Society, a student group which sought to develop a new aesthetic language deeply rooted in African tradition and philosophy. The group included Uche Okeke, Yusuf Grillo,

Demas Nwoko, Oseloka Osadebe and other students who drew strength from the post-colonial independence movement.

These aspiring young artists were later called the “Zaria Rebels” and quickly made their mark internationally with their strong visual philosophy. “We were not rebelling against anything as such but thought that the idea of just using the western art technique without relating it to our culture wasn’t right, ” commented Onobrakpeya, who began to experiment with diverse media including painting, sculpture, prints, low relief foils, large scale installations and mixed

media works created out of found objects.

Onobrakpeya has received many awards and his works have been exhibited at the Venice Biennale in 1990, the Tate Modern in London, the National Museum of African Art of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., the Malmö Konsthall in Malmö, Sweden and the National Gallery of Modern Art, Lagos to name a few. He received the UNESCO Living Human Treasures Award in 2006.

“We are excited to be exhibiting Okpogho (The Hornbill), a print which dates back to Prof. Onobrak-

peya’s first exhibition in Ughelli in 1959, alongside Chibok Girls, a recent print he created in 2017, as an homage to the kidnapped Nigerian school girls, as well as prints from his Niger Delta environmental protest series ,” said the exhibition curator, Sandra Mbanefo Obiago.

“Prof Onobrakpeya is not just one of our finest artist’s, his works are also important historical documents which showcase Nigeria’s rich history and culture, alongside socio-political events of the past sixty years.

“We are extremely proud to host this internationally significant exhibition of Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya’s prints, “said Mosun Ogunbanjo, Director of the Wheatbaker. “It is important to us that both our international and local guests enjoy some of the best art Nigeria has to offer, as we confirm our commitment to using our platform to celebrate the best creativity of our master artists as well as emerging talent.”

However, those who wish to encounter the artist can visit Wheatbaker as the ENI exhibition, which is supported by Louis Guntrum Wines, runs until the end of July 2019, with a special reception and artist talk held during the month of June. Another important exhibition of Onobrakpeya’s installations and sculptures is currently being exhibited at Freedom Park in Lagos, with a third exhibition planned in Agbhara-Ottor in August, all to commemorate his prolific career.

MTN Foundation boost theatre art with N2.5m charity to universities SEYI JOHN SALAU

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TN Foundation have donated state-of-theart equipment worth two million, five hundred thousand naira (N2.5m) each to the theatre arts departments of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), University of Ibadan and University of Port Harcourt, in enhancing their creative practice for their collaboration with the foundation on the 2019 MTN Foundation Theatre for Schools competition.

Vital Years Secondary School, Zaria, Kaduna State, emerged the winner of the maiden edition of the MTN Foundation Theatre for Schools Competition organised for secondary schools across Nigeria.

The Theatre for Schools Competition is an initiative of the social investment vehicle of MTN, the MTN Foundation. It represents one of the three focus areas of its sustainability initiative. With a focus on arts and culture, the initiative is aimed at creating a platform for students to build capacity in the performing arts, stimulating public interest in Nigerian arts and culture as well as encourage the adoption of theatre from an early age by talented young

Nigerians.

MTN Foundation’s Arts and Culture causes has for the last five years supported shows, plays, musicals and initiatives that aim to tell authentically Nigerian stories.

Recent productions supported by the foundation include critically

acclaimed shows as Fela and the Kalakuta Queens, Legends, the Musical, the Life in My City Art Festival in Enugu, Our Son the Minister, the Made in Nigeria Poetry Show and High: The Play.

Nonny Ugboma , executive secretary, MTN Foundation, said

‘Death and the King’s Horseman’, an enthralling stage play.

“Without a doubt, this was a keenly contested competition and you will agree with me that the best team won. The passion, creativity and sheer depth of composure displayed by these students only help to reconfirm that our decision to invest in the grassroots development of

local talent was the right economic and human development decision.”

The maiden edition of the competition which drew participants from secondary schools across the country had its regional competitions in Ibadan, Zaria and Port-Harcourt respectively. Idikan Baptist Comprehensive College of Ibadan emerged regional champion from the Ibadan zone while Nigeria Navy Secondary School of Port-Harcourt was the regional winner for that zone. The eventual national winner, Vital Years Secondary School, emerged from the Zaria zone.

Accompanied by their respective coaching teams, the regional teams arrived Lagos to compete for the one million Naira (N1, 000,000.00) prize money. The keenly contested final saw a great display of budding talents from the young aspiring actors. The judges were made-up of seasoned theatre practitioners like; Bimbo Manuel, Tina Mba, Afeez Oyetoro, Kemi Lala Akindoju and Patrick Jude Ote, who is the artistic director of the Jos Repertory Theatre. Vital Years Secondary School’s Divine Auta emerged the best male thespian, while Abioye Ayomide of Idikan Baptist Comprehensive College of Ibadan was named the female thespian.

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Arts Osun govt assures of hitch free 2019 Osun Osogbo festival REMI FEYISIPO

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he government of the State of Osun has assured of a hitch free 2019 edition of the annual Osun Osogbo Festival, describing the festival as the pride of the state.

Obawale Adebisi, the supervisor in charge of Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism Ministry, made the pledge during a courtesy call on him by Esquire Global, the newly appointed marketing and event management consultant for the 2019 edition of the festival, representatives of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) and National Commission for Museums and Monuments.

While receiving the delegation, Adebisi stated that the State Government of

Osun is committed to partnering with individuals who are ready to promote the growth of the state, saying that Governor Gboyega Oyetola promised during his electioneering campaign to make the state a tourist destination.

He c o m m e n d e d t h e management of Esquire Global for their efforts at marketing and promoting the festival, assuring that the state government would give necessary support to make the 2019 edition a success.

According to Adebisi, “Osun Osogbo is our pride.

We want to sustain the reputation and commercial viability of the State of Osun State as a cultural enterprise destination. We will therefore continue to seek and partner with anybody, group or firm that will promote and develop tourism in the state. We are

Procession at the previous edition of the festival

impressed with your firm’s efforts so far on the 2019 Osun Osogbo Festival and we look forward to having

a rewarding relationship”.

Speaking at the event, Toye Arulogun, managing consultant of Esquire Glob-

al, promised that the firm would ensure that it sustains the traditions of the festival, inject fresh ideas

and attract people from around the globe that will ensure the success of the 2019 edition of the world heritage, tourism and cultural fiesta.

Arulogun, who is immediate past commissioner in Oyo State, stated that the firm’s objective is to position Osun Osogbo as a global festival with the unique attributes of myth, mystery, heritage, cultural tourism and traditional festivities with inherent economic potentials for the State of Osun.

“We are desirous of sustaining Osun Osogbo Festival as an international cultural tourism brand in partnership with the state government. The support of the State of Osun is therefore crucial to the success of this year’s edition, as we jointly promote, preserve and sustain the uniqueness of Osun Osogbo Festival,” Arulogun added.

Republic of Guinea embraces AFRIMA 2019 …as Conakry hosts African Union stakeholders’ meeting

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he officials of African Union Commission (AUC) and members of the International Committee of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) were hosted by the government and people of the Republic of Guinea during the African Union Stakeholders’ meeting held from June 1315, 2019 in Conakry, the capital city. The meeting was path of the efforts at propagating the idea and objectives of AFRIMA in line with the AU Agenda 2063, Charter for African Cultural Renaissance and the Plan of Action on Cultural and Creative Industries.

As well, the stakeholders’ meeting was in a bid to get the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance ratified among Pan African countries, alongside promoting the AFRIMA objectives and its programme of events for the 6th edition, which commenced on May 10, 2019 and culminates in the main events in November 2019.

The Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Sports, Guinea, received the delegation of AU and AFRIMA officials on behalf of the government and on hand to meet the delegation were other stakeholders from the creative and arts industry including music professionals, music execu-

tives, members of cultural group association, members of Guinea Dance Troupe and the media.

The African Union and AFRIMA delegation included Angela Martins , head of Culture, African Union; the Mike Dada, president/executive producer, AFRIMA; Varissou Shuaib, director general, African World Heritage Fund, and Professor Lupwishi Mbuyamba, director of the observatory of cultural policies in Africa (OCPA), who paid a visit to the National Museum in Conakry where they were treated to a display of Guinean rich culture and heritage, with artefacts and ancient musical instrument reflecting the cultural journey of the Guineans.

Speaking on behalf of the ministry, Monsieur Fodeba Isto Keira, secretary general/permanent secretary, expressed happiness that the AU and AFRIMA visited the Republic of Guinea for the purpose of entrenching the values and opportunities in the culture and creative industry in Africa. He pledged the support of the government and people of Republic of Guinea to the AFRIMA initiative.

The team also paid a courtesy visit to Claus Kory Kondiano, president, National Assembly of the Republic of Guinea.

Addressing attendees and journalists, Dada enjoined participation of African music lovers in the ongoing en-

A cross section of delegates during the Stakeholders’ meeting in Conakry.

try submission for the 6th edition of AFRIMA, where eventual nominees compete in the 36 categories to win the AFRIMA 23.9 carat goldplated trophy. He also reiterated that entry submission of songs closes on August 2, 2019 to which some respondents pledged to uphold the AFRIMA objectives in accordance with the AU policy on Africa transformation through social integration, a mission embarked upon by AFRIMA since its first edition of the awards event in 2014.

The 6th edition is a fourday packed full of exhilarating activities scheduled to hold in November. AFRIMA, in partnership with the African Union, is a music property that recognises and rewards the work and talent of a myriad of African artistes from the old to the new generation of musicians. Through its conference, AFRIMA also stimulates conversations among Africans and between Africa and the rest of the world about the potential of the creative arts for real humanising enterprise on the continent, contributing significantly to social cohesion, national, regional and continental integration.

The award show is usually broadcast to over 80 countries around the world.

Mercy Johnson to launch new ‘Kitchen Talk Show’ this July IFEOMA OKEKE

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ward winning actress, Mercy Johnson Okojie, is set to launch her new ‘Kitchen talk show’ called, Mercy’s Menu, from July 2019 where she talks to fellow celebrities about their lifestyle, their opinion on life issues and their intimate secrets while cooking.

The 13 episode show features veteran Nollywood actress, Liz Benson and other popular celebrities like AY, Chigul, Omawumi, Niniola, Ufuoma McDermott, Lolo 1, Maraji Busola Dakolo, Kemi ‘Lala’ Akindoju, Ill Bliss and Munachi, Lagos House Wife (Rayo) and her beautiful family, Prince Odi Okojie, Purity, Henry and Angel Okojie.

“A lot of people think that

celebrities’ lives are perfect but they are not. I love to cook and talk; getting people to talk over food is one of the most enjoyable things I have done”, the Nollywood star revealed. “I call it a “Kitchen Talk show” because it happens around food and we talk about a lot of important things in the kitchen”.

Shot on location at Pedini Bosch Kitchen in 2018, Mercy roots out juicy information from her guests on family, work, scandal and some of the most challenging points of their lives. The show promises to be exciting, funny and emotional.

The show is set to be aired from July 6, 2019 on African Magic Showcase -just before Big Brother Nigeria highlights- by 18.00 CAT (5.00pm Nigerian Time) on Saturdays.

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Sunday 23 June 2019

Life&Living

Why going on holiday can improve your gym results

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e all want to maximise the benefits of our training sessions and know the secrets of some of the popular fitness professionals. In her latest column for Women’s Health, personal trainer, sports therapist and Nike Global Master Trainer Joslyn Thompson Rule highlights the benefits of taking a back-off week and explains how to fit it into your current exercise programme.

Picture your body as a sponge.

Every time you train, you are pouring water over that sponge. At first the sponge soaks it up. But what happens over time? You’ve guessed it. The sponge gets fully saturated and can no longer absorb any more water.

The same is true of your body and training. Over time, it cannot take on any more benefits of the exercise, which is where rest days or back-off weeks come in. They are the equivalent of wringing out your sponge to make room for more water.

According to research from Ball State University, taking time out from hard training every now and then can actually help your muscles recover. Yet, a surprising number still admit to not considering rest days (or weeks) an important factor in their training programme.

But, if increased strength, re-

duced injury risk and inflammation, and better performance are some of the fitness goals you list highly as a training motivator, it’s time you learned how to back off – and how to give the rest week the respect it deserves.

“A back-off week or de-load week is a scheduled week at the end of a typical 4-6-week training cycle, where volume and/or weight are reduced to approximately 4060% of your usual numbers. This is based on the assumption that you have a training programme that is progressive.

“However, if you attend 4-5

classes a week, consistently, that don’t necessarily follow a progression, your back-off week would involve you reducing the number of classes you go to down to 2-3, or reducing the weight and/or intensity at which you train.”

“Don’t underestimate the obvious. If you’ve been pounding your training programme day-in, dayout for weeks now, chances are your motivation may have started to dwindle. If that’s the case, think back to when you took part in Dry January or gave up Malteser Bunnies for Lent – didn’t that first G&T or bite of a bunny ear taste so much

better after that time without it?

The same is true for your training; back-off weeks are essentially a sure-fire solution for avoiding your risk of ‘exercise burnout.”

How do you know if you really need a back-off week?

“Taking a back-off week is certainly for those who have been training consistently beyond 3-6 months.

Beginners should start out at a relatively slow pace in those first training months, meaning there should be less danger of over training.”

That said, there are common hints to watch out for, which can signal that you do need to ease off a bit.

Four warning signs that you need a rest You feel sluggish You are unable to lift as well as you could the previous week You don’t feel on form You’re at a certain point in your menstrual cycle (more on this, below.)

How do you take a back-off week successfully?

“A back-off week is the final week of your 4-6 week training cycle. So, if your training programme is four weeks long, treat the fourth week as a back-off week. If your programme is six weeks long, your back-off week will be week six.”

Been training for a while now, but this is the first you’ve heard of back-off weeks? Don’t worry.

“If you have been training consistently without a back-off week, simply add one in now, and then schedule them in for the last week in each future training block.”

Three steps for the perfect back-off week 1. Reduce the weight or volume of your training to approximately 40-60%.

2. Schedule in at least one rest day.

3. Consider where you are in your cycle – a very easy way to tie in a back-off week over a 4-5-week block is to time it with your period: your back-off week would be the week preceding, or falling during, your period, when your body is naturally in need of less volume and more recovery time.

Building a sustainable brand on genuine foundations Jumoke Akiyode-Lawanson

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ecoming recognised as a “sustainable” organisation can enhance brand equity, unlock opportunities to create new markets and launch subbrands, line extensions and packaging innovations. In the electronics industry, a number of companies are reinventing themselves with fresh initiatives and brand identities with a sustainability focus.

Many have differentiated themselves by integrating sustainable thinking into the values and principles of their organisations, transforming all the functions that influence their brand and creating new opportunities in the process.

Consumers want to do business with a company they can trust. Due to this, it is now common for a business to have a variety of external activities in place. In order to remain competitive in today’s market, one of the activities that businesses must practice is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Those that don’t will be unable to attract or retain top talent, continue to experience decreased sales, and risk going viral for all the wrong reasons on social media leading to a damaged reputation.

In the area of sponsorship and social support, companies like LG

Electronics show that it’s a dependable brand that is committed to social support. The South Korean brand is always looking to generate a positive idea of their products in the minds of their consumers. As such, the company regularly supports events that it feels can influence consumer opinions and bring a positive change in their lives. Also, the rise of social media has put a lot of attention to external activates of each company.

In other words, public activities are a very important factor that can affect businesses, and the importance cannot be overemphasized. You will see a few examples in the following slides.

According to Hari Elluru, head of corporate marketing, LG Electronics, West Africa operations, “As a global company, LG Electronics wants to use its capabilities to help local communities all over the world solving some of their regional issues. For us, we believe that ‘Life’s Good’ when shared with others. We are committed to giving back to the society because we believe doing good is good business.

“We have remained competitive while improving sustainability; we have enabled investment and innovation required to deploy new technologies and to safely and responsibly develop progressive products. LG Electronics will continue to support communities even in the future”,

he said.

Over the years, LG Electronics has vigorously pursued its CSR initiatives with all sense of responsibility and commitment, placing it at the forefront of giving back to the society.

The company recently inaugurated a free laundry service for the people of Ogba, Ikeja and its environs who are facing the difficulty of water and power to efficiently carry out their washing chores. The laundry cabin is equipped with state of the art facilities to effectively take care of laundry needs of the people at free of cost.

As a leading electronic giant, the company has also continued to create and donate some of its unique products to Nigerians. One of such innovation introduced was the Mosquito Away. LG’s Mosquito

Away was purpose-built to stand up to Nigeria’s stifling heat and humidity, delivering a powerful cooling performance and superior durability.

Many health care centres, hospitals, orphanages, schools among others across the country have also benefited from LG’s donations to better the lives of the people. Such donations include its visit to Kuje General FCT, Abuja where it donated some units of All new Gencool inverter air conditioners, jet cool air conditioners as well as treated mosquito nets to the hospital; commitment to the welfare of children at the Lagos State motherless babies home, Lekki etc Some other sustainability projects embarked upon by the brand include: scholarship awards to best engineering UNILAG students; visit to IdiAyunre community in Ibadan where

they donated LG anti-mosquito Air conditioners as well as treated mosquito nets to the Health Centre, award of scholarship to outstanding engineering students of the University of Lagos, beach cleaning activity to mark world environment day where staff of the organization came together to clean an expansive beach in Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos and many other activities like that.

The brand has received accolades from Nigerian consumers over the years, for having their interest at heart in the development of cutting edge technological products, embarked on this gesture in order to enhance health care delivery services in Nigeria.

Internationally, LG Electronics has received several recognitions for its humanitarian services. Most notably, the United Nation Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Award in 2013 under the Global Compact Local Network for its global social program, the LG Hope Series.

The company has also declared an unwavering support to address the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) focusing on the promotion of good health and well-being (goal 3); quality education (goal 4); clean water and sanitation (goal 6); affordable and clean Energy (goal 7); decent work and economic growth (goal 8) etc.

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Feature Charles o’tudor rallies thought leaders in free brand masterclass as birthday gift Modestus Anaesoronye

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enowned brand expert and principal consultant at ADSTRAT Branding Management Consortium, Charles O’Tudor, has as part of his 48th birthday hosted the annual Charles O’Tudor Brand Masterclass. The Masterclass featured a variety of influential personalities in Nigeria ranging from award-winning celebrities to CEOs of distinguished brands.

Themed Spiritual Branding, the masterclass is the third edition in the Charles O’Tudor Brand Masterclass series (#COBMC) and was held in Lekki, Lagos State. It was organized for young brands and budding thought leaders interested and associated with the areas of leadership, entrepreneurship and brand management at absolutely no cost.

The event activities included a praise and worship session conducted by The Charles O’Tudor Choir, the introductory session by Charles O’Tudor, a mini comedy session

by MC Lively. There were birthday wishes for O’Tudor, participants’ debate session, impactful sessions from keynote speakers and the panelists, which were all anchored by Bukky Shaw, Timi Dakolo and Charles O’Tudor. A whooping cash gift of $1000 was presented to the winner of the debate session, Temi Ajibewa.

Donated by the CEO/Vice President of Fine & Country West Africa, Udo Okonjo, the prize money was given towards the expansion of the winner’s Business Coaching brand.

L-R: Renowned Brand Strategist & Convener, Charles O’Tudor; CEO/Vice Chairman, Fine and Country West Africa, Udo Okonjo Global; AND Business and Leadership Strategist, Olakunle Soriyan at the 3rd annual edition of the Charles O’Tudor Brand Masterclass in Lagos.

Asked what this new concept of branding means, O’Tudor shared that all of us are spiritual brands because we’re created in God’s image. He defined Spiritual Branding as “the act of creating compelling brands based on the principles of true and honest practices. Connecting and staying connected to the

Supreme Being on all platforms and living out a life that’s pleasing to HIM through a well thought out and deliberate strategy”. He went on to add that “Same must uphold all the tenets of transparency, global standards and consistency “.

