BusinessDay 26 May 2019

Amosun will influence ninth Senate to help my government - President Why it is a miracle to survive in Nigeria RAZAQ AYINLA, Abeokuta

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aving experienced stiff opposition and political face-off throughout the four-year tenure from the eight National Assembly chaired by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, President Muhammadu Buhari has requested the assistance of Governor Ibikunle Amosun as part of measures to en-

sure cordial relationship between the Presidency and the National Assembly.

President Buhari, who will be sworn in for second term in office next Wednesday, seeks Amosun’s political assistance just as he is doing to other loyal senators-elect. He believes that Governor Amosun, being a second timer at the Senate, will muster needed support from colleague Senators and Repre-

sentatives’ members at the ninth National Assembly.

BDSUNDAY observes that the President has started romancing loyal Senators-elect within the All Continues on page 4

Situations and events that take place in Nigeria are mind-boggling; some of them are practically unimaginable. This is, perhaps, the only country in the world where people live in want and woe, poverty and penury, yet they survive and carry on with life as though living in lack is a natural course.

CHUKA UROKO, OBINNA EMELIKE and AMAKA ANAGOREWUZIE try to capture the pain citizens go through in the country on a daily basis. Not only that

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‘Nigerians are now living on the edge’. And in Nigeria, you are ‘On Your Own’.

See pages 32 to 34

BDSUNDAY BUSINESS DAY

www.businessday.ng Sunday 26 May 2019

Without true federalism, restructuring Nigeria may not know peace - George

Why Reps must pass South East Development Commission Bill, now!

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Vol 1, No. 265 N300

??Omoluwabi Mortgage Bank

seesimprovement in Q1 2019 turnover p 41.

Market & Commodities Monitor Brent Oil

5yr Bond

$68.99

0.00 14.34%

Gold

10yr Bond

$1,284.73

0.15 14.25% 20yr Bond

Cocoa

0.12 14.45%

$2,467.00

inside Nigeria has to declare state of emergency in education SundayOlumide Interview 16 BDSUNDAY

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Y

ou have had an illustrious career in Nigeria’s Foreign Service and now you celebrate your 80th birthday in a country with 53 years as average life expectancy for men; how has the journey been? Is there a recipe for longevity you want to share with us?

This is surely through the enabling grace of God Almighty that has kept me healthy and at this age of 80 years. And also made me not to be a burden to my family, I give gratitude and honour to God. But as a human being, in my own small way too, I think that my lifestyle can partly account for my longevity. Early in life, I started out having the right diet. I have also been conscious about exercise.

At school, I was the champion of the games in athletics, sprint, high jump and all that. When the points are calculated whoever has the highest point is called victor ludorum. I played soccer and later in life lawn tennis. This has kept me fit most of the time and I am lucky that I did not get injury in any of the games I participated in.

When I got married, my wife guided me on what I should be having and took care of my health too. She is an emerita professor of medicine, by the way. Many of my friends say I do not look my age, we thank God for that.

The life expectancy in Nigeria used to be much lower earlier on.

I think that it is a sad commentary on the health system in the country.

Normally, health services should be free, at least, for the generality of the people. And those who can afford it can go to private hospitals.

Then the health insurance, which at the beginning I thought will be a revolution, the implementation has not been as effective as one would have expected. In the countries we copy, they have extensive arrangements for taking care of the generality of their people. The quality of life has diminished, and these are all factors that can affect your longevity. Basically, as I said earlier on, it is by the grace of God. You had a long diplomatic career; how did you get into Nigeria’s Foreign Service and which posting has had the most lasting impression on you?

While I was at the University College in Ibadan, studying history; even before then, when I was doing my high school certificate course, I used to admire diplomats and thought it was a noble profession, which I can attempt to join. And in my final year at the university, someone came from the ministry of foreign affairs and spoke to us about career in the Foreign Service; so as soon as I graduated I did not have second thoughts. I applied.

Luckily, I graduated with honours, second class upper, which made me competitive during the interview at federal civil commission. That was how I found myself in the Foreign Service and I think that for the fourteen years I was there, it was very exciting and I benefitted a lot.

Regarding the posting, I find most significant, without question definitely it is the permanent mission of Nigeria to the United Nations in New York. In the United States we had three Nigerian legations at that time; the Embassy in Washington, the permanent mission to the U.N. in New York and the Consulate

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Adekunle Olumide

Nigeria has to declare state of emergency in education - Olumide

The debate over cannabis

Adekunle Olumide, one of Nigeria’s finest diplomats turned 80 years old Saturday. His first posting in the Nigeria Foreign Service was to New York in 1966 and he retired as a Federal Permanent Secretary in 1991. In this interview, with STEPHEN ONYEKWELU, he shares thoughts on what has sustained him in the last eighty years; what Nigeria needs to do to accelerate economic growth, among other issues. Excerpts: General in New York.

While at New York, I got exposed professionally, because at the United Nations headquarters, you had experts who produced documents for members on any subject. I handled the second committee of the U.N. which is mainly economic. We dealt with economic and social issues. We also received reports from the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) mainly economic issues.

In the university, I studied history but during my training, I was trained in diplomacy in Canberra, Australia. There, I was exposed to international economics, law and politics. It was significant that on going to New York I was put on the economic desk. While in New York, Nigeria was a non-permanent member of the U.N.’s Security Council. This enabled me to listen to debates by top diplomats from

around the world. In those days, countries used to send their best diplomats as ambassadors to the United Nations because that is the peak of conference diplomacy.

At that time, I remember Lord Caradon, the permanent representative of Britain, who used to be chief secretary in Nigeria decades ago. You also had Arthur Goldberg, a retired U.S. Supreme Court judge who represented the United States of America. It is interesting that I am remembering these names. This was in 1966. Nikolai Fedorenko who was a brilliant professor of Chinese studies represented Russia. Of course, Nigeria, we had Chief S.O. Adebo, a well-respected top African diplomat. Listening to debates involving such people, you cannot but benefit. Then there was the U.N. General Assembly itself.

Professionally, it exposed me.

However, as Chief Adebo said, “Kunle, your first posting is New York. After here, no other posting will impress you.” I just smiled when he said that. But in reality he was right; every other posting was an anti-climax. From New York

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I came back to Nigeria and was posted out again to Geneva. This was a significant posting for me because at that time Nigeria was on the 18-nation disarmament committee.

At the time I was in Geneva, 1971 to 1974, Nigeria did not have an embassy in Austria. I used to travel to Austria to represent Nigeria on the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency and UNIDO. I also handled consular issues because we had Nigerian students and some Nigerian nationals living in Austria.

This was also exciting. To come back to the question, the most significant in terms of professional exposure and satisfaction was definitely the New York posting.

But in terms of sentimental fulfillment, I would say Libreville, Gabon. This is because during the civil war, Gabon recognised the Biafra Republic. So, Nigeria had no relations with Gabon. After the civil war, there was need to normalise relations with Gabon. I was sent as charge d’affairs to open the embassy. I set up the chancery, the entire embassy and related to the

host government at the highest level. From sentimental point of view, this is the one I appreciate the most because I started everything from scratch, whereas in New York and Geneva, those Nigerian missions already existed.

How would you compare the education you got at the University College, Ibadan in 1964 to what is obtainable today in our tertiary institutions of learning?

I think one has to be objective in trying to compare what obtained at that time to what is obtainable today. First of all, the University College in Ibadan was the only university in the country when I got in. The number of students was few. Therefore, lecturers paid more attention because we were fewer. The teacher-student ratio was very low, which was a good thing. More importantly, we were a college of the University of London.

For instance, my degree was from the University of London. The living conditions were much better. We had single rooms to ourselves.

We had people cleaning our rooms and stewards making our meals. That was a different era because the country was struggling to build its human capital. We got in there at mature ages, whereas our children went in much younger.

That maturity is important. At that time, some people were sponsored by some schools and organisations. This contributed to the level of seriousness at studies. We had student movements and organisations but not the type of things you hear about now such as cultism, frightening. We also were rascally but people were never killed. With population explosion and need to meet with demand, quality was lowered in terms of faculty members’ qualifications.

When you look at the science subjects, engineering and so on, the laboratories leave much to be desired, whereas in the earlier days, we had all those things working whether it is in engineering or medicine. But now it is not quite the same.

Having said that, it also strikes me that when products of Nigerian universities go abroad for post-graduate studies, they excel.

Perhaps, our standard is not as low as we think. You can argue that those are probably the brilliant ones but it tells something. Those employed locally, some multinationals claim to have to retrain them. This is in terms of refresher courses because if they were not innately brilliant, it will be difficult for them to be trained. I think going forward; the Nigerian government has to declare a state of emergency in education, because no country can develop without its human capital being very competitive and modern. What is most important is the quality of the individual.

Singapore, Israel and Japan who do not have natural resources are highly developed today because of the emphasis they placed on the quality of their human capital.

Once your human capital is ready for the Twenty-First century, you have little problems. But you can’t have improvement in education by paying lip-service to it. If we are not careful, we will be sowing seeds that will be dangerous for future generations. We need to be globally competitive through better

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and newly elected chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF); President Muhammadu Buhari; Governor Ibikunle Amosun and wife, Olufunsho, and Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State at the inauguration of legacy projects executed by the Amosun administration, in Abeokuta, Saturday.

Buhari and growing list of headaches

Continued from page 19

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Agbakoba, others list priority areas after inauguration Security, economy, job creation top list

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ZEBULON AGOMUO AND JAMES KWEN, Abuja

White Ebony, challenging preconceived notions on albinism

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Many Nigerian men ignorant of prostate cancer risk P. 27

y this time next week, President Muhammadu Buhari would have been inaugurated for a second term of four years.

Analysts say that the opportunity of the second and last oath of office by the President should afford him and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), a chance to remedy all that may have gone wrong in the last four years and rightly position Nigeria on the path to

greatness.

Pundits, who spoke with BDSUNDAY, including Olisa Agbakoba, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), listed as key expectations, security of lives and property, Constitutional reengineering, reduction in lending rate, boost in the economy and job creation.

Other expectations are in the areas of renewed fight against corruption, improvement in agricultural production, education, infrastructure, roads, rail system and power.

Christian Okeke, a lecturer

at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka , said: “My expectation is that he ends up bequeathing a strong, stable and prosperous country which he promised. I expect that he focuses on creation of valueadded economy that is driven by real and sustainable jobs in manufacturing and agricultural sectors.

“It is sad that our country is currently beleaguered by all-time consuming incidences of hunger, poverty, unemployment, economic sabotage, kidnapping and other acts of

vagabondage. Our global poverty ranking shows no sign of improvement even as millions still go to bed daily on empty stomach.”

“In fact, lack of jobs and other pecuniary incentives continue to supply oxygen that sustains multiform varieties of national catastrophes. While insecurity and under-development besetting the country show organic linkage with economic factors, conditions of human life in the country continue to grow worse.

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Buhari and growing list of ...

Continued from page 1

“In order to make the desired impact in the next administration, therefore, President Buhari must have an immense focus on job creation across various initiatives. If our country is indeed to become economically sustainable, it clearly needs jobs. This will drive other development index and launch the country into becoming a strong economy,” Okeke further said. ‎Idayat Hassan, director, Centre for Democracy and Development, said: “The priority for the new administration is to focus on tackling insecurity, economy and corruption. In fact, nothing changed compared to 2015, instead, insecurity actually got more protracted.

“The President must urgently constitute his cabinet and ensure he puts round pegs in round holes. The administration must also ensure it prioritises policy coherence and consistency in this new term. Most of its failures in the last four years were as a result of one policy militating against the other”.

Stanley Kyegh, an Abujabased legal practitioner said: “Every government comes with its peculiar challenges, prospects and all that. Issues of security were there before he came in and somehow those things were underground but now they have become monsters.

“So in his second term, he should focus more on security so that the country can come back to the peaceful country we knew before. Because the way things are going now, if he is not firm on the issue of security, the country will be polarised.

“His attention should be on social investment; bringing in programmes that will touch on people like the home grown feeding programme, anchor borrowers’ programme and N- power, etc.

“In the area of education, more is needed to be done. Putting jobs in the hands of people is good and pushing down to people in the rural areas to also feel the impact of government, particularly in our hospitals, in our schools and then roads.

Now we have heard that some roads have been awarded like in my state in Benue and if he continues with this trajectory the country in the next tenure would feel his impact more than what we felt in the first tenure,” Kyegh said.

President Buhari himself has not left Nigerians in doubt as to what they should expect in his second term when he began his re-election campaign by launching the policy document “Next Level”.

The next level agenda prioritizes five key issues of jobs creation, infrastructure development, business/entre-

preneurship, human capital enhancement and political inclusion with specific promise to create seven million jobs.

A columnist captured the expectation of Nigerians on a national daily in his article ‘Next Level’. According to the writer, “The people have seen how the President fared in his first term. His final four-year term is expected to be defining. Not many have good things to say about his first four-year term.

To these people, the President did not meet Nigerians’ expectations. They wanted to see a President that would transform their lives in a twinkling of an eye. But that did not happen.”

The author further recalled that “The President and his party gave the citizenry the impression that things would change overnight upon their coming into office. They promised CHANGE; the people took them by their word, expecting instant change…What with the promise to ensure regular power supply within six months and statements such as ‘any government that cannot guarantee that should simply pack and go within a few months’!

Those who talked like that now know better.”

A pundit, who spoke with BDSUNDY, expressed pessimism, saying: “I do not expect anything different from what I saw in the last four years. In fact, I am expecting the worst.

You know why? The signs are all over the place that the President has not changed his mind set. He has wasted four whole years pointing fingers at past administrations. He wasted four years hunting down perceived opponents. He wasted four years dividing the country and instituting hatred across the country. No section of the country is together again. The other day, former President Olusegun Obasanjo talked about Northernisation and Fulanisation of the country, and the Presidency began to attack him, but that’s what we are seeing now. I will tell you for free that the country is in for a more terrible time; don’t let anybody deceive you.”

Part of the negative attitude that endangered the country in the last four years is government’s penchant not to accept criticism and to work on its weak points. The Buhari administration has always viewed people’s observation as an affront rather than act on the identified failures. Pundits say that the journey to the Next Level may not be well made if the President continues on that dangerous trajectory.

Agbakoba points areas of focus Speaking exclusively to our reporter in Lagos, Olisa Agbakoba , a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), advised the President to urgently carry out constitutional re-engineering; reduce

President Buhari

lending rate; put Nigeria and Nigerians first like President Donald Trump is doing in America, among other priority areas.

“I want him to dismantle the constitution; let him not call another constitutional conference, but let him just review the Obasanjo files, the Jonathan files. Let him just set up a seven-man committee that can feel the pulse of Nigerians and give them the constitution that would work for them. And I think this is not difficult. I was at the national conference in 2014, everybody agrees that this strong centre thing should give way for stronger participation at regional level and state level; that was the bone of contention.”

According to Agbakoba , “Some said the 36 states should form the federating units, others felt the six zones should form the federating units. But everybody body was clear that the central power with the Federal Government should dissolve either to the states or regions. So, if all that is done, I don’t see why it should take, if the President wants to put all his energy into this, three months, to resolve the constitutional crisis in Nigeria.”

Tasking the President on the economy, the former leader of Civil Society organisation said: “But pending that, the President would need to work on the economy. I think it is important that the President should try and initiate policies that would develop the Nigerian economy; because for now, Nigeria is a dumping ground. This is where I agreed with Donald Trump, even though he does it bombastically, in his policy of making America great again; he thinks about putting America first.

We have to put Nigeria first; we can’t have people coming here taking our businesses, they go away and leave us with nothing. That is why I was happy that the government finally cajoled MTN to list at the stock exchange so that the money is here.

Otherwise, MTN only have air; that is what they were selling; they don’t have building, or asset, and they can go on airplane and leave. They don’t have phones, just selling air.

How can you have a company like MTN doing that? And then you look at the airline business, the same thing is happening; they made billions of profit last year, but nothing for Nigeria.

Even British Airways does not have any office in Nigeria. Now, if you want to buy ticket, it is in India and then it goes on and on.”

“So, I would hope that President Buhari should review our trade policy. Our trade policy is too liberal; we need import substitution policy so that we can stop importing and grow our industry.

So, when we grow our industry, you are creating jobs; that is the magic President Trump has used in America, he has a strong economy, he has got the lowest unemployment rate among the black, white workers. If he goes to the election next year, it will be hard to defeat him.

That is what the President Buhari should focus on; how can we put Nigerians first, so that all these small businesses can grow?

“On the issue of the Central Bank; there is no way the Nigerian economy can grow when interest rate is as high as 30 percent. The government and the Central Bank must sit down and agree that interest rate must be pushed down to single digit, which is the only way businesses can grow, if you take a loan you can pay it back.

I refer this as quantitative easing; you have to ease Nigerians of the burden, give them some relief, and you can’t talk of increasing taxation at this time.

That is quantitative easing; so that if you are a vulcanizer, you can have the money to do business and then infrastructure, and then manage borrowing and create a national guarantee agency.”

On the team the President should assemble as cabinet members, Agbakoba said: “The best possible crop of ministers, not from political leaning, should go in and manage the affairs of state. He needs highly competent ministers. A minister of finance that understands fiscal policy; he needs a minister of investment that understands how investment flows; a strong Attorney-General who fully understands the principle of law and order, and development.

“And then he needs to have strong security policy with strong men who are professionally qualified to run those offices. So, in other words, he needs to put the best guys so that we can see the change. It is doable. At that point, Nigerians would not care whether a President is appointed from the North; why they care now is because they are feeling the pain. And I think the Nigerian president can make Nigerians feel happy.”

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Insecurity hinders work on Kano-Maiduguri Road - CCECC

…Says Lagos-Ibadan rail project about 79percent complete INNOCENT ODOH, Abuja

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xecutive Director, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCECC, Jacques Liao, has decried the incessant insecurity situation in northern Nigeria, stressing that it obstructs work on the Kano- Maiduguri Road especially the Yobe-Borno axis and threatening the company’s workers.

Liao, who made this disclosure while interacting with journalists at the Corporate Headquarters of the company in Abuja, said the Kano-Maiduguri Road is the most challenging project the company ever embarked on adding that in April this year, five heavy equipment of the company were destroyed by insurgency.

Liao maintained that insecurity along that axis, has actually led to delay in completing the road, even as he called on the Nigerian government and other stakeholders to take urgent steps to arrest the situation before it degenerates further.

The Executive Director also said that the ongoing LagosIbadan rail project, which is 79 percent completion, will be completed in April next year despite the difficulties in laying track but assured that they will try as much as possible to deliver as promised.

He revealed that the CCECC employed over 5,000

local staff presently working with them on the Lagos-Ibadan railway project, explaining that as soon as they finished laying the tracks, the rest will not be difficult.

Explaining further, Liao revealed that over 11,000 people are presently working with CCECC across the country.

According to him, “Despite difficulties and challenges we faced some times in the course of executing some of these projects, we always deliver as scheduled, quality jobs and this we are proud of.”

Liao, while fielding questions on new coaches that are yet to arrive Nigeria, disclosed that plans are underway to assemble the coaches here in Nigeria, instead of bringing in finished coaches.

He noted that this will go a long way to create more jobs for Nigerians and also enhance their skill and technical capacities.

On social responsibility, he said the company is strongly committed to do what they are supposed to do, as well as the development of the host communities as he gave examples of areas the company has assisted.

“The company always focuses on local staff capacity building and job creation. We employ workers of different categories and provide them with dedicated training.

“Currently, CCECC Nigeria

BEDC loses 39 transformers to vandals in Edo IDRIS UMAR MOMOH, BENIN

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he management of BEDC electricity Plc said it has so far lost 39 transformers to vandalised in Edo State.

Funke Osibodu, managing director of the company, who gave the hint at a press conference in Benin City Friday, said that several number of transformers were also lost in Delta State.

Osibodu, who said the two states recorded the highest number of vandalism of facilities, added that the security operatives have commenced investigations into the incidents.

She also disclosed that 49 communities had since been connected to the national grid while nine communities are also about to be connected.

She listed some of the communities where light were restored to after several years of blackout to include Erinijiyan, Ipoleloro, Ikogosi as well as three communities connected to Ilawe/Aramoko feeder.

She said the feat was achieved in collaboration with

Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) under the National Independent Power Project (NIPP).

Others are Ode-Aye community and Igbokoda in Ondo South Local Government that have been without power supply for 5-14 years.

The BEDC boss also said power supply was restored to Illah and Idumuju-Unor communities in Oshimili North and Aniocha North Local Government Areas of Delta State as well as Onichi Uku, Onichi Ona and Patani, among others.

She further added that electricity supply was restored to some parts of Benin metropolis after the major outage that reduced supply to major parts of the city till December 2018 due to the failure of two out of the three transmissions company of Nigeria transformers supplying power for distribution to customers in major parts of the city.

While commending the Edo State House of Assembly for passing energy theft bill, she noted that the passage was in line with the Federal Government’s anti-corruption fight.

L-R: Akinwumi Ambode, governor, Lagos State; Nasir el-Rufai, governor, Kaduna State, and Kayode Fayemi, chairman, Nigeria Governors’Forum (NGF), during a press briefing after the NGF election in Abuja.

Picture by TUNDE ADENIYI.

Limited employs a total number of over 10,000 local staff and has also sent considerable numbers of staff for training in China to come back and perform excellently for the company and as well be relevant in the society” he said.

In the future, Liao assured that CCECC Nigeria Limited, will continue to carry out more

extensive and deeper cooperation with government at all levels as well as stakeholders across Nigeria.

He stated that the company would promote common development and mutual benefits by providing best services to their clients and delivering more landmarks projects to the society.

“It is our hope and desire

to continue to be part of the development of Nigeria and by extension contribute more in promoting China-Nigeria relations,” he said.

He noted that the company has also delved into real estate development and is working with the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing in that regard.

Amosun will influence ninth Senate to help my government - President Continueed from page 1

Progressives Congress (APC), including Governor Amosun, a senator-elect from Ogun Central Senatorial District, to work out modalities that will ensure cordial relationship between the Presidency and the ninth National Assembly unlike what was obtainable during 8th National Assembly led by Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

Speaking in Abeokuta on Saturday at the inauguration of Governor Amosun’s four legacy projects, President Buhari stated that he would use Amosun’s connection at the National Assembly to garner needed support for his government in order to avoid usual face off between the Legislature and the Presidency, saying being in the good books of Governor Amosun is as good as being supported already.

“I am grateful for the invitation extended to me by the governor, very clear, I didn’t know at the time I made the commitment that it will be during Ramadhan. But having made the commitment, I tried to manage it.

“The Senate, being the highest lawmaking body of the country is

so patriotic and pragmatic in the sense that, for example, Bayelsa has eight local governments; Kano has 44 local governments and you tried to check the population, but in the Senate, they are equal. I think it is impartial, very, very much impartial.

“In the Senate, he can continue to serve not only Ogun State but the whole country. I am very pleased that I have been in his good books, at least publicly. So, in the Senate, where he’s going to sit for four years and I, God willing in the Presidency for four years, I will automatically assume that he will support me.”

While speaking on Governor Amosun’s investments in infrastructure and other developmental projects, President Buhari lauded Amosun having inaugurated four legacy projects which include Adire Mall at Itoku; Judiciary Complex at Eleweran, Kobape road; OGTV Digital Studio and Amphitheatre, all in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

“I think the way he named those projects and the publicity he gave by every position, we see ‘Legacy Projects’ commissioning today, I think he has prepared for this governorship, he has prepared himself for it, he has put in place infrastructure that would last.

“I congratulate you for having the foresight to make sure that his imprint remains indelible. Very clever person, thank you.

“In the infrastructure, he took me through the flyovers, the bridges, the hospital, and this your outfit (judiciary complex), they are first class. I think you have done well for yourself and for Ogun State”, he commended Amosun.

Earlier, Governor Amosun declared that his government had change narratives of development and governance for better in State with array of developmental projects executed in the last eight years, saying: “ Even as we prepare to bow out of office, our desire to continue to contribute our quota to the socio-economic development of our dear state remains undiluted.”

Governor Amosun, who was joined at the projects’ inauguration

by Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti State Governor and the Chairman of Governors’ Forum; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State and Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, added: “Even at the twilight of the tenure of our administration, we continue to ensure that life becomes more comfortable and abundant for our people through infrastructural development.”

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Govt is concerned about your welfare, NIMASA tells flood victims in Delta AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE

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akuku Peterside, director general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has reiterated the Federal and State governments’ commitment towards alleviating the sufferings of persons displaced by flood in the country.

Peterside stated this in Asaba, Delta State recently during the presentation of relief items to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the State, in continuation with the agency’s nationwide donation of relief materials to victims of flood and other natural disasters in 20 States of the federation.

Represented by Isichei Osamgbi, deputy director and head of Corporate Communications of NIMASA, Peterside commiserated with the families of those who lost their loved ones and property, assuring them of the agency’s unalloyed preparedness to extend support to Nigerians in distress.

“We are here to extend our hands of fellowship to you and to let you know that NIMASA cares.

The fact that you are here today, does not make you less Nigerian.

It is circumstances that brought you here. As a socially responsible corporate entity, NIMASA re-

mains committed to supporting all Nigerians in distress, irrespective of any potential or visible odds,” he said.

According to him, Delta State was one of the 20 States ear-

F

ailure of the Bayelsa State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to offset eight years’ rent has prompted a former chairman of Yenagoa Local Government Area, Chubby Ben-Walson to drag the party to court.

Documents at a state high court sitting in Yenagoa show that the state chapter of PDP is owing the landlord rent totaling N85 million for the property being used as the state secretariat of the party in Yenagoa from July 31, 2010 to July 31, 2018.

Ben-Walson is also asking the court to ask the respondent to pay a further N20 million as rent for the period July 31, 2018 to July 31, 2019 should the matter drag until August 1 this year.

When the matter came up for hearing on Thursday, PDP was not represented and Kevin Ejelonu, counsel to Ben-Walson stated that the notice was served on the party since March 27 and was yet to file their processes after the expiration of the period allowed.

However, in his ruling, the pre-

of conflict.

Receiving the materials on behalf of Delta State government, Ernest Ogwezy, commissioner, Bureau for Special Duties, thanked NIMASA for the gesture and assured that the items will be

L-R: Co-Founders, Eat Drink Festival, Folayemi Agusto, Nosa Oyegun and Marketing Manager, Sterling Bank, Daphne Akatugba at a press conference on the Sixth Edition of the Nigeria’s premier food and drink festival set to hold in Abuja for the first time on Saturday, June 8 at Harrow Park, Wuse 2, Abuja.. Wednesday Photo: Sterling Bank

Landlord drags Bayelsa PDP to court over 8 years’ rent Samuel Ese, Yenagoa

marked for the programme, adding that it is the responsibility of government to carter for victims of natural disasters such as flood as well as man-made disasters, like insurgency and other forms

siding judge, T. I. Cocodia asked the plaintiff to give the respondent another opportunity to file their response.

Cocodia also ruled that the respondent be served with the motion on notice for hearing and adjourned the case to June 24 for hearing.

In his affidavit, the plaintiff is seeking a declaration that “he (claimant) is entitled to payment of rent from the PDP (defendant) for the use of his six winged storey building located along DSP Alamieyeseigha Expressway, Yenagoa.

“An order of the court that the defendant (PDP) should pay to the claimant the outstanding rent of N85 million being balance of unpaid rent for the claimant’s building from July 31, 2010 to July 31, 2018.

“An order to the defendant to pay the due rent of N20 million as rent from July 31, 2018 to July 31, 2019 if this matter transcends August 1, 2019.

“An order of this court that the defendant should pay to the claimant 10% interest on the balance of the unpaid rent, and 10% interest on the total judgment sum until the said judgment sum is liquidated.”

judiciously used to ensure a better standard of living for the IDPs in the State.

“We as a government are very much aware of the plight of our people. Though, it may seem as if their pride has been taken away by the circumstance, we will continue to admonish them to know that there is hope galvanised by good governance and sound leadership. NIMASA is a good example and we urged other government institutions to emulate the magnanimity of this strategic Agency,” he added.

Materials donated ranged from mattresses, garri, school bags, salt, rice, fishing nets, blanket, tins of powder milk, beverages, soap/ detergents, sugar, noodles, palm/vegetable oil and among others.

It is worthy of note that the Federal Government has consistently encouraged government agencies, interested philanthropists and non-governmental organisations to partner with government in catering for the needs of Nigerians who were affected by one form of disaster or another.

It was in line with this that the management of NIMASA embarked on provision of relief materials of diverse forms to the IDPs across 20 states of the federation.

Journalists are critical stakeholders in crime prevention - AIG, Zone 9 UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia.

B

aba Tijjani, assistant inspector-general of police in-charge of Zone 9, has described journalists as critical stakeholders in crime prevention and security management.

Tijani stated this in Umuahia, headquarters of the zone, comprising Abia, Anambra, Enugu and Imo states when the new Exco of Correspondents chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) paid him a courtesy visit.

He assured journalists in the

zone of 100 percent collaboration, adding that the press was critical stakeholders in crime prevention and security management.

He noted that a single journalist can create peace and mayhem.

“I have my greatest respect for the press because they can make or mar you, hence the press must be carried along in the management of security,” he said.

The AIG also assured the journalists of the readiness of the zone in assisting them in fighting quackery in the profession.

Sam Obinna Ibe, chairman of the Abia State Correspondents chapel, earlier in his speech informed

Tijjani that the new Exco came on board in October 31st last year and deemed it fit to pay him a visit as was extended to his predecessor, Inelegwu, who lasted in the zone for few months before being transferred out.

He commended the AIG for the able way crime and criminality had been reduced to the barest minimum since he assumed office.

Ibe solicited for co-operation and collaboration of the police while journalists are carrying out their lawful and constitutional roles.

He also sought the assistance of the AIG in fight against quackery in the journalism profession.

Abia to recruit 870 for protection of school facilities UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia.

I

n its bid to protect educational facilities in all the 17 Local Government Areas as well as safeguard local government offices across the state, Abia State Government is to recruit 870 able-bodied men into the State’s Vigilante Services.

John Okiyi Kalu, state commissioner for Information and Strategy,

who said this while briefing newsmen in Umuahia on the outcome of the last Executive council meeting, also said that the Exco had directed the hastening of procurement process for new Innoson brand security patrol vehicles with all the communication gadgets for security agencies in the state, adding that the various agencies had been called upon to improve patrol activities and other necessary activities

to deal with post-election security challenges.

Kalu hinted that nine of such security vehicles had already been procured while government would take delivery of others soon.

The Information Commissioner noted that hoodlums had not only convertedallthesecondary/primary schools into their bunks for smoking of hard drugs but also vandalised equipment in them.

6 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 26 May 2019

News

Carbon Limits Nigeria appoints Ogunleye managing director

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arbon Limits Nigeria, a Joint Venture focused on climate change strategies and mitigation actions as well as energy and carbon market issues in Nigeria and throughout Africa, has announced the appointment of James Ogunleye as managing director. He succeeds Paul Parks.

Ogunleye has over 18 years’ experience which spans projects planning and implementation, projects coordination, business advisory and carbon projects development. He specialises in renewable energy systems, climate change and electricity. He has also worked with specialised power and renewable energy consulting outfits that played active roles in the grid and off-grid power systems and emerging renewable energy indus-

Ogunleye

try in Nigeria.

He has a Bachelors degree in Engineering from the University of Ilorin, Master of Science in Engineering from the University of Ibadan, and Master of Science in Renewable Energy & the Environment, the University of Reading, United Kingdom.

Prior to joining Carbon Limits Nigeria, Ogunleye held various positions such as project implementation officer at Globacom, projects/ business advisor at PowerCap Limited, and project coordinator, Rubitec Nigeria Limited.

“I am very pleased with the appointment of James Ogunleye into the new role.

As Carbon Limits Nigeria enters her next phase of growth, James brings the relevant industry experience to deliver on the mandate. I wish him a successful tenure,” said Paul Parks, outgoing managing director.

Torleif Haugland, technical partner, Carbon Limits, Norway, said, “We commend the board of Carbon Limits Nigeria on the choice of James as the managing director. James is an accomplished professional whose rich industry experience will be helpful in further strengthening CLN’s footprints in the Nigerian market.”

New edition of African Voices profiles British-Nigerian actor, KaeKazim, other film makers

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new edition of African Voices, the Globacom-sponsored 30-minute magazine programme on the Cable News Network (CNN), profiles the artistic dexterities, of British actor of Nigerian descent, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, and two other film professionals.

The trio, who have filmmaking careers that have demonstrated how Africa can influence the global film industry will be featured on the programme which runs from Friday will also feature Osborne Macharia, a photographer, and Likarion Wainaina, a film-maker, both of whom are based in Nairobi, Kenya.

The first of the guest artistes, Kae-Kazim, hails originally from Lagos, Nigeria, where he was born 57 years ago. His family later relocated to England. He gained global reckoning with his outstanding performance in Hotel Rwanda, a 2004 film which aped the Rwandan crisis.

Kae-Kazim joined Hollywood on the strength of his success in Hotel Rwanda and acted in several films including Slipstream, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s

end, and Black Sails. He later returned to his fatherland to train a rising group of filmmakers for the global scene won awards including Africa Movie Academy Award for Best actor in 2012. He was also a nominee for the Gemini Award for Best Performance in 2004.

The second is Macharia, a 33-year old commercial photographer, whose success stemmed from a failure he recorded in 2010 while studying for a degree in Architecture. During the lacuna between the failure and his next attempt at re-writing his examinations, Macharia found his passion in photography and taught himself digital artistry.

The thematic pre-occupation of Macharia’s works is Afro-futurism in culture, identity and fictional narratives. He won the Kenya Cannes Lion Award in 2015, and featured in Lurzers Archive 200 Best Digital Artists Worldwide in 2016 and 2018.

Likarion, the last of the artists, was born in Moscow, Russia, 31 years ago but returned to his native Kenya where he has been in filmmaking for seven years.

Ninth Assembly: Controversy as Moro’s allegedly denies adopting Lawan as Senate president OWEDE AGBAJILEKE, Abuja

C

ontroversy has trailed the recent endorsement of Ahmad Lawan for the position of Senate President in the Ninth Assembly by People’s Democratic Party (PDP) senator-elect, Abba Moro.

The main opposition party insisted that its senatorelect never endorsed Lawan for the position.

Speaking at an Iftar (Muslim Breaking of fast) organised for senators in Abuja a fortnight ago, Moro, a former Minister of Interior elected on the platform of PDP in the last general election, had promised to woo more PDP senators-elect to Lawan’s camp.

“We will continue to meet until we realise the dream that all of us are committed to. I want to say that it is not over until it is over. For those of you who have been older in the Senate, you do know that in line with the dynamics

of our system, this exercise, if people will want to continue to grandstand, we will go down to the wire. That means that all of us must work very hard to make sure that we elect our Senate President.

“I think that if all of us here

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

But speaking with BDSUNDAY on the matter on Friday, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbodiyan, insisted that the former Minister never endorsed Lawan.

The PDP spokesperson explained that he had spoken with Moro and he denied ever adopting Lawan.

“I spoke to him, he said it was a lie. When I heard it, I said let me hear from him because we have a personal relationship. And I called him, he said it was a lie.

UI Alumni of Statistics Dept plans reunion programme, hall of fame launch

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lans are already in top gear as students of the Department of Statistics, University of Ibadan, are set to mark the first homecoming/reunion event of past graduates of the department between Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June8 2019.

Th e t w o - d a y p r o gramme, which will take place at the department complex on the campus is themed, ‘Homecoming event for Nation Builders

and Celebration of Achievement.’ The Head of Department, Angela Chukwu, said the event is aimed at bringing together all alumni of the department, basically to reunite and hopefully work together with the department in supporting research, creativity and to initiate an endowment fund to assist exceptional but less-privileged students of the department.

The event kicks off on the 7th June with a breakfast and networking meet

and exchange of pleasantries after a long time of leaving the department for greener pastures. Afterwards, two alumni of the department, Prof. D.K. Shangodoyin, a professor of Statistics, University of Botswana, and President, African Statistical Association; and Mohammed Tumala, director of Statistics, Central Bank of Nigeria, will deliver keynote addresses.

The event will feature a panel discussion amongst distinguished alumni,

which include Professor Joy Nwabueze, Professor Ethelbert Nduka, Olubusola Oyebadejo and Emmanuel John Udoh who will all share expert opinions on the impact of statistics degrees in their various fields.

The second day of the programme, June 8, will be a social event where the department will be recognising retired members of staff of the department, and formally recognise and congratulate the newest professors in the department.

Lighthouse Women’s Network drives diversity, inclusion agenda at 6th confab … Discusses ‘Views from the other side’

W

omen’s Social Develo p m e n t Network the LightHouse Women’s network has announced details of its 6th personal development conference.

A statement by the group said that this year, the team of the conference is ‘Driving adversity and inclusion agenda’ by having an all-men speaking panel.

Moderated by two leading ladies, the panel has four generation of men discussing how to support the advancement of the working woman.

Obinnia Abajue, managing director of Hygeia HMO; Amaechi Okobi,

group head marketing and communications for Access Bank; Debola Williams, managing director of Red media and Tafar Osisiye Author of ‘Sixty Percent of a True Story’ are billed to share their views.

Nkiru Olumide-Ojo, one of the organisers and programme initiator, said: “We are delighted to hear views from the other side in this edition, even more specifically to hear views from four different generations.

“We believe at the lighthouse women’s network that men are critical to the conversation of female’s development; a two-sided conversation will have a more robust outcome. The

speakers have been carefully selected based on their experiences from either leading a gender diverse business team or being part of one.”

Holding on the 8th of June at the Lighthouse Women’s network, The Guardian Woman is a media partner.

The event is targeted at the working woman from ages 22 and above.

Temitope Jemerigbe, CEO of DKK Communications and a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT), also speaking on the event, said: “The vision of the Lighthouse Women’s network is both to support the working woman and ready the younger girls

for work place’. We have been deliberate with driving work place readiness and we have got specific programmes. We specifically target schools that are underserved in this regard.”

Founded in 2013, the Lighthouse Women’s network has provided structured mentorship for various young women and conducted workplace readiness and youth empowerment programmes in both Lagos State Polytechnic and Yaba College of Technology with many more to come. Its members of board of trustees include Yomi Badejo Okusanya, Olumide Ojo, Bunmi Oke, Eniola Edun and Temitope Jemerigbe

Sunday 26 May 2019

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BDSUNDAY 7

PhotoSplash

L-R: Dozie Mbanefo, CEO, New Crystal Communications Ltd; Blessing Umebali, publisher, Brandmatters Magazine; Emeke Okeke, GMD/CEO, Media Fuse Dentsu Aegis Network Ltd, and Innocent Oboh all at the 3rd Africa Leadership Conference, which was organized by International Advertising Association & Advertising Association of Ghana, held in Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra Ghana.