Speaking at the event, leadership and global business strategist

- Olakunle Soriyan - enlightened the participants on the true meaning of spirituality and how it is separate from when one is being spiritual. In his words, “Spirituality isn’t technical, it isn’t theological, it is the ease of your connection with your environment and community”. Speaking in the same vein, keynote speaker,

Udo Okonjo revealed in her session tagged the Nine Standard Principles to be Stand-Out Entrepreneur - that some of the biggest breakthroughs she has experienced have been from her place of spirituality.

A power packed panel featured speakers including Lead Strategist at Alpha Reach & Nigerian Thought Leader; JJ Omojuwa; CEO of Bubez Foods, Ijeoma Ndukwe; Film maker and former MD/CEO of Aquila Asset Management Limited, Joseph Edgar; certified Personal Nutritionist and Weight Loss Expert Adedamola Ladejobi popularly known as AskDamz; as well as Singer and former Idol West Africa winner, Timi Dakolo.

The panel which was moderated by award-winning actress; Chioma Akpotha, saw the panelists all sharing insights on what spiritual branding meant to them.

The Charles O’Tudor Brand Masterclass is a platform where exceptional individuals with a burning quest for Transformational Leadership can connect, unlearn, learn and relearn. Held for the first time on his birthday on June 20 2017, the free masterclass which hosted 400 entrepreneurs at inception has transformed to over 2,000 personal and corporate brands due to increase in demand.

Participants at the 2019 masterclass testified that Spiritual Branding has groomed their brands in the concepts of cleanliness, wellness, connection (spirit, soul and body), creativity, empowerment, integrity, trust and consistency.

UNFPA at 50: Rallying private sector to drive demographic dividend, SDGs Josephine kojie

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ince its establishment in 1969 as a full-fledged agency under the United Nation General Assembly, the United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) has been a global leader in promoting the rights of every woman, man and children to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity.

As parts of activities to commemorate the agency’s 50th anniversary recently in Lagos, UNFPA orgainsed a one-day summit in partnership with Access Bank Plc to discuss the role of multi-sectorial approach in driving policies that will make Nigeria reap the benefits of demographic dividend.

The one-day summit is also a call to action by the private sector to promote investment in improving access to sexual reproductive health and rights services for women and young people through funding, technology and competence.

According Eugene Kongnyuy, acting resident representative, UNFPA Nigeria, the summit is a platform geared towards knowledge sharing and discussion on harnessing demographic dividend through investment in youth, health and education to achieving sustainable growth as well as high-

lighting strategic opportunities for the private sector to partner with UNFPA to deliver high impact health and productivity programs for women, girls and young people in the country.

“For Nigeria to benefit from demographic dividend, we need to have a significant reduction in maternal and infant mortality, improvement in the quality of education for our young people to have the skills to deliver and provide good policies to promote the growth of the private sector” said Eugene Kongnyuy, acting resident representative, UNFPA Nigeria.

“We need to have fewer children and more working age people and when this happens, the country will begin to reap demography dividend,” Kongnyuy said.

He defined demographic dividend as a long term economic and population policy that ensures that the population of any nation is structured and in line with policies that create more working age people in its society.

He noted that since Nigeria launched its demographic dividend in 2017, the country is yet to record any benefit from it, saying that the move has shifted governments focus on young people and also create interventions in health and education.

Kongnyuy said the private sector remains a crucial sector with countless opportunities to drive the course of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their associated targets in Nigeria.

He said the private has a huge contribution to make in tackling the myriad of issues affecting women, child and youths through commitment to seeking shared value and environmentally sustainable ways of operating.

According to him, the UNFPA in partnership with its partners wants a holistic approach at highlighting UNFPA’s achievements and opportunities in investing and implementing high impact programs on improving access to sexual and reproductive health, promoting reproductive rights, reducing maternal mortality and achieving gender equality in Nigeria.

Discussing the importance of the summit, Head of Sustainability at Access Bank Plc, Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan explained that there is the need to increase the understanding of and discussions around improving women and girls’ health, wellbeing and productivity and its potential impact on Nigeria’s development, among private sector organizations.

She said government alone

cannot tackle the issue, hence the need to motivate and support private sector organizations to develop strategies and programmes that will accelerate the impact of interventions focused on women, youth, population and poverty eradication.

Present at the summit, were stakeholders across sectors and technocrats from United Nations who gathered to discuss issues affecting population growth from the lens of gender equality, adolescent and women’s health and youth unemployment and what needs to address these issues.

At the end of the summit, a 13-action call to action communique was issued. In the communique, the participants agreed that in carrying out corporate social responsibilities; ensure partnering with civic society organisations and participatory needs assessment of target groups to provide sync between the company’s activities and achievement of the sustainable development goals.

The stakeholders also agreed to use their goodwill with government parastatals and political contacts to ensure there are reviews, amendment and implementation of laws that pertain to women, youth, population and poverty eradication to ensure attaining

the SDGs. Also, as part of the resolution, the private sector participants agreed to explore graduate learning training and talent developments on the expertise that is commonly outsourced to expatriates to build 21st-century relevant skills in indigenous youths and also support the improvement of academic curriculum to include soft-skills.

On equal opportunities for women, the panelists agreed to give consideration to employing women in workplaces and giving them equal opportunity to rise the corporate cadres and support their maternal needs during and after pregnancy, and also established a forum for private partnerships to drive conversations around.

At the end of the summit, Jide Idris former commissioner of Health in Lagos state, commended UNFPA and Access Bank for their steadfast commitment in fighting the cause of women, youths and young girls.

Idris charged participants at the summit to come out with strategies on how to best tackle the issue of gender based violence and reproductive health, adding that government cannot do it alone with the support of the private sector in the country.

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Travel

Why Uganda is focusing attention on Nigerian tourists

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t is no surprise that Nigeria is a source market for tourists among top destinations in the world. The scramble for the Nigerian tourist is even hotter among African countries. While South Africa woos the most of Nigerian tourists, East African countries such as Kenyan, Rwanda and lately Ethiopia, boost of a sizeable share of the market, ahead of North African countries of Egypt and Morocco, the most visited by Nigerians for tourism in the Saharan Africa.

But the East Africans are still pushing for more especially with improved aviation infrastructure, world class tourism facilities and most importantly, unique natural attractions, which are in abundant across the tourism Eastern

landscape.

Now, Uganda is joining her fellow Easterners in the scramble for Nigerian tourists. Well, that seems a late entry in the contest, but Uganda has more breathtaking attractions to also behold.

Though landlocked, Uganda’s offerings include; diverse landscape encompassing the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains, immense Lake Victoria, abundant wildlife includes chimpanzees, and rare birds. The country’s Bwindi National Park is a renowned mountain gorilla sanctuary, while Murchison Falls National Park in the northwest is known for its 43m-tall waterfall and wildlife such as hippos.

The city is also bubbling with excitement and night life.

But why is Uganda looking to Nigeria to grow her tourism arrivals. Well in spite of the devalued Naira, the huge population of more than 190 million people and a GDP of $US 400 billion are among the reasons.

Of course, the Uganda Tourism Board is seeking to tap into the Nigerian market because the globally acclaimed heavy spenders, which Nigeria has assumed overtime, though with fact.

Lilly Ajarova, UTB chief executive officer of Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) says there are lots of opportunities to be explored between Uganda and Nigeria, and the West African market in general.

“As we are strengthening Uganda’s position in markets outside

Africa, there are also opportunities that exist within the continent. We are looking to explore and develop different products to suit the needs of the different African tourists,” Ajarova noted.

She added that Uganda and Nigeria have a lot to explore and share in terms of culture and heritage.

“Nigeria just like Uganda has several tribes and culture that the two nations can explore further”.

She disclosed that the revival of Uganda Airlines is very timely as it would help offer easier connectivity between Uganda and markets such as Nigeria and ultimately boost the number of tourists and business people coming to Uganda.

UTB is currently working with

Interview

‘Aside tourism, Dubai is creating an e-commerce landscape’ As Dubai’s retail industry continues to evolve, the city’s Chamber of Commerce & Industry is putting measures in place to ensure sustainability. Hamad Buamim, president/CEO, Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, elaborates on some of the measures in this interview. Excerpt.

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hat is the evolution of Dubai’s retail industry and its contribution to UAE’s GDP? Dubai has firmly established itself as one of the world’s top shopping destinations, with the interplay between the emirate’s retail, real estate, travel and tourism markets continuing to strengthen its value proposition for both consumers and investors. Figures show that Dubai’s retail activity generated AED142 billion in sales during 2018 after realising 6.8% yearon-year growth, with the sector forecast to enjoy medium-term growth at a CAGR of 5.2% in the 2018-2023 period. The statistics also reveal that Dubai’s wholesale and retail sector is a key contributor to the emirate’s economic development and, at 26.6%, is the single biggest contributor to the emirate’s GDP. Other factors that are contributing to the emirate’s growth are the growing popularity of traditional and app-based delivery services and the sector expansion ahead of Expo 2020, with an increase in visitor numbers targeted in the run up to the exhibition. This objective is enshrined in Tourism Vision 2020, a strategic roadmap that outlines the plans for attracting 20 million visitors per year by 2020, doubling the number Dubai welcomed in 2012. Lastly, over the next few years, a significant amount of retail space will be added in Dubai.

How has Dubai’s e-commerce landscape evolved over the last few years?

Online retail activity in Dubai is gaining momentum as more consumers in this part of the world turn to digital platforms to buy products and services – a trend that is reflected in the emirate’s transformation to one of the world’s smartest cities. High social media, Internet penetration, and connectivity is only one side of the story when it comes to the potential of e-commerce in the UAE and Dubai. Another aspect is favourable regulations for online commerce.

For example, new e-commerce regulations from the Dubai Free Zones Council were introduced to promote more foreign direct investment into the e-commerce sector in Dubai and help make the emirate more attractive for e-commerce companies.

Government departments in Dubai have also been promoting public-private partnerships to encourage businesses to use online services. For instance, the Department of Economic Development, with its long-standing partner Visa, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to help grow the UAE’s consumer e-commerce sector. This agreement was drawn up to encourage more merchants to take their businesses online and to educate consumers on the benefits of digital payments and shopping and paying electronically. For its part, Dubai Chamber has been committed to promoting the e-commerce sector. Also,

last year Dubai Chamber officially launched ‘Get Dubai Businesses Online’ following a successful pilot phase. Developed in conjunction with Google, the program helps local businesses be discovered more easily on the web by listing and verifying their business information on Google Search and Maps.

How was Dubai able to emerge as a preferred destination for entrepreneurs in retail and e-commerce?

Dubai’s strategic location is complemented by many factors such as its entrepreneurial culture and ease-ofdoing-business environment. This latter aspect is seen in the relative simplicity for business operators to set up back end logistics for online retail, which is evinced in the burgeoning growth of such websites.

Dubai’s excellent telecommunications and infrastructure also facilitates easy and straightforward payments and delivery.

The growth of e-commerce in Dubai is also driven by a sharp rise in the number of shoppers who are looking for convenience, larger product selections, lower prices, convenient payment methods and easy to access reviews and product ratings, all of which are features of online retail. From the perspective of businesses, technology has also played a huge role in providing a platform for start-ups to reach their consumers directly at a much lower cost than they would have expected to bear about a decade ago. Lastly, there is an ecosystem of stakeholders, such as Dubai Chamber, who play a vital role in guiding entrepreneurs - retail entrepreneurs included - to realise their goals. An example of this can be seen in the first-ever ‘Chamberthon,’ a Dubai Chamber initiative that took place in Kigali, Rwanda, last year.

Are the retail leaders in Dubai enhancing performance and competitiveness by embracing next generation technologies?

Dubai is busy creating a landscape where companies wanting to harness the power of the Fourth Industrial Revolution can thrive, recognising that the future belongs to those who adapt to this new era. As a result, the city’s technology sector is booming and is a major industry currently being developed in the emirate. The Dubai Blockchain Strategy stands to create 1,000 new Blockchain-based operational procedures, allowing entrepreneurs and investors to set up new and innovative companies, while 3D printing is gearing up to meet the ambitions of the Dubai 3D Printing Strategy. The UAE is facilitating this transformation with, among other things, the appointment of a Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence (the first such ministerial appointment in the world), the creation of an AI strategy and the formation of a dedicated UAE Council for Artificial Intel-

key associations in Nigeria and stakeholders such as Ikechi Uko, an award winning Nigerian travel business consultant and promoter.

For Uko, “Uganda for some reason is a far country for Nigerians, but not really far just far in our consciousness. We all remember the 90 Minutes at Entebbe Movie.

We also know the King of Scotland.

We all know the Queen of Katwe.

It is a country so beautiful that the former president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, described it as the home of God. Winston Churchill called it the Pearl of Africa” He also described the country on his social media pages as the “headquarters of Catholicism in Africa. Yes Knight of Saint Kizito , easily comes to mind.

La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort spices offerings with three innovative products

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Hamad Buamim, president/CEO, Dubai Chamber ligence. Also, Dubai Chamber recognises that entrepreneurship and innovation are the lifeblood of a flexible and responsive economy, with the retail sector no exception. Approximately AED 100 million on innovation-focused projects and initiatives is being invested over the next few years by the Chamber to support and deliver viable business start-ups, with technologyfocused retail operations included.

Can you elaborate on Dubai Chamber’s ongoing efforts to establish new retail partnerships around the world and highlight how this would impact and benefit the African market?

Africa is a major focus of Dubai Chamber’s international strategy and we have stepped up our efforts over the last five years to enhance our trade relations with countries in the continent. Our efforts in Africa are in line with our strategy of exploring promising markets around the world and identifying business opportunities in African markets that offer the most potential to our members and Dubai’s business community. Dubai Chamber recently co-organised the first edition of the Retail Summit, which featured 80 speakers from around the world and 32 panel discussions that included deliberations on the African retail market, among other international markets. Our hosting of this key event formed part of our commitment to represent the interests of Dubai’s business community and to highlight the

vast array of opportunities available in the retail sector.

What are the key issues surrounding the business of retail in Dubai and what are the metrics put in place to mitigate against them?

Dubai’s retail market has a symbiotic relationship with the tourism industry, exemplified by the Dubai Shopping Festival and other dedicated retail festivals, promotions and tourism-focused initiatives, all of which aim to attract international visitors to travel to the city for shopping.

Dubai remains an attractive destination for international retail organisations thanks to several economic indicators and key factors that include its strong presence of brands, rising per capita income, economic growth prospects and a consumer base with a desire to spend on merchandise, products, leisure, attractions and food and beverages. Dubai Chamber believes that it is the collection and analysis of data that is key for forecasting consumer behaviour and for enabling retailers to stay in tune with consumers’ evolving needs. Retailers need to adapt to customers’ mobile mindsets by adopting innovative strategies and technologies that help shoppers connect with their brands in new ways. Technology has enhanced the science of data collection and predictive analytics, creating a real opportunity to develop the art of both data collection and insights.

gain, the management of La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort has unveiled triple innovative beach facilities. The offerings are a floating bed on the water, known as Simi Rimi (Rest on water) in local parlance, Transparent Kayak and Wooden Floating Jetty.

For the Ikegun Village, Lekki Ibeju, Lagos -based African themed resort, there is no end to its creativity ferment, hence regular entertaining and treating of guests and visitors to the resort, to an amazing and elegantly curated facilities.

The excitement for many of the patrons of the resort is the ability of the Wanle Akinboboye-led creative team to effortlessly put into good use local materials into functional items.

The new creations are nothing short of the enduring tradition of the resort, which has set it apart from others in its over three decades of existence. The uniqueness, which is a devotion to promotion of Africa culture and traditional heritage through a colourful mix of motifs, has indeed been acknowledged across the divide through the various awards and recognitions that it has earned as well.

Simi Rimi is a beauty to behold and experience as it is aesthetically set up and laid with fascinating colours. It is a floating bed on the lagoon waters that is creatively put together (with the use of waste materials) and all covered with an opening, thereby ensuring privacy for the occupant (s). One of the most exciting features of the new creation is the fact that it allows you to savour the bliss of nature unhindered.

It also allows for temporary relaxation on water while some of the other activities you could carry out include reading, holding private section and romantic moment.

It is also a fully serviced floating bed, with all necessities and supplies provided, with a butler at your call and a talking drum to attract the attention of the butler when the need arises.

Your security is guaranteed at every point as within the distance is a boat with a life guard watching over you.

The second creation is a floating jetty that is made from used rubber jerry cans; the first of such creations anywhere in the world. The serviceable jetty is a reflection of creating wealth from waste as all materials are locally.

Sunday 23 June 2019

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BDSUNDAY 27

Travel Cheapest destinations over the summer school holidays Stories by IFEOMA OKEKE

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ummer vacation is a double-edged sword for stay-at-home or work-athome parents of school kids. Parents are so excited to have them home. They’ve missed them all year while they’ve been off at school! Now they can spend the quality time together.

There are several things to do to make the moments memorable and one of such things is travelling.

Children will soon be on holidays and some are most likely looking forward to an amazing travel experience with their parents, friends and loved ones.

While some destinations may be well visited, there are others that could be ‘hidden’ but still offers very great attractions.

Parents may not need to break the bank in getting their kid to these top destinations. The school holiday dates can often mean price hikes for families looking to go abroad, but the good news is that there are destinations where you don’t need to break the bank.

In fact, TravelSupermarket has done the hard work and unveiled the top 20 cheapest destinations for Brits during the summer school holidays.

The comparison site looked at package holiday prices between the 21st July to 25th August across 25 holiday providers to determine the list.

Corfu proved to be the top affordable destination for Brits, with stays at the island’s village Kavos coming in at a median average of £56.25pp, per night. But it wasn’t just Kavos that made for a budgetfriendly break. Sidari also featured in the top five spots, while Corfu Town made the top 20.

Never been before? There is a Corfu Greece guide with everything from the best things to see and do, including The Durrells filming locations. Second place on the list went to Bulgaria’s Golden Sands and Albena resorts, although it’s worth noting that Sunny Beach can also offer great value and boasts some great cheap hotels.

Meanwhile, the bronze medal

went to Costa Brava - not surprising when you consider the plethora of cheap Spain holidays on offer.

The top 20 cheapest destinations include Kavos, Corfu, Greece; Golden Sands and Albena, Bulgaria; Costa Brava, Spain; Sidari, Corfu, Greece; Neapolitan Riviera, Italy; Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria; Malia, Crete; Valencia, Spain; Bourgas (Sunny Beach and Nesebar), Bulgaria; Fuengirola, Costa del Sol , Spain; Laganas, Zante, Greece; Sicily, Italy; Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote, Canary Islands; Benidorm, Costa Blanca, Spain; Rhodes, Greece; Malta; Corfu Town, Corfu, Greece; Cote D’Azur, France ; Lagos, The Algarve, Portugal and Nerja, Costa del Sol, Spain.

Arik Cabin Crew Initiative holds career talk at St. Francis Catholic Secondary School

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rik Air, Nigeria’s leading carrier, through its Cabin Crew Initiative, has held career talk at St. Francis Catholic Secondary School, Idimu, Lagos to sensitise the students on career opportunities in the aviation industry.

The airline’s crew who spoke at the programme included Babajide Oni, a pilot, and Wale Odeyemi, a Cabin Crew Training Instructor.

They told the students that they could become pilots, aircraft engineers and cabin crew members by remaining focused on their academic studies.

Odeyemi said the programme apart from kindling the students’ interest in aviation, was also aimed at sensitising them on the importance of the airline’s crew to safety of passengers. According to him, there is the need for a replacement of the aging workforce in the aviation industry.

Similarly, Oni noted that the cost of studying at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria and International Aviation College, Ilorin, was expensive, stressing that

some students could however get scholarships if they are hardworking and brilliant.

Leo Muoneme, the Administrator of the school, said the school would continue to encourage students to follow their passion. “We want our students to be able to stand anywhere in the world and say they received solid secondary school education foundation.