L-R: Ade Bakare, founder, Ade Bakare Couture, UK; Nike Okundaye, founder, Nike Art Foundation and curator general, Nike Art Gallery; Olutayo Irantiola, presenter, Yoruba Lakotun, and Iyabode Aboaba, chief operations officer, Freedom Park, at the last edition of Yoruba Lakotun in commemoration of the International Women’s Day, at Freedom Park.

L-R: Abdul Yanga, house committee chairman on education, Plateau State House of Assembly; Matthew Sule, executive chairman Plateau SUBEB; Tonia Uduimoh, programme manager, OANDO Foundation; Sonni Tyoden, deputy governor, Plateau State, and Jude Dakur, commissioner for secondary education, at the commissioning of 2 Blocks of Classroom donated by Oando Foundation at LEA Primary School, Bungha Gida, Mangu, Plateau State

L-R: Tope Ashiwaju, group public relations and event manager, Dufil Prima Foods plc; Oyindamola Ogunsanwo, represent first lady of Lagos State; Karishma Rustagi, National head Indomie Fan Club, and Faith Joshua, national coordinator, Indomie Fan Club, at the 2019 Indomie children’s day celebration in Lagos.

L-R: Jean Philippe, Ivory Coast; Bharat Avalani, Chief Knowledge Officer, Connecting the Dots Consultancy; Torgbor Mensah, president, Advertising Association of Ghana, founder/chairman, DDP Outdoor Advertising Ltd and executive director, Argon Holdings Ltd Ghana, and Blessing Umebali, publisher Brandmatters Magazine, at the just concluded 3rd Africa Leadership Conference organised by International Advertising Association (IAA) Ghana chapter held at Labadi Beach Hotel, Accra Ghana.

L-R: Saheed Elegushi, Oba of Ikate-Elegushi; Tijani Adetunji Akinloye, Ojomu of Ajiran land in Eti-Osa; Bashir Fakorede and his wife Tayo Fakorede, Enyo stillwaters Landlord, and Abayomi Awobokun, (right) CEO, Enyo Retail and Supply, at the launch of Enyo Lekki Mega station in celebration of Enyo’s 2nd year anniversary in Lagos. Pic by Pius Okeosisi

L-R: Staislas Martins, head of growth and partnership; Omolola Onasanya, head of vendor operations and experience , and Olukayode Kolawole, head, PR and communications, all of Jumia Nigeria, at the launch of the 2019 mobile report by Jumia Nigeria in Lagos. Pic by Pius Okeosisi

Some entertainment correspondents with Falz (centre) at the press conference and interviews in Lagos.

Pic by Pius Okeosisi

8 Inside Lagos

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Sunday 26 May 2019

Against ban, more LPG retail shops spring up …as Lagos, DPR look away amid growing danger Stories by JOSHUA BASSEY

I

s there any form of regulation with regard to the sale of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), also known as cooking gas, in Nigeria, especially Lagos, the country’s most populous and commercial nerve centre?

Is agency or authority monitoring with a view to ensuring that the gas retailers, especially those operating in kiosks and shops within residential areas and buildings, strictly observe safety measures given the danger associated with gas where not properly handled?

These are the questions begging for answers, as checks reveal a growing trend in cooking gas retail shops across Lagos, in what calls to question the role of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

While DPR, a federallyowned agency, has responsibility to regulate the petroleum/gas sector, and also issues operating licenses for gas plants, Lagos State ministry of physical planning and urban development, has municipal responsibility for granting of building permitsresidential or commercial, and that includes siting of gas plant and skid tanks.

A document from the ministry sighted by Inside Lagos, shows that to site a LPG plant, an operator requires between 450 to 1000 square metres land size in developing areas, while between 301 and 450 square metres of land would be needed in built-up areas. For standard gas plants, a distance of 200 to

Typical cooking gas sales point in Lagos

250 metres is required to separate them.

Similarly, a radius to adjoining street in developing areas is expected to be 250 metres and 200 metres in developing and built-up areas respectively. In the same vein, the pump to pump distance required at a standard gas plant in developing areas is 3.00 metres, while built-up areas, it is 1.5 metres.

Other requirements include provision of fire equipment, borehole and overhead water tank, water sprinkler, smoke/gas leakage detector among others.

In the document, no provision is made for siting of plant, skid tank or gas retailing in kiosks, shops and residential apartments.

However, checks across Lagos show an increasing number of gas retail shops in street cor-

ners and residential areas, with the federal regulatory agency and the state authorities doing nothing to check the trend.

Many of those involved in the business neither have licenses nor boost of other requirements.

Findings reveal that several persons are going into the business to fill a demand gap, as more households in Nigerian urban cities are switching from charcoal and kerosene to LPG for domestic cooking.

“I used to be a marketer with an insurance company before I switched over to this business,” said Tope Oladele, who runs a LPG retail shops in Okota area of Lagos.

According to Oladele, he started the business in 2017 when he discovered a number of residents in his neighbour-

Husband, wife, son found dead in apartment

R

esidents of Aga community in Ikorodu, Lagos, were on Friday greeted with shock when the corpses of a father, wife and their child were found in their apartment.

It was learnt that the incident occurred at No 12, Obafemi Erija Borokini Road in Aga, Ikorodu at about 6:30 a.m.

A neighbour to the deceased, Taiwo Salami, said the man, Charles Omomo, popularly called Baba Efe, his wife, Faith Omomo and their three children were all inside the apartment when the incident occurred.

“I left home very early as usual with my motorcycle. After some hours, my wife called me that Baba Efe, his wife and their last child, Glorious were found dead inside their apartment.

“On getting home I saw a

crowd in our compound. I entered the apartment of Baba Efe only to discover he had committed suicide, the wife lay on the floor dead and the son on the three-seater chair also dead.

“I was surprised because yesterday night I saw both the wife and the husband sitting together as usual without any rancour. In fact they were playing with their children around them. “I don’t know what could have caused this sad situation,” Salami said.

He explained that the children were all inside with their parents at the time of the incident.

“Efe, the eldest daughter went to one of their family members, living nearby to report the development. On getting there she screamed for help.

“The dead man used to be a motorcycle rider but a few months ago he stopped work-

ing because his motorcycle had developed a fault. The children also stopped going to school but I saw them yesterday (Thursday) and there was no sign of any problem among them,” Salami stated.

An o t h e r n e i g h b o r, w h o pleaded not to be identified, disclosed that Omomo and his wife had been having issues in recent times.

“As you can see, the children and their parents were together at the time of the incident and nothing happened to the two older girls.

Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) from Ikeja and Ikorodu police divisions were contacted to evacuate the corpses from the apartment Bala Elkana, the public relations officer of the Lagos police command, did not respond to enquiries on the issue.

hood are now using cooking gas against kerosene. Within Oladele’s shop are three long gas cylinders, from where he retails to his customers, most of whom come with the 3.5kg and 6kg cylinders.

Efforts to get the DPR to comment on the issue were unsuccessful, as Paul Osu, spokesperson of the agency, did not take calls or respond to SMS sent to his cell phone.

However, when contacted, Dapo Thomas, the permanent secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, said the responsibility was more of the DPR to regulate the sector, as the state deals more with building permits.

According to Thomas, in some cases, it would amount to going

out of her ministry’s purview to stop landlords from letting out their property for siting of gas retail shops.

“We don’t give licenses for gas plants. We give permits for buildings whether commercial or residential. It is DPR that gives licenses to operate gas plants. It is for them to check those operating illegal gas plants and shops,” said Thomas, who, however, is worried about the growing number of gas retails shops in the state.

But the permanent secretary’s position runs contradictory to that of her commissioner, Rotimi Ogunleye who, in the wake of the deadly gas explosion at Second Coming Company Nigeria Limited, near Magodo, in January 2018, stated that the government would shut down all illegal gas plants, especially those within residential areas, so to guarantee the safety of the residents.

Similarly, the DPR in December 2018 vowed to clamp down on illicit retailers LPG in the country.

The agency during LPG stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers, equally announced a ban on the sale of cooking gas in shops and homes.

Bassey Nkanga, DPR’s Port Harcourt zone operations’ controller, said it was illegal for retailers to transfer cooking gas from one cylinder bottle to another for sale to customers.

“Plans are ongoing to clamp down on any LPG retailer involved in decanting of cooking gas in shops and at homes. We have set up a monitoring unit to arrest defaulters, seize their equipment and sanction them,” he said.

Apapa: LASTMA, FRSC enforce presidential order

O

peratives of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have begun ‘operation total enforcement’ to ensure timely implementation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive that trucks parking on Apapa roads should vacate in 72 hours.

Chris Olakpe, CEO of LASTMA, said on that the presidential order would help in clearing the gridlock in Apapa and its environs and restore law and order in the area.

The vacation notice was issued on Wednesday, May 22, as one of the outcomes of a meeting convened by President Buhari and chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on April 25.

According to Olakpe, major stakeholders have met to find a lasting solution to the gridlock

caused by the indiscriminate parking of articulated vehicles on roads in Apapa and environs.

“We are going to follow the directive to the letter, all hands must be on deck; any vehicles constituting nuisance on highways or bridges will face the wrath of the law.

“By Monday, May 27, we are going to commence operation totality to flush out articulated vehicles queuing on expressways and causing heavy traffic on the Apapa axis.

“LASTMA, together with other law enforcement agencies, will carry out the exercise,’’ he said.

Hyginus Omeje, Lagos sector commander of the FRSC, also explained that the corps was part of the presidential task team to ensure sanity on the roads.

Omeje said that FRSC was providing 200 personnel to be part of the enforcement team.

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Lagos and the coming rains

Publisher/CEO

Frank Aigbogun editor Zebulon Agomuo DEPUTY EDITOR John Osadolor, Abuja

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

Bashir Ibrahim Hassan

GM, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (South) Ignatius Chukwu

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

I

n Lagos, a few days back, the heavens opened and it rained profoundly. If the enormity of the recent rainfall is anything to go by, Lagos residents must gear up for more of such fierce rainy moments in the coming days.

Indeed, experts have predicted that the intensity of this year’s rains will be more than what we had in the past. For instance, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had earlier predicted “extended rains for areas in and around Adamawa, Ogun, Edo, Niger Delta and low-lying areas such as Lagos.

As Lagosians await the rains this year, certain issues need to be put into proper perspective. First is the topography of Lagos. A critical feature of Lagos topography is that the state is essentially made up of low lying terrain up to 0.4 percent below the sea level. Naturally, this arrangement is the source of huge drainage challenges that confront the state. If this is added

to the volume of rain that is being experienced in the state lately, it would be realized that there is possibly no way there would not be flash flooding in Lagos.

Second, certain negative practices such as indiscriminate dumping of refuse and blockade of drainages easily aid flooding. This is often rampant in markets and other commercial centers as well as densely populated areas in the state. Often, the effects of such poor sanitary habit on affected residents are unquantifiable and devastating. Some have been rendered homeless and miserable, no thanks to human induced environmental hazards. Thus, we all need to fully embrace the culture of proper waste disposal, comply with building regulations, tap into alternative energy use, and pay necessary attention to sanitation issues among others.

Lagosians must be ready to cooperate with the state government by embracing positive attitude in their response to the environment. These include proper waste disposal, compliance with building regulations, embracing alternative energy use, paying necessary attention to sanitation issues, not building structures on drainage channels, flood plains and on water pathways.

As always, the state government is committed to a cleaner environment and quality public health through implementation of community based solid waste management, flood control, vegetal control and high standard of

home and personal hygiene, sanitation, control of environment pollution (air, water and noise), beautification and advertisement control. Consequently, its approach to tackling the issue of flooding in the state is multi-faceted and multi dimensional. It includes dredging, massive construction and expansion of drainage channels, desilting and excavation of silts to dumpsites, regular repair, clearing and cleaning of drainages, canals and collector drains across the state.

Whenever it is observed that the intensity of the rains is much, it is advisable that people vacate flood prone areas. Equally, it is also important for the citizenry, especially children to stay indoors in order to reduce movement to the barest minimum. In fact, if it could be avoided, it is better not to drive while it is raining heavily.

Similarly, we need to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene at all times to avoid being victims of water borne diseases.

Also, to mitigate the effects of cold, we must ensure that children and the elderly are properly clothed with warm clothing during the rains. It is only when this is done that we will be able to curb the spread of rain induced health hazard such as cough, cold and other related ones. Additionally, this is the time to embrace the culture of taking plenty of thoroughly washed fruits in order to boost the immune system. This is in addition to drinking water from only trusted and well tested safe sources.

Since we now live in a hi-tech

information age, it is also imperative that people listen to news reports and information on weather situation from various available credible mediums. This will really aid in planning movements and avoiding flood prone locations.

Also, in view of likely destructive thunder strikes that usually accompany windy rainfall, Lagos residents are strongly advised to always disconnect all electrical appliances whenever they want to sleep or go out. This will go a long way in checkmating rain induced electrical debacles. Similarly, children should be discouraged from touching electrical equipment when wet.

In as much as it is beyond human powers to stop rains, being a natural phenomenon, we should, at least, do things that are in our powers to lessen the negative consequences of rains. This includes regular clearing of gutters and drainages in our areas, making use of suitable services to dispose waste, reporting anyone dumping refuse in drains, gutters and canals to appropriate authorities, moving immediately to higher ground when flooding is imminent wherever we are, staying away from submerged electricity cables, cleaning and disinfecting everything that gets wet, staying away from canals and drainages evacuating or leaving danger zones immediately, calling 767 in case of emergency among others.

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

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Sunday 26 May 2019

Perspective Appeal Court judgment on NLNG Tax Holiday: Going back to the basics to encourage economic growth Vincent Obia

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he recent judgment by the Court of Appeal setting aside an earlier ruling of the Federal High Court, which had exempted the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited from levies payable to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), holds special significance for the country. This is not only because of the huge amount of economic interest associated with it, but also due to the statement it makes about Nigeria’s resolve to harness its potential for the good of its citizens.

Everywhere in the world, tax holiday, a temporary reduction or elimination of tax, is applied by governments to incentivise business investment. In Nigeria, many new companies commencing business, especially in previously unexplored areas, get a tax holiday – known as pioneer status – for about five years. During this period, no corporate income tax is payable and any dividend distributed from the pioneer profit is exempted from withholding tax.

The Nigeria LNG (Fiscal Incentives, Guarantees and Assurances) Act confers pioneer status on the company to exempt it from “certain taxes, customs duties, other levies and the provisions of the PreShipment Inspection of Imports Act and to provide for the guarantees and assurances by the Federal Government to the company and its shareholders.”

Section 2 of the Act gives NLNG a tax relief period of 10 years. It states, “Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10 of the Industrial Development (Income Tax Relief) Act, the tax relief period of the company shall commence on the production day of the company and shall continue for a period of 10 years. However, the tax relief period shall terminate at the first anniversary date after the first five years when the cumulative average sales price of liquefied natural gas reaches $3 per Million Metric British Thermal Units as calculated in the First Schedule to this Act in accordance with which such calculation shall only be made annually at each anniversary date.”

The NLNG Act exempted it from paying taxes and levies as an incentive to the company’s shareholders for 10 years or when the cumulative average sales price of the liquefied natural gas reaches $3 per/MMBTU as calculated in the First Schedule to the Act, whichever comes first.

Records in the public domain show that the NLNG has since surpassed the thresholds for the payment of its statutory taxes and levies to the relevant organs of the Federal Government.

By its own admission, NLNG started paying tax to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) since 2009 following the expiration of its 10-year exemption.

Similarly, statistics published by the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) indicate that the price of natural gas reached $9 per MMBTU by 2004, which is 200 per cent above the $3 per/MMBTU mark provided

...The appeal is allowed on the ground of the denial or breach of the Appellant’s right to fair hearing in the conduct of the proceedings and judgment of the lower court. As a consequence, the judgment delivered by the lower court on 3rd of October, 2017 is hereby set aside.” in the NLNG Act. This indicates that the conditions for the expiration of the NLNG’s tax exemption period had been in existence since 2004.

But, strangely, NLNG continued to enjoy relief from some levies, causing the Federal Government huge revenues losses.

Perhaps, most prominent here is the gas firm’s refusal to pay fees accruable to NIMASA. They include the 3percent of the gross freight on all international outbound and inbound cargo carried by ships chartered by NLNG and its whollyowned subsidiary company as contained in the NIMASA Act 2007; and the 2percent surcharge on cabotage trade undertaken by its vessels within 200 nautical miles of the baselines and Nigerian coastal and inland waters as contained in the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003. NLNG also refused to comply with the Marine Environment (Sea Protection Levy) Regulations of 2012 and the Merchant Shipping (Ship Generated Marine Waste Reception Facilities) Regulations 2012.

Section 15 of the NIMASA Act states, in part, “The Agency shall be funded by monies accruing to the Agency from the 3 percent of gross freight earnings on all international inbound and outbound cargo from ships or shipping companies operating in Nigeria to be collected and paid over to the Agency to meet its operational costs.”

Section 2 says, “This Act shall apply to ships, small ships and crafts registered in Nigeria and extend to ships, small ships and crafts flying a foreign flag in the exclusive economic zone, territorial and inland seas, inland waterways and in the ports of the Federal Republic

of Nigeria .

“This Act does not extend to warships and military patrol ships.”

Being the country’s sole maritime administrator, NIMASA has the responsibility to implement both the Merchant Shipping Act and the Cabotage Act. Following NLNG’s failure to meet its financial obligations to NIMASA, the Agency in 2010 commenced legal action against the gas company. NIMASA sought an interpretation of relevant provisions of the Nigerian LNG (Fiscal Incentives, Guarantees and Assurances) Act, CAP N87, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990, and the NIMASA Act of 2007.

In January 2013, the action by NIMASA was withdrawn in a bid to amicably settle the dispute out of court. But following the continued disregard of the provisions of the NIMASA Act and other relevant laws by the NLNG, in May 2013, NIMASA sought to enforce the provisions of the NIMASA Act and Cabotage Act as empowered under the Act, by demanding payment of the respective 3percent and 2percent charges due from the NLNG, consequent upon which NLNG vessels were detained for non-compliance.

Upon intervention by the Federal Government, through the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), an agreement in principle was adopted, with NLNG undertaking to pay up all outstanding levies and comply with the requirements of the NIMASA Act 2007, the Cabotage Act 2003 and other relevant Regulations at the time. NLNG made a payment of $20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million Dollars) and the blockade was lifted.

However, in a surprising twist,

the Agency received a pre-action Notice on the 18 June 2013 from Counsel to NLNG, giving 30 days’ notice of their intention to commence legal action in accordance with Sections 53(2) of the NIMASA Act. This resulted in another blockade on 21 June 2013, during which time various issues were canvassed in Court by the parties.

Meanwhile, there was a truce by the parties under which the following were agreed: NLNG to effect payment of all outstanding sums owed to the Agency and henceforth all its vessels, including FOB cargoes, will pay NIMASA levies as and when due as well as other sums as provided under the NIMASA and Cabotage Acts, albeit under protest; NIMASA will lift the detention orders placed on NLNG vessels and for as long as due payments are effected promptly, NLNG vessels will not be detained; NLNG will ensure that all outstanding FOB payments are made within four months from the date of the agreement, failing which NLNG will assume responsibility for the payments.

The outstanding due payments were made by NLNG on the July 6, 2013 and the blockade was lifted on Saturday, July 7, 2013.

Hearing of the substantive issues continued, after which the Federal High Court in 2016 entered judgment in favour of NLNG. NIMASA, not satisfied with the judgment, engaged the services of Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) and Mike Igbokwe (SAN) to immediately file an appeal against the said judgment of the Federal High Court.

Among issues brought by the appellant for resolution are: •Whether the case of the first Respondent (NLNG) initiated via an Originating Summons can be properly adjudicated without oral evidence, when the facts of the case as presented on affidavit evidence are hostile and whether the resolution of the first Respondent’s case without oral evidence has not vitiated the decision of the trial judge?

•Whether the first Respondent’s case is not incompetent and the learned trial judge was not wrong when he nullified the decision of the National Security Adviser when the issues agitated upon had been determined by an adjudicator to whom

parties freely submitted themselves and before whom representations were made without objection which resolution is binding and had been given effect to by the parties as to create estoppel binding on all parties?

•Whether an Originating Summons can be properly used to challenge the decision of the mediator (the National Security Adviser) who has ruled on the disputes of the parties and the trial judge rightly reversed the decision of the National Security Adviser on the payment of $20 million?

•Whether the Appellant’s right to fair hearing was not breached when the learned trial judge held that the Appellant raised fresh issues in its Counter-claim, discountenanced and struck out the Appellant’s CounterClaim thereby denying the Appellant any hearing on the Counter-Claim, which is a complete answer to the first Respondent’s claims?

•Whether the Appellant’s right to fair hearing was not breached when the learned trial judge failed to give any consideration to the CounterAffidavit and the Written Address of the Appellant and issues therein before and in granting the claims of the first Respondent and the breach has not rendered as a nullity the proceedings and the judgment of the trial court?

That appeal gave rise to the March 29 ruling by the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division.

The appeal court set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court, which had exempted the NLNG from levies payable to NIMASA under the NIMASA Act, Cabotage Act, Marine Environment (Sea Protection Levy) Regulations, and other laws of the federation. The court based its ruling on the fact that NIMASA, the country’s Maritime Regulatory Agency, was not given fair hearing at the lower court.

The court ruled, “The appeal is allowed on the ground of the denial or breach of the Appellant’s right to fair hearing in the conduct of the proceedings and judgment of the lower court. As a consequence, the judgment delivered by the lower court on 3rd of October, 2017 is hereby set aside.”

Honourable Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, who delivered the judgment, ordered the return of the case to the Federal High Court for fresh trial under a different judge.

The ruling restores the status quo, reaffirming NIMASA’s powers to continue to collect the maritime levies from the NLNG. NIMASA’s lead counsel, Fagbemi, said the implication of the ruling was that the Federal High Court was ordered to revert to the fundamental issue of fair hearing while NLNG continues to pay the statutory levies, pending another ruling by the lower court on the matter.

Maintaining the status quo means restoring the Federal Government’s right to collect, through NIMASA, the hundreds of millions of dollars that have been denied it through NLNG’s refusal to meet its statutory financial obligations. But whether the gas firm understands it has to return to reality and figure out a way to deal with the status quo remains to be seen.

•Obia writes from Lagos.

Sunday 26 May 2019

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VOXPOP Combating drug abuse and addiction

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Jonathan Aderoju oday, according to statistics more than 7 million people suffer from an illicit drug disorder, and one in four deaths results from illicit drug use. In fact, more deaths, illnesses and disabilities are said to be associated with drug abuse than any other preventable health condition. People suffering from drug and alcohol addiction also have a higher risk of unintentional injuries, accidents and domestic violence incidents.

Drug abuse is use legal or illegal substances in ways one shouldn’t. When one takes more than the regular dose of pills or uses someone else’s prescription, it amounts to drug abuse.

People abuse drugs to feel good, ease stress, or avoid reality. Addiction is a disease that affects one’s brain and behaviour. When one is addicted to drugs, one cannot resist the urge to use them, no matter how much harm the drugs may cause.

BDSUNDAY spoke with some pharmacists and concerned Nigerians on how to remedy drug abuse and addiction in the country, as it has continued to wreak havoc among the youth of Nigeria.

drugs into the country; some African counties have done that already. Second, a lot of awareness creation should be put in place, so as to educate Nigerians on the negative impacts of drug intake. They should also be aware that those who take drugs end up being dead or running mad; a lot of awareness creation has to be put in place. In this kind of situation, the government and citizens concerned with eradicating drug abuse have to work together.

Iyanda Temitope Elizabeth In my own opinion, Knowledge they say is key. First of all, I think there is need for more sensitisation about this issue because many people are still ignorant of what drug abuse really is, people should be enlightened on the risk abuse of drug imposes on their health.

Most of these drugs can also be substituted with another, like substituting codeine or tramadol with ibuprofen for chronic pain; it is the job of the doctor prescribing such to do. In this case, the availability of those drugs will be reduced.

Charity, they say, begins at home. For our youths, I think parents should monitor their children; pay attention to the kind of friends they keep.

Keep track of their prescription and dosage. This way, the issue of drug abuse will reduce drastically.

Abimbola Hassan Well, technically, this is a very big deal of a question because it can’t be stopped due to the fact it is gotten in the first place via illegal means in which government does not control. The government only needs to be proactive in checking every corner to remedy this defect. There are plantations for this in Nigeria not known to anyone not even the buyers; only the dealers can tell, even the dealers at times don’t know as they are just distributors; they get the merchandise and distribute. I think this goes in deeper than anything.

Cocaine and some other drugs are not new; efforts have always been made to stop their usage or abuse but still they still manage to get to the hands of certain Nigerians. So, it is more than just an importation problem, government needs to find this channels and cut it; they can’t stop it like I said, but reduce it.

Akano Deborah Oreoluwa Well, first things first; the Federal Government should ban the importation of hard

Olajide Hazeez This issue is something that has been lingering for a very long time, I think what the government and other drug law enforcement bodies should do is to create more public awareness about the dangers of drug abuse and addiction; educating people through inclusion in school curriculum, enacting punishment on defaulters- for example, in Malaysia any drug peddler faces a death sentence. I think same should be applied here in Nigeria. It will, at least, bring in some sanity. Parental guidance, medical restrictions on sales of some drugs and finally control of illicit/illegal importation of drugs must be pursued.

Emmanuella Oluwatosin No matter what, the truth

is that drug abuse can’t be eradicated from Nigeria and most of the addictions are those that are being prescribed for certain medica-

dangerous drugs (prohibited drugs).

Mary Folashade In my opinion, there should be proper aware-

for this purpose.

Onome Efe I think there should be a strategy that is designed to increase community readi-

Onome Efe

Olajide Hazeez

Mary Folashade

Iyanda

Akano Deborah Oreoluwa tions, like drugs for anxiety or anti-psychotics. So, at the end of the day, hospitals and doctors contribute to drug abuse. So, if you are telling me you want to eradicate it you have to demolish all hospitals, which is not possible.

The only thing to do is create more awareness against taking drugs without prescription and against taking

Abimbola Hassan

ness about this drug abuse because it has eaten deed into the system. Imagine a young Nigerian who is supposed to be vibrant and making things work in his society sitting down and taking tramadol, just to get “high”.

Government should begin to do a door-to-door awareness about it, and then equip and create more rehab centres

ness and engage communities in prevention activities and actions to reduce use of harmful legal products among youths. Effective community mobilisation is essential to implementing a mutually supportive mix of prevention approaches, i.e., environmental strategies and a school-based prevention curriculum.

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Sunday 26 May 2019

Politics

Kabiru Adjoto

We are happy to answer rubber stamp lawmakers – Edo Assembly Speaker Kabiru Adjoto, a three-time member in the Edo State House of Assembly is currently the 4th speaker in the outgoing sixth assembly. Before the current position, he was the deputy and chief whip of the house. In this interview with IDRIS UMAR MOMOH, he spoke on the assembly’s achievements under his leadership, the relationship between the executive and legislature in Edo, among other issues. Excerpts: Edo State House of Assembly is being described as a ‘Rubber Stamp Assembly’, under your leadership as speaker. What is your take on this? t is not just under my administration that the house has been described as a ‘rubber stamp assembly’. I am fortunate to be a member of the 4th, 5th and now the presiding officer of the 6th assembly. Throughout, these periods, they called us a rubber stamp assembly but it is more now. Sometimes, when I talked to the public, I see the relationship between the parliament particularly the Edo State House of Assembly and the executive as that of cooperation and not confrontation.

When there are confrontations in a democracy there can’t be development. So, we have chosen as parliament in Edo State to always cooperate with the executive and the judiciary arms of government. That is the only way the people can benefit. If we confront the executive, the judiciary, then there can’t be development. If we do that, we can’t roll out bills that will be of interest to the people of the state or bills that will translate into development. In most cases, confrontation is purely because of finance. It is either the executive is not brining enough money to the parliament or the executive is taking too much. So, we say no to confrontation but chosen rather to oversight the functions and all that the executive is doing to make sure that every penny that we have appropriated for it is judiciously spent. So, people can see that we now have beautiful roads, primary healthcare, the best that other states are coming to learn from our model. See Edo Best programme and people are now withdrawing their children from the private schools to the public schools. When we look and see that our hospitals for the first time, are not mere consulting clinics, but giving drugs, patients adequately being taken care of by qualified doctors- if for these things we are called rubber stamp assembly, so be it. That means we have rubber stamp for

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good healthcare, good education, better life and payment of salary as and when due in the state. If that is what we are called rubber stamp for, in fact, we are happy to be called a rubber stamp assembly because the essence of democracy is better life for the people. So, if we are giving Edo people better life and they decide to nickname us a rubber stamp assembly for better life we are happy to take the name.

Do you regret the action of the Edo Assembly voting against autonomy for the State House of Assembly autonomy under your leadership?

In Edo State House of Assembly, we don’t do things without consultation. We consulted with our constituents. Yes, we voted against State House of Assembly autonomy for reasons. Like I said, we consult widely. We voted against it because there are lots of issues we considered during the operation of the constitution. When you look at the issue of autonomy critically, I have to be sincere with you, when you hear that people go into public office, they steal money and become richer than they were before going to the office, you know something is wrong somewhere.

As a representative of the people, we looked at the issue of autonomy critically, and concluded that we can still achieve autonomy without necessarily altering the provisions of the constitution. Firstly, when you look at it, autonomy for legislators- that means everything about us will be first line charge. I told you earlier that we at the sixth assembly, we think about Edo people first. We are not saying we should not think about ourselves but the people first. Democracy is evolving. It will get to a time when the issue of autonomy will naturally come in. But at this stage, we the legislators are in charge of budgeting.

That means we can decide for example that the budget of Edo State will be N170 billion or thereby. We are the one doing the appropriation but the Edo State House of

Assembly can decide that out of the N170 billion, we appropriate N70 billion for the house, appropriate N30 billion to the executive and N20 billion to the judiciary, because we know that there is financial autonomy. A time will come, God forbid, that if you don’t have people who think about their constituents, there will be serious mismanagement. Hence, we consulted with our people and they all for now objected to it. Though, the issue of autonomy is good but let it be gradual. We have to hearken to the voice of our people. Like I said, we are not representing ourselves. Our people objected to its passage because, they argued that at the moment it might likely be abused, because democracy in Africa is evolving and we cannot start comparing ourselves with western democracy. So, let us build strong institutions first, and when the institutions are very strong, you can now do other things. That is why as speaker I want to build the Edo State House of Assembly to be a very strong institution.

Democracy can only survive when institutions, legislature, executive, judiciary, civil society, the press is strong and independent. But, when they are not strong, not independent and you jump the

...if we are giving Edo people better life and they decide to nickname us a rubber stamp assembly for better life we are happy to take the name

ladder and want to start doing things that hitherto ought to have been done and built under a strong institution, it will collapse.

We met at the speakers’ conference with the presidential committee to enforce the autonomy including all states’ chief judges.

We are still discussing. There are lots of issues to be addressed before autonomy; particularly, the financial autonomy can be practicable. For example, with the autonomy does it mean we now have three executives in a state? It would mean that a speaker of a state House of Assembly will embark on capital projects, with the chief judge of a state also embarking on capital projects alongside the governor of the state. So, we have to define the roles and it is when these roles are properly defined in a democracy that you can be talking of financial autonomy. So, with superior arguments, our people came, they discussed with us and we rejected it. So, it is not our decision per se. It is the decision of the Edo people because to them it is not yet time and we should build institutions first, very strong democratic institutions before we talk of financial autonomy.

The House on Monday passed a bill criminalising energy theft in the state, but many people seem not happy with the passage; the thinking is that the house ought to have looked at other aspects of power supply. Why does the assembly criminalise energy theft and in what way can power supply be improved in the state?

I think you are not very right if you say we have not talked about how power will be improved in Edo State. We have passed a lot of bills in the house that give the state government opportunity to bring Azura Power Plant to the state. By the time the plant is fully operational, I am sure energy needs of Edo people will be met or be improved. Secondly, on the issue of blackout, the house had summoned the management of BEDC to appear in executive and

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Politics plenary sessions on several occasions on why there are blackouts in most parts of the state. We have discussed with them.

We have asked them to do certain things which of course they have done. As I speak, there are several communities even in my local government that have no light. The best thing in life is for you to discuss and negotiate because all the wars in the world at the end of the day all end in a round table (discussion). That is what we believe in Edo State. We called BEDC management; they have appeared before us on several occasions. I am happy, that you talked about criminalising energy theft. I want you to look at the bill holistically and not just only at some sections.

But again, if we say we are criminalising energy theft, what is wrong with that? If they are bringing estimated bills we say it is wrong but should provide everybody with meter. We have discussed it with the BEDC. You can’t just bring estimated bill, you must provide every Edo person with meter.

If there is no light, we also say it is wrong. They should do everything possible to provide Edo people with light and because we know they don’t have the capacity that is why we created the enabling environment for competitions to come in like the Azura Power Plant. By the time you have competitors there will be efficiency. But we should not encourage our people particularly those that have meters to start bypassing meters because they are consuming energy.

By the time you have meter in your house, cut the wire and bypass it I think it leaves much to be desired. So, if we criminalise theft I don’t think there is anything wrong with it. People should not bypass meter. If you are not satisfied with the activities of BEDC don’t take the laws into your hands. Report to the police and you can also approach the courts and fight for your rights.

Edo people are known to be very civil and responsible. We don’t steal. I accepted that BEDC has a lot of ills that leave very much to be desired. We have encouraged them to improve but that doesn’t mean that we should steal because we want to fight for our rights. It is not in the character of Edo people to steal. That is why we criminalised energy theft in the state. It is not just in Edo State there is an Act to that effect. But we just only domesticated the Act in the state. So, people should not steal while we negotiate, bargain and discuss with BEDC. We should not steal because in any religion stealing is condemnable.

But Edo people are saying that the House should take a step forward to also criminalise estimated billings, low power outage and all the alleged excesses of BEDC which they had protested against to the Assembly?

Estimated billings are not something that is so good. We have condemned it.

We have not just condemned it, we have summoned the managing director to this house to caution her and also to direct her to provide meters to the people of the state. So, while waiting for meters to be provided, we will not encourage our people to steal.

Among the bills passed by the House under your leadership, which of them in

Our activities have been largely digitalised. It is only in Edo State House of Assembly today that you can stay anywhere in the world and watch our proceedings particular is very special to you?

The bills are so many, particularly the bill against human trafficking and the one that deals with violence against persons. They make me a very fulfilled legislator. The bill that largely prohibited trafficking in persons is a bill that by the time it becomes fully operational all these our young girls and boys that are being trafficked will stop and those who are involved in this heinous crime will be punished accordingly.

Recently, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and I visited Rome, Italy, the final destination to most of these trafficked persons from Edo State. Largely 60 percent of them are trafficked to Italy. We have discussion with the government of Italy because it is the receiving end while Nigeria, particularly, Edo State is the supply end. First, we told them that if there is no demand, supply will naturally die.

They should take care of the demand end while we take care of the supply end. The people being trafficked, some of them are working in European farms. Those who trafficked them collect the money.

They are there as labourers while those that trafficked them collect their money.

These trafficked persons are also again trafficked for human organs.

To remove human organs like liver, kidney, the heart is not the work of a journalist, a farmer or ordinary person.

It must be a well trained doctor that can remove the liver and kidney from another person and transplant. That means there is a very powerful cartel in the Western world particularly the Western Europe including Italy involved in this business of human trafficking. We advised them to deal with the demand side while we come back home to adequately educate our people against the dangers involved in this business of human trafficking. We will not just educate our people but we also criminalise it. That is why the day the governor assented to the bill I became a very fulfilled legislator of the Edo State House of Assembly.

Secondly, the bill on violence against persons: The day we passed it into law and the day the governor also assented to it and it became law I was also very happy that yes, I have again contributed to something that will translate into better life for human beings, not only just for Edo people but the entire people living in the state.

You discovered that these days we have abandoned our roles as parents. We also discovered that the issue of rape was not properly defined. If you go to court, the way lawyers argue rape you will know

that it is not properly defined. In that bill, we properly defined what rape is. In that bill the issue of female genital mutilation is properly defined and criminalised. In that bill, father who just give birth to children and doesn’t care about their welfare, how they feed, go to school, shelter and clothe we have criminalised it that when God uses you to bring children to this world, you take responsibility for their welfare and training. So, the day that bill was passed into law I laughed and was filled with joy. So, there are other bills that are people-oriented that we have equally passed.

What will you miss most as your tenure comes to an end as the speaker of the Sixth Edo State House of Assembly?

Firstly, I will miss the journalists. Some of them have become my friends. I am a friend of journalists. I am about the most popular, the most controversial, the most talked-about Honourable member ever in the history of the Edo State House of Assembly and the most gossiped about. So, I will miss all these because there is virtually no day that people will not talk about Kabiru Adjoto. It is either they are talking about me as a result of one impeachment or as a result of one bill or as a result of one good thing or the other.

I came into the House of Assembly in 2009 in one of the most celebrated re-run election ever in the history of Nigeria.

Journalists were at that Akoko-Edo House of Assembly re-run election and they were very objective in their reportage. So, I will miss the journalists because they make me very popular in Nigeria.

But fortunately, the Court of Appeal, Benin Division has just ruled that I am the House of Representatives-elect for the Akoko-Edo federal constituency, and we are already in high spirits to give the best because we have learnt so much from the state House of Assembly. On getting to Abuja, it is still going to be legislation.

So, we will continue with the legislative work there. Whatever we missed in the state House of Assembly, I am sure there is something to cover it up in Abuja. And all the friendship certainly we are not going to cut contact and we have become one family.

The sixth assembly witnessed a lot of impeachment saga and political turbulence.

What pace are you setting for a stable leadership in the next seventh assembly?

The best leadership is the one that sees leadership as a collective enterprise. Once you carry everybody along and see yourself as just first among equals, you are not a dictator, you consult, negotiate, persuade and lobby your colleagues, then you will sail through smoothly. But in a situation where you see yourself as the best among equals, you will always have problems. So, the next assembly should borrow a leave from what we are doing. The speaker should see himself as servant of the members and not the leader of the members.

What legacy are you leaving behind as speaker for the incoming assembly to build on?

If you have been into this office of Mr. Speaker before, you will know that the difference is very clear from what it used to be. It used to be like 12 x 12 room, but you can see the environment is now very beau-

tiful, office fine and that is why sometimes I stayed in the office till between 6pm and 7pm doing my work. The high point is that I am happy that I am leaving behind very strong legacies. Our activities have been largely digitalised. It is only in Edo State House of Assembly today that you can stay anywhere in the world and watch our proceedings. We have digitalised our operations in the Edo State House of Assembly under my leadership. You can stay in Washington DC, USA, Japan and anywhere in the world and watch our proceedings. You can equally go to YouTube and Facebook you will see Edo State House of Assembly. It is just for you to type the date of what you are looking for; you will be able to watch what we have done during my period as speaker of the state House of Assembly.