“They can decide to choose any profession but we believe that they should have passion for it and utilise their God-given talents,” he said.

The cleric expressed optimism that the Nigerian aviation industry was being strengthened by Arik Air and other airlines, adding that it would be great if some of the students become part of the aviation sector in future.

NCAA supports NAPTIP in fight against Human Trafficking

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he Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Muhtar Usman has assured the National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic In Person (NAPTIP) of the Authority’s unflinching support in its fight against the scourge of human trafficking in Nigeria.

This assurance was given by Muhtar Usman when he received a high powered NAPTIP delegation led by Dame Julie Okah-Donli, its Director General, on an advocacy visit today, Monday, June 10th, 2019.

According to Dame OkahDonli, it has become very imperative to embark on the visit to the NCAA as the regulator of the aviation industry in Nigeria, since young Nigerians are lured out of the country through the airports which is a major exit point.

She said the visit will enable the two government agencies chart a course to successfully stamp out human trafficking from Nigeria.

Dame Okah-Donli therefore implored NCAA to during its

oversight responsibilities over all aviation agencies to ensure that airlines are mandated to fulfil part of their obligations under the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.

The DG NAPTIP presented some of the sensitization materials developed for the aviation industry for review and validation by the Authority before its implementation.

She added that a workshop to engage relevant operators in the industry is forthcoming.

While responding to the visiting team, Muhtar Usman promised on behalf of the Authority and other aviation agencies to partner NAPTIP in achieving its mandate of stopping the menace of human trafficking from Nigeria.

Usman assured that the NCAA while discharging its regulatory functions will ensure all airline operators adhere to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) at all times. He promised to review and validate the documents he received from the body.

Ethiopian Airlines Group voted ‘Best Airline in Africa’ for 3rd consecutive year at Skytrax 2019

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thiopian Airlines (ET) Group, the largest Aviation Group in Africa and SKYTRAX certified Four Star Global Airline, has announced that it has been honoured as the ‘Best Airline in Africa’ for the third consecutive year at the Skytrax 2019 World Airlines Awards held in Paris on 18 June, 2019.

Additionally, ET has won ‘Best Business Class in Africa’ and ‘Best Economy Class in Africa’ at the award ceremony.

Regarding the awards, Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines remarked, “We are glad to have been named the ‘Best Airline in Africa’, ‘Best Business Class in Africa’ and ‘Best Economy Class in Africa’ which are determined based on the votes of travellers. I would like to sincerely thank first and foremost our global customers for the strong and consistent vote of confidence.

“Thanks to the entire colleagues at Ethiopian, who always make extraordinary efforts to delight their customers. We have grown to more than 120 destinations worldwide with 115 ultra-modern fleet, offering excellent connectivity with one of the best travel experiences that helped us become the best airline in Africa and one of the front-runners in the world.

“As a customer focused and market driven airline, we always strive to meet and exceed customers’ expectations through our signature service and world-class products.”

Skytrax is the most prestigious global air transport rating organization that conducts the world’s largest annual airline passenger satisfaction survey where customers make their own personal choices as to which airline they consider to be the best.

Ethiopian Airlines is a multiaward winning airline and has previously received SKYTRAX World Airline Award for Best Airline Staff in Africa, two times and ‘Best Airline in Africa’, ‘Best Business Class in Africa’ and ‘Best Economy Class in Africa’ 2018.

While much has evolved in the industry, Ethiopian has stood the test of time and achieved most of its overarching goals, going halfway through its projected 15 year plan, Vision 2025.

Ethiopian is now expanding its footprint to underserved global destinations and is serving global travellers with its signature Africa’s flavoured Ethiopian hospitality onboard and in the air. True to form, the airline has also continued pushing the frontiers of aviation technology with the 21st century new generation fleet.

28 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 23 June 2019

SundayBusiness Food & Beverages With Ayo Oyoze Baje

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amie Mill, managing director of BtoB Events Ltd, host of the inaugural Food and Beverage, West Africa Fair, said its concept is to provide “a once-a-year opportunity for the food and beverage sector of West Africa to come together, network and forge new partnerships.” But that is not all.” It is also used to discuss best practice and of course, do business,” he added. And so, it turned out to be for the over 120 exhibitors drawn from five continents.

The event which was promoted online for weeks for interested participants to indicate their interest became a veritable platform for both the newcomers and established food and beverage companies to showcase their

Takes from Food and Beverage West Africa Fair, 2019 products to the world. It was also an avenue for Small and Medium scale Enterprises, SMEs to avail the customers what they have to offer them. But what is significant here are the lessons individuals and corporate organizations stand to gain from the event that ran from the 18th to the 20th of June, 2019 at the Landmark Event Centre, beside Oniru Beach, Victoria Island, Lagos.

One outstanding feature of the Fair was the solid support it enjoyed from both the sponsors and partners. Chief amongst these are the Gold Sponsors such as Just Food and NASCO. SPAR came in as Retail Partner while the likes of REFSPAN ,NASON, Association of Food Vendors in Nigeria, OkeArin Traders; Association as well as Ezickukwu Food and Beverage Association, Aba were the Show Partners.

The online Media partners included Food and Drink Talk, Agro Nigeria, Malimbe, myfarmstock, Legit.ng, Coverine and African Business Central (ABC).Their support certainly made the muchneeded difference. The lesson from this is that ideas are sometimes better brought to life with pragmatic partnerships o f those who share in the vision of the dreamer.

On a personal note were the contacts made with major players in the food industry from across the globe. For instance, it was a great pleasure speaking with Naveed Arif, director of Gold Crown Foods who was with the Marketing and Distributing Executive, Ruth Mwiti.

They came all the way from Kenya

to showcase various brands of tea. These ranged from black to green and mixed fruit tae. In fact, he reminded me that Kenya is the country that leads the world in the export of various brands of tea and coffee.

Going by nutritional facts, green tea is regarded as the world’s most beneficial beverage health wise.

Rich in bioactive compounds and antioxidants, it improves the functions of the brain making consumers smarter. It burns down fats, lowers the risk of some cancers including prostrate in addition to reducing inflammation of the muscles.

My humble submission is that more public awareness needs to be created for people to know what they stand to gain from drinking green or black tea on daily basis.

And still talking about human nutrition, there were several marketers from HLS Global Company around. They were there to throw light on the imperative of nutritional knowledge to man’s wellbeing. They insist that the mistake man makes is that he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recover from ill health. He is so anxious about the future that he hardly enjoys the present. As a result he does not live in the present or the future; lives as if he will not die and eventually dies without having really lived. This is instructive isn’t it?

Of course, it is. For, in a quote that has become their moving mantra, “If you don’t eat your food as medicine, you will take your

medicine as food”. Nutrition, they tell us affects the way we look, feel and our longevity here on Mother Earth.

Perhaps, that explains why Chi Farms Ltd was there to provide delicious chicken “from the trusted source”. They were presented in varieties of drumsticks, chicken laps, fillet, wings, thigh, dressed, smoked and gizzards. Delicious, your guess is s good as mine. And so were the sausages that came specifically tailored to breakfast, pepperoni, chicadella and onion beef burger.

Not left out was the Tropical Global Investment, TGI Group. It was a delight to have Mr. Govind Agarwal, the Marketing Manager on ground to talk about why the company is “your trusted food partner.” And why not? What with its colourful parade of Terra Chicken seasoning cubes as source of iodine. Add that to the silky, polished parboiled rice with the Red Bull tag? To complement these are a complete range of home care products such as Antox disinfectant liquid, Kleansol multi-purpose cleaner and renew cold water starch, scouring powder, dishwash and detergent.

Another unique aspect of the Food Fair was the wide spectrum of the industry that it covered.

In fact, it was a pleasant surprise that AAUD Industry Nigeria came to provide consumers as well as food processors a wide range of food flavours. Well packaged and attractive were the beverage flavours, bakery and pastry

flavours, ice cream, yogurt and dairy flavours, confectionery, candy and jelly flavours. So also were the beverage concentrates, cake and bread preservatives, bakery and dairy ingredients and sweeteners.

Tofurtherdelighttheconsumers, Fonterra was there with its nzmp milk powder offerings. From a humble beginning of over a century ago, the company now prides itself as the world’s largest dairy exporter across over 140 countries!

In the words of the company, “we are a corporative owned by 10,500 New Zealand farming families, supported by more than 20,000 Fonterra employees internationally”.

Back home here, Flour Mills of Nigeria, FMN with the Vision: ‘To be the leading food and agro-allied group in Africa’ and that goes by the pay off message of “Feeding the Nation, Everyday” had on parade several of its prime products. These included Golden Penny Prime Flour and Eagle Flour, spaghetti, macaroni, pasta, couscous, vegetable oil, pure soya oil, BAGCO and fertilizer.

Besides all these food products there were some food machine companies there to avail the customers of what they produce.

JuiceTech Solutions was one of them with juice making machines that cost between N250,000 to N650,000.

Baje is Nigerian first Food Technologist in the media ayobaje@yahoo.co.uk; 08057971776

Why court ruling favours NIMASA, classifies oil rig as Cabotage vessel AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE

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ustice Babs Keuwumi of the Federal High Court, Lagos has in a landmark judgment delivered on Friday, June 14, 2019 on the dispute between the Seadrill Mobile Units Nigeria Limited and The Honourable Minister for Transportation, classified oil rigs as vessel under the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act of 2003.

The judgment, which has settled the age-long controversy regarding whether the oil rigs employed by oil and gas companies in the maritime industry, can be regarded as Cabotage vessel, was initiated vide an originating summons with a Suit No: FHC/L/ CS/607/2016.

According to the court judgment, drilling operations fall within the definition of ‘coastal trade’ as provided by Cabotage Act, and that oil rigs fall within the definition of vessels under the Act. Recall that Seadrill Mobile Units Nigeria Limited, the plaintiff, had initiated the suit in reaction to the detention of its oil rig, The West Capella, by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), owing to the plaintiff’s failure to register the oil rig as a vessel at

the Ship Registry for Cabotage operations.

Pursuant to the suit, the plaintiff in seeking the release of its vessel from detention raised two questions for determination including whether drilling operations fall within the definition of ‘coastal trade’ and ‘Cabotage’ under section 2 of the Cabotage Act. Secondly, whether on a proper interpretation of the Cabotage Act – particularly sections 2, 5 and 22(5) – drilling rigs fall within the definition of vessel under the Cabotage Act. The plaintiff argued that drilling operations were simply limited to oil production and that it had no relation to the carriage of goods and passengers within Nigerian waters, which had been defined as coastal trade in the Act.

The plaintiff further argued that section 22 (5) of the Act expressly included certain vessels that were eligible for Cabotage registration under the Act. It also claimed that it was immaterial that the word ‘include’ was used in section 22 (5) and that the express mention of the specific vessels in the section meant the exclusion of an oil rig, which was not mentioned.

In opposition, Oluwole Akinyeye of Olisa Agbakoba Legal, the first and third defendants’ counsel, argued that the plaintiff’s drilling operations, which involved oil production, encompassed the exploration and exploitation of minerals or non-living natural resources in Nigeria According to him, the nature and functions of The West Ca-

pella compulsorily required it to carry persons and goods in relation to its oil drilling operations, which falls within the definition of coastal trade or Cabotage the Act. Akinyeye further argued that the nature and functions of the oil rig satisfied the three elements required to be fulfilled under section 2 of the Act for the purpose of classifying an oil rig as a vessel.

He further argued that The West Capella was a type of oil rig known as a drillship, adding that this fact ought to be taken into joint consideration with the provisions of the Admiralty Jurisdiction Act, NIMASA Act, and Merchant Shipping Act, which all contained provisions defining oil rig as a ship.

In deciding the first question for determination in the affirmative, Justice Babs found that the plaintiff’s drilling operations, which were conducted offshore, falls within the ambit of the definition of costal trade and Cabotage under the section 2 of the Cabotage Act. The Court further found that the pictorial evidence of The West Capella reflected that its drilling operations encompassed the carriage of goods and persons for the purpose of being classified as coastal trade or Cabotage under s2 of the Act. Also, in deciding the second question for determination in the affirmative, the Court considered

the provisions of the Admiralty Jurisdiction Act and Interpretation Act and found that an oil rig was defined as a ship.

The Court was of the position that the word – ‘include’ as utilised in section 22 (5) of the Cabotage Act, was to broaden the scope of the Act’s application to encompass vessels not specifically mentioned in the Act. It was the Court’s position that the community reading of the Admiralty Jurisdiction Act, Interpretation Act and Cabotage Act meant that drilling rigs fall under the definition of vessel under the Act. Reacting to the judgment, Akinyeye described it as groundbreaking as it has now settled the age-long controversy regarding whether the oil rigs employed by oil and gas companies in the maritime industry can be regarded as vessels for the purpose of the Cabotage Act. “The judgment is also farreaching as NIMASA can now charge and demand statutory levies on the oil rigs for Cabotage activities, which had hitherto been contested by the oil and gas companies,” he said.

Consequently, he said, the government stands to derive significant revenue from these levies, thereby improving Nigeria’s economic fortune.

Sunday 23 June 2019

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BDSUNDAY 29

SundayBusiness Simple, basic things borrowers need to know about NHF

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he National Housing Fund (NHF) is about the simplest and most fundamental funding scheme that the federal government has introduced into the country’s housing sector yet the scheme is either largely unknown or grossly misunderstood.

A good number of Nigerian working class who are the main target of that scheme are scarcely concerned about how it works and/ or who should avail himself of the main benefits it offers in terms of securing housing loans.

Because of the expensive nature of Nigeria’s housing market, almost always, most people don’t factor home-ownership into their economic planning. Nigeria is a society where owning a home has become a luxury and not necessity, many people tend to dismiss the possibility and so, make no efforts towards owning one.

Ignorance plays a fast trick here.

And in some cases, many people who have information tend to dismiss it as pipe smoke. Some accept the information with a pinch of salt and so never act on it, forgetting that information is not only power but key to unlocking success/ achievement.

To many therefore, the informa-

tion, as is being provided here, that it is possible to own a N15 million worth of home with just N1.5 million equity contribution or a N5 million home with N500,000 equity contribution, is as abstract as it is impracticable.

But that is not the case. NHF as a federal government’s intervention in the housing sector is real. It has served and is still serving as a sure vehicle to owning a home through a monthly contribution of a fraction of one’s income.

Through this fund therefore, it is possible for a home seeker to own his home by just contributing part of his income for six months and the rest is history. “NHF gives a maximum loan of N15 million and, in some cases, a minimum of N5 million. So, if an applicant to the fund is applying for the maximum loan of N15 million or the minimum of N5 million, he is expected to have saved up to N1.5 million with primary mortgage bank (PMB)”, explains Bertrand Bassey, a mortgage expert.

Bassey notes that the apathy and poor attitude to this fund are products of perceptions and not reality. “A clearer understanding of the fund would, perhaps, help both the scheme and home-seekers who would want to access home loans through the scheme”, he reasoned

Procurement and Supply Chain

with Gob-Agundu Uche Branch chair (CIPS), Nigeria

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Definition upplier co-ordination is a technique to add value as well as remove waste.

It involves a buying organization identifying its most important suppliers and bringing them together on a regular basis for mutual benefit and in particular to: • Devolve strategy and policy throughout the chain to create a sense of common purpose · Strengthen trust and the relationships of the members · Share knowledge and expertise · Facilitate joint development and learning · Jointly identify ways of minimizing waste · Identify opportunities for joint research and innovation Background The process of supplier coordination arose in the 1950’s and 60’s in Japan and is also known by the Japanese name of ‘kyoryoku kai’. It was founded by Toyota in the 1930’s and is the Japanese term for a supplier association. Toyota encouraged co-operation between its major suppliers in order to provide a platform for them to discuss improvements and production techniques with the goal of lowering

the total cost of production.

Explanation Supply Chain professionals should be looking for optimization at all times and supplier co-ordination is a useful tool for this. However, it is a very demanding activity requiring many different skills on the part of Supply Chain professionals, involving as it does bringing different suppliers together and encouraging them to work to the common good.

The principles of the kyoryoku kai can also be used for internal suppliers (e.g. design teams) and it could be argued that this is like crossfunctional working.

CIPS believes that it is important to select suppliers that are in synergy with each other as there would be little point in bringing together an organization’s ‘top ten’ suppliers if there was no connection or interrelationship between them. This means that suppliers should be grouped into categories in which they have something in common e.g. a glass bottle supplier, a bottle top supplier, and a packaging supplier.

Another way of grouping would be into supply chains, so that the first, second and third tier suppliers of a vital supply chain can be brought together.

Suppliers who are in

in an interview.

Any contributor to NHF should know that the fund is a statutorily compulsory savings scheme for all workers in Nigeria. Whether as a self-employed person or an employee, such an individual is expected to deduct 2.5 percent of his basic salary every month and pay same to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) without fail.

The FMBN is empowered, by the act establishing the NHF, to manage that pool of fund. Only those who are below 21 years are exempted from contributing to the fund. This contribution forms a large pool of fund from which mortgage loans are granted to the contributors who are eligible, ready and willing to apply for the loan. Those who are eligible to apply for the loan are those who have been contributing consistently to the fund for a period of six consecutive months.

As for those who should apply and the purpose of the loan, Bassey says, to qualify for loan, the applicant must be 21 years of age, must have a regular income and the purpose for which he is applying for the loan is to build, buy, renovate or complete a residential building which could be located anywhere in Nigeria provided it is covered by a good and an acceptable title.

Talking Mortgage with CHUKA UROKO (08037156969, chukuroko@yahoo.com)

These good, acceptable or mortgageable titles include, but not limited to, Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), right of occupancy, registered deed of assignment, deed of conveyance, land certificate, etc provided they are registered or are registerable titles.

He says that the individual cannot apply directly to FMBN. He or she has to pass through a registered mortgage institution or a registered and licenced primary mortgage bank (PMB) of his choice.

This PMB must also have conditions which the loan seeker must fulfill some of which are having an account with the bank, and having up to 10 percent equity contribution of the loan he is or applying for.

There are other things that are expected from the loan seeker. He has to fill the relevant loan application forms, including his passport

photograph, tax clearance certificate to show that he is a law-abiding citizen and the photocopies of the title documents of the property he is intending to buy as mortgage or security for the loan. He will also be expected to put forward revaluation report on the property he wants to buy to determine its value and location.

Another thing, which he canvasses that is personal to him, is that mortgage operators should begin to look at inspection certificate on the property an applicant is buying.

He explains that this is in view of the rate of building collapse, especially in Lagos these days.

“If a bank is going to take a house as security for a loan, it should not be interested in the value of the property alone, but also in the structural soundness of the property”, he advises.

Supplier co-ordination competition, either in the buying organization’s space or in other markets, might not be willing to work together in this way for fear of losing a measure of competitive advantage. However, there are some exceptions. For example, a well-known utility invites the UK’s large construction contractors to a contractor’s construction forum held twice yearly. The large construction contractors are all in competition to win the utility’s business and the business has to be tendered regularly in accordance with the European Union Utilities Directive. However, this forum is to discuss the utility’s future workload and the contractors’ resources to meet this; plus, toolbox briefings as well as specifics such as health and safety, environmental issues, etc. The contractors lead individual sessions, chaired by their respective managing directors, to debate these issues. The objectives are mutually beneficial to all; e.g. to avoid problems with the Health and Safety Executive and/or lose labour time.

Supplier co-ordination is found most often in the private sector, but CIPS would argue that in some respects it is also applicable to the public sector. For example, a local authority commissioning a new leisure centre could bring together the suppliers of catering, cleaning, pool management etc. under the general objective of improving health and safety. It is also worth mentioning that Private Finance Initiative (PFI) projects are arguably a form of kyoryoku kai.

CIPS believes that Supply Chain professionals should be mindful of all competition laws when undertaking any form of supplier co-ordination

and seek legal advice as appropriate.

There are many examples where competing suppliers work together on projects facilitated by the buying organization; environmental responsibility and health and safety are particularly popular. Some forums have covered issues such as standards in mobile phones.

The underlying motivation here is enlightened self-interest. Other forums have involved contractors working together on designs and contract remits to avoid problems for the successful tenderer further down the line. If contractors do this regularly then no one will lose out and everyone should derive benefit from the shared experience.

CIPS advises that trust is central to the success of kyoryoku kai and must be between all those participating. In some cases, it may be necessary to have confidentiality agreements in place.

CIPS considers it important for buyers and suppliers alike to benefit, and be seen to benefit, from kyoryoku kai. The buying organization must ensure that they do so; otherwise the forum will not be sustainable. Ideally, the forum should be a long-term arrangement with the objective of continuous improvement.

Most forms of kyoryoku kai employ traditional Supply Chain processes, such as value analysis and value engineering, to identify waste and generate options for improvement. CIPS believes that whatever techniques are employed with kyoryoku kai the outcome should be some form of tangible benefit.

Th e k e y t o s u c c e s s f u l outcomes in kyoryoku kai is to avoid discussions about the cost

base, which is generally seen as too commercially sensitive to be covered in such a forum. It is difficult to devolve policy and strategy to suppliers through kyoryoku kai if the suppliers are different sizes with different cultures. If this is the case then imagination and flexibility are the keys to success.

Equally, the issue of power in supply chains needs to be considered; if one supplier is larger and more powerful than the others then this has to be managed. In particular, if the suppliers are more powerful than the buying organization then kyoryoku kai becomes rather challenging.

There are alternatives to kyoryoku kai that can achieve similar ends, such as an e-supply Hub. This is a virtual meeting place in which suppliers can air issues and share experiences and problems (on professional indemnity insurance, for example).

Conclusion Kyoryoku kai is a way of solving problems and bringing about improvements but Supply Chain professionals need to deploy the necessary hard and soft skills to determine whether circumstances are right to ensure success. It is perhaps worth adding that greater use could be made of the concept, a development which CIPS would like to see take place.

There are many attractions to supplier co-ordination, but it must be emphasized that any benefits must be tangible and, ideally, quantifiable.

Supply Chain professionals should be aware of, and alert to, these benefits, whilst at the same time realizing that such arrangements are not necessarily appropriate for every situation.

30 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 23 June 2019

SundayBusiness Cosmos Africa, Italian partners launch dessert kits in Nigeria

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osmos Africa, foremost supplier of ice cream, coffee and tea equipment and consumables, has introduced state-of-the-art dessert kits to the Nigerian market.

The innovative machines were displayed in Abuja on Thursday at the commencement of a three-day training workshop on innovative recipes for gelato, ice cream and coffee production, which was organised by Ice Cream and Coffee University, an arm of Cosmos Trade Nigeria Limited, which has been in the upstream of the ice cream and coffee business in the last 22 years.

The Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Stefano Pontesilli, who was the Special Guest, assured the participants of the partners’ commitment to a comprehensive training process in using the equip-

L-R: Tunji Olaniyi, managing director of Cosmos Trade Nigeria Limited; Stefano Pontesilli, Italian ambassador to Nigeria, and Adama Dia, export area manager of Cosmos Trade Nigeria, at the opening ceremony of a workshop on new innovative recipes in Gelato and Coffee business in Abuja.

ment.

“We are not here to flood the market with equipment

and then run away,” he stated.

“I reassure you all that you

CIPM to redesign operation standard for HR practice in Nigeria SEYI JOHN SALAU

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he Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) has said it will strategise and work to redesign the operational standard of the institute in a bid to reposition it for global human resource (HR) challenge.

This position was stated

by Wale Adediran, the newly elected president of the institute at the 19th investiture ceremony of the president/ chairman of governing council of the CIPM, held recently in Lagos Wale Adediran, the president/chairman of council, CIPM in his acceptance speech said he hope to build

the institute into a brand that is highly respected by all stakeholders in the country, and on the continent. He opined that under his leadership, the council of the CIPM will redesign the standard of HR in Nigeria and thereby hold every practitioner accountable by set standard.

Adediran has diverse experiences in manufacturing start-ups and operation, shutdown and divestments, to mega project management in manufacturing operations, engineering and human resources functions.

He had served the institute in different capacity before his election as president, being vice chairman (2009 and 2010) of the annual national conference planning committee.

He was equally chairman and member of the governing council of the institute in 2011; chairman of the strategic planning and implementation committee (SPIC) from 2016 till 2017.

Adediran chairs the national joint industrial council (NJIC) and the committee of personnel experts (COPE) of the association of food, beverages and tobacco employers (AFBTE). He joined Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc. (FMN Group) as HR Director for the group till date.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State governor, in his keynote address said activities of the CIPM in Lagos State have contributed to the progress of professionalism, industry and work place innovation.

L-R: Uche Olowu, president, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), presenting an award of excellence to Wale Babalakin (SAN), chairman, Resort Group, at the institute’s 2019 Annual Lecture in Lagos.

will not be left alone in any aspect, be it fixing machines, buying spare parts, and get-

ting you trained. We are here for the long term. This workshop means a lot to us and we hope it means a lot to you all as well.”

The Ice Cream and Coffee University aims at introducing the latest equipment and technology to local ice cream vendors at a subsidised cost and providing expert training on best practices and techniques.

Managing Director of Cosmos Trade Nigeria Limited, Tunji Olaniyi elaborated on the importance of the partnerships with Carpigiani, ISA and Mec3, stating: “One of the things we are introducing is small scale machinery to start a gelato business at a very low cost with a small cabinet and small ice cream machinery and then grow as the business grows.

“Our partners place importance on the Nigerian market and are therefore committed to support us in

providing world-class service.”

He explained that service to Cosmos is not just about selling machines but also “to keep our trade partners in business in terms of the technical know-how, technical service and availability of spare parts.”

According to one of the participants, Ibitoru Ogbeha, the workshop is incredibly beneficial to her because it would teach her how best to expand and update the techniques she is using in her business.

“I have an ice cream parlour at Lokoja, Kogi State, which has been operational for five years,” she disclosed.

“At this workshop, they are teaching us the production of gelato and the way it differs from our regular ice cream, and also updating us on contemporary techniques being used in the global industry.

Omobola Johnson commends Sterling Bank’s high-level gender inclusion HOPE MOSES-ASHIKE

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former Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Omobola Johnson has listed some factors that can help women to reach the top of their careers in any field of endeavour.

The former minister who spoke on the theme of ‘Winning through Inclusion’ at the third edition of the Sterling Leadership Series (SLS) in Lagos recently said women can get to the top through mentorship, role modelling, assertiveness, confidence building and networking, among others.

While urging women to quickly adopt the tactics she outlined for better representation, Johnson said men are not likely to concede leadership positions to women in a friendly manner because lots of discriminatory practices exist in the corporate world so women would have to fight, kick and, if necessary, bite to get to the top.

According to her, available statistics show that the number of women in leadership positions in the political and corporate world was dwindling. She noted that while she was in government, women had about 30 percent representation but the percentage has dropped to about 10 percent now while there are still fewer women at the

board level in companies.

Johnson who is a Cofounder of Women in Business (WIMBIZ) commended Sterling Bank for its high level of gender inclusion.

She said available statistics show that when women are involved in leadership positions there is improved performance because there is better representation in decision-making.

She also advocated for policies that would support maternal and childbirth responsibilities among women because, besides women having responsibilities outside the workplace, it is important to have a workplace that represents the larger society.

In his opening remarks, , Abubakar Suleiman,managing, director and Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank explained that the leadership series has the objective of inspiring the bank to do things that are memorable and in order to do so, it is necessary to sit with people who have done memorable things.

Suleiman said the maiden leadership series was headlined by Professor Wole Soyinka while the managing director of Unilever Nigeria Plc, Yaw Nsarkoh, was the guest speaker at the second edition.

Johnson who also doubles as the Chairman of Custodian Investment Plc enjoined the Federal Government not to regulate

technology companies such as the Fintechs like other companies in order not to kill them because they can scale very fast.

She urged the government to listen and engage with citizens because technology is helping citizens to keep governments on their toes across the world, citing instances like the recent protest in Cameroon and the need to learn from what happened in Ukraine, Italy and the US where the electorates voted against the established order.

She observed that no developing country could talk about development without mobile phones, remarking that before the advent of mobile phones, banking services contributed about 46 percent while the introduction of mobile phones has enhanced financial inclusion to about 70 percent.

The guest speaker noted that there is a need to address gender inequality as well as the inequality foisted on physically challenged people in the society in order to ensure that everyone is included in the country’s development plan.

The session which was attended by directors and senior management executives of Sterling Bank, among others, was moderated by Kadaria Ahmed, a former senior journalist with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Sunday 23 June 2019

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BDSUNDAY 31

BrandsOnSunday SPOTLIGHTING BRAND VALUE

Nigeria’s advertising industry shines on global stage …As more players get world recognitions … Steve Babaeko named world’s top 100 creatives by Adweek.

Daniel Obi

S

ince 1929 when the West Africa Publicity Limited, the first advertising firm which later changed its name to Lintas – Levers International Advertising Services, birthed in Nigeria, the Nigerian advertising industry has witnessed steady growth in number and proficiency.

The establishment of more advertising firms by former but local employees of earlier advertising companies from 70s to today is largely informed by entry of more companies into the Nigerian space and the need to provide professional marketing communication service to them.

The phenomenal growth in the number of advertising firms in Nigeria, accounting for about 100 as at today has not only engendered ‘competition’ in the industry but has equally stimulated expertise among the players.

To further encourage and elevate proficiency which will allow Nigerian agencies compete favourable at international cycles, the advertising industry in 2006 instituted Lagos Advertising Ideas Festival, LAIF awards with the aim of recognising, rewarding and fostering creative excellence in all areas of marketing communications. An international status award, LAIF awards since then has continuously promoted Nigeria’s creative potentials in the international circle as well as recognised outstanding creativity and created an avenue for the celebration of world class ideas.

In the last 10 years, some Nigerian agencies including Noah’s Ark, X3M Ideas and 7even Interactive have shown class winning international awards. With enthusiasm, efforts and determination, the industry has expressed optimism that Nigerian creative works are on the right path to winning the Cannes Lions, globally coveted award.

In the trend of global recognitions for outstanding performance of Nigerians creative works, Adweek, a frontline American media conglomerate and the gatekeeper of the global marketing practice, recently named Steve Babaeko, CEO/Chief Creativity Officer, X3M Ideas, Lagos Nigeria as one of 2019 Adweek’s Creative 100.

On an annual basis, highly respected Adweek lists deserving practitioners for its Creative 100

Steve Babaeko

who the publication terms as “Most Fascinating People in Marketing, Media and Culture for the year” Making the announcement in its New York office for the 2019 edition which it released a couple of days ago, the organizers said in a statement, “Defining creativity can be, at once, both obvious and impossibly nuanced. As the lines between marketers and makers continue to blur, creative talents are crossing over into culture in more ways than ever before”.

Adweek further stated, “Each year, Adweek celebrates the Creative 100, a roster of gifted professionals who inspire current and future generations not only with their work but also their passion for creativity across advertising, media, art, literature, animation and more”.

To show how surprised he was at the news, Steve said, “it came as a shock, I was driving home and I was somewhere almost 20 minutes away from my house and I just said let me refresh my email because I never joke with clients’ emails. Then I saw the email. At first, I couldn’t comprehend it. So I checked further and received other correspondents.

“Then I realised, they were quite serious and they were passionate about getting me to attend the event which is slated for 18th

June. David Griner, one of the key guys and digital managing editor at Adweek has taken me through all the steps we needed to do.

Yes, I feel really excited about it”, Steve said.

Reacting to the development, Femi Odugbemi, renowned Documentary Filmmaker, Screenwriter, Director and Producer literally thrilled by the recognition said in a statment, “Great work speaks for itself, louder than you can”.

The internationally acclaimed Cinematographer added that the honour is “Well deserved and well done! while congratulating Steve.

In the same vein, Olusegun Patrick Odegbami, ex-international football star and accomplished sports administrator while urging Steve to continue in his winning strides, said in same statement , “Congrats as I add my humble voice to recognition. Go and conquer the World Steve. We are watching and hailing!!”

Soji Odedina, the Managing Director/CEO, First Katalyst Marketing Limited, declared Steve Adweek’s feat is a “well-deserved honour” while congratulating Steve. Olumuyiwa Bamigboye - COO - Brand Align Communications expressing his pleasant surprise on the honour said, “Whao!

Steve Babaeko is synonymous to Advertising in Nigeria, now

worldwide”.

To the United Kingdom-based ‘Tope Ayedun, - Head of Marketing, Wavecrest, Steve being featured on the Adweek’s Creative 100 makes a piece of “Fantastic news”, he said while urging the honoree never to rest on his oars but “Keep flying”.

Godwin Oriaku, Sales Director, BookWin waxing philosophical on the development said, “creativity yet another Godly attribute that attracts like a magnet”. He counsels, “The minor in your creative space is the major waiting for explosion somewhere, congratulations”.

Similarly, Abelini Richard Oshinibosi, Project Marshal, Abelinis Ltd, The Project Intelligent Company declared Steve as “Platinum shark” heading for “Global dominance” Also reacting another key industry player and former President of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria and Managing Director, TBWA/Concept, Nigeria Kelechi Nwosu, declared, “I am sure you deserve it and that you will represent our industry well.

Big Congratulations Steve, Welldone”. Just as Don G. Nwaokocha also noted to Steve, “You’ve done the industry proud. You deserve all the accolades. God always honour a humble man. Keep going for the stars”.

Babaeko who founded X3M

Ideas in 2012 broke the Adweek Creative 100 news on his social media pages June 13 when he wrote “I have lived in Nigeria all my life. Advertising is and will always be an undying passion, so you can imagine the shock I got doing what I truly love in my little corner of the globe.

The frontline Nigerian advertising egg-head who has consistently championed the cause of the practice beyond the shores of Nigeria, onto the global stage, particularly merits the reputable international publication’s listing as one of the most fascinating Creative 100. His X3M Ideas groups of companies have been able to fuse traditional Advertising, New media, Data, Music and content generation, and production and more into making sense of marketing the clients’ brands.

How did X3M Ideas get to the multiple vantage points within such a short time-frame as 7 years? Steve reacts this way. “I tell you from day one, we started this company, we didn’t come here to play second fiddle to nobody. We came here to “play” if you can’t play hard you better go home. From day one, we were determined to take the company to the global stage. We wanted to be the best of local agencies providing world class services to our clients. We’ve done that at local fronts. Name all of the awards, we’ve been there either as a jury or as a speaker from Loeries to African Cristal to Cannes to New York advertising festival, we’ve done it consistently”.

The X3M Ideas’CEO continued, “With our African expansion drives to Johannesburg; Lusaka in Zambia to South Central Africa among others, we are already playing in the big league of this profession today and I’m very proud of myself and my team”.

To all intent, this is the coming of a new face of the Nigerian Ad industry to the world.

He truly feels appreciative being vested with the onerous responsibility of consistently flying the Nigerian flag to the world. “I feel honoured” he said. “It showed we are closer to the main laurels than we think”, he declared.

For Steve, things have changed and highly optimistic that the only way to go is up for the country creative industry. Five-six years ago nobody would have thought of picking anybody from this part of the world but that’s changed today, he noted.

The global awards and recognitions show that Nigeria’s creative industry is in upward trajectory.

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Sunday 23 June 2019

TheWorshippers Inspiration With Rev. Yomi Kasali

@rev.yomikasali

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et me tell you one of Aesop’s stories about being helpful and pitiful in life.

There was a terrible Lion who was troubled from his sleep by a little mouse walking all over his face one day, the lion caught this little

Kings code With Peter Ojefoh

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arriage is the first gift from GOD, but has become a problem to many, I have seen homes break, families torn apart and marriages fail.

The truth is many of us miss it from the beginning, some couple are married, but are still HOME ALONE; they stay (reside) together but do not live (survive) together. They have built a home on loneliness. Man and wife living as roommates. And you know the devil is so interested in breaking homes as he did to Adam and Eve. Signs of being ‘Home Alone’ # Secrets: Do you think your partner knows enough about you, and vice-versa?

Some men prefer to tell their mothers about certain personal information than their wife, you are married and have a best friend who is not your marital partner.

Religious pomposity brat and would have killed the mouse but the mouse pleaded for mercy and asked to be allowed to live. The Lion had pity on the mouse and thanked this big terrible looking lion while also promising to make it up to him one day; of course the Lion laughed that promise off and went back to sleep. A few days after, the Lion was trapped by some hunters who had him tied with ropes and while he roared loudly, the mouse heard the distinct roar and moved to help by eating the ropes, and then set the lion free. The mouse then told the lion that he never thought there would come a day when a little mouse may help a mighty lion. This is so instructive and inspiring, so it’s good to be kind and courteous to all men always in life.

The lion in the story above can be likened to our religious fathers and bishops who parade themselves arrogantly on pulpit and also off the pulpit. I am sure many African

pastors have not read what Peter the apostle said about being Polite and Courteous in the Bible; Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: (1 Pet 3 v 8) Many of us have become Pompous religiously and discourteous to all men against scriptural directives. Let me Inspire you today on being Courteous and Polite as believers without making our arrogant church fathers role models in this regards.

5 Courtesy rules to live by greet all men and do not wait to be greeted first: There is practically nothing wrong in greeting people first as against the popular notion that it is a sign of weakness, yet I consider it a virtuous act based on good character.

Always greet people everywhere and be courteous to everyone.

Be thankful always even when it spindly sounds unnecessary: I had lunch with an Israeli businessman recently and he told me that the reason he liked Nigerians more than

Indians that he has done business with is that Nigerians are more thankful and he felt it is heartwarming. I felt proud of being a Nigerian instantly, let us be thankful to all men.

Extend a helpful hand to all men: We should always be ready to help people always and it is a major rule of courtesy. There are people who need helping hands everywhere and we sometimes just ignore them, especially the elderly ones in the society, help them carry their suitcase, open the door, pick up stuff etc.

Keep a smiling face: Yes, this works like magic and has capacity to produce miracles in life. Smiles go a long way than frowns, many believers struggle to smile because they believe it is against rules of piety and spirituality, yet they choose to live in hypocrisy by keeping a straight face and nurture serious looks.

It’s quite depressing in my opinion and I will rather go to people who will sow a smile

into my life even if they cannot sow silver and gold.

Do not laugh at people’s mistakes and errors: Make sure you never laugh at people in public when they make mistakes that are obvious and walk in embarrassing Errors, especially with respect to technology. I saw someone laugh at another man at the airport once because he could not operate a particular machine. I felt so terrible for the person and I walked to him with a smile and helping hands to teach him how to use the machine. It is very callous of others to laugh at people when they are wrong, kindly help if you know how to operate the device and do not squirm at others, we are all humans and make mistakes.

I hope you have been inspired today to be KIND TO ALL MEN and quit your religious pomposity today.

need from a woman, He needs respect.

Don’t call your husband by his first name or even attach your child name (Papa John), call him love names such as Sweet, My King, My World, some women call their husbands “my oga”; are you his apprentice.

Kn e el t o g r eet h i m, kneel to serve him, he will always be proud to have you around, when you regard him highly. THE BIBLE says SARAH CALLED ABRAHAM LORD, Respect will stop you from exchanging words of talking back at you husband if He is your LORD. If you quarrel with your Man, you are not a woman; you are only a big girl.

Food: All men like good food, even those that do not eat much want their food served in an orderly manner. Don’t ask someone to prepare his meal or serve him, not even a maid, or your children. He married you not those people; learn how to prepare his favorite meal.

And sometimes add up to the money he gives you to make the food richer.

When you want to serve him, kneel as you place it, stay with him while he eats; serve in style.

It is good for men to cook; I cook in my house, but it should not become a routine or else it will no longer be special and he will feel home alone. And even when he cooks, woman, stay with him in the kitchen and help

out, don’t watch television while your husband is in the kitchen, that’s no longer him assisting you but you are now swapping duties.