Thirdly, Enough is Enough Nigeria rated all the houses of assembly in Nigeria and scored Edo State House of Assembly first in terms of quality legislation, digitalisation of activities. In fact, they scored us first. It is only Edo State House of Assembly that passed the three conditions. In the area of website, all the honorable members have their website and their constituents can access them with the website and see what they are doing. Also, all the members have their email addresses that you can send your request or suggestions to, and they will reply you. All that happened during my leadership. Also, in the area of budget publication online, all the budgets we have passed under my leadership are all published. It is just for you to click the house website you will see everything. Also, all projects approved to be executed in every constituency in the state are all published.

So, the Enough is Enough Nigeria scored us the best state House of Assembly in Nigeria. That is what I want the incoming assembly to build on because we have laid the foundation. I want them to build on it so that in time to come, the state House of Assembly will be an assembly where other state houses of assembly will come for learning and lecture on the act of legislation.

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Sunday 26 May 2019

Politics Without true federalism, restructuring Nigeria may not know peace - George Bode George, a former national vice chairman (Southwest) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and leader of the party in Lagos State, interacted with a select group of journalists in his office on the state of the nation. INIOBONG IWOK was there. Excerpts:

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It is 20 years of democracy, how would you assess the journey so far? thought the genesis of the problem was when the western region crisis erupted and everybody thought it will be only in the west but it became a cancer that consumed all the whole country. If we don’t learn any lesson from that we would not be able to appreciate the present situation.

Most of you were young; you may not have much experience about the way the military operated. We have a saying in Yoruba land, that if you have someone who has a hunchback who carries something in the head, the load would bend to one side, someone may say look at this person, but we should look at him from his situation. By the time I explain the problem from that time we can decide if we are moving forward or we are stagnant or are still dancing the Michael Jackson dance.

We got independence in 1960; the British left us with three regions, and at the centre we had the prime Minister. The heads of the regions were also very powerful; they used their resources to develop their regions. They extracted Midwest from the western region, the premier just sat and ruled. The western region extended up to boundary in Ajegunle in Lagos State, Idiroko, the whole place up to Lekki, Ikorodu was all western region. I come from a little extract from Lagos Island, we all benefited from the management style of western region; the resources available were used for the people. My late lecturer in UNILAG used to say that once there is a definition, you don’t query the definition, because the bases would always be the bases. Let put that at the back of our mind; the crisis in the western region could have been well managed, but it was not and the military struck and a section of the country’s leaders were killed. When the dust settled, everybody was asking who killed who? Then we had Aguiyi Ironsi as the head of the army. The military as an organisation is unique with its concept of organisation. The type of management style cannot be replicated anywhere, it is always top to bottom, once an order is given at the top you must obey. But that is not democratic, order should flow from bottom to the top, because; the people are affected; they elected those who represent them and they are to manage their resources for their betterment. In the military, order is often given to the various units, is only God that can save you if you don’t line up and listen. When the military came in 1966, the only thing they understood was top to bottom order, hierarchical system. They said they would run the country like that. Initially, the problems we had in the First Republic were issues which affected the minority groups. Otherwise, everybody developed according to their needs, resources where available within the zones and they give token to the central to maintain the army, foreign policy and the rest. That was where we deviated; when the military came every resources was taken to the centre, the centre became extremely too strong. When General Gowon came because of the frustration of the minority in the regions; they had complained that they can only be seen and not heard. So Gowon created 12 states to ease that tension. They don’t need to campaign for that; ones you are successful in your coup, you just start ruling,

and people are surviving there, because they control their resources. You cut your cloth according to your cloth and not your size. California is the sixth largest economy in the world, there was a time the national government was saying they would cut off trade with China, but the government in the California said no, we would continue to deal with them for the survival of our people. In America, the number of Counties you have depend on you, if you create as you like you would take care of them, everything is not controlled by the government at the top. How can one man sit down in Abuja and know what my problem is in Isale Eko? Why should it be the man sitting in Abuja that would know what is happening in Ajegunle? It can’t work! These are the solutions; true federalism, proper restructuring of the country, so that everybody would go back, the governors would now go back, and the people would know that if you don’t elect a credible leader to manage your resources you would suffer for it. All these emperors, godfathers that manipulate our electoral process would be eliminated.

Bode George

but because you are going to rule the people you must try and do something that would attract the people you want to rule. So, he created 12 states to ease the tension of the First Republic, but he created another centre, rather than allowing the states to develop with the resources within them, these are issues that are yet to be resolved till today. Am happy I was in the military, tribal sentiment was not there, it was purely love for the country, everybody was fighting for one purpose.

Creation of state has never been handled by civilian government, we need to ask why, the military created this imbalance; some states have more Local Government Areas, and all the resources are taken to Abuja. Look at VAT, Lagos produced a significant amount of the VAT for this country, but when it goes to the national basket and it is distributed, what comes here is 11 percent. Is that justifiable?

Unless we go back to correct this imbalance, there would never be peace. It is like you are covering a smoke; for how long would you cover your pipe for it not to come out? I am happy I have had the chance to travel round the country and as you go from one locality to the other, resources differ. There is no zone that does not have resources that if you tap you can use it for the benefit of the people.

But what is the way forward; some have advocated, constitutional amendment?

I have just told you the mistakes, that 2014 constitutional conference came out with brilliant solutions, I was there every item of the agenda was debated and they brought out solutions. Some said that we should go back to regional government, and I said that would never happen. Can you tell an Osun man to go back to Oyo? Or tell an Ekiti man to go back to Ondo? That is not possible. Let’s have federated states, let those states remain; let every state tap into the resources of their land for the benefit of their people. We copied this constitution from America and you know there is a small state in America, but things are coming out

The government has declared June 12 as Democracy Day; how significant is this?

That makes a lot of sense to remember our heroes of the past; those who have been cheated in the past. But what is the benefit of history? It is to make sure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated. What is in a date? Put it there, but has that brought food to the table for the children, improve our roads, the cheating and manipulation of elections result have those things disappeared?

Has that encouraged the judiciary to be fair and uphold justice? No matter how you want to manipulate it, MKO Abiola would always be part of history. But what have we corrected? What has it done to the price of milk? These are deceitful things to the people; are investors happy to come here and invest? Why are they running away? I don’t care about the date for democracy day; I am concerned about the impact of governance.

The tribal division in the country is that not an issue that should concern us. Since I was a kid, the Mallams have been bringing cattle to Lagos State. Why are they now behaving as if it is an occupation Army? June 12 has nothing to do with this, what is going on? We have existed together and the respect for ourselves is paramount. Till today, my best friend that I met in the military is still a Fulani man, he is my brother; but the way we are now, we are creating tribal division and expanding it, it has never been this bad. When Obasanjo gave power to Shagari there was no name they did not call him, they felt he should have given it to Awolowo. Recently, he made a suggestion that these herdsmen incursion is harming us; he is also a farmer; the farmers’ association may have met him and ask what is going on? My friend Sule Lamido made a bad statement by calling him religious bigot. This is the same man that gave him opportunity to be a minister.

Soyinka also made such statement and you know they are not on the same page.

How did we get to a point where things degenerated this far?

If you get to anywhere, the first thing would

be your professional experience and concept which would help guide your reasoning. When Gowon created 12 states, the first thing was because of the pain of the minority. But rather than go on and do the real federal system which had existed, he brought in the military style of doing things.

Top to the bottom, that is how the Dodan barrack started. And once we get back from Shagari we should have said this system is bad; let take it away. But we did not do that and the President of the country was now like an Army general commanding. Everything is resolved from top to bottom, that is not democracy; democracy is bottom to top, and the people must be heard. The people’s voices must give attention, their need must be met. Now, unfortunately, because we still brought the top bottom management style, that is why we are like this. But until we go back to true federalism, nothing would change.

How do you react to recent defections in the PDP in Lagos State and declaration by Segun Adewale that he is the new chairman?

Those people you are mentioning, where did they come from? They came from the APC. One of them, Kunle Okunola, told me they wrote a letter to him wanting to stop his business. These are young men, whatever you sow you reap; Dipo was the only PDP left in the Lagos State House of Assembly, he told me they refused to pay his allowances; they even arrested him for gun-running. As you lay your bed, so you lie on it. That is not a political party. Let them go; some of them benefit here for long and they are going to a place where they don’t practise democracy at all. Look at that Rita Orji, she came around and got the ticket; after that she started running around that she is the leader of the party in the state. The experience we have now is not only Lagos State, but across the Southwest. There is an unnecessary incursion into the affairs of the party. There is serious interference in the management of the party. When I was the deputy national chairman of the party, I did not poke my eyes into what was happening in states’ chapters of the party. We met some days ago, and we decided that never again are we going to allow anybody outside of our zone to come and interfere in the affair of the party. Let the leaders face national issues; you cannot know my house more than me. They were handpicking candidates, imposing them, but we are determined that this would never happen again. Because if you do not put your foot down and manage your own, nobody would come and manage your house for you.

For those who are gone, some of them were good guys, they will soon realise that they are jumping from frying pan to fire. Segun Adewale case is laughable; we need to pray for him, he is a very sick young man. The national body of the party has written that he is not a member of the party. If he says he is the chairman, I don’t know the party, but not this PDP. We came out and fight a good fight in the presidential election, we worked for Atiku and we are sure he won. But for Agbaje, he said he knew it all, you people are saying he is now in APC; well, all his movement says he has always been in APC.

Sunday 26 May 2019

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15

Politics Buhari to weigh costs, political expediency in forming new cabinet Tony Ailemen and Stella Enenche, Abuja

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s Nigerians await the new cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari, Political pundits and economic analysts believe that issues of political expediency need for inclusiveness and compensation for supporters who worked for the reemergence of President Muhammadu Buhari, will largely shape the size.

Perhaps, the need to reduce the cost of governance at the federal level, in the face of dwindling resources, had propelled the President to merge several strategic Ministries, Departments and Agencies in his first term.

But that decision had dire consequences for the All Progressive Congress (APC), as many bigwigs left the party over what they considered as lopsided treatments of those that worked for the party’s success in 2015.

President Muhammadu Buhari has in his wisdom merged three very strategic Ministries of Power, Works and Housing into one ministry, the Ministries of Aviation and Transportation were also merged, that of Culture and Tourism were merged with Information to form the Ministry of Information and Culture, Sports was also merged with Youth Development.

Th e Pr e s i d e n t h a d a l s o merged those of Budget with National Planning to form the Ministry of Budget and National Planning.

The President himself also took charge of the Petroleum Resources Ministry as the substantive Minister, while appointing Ibe Kachikwu as the junior Minister.

Worthy of note however, is that these Ministries had hitherto operated under independent organisational structures, as full-fledged Ministries, whereas, while under the Previous administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, the Federal Cabinet was made of as many as 72 Ministers and Special Advisers, Buhari ran his first term with only 38 Ministers and 18 Special Advisers.

As laudable as the initiative appeared, there are indications that the merger may have become largely counterproductive, as insiders and other experts have suggested Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Tunisia and former Adamawa Governor, James Barka, believes that haven just escaped the consequences of platform of failed promises, the President must have learnt lessons not to allow a repeat of his first term mistakes.

“The President has promised an inclusive government and that will mean that more appointments will have to be made.

Muhammadu Buhari

So, how do you think this can be achieved without opening up the political space?” he asked Barka who believes that the government has a social contract it must fulfill, warned however, that the need for political expediency must not override the need for financial prudence. “l trust that the President will know how to balance the two because of the need to ensure that the resources are efficiently managed,” he said.

Aside opening the political space to accommodate more people, the need for the President to fulfill his pre-election campaign promises to the various All Progressive Congress APC groups who were allegedly “marginalised” after the 2015 elections, remain a huge burden for Mr. President.

Amongst those at the fore front of the “compensation” campaigns are wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, who has been the leading advocate for rewards for the hardworking APC members, including women.

Proceeding from the ‘Change’ mantra to the ‘Next Level’ the President at a meeting with the Buhari Support Organisation BSO, had assured his supporters that their handwork and loyalty would be adequately rewarded if he wins election in 2019.

According to the President, “Some individuals and organisations might be feeling disappointed because we have not been able to please everyone. I would like to assure you that this time, hard work and loyalty will be rewarded adequately,” he said.

The President said the event reminds him of the political struggle and support he has been enjoying from the group over the years, since 2003.

Aside the need for “sharing loots arising from political struggles or display of loyalty, several disadvantages have emerged from such “unholy” mergers.

For instance, there are concerns that some Ministries are incompatible and therefore, impossible for them to operate effectively and efficiently under one Minister.

Others include cases of alleged “sabotage” within the system and redundancy among other negative implications.

A strong case is that of the Ministry of Aviation which is subsumed under the Ministry of Transportation Aviation is a highly technical sector requiring both specialised skill and speed in handling, which may not work effectively in a bureaucratic system.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, for fear of possible reprimand, a senior civil servant in one of the ministries, lamented that since their merger with the new parent Ministry, they lacked inadequate work tools.

He also complained of communication gap between the Minister and Minister of State due to locations of the hitherto autonomous entities vis-a-vis treatment of files and others.

“The issue of distance is there, you want to follow upon some files, you need to leave the ministry of aviation and go to the ministry of transport because that is where we have the headquarters.

“You have to shuttle between the two offices because there are no enough office space, no working tools at the ministry’s headquarters.

We have staff who are well trained here in the ministry of aviation but they are redundant here in aviation.

In terms of personnel, the only difference is that we have just one permanent secretary; nobody was relieved of their job because of the merger, so the whole staff in both the ministries are still intact.

In fact, the merger has not impacted in anyway.

“The idea of the merger was to reduce cost, but if you look at

it, nothing has changed. The only people that are missing from the hierarchy in the aviation ministry are the minister and the permanent secretary. It is not that the government will bear more cost for putting a permanent secretary here. As a matter of fact, we have some permanent secretary who is not doing anything”, he said.

He further identified low productivity and poor welfare as another bane of the merger.

“Poor welfare, poor productivity. Most times we use our money to run the offices. We have just one permanent secretary and he superintends over 14 agencies.

“There are little things that he tends to forget because he has so much on his plate. This slows down the administrative process; it slows down action on the programmes”.

Another senior civil servant, who also spoke in similar vein, said: “Some of our colleagues in the other ministry go to the office, for the past four year, they come to the office, sit down every day without doing anything at least we in Aviation here have files to attend to. Also there is no good working relationship. There is a lot of sabotage.

“The things that the aviation minister is suppose to achieve, he can’t because of this. He needs feed backs on so many things, but it is only what they want him to see or to know that they bring to his notice.

Like here some of the staff has been due for training for the past three years but nothing is happening.

“Out of frustration, some staff in the ministry of aviation has worked their posting out to other ministry. If I have the opportunity of meeting the president one on one, I would advise him to separate these two for effectiveness and good control.

“Hold every minister and permanent secretary responsible because as it is now, the ministers and permanents only tell the minister what he wants to hear”.

On his part, an Aviation security expert, John Ojikutu, however argued in favour of the merger saying, that the agencies under the ministries should be independent.

According to him, “What we are saying is that, they should be together the way they are but the agencies under them are the ones that need autonomies. What are we talking about, in ministry of transportation we have railway, seaports and the likes.

“They are all linked up one way of the other. What they are trying to do now is to link railway station to the seaports, they are linking model rail to the airports and all of them are linking up from one point to the other. Even in America, the pipeline is under transport.

“Once you start breaking them the way you people are talking about, they will be working under

different policies and there is going to be a problem of development. We need a place where we can link all of them together and that is why when you inherit intermodal transportation system.

Something must link the airport to the road and that is why they building all these road you see from Abuja to the airport. They have built one now from Oshodi to the airport in Lagos.

They have brought monorail road to the airport that is going to link the other rail road that will carry vehicles to Abuja. that is the way it is.”

He added thus: “The problem we have in this country is that, everybody wants to create an empire to himself. Once you have a minister, he has no business to what is happening at the airport.

He sits down in his office, come out with a policy, He sends it to the people that are going to executive that policy as directives, the responsible agencies like NCAA, will now develop programs and then they will now start carrying out government policies along that line.

“The job of the ministry is to come out with policies and send out to the various government agencies to implement that policy but when you create ministry of Aviation, it is just one area of transport and that is why we are taking of privatisation. Like in aviation now, you can privatize the airport and once you do that, government has little or nothing to do with it. But in this country, we have decided to take up every as government agency”.

The case of the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing is not completely different, as many believe that the low performance of the Power sector may not be unconnected with the huge burden the Minister carry.

Elder statesmen, Tanko Yankasai, while speaking also with BusinessDay on the issue, scored the current administration below average in the housing sector because according to him, “the outgoing Minister was overwhelmed by the challenges in the power sector.”

“Yes, while it is important to save costs, you also cannot sacrifice the need for service.

Many sectors had suffered under the current regime. Our tourism industry has been relegated to the background because of the merger. Nothing was done in the area of housing because the Minister needed to concentrate on road and power infrastructure.

You can’t blame him.”

According to Yankasai, “Nigeria has competent and well qualified hands to man every sector and if Buhari really wants to succeed , he must open up the political space to allow more politicians into his cabinet.”

The elder statesman also urged the President to engage competent hands who he said abound in his party, the APC.

16 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 26 May 2019

Sunday Interview

Y

ou have had an illustrious career in Nigeria’s Foreign Service and now you celebrate your 80th birthday in a country with 53 years as average life expectancy for men; how has the journey been? Is there a recipe for longevity you want to share with us?

This is surely through the enabling grace of God Almighty that has kept me healthy and at this age of 80 years. And also made me not to be a burden to my family, I give gratitude and honour to God. But as a human being, in my own small way too, I think that my lifestyle can partly account for my longevity. Early in life, I started out having the right diet. I have also been conscious about exercise.

At school, I was the champion of the games in athletics, sprint, high jump and all that. When the points are calculated whoever has the highest point is called victor ludorum. I played soccer and later in life lawn tennis. This has kept me fit most of the time and I am lucky that I did not get injury in any of the games I participated in.

When I got married, my wife guided me on what I should be having and took care of my health too. She is an emerita professor of medicine, by the way. Many of my friends say I do not look my age, we thank God for that.

The life expectancy in Nigeria used to be much lower earlier on.

I think that it is a sad commentary on the health system in the country.

Normally, health services should be free, at least, for the generality of the people. And those who can afford it can go to private hospitals.

Then the health insurance, which at the beginning I thought will be a revolution, the implementation has not been as effective as one would have expected. In the countries we copy, they have extensive arrangements for taking care of the generality of their people. The quality of life has diminished, and these are all factors that can affect your longevity. Basically, as I said earlier on, it is by the grace of God. You had a long diplomatic career; how did you get into Nigeria’s Foreign Service and which posting has had the most lasting impression on you?

While I was at the University College in Ibadan, studying history; even before then, when I was doing my high school certificate course, I used to admire diplomats and thought it was a noble profession, which I can attempt to join. And in my final year at the university, someone came from the ministry of foreign affairs and spoke to us about career in the Foreign Service; so as soon as I graduated I did not have second thoughts. I applied.

Luckily, I graduated with honours, second class upper, which made me competitive during the interview at federal civil commission. That was how I found myself in the Foreign Service and I think that for the fourteen years I was there, it was very exciting and I benefitted a lot.

Regarding the posting, I find most significant, without question definitely it is the permanent mission of Nigeria to the United Nations in New York. In the United States we had three Nigerian legations at that time; the Embassy in Washington, the permanent mission to the U.N. in New York and the Consulate

Adekunle Olumide

Nigeria has to declare state of emergency in education - Olumide

Adekunle Olumide, one of Nigeria’s finest diplomats turned 80 years old Saturday. His first posting in the Nigeria Foreign Service was to New York in 1966 and he retired as a Federal Permanent Secretary in 1991. In this interview, with STEPHEN ONYEKWELU, he shares thoughts on what has sustained him in the last eighty years; what Nigeria needs to do to accelerate economic growth, among other issues. Excerpts: General in New York.

While at New York, I got exposed professionally, because at the United Nations headquarters, you had experts who produced documents for members on any subject. I handled the second committee of the U.N. which is mainly economic. We dealt with economic and social issues. We also received reports from the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) mainly economic issues.

In the university, I studied history but during my training, I was trained in diplomacy in Canberra, Australia. There, I was exposed to international economics, law and politics. It was significant that on going to New York I was put on the economic desk. While in New York, Nigeria was a non-permanent member of the U.N.’s Security Council. This enabled me to listen to debates by top diplomats from

around the world. In those days, countries used to send their best diplomats as ambassadors to the United Nations because that is the peak of conference diplomacy.

At that time, I remember Lord Caradon, the permanent representative of Britain, who used to be chief secretary in Nigeria decades ago. You also had Arthur Goldberg, a retired U.S. Supreme Court judge who represented the United States of America. It is interesting that I am remembering these names. This was in 1966. Nikolai Fedorenko who was a brilliant professor of Chinese studies represented Russia. Of course, Nigeria, we had Chief S.O. Adebo, a well-respected top African diplomat. Listening to debates involving such people, you cannot but benefit. Then there was the U.N. General Assembly itself.

Professionally, it exposed me.

However, as Chief Adebo said, “Kunle, your first posting is New York. After here, no other posting will impress you.” I just smiled when he said that. But in reality he was right; every other posting was an anti-climax. From New York

I came back to Nigeria and was posted out again to Geneva. This was a significant posting for me because at that time Nigeria was on the 18-nation disarmament committee.

At the time I was in Geneva, 1971 to 1974, Nigeria did not have an embassy in Austria. I used to travel to Austria to represent Nigeria on the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency and UNIDO. I also handled consular issues because we had Nigerian students and some Nigerian nationals living in Austria.

This was also exciting. To come back to the question, the most significant in terms of professional exposure and satisfaction was definitely the New York posting.

But in terms of sentimental fulfillment, I would say Libreville, Gabon. This is because during the civil war, Gabon recognised the Biafra Republic. So, Nigeria had no relations with Gabon. After the civil war, there was need to normalise relations with Gabon. I was sent as charge d’affairs to open the embassy. I set up the chancery, the entire embassy and related to the

host government at the highest level. From sentimental point of view, this is the one I appreciate the most because I started everything from scratch, whereas in New York and Geneva, those Nigerian missions already existed.

How would you compare the education you got at the University College, Ibadan in 1964 to what is obtainable today in our tertiary institutions of learning?

I think one has to be objective in trying to compare what obtained at that time to what is obtainable today. First of all, the University College in Ibadan was the only university in the country when I got in. The number of students was few. Therefore, lecturers paid more attention because we were fewer. The teacher-student ratio was very low, which was a good thing. More importantly, we were a college of the University of London.

For instance, my degree was from the University of London. The living conditions were much better. We had single rooms to ourselves.

We had people cleaning our rooms and stewards making our meals. That was a different era because the country was struggling to build its human capital. We got in there at mature ages, whereas our children went in much younger.

That maturity is important. At that time, some people were sponsored by some schools and organisations. This contributed to the level of seriousness at studies. We had student movements and organisations but not the type of things you hear about now such as cultism, frightening. We also were rascally but people were never killed. With population explosion and need to meet with demand, quality was lowered in terms of faculty members’ qualifications.

When you look at the science subjects, engineering and so on, the laboratories leave much to be desired, whereas in the earlier days, we had all those things working whether it is in engineering or medicine. But now it is not quite the same.

Having said that, it also strikes me that when products of Nigerian universities go abroad for post-graduate studies, they excel.

Perhaps, our standard is not as low as we think. You can argue that those are probably the brilliant ones but it tells something. Those employed locally, some multinationals claim to have to retrain them. This is in terms of refresher courses because if they were not innately brilliant, it will be difficult for them to be trained. I think going forward; the Nigerian government has to declare a state of emergency in education, because no country can develop without its human capital being very competitive and modern. What is most important is the quality of the individual.

Singapore, Israel and Japan who do not have natural resources are highly developed today because of the emphasis they placed on the quality of their human capital.

Once your human capital is ready for the Twenty-First century, you have little problems. But you can’t have improvement in education by paying lip-service to it. If we are not careful, we will be sowing seeds that will be dangerous for future generations. We need to be globally competitive through better Continued from page 19

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BDSUNDAY 17

Special Focus How Rivers strives to achieve ‘Tax with Ease’ as RIRS unfolds informal sector IGR drive …Hopes to double revenue with foray into uncharted territories

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IGNATIUS CHUKWU he authorities at the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service (RIRS) said on Thursday in Port Harcourt completingthesanitisation of the tax space in the state to make taxpaying go with ease is the cardinal objective of the agency and the Nyesom Wike-led administration.

Rivers State has moved from N2.5Bn per month in internally generated revenue (IGR) in 2007 to N10Bn at the moment without any contribution from the larger segment of the populace, the informal sector. Many say before now, the bulk of the IGR comes from charted public and organised private sectors. Attempts to launch deep into the uncharted territories known as informal sector had been held back byuncertaintyandtensionthatseem to grip the state from time to time.

Now, the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service, now under the executivechairman,AdoageNorteh, seems set to launch deep. The agency seems not eager to do so without first watering the ground through massive sensitisation scheme.

Theexecutivechairmanhasstarted bringing together segments and groups of stakeholders at strategic locations such as the Hotel Presidential on Aba Road for education that throws insight in tax administration mechanisms and how taxpayers need to lay in it.

Paying tax with ease Apparently determined to double theIGRofthestate,theRIRSlaunched a sensitisation scheme for the muchexpected informal sector tax drive.

Theexecutivechairmanwholeadshis team to various stakeholder groups across the state capital said the most important objective is to ensure that paying tax in Rivers State is done with ease and no much rancour. On Thursday, Norteh and team met with professional groups in a stakeholders’ summitatthePortHarcourtHallofthe Hotel Presidential on Aba Road in the Garden City where he laid down the full plans for the drive.

Speaking,theexecutivechairman saidtheRiversStategovernmentwas set to unveil its informal sector tax driveandneededtoengagethestakeholdersstartingwiththeprofessional groups down to the trade groups, artisans, associations and union. He said he had met with lawyers.

The Thursday group was made up mostly of chartered accountants who prepare accounts for companies, tax institutes, body of auditors, professional builders, surveyors, estate managers, and other groups.

Theexecutivechairmanandhisgroup weretoproceedtoothergroupslined up to receive him same day, all in a bid to prepare the informal sector for the drive that is about to come.

Norteh admitted that tax drive in the informal sector is very difficult, adding that it was difficult to point at the dividing line between the professionals and informal sector operators for the main reason that

Cross section of professionals at the engagement session

ICAN professional women, L- Helen Irobuisi (ICAN secretary) and Chinedu Nwachukwu, SWAN chairperson

the income of some professionals outside the public sector and organised private sector is not open to the tax masters for calculations and assessment.

Tax payers are no enemies He tried to sooth the nerves of the stakeholders and taxpayers in Rivers State thus; “Taxpayers are no enemies but partners to the Rivers State Government on revenue generation. They are not seen as people planning to overthrow the government. Rather, tax is an important component of governance.”

He told the stakeholders that the Rivers State government under Governor Wike has determined that the tax space must be sanitized and that there would no longer be harassment on the streets on account of tax.

Challenges He said apart from difficulty in knowing the income of the informal sector operators for accurate tax assessment, the other challenge is activities of touts who go to any length to cause problems by submitting demand notices and seeking cash payment.Headvisedtheprofessionals to educate their clients never to pay cash. He said a tout needs cash or may create a bogus bank account where the money should be paid.

To counter them, he said, the taxpayer should insist on paying only into the Rivers State Government tax account available in almost all banks in the state. That way, he stated, the plot by the tout and the syndicates would collapse. “Giving cash to people would encourage touts to come again and again. The payers think the cash system is less

and better but they end up paying all over again”.

Norteh said it was not difficult to reachhimandclearmatters(hegave out his contact details) but said the RIRS has competent managers that efficiently explain the procedures to make someone pay the right tax the right way.

Various sector groups presented their perspectives and raised questions which were treated by the executivechairman.Theissueofcollections by the Ministry of Commerce led to concerns. Others wanted to know why some officials of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) usually insisted on collecting withholding tax from both limited liability companies and enterprises instead of allowing the state tax bodies to collect it from enterprises and individuals.

Pay tout, pay double Givingcashtopeoplewillencourage touts to come again and again.

Taxpayers think they stand to pay less by paying cash. That is why for instance most persons prefer to pay cash to the utility agency personnel at their doorsteps than paying into theback.Thisopensupthecustomer to fraud and double payment.

People come to the RIRS secretariat and still pay touts to help them procure tax clearance certificates and end up obtaining fake certificates. Tax harassment versus touting: Government does not use vest-wearing people and ID Cardwielding people to collect taxes.

If you think you have been overassessed,comeforward.Thetaxlaw encourages objection, but back it up with evidence to the contrary

Those who collect money from you with the promise to help you get to the chairman won’t help. Nobody sees me for you. Come to the chairman yourself or address your papers to the chairman. It will get to me and I treatallpapers,astheycame.Youcan callme.Idonotpromisetotakeallthe calls but text me with details but only on tax matters, Surely, I will reply you.

Tax rule: The more you earn the more you pay. There is nothing like the economy is bad. Yes, it is bad but tax is not on state of health of your business but on income you certainly made.

Informal Tax: The headache of this aspect is huge. The headache also is because different tiers of government collect different taxes.

That is where we are heading to in this state. There is inadequate information and ignorance.

Solution: Ask questions. Do not be jittery.

Demandforclarificationsfromthose who served you the tax demand notice and get to the originating office to seek clarifications or seek help from experts. To argue with a criminal is tough thing to do. Just buy time and make inquiries.

We want to run the informal sector with some ease, to help them make their contributions with ease.

It is not about what government does with the tax but about ease of compliance.Thosewhoquarrelwith how tax is utilised may have a point but the RIRS is not focusing on that.

I am a Nigerian; I know how people feel but the government does many thingstoo.Yourparticulartaxwillnot do what government is doing by any percentage. Your tax cannot tar the road. Tax is a requirement of the law and you must obey.

Prison loading Nobody has been imprisoned so far in Rivers State for tax offences but we may get there soon. Tax is requirement from a citizen and the tax master like me is just acting on that responsibility for now. One day I will go and someone else will still have to press you for tax. My work is not a popular one. Nobody loves payingtax.Evenrelationsandfriends are not happy with me because of what they may be expecting that is nothappening.Chasingpeopleisnot mystyle,andthepresentadministration says no to it. My charge is not to allow this happen.

I have thus engaged with all professional bodies including lawyers andaccountants.Thereiseventheissue of determining how much some professionals such as lawyers and accountants earn for the purpose of taxing them. But, we are getting to that point when we can easily tell, as we improve our strategies and systems for compliance.

Lifestyle tax assessment approach is an issue. Some people declare small amounts as annual income but the lifestyles they live do not add up: their children’s school fees, property, cars, etc.

Tax offenders do not even know how to cheat Tax avoidance is using the provi-

sions of the law to avoid paying tax.

It’s different from dodging tax. If you must avoid tax, do it within the law, else, it becomes dodging tax.

Tax avoidance requires creative accounting. It is highly technical.

Mitigating tax burden is not easy.

False claims to gain benefit raise red flags. Your tax records talk to the tax master. For instance, there is a man in Port Harcourt that pays tax in Anambra.Itdidnottaketimeandthe bubble bust because of false claims.

Note that there is nothing like ‘director’s tax’. What we have s what a director earns as salary as indicated in the salary voucher.

Nobody is targeted Nobody is targeted in tax matters in Rivers State. We do not know faces when handling tax matters.

The objective of this conversation is to create ease of paying taxes in Rivers State. We do not want to strangulate businesses. We want their own good.

It’s cashless and Rivers has been mapped out The RIRS has mapped out the stateintozones.Theexerciseisgoing to be cashless. Cash demand is the easiest way to know touts. Paying into government account is the best.

Even if you paid it wrongly, you have a way of recovering it.

Professional bodies have great role to play in driving the process.

Therestrongcontrolsintheprocessof transmittingtaxespaid,suchthateven me the chairman can’t tamper with it.

Any control you created that can be tampered with by you is no control.

What unions want Union dues are not taxes. There are unions that want to collect the taxes and also decide what to pay. It is not possible this time around.

Reactions: Medical Investors We need to know the government agency that ought to collect ratesforsignposts,fireservicelevies, effluent discharge levies; Are they from your office?

How do you calculate income tax when the director is on PAYEE? Health clinics are humanitarian centresespeciallynowthatgovernment says we must save life fist before money. Are there any relief?

Youexpectincreaseseveryfiling year, what about losses?

Response: Tax must not be incremental. I mentioned the increases from what we see in your filings. We are only saying the percentage of increase looks too mechanical. It raises red flags. Companies may not increase salaries in a particular year.

What each tier of government collects is important to know: FIR collects company profit tax; states (RIRS) collect taxes on salaries.

Withholding taxes: If you do not collect it from your customers, you are madetopay.Consultancyischarged 10 per cent while products are five per cent. Sign post and markets are collected by local councils but if the state puts its funds there, LGA keep clear. So, RISAA collects and they partner with LGAs. Naming of Continue on page 23

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Sunday 26 May 2019

Feature Day telco, partners gathered to chart course for mutual growth After what was, clearly, a challenging business experience in the highly competitive Nigerian telecom market, 9Mobile is emerging quickly from what it calls a transition. It is forming partnerships, strategising, charting new course and/or seeking new path to growth that will be mutually beneficial to it and its partners, writes CHUKA UROKO

T

he resilience of a company does not consist in the size of the building it occupies, but rather in its capacity to ride the tide in the face a challenging business experience, come off stronger, pick the pieces and move on with strategies for growth.

When businesses meet to strategise and seek new path to growth that will be mutually beneficial, it is usually in an atmosphere that is both somber and convivial in order to accommodate varying moods and interests.

Partnerships for business relationships are formed into various reasons. Essentially, partnerships take off the heat, reduce risks, provide shoulders for partners to lean on, and increases scope and mileage of efforts, giving credence and meaning to Helen Keller’s famous statement, “alone we can do so little; together we can do so much’.

These much were reflected when 9mobile, a frontline telecom comapny in Nigeria, and its partners met for the 2019 ‘Channel Partners Conference’ and strategized on business growth and sustainability across various value chains.

The conference is an annual event where critical business expectations for the year are shared and reviewed to ensure that there is an alignment between the telco and its key stakeholders in the channel.

This year’s meeting which was held at Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos served as an avenue to discuss emerging issues within the

L-R: Abdulrahman Ado, ED, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, 9mobile; Michale Matthew, CEO, MPD Global Connect; Stephane Beuvelet, Ag MD, 9mobile, and Ken Ogujiofor, Vice President, Sales, 9mobile, at the 2019 9mobile Channel Partners Conference in Lagos recently

telecoms industry and to proffer creative solutions.

Besides being a forum to discuss business, the conference which featured presentations detailing the operator’s growth plan for the year, was also a platform to celebrate the partners for their unwavering loyalty over the past 10 years.

“You are a very important value chain in our business, and I’m happy that you’ve been loyal to us for over 10 years. I’m happy to see you today and I would like to express 9mobile’s appreciation to you all for your loyalty and dedication.

“We have had our issues; we’re just emerging from a transition, and some of the representatives of the new owners are here. We are hopeful of changing the dynamics of this company,” Stephane Beuvelet, acting managing director, 9mobile, told their partners.

Continuing, he said, “we remain an established and competitive business because of you; we all get down to work and do what we need to do to meet our customer’s needs and push the business forward. We, in turn, affirm our commitment to continuetoprovideinnovativeproducts,

services and solutions that actually addresstheneedsofoursubscribers, whilealsosupportingourpartnersto achieve their objectives.”

9mobile is already implementing bold initiatives that will guarantee optimum value to both customers and partners which is why it urges stronger cooperation from the partners going forward.

The company has deployed an array of innovative brand loyalty reward programs which are currently running such as the Magic Hour Promo, Northern Promo and more recently its free WhatsApp offer.

It is also optimizing its network to ensure superior quality service.

Specifically, the company is enhancing its 4G penetration by launching 4G LTE network in 15 new cities across Nigeria and improving visibility. The partners have been loyal and committed to the brand which was why Ken Ogujiofor, the company’s Vice President, Consumer Sales and Service, commended them, saying, “we do not take you for granted; we always want to hear from our partners because they are important stakeholders in the business alongside our customers. We want to make sure you are comfortable and that your concerns are addressed.

Our partnership has always been for growth in all directions.”

Progressively,theconferencegot down to brass tacks with presentations on various aspects of the business by the Regional Sales Director (North), Tosin Olulana; Head, Youth Segment, Layi Onafowokan; Head, Marketing Communications, Seni Ogunkola and Head, Trade Marketing Services, Oludolapo Kehinde.

The conference also looked into the company’s business focus for the year and together they charted the way forward for the business.

Areas of opportunities that the partners could leverage for profitability were also highlighted.

Many partners were honoured with certificates of excellence in recognition of their contributions to the growth of the resilient telco just as officers of the company and the partners celebrated its rebound.

Africa Day: A seat for corporates on history’s table FRANK ELEANYA

O

ver 500 years ago, an estimated 25 to 30 million Africans including men, women and children embarked on a perilous journey on the Atlantic Ocean, betrayed by their kin and sold as slaves to foreign merchants from different parts of the world. Today that history may be a distant memory to millions of the new generation but it still contributes significantly to the narrative of Africa as a continent with the most need for human capital development.

It was that narrative the progenitors of the Africa Day sought to change. Africa Day is the annual commemoration of the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity on 25 May, 1963. 32 countries came together to form the organisation with the goal of bringing total freedom to African countries who were still under colonial rule, defend their sovereignty, uphold human rights and restore the dignity of the African people.

However, many years after the burden of African development and unity still weighs heavy, largely because the responsibility of taking Africa into the next level of development was seen primarily as a problem of the leadership.

Growth and developments

in other continents has however shown that it is a collective effort.

It will require government, citizens and even businesses to care enough to look at yesterday, do something about today in other to have a better tomorrow.

Being the drivers of capital that make development possible, corporate entities have even bigger obligation to history than many people will think. The rise and fall of any nation has often had a direct link to the role movers of economic activities played. The foundations of economic power of countries like United States, China, United Kingdom and many others lend themselves to trade activities involving companies. These activities have also led to some of the major and deadliest wars fought by mankind.

Today in Africa, United Bank for Africa (UBA) is arguably the biggest corporate entity that has sought to toe the line of great organisations in the past that shaped the trajectory of history of their societies.