Food(sex): This is another food man does not joke with, some women place demands before they allow their husbands have sex with them, that’s advanced prostitution, he already paid for you. Allow him as much as he wants, sex is not work, its fun and a gift from GOD directly to marriage. Wife keep your body fine and exposed inside the house for him to see always, your constant wearing of wrapper has made him home alone; while women are moved by hearing, men are moved by sight, always look the young girl he married for him, don’t give those excuses about the children, you can still look 18. Your marriage must work. Let go off all lies, errors and mistakes and say always even in your head that your HOME MUST WORK. Thanks for your time GOD ALMIGHTY BLESS YOU IN JESUS ALMIGHTY NAME

Be Inspired.

Home alone: Proverbs 21:9 Your wife does not know the true amount of your salary or income. Some Men lock their phone with unpredictable passwords so the wife cannot unlock it. They use passwords like ONION, TOMATOES UGU, TILAPIA, ERE. What are you hiding sir? Who did this to you?

You know that’s the reason why Eve fell. Adam her husband was busy naming the animals, Eve needed someone to talk to, she could not bring herself to call for her husband’s attention, so she went ahead and spoke with the devil.

A real married man does not do things or make decisions on his own, he brings his wife into the light and not like those who are so selfcentered and focus only on his job and his children. Let me say this quickly please, when you give too much attention to your kids alone and leave your wife behind, you make her feel used. You don’t care about how she feels, what she thinks, you make it seem like her office is only on bed and in the kitchen. Sir, SHE IS HOME ALONE because you are absent in your husbandly duties. You are only nice to her when you want sex and have sex with her just to satisfy yourself and do not care whether she is satisfied or not. You only buy her new clothes when you want to show her off to friends and family; remember, any seed down is fake intention will produce fake result. THE BI-

BLE says “TREAT HER LIKE THE WEAKER VESSELS” it went further to say “TREAT YOUR PARTNER WELL THAT YOUR PRAYERS ARE NOT HINDERED”.

The way you treat your wife is the way GOD treats your prayer point.

When last did you take your wife out on a date, you make her feel old and imprisoned. Of course, you say you have budgets, sir your wife is your budget also. In GENESIS 20, King Abimelech fell in lust over Sarah (Abraham’s wife) when Sarah was already 80years old. That wouldn’t have been possible if the husband didn’t take care of her so well; no wonder Abraham was called a friend of GOD. Men note that women naturally like to talk, allow her talk and listen to her, one of the most miserable state you can easily find a woman in, is when she wants to talk and there’s no one to talk with. It has been proven scientifically that women are prone to releasing 5,000 words in a day, while men are prone to releasing 1,500.

A lot of men shut their wife from talking half way, so she carries the talk over and turns it into nagging.

Give attention to your wife, show her love, know her birthday, and know even her menstrual cycle.

These are some of the reasons why homes are torn apart, because a cheated woman will separate the

husband from the children in the process of trying to be important. A troubled woman will only produce trouble.

Men know this, women are agent of multiplication. If you give them sperm, they will multiply it into kids, you give her house she multiplies it into a home; you give her love, she gives you peace; you give her trouble, she gives you double trouble.

The woman: A lot of men are home alone, some even consider divorce; some cheat because they don’t feel married. When a man marries a woman he demands the feeling of a real man and a husband. Some men had very good intentions for their matrimonial homes, but their expectations were cut off. Women note that men are authoritative beings; no man will allow their wife win over an argument or misunderstanding, so if the woman keeps fighting, the beef continues. PROVERBS 14:1 “HOMES ARE BUILT BY THE WISDOM OF A WOMAN” Wisdom is a woman. I will give us three wisdom application formats to keep a good man. #Respect: Men can never exchange their respect for anything; I told you earlier that men are authoritative beings. No man can love a woman that disregards him, you know THE BIBLE says “MAN LOVE YOUR WIFE, WOMAN RESPECT YOUR HUSBAND”; a man cannot function well on love, because that’s not His

Sunday quote: outside GOD is still Inside GOD Writer: PETER OJEFOH 08165898982 Ch u r c h : B L I S S F U L G R A C E A S S E M B LY, ALONG JEDDO RD, AFTER THE ARMY CHECK POINT. Sunday: 7:30am, WED:9:30am FIRST FRIDA OF EVERY MONTH:

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BDSUNDAY 33

TheWorshippers Nigeria needs visionary fathers, says Amos Fenwa

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mos Fenwa, general overseer of Holy Ghost Christian Centre, Matori, Lagos, has called on Nigerian men to be visionary fathers, saying the country seriously needs men of vision to lead the country.

Fenwa stated this during the 2019 Father’s Day celebration themed, ‘The Visionary Father’. Quoting from the book of 1 Corinthians 11:1; “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ,” he said fathers must be a visionary father.

“God put your eyes on the head so as to see

ahead. You have to determine the kind of life you want to live with your family. He enjoined the men folk to be good example,” he said.

“Teach your children how to pray. Teach them good values to have. Spend time with your family. Money is not as important as the time you create for your children and wife.

Attend important events in their life. Women have more capacity to adapt to new environments than men. That’s why they leave their comfort zones to start a new home in the husband’s family,” he further said.

He also urged men to mentor and direct

their children to build confidence and selfesteem.

According to Fenwa, men should inspire hope in their children, so they can achieve great things in life. “A mentor draws from his own experience to guide the children. You can have an open day when you sit down with your family to discuss as equals. Add a good motivation. Be visionary. You must see the future ahead. Be a planner.

“Define the spiritual life of your children.

Do they go to church? Follow them up. Introduce them to family fasting. Give toddlers

Superior Evangelist Seraphine Theokpassiou celebrating his birthday with his wife and lovely children recently in Warri , Delta state

offering money while in the church,” Fenwa said.

Advising the men on how to relate with their families, he said, “You must love the mother of your children unconditionally. You must listen more. Listen to both the children and your wife. Seek to give opportunity to your children to have a say in the affairs of the family. Let them have the sense of belonging.

Carry your wife along too in important decisions,” he said, urging men to express words of appreciation and commendation to their children when they do well.

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Sunday 23 June 2019

TheWorshippers ‘The church and government must collaborate to curb violence in Nigeria’ On Friday 28 June, The Evidence Church will be hosting the ‘Night of Evidence’, the mid-year encounter, themed ‘Irreversibly Blessed’. Paul Adeniyi, the senior pastor of the Church, based in Mushin, Lagos, spoke with SEYI JOHN SALAU on his mission and vision of building men into the fulness of God’s stature, provoking mental excellence and adding beauty to their lives towards raising a people of evidence. Excerpts:

W

Can you let us into what influenced ‘The Night of Evidence’? ell, the night of evidence is a supernatural night; it is a night of encounter.

Amazingly, when God called me into the ministry, one of the platforms and tools I believe God gave to me is the night of evidence. The Lord spoke to me when he called me; that he has to raise me to raise supernatural-based people, and gave me a scripture: Jeremiah 32:17 – so, we believe so strongly that part of what God has called us to do in this church is to introduce the supernatural part of God into peoples’ lives; and ever since we began, God has been doing that.

We generally look forward to every night of evidence and it’s been amazing. The next edition is going to be powerful and the focus under the influence of the Holy Spirit this time around is, ‘Irreversibly Blessed’, God is saying that he wants to bless his people, irreversibly.

Is it a monthly programme?

For now, we have not structured it into monthly or quarterly or once in a year; for now, we do it as appointed by the spirit.

CAN president got re-elected, and has urged other church leaders to follow exemplary lifestyle of Pastor Adeboye; what is your view on this?

Well, congratulation to the CAN president on his re-election, which is commendable. I read it but have not read his speech in details – however, if truly he said church leaders should take a cue from Pastor E.A. Adeboye, for me that is a commendable statement because it will take somebody who is not thinking rightly to discard the integrity, exemplary lifestyle of Pastor E.A. Adeboye. In my strong opinion he is one of the finest men of God in this country – his meekness is second to none; the proof of God upon his ministry is quite amazing; he is a man with an impeccable character and you can tell. Apart from the gigantic ministry God has blessed him with, the quietness of

Paul Adeniyi

his spirit, his wisdom, his work with God is such alarming that everybody needs to desire, particularly men of God and anybody that wants to be part of church leadership.

If Christ tarries, the CAN executive will be in office for another three years; what would you like the body to focus on?

Number one, my humble expectation and counsel would be to pray for him and other leaders of CAN – we need to pray earnestly for the church leadership. Secondly, our country is in a very sensitive state with the news we hear everywhere, creating so much tension whether true or rumours; I am concerned and we expect that the church leadership under CAN will be more bold – they have been bold, but we expect them to be more courageous and speak up when necessary, to seek for the unity of the church and leaders across the length and breadth of the country. It is key and important because in unity we can do a lot; in unity our voice

can become stronger and to also speak peace even though I expect them to speak truth to power and speak more about what is going on in the country, I also expect that they should do it peacefully, amicably and they should also ensure that they get back to church leaders across the country to see how they can bring us together and enforce unity; and with that we can be sure we have a better dispensation.

On the unity you spoke about; coming down to the church in Lagos with the PFN/CAN collaboration to strengthen the body of Christ in Lagos; what is your take on this empowerment initiative?

Well, I am not going to sound knowledgeable. Am not sure I have read too much about the specifications of the empowerment programme or idea that they do have for church leaders, but then anything in that line is commendable and laudable. If the initiative is clear and well communicated, and

people really bought into it without any trace of favouritism or partiality; for me, it’s thumps up, because truth be told – being a student of ministry myself and having lived all my life working and serving in the ministry; I understand clearly that ministers and ministry need a lot of empowerment and encouragement.

We have a growing population that is largely youth-based, with the increasing rate of unemployment and violence; how can the church and government help to draw strength from the growing population to turn things around for the nation?

Amazingly, I do not want to hide from the reality that we face every now and then; already we have negative impact among the youth.

The challenge among the youth has become so alarming and challenging than ever before: to be honest with you, am not even sure the government is working in collaboration with the church because there is so much deviance, division and opposition even between the church and the government. I really believe that the government needs to be patient with the church and seek for opportunity to create collaboration. The church also needs to be patient with the government seeking opportunity to come together because when the government and the church is able to come together to form a common ground they will be able to have a better impact on the youth.

The church needs the government policy formation, enabling environment because while the church is dealing with the spiritual side of things – the biblical transformation of minds; having said that, I believe the church needS to understand the sensitivity of the youth and begin to rearrange our teachings, and begin to speak more on values as we emphasise on faith. Faith speaks more of the convictions while value speaks of our belief system and both actually work hand-in-hand. So, we must be able to do these two very well in a way that it creates wealth and balance, so that the youth is well

tamed in a way that their drive and passion is not lost and at the same time we are able to put them on a stable movement so that they do not get to become over ambitious.

Having said that, the church should also begin to believe God to create some entrepreneurial platforms – many churches are already doing that to help people to do things on their own, and the government have to do the same. But, I believe there should be a radical reduction if not eradication rather than the government antagonising the church, and the church antagonising the government.

Looking at the level of insecurity in Nigeria today; where do you think we got it wrong as a country?

Honestly, my response would be Nigerians where did we get it wrong? I am going to be very reluctant to point fingers at any individual or any dispensation of government, either the Jonathan administration or the first tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari – I will rather speak to Nigerians because I believe the time has come for all of us to rise to the challenge because current killings is heart breaking and the spread is quite challenging. I am just praying that we do not wake up one day as a nation and realise that we have lost everything; and it’s moving towards that direction. Let everybody wake up and let us live cordially putting aside our animosities, complaints, and let us work together in harmony with the government and ensure everybody is vigilant, and that we are all doing something to curb the violence in the country. Of course, we need to pray, we are to support the government and that is why I love what the Federal Government is trying to do about state policing – if that really flies through, it will be a huge contribution to curb and minimise the violence. And, am going to advise the Federal Government to speak less at this time; let the government not be too quick to score political points by making public declaration that they have eradicated Boko Haram.

‘Nigeria needs spiritually alert church to overcome persecution’ SEYI JOHN SALAU

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he Nigerian church must be spiritually alert in order to effectively play its role in nation building.

Th i s w a s t h e c o n s e n s u s reached at a one-day summit on ‘National Unity and Development’ organised by the directorate of Social Security Outreach/ InterGovernmental Relations (SSO/ IGR) of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), which was held recently at the Vineyard Christian Centre, Isolo, Lagos.

William F. Kumuyi, general

superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, said it is not in the place of the church to foster segregation or disintegration of the nation irrespective of the prevailing political situation.

According to Kumuyi, the church must never be allowed to look like a political association if it does not want to lose the whole essence for unity in the diversity of the body of Christ. “Our nation needs a church that is spiritually alert, socially responsible and politically neutral. It needs a church that does not seek any form of gratification from civil authorities but a church that is independent, loves the nation and all its component parts, speaks the truth to all

the populace,” said Kumuyi who was represented by Pastor Toju Bolujoko.

Ladi Peter Thompson, a reverend and guest speaker at the summit, opined that the church has the answer to the challenges bedeviling the nation. “What worked for June 12 is not going to work for the present challenges that we are facing in this country, the church has the answer. The church must not get involved in retaliation. The greatest mistake this generation can do is to allow religious war to erupt in Nigeria,” Thompson said.

Thompson, who is also a conflict resolution and counter-terrorism consultant, in reacting to the secu-

rity situation in the country, said it is not a religious problem. However, it was designed for Nigerians to think it’s a religious problem, and when they see it’s a religious problem; Nigerians would likely act like a man using petrol to put out fire. “We are dealing with a shape shifting, hydra-headed, merciless, cunning, unrelenting, implacable, patient, global supremacist agenda disguised in the garb of religion,” he stated.

Theophilus Taiwo Ajose, director, Social Security Outreach/ Inter-Governmental Relations (SSO/IGR), the political arm of the PFN, said the group is taking a bold step to foster national unity.

“When we came on board the first

thing we set out to do is to see the reintegration of the church across the grassroots and the local government in Lagos State. Once we get it right in Lagos State, we get it right in Nigeria.

“We sat down with great men of God to see how the church can be alive in politics and have political plans not just for elections but to install godly leaders. What we have realised in Nigeria especially in Lagos State is that politicians come to us just to tell us what they want to tell us for elections, after that, till next four years. They believe that the church likes offerings so much, so they give us physical offerings and after that we don’t see them again,” Ajose said.

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EquityMarket C & I, Dangote Flour, Chams top advancers’ table as half year beckons

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Stories by TELIAT SULE & I Leasing, Dangote Flour and Chams continue to maintain their lead on the gainers’ table with five working days remaining in the first half of 2019. This is as the NSE All Share Index (ASI) of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) closed last Friday at 29,851.29 points representing a decline of 5.02 percent year to date. On the contrary, the market capitalisation of equities closed at N13.15 trillion, which means the market value of listed equities, was more by N1.43 billion year to date, mostly attributable to the listing of MTN Nigeria shares.

The same bearish trend was exhibited by other sub sectoral indexes except for the NSE Premium Index which closed at 9.80 percent last Friday. Others closed in the negative territory. The NSE Corporate Governance Index closed at -13.17 percent; the NSE Main Board Index ended the week at -14.57 percent, while the NSE ASeM closed at -1.45 percent. The NSE Consumer Goods is the worst hit as it ended the period at -19.49 percent.

While the market ended bearish, investors sustained their interest in C & I Leasing as it continued to receive significant attention from market participants leading to a year to date 218.5 percent price appreciation. It closed last Friday at N5.67 per share. Dangote Flour was second on the table as it closed at N17 per share, translating to 148.2 percent gain year to date while Chams ended the period at N0.31 per share, amounting to 55 percent gain YTD. MTN Nigeria ended the period

at N130 per share representing 44.4 percent appreciation YTD. In a research report published by RMB Stockborkers, the target price of MTN Nigeria was put at N137 per

share while United Capital Plc, one of the leading investment banks in Nigeria estimated MTN Nigeria’s target share price at N171.7 per share. Either way, the stock, even

with 44.4 percent YTD gain, is currently underpriced.

“In terms of valuation, we look at the Enterprise Value to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) multiple for MTNN,

this came to 6.3x, below 6.9x average for peers across the Middle East and African Markets. The implied fair price using EV/EBITDA model came to N145. However, by Price to Earnings multiples (P/E), MTNN has a PE of 13.9x compared to 20.4x for peers, implying a fair price of N194.5/share. Overall, our blended valuation model sees MTNN at N171.7/share, indicating that MTNN is underpriced at current price with a 25.7% upside potential”, United Capital Research stated in a note to clients early June.

Red Star Express, which closed at N5.50 percent, completes the list of the top five most appreciated stocks year to date, with 31 percent gain.

Other stocks that outperformed the market as the half year approaches are Sterling Bank, 27.4 percent; Caverton, 24 percent, Union Bank, 23.2 percent; Japaul Oil, 14.3 percent; Transnationwide Express, 12.3 percent; Livestock, 12.2 percent and AG Leventis, 11.1 percent.

The share prices of the remaining stocks on the gainers’ list posted single digit growth at half year, which ranges from 1.5 percent to 9.5 percent. The equities in this category include AIICO, Morsion Industries, Forte Oil, Cadbury, Prestige Assurance, Beta Glass, Custodina, John Holt, Wema Bank and AXA Mansard.

Others are Courtville, Sovereign Trust Insurance, Julius Berger, NEM, Fidson Healthcare and Access Bank.

On the flip side, CHI Plc, PZ, International Breweries, Academy Press and Thomas Wyatt led the pack of the decliners. They shed at least 42.1 percent and at most 90.6 percent from their share prices year to date.

Akinfemiwa resigns as Otedola completes sale of stake in Forte Oil

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ollowing the change of ownership at Forte Oil Plc, Akin Akinfemwa and Julius Omodayo-Owotuga have resigned from their positions as the chief executive officer and chief financial officer respectively. Their resignations followed the completion of the sale of the company by its majority shareholder, Femi Otedola.

Accordingly, the management of Forte Oil has approved the appointment of Olumide Adeosun and Moshood Olajide as the new chief executive officer and chief financial officer respectively. Their appointments took effect immediately, according to the notice released by the company’s general counsel, Akinleye Olagbende.

Akinfemiwa was appointed in

2012 as the CEO of Forte Oil Plc and steered the affairs of the company for eight and half years. At the close of business on Friday 21, 2019, Forte Oil’s share price closed at N31.20 as investors traded 720,255 units worth N20.988 million. Year to date, the stock has gained 8.7 percent.

Akinfemiwa, while as Forte Oil’s CEO, executed the company’s transformation program leading to 342 percent increase in profits; acquisition of 414 MW Thermal IPP; resumption of dividend payments as well as capital reorganisation, all between 2012 and 2015. He also started the next phase of growth in 2016 called ‘New Frontier” during which Forte Oil is expected to consolidate growth, build resilience and entrench best practices.

Meanwhile, Femi Otedola, the majority shareholder in Forte Oil, has completed the sale of his stake to Ignite Investments and Commodities Limited led by Prudent Energy Services Limited, according to a statement released by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

The deal was said to be worth more than N60 billion.

“This completion is consequent upon Ignite receiving all the necessary approvals from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Nigerian Stock Exchange and fulfilling all relevant terms and conditions attaché to the Share Purchase Agreement. As a result of this and further to the announcement on December 28, 2018, Ignite will take over controlling stake in Forte Oil Plc the downstream company”,

Akinleye Olagbende, general counsel and company secretary, said in a note to stakeholders.

“This concludes a very painstaking process and we believe that this transaction would optimise the existing capabilities inherent in the business and its people who are the key drivers of the business, and propel the company towards an assured future”, Akinfemiwa said.

“This investment is of strategic importance to support our quest of continuously adding value to the Nigerian oil and gas industry. The next phase of Forte Oil’s growth will focus on increasing volumes, diversifying business operations, widening distribution networks and extracting potential synergies with partners. We look forward to working as part of the Forte Oil

family to achieve this growth”, Abdulwasiu Sowami, chairman and chief executive of Prudent Energy Services Limited, said.

According to the notice, the parties to the sale indicated that the Forte brand will remain in place and that the transition of the board of directors has begun and new directors have been appointed subject to ratification by the shareholders at the next general meeting of the company. Standard Chartered Bank, Corporate Finance & Advisory and Olaniwun Ajayi LP served as the financial and legal advisors respectively to Femi Otedola while PwC and Stanbic IBTC capital Limited served as joint financial advisors and Sefton Fross served as legal advisor to ignite Investments and Commodities Limited.

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Sunday 23 June 2019

INSIGHT

How lack of proper government regulation of yellow buses is subjecting residents to rights violation

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DESMOND OKON & JOSEPH MAURICE OGU agos residents can no longer bear the torture, and rights abuse they suffer from the hands of Yellow Bus operators in their daily commuting activities within the state, so, they are calling on the government to step in with a regulatory framework for Danfo operators.

The transportation system in Lagos State is largely dominated by the unregulated yellow buses popularly called “Danfo”, arguably the most popular commercial shuttle in the metropolis after ‘Molue’, its counterpart, phased out.

While it is difficult to track the financial contributions to the state’s GDP, Danfo buses have been in operation long before the Rapid Bus Transport (BRT) surfaced, and have been helpful, but the modus operandi of the operators continue to pose grave threats to life.

Many residents who spoke with BDSUNDAY, expressed concerns over rights violations, dropping of passengers at unsafe locations, attitudinal issues, and criminal acts such as robbery.

They want the government to regulate the sector not only to prevent these incidences, but to monitor and track their operations.

Precious Okpara, a factory worker, told BDSUNDAY that many of the drivers and conductors lack proper communication ethics, and complained of high rates of verbal abuse. “There is verbal abuse from the drivers and they also lack a moral standard of communication.

“Then, there is something they do, they tell you that they are going to Oshodi, and they drop you at nearest convenient bus stop for them, and not for you as a passenger. So you might sometimes have to take extra money for transportation,” she adds.

Speaking on how the lives of citizens are endangered, and people dropped off at unsafe locations, Okpara said two of her colleagues have been robbed and both robberies were carried out

by Danfo bus operators.

“Where they dropped her was not safe for her,” Okpara recounts her colleague’s ordeal.

“She was dropped somewhere around Ogudu-Ketu axis leading towards Mile 12. Trekking down from there to board another bus, she was robbed of her belongings.

She fought, but she was hit in her lower abdomen so she could be weak for them to collect what they want,” she said.

She said ‘junction-marriage’ was another problem that is common among Danfo operators, as it leaves passengers stranded most times. Junction-marriage, according to her is “when you alight, they pair you with different people, to go and sort yourselves out [on change]. Intentionally, they do those things because they reserve the change for other people, and keep others stranded.”

Okpara who has been living in the megacity for 12 years has had many ugly tales dealing with conductors and Danfo drivers.

Her story corroborates with an Air Peace staff, who gave her name as Blessing.

Blessing said her worst experience with yellow bus operators was on change (balance). She narrates that her change was not given to her when she arrived at her bus stop despite persistently asking for it while still onboard the bus.

“I’ve been asking for my change. They didn’t answer me; he kept saying there was no change. He actually had change,

but he did want to let go. So when I got to where I was going to, he said he was looking for change.

The driver came down and said they were looking for change.

But before I knew it, I couldn’t find them again. He was gone, and the bus was gone,” she said.

Blessing admitted to BDSUNDAY that she has many bad expe-

riences with them. Apart from not being given her change, a conductor on another occasion verbally abused her, and attempted to beat her up. “But the people that were there didn’t allow him to.

I don’t know what would have happened if they were not there,” she said.

“Most of them are very rude.

Most of them are criminals, they are thieves. If they have a way of cheating you, or running away with your money, they will do it.

If they have a way of bullying you, they do it,” she adds.

As a Lagos resident, a necessary skill for survival is the ability to jump in and out of a moving bus as the drivers are sometimes never patient enough to stop for passengers to either enter or alight, said Anuoluwapo Thomas, who got injured when she was forced to jump out.

In a situation she described as tug-of-war, it is perilous for anyone who is not skilled enough.

“There was a time I got injured from a bus when I wanted to get down at Oshodi. When they

want to drop passenger, they hardly wait. To alight from a bus is always a tug of war. Sometimes you are dragged out, or forced to jump out of a moving bus because the drivers are not always patient enough to stop for you to get down well,” she told BDSUNDAY. Exploitation is part of the game, and it is done better in the area of fares. Thomas said the government should make rules and regulations especially in the area of the fare. She said they [drivers and conductors] increase the fare at will, especially when there are a lot of people at the bus stops.

“They just increase and nobody can say anything about it. There is nothing you can do because you have to get to your destination. Many of them behave like touts,” said Thomas.

Narrating another incident, Prosper Onos, an IT expert, said they compelled him to wear a seatbelt that was not working.

“This happened with several of the yellow buses on the way to Oshodi not just one, so it’s a culture,” he said.

“They tell you to get down from their bus or go to the less comfortable metal constructed back seats if you can’t pretend to wear the seat belt to fool traffic law enforcement agents. If you refuse, you will either get beaten or forcefully thrown out halfway.

This is your fate as a passenger unless you can exercise some superiority in physical combat,” he said.

Onos further revealed that the seat belts on the drivers’ side seat are sometimes working, but they leave those of the passengers’ in disrepair.

A human rights expert, Abiodun Baiyewu, Executive Director of Global Rights Nigeria, who spoke to BDSUNDAY, confirmed that failure of the government to regulate the sector exposes citizens to human rights violations; stating that most of the issues that arise in transportation are largely contractual issues and the

”

Then, there is something they do, they tell you that they are going to Oshodi, and they drop you at nearest convenient bus stop for them, and not for you as a passenger.

So you might sometimes have to take extra money for transportation

failure of the government to force the rule of law.

“For example, a transporter having agreed to ply your route should not be able to decide halfway that he is no longer interested and wants to pick another passenger instead, or charge arbitrarily when there is a scarcity of buses,” she said.

Regulation: Nairobi and Kumasi experience Yellow buses are to Lagosians exactly what the matatu is to Kenyans in Nairobi. Just like Danfo, in addition to a driver, matatu may be staffed by a conductor known as a makanga. In Kenya, the matatu had been linked with criminality or reckless driving, and were viewed by Kenyans as thugs who exploited and mistreated passengers and participated in gang violence. Kenyans also experienced mistreatment such as verbal and physical abuse, theft, hijacking, sexual harassment, beatings, and rape were also reported.

Today, Kenya is said to have stricter and extensive regulatory controls, such that a matatu worker can be pulled from the streets and handed over to the police. Also, an individual matatu operator must be associated with one of the over 600 independent, government-registered matatu savings and credit co-operative societies (SACCOs). Seatbelts and speed governors are also serious requirements.

Christopher Wajurungu, a reContinues on page 38

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BDSUNDAY 37

INSIGHT

How lack of proper government regulation of yellow buses is subjecting residents to rights violation Continued from page 37

tired matatu operator, now working with a radio station in Nairobi, told BDSUNDAY that makanga these days behave themselves, look corporate, respect people and are well respected too, unlike what was obtainable during their days as matatu operator where commercial drivers and conductors usually had a field day in whatever they did.

“Every bus conductor is well known by the government and no one can misbehave,” Wajurungu said during a telephone conversation with BDSUNDAY. In Kenya, matatu operators and their conductors (makanga) are usually certified by the government through SACCO society they belong.

Both drivers and conductors have their unique codes largely

visible on their identity cards they must carry about all the time. They are equally neat and courteous in addressing their passengers, a good memory one of these reporters had while in Nairobi.

“Government can withdraw the operating licence of any SACCO whose matatu staff misbehaves”, Wajurungu said.

In Kumasi, Ghana, similar bus is operated, referred to as “trotro”. Like matatu and danfo, trotro conveys more commuters around the city than any other transport facility available.

Similar to what is obtainable in Nairobi, trotro are regulated and monitored by the Ghana Private Road Transport Union

equally disciplined, respectful and courteous. “You can report bad attitude by drivers and mates [conductors] to the GPRTU for disciplinary action to be taken” said Asiseh.

But danfo operators in Lagos seem to be pampered as there are no regulations governing their operations. This empowers them to the disadvantage of citizens’ vulnerability, as efforts to regulate the sector by previous administrations failed.

Baiyewu explains that in this situation, citizens’ right to dignity, right to bodily integrity, and freedom from discrimination are violated. “Right to dignity would suggest that the use of insulting language is completely forbidden

and that people get treated with some respect. Right to bodily integrity also suggests that you cannot manhandle a passenger like a lot of transporters do.

“Right to discrimination suggests that a transporter for example cannot decide that a person cannot sit on a type of seat based on their gender, age, socioeconomic status, etc., or that they can refuse to transport you simply because they do not like your face or something about you or your destination,” Baiyewu explained.

What the constitution says As stated earlier, it is no longer news that criminal activities have been linked to Danfo operators, most notably is the ‘one chance’ which many Lagos residents have fallen victims. Hence, the citizens demand for protection. “If the government can come in with

(GPRTU), which collaborates with the government to keep sanity in the system. In conjunction with the government, GPRTU sets parametres for attitudinal behaviours, fares to be charged by trotro operators across different routes, and other things.

“Yes they are regulated in a way but not totally,” said Korsi Asiseh, a Kumasi-based veteran journalist.

Although there level of tolerance and courtesy might not match what is obtainable in Nairobi, trotro crew members are

some regulations, things might be easy for us,” said James Onaji, a Lagos resident.

“The Nigerian constitution in Section 17 states clearly that the policies of government must be humane. The failure to institute laws and regulations to protect the rights of citizens therefore may be interpreted as being inhumane and may result in mayhem in the sector. Government therefore ought to institute laws and regulations that protect consumer rights,” said Baiyewu.

John Chukwudi, an Ogun

State-based legal practitioner, said the only case that can be conveniently taken against a bus driver or conductor is when such individual assaults their client. But that a case of verbal insult, dropping off a passenger at a different location cannot be adequately established.

According to him, the driver may deny any verbal insult, claims dropping off a passenger at another location were the other viable option left after series of vehicle challenge and it was not done with bad intention or the

”

Right to discrimination suggests that a transporter for example cannot decide that a person cannot sit on a type of seat based on their gender, age, socioeconomic status, etc., or that they can refuse to transport you simply because they do not like your face or something about you or your destination

‘forced marriage’ was the only option left. The bus operators may equally claim they had warned the passenger before boarding the vehicle of his inability to provide change.

“If there is no criminal intention for dropping a passenger at a different location, it is a breach of contract and law of contract will come in” The law is more technical than we think. The driver may claim his action was the last resort, and so his lawyer will bring in the doctrine of necessity.

“But if it is a physical assault, the general law of assault comes in irrespective of who is involved,” Chukwudi said on a telephone discussion with BDSUNDAY. The Nigerian Consumer Protection Council is the only body that protects consumers in Nigeria, but it is unclear whether its jurisdiction covers the informal sector which the yellow buses fall under.

Asked if residents are protected by the council against physical abuse, verbal abuse, a source from the council said such cases are not within the council’s purview. “Those are not within our purview,” she said. “Our purview is in receiving service for what you have paid for. So if you didn’t get a service, you can report that.”

When these journalists reminded her that passengers don’t sometime get dropped at their destinations after payment, she said: “The person that is complaining should be able to complain, and we’ll look at it and know what it is. You say drop somewhere and not drop somewhere, is the place a bus stop you want to drop? So there are so many things to look at. When the person complains, there are ways we go about it. So I really cannot answer this thing you are saying by that.”

While there is a lack of data on the activities of danfo drivers and conductors in Lagos, efforts made towards finding out if arrests have been made after a crime by these operators were reported; if they get licenced before commencing operations, were not fruitful.

“Government does not pay attention to public transport sector at all. Because in other countries, drivers are educated, even if they don’t pass through the walls of an education system, there are schemes provided to train them on how bus drivers should behave,” Okpara said.

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Sunday 23 June 2019

Travelogue

Seeing the allure of Addis Ababa from a traveller’s eyes

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IFEOMA OKEKE

he earthy vibes, cool tones and cavemanlike aesthetics of the Kuriftu Resorts is an epitome of nature at its finest. One can’t help but appreciate and fall in love with the simplicity of materials, form and décor with wood, stones, plants and other organic materials drawn from the natural world. This is especially because a natural, earthy atmosphere in many ways helps to comfort and soothe human nerves.

In fact, it has become popular knowledge that naturalistic interior and exterior building designs improve productivity. This explains why the Kuriftu Resorts and Spa in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia, has become a national name, identified as the number one go-to spot for total relaxation, comfort, and general feel-good atmosphere for both locals and international visitors.

I couldn’t have asked for a better place to spend the day after over four-hour flight from Lagos to Addis Ababa the previous day.

In the resort are domiciled Boston Day Spa, Albash, waterpark and its cultural villages amongst other services, making visitors experience luxury at its pinnacle, yet in touch with nature.

Kuriftu Bishoftu With achingly perfect panoramas, Kuriftu Bishoftu is where luxury reaches its pinnacle and service is simultaneously warm, genuine and sensational. The atmosphere is great, the weather allows fresh breeze and the environment is serene. Visitors can rejuvenate themselves in a welcoming and luxurious setting with relaxing massages, facials, baths and body treatments.

With 92 rooms in the Kuriftu Resort & Spa Bishoftu, there is more than enough for families, friends and groups who visit the resort on daily basis. Some special features at the resort include the Kuriftu Water Park, beer & wine hall, lounge and resort Access. The accessible parking spaces, art installations, Banking Centre & ATMs and other guest services only make visitors feel home away from home.

Kuriftu Ethiopian Cultural Village Also in the resort is the Kuriftu Ethiopian Cultural Village (KECV). This is Ethiopia’s premium outlet shopping centre, featuring over 100 exciting brand name stores in one location. The village truly features something for everyone, ranging from high-end luxury stores to family-friendly children’s clothing shops.

With a mission to provide

an exhilarating space where guests can socially engage with Ethiopian crafts & activities in a comfortable, safe environment, the village has become the leader in promoting Ethiopian products worldwide by aligning itself with the nation’s changing history. The village, no doubt, is a ‘one-stop’ destination to find the champion products of Ethiopia.

The KECV is designed with the country’s rich history in mind.

Using contemporary features, it utilises traditional thatched roofing methods as well as landscaping to capture the essence of Ethiopia. The shops consist of glass and wood facades to maximise visibility and accessibility.

Its shops vary in size, ranging from 20sqm, 40sqm, 50sqm, 100sqm, and 200sqm spaces.

Kuriftu Water Park/ Gazebo The water park, which opened in 2018 in Bishoftu, adds value to Ethiopia’s growing hospitality industry and creates a unique demand generator within one hour of Addis Ababa.

The project spans over 30,000 square meters and features a wide range of activities, such as two water houses, a boomerang slide, a spiral slide, a wave pool and performance centre.

In the heart of the village is the Kuriftu Gazebo where visitors congregate to relax, drink and dine. Adjacent to the Kuriftu Water Park and food court, shoppers can have a break from shopping and relax in a comfortable setting. With a mission to create a place where people would enjoy resting and each other’s company, Gazebo provides a place to dine and drink beer.

Boston Day Spa/Restaurant Even though I didn’t have enough time to experience the spa service, people who did testified that it is an avenue to beautify and enhance appearances with custom hair styling, deluxe manicures & pedicures or consider the Moroccan baths, sauna and steam.

The spa gives visitors an opportunity to experience services where their bodies are pampered with massages, facials, baths, or body treatments.

Its unique retreat is designed for visitors’ comfort and nurturing; a place where people can abandon their cares, awaken their senses, and escape into a world of pleasure.

The Diplomat restaurant reflects the diverse international culture of Ethiopia, with a culinary experience that embodies traditional dishes. The restaurant offers wine pairings from Castel Wine to compliment every dish, and the highest quality service making visitors’ dining experience unforgettable.

Ku r i f t u Ca s t l e /Al b a s h / Lounge Kuriftu’s partnership with Castel Winery brings visitors a selection of Ethiopian premium wines located in the small but enchanting towns of Lake Tana, Adama & Bishoftu. At CastelKuriftu Wine House, there is eclectic wine list at affordable prices.

In addition, the Kuriftu Albash, Ethiopia’s premier department store offering a widerange of luxury products, is carefully curated to bring together the best of Ethiopian fashion and is a must-see for style aficionados. Located at the Kuriftu Ethiopian Cultural Village in Bishoftu –adjacent to the Kuriftu Resort & Spa – Albash has two unique stores.

As a top-up to the resort services services, the Lounge not only offers a carefully crafted food menu with a medley of cultures but an exquisite cocktail menu prepared by experienced Ethiopian Mixologists. Kuriftu Lounge Djibouti is truly the best location in Djibouti for a dream wedding, corporate events and birthday parties.

Ethiopian Skylight Hotel After a memorable experience of nature cum beauty at the Kuriftu Resorts and Spa, we headed back to the Ethiopian Skylight hotel, a modern, classy and luxurious hotel at Addis. The hotel is currently the newest and biggest in Addis. Business Class and transit passengers with Ethiopian Airlines are accommodated in the hotel.

Ethiopian Skylight Hotel is

Sunday 23 June 2019

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Travelogue

located at the heart of Addis Ababa, just five minutes away from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. Meeting international standards with outstanding quality of service, Africa’s commercial hub awaits you. A total of 373 stunning rooms with relaxing and superb designs are suitable for both corporate and leisure travellers. I particularly enjoyed spectacular city view from my room. Comprising three luxurious restaurants – All-Day Dining Restaurant, the biggest Chinese Restaurant in East Africa, and a Traditional Ethiopian Restaurant (to be opened soon), and bars heighten visitor’s hotel experience. The Lobby Lounge and the Front Lobby are spacious enough for social and business meetings.

Grand Ballroom which can accommodate 2000 guests at a time is divided into five individual halls along with spacious foyer area, accommodating 500-800 guests. It is ideal for tailor-made social events, weddings and conferences. Three separate daylight and two other VIP private meeting rooms are fit for visitors’ corporate meeting demands.

The outstanding facilities of the hotel include, outdoor swimming pool, mini-golf courses, spa/massage, gymnasium and health centre.

Taichi Chinese Restaurant Inside the hotel is the Taichi Chinese Restaurant, located at the lower ground. The restaurant showcases the finest Cantonese cuisine plus Sichuan specialties, dim-sum, accompanied by fine wines and traditional teas.

Its six private dining rooms are tailored for business banquets and elegant social dining. The menu takes inspiration from the traditional market experience emphasising the combination of five spices in Sichuan (roasted Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, cloves, cinnamon and fennel seeds). Chef is from China.

The Lobby Lounge is one of the hotel’s stylish attractions located at the lobby. With its contemporary look that is spacious, modern and inviting with a selection of appetisers and finger foods, the Lobby Lounge is ideal for corporate meetings’ reception.

Grand Kitchen All-Day-Dining Restaurant, located at the upper ground floor, avails the foremost perceiving sense of taste in a high-volume, full-service modern and inviting

restaurant with a selection of international buffet. Chef is from German.

Also in the hotel, there are presidential Suite, Grand Suite, Executive Suite, Corner Suite, Superior Suite, Executive room, deluxe room and Superior Room.

Presidential/Executive Suite Unsurpassed in elegance, the top-level suite of 195 sqm space with Airport and City view like no other. It has two separate living rooms with working and dining area. Amenities include sound-insulation for a peaceful stay, 52-inch LCD TV with international satellite channels, complimentary high-speed WI-FI and broadband internet, individually

controlled air conditioner with heading system, complimentary coffee and tea-making facilities and turn-down service.

At the Executive Suite, visitors can enjoy this 90 sqm suite with king-sized bed, spacious living area , separate shower and tub. Visitors can also take delight in their city and airport views through floor-to-ceiling windows and, outdoor balcony and guests can enjoy the executive lounge access.