At a recent Africa Day celebration, Tony Elumelu, chairman of the bank said Africa deserves to look forward from its inglorious past, learn from its mistakes and create a new tomorrow that its children should be proud. For him that task should not be left to the government alone.

He also believes that the involvement of corporate entities

Tony Elumelu

would fast-track the unification of the African continent. Although corporate entities, like UBA operate within a geographical territory, they nevertheless have the propensity to go beyond borders and through recruitment unite people of diverse cultures, languages and orientations. The cost of development projects in most African cities very huge and could seem impossible for any African to undertake.

However, this could become an opportunity for businesses to leverage with the right leadership.

UBA’s footprint seen in many countries in Africa demonstrates what is possible if private sector play an active role in Africa’s developmental project. For instance, the bank’s developmental strides in

Cameroon – a francophone country - go as far back as 2008. It has been involved in financing projects which touch on agriculture, energy, transport, manufacturing, telecommunications, infrastructure and other fabrics of national life.

For specifics, the bank released over $125 million (over FCFA70 billion) to refinance the shareholder loans used to pre-finance Dangote’s cement operations in Douala. The result is that the quantity of cement produced in Cameroon grows by 1.6 million metric tons per annum and significantly lower the price of the product in the country. The bank also provided over $12 million to energy company, Gaz Du Cameroon to finance its capital expenditure program in 2017. It is also involved in financing the construction of two stadiums in Cameroon – the 60,000 seat Olembe Stadium in Yaounde and the 50,000 capacity Japoma Stadium in Douala.

The bank also has so far invested over $80 billion in Gabon, a central African country with rich natural resources and a population of 1.7 million people. In 2015 for instance, UBA helped finance Gabon government’s budget deficit to the tune of $8.3 million, while $1.67 million went to the acquisition of a power station from Wartsila of Finland. It had earlier invested £3.04 million in a road maintenance program compris-

ing of different kind of works such as restoration of roads without bitumen.

In Ghana where UBA has created employment through its 28 branches and over 50 ATM terminals, deposits for the past four years rose from GHC350 million to the GHC1 billion mark through 2016 figures of over GHC3 billion. In return, the bank provided GHC274.6 million facility to the government of Ghana for routine maintenance and rehabilitation of major roads in the country. It also facilitated the completion of the second phase of a 1,300 bed-capacity SRC hostel accommodation for students through a GHC2.3 million syndicated loan.

In his Africapitalism theory (an economic philosophy that embodies the private sector’s commitment to the economic transformation of Africa through investments that generate both economic prosperity and social health), Tony Elumelu noted that “Africa’s renaissance lies in the confluence of the right business and political action.” In other words, political will must meet private sector for there to be meaningful development across Africa.

The table of change is set, but for Africa to look to tomorrow with hope, the corporates must be given a seat on the table in order to create a history that Africa’s children will be proud of.

Sunday 26 May 2019

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Global strategy on Child Labour elimination: The Oyo State example

the prevalence of child labour in the agricultural sector and attributed the situation to the limited understanding of the impact of child labour by the rural dwellers, which underscores the imperative for training and enhancing their awareness on the phenomenon of child labour.

“The agricultural sector is one area where child labour is prevalent. There is a thin line between helping a parent and exposing a child to child labour,” Oshodi said.

He noted that parents who engage their children and wards in child labour see only its shortterm and cost-saving benefits failing to realise the long-term consequences therein.

Speaking on the efforts of BATN in the eradication of child labour, he noted that not only does the company constantly ensure that its farming partners and stakeholders understand the impact of their decisions as regards child labour, but it also conducts regular spot checks on their farms to ascertain compliance with its child labour policy. He also noted that the company has been working closely with government at all levels as well as other relevant agencies to fight the scourge.

“We ask farmers to share with us evidence of the child’s school attendance and take steps to reward members who are compliant through our annual Farmers’ Productivity Awards,” Oshodi stated.

In his address, the State Secretary of the Committee, Mr Marcus Williams, emphasised the important role that the organised private sector can play in stemming the incidence of child labour. He stated that for the menace of child labour to be fully contained it must not be left to government alone. Hence, corporate organisations must be willing to show commitment and to support the campaign.

“We know child labour still exists, it is only manifesting in different ways on a daily basis with many children being used for menial purposes. We strongly believe the political will to address the menace is there in Oyo State, in spite of the huge challenge that funding presents,” Williams said.

While charging development partners to seek ways to raise funds locally, he appealed to the relevant arms of government to whom the draft action plan is to be presented to ensure its implementation and not be deterred by insufficient funds.

Williams, who gave a summary of the State Action Plan on child labour, stated that it provides the roadmap for the National Policy on the Elimination of Child Labour in Oyo State. He listed the key thematic areas of the plan as (i) policy, legal framework and assessment (ii) child protection (iii) awareness campaign (iv) monitoring and evaluation, among others.

Speaking on best practice on child labour elimination, Williams identified gradual integration of victims and rehabilitation as pivotal to the achievement of positive results.

“There is a lot that goes into re-integration of victims. Gradual integration is very important in the elimination of child labour.

Therefore, stakeholders need to understand the dynamics of gradual integration and must work together in this regard,” he stated.

There is no doubt that the right synergy among the various stakeholders in the fight against child labour can be very critical in eradicating it.

Bill (PIGB) which contains farreaching reforms that will boost the Nigerian economy. The unacceptable delay in passing the Bill is making Nigeria to lose its competitive advantage to other oil-producing countries, particularly in Africa that are now the preferred destinations for new investments in the oil and gas industry.

It has been recognised that government alone cannot grow the economy, hence the need to create the business friendly environment to empower the private sector to invest in the crucial sectors – agriculture, power, manufacturing, solid minerals, services, transportation, etcetera.

What is your take on Africa Continental Freed Trade Area (AfCFTA)?

In principle, the AfCFTA will provide opportunities for trade and economic development among African countries in a similar manner as the European Union (EU) for European countries. In the medium term,Nigeriawillbenefitimmensely from being a signatory to AfCFTA on condition that necessary economic reforms are put in place.

Investment in basic infrastructure, particularly power and transportation, will make Nigerian businesses and products more competitive vis-à-vis most African countries, promote business growth and engender a better business and investment climate. Local manufacturers have misgivings of Nigeria being a signatory to the Agreement because the current poor state of infrastructure makes their products less competitive.

A

LAWRENCE AMAKU

recent global trend in labour administration is the renewed fight against child labour, forced labour, modern slavery and human trafficking.

This objective is encapsulated in the Alliance 8.7, an initiative of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which seeks to end child labour and modern slavery.

The global alliance, which was launched at the Ford Foundation on September 21, 2016, builds on the momentum created by the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The initiative also helps to advance other sustainable development goals, including poverty eradication, education and gender equality.

According to the ILO, an estimated 180 million children work in the worst forms of child labour, including hazardous work, slavery, forced labour, commercial sexual exploitation and illicit activities.

ILO defines child labour as work that is physically, mentally, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children and which interferes with their schooling by depriving them of the opportunity to attend school; obliging them to leave school prematurely, or requiring them to combine school attendance with excessively long and heavy work. It is widely believed that one of the worst forms of abuse and exploitation of children is child labour as it is detrimental to a child’s physical and mental development.

Poverty is believed to be the root cause of child labour. Therefore, it is more prevalent in Africa and Asia, which account for over 90percent of total child employment and where abject poverty is widespread.

In November 2017, ILO unfolded four key policy pillars in efforts at ending child labour across the globe by 2025. These include boosting legal protections, improving the governance of labour markets and family enterprises, strengthening social protection and investing in free, quality education. It urged governments to step up efforts at ending

L-R: Marcus Williams, Oyo State Steering Committee on Child Labour; Chinwe Okpala, internal communications and sustainability manager, British American Tobacco (BAT) West Africa; Ogunbiyi Adewole, Oyo State Controller of Labour, Federal Ministry of Labour; Abimbola Okoya, area head, Corporate Affairs, BAT West Africa; and Oluwakayode Oshodi, head of Leaf, BAT West Africa, during a one-day Stakeholders and Oyo State Action Plan Final Draft Presentation Meeting held in Ibadan, Oyo State

child labour.

Nigeria has since joined the rest of the world in responding strongly to this clarion call. Apart from being among the first countries in Africa to ratify and implement the ILO Conventions on Minimum Age at Work, Nigeria has also ratified the conventions against Worst Forms of Child Labour, ensuring best practices in this regard especially through the National and State Steering Committees on Child Labour.

One steering committee that is worthy of emulation for being consistent in evolving effective approaches towards the elimination of child labour is the Oyo State Steering Committee on Child Labour (SSCCL). At a recent seminar organised by the committee, in Ibadan, stakeholders reiterated their stance on child labour, calling on government at all levels to encourage corporate organisations to enlist in the fight against child labour through the offer of incentives such as tax waivers.

The occasion, which held at the Recreation Centre of the British American Tobacco (BAT) factory, Toll Gate, Ibadan, drew attendance from various stakeholders in the fight against child

labour, including representatives of the Nigeria police, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the National Agency for the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), officials of the State Ministry of Labour, members of the press, among others. The main business of the day was the presentation of the final draft of the State Action Plan (SAP) on child labour eradication tagged Oyo State Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour in Nigeria (2017-2021).

In an opening address, the Chairman of the Oyo SSCCL and Director of Works, Ministry of Works, Adewole Ogunbiyi, said that the mandate of the committee is the elimination of all forms of child labour in Oyo State, adding that the committee was working with key stakeholders to achieve the laudable goals.

British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN), a key private sector supporter of the Oyo SSCCL, made a presentation titled ‘Impact of Child Labour Responses in Agro Communities,’ which was delivered by the Head of Leaf, Oluwakayode Oshodi. He decried

Nigeria has to declare state of emergency...

Continued from page 16

education. We have to start with human capital then align curricular with industry needs and needs of the economy.

Nigeria’s population is growing at 2.6 percent annually, but the economy is growing at a slower pace, 2.01 percent in the first quarter of 2019? What in your view is the problem and how do we fix it, from Vision 2010 to Vision 20:2020 and now the ERGP? It is a tragic irony that policy measures that need to be pursued to ensure that Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate far surpasses its population growth rate of close to 3 percent per annum were contained in past socio-economic blueprints of government like the Vision 2010

document, Vision 2020 plan and lately the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

Unfortunately, successive governments tended to discontinue the brilliant blueprints of their predecessors, while at the same time failing to implement their replacements faithfully. It is a known fact that a plan is as good as its implementation.

While there is no single silver bullet to solve our economic problems as such, it is my strong belief that for Nigeria to fast track its economic growth rate there has to be deliberate and sustained investments in basic infrastructures, particularly power and transportation; human capital; agriculture; and healthcare. Efforts should be deployed to attain vibrant open financial markets and currency

management as direct and portfolio investments will gravitate towards destinations with transparent markets.

There is also need to improve the business and investment climate through among others curbing corruption, ensuring the sanctity of contracts, transparent public procurement procedures, and streamlining of company registration, export and import administration and fees. In this connection, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) should be encouraged to continue its commendable efforts to enhance the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

More importantly, there is the immediate need for the National Assembly to finalise the Petroleum Industry Governance

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Sunday 26 May 2019

Feature Why Reps must pass South East Development Commission Bill, now!

James Kwen, Abuja

F

or the even development of Nigeria, particularly in the hitherto civil war ravaged South-East zone of the country, there is need for the House of Representatives to pass the South East Development Commission Bill.

The long title of the bill is: ‘A Bill for an Act to Establish the South-East Development Commission to Serve as a Catalyst to Develop the Commercial Potentials of the South-East, Receive and Manage Funds from Allocation of the Federation for the Rehabilitation, Reconstruction, Reparation for Houses and lost Business of Victims of the Civil War and Address any Other Environmental or Developmental Challenges, and for Related Matters (HB.1626)’.

The Commission, which would be funded by 15percent of the Federal Allocation from States within the region; Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States shall among other things, formulate policies and guidelines for the development of the South-East region.

Conceive, plan and implement in accordance with the set rules and regulations, projects and programmes for the sustainable development of the South-East in the field of roads, education, health facilities, employment, water supply, electricity and commerce.

Tackle ecological and environmental problems that arise from the soil erosion problems and other environmental challenges in the South-East and advice Federal Government and member states on the prevention and control of the erosion and environmental challenges.

Identify factors inhibiting the development of the South-East and assist the member states in the formulation and implementation of the resources of the South-East.

The enactment of the South -East Development Commission Bill will help to rebuild the South-East and provide opportunity for the people to display their talent and contribute immensely to the development of the country.

The South -East geopolitical zone was worst hit by the 30 months old Nigerian civil war between 1967 and 1970 following cessation attempts by the then Governor of South Eastern Region, the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

At end of the war, the then Head of State, Yakubu Gowon declared no victor, no vanquished and quickly introduced the policy of Reconciliation, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation (3Rs) of the South-East to majorly reintegrate the people.

Unfortunately, however, the 3Rs policy failed not too long after it had begun, a development that might have made the National Assembly to propose the South-East Development Commission Bill similar to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and recently, the North East Development Commission (NEDC) which board has been inaugurated with N10 billion take-off grants.

While the Senate has already passed the bill, it has just scaled through second reading in the Green Chambers of the National

Assembly and referred to the Committee of the whole for further legislative action.

This Bill was killed in the House of Representatives in 2017 but almost two years after, Senate, the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly reintroduced the bill which passed first, second and finally third reading and sent it to the House of Representatives, the Lower Chamber for concurrence in tandem with Nigeria’s bicameral legislature practice.

Like in 2017, the House is at it again with the Bill as it took several hours of arguments and counter arguments for and against the Bill before it passed second reading and it has not been brought back for third reading after one week even as the 8th Assembly is left with about two weeks to exit.

During the fierce debate that almost tore the House apart along regional and party lines, Mohammed Monguno from Borno State, who read the Bill as the Acting Majority Leader, urged the members to support the Bill.

Monguno argued that, “since after the civil war, there is no concerted effort for the rehabilitation of the infrastructure that was destroyed in the South-East, that’s the essence of this Bill.

“You are all aware that because of Boko Haram, our infrastructure in the northeast was destroyed. And this House in its wisdom decided with unanimity to support the North East Development Commission that has today hit the ground running.

Mr. Speaker, what is good for the goose is also good for the gander.

“So, what is good for the North East is also good for the South East because infrastructure has been destroyed. Yes, the three R that was rejected was a stopgap measure.

It is against this backdrop that the Senate passed this bill. So, I am also urging my colleagues to support this bill”.

But Hassan Shakarau from Ka-

duna State, not in support of the Bill, warned against duplicity and wanton creation of Commissions, hence if not checked can become a demand from all geopolitical zones.

“If we continue like this, very soon we will have commission for every zone. My take is that we should find a way of taking care of these anomalies like this so that we don’t end up setting commissions for issues that we can prevent”, he said.

Openly, Aminu Suleiman from Kano State asked the House to kill

...every nook and cranny of the South-East is ravaged by erosion.

What we should be talking about is to pass the Bill with the speed of light and not to oppose. I am not talking about the issue of the civil war. We have said that the National Assembly is a unifying institution and we have to do that.

This Commission is one

the Bill, recalling that it had been rejected by the House in 2017 and it does not matter whether it emanated from the Senate.

“This Bill was brought before this Chamber and it was debated through. It was stepped down. I do understand. We should look at Bill on the thorough objectives of Bills.

I would want to plead without any sentiment that this Bill should not go”, Suleiman maintained.

Dousing the mounting tension and anxiety on the uncertainty of the passage of the Bill, Abdulraq Namdas from Adamawa State appealed to members to reconsider the Bill.

The House Spokesman said, “I appeal to my colleagues that they should actually reconsider. If the Senate feels that there should be rehabilitation, I think we should consider it”.

In the same vein, Edwards Pwajok from Plateau State re-emphasised the imperative of unity through the Bill as the issue of replicating commissions was even necessary if that was the only way to develop Nigeria and get it working again.

“There is nothing wrong for us to debate it. Secondly, it is coming from the Senate. Let’s pass this Bill for reasons of equity. Let us look at issues on their merit. Are we saying that there are no developmental challenges in the south-east? We should pass this Bill to send a message that Nigeria is one”, he said.

On the other hand, Saheed Fijabi from Oyo State, suggested that there should be a national development commission for the entire country instead of creating them for zones.

According to him, “Instead of having the commission, let’s have what is called Nigerian Development Commission”.

In his submission, Chukwuemeka Ujam from Enugu State, said the Bill, “is not only about the civil war but other environmental challenges. I appeal to my colleagues to

support this bill”.

Similarly, Sam Onuigbo from Abia State stated that “the reason is simple. Our colleagues have considered and passed this bill. It is not a bill that is based on sentiments but realities. It is not an issue that is bothered on the civil war.

“The South-East has serious environmental challenges. Another one is this: when we are seated like this, one zone should not create the impression that the other group is not… please, let us join hands and ensure that this bill is passed”.

Nkiru Onyejiocha from Abia State said: “I want to appeal to my colleagues to ensure that this Bill is passed. We should be looking at what brings us together. Please, let’s pass this Bill. Nigeria and posterity will remember us.”

Randolf Brown from Rivers State appealed that the Bill be passed, saying, “I want to lend my voice to the very important Bill. It is important because people want development for necessary infrastructure and potentials of the southeast. So, please, in the name of God, let this Bill pass”.

Ossia Nicholas-Ossai from Delta State, moved that the bill should be passed with the speed of light.

“I wholeheartedly support this Bill.

Why? This critical issue is not on sentiments but on the intention- the issue of environmental degradation.

The northeast had a problem and every Nigerian resolved to support the northeast.”

“Mr. Speaker, every nook and cranny of the South-East is ravaged by erosion. What we should be talking about is to pass the Bill with the speed of light and not to oppose.

I am not talking about the issue of the civil war. We have said that the National Assembly is a unifying institution and we have to do that. This Commission is one”, he said.

For Eucharia Azodo from Anambra State and Nnenna Ukeje from Abia State, “there is nothing in this Bill, in the development of southeast that takes away the development of any other zone in Nigeria”.

Hassan Saleh from Benue State argued that, “this was a region that was devastated by war. I just left the village of former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme village last weekend, I saw erosion everywhere. If we are speaking here as leaders, then we must begin to throw away those religious and tribal sentiments. Let’s pass this bill now. We must promote peace and so, let’s pass this bill with the speed of light”.

Similarly, Yakubu Barde from Kaduna State said that the people of south-east should be incorporated in the scheme of things as, “a lot of harm was done to the people of the southeast. Mr. Speaker, I am in support of this bill and we should pass it”.

Abdulmuni Jubrin from Kano State said, “I want to support this Bill. I look at this Bill from a bigger picture, from a historical perspective.

There is a chunk of underdevelopment in that region. They are part of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I call on my colleagues that we should rally round, show the people of southeast that they are part of us. If we are talking about finance, Nigeria can fund developments.

Let’s rise above ethnic sentiments and get this Bill passed”.

21 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 26 May 2019

Focus

RotimiAkeredolu

Shehu Sani

Omoyele Sowore

The debate over cannabis

I

ZEBULON AGOMUO n recent times, the demand for legislation of abortion, prostitution and gay marriages has gained currency in the Nigeria. Perhaps, for the first time, in the history of the nation, sex workers openly took part in the march past on May 1 in Lagos, during the celebration of Workers Day 2019.

They wore specially-made attires, and with their banners, demanded better “working conditions”.

Only recently, RotimiAkeredolu, governor of Ondo State, stirred the hornet’s nest, when he called for the legalisation of cultivation and use of cannabis (Marijuana) locally called “igbo”, in the country.

Governor Akeredolu premised his campaign on the fact that the product could be a huge foreign exchange earner for Nigeria and provide jobs for the unemployed youths. Ondo to be precise is said to be a state that harbors many farms of cannabis, although the farmers do so discretely.

Marijuana , also known as Indian hemp or cannabis, is a banned substance in Nigeria.

Akeredolu made the call upon his return from Thailand where he had attended a seminar with the head of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Muhammad Abdallah, on medicinal cannabis extract development.

Taking to his Twitter account (@RotimiAkeredolu) on Tuesday, May 14, 2019 to shed more light on the trip, the governor said Nigeria would be shortchanging itself by not tapping into the economic value of marijuana.

He said growing the plant, under the supervision of the NDLEA, would create thousands of jobs for Nigerians if seriously considered by the Federal Government.

“We all know that Ondo State is the hot bed of cannabis culti-

vation in Nigeria. We know how to grow it and it thrives well in the Sunshine State. With an estimated value of $145 billion in 2025, we would be shortchanging ourselves if we failed to tap into the Legal Marijuana Market,” he said.

According to him, “Our focus now is Medical Marijuana cultivation in controlled plantations under the full supervision of the @ndlea_nigeria. I strongly implore the FG to take this seriously as it is a thriving industry that will create 1000’s of Jobs for our youth and spur economic diversification.”

In his response, Shehu Sani, a senator representing Kaduna Central in the Senate, took to his own Twitter account (@ShehuSani) on Wednesday, May 15 to rebuke the governor.

He had urged Akeredolu to perish the thought but to rather borrow a lead from his other colleague governors who have since gone into production of rice and other good items and cash crops that are beneficial, not only to their states, but to the country at large.

“My brother Akeredolu, Lagos partnered with Kebbi for rice, please partner with Niger for beans, Kaduna for ginger or partner with Benue for yam.

Please leave this Indian Hemp matter for now, abeg,” he posted.

Omoyele Sowore, publisher of online news platform, Sahara Reporters, and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the last election, joined the fray, taking up Senator Sani and supporting Akeredolu’s view point.

Sowore said: “I hate to stand between two Nigerian politicians engaging asinine argument but I am disappointed in you for this tweet.

“Have you ever thought of it that when this idea finally gains legal ground your Afro hair could benefit from a locally produced line of cannabis hair products?”

He also believed that it can be exported to other countries and contribute to Nigeria’s econom-

ic fortunes. Recall that during his campaign for the presidency in the last elections, Sowore had said he would legalise cannabis if elected president. While speaking at an event organised by the Centre for Social Justice on Wednesday, September 5, 2018, Sowore said Nigeria could make a lot of money from exporting the psychoactive drug which can be used for medical or recreational purposes.

“We have to start taking care of our weed, ‘igbo’, such that we can also contribute to the GDP of the world. Some of the best weed in the world are grown in EkitiState. I’m very serious and people are making billions out of that particular plant that is very potent in Nigeria. We should be focusing on it,” he said.

In what seemed like putting the NDLEA on notice, Sowore said it would no longer be business as usual for the agency on marijuana if he became president.

“Our NDLEA should get the memo in advance that Nigeria will be exporting weed to cure cancer in other parts of the world instead of chasing after people who are growing weed.

Whereas, they’re not chasing after our politicians who are smoking cocaine in their houses,” he said.

Some analysts who spoke to BDSUNDAY on the issue said it would be wrong to sacrifice the sanctity of Nigeria on the altar of dollars, euros and pound sterling.

A psychologist, who simply gave his name as Tim, said it was wrong for anybody to begin to campaign for such legislation at this point in Nigeria’s history.

“Nigeria is passing through what I call social trauma. A lot of things are going wrong at the same time in the country.

We already have a lot of drugrelated cases and issues at our hands. For instance, look at the high rate of social crimes such as kidnapping, killings; rape, suicide, etc. Those crimes are most times drug-induced. Those who commit such crimes do not

do them with their clear eyes.

They smoke drugs to deaden their reasoning and alter their moods,” Tim said.

According to him, “If a society like ours is the way it is without the legalisation of these harmful drugs, it is left to the imagination what would happen when the floodgate is opened for people to use such drugs without let. I think that money should not be the reason why we must mortgage the sanctity of the country and human lives.”

Speaking in tandem, a cleric who asked not to be named, said: “It is disappointing to hear that a governor is calling for the legalisation of “igbo” in the country just for his state and the country to make money from it. If I may ask; with all the money Nigerians has made from oil over the years, what is the level of infrastructural growth in Nigeria? We are still at zero point. I even heard and read that government is going for billions of dollar loan for infrastructure. So, having wasted all the money from oil, we now think it is money from hard drugs that would help Nigeria; that is self-delusion. After all, the Bible says, ‘what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?’

“So, what shall it profit Nigeria to make billions of naira from cannabis and the country is destroyed; because the crime rate will be doubled. It does not make sense.”

A nurse, who works with a psychiatric hospital, said that those who call for legalisation of such harmful drugs in Nigeria do not have access to the present statistics or data of the ruins hard drugs have brought to the country. “The country is going down, down, down on a daily basis when you look at the rate of drug abuse among the youth.

Psychiatric hospitals are seeing increasing cases of drug-related cases nowadays; and it is prevalent among the youth,” the nurse said, craving anonymity.

According to the nurse, “If we

have a huge number of youths whose lives have been ruined by the use of hard drugs when it is not legalised, what then do we hope to see if the use of the drugs are legalised? Don’t forget that the challenged economy is helping the rise in drug abuse, because these youths by virtue of being idle all day without work begin to mix up with bad eggs who introduce them to drugs and to other crimes. It is like a chain. One thing leads to the other. Solve the unemployment problem today; I assure you that these social ills will drastically reduce. If you ask me; legalisation of cannabis’ cultivation in Nigeria or its usage except for medicinal purposes is a no, no.”

Sowing the wind, reaping the whirlwind Some analysts have said that the crusade for the legalisation of the prohibited substance for the simple reason of creating jobs and making foreign exchange amounts to sowing the wind and reaping the whirlwind.

Albert Nkemdirim, a trained pharmacist, said: “I read that the reason for the call is to create jobs for the youth; my question is, ‘if exposed to such a substance, even the youths engaging in its farming will begin to abuse it. The problem we have is that people will just go abroad and see how things work properly and they try to imitate without putting the first thing first. In Thailand where the substance is being farmed, have our dear governor and Sowore found out the wage of the farmers and other benefits (conditions of service) attached? If you pay a youth farmer in Nigeria N30.000 or N50,000 do you think he will be contented? That’s no job. By the way, there are laws guiding use of such substances in those places, because everybody is under the law, not here; the laws are made for the less-privileged, and people abuse the laws with abandon. Some ideas are good on the face value, but in practical terms, we are not there yet.”

22 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 26 May 2019

Focus

FCT under Bello: A peep into a four-year stewardship JAMES KWEN, Abuja

M

uhammad Musa Bello, the outgoing minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) who took over the mantle of leadership of the Nigeria’s Capital in November, 2015, would in a couple days bow out of office, at least, for the transitional period as President Muhammadu Buhari could dissolve his cabinet any moment from now.

Upon assumption of office in 2015, Bello outlined a simple plan of action which involved completion of all ongoing or abandoned projects, especially those with greatest impact on the greatest number of citizens with a particular interest to complete the three gateway roads leading into and outside the city: the Gwagwalada-Airport, Zuba-Kubwa and Keffi-Nyanya-AYA express roads as well as the Constitution and Independence Roads.

He also initiated his programmes and policies aimed at building strong institutions, enhancing service delivery and improving rural infrastructure. BDSUNDAY peeped into the four years’ stewardship of the Adamawa State-born Minister of the FCT in the last four years under different sectors.

Infrastructure The administration of Bello has worked assiduously to provide infrastructure in Abuja city centre, satellite towns and rural settlements, particularly in the area of roads. Some of the road projects completed or nearing completion in the last four years include: Kubwa – Zuba Expressway (Outer Northern Expressway) and Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Expressway – (Airport Expressway), Bill Clinton Interchange/bridge has been completed while rehabilitation work on the Bill Clinton Drive is nearing completion after the Federal Executive Council’s (FEC) approved the sum of N1.95 billion for reconstruction and rehabilitation works. Aso Villa Roundabout Bridge has been completed.

Constitution and Independent Roads (B6 and B12) running from the National Stadium to the Three Arms Zone and back, have reached advanced stages of completion and vehicles can ply on both roads on the dual mode. East end of Inner Southern Expressway (Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Expressway) has been completed.

Extension of Inner Southern Expressway (ISEX) from the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) to the Southern Parkway (S8/9) is being carried out at the cost of N17, 228,709,648 and has reached advanced stage. The 15km Left-Hand Service Carriageway of the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) Stage II, from Ring Road 1 (RRI)

Muhammad Musa Bello

Junction to Wasa Junction has been awarded and ground-breaking ceremony performed in November 20, 2017 and the contractor has since commenced work on site.

Also, the 5km Right-Hand Service Carriageway of Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) Stage III, from Ring Road III junction to Wasa junction to the city has also been awarded at N2, 454,087,177.28.

Designworkshavebeencompleted while the contractor is on site. The Administration is working diligently to ensure timely completion of the Southern Parkway. This is the 6km road complex traversing four key roads in the city’s main business districts of Garki and Central Business District. The complex network of access ways connecting CBN, FCTA, ICRC and NTA is complete while the remaining stretch that ends at Nnamdi Azikiwe Express way is ongoing.

Jahi District Engineering Infrastructure has been awarded at the cost of N60, 342,589,022.05. The contractor has commenced work as compensations for crops and economic trees have been fully paid.

Provision of Access Road to Kabusa Garden Estate is ongoing, awarded at the cost of N2, 535,856,441.9. *Work would soon commence on the Wasa Resettlement I Engineering Infrastructure project valued at N26, 872,643,736 as contract agreement has been processed.

In addition over 30 pedestrian bridges along with their concrete walkways as well as several loops and flank roads which hitherto

blocked major road intersections have been completed and opened thus ventilating the intersections and getting the city moving again.

Replacement of stolen equipment is also another landmark achievement of the out administration. As at inception, the administration noticed that most

”

The project is designed to extend water supply to unreached loops in the FCT and involves over 8000 kilometres of pipe network and will, upon completion, raise the level of water supply in the Territory by 50percent

”

of the manhole covers and many components of public utilities were stolen by hoodlums. Painfully, these stolen equipment like manhole covers are being replaced with new models which are durable and uneconomical to steal. Same goes for street lighting poles and components which have been modified and made difficult for thieves to vandalize.

Apart from the infrastructure in the Abuja city centre, the administration of Bello extended its focus to the satellite towns and rural areas. Consequently, the following major works are either ongoing or substantially completed: KarshiApo Road designed to free up the Nyanya-Karu axis by creating an alternative route to the city through the south eastern flank of the territory. Substantial work has been done on the Karshi axis.

Nyanya-Gbagarape Road, measuring 1.9km has been constructed.

16.5Km Kuje-Gwagwalada bypass has been completed and Karu Phase 2 Township Infrastructure is under construction as a result of the approval by the Federal Executive Council of the sum of N2.6 billion.

Shere-Galuwyi Resettlement Town Engineering Infrastructure including road networks, drainages, boreholes, electricity in the hitherto abandoned estate is now alive again. The 17km road links up thecommunitytoBwariandMpape providing alternative route to Bwari.

Abaji-Rubouchi Link Road is ongoing and designed to grant access to that part of FCT for the transportation of agricultural produce to the city and other parts of the country.

Abaji Ecological Control Project, a land reclamation project over a massive gully dug by erosion which was left for decades now has been executed in collaboration with the Ecological Funds Office. The Karshi Town Ecological Project which includes asphalted township roads was also carried out in collaboration with the Ecological Funds Office.

Public Utilities and Social Services In addition to roads, bridges and rural infrastructure, public utilities have been given adequate emphasis.

Prominent among them is the Phase 1 of the FCT - Abuja Mass Transit Light Rail has been completed and was commissioned by President Buhari in July, 2018. The Abuja rail kicked off with three trial coaches pending the supply of the rolling stock of 48 coaches at a revised contract sum of $823, 540,545.87 with the EXIM Bank of China providing 60percent of the project cost while FCT Administration provided 40percent. Advance payment for FCTA’s counterpart funding for Phase 2 of the project namely LotB comprising 26.77km and the remaining part of Lot 1a measuring 5.7km has been processed and ready for release.

Environmental Sanitation and Conservation - More staff have been recruited to strengthen the work of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB). The Administration is also carrying out the operational maintenance for the City’s main sewage treatment plant at Wupa, at the cost of N1, 832,657,773.72. The training component of the project is ongoing.

Greater Abuja Water Project which involves the construction of Water Supply Networks loops 1, 2, 5 and 6 in the Federal Capital City is being planned with a proposed $470 Million loan facility anticipated from the EXIM Bank of China.

The project is designed to extend water supply to unreached loops in the FCT and involves over 8000 kilometres of pipe network and will, upon completion, raise the level of water supply in the Territory by 50percent.Surveyworkshavebeen completed;contractagreementhas been signed while the loan process is being finalised.

Abaji Rural Water Works: FCTA is collaborating with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to Mr. President on Sustainable Development Goals for completion of the Abaji Rural Water Supply project which was started under the Millennium Development Goals projects but was abandoned to rot.

Joint Venture Solar Energy Project with JICA - To reduce the cost of energy in the Lower Usuma Dam Water Treatment Plant, the FCTA undertook the completion of a 1.2MW solar power project in partnership with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, (JICA). Under the joint venture project, FCTA has also completed the 1st phase of Non-Revenue Water (NRW) aimed at ensuring proper tracking and detection of illegal connections and training of 120 staff in Japan, thereby giving FCT the best corps of water management personnel across the country.

Installation of 22 Generators for Street Lighting: As a result of the ugly experience from vandalism electricity components and the rationing of power by the electricity transmission and distribution companies, the Administration had to procure 22 Generating sets as a stop gap measure during off grid periods.

This has helped to maintain street lights in critical areas in the city.

Land Administration In the area of land administration, thousands of title documents, includingCertificatesofOccupancy (Cs of O), Consents of Assignments and Subleases, have been cleared. To meet the increasing demand for land and accelerate the development of the capital city, the FCTA has recently created four new districts, namely: Mamusa North, Mamusa East, Parfun North and Parfun South. These altogether would provide a total of 5,000 plots

Sunday 26 May 2019

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Focus for residential, institutional and commercial purposes.

Housing The Administration has commissioned 300 housing units Capital Estate, in Kaba District on the Kubwa Express Road. This was executed

by Abuja Property Development Company Ltd (APDC). It also laid the foundation for the second and third phases of this estate development initiative.

Health and Human Services Five FCTA hospitals including Maitama, Bwari, Asokoro, Kubwa and Gwarimpa have been computerized, while the Radiology units at Gwarimpa, Wuse, Kubwa, Asokoro and Maitama hospitals have been upgraded following the procurement of CT scan Monogram Fluoroscopy Digital X -Ultra Sound Scan (USS) with cardiac activity.

The Zuba Cottage Hospital and the Karu General Hospital have commenced health services since their reopening by the FCT Minister. Some renovations have been carried out and the two hospitals are fully functional. The Minister has also given approval for employment of over 113 various streams of health professionals.

The FCT Health secretariat has also secured full accreditation of FCT hospitals for residency training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology for five years; as well as the computerisation of five FCT hospitals; establishment of 265 HIV sites in the health facilities within the six Area Councils, upgrading of one of the Abuja central medical stores to the status of State Drugs Distribution Centre (SDDC).

Others achievements in the sector are upgrading of the radiology units in the five general hospitals within the FCT as well as registration of 72 private health services and closure of 66 facilities due to failure to comply with the regulatory guidelines.

Institutions Building/Legal Backing Upon assumption of office, Bello was concerned over incidences of high display of discretionary powers, abuse of due process and weak institutions. The first reaction was to strengthen these institutions, improve service delivery, restore due process and reinforce the observance of extant rules. Career civil servants took leadership roles in the various Secretariats, Departments and Agencies (SDAs) to enable them take initiatives and make decisions as well as build capacity before appointing political heads.

Similarly, the Administration ensured the passage of essential Bills to give legal backbone and empowerment to FCTA institutions and agencies. So far four Bills - FCT Civil Service Commission, FCT Water Board, FCT Emergency Management Agency and Abuja University of Technology, Abaji. The first two of these Bills have already been assented to by Mr. President.

AgricultureandRuralDevelopment In the Agricultural sector over 9000 farmers have benefitted from the CBN Anchor Borrowers’ Programme. The FCT Agricultural Development Project (ADP) continued to provide innovative advisory services in global agricultural best practice technologies to about 200,000 farming families. It has also strengthened the capacity of 2000

Muhammad Musa Bello

farmers associations by way of training and linkage to agricultural finance.

The FCT Minister similarly authorized the release of counterpart fund of N200 million, for the commencement of the World Bank Assisted Fadama III Project upon which over 200 farmers have been registered. FCTA had launched the 2018 farming season with a release of subsidized fertilizers, farm inputs and motorcycles for extension workers valued at N250 million.

Education and Social Services In 2017 alone, the Administration spent over N9.6 billion on Education development projects.

In addition, it paid out over N2.8 billion as counterpart funds owed both international partners and the Universal Basic Education Commission since 2013. Also, over N96 million scholarship arrears owed FCT students were paid out. In the period under review, it has established 15 Junior Secondary Schools, 56 primary schools and 26 ECCD (Early Childhood Care Development Centres.

In partnership with the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) FCTA has delivered top ratedNigeria/KoreanModelSchool currently enjoying a rave review and is sure to revolutionize basic education in the Territory. Various levels of infrastructure works and facilities have been completed in the Abuja University of Technology, Abaji (AUTA), in addition to the passage of the Bill by the National Assembly.

Once assented to, the Administration would immediately roll out the admissions for commencement of formal studies.

The Administration is carrying out the school feeding programme initiated by the President Buhari Administration, which, among others, has improved enrolments at the basic school level with spill-over effects on high school and tertiary school levels.

Economic Empowerment and Safety Nets Through the Abuja Enterprise Agency, the Administration plans to create 1.5 million jobs before 2020, through the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) development fund.

FCT Administration has so far impacted on 150,000 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises from 2015 to date, using the CBN’s N2 billion MSME development fund and

other deliberate policies. The fund has been judiciously disbursed as loans to 5,417 MSMEs in the FCT. Of this amount 2.5 percent has been channelled to people living with disabilities, in line with CBN directive.

FCTA is also subsidising by half the N5, 000 concessionary rate required to register new MSMEs with the Corporate Affairs Commission within the three months promotional window offered by Office of the Vice President. This is to ensure that more businesses are registered within this period to meet the targeted 1.5 million jobs by 2020. Accordingly all new businesses will be registered with N2,500, while the Abuja Enterprises Agency settles the balance of N2,500.

FCT Administration recently created the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises State Council to develop policies aimed at reducing the challenges faced by MSMEs in the Territory. Towards that goal, the FCTA has established the digitised one-stop shop which now caters to the needs of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs in the FCT. It has also trained 1000 Rural Youths on ICT on how to deploy Mobile App for successful entrepreneurship in the IT business or other businesses through a counterpart project with the UNESCO. In all, the FCT Administration paid N96.7 Million by way of counterpart funding to match UNESCO’s support of N42Million. All these projects: infrastructure, utilities, public and private sector engagements as well as the railways, have created over 30,000 jobs and have helped to curb unemployment in the Territory.

Staff Welfare The Administration inherited a wage bill amounting to over N4billion every month but despite the drastic shortfall in revenue resulting from the rollback of FCT allocation from the statutory allocation, the Administration has continued to pay the more than 27,000 staff of the FCT Administration as at when due. FCTA is also running a very effective and efficient staff bus system commenced at the inception of this Administration. In the same vein, it has allocated 70 hectares of land to carry out the Phase II of FCTA staff mass housing scheme.

The Administration also recently clearedarrears ofobligations valued at over N700 million, owed over 140 retired staff members of the FCT Administration, compulsorily laid off more than 14 years ago. In the same vein, arrears of severance packages owed all former political office holders have beenclearednot minding their political affiliations.

Over 3000 staff of FCT Administration including former Acting Directors were recently elevated to various grades following the recent promotion and confirmation exercises. 20 Senior Secondary Schools have been designated as Grade “A” schools and would now be headed

by Principals of the equivalence of Directors, on Grade Level 17, to stem stagnations among teachers.

The above as the Permanent Secretary of the FCTA, Chinyeaka Ohaa remarked had been achieved in the last four years through application of, “a two-pronged approach and these were to block all leakages, avoid wastage and inspire an efficient and productive workforce”.

BDSUNDAY 23

How Rivers strives to achieve ‘Tax with Ease’...

Continued from page 17 streets revenue belongs to the local councils but if state governments spend on streets, they collect such revenues. Directors are already on PAYEE. It is not easy to cheat. The greatest thing that happened to accounting is credit/debit mechanism.

Whenyouthink youhavedepressed your income by increasing your expenditure to pay less tax, you find that you open yourself up in another area to want red flags and investigations. You often end up shooting yourself in the foot.

Fire service levy and effluent discharge levies are real but they are collectable by Ministry of Environment. If you are faced with a demand notice, ask questions and when paying, pay into Government bank account only.

Quantity Surveyors Rivers State does not patronise professionals but you want us to pay taxes?

It seems the state is increasing taxes?

Response: It is not a matter of policy not to patronise professionals We are not increasing taxes nor are we introducing more tax heads.

The government has not even exploited or harnessed all its tax heads effectively. That is why I have continued to oppose suggestions of increasingVAT.Increasingitwillhave huge economic implications to the economy. The issue is not about increasing tax heads but of harnessing the existing ones well first and using the proceeds well.

No matter what the tax master does, there are those who will not pay tax. Even in the advanced societies, we still see many persons and VIPs that escape tax.

Quantity Surveyors Feedback is important so you can knowwhypeopledonotwanttopay taxes. People feel bad and you need to know. There is no development to encourage tax payers enough Lagosisfaraheadandyoucansee the development Response There is some development in Rivers State in recent years that have touched lives. Trans-Amadi was very bad but it’s now very nice and smooth. Besides, the law says pay tax. Lagos deepened their IGR duringtheyearstheywerestarvedof FAAC (to local councils). This seems to have turned to a blessing today.

Lagos also has huge population; they plan with 20m population, 9m that are taxable, 5m that actually pay taxes. Their informal sector tax drive is also painful and the most problematic. That is a lesson to many other states. Tax environment between Lagos and Port Harcourt are miles apart. Rivers State is very difficult environment. In Lagos, if they arrest you for traffic offence, you end up in the tax office. It can’t happen in Rivers State.

Institute of Architects Our members are facing wrong assessment Response Provide evidence of wrong assessment and show what should be right. The problem is most people ignore the notice which lasts for 30 days only Those who say they will talk to me on your behalf are fake.

Nobody talks to me. I go from place to place explaining the tax situation.

Tax audit group TheMinistryofCommerceisasking people to pay for business premises registration and it is wrong. They claim they are doing it in conjunction with the RIRS. Also, there are existing flyers on registration of business premises at N2,100, where N100 is development levy. Business people have been paying this and would find it strange if another demand comes.

Response To say they had been paying N2,100 would be an unfair excuse.

How much is N100? Would one say stamps were 2kobo some years ago and it must be same today when some people pay as high as N5,000 to move a letter.

Ministry of Commerce: A ministry collecting revenue should not hide under RIRS to do it. Business Registration levy is ok, but ask for the account number to pay so you ensure you paid into the Government Account.

FIRS/CITN We are interested in how the informal sector in the state can be captured into a data base. There is needtocollaboratewiththeMinistry of Transport and FIRS to pursue this project. Try and do adverts on how the persons coming to collect taxes in the informal sector would look to avoid fakes.

Response Informal tax is difficult to execute bust trust me to drive it. We are also doing heavy advertising in 13 radio stations. They also want commission from it Unions want to collect and also fix rates. It is no longer possible. We have a statutory mandate to it.

Response There can be no conflict whatsoever because it is clear in the constitution. FIRS collects from limited liability companies while states collectfromenterprisesandindividuals.

There is nothing to argue there and this kind of case will not show up in the Joint Tax Board where both agencies belong to.

Institute of Surveyors Withholding tax is a raging issue about who collects what; four of our members accounts have been blocked because of this. Again, there is deduction by Ministry of Works but they will not issue you with the receipts but would ask you to go ask Ministry of Finance.

Response Professionals are needed to help drive down the message of informal taxes What I am doing is not a popularjob.Itmaynotbeaboutrighteousness but about uprightness We are also learning, adjusting and improving lapses observed.

These meetings would also help in this direction.

We hope to get to a time when people would walk to the tax office and simply pay up.

Conclusion: Norteh counseled them thus: “Nowhere in the world do all people pay tax. People do not like tax but it is a requirement of the law. Do not be caught in the web. There is a feeling of injustice in demanding for tax but not everyone can dodge tax and get away with it. We do not want to harass people but we will do that when it becomes absolutely necessary to do so”.

He said cooperating with the tax agency is the smartest thing to do.

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Sunday 26 May 2019

Arts

White Ebony, challenging preconceived notions on albinism Stories by OBINNA EMELIKE

W

hen you see the multiple forms of discrimination people with albinism face worldwide, especially in Africa, one wonders what their crime is. Of course, albinism is still profoundly misunderstood, socially and medically, yet people with albinism are stronger, more brilliant and tolerant than those who mock them.

Yetunde Ayeni-Babaeko, a social activist photographer, captures the complexity of life that Persons with Albinism (PWAs) face daily in her exhibition titled White Ebony, which showcases thought provoking photographs and real life scenes of the PWAs. Ayeni-Babaeko takes you on an emotional journey that is filled with nuance, as well as, controversial in its stark positioning, challenging suggestions, and offering powerful images that reflect a renaissance beauty through sensitive lighting, composition, and layered stylistic interpretations.

The exhibition features 20 thought provoking works, with each photograph reflecting both

internal struggles while working through layers of identity and selfactualization, and points to the urgent need to stop the stigmatisation of persons with albinism.

White Ebony, which is presented to the public by SMO Contemporary Art and Temple Muse will run for six weeks starting from May 25, 2019 at Temple Muse, Victoria Island, Lagos. As well, it is hosted to support the recognition and protection of people with albinism in commemoration of the International Albinism Awareness Day, which comes up on June 13th every year.

According to the United Nations, “people with albinism face multiple forms of discrimination worldwide.

Albinism is still profoundly misunderstood, socially and medically.

The physical appearance of persons with albinism is often the object of erroneous beliefs and myths influenced by superstition, which foster their marginalization and social exclusion.”

Considering the difficulty in getting an assemblage of PWAs and in convincing them to pose for photograph, Ayeni-Babeko, truly gave a lot in terms of understanding, patience, and love to ensure the success of the project.

She worked closely with mem-

Mother with Daughters by Yetunde Ayeni-Babaeko, print on canvas, 36 x 24 inches

White Ebony by Yetunde Ayeni-Babaeko, print on canvas, 24 x 36 inches

bers of The Albino Foundation in Lagos, and after in-depth interviews and insightful group discussions, she began to interprete their reality through photographs, which explore both the alienation and struggles experienced by persons with albinism, as well as, celebrates their lives and achievements.

“It is easy to create a striking image of a person with albinism because of how unique they are.

But these models were not just put in front of my camera for me to photograph. I was able to really connect with them through long conversations about their daily struggles, sharing with me what their life is like and all this knowledge translated into this new body of work,” explained Ayeni-Babaeko while presenting White Ebony.

“My work is not there to make you feel good, its purpose is to trigger you to think and expand your knowledge.”

Speaking on why people should see and appreciate works at White Ebony, Sandra Mbanefo Obiago, the exhibition curator and expert in development communications, who has worked on three previous shows with the photographer, said, “As in her previous exhibitions, which have tackled issues such as the challenges survivors of breast cancer face, or photographing dancers performing within slums to highlight the needs of populations living in shantytowns, Ayeni-Babaeko’s amazing artistry is heightened by her commitment

to social change and supporting marginalized communities”.

Obiago further disclosed that part of the proceeds from the exhibition would be going to charity.

The favoured charitable organization, according to the exhibition curator, is the Albino Foundation.

Jake Epelle, the founder and president of the Albino Foundation, expressed her joy over the choice of her foundation by the organisers of the exhibition for such as favour that would go a long way to create more awareness of PWAs. “Working with a sensitive photographer like Yetunde has been a great creative approach to raising awareness about the challenges people with albinism face every day,” Epelle commented. “Much more needs to be done to advocate for the recognition and respect of the rights and socio-economic inclusion of people living with albinism. The Foundation works with governments and development institutions to improve the health and social wellbeing of PWAs in Nigeria.”

On the rationale for sponsoring the exhibition, Andrew Skipper, Board Member of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art in Washington D.C. and Partner & Head of Africa Practice at the international law firm, Hogan Lovells, said, “Hogan Lovells is committed to supporting important social causes. We believe that art is a beautiful way of raising awareness and celebrating diversity and

inclusion. An exhibition like ‘White Ebony’ by Yetunde Ayeni-Babaeko is testament to the way art helps to strengthen society”.

Temple Muse is also delighted at hosting the exhibition. According to said Avinash Wadhwani, CEO of Temple Muse, the design luxury concept store, “Yetunde’s work is a powerful example of art for social change and we are delighted to showcase her work”.

White Ebony runs from May 25, 2019 until July 19, 2019 and a portion of the income from sales will go towards supporting people with albinism.

Going personal with the artist, Yetunde Ayeni-Babaeko was born in Enugu, Eastern Nigeria in 1978 to a Nigerian father and a German mother. She graduated in photography from Macromedia, a school for art and design in Osnabrueck, Germany. After working for a number of companies in Germany and Nigeria in advertising photography, she opened her own company, Camara Studios in 2007. Besides her fashion and documentary photography, Ayeni-Babaeko has facilitated numerous workshops in partnership with the Goethe Institute, mentoring young female photographers.

Ayeni-Babaeko has published work in Germany, has had three solo exhibitions and taken part in numerous group shows in Nigeria including; The Collectors Series, Eko Moves and Wanderlust curated by SMO Contemporary Art.

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Arts View from the masters; a visual angle to Queen Moremi’s bravery story OBINNA EMELIKE

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he story of Queen Moremi of Ile Ife is not fable. It truly happened with its value resonating even in modern time.

It is a story of selfless sacrifice and leadership. She was a queen who over a thousand years ago offered everything she had to Ile-Ife people by sacrificing her only son (Ila) to save her kingdom from destruction by the neigbhouring cities and towns.

Though a queen, Moremi was also a married woman and mother. She was a woman that believed that her kingdom deserved any great sacrifice to salvage it from their enemies.

The ancient Ile-Ife was subjected to captivity as the young men and women were taken away by their enemies and mothers were deeply troubled weeping at the king’s palace and sought an end to the menace.

Tension arising from insecurity threw great panic to the kingdom that even the Kabiesi was overwhelmed and went on to consult the Ifa-priest to enquire from the spirit a solution to the lingering threats. Four virgins were

sacrificed based on the message of the Ifa-priest from the deity, but all to no avail.

As the insecurity increased, some warriors were sent on rescue mission of the land by the Ifa-priest.

They were given very difficult conditions; to capture alive a tiger, elephant and leopard.

But they returned home to king’s palace unsuccessful.

Challenged by unwarranted deaths of young people of Ife, Moremi decided to confront the reality in order to put an end to the menace.

She asked her husband for

permission to fight to rescue Ife Kingdom; a mission the men were scared of. She was required to go to land of the spirits to find out the conditions for restoring peace to the kingdom. She did and it cost the sacrifice of her only son.

So far, there has been stage plays, movies, books and all manners of creative works to retell the story, especially, Queen Moremi The Musical.

Now, the creative pendulum is tilting towards visual art. Bracing up to the chal-

lenge, Alexis Galleries and the House of Oduduwa are partnering in the maiden edition of Moremi Art Exhibition, entitled: View from the Masters, in honour of the legendary Queen Moremi Ajasoro.

The exhibition, which opens from Sunday June 9-14, 2019 at Alexis Galleries, Victoria Island, Lagos, will features 28 breathtaking works by 28 art masters.

The masters include; Bruce Onobrakpeya, Kolade Oshinowo, Bunmi Babatunde, Abiodun Olaku, Gbenga Offo, Reuben Ug-

bine, Chinwe Uwatse, Tola Wewe, Sam Ovraiti, Duke Asidere, Dominique Zinkpe, Fidelis Odogwu, Sam Ebohon, Tony Nsofor and Edosa Ogiugo.

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

However, the exhibition is a travelling show, which moves from Lagos to London, New York, Dubai, Lebanon, amosng other places.

In line with Alexis Galleries believe in giving back to the society, part of the proceeds will be donated to an Ngo in Ile-Ife of the Ooni’s choice, Oba Adeyeye Enitian Ogunwusi, Ojaja II and to the Fine Art Department, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. Moremi Art Exhibition: View from the Masters; is sponsored by Pepsi, Amstel Malt, The Guardian, Wazobia TV, Cool FM, La Cave, Mikano, Cobranet Internet Service Provider, Delta Airline, The Homestores and Art Café.

Speaking at media parley held recently at Alexis Galleries to announce the exhibition, Princess Ronke Ademiluyi,

Global Ambassador, Queen Moremi Ajasoro Initiative, appreciated the founder of Alexis Galleries for partnering in telling the bravery story of Queen Moremi through visual art, as well as, thanked the 28 visual art masters for accepting to do special works that would make the exhibition truly spectacular.

“We are dedicated to telling our story and the story of Queen Moremi is about ultimate girl power, and a woman who dedicated her life to ensure that her home town of Ile Ife was safe from invaders.

She was an epitome of great female leadership as great leaders would always put the love of their people before themselves”, Ademiluyi said.

In same vein, Patty Chidiac – Mastrogiannis, founder/ director, Alexis Galleries and curator of the exhibition, said she believes in the girl power, noting that there are Moremis in our mothers, sisters, wives and daughters, which the society should encourage to come to fruition.

Also speaking at the event, Sam Ovraiti, one of the 28 art masters, assured on featuring works that truly relate and reflect the message of the exhibition; projecting positive examples that people should emulate across the society.

Ariya Repete introduces Afro-Pop category in 2019 edition SEYI JOHN SALAU

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he 2019 edition of Ariya Repete, a foremost talent hunt competition for indigenous Yoruba music sponsored by Goldberg Lager was recently announced in commemoration of World Cultural Day at a media roundtable held at the Nigerian Breweries Headquarters in Lagos.

This year’s edition of Ariya Repete is set to up the ante being the first ever to be aired on television to reach a wider audience. Subsequently, the organizers have also included a new category tagged ‘Afro

Pop’ as a way of bridging indigenous Yoruba genre into the growing Nigerian youth culture as selection parties which will be kicking off in various cities across western Nigeria on 11 June.

Maria Shadeko, the senior brand manager of Goldberg and Life Lager, said Ariya Repete is a special platform that allows Nigerian Breweries to showcase and celebrate the very best talents in South-Western Nigeria.

“Over the years, we have been able to continually delight our consumers with this initiative as well as provide unforgettable memories for winners of past editions. This

year we are taking it further by not only increasing the prize money but also adding an all-new category. The theme of this year’s competition is ‘The Fusion’, and in light of this, we are looking for the next big artist who will dominate the Nigerian music scene.

“We, at Goldberg, applaud the innovative and inspiring fusion of traditional Yoruba music with contemporary music. This year, with Ariya Repete we want to celebrate this blend of both worlds. We believe that the 2019 Ariya Repete will be the best ever, which is why we are taking the experience to TV, to show all of Africa that Goldberg Lager believes and celebrates the amazing indigenous talents from southwestern Nigeria,” said Maria.

The media roundtable conversation featured some veterans in traditional genres of Yoruba music (Juju, Fuji) as well as some new generation artists whose music has been influenced by the Yoruba culture.

Panelists at the roundtable included veterans like Saheed Osupa, Shina Peters, Yinka Davis, Sikiru Agboola,

president of FUMAN, as well as, Tolu Obey, a PMAN executive and son of legendary Juju artist, Ebenezer Obey.

However, the new generation was represented by Sound Sultan and ID Cabasa, renowned music producer while Adebayo Faleke, on-air personality moderated.

Themed, “One Culture, One Voice, New Sound” the discussion provided the platform to analyze the evolution of indigenous Yoruba genres of music, highlighting the roles played by both the older and younger generation of artists.

The conversation was an eye opener as the artists shared various insights into the past and potential future of the music industry in Nigeria.

The regional auditions are set to kick-off on 11 June as Goldberg takes the auditions and selection parties to 8 western cities in two weeks.

The selected talents will then head down to Lagos for mentorship sessions by some of the respected acts in their genres before returning to the contest for the quarterfinals from 5 July. However, the Semi-Final will be hosted on 12 July while the grand finale is slated for 19 July.

White Walker thrills after Game of Thrones

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ohnnie Walker, the world’s best-selling Scotch whisky, in partnership with DStv Premium, recently screened the long anticipated final chapter of the multi-award winning Game of Thrones at Filmhouse Cinema, Lagos and Silverbird Cinema, Jabi, Abuja.

Hosted by White Walker by Johnnie Walker, the limited edition scotch whisky inspired by the most enigmatic and feared characters on the hit show, the winter-themed event saw guests treated to iceinspired attractions, in-

cluding delicious cocktail serves of the White Walker whisky paired with popcorn.

With the unprecedented popularity of #GOT, the pressure for tickets by diehard fans was fierce, causing White Walker to double the screening capacity in both Lagos and Abuja. Celebrity guests who joined in the thrilling evening included Don Jazzy, Uriel and Dr Sid. Th o u g h Ga m e o f Thrones’ White Walkers are no longer with us, White Walker by Johnnie Walker is still standing.

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Sunday 26 May 2019

Life&Living

Tips and tricks to applying makeup for different skin types

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Jumoke Akiyode-Lawanson

eople have different skin tones, colours and types and because of this, women should not have a ‘one size fits all’ approach to using beauty products and putting on makeup.

The beauty industry in Nigeria has emancipated growing in multiple folds with increasing value worth billions of dollars.

This certainly shows that makeup and beauty is serious business and should be taken more seriously as not just a craft but a study of skill.

Experts in the industry reckon that Nigeria’s beauty and personal care sector was worth $595.8 million in 2011, up from $439.8 million in 2006 and by 2016, Nigeria’s young and aspiring population pushed sales to $620.6million.

As a result, make-up artists at the fore front of Nigeria’s makeup industry revolutions such as Tara Fela-Durotoye, Banke MeshidaLawal, Elaine Shobanjo, and others are laden to raise the standard for makeup application by embedding skin therapy to makeup application.

Choosing the right foundation, moisturizer, primer and other makeup products for you face is very important. Just because someone else with a similar skin tone to yours uses a particular product

that suits her does not mean that it is good for you. The ingredients in products really matter and should be carefully examined before use on skin.

Here are the different skin types and what they need to glow; Normal skin: Normal is the term widely used to refer to a well balanced skin which is neither too oily nor too dry. A normal skin normally has fine pores, a velvety soft and smooth texture and no blemishes.

Dry skin: This sin type produces less oily secretion (sebum) than normal skin. As a result of the lack of sebum, dry skin lacks the lipids that it needs to retain moisture and build a protective shield against external influences. If your skin feels

tight, rough and looks dull, then you probably have dry skin. There a different degrees of dry skin.

Oily skin: Usually characterized by visible pores, this skin type has heightened sebum production and so your face is usually oily looking.

Combination skin: As the name suggests, a combination skin type is a mix of skin types. Skin types vary between the T-Zone (fore head, chin and nose) and the cheeks on combination skin. The T-zone is usually oily while the cheeks are either dry or normal.

Skincare products and makeup should be selected to match skin type and address skin condition.

There are just so many different formulas, textures and ingredients

out there and that is why choosing the perfect one for your skin matters.

It is recommended that people with Acne prone skin use medium to full coverage foundation on their skin. Your moisturizer and face primer should also be water base and not oil base. When applying foundation to acne prone skin, make sure to use a clean brush or sponge to apply the product in a stippling motion.

For aging skin, try and avoid the use of heavy products that can settle into fine lines and wrinkles.

Skin tends to become drier with age, so opt for light coverage liquid foundation or a tinted moisturizer to get younger looking, luminous

skin.

To q u e n c h y o u r d r y s k i n throughout the day, experts recommend using light coverage hydrating foundation. Use your fingertips which are warmer than using a brush or sponge to press the product into the skin. Do not rub foundation around your face, instead tap/dab into your skin. Also try not to further dry out your skin by washing in very warm water.

Use cold water instead.

To ditch the shine on oily skin, choose a medium to full coverage foundation. When you apply products to your face use a sponge or brush. This is because using your fingers can transfer the oil from your hands to your face.

Seven handy microwave tricks you never knew existed

W IFEOMA OKEKE

hile the microwave is often used for reheating, steaming and defrosting, there are several other ways you can use the appliance that can make your life a little easier.

And now several home cooks have listed the microwave tricks they find the most useful and shared the tips on YouTube.

From taking the dreaded ‘sting’ out of onions to helping dough rise, these are some of the most interesting - and surprising - uses.

Fix stale bread - 20 seconds Bread is a staple in most households but if it hasn’t been stored properly the loaf can go stale very quickly - especially in the colder months.

To revive it, you simply need to pop the loaf in a moist paper towel then put in the microwave. It only needs 20 seconds to come out as good as new. To revive bread you simply need to pop the loaf in a moist paper towel then put in the microwave

Take the sting out of onions - 30 seconds The task of chopping onions brings with it inevitable eye weeping - but this doesn’t have to be the case.

Luckily there is an easy way to stop this from happening and all you have to do is cut the ends of the onions and microwave them for 30 seconds.

Finally you will be able to cut them up without shedding a single tear.

To take the sting out of onions

all you have to do is cut the ends off and microwave them for 30 seconds Get extra juice from a lemon - 10 seconds We often waste lemons and limes by not squeezing out all of the juice but microwaves are an easy way to fix this.

When you zap them for 10 seconds the heat excites the water molecules, making the flesh softer and weaker which makes the lemon easier to squeeze.

It also makes the membranes

holding the juice easier to burst so that you’ll get more juice out of it.

Make garlic easy to peel Not many people enjoy peeling garlic as it can be both time consuming and tedious. But if you put the whole head in the microwave and put it on high it will make the job a lot easier as doing this makes the individual cloves pop out of the skin.

Make sure the garlic is feeling a bit soft as this makes the bulbs easier to peel. To make garlic easier to peel you need to put the head in the microwave and zap for 15 seconds Toast nuts - 60 seconds To toast nuts all they need is a plash of oil and 60 second increments in the microwave until they’re done to your liking. If you want to make things even more exciting you can also add a dash of chili powder, cumin powder and salt before heating.

To toast nuts all they need is a plash of oil and 60 second increments in the microwave until they’re done to your liking Help dough rise - 30 minutes Waiting for dough to rise before you bake it can be a long process

but you can actually speed this up by zapping it in low heat for three minutes All you have to do is fill a glass with one cup, place it in the microwave and heat it for two minutes.

Then place the dough alongside it and shut the door. The glass of water and the heat from the microwave will create a warm, moist environment that will help the dough rise faster.

Leave it for 30 minutes and make sure you don’t turn on the microwave.

Loosen brown sugar - 20 seconds To loosen brown sugar you need to put it in a bowl and place a wet paper towel on top and microwave it for 20 seconds When wanting to bake a cake there is nothing worse then dealing with a bag of brown sugar that has solidified.

To loosen it up you need to put the hard brown sugar in a bowl and place a wet paper towel on top and microwave it for 20 seconds.

As soon as it’s done take out a spoon and give it a stir.

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BDSUNDAY 27

Health&Science Many Nigerian men ignorant of prostate cancer risk ...as 82.1% men shun screening

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ANTHONIA OBOKOH

any more Nigerian men have never been screened for prostate cancer; this reveals the high risk of increasing prostate cancer patients and low level of screening and awareness in the county, says a new research finding.

“On a daily basis at least 15 men die in Nigeria”. Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Nigerian men with 13,078 new cases (which is 29.1%) and 5,806 deaths in 2018.

The age-standardised incidence rates (ASR) for prostate cancer was 32.8 new cases per 100,000 men and mortality rate were about 16.3 per 100,000 men in 2018 according to the World Health Organisation.

Prostate cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in Nigeria, whereas breast is the first and cervical cancer the second.

Cancer is a critical public health problem in this population.

The researchers found that 82.1% of Nigerian men who participated in the study have never beenscreenedforprostatecancer and most of them are 40 years and above which is the prostate cancer risk age, revealing that only some13.8%reportedhavingbeen screened for prostate cancer.

“This reveals the low screening levels for prostate screenings in Nigeria. Out of 901 men, only 124 have ever been checked for prostate cancer, while 740 have never. This result clearly explains the rationale for late detection of prostate cancer in Nigeria and increasing cancer death,” says Runcie Chidebe, the researcher and executive director, Project PINK BLUE. He added: “In Nigeria, there is no organised screenings or a national screening programme; what is currently available is sporadic screenings, driven by non-

profits and non-governmental organisations hosting medical missions in diverse communities.

The research conducted by a non-governmental organisation, Project PINK BLUE, explores on Prostate Cancer Awareness, Health Behaviours and Attitudes in Nigeria, supported by the ACT Foundation was released on Thursday 23rd, May. Men on Blue is a health interventionfocusedonclosingthegap ofawareness,education,research andscreeningsforprostatecancer in rural communities in Nigeria.”

Over 10,000 were reached with awareness and over 15millionindirectlyreachedthroughour television, radio and social media campaigns.

According to the research result, out of the 1661 who received the prostate specific antigen test (PSA), a total of 129 men presented with high level PSA scores of 4.0ng/mL, which was 7.8% in this study.

“Out of the 901 men who received the PSA test, 101 men (11.2%) were single, 4 men (.4%) were divorced, 6 men (.7%) separated, 11 men (1.2%) widowed and 741 men (82.2) were married,” study revealed.

The researchers found that most respondents (70%) make out-of-pocket payments for health care services. Only 14.5% and 4.2% are covered by health insurance and their organisations

respectively.

“This highlights the challenge facing the Nigerian health care system. With only few people having access to health coverage, our findings reveal that most Nigerian men have to pay for essential health services from their pockets as they do not have any healthinsurancecoverage.Thisas well will slow our push to detect prostate cancer early in men as people may be discouraged from seeking professional health attention given the expected financial burden,” says Researchers.

According to Chidebe , a diagnosis of prostate cancer could cost N147, 000 to N152, 000, surgery could cost N350, 000 to N950, 000, twenty-five to thirty sessions of chemotherapy could cost N150, 000 to N360, 000.

In total, a patient needs about N1.3milliontoN3.3milliontotreat prostate cancer in Nigeria.

“How many Nigerian men can pay out these kind of money from their pocket to get treated? Many of these indigent men would just decide to stay back at home and die. With the poor national health insurance, it has become more financiallystressfultocopewiththe financial burden of cancer in Nigeria. Very few families can afford to foot the bills of diagnosis, surgery and treatment,” he stressed.

The research also stated that for 15.2 percent of men reporting not-sureoftheirknowledgeofany

prostate cancer diagnosis in their family is worrisome. Knowing family health history is extremely important in prostate cancer prevention and early detection of prostate cancer.

Ifeoma Okoye, a radiologist at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) and founder of BreastWithoutSpot,saidProstate cancer seems to run in some families, which suggests that in some cases there may be an inherited or geneticfactor.(Still,mostprostate cancers occur in men without a family history).

“If a man knows his family history, he will keep himself on check and thereby know his risk factors and find ways to lower his risks or control them through prostate cancer prevention like: maintain healthybodyweight,bephysically active, and diet,” she said.

In Nigeria, there is no organised screenings or a national screening programme; what is currently available is sporadic screenings, driven by nonprofits and non-governmental organisations hosting medical missions in diverse communities.

The report stated that nearly 3 percent of the respondents identified that they have had a diagnosis of prostate cancer. 93 percent never has prostate cancer.

However the researchers call on the Federal Government, state and local governments in recommendation to make prostate cancer screenings like prostate specific antigen (PSA) and Digital Rectal Examination (DRE) mandatory in all public hospitals advising that once a man who is 40 years and above comes to the hospital, he should receive a PSA or DRE. “Insurance should be made mandatory in Nigeria, just the same way vehicle insurance is made mandatory and there is a need for prostate cancer education materials to promote the risk factors, screening and early detection in Nigeria,” Chidebe said.

Danger of using potash in cooking

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otash has been used for generations as an additive to improve the taste and texture of several Nigerian delicacies. Commonly called ‘akanwu’ ‘kaun’ or ‘kanwa’, potash or potassium carbonate is a natural rock salt that is mined from deposits in the ground. While there are different types of potash, the type most popularly used in Nigeria is called potassium carbonate, and it is found in shallow parts of lakes.

Potash has been traditionally used to improve the texture of okra soups, to soften beans, help vegetables cook faster, is used as a preservative and is even used as medicine for several ailments traditionally. While potassium in itself is highly beneficial to the body, consuming potash poses serious risks to humans and should be avoided at all costs.

Good and safe sources of potassium include bananas and dates.

Potash is highly alkaline. The pH of potash is about 11.5 which is similar to that of ammonia, the major chemical used in harsh cleaning products which has a pH of 11.6. Most of us will never drink ammonia, but we don’t think twice before sprinkling potash into our cooking pots!

The extremely alkaline nature of potash makes it highly corrosive just like ammonia and it can cause serious health problems. The most dangerous issue caused by potash that may become fatal is burns and deep ulcers of stomach and intestines and eventually perforation.

Perforation of any organ belonging to the digestive tract is considered a medical emergency as if left untreated will often lead to wide spread infection ( sepsis) and eventually death. Other possible side effects from consuming potash includes breathing problems, skin irritation, vomiting, heart and breathing problems, liver problems, and finally throat cancer (esophageal carcinoma) when consumed over long peri-

ods of time.

Potash is used majorly as an industrial agent with about 95percent of the worlds potash used in producing soap, glass, leather, as fertilizer for plants, in laboratories for analytical chemistry and liquid shampoos. In the developed world and even in most of the world in general, potash is considered a poisonous substance and deemed unfit for human consumption due to its highly alkaline and therefore corrosive nature. The fact that some Nigerians have been consuming potash for several years with no perceived health consequences doesn’t negate the fact that many people die every year or fall very sick from complications of eating potash. Potash is also used traditionally in inducing abortion, and might be a reason for unexplained miscarriages.

In order to avoid untimely death, or unexplained illness, we Nigerians should immediately and completely avoid this dangerous substance, and explore healthier alternatives that will still enable us to enjoy our favourite meals.

A safe and edible alternative to potash is baking soda. Baking soda also known as sodium bicarbonate is also a natural salt that is alkaline in nature, but it much milder than potash and has negligiblesideeffectsonthebody.

Use an electric blender to whip up okra and ewedu followed by the traditional broom whisk to help improve the texture.

Anotherwaytoshortencooking time and soften foods is to use a pressure cooker. I endeavor all readers, having gained a new understanding of the dangers of potash, to please avoid the substance and employ these alternatives in their cooking routines. Have a blessed week and stay healthy!

Contributor Tobi Ayodele Keeney Managing Director Quincy Herbals Email address: tobi@quincyherbals.com

What is the goodness you benefit from Milk and Dairy products?

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ilk and dairy foods are naturally rich sources of a wide range of essential nutrients. Many people associate milk and dairy with calcium and bone building, but dairy foods offer much more extensive nutritional benefits.

Milk contains high quality protein, carbohydrate in the form of lactose, as well as different fatty acids and a wide range of micronutrients including vitamins, minerals and trace elements.

Milk is a natural source of calcium, vitamin B12, riboflavin (vitamin B2), phosphorus and potassium. It also contains smaller amounts of other nutrients including vitamin A, niacin, folate, vitamin B6, vitamin D, magnesium, selenium and zinc.

The nutrients present in milk and dairy foods are involved in several important functions in the body. These include the

well-known benefits of calcium for bones and teeth, and protein for muscle. But dairy nutrients also play a part in nerve and muscle function, energy release, vision, blood clotting and red blood cell formation, digestion, blood pressure, skin health, the immune system, psychological functionandinchildren’sgrowth.

The proteins in milk have superior quality to build and maintain muscles, which is relevant for all age categories. Magnesium and vitamin D in the milk contribute to the muscle building process. Milk is an important source of B-vitamins, incl. vitamin B12 does not occur in plantderived foods. The B-vitamins fulfill many different functions in our body. They are required for digestion and production of energy from the sugars and fats in foods, are involved in bone health, proper functioning of the nervous system, production of

red blood cells, and contribute to healthy skin.

Milk is good for strong Bones and teeth Adequate daily dairy intake of milk and dairy products is important at all stages of life, for the pregnant mother, the baby, during the building and the maintenance phase of the bones. Dairy intake during the first 30 years of life is an excellent investment in good quality bones during aging. Heaney R.P.in his report featured in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition in 2009 concluded that Milk and dairy products are world famous for the presence of calcium needed for the growth and maintenance of bones and teeth. Bone is renewed every day in a continuous process. With only a few servings, milk delivers not only the high requirement for

calcium but also other nutrients that are needed for this process, such as protein, phosphorous and vitaminD. Without consumption of dairy products, it is almost impossible to achieve the recommended intake of calcium per day to keep the bones healthy.

Milk contains nutrient that supports mental health Several scientific publications from renowned scientists confirm that vitamins A, B1, B11 and B12, as well as iodine, are very important for brain development; based on its structural properties and conversion in the body, milk lactose is taken up in a slower, more controlled, manner than glucose and thus provides the newborn child with optimal sustained energy for the brain.

These scientists also confirm that Pregnant (and pre-

sumably lactating) women may not achieve the target intake levels of milk and dairy to be sure that enough amounts of required nutrients are present for the fetus and the newborn baby.

The careful balance between calcium, magnesium and potassium ions in the blood is important for nerve impulse transmission and nervous communication in the body: dairy products contribute to this balance. Zinc aids many chemical reactions in the brain and is therefore important for attention and memory.

Milk drinking aids Sleep Silber BY et al in his publication titled Effects of tryptophan loading on human cognition, mood, and Sleep, published

by Neurosci Biobehav Rev in 2010 confirmed that Essential amino acids in milk proteins are involved in processes that influ-

ence sleep, wakefulness, mood, and some aspects of cognitive performance.

Milk support Cardiovascular health Dairy products contain proteins, some specific fatty acids, and several minerals and vitamins that have beneficial effects on various risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Milk is the most incredible product Mother Nature has to offer. It is healthy, nutritious, and safe. Hence, FrieslandCampina WAMCO makers of Peak Milk and Three Crowns in conjunction with Nutrition Society of Nigeria celebrates 2019 edition of World Milk Day and therefore recommend that Nigerians explore several ways to enjoy milk in their diet as it remains one of the natural sources of vitamins and minerals. Lets enjoy our meals with Dairy.

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Sunday 26 May 2019

Travel

Durban: A home of diverse culture, optimistic people OBINNA EMELIKE

T

here is something wonderfully different about Durban or eThekwini in Zulu language. The South African third largest metropolis by the shores of the Indian Ocean is the sort of place you would want to silently slip off to with your family, wife, fiancée or even alone for a life time adventure. It is a destination for aquatic life lovers, honeymoon, night clubbing and even cultural fiestas. You truly need not watch your back because everyone is engrossed in fun with Mother Nature and exciting culture.

The city’s geography is dotted with breathtaking manmade and natural beauties that offer additional thrills to visitors.

But, you hardly need a map or a tour guide to get around or figure out where exactly the city centre is, or how to access Golden Mile, a stretch of sandy beach f ront d o tte d w i th t ren dy leisure facilities and one of the most spectacular views in the rainbow country. Taxi rides around the city take you through an endless, unremittingly beautiful landscape of freshly painted apartments and urban highways.

I could not have imagined it before now but for the couple of days I poured around the city, trying to consume

Local attraction

everyday.

The city’s racial mix is indeed extraordinary. Though originally land of the Zulus, a major tribe in South Africa, the city is alive with people from different races, faith and backgrounds who peacefully coexistence and take advantage of their diverse cultures. In Durban, you will

population with Black South Africans in Durban. The city also habours coloured people, Europeans, Chinese and Arab migrants who could not resist the allure of the aquatic nature of the city.

My affection for Durban is born, in parts. One, for being insulated from violence and traffic, and secondly for the

rush hours, this usually last for about thirty minutes, depending on where you are driving from and evening rush hour that begins exactly from 5 pm when workers are thronging home for early evening diner. The traffic predictability makes Durban more attractive as a place to live and work than just a place to pass the night Durban has always been

In Durban, service always seems to come with genuine good grace and friendliness.

On the drop of a South African Rand or the least of its denominations, it is an unending shower of appreciation on the generous donor by the sand artists that mold breathtaking works with wet sand for visitors delight.

Same is also the case in the hotel I stayed. Service also comes with a smile as the hotel attendants seem through bred in hospitality. In the bar, the bartenders will patiently take you through the beers and spirit to get the motions just right. They happily stay up deep into the night to service the army of tourists that would invade the bar before stepping into the night club in the hotel or somewhere in the city.

The other striking thing is how hard working and optimistic everybody is in Durban.

Right from the King Shaka International Airport, the hotels, shops, eateries to the various convention venues in the city, every hand is on deck. The taxi driver does his job with such a passion that you query how much he earns, he even takes you on a mini tour of the town with wonderful explanations that you wonder if his is a staff of the tourism bureau. True to their optimism, the populace engages in anything productive from tour guide, swimming instructor, lifeguard, people sweeping up leaves somewhere in the park, some

Ushaka Marine World Durban

Goldmile

it , I u n h a p p i l y w o ndered how and why a country like Nigeria and a city like Lagos lost out in the opportunity to draw the mixture of colour that throng the very clean pavements of Durban streets

see more Indians whose ancestors set out to the African soil in search of the new world and fortune centuries ago.