National Museum, Ethiopia Apart from business, people travel for three reasons: Education, entertainment for relaxation. While the last two reasons were achieved at Kuriftu and

Ethiopian Skylight hotel, the national museum was another opportunity to learn. It was indeed a mix of knowledge on history and a time for sight-seeing.

The museum houses Ethiopia’s artistic treasures. It contains many precious local archaeological finds such as the fossilised remains of early hominids, the most famous of which is ‘Lucy’, the partial skeleton of a specimen of Australopithecus afarensis. Recently added to the basement gallery is a display on Selam, found between 2000 and 2004. This archaic fossil is estimated to date to 3.3 million years ago.

In 1936, the concept of a museum was first introduced in Ethiopia when an exhibition was opened, displaying ceremonial costumes donated by the Solomonic dynasty and their close associates. The current NME grew from the establishment of the Institute of Archaeology, which was founded in 1958. The institute was founded to promote and facilitate the archaeological research mission in the northern part of Ethiopia by French archaeologists.

Let’s look at Stone statue from Addi-Galamo, Tigray Region (dated 6th-5th century BCE), part of the National Museum’s collection. The statue is inscribed with a phrase in South Arabian, ‘For God Grants a Child to Yamanat’.

The museum started its activities by exhibiting objects from these excavation missions.

With the establishment of the Ethiopian Cultural Heritage Administration in 1976, the idea came up to open a National Museum. This was supported by the Government. The NME began to operate under the National Act which provides for the protection and preservation of antiquities, and has legislative authority governing all sites and monuments throughout the country of Ethiopia The collection on show at the National Museum is ranked among the most important in sub-Saharan Africa, but sadly, many of its exhibits are poorly labelled, lit and displayed. Far away the highlight is the palaeontological exhibition in the basement, the home of world-famous Lucy.

Her 1974 discovery in the Afar region of northwestern Ethiopia changed our understanding of

human origins forever. This section is well labelled in English, so if your time is limited, spend most of it here.

On the basement level, you’ll find two remarkable casts of Lucy, a fossilised hominid and easily Ethiopia’s best-known ancient inhabitant. One lies prone, while the other stands much as it did some 3.2 million years ago, truly hitting home how small our ancient ancestors were. The real bones are preserved in the archives of the museum.

Also here is the fossilised evidence of some amazing extinct creatures, like the massive sabretoothed feline Homotherium and the gargantuan savannah pig Notochoerus.

The periphery of the ground floor focuses on the pre-Aksumite, Aksumite, Solomonic and Gonderian periods. The wide array of artefacts includes an elaborate pre-1st-centuryAD bronze oil lamp showing a dog chasing an ibex, a fascinating 4th-century-BC rock-hewn chair emblazoned with mythical ibexes, and ancient Sabaean inscriptions. The middle of the room hosts a collection of lavish royal paraphernalia, including Emperor Haile Selassie’s enormous (and rather hideous) carved wooden throne.

On the 1st floor, there’s a vivid display of Ethiopian art ranging from early (possibly 14th-century) parchment to 20th-century canvas oil paintings by leading modern artists. Afewerk Tekle’s massive African Heritage is one of the most notable pieces. Another painting depicts the meeting of Solomon and Sheba. Note the shield of the soldier next to Solomon, which is engraved with the Star of David and a Christian Cross. The artist must have forgotten that this meeting is said to have occurred long before the birth of Christianity.

The 2nd floor contains a dusty and poorly labelled collection of secular arts and crafts, including traditional weapons, jewellery, utensils, clothing and musical instruments.

English-speaking guides are available for free (they should be tipped afterwards) and help to bring things alive. But, the agricultural artifacts that help to explain their culture contribute to making the time spent at the museum worth every minute.

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LifestyleHomes&Suites

Sunday 23 June 2019

Paul Ojenagbon pauloje2000@yahoo.com

Madison Court shows class in Oniru

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adison Court is a prestige development located off Palace Road in the serene residential estate of Oniru Victoria Island, Lagos. Set on a sizeable piece of land approximately 1,348 square meters, it comprises seven Terrace houses on four floors.

The project which kicked off in late 2017 is now at completion stage, with approximately 95 percent of work achieved and formal delivery is set for June 30, 2019. The project is multi- owned and is being marketed by the estate firm of Messrs. Gbenga Olaniyan and Associates. Each 4bedroom terrace house is attached with a maid’s room for the domestic servants.

Madison Court is conceived to be a perfect family home of excellent quality distinguished with impeccable finishing and impressive features. The houses offer beautiful accommodation with an elegant lifestyle that benefits from communal living. The ground floor comprises two covered car park spaces, ante room, guest toilet, maid’s room and a separate staircase that leads to the first floor.

The first floor comprises large living and

dining area,kitchen, pantry and another staircase that leads to the maid’s room on the ground floor. The second floor comprises the ensuite master’s bedroom and terrace,ensuite madam’s bedroom and a box room. The last floor accommodates the family lounge,two other bedrooms that are also ensuite.

The finishes given to the house include vitrified tiles for floor, wooden doors

mixed with security doors at the major entrances, Aluminium windows and POP ceiling. The wall is rendered, plastered and painted block wall while the roof is Aluminium.

Madison Court is centrally serviced.

Amenities made available include potable water from borehole with treatment plant, backup power to complement mains supply, 24/7 security, refuse disposal, evacua-

tion of the soak away/septic tanks as well as general maintenance and day to day management which would be provided by the estate firm. There is a car park slot to complement the 2-covered car park slots.

The development is marked for outright sale with a ₦90million price tag placed per unit on it. The title on the property is deed of assignment backed up with governor’s consent which is the highest.

Fascinating Katampe Hillside residences

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ll over the world, scenic locations whether natural or man – made bestow on homes that innate beauty that draws fanciful attraction. In their quest for unique homes, the wealthy class in Nigeria are constantly seeking out homes in rare locations that align with “wonders of the world” tag.

In Lagos, such locations are found by the

waterside where the homes have front views of the waters. But in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, often described by some as a city built on the hills, where coastal locations are not easy to find, the resort is to build homes on top or afoot the hills. It offers a very interesting landscape. Apart from the splendor, such homes could have natural fortification against insecurity. No wonder

in times of old, many kings built their palaces on the hills. Katampe in the federal capital, Abuja, presents a good picture of a hillside terrain where homes are being churned out for exquisite accommodation.

Afoot the Katampe Hills is a top notch neighbourhood within the exclusive Katampe Extension known as “Diplomatic Enclave”. The location offers serenity and picturesque grandeur. On offer are 8 units of 4-bedroom terrace houses with 1-room boys’ quarters. The development is set on the land area of 3,560square meters and is covered by a Certificate of Occupancy issued by federal capital territory. All rooms

are ensuite with Jacuzzi which indicate how much resources have been deployed to make them standout. What is more, entrances are fortified with Israeli multi – lock security doors. Children play area, green area and gym are some of the recreational features in the estate. The amenities include potable water from borehole and treatment plant, standby generator, 24/7 security surveillance and ample car park.

The Mews of Katampe as the development is popularly called, are slated for delivery July 2019.

Also in the same Katampe Extension for outright sale, lying on an area of 1,620square meters is a development comprising a block of 4 units of 5 – Bedroom terrace duplex each with 1-bedroom boys’ quarters. The first floor comprises visitors, waiting room, a living room, dining area, guest toilet and a guest room with its water closet ensuite.

The second floor comprises a family lounge, 3-bedrooms each with water closet ensuite.

The third floor has a master’s bedroom with its living room and balcony, a walk in wardrobe and Jacuzzi. The title on the land is Certificate of Occupancy issued by the Federal Capital Authority. The development can be sold in units at negotiable rates of ₦130Million per terrace or the whole block at the consolidated price of ₦500Million.

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BDSUNDAY 41

Health&Science

Study identifies barriers to breast cancer treatment in Nigeria, Sub-Saharan Africa

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ANTHONIA OBOKOH

new research finding has identifies patients travelling long distances to access care ,treatment cost , significant delays and wait times for diagnostic tests as barriers that limits breast cancer patients the ability to complete an appropriate course of treatment in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya.

“Patients face significant delays, waiting time for surgery (mastectomy or breast conserving) can reach up to 112 days in Nigeria and 145 days in Ghana,” study revealed.

In Nigeria breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women and cervical cancer the second. Cancer is a critical public health problem in this population, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The study states that significant strides have been made in detecting, managing and treating breast cancer, yet it remains one of the most frequently diagnosed malignancy and the leading cause of cancer-related death in women in Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana. A patient’s chance of survival can be impacted by delays in diagnosis and treatment, limitations in access to appropriate and quality cancer care, and financial burdens associated with receiving care.

To better understand the challenges to addressing the full spectrum of breast cancer patient care in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and to help identify what solutions are

CONTRIBUTOR

TOBI AYODELE KEENEY

‘M

arijuanissance’, the renaissance of marijuana is upon us. Once a criminalised plant, however today several countries have now lifted the ban on marijuana and many doctors are even starting to prescribe the plant for the treatment of several medical ailments. The new term ‘medical marijuana’ today is used to refer to the plant in relation to its usefulness in the medical sphere.

How effective is medical marijuana? What illnesses can it are used to treat? Can it work in Nigeria? What is the preferred mode of use (ingesting it or smoking)?

Let us delve deep and see for ourselves.

There are over 500 active ingredients or cannabinoids found in marijuana, however the ones

needed throughout the patient journey, the study evaluated real world data on medical resource use, time taken to access recommended interventions and impact of payment options for individual patients.

“This study is a critical first step to understanding the magnitude of the barriers that Nigerian breast cancer patients face in their fight against this disease, both to improve access to quality cancer treatment and ensure that our patients do not face financial catastrophe while fighting this disease,” stated Razaq Oyesegun, co-author of the study and consultant clinical/radiation oncologist, National Hospital, Abuja.

He added: “In line with global momentum toward Universal Healthcare, there is a need for policies that improve standard of care treatment and increase insurance coverage to ultimately improve outcomes and protect breast cancer patients from financial hardship.”

The researchers found that patients travel long distances to access care in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya,

revealing that the commute to a tertiary cancer center was up to 717 (mean 121) Km in Nigeria, 614 (mean 45) km in Ghana and 398 (mean 56) km in Kenya.

The study design and methodology in a retrospective chart review, records of patients with breast cancer treated at one government– operated and one privately operated hospital in each country (six tertiary centers) in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya were included in the study. The cancer centers include National Hospital Abuja and Lakeshore Cancer Center in Nigeria;Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and Sweden Ghana Medical Centre in Ghana and Kenyatta National Hospital and Aga Khan University Hospital in Kenya.

In total, health records from 862 breast cancer patients were reviewed; 299 patient records from Ghana, 314 from Kenya and 249 from Nigeria.

The research conducted Roche explores on key findings from the study, titled, “Access to care and financial burden for patients with

breast cancer in Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria” were presented at the 2019 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting held in Chicago, IL, United States earlier this month.

Roche is the world’s largest biotech company, with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology and diseases of the central nervous system. Roche is also the world leader in in vitro diagnostics and tissue-based cancer diagnostics, and a frontrunner in diabetes management.

The research also stated that Patients treated in tertiary facilities are not accessing diagnostic procedures, treatment and therapies at standard of care noting that the usage of common screening methods such as a mammogram or breast ultrasound was less than 45 percent in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya and the use of core needle biopsy was 76 percent in Nigeria and Kenya, but only 50 percent in Ghana.

“Roche is proud to support this study which provides real world data on the breast cancer patient journey in Nigeria, and importantly, provides direction on what specific changes need to be made to improve outcomes for these patients. One way that this can be accomplished is through stronger private-private and public-private partnerships geared towards improving access to breast cancer care as no single player can tackle the barriers alone,” said Hameed Oladipupo,Country

Manager, Nigeria at Roche. “When we work together we can increase access and affordability of cancer care – and ultimately, improve outcomes for women in Nigeria facing breast cancer.”

The report further stated that Patients are responsible for a significant share – if not all – of diagnostic tests and treatment costs. This limits patient ability to complete an appropriate course of treatment revealing that Most patients studied in Nigeria (87 to 93 percent) paid for their diagnostic tests entirely out-of-pocket (OOP).The findings were similar in Ghana.

Similar to diagnostic testing, the proportion of patients paying OOP only for treatments were high, ranging from 72 – 89 percent in Nigeria, 45 – 79 percent in Ghana, and 8 – 20 percent in Kenya.

Among those patients receiving HER2 targeted therapy, the average number of cycles was 5 for patients paying OOP only versus 14 for patients with some level of insurance coverage.

However the researcher therefore identifying the barriers present in a patient’s journey to receiving care is a critical first step to understanding what changes need to be made to increase access and affordability of cancer care. The findings of this study demonstrate the urgent need for policies that improve standard of care treatment and increase insurance coverage to improve clinical outcomes and protect breast cancer patients from financial hardship.

Is Nigeria Ready for Medical Marijuana that are showing the greatest potential for medicinal use are namely; THC and CBD. THC is responsible for the psychoactive effects or ‘high’ experienced from using the plant, while CBD is purely medicinal with zero effect on the mind and behavior. THC increases appetite and reduces nausea. This can be highly effective for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy as they would not need to use anti-nausea drugs which have numerous side effects as compared to marijuana.

CBD is also very useful in reducing pain and inflammation. Marijuana is very effective for chronic pain, a leading cause of disability.

It contains cannabinoids which act on the same receptors in the brain as opioids pain medicines and by doing so it relieves moderate to severe chronic pain.

What makes it superior to conventional pain medicines is that it has almost no side effects as compared with the side effects of liver damage(paracetamol), respiratory problems, stomach ulcers(NSAIDS) and addictions

as found in other pain medicines.

THC and CBD in combination have been successfully used to control epileptic seizures and even kill cancer cells.

How can medical marijuana help our nation Nigeria?

Currently, medical marijuana is a multibillion dollar industry worldwide. In the United States alone, legal marijuana is poised to fetch the country over $80 billion dollars by 2022. If we extrapolate that figure to Nigeria, it means medical marijuana has the potential to increase the GDP of Nigeria by an additional 25% from its current amount at $375.8 billion dollars. It is possible that we grow the plant solely for export as a means of boosting the economy.

However, for legalization of marijuana for consumption in Nigeria, even for medical reasons, it may not yet be feasible, as we have shown poor leadership in the area of enforcement of policies and laws. We also have poor means of identifying and tracking our citizens if things go haywire. Take for instance the

United States, each birth is immediately recorded into their national records and the newborn is giving a social security number. That number is used in almost all aspects of the person’s life for school, work, marriage, visiting the hospital and more.

If the person were to purchase marijuana at a licensed facility, the social security number is then used to track purchases and visits to any licensed facility. If any foul play is suspected, enforcement agencies are equipped to take immediate action.

Until Nigeria gets to that level of organisation, it is advised we don’t even attempt to legalize the plant for consumption in Nigeria, except maybe as a tightly controlled prescription (such as morphine) available only to the terminally ill and only in approved medical centers.

Another option is to cultivate the strains of marijuana that have a very high CBD and extremely low THC content. This will still give the user the medicinal effects of marijuana without having

any mind altering experience.

In addition, a marijuana product which contains only CBD is legal in most parts of the world, so we may not even need to deal with changing too many laws. It is recommended to ingest medical marijuana rather than smoke it as smoking anything in general is not good for your lungs.

In conclusion, legalizing marijuana could have dramatic positive impact on Nigeria and even on the health of our people. However, we should NOT legalize it if we do not plan to cultivate it. We should make use of what we have grown and only grow enough for export for a very profitable margin. We can’t continue this never ending cycle of importing something that can easily be grown locally thereby making another countries economy to flourish while ours lay fallow. Here is to health, the health of a nation and the health of its people.

Tobi Ayodele Keeney Managing Director Quincy Herbals email address: tobi@quincyherbals.com

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Sunday 23 June 2019

Sports AFCON 2019 prize money up by 64 percent to $16.4m

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Stories By ANTHONY NLEBEM

he biggest football showpiece in the continent, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2019 kicked off on Saturday in Egypt, which will see a record 24 participating teams, jostle for the trophy.

The biggest boost for this tournament is the increase in prize money for the participating teams.

The prize money for AFCON 2019 totals $16.4 million, a 64 percent increase from previous AFCON; the winner gets $4 million, while runners up take home $2 million, semi-finalists get $1.5 million, eight teams from the quarterfinalists also get $800,000 each, third in group picks $575,000 each and last team in each group take $475,000.

The prize money increase is boosted by sponsorship deal CAF signed with French oil company Total.

The biggest talking point is the numbers of tourist and football fans that will troop in to catch the live actions of their darling teams.

“The Africa Cup of Nations Championship (AFCON) is likely to attract more than 50,000 tourists to Egypt in June 2019,” Sports and Youth Minister Ashraf Sobhy affirmed during the higher meeting of the organization of the Africa Cup of Nations 2019.

Believed to be followed by almost 2.1 billion people all over the world, Sobhy referred to the championship’s foremost

eminence economically and sportively. Still, Sobhy asserted the big event’s key role in reviving Egyptian tourism.

The Egyptian government battling to curb ticket racketing through the use of electronic ticketing systems will help keep fans safe and prevent crowd trouble as security tightens.

Tickets have only been available for sale online and the buyer has to enter their national ID or passport number, a system that allows authorities to vet and track fans, as well as limiting black-market sales.

“The fan ID and the online ticketing are security measures,” Fadl said.

“It is to avoid the black market, to build a new system for Egyptians, to push the fans to return to the stadium.”

The Nations Cup, expanded to 24 teams for the first time, will be played in Cairo, Alexandria, Suez and Ismailia.

Dozens of police officers and armoured vehicles were deployed around Cairo stadium this week, with strict security checks for people trying to enter.

Egypt slid into political turmoil after a 2011 uprising, and security forces have been battling an Islamist insurgency focused in the north of the Sinai Peninsula.

In recent months there have been several security incidents including two roadside blasts targeting tourists in Giza, across the Nile from central Cairo, but the country has not suffered largescale attacks since late 2017.

Security in general is tight, following a far-reaching crackdown on political dissent under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

“It is different I think,” Fadl said, comparing the current situation to the years that followed the uprising.

“Security and surveillance cameras of the highest quality are all around the stadium.”

Reasons why you should stay hooked to AFCON 2019

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or the first time, the 32nd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) takes a different approach in 2019 than previous years, the tournament has been expanded from 16 to 24 teams, which has never been done before. That means this year’s AFCON is going to be different and much more exciting! Hosted

by Egypt, with Cameroon as the defending champions, Africans are going to be buzzing with excitement as we enjoy this season.

Throughout this period DStv and GOtv will be dishing out to you live matches from 21 June to 19 July 2019, so worry not about missing a live match.

Here are 10 reasons to keep up with AFCON 2019 Content will be showing in High Definition DStv and GOtv will be showing the matches in High Definition (HD) television which means you will see everything showing on your screen much clearer than watching standard television. Imagine watching a live football match in much finer details, not having to worry about a blur or not getting a clear view of the football or the player; whether it grazed the stand of the goal post or it went into the post.

Live matches This has been mentioned throughout the text, but that is to empha-

Fadl said he was hoping for 90% attendance during the tournament. Egypt’s three group games sold out after authorities reduced the price of the cheapest tickets to 150 Egyptian pounds ($9) from 200 pounds.

In a country where many ordinary people have been struggling with rising living costs, some say ticket prices are still too high.

One such fan, Ahmad Bayoumi, complained that the process for registering online was also tricky.

“It is really expensive and I really like watching (the matches) here at the cafe,” he said. “The cafe has its own atmosphere.”

Matches will be played in six centers; Cairo, Port Said, Suez, Alexandria, Ismailia and El Salam.

ing showcasing their culture and heritage. Fashion lovers are going to love the array of football jerseys.

league just happened, followed by the FIFA women’s World Cup, now Africa is having its own football season, AFCON. If this does not scream enjoyment for every football fan in Africa, then I don’t know what does! The rush, the adrenaline, the excitement over amazing games played every week…something to look forward to.