The Indians make up almost equal proportion of the

being awash with the best of nature and manmade thrills.

The apartments are separated from the roads by wide grassy spaces that could take three traffic lanes. The traffic is predictable-morning

South Africa’s leisure capital.

It is a practical down-to-earth and leisure oriented city.

The city seem to bend over backwards to offer services of all types at any time of the day or night. The city centre boats an impressively dense network of small businesses covering every life essential.

The local gastronomy (comprising the traditional Zulu and Indian menus) competes quite fiercely with foreign culinary as the city has a deserved reputation in this area.

lending hands in the shopping malls, hotels among others.

While doing so, it is evident that they are so removed from the worries of politics now the country is about going to the polls again. Obviously, that seems to drive the optimism that runs through the local Durbans.

These enshrine peace and security, which further attract tourists in their millions to come and frolic in this allyear-round warmest part of the rainbow country. Truly, Durban is the adventure that awaits you in South Africa.

28

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Sunday 26 May 2019

Travel

Durban: A home of diverse culture, optimistic people OBINNA EMELIKE

T

here is something wonderfully different about Durban or eThekwini in Zulu language. The South African third largest metropolis by the shores of the Indian Ocean is the sort of place you would want to silently slip off to with your family, wife, fiancée or even alone for a life time adventure. It is a destination for aquatic animal lovers, honeymoons, night clubbing and even cultural fiestas. You truly need not watch your back because everyone is engrossed in fun with Mother Nature.

The city’s geography is dotted with breathtaking manmade and natural beauties that offer additional thrills to visitors.

But, you hardly need a map or a tour guide to get around or figure out where exactly the city centre is, or how to access Golden Mine, a stretch of golden sand and one of the most spectacular views in the rainbow country. Taxi rides around the city seemed to take you through an endless, unremittingly beautiful landscape of freshly painted apartments and urban highways.

I couldn’t have imagined it before now but for the couple of days I poured around the city, trying to consume it, I unhappily wondered how and why a country like

Local attraction

The city’s racial mix is indeed extraordinary. Though originally land of the Zulus, a major tribe in South Africa, the city is alive with people from different races, faith and backgrounds who peacefully coexistence and take advantage of their diverse cultures. In Durban, you will see more Indians whose an-

also habours coloured people, Europeans, Chinese and Arab migrants who couldn’t resist the allure of the aquatic nature of the city.

My affection for Durban is born, in parts. One, for being insulated from the twin demon of city violence and traffic, and secondly for the being awash with the best of

for about thirty minutes, depending on where you are driving from and evening rush hour that begins exactly from 5 pm when workers are thronging home for early evening diner. The traffic predictability makes Nairobi more attractive as a place to live and work than just a place to pass the night Durban has always been South Africa’s leisure capital.

seems to come with genuine good grace and friendliness.

On the drop of a South African Rand or the least of its denominations, it is an unending shower of appreciation on the generous donor by the sand artists that mold breathtaking works with wet sand for visitors delight.

Same is also the case in the hotel I stayed. Service also comes with a smile as the hotel attendants seem through bred in hospitality. In the bar, the bartenders will patiently take you through the beers and spirit to get the motions just right. They happily stay up deep into the night to service the army of tourist that would invade the bar before stepping into the night club in the hotel or somewhere in the city.

The other striking thing is how hard working and optimistic everybody is in Durban.

Right from the King Shaka International Airport, the hotels, shops, eateries to the various convention venues in the city, every hand is on deck. The taxi driver does his job with such a passion that you query how much he earns, he even takes you on a mini tour of the town with wonderful explanations that you wonder if his is a staff of the tourism bureau. True to their optimism, the populace engages in anything productive from tour guide, swimming instructor, lifeguard, people sweeping up leaves somewhere in the park, some lending hands in the shopping

Ushaka Marine World Durban

Goldmile

Nigeria and a city like Lagos lost out in the opportunity to draw the mixture of colour that is the different human faces that throng the very clean pavements of Durban streets everyday.

cestors set out to the African soil in search of new world and fortune centuries ago.

The Indians make up almost equal proportion of the population with Black South Africans in Durban. The city

nature and manmade thrills.

The apartments are separated from the roads by wide grassy spaces that could take three traffic lanes. The traffic is predictable-morning rush hours, this usually last

It is a practical down-to-earth and leisure oriented city.

The city seem to bend over backwards to offer services of all types at any time of the day or night. The city centre boats an impressively dense network of small businesses covering every life essential.

The local gastronomy (comprising the traditional Zulu and Indian menus) competes quite fiercely with foreign culinary as the city has a deserved reputation in this area.

In Durban, service always

malls, hotels among others.

While doing so, it is evident that they are so removed from the worries of politics now the country is about going to the polls again. Obviously, that seems to drive the optimism that runs through the local Durbans.

These enshrine peace and security, which further attract tourists in their millions to come and frolic in this allyear-round warmest part of the rainbow country. Truly, Durban is the adventure that awaits you in South Africa.

Sunday 26 May 2019

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BDSUNDAY 29

Travel How AMCON, innovation, staff resilience sustained Aero, 60years after

H

Stories by IFEOMA OKEKE

A

irlines operating in Nigeria have had a common history of closing shop five to ten years after they commence operations as a result of challenges ranging from unfriendly government policies, foreign exchange rates, and unstable prices of aviation fuel, amongst others.

The death of promising airlines such as Nigeria Airways, Kabo, ADC, Bellview, Chachangi, Sosoliso, Chachangi, and Okada Air, amongst others within a period of ten years are pointers to the fact that for any airline to survive beyond ten years may take extra dedication, prudency, corporate governance and most important, a capable manager who really understands the business of running an airline.

One of such airline that has surpassed the industry life expectancy rate is Aero Contractors. The celebration of its 60years anniversary showed the airline had gradually moved with the tide in maintaining its legacy as the oldest yet efficient and innovative airline.

Although at some point a combination of endogenous and exogenous factors made the airline underperform and become almost insolvent. The airline navigated from one crisis to another which threatened its existence but was rescued by the timely intervention of Assets Management of Corpora-

tion of Nigeria (AMCON).

Speaking on the occasion to mark the 60th anniversary of the airline at its headquarters at Lagos airport, Ado Sanusi, the CEO of Aero Contractors said the new management took series of hard decisions to return Aero to profitability, adding that such was with the cooperation of the staff who stood their ground that the airline will be lifted back.

“I was appointed as CEO with the responsibility of recalibrating the technical and operational capacities of Aero. Our individual and collective responsibilities and experience have not been a Tea Party, they have been marked by series of hard choices we both had to taker ranging from surmounting operational challenges t managing employee matters to debt recoveries. The journey is still on-going, we pay tribute to the Receiver Manager and to all Aero staff who have persevered ad given us reasons to plough-on with hard tasks of repo-

South African Airways, RadissonBlu offer exceptional travel experience to corporate travellers

S

outh African Airways (SAA), has partnered with RadissonBlu Anchorage Hotel Lagos to provide exceptional travel and hospitality experience for corporate travelers in Nigeria and beyond.

At a corporate travel managers forum held at the RadissonBlu Anchorage Hotel, Lagos, both SAA and RadissonBlu management offered better travel and hospitality deals and packages for the growing corporate travelers’ community in Nigeria.

Kemi Leke-Bamtefa, South African Airways, National Sales Manager in Nigeria advised the corporates to take advantage of all SAA corporate deals which include, ticketing discount, group corporate fares, special fare for MICE and Voyagers programme.

“SAA corporate deals allow you to save up to 15% discount on flight tickets. Our Voyager programme, SAA’s award-winning loyalty reward programme accrues you benefits according to your spend among other numerous gains”, Leke-Bamtefa disclosed.

“SAA Y-up fare is currently active, allowing passengers to book

Sirika commissions ICAO-approved FAAN training school, aviation clinic, NAMA centrex, others at MMA

Economy Class ticket and end up flying Business Class depending on availability”, she added.

The SAA National Sales Manager used the opportunity to mention SAA new direct route between Johannesburg and Guangzhou, China. The flight will commence on September 18, 2019 with three flights per week from Johannesburg to Guangzhou.

Wellington Mpofu, RadissonBlu Anchorage Hotel Lagos Director of Sales, said the RadissonBlu brand with five properties in Nigeria is available to complement SAA’s amazing flight experience by offering hospitable service to guests.

“With just one call to any of the RadissonBlu hotels, guests can book any of the five RadissonBlu brands in Nigeria indicating our seamless service operation,” Wellington stated.

Ra d i s s o n Re w a r d s Pr o gramme, the RadissonBlu loyalty rewards initiative covers all the RadissonBlu brands all over the world. The Radisson Blu Anchorage Lagos is currently giving 15% discount on room bookings with 10,000 bonus points which will end 14 June this year.

sitioning Aero”, he said.

Sanusi, who listed some of the current turnaround that has taken place, added that, Aero is being reinvented.

“Like a Phoenix, Aero has risen from its hard times, our individuals and collective sacrifices, resilience and insistence that this airline is lifted back up is paying off and yielding visible results. The airline services have since December 2016, returned to full operations and grown its fixed wing operational aircraft from one to four, it is our expectation to grow it to six by the close of this year.

“This has improved our domestic operations to 32 daily. From one helicopter in 2017, we now have five operational helicopters with capacity to further grow this to 10 by close of the year. We began our repositioning journey growing our domestic operations from eight to 32 daily flights, from ferrying 8,000 passengers per month to 52,000 per month”, he added.

adi Sirika, Minister of State for Aviation has commissioned the multi-million naira International Civil Aviation Organisation approved Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Training School, the Aviation Clinic, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) Centrex and other projects at Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.

Last year, during the Airport Council International (ACI) meeting in Mauritius, FAAN training school was designated as an ICAO training centre.

Saleh Dunoma, FAAN’s Managing director, had last year said that, ‘one of the advantages of the training centre is that it will make it easier for member countries to train their personnel in Nigeria and it is also cheaper for them to come to Nigeria to be trained, rather than going to United Kingdom, United States and other countries around the world.

Another advantage, he said is that there will present more opportunity for those in the region to get trained.

“You know when cost is not really a factor; more people will be factored in for training. There is also accessibility for trainees and the weather conditions are favourable in Nigeria, while the learning facilities are fantastic

and new.

“For ICAO to designate us as a training centre, you will know that everything that we needed to put in place have been put in place. The training facilities are up to date. The instructors will be coming from all over the world and they are ICAO trained instructors.”

Sirika, while commissioning the facilities at the weekend, said that training and retraining is very paramount to the aviation industry.

“We commission this project with the hope that it will benefit FAAN, aviation industry and Nigeria as a whole. We have established a world class aviation Training School, we have been certified

by ICAO and designated Global Training Centre of Airports”, he said.

Other projects commissioned

by Sirika includes: Instrument Landing Systems(ILSs) at the airside of MMA, the Nigeria Meteorological Agency(NIMET) pilot briefing room, office complex NAMA at its headquarter annex, radio communication system at Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) site, passenger Information Board at General Aviation Terminal (GAT), Centrex building for workshop, logistics and training built by NAMA, and training and Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) Clinic at Oshodi.

NCAT to sensitise public on opportunities in aviation sector at its maiden event

T

he Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, Abdulsalami Muhammed has said that the management expects at least 1,500 guests for its maiden Open Day programme slated for Monday next week at the college.

Muhammed also said that the essence of the programme was to sensitise the public on the activities of the college, saying that several students were ignorant of the opportunities that were abound in the sector.

The programme tagged: ‘Understanding What We Do Here,’ the college said would further attracts potential aviation professionals to its activities.

A statement personally signed by the rector and made available to aviation correspondents in Lagos, stated that the programme was opened to all students across the country, including undergraduates from higher institutions of learning.

Besides, he emphasised that parents and aviation enthusiasts all over the country were also being expected for the programme, stressing that apart from piloting, NCAT also does training for Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs), engineers and cabin crew among others.

He said: We actually want the world to know about NCAT and

L-R: Bodunrin Olowolagba, British Airways Sales Manager Nigeria; James Duggan, British Airways Business class ticket to London winner and Justice Odigea, Co MC and Ex-student of the Federal Nigeria Society for the Blind Institution at the Federal Nigeria Society for the Blind May Ball, sponsored by British Airways recently.

its activities. We are the foremost aviation college in this country and indeed on the continent, but unfortunately, some people especially parents and students are still ignorant of the several courses we offer in this institution.

“To many, NCAT is all about piloting and nothing else, but we have to create awareness and let them know that we do more than piloting. There are many potential aviation professionals out there

that don’t know much about out activities. We hope to change that orientation with the Open Day that will take place on Monday May 27, 2019 at the college.”

It would be recalled that NCAT in 2018 was recognised by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), as an institution with the highest number of instructors in the world for the third year running and a Regional Training Center of Excellence.

30 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 26 May 2019

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King Emmanuel Schools educates pupils on good table manners NGOZI OKPALAKUNNE

D

eveloping good table manner is very crucial in the life of the young ones. This is basically because when they grow up with it, it will form part of them.

Unfortunately, some parents do not care to monitor their children during meal time, as a result they form all manner of bad eating habits such as throwing food across the table, being loud during a meal, among others.

It was against this background that King Emmanuel Nursery and Primary School, Ayobo, Lagos recently gathered parents and pupils to educate them on good table manners.

The annual event tagged, ‘Special Circle Time’, aimed to bring the pupils and parents to the round table so as to introduce them to a specific social etiquette/morals that will help build the child for the future.

The proprietress of the school, Ruth Baiyewu affirmed that at King Emmanuel Schools, they take care of not just academics, but also the moral and spiritual needs of their pupils.

Baiyewu stressed the need for parents to ensure they give their children balanced meal and added that a balanced diet is not complete without the spiritual food which is the word of God. “Therefore education + balanced diet – God = Bad Success, while education + balanced diet + God = good success. Ingredients for a balanced diet include: godliness which takes care of the spiritual and physical meal which contains all the vital nutrients in the right proportion,” she added.

She advised parents to encourage their children to drink plenty water instead of carbonated drink for healthy living. Also, she stated that egg is a very good source of protein for children because it contains almost all the

classes of food except vitamin C. The head mistress of the school, Oluwatoyin Iroye who spoke at the event defined table manners as a behavior that is considered correct while one is having a meal at table with other people.

However, Iroye took time to educate both the pupils and parents on good table manners.

According to her, they chose to teach the children now because habits are best made when one is still young.

She further said, when kids are taught table manners, they are equipped with important tool of social interaction and good etiquette at dinner table which will also make them pleasant companions for family meals in the years to come.

Enumerating basic good table manners kids can develop, she said include: Coming to table with your hands and face clean; always ask if there is anything you can help do, to get ready for dinner; while setting the table, remember bread and milk go on the left and water on the right: wait until everybody is served before eating, among others The high point of the occasion was a practical test on both the pupils and parents who were treated to a sumptuous meal. At the end of the competition, winners emerged and they all went home with gift items. Experts gave the following guidelines for developing good table manners.

Utensils Proper use of utensils can be taught to kids when they’re young. Teach your child how to properly place food into his mouth with a fork and where to place the fork when finished eating. If your child is old enough, teach him how to cut with a knife and hold his fork.

Ask your child to place a napkin in his lap when he’s eating and place it next to his plate when he’s finished.

Across section of kids at the event.

Body language Body language at a table can show if a child has good table manners.

Elbows should be off the table during a meal and your child should sit straight in his chair. Slouching at the dinner table could indicate bad table manners. Ask your child to wait to eat until everyone at the table has been served. This can show consideration toward the other diners.

During the meal Some of the most important manners occur during the meal. Teach your child to ask politely for something that’s out of her reach, saying “Please” and “Thank you” every time. Ask your child to eat slowly, to put small bites into her mouth and to chew with her mouth closed during the meal. Tell your child to not slurp while drinking or when eating soup. If your child accidentally belches, ask her to say “Excuse me.”

The food Tell your child to show appreciation no matter what kind of food is served. Have him choose other types of food on the table instead of refusing the food he doesn’t like. If he tries something and doesn’t like it, ask him to refrain from making a face. Food should always be swallowed and never spit out.

Short story

Elephant and friends

A

lone elephant wandered the forest looking for friends.

She came across a monkey and asked, “Will you be my friend, monkey?” “You are too big and cannot swing on trees as I do. So I cannot be your friend”, said the monkey.

The elephant them came across a rabbit and asked him if she could be his friend. “You are too big to fit inside my burrow. You cannot be my friend”, replied the rabbit.

Then the elephant met a frog and asked if she could be her friend.

The frog said “You are too big and heavy. You cannot jump like me.

The other side of the wall

A

young woman inherited a beautiful garden from her grandmother. She loved gardening too and was very proud of her garden. One day, she saw a very beautiful plant in a catalog and wanted that for her garden. She ordered it and planted it at the base of the stonewall in her backyard. She took great care of the plant, which grew quickly and had beautiful green

I am sorry, but you cannot be my friend”.

The elephant asked a fox, and he got the same reply, that he was too big. The next day, all the animals in the forest were running in fear. The elephant stopped a bear and asked what was happening and was told that a tiger has been attacking all the animals.

The elephant wanted to save the other weak animals and went to the tiger and said “Please sir, leave my friends alone. Do not eat them”. The tiger didn’t listen and asked the elephant to mind her

own business. Seeing no other way to solve the problem, the elephant kicked the tiger and scared it away.

She then went back to the others and told them what happened. On hearing how the elephant saved their lives, the animals agreed in unison, “You are just the right size to be our friend”.

leaves on it.

Months passed, but not a single flower bloomed on the tree. Vexed, she almost wanted to cut the tree down. At such a time, her invalid called and said, “Thank you so much for the beautiful flowers. You have no idea how much I enjoy looking at the blooms of the vine you have planted”.

Hearing this, the young girl rushes to the neighbor’s side of the wall and

sees the most beautiful flower in bloom. All the care she took had paid off. Only the vine crept through the crevices because of which it did not flower on her side of the wall but did generously on the other side.

Moral Just because you cannot see the good results of your efforts does not mean that it bore no fruit

by Sagari Gongala

Moral Friends come in all shapes and sizes!

Don’t condemn someone for not doing something that you yourself are unable to do.

Poem Blessed by two The two of you will never know How much my love has grown To be blessed by two When others have so few From the moment you were conceived You were all that I would ever need To hold you, comfort you and love you both Is all that I could ever hope You are my life You are my hope To see you both happy Is my only hope My happiness has been through you I loved you both before you were you There were aches and pains but it was worth it all I could not foresee what was to be From the first moment I held you both

My love has only continued to grow There have never been two children as beautiful as you I am so proud of the both of you The good Lord was good to me and making you both my destiny Though now you want to be free from me Just remember there wouldn’t be any you without me Grow up and be strong but don’t forget about me Your futures are bright as anyone can see when I am gone and in a better place Remember me more than just a face I will continue to thank God everyday For my role that I have played.

As I have been blessed by two..

By Teresa L. Finke

Sunday 26 May 2019

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BDSUNDAY 31

BrandsOnSunday SPOTLIGHTING BRAND VALUE

Nigeria: Doing same thing and expecting different result DANIEL OBI

W

hen some Nigerians hear that FG is borrowing money from foreign countries and multinational institutions to tackle infrastructure, it sounds strictly nebulous to them. This is because these Nigerians cannot precisely lay hands to specific projects from borrowed funds, which plagued the country into serious debts of 1980s/90s.

Even if there were projects such as National Stadia Lagos and Abuja, Federal Secretariat Lagos, National Theatre Lagos, among others, the projects may not have paid back the loans against usual economist advices. Interest on the loans rose so high to the point of choking the country. This is on the background of continuous dwindling performance of the economy and decreasing revenue from oil and non-oil exports.

In the last four year, Muhammadu Buhari administration has spent up to N3.5 trillion to fix infrastructure, according to the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo and still the surface has not been scratched.

In the face of all this, government, is shopping for $140b loan to tackle infrastructure decay said Osinbajo, who spoke through the minister of trade and investments, Okechukwu Enelamah at the opening ceremony of the trade and investment expo exclusively for Nigeria and America, tagged USA Fair 2019 in Lagos recently. He revealed that Nigeria was looking up to America and other countries of the world for the loan.

It is indeed true that if Nigeria builds its infrastructure such as roads, railway and electricity, Nigerians will do well as it will facilitate business and also create jobs. But it still surprising that upon all the borrowed and earned money and huge budget/expenses, Nigeria is faced with infrastructural decay in all facets.

Olu Fasan, a London-based lawyer and political economist, in one

of articles in BusinessDay, agreed that “Of course, Nigeria should transform its infrastructure, but serious infrastructure projects are financed through public-private partnership. But Buhari government unfortunately rarely talks about PPP. He appears “averse to working with or through the private sector.”

In his lecture at Nigerian Institute of Management, NIM in 2016, former president of the Institute of Directors, (IoD), Chike Nwanze calculated that total expenditures of various arms of government in the last 17 years were put at N55.4 trillion but regrettably without much achievement.

Nwanze said it was difficult to believe that such colossal amount of money had been spent within that period with continued poor state of infrastructure, services and quality of life in Nigeria as about 100 million Nigerians still live without electricity.

With such massive expenses, many socio-economic development indices are still negative. In mid-2018, Brookings Institution ranked Nigeria as having the high-

est number of people in extreme poverty.

At the end of May 2018, the report said Nigeria had about 87 million people in extreme poverty, compared with India’s 73 million.

It also said that extreme poverty in Nigeria is growing by six people every minute. This is in spite of abundant resources in the country.

A year later, precisely late March, 2019, a report by Steve Hanke, an economist from John Hopkins University in Baltimore, United States ranked Nigeria as the 6th most miserable country in the world. The Misery Index was calculated using economic indices including unemployment, inflation and bank lending rates.

What the huge expenses without much impact on the citizens means is that Nigeria has been doing the same thing the same way for years and expecting different outcome. Ideas and resources for solving Nigeria’s myriad of socioeconomic problems have over the years come and implemented from the center.

Common sense dictates that resources for solving any problems

get lost in the long journey to the problem. This is why such colossal expenses have not made appreciable impact and the $140billion loan being sought by FG, if gotten, will go the same way.

Ladipo Adamolegun, a management specialist formerly of the World Bank, in a lecture re-echoed the challenge of Nigeria’s overcentralisation of federal system and linked it as a major contributory factor in the country’s poor development performance.

Linking over-centralised federal system to Nigeria’s poor development performance, Adamolegun said at a Nigerian Institute of Management 2017 lecture, that from military era to the present, Nigeria had witnessed economic growth without development, decline in the performance of public services, weak judiciary and institutionalised corruption.

According to him, “There has also been an increase in poverty level, estimated at about 65% by 1998 and close to 80% today.”

It is unacceptable that Nigeria is still grappling with electricity challenges after the sector had gulped

multibillion dollars in the last few years. This tells Nigerians leaders that there should be a paradigm shift in the approach to tackling the challenges.

The government should therefore seriously engage buyers of privatised companies on their challenges of running those organisations efficiently with view of assisting them technically or resolving operational issues. It is surprising that Nigeria is still generating 4,000MW which is grossly below demand for a nation of 170 million population and heavy industries.

Reports say that since the power sector privatisation in 2013, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has failed to review electricity pricing, a failure that has fuelled illiquidity in the sector and caused shortfall of nearly N1.4 trillion Government should also privatise available institutions and put them in credible individual hands for efficiency as there is gross inefficiency in public sector.

As government is called upon to eliminate petrol subsidy to enable it channel the funds to more productive areas, the government can also cede road maintenance to states and close such ministry overseeing the roads.

Government should also consider creation of state police and maintain a leaner Federal police.

This is likely to see efficiency in security.

When states are given more responsibilities, it may checkmate profligacy among states.

Government should focus on policy directions such as economic diversification, boost in agriculture, non-oil sector, reforms of health and educational sectors to jumpstart the economy.

As said by experts, any efforts towards economic development cannot be achieved without such head-on reforms, involvement of PPP arrangement and restructuring of the country. Nigeria should adopt changes in its old strategies to fastrack the economic development lest hunger cause a revolution.

Ecobank’s “Digital Campus” campaign returns with EcobankPay

E

cobankPay, the lifestyle digital payment and collections service of Ecobank Nigeria leads the pack as the bank takes its financial inclusion campaign to higher institutions of learning across the country.

The Digital Campus campaign is making available digital banking platforms to students, teachers, other workers and businesses within campuses enabling them transfer and receive funds easily,

engage in cardless withdrawals from ATMs and make payments with EcobankPay using their mobile phones. EcobankPay which enables convenient and stress free digital payment is accompanied by Xpress pay point which facilities seamless transactions.

Commenting on why the bank decided to embark on the campus campaign, Ecobank Nigeria’s Head, Consumer Banking, Ayodele Osolake, in a statement said “the

last edition of this campaign has warmed us more to the students, lecturers and other workers on the campuses visited, as they are now able to do banking just with their phones. This has eased the entire banking process for them, whether they are opening accounts, sending and receiving money, paying school fees or withdrawing cash without cards through the Ecobank Xpress cash. Parents and guardians are now able to transfer money to

their children’s Ecobank accounts, which they can withdraw without a debit card at any Ecobank ATM (using Xpress Cash) or Xpress Point”.

“We feel it will be a disservice not to reach other campuses not visited during the first edition.

Showcasing our various digital products to an increasingly digital audience is a perfect match; they will find it much easier and simpler to transact remotely, thus meeting

up with their financial and lifestyle needs, without having to walk into a bank branch. We are committed to visiting all institutions of higher learning in Nigeria; all stakeholders within these systems will benefit from our pervasive digital banking services. This edition is special as we plan to make all the campuses visited EcobankPay zones as all shop owners within the campuses will be encouraged to adopt the payment solution.

32 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 26 May 2019

Sunday Magazine

Why it is a miracle to survive in Nigeria CHUKA UROKO

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henever and wherever the word ‘miracle’ is mentioned, the mind readily races to the time and life of Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of the Christian faith.

Miracle was and still is chiefly associated with Him because He did extraordinary and welcome things that were inexplicable by natural or scientific laws. He healed the sick, cured diseases and even raised the dead in ways that could not be explained.

It may sound strange to say, especially outside the Christian faith, that miracle still happens in today’s world several years after Christ. Many, including some Christians, still doubt this.

But nothing could be truer than that. And Nigeria is one country where it is proven that miracle happens on a daily basis.

Unarguably, there is an unseen hand controlling the affairs of all Nigerians because theirs is a country where unusual and mysterious things happen, threatening their lives and existence yet they survive and even live long. What keeps them going must have been caused by ‘a god’ because it does not follow the usual laws of nature. That is miracle and it is hugely manifested in the lives of the people.

Situations and events that take place in Nigeria are mindboggling, some of them are practically unimaginable. This is the only country in the world where people live in want and woe, poverty and penury, yet they survive and carry on with life as though living in lack is a natural course. The list is endless, but it is amazing that people live in a country with challenges in virtually everything including healthcare, education, housing, security, and even right to basic things of life such as food, movement, speech, association, etc.

Nigeria has no healthcare services where citizens with lifethreatening health challenges could get treatment and cure.

Government does not subsidise healthcare. Brigadier Sani Abacha of the Nigerian Army who announced the military coup that ousted the then president, late Shehu Shagari in 1983, mentioned healthcare as a major problem in the country then, describing the existing hospitals as mere consulting clinics.

Thirty-six years later, the situation in the country’s healthcare system is not any better and it is such that Aisha Buhari, the wife of the president, Muhammadu Buhari, once shocked the world with the revelation that there was neither syringe nor tablet in the National Hospital, Abuja.

The government which her husband superintends is not

doing anything to change that story but would rather jet out of the country for medical attention at the expense of the rest of the citizen while many of the ordinary citizens who cannot afford such overseas facilities die in the dysfunctional hospitals here.

There are no emergency healthcare services. Many Nigerian heroes, especially footballers who spent their youthful years in the service of the country, are dying hopelessly and needlessly. Many, for reasons of inability to pay hospital bills at home or raise money for overseas medical attention, have become social media beggars, pleading for help to raise money for treatment of one ailment or another.

In the last four years, life and living in Nigeria has become a huge risk with high level insecurity which is escalating and reducing the value of life in the country. Many agents of intimidation, harassment, frustration and death, operating as armed bandits, armed herdsmen, Boko Haram, kidnappers, political thugs and sundry criminals have made the country a danger zone, too difficult and scary to inhabit by citizens. Kidnapping has become big and profitable business. People are kidnapped, huge ransom is either paid or they get killed. The country is today at a critical and precarious stage where life has become so worthless that it is valued less than that of a cow.

It is a very dangerous turn of events in the country today that citizens dread security agents.

In the past, if someone whose life was threatened or in danger found a policeman, he would be relieved, but no longer so today. “It is difficult now to differentiate a genuine policeman

or soldier from the fake because both wear the same police and army uniform,” noted Kazeem Olukoya, a Lagos resident, who was attacked by ‘uniformed officers’ where he was stranded on Airport Road, Lagos.

Good and quality education which is supposed to be an inalienable right of every Nigerian child has become an exclusive preserve of the rich. Successive governments have allowed the education sector to collapse.

Examination malpractice seems to have been legalised with the approval of special centres for the children of the rich who can afford what it takes to go to the best schools.

“It is God. If not for God, those us from poor homes would have been barred from going to the big and good schools in the country. Going to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) remains a miracle to me because right from the JAMB exam hall through the post-UTME, I was praying to God, asking him to see me through. Some of my mates from rich homes never did anything, yet they were getting along,” Anthony Chibuike, a graduate of Micro-Biology from UNN, told BDSUNDAY. Chibuike’s story became all the more pathetic when he disclosed that his father, a struggling man, died in accident the very year he entered into the university, leaving him with an equally struggling mother and five siblings who were all in school. “But mine was not an isolated case and that was where one drew both inspiration and encouragement. There were many of my course mates in worse situations and that is why I believe that God really works miracle in the lives on many Nigerians,” he posited.

In spite of the apparent wealth

of the country, citizens provide everything for themselves.

There is no government presence in the day-to-day lives of most citizens who provide virtually everything by themselves including electricity, water, housing and, in some cases, roads for themselves.

After billions of dollars investment in the power sector, electricity is still a luxury in the country and it is affecting every facet of the country at individual and institutional level.

Energy cost for most homes and industries is in the region of 20 percent and 30 percent of their household income and operating cost respectively.

As important as housing is as one of man’s basic needs, it is still inaccessible and unaffordable to majority of Nigerian citizens. Many of them live in squatter accommodation.

Some others, who cannot afford to live in shanties, find homes under the bridges, at motor parks and garages in big cities like Lagos.

For South Africa’s 3million housing units, Nigeria has 17 million which is the official figure. It is much more than that.

Available record shows that over 80 percent of Nigerians live in rented accommodation, spending over 50 percent of their income on house rents.

Most of the people that make up this 80 percent of the population are low income earners.

Until recently, the working class among them earned N18,000 per month. It is from this salary that they pay house rent, school fees and settle other bills and commitments, meaning that, on permanent basis, these people are under pressure.

Government housing policies have never worked and, from the look of things, may

not work in the near future. A couple of years ago, the Buhari government came up with a very robust roadmap on housing. This was one of the early policies and programmes of which Nigerians, especially those in the low income class and still in the housing market, welcomed with high expectations.

The roadmap, which focused on home seekers who are in the majority and those who are most vulnerable, placed much premium on planning which, the government reasoned, was key to successful execution, requiring a clear understanding of those who houses are to be provided for.

“The roadmap was well conceived and conveyed by the minister of power, works and housing, Babatunde Fashola, but like anything in Nigeria, it is always easier said than done; here government finds it hard to walk its talk and this is why we don’t get anything done,” said Yemi Madamidola, a real estate manager.

As if Madamidola was a prophet, that roadmap has only served as a pointer to what the government was planning to do but never did. In the next three days, Buhari’s first term will come to an end and, unless a miracle happens, that roadmap may be ending with Buhari’s first coming.

Nigerians are resilient people with strong capacity to endure pain. They are also a people ruled by hope, but very docile which is why, against Wole Soyinka’s well considered postulation, “the man dies in him that keeps silent in the face of extreme provocation,” Nigerians remain calm and comfortable with the rape and brazen assault on their collective sensibilities.

Sunday 26 May 2019

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BDSUNDAY 33

Sunday Magazine Nigerian pensioners vs foreign pensioners

In Nigeria you are ‘On Your Own’

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AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE fter a busy workday on Monday 8 April 2019, I went online to read news that made headline during the day, lo andbehold,IcameacrossaGuardian headline, which states, “Nigerians solicit support for ailing Christian Chukwu as NFF weighs in”.

The Guardian story disclosed that Chukwu, a former Nigerian football captain, was going through one of his worst moments since he quit active football in 1981.

It stated that the 1980 African Nations Cup winning captain was bedridden by an undisclosed ailment, which limited his ability to move by himself and needs help, up to the tune of $50,000 for medical treatment aboard. The proposed sum was to cater for Chukwu’s treatment, round trip flight from Nigeria to the U.S. and general spending after-surgery.

According to the report, some of his associates were able to raise funds little by little for the former Super Eagles’ coach through the ‘GoFund Me’ platform.

Benson Ejindu, patron of ExEnugu Rangers Players Association, said it would be unfortunate if Nigeria lost its former captain because it could not provide $50,000 for his treatment.

He lamented that former players like Kenneth Ilodigwe, Christian Madu, Kelechi Emeteole and others, would have lived longer if they had received help for medical treatment on time.

During his active football days, Chukwu captained the senior national team of Nigeria as they won their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations in 1980, receiving the brand new Unity Cup from then President ShehuShagari.Healsocaptainedthe Enugu Rangers FC team that won theAfricaCupWinners’Cupin1977.

Nicknamed ‘Chairman’ for the authority he exuded as he marshalled the defense and launched onslaughts on the opposition defense for club and country, Chukwu also served as assistant coach of the first team to win FIFA World Cup trophy for Nigeria – the Golden Eaglets that triumphed at the FIFA U16 World Cup in China in

1985.

He was also assistant coach of the team widely known as the Golden Generation, which is the 1994 class of Super Eagles that qualified Nigeria for her first FIFA World Cup finals, won the Africa Cup of Nations title and reached the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup in America.

Between 2002 and 2005, Chukwu was head coach of the Super Eagles, leading the team to win bronze medal at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.

Though, Femi Otedola, a Nigerian billionaire businessman and chairman of Forte Oil Plc, later offered a lifeline to the ailing former Super Eagles’ coach by agreeing to pick his medical bills abroad, Chukwu’s health condition left some many unanswered questions in my mind.

It caused me to recall that many Nigerian celebrities, who suffered serious illnesses in the past, had at one time or the other solicited for help on social media platforms to enable them go for medical treatment as their savings could no longer carry them. Many of them died at their prime for not being able to get timely help from the public at that crucial time of their lives.

It has become disturbing that a veteran and one of Nigeria’s most influential footballers in history could only survive just by the mercy of the public as the system makes no plan to cater for its own citizen especially those faced with very difficult medical conditions.

If somebody like Christian Chukwu, who invested most of his productive years working for the good of this country in the

world of football, would be left without hope of getting quality medical attention due to lack of money, one would not stop imagining of what would become of other poor Nigerians, who had or may find themselves in difficult health conditions.

Today, many sick Nigerians go on social media and on the streets to solicit for help for their medical treatment. For instance, everyday on social media, a couple of Nigerian celebrities, mostly the Nollywood actors and actresses, seek financial aid to pay for their medical treatment. While actors like Ngozi Nwosu received public help and was able to pull through, some others were not able to raise enough fund for treatment.

In 2011, Segun Arinze appealed to Nigerians to help Enebeli Elebuwa, a popular actor, who was down with stroke. Enebeli later received help from the Delta State Government, who flew him to India for treatment.

Also in April 2011, Ashley Nwosu, another popular Nollywood actor, died from severe liver complications at the age of 58.

Report has it that his Nollywood friends deserted him when he was critically ill such that his wife, Grace Nwosu alleged that many members of Association of Movie Practitioners even owed him before he died.

“When we (the family) sought for the help of his colleagues, we received nothing,” Grace Nwosu claimed. Prince James Uche, was another veteran Nollywood actor, who battled hypertension, kidney and heart related ailment in 2007.

It was reported that Uche, a former

Vice President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), needed N11 million to undergo kidney transplant abroad. Uche’s medical condition lasted till even 2012 as the Filmmakers Welfare Organisation of Nigeria inaugurated a “Save a Soul” intervention campaign, which yielded little or no result to save the life of the actor.

Following the financial support offered by Nigerians, Prince Uche returned to the hospital for treatment. He, however, passed away on March 8, 2017.

Aside Prince Uche, in January 2016, Olumide Bakare, a veteran actor was admitted to the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, Oyo State after a cardiac arrest. It was on record that Bakare had cried out for help for Nigerians to assist him with money to enable him get treated. Sadly in April 2017, the actor passed away after a prolonged ailment.

In October 2016, Martins Njubuigbo popularly known as Elder Maya, died after a prolonged battle with Liver disease.

Before his demise, Njubuigbo, who was in need of at least N1 million for his bills, solicited for public support. It was reported that Joshua Iginla, a popular cleric based in Abuja aided the ailing actor with N1 million.

Also in 2016, Obi Madubogwo, another veteran actor, announced that he was in need of public support for his health. It was said that Madubogwo after surviving coma caused by a toxic battle with a diabetic wound, needed financial support for a surgery, tests and medications to avoid amputation of his leg.

Unfortunately, the actor died on Monday, August 28, 2017.

BDSUNDAY findings have shown that Nigeria is presently a country where survival is left for only the strongest as the government on its part has repeatedly failed to provide its citizens with the basic amenities of life including good healthcare facilities.

Here, in addition to the bad economic situation that have rendered many Nigerians poor, many are left to provide their own water through digging of boreholes, generate individual power, and pay through their noses to get good education, good

health care and others.

It is no news that the Nigerian health care system is poorly developed largely due to lack of adequate and functional equipment. Despite Nigerian’s strategic position in Africa, the country is greatly underserved in health care.

Health facilities such as health centers, personnel, and medical equipments are inadequate especially in rural areas. While various reforms have been put forward by the Nigerian government to address the wide ranging issues in the health care system, they are yet to be implemented at the state and local government area levels.

“We lack basic infrastructure especially power,” said Oluseyi Afolabi, an engineer, who added that “Our health care system is also horrible”.

According to her, “If private health care provider buys any equipment and without constant power, they get damaged in no time while we do not even have the needed equipment in most government owned hospitals. For me, we lack the basic infrastructure to even call ourselves a developing nation.”

Basically, Nigeria’s health infrastructure, and resources are not enough to ensure that its primary health care system performs well and meet people’s health needs.

This was despite the launch of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in 2005, which covers only less than 10 percent of the Nigerian population leaving the most vulnerable populations at the mercy of health care services that are not affordable.

By implication, the most vulnerable populations in Nigeria are not provided with social and financial risk protection. Poor people, which constitutes about 70 percent of the Nigerian population lack access to basic health services, which social and financial risk protection should provide, because they cannot afford it.

This was one of the reasons many Nigerians presently rely on Health Management Organisation (HMO) that provides their services through health insurance.

Though, these HMOs to a large Continued from page 34

34 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 26 May 2019

Sunday Magazine

Nigerians, now living on the edge OBINNA EMELIKE

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hile on a flight from Johannesburg to Lagos some weeks ago, a middle-aged man was excited on hearing someone mentioned that he was the general manager of a Lagos-based four-star hotel. The disgruntled middle-aged man, who was returning from a training in South Africa, did not waste time to ask the hotel general manager, why Lagos hotel rooms and offerings are very expensive.

“Oga, we provide everything we need in the hotel; from water, electricity, security and even regulations. I don’t know what the authorities do apart from increasing and collecting taxes. The surprise for me is that nobody cares amid these challenges”, the GM answered, expressing his displeasure over little or no regard for life in Nigeria.

While the general manager was about speaking further on his discontentment, the middle-aged man rescued him, saying, “I am about retiring in two years time, I am not sure of when the gratuity will be paid. I have borehole in my house, I generate my own power, I pay for security in my area, we often pay labourers to manually cover potholes on our street to smoothen the road.

So, we are our own government, police, Electricity Company, and Water Corporation. But we also pay electricity bills for power that was never supplied and pay taxes, especially land use charge”, the man lamented.

The unanimous conclusion by majority of the passengers who took part in the in-flight conversation is that it is a miracle to live in Nigeria.

But when you consider the fact that nobody cares for anybody, the high level of injustice, the poor getting poorer, the rich getting richer and crime getting worse and in sophisticated dimension nowadays, it is truly “a miracle to live in Nigeria”.

If you think otherwise, then visit hospitals around you. If there is anything that should be free or subsidised at least for certain age group, it is healthcare.

Arinze Agwu, a business man and father of three, vowed not to forgive the staff and management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) for the death of his wife. Arinze recalled with sadness how his inability to pay over 50 percent deposit made LUTH to declare no-bed-space for his wife.

“The ugly thing is that I saw other people who paid more money getting bed spaces for their sick ones.

So, the money provided the bed spaces. My wife died on the way to another hospital just because of money”, the widower lamented.

Apart from the claim of insufficient bed spaces, the lack of modern medical facilities or use of outdated ones has also contributed to the death of many patients who would have survived if the machines were updated. The case of Ukeleke Onwubuya who is popularly known as Ras Kimono, easily comes to mind.

The reggae maestro who died on June 10, 2018 in an Ikoyi-Lagos hospital would have lived if the first hospital he was taken to when he slumped at the airport had good facilities to adequately treat him.

From bed spaces that are available to only those who can pay, lack of facilities to work with, misdiagnosis, fake drugs, lack of professionalism, poorly trained personnel among others, hospitals are becoming deathtraps. So, those who return alive after hospital admission see it as miracle.

But if you are lucky not to fall sick or visit any hospital, the high level of insecurity in the country poses more danger than any of the dreaded hospitals.

Once, it was all about the Niger Delta militants kidnapping, latter kidnapping became rampant in some parts of the South-South and South East, today it is even more in the northern part of the country with everybody- rich and poor, men and women, adults and youths- fall-

ing victim already.

On April 19, 2019, some suspected kidnappers, armed with dangerous weapons, gained entry into Kajuru Castle, recreational resort in Kaduna, They shot dead two persons, including an expatriate lady and took away three others. Aside that, similar incident has been going on, especially along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, with many being kidnapped daily. Yet, the high level of banditry in Zamfara, Sokoto and Katsina states is giving the Nigerian Police (though helpless) sleepless nights.

All these worsen the negative impact of the Boko Haram, Islamic set, that have been rampaging the north east region for years now, with the likes of Leah Sharibu, kidnapped long ago, yet to return.

The sad thing is that the acclaimed Abuja train is now escorted with security to ensure passengers are not kidnapped. It is a pity in a country where there are several security forces parading guns that often kill innocent people.

Considering the expatriate lady tourist who was among those killed by kidnappers at Kajuru Castle, which foreigner will want to visit any Nigerian tourist attraction even the ones in Aso Rock because the entire country is considered unsafe.

As one Reuters journalist once asked, “30 people killed in a northern village, 50 killed in a middle belt, 60 killed during church service, 30 kidnapped in an oil rig, how many more people need to die before the killings will stop?”

The government needs to answer the question as most Nigerians have lost faith in the ability of government to protect lives and properties across the country.

“If I was told in my dream that kidnapping would become rampant in the north, especially the North West region, I will never believe it. But it is real now and government is doing little or nothing about it. What about the military operations in the Niger Delta and South East. The impact of Operation Python Dance is still felt in the South East, why is government not introducing Operation Kilishi or Kunu to fight the bandits in the north”?, Magnus Ochefu, a lawyer asked.

Ochefu said the country is going to see more banditry as the youths did not return all the guns bought by the politicians to intimidate oppositions, woo vote, and rig the 2019 elections in their favour. “The guns will not continue to be idle when these youths do not have jobs to do, they will use them for banditry, kidnapping and robbery”, he said.

In line with Ochefu, Ademola Oyeniran, a civil servant, noted that so many illegal guns are out there. It is difficult to get cash from robbing homes now, the easy way is to kidnap. “My friend’s daughter, who was returning to school, was among 10 people kidnapped along the AbujaKaduna Expressway sometime ago, but the ransom was unrealistic N10 million, where can he get that money. They were released when good ransom from the relatives of three victims excited the kidnap-

Continued from page 33

In Nigeria you are ‘On Your Own’

extent are presently doing a great deal to help Nigerians get access to medical treatment, yet their presence have not been able to bridge enough gap as majority of their plans covers very little such as child bearing, minor surgery and other smaller medical treatment. This is why many working class Nigerians

do not get to rely on HMOs to solve complex medical cases.

To reduce risk to life, policy makers need to devise health care reforms to address the lack of social and financial protection for the poor and vulnerable populations.

This will include the expansion of the NHIS and mandating states to

provide health insurance coverage to all residents. Making health insurance optional for states over the years has affected the ability of the NHIS to increase the level of coverage for the people.

Nigeria needs government funded social and financial risk protection scheme through a general

tax financing system for the poor and vulnerable, and invest in basic infrastructure for health care in rural areas for quality health care service delivery.

Some low- and middle-income countries have been able to provide social and financial risk protection schemes for poor and vulner-

pers”, Oyeniran said.

Going forward, anybody can be kidnapped if the menace is not checked as more unemployed youths will join the lucrative kidnapping trade and collect any ransom as long as it is good enough to replace their pullets, visit brothels, smoke and drink.

The intrigue is that even the rich are more vulnerable because their poor cook, poor police security guard, poor driver and poor relatives are not happy with the show of wealth amid their lack.

As well, nobody is free to express opinions, especially if such opinions are perceived to be against the interest of the government.

Recently, Ibrahim Garba Wala, popular human rights activist and convener of the Citizens Action To Take Back Nigeria (CATBAN), filed a Notice of Appeal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja to challenge the “unreasonable” 12-year prison sentence without an option of fine handed to him by Justice Yusuf Halilu of the High Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Wala’s conviction followed a petition filed by Labaran Magaji, prosecution counsel, on behalf of the executive chairman of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Malam Abdullahi Muhammad, on April 4. He was alleged to have used his Facebook page to incite the public against Muhammad and defame him and that of the NAHCON. The case has drawn widespread criticism by foreign and local pro-democracy campaigners who accuse the judiciary and political elite of stifling free speech.

As well, Deji Adeyanju, a social activist, was only released in March after 78 days in custody following his controversially arrested by the police late last year. Adeyanju, a critic of President Buhari was arrest on December 13, 2018 on allegations of murder, which drew nationwide attention as most people believed it was his hard stand against the present administration that got him in the custody.

There are other instances of attempt to suppress freedom of speech, especially in the political scene and sadly in a democratic era.

However, Nigerians are living on the edge and in the fashion of ‘suffering and smiling’. Soon, many may not smile amid their suffering again. But most people think that a lot of Nigerians are beginning to join the bandwagon of banditry, kidnappers, office looters, bribe collectors among others, for their own pound of flash, as nothing is done.

able populations as a matter of the human right to health. Therefore, there is a need to provide social health protection schemes targeted at these groups in Nigeria.

This will help reduce the number of Nigerians on social media soliciting for resources to fund their medical treatment.

Sunday 26 May 2019

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BDSUNDAY 35

SundayBusiness NHF loans, subscribers and Great Expectations

R

ecently, maybe and just maybe, the National Housing Fund (NHF) scheme has improved according to the management of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) which oversees its operations and disburses its loan applications through applicant’s preferred primary mortgage bank (PMB).

Until now, NHF was mere drudgery and getting mortgage through the scheme, even as a subscriber, was a long trek to “Jordan and the outermost parts of the earth.” Although FMBN management says it is no longer business as usual, subscribers and loan applicants are yet see the impact.

For them, it is still the same old story that is not different, in any significant way, from the story of Phillip Pirrip (Pip) and his long awaited benefactor in Charles Dickens Great Expectations—a long fictional narrative mirroring the frustrating living conditions in the 19th Century English society in which Pip lived.

This is the story of Edward Okon, a middle-aged man who left higher school 26 years ago at the age of 24.

Okon’s immediate plans on leaving school was to work for six years and marry at the age of 30. Thereafter, he would start processes leading to owning a home before his 40th birthday.

That was a long term plan because he reasoned that the only easy, simple and convenient way for him to own a home from his not-too-big salary was to take a mortgage loan

and pay back by installments.

Because of its low interest rate and long repayment period of 6 percent and 20-30 years respectively, Okon decided for the National Housing Fund (NHF). He approached one of the primary mortgage banks (PMBs) to subscribe for the fund.

His experience there was anything but cheering.

After subscribing and contributing for one year instead of the statutory six months requirement, Okon’s long trek to obtaining a loan via his contribution began. His PMB made impossible demands from him, leading to his anger and decision to suspend his application for the elusive loan.

That was how Okon’s faith in his country’s mortgage system almost died and his dream of owning a home through mortgage was deferred.

Although through frugal living and co-operatives, Okon has been able to build his housing, a modest three bedroom bungalow in a Lagos suburb, his interest and hope in the Nigerian mortgage system came alife again when the Federal Government, in another round of intervention, set up the Nigerian mortgage refinance company (NMRC) in 2014.

NMRC was launched into the Nigerian mortgage market as a secondary mortgage institution aimed to raise liquidity in the mortgage system and drag down interest rate on mortgage loan to upper single digit or a spread of double digits. Its operation was also expected to catalyse the development and delivery of affordable housing to Nigerians

Procurement and Supply Chain

with Gob-Agundu Uche Branch chair (CIPS), Nigeria

T

endering can be defined as the public release by an organization of the requirements of goods or services for a project to allow formal bids to be made to supply these goods or services. Post tender negotiations refer to the negotiations that take place between a client (or contractee) and potential suppliers, after the receipt of tenders but prior to contract award. In the public sector these negotiations are supposed to be limited to clarifications of substantive items within the tender and do not include price negotiations.

There are a variety of means of obtaining offers from suppliers such as ‘requests for pricing/ quotation’, ‘enquiries’ etc. many of which can be confused to mean the same process. CIPS believes that obtaining an offer from a supplier has a range of different degrees of complexity, and that tendering is most appropriate for high value and high-risk purchases and where transparency is paramount. As

core elements in purchasing and supply management, CIPS considers that all Procurement & Supply Management (P&SM) professionals should be proficient in the application of tendering and post tender negotiation.

The advantages of tendering i n c l u d e : Tr a n s p a r e n c y ; a n established, accepted and generally understood process; an audit trail; compliance with the organization’s policy; fairness to all parties; the encouragement of competition; the production of a written quotation, along with relevant supporting information, against a prescribed need and an easier comparison of offers.

The disadvantages of tendering include: It can be very bureaucratic; It is may provide a barrier for SMEs; It can be a triumph of process over substance; It can inhibit flair, creativity, and innovation; It can be expensive for all parties e.g. the time and resource in preparation and evaluation of tenders; It can inhibit negotiation and Prices submitted are often inflated to allow room for

within the low income bracket.

It is a private sector-driven company with the public purpose of developing the primary and secondary mortgage markets by raising long‐term funds from the domestic capital market as well as foreign markets for providing accessible and affordable housing in Nigeria.

The company whose mandate is mainly to increase liquidity in the mortgage system by refinancing mortgages originated by the primary mortgage banks (PMBs) came on a very high pedestal of providing cheap and long term funds, reducing interest rate to single digit, increasing the country’s housing stock by 720,000 annually, and creating 300,000 indirect jobs.

To Okon and many other Nigerians, particularly the mortgage operators, this was a new dawn because the company would issue long term bonds in the capital market as efficiently as possible and channel the proceeds to refinance member-institutions at a competitive rate, bringing to an end, or reducing to the barest minimum, the huddles posed to mortgage lending to real estate.

True to this expectation, NMRC has visited the capital market twice and raised about N19 billion. In the visit, it raised N8 billion with which it refinanced mortgages originated by six mortgage institutions including Stanbic IBTC, Imperial Homes, Sterling Bank, Sun Trust Mortgage Bank, Trustbond Mortgage Bank, and Homebase Mortgage Bank which got N1.8 billion, N1.7 billion,

Talking Mortgage with CHUKA UROKO (08037156969, chukuroko@yahoo.com) N1.6 billion, N1.3 billion, N700 million and N500 million respectively.

It remains to be seen by Okon and other Nigerians what purpose this refinancing function has served Nigerians. The effect of the refinancing of the six mortgage institutions is yet to be felt in the housing sector as there is no news anywhere of any mortgage loan applicant, especially NHF contributors, that have been given loans to buy, build or renovate houses as a result of this.

The second capital raise by the company has added to the number of PMBs whose loans have been refinanced, raising expectations that more mortgage applicants will be able to access mortgage to buy or build their homes.

Officials of the company assured that when they raised another capital, it would come at lower interest rate and PMBs will be able to access the funds at lower interest rate, if not at single digit, at least, at lower double digit.

High interest rate has been the bane of mortgage access for home

ownership in Nigeria as many mortgage applicants and home seekers cannot afford the commercial interest rate of between 20 percent and 25 percent charged on mortgage loans with very short repayment period.

The role NMRC is expected to play in this direction is to provide liquidity for the mortgage market and, consistent with its mandate to promote wider spread of home ownership, accessibility and affordability, the company has come with some initiatives that have also failed to show impact.

The ‘Housing/Mortgage Market Information Portal (MMIP)’ is one of such initiatives aimed to enable it to gather data for intelligence and profiling of federal, states civil servants and informal sectors (off-takers) for affordable housing.

Another initiative is the Mortgage Market System (MMS) which is a transformational change that integrates the entire housing market, covering construction finance, primary and secondary mortgage.

Tendering and post-tender negotiation part 1 negotiation.

Pre-requisites for tendering CIPS believes that a good specification is an important factor in achieving value for money. It is vital when inviting tenders, and the greater the financial commitment the more important it is, that P&SM professionals ensure the existence of an appropriate specification.

Generally, specifications for complex requirements should be output or outcome-based i.e. what is to be achieved as opposed to how it should be achieved, or functional i.e. what the requirement should be able to do as opposed to its technical profile. Such specifications enable suppliers to be innovative in their solutions. In some cases, technical specifications are useful and needed, especially in manufacturing and/or engineering scenarios. The P&SM professional must ensure the drafter of the specification is clear about the requirement and that they can specify it properly.

Such specifications should be described in terms of commonly used standards, e.g. European standards, British standards, International standards (ISO). When using a technical standard, care must be taken to avoid proprietary items, where possible. When using a choice of standards, those standards must be comparable.

Documentation There are various elements that could comprise an invitation to tender (ITT) document such as:

·A covering letter providing instructions e.g. labels to be used, return date, contact names and numbers etc. with some background to the requirement and a statement that reads along the lines of “we are not bound to accept any, or the lowest tender” ·An acknowledgement form - to be returned stating whether the supplier is intending to submit a tender ·A specification (as above) ·A cost, price, and delivery schedule - to be completed with the price and corresponding costs components e.g. information to assist whole life costing along with the expected de- livery or lead time ·A detailed breakdown of production costs e.g. margin, overheads etc. to be completed ·A quality schedule - declaring which quality standards are met by the supplier ·A signed declaration of bona fide tender ·A parent company guarantee/ performance bond to be completed as appropriate ·A series of questions on policy e.g. health and safety, environment, social responsibility etc. to which the supplier should respond ·A list of information required on the supplier’s company profile (if not already obtained) ·A request for the supplier’s company accounts e.g. for the last three years (if not already obtained) ·A list of satisfied customers along with at least one reference.

Pre-qualification CIPS advocates the use of prequalification before inviting tenders wherever possible. This is so that suppliers which are unsuitable for the requirement in question can be eliminated from the tendering process and the tendering process can then be focused on the offer itself. For example, pre-qualification would include an evaluation of suppliers’: ·Financial standing ·Quality procedures ·Capacity and competence ·Track record These criteria would then not be required in the ITT and can be used in any subsequent tendering exercises. However, depending on the market, it is recommended that pre-qualified suppliers are evaluated in this way periodically.

If a p r e - q u a l i f i e d l i s t o f tenderers is to be used (so that the suppliers are all known in advance as opposed to simply responding to an advertisement) it is acceptable practice to advise these suppliers that an ITT for the supplies or services in question will be forwarded to them by a specific date. This enables suppliers to plan what can be a resource intensive process.

CIPS believes that suppliers should not be requested to pay for ITT documentation as this discriminates against small to medium sized enterprises. …..to be concluded

36 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 26 May 2019

SundayBusiness Food & Beverages With Ayo Oyoze Baje

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igeria’s determined drive for the implementation of the twin policies of food security and safety has brought to the fore the imperative of bio-safety and environmental protection in line with internationally accepted best practices. The issue goes beyond mass production of sundry food items. What more, there are multiplicity of challenges to be overcome. These include poor funding, low mechanisation level, lack of involvement of the stakeholders in policy formulations and the unwillingness of banks to offer long-term loans, especially to rural farmers. Organic farming is therefore, seen as significant means of providing people with healthier food choices. It is considered a sustainable agricultural practice since it does not use harmful chemical fertilisers and pesticides that deplete the nutritional value of

Imperative of organic farming for food safety foods and have deleterious effects on the environment.

One of the persisting challenges however, is that many Nigerian farmers are not familiar with organic farming methods. Most still grow fruits and vegetables with the use of chemical fertilisers and still apply pesticide that may be harmful to the consumers.

According to agric experts commercially produced foods, especially those treated with chemical fertilizers and pesticides that leave our foods with toxins which could lead to life-threatening diseases.The Environmental Protection Agency of the U.S. government claims that some of the most common pesticides and fertilisers have been linked to cancer and other diseases. In fact, 60per cent of all herbicides, 90 per cent of fungicides, and 30 per cent of insecticides are considered carcinogenic.

From the environmental perspective, those pesticides and chemicals find their way into our drinking water and deplete the land of nutrients. In addition, the fruits and vegetables grown through organic farming can becarriedout domestically with virtually all family members taking part. This inadvertently imbibes the culture of healthy farming and eating methods.

In addition, it is economically wise since the amount of money spent on fuel to get the produce from the farmlands to the home is drastically minimised.When also considered from the organoleptic platform such foods are fresher, more appealing and have better tastes. On the nutritional content, The Journal of American Nutrition says studies have shown that

organic foods have between 10 to 250 times the nutritional value compared to the non-organic varieties.

Even though the size of fruits may be smaller for organic fruits, it was discovered in 2001 that the nutritional content of such fruits grown in the US had 30 per cent more nutrients especially vitamin C than the non-organic types.

According to Oluwatomi Olatoye, a journalist, many approved pesticides were registered long before extensive research linked these chemicals to cancer and other diseases. It prevents any more of these chemicals from getting into the air, earth and water that sustain us.

The elimination of polluting chemicals and nitrogen leaching, done in combination with soil building, protects and conserves water resources. This type of agric practice respects the balance demanded of a healthy ecosystem: wildlife is encouraged by including forage crops in rotation and by retaining fence rows, wetlands and other natural areas.

Every food category has an organic alternative. And non-food agricultural products are being grown organically – even cotton, which most experts felt could not be grown this way. Don’t forget, the best way to get fresh, organic fruits and vegetables is by growing them in your own garden.

The Indian experience Globally, India is recognised as one of the leading lights in organic farming. According to Nishika Patel, budding interest in organic food offers farmers soaring incomes and higher yields, but critics say it’s not the answer to India’s fast-rising food demands

India’s struggling farmers are starting to profit from a budding interest in organic living. Not only are the incomes of organic farmers soaring – by 30percent to 200percent, according to organic experts – but their yields are rising as the pesticide-poisoned land is repaired through natural farming methods.

Organic farming only took off in the country about seven years ago. Farmers are turning back to traditional farming methods for a number of reasons. First, there’s a 10percent to 20percent premium to be earned by selling organic products abroad and in India’s increasingly affluent cities, a move towards healthy living and growing concern over toxic foods and adulteration plaguing the food market.

Second, the cost of pesticides and fertilisers has shot up and the loans farmers need to buy expensive, modified seed varieties are pushing many into a spiral of debt. Crippling debt and the burden of loans are triggering farmer suicides across the country, particularly in the Vidarabha region of Maharashtra. Organic farming slashes cultivation and input costs by up to 70percent due to the use of cheaper, natural products like manure instead of chemicals and fertilisers.

Third, farmers are suffering from the damaging effects of India’s green revolution, which ushered in the rampant use of pesticides and fertilisers from the 1960s to ensure bumper yields and curb famine and food shortages. Over the decades, the chemicals have taken a toll on the land and yields are plunging.

“Western, modern farming has spoiled agriculture in the

country. An overuse of chemicals has made land acidic and hard, which means it needs even more water to produce, which is costly,” says Narendra Singh of OrganicIndia. “Chemicals have killed the biggest civilisation in agriculture – earthworms, which produce the best soil for growth.”

UmeshVishwanath Chaudhari, 35, a farmer in the Jalgaon district in Maharashtra, switched to organic farming seven years ago after experiencing diminishing yields from his 8-hectare (20-acres) plot.

He came across a book on organic farming techniques using ancient Vedic science. He started making natural fertilisers and pesticides using ingredients such as cow manure, cow urine, honey and through vermicomposting – the process of using earthworms to generate compost. Since then, his yields and income have risen by 40persent, and worms have returned to his soil. He sells lime, custard apple and drumsticks to organic stores in Pune, Mumbai and other cities, while his cotton is bought by Morarka, a rural NGO. He plans to convert another 2 hectares to organic cotton and buy 10 cows to make his own manure, rather than buying it.

More Nigerian farmers should therefore, be trained on how to maximise the immense benefits of organic farming not only to feed the growing population expected to explode to 400 million Nigerians by 2050 but to protect our increasingly fragile environment.

Baje is Nigerian first Food Technologist in the media ayobaje@yahoo.co.uk; 08057971776

Sterling Bank brings Tuggar’s Art closer home

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orn in Kaduna. Educated in Lagos, United Kingdom and the United States of America. Internationally renowned for using technology as a medium and subject in her works, what does contemporary visual artist Fatimah Tuggar have to do with Nigeria’s technological advancement, ethnicity and colonial legacies?

By a desirable accident of birth, this citizen of the world and acclaimed artist is physically connected and deeply rooted in Nigeria through her quintessential works and family background. Hence her appearance as the first guest on The Space in an episode that challenges our perceptions and attachments to accustomed ways of looking.

Supported by Sterling Bank, The Space, a television talk show initiated by Daria Media provided an open, uncluttered space for Fatimah to infuse and project her life’s work, style and personality through an exhibition and almost an hour talk with a select audience.

Relatively unknown in this clime, the celebrated artist’s works have been widely exhibited at international venues in over 25 countries, including the Museum of Modern Art, New York, United States of

America; Museum Kunst-Palast, Dusseldorf, Germany; Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, France; the 24th Biennial of Graphic Art, Ljubljana Slovenia; and Moscow, Istanbul, Kwangju and Bamako Biennials. Her celebrated works comment on potentially sensitive themes such as ethnicity, technology and post-colonial culture.

Addressing select artists, collectors and culture enthusiasts during the recording of debut edition of The Space, Abubakar Suleiman, Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank, said the bank is committed to promoting original ideas, especially in relation to works of art.

He explained that the bank supported the first edition of The Space featuring Fatimah Tuggar because a lot of ideas that can transform the society will come from the creative industry. “It is the story that we tell about where we are coming from and how those stories inspire us that would help us to find a common ground so that our society can move forward. The words which writers use or the actual materials that visual artists use don’t convey much on their own. Even the money that bankers use conveys little. What gives meaning to everything is how they are presented, what we put

into them or what they do for the society. Every format and platform provide the artist or creative mind with an opportunity to communicate”, Abubakar enthused.

Also speaking, Kadaria Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of Daria Media, reiterated the need for serious, intellectually stimulating and engaging conversations about the arts, leadership, business and community in ways that avoid the clichéd formats that have become the norm.

Lamenting the domination of the media and public spaces by politicians who are mostly not model citizens, Kadaria stressed the importance of positive role

models in shaping society through the influence they exercise on the young generation cannot be overemphasized.

Taking the floor, leading visual artist, Victor Ehikhamenor introduced Fatimah Tuggar to the audience before engaging her in conversations that explored themes ranging from power to politics, career influence and the intersection between arts and technology.

Presenting works from her multidisciplinary portfolio, Fatimah who works with photomontage, sculpture and installations, defined her art as Alternative Imaginary.

She uses images, objects, installations and web-based instructive

media artworks which are eclectic mix of West African and Western motifs to provoke conversations on gender, electricity, infrastructure, access and the reciprocal influences between technology and cultures.

Her compositions also include webbased interactive installations that allows participants to create their own collages and narratives.

She showcased her 1996 sculpture titled Turntable in which raffia discs is used in place of vinyl records.

The artwork speaks about the ways in which the introduction of the gramophone influenced the development of local language.

Because of the physical similarly between the vinyl and fai-fai in many Northern Nigerian languages vinyl record get its name from raffia disc.

For instance, in Hausa the raffia disc is called fai-fai and vinyl is fai-fain gramophone.

Another example is her work titled, Money and Matter, created in 2002, which comments on the dynamics of money and matter.

Made up of nine strings of images, the artwork, explores the relationship of humans to capital both on a personal level and from a social perspective. It explores money as a symbol is both a subject and object of what people fear and desire.

Sunday 26 May 2019

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BDSUNDAY 37

SundayBusiness

China doesn’t want a trade war but is by no means afraid of fighting one Zhou Pingjian

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hina-US trade talks are catching the eye of the Nigerian media recently. Around the world, there have been widespread concerns over the new round of additional tariffs between China and the US. Some believe escalated disputes will bring more uncertainties to world economy. Some have described the global economic landscape as “unpredictable” and labeled the trade issue as “the biggest uncertainty”.

We have noted the reactions of the international community and understand the concerns of various parties. Indeed, the escalation of China-US trade disputes is not in the interests of either side and will put a drag on world economy.

But the facts are clear to all: it is the US that provoked the trade disputes, not China; it is the US that fired the first shot in raising tariffs, not China; it is the US that repeatedly resorted to maximum pressuring, not China. What China has done so far is entirely selfdefense against the unreasonable acts of the US side. By so doing, we are not only defending our own legitimate rights and interests, but also safeguarding multilateralism and the free trading system. The international community has its fair judgment on who is the initiator of the latest round of a tariff war, the rule-breaker in free trade and the generator of risks in global economy.

The underlying reason that the 11 rounds of consultations failed to yield an agreement is that the

Trump and Chinese President

US attempts to achieve unreasonable demands through maximum pressure. This wouldn’t work from the very beginning.

The simplistic view that the US is “ripped off” in its trade with China is unscientific and unprofessional.

Economic globalisation by nature is a process during which countries leverage each other’s respective strengths and each supplies what the other needs. What we call reciprocity and mutual benefit in trade refers to the overall reciprocity and balance of interests in the open market of all industries. It is only unrealistic to pursue absolute reciprocal openness in real trade practices. Therefore, the negotiated trade agreement itself can by no means ask for absolute equality in all fields and it must be equal and mutually beneficial with two-way balance. There is hope for success only when the consultations proceed on the right track of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.

The US side claimed on May 17th that the two sides actually had a deal, but China broke it.

We are not sure what “deal” the US was referring to. Perhaps it has bore in mind all along “a deal” of its own wild wish, one that China has certainly not agreed on however.

When its threats didn’t work and instead led to widespread doubts and market fluctuations at home and abroad, the US resorted to muddying the waters and shifting the blame.

That, too, is futile as the international community see clearly which side has been flip-flopping all along in the past 11 rounds of trade talks.

In May last year, China and the US reached consensus on trade and issued a joint statement in Wash-

ington, D.C. But just a few days after that, the US abandoned the agreement. In December last year, the two sides reached consensus on the value of China’s purchases from the US, but in the following talks the US wantonly rejected the agreement and asked for more. It is never China that backtracks and breaks commitments.

The issue of forced technology transfers is sheer fabrication. In fact, China attaches great importance to the protection of intellectual property rights. There is never any policy forcing foreign actors to transfer technology.

The recently-adopted Foreign Investment Law by China’s top legislature stipulates explicitly that there shall be no forced technology transfer through administrative means. There have been mutual investment and technology transfers between China and foreign countries, which is the result of consensual cooperation between

market entities, a win-win cooperation by nature.

For some time, out of political motives, the US has been abusing its national power to tarnish the image of and suppress specific Chinese companies while making “national security” a catch-all phrase, which is disgraceful and unjust. This is entirely against market rules and the principle of fairness, which does not serve the interests of the US either.

The US side recently told reporters many times that China’s economy was not so good, and that China very much wanted to make a deal.

Such remarks are just baseless. The fact is that the Chinese economy is growing steadily with a positive momentum. Trade protectionist measures of the US side will have some impact on our economy, but we can totally overcome it. We have the confidence and capability to guard against any external risks and impacts.

In the first quarter this year, China’s GDP grew by 6.4percent year on year, which is more than expected. In particular, domestic demand has become the main driver for growth. Last year, consumption contributed 76.2percent of our economic growth. In its recent World Economic Outlook report, the IMF downgraded its outlook for global economic growth to 3.3percent while upgrading China’s growth from 6.2percent to 6.3percent. China was the only country that got upgraded in the forecast among all major economies.

From January to April this year, China’s import and export increased by 4.3percent year on year, with dramatic increase in export to the EU and ASEAN. With trade partners all around the world, China is turning more rapidly into a strong trading nation. Many countries would like to share China’s development dividends. If some country does not want to do business with China, others will soon fill in the vacancy.

The US side is reported to claim

that China will be hurt very badly if it doesn’t make a deal because companies will be forced to move to other countries.

Frankly, the US doesn’t need to worry at all on China’s behalf.

Over the past four decades of reform and opening up, enormous achievements have been made in economic and social development in China. As foreign investment environment keeps improving, China has become one of the most popular destinations for global investment for many consecutive years. When choosing investment destinations and business partners, enterprises make decisions based on their own interests and market principles rather than empty words from certain persons.

As a matter of fact, despite the constant US threats to impose additional tariffs on Chinese products for the past year or so, China remains a popular destination for foreign investors as their enthusiasm remains high. The number of foreign companies newly set up in China in 2018 topped 60,000, up by 69.8percent. It is worth mentioning in particular that the biggest US oil company Exxon Mobil Corp decided to set up a wholly-owned large-scale petrochemicals project in September last year. In January this year, US company Tesla officially kicked off the construction of its first overseas factory in Shanghai.

As the top two biggest economies in the world, the economic and trade relations between China and the US are of great significance to the two countries and the global economy. The US should have worked with China and shouldered its responsibilities for global growth. But on the contrary, it insisted on staging a trade war unilaterally and repeatedly increased tariffs on Chinese goods against standing consensus while China has kept full sincerity for the consultations.

China has made it very clear on many occasions, raising tariffs won’t solve any problem, and starting a trade war will harm not only others, but also oneself. China doesn’t want a trade war, but is by no means afraid of fighting one.

China never succumbs to external pressure. We have the resolve and capability to defend our lawful and legitimate rights and interests. If someone brings the war to our doorstep, we will fight to the end.

We hope the US will heed the international community’s call of ration and justice, keenly grasp the situation, return to the right track as early as possible, meet China halfway and strive for a mutually beneficial agreement on the basis of mutual respect. It will serve the interests of China and the US and is the shared aspiration of the international community. .Zhou Pingjian is the Ambassador of China to Nigeria

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Sunday 26 May 2019

TheWorshippers Nothing comes to God by surprise, and His dreams never die - Obembe Joseph Olanrewaju Obembe, a cardinal, archbishop and founder of El-Shaddai Bible Church, Lagos, recently passed on to glory, aged 63. The former Chairman of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Lagos Chapter, is being missed by a retinue of followers and members of his family. In this interview with SEYI JOHN SALAU, Olanrewaju Obembe, the eldest son of the late cleric, spoke about the life and times of his father, Obembe. Excerpts:

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How does it feel losing such a special person in your life? don’t know how best to properly answer that question because loss is a very weird thing. No matter how you might think about it or try to prepare about it; when it actually comes around it’s never the same. Like you said, to lose somebody who you’ve seen all your life just shows you the brevity of life, and how we are just working under grace basically.

So, how do I feel? I really cannot put it into words but we trust in God to take every day as it comes. A lot of people are quick to pray and say – forgive and forget, but it doesn’t work that way because you are not necessarily going to be praying for amnesia but we can only pray for grace to remember less. The bible has told us how God is the Father to the fatherless; we can only lean on him more to help through this trying times. It goes without saying that the lost is enormous and these are going to be some really big shoes to fill-in because when you have people like my dad who have had a special connection with God, it goes a long way; all you can do is just lean on Him. Would you say he saw it coming?

I will answer that question by saying nothing comes to God by surprise because this is one of the things I have found in my faith– the fact that there is no accident with God and if you look a bit about physics, there are lots of

variables that come to play every day for us to have whatever outcome; and if there are variables in play, then it is not a coincidence that somebody has to be orchestrating with all these things. The fact that you are here means that you have to leave your house at a particular time; a car has to move at a particular speed. I have to do a lot of what I have to do and we have to communicate at this time; so you are living your life on one side, I am living mine, but we have to come here together; so I wouldn’t say that it came as a surprise to God because he is the author and finisher of our faith– he controls everything; but it’s we who don’t see the end from the beginning that it might come

It’s in human nature to want to streamline and over think things and want to know who would: David wanted to build God a temple in the bible and he did everything, and God still said no; and it was the son that ended up building it

Joseph Olanrewaju Obembe

as a surprise to, and I think that is why we have words like accident because they are not planned.

What are you going to miss the most about your dad?

Everything. I mean we could be here from now till tomor-

L-R: Oyinkansola Alabi, founder, Emotions City; Leke Alder, Principal Consultant, Alder Consulting, and Godman Akinlabi, Senior Pastor, Elevation Church, at a press conference on the Alder Church Report 2019 in Lagos recently.

row and it still wouldn’t be enough. He can talk about how he searched for lack of better words; quote and unquote ‘a crazy dreamer’ we have seen that even with technology you have to push. He had a dream; he has a purpose and it has become my life’s work or one of my own purpose to see as much of his dreams I can push; am not going to be the only one to spear-head it but one of the things I found out about him is that he had a dream, and for every dream he had, he has somebody God connected him with. One of the major things I will miss is the fact that we don’t have that direct guardian anymore and basically I have to put on my ‘big boy’ cap and move because he has done his own due diligence, he has done the hard work; he has connected with God; so now, we have to start and there is no intermediary as it were: so, I will miss the fact that we can no longer share those moments of encouragement, and a lot of personal things I would not be able to share.

Is that a way of saying he has passed the baton to you, and are you ready to take up that challenge?

Can people be really ready for challenges? I think that it is a challenge because you really can’t do it and if I could do it; it

wouldn’t be a challenge and I don’t think anybody is ready for challenges. But, like I said – when it comes you put on your ‘big boy’ cap and pray for guidance; and you do it. You will make your mistakes; you will fail, failure is part of the process: I have never been afraid to fail because one of the things I have learnt from him is that failure is actually part of the process and you cannot escape it because one of the things he always says is ‘success has many fathers and failure doesn’t – failure is an orphan’. We only celebrate those who have made achievement; we can point to a lot of things that he has done but a lot of people don’t know a lot he couldn’t accomplished; it is a natural way - by faith maybe, but we can’t do it alone and like I said, we will take things as they come.

It is like a daily bread; every day as it comes we lean on God and see how far we can go.

Do you think the church will pursue his dream of owning a private university?

My dad is a lot of things – he is definitely a dreamer and that is why nobody can dispute the fact that a lot of the dreams he had a couple of years/decades ago; some could argue and say he is a mad man because people who don’t get the dream don’t say it until it comes to past.

There is a quote that says it’s only crazy or impossible until it’s done. So, God pays for whatever he orders, that’s why he has the provision – so, for vision there is a provision.

If God gives him the dream, it is safe to say that it will come to past; it doesn’t matter how long, it may tarry but it will come to past. I am not going to speculate on who or what because that is not our job – our job is to trust and work, and it will get done.

It’s in human nature to want to streamline and over think things and want to know who would: David wanted to build God a temple in the bible and he did everything, and God still said no; and it was the son that ended up building it. At the end of the day, did he get the temple he wanted to build; he did. As long as it is a God-given dream, God will make provision and pay for it. He did not ask us to do anything; so far whatever we have been able to accomplish on the institution did not come from anything that we could say we can boast about because through-out the process we have seen God’s hands at work. So, it’s not far-fetched to say that it would be done because it’s God’s dream.

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BDSUNDAY 39

TheWorshippers CAN election: Contenders urged to exhibit Christ-likeness in their ambition SEYI JOHN SALAU

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he forthcoming June election of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has continued to elicit variegated remarks as the day draws nearer. Many stakeholders and observers have expressed disappointment over the level of politicking attending the campaign towards the election.