Exciting reviews and commentaries in English and pidgin Back to back commentaries in not just English but also pidgin language. We all know how exciting things are when you leave the poshness behind. Every week there would be reviews in English and pidgin about each match. Why miss out on such banter?

size the reality of it. Your matches will be brought to you as it is happening. It’s almost as though you’re at the stadium watching it directly.

You’re watching as it is happening, not after it happens Time to socialize with family and friends This is an amazing time to bond with family and friends. Discuss, laugh over amazing plays, banter about upcoming and legendary players.

Regardless of what happens, the moment and experience will be infinite. Someone might be like, “only family and friends?” Not just family and friends. The impact football has made on socializing is unspeakable.

Imagine becoming best friends with someone you barely know over a game of African countries compet-

ing for a cup. This is closer to home because you are African, these are African countries playing and the matches are taking place in Africa.

Get to see different countries compete You are not going to be told about how Nigeria beat Ghana or how Zimbabwe lost to South Africa for example. You are watching it firsthand with no part missed on DStv or GOtv. Being a part of the buzz is truly something to look forward to this season. Seeing fellow brothers and sisters come together to enjoy African football. There will be a burst of culture every single week as countries come to compete for the cup and different spectators come beautifully dressed in their differing, colourful African cloth-

One of the very many African experiences you should not miss This is like Black Panther Reloaded!

An African missing this experience is the same as choosing to go to oblivion- hardly anyone wants this.

Become a football literate Primary source is better than secondary source. This is an opportunity to broaden your football knowledge without having to rely so much on football experts about African football. Step out of your comfort zone and explore the world of football.

Be a part of the social media banter With the excitement around this year’s AFCON, social media will be buzzing in Africa as Africans tweet, post and comment on each match their country played in or a county they support. Do not be left out of the loop as you scroll down your feed! Follow @DStvNg & GOtvNg on Twitter, and on Instagram- @ DStvNigeria & GOtvNg and Facebook facebook.com/dstvng & facebook.com/gotvng, and let’s engage!

Nigeria qualified Remember how excited we all were when Nigeria was the only… and I repeat, only African country left playing in the World Cup; how we showed love and support to our country. That time of the year is here again. It’s time for Nigerians to support and show love to our team whilst laughing and crying (hopefully tears of joy) about the turn of events. Nigeria is a qualifying team for this year’s AFCON. Trust and believe that football is at the core of DStv and GOtv’s

Express your love for football Calling all the football lovers out there to express their unconditional love for football. UEFA champions

Sports-loving viewers.

Do not miss out on this experience and event. Be in the loop of AFCON 201

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BDSUNDAY 43

Sports

Goalkeepers will not be booked for stepping off line during shootouts

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Stories by ANTHONY NLEBEM

oalkeepers at the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in France will not be booked for stepping off the goalline during penalty shootouts to reduce the likelihood of them being sent off.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB), the game’s law-making body, said on Friday it approved a request by world governing body FIFA for a temporary dispensation from the rule.

New regulations brought in from June 1 by IFAB mean that goalkeepers must have one foot at least partly on the line when the penalty kick is taken.

The goalkeeper can neither stand behind nor in front of it.

The law currently states that if a goalkeeper commits an offence, the kick must be retaken and the goalkeeper cautioned.

IFAB said it had approved a request from global governing

body FIFA for a temporary dispensation from the requirement to yellow card a goalkeeper who is penalised for the offence.

“Both FIFA and the IFAB … believe that the requirement to caution an offending goalkeeper in Kicks from the Penalty Mark (KFPM) in matches with Video Assistant Referees is not necessary and risks unfairly distorting the KFPM if a goalkeeper is sent off,” IFAB said in a statement.

IFAB added that the presence of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) increases the likelihood of offences being detected.

“As goalkeepers are likely to face a number of kicks during KFPM, there is a higher risk that a goalkeeper will be sent off for receiving a second caution if already cautioned in normal time, or two cautions during the KFPM,” the statement said.

The issue of goalkeepers being penalised by the VAR for coming off the line has been in the spot-

light at the women’s World Cup. Nigeria’s goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and the Super Falcons suffered so much from the rule against hosts France on Monday, losing to a lone goal scored from a retaken penalty kick.

The goalkeeper was also given a yellow card for having stepped

off the line when the penalty kick, which was missed, was first taken.

Also, Scotland were eliminated from the tournament after their goalkeeper Lee Alexander saved a stoppage-time penalty kick against Argentina only to be penalised for coming off her line.

Argentina’s Florencia Bonse-

gundo scored from the retake to snatch a draw that sent Scotland crashing out.

Three penalties have been retaken at the World Cup because the goalkeeper did not have at least one foot on the goalline, sparking a debate about whether VAR should rule on the matter.

Goalkeepers will however continue to be booked for coming off the line before penalties are taken in “normal time’’.

IFAB said it would be unfair to those who had already been cautioned for similar offences if they changed the rule midway through the tournament.

“After the end of the tournament the disciplinary sanction for offences committed by the goalkeeper at penalties might be further discussed within IFAB’s panels,” the chairman of FIFA’s refereeing committee Pierluigi Collina said in a statement.

The World Cup’s last-16 matches begin on Saturday.

LaLiga unveils interactive ‘LaLiga Space’ of AFCON 2019 GOtv Boxing Night 19 to feature four female boxers

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aLiga has unveiled LaLiga Space, its biggest-ever event in Egypt, to mark the kick-off of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Cairo.

Prominent LaLiga Ambassadors and legends of the modern game Samuel Eto’o andFernandoMorienteswere at Cairo Festival City Mall to open the three-day event on Thursday afternoon and to meet with both local and international media.

Guests to the interactive space can try their hand at the LaLiga-themed games corner, check out the display of authentic LaLiga jerseys and even have their photos taken on a replica coaches’ bench and with the official LaLiga Santander trophy.

LaLiga’s global star Samuel Eto’o expressed his excitement to be part of the very first LaLiga Space in Egypt. “Egypt is once again leading the way in hosting crucial African and international events,” he said.

“Cairo’s previous experience in organising events of this nature make it an ideal and exciting choice for all African teams and also LaLiga.” Moreover, he added that Egyptians and Africans in general share a genuine passion for football reflected in their daily routines.

Fernando Morientes, meanwhile, reiterated LaLiga’s commitment to advocating Spanish football around the world, especially in football-mad countries across Africa and the Middle East, and how LaLiga Space has already featured in various countries across the globe coinciding with major sporting events like the CAF19 in Egypt. “This continuous effort gives fans the world over the chance to meet their favourite players, experience LaLiga first-hand and find out more about its teams and biggest stars,” he said.

A number of well-known football figures and experts from across Africa were pres-

ent at the press conference held at Cairo Festival City Mall to mark the opening of LaLiga Space.

“Africa is a key market for LaLiga given the public’s fervent passion for football and their continuous support for international leagues,” said Fernando Sanz, LaLiga’s Director of International Institutional Relations and Director of the LaLiga Ambassadors and Legends Project.

Juan Fuentes, LaLiga’s Delegate in Egypt, added that the event was a milestone for Spanish football in the region.

Many of LaLiga’s most prominent stars will be participating in this year’s Africa Cup of Nations with their national teams, including Mous-

sa Wague (FC Barcelona), Hassen El Id (R. Valladolid), Yassine Bounou (Girona FC), Youssef En-Nesyri (CD Leganes), Soufiane Boufal (RC Celta), Aïssa Mandi (Real Betis), Karl Toko Ekambi (Villarreal CF), Wilfrid Kaptoum (Real Betis), Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal CF), Kenneth Omerou (CD Leganes), Moses Simon(LevanteUD),Wakaso Mubarak (D. Alaves), Thomas Partey (Atletico de Madrid), Kwabena Owusu (CD Leganes), Jose Kante (Gimnastic deTarragona),MunirMohand Mohamedi (Malaga CF), Aly Abeid (AD Alcorcon), Alfred Ndiaye (Malaga CF), Farid Mussa (CD Tenerife) and Ismael Athuman Gonzalez (UD Las Palmas).

he four female professional boxers billed to fight at GOtv Boxing Night 19 have commended event sponsors for bringing back female boxers to the event, which will hold on 14 July at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos.

The boxers, Mariam Yusuf, Rodiat Yusuf, Cynthia Ogunsemilore and Adedeji Abiodun, have been selected will join the cast of male boxers billed to fight at the event.

While Mariam and Rodiat are scheduled to face each other in a four-round national bantamweight challenge duel, Cynthia and Adedeji will be in action for the same number of rounds in the super featherweight division.

Speaking after their training in Lagos yesterday, the

boxers thanked the sponsors for giving female boxers the opportunity to be part of the event and promised to justify their inclusion in the fight line-up by being at their best.

Cynthia, who is highly regarded on the circuit, said she is especially delighted that female boxers have been considered, as many of our colleagues will now begin to have the hope that women are not being overlooked.

“I saw female boxers fight at two editions of GOtv Boxing Night and I thought there would be more. But it did not happen, which made many female boxers unhappy. We are now excited that female boxers have been brought back and our plan is to ensure that more female boxers are featured. That is why we have to do our best to earn

the trust of the sponsors and organisers, who have been good for Nigerian boxing, and show that we are as good as our male counterparts,” she said.

Mariam, Rodiat and Adedeji echoed the same sentiments, with all of them vowing to show their worth at the event. The two allfemale bouts raise the number of fights for the event to nine. Seven of these are male bouts, with the biggest being the international welterweight challenge duel between West African Boxing Union (WABU) champion, Rilwan “Baby Face” Babatunde and Ghana’s Eden Biki. The last female at the event was the clash between Ghana’s Gifty “Tiger” Ankrah and Nigeria’s Helen Johnson at GOtv Boxing Night 3.

HIVE leagues begins registration of teams in 6-a-side World Cup

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he HIVE Leagues Limited, Nigeria’s foremost Sports Management Company, has begun preparations for the 6-a-side smallsided football World Cup

Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe (3rd left); former Minister of Aviation and Captain of Team Rubicon, Senator Hadi Sirika; former Governor of Gombe State, His Excellency, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo; Chief, UNICEF field office, Kaduna, Zakari Adams and Director, Coronation Merchant Bank, Idaere Gogo Ogan during the presentation of the Charity Shield Cup to the winners, Team Rubicon and the presentation of cheque by Access Bank to UNICEF at the 2019 Access Bank Unicef Charity Shield Polo Tournament in Kaduna

tournament-taking place in Crete, Greece, later in the year.

The recently launched HIVE leagues is affiliated to the International Socca Federation (ISF), which is an authority on small sided football worldwide. Its major focus is to begin organized small-sided football and recreational sport leagues in Nigeria in general with a focus on putting together a squad from everyday players and amateurs that will compete in the small-sided football World Cup tournament in Greece.

Shedding more light on the initiative, Chief Executive Officer, Henry Koko said the vision for small sided football in the country is huge, which is why the company is setting up leagues around the country to bring the vision to life. “We want to replicate the culture and structure of organized small sided football as seen in the UK, for instance, here in Nigeria

and we believe ‘Everybody Should Play’. Our desire is to have individuals or teams compete in the leagues, play regional tournaments and produce a dream team, made up of everyday footballers, that will represent Nigeria in the small sided football World Cup at the world stage.”

According to the league organizers, the leagues kickoff the weekend of the 21st of June 2019, and several captains have already registered their teams. In addition, entry fees for the first 4 teams in each league have been waived to encourage participation. Currently teams can register to play in Lagos or in Abuja, with more locations coming soon.

Interested football fans are advised to visit the HIVE Leagues website, for more information and register their teams to be part of the new structure of small sided football currently making waves in Nigeria.

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Walking the talk on the Almajiri conundrum

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he recent presidential directive

by Muhammadu Buhari for the North to do away with the longestablished Almajiri system, and more significantly get the millions of out-of-school children back to the classroom is highly commendable. That is, even as his diehard critics are asking why he is just waking up to the harsh reality of the social menace these denizens of the street constitute to the country, now. To his traducers however, he should have done the needful back in 2015. But for yours truly, as it is often said, “it is better late than never”.

All the same, pitched against the swirling, violent waves of the Boko Haram insurgency, blood-letting killer herdsmen and armed banditry that have ravaged the Northern geo-political axis, education and a quality one at that should come in as the sine qua non to mitigate the spate of lawlessness. That the gambits of kidnapping for ransom and armed robbery have swept from the Atlantic coast over the Middle Belt states up to AbujaKaduna road and beyond are all enough to inform the president’s wise decision. But then, what is the Almajiri social matrix all about and what is the best way forward?

According to the online medium, thewillnigeria.com of July 10, 2015 “the traditional Almajiri system, which began in the 11th Century after Kanem-Bornu Islamic tradition was primarily conceived in humility through austerity and borne out of intellectual necessity”. Notable however, is the caution it gave that “the North will never get it right politically and developmentally until it stops seeing the Almajiri system as a tradition and starts seeing it as the menace that it has become. It has become an affront to our religion, culture and civilisation. No community will prosper by condemning its future generations to begging and all sorts of societal indignities”. Good to note that the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, is on the same page.

Of great importance is the fact that the Federal Government has identified the connecting chord between mass ignorance, joblessness and the escalating storm of all manner of crimes and criminality currently bedeviling the country.

Even then, the evolving scenario triggers a lot of burning questions, literally begging for answers from the federal and concerned

state governments. Who are those who have benefitted from the Almajiri system and have they been sufficiently enlightened on the compelling need for a paradigm shift?

Will they key into the vision of the empowering nature of western education? How serious are the state and federal governments on education funding in Nigeria?

Oh, yes funding is critical to sound education delivery; in terms of provision of solid infrastructure, stable electric power supply, good access roads, learning materials, equipping the libraries and laboratories?

“

Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today -Malcolm X

”

Also important is staff welfare package and frequent training, especially in this era of technology-driven, global knowledge economy. The reality on ground is however, a far cry from what is promised and even expected.

For instance, under President Buhari the funding of education has been paltry. For instance, in 2015 N392.2billion representing 7.74 percent went to the sector. In 2016, it was N369.6billion or 6.10percent. In 2017, it was N550billion or 7.38percent and in 2018, it was N605.8billion or 7.03 percent.

In fact, from 2009 till date, the highest percentage budgetary allocation to education was N493billion, representing 9.94percent of the total budget of that year. That was under former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014. The worst was in 2010 when N249.09 billion representing 4.83percent was voted for the sector.

It is instructive therefore, to note that only the Premier of the then Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo (of blessed memory) ever aligned with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recommendation of 26 percent budgetary allocation to

education delivery. Out of the revenue generated from the export of raw cocoa (which could have been far higher if it was processed) his government still instituted the popular and impactful Free Education policy. Till date, no other government, either at the state or federal level has done the needful.

Although the Second National Development Plan (1970-74) raised the allocation to 13.5 percent, it fell to 7.5 per cent in the Third National Development Plan (1975-1980). Again, it jumped to 17.3 percent in the Fourth National Development Plan (1981-85). However, it has not gone higher than 13.5 percent since 1990 except of course, in 1997 when education was given 17.5 percent.

Even current President Buhari during a visit to France in November 2018, assured the Nigerian community there that education would be better funded.

“We are currently reviewing investments in the entire infrastructure of the country like road, rail and power, including investing more in education, he had said. But while he proposed N61.73 billion to education, the Senate then under Dr. Bukola Saraki had to up to N102.907 billion. That must have been in the national interest.

According to the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, the ruling class in Nigeria does not prioritise education. “Go to Ghana; in the last 10 years, they have never budgeted less than 20 per cent for education. There is South Africa, Egypt, among others”.

Back to the Almajiri conundrum.

Kudos must go to ex-President Jonathan for establishing 165 Almajiri schools up North. “Over 80percent of the 10.5 million children for which majority are known as Almajiri came from the northern part of Nigeria, where I recorded the least votes in the elections I contested.

But knowing the value of education, I could see that the ugly situation was limiting the opportunities of these children and negatively affecting the development of my country”.

He stated this while he addressing an audience at the Peace Summit at the Junior Chamber International, JCI, in

AYO OYOZEBAJE Baje is Nigerian first food technologist in the media and author of ‘DRUMBEATS OF DEMOCRACY’

Malaysia in 2018. Unfortunately, two years after he left office most of those schools were found to be in decrepit state, due to utter neglect. Must we politicise an issue as crucial as education? That remains the million-Naira question.

As reflected in my book: ‘How to be a successful student’, the noble role that sound and quality education delivery plays in transforming a nation from one of mass illiteracy and ignorance to that of an industrial hub can never be underestimated. We all have become witnesses to the rapid rise in the economic activities of countries such as India, the acclaimed Asian Tigers and particularly China, which now rubs shoulders with the United States, as one of the most productive nations in the world. The secret lies in how well the leaders have actualised their vision for the citizens in human capacity development. =For Nigeria to achieve meaningful socio-economic transformation and to be counted amongst the top 20 industrialised countries, increased resources and various governments’ attention must be deployed to arresting the drastic slide in the standard of education in the country.

Sad to note however, that up till now several state governments have refused to pay their counterpart Fund for the Universal Basic Education (UBE). It is a crying shame that some of those governors fly in private jets over dilapidated schools where pupils study under trees!

The time to frontally tackle the Almajiri issue is now, with the solid support from Emirs, rich individuals and corporate organisations.

For, as the Chinese proverb goes, “If you are planning for a year, sow rice, if for a decade plant trees, but if you are planning for a lifetime, educate the people”

Quick Takes

Off the Cuff

That EU and other international election observers’ damning report on the last presidential election

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he just released report on the last presidential and NASS elections by the EU Observer Group, The International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute is simply a damning case of deep-seated corruption that has eaten deep into not just the electoral process, but also into the entire moral fabric of the society.

Cancerous and leprous corruption, especially within government circles and among those opportunistic few who control the levers of power and means of production and distribution of scarce national resources, has completely eroded our national ethos and cherished moral values and elevated mediocrity and hypocrisy to high heavens.

The electoral process has been horrifically bastardised, monetised, militarised and privatised by the rulers, elite and their prostituting collaborators and allies, both local and international, who see politics as a full time profession and a “do-or-die” and

“winners-take-all” occupation.

The 2019 elections were probably the worst in the electoral history of Nigeria, killing more people and causing more incalculable casualties than any election in Nigerian history.

Aside the uncontrolled and uncontrollable activities of the Boko Haram insurgents and rampaging herdsmen and the genocidal killings recorded during the three-year Nigerian-Biafran civil war progrom, no event has recorded more mindless cold blooded killings on Nigeria as did the last elections.

The Nigerian Situation Room, leading election observers and monitoring groups also passed the same damning verdict over the last presidential election that suffered acute lack of integrity, transparency, credibility fairness, freedom and acceptability.

The incumbent government was so desperate to win at all costs since it had no credible or viable record of performance to rely on that it threw caution to the wind and militarised the

entire elections to its advantage.

It employed and deployed brute force.

It was all so shameful, so undemocratic, so regrettable, that earlier gains recorded on integrity of elections were readily eroded.

The EU Observer Group, the International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute were therefore, dead right in their damning report.

But, for the fact that they employed diplomatese and diplomacy of decency in their expression and conclusions, under acceptable best international practices, they surely would have used stronger abusive and decisive terms, such as the elections amounting to “bare-faced brigandage”, “electoral robberies” “stolen mandates” “stone age” politics”, etc. I am personally greatly embarrassed as a Nigerian citizen and patriot.

• Mike Ozekhome,SAN,OFR

N746.5bn This is the value of mutual funds investment at the end of May 2019 according to data from Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The Royal mandate “We keep hammering on the Fulani herdsmen trying to take over everywhere; it is the bad ones that we want to kick out and enough is enough; we will kick them out and do justice to the peace and peaceful coexistence in our country.”

-Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, decrying the high rate of crimes linked to Fulani herdsmen

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