They wonder if such was necessary if the motive of seeking election was indeed service to God. They have also urged those in the race to pursue their ambition with every sense of humility and exhibit the virtue of Christ-likeness.

Recently, the Electoral College cleared Caleb Ahima, the president of Tarayar Ekklisiyoyin Kristi A Nigeria (TEKAN), and Samson Ayokunle, the president of Nigerian Baptist Convention and current president of CAN, to contest in the race for the new CAN leadership scheduled for June.

TEKAN means Fellowship of the Churches of Christ in Nigeria and consists 15 churches in northern Nigeria, which share same bloc with Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA).

If anything, the June election could either be a vote of confidence on the incumbent to continue in office or signal a change of leadership. CAN members include the CSN, CCN, CPFN/PFN, OAIC, and TEKAN/ECWA.

Ahima, while making his intention known said it is God who gives leadership, as he prays that God’s will be done. “The journey to leadership cannot be permitted in any way to divide God’s people or cast aspersion on the image of the church.

“My nomination by TEKAN for the contest and ECWA’s acceptance of the nomination is the voice of God, since, quite often, the voice of the people is the voice of God,” said Ahima.

In a bid to actualise Ahima ambition of leading the body of Christ, a five-member committee was set up to facilitate the achievement of his aspiration, with different mandates, including reaching out to ECWA, that jointly form one of the five

blocs of CAN. Speaking with BDSUNDAY, Joseph Ojo, the Archbishop of Calvary Kingdom Church (CKC), Lagos said there would be no change of leadership if the current president has the confidence of the people for a new tenure.

According to him, CAN presidency is for three years and everyone knows that he has tenure that is a standard practice.

“If what any incumbent has done is viewed by the Electoral College; good, it does not have to be if there is a need for change of leadership. It is when the tenure expires what the person has been able to do for three years will determine the need to have him go

for another three years or not. For now, I don’t think election should be done out of a need; when the tenure expires what you have done should be the yardstick to determine continuation,” said Joseph.

Stephen Ogundipe of the Baptist Seminary, Lagos told BDSUNDAY that the church needs someone bold enough to speak truth to power to lift up the name of the Lord in the nation. “I think he has been trying, he has been doing his best and if he has the opportunity they should allow him to go once again,” he stated.

Anthony Olubunmi Cardinal Okogie, the Archbishop Emeritus of Lagos in a phone interview with

shared my philosophy of life and ministry with him.

6 Guiding ethos of mine Love god passionately (faith): I put ‘God First’ in everything I do and my wife also shares

the same with me. I recall sharing this with her when we were in Christian courtship about 25 years ago, I told her that we should both put God ahead of each other and we shall have peace in our marriage. I believe in God First in everything I do in life.

I love my wife and children (family): This is obvious to those who are close to me; after God First, it is ‘Family Next’ for me.

Many people place their jobs ahead of their Family and it is strange and terrible. Family should be next to God in life and ministry.

I work hard (finances): This is where people miss it when it comes to Philosophy of life, they place work above God and Family.

For me it is next to both because God and family are too important in life. Work is where ‘Finances’ are made, so Finances comes after Faith and Family not before them as many people posit.

I play hard (fun): Like the saying goes ‘All work and no play makes Jack a Dull Boy’, so there is place for Fun in my philosophy of life unlike many of my colleagues who love ministry so much and do not spare time for some play. Even our Lord Jesus told His disciples to take some time out to play and

BDSUNDAY, said he wished not to comment on the forthcoming CAN election, saying the body has lost track with its primary purpose.

“Right from the time I left CAN, I have never seen anything objective; honestly. When we were there, we were fighting for the welfare, security, but these people are for their pocket. I don’t want to have anything to do with it,” he stated.

Some analysts, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity, expressed disappointment over the conduct of CAN leadership in recent times, particularly the scandals that have trailed its romance with political actors in the country.

“Going by the series of scandals that have trailed CAN in recent times in the area of money and all that, it is my considered opinion that election of any leader must put into consideration such conducts that demean the Christendom and the gospel of truth which we preach.

It appears to me that CAN has lost focus and those vying for its leadership must first go to Calvary for a fresh cleansing. To them, what is at stake now is silver and gold- mammon. By the way, why must CAN election be so hot and drawing attention if the objective indeed is to serve the body of Christ,” a cleric, who asked not to be named, said.

According to the cleric, “The contenders must eschew bitterness and show good ambassadors of Christians in the manner they go about their campaign.”

My philosophy of life REV. YOMI KASALI

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his is an exciting topic for me to write today towards inspiring you. Everyone should have a Philosophy of Life guiding their decisions, worldview, actions, and direction; this also determines the choices we make and people we hang around.

Our Lord asked His Apostles about whom men said He was (Matt 16 v 13-17), of course He was not confused about His identity but just wanted to know if those who followed Him understood who He was. His mandate and mission (Luke 4 v 18-20) was declared in a synagogue where he grew up, which also had his philosophy of life and ministry hidden therein.

Someone defined Philosophy of Life as ‘any philosophical view or vision of the nature or purpose of life or of the way that life should be lived.’

I had a chat with a protégé of mine recently and he asked me about my worldview and philosophy of life, he wondered why I do not seem bothered by the wrong perception of me in some

quarters, he also wanted to know why it looks like I am unmoved and unfazed by controversies in life and ministry especially following my recent interview on politics on Channels television. Of course I

not take life too serious without play (Mark 6 v 31). My play time is around movies, watching football games and supporting my team, going out with my family for some water games etc.

I like hanging around pals (friends): I have carefully chosen people I call friends over the last 30 years of my life, especially after I got saved in the early 80s,I discovered our Lord Jesus chose His Friends prayerfully, Though we Call them disciples today But they were simply people He hung around those days. I choose based on shared values and life philosophies.

I love looking good and beautiful (fine): This is where some may think I am carnal but I just Love Looking Good without being extravagant or flamboyant. I believe in dressing my best to bring glory to God and His Work on earth. Being prudent in modest apparel is a virtue and it is just my niche today.

I hope you have been blessed and inspired today, you may want to develop your philosophy also today and you will find happiness and success achievable.

Be Inspired!

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LifestyleHomes&Suites

Paul Ojenagbon pauloje2000@yahoo.com

Camden Court, promise of class in Lekki

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amden Court is a high end development of seventeen exquisite terrace homes set in the fast growing and tranquil residential community of IkateEleguishi, in the Lekki corridor. It is accessed by the newly renovated Freedom Way which detours off the Lekki-Epe Expressway and located by the first intersection on the popular expressway at the Lekki phase 1 Second Gate. It is set quietly on a sizeable piece of land and

comprises precisely 4-bedroom terrace house, each with a maid’s room, offering great value accommodation and delivering an elegance that benefits lavishly from a beautiful surrounding and with strong sense of communal living.

Camden Court is characterized by sustainable finishing and impressive features, spacious family houses making it a perfect family home of top quality. The development is being undertaken by Shelters Development Company Limited. The project

which just commenced and currently at foundation stage is slated for delivery in December 2020.

The houses which are set on three floors are to be attended to with excellent finishing comprising reinforced hardwood timber front doors with multi-lock externally and French doors in hues of grey internally, high grade security doors at kitchen exits, premium Aluminum windows and contemporary POP ceiling.

Major accommodation components include two large lounges,

spacious bedrooms, and master bedrooms with walk in closet.

To supply hot and cold water in the bathrooms, multi-layer conduct piping will be installed.

Porches and balconies are beautified with pendant light fittings.

The facilities and infrastructure include HV power transformer to stabilize electricity supply, borehole and water treatment plant, children play/picnic area and sewage treatment facility. There is environmental ambience in beautifully landscaped open spaces while ample parking

spaces are also designated for each unit.

The title on land is certificate of occupancy while deed of assignment will be issued to buyers. Only three units of the entire lot are now available for quick grabs which indicates a high level of acceptance. Off plan outright ‘concessionary ‘payment is priced at N68m per unit but with initial 20 percent deposit met, the balance payment can be spread out in installment arrangement according to certain major milestones in the project.

TM Meadows upgrades in Ebute-Metta

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M Meadows is a superb development effort that will refreshingly alter the landscape of Ebute-Metta, better known for its old, rustic houses. It is a 40unit estate being developed by Tetramanor Limited at the end of the Solanke Street at EbuteMetta East, just 5 minutes drive from the Third Mainland Bridge.

Construction commenced in May 2018 and delivery is slated for next year. They had earlier developed Comfy Burrows and TM Gardens amongst others which shows an excellent pedigree.

Being developed for outright

sale are various types including 2-bedroom apartments, 3-bedroom apartment maisonettes, standard and luxury,4-Bedroom standard, luxury and Pent House variants. The houses are beautifully designed and planned for excellent finishing with vitrified tiles for floor,screeded walls, security doors at the main entrances, casement windows with net, POP ceiling and cornices and Aluminium long span roofing.

Component finishes include galvanized steel railings, high quality woodwork, walk in closet and state of the art sanitary fittings while the kitchens come with cabinet.

Each house is distinguished from the others by some characteristic features. The 2-bedroom condo occupies 110 square metres built up space, the 3-bedroom standard 180 square metres,the luxury variant 215 square metres, and the 4-bedroom standard, luxury and penthouse, 200,275 and 320 square metres respectively.

The premium range, 4-bedroom penthouse is padded with all the luxury features including master bedroom, master bedroom closet, luxury bathroom, living and family lounge, maid’s room, private study and it is set on third and penthouse floors. The 4-bedroom luxury variant does not have private study, the living and family lounge is not as detailed as the former. The luxury features generally thin out towards the least category.

The contemporary estate will be complimented with an array of facilities and infrastructure including gym, garden and children’s play ground which also serves for purpose of recreation, back-up power and transformer.

Security is enhanced with close circuit television (CCTV) device and intercom for internal com-

munication. There is a supermarket where the residents can readily procure their immediate household needs.

The prices for outright payment range from N21m for the 2-bedroom apartment, N31.5m for the standard 3-bedroom apartment,N35.5m for the luxury variant, N38m for the standard 4-bedroom apartment,N45m and N49m for the luxury and penthouse variants respectively.

The title in view to bestow is Governor’s consent. Other payment plans are available.

Sunday 26 May 2019

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41

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EquityMarket Omoluwabi Mortgage Bank sees improvement in Q1 2019 turnover ...as MTN share price records first decline post listing

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Stories by TELIAT SULE urnover realised by O m o l u w a b i Mo r t gage Bank in the first quarter of 2019 rose by 3.7 percent to N125.1 million from N120.6 million same period last year.

The Q1 2019 turnover amounted to 27 percent of N460.9 million turnover the firm made in full year 2018, implying that it stands a good chance to surpass the 2018 record in full year 2019.

Interest income for the period rose to N54.6 million, a 93 percent increase over N28.3 million realised in similar period in 2018.

Net interest income for the period rose to N42.3 million, which was twice as much as N21.7 million recorded at the end of the first quarter of 2018.

However, fee income declined sharply to N6.3 million compared with N16.2 million recorded same period in 2018. Consequently, total operating income was down to N112.8 million at the end of the quarter as against N114 million it posted in similar period in 2018.

Total operating expenses increased to N79.6 million in contrast to N75.9 million it made in 2018. The total comprehensive income for the period fell to N33.3 million as against N38 million the firm recorded at the

end of the first quarter of 2018.

Meanwhile, the share price of MTN Nigeria recorded its first decline nine days after it was ad-

GSK approves final dividend, re-elects shareholders representatives

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hareholders of GlaxoSmithkline Consumer Nigeria Plc, at the 48th Annual General Meeting held at the Shell Nigeria Hall, MUSON Centre Onikan, Lagos, Thursday, 23rd May 2019 passed ordinary and general resolutions which affected different aspects of its operations, a note sent to the NSE by Uche Uwechia, stated.

The meeting of the shareholders resolved that the recommendation of the Board of Directors to the effect that a cash dividend of 50 Kobo (Fifty Kobo)per one ordinary share of 50 Kobo each (composed of 36k from retained pioneer profit and 14k from after tax profit for the year ended 31 December 2018) be paid to the shareholders whose names appear in the company’s register of members at the close of business on Tuesday, 23rd of April 2019.

It approved the appointment of Basel Nizameddin as a non-executive director of the company effective May 23, 2018 pursuant to Section 249(2) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act CAP C20 LFN 2004 and

Article 95 of the Articles of Association of the Company just as the retirement of Tunde Lemo and Lubabatu Bello from the Board of Directors by rotation was approved and because the two directors were eligible and having offered themselves for reelection were re-elected in accordance with the Section 259 (1) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act CAP. C20 LFN 2004 and Article 91 of the Company’s Articles of Association, two Directors, Section 259 (4) of CAMA Cap C20, LFN 2004.

“That the remuneration of N1,800,000 (One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira only) for the Chairman and the Non-Executive Directors, for the year ending 31st December 2018 is approved. And pursuant to Section 359 (4) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, CAP C20 LFN 2004, Kashimawo A. Taiwo, S.O. Ogunnowo, and Y.T. Mosuro, are hereby re-elected as representatives of the Shareholders on the Audit Committee of the Company for the financial year ending 31st December 2019”, the note further stated.

mitted to the main board of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

It shed 6.04 percent to close at N140 per share on Friday May

24, 2019. MTN Nigeria ended the week with a market capitalisation of N2.85 trillion representing 21 percent of the overall

equity market while Dangote Cement which ended the week at N200 per share and controlled 25 percent of the equity market capitalisation. It ended the week with N3.41 trillion market capitalisation.

In spite of the decline, analysts are of the views that the sentiment towards MTN Nigeria is still very strong and positive.

“Having rallied strongly to N150 level, I think today’s breather in MTN’s share price is expected, particularly as the current price aligns with peer valuation. Notably, at N145, the stock trades around 6.4x EBITDA, which is a justified premium to average peer valuation of 5.6x, considering the growth and strong fundamentals of the business in Nigeria. As you rightly know that the listing price of N90 was a benchmark valuation anchored on the OTC price of linked notes, hence, the market is still searching for the fair value for the stock and hopefully, it should find a near term price equilibrium at which it can settle soon”, Abiola Rasak, head, investor’s relation at the United Bank for Africa (UBA) said.

‘Sentiment for the stock remains largely positive, and this could potentially drive further gains in the coming weeks”, Kemi Akinde, senior analyst at Meristem Securities, said.

SEC, NSE streamline listing process to encourage more listings

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he Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) have moved to make the processes involving listing on the NSE more efficient and cost-effective by streamlining the approval process between the SEC and the NSE. The streamlined process which will come into effect on June 1, 2019, is aimed at reducing the regulatory burden on issuers by eliminating duplication of processes between the SEC and the NSE, reducing the time to market for the issuance and listing of securities and ultimately driving more listing on the Exchange.

With the streamlined processes, the SEC and the NSE will carry out joint site visits of companies intending to get listed, following the registration of their securities with the SEC. In the same vein, certain offer documents such as the Vending Agreement, Under-

writing Agreement, Trust Deed and ISPO, identified to be strictly within the jurisdiction of the SEC are to be submitted only to the SEC. Also, The Exchange will rely on SEC for approval of offer documents such as a Prospectus.

Isiyaku Bala Tilde, the Ag. Executive Commissioner Operations at the Securities and Exchange Commission disclosed that “Streamlining the issuance process with the listing process of the NSE is a major milestone for the Commission in its quest to create an enabling environment capable of attracting New Listings. One of our core values is leading by example, and we hope that other stakeholders will also look inward to explore similar initiatives which will ensure quick time to market of securities in our market. We have no doubt that the streamlined process will enhance the competitiveness of the Nigerian capital market as a

global investment destination.”

Speaking on this development, Tinuade Awe, Executive Director, Regulation at The Nigerian Stock Exchange said, “I commend the SEC for working with us in streamlining the listing process for securities on The Exchange.

The NSE is much obliged for the SEC’s demonstration of a worthy example of effective collaboration all through this process in the interest of the market. As an agile exchange, we are determined to make it easier for issuers to list their securities in our market in an efficient, timely and costeffective manner. The NSE began its collaboration with the SEC by identifying areas of duplication and overlap between the two organisations, paving way for a better experience for issuers.

We believe this will potentially attract more issuers to list their companies and other securities on the NSE.”

42 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 26 May 2019

Sports

How Gulf crisis killed FIFA’s expanded World Cup bid Stories By ANTHONY NLEBEM

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he world football governing body, FIFA, recently announced that the 2022 FIFA World Cup tournament in Qatar would not have 48 teams, deciding to stick with 32 countries siting political and logistical complexities of using another Gulf nation.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s hopes of expanding the Middle East’s first World Cup in the region were stymied by the regional diplomatic crisis and the body’s demands on host nations to adhere to its human and labour rights requirements.

That means the World Cup will not be expanded until 2026, with FIFA already having approved a format with 48 teams for that tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

A meeting of the FIFA Council in March authorised Infantino to work with Qatar on seeing if it was feasible to use at least one more country in the region to accommodate 16 more matches and present a proposal at meetings in June.

“Following a thorough and comprehensive consultation process with the involvement of all the relevant stakeholders, it was concluded that under the current circumstances such a proposal could not be made now,” FIFA said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Due to the advanced stage of preparations and the need for a detailed assessment of the potential logistical impact on the host country, more time would be required and a decision could not be taken before the deadline of June. It was, therefore, decided not to further pursue this option.”

A FIFA internal report had already concluded the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Saudi Arabia could not join as cohosts unless they restore the economic and travel ties with Qatar that were severed two years ago.

The regional diplomatic crisis left neutral Kuwait - which acts as the mediator in the Gulf rift - and

Oman as the viable options.

Oman has said it is not eager on hosting games at the FIFA showpiece. Infantino visited Kuwait last month in an attempt to persuade it to host matches in 2022.

But FIFA has now concluded it lacks time to prepare a country to host the extra games.

In Kuwait, Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium has 60,000 seats and the capacity at Sabah AlSalem Stadium is only 26,000. Both venues would require upgrades to be used at the World Cup, putting the spotlight on working conditions and labour rights.

FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura wrote to human rights activists in April to offer assurances that there was going to be “an assessment of human rights risks and potential opportunities associated with a possible expansion”.

Qatar has an exemption that allows foreigners to drink alcohol, but Kuwait has a complete ban

that would have been problematic for FIFA, which has the Budweiser brewery as a major sponsor.

FIFA has already had to adapt to cope with taking its showpiece tournament to the Middle East for the first time.

While Qatar won a vote in 2010 on the basis of staging a June-July World Cup, FIFA shifted the tournament from its usual slot because of the fierce summer heat to November 21-December 18, 2022.

“With just three and a half years to go until kick off, Qatar remains as committed as ever to ensuring the 32-team FIFA World Cup in 2022 is one of the best tournaments ever and one that makes the entire Arab world proud,” the 2022 World Cup organising committee said in a statement.

James Dorsey the author of The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer, said he was not surprised by FIFA’s decision to drop the bid.

“I think this was a foregone conclusion,” he told Al Jazeera from Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta.

“We have had weeks of basically discussing hot air and something that was, in my mind, delusionary - with other words, Qatar was willing to play this out.

“It certainly became clear after Kuwait and Oman said that they would not be able to accommodate FIFA in an expanded World Cup, and the idea that Infantino was putting forward that an agreement to share the World Cup with Saudi Arabia and the UAE would put an end to the Gulf crisis was basically pie in the sky.”

Dorsey said that if the boycott of Qatar continued until the World Cup in 2022, the four blockading countries - Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt - were going to have “a really difficult problem”.

“It’s a soccer-crazy part of the world; this is the first time that a major sporting event is being held in the Middle East, and in fact in

Sterling calls for stiffer punishments to combat racism M anchester City forward Raheem Sterling says boycotting social media and wearing T-shirts is not enough to combat racism and there must be harder punishments.

Sterling, 24, was speaking at the Wall Street Journal’s Future of Everything Festival in New York – few days after winning the FA Cup to complete a historic domestic treble.

“Teams getting points deductions, getting kicked out... this is when people start taking it seriously,” said Sterling.

The England striker, who scored 25 goals in all competitions this season, has been praised for his readiness to speak out on the issue.

After Chelsea fans racially abused him in December 2018, Sterling used Instagram to criticise the media for the way they report

on black players.

Asked if football bosses in England had approached him after he spoke out, Sterling said: “After the situation at Chelsea they came to me with an idea, but I did not agree with it.

“It was a social media blackout.

I said I simply don’t agree with what you want to put out - it is a social media post that will happen for one day. In two days’ time it will all be forgotten about.”

In April, the Professional Footballers’ Association launched the #Enough campaign, with footballers in England and Wales boycotting social media for 24 hours to protest against the way social networks and football authorities respond to racism.

Montenegro were ordered by Uefa to play their next home match behind closed doors for the racist abuse of England player and fined

20,000 euros (£17,253) for other offences.

England and Tottenham defender Danny Rose has criticised punishments for racism, saying the

fines are the same as what he spends on a night out.

Sterling continued: “If I go to a football game and I support Manchester United, for example, I don’t want to be the person that lets my team down by saying silly remarks in a stadium.

“If you know your team is going to get deducted nine points, you are not going to say these racist remarks even though you shouldn’t have it in your head.”

Sterling said he hoped to have further discussions with football bosses about tackling racism.

“You can get caught up with training every day, and games every two, three days, so you don’t really have a lot of time to be out and speaking to people,” he said.

“But in my off time and holidays if I can get around and speak to the Football Association and the people in the Premier League

their backyard,” he said.

“Fans are not allowed to travel to Qatar under the boycott, and even if they were allowed the logistics of getting to Qatar would be very difficult, given the cut in air traffic and the closure of the Saudi-Qatari border,” he added.

“So in the end, you could see the boycotting states being put into a position where they would have to breach their own boycott.”

The ongoing political and economic blockade of Qatar by some of its neighbors, most notably Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, created obstacles that could not be overcome.

The decision ensures that the first 48-team World Cup will now be awarded to the United States, Mexico and Canada in 2026. It also will come as a relief to Qatar, which has invested billions of dollars in infrastructure and seeking national pride in hosting the first World Cup in the Arab world.

and see how we can go about doing things better in the future, for sure I’ll be there in person to try and do that.”

It is understood England manager Gareth Southgate and England staff are in a regular dialogue with Sterling.

FA chairman Greg Clarke is in discussions with Uefa, including getting more support for referees to take action on discrimination. “ We w e l c o m e Ra h e e m ’s thoughtful comments regarding the fight against racism and our work in this important area is ongoing,” said an FA spokesperson.

“We know there is more to be done and are committed to this in partnership with others across the game.

“We look forward to picking up more formally with Raheem once his England commitments are over for the season.”

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BDSUNDAY 43

Sports

FIFA U20 World Cup: Flying Eagles in great start, spank Qatar 4-0

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ANTHONY NLEBEM

igeria’s U20 side, the Flying Eagles, delivered a bold statement of intent with a 4-0 thumping of Qatar in their Group D opening game at the FIFA U20 World Cup Poland 2019.

The Flying Eagles, runners-up to a Joao Pinto-propelled Portugal in 1989 and a Lionel Messiinspired Argentina in 2005, soared

2-0 up inside 25 minutes – and both goals were indebted to their left-back.

Ikouwem Utin duped his marker and unleashed a swerving shot, which Shehab Mamdouh could only push into the path of Maxwell Effiom, whose first-time volley broke the deadlock. The Nigeria defender then somehow sprung four challenges down the left and cut the ball back to present Okechukwa Offia with a comfortable finish from close range.

Qatar did have their chances.

Zulkifilu Rabiu catapulted himself across the Tychy turf to make an outstanding block from Yusuf Abdurisag, and Nigeria goalkeeper Olawale Oremade was alert to break up a three-on-one break

from which the underdogs should have made more.

They were further punished, esteemed Manchester City midfielder Tom Dele-Bashiru making it 3-0 before Aliu Salawudeen’s swivel and shot completed the

Celebrating FIFA’s excellence @ 115 EJIKEME IKWUNZE

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he Federation International de Football Association (FIFA) is 115 years old. The world’s football governing body was founded on Saturday May 21,1904, in France.

It started from a humble beginning with only seven members namely France, Denmark, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden and Holland. In attendance at the historic meeting were Robert Guerin (France), Louis Muhlinghaus and Max Kahn (Belgium), Ludwig Sylow (Denmark), Carl Anton Wilhelm Hirschman (Holland), Victor Schneider (Switzerland). But today, FIFA has 211-member affiliates with many nations still clamouring to be admitted into the ever-growing family.

In 1905, there were 10 members. This rose to 23 in 1912,20 in 1921,41 in 1930, 141in 2974, 172 in 1992 on 25May, 2012.

South Sudan became the 209th member and on May10, 2016, Kosovo and Gibraltar became the 210th and 211th members respectively. Nigeria became the 88th member of FIFA while Egypt, which got affiliated in 1923, is Africa’s oldest member.

Argentina is the oldest affiliate in CONNEBOL, having joined in 1812. Canada is the oldest in CONCACAF, having joined in 1913 whereas New Zealand whose FA was formed in 1891 is the oldest member from Oceania. Thailand is the oldest FIFA affiliate in Asian Confederation.

There are 6 Confederations of FIFA: Africa (CAF) 54 members, Asia (AFC), 46, South America (CONNEBOL)10, Americas (CONCACAF)35, Oceania (OFC) 11. E Europe 55.

Since the formation of FIFA in 1904, only 9 persons have headed the body. First was

Frenchman, Robert Guerin, (190 4-1906), Frenchman Monsieur Jules Rimet the third and longest serving president (1912-1954) while Rudolph William Speedsters of Belgium had the shortest reign as president. He died in office. D Daniel Burley Woodfall (England), Arthur Drewery and Stanley Rous England.Dr Jean Maria Faustine Godefroid Joao Havelenge served for 24 years and became the 2nd longest serving elected FIFA president.

He was elected on 11th June 1974 and was on the saddle till 1998. Joseph Blatter, a Swiss, became the next president after Havelenge after serving as FIFA general Secretary from 19811998. Blatter was the president from 1998 to 2016 and the incumbent President, Giovanni Infantino, May 26, till date. In addition to its supervisory roles over world soccer, FIFA organizes 11different competitions.

The FIFA World Cup, men and women Olympic football tournaments, FIFA U-20 World Cup,

FIFA U-17 World Cup, Confederations Cup and Fustal World Cup. Also, the Club World Cup, U20 Women’s World Cup, FIFA U-17 Women World Cup and FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. Apart from seeing to the successful organization of these competitions, FIFA should be given credits for the innovations it has brought to the beautiful game of football.

Some of these changes include modification of back-pass and off-side rules, actual time of play in match, use of electronic gadgets in timing matches, goal line technology, the video assisted referee (VAR) etc. In 2001, FIFA introduced the coordinated international match calendar. It is now mandatory for international referees to speak English and there are more international female referees, introduction of players’ agents while there is obligation for associations to display their players’ names on the back of their outfits.

rout.

The Flying Eagles will head to the city of Bielsko-Biala, where they play the United States of America in their second game on Monday, while Qatar face Ukraine.

SuperSport’s ‘We are Sport’ campaign takes off on DStv

FIFA always preaches the gospel of fair play and spirit of sportsmanship among associations, players, coaches, administrators, fans and other adherents of football.

It also fights racism, child abuse, doping, corruption, match fixing and ensures adequate security in stadia. It has also launched a campaign to stop violence against women. In addition, it organizes training program for coaches, referees and administrators. With its four official languages, English, French, German and Spanish, FIFA ensured easy communication with its member affiliates.

It today had over three billion dollars in turnover. Today, about 1.5 billion people of the world’s population of 7.8 billion are engaged in Football industry. There are about 265 million footballers in the world which is about 4% of the world’s population representing about 5 million teams.

About 40 million women play football all over the world.There are about 5 million referees world wide. FIFA also donates to charity and have formed the save-our-soul children’s villages, using football as helping hand to fund over 700 villages in no fewer than 180 countries. It also donates to victims of disasters.

With the birth of FIFA in the turn of last century, football had grown to become world’s most popular sports today and has been apostrophized as the United Nation of football.

FIFA has through her numerous competitions; FIFA has turned the world into one big family by promoting peace and brotherhood on earth. It is indeed a celebration of excellence for the 115 years-old Body whose programmes promote the global advancement for football for the benefit of mankind.

Happy birthday FIFA !!!

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s excitement reaches fever pitch ahead of the Champions League final, this weekend SuperSport unveils its “We are Sport” campaign, a sweeping series of tributes and tales around events and moments that SuperSport and DStv have broadcast throughout SuperSport’s 30-year history.

The first, to be broadcast on Sunday, fittingly features Dwight Yorke, who was part of the Manchester United team that won the treble of the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup 20 years ago.

He talks movingly of one of the most dramatic finales in Champions League history as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer famously came off the bench to score a 93rd-minute winning goal in the 1999 decider.

Such stories aim to remind viewers about the feeling and emotion that only sport invokes.

Indeed, SuperSport has trawled the globe to secure interviews with superstars like Eliud Kipchoge, the marathon world record holder, 800m king David Rudisha, Graeme Smith and a host of others who talk movingly of some of their greatest moments.

There are, of course, darker moments to reflect on, too, as Allan Donald does with searing honesty when talking about the disaster of Edgbaston exactly 20 years ago. Even now, the visuals of the dramatic run-out against Australia give rise to angst and disappointment.

The series swings from the sublime to the ridiculous, the heartbreaking to the impossible, the outrageous to the breath-taking, all incredible moments impossible to forget.

The campaign takes ownership of sport in Africa and places DStv at the forefront of its thinking.

The payoff line “We Are Sport – We are DStv” is a positioning no other brand on the continent can match. SuperSport is arguably the best sport broadcaster in the world and its live sport offering is unrivalled internationally.

BDSUNDAY

NEW YOU CAN TRUST

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Debt overhang looms in Nigeria (1)

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n a recent paper by Brookings on the danger of accumulation of debt

by African countries, he expressed concerns for African countries racking up debts. Sadly, Nigeria came to mind. While putting finishing touches to this article this morning, the news broke that the Nigerian debt has risen by N2.66trillion in one year! This translates to about $8.7trillion.

It is a common prayer in Nigeria that ‘may we not leave debt for our children’.

You will gauge from the chorus ‘Amen’ that that is seen as an important prayer. But is debt bequest a bad thing? Can we avoid it? If not, what sort of debt and how much of it can be left for the children? Finally, is Nigeria moving towards a debt overhang?

Answering all these questions leads us to starting from understanding the concept of debt overhang.

Debt overhang, a phenomenon that applies to individuals, households, business entities and government alike, refers to a situation whereby even though new debt will improve the profile of an entity, it is unable to access it because the present level of debt is such that the benefits of additional debt is deemed to be subject to partial appropriation by the existing debt holders. A structural macroeconomic debt overhang is a condition where additional credit creation measures are engaged in to address an underemployment or output gap, the build-up of which leads to a debt overhang. It so happens that in most scenarios, the debt overhang is preserved by substituting one form of public debt for another and it keeps growing.

Debt overhang has various negative consequences. In the literature, its major consequence of serving as a disincentive for investment attracts my attention as a perspective. The importance of investment as a factor of economic growth is emphasised by the employment channel.

Through the employment channel, investment enhances, not only productivity, but also the general welfare of the citizenry,

thereby leading to economic development. But debt overhang hinders investments. For instance, an economic entity is forced to pass up investments that yield positive net present value (NPV). A positive NPV is a selection criterion for some projects and when profit-oriented entities have to pass up investment alternatives just because it does not have additional capacity to take up debts to execute such alternatives, opportunities to add value is lost. For a nation, this ultimately leads to a GDP growth that is less than its potential.

The concern in this instance is Nigeria.

Not only is Nigeria the most populous black nation in the world, but also one of the world’s fastest growing countries in terms of population. Indeed, it is projected that we will have a population of about 400million by 2050. This growth is not peculiar to Nigeria. The whole of Africa which has roughly 1 billion in population today is expected to have grown to 4 billion by that time with Nigeria contributing its own quota of 10percent!

Recently, Nigeria added $2.86b to its debt stock (November, 2018) thereby moving our total debt stock to about $76b. This is inclusive of states’ $11b+ portion of the debt. The tenor of this new debt is 7years, 12 years and 30years. With the life expectancy at birth in Nigeria, ranked at 178th in the world by the World Health Organization in 2018, currently at about 55 years for male and 56 years for female, most of the current actors in consummating this loan will not be alive by the time the last tranche is paid in 2048.

That is if there are no restructuring. The truth is more are on the way when you project our debt profile. For instance, from a foreign-denominated loan portfolio of below $1b up till 1993 when we joined the loan-billionaire club, we have gradually trended upwards to around $76billion.

The current foreign-domestic borrowing ratio profile is 86:14. The DMO has the mandate to tilt the ratio to 60:40. The idea behind this is to free up domestic funds

available from competition between the private sector and the government. Apparently, the availability of government debt instruments which is almost always well over-subscribe tends to stifle the potential growth of the private sector with its pivotal growth implication on the economy when funds they can use are equally competed for by the government.

The flipside to this mission is that rejigging the combination imposes more attention to dollar receivables over a long period as shortfalls may portend danger.

The concern for accumulation of debt is valid. If you review the trend, it is going up perpetually even when oil prices go up. Secondly, the debt to income ratio which measures the tendency for revenue to cover debt is also going-up and it is projected that in about 5 years, revenue will no longer be able to service debt. This, if it crystalises is a dire situation as the international rating agencies will write our ratings down. Thirdly, there are some doubts about the total capture of our debt stock. What that means is that the debt-GDP ratio of about 18percent+ which we currently refer to as a healthy level when compared to the estimated headroom of about 56percent for countries of our development status, may be incorrect. If this is so and some local government debts and other uncollateralised debts have been excluded, then our current debt-GDP ratio may be incorrect and we may actually be nearer debt trap than we think. Lastly, there is a concern over our foreign exchange receivables over that length of time.

Considering that over 80percent of our current foreign exchange receipts come from oil, and developments in the oil markets particularly as it relates to transition to renewable energy, the implication on price in the future is

AKIN MORAKINYO (Phd) Lectures Economics at Pan-Atlantic University, Lekki, Lagos

anything but heart-warming.

In order to address our concerns, we need to note that the source of debt is budget deficit. For budget deficit to be bridged, there is the need for borrowing. According to the DMO, in the 2018 budget, there is a funding gap of over N2.1trillion of which N1.6t is to be met with domestic and foreign debts of N750b and N850b respectively.

Sovereign debt is an equivalent of financial leverage for a company. Just as this leads to growth for some institutions which think through, it can be an albatross for others who spend loans on frivolous things. Therefore, debt is not necessarily bad if it leads to development. Conversely, a low level of debt, debt/GDP ratio, such as 21.3percent for Nigeria in 2017, is not necessarily good if the debt make-up is not justifiable. After all, since 1990, our highest point was at 75percent in 1991 and lowest was 7.3percent in 2008. For some countries, debt appears linked to economic growth and development.

Cases in point are the US which has $19t in debt and is the largest economy in the world, and Japan, the third biggest economy in the world have debt/GDP ratio in excess of 250percent. But the ownership of the public debt gives another dimension to the issue. As seemingly alarming the debt/GDP ratio of Japan is, less than 5percent of that portfolio is owned by foreigners while only one-third of the American debt is owned by foreign countries.

Quick Takes

Off the Cuff

N43.5 billion

Et tu, Lamido?

E

t tu, Brute? is a Latin sentence meaning “Even you, Brutus?” from the play Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare. Caesar uttered these words as he was being stabbed to death, having recognised his friend Brutus among the assassins.

A few days ago, a former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, decided to dress himself in Brutus’ attire, when he dealt the unkindest cut on a former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, who had repeatedly spoken very glowingly about his person (Lamido) in public.

Until the unkindest cut, not many Nigerians knew that Lamido had estranged himself from Obasanjo. This is because as recent as August last year, the former governor had gone with a long entourage to Obasanjo’s residence in Abeokuta to solicit his support towards his presidential ambition on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) platform.

But last week, he turned to Obasanjo in fury, and threw a verbal salvo. He warned the former President, although he called him “Sir”, not to allow his disappointment with the President Muhammadu Buhari administration turn him into a bigot.

Lamido had caused his media aide, Mansur Ahmed, to issue a caustic statement, in reaction to Obasanjo’s scathing remarks on the worsening security challenge in the country.

Continues next week

Lamido said: “If it were said at a non-religious venue to a non-religious audience, maybe; it might have been more tolerable. Please, sir, don’t let your disappointment with sitting presidents turn you into a bigot. You must not abandon the national stage.”

“The cracks along the various divides in our National cohesion are already turning into huge gorges,” Lamido said.

What was the reason for the umbrage? Obasanjo had made an observation at the 2nd session of the Synod held at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Oleh, in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, bemoaning the bloody campaign and the frightening dimension the insecurity in the country was assuming.

He said: “Boko Haram and herdsmen’s acts of violence were not treated as they should at the beginning.

They have both incubated and developed beyond what Nigeria can handle alone. They are now combined and internationalised with ISIS in control.

“It is no longer an issue of lack of education and lack of employment for our youths in Nigeria which it began as; it is now West African Fulanisation, African Islamisation and global-organised crimes of human trafficking, money laundering, drug trafficking, gun trafficking, illegal mining and regime change.”

Obasanjo said, “Given his background, perfor-

mance and credibility, he is competent. With his exposure, he can stand shoulder to shoulder with anybody.

It does appear that the cookies have crumbled.

Recall that preparatory to the 2015 general election when the relationship between Obasanjo and then President Jonathan had soured, Obasanjo had abandoned his political godson; shunned an invitation for Democracy Day celebration in Abuja, and headed to Dutse, Jigawa to fraternise with Lamido.

While there, he had praised the then governor to the high heavens, saying, “You know you can help somebody to get a job but you cannot help him to do it. If somebody cannot do the job, we have Sule Lamido who is competent to do the job.

“Some people are saying one person can’t make changes. This is rubbish; if you have a competent person who knows where he is going to, he can make changes along with his team that would impact the lives of people as we have seen it in Jigawa State.”

Since the Lamido outburst, many critics have wondered why the former governor would prefer to play the ostrich in the midst of obvious danger, or while he would want everybody to keep quiet when Nigeria is going bananas.

This is the amount of money the Federal Government is said to have earmarked for routine immunisation programme in the country for 2019, according to Ben Akabueze, director general, Budget Office of the Federation.

Pathetic!

“Bandits, including foreigners are in the Yoruba forests, where they have apparently set up temporary camps. From these camps, they intermittently storm the highways and kidnap travelers, whom they hold and only release in exchange for ransoms. Human beings are not being captured to be shipped to plantations in America, but human beings are being captured and traded like animals, and stolen and exchanged for money like articles of trade.” – Jiti Ogunye, a lawyer, lamenting the spate of kidnapping across the country

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